Thrift Shopping, Craft Making

A few weeks ago one of my favorite Bloggers, Claire, at blah to TADA spent a week making extremely cute cake stands out of miscellaneous pieces of china (that's her niche: making great things through the art of creative recycling.) I took one look at this cute cake stand and thought: 1) I could totally make that and 2) I can show it off at Easter Dinner (I was a first time hostess this year.) So off to the thrift shop I went.

 See how could I NOT make this! For full instructions visit her site!

It took me two trips to five different shops to find all the proper items to make my cake stand. I know what you are saying how hard it is to find 3 different dishes and some candlestick holders? Well it's friggin hard. Finding a separate salad size dish was near impossible. In order to acquire such a dish, I had to buy it in a set for five bucks!! Seriously, five dollars at a thrift shop is a bit much.

So here is my best attempt at my first Blah to Tada craft!

 

First I gathered all my supplies: Mr. Clean to wash the dishes and remove any magic marker pricing; ruler; pencil (which turned out to be a mistake and so I upgraded to a Sharpie); and of course glue.

Take Claire's advice and use Super Glue. I made the mistake of using Gorilla Glue, which (again) I forgot, does not dry clear.

  

Here were my final plate choices. It took forever to pick out nice plates that did not have a overwhelming pattern. The center plate (with the green trim) was my least favorite, as I wanted all the plates to have a sliver or gold trim. But in the end I really loved how the bolder, green border offset the more delicate patterns of the other two plates.

 

After making my measurements, I glued that shit together, using some of my summer reading books as weights. I should also mention that I used some fabulous cut glass candle stick holders as my pedestals. These were also hard to find pieces. Some where too tall, too narrow at the top, too wide at the base. It was very frustrating.

 

TADA! My final piece. It looks pretty sweet and I am in total love!  I just have to use some creative decorating to hide the icky, brownish glue holding it together.

 

While I was trolling the shops, looking for the right pieces for my cake stand, I found some sweet finds that I just had to share:

 

Al Bundy's couch!! YES! And to make it more desirable, there was plastic on it. 

Naturally, I didn't buy it but it was so hard to walk away

 

 O.J.'s Legal Pad. My question was who would buy this in the first place?

Thrift shops, where outdated program guides go to die.

 

Now I must say I totally squealed when I saw a Fiestaware box. My mom collects Fiestaware like a crazy person collects cats. But I was fooled by the Thrift Gods, it was simply an empty box. 

 

Who would read a book by Jimmy Buffet? He can't write a song, what makes you think he can write a novel? I tell you one group of people who wouldn't read it, Graphic Designers! There were typeface violations all over it. The culprit: COMIC SANS.

Have you made any fabulous crafts out of other people's unwanted treasures? Have a great Thrift Shop/Yard Sale find you just need to share? Let us know.

YDB

I am 'Boldly Going' there…Part 1

It used to be a secret, but I cannot hide it anymore. I am ready to admit that I, dear readers, am a Trekkie. I am a TREKKIE!

 

source

I am in love with Star Trek the Original Series and all of it campiness. My love started out innocently enough: I was VERY drunk one night and the Captain and I caught an episode on late night TV (oh hell it was early morning, 2am.) I was amazed with what I saw: fabulous cardboard sets, high tech graphics, periods of great acting talent, and not to mention, sigh, William Shatner (I have a little crush on circa 1966-1969 Shatner.)

Now don't let my unhealthy crush on a now 80 year old man confuse you, it's not that the show is actually good. If we are going to be completely honest, it is just terrible. But what I do love about the show is its quaint views on the future.

The photo on the left is from a site Jew of the Day seriously, I couldn't make that up. Photo on the right source.
Who am I kidding I still love him, but in that I'm gonna 'bear hug you like you are my Grandpa' sort of way.

After watching all 79 episodes multiple times over the past few years this is what Star Trek has taught me about the future:

All enemies in the future will be some kind a of 'energy field': If you watch as much of The Trek as I do you will notice that most enemies in the future will be an "energy field." It may come in the the form of a hand that grabs your vessel, or a a blob of purple, blue, orange, and red glittery light, even appearing as the terrifying Window's Screensaver.  How do you combat your seemingly undefeatable enemy? The future's answer to everything: Logic.

Source 

A strategically cut unitard will be the go to outfit for females: And with them Women's Rights will be set back a few 1,000 years.

The computer monitor will revert to a series of colored lights and buttons: For some reason computers will evolve to the point that screens are unnecessary and cumbersome.  All communications will come in the form of lights, blinks, and blips. The streamline look of all the computers makes me think that Steve Job's head is in a jar somewhere running Apple Computer in  the year 2266.  (Wiki)

There is going to be a planet made up of entirely of Nazis and one planet of 1920's Chicago: This is an idea of alien life is also supported by the writers of South Park: in the episode Canceled, the children learn that there are entire planets existing of single races, single species, etc.

And of course as a Space Ship Captain, you must dress the part:

These great photos were taken from the "The Many Looks of Kirk" article on IGN Stars website.
It's a very funny read, if you are so inclined.

Astronauts will not need space suits since all planets will have Earth's atmosphere The one aspect of Star Trek that is so prevalent is the idea that all planets have an atmosphere like Earth. Most of the time they just beam down without checking shit out. I guess the Trekkies will argue that it is just understood that, as high ranking officials of Star Fleet, the research has been done to ensure the crew's safety (well as long as you are not in a red shirt.)

Be on the look out for Part 2 soon!

YDB

Furry Friends Foraging (? No, oh well :) For Forever.....Flat

I love the Itty Bitty Kitty Committee. It's probably the only Blog I visit on a daily basis. I am sucker for cute, little, fuzzy faces. Pair those faces with a sad orphan story and I just melt.  I like to say, "I'm a crazy cat stalker lady." I personally do not have cats in my new home but I come from a home that is run by an adopted brother and sister duo:

 

 This handsome ball of fur is Chase. I would reckon he is 10lbs of pure fur.  He is extremely loving/rapey. He has to be on your lap at all times, and he has to lick the first 4 layers of skin off any exposed skin.

His skills include: human food taster, using doorknobs to open doors, and the ability to function on no sleep (I truly believes he doesn't sleep during the day at all. He is in constant motion. As you can see from this picture, he is WIDE awake and waiting for someone, anyone to walk through the front door.)

 

 And this princess is Charlotte. She is the sweetest little thing on 4 legs. She is the complete opposite of her brother (Notice how calm and relax she looks in her canopy bed.) Charlotte is very in-de-pen-dent, preferring to be left alone (and faaaar away from my 20 month old nephew.) She has the soft fur that she had as a baby. Unlike her brother, she is able to sit on you lap and not feel the need to bath you.

Her skills include: hiding in the most bizarre places, tossing toy mice in the air and then catching them, and hunting bed sheet covered feet.

So back to this committee and what do they do? The Kitties are fostered by two big-hearted Pacific North-westerners Laurie and Craig. "The Itty Bitty Kitties are orphaned kittens that come to us from the Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society. We care for the babes until they are old enough to be adopted, then we find them loving homes."

There are two boys, Clarence and Georgie, looking for a good forever home in the Seattle/Tacoma area. If you live in the area, please contact the IBKC and inquire about them. I am sure they will be an amazing addition to any home!

http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/Sourc

Good luck Clarence and Georgie! If I lived closer, you would totally be coming home with me.

Your Daily Barista

Happy Festivus!

For the story of Festivus
JeffisaGeek.net provides the video clips.
Source

It's time for the airing of grievances, I gotta lotta problems with you people!

1) PA UE - Get your shit together and send me my paperwork. Two months of this non-sense is BULLCRAP!

2) In the same vain, Brian Williams - Stop reporting on the shitty job market. Those of us looking for jobs know that the market is the pits. You telling us that just makes us even more depressed and anxious.

3) The Captain - Can you please put your dirty dish(es) in the side of the sink with the rest of the dirty dishes? Your dish is not special and is not entitled to special treatment.

4) Weather at the Beach - Stop being windy. It literally blows.

5) NBC 40 Sound Guy - What is that annoying 'thumping' noise on Monica Ott's mic? Is it her heart beat? Is there a small mammal living in her poorly fitted suit jacket?  Is it a bad mic? I don't know. What I do know is that it is irritating and should be fixed.

6) TruPanel - I have signed up for at least 7 studies and have yet to be chosen! WTF. Why to I keep getting denied? I would be the best test audience. I have an ungodly amount of free time and I love being opinionated. PICK ME!  Also, you should get points for all surveys you complete. Surveys are few and far between anyway so what's the big deal. Might give away too many $5 Starbucks Gift Cards?

7) 'Now Hiring' Signs - Stores, don't put them in your window if you are not actually hiring.

8) Jay Leno - I am forced to watch you every night because I only get Channel 10. Your jokes are unfunny, your guests look uncomfortable, and the group meeting you as you walk out looks forced and pretentious. You suck!

9) Mega Roll Toilet Paper - You do not fit in my TP dispenser, nor do I think you fit in anyone's TP dispenser, making your argument about using less TP invalid. To get the TP to fit, I end up using 1/2 the roll.

And finally,

10) People who drive with their placards hanging from the mirror - It clearly says "Remove While Driving" yet everyone ignores it. I tried driving with Popi's hanging in my window and it is extremely distracting. I could barely see out of half my windshield. Imagine if I had the vision of an 80 year old with cataracts and a bum leg.

So as Festivus draws to a close, it is now my turn to fight my father in a Feat of Strength. I think I can take him!

YDB

Haven't we met before

I have been a bad, bad friend. I tell you I am going to write to you every week, then I disappear for a few months.

So I suggest we begin again.  But this time at the beginning of my new life.

Well, I was totally laid off in June. I know, I know WTF! It's a strange feeling being laid off. I think I went through all the standard phases:

1. Sweet I Don't Have to Get Up in the Morning
2. I'm Gonna Hang with my Friends. Oh Wait They Have Jobs, Dammit!
3. This Sucks
4. I Need a Job
5. I REALLY Need a job

It was sometime between the "This Sucks" and "I Need a Job" phases that our lease at the 'Creek was up. Due to the numerous issues with the apartment we decided not to resign our lease and move...to the Jersey Shore.

That's right ladies and gents, it's G.T.L. and Fist Pumps all year long. I wish that were the case, but we moved into what can only be equated to a large scale senior community. It's more like Buicks, Placards, and Moth Balls all year long.

We now live in a quaint (not sure if it correctly describes my place, but it sounds classy) 3 bedroom house about a block from the beach.

One of the many beautiful sunsets and it's only a block away! I can seriously hear the ocean on quiet nights.
This summer is going to be amazing.

So here is the nickel tour of our new abode (the interior shots were taken on our first night in the house):

The adorable front porch all decked out for Halloween.
Decorations to take note of: illuminated tin pails, a hay bale and mum, glittery scary words in the windows,
and the cutest homemade ghosts. And our jack-o-lantern...

Lorlita was over and suggested we carve a PBR-o-lantern. Way to class up the neighborhood! Yes, we did keep it out during trick-or-treating. The parents all got a laugh.

The new place isn't very large. Our living room is more long and narrow, so we had to give up part of our sectional and both end tables (that mean kiss away lighting.) Conversely our bedroom is large so we were able to add in the two missing pieces of our bedroom set that we couldn't use in our apartment. 

Win-Win.

 

1) Our ski lodge bathroom.

2) The master bedroom with an extremely romantic 3)washer and dryer.

4) I always wanted a breakfast nook!

5) The kitchen is the largest room in the house. Literally.

6) The living room with beautiful natural wood ceiling (not so attractive fans)

7) My home office. It's the best room in the house and with the best view.

8)The guest bedroom. It's the warmest room in the house.

So that is the new crib in a nutshell. Once I straighten up (things have gotten out of hand with the holidays) I will post some pics of the furnished rooms.

Sorry again for the long delay. I hope never to make it lapse that much again.

Your Daily Barista

Helping a sista out!

One of my favorite peeps and fellow blogger LizzieBeth over at Lizzie in Progress just got hitched! Hooray. Let me tell you, this is one crafty craftsman and came up with nifty ideas for her ceremony. And the best part, she is now selling them to brides-to-be like YOU!

You can check out her wares at this site.  So, what is it that she is selling:

Picture Frames (a ton of them, too)

A really sweet homemade (kudos Lizzie! it came out amazing) parasol that she used in her photos:

Some unused unmentionables:

And there are some other really killer (and I would assume useful) things on her for sale page. So if you are getting married andwant that DIY look with no effort on your part, help a sista out!

Happy purchasing and best wishes on your future nuptials!!

Your Daily Barista

YDB's Amish Adventure

This past Sunday The Captain and I decided to take an adventure. Here is our tale, as told through Facebook and Twitter updates... 

"look out Amish! [YDB] is coming and she's bringing zippers with her!." 11:18 AM Jul 11th via txt

"In this day of home computers and space travel, the Amish eschew zippers as decadent, electricity as unnecessary and flush toilets as wasteful. They forgo the automobile in favor of sleek trotters and canvas-topped carriages of hickory wood."  Read more

"first adventure stop: marsh creek state park." 12:13 PM Jul 11th via txt 

"so far 1 of little chris' presents. haha. i wish they still had the rusty playland of my youth." - facbook via text

I totally ganked him a few of the these awesome McDonald's Bibs from the Mickey D's in Blue Ball, PA. I am sure I could have got them at a Mac Donald's around here but they are never out to just take. I always feel funny asking since I never have a kid with me.  Along with the bibs he's getting some crappy toy from my Happy Meal. McDonald's really needs to step it up in the free toy department.

As for the dangerous Playland of my youth:

Breathe it in. The Big Mac Jail that I used to be afraid I wouldn't be able to climb down from. The Grimace shake thingie that never quite shook that well. If you remember these rusty marvels check out an amazing article from RetroJunk!

"just took a pic of an Amish guys cow. do u think i stole its soul? i figured it was cool cause the dude waved." 12:47 PM Jul 11th via txt

"Oh Amos, this bitch just stole my muthafuckin soul."

Old Order Amish and Mennonites forbid photography of their people, and their objection is based on the second commandment..." Read more interesting facts about the Amish.

 
"The Captain has apparently found the ghetto of Lancaster. who knew?" 2:10 PM Jul 11th via txt

"leaving strasburg, now on our way to bird in hand by way of intercourse." 3:26 PM Jul 11th via txt 

Yes, PA outsiders...these towns really do exist

 

 

Note that they changed the town's name to Intercourse. WTF Amish. I wonder if they get the joke. I bet that there isn't much intercourse happening in Intercourse. Thoughts?

 Not as funny as Intercourse but Bird-in-Hand is yet another example of the dirty minds of the Amish. Shame on you Malachi shame on you.

 Blue Ball is lame and does not have a logo (I am smelling potential client!!) Get on the ball Blue Ball!

"Amish puppies!! i would name them Jedediah and Malachi" 3:47 PM Jul 11th via txt  

"looking for the intercourse brewing company. no add on site. going by label. a silo b/w 2 bushes. use ur imagination." 3:48 PM Jul 11th via txt  

I know what you are thinking Beer... and the Amish. Yeah I know who would have put the two together. They are not exactly peas and carrots.  But, yes my friends, Intercourse Paradise Pale Ale is my new favorite beer. The Captain and I attacked their booth at the Beer Festival we went to a few years back and have been on the hunt for it ever since. It's not readily available in our area but I am thinking a Blue Anchor Adventure for beer next time.

Unfortunately we couldn't find the brewery in our Amish travels. My mom had an interesting point "Perhaps it is brewed by renegade Amish guys out of the family farm. They don't want to be found out so they don't advertise in the area?" I think you maybe on to something there lady...good thinking.


Whatever the case maybe, the bottom line is I totally want to have Intercourse in my home. And I want all my friends to have Intercourse in my home as well. So please Intercourse, please distribute in Philadelphia! My dry spell has lasted far too long.

Give Intercourse some love by following them on Twitter.
Do it for the logo alone! Look carefully.

"remember EAGLE 106.1? i think it still lives on in Lancaster. "mr. vain," anyone?" 3:57 PM Jul 11th via txt  

Source

Yeah you know you remember its Top 40 greatness.  Then it turned to all Jazz and people stopped listening. Relive it with me:

  
"i love dutch wonderland! i totally want to go now! but if i don't have a kid, i will look like pedophile." 4:00 PM Jul 11th via txt

"again. lost in the ghettos of Lancaster." 4:15 PM Jul 11th via txt 

"decided to blow off bird in hand. heading to Maryland coast...its a full on adventure" 4:36 PM Jul 11th via txt

"wtf pa! where the hell are we?" 5:53 PM Jul 11th via txt  

"weather is beautiful again. roof is back down. heading towards home finally." 5:54 PM Jul 11th via txt  

"lessons learned: adventuring is far more fun on Saturday, shits open. 2) should've went to dutch wonderland." 5:56 PM Jul 11th via txt  

"now on to a place for BBQ - Carly wants some ribs." 5:57 PM Jul 11th via txt  

"strike that! we did make it to Maryland! crabs instead tonight!" 5:59 PM Jul 11th via txt  

"looking at the strasburg railroad i realized i could've bought lil biff a conductors hat. unkie fantastic didn't want to stop" 6:09 PM Jul 11th via txt

"bugaboo creek - the Canadian TGIF Fridays? i think yes, yes." about 24 hours ago via txt   

Source

"Would you like to hear aboot our specials."

"So you liked your steak, eh?"

Nah, they didn't say that. But it would have been so great if they had.

"it never fails. i get more burned while driving with the roof down, then I do on the beach." - - facbook via text

Happy and Safe travels this summer,
YDB

 

 

OH. MY. GOD!

I  don't think I could wait until November to see this! This looks utterly amazing. Boooooo to breaking it into two films. I call shenanigans on you Hollywood. Shenanigans I say!





I just told the Captain, that the battle scene is the best piece of fiction writing I have ever read. I get chills just thinking about it. Naturally he rolled his eyes at me. He just doesn't understand how us wizards think...stupid Muggle (hehe)

So who's in come November? (FYI: I am totally seeing this in 2D. 3D is so overrated.)

A Very Excited YDB

I want to go to there

In the immortal words of the Liz Lemon "I want to go to there" with the "there" being the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Unless you have lived under a rock for the past few years, you know that last week was the official launch of the new wizard themed theme park at Universal Studios...in Florida. Not California as I had once believed.

It looks AMAZING! (Bear with me while I nerd out right here) Butterbeer, Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, owls, robes, wands (that's what she said? lol), sneakoscopes,  Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, and just about anything else imagined by J.K. Rowling will be featured. I need to go there and I need to buy everything they are selling.

I am Universal's ideal customer. I'm a Harry Potter nerd with cash-in-hand and willing to go into debt just to outfit my nephew in full Gryffindor regalia. I can picture him now in a maroon and gold scarf and a eyeliner lightening bolt scar over his right eye (I must get there prior to Halloween!) Oh he is going to be so cute. See!!

Poorly photoshopped projected image of Lil' Chrissy Potter!

YDB

Who got a hundred dollar bill, y'all?

So by now my more astute readers must have noticed all of the Amazon links on my site. Why are you whoring your blog out to Amazon?

Well the answer is simple! I can only afford PBRs (Pabst Blue Ribbon to all you non-rednecks out there) to drink and Amazon will give me money. OK, so it's not that simple. You, my faithful readers, need to do your part, too. Here is how it works:

• I write about something I love or hate
• I offer up my review*, good or bad, and try to make humorous. 
  *I will always be honest with my review. It is up to you if you want to buy it.
• After reading my awesome post, you decide "Fuck yeah, I totally want that product!"
• You then click on the link provided.

The deal is, if you purchase something through a link on my blog, I get an ever so small kickback from Amazon.

So bust out them credit cards and support my alcohol habit and my love of craft beers.

YDB

Oh, by the way, there is a sneaky aspect of these links. I plan on writing about things I want to make it easy for people buying me gifts. That's right. I am that shallow. 

Totally Tase him, Bro!

I am sure as everyone knows by now, both locally and nationally, a 17 year old was tasered at a Philadelphia Phillies game this past week after jumping a fence and running around the outfield.

The police commissioner said, after an investigation into the incident, that the officer acted within protocol. I completely agree and here are my reasons:

1) Running on a field during the game is frowned upon at any ball park. The Kid is "being charged as a juvenile for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and defiant trespass."* See!

2) I am sure the police officer informed the Kid to "Stop" prior to firing the taser. I doubt very much that nothing was said prior to the firing. I believe that if a police officer tells you to stop and you don't that qualifies as evading the police. If you are evading the police, the officer has a right to bring the criminal into custody either by running him down, tasering him, or shooting him.

Source

Also if you watch the video, the Kid clearly sees the cop chasing him with his taser drawn and purposefully changes directions. He should have stopped but didn't. If he would have stopped running and put his hands up then he wouldn't have been tased (if he would have been tased after stopping and surrendering then, yes, it would have been excessive use. But, no, he was still running from the police when he was tased.)

3)  Luckily none of our players were in danger, but the police and security on the field at the time did not now that. If this kid did have malicious intentions and acted violently towards a player or Citizen's Bank staff and guests, and the officer only chased him, then everyone would be crying that the officer didn't do enough.

I think it is more disgraceful that people are booing a police officer for doing his job and keeping people safe. But, what else would you expect from sports fans who threw snowballs at Santa Claus? Again, no one knew what this Kid was going to do. Even though he was running around, he still could have had a mental disability and went crazy on someone. Or pulled out a knife when someone got close.

I will say that if the cop had shot the Kid with his service revolver then, yes, it would have been excessive force. Cops are issued tasers because (although people can go into cardiac arrest when tased) there is less of a chance of killing the criminal, or an innocent bystander.

I wish I could be on the jury cause I would totally send this Kid to prison for simply being stupid.

Because seeing people get tasered on COPS is amazing, I  have posted the clip below.




YDB


By the way if you are interested in seeing snowballs being chucked at Santa, well video of that doesn't exist (stupid pre-cell phone era), but you see an interesting news report about it below. I am proud to call myself a Philadelphia Sports Phan (that's right, I used the PH!)

Philadelphia Eagle fans pelt Santa with snowballs @ Yahoo! Video

*http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Teen-fan-tasered-by-Phillies-security-after-runn?urn=mlb,238457