erin-go-blog!

As promised, here are the strawberry cupcakes I made last week:

I found the recipe at Dozen Flours.

I thought they were rather tasty. They’re “frosted” with plain whipped cream (homemade, of course!). I’ll definitely make these again!

Fresh strawberries…yum! I love this time of year.

…why don’t you show
a little compassion for Michael Jackson
the poor guy never had a chance
of being normal…

in lieu of actually trying to say something about Michael Jackson’s death, I give you a live performance of F. People by Ookla the Mok.

And a link to what Andrew Sullivan had to say.

Tags: andrew sullivan, f. people, michael jackson, ookla the mok

My newest addiction: Johnnie Ryan cream soda.

Things to love about Johnnie Ryan:

• They’re a Niagara Falls, NY company (buy local!)
• 100% cane sugar (no high fructose corn syrup!)
• old-timey glass bottles

I buy it in 4-packs at Wegmans. I’ve also seen individual bottles being sold at Wilson Farms (the one at Elmwood/Auburn anyway), Amy’s Place, and Shango. I imagine there are others.

I love it. And I didn’t even know I liked cream soda.

They also have cola, ginger ale, root beer, cherry, and orange. (I’ve tried cola, ginger ale, and root beer. None of them hold a candle to the cream soda, IMHO.)

Also pictured–Nutella (YUM) and a Sham-WOW! (disappointing) I bought at Target.

Thus ends my unauthorized, unsolicited ad for Johnnie Ryan sodas.

Tags: cream soda, johnnie ryan, niagara falls, soda, sugar

So I’ve opted to not try and find a mindless temp or retail job for the summer. I’ve been saving some in anticipation of this, but I’d like to have some money coming in.

I’ve been working on promotion for my etsy shop. I just went in and updated all of my listings, as well as adding a new one. My items are custom-made to the needs of the buyer. Here are some samples:

Wedding/anniversary gifts

Baby gifts

Gifts for mom

Gifts for teachers

And more! (click to see my flickr photoset)

You can also become a fan on facebook or follow me on twitter. Please feel free to spread the word!

Anyone  have any promotional advice for me? Please share!

Tags: calligraphy, etsy, facebook, twitter

Trying to get through the last few days of school…entering grades, doing reports, tidying up the room, etc.

Speaking of, I sure did accumulate a lot of stuff that I have to take home.

Rand and I have been watching The Wire. We just finished the first season, and have started the second. Good stuff. More on this to come.

We will not be bringing home a kitty…as adorable and sweet as they are. For now, Rand’s dad is taking good care of them.

I’m trying not to stress out too much about next year…but it sure would be nice to know what I’m doing next year.

I bought strawberries at the farmer’s market Saturday, and made some yummy, yummy cupcakes. Promise to post pics and a link to the recipe later.

I gained three pounds this week. Bleah.

Ok, back to work for me. Happy Monday!

Tags: me!, update

Someone abandoned these two adorable kitties at my in-laws’ house earlier this week. They keep animals, but they are outdoor animal people. These kitties are caged to keep the large dog from eating them. I’m not kidding.

Sigh.

We visited yesterday, and I am in love. I’m especially fond of the little grey one. So fond, that I am (against all better judgment) considering bringing one home.

Rand and I both have allergies…mine a little more severe than his, and so the list of rational reasons why we should absolutely positively not bring a cat into our house is quite long.

But…but…kitty.

Tags: allergies, home, kittens

That’s me.

If I owe you a return phone call or email (or whatever), I sincerely apologize…the light at the end of my tunnel comes this Wednesday, when my teaching days are over. We still have two weeks after that of exams and grading and other end-of-year business, but the really hard part is over Wednesday.

I’ve been rather hermit-like most of the past two weeks or so…coming home after school and reading, or watching TV, or lurking on the Internet. Rand and I have gone out a couple of times–we managed to see Star Trek, which I liked quite a bit–but other than that, it’s been pretty quiet.

I’ll have some pictures coming soon of things I’ve baked and planted. I’ll probably have a “what I’ve read” update coming soon as well. Until then, happy Monday!

As seen on the blog of miss_shortskirt:

I think the best shows on TV right now are

Lost
How I Met Your Mother
Chuck

I think the best show(s) NOT on TV is (are)

The West Wing
Arrested Development

Shows I think I would like but haven’t watched yet are

Castle
Dollhouse

The show I am most anticipating is

Glee (oh, yes! me too!)

My go-to movies for repeat viewings are

When Harry Met Sally
Say Anything
The Princess Bride

I will watch any movie starring

Paul Rudd

I will listen to any CD by

Um…Ookla the Mok? (hee)
Carbon Leaf
Great Big Sea
Hawksley Workman
Ron Hawkins

My favorite musical soundtracks are

Rent
Les Miserables
Jesus Christ Superstar

My favorite Beatles song

Let it Be
or Come Together

My favorite Regina Spektor song

(Sorry, I don’t know who that is)

My favorite Weezer song

Uh….Buddy Holly? I’m actually not all that intimate with Weezer.

*ETA* Just realized that “Island in the Sun” comes up in my Pandora station all the time. I <3 that song.

My favorite Simon and Garfunkel song

Kathy’s Song

My favorite Britney Spears song

Sorry, got nothin’ here

My favorite movie soundtracks

Garden State
Juno
Moulin Rouge
**can’t really argue with those, but I will add:
Once
and also, Walk Hard (the Dewey Cox Story)

My favorite Disney movie

HOW CAN I POSSIBLY CHOOSE?
Um.
The Little Mermaid.
No, The Lion King.
No, Beauty and the Beast.
No, Aladdin.
Definitely one of those.

My favorite song from a Disney Movie

Friend Like Me
or Kiss the Girl
or Under the Sea

My favorite songs at this exact moment are

Pregnant Women are Smug
The Future Soon
Cold, Cold Heart
Short Skirt, Long Jacket

Tags: meme, movies, music, tv

Our new furniture was delivered this morning. Whee!

For contrast, I first present to you the old furniture:

We ended up posting the couch and chair on Buffalo FreeCycle last night, and someone came and picked them up this morning. I disappointed a bunch of people with the news that it was taken. No, I’m not kidding. Another person (from the Buffalo Dorks group on LiveJournal) claimed the tables and came and got them this afternoon.

Anyway, here’s the new stuff:

It’s much larger than the old stuff!

Now, check out some of the neat features…

(Please ignore my unshowered, sweatpants-wearing state…)

The top of the coffee table lifts up, which comes in handy, as this is where Rand and I eat most of our meals.

Also, the furniture is reclining. I like that it doesn’t really look like reclining furniture. The “levers” (or whatever) are actually hidden on the inside!

The delivery actually came very early this morning…we were scheduled for between 9 and 11, but they called shortly after 8 to say they were running ahead of schedule. They got here around 8:30.

So anyway…happy new furniture day!

Tags: furniture, house

Yes, this is the quiz that’s been making its way around facebook. I’m amused by it. If you’re not, feel free to move along.

Click here to take it on facebook (if you’re my friend there), or just see below the break for the answers!

Continue Reading »

Tags: facebook, how well do you know me, meme, quiz