Bloody Crafty

Another Crafty Project

Now that we've officially entered Fall, the countdown to the greatest holiday of the year begins.  And like in years past, the craftiness must ensue.  Of course I'm referring to Halloween and the costumes that are required. This year we are doing SpongeBob Squarepants as our theme.  After succumbing to the long white robe and bunned hair of Princess Lea last year, I decided this year I would be cute again which ended the discussion of me being Sandy (a squirrel is bad enough but a squirrel dressed up as an astronaut was not only not cute but tiresome).  So we'll have two Spongebobs - me as a cute version and the artistic second grader will pull off the real deal.

The craftiness comes in with the other two boys.  The will-be-six-year-old-by-Halloween wants to be Patrick and after I found a sweet Squidward mask I decided Eric could be him.  Sadly, we soon found out that I didn't really find the mask - I only found a picture of the mask and it was out of stock.  But through the wonderment of the Internet I found a picture of someone else in a homemade Squidward mask and have decided that between the four of us we can make one with posterboard and craft paper and styrofoam balls.  It will be perfect!  But the real craftiness comes in the form of Patrick.  There are no Patrick costumes (I lost every auction on eBay because apparently $80 is a totally rationale cost for a six year old's halloween costume) and no patrick costume patterns.  Enter the bloody crafty part of me.  I found a penguin pattern which is kind of like a starfish, some pink fleece material, and some green and purple polyester fabric I'll just sew on to make his shorts.  The head will be tricky - but I figure if we can make Squidward - a pointy top should be easy.

I have five weeks.  We'll see how it goes.  I'm not even sure I remember how to use the sewing machine - but I DO know where it is.  So let the games begin!

And the winner is...

 I think anyone that would read this blog would get my review of the Emmy's but just in case.  Elaine wins in Narcisco Rodriguez.  There were so close seconds - America Ferrera, Vanessa Williams, Kyra Sedgwick, Evangeline Lilly.  I think Badgley Mishka or Elie Saab had the most frocks on the red carpet.  So they win too.

And this officially kicks off the fall season with all writer's in tow.  I'm mostly interested in returning shows - Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, The Office, 30 Rock, Survivor, the Amazing Race.  But nothing is as good as Gossip Girl.  If i was in high school, I would be DYING to be Serena and Blair.  In fact, I'd probably be dying to be Serena but I would look like Blair in her pretty sweaters and tailored skirts and headbands - much more my style.  But inside I'd like to have Serena's hair and body.  I guess the drinking martini's at age 17 would be frowned upon by parents and they aren't the most fiscally responsible - but I'm obsessed with their imaginary world.  How fun would it be to have a Gossip Girl to spy on your whole school.  Or the Emmy's red carpet for that matter.  xoxo!

A Good Shopping Experience

I want to be a JCrew model when I grow up.

Historically I do not have a hard time shopping.  If I need something or something needs me, I just buy it.  However, I have often found that if I want to buy something for whatever reason I won't find anything and if I can't afford anything every single bloody thing I have ever wanted or needed will be begging to be purchased immediately.  So I'm always pleasantly surprised when things work out and my quest is successful.  Yesterday was one of those days - kind of.

I've been dying over the fall J Crew collection since it was first unveiled in late July.  I've flipped through every catalog thousands of times even though they're basically the same.  But JCrew is tricky.  They put things together that could never look good on a normal person - like sweatshirts with pinstriped suit skirts.  But it's still inspiring.  So I finally made it to the store yesterday with the goal of getting something fresh for fall that I could wear to a meeting this Thursday.  I got some skirts (all in shades of gray - I just can't seem to help myself this season - two weeks ago I bought THREE gray dresses in one day) and way too many argyle sweaters (I do believe there is a limit on the amount of argyle one can wear) and some cute pants (I rarely buy pants) all in a size 6 - I was going to be fair to myself and the current state of my body and not be disappointed by the size of anything - and trucked off to the well lit dressing room.  [That might be the longest run-on sentence ev-ah.]

The two skirts were super cute - but too big!  Woo hoo - success already.  The sweaters were not nearly as cute as I had hoped.  Those ruffly ones that I've been dying over for 8 weeks are really poorly fitted.  And the pants were FANTASTIC!  One would think now I could proceed diretly to the counter and make the purchase.  But not at JCrew.  Once things fit it's time to figure out color.  I think I spent thirty minutes walking in circles with a very nice 22 year old trying to see what goes with black and gray and brown and buttercup and persimmon and mushroom. 

Finally an hour after I entered, I left with only ONE gray skirt, one argyle cardigan, one persimmon cableknit, and one pair of tan pants.  All four pieces can be mixed and matched like Garanimals, so I got four outfits for a very reasonable price.  Some people might even start to confuse me with a JCrew model.  Some blind people - but still.

The Politics of Stupidity

Living in Denver, I should have commented on the Democratic National Convention a few weeks ago but it was my birthday and I should have commented on that too.  Safe to say that I should comment on a lot of things more frequently and actually make this blog readable.  But alas pending unemployment zaps the creative energy again.

So I'll summarize - Bill, Hillary, Joe Biden's son, and Obama killed.  Rudy Guiliani is a dick.  Sarah Palin was condescending. And John McCain was painfully boring.  I'm pretty clear on my beliefs and opinions, so I can't even understand the mindset of an undecided voter.  But if the last eight years weren't scary enough, these two videos should help those people decide.

I just can't wait for the debates to begin.  The first one is sadly on a Friday night (September 26) which probably won't be well viewed or reported without morning news shows squaking about it for the next 24 hours.  But the second one with my friend, Tom [Brokaw], on Tuesday, October 7 will be AWESOME.  I promise.  Let's just hope the right people are paying attention since apparently they aren't watching The Daily Show which provides a very clear picture daily (natch).