BlogStalkers 3.0 Weeks 6 & 7 – Potlucks & Traditions

So, going on with the Blogstalkers’ posting, these two weeks themes are:

Blogstalkers’ Virtual Potluck. I’m bringing…
Lets see, I’d probably go overboard. My (not yet so famous, but loved by anyone that has tried it breathes now) veggie lasagna. Recipe? There is no recipe! I always always make it different. The base is: a nice pan-worth of sauteed assorted veggies. Whatever you like, as much as you want! Make it so it has some liquid left, add tomato sauce, wine, broth, water. It does need that liquid. Then a batch (or two, depending how my eyeing is that day) of standard white sauce (olive oil, flour, salt, pepper, nutmeg, milk) and no-cook lasagna noodles. Layer like so: *white sauce, noodles, veggies* repeat from * to * two more times (more or less, depends how deep your pan is), one more layer of noodles, one more layer of white sauce, top with grated cheese. Let rest a couple of hours so the pasta soaks up the liquid from the veggies. Bake at 180ºC for 45-50 minutes. Dive in!

And also I’d take some dessert. Cake or cookies. Depending on the mood. I know! The Chocolate-Stout Cookies. Go have a look at the recipe. Go make them. Enjoy them just slightly warm. They’re delicious, if I say so myself!

Favourite Holiday Tradition
Now on my “adult” (yeah, sure, adult giggle) life.. Ok, scratch that. Now with my boyfriend, I think my two favourite traditions are: setting up the tree together. Usually the first / second weekend of December. This also includes go look / shop for new ornaments, if we find something we both like. And then, once the tree is up, and with the lights on, sit down together, and make our own Christmas cards. Write a little something on each of them and address them and send them to their final destinations.

And that’s all until next week!

It’s That Time Of The Year

If you’re a reader from years back, you know in 2007 and 2006 I had a Christmas no-contest. No-Contest? Yes, because everybody wins. We like to make our Christmas cards, for Jan and me to send to friends, and since we’re at it, we make a few more, and send them around the world!

So, what do you have to get an original, hand made, Christmas card in your mailbox? You just have to send me an email through the Contact me (and only through the contact me, ok? doesn’t matter if you have my email, use the form, pleaaaaaaaase). In that email, you have to give me your:

  • Name (and Nickname if I know you better by one)
  • Snail mail address (yes, this is old-fashioned paper & envelope). Please include the country too.

Of course, there is a deadline to send me the info. I need to plan the design(s), and know if I have enough cardstock and envelopes or need to buy more, and then make all the cards, and write a little something to each of you. So, you have until the 2nd of December.

Small print? I will only use your address to send this one Christmas card, and I won’t share it with anyone or sell it to anyone.

Edit: He wants a card too!

Blogstalkers 3.0 Weeks 4 & 5 – The morning edition.

So, for the previous / next weeks (I think it is those two), the topics for Blogstalkers 3.0 are “What is your favourite breakfast?” and “What makes you back into a human in the morning?” that are closely related, in my opinion, so it’s great to write about both at the same time.

First, what makes me back into human in the morning. Because it’s the third thing I do in the morning (after popping in my eyes, and using the toilet :p). Shower. I need my morning showers, it’s to me like coffee to other people. Considering I have caffeine induced sleep, it makes sense. I like to take a quick shower in the morning to get awake. And so that I don’t growl instead of talking if anyone comes near (luckily, in the mornings I’m usually alone, so no biting needed).

Then, after getting dressed, comes breakfast. My daily breakfast is: one multivitamin, one glass of orange juice, two or three toasts (homemade multicereal bread!) with Nutella. My favourite breakfast tho? Breakfast buffet with lots of fresh fruit, different kinds of bread, butter, jam, cheese, some freshly baked pastries, and depending on the mood, hot chocolate, coffee or tea ;) Yep, I’m a spoiled brat like that!

BlogStalkers 3.0 Week 3 – The Driving Force

This week’s topic for BlogStalkers 3.0 is what driving force inspired me to take up knitting.

I learnt to knit when I was 14 maybe? I don’t remember, actually. My mother used to knit a lot, and I wanted to do something, so after finishing some petit-point works, I asked her to teach me how to knit. I chose some funky acrylic thick and thin in red. And wanted to knit a scarf. Typical starters project. Mother casted on for me, and helped me fix all the mistakes I made and then taught me how to cast off. And that was it.

A few years later I took knitting again, and wanted to knit a veeery wide scarf (that was fashionable back then)… And never finished, because I got bored of it. And then it went on suspend for a couple of years. Then I got Stitch and Bitch – The knitter’s handbook, taught me how to cast on, and do multiple stitches, and read patterns, and found Knitty. And then I became a Knitter. Not afraid to try anything!

Although it seems that I don’t knit much right now. This semester I’m so busy, I barely have time to take a rest, least of all knit. Or when I do have time to knit (like now, after dinner) I’m so tired, that I don’t feel at all like knitting. My poor Anastasia sock is languishing!

What is Your Taste in Art

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test…

Conscientious, Fulfilled, and Spiritual

37 Renaissance, 14 Islamic, 30 Ukiyo-e, -35 Cubist, -43 Abstract and 3 Impressionist!

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life.  Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence affected literature, philosopy, religion, art, politics, science, and all other aspects of intellectual enquiry. Renaissance artists looked at the human aspect of life in their art.  They did not reject religion but tended to look at it in it’s purest form to create visions they thought depicted the ideals of religion.  Painters of this time had their own style and created works based on morality, religion, and human nature.  Many of the paintings depicted what they believed to be the corrupt nature of man.

People that like Renaissance paintings like things that are more challenging. They tend to have a high emotional stability. They also tend to be more concientious then average. They have a basic understanding of human nature and therefore are not easily surprised by anything that people may do. They enjoy life and enjoy living. They are very aware of their own mortality but do not dwell on the end but what they are doing in the present. They enjoy learning, but may tend to be a bit more closed minded to new ideas as they feel that the viewpoint they have has been well researched and considered. These people are more old fashioned and not quite as progressive. They enjoy the finer things in life like comfort, a good meal, and homelife. They tend to be more spiritual or religious by nature.  They are open to new aesthetic experiences. 

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at Hello Quizzy

I’m Sick… Again

For the what? 6th time in the last month and a half.. I’m getting really tired of this cold that won’t leave me. So I decided to stay home and hopefully get rid of it. Also I get bored ’cause I can’t do much but curling on the couch and watch tv, because I can’t focus or do anything that requires bending my head much (runny nose, anyone?).

It’s already November, and that means that I missed my fourth blogging anniversary for nearly a month (check the first post on this blog, from October 8th 2005!). It also means that my birthday is close. One year more on the shoulders. Best friend is helping me plan a party.

November is also National Novel Writing Month and National Knit a Sweater Month, and if you choose so, you can also do National Blog Posting Month (altho this is every month). Guess what? I’m not doing any of them. I’m not setting myself up to failure.

I tried NaNoWriMo last two years, and I didn’t get past the first 5,000 words (out of 50,000). I tried Ravelympics 2008 with a pair of socks, and I didn’t get past the foot of the first. Do you see a theme here? I don’t do well with “Do ____ in ____ time”

End of random scattering of thoughts from a snotty brain high on cold medicine.

BlogStalkers 3.0 Week 2 – I Love…

This week’s topic for Blogstalkers 3.0 is “I Love _____ Because _____”. Let’s see what I come up with:

  • I love weekends because I can sleep in.
  • I love waking up (relatively) early because it feels like the day has more hours and I can do more things.
  • I love my best friend because she makes me get out of the house.
  • I love cold weather because I love snuggling up under a blanket with the boy, with a glass of wine and some good music.
  • I love baking because it smells delicious!.