It's been a while, hasn't it? I haven't been blogging about traffic for some reason. I mean, it's there every week. Anyway, I had a particular point of talking about the traffic today. You see, people go on and on about how humans have destroyed forests and such. I must say that when you see a deer walking along the interstate, it might just be a fact.
However, I like to imagine that these animals prefer the suburbs. Of course they don't, but they are masters of adaptation. Other animals that you might just spot during a morning commute? Check out my great list below:
- Foxes—They might be cute on cartoons, but good gosh, not so much in real life.
- Skunks—Hold the tomato juice please. No, I'm kidding. You can get rid of skunk smell with specialized products.
- Rats—Unfortunately, this is a fact in most major cities.
- Neighborhood "pets"—Random dogs and cats might roam your neighborhood. Don't expect them to clean up after themselves either.
- Rabbits—Cute and fluffy, but only if they aren't flattened by a car.
I have been very newly informed about Kirby Ferguson. While I have been watching many of his videos since, I really wanted to showcase his series, Everything is a Remix. This should be four parts and the first two are already up and out. If you have some time, watch the videos below.
I'm honestly not a huge fan of American football (or any sport, really), but I still watch the game. My sisters and I threw a party and I thought I'd share some eye candy of the event. Enjoy!
Thanks to last fall's purchase of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes cookbook, I challenged myself to make all 175 recipes. I have no deadline or anything. Instead, I make them as they come. Though I am not going in any particular order, I have been skipping through sections to switch up the difficulty. This edition is all about Peanut Butter-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes.
As usual, I gathered my ingredients. This is for the chocolate batter.
I also had to grab some other ingredients for the peanut butter filling. Just a couple needed here. You can also see the recipe right there. Doesn't it look delicious in the photograph?
Next step was to work with the chocolate batter. It was not too bad. Chocolate is usually a bit messy for me.
Before I could really throw the chocolate into a paper lined muffin pan (yes to easy clean up!), I had to get my peanut butter filling mixed. Surprisingly, this whole process did not require use of a mixer, just physical mixing.
The recipe called for alternating between chocolate batter and peanut butter filling. Then, you were to swirl the top. I think my measurements were off though.
After baking for nearly 40 minutes, I had the finished result. Maybe not exactly like the photo, but very tasty. I'm thinking that my skills are slightly improving though, so that's a relief.
A candle is such a versatile item. It can be given as a gift, used as decoration, burned for relaxation and much more. What makes a candle more than just any candle? When YOU make it of course! I made candles as Christmas gifts for close friends and you could make them for your friends/loved one(s) for Valentines as well. It was a new experience for me that was made easier by my choice of supplier. I ordered online at CandleScience and followed their guide. Hit the jump for supplies and such.
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Expense: Moderate
Materials (available in craft stores and online):
- Wax (I used paraffin, but choose the right kind for your project)
- Pre-tabbed wicks
- Dye Blocks or Chips
- Container or Candle Mold (for pillars and votives)
- Wick Bar to hold the wick during pouring
- Wooden Spoon for stirring
- Pouring Pitcher and double boiler
- Thermometer to check wax temperature
- Candle fragrance (optional)
- Decorative materials like glitter or stickers (optional)
- Warning Labels (recommended when giving gifts)
I have been on a video game kick this year. I've been buying games a bit extensively (I can admit this with all honesty). My favorite so far is Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Nintendo Wii. I finally bought this title a few weeks ago and I have been enjoying the game so far with B. Hit the jump for my full review.
The year 2011 has been around for ten days and I've just resumed blogging. There are many excuses I could offer to you (I'm crocheting a tablecloth, I have been working on the Sketchbook Project, I'm playing video games...), but nothing changes the fact that I don't always have the time to blog. So, my sincerest apologies for the lack of posts, but I'm back in action. Also, I believe that I kept last year's resolution: to blog.
I posted all kinds of things in 2010 and many of them will continue this year—movie reviews, my BOM: Cupcake Challenge, Thursday Traffic, etc. Some items will return with more dedication like DIY projects. So, while it might be a late start, Newfoundjoye is still around.
After a long moment of nothingness, I plan on adding more about books to Newfoundrhapsody. I have a library of reading materials to share and dissect, so if you've wondered why it's never updated, you can actually see some posts in a few days.
Instead of Threadless in my sidebar, you can expect to see Society6. I like the way it works much better. You can purchase prints or clothes, so check out my studios if you have the time.
I look forward to posting more in 2011. Please, return for more.
