Making It Work

I put peddle to metal and got the main walls finished, done, painted, FINITE today. I then took it one step further and organized two bookshelves, swept, added more junk to the pile of "why am I still holding on to this" and just kicked some all around condio booty. Not finished, but did good.

I'm real proud of myself.

It was difficult. It's difficult to paint walls when there isn't a place to move furniture to so it's out of the way. I did a lot of creative gymnastics to get everything accomplished. It's also difficult to leave of pile of "why am I still holding on to this" crap in a corner, when that corner needs to be multi-purposed for actual everyday use. In the words of my most favoritist of TV personalities, "make it work."



Hi Tim.

That's the look he gets right before he says those beautiful words.

It's true though. We all gotta make it work. Personally, things are not ideal a lot of the time. I'm an actor. I would like to be paid to be on a hit TV show and make movies on my Summer breaks, and someday only make movies and write them and be able to take actual vacations to Hawaii or London or Paris or Prague.

But, that's not my current situation. So I make it work. Right now it's by pouring most of my frustrated energy into having fun with my condio. Don't ask me what I'll do when I finish all my condio projects. Cause...I don't know where I'll be able to vent frustrations in a productive manner after this.

So for now....turn up this jam and dance.

Too much candy...

I'm munching on used to be melted, now solidified again, Halloween candy. I need to stop. I can't stop eating it and I can't stop staring at this living room:

(apartmenttherapy - Keely's Parisian Chic VOTE 4 it!)

I love it. I'm obsessed with it. I've wanted a black wall forever. I keep listening to people tell me a shouldn't paint a wall black, "it will be so depressing." Too bad so sad friends. I'm finally gonna do it.

Kombuchwhat?

I've been drinking the GT's Kombucha lately. Now that it's back at the Whole Foods that is.

I saw people drinking it before. People like Bethenny Frankel (you watch it, don't lie), my friend Jillian, Lincoln Park stroller moms who don't actually have a stroller their nanny does that, you know...all those people.

Then the drink was pulled from shelves for not being honest about the tiny minuscule amount of alcohol in it. I mean, the label did say it was "fermented" so really, what did people think that meant?

Anyway, it's back on the shelves and I obliged. I obliged several times. I really like it. It makes me feel good inside.

Problem: it's pricey. It's like buying a vente latte every morning. So I don't. I can maybe MAYBE buy one a week. Also, it does make me burp. But not near as much as I thought. It actually just made me feel a little jittery and really clean. Sounds weird, but it's true.

Part of me feels like this is one of those things that rich waspy people do. That it's not really healthy for me etc, but the label says it's healthy. So I believe it. I'm not a Kombucha expert. I assume GT (the brand) is so they know more than I do on the subject. If the Russian/Chinese/Japanese cultures of the world have sung it's praises for hundreds of years, why can't I sing along with them?

Bottoms up!

Ladies...

And if that's not enough for you...



And you guys, I don't even think she was actually in Germany when she filmed this! She's amazing!!

Breeeeeathe

(evajuliet)

I love this print. It looks kind of manly, like it would be hung in a barbershop. It's also very girly to me because I consider myself girly and I am very attracted to art prints with words. I have several prints I've ordered that include sayings or words.

Side note, my great grandpa owned a barber shop. Holla.

Life!Life!Life!

artwork by Jandy

Look at that sweeet piece of art. John made this for me for my birthday and put it in a frame. He made it in Excel. EXCEL! The man is a pixel art genius. The coin count at the top is our anniversary. He's a neat boyfriend. Perhaps I should keep him.

This week I'm pushing my organizing and cleaning and painting of the condio. Believe it or not, I'm still not done painting. Probably because I haven't been that organized about much lately. I'm getting better. I read the blog Apartment Therapy as much as I can (it's amazing, read it). The guy who came up with the blog/runs the blog/owns the blog, wrote this book:


I started it a long time ago, but only got past the first two chapters. I'm determined to finish it. At the beginning of the book he tells this story about a guy who couldn't get his life or work together after a break-up and his home in turn was a disaster. He got his home together and not only did his emotions begin to heal, but he got tons of work coming his way.

I'm not saying that getting my condio in full working order as a place that reflects my personal style and taste will get me acting jobs and I'm not going through a break-up. I would however like to come home, throw my purse on the couch and not have to stare at a wall with five paint colors on it and a bag of clothes that needs to be taken to Salvation Army like yesterday.

Birthday Week has ended.

I am exhausted, motivated, many pounds heavier (thank you multiple birthday dinners), and also really thirsty.

I'm not thrilled to be beginning this week. I'm REALLY FREAKING HOMESICK.

It's insane. It's bad. I'm sad. I want my mom and my dad and Texas. Like, yesterday.

I promise to make this the last time I whine about being so homesick lately. I'll never get past it if I keep talking about it so much.

On that note, enjoy these lovely musical sounds.



Nighty night y'all. Rest up so we can party next weekend all over again...for some reason I'll make up halfway through the week.

Happy Birthday to Yours Truly

(paisleybeetle)

It's mah birthday, pop the champagne.

Posts will NOT be daily because I'm celebrating.

Yipeeeeee!

Dream No More

Growing up I watched lots of old TV shows thanks to my dad. One of my favorites was Get Smart.

I had this secret dream that when I got older I would play Agent 99 in the movie remake of Get Smart. I would take my dad to the premiere and Don Adams would be there and I would introduce him to my dad.

Thanks Anne Hathaway for being a dream crusher.

Thanks.

From the bottom of my heart.

Thanks.

Yes, I know that Don Adams passed away before the remake came out. This is all Anne Hathaway's fault, regardless.

It's Birthday Week Y'all

As I mentioned yesterday, the beginning of this week is rather hectic for me. It's all good. Just lots of lines to memorize and then promptly execute.

I felt a little thrown off yesterday because it was damn warm. I didn't grow up with a real fall. I grew up in Texas and moved to Southern California shortly after high school so fall was not part of my vocab. HOWEVER, my body needs the change. It needs the cooler weather, the leaves changing, the crisp smell in the air. I need the weather to change and inspire me to make changes.

Cheesy. Yes. True. Also yes.

This week is also pretty exciting because it's my birthday week. This Thursday I get older. Pretty exciting that I've made it another year.

I read this post on Habitually Chic recently and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy in inside. This quote also made me proud to be an October baby:

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." - Nathaniel Hawthorne


Ah, wouldn't it be grand to be sitting right there all day reading a book? Oh well. Let the day begin and let me be oh so happy about it. After I finish my coffee. And eat something. And take a shower. And memorize some lines. And pay some bills. And well...you get the idea.

(P.S. Blogger is once again the stupidest thing ever. It won't let me NOT type in italics right now. Even if I type this elsewhere and paste it, it switches it to italics. I HATE BLOGGER. I even went into Edit HTML and took out the part that is making it italic. IT'S STILL FREAKIN' ITALIC.)

Moving and Shaking

For me the first few days of this week are PACKED. I'll officially be running at full speed. This song gives me that drive. I hear it and I feel like I have to move in fast motion.



I wish there was an official music video for this song. Janelle Monae is amazing, and her videos are AWESOME. I just watched the one for Cold War:



Beautiful.

Two songs for this Sunday? Y'all are lucky.

Pumpkins and More Pumpkins!

There is pumpkin everywhere.

There was pumpkin in my last post.

I'm getting excited because it's the time of year for a Molly tradition: Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake.

It's like the best pumpkin pie you'll ever have. In fact, if you don't like pumpkin pie you'll like this. I promise. I know people who can vouch for that statement.

Here's Paula's famous recipe:

Ingredients:

Cake:

• 1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 egg
• 8 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey.

Serve with fresh whipped cream.

recipe courtesy of paula deen.

This is best the next morning, fresh out of the refridgerator with a giant cup of coffee and whipped cream stirred together. Just sayin...

Texas, My Texas

It's no secret that I'm a Texan and proud of it. Texas is amazing. If you've never been, you're losing out.

I'm SUPER homesick right now. The last time I was able to go home was May. I won't be going home until December. That is an eternity to me.

One of my dearest friends was married around Halloween a few years ago. I spent the day after her wedding carving pumpkins with her and her husband. Guess what I carved:


No, not the smiley face. The Texas. My lopsided little Texas.

Texas I miss you! My heart is with you always.

That's all.

Green Tea

My grandmother is the reason I drink coffee. She fed it to me as a wee child. Recently during a phone call with her she said she has switched to green tea in the morning because it's not as harsh.

This morning I also decided to try green tea instead of coffee. My green tea is from Argo, and too sweet, and very gingery. I love Argo Tea. This tea is just okay. It has ginger pieces in it. Now that I'm down to the bottom of the cup I keep taking big sips with ginger pieces in it that feel super strange in mah mouth.

The main part though, I'm definitely not awake and I've finished the whole cup. Argh-ooooo!

Oh You Silly

Sometimes when I read the Red Eye, I have the urge to find some Silly Putty, press it against the paper, hold it up to a mirror and then read it.

It might the Red Eye more interesting OR more factual.

Feel The Power

I like using power tools. I like being handy. Growing up I would watch Bob Vila with my dad. Bob Vila is the sh*t y'all.

I don't own any power tools. I have dreams of renting tile saws, circular saws, staple guns, things I have absolutely no need for at this point.

Actually that's not entirely true. I would like to make extra money by restoring old gross flea market furniture and selling it on Craigslist and Ebay to people who have too much money to burn. I just don't have a place in which to restore furniture nor the time and money to start figuring out how the best ways to restore furniture.

I never realized until today though that so many fun tools come in so many fun colors:




Maybe someday I'll be a regular girly Bob Vila, who stars on a hit one hour drama on AMC.



It's real buzzy at the beginning, but it gets better. Oh Bob...

Blahblahblah

I seemed to be in a bit of a funk this week. I don't have anything particularly exciting going on this week so maybe that's why.

I need some excitement!

At least I can just close my eyes and relive my skydive.

I have to say...sometimes when things get really bad or I'm a little down, I remember what it felt like to jump out of an airplane. Seriously, things slide into perspective real quick.



Also, saying I'm in a "funk" is a cop out. I honestly believe I have a choice in how I feel. I can choose to stay funky or just force myself to be happy. May the force be with me. And you, if you need it.

Higher Altitudes

Songs! Because it's Sunday!



This song came on my iPod today and it made me happy. So peaceful and sweet. It was pretty chilly all weekend and even though it's supposed to warm up a little this week, we all know that Fall is coming.

Jessie Baylin is a great singer/songwriter. I adore her voice. She's also, supposedly, ScarJo's bff. WHOA. Not really that big of a deal.

OH.

For those of you wondering, I in fact made an apple pie. I couldn't let the delicious fall apples pass me by. That being said I had never made an applie pie before. I opted for a caramel apple pie. I messed up my apple layering though. It turned out to mainly be a caramel pie with some apple added. Still really good. :)


I also managed to blog every day this week. I promise I won't throw the daily themes in your face anymore. They will just be the inspiration.

Enjoy the start to a new week!

Pumpkins or Apples?

Sweets! Because it's a SWEET Saturday!

I found a delicious sounding recipe for Pumpkin Cupcakes:


Ingredients

Makes 18

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs. Add dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin puree.
3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway. Bake until tops spring back when touched, and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Thank you Martha.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to use a regular cream cheese icing or this yummy maple sounding icing, thank you Ina.

Now that I'm home and making an ingredient list I'm suddenly feeling guilty. Apples are still in season. I should probably make something with yummy tasty delicious apples. They don't always taste this good. But apple cupcakes don't sound as appetizing you know? I could make an apple pie...hmmm...wait a sec....

AHHHH!

I'll let you know what I decide.

That FACE!

Friday is all about what makes the heart sing.

This little guy basically has my whole heart. At least the part that his big sister doesn't have.


Mr. Gavin, my nephew in case you haven't heard me sing his name a million times a day, is knocking on 6 months now. I've only gotten to see him for one short trip since he was born. Gah, look at that old man face and tell me you don't love it? I DARE you.

Sometimes I think that I am missing something and that I shouldn't be here anymore and I should be where my little niece and nephew and the rest of my family are.

Then I remember how ticked off they would all be at me if I gave up pursuing my dreams to spend more time with them. They wouldn't spend time with anymore and it would defeat the whole purpose.

Besides, I'm supposed to be working toward supporting my parents in a "lifestyle they would like to become accustomed too." Those are my dads words.

I also want to be the kick-ass aunt who makes and buys kick-ass Christmas presents.