the cat’s in the bag

Posted on July 18, 2006 by mariko

I have many “things,” and among them is my thing for sandwich bags. So, I was delighted to find the following to add to my stash of reusable baggies:

hellokitty bags.JPG
Hello indeed!

Posted in General | 19 Comments

sweet things

Posted on July 17, 2006 by mariko

I don’t know if you noticed, but I haven’t blogged about candy in quite some time. Let’s fix that. I got some great Japanese candies from Kat last week.

kat candy kakigori.JPGkat candy kitcat.JPG
kat candy pack.JPGkat candy whiteen.JPG
The package in the upper left contains gummies in shave ice flavors. The texture is amazing! The Kit Kat is azuki bean flavor, I think. Quite tasty!
And today I found a few limited edition and new sweet treats that I could not resist:
candy reeses ltd edition.JPG
Reese’s peanut butter cups with marshmallow! It’s very sweet, as you can imagine. They also had Take 5 with marshmallow, but I exercised self-control and restraint and did not purchase it.
candy oreos ltd edition.JPG
Limited edition Oreo dunkers. I liked the shape, so I got them. I’m sending them as part of a cookie swap, so I hope the recipient likes Oreos!
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Dark chocolate M&Ms! I have to confess that I am really more of a milk chocolate girl, and I realize that makes me kind of low brow, but there you go. Anyway, these are pretty yummy and don’t taste drastically different from the regular M&Ms, but I am POSITIVE that they are loaded with the antioxidants found in dark chocolate, so yes, they are a health food, and you can place them in that category with confidence.

Posted in candy/chocolate | 15 Comments

treasure trove

Posted on July 16, 2006 by mariko

My parents’ house is crammed full of … stuff. There’s stuff everywhere. The upside of this is once in a while I will find a little gem:

mushroom forest stitchery.JPG
A mushroom forest stitchery kit! My mother thinks she bought it, or maybe it was my grandmother (my grandmother died around 1978). What’s funny is a few years ago I would have thought this was the most hideous thing ever, yet today I find it charming. Just goes to show you should never throw anything away. Bahahahahaha.

Posted in other crafting | 11 Comments

there’s fungus among us

Posted on July 15, 2006 by mariko

george pedicure.JPG
My 90-year-old father had his first ever pedicure the other day. He’s too old to reach his feet, and his nails are too gnarled and nasty for anyone but this sweet Vietnamese manicurist to want to touch. He was a little confused about what was going on, but everyone at the salon was so gracious that he ended up having a great time. Next time I think my mother and I will join in!

Posted in General | 13 Comments

mug shots

Posted on July 13, 2006 by mariko

Lordy, as if I don’t have enough things over which to obsess, I think I’ve accidentally rekindled my fixation with Fire King glassware! It’s been a good year or two since I bought a Japanese book about Fire King, and I haven’t collected any pieces for a number of years. So far, so good, but then last week when we were camping, the people we camped with were so gracious and generous that I decided, hey, I should get them the Japanese Fire King book, since they collect a bunch of Fire King. One thing led to another, and I ended up ordering not just that one Fire King book but three others on Fire King and Pyrex and other fun stuff.
This book takes the cake, I think:

fk mug book cover.JPG
ISBN 4-309-26682-7
Dudes, it’s all about Fire King mugs! I quiver just thinking about amassing all these novelty mugs!
Look, don’t you think Peter should build me similar shelves?
fk mugs display.JPG

Will ya look at all of these?!?
fk mugs drinks.JPGfk mugs restos.JPG
fk mugs family.JPGfk mugs swirls.JPG
Honestly, some of these make me want to cry and pee at the same time! I’m not the best finder of good old stuff, so my pocketbook might be somewhat safe.
Here’s another book I got:
pyrex book cover.JPG
ISBN 4-582-63410-9
It’s called “Junk Ware.” Ha ha ha! Anyway, I have one more book coming, but my brother is currently holding it hostage (well, not really, but it sounds more dramatic that way, doesn’t it?).

Posted in General | 10 Comments

the green scene continues

Posted on July 12, 2006 by mariko

I think I kicked my fatigue thing! I caffeinated the yin yang out of myself yesterday, and that seemed to freak out my body enough to hoist it out of its fatigue hold. Weird. Anyway, I managed to finish up another Favorite Things skirt.

green gingham skirt.JPG
This fabric is a gingham that has little daisies on it. It’s 50/50, which made me hesitate, but then I decided I didn’t care, and really, that 50% polyester gives it the oomph it needs to hang and not stick to my underwear, which is a good thing.
Thanks for all the cheeky advice! Next time you see me, I will be all rouged up for sure.

Posted in sewing | 15 Comments

cheeky business

Posted on July 11, 2006 by mariko

Hey, it’s time again for some beauty talk! Maybe a couple of you have wondered whether I heeded any of your past advice. I have! I still use the Aveeno brightening moisturizer, and I did try the Bare Escentuals mineral foundation (too makeupy for me). I also got that Bigelow lip balm, which is nice and minty.

cheek.JPG

I can’t believe I am showing you a photo of my hyperpigmented, splotchy cheek. Well, anyway, I don’t really wear much makeup to speak of, but I decided recently that I should wear blush. I have tried some of those gel stick blush things as well as stuff you smear on with your fingers, and I have come to the conclusion that I would prefer something I can brush on–no muss, no fuss. I think I want something pink and rosy, but would I look like a scary grandma? I welcome all your suggestions on your favorite brands, colors, you name it!

Posted in General | 48 Comments

deconstruction

Posted on July 10, 2006 by mariko

There’s been little time for crafting as of late. We rented a 10-yard drop box, and we only have it for about 4 days, so we feel a bit rushed to fill it up. Peter is working on 2 projects simultaneously–ripping out and installing a new bathroom sink and vanity and tearing down a kitchen wall. Here’s a shot of the kitchen partially demolished with the wall still there and a shot with the wall gone:

kitchen with wall.JPGkitchen construction.JPG
Not having that wall really opens up the kitchen space (duh). Peter’s going to put in some insulation and drywall, but the big kitchen remodel won’t happen until next summer.
I’m working on another green skirt, but I doubt I’ll have it finished soon. I’ve been suffering from some sort of super fatigue for the past week, and I have very little energy. Action Hero Melissa suggested I try Tab Energy or Coca-Cola Blak. Oh, it’s also free Slurpee day!

Posted in General | 10 Comments

back from skamokawa

Posted on July 7, 2006 by mariko

We’re back from our short camping/boating adventure! We headed down the Columbia River on the Washington side and put the boat in at Cathlamet, the second oldest town in the state (according to a brochure in the Hai-Ying Chinese Restaurant). Here’s the marina where we stayed the first night. You can barely see our boat there.

cathlamet marina.JPG
Clean showers & clean bathrooms!
The following day we sailed and motored down to Skamokawa. The weather was kind of crazy and cold, and it even rained on us. Here’s the town of Cathlamet from the water:
cathlamet from water.JPG
There are lots of sloughs and little inlets and such, so the area is quite popular with kayakers and canoers.
It was fun to see giant container ships buzz on by. Those things are HUGE.
big ship from skamakowa.JPG

In Skamokawa we pulled the boat out at a little boat ramp. Please note the historic bridge and building in the background:
ouzel at skamokowa boat ramp.JPG

We then camped on the boat at Skamokawa Vista Park, a really nice campground right on the water. It was so cold we froze our patooties off, but wouldn’t you know, the day we leave, the weather is sunny and warm! We still had a great time, though.

Posted in sailing | 8 Comments

sailing takes me away

Posted on July 4, 2006 by mariko

I had grand plans today! After running the Foot Traffic Half with Action Hero Melissa, I was going to bake two giant batches of cookies and get my hair cut. Instead, I slept the entire afternoon. I guess I was a little overzealous at the run (don’t get the wrong idea–I’m not fast or competitive in the least) and ended up getting a headache and probably a bit dehydrated. I also ate two servings of strawberry shortcake, which probably wasn’t the best idea.
But anyway, Peter and I are off on a sailing adventure for the next few days, so the sewing of the green wardrobe is temporarily on hold. See ya in a few!

Posted in General | 4 Comments