Cocktail: a mixed drink that contains alcohol. And happiness.

Posted by M


Looking for a way to combine crafts and cookies? And maybe even a little Crème de Cacao (ever wonder when you actually USE crème de cacao? I know I did.)
Well if so, then have I got the craft for you!

Presenting: Making a cocktail glass!

Do you know how many hits come up when you search "cocktail glass" in ClipArt? 64. I find that hilarious and yet so wrong...




Okay, so we're not actually making glass. We lack the necessary glass-blowing skills. But it is amazing how easy it is to make a personalized cocktail glass with a short trip to your local dollar store. Ah, how I love the dollar store.

Things to buy:

• One cocktail glass (didn't see that coming, did you?)-$1 each
• Stick-on jewels - found in the craft section, there is TONS of choice-$1/sheet
• Small beads and metal jewelry chord (if you want to be REALLY fancy)

 The beauty of this craft is how easy it is! Take the supplies home and decorate your glass to your heart's content! The more bling, the better! Be sure to add some pressure to each jewel, otherwise they will slip off when washed. Which would really suck, but at least you'll still have a functional glass and alcohol to drown your sorrows with...so totally win-win. Add some awesome friends to craft with, and you're golden!

Once you have a sweet, blinged-out glass, why not try out this amazing cocktail:


Cookies n'Cream Cocktail

 Blend ½ cup of ice in blender. Add 1 ounce of Vanilla Vodka, ¾ ounce of Crème de Cacao, 2 crushed oreo cookies, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Blend well. Top with more crushed oreos, this makes 1 cocktail. Bon appétit!

Check 'er out:

Insert drool here.

<stick on jewels!

K's Response Countdown (see left side of screen)

Posted by K


I have decided to declare war on the bus. My commute has lengthened by an average of 30 minutes, bringing my daily trip total to 3 hours. Which is good news for my bus points, but bad news for my mental health. Upon reflection, I decided I should try and maintain what little sanity I have remaining. A couple weeks ago I started sending complaints/suggestions to the bus company in the naive belief that they weren't aware that their "new schedule" wasn't being followed (i.e. 2-3 buses fail to show up in a row...every single day.)

I noticed the option to ask for a response from the company when you complain, so I requested one. 4 days ago. I'm not sure the bus company grasps the dire-ness of the situation (my head may explode if I spend another week getting hopeful every time I hear loud engines, then being crushed when it turns out to be a mattress truck instead of a bus.) So then I decided to move up the chain of command to my local councillor. So far no response either. So now I'm adding my councillor to my daily e-mail list. Enjoy.

Is it wrong to count weekends in my response wait? I think not: isn't there some sort of expression, "politics never sleeps" or something to that effect? I'm thinking next time I'll sign my letter "a voting member of your constituency". Maybe that'll garner an answer.

Note: I realize we started this blog with the intention of including non-bus related things, like crafts! I'm going to stop hi-jacking it for angry bus rants...soon...like when I actually get a response. For reals.


UPDATE: I finally got a response from all parties involved, so I took down the "Response Countdown". For the sad but inevitable conclusion to this story, click HERE

The Case of the Missing Camera Cord

Posted by K


My camera recharging cord is still M.I.A., though I do have a person-of-interest in the case.

                  This is Quincy. Quincy the cat:

Mug Shot: Cute but deadly.

He enjoys staring out the window, drinking water straight from the tap, and hiding on dark stairs in an effort to trip people into an early grave. He is pretty successful at all of these hobbies.

You might think it's silly to accuse a cat of hiding/stealing a camera cord, but he has a long history of mayhem to back up my suspicions.
His list of victims include: 3 remote controls, 3 headphones (chewed to death), 5 gift bages, 2 books and 1 camera cord (allegedly).

His patented move is to jump on my bed, all purring and cute, then (when I'm sleeping or my back is turned) start knocking stuff from my bedside table into my garbage can. If I don't notice in time, it goes out with the trash, never to be seen again. The books he destroyed by knocking a full glass of water off my desk. Landed all over a pile of my novels and my portable DVD player. I chose to save the DVD player...I guess that's what society has come to: technology over books. In my defense, the DVD player was way more expensive than the books.

The investigation is on-going. The suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law (or until  I find the chewed remains under my bed).

Bus hours redeemed = New Boots!

Posted by K


note: Please imagine "We are the Champions" by Queen playing in the background while you read this post. Trust me, it makes it like, 10 times more awesome.

I made it! The first 100 bus hours has been reached! The culmination of all my bruises and complaining arrived in the form of a sweet new pair of boots!

They look really cute! Plus, they're sturdier than my last boots, so if someone with giant feet steps on me now, I'm protected. Like Captain America's shield, but on my feet. And without the patriotic-ness.

Unfortunately my camera is dead, so I haven't been able to take photos of my awesome boots. In the meantime, I'm using this randomly selected picture to represent my new boots:

Piñata! Not my boots, but almost as awesome.

Hopefully my camera will be functional again soon, so I can take a real picture.

Yay for 100 bus hours!! I wonder if the bus company will send me a commemorative pin? I'll have to investigate this...

Less than 6 bus hours until New Boots!!

Posted by K


I've almost hit the 100 hour mark! So freaking exciting! In less than a week I will walk into a shoe store, show them my old, hole-ridden boots and say "help me. For the love of goodness, help me."

And I have definitely earned new boots. In the last week alone I've been smacked and squished so much I keep finding random bruises, and I'm like "how did that happen? Oh yeah, that guy stepped on top my foot with his honking big shoes...twice." or, "Why is my arm so sore?! Oh right, I was clinging for dear life to one of those stupid rubber hand loops for over 30 minutes. That'll do it."

The world will be my boot oyster! I could choose anything! ANYTHING!
...
Except for these:

Yikes.

That is just heinous. Like an Ugg boot married a goat and had little boot children. Apologies if you own these boots, I just personally don't see the beauty. Or the functionality. Wouldn't the hairy stuff get all wet and smelly in the rain/snow?! See, these are the things I wonder about. Maybe they're ridiculously comfortable or something, I guess that would be redeeming.

Anyway, enough boot dissing, almost time for boot shopping! Wish me luck!

Friday Night Movie Reviews: That pesky bird

Posted by M


Every few Friday nights we like to escape into movies, wine and all-dressed chips. Ahh, the oh-so-perfect combination. We started this tradition by watching some chickflick classics along the lines of 'The Wedding Singer' and 'Failure to Launch', then slowly broadened our horizons to the tune of 'Leap Year'. (Yes, we are and adventurous lot.)
p.s.- We were not fans of the oh-so-promising, yet painfully dull, latter film. I mean, how can a rom-com based in Ireland not keep your interest? HUH?! Anyway, I digress...

It was that last film that made us think we were ready for something a little more...dare I say it...racy! Something a little risque, yet still accessible. For our first delve into the indie film industry, we thought "why not take it light?". A little Queen Amidala, a classic 'That 70's Show' alum, and some French actor who I've only ever seen in high-budget American movies. What could be lighter than that?! Anyway:

ENTER: THE DRAGON. Actually, it was 'Enter: the Swan'. No Bruce Lee here, I'm sorry to say.

I will eat your soul. And enjoy it.

Fast-forward to the ending scene of 'Black Swan'. There we sat. Jaws on the floor. Eyes bulging. No idea what just hit us.

Spoiler Alert: This film is not only deeply disturbing, but rivals the shock and horror of the 10 minutes of the tv show 'Hoarder's' I once sat through.

All we could do for a full 2 minutes was mouth "What?...Why?.." and laugh nervously. We then started listing off people to whom we could hand over this newly purchased gem ($10 on amazon = money poorly spent.) I should mention that no one came to mind (No matter whether you love or hate this film, NO ONE could possibly recommend it without prefacing with "Have you been missing that weirded-out, creepy feeling in your life? Well do I have a movie for you...")

Let me just say this: We knew it was going to be a rough ride. We were prepped with full wine glasses and open minds. But nothing, NOTHING, can prepare you for the victimized feeling this movie will give you. And believe me, I know I am sheltered when it comes to certain things, but I think imaginary lesbian encounters, murder (or is it suicide? Conundrum!), and human's growing swan feathers would be enough to make anyone shake their head in disbelief.

That being said, definite props to Portman and Kunis, who were simply amazing just for pulling it off. How you get through scenes like those in one piece, I have NO idea. My cap is wayyyyy off to them, Oscar nom. and win well deserved.

 Final Recommendation: Watch only if you feel Hollywood has been neglecting the "deep-psychological-problems-through-interpretive-dance"  movie genre.
Drinking is very necessary, nay obligatory. And under NO circumstances should you watch this movie alone. Unless you want to be double-checking your mirror reflection for red-eye all night. And for the love of goodness don't bite any of your hangnails during this movie. Seriously.

Up next on Friday Movie Reviews: Eat, Pray, Love or Hate. Teehee.

Bus-iquette tip of the week: Giant Backpack Syndrome

Posted by K

Ah, back to school; the time for loud, crazy, spirit-suckingly overloaded buses. I’m sure everyone riding the bus, like me, is wondering what crime they committed against the universe that caused karma to stick them on a bus full of inescapable noise and humanity. Axe Body Spray-covered humanity.

And I’m sure it’s no easier for the students; not only do you have to spend your last minutes of freedom crammed into a box on wheels like a sardine, but you are glared at by angry people with brief cases. 

Here’s a tip to minimize the angry glares: If you’re wearing a backpack twice your size, don’t stand at the only bus exit. I know you think that moving yourself over 2 inches when people need to get off solves everything, but when your backpack is still stuck out 3 feet behind you it doesn’t help. At all. Believe me, it’s a really unpleasant way to start the day. It shouldn’t feel like you’ve come through a game of Red Rover just to get off the bus. 

With giant backpack comes great responsibility. Or sensibility…whichever one stops people from blocking the door.