Thursday, April 26, 2012

D's Big Quarter of a Century Milestone

My wonderful boyfriend is getting older. 25 to be exact!


For his actual day of birth, D had a BJJ symposium and grading conference over that whole weekend. We still managed to steal some time the night of his actual birthday to watch the fights with friends.

I made him a cake, because you have to have cake on your birthday, even if you aren't celebrating it until a later date!
D turns the big 2-5!
 So because I am a student, and incredibly poor this time of year, I had to get a little creative for D's birthday gift. I saw this post: 1 Year of Dates on Shannon Brown's blog and fell in love with the idea!
D says I am not decisive enough when it comes to options for us to go out and do things....So I gave him one year of decisive, and unique dates. We'll be trying new things, tasting new foods, and going places we haven't been before. Added bonus, I don't have to actually pay for the dates until we go on them! (And some of them are even free!)

I'll be posting some of my ideas on here in the near future.


 ...I may have over done it on the chocolate shavings on top...but you can never have too much chocolate...right?
Chocolate Stout Cake with Whipped Cream Cheese Icing

This is a delicious, rich and moist chocolate cake without being overly sweet.
I followed this exact recipe over at My Baking Addiction for the cake. She is so talented, check out her fundamentals for some great tips!


I used Bad Hare Chocolate Stout for the required beer.
BONUS: it's enough that you don't even use 1 whole bottle for the cake...so you don't have to buy extras if you don't want to actually drink the stout!


And I found this little gem for one of the BEST icings I have ever had. I'm not a huge icing person, so that's saying something!
Our friend kept stealing the icing off of everyone's slices when they weren't looking and requested a bowl of it for her upcoming birthday...no cake....just a bowl of the icing.


It was a perfect light and airy balance to the cake.

Coming up this weekend I'm throwing D a full out birthday party to make up for the lower level of excitement on his actual birthday.

Look forward to more bday posts soon!


What is your favorite birthday gift you've ever received?

<3
Ern

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Up to Speed


School....lots and lots of studying. That has been my life for the past couple of weeks...that...And a little bit of COLDPLAY!


Do I not have the greatest boyfriend of all time? I'm quite sure that I do! What did he get me for Valentines day? 
Not flowers that die within a couple of days...or chocolates that I'm trying to avoid...no, he get's me tickets to COLDPLAY!!!

EEE!!!

Yeah, I'm weird, I don't want jewelry, flowers, or chocolate for Valentines Day, but take me to a wicked show and I am SO happy. 
Also, I got a rather sweet card that he actually wrote a love note in, he didn't just sign what Hallmark had already said for him. 

To me V-Day is all about spending time with the one you love, and the memories...not the gifts. Yes, concert tickets count as a gift...but it's a gift for both of us, and an experience to share together and make memories of. Which I think is the perfect kind of gift.

Last year he got me tickets to the Goo Goo Dolls (was SO stoked!), and we had so much fun that we decided to make a tradition out of it. We choose a show we're interested in...and then he "surprises" me with the tickets. ;)
The Goo Goo Dolls I was surprised about even though we had discussed that it would be cool to go and see them, but for Coldplay I did know what was coming my way February 14th!

So here was my Coldplay experience...which was also my first ever arena concert!

Super stoked for the show!

Our wicked light-up wristbands...we got to be part of the light show!

The light show aspect was phenomenal! See all the wristbands in the crowd?

Confetti!!


Now that I'm officially done exams I have the next couple days to get things did! 
I have so many little things to catch back up on life before I either start spring semester, or start working, and getting my life beyond school back in order.

Life is in limbo, lemme tell you!


Look forward to date, birthday, and party posts in the near future!

What's the most amazing concert you've ever been to?
I'd love to hear from you!

<3
Ern







Monday, April 23, 2012

Exam Week


On hiatus for Exams, will return soon.




Enjoy the Spring weather for me in the mean time! 
 

Monday, April 16, 2012

2012 before it barely began - Learning to be thankful.

I have big plans for my 2012.
After having such a great year in 2011 - meeting the love of my life, going on a vacation (to see my man's little brother tie the knot!) and stabilizing old friendships, I've decided it's time to epic-fy (I know what you're thinking...but I get to say it's a word if I want too!) my life even more.

If life is essentially good...why not try to live it to the full and make it the BEST life it can be?

Unfortunately I've been handed some complications this year including family emergencies, being sick for 2 months, financial troubles (no more shopping! *gasp!*), living situation complications, school struggles (this one is HUGE!), contracting the travel bug itch with no scratching to be afforded, amongst many day-to-day crappy happenings that have just become overwhelming all piled together.

BUT....I have SO much to be thankful for.
1 Year Anniversary - 2012
Christmas with D's family - 2011
The most amazing, sweet, and supportive boyfriend in the world. He cooks for me when I'm pulling all-nighters for school, brings me liquidy treats when I'm sick and can't swallow solid food, tells me he thinks I'm beautiful even when I'm a sick, nasty mess from being under the weather. He never makes me feel bad that I have no money to pay for things, and has never failed to cheer me up when I'm feeling down. He encourages me to follow my hobbies (particularly sewing!), has seamlessly become a part of my family, and he tells me that he loves me every day.

A big and wonderful family...
  • My dad tells me he's so proud of me for going to University (the first out of all 5 of us kids!) and is always ready with a hug and "I love you"s.
  • My mom helps me figure out my sewing class assignments, and my ideas for fun craftiness she helps turn into a logical reality, or she's an ear to vent when I'm having a rough go of it.
  • A big sister who adds me to her online shopping orders because I can only afford little tidbits at a time, (but this way I still get free shipping!) and goes with me to see chick flicks.
  • A brother who is always around to help my family out because they really need it.
  • The brother I can count on to always make me laugh, go for a car ride and share good music with me.
  • The youngest brother is always ready with an excited hello and a big ol' hug to make me feel welcome and loved.

The best grandparents in the world...
...who understand that my life is insanity so I don't get to see them nearly as often as I'd like.

  A close friend in my cousin.


And my oldest friends (+ 1 new one!) have come back into my life after growing apart for awhile.
Duck face...I know...what were we thinking?? This is years old to be fair though!



I have a roof over my head (for the time being anyways), and I can always get a meal from either D, or the parents. I'll never go hungry, and I'll always have somewhere to sleep, even if it isn't my own place.
*I just hope I never have to desert my beautiful gold furniture!...but more on that another day!




I have Bernie, my reasonably reliable (*knock on wood!*) purple-mobile, that has cost me so little in the big picture.


I have a large wardrobe, and I am learning the skills needed to remake it so that it stays current, and fits me. To prevent wasting more money on clothes I might never wear more than a couple of times.

I have lost over 11 pounds since this time last year, simply by changing my diet and not baking as often (although I'm pretty sure that this is partially from being sick for so long? But I've put the effort in too).

I may not be able to really travel like I've always wanted to, but I've been to some pretty cool places in Canada still. (never left the country and I'm 23...can you believe that??)
I know that some people haven't even left their city before.

Montreal 



Toronto

Sorry for the poor picture quality, this was taken almost 4 years ago!

Northern British Columbia

This is one of my all time favorites! Isn't it just breathtaking??


So I am currently compiling a list of things to strive for in 2012....there's still time for me to turn this year around yet.

And even if it doesn't get better...at least I'll come out stronger.


I can't wait to share my list with you when I get it all finished!


<3,
Ern

P.S. What do you have to be thankful for? I'd love to hear what makes your world go round. Leave a comment or email me if you prefer anonymity!



Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Mars + Venus Tee Refashion

A couple of weeks ago I convinced D that he possibly might have too many T-shirts, and got him to get rid of TWO! Well one was a polo, but the other was a band tee from our good friend Carlos's group: Mars + Venus. They are a pretty wicked modern rock group and we regularly go to their shows.

Now you know how people always have a friend they support even though they don't really like their music so much...or they really just might be terrible? Well not the case for us! We're crazy about them, and I was really excited that I was able to invite my cousin to their last show, he also LOVED them. 
*See their fbk/website info below.

So anyways, back to this tee! It was too short for my tall man, even though it was a Large (maybe he unknowingly shrunk it?), so he gave it to me and suggested I attempt refashioning it for myself.

How thoughtful is my guy? He knows I've been jonesing for a refashioning project, but I am SO broke until I start working next month, so I've been avoiding V.Village and the like until then...and sadly, maybe a little bit longer depending on my living sitch.


Anyways...here is a simple tutorial on how to make those unfitted/unflattering band t-shirts just a little cuter to rock at your fave bands' shows!


Here's what I started out with, I forgot to take a Before pic of me wearing it though...I got a little excited. My apologies, next time!

SO first: cut out your neckline...you can make it a little wider for an "off the shoulder" look...but I'd wait until the end of tutorial to do so...this will already be surprisingly wider than you'd think!
This shirt is a few years old, but you gotta love that it's neon...Back in style already! ;)

Next: Pin along your arms so you can figure out approximately how much you'll want to take in the sleeves.
*you can also just pinch and measure how far to take it in, but that's a little harder to do alone
I wanted tight sleeves.
(you can kind of see here how big it was on me)

Then: I marked it with a chalk line, and re-pinned the sleeve with the pins going across the future seam

Next: I pinned the sides of the shirt in place to prevent shifting whilst marking, and then eyeballed where I wanted to take the shirt in.
I wanted to accentuate my waist, but I got a little overzealous on the waist and hips area (I didn't touch the hem so it goes pretty long past my hips).
So be careful here!
Weird angle...I apologize for my sub-par photography skills!
I sewed one zigzag stitch along the curved line you see without stopping at the sleeves. Then I did a straight stitch just to the inside of the zigzag because my seams were a little choppy. The straight stitch smoothed the lines out a bit by hiding my weird turns at the curves.
My mom's sewing machine is a whole other ball game than the ones I use at school. Talk about too speedy! But I'm learning.

Cut along the zigzag edge to get rid of any extras:

At this point, try on your tee and decide if you want to cut more off of the neck or not. I just trimmed the seams across the shoulder (they stick up a little pointy) and evened out the cut.
The Final product  
 
I just realized I have no picture without my arms up (which really changes the look...but I wanted to show you the arms) or my blazer hiding it...I shall have to remedy that soon!

Me at the show!

I wore it tucked into "denim" mini and popped a blazer over top, it's still chilly round these parts!
There's a weird reflection going on here...Blame it on the bar lighting?
Don't you love my neon orange hoop earrings, circa my Aunt's closet in the 80's?
Cousin was a little less than impressed...it weirded him out once he found out where I got them from ;)

I originally was wearing some black patent pumps but I took a good wipeout leaving the "pre-party" at D's and couldn't really walk in heels after falling face down on slate stairs..OUCH!
But I still made it out to the show like a champ! And don't fret, my legs got the worst of it.


Check out Mars + Venus Facebook here, Website here.
This is one of my favorite songs:
I was here when they filmed this too!

Do you have any old or oversized tees itching to be refashioned? I'd love to see your Before and After!

<3,
Ern

Monday, April 09, 2012

Easter Weekend 2012


I just thought I'd share with you my Easter weekend before the insanity of year-end projects and Finals hits.


D and I went out for a brew Thursday night before finishing up our food contributions to Brunch the next day. Isn't this the cutest table for a pub? Directly to our right was a fireplace that really added to the whole decor.

I had splurged and bought some Easter M&Ms to make D's favorite cookies - Safeway rip-off M&M cookies...almost have the recipe perfected...just a bit more tweaking and then I'll be ready to share with you!



I ended up not going with this recipe:

It turns out that Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free..unless you buy the gluten free ones! Who'd think that there would be barley ingredients in a plain rice cereal?

Instead I chose this recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod:

Obviously I had to leave the Nutella and Mini Eggs out of D's sis-in-law's, but there was still a yummy macaroon for her to eat.
Just a note for those of you who didn't know, artificial vanilla has gluten in it's coloring, so if you're ever making something for a Celiac, make certain it is with real vanilla extract.

Here was my process:
I can't believe how messy my fingers got forming these nests! I wish I had been able to take a picture of them before I had to wash them.

Here they are just out of the oven...if you follow their recipe, make certain that you immediately remove the cookies from the wax paper, or you'll spend about an hour (like we may...or may not have done) trying to scrape little pieces off the bottom to salvage them.

Here was the finished product! I think they could have used a little longer in the oven as they were a little bit crunchy, and not nearly as dark as the ones in the original post.
But my mom loved them, and I forgot how much the rest of my family are not fans of coconut. Whoops!
They were good though, I would definitely recommend giving them a go!
Especially with Mini Eggs...they make everything delicious!

I also attempted the Bacon Deviled Eggs I had mentioned in my The Easter Bunny is Coming! post:
I didn't have a dish big enough to carry them all in, so I got creative and used my cupcake caddy, it's good thing I got the one with 3 levels!
They were such a success at my parent's house on Friday that they requested I bring more on Sunday to my grandparents. SO delicious!

Friday night we hung out with a few of D's buddies and ended up hitting up one of the new bars in our area. We arrived at approximately 1:20am and had a swarm of people rush out past us as we were getting in...It was a little dead in there but we really enjoyed having our beers served to us a chalice!
Here's me trying to drink mine..that is one heavy glass!

Saturday night we went over to a friends house for some homemade pizza, ice cream sundaes, and Bohnanza...if you haven't played this game, you should, it's quite the competitive party game!
Then we came home and stayed up until 1:30 in the morning peeling eggs and piping filling because I left it to the last minute. Oops!

Sunday we went to my grandparents for Easter lunch.
Here is my sister's idea of "hiding" the Easter Eggs for the boys to find...she threw them into the snow off of my grandparents deck and let them dig for them!

We ended our weekend by going out for sushi which I can now cross off of my, "I was sick so I couldn't eat anything, but now that I'm better I want to eat everything" list!


We walked around for a bit after that then decided to try some Tiramisu at a local dessert place....it was sadly mediocre...but looked delicious!


This place did have some really awesome local photography up on the walls...these were two of my favorites:



How was your Easter weekend? I'd love to hear about it!

<3
Ern