Merry Christmas!

love,
amy & hank

My Cat has Issues

Issues with a capital "I".

His main issue? I would like to diagnose Hank with separation anxiety. He checks on me in the shower to make sure I'm still around. Multiple times.

Creeper.

Issue number two? He is a clean freak. The smell of food sends him into a tailspin. He cleans and cleans and cleans and cleans and cleans and cleans and cleans around his food dish. He'll either scoot it all around the floor or he'll find a piece of paper or random clothing around and cover his food dish with it. In the past week he's woken me up with this bizarre behavior.

Issue number three? ATTENTION WHORE.

**Disclaimer**
I am not now, nor will I ever be a crazy cat lady. I just happen to live in a teeny-tiny apartment with a quirky cat and if you want me to blog, Hank will be included. Frequently. If he were a dog it wouldn't be weird. If I weren't single you'd never utter the words "crazy cat lady" at me. So leave me alone. 

My mind is racing

...and I don't know if you'll ever get to hear all my thoughts.

Or any of them for that matter. I can't put my emotions into words.

WHY NOT?!?!?

Mind, please catch up to my body.

-------------------------------------------------

Right now:

I think I'm hooked on Panera's hazelnut coffee. It's love. I'm writing a card. I'm looking at the facebook page of an artist I purchased earrings from this weekend. Can I mention how brave it is to sit at a table and say "I made this, I'm charging this much and I think it's worth that price"? I don't think I'm there with any of my craftitude. Maybe someday? I really prefer sitting behind the safety of my computer screen and trying to sell things. I'm a pansy.

This weekend Kate, Sarah and I went on a trolley ride around the Fort and it was really fun!

As far as Christmas shopping goes...it was a bust. I want to buy local! I want to have my shopping done! I want to be the person on top of it all! We started at 11:30am and shut down Macy's at 11:00pm. That doesn't include the several breaks we took for food. I didn't want to get too grouchy! I also crossed zero people off my list. BOO.

-------------------------------------------------

Food is good.

Life is good.

God is good.

I choose to love all those things.

And you.

Are you judging me?

I'm totally wearing a dress, tights and these:

Yeah, FUGGS.

Fake Uggs.

I'm judging me for dressing like a high schooler, but my judgement comes with warm feet. Warm feet, warm heart.

Or something like that.

I will guarantee you that I will never wear my Fuggs with any kind of denim shorty-short. Hand-on-heart, I promise.

Source: tumblr.com via amy on Pinterest

I've got to figure out how to stay warm...and it's not even really COLD yet. Meep.

ps: I wore this outfit while I made this. It's yummy, I promise. (-:

Earring Display

...also known as my solution to I-don't-have-a-dresser-and-the-ziplock-bag-holding-my-earrings-really-isn't-doing-the-job-well-so-I-just-wear-the-same-earrings-every-day.

We know I'm cheap, right? This was a less than $5 project for me. If I had more ambition to scour thrift stores [or I still had the totally awesome Durham's Scrap Exchange in my backyard] I could bring the cost down more!

But I didn't.

Here are your supplies...a hot glue gun, embroidery floss and a picture frame.

My frame was on clearance for being busted at Michaels. Holla! I only need the frame and not the glass, so it worked for this girl!

I tied my knot on the backside of the frame and started wrapping....in all kinds of directions, weaving the floss from front to back. When I changed colors I always made sure my knots were on the back side.

 

PULL TIGHT! Embroidery floss will have some stretch and earrings can be heavy so the tighter you pull the better it will hold those earrings!

Once you've gotten all your colors and thread in place, run a bead of hot glue over the knots and thread on the backside to hold it all in place. This is jut some added security. I like added security.

And that is the easiest [cutest if I do say so myself--and I do!] earring display project you can do!

Love it!

Listing List

Here we goooooooo!

1. It's time to start crafting for Christmas presents. Does anyone have any good ideas for men? Or women? Or things I should make for you? (-:

2. On Monday I made a Pear and Chocolate Tart and after some adjustments in the temperature and quantity of pears, it was delicious. The recipe is right here. While I was making it we were in this massive thunderstorm warning, that means my light sucked. Adjusting the light with Photoshop Elements results in this still-overly-yellow photo:

This is natural light:

Do you see what I mean? Natural light makes it look yummy.
And flash? Not on my camera.

3. Speaking of natural light, I love the light on Hanklin's fur.

Hank is driving me crazy. He wants to sit in my lap. All. The. Time. He's not exactly a lap-sized cat. Plus, it's annoying.

4. The soundtrack to Elf is amazeballs.

5. I think fall is over.

I don't know how I feel about winter since it's been about 3 years since I actually experienced one. We shall see.

6. I am going to Kansas in a week and I'm going to squeeze my nephew's face!!! Get ready Brody, auntie amy is coming!!!

7. I purchased these shoes when I went boot shopping:

I think they're hawt. Not sexy hot, but trendy-cute hot; I can be a hip, modern girl. The perils of finding boots are heavy in my life, that will take up a whole post. My sister-in-law will hate them. I also will wear them with tights which she'll hate even more. Mah-hahahahaha.

8. I was debating a minimalist wardrobe. Then I realized I have over fifteen dresses and one or two cardigans and I don't want to get rid of any of them. So I'm going with my own kind of minimalism of "if I don't love it, get rid of it." Which also means I have to break my habit of "it's a super-duper bargain and I need it because it's cheap!!!" to spending what I need to for pieces I love. That's a tough one.

9. I got this amazing, awesome, dense, perfect memory foam mattress topper from my family for my birthday. It's 3 inches of heaven. If you're looking for a mattress topper, ask my mom where she got mine because I can't drag myself out of bed in the morning because I'm so happy to be there.

10. I've been at Starbucks too long and I think the employees are giving me the eyeball. Are you giving me the eyeball? Is it ok that I'm sitting here? OK, I'm going home.

Eve Ensler Love

Three things I find powerful and moving and thought provoking from Eve Ensler.

Number One

Number Two

Number Three

Thoughts?

Twenty Nine

I'm 29 today.


I was asked if it was my 19th or 20th birthday. Yeah...someday I'll actually look 29. Maybe. (-:

Let's get on the thirty by thirty now.

Things accomplished:

• go 4 months without purchasing a clothing item (7/14-11/14)
• 
  

Yup, that's it. Get ready for some list crossing off! The 14th of every month, I'm telling you what I've done. One down, twenty-nine to go! 

etsy LOVE: Bath and Beauty

I'm baaaaaack! I wasn't really gone, but Etsy has been off the Mostly Nonsense 365 radar for far too long, don't you think?

If you're new, Etsy Love occurs somewhat regularly.

This week we're in the Etsy Bath and Beauty category!

Most expensive item:

Bath Tub by Witold Szostak $6990.00

This? THIS I LOVE. Stunning. Beautiful. Luxurious. 

Dear Future Husband, 

Wedding gift? 

<3, amy

Least expensive item:

Sample Floral Vanilla Body Care- Body Butter, Hand and Body Lotion, Bath Gel and Body Wash by Jen Stone-Gerardy $0.20 

Sounds awesome!

A few standouts:

Sweet Pumpkin Soap Handmade Cold Process, Vegan Friendly by Megan at Blushie

Unicorn Farts Lip Balm - One Tube Beeswax Shea Cocoa Butter Jojoba by Amanda & Joe at LongWindSoapCo

Bowl of Fruit Loops Soap SLS Free Vegan Friendly by LaLa and Ange at beauxsavonsfrais

Corn Bag Microwave Heating Pad for Back Neck Shoulder Pain Relief by WarmHugsCornBags

Goddess Loose Eyeshadow by Laura F at UnboundEdenCosmetics

What do you think? Did I miss someone awesome? This section is pretty fun! 

Disclaimer: I don't know anyone affiliated with any of these items or etsy itself, I just like to peruse the site from time to time.

Hanklin loves his fruits and veggies.

Anytime I'm slicing, dicing, or just eating something fruity or vegtastic [it's a word if I say it's a word], Hank goes crazy yowling at my feet. Then I give him a bite of whatever I'm eating and he's happy.

Weirdest cat ever.

That's why I'm his friend, I like weird things. And people. And cats.




**Disclaimer**
I am not now, nor will I ever be a crazy cat lady. I just happen to live in a teeny-tiny apartment with a quirky cat and if you want me to blog, Hank will be included. Frequently. If he were a dog it wouldn't be weird. If I weren't single you'd never utter the words "crazy cat lady" at me. So leave me alone. 

this makes me happy

Sometimes I feel bitterness about the fact that I moved. Moving isn't easy. It's all starting over, rearranging, figuring out where to go, figuring out what to do, meeting new people, getting annoyed wiht your cat, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Except, I moved to a place where I do have some people. And those people make me happy.
(-:

So, spur of the moment, my friend Jess texted me and we decide to meet half-way between our respective locations and share a cup of coffee.

For four hours or so.

The coffee got cold, but my heart got warm.
[Bring on the cheese.]

This makes me happy.

I think about you

One of the many little things I do for one of my jobs is read the obituaries.

Death notices. It could be depressing, but it's not really. I do get sad when I read about people who die at a young age. I don't know how to reason with that.

I think about death a lot, but that's another story for another time. [Just FYI: I don't think about death in a depressing way, but just thinking about our perspective of death. It's interesting.]

Back to the obits: I read them.
And I think about you.

The names remind me of everyone. First names. Last names. Middle names.

I'm fascinated by the flood of memories that comes to me just by reading names. People from church. People from elementary school. High school. Friends of friends. People I crossed paths with for a day, a week, a month...years. People I haven't seen in decades.

Do you think about me? Do you remember me?

Sometimes I want to send a message, "Hi, I'm thinking about you." Is that creepy?

Pouncing

If you have a cat, you know what random looks like. Also, every time I tried to move so I could have clear pictures Hank would try to sit in my lap, so these are a bit more blurry than I would prefer. [READ: photo quality sucks.]

Vhat, ist dis? 

[You'll notice he's not actually going after the trash sitting next to him.]

I vill get it dead.

It's killing time.

Don't tell anyone I'm a pansy.

Let dem think zees ist the real me.

Speed like lightening.

Claws of steel.

I haz ups.

**Disclaimer**
I am not now, nor will I ever be a crazy cat lady. I just happen to live in a teeny-tiny apartment with a quirky cat and if you want me to blog, Hank will be included. Frequently. If he were a dog it wouldn't be weird. If I weren't single you'd never utter the words "crazy cat lady" at me. This is not me. This is not me. This is not me. [That last one is actually kind of sad.] So leave me alone. 

Haterz. 

New Obsessions

I have two things to tell you about.

Things you need to be obsessed with so I have someone in this with me. Will you do that for me? Awesome. Thanks. (-:

OK, #1: Pinterest

Do you remember when Facebook had those buttons you could pin and send to people? Flair? I can't really remember what it was called. It was about 2,457 Facebook updates ago...also known as 4 years ago. THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT!!! Seriously, join, tell me and let me follow you. Please? I need more people to follow. Please? Please? Don't make me beg.

I really like that Pinterest allows you to post a picture of something that inspires me and organize these pictures into "boards" by topic AND THEN I can click on that picture and it takes me back to the site the picture was posted from. So, if I love a project or recipe or quote or idea someone has posted on a blog but I don't really want to follow their blog, I just "pin" a picture, and when I'm ready to use that project or recipe or quote or idea, I'll just go back to Pinterest and find it there.

If you need an invitation, let me know. I'll hook you up. (-:
Username: nonsensebyamy

[If you tried out Pinterest and were overwhelmed, try hovering over the everything and then choosing a category that's more appealing to you. That will make the giant list smaller and more manageable. Also, it is overwhelming, I'll be the first to admit it. It took me about 6 months to be willing to even give Pinterest a try.]
I found this picture that accurately sums up how I feel about pinterest: PICTURE.

#2: Instagram
This is only for the iPhone, so if you're not cool enough to have an iPhone you should become cool. I think it also works with the iTouch, so iTouch users are also cool.

Fine, you're cool too even if you don't have insane-mad-overpriced love for Apple products.

I have about 4 apps on my phone to take pictures, but Instagram is far and away my favorite. Also, it's free. FREE!

Therefore, if you're an iPhone user, get Instagram and let me follow you. Please? Please? Pleeeeeeease?

What I like about Instagram is that you can take your picture and add your filter [your choice of over 12 filters] right away and post it to your feed. Once you've posted, it's up on the feed for everyone you follow to see! It's like a status update, but only with pictures.
I love it.

AND IT'S FREE!

Username: nonsensebyamy

OK, leave me a comment with your user name or just come and find me on Pinterest and Instagram and we can be virtual friends!

Hear ye, Hear ye!

Ever since, I made my first declaration of woe-is-me, I-am-so-single, blah-blah-blah. I have been able to vent to you about things.

I like that about you.

Now, I have come up with a new scheme plan. Plan. Does scheme sound conniving to anyone else?

First, I [of course] am still planning my wedding even though I have yet to meet a man to whom I wish to marry. In that planning, I have decided that I would like to buck all trends and not have any people of honor, ladies in waiting, maids and all that. It's just that I have way too many people who are important to me to rank them. That's not fair.

I like fair.

So, here's the new plan:
If I meet someone on my own--ha!--I get to do what I want. I know, you're shocked.

If you introduce me to someone I want to marry, you can be my lady of honor, man of honor, person of importance, choose-your-own-title.

Yeah, I just declared that.
BAM!

Apple Cinnamon Spice Cake

It also has a caramel glaze because it wouldn't be decadent enough as just Apple Cinnamon Spice Cake, right?

It's a boun-bun-bundt cake. Please tell me you get my My Big Fat Greek Wedding reference. If you didn't, you are dead to me.

DEAD.

Or not, whatev.

I made this cake for my Grandma's birthday. I need reasons to bake since I don't really have enough people to bake for. An occasion! A birthday! Yes! Also, after I baked this I finally got my oven fixed [my landlord got me a new one--whoo!] and now I can bake at home. (-:

If you don't like carbs--what?!?!--you can have an Atkins bar instead and pretend it's a warm, gooey apple cinnamon cake covered in caramel.

But you'll be the only one at the party, unless you're hanging with my family and then you can join my uncle.

Really, I'd rather you just joined me in the decadence of this:

Apple Cinnamon Cake

• 3 cups AP Flour
• 2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp Ginger
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 cup Butter, softened
• 3 cups Granulated Sugar
• 1 cup Sour Cream
• 6 Eggs
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 3 medium Apples, grated

Preheat your oven to 325. Grease your bundt pan to get it ready for the cake!

In a large bowl combine your dry ingredients [flour, spices, baking soda and salt] and combine thoroughly. In another bowl [or your stand mixer if you have one] add the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add sour cream, eggs and vanilla. In about 3 increments add your dry mixture being careful not to over-mix. Using a spoon, fold in the apples.

This part is optional...nn your bundt pan, coat with oil and cinnamon sugar then add pecan halves along the bottom [which will become the top when you turn it out] of the pan. Pour in your batter and bake for 70-80 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and turn out onto your cake plate.

Caramel Glaze

• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 6 Tbsp Butter
• 1/4 cup Heaving Whipping Cream
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp Salt [use less if you aren't as smitten with salty-sweet as I am]

Add your sugars and butter to a sauce pan on medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sugars begin to dissolve and remove from heat. Continuing to stir, add in the heavy whipping cream, vanilla and salt. Allow to cool to thicken slightly and pour over the cake.

Eat. Enjoy. Laugh with friends.

Random Factoid #2

I'm in month three of my four months of not purchasing a clothing item. [This was one of my 30x30s.]

It hasn't been difficult.

Until today...when I was seduced to peruse online shopping. I'm going to blame a lack of sleep because I can.

Four more weeks.
Four more weeks.
Four more weeks.

Four.

More.

Weeks.

You know what's weird? The things I want to buy most: work out clothes and dress clothes for work. They're even responsible items!!!!!

I'm still not allowed...right?
I'm going to need some validation.

Hank Chillin'

I've been trying to document Hank's quirky-ness lately.

Just get ready.

I can't get him to talk to me here, but someday I'm capturing the voice that's behind the Hank.

Fall Pie & Apples

Last weekend I went to the apple orchard for the first time ever.

EV-AH.

These hands that are typing this plucked apples from trees! You may think it looks like I was picking with a picking basket, but I only did that once. It wasn't nearly as satisfying as using my hands. It was amazing. The bounty of the earth. The glorious fruit!

I loved it.

I went with my Aunt and cousins to Advanced Tree Technology in New Haven. Yeah, I didn't think Advanced Tree Technology sounded like an orchard, but it was! The only hard part of the day was combating all the no-see-ems. Those little buggers ate us alive!

At one point this mini-Paris asked if we could go get manicures instead. Hilarious.

We may have over-picked when we ended up with about...40 pounds. Yes, that's more apples than most toddlers weigh.

So, what was I to do? MAKE A PIE!

Of course. (-: This is my second apple pie on here, the first is here. This one was delicious as well. I may have sinned for all you pie makers so just plug you ears for this part, but I made a crust and just smashed it in the pie pan because I was too lazy to roll it out. Truth. Throw in the apples. Top with some delicious crumblies. Delicious pie is in your future!

Apple Pie

Crust

• 1 1/3 cups Flour
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 cup Butter, cold
• 3-6 Tbsp Water, ice cold

Mix the first three ingredients until the mixture is crumbly and add enough water until a dough ball forms. You can roll it out, or you could smush and smash it into the pan. Ignore me if you're a pie critic. Or make the crust from the other pie I made. Yeah, do that. 

Filling

• 5-6 Apples, cored and sliced
• 1-2 Tbsp Cinnamon
• 2-3 Tbsp Flour

Combine and pour in your crust. It's all good. 

Topping

• 6 Tbsp Butter, cold
• 1/2 cup Quick Oatmeal
• 2/3 cup Brown Sugar

Mix together until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is distributed among the oatmeal and brown sugar goodness. You can't go wrong with brown sugar. Just pile this on top. 

Bake at 375 for about 50 minutes.