What Santa Brought

So, I have many ideas swirling in my head for blog posts. When I posed some of the ideas to Justin he suggested I get this one out of the way first because it is the most timely. Also, prob the least weird. Aren't you excited for the future blog posts now??

Christmas came and went on the 25th. I still have gift exchanges to come, but I thought I would show you some of the neat things I received so far.

A large box wrapped in damask paper sat in our living room for about a week. I did some gentle foot nudging and declared it was a Kitchenaid Mixer. Justin told me if I thought I was getting a mixer I would be greatly disappointed. I also surmised it might be a sedated baby French Bulldog. However, on the 25th I unwrapped the big box and yes, it was a mixer. A beautiful one with lots of wattage and a giant bowl that lifts up and down. We can make cupcakes, bread, pasta, etc, etc!

We went over to my Mom's for Christmas. Dinner was delicious and unique. Justin and I received a bounty of gifts, but I'll share some of the highlights. Apparently my mom struck upon Liz gift-giving gold at some hotel gift shop in California. I recieved individual cupcake stands (shown below) that are so damn precious I could spit pink. They scream bridal or baby shower to me. I went to their web site and was disappointed to see how pricey they are. Guess I will have to use these as a template and make my own!

 At the same place my mom and aunt picked up some precious cupcake accessories from Meri Meri. Cute cupcake liners and a carrying case that looks like a tiny French Patisserie.

From the same hotel gift shop my mom picked up this oven mitt from Heavenly Hostess. I am in love with damask, so this is perfect for me.

Those are the highlights. I also just realized that the gifts I'm sharing with you make me look like Mrs. Susie Homemaker. NOT TRUE. I never cook, but these items happen to be quite loveable.

Awkward Family Photo 2010

So, Justin and I first decided to do an awkward family photo in 2008 because I had a gift card to the Picture People and the Picture People allows you to bring cats. It was quite the adventure, but purposely looking ridiculous is a passion of mine. I don't know how long we will be able to get away with these. Actually, it may already be a little sad and weird, but I don't really care.

I prepared for our photo shoot by making a trip to the Kent K-Mart. I was probably there for an hour mulling over my options for ridiculous seasonal sweaters. I finally settled on matching red zip-ups with snowflake detailing from the Women's section. I'm not quite large enough yet for plus size (Yaaay) so I used a binder clip to gather all the extra fabric behind me. As I was walking around K-mart I began envisioning how we would pose in the photo shoot. I decided it must include holiday mugs, so I purchased those.

We took our own photos this year because the Picture People is not worth it if you don't have a gift card. However, not having a clicker for the camera and trying to wrangle a sassy cat is not recommended. As I went through the photos after the nightmarish shoot, I realized the damn mugs are in every photo. Who wants mugs in every photo? We don't like invisible hot chocolate that much.

What we sent out

Some other gems

Liz's Favorite Things: The Holidays

I thought I would start a new blog tradition: Liz's Favorite Things. I will have themes to my favorite things lists and I hope you will get as excited about them as you would Oprah's Favorite Things. Don't expect to get anything for free, though. I'm not made of money, people. Also, because I like discussing how much I dislike things even more, I will also throw in some of my least favorite things in the chosen category. Let's begin!

Most Favorites

Hot Chocolate I feel like nobody ever remembers this about me, but I do not drink coffee or tea. However, I am quite the hot chocolate connoisseur. I'm very picky about my hot chocolate and enjoy the winter season because businesses put alot more effort into their hot chocolate quality and variety. Unless your Starbucks who crafts crappy cocoas all year long. My most favorite cocoa is from Bay Street Coffee Co. in Bremerton. Mmmmm marshmallow flavoring.

Christmas Movies   I'm not a huge fan of holiday music. I do like most of it, but years of working retail during the holiday season has made me a little on edge around Christmas music for long periods of time. Christmas movies, however I like mucho. Bad Santa, A Christmas Story, It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, etc. I'd have to say A Christmas Story is definitely my favorite. There's nary a scene to forget in a movie filled with Red Ryder BB guns, family hijinks, frozen tongues and, of course, sex-oozing leg lamps.

Mail   Even in this age of electronic mail and go-green mentality, everyone loves getting mail. Real mail. Made of paper. In your mailbox. Christmas is the one time of year where you can find something awesome in your mailbox every day from December 15th to December 31st. I love getting holiday cards and presents in the mail. Loooove it. I even get excited when someone asks me for my address because then I know to expect something in the mail. Don't judge me.

Family Photos   I may be alone in this, but I think "professional" family photos are almost always very unnatural and awkward. Everyone usually looks uncomfortable and anything done in a portrait studio reminds me of Walmart. But I also basically live off awkwardness. It feeds my soul. So, just like I look forward to mail, I also look forward to seeing the slew of family photos that pop up on Facebook. For those who haven't received your copy in the mail, I am not going to reveal our 2010 family portrait session yet. Instead, please enjoy a look back at 2008.

Snow   I'm not really into winter sports. Being a poor kid from Bremerton, I did not really get the opportunity to ski very often. So, I don't ski or snowboard. I'm fine with this since it saves me oodles of money over my lifetime. Also, when King County is hit by a Snowpocalypse I tend to stay indoors for however many days it takes for the MADNESS to end. However, I greatly appreciate the existence of snow. There are people who live in such hot hell holes that they will never experience snow. It also makes everything look so pure, twinkly and beautiful. Snowfall makes me happy even if I don't want to hang out in it.

Least Favorites

Poorly Hung Lights  I commend anyone who cares enough about Christmas to climb all about their roof to hang a string of lights. I also commend those people who manage to get them down before April.  Christmas lights can be very impressive and an excellent way to create unnecessary neighborhood anxiety/competition. However, when strung poorly Christmas lights do nothing for me. In fact, they drive me a little crazy.

GOOD	BAD

Trying to Go Places   I'm a procrastinator by nature, so I usually end up trying to buy presents in the final weeks before Christmas when everyone and their mom is doing the same thing. I get so frustrated and claustrophobic in crowded areas that I just want to start punching everyone. HULK SMASH! I won't even leave my apartment on Black Friday. No sale is that important to me. Aside from the difficulties of local travel, prices for airfare go up ALOT.

That's it!!

It's not all about me

I often feel like a blog can be very me, me, me, look at me, MEEEEEEEE. So, why not write about other people who do neat things? Sound good? Okay, cool.

I'm assuming my friend Katie has been interested in cooking since she was a wee child, but I didn't realize how in love with cooking she was until we were out of college. It was around then that she started doing weekly dinners with her friend Sally (her real name). They've been doing weekly dinners for about 3 years I think. Note: I also realized how much she loves cooking when she leased an apartment that is 2/3 kitchen and 1/3 living space.

Sally & Katie trade off cooking each week and make a unique recipe. Well, unique and new to them. When I lived in Seattle I received an open-ended invitation to these dinners whether they were at Sally's or Katie's.  I made dinners for them on occasion, but the burden of feeling like a mooch still weighs heavy on me. Note: I should preface this by mentioning that Katie is one of the most generous and inclusive people I've ever met - if you are new to a city find a Katie. I don't know too many people who would be cool with someone coming over week after week and eating their food.


Katie in the middle with Sally on the left and
Sally's roommate Emily on right



It took me a while to realize that they liked having more people around to eat and critique their food. What is the point of cooking without someone to enjoy it? Why would I make cupcakes without someone to eat them? When I offered to prepare dinner Katie and Sally usually just looked offended like I was taking away their week to cook.



Katie & Sally are now on their (2nd, 3rd?) volume of books documenting their recipes. Every meal they've made was captured by camera and then they compiled a recipe book combining the recipes —I'm assuming only the good ones and not chipotle my-mouth-is-on-fire chicken, right?

Anyway, I bring all this up because Katie's love of making food for others has actually turned into a small side business. When I got engaged Katie and Sally asked if they could cater the wedding. I said of course if it would work with the venue. But then I realized I also wanted Katie to be my bridesmaid. I know the idea of a catering bridesmaid makes some people cringe, so we will just say that somehow that ended up being successful.



Katie cutting lasagna

 

I had to put this because Katie's mom is adorable



Yummy food! Contact Katie for all your small catering needs!

TANGENT: I like to take credit for the fabulous life changes my wedding created - even if I'm imagining it. Like Erica who was once a lovely and talented photog. I saw her potential fabulousness and tapped her for the wedding. Now she is shooting weddings and engagement photos left and right! Check it

Now, more than a year after my wedding, Katie gets consistent small catering jobs. Her best clients are the people she works with. One woman has Katie cater for all her family events and has her prepare weekly dinners and lunches. Katie and Sally are also currently slated to cater an office Christmas party this season. It is small now, but I think she will continue to grow and maybe one day she can quit her day job! GOOOOOO Katie!

Whether it is photography, food, craftiness, a way with words, etc. I have such wonderfully talented friends. : )

Cupcakes, Cakes & Related Creations

So, a while back I posted a blog showcasing some of the cakes and cupcakes I've made. Here is another round of that.

I made cupcakes for a baby shower at my old job. Just basic cupcakes and frosting with "It's a Girl" toppers I made.

PROS: Toppers turned out pretty well

CONS: Don't use chocolate cake with white/ pink wrappers. Also, don't dump the top layer of your cake caddy on the bottom layer.

 Halloween seemed like the perfect excuse to make themed cupcakes. I poked around the internet, but ended up making something entirely my own. Love when that happens. Cupcakes are covered with fondant.

PROS: Everything! I really like how these turned out. Even more I like that it was my own idea and I had an excuse to use the tub of black fondant.

CONS: I'd like to make the pumpkin a little more realistic if I do these again. Otherwise, love 'em

I made a cake top and cupcakes for John & Tina's engagement party. This where my original idea came from - Cake with Green Fondant Circles

PROS: Good experience in what not to do and I kind of liked the topper - at least it was my own idea. Accidentally made a tasty buttercream frosting recipe when I botched my attempt at white chocolate mousse frosting.

CONS: EVERYTHING ELSE. Nobody asked me to make this and on Friday night I wished I'd never wanted to! I am not going to tell you how many hours it all ended up taking me because I am mildly embarrassed. Plus, we will also not discuss the cost of new supplies (although I can use them all again). In the end the cake looked pretty lopsided and no one seemed to be terribly impressed. I think John and Tina were even fairly underwhelmed. Haha. 

While coming up with ideas for the engagement cake I played around with making gum paste flowers. They are hard! Not sure what kind of flower this is - Rose?

I took a Holiday cupcake class at Sur La Table. They gave us great tips for recipes and decorating ideas. The one that is red swirled blew my mind. We cored the center and filled it with Peppermint White Chocolate Ganache!

PROS: Delicious recipes and a few new techniques.

CONS: I've told this somewhat comical story to a few people, but I was kind of the star of the class. You know when you don't think you're very good at something, but everyone else is much worse? A couple of times women from the back of the class came up to the front to see what I'd made and the instructor said (after I made the green tree cupcake) "Oh, you're just waiting since you did it perfectly the first time." This did not make me feel special - just awkward.  

Phew that was very long. If you have any ideas for something I can make let me know!

Changes in the New Year

I know that 2011 is still several weeks away, but I was recently thinking about my new year's resolutions. I have many goals for the new year, so I'll share them.

• Live a healthier lifestyle - My trackable goal is to lose weight, but I also just want to maintain a fitness plan and eat better on a daily basis. Weight loss goal = 45 pounds
• Friendships - 2010 has not been my year in the friend category. I feel like I am losing touch with those closest to me and one or two friendships were outright severed this year. Those that were severed were overall a good idea and will make both parties happier, but it still makes me think about the way I maintain my friendships. I end up asking those questions about how I treat people that I really can't answer. Alot of my closest friends I don't see as often as I would like anymore, which makes me think we probably just aren't that close anymore, which then makes me sad. : (
• Career - I have no real qualms with the job I have now, but I still feel like I need to figure out what I want to do with myself for the long haul. I've decided I want to get my Master's, so I hope this will lead me to a path I can really embrace and excel in.
• Do more with my free time - I think seeing the blogs of all my crafty friends (Jill, Sarah, Sara) makes me realize I don't do enough with the free time I have. The main reason for this is I have very few hobbies. I don't read or sew or craft or do photography. I'd really love to learn something new or get involved with a new organization in 2011.
• Make marriage exciting - There is a great sense of comfort that comes with marrying the person you knew you were supposed to and settling into a relaxed routine. However, Justin and I are often toooo relaxed. The fact that we both don't have any hobbies we are extremely dedicated to means we often don't know what to do with ourselves. When I'm not hanging out with my friends I feel like I am too okay with just sitting around watching television. Justin is too okay with it also - I want us to do more exploring and more exciting challenging things as a couple.
• Learn all there is to know about home ownership - For some terrible reason we signed a two year lease for our current apartment because we couldn't fathom moving again after a year. I miss living in the city every single day, but I also think about buying a house. I kind of refuse to live in yet another apartment after this one, but am also pretty terrified by the idea of buying a house in King County. I need to learn more about the process, so I am comfortable and knowledgeable.
• Be happy - Not that I'm not now, but this should be a goal for every day in every year

"It's like a big, cream colored baby!!"

So, I'm not much of a dog person. Well, I enjoy dogs, but have a hard time getting over their smells, shedding and excitability. Plus, I may be more annoyed by the people who own dogs than any dog. The term "crazy cat lady" is thrown arround quite often, but almost every one I know who has a dog is a crazy dog person. Yes, I'm talking about you who will not hang out with other humans because you can't leave your dog alone. Yes, I'm talking about you who made Corgi shaped cookies for Thanksgiving. Yes, I'm talking about people who mention their dog in every blog post. I myself recently posted a photo album featuring my cat in a series of Winter fashions, so we all have our faults.


Clearly appropriate for
an apartment

I've toyed with the idea of getting a dog, mostly to appease Justin, for quite some time. However, their smellyness, need for constant care, and apartment dwelling deters me. Justin had a Vizsla, German Shorthair and Weimaraner mix growing up and still loves that dog more than he enjoys most people. If it were up to him he would have one of those breeds or the largest dog he could find (see Mastiff, Great Dain, etc.)

I, however, am attracted to smaller dogs who serve the same function as cats: snuggling. I want to be able to pick up a dog and sling it around like an oversized baby. Unfortunately most small dogs are twitchy, yappy and generally unseemly. Getting most any small dog would probably annoy me and do nothing for Justin's overall happiness.

ENTER: The Bulldog Family

In our old apartment building some guy on our floor had an English Bulldog named Barkly. Barkly had an incredible name and was a terribly majestic beast. He always looked annoyed by exercise which is an important characteristic. At that same building we also saw a tenant walking an English bulldog puppy that snarfled uncontrollably and we were told had a heart murmur. Precious.

In the last six months or so I've moved my adoration from English Bulldogs to French Bulldogs. French Bulldogs are stout and muscly looking like the English, but smaller and easier to manage. The French also don't look as saggy and melty as English dogs. I don't see many French Bulldogs in person, so my newfound love for them wasn't officially solidified until I saw the ads for Due Date. The cream colored Frenchie in that movie is pretty much all I could ask for in a dog.


Gimme gimme gimme gimme



We saw Due Date this afternoon and that dog caused me to gasp everytime he was on screen. I fell madly in love with it and kept telling Justin, "It looks like a fuzzy cream colored baby and I WANT IT." You could feel no sadness with that dog in your life, I'm sure of it. Now, the main thing keeping me from getting one is the price tag. Frenchies are expensive and I don't want to get some sort of hybrid dog. Unless it will still look very much like a French Bulldog.

I will have one. This dog will be mine!

Fat Chicks & other Famous People

I haven't seen this weeks Glee, but last week when I watched it, the newest cast member had me thinking of something...

Reference:

Ashley Fink from Glee

I commended Glee for making a very plus size actress a more central role without making any reference to her weight. She didn't become the 12th member of New Directions because they needed a large girl to round out the group, but because she rescued Puck from a portable potty.

Have you noticed that anytime they make a chunky chick the lead in a T.V. show/ movie they have to make the entire storyline revolve around her weight? As though they are saying, "Okay, okay we knoooow she's fat. We don't like it anymore than you do, BUT there's a reason we hired a fat chick. Just watch it."

Reference:

Nikki Blonsky in a show about fat camp

 

Brooke Elliott in Drop Dead Diva - a show about a model who dies and
comes back as an overweight, brilliant lawyer. How terrible for her! Ugh

  

Okay I thought this show was about how she is neat, but fat.
I'm thinking that is not what it's about at all. Oh, well

So, it is pretty lame that with how many fat people there are in America, that is so hard for them to find a place in the media unless it's on Biggest Loser. Well, fat guys are all over the damn place and have hot wives as well. Don't get me started on that.

But then I also think about all the tons and tons of money actors and actresses make. If your $10 movie ticket contributes to the $10 MILLION some random actor gets for starring in ONE movie, maybe we should expect a very high level of perfection of them. Meaning I understand why Emma Stone or Elizabeth Banks or Reese Witherspoon or Rachel McAdams gets paid lots of money. Because they are gorgeous and funny and thin and good actresses and have pretty hair. When I see Ashley Fink I wonder why everyone can't be in a highly rated T.V. show — if all that's required is a moon-shaped face and biting sarcasm. If so then I should be a celebrity for sure.

"When I see Ashley Fink I wonder why everyone can't be in a highly rated T.V. show — if all that's required is a moon-shaped face and biting sarcasm. If so I should be a celebrity for sure."

Maybe celebrities should be required to be super smart, super hot, thin, hilarious, adventurous, fashionable and generally the most amazing people in the world to get as much money as they do for being - well - them. If that was the requirement for celebrity then we would have so very few of them. I certainly wouldn't have to look at or hear Sarah Jessica Parker, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Miley Cyrus, The Situation, Bristol Palin, Owen Wilson, etc., etc.

What's in a Name?

The boldness of my new blog header got me thinking about something - I LOVE my name. LOOOOVE IT.

Is it the simplicity? The Z? The L? The I? I think it's mostly the Z. Not many names have Zs in them, so I feel blessed to be one of the few. I'm hoping most people do like their names, but I downright adore mine. I feel like it fits me perfectly and I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, I guess I would get rid of the pesky Elizabeth it stemmed from. I loathe Elizabeth as much as I heart Liz.

When you look up the name Elizabeth I'm reminded of how ill fitting it is.

• Wikipedia says:  Elizabeth or Elisabeth is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "God's promise," "oath of God," or "I am God’s daughter." Elizabeth and Elisabeth are the parent unit names of Lisa, and Lilly, and Ella; Elsa, Isabel and Isabella are etymologically related variants.
• Urban Dictionary #1 says: The most amazing, beautiful, awesome, spectacular, gorgeous, cute, incredible, breathtakeing, wonderful, pretty, adorable, and most importantly cutifulazing girl ever. Awesome
• Stats:  Elizabeth has 152 variants and is the #5 most common female name
• Famous Elizabeths: Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II, Lots of other Royalty, Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth Banks, Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Aside from Elizabeth being like the oldest name in the world with incredible staying power I don't care for it much at all. Elizabeth Banks is faaaabulous, though. Lets look at Liz

• Wikipedia says: Liz is a girls' name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God's Promise". Okay, so that's basically the same.
• Urban Dictionary #1 says: A truly stunning brunette with LARGE bosoms, usually bitingly sarcastic. Wears large sweatshirts much to the disappointment of the entire straight male population. Knows how to make everyone laugh. Everybody loves Liz, unless they totally SUCK.  I do not wear a lot of large sweatshirts, but I am brunette and sarcastic with sizeable bosoms.
• Stats: Liz has 5 viariant forms and is #955 most common female name
• Famous Lizs: Liz Lange, Liz Claiborne, Liz Lemon, Liz McNeil

Okay, so although I do not approve of it most of us Lizs wouldn't be where we are today without Elizabeth.

The Curse of New Year's Eve

Since we are officially in December I started thinking today about what I should do for New Year's Eve.

TANGENT: This is going to sound terribly scroogy and awful, but I do not thoroughly enjoy holidays that require me to fill up my social calendar. These include Halloween, July 4th, Valentine's Day and New Year's. Maybe when I'm 60 it will be acceptable, but on these days I feel like I can never just sit around the house and watch T.V. if I want to. I have to be doing SOMETHING. With PEOPLE. And even though I always have plans of some sort there is usually a three-week period prior to the holiday where I worry I will have no choice but to sit at home watching T.V.

Back to the matter at hand. I am dreading New Year's Eve this year. DREAD. Not because I have to be social and consume large amounts of champagne, but because my New Year's is cursed. CURSED. Let us revisit some of my New Year's Eve adventures from the last several years. Oh, it will be fun!

2009   This New Year's Eve began with such promise. Justin and I were in our fairly fabulous Queen Anne digs with a view of the Space Needle from our very own balcony. I toyed with having a gathering at our place to take advantage of the vantage point, but ended up planning on going to parties elsewhere. For some reason I chose this evening to upload, design and order a Shutterfly photobook (I think a coup was expiring), which caused us to leave our apartment at 10:30. By the time we got to the party location there was absolutely no parking within 3 miles. Why would that be on NYE on Alki?? Another party was in Renton, so that was not happening. Justin and I decided to head back to our apartment to catch the fireworks from our balcony. We didn't make it and ended up with an obstructed view from some street in Belltown. FAIL: Expiring Coupons + Parking

2008  We started our New Year's celebration at my friend's brother's condo. There were many dogs, people, munchies and wine. No complaints. We left there to see Hell's Belles at El Corazon. As he often does, Justin loaded me up with copious amounts of overpriced liquor. Enough drinks that I eventually fell over into a magazine rack shortly after 12 am. Despite protests that I was simple awkward and clumsy, El Corazon didn't like that and made us leave. I then turned into a drunk demon and ran away from Justin into the night. When Justin caught up with me I was in the stairwell of a swanky senior citizen apartment complex. Eventually we got a cab and I yacked out its window. FAIL: Liz + Alcohol

2007   Justin and I decided to ring in the New Year in Bellingham. I honestly don't remember why. I was excited to find that a good friend would be at the Nightlight, so we decided to make that home base. The vibe was lackluster and Justin's very terrible friend showed up. He made derogatory remarks about other people and was generally awful. AWFUL  FAIL: Awful People

2006 I do not remember this NYE. I've asked many people if they remember what I did or if I was with them, but notta. The Lost NYE   FAIL: Poor Memory

2005 I wanted to stay in Bellingham, but the person I was dating wanted to go to Seattle to see his friends. What I thought would be a fabulous party ended up being us and another couple in a small apartment watching television. We eventually headed to Gas Works to watch the fireworks. At this time the other couple decided to get into a very heated argument. She took off and he followed, leaving us behind. We made it to Gas Works, but didn't find them. After the fireworks we discovered they had headed back to the apartment without us. This was before a time when I at least kind of knew my way around Seattle, so we did not have a good time finding our way back to the apartment. Plus I was walking in high heels the whole time we were lost and wandering. Upon getting back to the apartment we were told it would not be a good situation for us to stay in the apartment as planned, so we slept in our car. SLEPT IN OUR CAR...IN DECEMBER. Who does this to their friends? I don't. It's been 5 years and I am still enraged by this memory!   FAIL:  High Heels + Awful People + Being Lost + Sleeping in Car

I can't remember any other New Year's Eves, but I've given you enough to show why it is a dreaded holiday. It is always either memorable for how awful it is or not memorable at all.