Happy Halloween!

Okay so my friend Tishi will be so disappointed when she finds that I didn't completely follow through with my Halloween costume idea, but I simply did not do anything eventful over the holiday weekend worth getting dressed up for.  However I will tell you my ridiculous (and very very lazy) idea of a costume I was going to do.

I don't know if you've ever heard of Teenage Mutant Ninja Noses but it is a website dedicated to an odd idea that peoples' noses make the perfect canvas for a Ninja Turtle face.  I found this hilarious and so unique so I wanted to create my own.  Had I done anything for Halloween, I would have painted my nose for the occasion.  However, instead I just drew on top of a pic of myself in gimp so that I, too, could have a Ninja Turtle nose. 

In spirit of Halloween and as an ode to nostalgia, I encourage you to turtle-up your nose and post a pic in my comments.  It's super easy to do and I personally am beaming with pride at my nerd street cred right now.  Kawabunga! 


In the spirit of Halloween I also want to share with you some of my favorite costumes I've seen this year.  There have been so many wonderfully creative ideas that I wish I had the time and energy to try myself.  Maybe next year... just maybe (but probably not.  obviously, I can't even commit to actually painting a ninja turtle on my nose. lol).


The Comic Book Character

The Internet Meme

AT-AT Canine

Cutest Baby Costumes

And finally, the flyest fairy princesses of 2011.  This girl can sing it!

So adorable!  Speaking of adorable, as a last tribute to all things Halloween, I want to share with you one of my favorite blogs of all time called My Milk Toof .  The link I just provided will entertain you with a cute Halloween story of ickle and Lardee.  You will also find the other endearing tales told by the adorable little toofs.  I absolutely LOVE the creative genius behind these stories and creativity in the way they are narrated.  The author personifies them so well that they are so easy to fall in love with.  I'm dedicating this section of the blog to my to favorite story blog characters.  Happy Halloween, ickle and Lardee!

Please everyone be safe this evening if you're planning on celebrating tonight (I know most people partied it up over the weekend).  I relaxed all weekend so tonight I'm actually going to go to a full-service dine-in movie theater just so I can feel like I did something.  I'm used to having massive parties and dressing up.  A couple of years ago we had a zombie party where myself and the other two hostesses dressed as zombies with fully decked makeup, and we would stand at the door and "bite" the guests who came dressed in "civvies".  We dragged each guest to the bathroom and I zombiefied them with makeup and gooey skin bits (squishy gel pieces that came with the kit) and then we had a dance party (as always).  Man I LOVE dressing up.  Hehe. 

I can't emphasize safety enough.  Don't drink and drive, no random midnight walks in the woods, and always, ALWAYS double tap.  Happy Halloween!  Enjoy your night and be safe!


-Little Bird

Bright as a Button

This weekend I had several crafts planned that involved yarn and lots of glue; However, some of the key elements needed to complete those projects were unavailable to me.  Luckily, I stumbled upon a cute lamp base while I was looking for the yarn, and I remembered a cute craft idea I saved on one of my Pinterest boards.

Mine didn't turn out near as cute as this lamp, but I still like the way it came out.  Obviously this craft is super easy.  You only need a lampshade and lots of fun buttons to deck it out with.  I used a multi-purpose craft glue, but pretty much any glue that is stronger than classic Elmer's glue will work.  I wouldn't recommend using hot glue because the glue dots will show through the buttons through the lampshade when lit up.

Here's how it all turned out:

I hope you all had an amazing weekend.  I had a great weekend watching a UFC fight and relaxing for the rest of the time.  I'm happy I completed at least one craft this weekend and I look forward to trying out some more ideas to show you.  Hope you had a safe and happy Halloween weekend!  See you tomorrow!


-Little Bird

Weekly wrap-up

I know the week isn't over but Thursdays seem like the end of the week to me because even if I'm working on Fridays, my brain is totally already on the weekend the entire day.  So instead of taking up one of my fun days to do a wrap-up, I think Thursday is a great day to do a re-cap on the week so far. Here goes:






1) Alleigh, my baby cousin turns 3 today!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, beautiful girl!
I am so happy I got to celebrate her 3rd birthday with her in my hometown.  She had a huge moonwalk and slide there that all the "big kids" like my step-dad and uncle played on and she did such a wonderful time greeting everyone as they came in.  I saw her last on Mother's Day and she was a lot more reserved and shy, but this time she ran up to me and hugged me and said "You're here!"  I felt so loved!  Here is a picture of us at Mother's Day.  We were learning badminton at my parent's lakehouse.  Her mother said she would get me some pics of her birthday soon so when I get those I may post those later.

2) Jobs- I have a job!  I'm working as a substitute teacher again and I've also been asked to interpret for a 5th grade deaf/hard of hearing girl.  I'm nervous about that position because my ASL skills are decreasing by the day it seems.  I guess all I can do is try and hope for the best :)  I'm really excited to have some work though and do what I love doing which is teaching (but without all the bureaucracy and extra meetings).  I've also applied to a life-changing career position that I won't say much about until I have more progress on that front.  The job is something I've wanted since I was a kid and I'm finally getting an opportunity to live it out.  I can't wait!  :)

3) Old Friends- I had dinner with my best friend from high school tonight.  I had such a nice time and I love it when a friendship can pickup right where it started.  The same was true this past weekend when I saw my best friend in my hometown; We laughed and chatted just like yesterday was the last day we saw each other.  Anyway, in the dinner tonight I got to catch up with news from other friends and adventures that had been had.  I also realized my 10 year reunion is coming up rather quickly.  I'm hoping that I will have some really awesome excuse for not being there because I REALLY don't want to go.  Oy.  I feel old.

4) New Obsession- Pinterest.com is a fun website that categorizes images and videos into your own personal folders of things you like.  I have several boards already and have categorized them by crafts I want to do, Quotes I like, My perfect partner, and a couple of food categories.  I am absolutely in love with this site and have already found inspiration for this weekend's craft so stay tuned!  Click here if you want to see my boards.  If you signup add me as a friend!  I'd love to see what things you pin!

5) New Coldplay album has been added to my repertoire and put on repeat.  Here's one of the songs I really enjoy from the new album

6) Movie I watched this week at the theatre: Paranormal Activity 3.
I've always had an affinity for scary movies whether they are good or bad, thriller or horror I just simply get a kick out of scaring myself.

7) My top 5 favorite pics of the week

Tomorrow is Friday and also the day I reveal my halloween costume to you all *snickers*  I hope everyone has an awesome Friday, I know I am!  God Bless!


-Little Bird

Beauty in Today

Today is such a beautiful day and even though it is still quite warm outside to be the end of October (thank you Texas heat) the weather isn't the only beautiful part of today.  Today and for a few days now, I have been almost manic: smiling, laughing, being productive.  I understand these actions don't usually qualify for being manic, but in contrast to my disposition for the majority of this year, I almost don't know how to contain all of the positive emotion welling up inside.  I feel... happy.  And there's no particular reason really.  I suppose I've figured a few things out about my life, I may have found my place in this world, and I have recently found a career goal that will help me live out my dreams.  Okay scratch the for no reason part.  That's a perfect valid reason for being so immensely happy!  There is certainly lots of security and confidence in knowing what you want to do with your life.


On an entirely related note, I came to this realization about happiness when I saw this interview of Fiona Apple.  For those of you that know me you'll know that I have followed Fiona's entire career and am one of her biggest fans.  I have always related to her in that I too feel misunderstood in my view of the world.  People perceive her as angry or sad or spiteful, but really she is allowing herself to reach a level of vulnerability that when achieved, a whole spectrum of beauty is unlocked.

In this interview she talks about finding her place in the world and how she was able to become truly happy.  Before her first album she had no clue if this would be what she was destined to do, but she allowed herself to dive in because it felt right and she NEEDED to do it.  She trusted her heart and soul and it paid off.  She is a constant inspiration to me to continue to be who I am, even if who I am is not easily understood.

Today I just wanted to celebrate the beauty in being happy and in having another day to seek out my place in the world.  *cue series of inspirational posters*

Enjoy your day!  Be awesome and trust your heart.

-Little Bird

This week on Netflix

Here's a little something you may or may not know about me: I loathe cable television.  I haven't had cable television since 2007 and I don't plan on having it again anytime soon.  I am however grateful for Netflix for providing me with tons of shows to watch and I have the liberty to watch an entire season all at once.  I enjoy dedicating myself to a new show every few weeks or so or until I finish the season.  This past week's show has been Psych.  I love detective shows but the seriousness of most investigative shows become monotonous. I usually begin to only watch for the clues and the end result without ever developing a connection to any of the characters.  In Psych I really enjoy how James Roday's character, Shawn Spencer, solves crime while maintaining his obnoxious but loveable humor.

 I'm sensing that your resistance to me is futile...

I admit, throughout the first season his cocky attitude and seemingly omniscient crime solving skills grated on my nerves after a while.  However, each show usually ends on such a good note I either heartily chuckle aloud or smile wide and quickly press the 'x' on my PlayStation to start another episode.  I definitely recommend this show if you enjoy solving cases alongside tv characters and laughing intermittently as you do so.

    This week's new show has not been set in stone, but I was thinking of starting Deep Space Nine...   *waits for some dramatic movie sound effects*  (Wow!  Shawn really is good!)

When I lived in Austin I was introduced to Star Trek: Voyager and shared a very special nightly ritual of eating dinner over an episode or two of the show.  I haven't been able to bring myself to finish the rest of the seasons without my trusty Voyager sidekick.

(We'll call him Chakotay).  

Ooh! Ooh! Oh!  Can I be Janeway??

Wait a second...  

Eyes up here, Commander.  You cheeky bastard you.  *grins*

Even though Chakotay isn't here to enjoy a new Star Trek series with me, I thought Deep Space Nine would be a good start.  Well, I started the first episode and the first 5 mins broke my brain.  I have so many questions!  Le sigh.  I guess I should watch the rest and figure it out but it just isn't the same without a tried and true Treky at my disposal.  I'll give it another shot I think when it isn't 6 am.  I woke so early; I think I went to bed at 7 pm...   Something's amiss.

Anyway, I really enjoy watching shows with others and discussing them or nerding out with fellow fans.  If you have a show you really geek out about, please let me know and I'd be glad to check it out!

Omnomnom Monster Cakes!

So for my previous project I needed some gourds from the market to make an adorable little family of ghouls.  As I browsed I stumbled on the Halloween isle.  I apparently have a knack for projects with faces on them because when I saw this packet of eyeball and mustache toothpicks, I immediately brainstormed all the things I could do with them.

 As the picture indicates, they go wonderfully on cupcakes to make a a fun novelty out of a simple sweet treat.  I immediately wanted to make hairy monsters to go with this cute idea so I grabbed a few essentials while I was at the market.

There are lots of ways to go about making cupcakes so feel free to be creative, but I chose the cheap and easy route of boxed mix and canned icing.  I also found some cute lil monster wrappers I couldn't pass up.  Aren't they cuuuute?

After the cupcakes are done, the rest is easy and fun.  Decorate, stick the lil toothpicks in, and chill to make the icing nice and firm.  This is so simple and yet it makes such a fun treat for people to ooh and ahh over.  It's a great treat for kids or adults kids like me.  :D

 

Rawrrrr!

I also found these adorable little monster boxes that are perfect for packaging 4 cupcakes at a time.  The package came with 4 boxes, enough for 16 cupcakes!  Too cute for a nice little gift at the office, a friend or a friend with kids who would appreciate a monstery sugar rush!

I had so much fun making this and getting creative with the different monster looks.  If you have any suggestions for fun treats you've done, please feel free to leave a comment or web link to show me how creative you can get with your Halloween treats. :)


Have a happy and safe weekend!  Enjoy the treats moderately!  hehe
xoxo
-Little Bird

Gourd-geous!

A friend on my Plurk (a social network several of my online gamer friends use) posted a link to an adorable idea for turning gourds into adorable little ghouls.  The blog link was found at FutureGirl but the idea originated from Martha Stewart.  I absolutely loved this idea.  Gourds are super cheap and the size for the project is much more manageable and less messy than the traditional pumpkin carving.  I changed the round-tipped pins to thumb tacks but the rest I did exactly the same.

To try this project, you need few supplies.  Some adorable gourds at the size of your preference (consider the plastic vampire teeth will need to fit to scale with the gourd's mouth area), plastic vampire teeth, a carving kit, push pins, and thumb tacks.  I also used a spoon to scoop all the filling out instead of the plastic scooper.  Here are some picture of the progress:

"Rawrrr!"
But he seemed kinda lonely, so I made him a friend :)

"Hey girl heyyyy!"

 Awww!  Instant buds!

Before I knew it, there was a whole gourd-geous family!

I also used a pumpkin that was too small and made a tealight out of it to use among the gourds as a centerpiece. :)

 I hope you enjoy this post and I hope you'll give it a shot!  It's fun! :)