how not to trim out a window

so the bathroom remodel is still an ongoing thing.  BUT ITS SO CLOSE TO BEING FINISHED.  i just need an uninterrupted day with no homework or restaurant shifts or netflix or friend dates or anything else to feel guilty about.  but last year, the window was sort of nicely trimmed out with poorly painted white and lovely pink and black tile beneath. 

fast forward august through.... january, and the window was naked.  now it sits half finished.  half you say?  weeeell i need to remove the pieces i attached and try, try, again.  feck.

up against the wall motherfuckers

citation [sorry not sorry it's wikipedia..]

so day 4 of my lovely home reno project... my buddy questioned where i wanted the shower head and plumbing located.  seeing as i had confirmed time frame [multiple times], work scope, plans i'd drawn up both on paper and drafting software [in person and via email], walked through the potential layout [over lunch], and showed him all the components i'd bought... i was pretty pissed when he said, oh i didn't know you wanted that there.  i guess were ripping out this wall too, since we need 6" for a wet wall and the existing studs are only 4". 

a wall full of secrets

and by secrets, i do mean razors. 

and no i didn't cut my finger on the razors.  more like i black-swan-ed a giant hangnail and it bled everywhere.

bathrom demo

ok so it's been a month since i managed to post "the bathroom demo is starting!" pics.  here are some more demolition pics.  cos the bathroom STILL ISNT DONE YET and it may be driving me more than a bit crazy insane batshit nutso.

turns out the tiniest crappiest vanity ever ... fell apart as we were removing it.  the sink was barely caulked to the wall and the sides fell away once we removed the sink.  the trap underneath was made of some kind of chrome coated plastic which merrily cracked into pieces.  but the fitting i added to the cold intake line held just dandy.

the bathroom from hell... is no more!

 

sooo here's a preview of what a good friend and i have spent our past week doing.  the long sought after renovation is at hand!  and ... may prove to be my undoing.  stay tuned.  i might get enough energy to post more pictures sometime in the near future.  or check my fb and instaspam.

homeowner problems

aka the saga of the shit flood and getting stood up by a plumber.

im not serious about the shit flood.  it my have been that tragic in my mind.. but really it was the contents of the disposal, a load of laundry, and maybe one toilet flush that seeped out onto my basement floor.  if you were brave enough to read to here..  kudos.  i exaggerate in times of panic.  also, i used a gallon of vinegar and 3 bottles of lysol sanitizing the floor.

liz's laundry

• top and earrings: nordstrom rack
• "pants": uniqlo

in which i make subpar pretzels

sunday i had [very] tentative brunch plans so i set my alarm for a reasonable 8:30am and decided to finally try out a prezel recipe id been holding onto for years. 

the scariest stirfry ever

**disclaimer** do not read on if you dislike foods that look like offal.

sonp 2013...or not

sooooo summer of no pants sewing extravaganza!  ... i tripped at the finish line.  so incredibly badly.  its been over for over a week.  aaand i still havent done a 4th project.  i hemmed some dresses on friday.. and consulted with an old college friend about altering her mom's wedding dress..  and took lots of naps..  and am wearing skirts cos its just too damn hot for pants.

but sewing fail.  sigh.  marigold, i feel like ive failed you . stay tuned for more projects this summer.  promise. 

sonp 2013 - tight tatted teal

and no i dont mean tattooed.  tatted.  like lace.  but i think its crocheted.  but basically its a stretch knit tube dress with an "applique" purchased on etsy.  i have no idea what a venice applique is so i call it a crocheted thinger.  anyway, project 3 of the summer of no pants! 

sonp 2013 - unintentional princess skirt

simple woven cotton print and sparkle tulle?  oh dear god what could come of this?? 

sonp 2013 commence!!

the summer of no pants [name and possible snark patent pending by marigold] returns!!  for my first item i rescued a remnant of sheer paisley fabric from my first attempt at ...something.  well before the first pic was taken [apparently back in 2011], it was a sort of wrap skirt with a faux leather belt and after tedious serging and hem rolling... i realized i would not have any way to wash it.. ever.  so back to the sewing bin of failed/UFOs it went.

sonp 2013!

aka the summer of no pants!  hosted by marigold of hideous! dreadful! stinky!  it *ahem* apparently happened last year, but i missed it.  basically its a dress and skirt sew fest starting in may and lasting all summer!  pics and links and blogs and google+ [which i'm still trying to freaking figure out..] and then you eschew pants [which i generally do] and wear and post all the lovely things youve made during may!

some ideas that ive pinned and will attempt this starting ... oh gawd.  next week.

*edit.  i rechecked the date for SONP.  end of may.  thank god.*

we'll see.  skirts and i def have a better history of fit and finish... but i really do need to figure out this whole muslin technique that may actually result in something correctly fitting my shoulders. 

pro tip of the day

rolos are amazing.  chewy caramel coated in chocolate and pressed into a weird little not quite cylindrical trapezoid shape.  unwrapped mini rolos in ~1 cup bags are even better.

DO NOT BAKE WITH THEM. 

just eat them out of the bag.  or in ice cream.  or out of the bag.  by the handful

fortunately my sink disposal can handle chunks of rock hard scorched caramelized ..caramel.  and the cookies tasted pretty delectable... but i had to hack things off my spatula and quite a few cookies looked like someone had sampled them.  but really they just fell apart in gooey lumpy gobs.  and there were crumbs EVERYWHERE.

bahh.

subpar soup

chicken laksa, tom ka gai, or any other asian chicken coconut soup from a restaurant is pretty much  heavenly.  make it at home... and its like a sandwich or salad.  same ingredients, same process, not-quite-terrible but disappointing result.. 

poached chicken, rice noodles, egg noodles, curry paste, coconut milk, chicken broth, bean sprouts, snow peas, and even minced lemongrass

i followed the recipe to a t.  and the resulting steamy bowl of soup?  meeh.

fail.

bread failure

looks pretty with sugar on top. tastes like floury fruit chunks.



sunday night i attempted baking. usually quick breads turn out atleast edible, as do cookies and brownies. cakes however are a complete and utter failure enough of the time that i refuse to even make boxed cakes. in my usual fashion, i found a decent looking recipe: holiday cranberry apricot soda bread. it must have been something i copied out of a vegan/tofu type cookbook. which i have come to realize is just begging for a horrible result. besides the obvious cranberry and apricot, the recipe calls for chopped pecans, 1/4 C butter [additional tofu to substitute for the rest], and 2 T sugar.

after kneading and plopping onto a greased cookie sheet, the directions said to cut an X in the top to allow for expansion and sprinkle with sugar. during baking due to our overzealous gas oven, i had to cover the bread with foil to slow the burning to a crisp process. upon removal from the oven, the bread looked rather like an oversized muffin. if only it tasted as good. the best thing i can say about my most recent baking creation.. is that this picture looks a bit like one of those 3d magic eye things.



in other news: my zucchini plant continues to flower but due to the current lack of bees in the house...the blossoms then shrivel and die.