moody&sanguine

Olympic Fever-ish

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Ok, so we all know the olympics are in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, this year. And as we are Canadian, we are rather, er, watching them a lot. For once.

It's an odd thing, as I've always been rather anti-Olympics. And I do think the gross aspects of the Olympics are gross. The obscene amount of money, environmental damage, and political poo - poo that happens in the name of the Olympics is horrid.

But, the silly sense of national pride, the joy of pummeling another country without war or bloodshed is great. The world seeing how cool (literally, har, har) your country is. And us winning our first gold on Canadian soil was awesome. And the second, how many we up to now???

And, if you watch 'How I Met Your Mother', there was a scene in a Tim Hortons! Sweet!

It makes me want to sing.... ' Oh, Canada, ..... mm mmmmm mm mmm mm mmmmmmmmmm.' Then you drink a beer, I think. I don't drink, but I do love maple syrup.

And Sidney Crosby friggin' kicks arse. YYYYYEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!

Yeah, as a country, we've got flaws. Not sure what they are, and I don't care. Maybe that is the point.

- Melina (the occasional hockey hooligan)

by Melina and Denise | 3 comments

Breadmaker

Friday, February 12, 2010

I am the bread maker. I love making bread. I'm now on vacation, and I'm making bread.

The smell is the best. Eating it right out of the oven is pretty sweet too. But, it's the smell that kills you and then makes you whole. Bliss.

I usually don't allow myself to make it on weekends, as I feel that it is too time consuming. I have work to do on weekends, I'm not someone who has that kind of time. But, oh, it feels so good. I feel all 'mother-goddess-like'. Like I'm making the stuff of life with my hands.

Do something you love today, don't just wait for vacay.

- Melina

by Melina and Denise | 2 comments

Baby I Was Born To Blog

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

My Viking, and my knitting needle holder, in progress...

Cutting the interfacing...

working on the photos...

The final listing. Love.

No, really I wasn't. But I really like it. And Denise makes me do it.

I'm super excited about my latest listing, I made a knitting needle holder . It's my own design. It was inspired by the fab Debbie, Denise's sister. She knits us the best and coolest stuff. I love Debbie, and you would too if you knew her.

Making a pattern from scratch is always tricky, but I finally got a good holder. Even if I do say so myself. I love sewing so much, I would sew full-time if I won the lottery. I'd also buy a fancy Bernina. Mmmmm, well, I'd probably have more than one. And a whole sewing room. And a big, big stash. And a serger. And a big cutting table....

Bernina 830

If I had more time I'd love to start working on clothes. I just finished 'altering' some new 'work' pants. I had to hem the of course, but I also added pockets. They were sort of there, but sewn shut. I took out the seams, added some 'pockets' I 'made'. Ok, I'll 'stop'.

A lovely sewing room. *Sigh*

Watching the 'Miss Marple' murder mysteries make me want to make cute 50's things. I really want to be a excellent sewer of clothes. Yes, that is what I want to do.

Another really nice sewing room. *Drool*

- Melina

by Melina and Denise | 0 comments

Yoga Yogi Yoda

Friday, January 29, 2010

You know how it is, everyone and their dog says 'oh, eating well, exercise, yoga and meditation- these things will change your life for the better'. And your always like, 'yeah, yeah, yeah - what ev'. You may even rolls your eyes and briefly consider violence.

So, we go through our lives, doing what we do, trying to do good things when we can, just trying to get through the day without quitting our job or eating our weight in chocolate. Right? Come on, I know I'm not the only one.

Then one day, you try to do something good for yourself. You may go for a long walk and feel really good. Or, switch your pasta out for whole wheat pasta. And it's good. These are baby steps, but you notice that you feel a bit better.

Well, I have to say, I've been eating better and doing yoga and meditating. And I feel really good. No, don't roll your eyes! It's actually true, er, who knew? Ok, shut it.

Anyway, the yoga alone is amazing! I feel sooooooooo much better and WAY less stressed. I feel like I can think with clarity, I don't have all the static in my brain. My body is happier, I feel like I can handle anything. Really, it is as good as all those annoying people say it is.

Who knew?

- Melina.

by Melina and Denise | 1 comments

Happy Vegans

Monday, January 25, 2010

Alicia Silverstone's cookbook

Well, in the last little while, there have been two, count 'em, two lovely new vegan cookbooks released. And, thanks to generous friends and family over the holiday season, we pooled our bookstore gift cards and got both of them! We felt so wealthy.

The one I grabbed first was 'The Kind Diet' by Alicia Silverstone. There is lots of great info in this book. It sometimes goes a little hippie-dippy at times, but so has it's heart in the right place. Also, some of the ingredients seem sorta tricky to find. We are planning a special trip to the Asian grocer to get some of the more exotic stuff. But, I love the heartwarming stories and there are some really good-looking things. I've only made the 'peanut' butter cups. We used cashew butter, as Denise and peanuts do not mix.

Tal Ronnen's cookbook.

Next, we bought Tal Ronnen's 'The Conscious Cook'. Oh, my, I wonder if he is single. We first saw him on, yes I'm a bit embarrassed, the Oprah show. But the food looked so good. And, my is it! We made the asparagus soup and the 'almond' encrusted fake chicken. WOW! So friggin' good. He (as far as I'm concerned) created the cashew cream, and it is used as a cream substitute. Genius!

The soup was so good, we made it again two days later! I so can't wait to make more things, out of both books. Tal is a trained French chef, so not as much organic-up-your-bum-ness. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to grow my own organic food, and buy only organic, but until I'm rich, I can't bloody afford it. Love both books.

-Melina. : )

by Melina and Denise | 0 comments

Tetris Thumb

Thursday, January 21, 2010

So, I had the dreaded Car-Pool-Tunnel, and have since made a full recovery. Now, I suffer from Tetris-Thumb. Shock horror!

Two days ago, when our 'stoopid puters' went bust, I was all like, "oh, man, I'm gonna be so bored without it". Nevermind I'm only on the computer when blogging. Usually I'm either in my kitchen (being master of my universe), or sewing at what used to be our dining table.

I totally downloaded Tetris to my phone, 'just in case'. Now I have a sore thumb. : (

But, apparently, Tetris increases brain efficiency. So, a sound investment in my brain health, I say.

And I feel like a bit of a boob. Totally my fault. Nuts.

- Melina.

by Melina and Denise | 2 comments

Sew Excited, Fancy Pants

Thursday, January 14, 2010

This is a 'look how far we've come' moment-type blog post. Why? I'm finally getting some professional labels for my bags n' stuff. I'm really excited and will soon place the order. I've been wanting to have pretty labels for awhile, and with the success of the past 11 months I feel now I can have them. Yay!

When I get them, I will show them off!!!

-Melina. : D