you can't do that with a tiffany lamp!

so, uh, what does it say about my sanity that I think it would be a TERRIBLY AMUSING idea to have a Merlin 'vid to Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker"? (honestly, I think it's just the opportunity to time the phrase "invincible winner" to shots of Arthur in sparkly armor or, possibly, ironically falling over.)

maybe I'm insane. STILL, I THINK IT WOULD BE FUN OKAY.

also, slightly as a transitional segue pathetic confession or something, I have gotten completely sucked up in medieval recipes and might actually wrangle one for an active demo some time this month. THANKS dsudis. >:[ (♥)

anyway, the heralded recipe dump: cupcakes, nuts, and fruit dip. haha, nuts.

margarita cupcakes with peppered orange water mascarpone frosting

this little baby is inspired by a drink I had at a friend's bar where she rimmed the margarita glass with salt and fresh-ground pepper (mostly pink and green peppercorns, with a little bit of black for heat). it was pretty amazing. also it's inspired by the fact that when I went to grab the triple sec I discovered that my younger brother had finished it off in a fit of douchery, but hey! I have orange blossom water from my trip to the Persian grocery for rosewater and hibiscus flowers. so why not let that shine instead?



( more pictures and the recipes under the cut )

now I need to exercise for a half an hour, shower, dry my hair, straighten my hair, and then go to bed. I work a 12-hour day (one shift at each job) tomorrow. WHAT FUN!

in the history of puppy pictures posted on this livejournal, this may be the most adorable to date. it makes my heart spasm.

( oh my god, PUPPIES. )


in other news, the margarita cupcake recipe is coming. I just ... took all the time to type it up at work tonight and then forgot to e-mail it to myself. fail.

i just made FUCKING AWESOME margarita cupcakes with orangewater/peppercorn/mascarpone frosting. but now I want to go to SLEEEEEP, and by the time I get home from work tomorrow I bet you a trillion squillion dollars I won't reliably remember the recipe.

fucksticks.

whatever, at least I have 9/10 of a bottle of shitty-ass tequila. HOORAY! (not hooray.)


SO, HOW ABOUT THEM OSCARS? (omg. I cried. 4 times.)

you know me. yes, I am a hippie, but I like to think that I am not a PETA crazy (I conceptually support several of PETA's and AFA's causes and directions, but am much more of a "cruelty-free" person than an "animal liberation" person).

that said, when Action for Animals dropped a link to this virtual battery cage in my inbox, I was obviously disturbed. (ps: please check it out. or at least read up on the conditions of laying hens and broiler hens. even taken conservatively and with a grain of salt, it's terrible -- and I know that at least 70-85% of what is said here is true and not that exaggerated because I had a friend at Bowdoin whose family farmed laying hens and meat hens for large companies like Campbell's.) but here's the deal.

at the same time as I know that animals are treated HORRENDOUSLY by large-market and corporate agriculture, I also know that people are going to continue to want to eat meat, dairy, eggs, honey, et cetera. in addition, I am in the fortunate position to be interacting with local, sustainable, careful and caring producers of these legitimate food items on a regular basis. so I get to say this: it's not about whether you eat animal products (or plant products that have a history of destructive or exploitative farming/harvesting practices, or whatever). it's about which products you eat. it's about taking the time to know your producer. support the people who deserve your support. and, when at all possible, keep it local. I truly believe that in this time of economic shittiness that's more important than ever.

for those of you in the milwaukee/madison/wisconsin area, for eggs we have Yuppie Hill Farm. Willy Street Co-Op has a great article profiling Lynn's treatment of her birds, along with the practices of New Century Farms and Phil's Fresh Eggs (I only mention Yuppie Hill in particular because they're what we sell at Outpost, and I've had the privilege of talking to Lynn and to other Outpost owners and employees who have visited her farm. I know personally and without a doubt that she is Good People).

( text of the Yuppie Hill segment of the posting beneath the cut )


so to everyone who's actually stuck with me and read through this post, I thank you sincerely and I gently urge you, just try it. try finding one local supplier (use google; it's easy), one farmer or baker or butcher or co-op or roadside stand or farmer's market. visit them. talk to them about their food and their farms; they're their passions. their homes. then start buying. start with one. it's easy. work up to more if you feel comfortable (or if you fall as deeply in love as I have) and if you're fortunate enough to have a wide selection (you'd be surprised. once you know where to look, things start popping up everywhere). it'll make your life better, and it'll make the world a little better, too. also, go ahead and share the knowledge. link this post (and any other posts I make on the subject, because I assure you there will be others) to people. this isn't some wild evangelization run, just a hope that with enough people who care enough to open their minds and their hearts we can get the word out. we can begin to enact a change.

and finally, to Lynn Lein of Yuppie Hill Farm, Wil Allen of Growing Power, Chris and Krista of Tomato Mountain, the farmers of Tipi Produce, and everyone else I can't think of off the top of my head, and everyone else across the country and around the world who are working to make better food for a better planet, even though I know you will never read this, THANK YOU and CARRY ON. you make the world so much brighter than you know.

♥,
mel

enough of that crap, let's talk more about me my hair!

(in other words, I know that this is pretty spammy, but I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE AMUSEMENT YOU GUYS! MY HAIR HAS NO REGARD FOR PHYSICS!)

( look at this shit. )

thank you for your time.



♫ it's time to tryyy defyyyying graaaavityyyy... ♪

does anyone have a secret hint to help me NOT THROW UP ALL DAY?*

... 'cause right now, my track record ... she is not so good. :/



*I'm pretty sure I don't even have the flu or anything. my stomach just freaking hates me. worst day off ever.




[in other news,
PRESIDENT MOTHERFUCKING BARACK OBAMA. hell yes.]

wait. no, wait. so you're saying I DON'T live in a frat house, rife with smelly boyish douchebaggery?

( then why are people writing on mirrors with assorted hygienic creams and pastes? )

&my house; (where by the implication of "heart" I technically mean "what the actual fuck".)

(ps - the play-by-play is
the 1st line: my mother, yesterday morning, Colgate Baking Soda & Peroxide Whitening toothpaste.
the 2nd line: my brother, last night, Gillette Foamy Regular shaving cream.
the 3rd line: me, this afternoon, Crest Whitening Expressions Vanilla Mint toothpaste.)


also I need a haircut. badly. IT IS SERIOUSLY TOUCHING MY SHOULDERS YOU GUYS. D:


[ETA: conversation between my mom and me later in the evening
me: you know you could probably have worded that in a less pissy way.
mom: well I mean, do you know how hard it is to write with TOOTHPASTE?
me: actually, yes! and it is pretty difficult. so I guess I will cut you some slack.]

this is waaaaay out of my norm, but I've kind of sort of just snapped a little, so.

dear specific-cadre-of-LJ-Whovians (to which group I don't believe anyone in my friendslist belongs; you are all rather sane and commendable in this regard):

SIMMER DOWN. this is the tenth time they've changed actors; you'd think we might grow accustomed to it or something.

*hands*


(......... ahahahahaha HIS HAIR ♥)









and in other completely random but-I-must-share news, WHY CAN I NEVER ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE SHIRTS IN SNORGTEES AD BANNERS? answer: LEGS. *facepalm*

this is the part where I whine (feel free to ignore): I worked 5 hours on Christmas freaking Eve and made all of $26. grump. /whine

however, I did take a friend and coworker home for pierogi, as her family is being shitty (and mine, for once, is not. yay!). so we had nommy food and some lovely chat time (to be honest, I am also kind of silly for her. which is a pity because she has gotten back with her girlfriend and also has this boy-complication, so her dance card appears rather full at the moment). good times. :)

also, I had a delicious, cozy, and very white-Christmasy lunch with gryphons_lair, followed by a brief afternoon of browsing and chatting at Brookfield Square. I also showed her THE BOOTS, which I have taken to calling my "Christmas shoes" (yes, like in the song. I am ~EMOTIONAL about them D: *pathetic*).

both parents are at church right now, but should be home soon so we can do ... I don't know what, as there aren't really presents this year. but we'll do something familyish :D

happy solstichanukwanzachristmawinter, my friends!