bird by bird.

May 4, 2004

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:52:54 GMT

Lately, i've been at barnes&nobles a lot and learning how to drive and letting people buy me overpriced drinks and underpriced sweaters. And lately i've been going to the beach, or trying, because time limits everything good. tonight i've washed my hair in the sink because it had three days worth of hairspray and was still this strange 1952 bob. i'm doing rebecca's vocab homework mostly because i want to.

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:22:40 GMT

I stumbled upon this book at the Berkeley Public Library for a quarter months ago. Been an absolute inspiration for cake designs lately.

all from The Skip Rope Book, illustrated by Gail E. Haley

I'm missing Dateline Friday for internet flirting with a nothing, when I'd rather be with Sam. The ladies left my house after another rousing evening of burritos, drinking, and r.kelly impressions. We found a new friend and she's a co-worker named Adonia. We talked about cakes for hours. Earlier I biked all over oakland with robin and had beers at Cato's, which alone made it a successful Friday.

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:41:44 GMT

Sent home sick and annoyed with my boss. It was too hot, and everything was making me mad. I called my mom; she told me to take care of myself and watch out for swine flu, which made me more mad. 30 Rock isn't on due to a football game blah blah blah and I'm too old and boring and financially worrisome to go get that cat/dog/lovething I've been after.

Looking up flights, day dreaming, yoga, putting up the summer's bounty i.e. basil into pesto, tomatoes into frozen sauce, freezing berries, etc. Been at the park a lot with Robin, who just tells me long stories about Glasgow and rolls joints. We hold our faces up to the sun and wait for the older dogs to come beg for snacks from us.

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:01:15 GMT

I'm having a long and wonderful weekend and it's making up for the past two lame weekends. On Saturday night there was a lovely birtday dinner at Alie's complete with a blackberry-and-cream cake and warm guests. Then we went out, danced and drank, and I even got kissed. San Francisco is trying to be my friend and I applaud the effort.

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:24:05 GMT

I hate it here and I want to move. This awful bay has never been my home.

i miss you, seattle.

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:32:28 GMT

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:56:49 GMT

my special nerdy find at the sebastapol gravenstein apple fair

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:00:37 GMT

such an odd last 22 or so months and i'm so glad i'm waking up to a new year. just came back from a wonderful week in seattle: delicious snack-y meals, coffee, good friends, new friends, perfect weather, unrestricted shopping, late nights, and yes, even mani/pedis. i'm back and i'm tired, but i have a new computer and an anxious feeling in my stomach.

hello, i'm attractive and single and on tuesday i will eat you alive.

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:51:29 GMT

Three long days in Fallbrook, CA and I didn't go farther than the backyard. It was wonderful and relaxing and one of the best trips I've ever had to my lazy hometown. I played with the dog, the cats; I rummaged through old clothes with my sister, polished the family silver, and caught up on my sleep. My mom told us stories of her grandfather Olas falling in the Chicago river. My dad tried to give sound advice on life. Ahh, the fam.

grandma's tins

shoulder bag (that needs a deeper cleaning)

many, many past issues

Laura Ashley lace top & cut-off vintage Levi's

plus, this cat! Nigel!

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:03:34 GMT

The simple things in this college town will distract me. Julie is leaving (for good)in three weeks to Seattle. I will run this busy cupcake shop with a smile. I'm taking yoga to relax, keeping up with the new Flight of the Conchords, taking a multi-vitamin, growing plants, smoking more weed, and hanging out with friends I haven't been seeing lately. Andy moved to town, which means Anne is always close by too. It's been a rough month: there's flaky landlords and asshole neighbors and oh my god, food prices. I'm going home in two weeks for a quick visit. I'm becoming closer with my parents, and it's such a wonderful feeling.

(for sam)

long week.

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:57:37 GMT

Sam is spending Valentine's in Las Vegas moving furniture. I will be trying to recover from my week with movies and wine and writing a letter or two. Staying positive! I'm glad this busy weekend at the shop will distract me from other things going on. We're preparing to sell 1,000 red velvets on Saturday alone. I fucking hate cupcakes. oh wait i was suppose to be positive BLAH.

Wayne Thiebaud's CAKES are my new favorite cards! (ps. Cakes are not cupcakes)

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:13:04 GMT

another birthday and my boss made me in charge of dessert. ice cream sandwiches with coffee ice cream:

67 degrees! the weather has been magical. i want to love it, but am hesitant. please, it's january!

two good things.

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:06:00 GMT

the upbeat tune in the background of this commercial. why does it keep sticking in my head? why do i like it so much? it makes me want to get stoned.

& these shoes. only $20 at Urban Outfitters! say what? score.

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:04:13 GMT

It's Friday, so even though I have to work tomorrow morning, it still means I'm getting drunk, just earlier. I'm in desperate need of the relaxation that a shot or two of vodka brings. the three different types of vodka that have been sitting in the fridge FOREVER. I love booze! P.s. My crash-course in sewing is January 19 at Stone Mountain & Daughter Fabrics, and I start my Portuguese class Monday the 26th at Berkeley Adult School. Look at me with hobbies!

I remember when I was afraid of anywhere but my hometown.

Sometimes I miss the times when rebecca and I would roast veggies in our old apartment at the villas.

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:02:17 GMT

julie & footfoot

oceanside harbor

bestfriend shoe matching

coconut macaroons

saving the polar bears

berkeley houses

creme anglaise ice cream

a holiday for the bakers

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:58:56 GMT

my boss pat, just getting going at the good ol' employee christmas party. steve was a bit hesitant.

this is after about her fourth glass of whisky; she went on to champagne soon after.

i got involved. this was about the time that she repeated started yelling "you asshole!" at me.

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:40:14 GMT

Today Caitlin visited me at work AND I got to make pretzels! Awesome!

I spent most of the day trying to think of really good small business names like, "Burrito Town USA" and "Brew Station". I have better ones but they're top secret. Also, two people called out so there were less annoying co-workers to deal with. It's raining, so I'm happy being inside and cozy.

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:41:20 GMT

I scored a huge 1950's aluminum tree in the antique store down the stree from the cupcakery. I got half off and the owner threw in a bowl of ornaments for $5!

my favorite ornament

This totally beats me having to buy a huge potted thing and then killing it by February. Plus, it was less than some OU re-pro, and I feel good about re-using something that was proabably apart of many other magical christmases.

this is nice.

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:13:11 GMT

Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo

craft-oriented post.

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:40:25 GMT

Work is painfully boring! The shop is so slow that I've been filling my time with small crafts and fun things. Here's my gingerbread house. It took up two hours, but I guess it was worth it to feel christmas-y and to have something to email to my mom.

$4 at Target! brown, gold, and neutrals are my holiday decorating colors. Tonight I'm putting up lights and getting my potted tree from Gross Out. Berkeley is looking so pretty at night and everything's twinkling up on Shattuck. I feel lovey-dovey.

thanksgiving.

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:27:54 GMT

julie, steven, and fall decorating.

just one part of our amazing feast, including a "celebration roast" of seeds and grains.

sugar pie pumpking baked and stuffed with cheese.

i had more photos of me and sam, but we looked wasted in all of them. i drank a lot of our house cocktail (whiskey, pear juice, and tonic) and champagne and got really into the holiday spirit. this girl named chloe from work also came over and brought brownies. our pies were a success too.

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:59:16 GMT

my boss pat left us a petit chablis on her way to the airport. i hate her. but sometimes i think she knows it and those are the times when she gives us wine. julie and i drank it all and didn't work and talked about our hair and listened to fleetwood mac for three hours. the intern hates fleetwood mac and put her ipod into one ear and then left early. this was all after we spent the day being lazy and making out thanksgiving pies and watching the rain. my pie was a bourbon and butterscotch macadamia pie. hers was a sweet potato pie with leaves made of leftover dough as her border.
i'm making coffee and going to start arranging furniture and working on my three-bean salad. six-day weekend here i come.

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:38:22 GMT

last night was fun. sam and i went out with (who else?) julie and steven to some artist collective in oakland for an election night party. the space was huge and awesome and the people owned an adorable three-legged dog. when obama won we chugged beers and ran over to what looked like a shitty corner bar called the continental club. it was in fact a huge party space filled with obama posters and people dancing, and and little black kids dancing on a stage in front of a huge tv. everyone was hugging and kissing and it felt like new years. go america!

my boss is back from italy. i'm can't stand her, but she's awesome with gift giving. these are life-sized chocolates from some beautiful shop in piedmont.

i'm trying to hide kale in my thick cheese potato casserole. i hate leafy greens :(

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 05:50:17 GMT

rebecca came over for HSM 3 (awesome!) and GG night! so good. i also made spooky snacks and we did a craft project: lanterns!

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:46:38 GMT

i went a carving party, took wine and this jazzy tablescape. we watched The Descent and now i'm afraid of the dark. we had mummy fingers, mozzarella eyeballs, and hot apple cider with bourbon. i'm drunky and i love halloween.