Its a Pink Streak

So I don't think this is crafty. Nor is it nerdy.  I have been craving to do something "crazy" or rebellious.  I had this amazing TA this past semester who just tipped the scales as to doing it or not.  Lately I have been in a huge pink phase.  So I decided to add a streak of hot pink to my hair.

 I was lucky enough to have a friend go to school at the AVEDA institute so she told me where to go and what to get.  I went to Sally Beauty Supply on the west side of Madison.

Developing bowl and brush

Bleach

Developer 

RED PASSION -- Which is acutally pink

So I had a friend over, put a shitty shirt on and went for it.  First I found a chunk in the back of my scalp so it is hidden, but still visible.  I put the rest of my hair up in hairties and clips.

Having gotten foil highlights done a couple of times the concept wasn't too bad.  In practice, doing it on yourself is much harder than they make it look at salons.  I followed the directions on the package and mixed a 1:1 ratio of developer and bleach.  Stirred that till it looked like goop and started applying it to my streak.  

Totally too late to turn back now

I let that lift for about 30 minutes or so.  I checked it at 15 min, 10 after that and so on.  I then washed out the bleach and shampooed the area where the bleach was.  It is very bizarre only washing one side of your head.  

Then onto the slightly scary part the PINK!!!!

My friend Monica said it looked like a tin foil ear.. lol
  

Then after 20-25 minutes (yes I did veer away from directions a bit).  I shampooed and conditioned.  

and ... 

                             ....TA DA..... 

ITS PINK!!!! 

Currently feel like a rebel, but at the same time classy.  

Next time I am doing a larger chunk because without half up and down it is really hidden.  

special thanks to my friend Marissa and Melanie for helping me with the products 

                                          Monica for helping me with the processing

                                        And my super original and funky TA from my intro to LGBTQ class

                       

  

Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes

AHHH ... Stumble upon.  My friend decided to introduce me to it by making me an account thanks... (you know who you are).  Well during my stressful week I was able to find so many more baking endeazvours
I would love to try.  This being one of them.   http://www.handletheheat.com/2010/02/cookies-cream-cheesecake-cupcakes.html.  I immediately decided I MUST make them.  So on a crazy wild Friday night I went over to a friends and we went for it.  Armed with a bottle of wine and some great company (thanks Sarah).  A great Friday was had.

To start off we needed to get a few things from the grocery store (and yes non-name brand Oreos work).  We decided to try to go easy on the fat by splitting it up with half light cream cheese and half regular.  A pound of cream cheese is a lot.

some of the ingredients plus wine (super important)

a pound of cream cheese *YIKES* at least half of it is low fat

You SHOULD let it warm to room temperature like the recipe says don't skip that part.  Even with a wonderful kitchen aide appliance it is far to tacky.
  

Wish I owned one

So once it did become room temperature we set that thing to high and just watched the magic.  You add sugar, vanilla, and sour cream.  Go Sarah adding that sour cream.

My Friend Sarah helping and letting us use equipment :-)

After the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and sour cream are fully combined, you add crushed cookies.

somehow one of my favorite parts, crushing things

somehow destruction makes me slightly manic

whip till smooth...

After the crushed cookies are added we whipped them up in there.

tins with the "oreo crust"

Then just put the liners in a cupcake tin add and Oreo and you are off.
   You scoop the cheesecake mixture on top of the cookies.  I left a little filling leeway on the top, did not want that overflow.

Fill tins evenly we used a 1/3 cup 

Filling the tins was actually kind of really messy. Since it is kind of gloppy.  After filling all of the tins you stick it in the oven for 22 minutes and turn the pan half way through the process.  So while we wait WINE!!!

wait... drinking wine seems like the best plan

After they come out you have to wait at least four hours or over night to firm up entirely.

when they come out

finished product

The Finished Product:

So yummy

So far all of my friends are raving about them.  Ironically one was the one who introduced me to Stumbleupon

De-stress Baking

So this week is probably about the most stressful week that I have had for awhile.  I just had a paper due today, a big exam next week Monday, and another paper due on Sunday.  So if that weren't enough its' one of the biggest weekends for the UW band during the spring.  The Varsity Band Concert (still haven't gotten tickets? do it!! www.badgerband.com or at the kohl center from 9-5 currently).  Being on staff for band also adds so many more hours to spend doing work.  So to say the least, I do not have much time.

With all these wonderful parts of my life converging onto themselves, I became super stressed out to say the least.  So there are days where I laugh at this but I feel so stereotypical, but I LOVE TO BAKE!!! Whenever I am super sad or stressed somehow baking really makes it better.  So last night in the midst of writing my paper I did just that.  This time around I did cheat a bit I didn't have actual time to make the dough so I bought it.  :-(

Even with store brand purchased dough within the first 5 minutes of rolling dough into cookie shaped balls my stress just melted away.  I don't understand what about the process makes it do that but it worked.  By the time I was finished a huge weigh had been lifted off my shoulders!!!  Now to study and write for the rest of my week and rock out a great concert (and do lots of crying on Saturday night since about 80% of my band friends will be   performing in their last concert).  The downside to baking for de-stressing purposes while you are single?  There isn't a boyfriend to pawn off the sweets.  Any takers?

Spring Break 2012 - I have a staple gun and know how to use it

So while people headed to fantastic locals I went home home.  Don't get me wrong its great; I get some free time.  After about 9 months of planning, I finally finished a project.  I got these fantastic chairs at the Waunakee Garage Sale days.  They are fold-able and dinning room worthy.  Too bad they had a hideous fabric for the cushioned seat, and that just needed to change.  So off to Joann's Fabric my mother and I went (over 6 months ago) and found a really cool fabric that is both bright in color and dark enough not to show stains.  So after forever finally did it.

Upholstery project go:

see the folding abilities?

   

see what I mean gross 

So after ironing the fabric the process began.  We started with the front part of the chair and then pulled everything taut.  We tacked things down with masking tape.  My mom was very good at knowing how to fold things around the corners (Shout Out TO HER).  

useful tools to have:
staple gun, zig zag scissors, hammer, and missing a  flat nose screwdriver

Started with the front, did the back then proceeded to fold in the sides.

The First side 

Sorry I had fun documenting this project with pictures.









Look all of those wonder full pleating skills of my mother's :-)

STAPLE GUN --- don't know if its a good idea to trust me with it

Probably one of the most fun parts of this project is the staple gun!!!!!



They made me feel so powerful and dangerous but do make your hands slightly sore unless you have ridiculously strong hands.
















After all the fun stapling is done :-(
We trimmed all of the extra fabric off with a scissors.  Then took to all of the edges with No Fray


and so the FINAL PRODUCT!!!!

So happy with how they came out.  And if you look closer inadvertently I think I got a pattern that reminded me of one of my favorite places on campus.  Guesses anyone?
:-)

well ta ta for now all

Blogging... a begining

This is my second attempt at keeping up with a blog ( I had one be an assignment for a class ).  It was my first GWS class, which just solidified the fact I am a Feminist, dang proud too.  But, I like to do so many "female" things love to cook/bake, knitting, and crafting.  If you don't already know me I am a NERD! Love me my video games and wonderful nerdy tv/web shows.  Over the last couple of years I realized I am becoming myself and realizing all of these wonderful facets of my identity have helped so much.  So welcome to my place of crafting projects, updates on my knitting projects (raverly.com check it out), nerdy things, and/or when I feel like being political.