NOTW: Shadow puppets!

Frog and Geese shadow puppet pendant!


Inside, I'm perpetually 4. Husband is somewhat weirded out by the fact that female toddlers frequently remind him of me. I loooove these hand shadow puppet pendants by Inca Starzinsky. Gimme em all. (That was the inner 4 year old, sorry.)
Images via Howkapow.

Rabbits!

Crocodile and Elephant!

Week-end happies

I have recently been enlightened to the beauty of the Pusheen the Cat tumblr (gif above) courtesy of this broad.
I'm convinced that this particular gif was created after the artist peeped in my bedroom.


I love that Mother Jones posted the hilar Beastie Boys 'movie' trailer. It comes out with the new album, yo.

Toast art. (Thanks ABomb!)

Wow. United Nudes Classic fold heels Mama wants.

We could all use this hanging in our house. It's OK.

I don't know where Veronica finds these videos, but I'm so glad she does. Yankin'. (Lyrics NSFW)

I want to smell like this all the time. Soon! Campfire perfume.

Aubrey Plaza, stone-face darling of my fave sitcom Parks and Rec, nails it with her Sarah Silverman impression. via The AV Club

Man oh MAN do I wish these were real. Petite Lap Giraffes! (Thanks Jason!)

Guess who's eating beignets this weekend? THIS BITCH.

I've been traveling an awful lot lately and as a result, posts are getting more sporadic. I'M SORRY, OK?

This weekend, I'm off to New Orleans, so my mind has been really occupied with important things, like how pale my toes suddenly look in my sandals and where I'm going to find a cute Tulane student to share my room at the Intercontinental. There have also been some minor things on my mind, like cancer and job security, but you know. PALE TOES, not cool.

Things will be back on schedule soon. Hit me up if you have any suggestions for things not-to-be-missed in the Big Easy. Hopefully I'll come back with some voodoo skills, pink cheeks, and maybe even a little more education policy knowledge. (Oh yeah...that's why I'm going in the first place. Work.)

Love you,
Melanie








Images via Lonely Planet

Chemo Sandy's pierogi casserole

Mom has recently started attributing any slight memory fail, Freudian slip, or general mind zap to what she calls "Chemo brain." Truly,the rest of us haven't noticed even a slight uptick in her fairly common, adorable goofs since the start of chemotherapy. But hey, we'll give it to her.

In the spring, especially around Easter, I am lucky enough to gorge myself on her amazing homemade pierogies. Unlike more traditional straight-up Polish ingredients (potato and cheese, cabbage, etc), her specialty is ricotta and dill pierogies. Sauteed with butter and onions, they are fresh and light and beautiful.

With chemo, Mom's energy level has dropped. Painstakingly rolling out the dough and hand-forming each pierogi is no fun when you feel like you have the flu. Despite the fact that we try to get her to not cook at all, she can't help but make some treats for when we come into town. This gave birth to the pierogi casserole. Tastes like nostalgia, and who doesn't love a casserole? It's damn tough to screw up. Eat, enjoy, and wash it down with some cheap red wine, Chemo Sandy style.

Mom's Ricotta and Dill Pierogi Casserole

1 bag Amish style noodles
1 large container ricotta
1/2 cup chopped onion
dill to taste (fresh preferred)
1 egg
salt, pepper
1 stick butter

Cook noodles. Saute onion in butter. Add noodles.

Mix ricotta with salt, pepper, egg and a couple tablespoons of dill.

Make two layers, noodles and half ricotta.

Bake at 325 for 1/2 hour.

Boy Crush: Steve Neaves

I get crushes on photographers. Normally I'm a fan of the simplistic beauty of straight-up photos with few effects, however, I can't help but gape at Steve Neaves' hybrid comic book-esque graphics that result from digital trickery.











Images via TrendHunter and Cuded

Week-end Happies

Image via Scared Panda by TheeErin


So there's a new David Hasselhoff video.

Because regular kitchen tools are for pussies. Stuff a zucchini with a power drill.

Who wouldn't want a Day of the Dead toilet? (Thanks Bridget!)

My black-out-drunk type friends: This napkin could save your life.

We all know donuts are the new cupcakes. Make some.

Paper taxidermy. Absolutely gorgeous. via NY Times

Hey hippies, got the munchies? The Vegan Stoner is here to help. Kind of the cutest thing ever.

Everything's Alright Forever. via Design Crush

A love story for your Thursday: Thursday.

I know I'm on an animated short film kick lately- there's just so much good stuff out there. Matthias Hoegg's "Thursday" is a love story set in the not-too-distant future and was nominated for a BAFTA this year. Full screen recommended.

Thursday from Matthias Hoegg on Vimeo.

via Creative Review