tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90200501695085541152024-02-28T22:48:30.153-08:00Dizzily DreamingBallet, sewing, parties, work, money, college... hopefully whatever strikes your fancy. Welcome to my blog!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-25904185097843856492012-07-26T14:39:00.000-07:002012-07-26T14:39:49.633-07:00Lion Tamer Costume Finished!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There she is! Took me long enough, but I'm done!. This outfit will be worn with boats, black pants, my black leotard, and this. It's hard to see, but the black part of the jacket has roses on it to add a touch of texture. The vest is tea-stained to match the fabric I used for the ruffles. Overall, this costume cost me about $28 to make. Could be more, could be less because I was disorganized with my receipts *-.-*<br />
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I had pictures of the progress I made, but the files on my memory card are corrupt. I have no idea how to recover them, but luckily, the final result pictures made it.<br />
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The pattern I used was not my own, but Simplicity's 2525:<br />
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With some minor alterations, I was able to complete this jacket. The main difference is the volume around the arm holes. I took most of the poof out to give the jacket a more masculine appearance and to accommodate for the epaulettes. <br />
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I would be careful using canvas for the interfacing. I used more of a duck cloth to provide the interfacing, and it can be quite tight in the elbows. Otherwise, it is fine in the shell, and necessary for the collar. <br />
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The armholes are also to small for a girl with arms as big as mine. I made the armholes slightly bigger. I wish I had added more fabric at the end of the sleeves, but it'll do.<br />
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The fabrics I used are:<br />
Broadcloth - red<br />
Broadcloth - interfacing<br />
Jacquard - black<br />
Broadcloth - tea-stained white<br />
??? - ruffles (I used someone's old scrap from a garage sale, feels silky)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-73431853151695074352012-06-23T21:16:00.001-07:002012-06-23T21:16:14.310-07:00I'm Not DeadWow, how long has it been?! I've been incredibly busy. Not only did I have an insane workload last semester, I'm now in summer school. Still, I'm planning well in advance for my Halloween party! My fall semester is going to be crazier than the last (Physical chemistry, chemical analysis, biophysics, and all their labs. Yikes! I would say pray for me but I'm an aspiring scientist ;P )<br />
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I already have this year's theme ready and it's....<br />
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EVIL CARNIVAL!!<br />
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Yeah, that's right! Evil clowns, hall of mirrors, cotton candy.... that's the plan. I've already been garage saling for some items and have started on my costume. My eyelids can barely stay open right now, so I'll leave it at that. Just expect a couple of updates about the costume I'm making and the awesome garage sale items I've found, plus I'm going to be posting about music, decorations, crafts, and other carnival party goodies.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-82405058719374274362011-12-01T20:00:00.001-08:002011-12-01T20:04:23.490-08:00Calorie Calculator from Fitness MagazineHi, everyone! Bumming about as usual and trying to get back into my fitness routine. My university just fixed up their gym really nice so I've been weight training, running on the elliptical, and so on. Ends up, I found this website to give you a calorie count for the day. This tells you specifically how much carbs, proteins, and fat you'll need to eat in order for you to maintain your current weight. You don't even need to sign up to use this calculator. Sweet!<br />
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Give it a shot here to see how much you should be eating: <a href="http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/fitness/multimedia.jsp?multimediaId=/templatedata/fitness/multimedia/data/1130272109023.xml&ordersrc=rdfit0285">Fitness Magazine's Calorie Calculator</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-70420816750419453792011-11-28T20:13:00.001-08:002011-11-28T20:38:09.536-08:00Alice in Wonderland Halloween Party! ResultsWow, it's taken me this long to finally post the results of my efforts! I ended up being under budget. Hurray! And kept the entire party under $100. This was mostly due to my secret shopping and home-crafting of many of the decorations. Food ended up costing me a pretty penny and was a majority of the expenses, as I predicted. Anyway, everyone had fun! Here are some pictures of the decorations!<br />
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Makin' the red velvet cupcakes! They were divine. </div>
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This is my costume, fully completed. Looks pretty good, right? You can also see some of the kitchen decorations in the background. Every room had a theme, and this one's was the Red Queen's Castle. So there were card houses, card suits, hearts, and lots of red!</div>
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I made the popcorn bags out of red paper bags and cut the tops off in jags. I then carved a stamp out of a potato in the shape of skulls and hearts. On the kitchen table, for the center piece, I made a card house and scattered heart-shaped, red confetti all over. </div>
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The dining room's theme was the Mad Hatter Tea Party. </div>
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On the table I placed tea cups, mismatched, with napkins and teapots. There are perfume and nail polish bottles on the table that have "Drink Me!" written on them. To the right of the bottles is a giant pill I found at my university to advertise some drug. It has "Eat me!" written on it. The book is a book on etiquette I had in my library. I put it out there, too. </div>
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This is my center piece. It is my giant, homemade hat with a teapot I found from the Goodwill. There is a fishing lure sticking out the spout. A rat I found from the dollar store hides behind the hat. </div>
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This is another craft I made out of an old children's book about rabbits. It's supposed to look like it's flying. There'll be a better example later. If you're interested in how to make this, check out the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Repurposed-Library-Craft-Projects-Books/dp/1584799099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322541426&sr=8-1">The Repurposed Library</a>. </div>
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When guests enter the house, they enter the forest. Here are the butterflies and mushrooms. I had some dead sticks and garlands scattered about to make it seem more foresty. </div>
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Close up of my paper-mache mushrooms. I have a tutorial on how to make these <a href="http://dizzilydreaming.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-papier-mache-or-paper-mache.html">here</a>. </div>
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For a terrible surprise during the scavenger hunt, I placed a bunch of mannequins in the basement :3 I got these off a friend's coworker whose best friend died. Phew, hope you caught up with that. </div>
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The family room's theme was whimsical and surrealism. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgais9LQAo2LLGE9lrp5Im52vJIU2pJOPFiZHNkB_vF9LoUkCLLE4w3bVIgSFgLbnNP6c8JwKiFciMo5fmLAeSquVVpz6_SxULHwDhF69yS6KmoIYD5wW8FfQ_wsLvxV4oe8TZdVYko_Sfb/s1600/IMG_3069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgais9LQAo2LLGE9lrp5Im52vJIU2pJOPFiZHNkB_vF9LoUkCLLE4w3bVIgSFgLbnNP6c8JwKiFciMo5fmLAeSquVVpz6_SxULHwDhF69yS6KmoIYD5wW8FfQ_wsLvxV4oe8TZdVYko_Sfb/s320/IMG_3069.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nUHMNf78VKj0R3I-Fq_mV0wXic1Dv_B6g2fgFpqDsGYq1Vs6QaKIPbFRUMtAgD4QjB2mLQK-MKYd5boQhlI6z3IrYhLKQbiwgo-IbYhe56e-Ei5uETXE0lwuAzyoBeoBKfO0NwCpmlVZ/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nUHMNf78VKj0R3I-Fq_mV0wXic1Dv_B6g2fgFpqDsGYq1Vs6QaKIPbFRUMtAgD4QjB2mLQK-MKYd5boQhlI6z3IrYhLKQbiwgo-IbYhe56e-Ei5uETXE0lwuAzyoBeoBKfO0NwCpmlVZ/s320/IMG_3072.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfCHc8s7B2VMFvk19rgz7bRqXylaT2qTu7UNmD-cOUFlqqy5Rco_oqBh8NSg-u6kStswXhRgJRgcRsdKG4gmEUMUDz-oHMaCvgeHDALRgfF1dIXu4kgfcrRXE7JcgP0mAxp5khRFy8bZS/s1600/IMG_3085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfCHc8s7B2VMFvk19rgz7bRqXylaT2qTu7UNmD-cOUFlqqy5Rco_oqBh8NSg-u6kStswXhRgJRgcRsdKG4gmEUMUDz-oHMaCvgeHDALRgfF1dIXu4kgfcrRXE7JcgP0mAxp5khRFy8bZS/s320/IMG_3085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Couldn't resist hahaha</div>
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Click pictures to enlarge. This is my moon. I made the clouds by wrapping them in discount fabric I bought at a garage sale. The moon is simply cut from cardboard and painted with acrylics. </div>
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This is what it looked like at the party. Best part was, the night of the party, the moon was a waning crescent like the one I made. Totally unplanned. ;)</div>
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<br />
And that was that! Everyone had a blast and it was a lot of fun to make. Hope I've given everyone some ideas for their own Alice party!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-57363755186685825092011-10-21T06:44:00.000-07:002011-10-21T06:46:23.369-07:00Party City Coupon - 25% OffHere's a Party City coupon I was sent in the mail for 25% all Halloween items! The only limit is that it cannot already be on sale if you use the coupon. Coupon can be used online or in a store.<br />
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<a href="http://images.partycity.com/images/set_c/en_us/emails-pc/11-10-20-decor-supplies-email/subscriber-coupon-PCXHR3_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://images.partycity.com/images/set_c/en_us/emails-pc/11-10-20-decor-supplies-email/subscriber-coupon-PCXHR3_v2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Print out the coupon here: <a href="http://images.partycity.com/images/set_c/en_us/emails-pc/11-10-20-decor-supplies-email/subscriber-coupon-PCXHR3_v2.jpg">Party City Coupon</a><br />
Online coupon code: PCXHR3<br />
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Coupon will expire after tomorrow!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-28227905706480817862011-10-08T10:48:00.000-07:002011-12-05T14:16:55.226-08:00Working at Panera Bread - Pros and ConsWell, this is the last stretch, people. I'm quitting my part-time job at Panera Bread to work a couple hours a week as a writing tutor at my university. I just couldn't keep up with all the work, and when I asked for less hours, I didn't get them. So I gave them my note of resignation earlier this week. I'm a little sad, but also a little happy to go. To help job-searchers who are considering a position at Panera Bread, here is a list of pros and cons about working there:<br />
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<a href="http://www.panerabread.com/img/logo-small-lofi.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.panerabread.com/img/logo-small-lofi.gif" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pros</b></span>-- (let's start off on a happy note, shall we?)<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Safe work environment</b>: There are tons of posters around my workplace that tell you who to contact in case you ever feel you're in an uncomfortable situation. Given that at my last work, the environment was extremely racist and I felt sexually harassed at times, this is a plus.</li>
<li><b>Regular customers</b>: There are regular customers that you will get to know. Talking to them is a lot of fun and they can be really helpful for those damn MindShare surveys.</li>
<li><b>Great benefits</b>: Even part-time employees can get benefits.</li>
<li><b>Employee discount</b>: The employee discount at my work was 65%. That's a hell of a lot. You have to use the discount around your workshift, though. If you want to use your discount outside of work, you have to apply for an employee certificate that will get you 50% off any corporate store. You can give these certificates to friends and family as gifts.</li>
<li><b>Food</b>: The food's pretty good, but there are definitely some unhealthy items you'll want to avoid.</li>
<li><b>Clothing</b>: Aprons are washed for you every day. All you need to worry about is your polo and pants. </li>
<li><b>People</b>: There are mostly young people working at Panera. We'll get into why in the cons, but everyone is really nice and friendly.</li>
<li><b>Environment</b>: You'll work indoors, only occasionally going outside for trash or umbrellas. The store doesn't smell like greasy, fast-food since there are no deep-fryers. I never passed out once when I worked here, but I did faint several times at Portillo's and I think it was because of the fryers. </li>
<li><b>Great training</b>: You'll get paid for your training AND there will be plenty of it. They have a beginners course called Planet Bread where you get to sample some of the food, and they also have a website that takes you through all the things you'll need to know.</li>
<li><b>Good pay</b>: The pay is pretty good. I got paid above minimum wage at my work, and there are opportunities for raises during certain times of the year.</li>
<li><b>Breaks</b>: Panera actually gives you the legal break time of thirty minutes for every five hours you work. Some places will make you sign your rights away (like my job at Portillo's) and you'll be stuck working ridiculously long shifts with almost no breaks. </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cons</b></span>--<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Really fast-paced environment</b>: Count on taking a good, three-hour nap after every one of your shifts, especially if you're working in the morning. You'll never have a break and you'll be constantly running around trying to get all your side-work done. Only younger people work here because it's ridiculously busy all the goddamn time; they're the only ones who can keep up with it.</li>
<li><b>Order Procedure</b>: The system is pretty decent for filling out orders, but you'll lose your voice at least ten times. I guarantee it. This is because you have to practically interrogate the customers when they order. Here is a typical scenario with someone just trying to order a bagel: </li>
</ul>
<ul>"Hi! How are you today? Do you have a Panera card? You don't? Would you like a Panera card? No? Okay, what can I get for you? A bagel? Which bagel? Would you like that sliced and toasted? Any cream cheese? Would you like a drink with that? What size of drink? Is that for here or to go? Anything else I can get for you?" </ul>
<ul>And then lunch is even worse: "Hi! How are you today? Do you have your MyPanera card? Would you like one? What can I get for you? Is that a going to be a U-Pick-2? It is? Okay, what soup would you like? Would you like bread, chips, or an apple with that? Anything to drink? Would you like a bakery item for ninety-nine cents? Would you like that bakery item on a plate for here or in a bag to go? Is the rest of the order for here? Anything else? May I have a name for the order please? Now I'm going to read back your entire order." Every single transaction will be like this. Every, single one. That adds up. And if they change their mind on getting something, like a bakery item, it's a pain in the ass to reorganize their order. It's a bit complicated to explain, but if you work as a cashier here, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.</ul>
<ul></ul>
<ul><br />
<li><b>Food</b>: Yes, the food is good, which is a pro. But the food is also really unhealthy for you. You need to learn how to eat right here, and be careful what you order all the time. </li>
<li><b>Hours</b>: If you ask for time off, there's a chance you won't actually get it. </li>
<li><b>Restrictions Due to Rigorous Procedures</b>: Most of this is in place due to health concerns, but some of it is ridiculous. I got yelled at once because I reorganized the bakery to improve our productivity. All I did was move some forks and knives to the other register so that cashier wouldn't have to run back and forth all the time. It wasn't dangerous, it wasn't in the way, it just wasn't "how things are done." Yet....</li>
<li><b>Contradictory Instructions</b>: No one knows what they really should be doing. Always just listen to the general manager. I've gotten so many different answers/orders from managers that are completely different than what another manager said. This is probably at every job, but it's also here. They only end up shooting themselves in the foot.</li>
<li><b>Shifts</b>: You'll always be held over your shift. When they say on your schedule you'll be out by 1:30, they actually mean, "We'll be pulling your drawer out at 1:30. You'll actually get out around 2:00 or 2:30." You'll never get out on time unless it's really slow, which is rare.</li>
</ul>
<br />
As you can see, it's a fairly nice place to work, even with all the cons. I really did enjoy working here, but I got really tired after my shifts and I wasn't getting the hours I wanted. Because of that, I've decided to quit. But I do encourage those who think they can handle the challenge to give Panera a shot. It really is a decent company to work for. <br />
<br />
<ul>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-1997856739707150102011-09-20T19:50:00.000-07:002011-09-20T19:50:47.032-07:00Alice in Wonderland Halloween Party CraftsHi! Just a couple more updates so you can see some of the ideas I have. I have already shown a couple tutorials on some of the items I'm making, and I really hope you guys are enjoying those! They took forever to make, phew! Anyway, here are some items I'm making for my Alice in Wonderland Halloween party. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVq0YbX709_p5nKqtx8YCgbEV1Uu7ucXmssr82sGA0NxBg3B2e1Rf2j6_1PSADjBuP8RFL2svsOPnIvzq2aP6UlCYF-vtVosF12T8cw351Iv9iUDSv75SFKCmf-SnWpcpONcIvI8qux9d/s1600/IMG_2971.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVq0YbX709_p5nKqtx8YCgbEV1Uu7ucXmssr82sGA0NxBg3B2e1Rf2j6_1PSADjBuP8RFL2svsOPnIvzq2aP6UlCYF-vtVosF12T8cw351Iv9iUDSv75SFKCmf-SnWpcpONcIvI8qux9d/s320/IMG_2971.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3bFtBILyizSget8Ci00iEo_qNZwi_muEdHlHhkOBQ858hxnnWQNfRY6iMpZK3-dyq_7R5YeGlJY9Qo9V5Nn-QSS0PZT_CiihSt2cCHV4qNyWz6058AyZ5JDPg5OkE0STjMzaZTm0IujZ/s1600/jabberwock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3bFtBILyizSget8Ci00iEo_qNZwi_muEdHlHhkOBQ858hxnnWQNfRY6iMpZK3-dyq_7R5YeGlJY9Qo9V5Nn-QSS0PZT_CiihSt2cCHV4qNyWz6058AyZ5JDPg5OkE0STjMzaZTm0IujZ/s320/jabberwock.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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The neck and skull of my Jabberwocky skeleton. I didn't take a picture of it with the jaw, here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDe_pE-OQ3CvLGE_q_O50X23kcrMHJwF2l8W_EzGa2YTcmEiJid7SHhddBymjxVSIETVyUwTHZMqeUcWDj2n4SRKNnR6mQP_9gzFa7ZH7UcLadl2tnAXsgMyYELiaJXE9J7Jo2RdLW53HB/s1600/IMG_2972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDe_pE-OQ3CvLGE_q_O50X23kcrMHJwF2l8W_EzGa2YTcmEiJid7SHhddBymjxVSIETVyUwTHZMqeUcWDj2n4SRKNnR6mQP_9gzFa7ZH7UcLadl2tnAXsgMyYELiaJXE9J7Jo2RdLW53HB/s320/IMG_2972.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt2JqAOvNblWOnoWwlQtYVyFVS4-YUwzA-0sZ75XGbOe-SefYO9k6Db-1flUcsla1l_JlDMm4XM_iEJPAo-tqhPZLGJR09gs2GJBDO-b-Fto-cl-vN-UZWqnWYr4GFrc372f30jen1731/s1600/moon+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt2JqAOvNblWOnoWwlQtYVyFVS4-YUwzA-0sZ75XGbOe-SefYO9k6Db-1flUcsla1l_JlDMm4XM_iEJPAo-tqhPZLGJR09gs2GJBDO-b-Fto-cl-vN-UZWqnWYr4GFrc372f30jen1731/s1600/moon+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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My man in the moon blowing clouds. I didn't take a picture of the face I painted on it yet, but I have finished it and it looks smashing. </div>
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A centerpiece for the Red Queen room. This will go on the table. </div>
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Some flower eyeballs. I wanted to get something surreal, playful, and scary all at the same time.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-36993098402501341842011-09-19T13:59:00.000-07:002011-09-19T13:59:28.799-07:00How to Papier-Mâché (or Paper Mache) -- Mushroom: Alice in Wonderland CraftThis is a tutorial on how to papier-mâché, or paper mache depending on how you like to pronounce it. Papier-mâché is a French word for "chewed paper." I guess that's because if you've ever made a spitball, you're essentially using the same techniques. (No, I've never actually made a spitball before, hahaha!). You can make some pretty interesting stuff by using this very simple technique. What I'm going to show you how to make today is a simple craft using pure trash and recyclables. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Materials: </span><br />
Paste (instructions on how to make this below)<br />
Newspaper<br />
Cardboard paper towel roll<br />
Heavy-duty Cardboard<br />
Glue gun<br />
Paint<br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Instructions:</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Glue-- </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 cup of flour<br />
1 cup of water (divided)<br />
Elmer's Glue<br />
Salt</div>
<br />
<ol>
<li>
Start heating up 1/2 cup of water on the stove.</li>
<li>
In a seperate bowl, measure 1/4 cup of flour.</li>
<li>
Pour 1/2 cup of cold water into the same bowl.</li>
<li>
Whisk to remove lumps. </li>
<li>
Once water on stove is boiling, pour mixture into pot.</li>
<li>
Stir constantly and stop as soon as mixture begins to bowl.</li>
<li>
Remove from heat.</li>
<li>
Add about 1 Tb of salt. (This will help keep the paste last longer before getting moldy.)</li>
<li>
Allow to cool.</li>
<li>
Squirt some Elmer's Glue into the mixture. The paste alone should work, but I like to use this as a back up. Just in case.</li>
<li>
Strip up some old newspapers--some in strips and some in small pieces. </li>
<li>
You're ready to start pasting! Make sure to store paste in refrigerator when finished. Lasts about two weeks.</li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mushroom-- </span><br />
1) Cut out a medium circle from cardboard. This will be the base of the mushroom. It should be fairly wide depending on how big you want the cap to be.<br />
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2) Take a paper towel roll, and with a glue gun, glue one end in the center of the cardboard base. Unplug the glue gun. You'll still need it, but the next steps takes some time to finish. <br />
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3) Crumble up some newspaper and place it along the cardboard tube. You may want to use tape to help mold the base into the shape you want.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGne__VlpsI6FBnJ4LmNOZt8Ip9loxA8e1w6hZVGsI3feekCnuLhmZ-1DY9RJzDSON0YSu8c3Pk4SPVNFpTiaTaTDlsP0TM3RD2gSMOnSxZQjTQmbLPIP20n-fsGGXFDHIw-IeTyneo6C1/s1600/IMG_2973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGne__VlpsI6FBnJ4LmNOZt8Ip9loxA8e1w6hZVGsI3feekCnuLhmZ-1DY9RJzDSON0YSu8c3Pk4SPVNFpTiaTaTDlsP0TM3RD2gSMOnSxZQjTQmbLPIP20n-fsGGXFDHIw-IeTyneo6C1/s200/IMG_2973.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
4) Start ripping your newspaper into long strips. <br />
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5) Dip your strips into paste. Get the excess glue off by running the newspaper between two fingers. The paper should not be gloppy, but still wet enough to work with. <br />
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6) Apply the newspaper as you see in this picture. We are forming the stem as we do so.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeGyVjKjoHGvAVR7yQTS_QF5j78GZEYrKJGtesHRg-jeRf6GNV8ZJRg8N34DToBzatAXXmZYTqcbpEgQzSteZzcrrU5VBnZ9_FSfdEG4Hrqzay_wJu_l7GQNbf9JUbeEaW18IZ6O8OG1B/s1600/IMG_2974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeGyVjKjoHGvAVR7yQTS_QF5j78GZEYrKJGtesHRg-jeRf6GNV8ZJRg8N34DToBzatAXXmZYTqcbpEgQzSteZzcrrU5VBnZ9_FSfdEG4Hrqzay_wJu_l7GQNbf9JUbeEaW18IZ6O8OG1B/s200/IMG_2974.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjluX4IlCLvZFa1iNryBWCrqfmBxULYC-AGXyAv1ecr3s3toK1oFRC5IeQWzbycfgpRp3B6Wsa6KsLBstAUmT7Bwqrdw-rmFvf3VEUNsAlPX-qiQb_nj_KC1ERRTNQDk1iyVd2pcv8PAP/s1600/IMG_2975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjluX4IlCLvZFa1iNryBWCrqfmBxULYC-AGXyAv1ecr3s3toK1oFRC5IeQWzbycfgpRp3B6Wsa6KsLBstAUmT7Bwqrdw-rmFvf3VEUNsAlPX-qiQb_nj_KC1ERRTNQDk1iyVd2pcv8PAP/s200/IMG_2975.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
7) Keep applying newspaper until the stem is complete. Set aside to let dry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3quaSHwadarCw8GbJl0oNTQ-ll1vptgsZytq5apvpnw-cqUGEeUUBK7d82ubaketOlQ-GfKrKxV0oHXbKK9Jeg5F9DXWi4KDe1gNrRi-UHzdjZspgBjj1k1xwJV6LaOAdxguiiKeTOLK4/s1600/IMG_2976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3quaSHwadarCw8GbJl0oNTQ-ll1vptgsZytq5apvpnw-cqUGEeUUBK7d82ubaketOlQ-GfKrKxV0oHXbKK9Jeg5F9DXWi4KDe1gNrRi-UHzdjZspgBjj1k1xwJV6LaOAdxguiiKeTOLK4/s200/IMG_2976.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
8) Cut out a larger circle from the cardboard. <br />
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9) Once stem is dry, measure the diameter of the top. This may or may not be different than the diameter of the paper towel roll depending on how you used your strips of newspaper.<br />
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10) Cut out a hole with the same diameter in the center of your cardboard circle. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_A6w7T_FZnaKQU02uruu34YKT5h_SWhYkhyphenhyphen2mGD2G2y7AGjxyb9YIjzIipABCEe84zdVokFCTLr5pJ0vWQu1t_tFYBlZgkor6n9tA2rLY35OtEtzfOgGdy6H3vwMmp9WaJk7xXQsoXuu/s1600/IMG_2977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_A6w7T_FZnaKQU02uruu34YKT5h_SWhYkhyphenhyphen2mGD2G2y7AGjxyb9YIjzIipABCEe84zdVokFCTLr5pJ0vWQu1t_tFYBlZgkor6n9tA2rLY35OtEtzfOgGdy6H3vwMmp9WaJk7xXQsoXuu/s200/IMG_2977.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
11) Check and make sure hole is wide enough to fit on the stem.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUCoIs0ubjDaJXiiXDwz8BMcr1Aw2auiv0ymjLR4yzl5E_uErC9vmEenXDkQ3s8ev1NDr7fv4aCzx0c0UQHVRC_4zChGjvKAOuXW_MUagwWR6WsRnrgPD_N2RxmyE6WuLV7OlrxJw9XJz/s1600/IMG_2978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUCoIs0ubjDaJXiiXDwz8BMcr1Aw2auiv0ymjLR4yzl5E_uErC9vmEenXDkQ3s8ev1NDr7fv4aCzx0c0UQHVRC_4zChGjvKAOuXW_MUagwWR6WsRnrgPD_N2RxmyE6WuLV7OlrxJw9XJz/s200/IMG_2978.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
12) This part is the most important for the best shape. You'll need to build a rough skeleton in order to get the best results. The more "ribs" you use, the better, stronger, and solid the shape will be. From cardboard, cut out one piece that matches the shape you want.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKxyWqY0Mbq0dAJeDyI8bdQJ-GvFUCZU-Y2lCwiL5Dng9Fo_ydM175SWiKa1ncxF_1WdUrMAwMUt9bbbLtE7vnBWdDDDdJELknLtqiXqMEzn8DB-USJ4NydReruejzMneV237SCbVPm2j/s1600/IMG_2979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKxyWqY0Mbq0dAJeDyI8bdQJ-GvFUCZU-Y2lCwiL5Dng9Fo_ydM175SWiKa1ncxF_1WdUrMAwMUt9bbbLtE7vnBWdDDDdJELknLtqiXqMEzn8DB-USJ4NydReruejzMneV237SCbVPm2j/s320/IMG_2979.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
13) Hold it up to the mushroom to see how you like its shape. The bottom of the "rib" piece should line up with the edge of the mushroom piece or go just a bit past it. If it's under, remake the rib. I like to use eight ribs and find that this has the best results.<br />
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14) Once you get a shape you like, cut out seven more. You can use the first as a pattern piece. I recommend giving one piece a "lip" on top (see picture in step #12). This prevents the newspaper from sinking into the hole made by the cardboard tube during later steps. This is one of the first times I'm trying to make a large mushroom with less than eight ribs and it came out okay, but not as good as the others.<br />
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15) Using a glue gun, glue these rib pieces to the crown piece. Try to space them out evenly. The reason why you need heavy-duty cardboard here is because if you use lightweight, it will not hold its shape as well. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWgKSM3BQGwXSyRS7T3KD8dxM4SrCKr_o8BylDNehMwwbtfKbKOvAYKOTXkgyjp5LHfWnBk-rrKbr1eb_oJDofAoAX4balqYVqOlUCfEUOw8qgPSkRFuLXKOsu_NIOWBxSXQfRY11_YbS/s1600/IMG_2981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWgKSM3BQGwXSyRS7T3KD8dxM4SrCKr_o8BylDNehMwwbtfKbKOvAYKOTXkgyjp5LHfWnBk-rrKbr1eb_oJDofAoAX4balqYVqOlUCfEUOw8qgPSkRFuLXKOsu_NIOWBxSXQfRY11_YbS/s320/IMG_2981.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
16) Like the stem before, crumple of paper in the shape you wish the mushroom to be. This is so the newspaper won't collapse and fall out of the desired shape, even with the ribs. The more ribs you have, the easier this step will be.<br />
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17) Apply paste/newspaper over crumpled newspaper. Go section by section. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX8y2-C5EgSXnohULW50MJa_OJzY-j4DzuckWtokljGjcKW34csmaGMWCv95tYWJpNwn5bLlHuL4J5iYBAS96ws6q0Hiag8T1W5exBeueBoXvaatLbDzaJshe1xzUtV9FkWwV9SbefkHx/s1600/IMG_2982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX8y2-C5EgSXnohULW50MJa_OJzY-j4DzuckWtokljGjcKW34csmaGMWCv95tYWJpNwn5bLlHuL4J5iYBAS96ws6q0Hiag8T1W5exBeueBoXvaatLbDzaJshe1xzUtV9FkWwV9SbefkHx/s320/IMG_2982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
18) Keep molding your mushroom as you work around the sections.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4Gh04w55zu8y5oHxJQzr_45KKFceikscttEaZgKZ7bI8bIAa-i5fQfKiFNf0agS5lgBTHK81hv1at8vsZBZfgMFAIf0RlyMWUYRsHhdSJhx3XO1Ue5fY47P4pjWhY4YhWBqZJUYWLH8m/s1600/IMG_2983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4Gh04w55zu8y5oHxJQzr_45KKFceikscttEaZgKZ7bI8bIAa-i5fQfKiFNf0agS5lgBTHK81hv1at8vsZBZfgMFAIf0RlyMWUYRsHhdSJhx3XO1Ue5fY47P4pjWhY4YhWBqZJUYWLH8m/s200/IMG_2983.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
19) Once finished, let dry. Do not complete the top or bottom portions yet as your mushroom will still be quite soggy. <br />
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20) Once dry, apply newspaper along tops and bottoms. If you fear the newspaper will sink, apply more crumpled up newspaper and paste over that. Also at this time, fix up any places where the surface isn't smooth. It will be hard to get a perfect surface using this method, but it's faster and quicker this way. Not to mention cheaper. <br />
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21) Again, let dry before painting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnU3Jn3ZkKoVw8O4ZuSmexh7USGY16vLYPDaO4LNHvA7UYV2uv0s9jfXABOZ0lilxfOWXObrv3sNEdtxGlcgBi1Z5bg_DE6hD7XN6ucmpywvN2oDaRYpTmSL3tmZlSYrMORtHttDSt_nFZ/s1600/IMG_2993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnU3Jn3ZkKoVw8O4ZuSmexh7USGY16vLYPDaO4LNHvA7UYV2uv0s9jfXABOZ0lilxfOWXObrv3sNEdtxGlcgBi1Z5bg_DE6hD7XN6ucmpywvN2oDaRYpTmSL3tmZlSYrMORtHttDSt_nFZ/s320/IMG_2993.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
22) Paint! Weeee! Have some fun and do some wacky colors!<br />
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23) And you're done!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxEWCnzIUO9zy55Durl568EKitKHnRlo8jzHHxYnyZU0Xjuv6UkZ2Ym8Wsl-68Zk4YDpuIe2lhVVk6mshJr8Rq8G1MdohFJHq3yzQNj8pgkvUhy_TPRTpu2bFYOGm1aDomMRzjRm9zSbh/s1600/IMG_2998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxEWCnzIUO9zy55Durl568EKitKHnRlo8jzHHxYnyZU0Xjuv6UkZ2Ym8Wsl-68Zk4YDpuIe2lhVVk6mshJr8Rq8G1MdohFJHq3yzQNj8pgkvUhy_TPRTpu2bFYOGm1aDomMRzjRm9zSbh/s200/IMG_2998.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
You now have a light-weight craft made entirely of trash and some glue and paint. Welcome to Wonderland!!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-59613832763972845352011-09-17T17:53:00.000-07:002011-12-05T14:26:00.818-08:00Halloween/Alice in Wonderland Party Game - IcebreakerThe ultimate goal of a party for me is to mix groups of people together. If this were chemistry, the goal would be to make the non-polar people mix with the polar people.... not a very good comparison since this practically never happens in chemistry... but whatevs! You get the idea. Anyway, we all know how people sort of coalesce into their own cliques and then those who aren't part of a group are very self-conscious. Self-conscious people do not have fun at parties, so let's eliminate this!<br />
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One good way to break apart the group dynamics is to throw everyone out of their element. You can embarrass everyone. Last year I had them eat a doughnut....that was hanging from a rope....and they couldn't use their hands.... Boy, were the pictures great for that game! This year, I'm going to have this game!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t-v-3keTk7qpRRfXNdHheeGpVkm4kM-uOlUo5GMTT1jT9Op93clkNozooIohdXTNl6KxAGQ8UyNOVHujNtdtptvb_NE30WKhZk9wCQMD0py6oKia5xkZZvjjxpTfKwH_BUp7eFUC1c4b/s1600/IMG_2991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t-v-3keTk7qpRRfXNdHheeGpVkm4kM-uOlUo5GMTT1jT9Op93clkNozooIohdXTNl6KxAGQ8UyNOVHujNtdtptvb_NE30WKhZk9wCQMD0py6oKia5xkZZvjjxpTfKwH_BUp7eFUC1c4b/s320/IMG_2991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The point of the game is to figure out who you are supposed to be. Everyone gets a placard with their person/thing to hang around their neck. The sign rests on their back so that they cannot read it, but everyone else can. In order to figure out what their plaque says, they must talk with other people. Those who can read the person's plaque must speak to the person wearing it as if they were that person. If you've ever watched "Whose Line is It Anyway?" you might be a bit more familiar with the concept of this game. Here's an example though if you need it:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Example</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Person #1 [wearing plaque that says "The Headless Horseman"]: Hi!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Person #2: Oh, hey! How's it going! You're head feeling any better? Oh... sorry. Forgot...sore subject *cough cough*</i></div>
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What I like best about this game is this: people don't have to be themselves! When other people interact with them, they are speaking <i>to</i> character. Hopefully this gets rid of some of the awkward tension that may pass when you are being introduced to someone new because you'll feel more comfortable interacting with a familiar character. (Does that make sense? I hope it does.)<br />
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Once the person wearing the plaque starts figuring out what they are, they can start talking as if they were that person! When the time's up, everyone gets to make a gander at who they are. If you get it right, they get a prize! And hopefully they also made some friends. Like all icebreakers, this can backfire, but it's up to you as the host to get everyone talking and try to mix the groups up a bit. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWHCi7Zb3Mxa-mua-j96FN8pzFBJ8O4OPJjwWRNfTwVSO7h_NCgYs4AGM4uNOMsdA6Js0lEipppyuBLct8n2K1mdpk0WnVrfcM41rMCGm9J3BgmS_Apgf0GGyGspeOdwmg9kDKRCwpkaB/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWHCi7Zb3Mxa-mua-j96FN8pzFBJ8O4OPJjwWRNfTwVSO7h_NCgYs4AGM4uNOMsdA6Js0lEipppyuBLct8n2K1mdpk0WnVrfcM41rMCGm9J3BgmS_Apgf0GGyGspeOdwmg9kDKRCwpkaB/s320/IMG_2986.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
What I did to make these placards is cut some cardboard, painted them black, and with a silver Sharpie, wrote out all the names. Then I cut some soft yarn (since these are going around people's necks, I want them to be comfortable) and hot glued them to the backs. That's it! It's a cinch.<br />
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Weeeee! This is going to be so much fun! :D More party stuff coming up in a bit!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-17614240025453970142011-09-13T07:15:00.000-07:002011-09-13T07:15:50.222-07:00Updated LayoutHuh?! Huh?! Awesome isn't it? Okay, maybe it's not THAT awesome, but it sure took me long enough to put together! Right now I'm working on pages so that all my blog entries can be a bit more organized. Unfortunately, it's not allowing me to do that for some odd reason, but I'm working on it nonetheless. What do you guys think of the changes? Yay or nay?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-25759710999156227542011-09-12T19:52:00.000-07:002011-10-02T12:29:54.198-07:00Advice for a Halloween Party on a Budget (Hopefully Under $100)It's that time of year again, and you decide you want to plan a huge party....but your pockets only have a couple pennies in them. Well, so far, I've been doing fantastic with keeping on budget for my party. I have spent a whopping total of $18 on my party so far and have boxes of decorations already set. So here's some tips I have for party planning.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1) Plan Waaaaay Ahead:</span><br />
Why plan months in advance? For several reasons. First, because the day of your party tends to sneak up on you, and if you aren't preparing well ahead of time, then you have to rush to finish everything and it's a slapdash mess. Second, because you have time to wait for things to go on sale. This is the key to having a good party. Sure, you can have a great time on a last minute fling, but this will take a lot of stress on you as the party planner. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2) Garage sale:</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnfa70WFtS-dpOCdFfs48fR8XklAbBCJAoFQ_OBHztIWswXxnymKyHKYbdc9jHED5RPCqeFP6Y_9F80-2jcz8DxdEb_O501kNlCIS77-yzkNmpRceJz9dB-MHjVjN5As6OdtIU9qYwr4a/s1600/Garage_sale-Stock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnfa70WFtS-dpOCdFfs48fR8XklAbBCJAoFQ_OBHztIWswXxnymKyHKYbdc9jHED5RPCqeFP6Y_9F80-2jcz8DxdEb_O501kNlCIS77-yzkNmpRceJz9dB-MHjVjN5As6OdtIU9qYwr4a/s200/Garage_sale-Stock.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you plan enough in advance, you will be able to garage sale during the summer months. Many sales I went to over this summer had Halloween items. I was also able to find items that fit in with my Alice in Wonderland theme thanks to me deciding on the theme ahead of time. Some of the items I bought were candles (shaped in card suits); books (which I reshaped into flying books); fabric; acrylic paints; black, paper lanterns (brand new); <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280720851868">flickering lighting effects</a> (also brand new, original price $20, got for $2). That's not mentioning the items I saw but didn't buy like fog machines and other Halloween decorations. You can save so much by buying used items at garage sales, it's worth planning ahead. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3) Secret Shopping</span><br />
By contract, I can't tell you what company shops for what stores. What I can tell you is that by secret shopping, you can pick up items for a small reimbursement (about $2-5). Though it's small, these add up. Plus, you'll often get a shop fee, separate from the item reimbursement fee. You could end up making money on the deal in the end, which you can put towards something else. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsqjmbpX8CeqTKZX3xNLIx7-VdWau0NUmP1gY-3eWrN_Iou9gqim1SXvjiWzwlePXhnRjTNdrSPsWp6FCbogkBv0RJWbUjyYuiQUbBPQkUiveXEmnuW9hZxe7kRHtVBQtnlAtZlCQgW7T/s1600/secretShopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsqjmbpX8CeqTKZX3xNLIx7-VdWau0NUmP1gY-3eWrN_Iou9gqim1SXvjiWzwlePXhnRjTNdrSPsWp6FCbogkBv0RJWbUjyYuiQUbBPQkUiveXEmnuW9hZxe7kRHtVBQtnlAtZlCQgW7T/s320/secretShopper.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Metro Site Inspections</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Links to check out</i></span>: <a href="http://forum.volition.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=3">Volition Forums</a>, <a href="http://www.kernscheduling.com/shoppers/code.php">KSS International</a>, <a href="https://www.mysteryshops.com/login.asp?">Corporate Research International</a><br />
<br />
These will start you off. KSS International and CRI are mystery shopping companies. They have a variety of stores all over the US. The pay for these is below average, but they are good for beginners. The forums are great for looking for new companies and getting into contact with other shoppers. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4) Make Use of the Free Crafting Sites</span><br />
There are plenty of books you can find at the library and websites that offer crafts. All of these are free. Sometimes you need to sign up first, and others are just made available to you. Crafting your own items makes things much cheaper, as well as unique to your party. <br />
<br />
Here are some of my favorite resources to consult during the planning. Yes, I know these make me sound like a stereotypical, middle-aged housewife. Or my mother. But there are some really great ideas on these sites:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/halloween-index">Martha Stewart</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bhg.com/halloween/">Better Homes and Gardens</a> - Don't bother buy the magazine; it's a waste of money. Everything you need and more is on their site. You'll just have to get an account<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5) Papier-Mâché</span><br />
I highly recommend papier-mache when making decorations. Not only is this easy, but highly adaptable. You can even make a pinata if you so wish. <br />
<br />
My Recipe:<br />
<br />
1/4 cup of flour<br />
1 cup of water (divided)<br />
Elmer's Glue<br />
Salt<br />
Newspaper <br />
<br />
1) Start heating up 1/2 cup of water on the stove.<br />
2) In a seperate bowl, measure 1/4 cup of flour.<br />
3) Pour 1/2 cup of cold water into the same bowl.<br />
4) Whisk to remove lumps.<br />
5) Once water on stove is boiling, pour mixture into pot.<br />
6) Stir constantly and stop as soon as mixture begins to bowl.<br />
7) Remove from heat.<br />
8) Add about 1 Tb of salt. (This will help keep the paste last longer before getting moldy.)<br />
9) Allow to cool.<br />
10) Squirt some Elmer's Glue into the mixture. The paste alone should work, but I like to use this as a back up. Just in case.<br />
11) Strip up some old newspapers--some in strips and some in small pieces. <br />
12) You're ready to start pasting! Make sure to store paste in refrigerator when finished. Lasts about one and a half weeks. If you want to make something that is circular, past over an inflated balloon, then pop the balloon when finished.<br />
<br />
I will be doing a full tutorial on how to make mushrooms (for my Alice in Wonderland party!) all from trash and this paste recipe. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">6) Bargain Shop - Non-Food Items</span><br />
In order to really stretch your dollars, you need to play it smart. You can hit up the Halloween sales that sometimes come, or, if you've planned well ahead, you can hit some great deals.<br />
<br />
Dollar Store - The dollar store is another great place to look for
deals. Need trash bags for your party? Get 'em here. Need fake flowers
for decorations? Get 'em here. Very rarely is there a time when you
should not get something from the dollar store, especially if the item
is something solely for this one party. Before you try going to a more
expensive store, it's probably a good idea to check here first. If it's
not what you're looking for or the quality is crap, then you can go to
bigger and better retail stores. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.partycity.com/">Party City</a> - Definitely give their store and website a try. Many of their decoration items are fairly cheap. Their costumes are a little pricey, so make sure to shop their clearance. There you can find full adult costumes (<a href="http://www.partycity.com/category/halloween+costumes/mens+costumes+accessories/mens+clearance+costumes.do">men</a> and <a href="http://www.partycity.com/category/halloween+costumes/womens+costumes+accessories/womens+clearance+costumes.do">women</a>) for as little as $15-30 and child costumes for $5-15. Worried about the shipping? My advice: bide your time. Party City often releases a free shipping code. You can check back on their site to find this code (usually at the top), or you can join their mailing list for updates (join by filling out the form at the bottom of the page). <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/entire_ad.cfm?menu=1">Hobby Lobby</a> - this is an expensive store for a bunch of Chinese-made crap if you don't shop right. What you need to do is play it smart and never buy full price! Before you go to the store, make sure to go on their website to check what's currently on sale and see if it's anything you'll need. Next, check and see what <a href="http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/coupon.cfm">coupon</a> they are offering. Fairly often they have a coupon for 40% a full price item, which can take quite a bit off your total. I used my coupon for my costume fabric and saved over $10! Check out their leftover fabric in the sewing department if you need it for a craft. These are often located in bins near the back; the fabric is rolled up and has a white sticker wrapped around the center. Again, check the clearance in the back. Not all Hobby Lobbies have clearances, but if yours does, make sure to do some digging.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodwill.org/">Goodwill</a>/Thrift Stores - Around Halloween, Goodwills will put out all their Halloween decorations, and I can almost guarantee you'll find something. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">7) Bargain Shop - Food Items</span><br />
Food is probably going to be the most expensive out of everything you're doing for your party. This is where rule #1 fails because you cannot buy food well in advance and still have it be safe and taste good. Catering saves you time, but can get really expensive and be of unknown quality.<br />
<br />
My advice is to just do the best you can with food. Know anyone who works for a restaurant? Ask them for help if they get discounts, or you can ask some guests to bring in small, easy items like desserts, chips, or soda. By spreading out the food costs, it will not only make it easier on you price-wise, it will also be a time saver since that's one last dish you'll have to prepare. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">8) Set a Budget and Stick to It</span><br />
Plan a budget and keep to it. Don't be even tempted to go over. The moment you break your budget, you'll be more tempted in the future you'll be to spend again. Just don't do it! Plan, plan, plan.<br />
<br />
I hope that helps a little! A little creativity and time will get you far and will save you money! I'm planning on making a tutorial for papier-mâché crafts, specifically how to make Alice in Wonderland mushrooms. See you in a bit!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-90097174528184008442011-09-10T20:48:00.000-07:002011-09-11T20:59:48.052-07:00Alice in Wonderland Party Music - Playlist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdbnd5p2qhL9S4luTcoPd-ws4HMwmalnHUYwOWClUQyY126a8V6kkKB9zpEEumvG-o0yc8R7lvuYf-4Is4AyxD7N59tsj_E0e7MvIZPSnjO-hdand_n9XSXmI7ML256wONg4F5YgRnzBV/s1600/alice-music-playlist.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdbnd5p2qhL9S4luTcoPd-ws4HMwmalnHUYwOWClUQyY126a8V6kkKB9zpEEumvG-o0yc8R7lvuYf-4Is4AyxD7N59tsj_E0e7MvIZPSnjO-hdand_n9XSXmI7ML256wONg4F5YgRnzBV/s320/alice-music-playlist.gif" width="196" /></a></div>
Hi, back again with yet another playlist. I had a hard time finding Alice in Wonderland songs that I thought were, well, 1) good and 2) good for a party. I ended up settling with these songs. I'm still not really happy with them, but here are the ones I plan on using for my Halloween party in addition to the <a href="http://dizzilydreaming.blogspot.com/2011/09/halloween-party-music-playlist.html">Halloween playlist</a> I also created.<br />
<br />
You can access the playlist here: <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA788DC66BEFB2FA3">Alice in Wonderland Playlist</a></span><br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">Highlight Songs</span></u></b>:<br />
<ul>
<li> Collide - "White Rabbit"</li>
<li>Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll"</li>
<li>Wynter Gordon - "Alice in Wonderland"</li>
<li>Natalia Kills - "Wonderland"</li>
<li>Franz Ferdinand - "Lobster Quadrille" </li>
<li>Maria Kenellis - "Alice in Wonderland"</li>
<li>Queen - "I'm Going Slightly Mad" </li>
</ul>
<br />
Some are better than others as you'll soon see. I never thought I would
have such a hard time finding songs for Alice in Wonderland! It's only
one of the most recognizable pieces of English literature... Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-47273533581067803792011-09-10T19:47:00.000-07:002011-09-12T19:45:11.858-07:00Halloween Party Music: A PlaylistSince Halloween is just around the corner, I thought it would be about time to compile a list of Halloween music. Now, I really hate cheap Halloween music. What I want is something you can dance to and have a hoppin' party with, but still be on the spooky side. Basically, what you WON'T find on this list are songs like: "The Monster Mash," Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D-minor," and "One-Eyed, Purple, People-Eater," and other somewhat childish songs. This list includes some oldies, instrumentals, jazz, pop, industrial, rock, psychobilly, and...well... just a bit of everything. I encourage you to explore some of the artists you find. I left out a lot of equally good songs just for the sake of fitting everything in on this list. <br />
<br />
You can access the complete list here on Youtube: <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD13C67C7F7E298BB">Halloween Party Playlist</a></span><br />
<br />
If you don't feel like going through that playlist, here's what I have. I did my best to divide them up into genres:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyslwAVLumkaWQ1Co9nuAHYCx4HdoI6amOdubBi6RbMrNq4T189iXTNG_ByVmiPazQa1sVJfsfHFcXHNKnJx3HaFXvb8yLf32KNNL_8ddsqotsTQHJkZRz3nWXSa8XxCns1CcQ4rdqUUg/s1600/gnarls_barkley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyslwAVLumkaWQ1Co9nuAHYCx4HdoI6amOdubBi6RbMrNq4T189iXTNG_ByVmiPazQa1sVJfsfHFcXHNKnJx3HaFXvb8yLf32KNNL_8ddsqotsTQHJkZRz3nWXSa8XxCns1CcQ4rdqUUg/s200/gnarls_barkley.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gnarls Barkley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>Alternative</b></u>:<br />
Gnarls Barkley - "Necromancer" and "The Boogie Monster"<br />
Creature Feature - "Such Horrible Things" and "Six Foot Deep"<br />
Skillet - "Monster"<br />
Saving Jane - "I'm in Love with a Vampire"<br />
Voltaire - "Zombie Prostitute" and "Brains!"<br />
Squirrel Nut Zippers - "Hell" <br />
<br />
<u><b>Cabaret</b></u>:<br />
Vermillion Lies - "Circus Apocalypse"<br />
Jill Tracy - "Evil Night Together," "The Fine Art of Poisoning"<br />
<br />
<u><b>Electronic</b></u>:<br />
Chiasm - "Isolated"<br />
Sohodolls - "My Vampire" <br />
<br />
<u><b>Goth</b></u>:<br />
Ministry - "Everyday is Halloween"<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpXDLmJ35jcgX6huoqufiiNFKpUzCg5BodKjt_Cwz99ZQpH2ir60vbI7ScKoSMKyKX1Z2hq8I-BijDtHsfI8pqDPtC5zaFoJiAiQTJwXPAn_JxesaZsBSBBbcxCq73tHHDZ5dEp92tbN7/s1600/Siouxsie-and-the-Banshees-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpXDLmJ35jcgX6huoqufiiNFKpUzCg5BodKjt_Cwz99ZQpH2ir60vbI7ScKoSMKyKX1Z2hq8I-BijDtHsfI8pqDPtC5zaFoJiAiQTJwXPAn_JxesaZsBSBBbcxCq73tHHDZ5dEp92tbN7/s200/Siouxsie-and-the-Banshees-02.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siouxsie & the Banshees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Switchblade Symphony - "Gutter Glitter," "Clown," and "Witches"<br />
Siouxsie & the Banshees - "Halloween" and "Happy House"<br />
Xandria - "Vampire"<br />
<br />
<u><b>Industrial</b></u>:<br />
Aesthetic Perfection - "The Ones"<br />
Zombie Girl - "Halloween," "The Darkness," "Blood, Brains, and Rock 'n Roll" <br />
L'Ame Immortelle - "Why Didn't I Die?"<br />
Angelspit - "Infect"<br />
Grendel - "One Eight Zero (Life Cried Remix)"<br />
<br />
<u><b>Instrumental/Soundtrack</b></u>:<br />
Amber Asylum - "Black Waltz"<br />
Suspiria Soundtrack - Theme<br />
The Sims Makin' Magic - "Once a Cemitery," "Loading Screen," "Foggy Shores," and "Build 7" <br />
Silent Hill 2 - "Fear Locked Away," "Other Breath"<br />
Silent Hill 3 - "Prayer," "Battle for Heaven"<br />
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories - "Always on My Mind"<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvnG1JI2wMJ9NWo-OFbz1i-LF5EXguhi7FDpZlaKww9dDAoi3xBUPViaPYtbQHAjGOqYryjcw6PcEoRzJ1ho04ZMz_QPKnToLe8LQjxBZFJHxh0a2A4BSHUqfMa3R__TkfCT8NXZScL6j/s1600/zombie+girl+halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvnG1JI2wMJ9NWo-OFbz1i-LF5EXguhi7FDpZlaKww9dDAoi3xBUPViaPYtbQHAjGOqYryjcw6PcEoRzJ1ho04ZMz_QPKnToLe8LQjxBZFJHxh0a2A4BSHUqfMa3R__TkfCT8NXZScL6j/s320/zombie+girl+halloween.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zombie Girl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pentaphobe - "The Cover of Night"<br />
American McGee's Alice - "Duchess Battle Theme"<br />
Jason Tai - "Dollhouses"<br />
Death in June - "Death is a Drummer"<br />
<br />
<u><b>Jazz</b></u>:<br />
Matt Gross - "Evil"<br />
<br />
<u><b>Musicals</b></u>:<br />
Phantom of the Paradise - "Life at Last"<br />
Repo! The Genetic Opera - "Zydrate Anatomy" <br />
Nightmare Before Christmas - "Oogie Boogie's Song"<br />
Rocky Horror Picture Show - "Time Warp" <br />
<br />
<u><b>"Oldies" (in quotes because they really aren't <i>that</i> old)</b></u>:<br />
Talking Heads - "Psycho Killer"<br />
Elvis Presley - "Devil in Disguise"<br />
Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"<br />
<br />
<u><b>Pop</b></u>:<br />
BoA - "Scream"<br />
Katy Perry - "E.T."<br />
Lady Gaga - "Monster," "Teeth," "Bad Romance (Zona Vigor Industrial Remix)"<br />
Nelly Furtado - "Maneater (Bliix Remix)" <br />
Emii - "Magic" and "Zombie Boyfriend"<br />
Rihanna - "Disturbia"<br />
Shakira - "She Wolf"<br />
Natalia Kills - "Zombie"<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbtz4i7jOd_MmWcKDNsWSAAse0_UHhvnez7GWgoXGv90yhLqJ7HkEAiFgSEuSjwW7RtcA8du0OE1SU6AMcG2aOGGh4l6k52rXCzQPym23UQU8QMpLYIrK8NppTVfV84eMVboWEMDmGsP9/s1600/horrorpops+live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbtz4i7jOd_MmWcKDNsWSAAse0_UHhvnez7GWgoXGv90yhLqJ7HkEAiFgSEuSjwW7RtcA8du0OE1SU6AMcG2aOGGh4l6k52rXCzQPym23UQU8QMpLYIrK8NppTVfV84eMVboWEMDmGsP9/s320/horrorpops+live.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horrorpops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Roisin Murphy - "Ramalama" <br />
<br />
<u><b>Psychobilly</b></u>:<br />
Horrorpops - "Walk Like a Zombie" <br />
The Creepshow - "Zombies Ate Her Brain" and "Halloween"<br />
Zombie Ghost Train - "R.I.P."<br />
Rezurex - "Devil Woman from Outerspace"<br />
<br />
<u><b>Rap</b></u>:<br />
Zion I & The Grouch - "Frankenstein"<br />
<br />
<u><b>Rock</b></u>:<br />
Rob Zombie - "Dragula" and "Living Dead Girl"<br />
Godsmack - "Voodoo"<br />
Lacuna Coil - "Spellbound"<br />
Lordi - "Would You Love a Monsterman?" <br />
<br />
<u><b>Slow Songs</b></u>:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB83J0MEzD2jRF6BrtddmK6GpMhyMWQtY8wYLDzu_jzXHT9bu5y9YwIvDI0ECYnAabru86cg3OyppZsRrx0KaCcwcAUKvxZkcxNnpYFw5kMS4LW91iUclbCe_Prleg8MO63Fg1bxoLxM2p/s1600/collide+lunatics+have+taken+over.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB83J0MEzD2jRF6BrtddmK6GpMhyMWQtY8wYLDzu_jzXHT9bu5y9YwIvDI0ECYnAabru86cg3OyppZsRrx0KaCcwcAUKvxZkcxNnpYFw5kMS4LW91iUclbCe_Prleg8MO63Fg1bxoLxM2p/s320/collide+lunatics+have+taken+over.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Leah Andreone - "Pretty Freak"<br />
Jill Tracy - "Haunted by the Thought of You" <br />
<br />
<u><b>Synth-Rock</b></u>:<br />
The Birthday Massacre - "Blue" and "Shallow Grave" <br />
<br />
<b><u>Tango</u></b>:<br />
Collide - "The Lunatics Have Taken over the Asylum" <br />
<br />
<b><u>Techno</u></b>:<br />
E Nomine - "Der Exorzist" and "Mitternacht"<br />
Camille Jones - "The Creeps (Fedde Remix)" <br />
Fedde le Grand feat. Mitch Crown - "Scared of Me"<br />
Mysto & Pizzi - "Somebody's Watching Me"<br />
<br />
<b><u>Trance</u></b>:<br />
Tenth Planet - "Ghosts (Vincent de Moor Remix)"<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-31242187415489570052011-09-06T22:20:00.000-07:002011-09-14T12:03:24.527-07:00They've Got a Label?!?! and Other Great, Unintentially Funny, Pop Music InspirationsWe have probably all heard Rebecca Black's "Friday" song by now. Something so bad, it's good because it's hilarious, right? Well, let's do something fun. I found some songs by female artists (and some with music videos for bonuses) that are so bad, they're just hilarious....and then there are some that are just bad.<br />
<br />
Let's get Youtube on a tab and browse away! Here are some of the worst pop songs by female artists I've heard.... yes they are trying to do this professionally. Dear god.... forgive them for they know not what they do.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5) Barbie, Christie and Teresa - Wonderland</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just because something's for kids, doesn't mean it has to be bad... Plus, just think about the parents who had to listen to this entire album on loop just to get to Florida without the kids asking, "Are we there yet?" a million times.</span></span><br />
<br />
<b>Crowning Moment of UGHHHHHHHH</b><br />
The lyrics.... are painful. Come on! Even Disney could pull it off! Don't just phone it in!<br />
<br />
<b>Where We Give Her Props</b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">They keep it G-rated? I don't know...</span><br />
<br />
<b>Listen to this instead...</b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/f-otkHr81J4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">She can actually sing! How 'bout that? Plus, you can actually dance to it while keeping a PG-rating! She has a lot of pretty good songs, actually. She got her start like many talented singers: writing music for more popular artists. Hope to see more of her soon because you can hear all the effort she puts into her work.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4) Chady - Bad Girls Club</b></span><br />
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The autotune.... THE AUTOTUNE!! It burns! The lyrics are no better, are they? Is she one of those Housewives putting out albums just because they have connections? Actually, no. Believe it or not, she's actually a "bikini fitness model" (<a href="http://www.chadydunmore.com/bio/">their words</a>, not mine). Hmmm, interesting. Might want to stick with that instead. <br />
<br />
<b>Crowning Moment of UGHHHHHHHH</b><br />
<br />
Where she channels Kesha around 0:40. Have I mentioned the autotune?<br />
<br />
<b>Where We Give Her Props</b><br />
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<br />
As awkward as this entire ad is, she does look good for her age.<br />
<br />
<b>Listen to this instead...</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Kimberly Cole's "Smack You" <br />
</b></div>
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Maybe not genius, but definitely some star quality. She's
funny...sometimes in a vulgar way, but you have to love it. Don't
believe me? You can hear it in her lyrics. Her song "Pocket Rocket,"
with lyrics like "I take it out/I pop the top/And then I twist it," is
actually a song about her lipstick. She doesn't abuse the autotune (does
she even use it?). In the video posted above, she gives her inspiration
behind the video and tells people it's not to glorify fighting, but to
tell a story. Gotta respect a woman who has values and can distinguish
them from her art.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3) Jenna Rose - My Jeans </b></span><br />
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Yep. It's another Rebecca Black, folks. But could this possibly be a worse version? Yes. Yes, it very well could be worse. I don't get it...she's such a cute, little girl. How could this be as painful as it is? Luckily, it looks like Jenna is more of an actor than a singer. We can all breath a sigh of relief. And is anyone else reminded of Winifred from <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wDc_Ek5b7FjzqbAxrhcuY6QYpIG271LA_jWkdgoxcmCKp8YJWsmdCGj_Z0U5qyeU1a7YfAs7zC7czYyTuewSfaOkgcB6eLyX-aHglllG7uwEtk8l-rEkrnyZCgJanAQIUbeKWzIS0jSk/s1600/snapshot20110214173111.jpg"><i>The Ballet Shoes</i></a>? And who the hell is Kiki Palmer?!<br />
<br />
<b>Crowning Moment of UGHHHHHHHH</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Get the point?</div>
<b> </b><br />
<b>Where We Give Her Props</b><br />
Well, she's only twelve. She's got a long way ahead of her still. <br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Listen to this instead...</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Jackie Evancho's "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"</b></div>
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No, it's not pop music. But I'm sure we understand each other perfectly anyway. And she's only seven. You may have seen her on "America's Got Talent"; she's the talented little girl with a big voice. Jackie already has an album out and she's not even in her teens yet.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2) Nicki Idol - I'm in Love with a Vampire</b></span></div>
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Yep. The song is suppose to take "a stab at sparkly Twilight vampires." Whether the bad music was supposed to make fun of a bad book--and was meant to ironic--is still unknown. I swear to god she's signed. <a href="http://mkvibe.com/Aeb/nickiidol/index.html#/1">Her bio</a> on their website is also quite, well, arrogant. Do your friends really describe you as iconic? Do you really feel addicted to "putting on a show," and if so, what's your excuse for the above performance? And you've got to love the part on her bio where she says, "I also recorded a program for [Three Counties Radio Program] about 'computer music.' Which is obviously something I know quite a bit about." I'm lost as to whether agree with her or disagree with her on that one....<br />
<br /></div>
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<b>Crowning Moment of UGHHHHHHHH</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoW67BhZbAo">CLICK ME!!!</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> </b>It's no better in studio. Is that keyboard out of tune as well?! How.....</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> </b><b>Where We Give Her Props</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It takes a lot of nerve to go up alone on stage. Especially without your precious autotune. Britney doesn't even have those nerves of steel. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> </b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<b>Listen to this instead...</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Natalia Kills's "Zombie" </b></div>
</div>
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<b> </b>She's in love with a zombie not a vampire, but close enough. Natalia is a rising star, opening for big names like Katy Perry. She's definitely got the horror pop thing going on. Her lyrics are pretty clever. Who doesn't like the line in "Zombie" that says, "Do you want me for my body?/Do you want me for my brain, brain, brain, brain"? Check some of her other stuff out.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1) Nadia Oh - Egyptian Lover, Got Your Number</b></span>.... pretty much everything she does<br />
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It starts off okay, right? It's not good, but not bad. But then you get to the chorus.... and THEN... you get to the guitar solo (~1:50). Lasers? REALLY? As if that couldn't get any worse, go watch some of her other music videos. I had such a hard time picking which one was the worst. "Egyptian Lover" won because of the laser-shootin' guitar, but I was also thinking about <a href="http://youtu.be/FxW8WLSLsx0">"Got Your Number"</a> and <a href="http://youtu.be/qE0b5rmYGwk">"N.A.D.I.A. OH."</a> What's even sadder is that she's working with Space Cowboy on all these songs. Space Cowboy has worked with people like Lady Gaga before, so there's really no excuse to how lame all these songs are. <br />
<br />
<b>Crowning Moment of UGHHHHHHHH</b><br />
The soulless dancing, how bored she sounds.... everything is so half-assed<br />
<br />
<b>Where We Give Her Props</b><br />
It must be nice knowing the right people. Insta-career!<br />
<br />
<b>Listen to this instead...</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Emii's "Magic" </b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8y0VaztKu50?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<b> </b><b> </b>What can I say? The girl can sing. She's working her way up slowly but surely. Plus, the gay guys love her. Don't know why I'd thought to add that, but I did anyway. Unfortunately, like many starting artists, she doesn't have a lot of songs, and the songs she does have are not all studio recorded yet. Shame, some songs like "Stilettos" have a nice beat to them that you can really enjoy.<b> </b><br />
<b> </b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-16741198116832078462011-09-02T20:57:00.000-07:002011-10-04T09:00:13.661-07:00Wacky Mad Hatter Hat -- Detailed, Step-by-Step Supplement w/Pictures and AlterationsThis is a pattern and tutorial from<i> Better Homes and Garden</i>s. You can find the original <a href="http://www.bhg.com/halloween/parties/alice-in-wonderland-halloween-party/#page=5">here</a> and <a href="http://www.bhg.com/halloween/crafts/wacky-white-rabbits-hat/">here</a> along with the basic patterns. You may need to create an account before you have access to their website and patterns. (It's free so don't worry.) I found that I didn't like their instructions; they were too confusing. So here is a supplement--key word: supplement--to their instructions. No copyright infringement intended; I just want to help people out with this craft.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E1WHVT9xO2_g_UlRhTqXPc-zjWL9Ufdf7eDAmrbrWSkiQG3GN17BVdDX4kvPfUtIwgR4kh8EKMJ_QR5SqwDsJzO78j1osfEX-faiZ8-khWzhtwomg_T9hOMDx6Y0U_cJEQGAbiUfYu4K/s1600/madhatterhat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E1WHVT9xO2_g_UlRhTqXPc-zjWL9Ufdf7eDAmrbrWSkiQG3GN17BVdDX4kvPfUtIwgR4kh8EKMJ_QR5SqwDsJzO78j1osfEX-faiZ8-khWzhtwomg_T9hOMDx6Y0U_cJEQGAbiUfYu4K/s320/madhatterhat.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
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<br />
Skill level: Moderate<br />
Time estimation: ~1.0 - 1.5 hours<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Updated supply list</b></span><br />
I found I didn't need certain items or the ways they bound certain pieces didn't hold as well. Here is a better list detailing what's needed:<br />
<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Da_P6ZHOtZ9kWEZRZ_XNDE2Ml4awia1i4Etnet74wHti2ERsaLCpJaQtHYad9z2EnB8rFpKigrmYLprR3-WyXlxbwLh5xjeKGgm5gzB5KVfyFPL0Yu32RG9ZAgkeooA7hczh3L67W3oI/s1600/definitions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Da_P6ZHOtZ9kWEZRZ_XNDE2Ml4awia1i4Etnet74wHti2ERsaLCpJaQtHYad9z2EnB8rFpKigrmYLprR3-WyXlxbwLh5xjeKGgm5gzB5KVfyFPL0Yu32RG9ZAgkeooA7hczh3L67W3oI/s200/definitions.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<li><b>Old box of lightweight cardboard. </b>Preferably one without a lot of folds. Folds will weaken the board and leave bumps on your hat. A good example would be a large cereal box, but the ideal would be something like a poster board.</li>
<li><b>Fusible interfacing </b>Medium-weight would be best probably. I used a light-weight interfacing, though</li>
<li><b>Non-fusible interfacing</b> <b><i>~Optional~</i> </b>For more advance sewers and crafters who do not want to spend extra money on the more expensive fusible.</li>
<li><b>Fabric</b> about 1/4 yard to 1/2 yard, depending on how large you plan on making your hat. Half a yard will be for quite large hats. Now would be a great time to use up those scrap pieces! I used a piece of stretch, panne velvet fabric. This allowed me to compensate for mistakes while experimenting with patterns and prevented the fabric from fraying on the edges. </li>
<li><b>Pins</b></li>
<li><b>Needle and thread</b> Thread should match the fabric. </li>
<li><b>Wire or Floral wire</b> Thicker wire should be used if you want to really alter your hat's brim shape. Floral wire will help keep the shape of the brim but will give you only a little bit of molding power. </li>
<li><b>Hot glue gun</b></li>
<li><b>Clothes iron</b></li>
<li><b>Sewing machine</b></li>
<li><b>Marker </b></li>
<li><b>Tailor's tape </b></li>
<li><b>Scissors </b></li>
<li><b>Rotary blade <i>~Optional~</i></b></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Updated Instructions with Pictures</b></span><br />
I don't want to copyright infringe anything here, so these are my tips and advice on how to make this hat an alternative way. I will also give you instructions on how to alter the patterns so you can change the shape and look of your hat. Please, please, please go and sign up on Better Homes and Gardens to see how they do their project first. This will make it much easier to understand why I'm doing things this way. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1) Making the band pattern</b>--- Make your patterns from the ones the website gives you. They say to blow up the pieces 400%. You can do this on your own, but if you are worried about the curved edges, you can easily print them out as guidelines. How neat your curves are really doesn't matter because you can always go back later and straighten them out in step 9. I drew my band pattern directly onto the cardboard with a marker to save time. You can do this, too, because no one will see the cardboard in the end product.<br />
<br />
Altering the band pattern:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Let's say you don't like the patterns they gave you. Well, that's a really easy fix. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5xNqrcZ_VvI5DyUhD_ej56MZ9N1x6KNx0fkJPCNM5qkqGmPVV6gBDsBYNVWnH4QX-wLudE87ocSACnfi7AZ9w_a9q4hDOTBiyI6STyp0SM8ON1ehGW7F8ybdPvs3Wi5xhq06tWtIevaq/s1600/pattern+alterations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5xNqrcZ_VvI5DyUhD_ej56MZ9N1x6KNx0fkJPCNM5qkqGmPVV6gBDsBYNVWnH4QX-wLudE87ocSACnfi7AZ9w_a9q4hDOTBiyI6STyp0SM8ON1ehGW7F8ybdPvs3Wi5xhq06tWtIevaq/s200/pattern+alterations.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Here is the basic pattern. I've labeled some areas of the pattern to show what that section will become once completed. The height is colored in purple. The crown/top is the largest curve in this picture, and the curve that will belong to the bottom of the band is the other curve. Whatever you may do to the pattern, the height (in purple) must be the same length! This pattern calls for about 7'', feel free to make it taller if you like.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy-s6tpjN7dxuUurgw7j3TedsBblNSAKIwJHJ6JdWEh3eQ9EBAl3rc1HGUzNAr19Ql2ktJ-JEIRum-YwKI5w4QNl55xTguBs-iWU7J64doLz1qEsWIn8tN4rPsXc78JzAOqeb7IE_bG9C/s1600/pattern+alterations+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy-s6tpjN7dxuUurgw7j3TedsBblNSAKIwJHJ6JdWEh3eQ9EBAl3rc1HGUzNAr19Ql2ktJ-JEIRum-YwKI5w4QNl55xTguBs-iWU7J64doLz1qEsWIn8tN4rPsXc78JzAOqeb7IE_bG9C/s200/pattern+alterations+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2Oxu3p5fJkSyszMQY2P9YeJxvZ3Aotas3wv9a01u7DfHl9yYuwwn2Gy94kxOvX2VlvYtVLQpSEOJCTHQrZHtxQBjrsYSvEh8CpeKxgNRSolT3EqDfUQO18Lnf_tV7bUYn5cb9MRnhysn/s1600/alterations+2+hat+look.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2Oxu3p5fJkSyszMQY2P9YeJxvZ3Aotas3wv9a01u7DfHl9yYuwwn2Gy94kxOvX2VlvYtVLQpSEOJCTHQrZHtxQBjrsYSvEh8CpeKxgNRSolT3EqDfUQO18Lnf_tV7bUYn5cb9MRnhysn/s200/alterations+2+hat+look.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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A rectangle will make a perfect cylinder for your hat. This is good for top hats. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nBITckQ3viwyKCso6RllLnfVhtKFmKuVEDlKLSMoO5yVNUQEQR2H1dHE5id2txA9jpjvWuIFwyMOBPUr0g-hpFD4xBWaGLiYQHRf0asT2tRI-okaAPt8tmOmBG6U93Z181llw6P3A-nA/s1600/alterations+1+part+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nBITckQ3viwyKCso6RllLnfVhtKFmKuVEDlKLSMoO5yVNUQEQR2H1dHE5id2txA9jpjvWuIFwyMOBPUr0g-hpFD4xBWaGLiYQHRf0asT2tRI-okaAPt8tmOmBG6U93Z181llw6P3A-nA/s200/alterations+1+part+22.jpg" width="194" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNoADIE-RdyB9WWQj_F-OQaaDkjzUyopvuXuMNsQi87BmaBb_EqdJ4TwRiJCd7Txg1AeoIC7oMo0YkWZhVSBE4qwL-QHMpS-FuWY5iK5gi32xwoy10AdDcjeBZofPQFQUVTOjzFjkEKIg/s1600/alterations+1+hat+look.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNoADIE-RdyB9WWQj_F-OQaaDkjzUyopvuXuMNsQi87BmaBb_EqdJ4TwRiJCd7Txg1AeoIC7oMo0YkWZhVSBE4qwL-QHMpS-FuWY5iK5gi32xwoy10AdDcjeBZofPQFQUVTOjzFjkEKIg/s200/alterations+1+hat+look.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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By making almost a semi-circle, you will get a large flair with your hat. This will be very top heavy and very narrow on the bottom. This is good if you're going for a very cartoony look to your hat.<br />
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<b>2) Cut out band pattern</b>--- Using your newly created pattern or the pattern supplied on the <i>Better Homes and Gardens</i> website, cut out one band pattern from the lightweight cardboard. </div>
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<b>3)</b> <b>Altering the crown and brim patterns</b>--- Using a flexible ruler such as a tailor's tape, do your best to measure the crown's curved line (the largest curve). How long it is will be the circumference of your crown pattern. Instead of struggling with the tape and getting sloppy lines to make the circle pattern for your crown piece, just take the number you measured and divide it by <span class="st">π. Take this number and add one inch. This will be the diameter of the crown. </span><span class="st"> </span><br />
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<span class="st">You do not have to have cardboard pieces for these patterns. You can use tissue paper, newspaper (iron newspaper first to avoid ink from spreading to your fabric and to straighten out crinkles. Butlers used a similar technique for their masters back in the day), or regular printing paper....whatever works. I used cardboard and butcher paper. </span><br />
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<span class="st">Do the same thing for the brim's section of the band pattern. Only in addition to the diameter you've calculated, add 2x the width you wish for your brim. For example, your diameter is 8'' and you want your brim to be 4''. You would add an additional 8'' to the 8'' diameter to compensate. </span><br />
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<span class="st">Now you have all your pattern pieces and are set for the rest of the project!</span><br />
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<span class="st"><b>4) Cut out crown and band fabric piece</b>--- </span><span class="st">Using scissors or a rotary blade, cut out one piece of fabric with your crown pattern piece. Be careful not to cut yourself! Cutting out circular pieces can be tricky, especially with a rotary blade. At the same time, using your band pattern piece, cut out one piece of fabric. Add about 0.5'' around the band pattern to make room for a hem later. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiporDfVei5r7d94Pw7dwYoG5DhpS7vwFSSx-uvnxlXB_nvByVS2EvJesbC9AYAR_ncTNMUpN1aWW6i1sf4GN5ODeGcMQGUoFiLAWdsIIkJi7tWBqRzm-D_6B3u0LfRSOCXsoIlVyqBqzvm/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiporDfVei5r7d94Pw7dwYoG5DhpS7vwFSSx-uvnxlXB_nvByVS2EvJesbC9AYAR_ncTNMUpN1aWW6i1sf4GN5ODeGcMQGUoFiLAWdsIIkJi7tWBqRzm-D_6B3u0LfRSOCXsoIlVyqBqzvm/s200/IMG_2912.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsSrGIj7UdvhR6NPbT5x_S0RWfuaLBjGQEM0-eShcLiQC5raxvsZIxOHaidZpkEMHjol07Kj1qnzGpmybqVMy7nJJIqg0mDlobYDE78Mk7yuoTo3dr_-4Lr6F_YWTFB7kU-CyvQxv2YIr/s1600/IMG_2921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsSrGIj7UdvhR6NPbT5x_S0RWfuaLBjGQEM0-eShcLiQC5raxvsZIxOHaidZpkEMHjol07Kj1qnzGpmybqVMy7nJJIqg0mDlobYDE78Mk7yuoTo3dr_-4Lr6F_YWTFB7kU-CyvQxv2YIr/s200/IMG_2921.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span class="st"><b>5) Cut out fusible interfacing</b>--- Using the same crown pattern piece, cut out one piece of fusible interfacing.</span><br />
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</span><span class="st"><b>6) Iron fusible interfacing to fabric piece</b>--- Iron the interfacing to the WRONG side of the fabric. Beginners, place the side of the interfacing with all the bumps closest to the fabric. </span><br />
<span class="st">.</span><br />
<span class="st"><b>7) Clip the edges of the circle</b>--- Going about 0.5'' deep, snip around the circle. Clipping will eliminate bulk when we press this on our cone in step 10.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlaNMmf7x-7LIqmWT7TCy9RZQJ8t4wd9fc2Q2LOc0drZjQfLvFjw0pq3faSkiLOK5VBCKPAXQCilhL3W6-8csvKFLiKGqqd587CVQ3vp9eSoIQafsqrf3pDW7D-yAsy1_F5WFhrzA7dTo/s1600/IMG_2914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlaNMmf7x-7LIqmWT7TCy9RZQJ8t4wd9fc2Q2LOc0drZjQfLvFjw0pq3faSkiLOK5VBCKPAXQCilhL3W6-8csvKFLiKGqqd587CVQ3vp9eSoIQafsqrf3pDW7D-yAsy1_F5WFhrzA7dTo/s320/IMG_2914.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It helps to use a ruler and marker to mark the notches so you don't go too deep</td></tr>
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<span class="st"><b>8) Prepare hot glue gun</b>--- Plug in the gun to get it warm.<br />
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<span class="st"><b>9) Wrap the band into a cylinder</b>--- Curl the cardboard around. Line up the purple, height lines as best as you can. Take the hot glue gun and run a stream of glue along the edge of one side. Press the other side to the glue. How much you overlap doesn't matter, but try to keep it under one inch on each side. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxTS6abJ3j_HztuDy-ER-ZzumAccegMKG_e6wobYvoyvGzBId7yO0Vf755GGKk3Y6DIfkYsJurcUPFwifBb2c6w4AoewM3LZ45khXOEsSHG09BFN5K4DWtbx26h2krkQXKF5tWiWY4KrJ/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxTS6abJ3j_HztuDy-ER-ZzumAccegMKG_e6wobYvoyvGzBId7yO0Vf755GGKk3Y6DIfkYsJurcUPFwifBb2c6w4AoewM3LZ45khXOEsSHG09BFN5K4DWtbx26h2krkQXKF5tWiWY4KrJ/s200/IMG_2911.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="st">Now's a good time to take your scissors and correct any areas where the cone isn't level. You can test this by resting both ends on a table--it should be able to stand on its own. </span><br />
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<b>10) Glue cylinder top to crown</b>--- Lay the crown piece bottom-side up/interfacing up. Take your band. Along the side for the crown, run hot glue around the circumference. Quickly press this into the center of the crown piece. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi-D54kKczUS6ezjCxhAM_9Grkp0z9d8rxjD8cZhhFqiJlsCGaOh4BoFX91QvVCC5Q9W6P026lEzOKNRwzayBpYkZiiNlgWOzMt_5K7sk7HWBAIqKGsrBWUwq7TO7yGydk1zuqkQaMnDb/s1600/IMG_2919.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi-D54kKczUS6ezjCxhAM_9Grkp0z9d8rxjD8cZhhFqiJlsCGaOh4BoFX91QvVCC5Q9W6P026lEzOKNRwzayBpYkZiiNlgWOzMt_5K7sk7HWBAIqKGsrBWUwq7TO7yGydk1zuqkQaMnDb/s200/IMG_2919.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<b>11) Hem the band piece</b>--- Using the hot glue gun again, hem the band piece's fabric. Leave one of the straight sides un-hemmed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfRDaXVXJj5ST9glajHD7zPlaGIqNA9N7KlQhPQJyQEvJdhxyxxGZL8s1znIhKsascGPQjp_8fPu4Hy6IRSD_9cT1B3ZMtKE_4QB8ZkarupC_2Agp2ssNyNg1lOlGCOaBwjZcmCZNuLeF/s1600/IMG_2922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfRDaXVXJj5ST9glajHD7zPlaGIqNA9N7KlQhPQJyQEvJdhxyxxGZL8s1znIhKsascGPQjp_8fPu4Hy6IRSD_9cT1B3ZMtKE_4QB8ZkarupC_2Agp2ssNyNg1lOlGCOaBwjZcmCZNuLeF/s320/IMG_2922.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>11) Glue band piece to cardboard</b>--- Find the seam of the cardboard. Using the hot glue gun, run some glue along the length. Press the un-hemmed side to the glue. Make sure to press the wrong side against the cardboard, leaving the right side of the fabric on the outside. Also make sure to not turn the fabric upside down. Match crown with crown curves, brim with brim curves. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZBNhz0xu6V5fEkLdok6PegL02c0DNfswxdR7c2EQ3MtxlVSmKIdgzzge6eewwy5WG9g1TKPJjHQ1Zn0zcyvU0kJrDoraulIodOO3eFOUkJLGw3OnfQx3L8fQkja3M-5-heueRPwE61oo/s1600/IMG_2923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZBNhz0xu6V5fEkLdok6PegL02c0DNfswxdR7c2EQ3MtxlVSmKIdgzzge6eewwy5WG9g1TKPJjHQ1Zn0zcyvU0kJrDoraulIodOO3eFOUkJLGw3OnfQx3L8fQkja3M-5-heueRPwE61oo/s200/IMG_2923.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glue will be hot. Use maker to press fabric to cardboard.</td></tr>
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<b>12) Make the brim</b>--- Grab your pattern for the brim piece. Cut out two fabric pieces and two interfacing pieces. If you are new to interfacing, opt for the fusible again. If you feel you're a decent sewer, stick with the non-fusible to save it for other projects. If you use fusible, remember to iron interfacing to both pieces of fabric before continuing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiy8M0tUIb5bLjk4mV0U4VORIJfeY-nFAX92GeW9-1pGfa0l8RAHnDICIAohrgpanTMFw-VjY5_OlZdhRYBMOEBumkTh791g-gJMC_lYC0q43alBdPy_T4EORNkFLD6gXakIWTI1d_Kz8J/s1600/IMG_2925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiy8M0tUIb5bLjk4mV0U4VORIJfeY-nFAX92GeW9-1pGfa0l8RAHnDICIAohrgpanTMFw-VjY5_OlZdhRYBMOEBumkTh791g-gJMC_lYC0q43alBdPy_T4EORNkFLD6gXakIWTI1d_Kz8J/s200/IMG_2925.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmgyp1FngKVRfMT3usdRnP0aKJ3Yxzc-QQLR_BzCJ1JlUxnMJAL-Xmo5eDB7XlGh_f4sp8L67v8_wyhm2cMgLfpFaYfNGpGb1tyG8gpQS7-_ybAKwJdN8VFGhO0C3whwRMOgLz4l8kogC/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmgyp1FngKVRfMT3usdRnP0aKJ3Yxzc-QQLR_BzCJ1JlUxnMJAL-Xmo5eDB7XlGh_f4sp8L67v8_wyhm2cMgLfpFaYfNGpGb1tyG8gpQS7-_ybAKwJdN8VFGhO0C3whwRMOgLz4l8kogC/s200/IMG_2927.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>13) Cut an "X" into one brim piece</b>--- Cut an "X" into one piece. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_ZArrfyBfNZGDn7QrnJ1P8KrosPswi_U1B4rsC2SLel0KTHv8xPA4Gg-Q6A5SFNnXaQo9nAu37nX8cHtB9eGq4WX0ltnKozrCVJFK8EOZu3USwH2BOanPeFCrXOvbcYvvgVE2U_PrW4q/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_ZArrfyBfNZGDn7QrnJ1P8KrosPswi_U1B4rsC2SLel0KTHv8xPA4Gg-Q6A5SFNnXaQo9nAu37nX8cHtB9eGq4WX0ltnKozrCVJFK8EOZu3USwH2BOanPeFCrXOvbcYvvgVE2U_PrW4q/s320/IMG_2933.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>13) Sewing time!</b>--- Press the correct sides together. Pin edges. You'll have to leave a small opening for wire later. I like to mark these with double pins so I know when to stop sewing. Sew 0.25'' away from the edge. Flip the piece inside-out. Check to make sure you sewed all edges. Correct if you can see interfacing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorbyJ52ZafQRwPZNIsmICVlV8zoyfa51D4FWlJBe4EIbhlj-apPN8cRFiwmGzvyS3XfKguIBz1T1bS5VCW0mxRY51glZ3fnbfuSMSKcedIKfiRh3OrOdCb1tpNHre9zfKiSBK4o_yq2vv/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorbyJ52ZafQRwPZNIsmICVlV8zoyfa51D4FWlJBe4EIbhlj-apPN8cRFiwmGzvyS3XfKguIBz1T1bS5VCW0mxRY51glZ3fnbfuSMSKcedIKfiRh3OrOdCb1tpNHre9zfKiSBK4o_yq2vv/s320/IMG_2931.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<b>14) Making casing for wire</b>--- Turn the brim right-side out. Sew using a matching thread a casing. Sew about 3/8'' away from the edge. Complete the entire circle. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGvsNv3b6uBJKZ6sNzXvylgn8APe9dBR7M6xTEH1ch723nz9qGjs3r-CfpT21YdVsZ-OINlQ7n6NFQo1wai8Vf4bv9PmfnPIh4w5zqKUyU2cfRafZruVLppxHUmyhigg5UD5FbWaBgVmd/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGvsNv3b6uBJKZ6sNzXvylgn8APe9dBR7M6xTEH1ch723nz9qGjs3r-CfpT21YdVsZ-OINlQ7n6NFQo1wai8Vf4bv9PmfnPIh4w5zqKUyU2cfRafZruVLppxHUmyhigg5UD5FbWaBgVmd/s200/IMG_2937.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQwCV_hEkPpY7caTzo5yb63a6IpjDrDj9E6eyTURP7hm6-FNtB1qMyeaSCsK3OjifF3uRWbi2X4Qxl91rJgT9r-9lG7EuIoiDFvdEKQVbnNrcm9CzXNdXz7ArG1nVKuI9TUYIixr4jue9/s1600/IMG_2939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQwCV_hEkPpY7caTzo5yb63a6IpjDrDj9E6eyTURP7hm6-FNtB1qMyeaSCsK3OjifF3uRWbi2X4Qxl91rJgT9r-9lG7EuIoiDFvdEKQVbnNrcm9CzXNdXz7ArG1nVKuI9TUYIixr4jue9/s200/IMG_2939.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>15) Wire</b>--- Loop the end of the wire as pictured below if possible. This will keep it from catching. Feed it into the casing you just made. Cut off the end once finished. End the wire by twisting it into the beginning of the wire, or loop it again. I am using floral wire because that's all I have at the moment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2w_X1YuTTT8mH9a_fd-ii72OkpU5t-EDFSi9wGuIViIbIvXb2MJ8TUyHdj9XDT__hY_90ohyphenhyphenXYOxmGOlpmxCVpnGfrY6UQ423xJ0AIIdXNH1fb6uNa-_VQnx9PjgpZ0CNkT1KVHLLKj-/s1600/IMG_2941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2w_X1YuTTT8mH9a_fd-ii72OkpU5t-EDFSi9wGuIViIbIvXb2MJ8TUyHdj9XDT__hY_90ohyphenhyphenXYOxmGOlpmxCVpnGfrY6UQ423xJ0AIIdXNH1fb6uNa-_VQnx9PjgpZ0CNkT1KVHLLKj-/s200/IMG_2941.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYw77aE8AsVaC2cwPivNz00WbD9QjlDDo3JIWzxFPxsVnHVJ5w9DsMCsFkjp2DmKxmFNrZH9imJh2ziuT7i9gj3ppIKVwhyphenhyphenL71dAi5RBvDwyblwwCxwVS_rp5sMjBwlINLJaUZAsJPO6P/s1600/IMG_2944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYw77aE8AsVaC2cwPivNz00WbD9QjlDDo3JIWzxFPxsVnHVJ5w9DsMCsFkjp2DmKxmFNrZH9imJh2ziuT7i9gj3ppIKVwhyphenhyphenL71dAi5RBvDwyblwwCxwVS_rp5sMjBwlINLJaUZAsJPO6P/s200/IMG_2944.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>16) Slipstich close</b>--- Using a needle and matching thread, slipstick opening closed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihPCw1k44Hnh_EulLrhCii4r_QF7gwkRLVCbaKLyI5rVIR8gR6QRC3WHsO7d1md5jHVVkp7RFX-CBvSxUI9SKr6teMqZFj5NR6v5Oks5sclP_02idb5bPYzFya_HELZxdgr6ANL3w3o5R/s1600/IMG_2946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihPCw1k44Hnh_EulLrhCii4r_QF7gwkRLVCbaKLyI5rVIR8gR6QRC3WHsO7d1md5jHVVkp7RFX-CBvSxUI9SKr6teMqZFj5NR6v5Oks5sclP_02idb5bPYzFya_HELZxdgr6ANL3w3o5R/s200/IMG_2946.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>17) Attach brim to rest of hat</b>--- With a longer piece of thread, attach the brim to the rest of the hat using a slipstich. Make sure to pull the fabric on the band taught to avoid wrinkles. I found it was easiest to rest the hat upside-down in my lap as I stitched. Click the pictures below for larger shots.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZLvrzrMLYXQzlOnGT0IGrFBQJ_AwK9W1v81Pa5lETqb8cagr8wvneibudH9we-PBXJlTGg1hoBwAbm7o5v_Im-ojxv7jiKXDdFfqdEJSHZhDLX5sMb4EjSx-cbGuRLrdM4saLuzTHcCy/s1600/IMG_2947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZLvrzrMLYXQzlOnGT0IGrFBQJ_AwK9W1v81Pa5lETqb8cagr8wvneibudH9we-PBXJlTGg1hoBwAbm7o5v_Im-ojxv7jiKXDdFfqdEJSHZhDLX5sMb4EjSx-cbGuRLrdM4saLuzTHcCy/s200/IMG_2947.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK5rmzJBqrbyUqP3nfvHyZtfZqdNJ8DtKUvI-j1YNEL3z3hiBOT_QNPU4olGgvVclbmlsznmd5AKhXsrYfF8OOsM773ix1cpXtpARfO0MsbKmLM3zn8vCe0fnrKDQFuoZB0KQoqbRBO2I/s1600/IMG_2948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK5rmzJBqrbyUqP3nfvHyZtfZqdNJ8DtKUvI-j1YNEL3z3hiBOT_QNPU4olGgvVclbmlsznmd5AKhXsrYfF8OOsM773ix1cpXtpARfO0MsbKmLM3zn8vCe0fnrKDQFuoZB0KQoqbRBO2I/s200/IMG_2948.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b> 18) COMPLETE! </b><br />
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<b>19) Add decorations and you're finished!</b><br />
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Changes: I made several changes from the original. For starters, I swapped the glues, interfacing, and also altered the pattern slightly. I also changed the order around because when I followed their guidelines, I found some ways they could have been edited to make it simpler. Thanks again! Make sure to check out the original site at <i>Better Homes and Gardens</i>.</div>
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<span class="st"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-31459264335815741732011-08-28T14:38:00.000-07:002011-09-03T06:28:46.756-07:00Dresden Files: WTF?!I was in the library the other day, trying to find <i>Paladin of Souls</i> because of good reviews I read about it, when in roughly the same vicinity I found Jim Butcher's <i>Storm Front: Book One of the Dresden Files</i>. I heard it was a decent series. Some people said it was like an adult Harry Potter and others said the main character was awesome. It was on the bestseller list, right? And the cover says "As seen on SciFi" so it must be fairly popular. What the hell? Let's give it a try. Oh, boy. I gave it a try alright. A trial in the court of me.<br />
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All I have to say is Jim Butcher lives up to his name: BUTCHER. Jesus H Christ. This book... I don't even know where to BEGIN. So let's go easy and start with the novel's summary as printed on the back cover.<br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the <i>only</i> at what he does. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things--and most of them don't play too well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a--well, whatever. </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get... interesting.</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">Magic. It can get a guy killed. </span></blockquote><br />
Yeah, okay. Not bad right? I can think of whole lot of shittier summaries. "Benedict can only choose one toilet seat....and only one. Does he pick the one with the cushion? Or the one with a naked lady painted on it?" See? Can be worse. <br />
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Let's begin....<br />
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Chapter 1 + 2<br />
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Okay, narrative is alright. Story starts off with Harry getting harassed by a new mailman who doesn't believe he's an actual wizard. Getting mocked naturally puts Harry in a bad mood and he gets a bit snippy with the dude. The guy leaves and Harry introduces himself to the audience. He says he's the only open-practicing wizard in the entire country, and apparently the yellow pages were quite accommodating to allow an entire new section ("Wizards") just for our ol' Harry here. Yep.<br />
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Harry has got this beef about Science. That's science with a capital "S," my friends. Science is da evil, and is like a boyfriend who promises to buy an engagement ring but still fears commitment. If I lost you on that last metaphor, basically Science sucks! Get use to Harry railing on da Science because he bitches about it whenever and wherever.<br />
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So why all the hate? Well, Harry states that "all the things Science [has] promised us [haven't] come to pass. Disease [is] still a problem. Starvation [is] still a problem. Violence and crime and war [are] still problems" (3). And what? Magic solves these? Not exactly doing a great job of it, is it? I have three words for you, Harry, and they are "pot," "kettle," and "black." And when has science ever promised anything? It's an ambiguous word used to categorize many things. It can hardly promise anything.<br />
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Okay, so he has an opinion. Maybe he's like an extreme Amish person. Sort of like how a vegan is the extreme version of a vegetarian. So he's doesn't like technology. Big deal, right? Well I swear to god on the very next page...... he answers the phone. HE ANSWERS.... THE PHONE.... See where I'm going here? We've already established that he can receive mail. Couldn't he just put in his little yellow page ad, "Contact me via mail"? If you don't trust electronics that much... there are ways around it. But right now, Harry's reminding me of this one customer I had who complained that "kids these days" rely too heavily on technology and crap as she paid using a debit card and drove off in her car. <br />
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And it gets better. So Harry actually gets two phone calls. One is for a client that he plans on meeting later, and the other is from the Chicago police. Harry works as a magician consultant *snort* and they need his help. Gee, for a world that doesn't believe in magic (they believe in that devil Science) the tax payers and most of the police force seem A-ok with using a profession magician (sorry....wizard) to help solve brutal murders.<br />
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Anyway, the caller is a woman named Murphy. She tells him to meet her down by a hotel for a murder case. When we are introduced to Murphy....it's....rather poor writing. I'm sorry. There are moments were this novel has some fairly decent writing, and others are like, well, this:<br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">Karrin and I are a study of contrasts. Where I am tall and lean, she's short and stocky. Where I have dark hair and dark eyes, she's got Shirley Temple blond locks and baby blues. Where my features are all lean and angular, with a hawkish nose and a sharp chin, hers are round and smooth, with the kind of cut nose you'd expect on a cheerleader (10).</span></blockquote><br />
First off, I wrote like that in fifth grade. Rule one of writing: don't list out everything your character looks like. Especially not smack dab in the beginning of a chapter. Yes, it's difficult to establish your character's appearance without listing, but that's what separates the big boys from the toddlers. Also, Harry loooooooves to compare women to cheerleaders.<br />
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He also likes giving us a scale on how respectable the woman is based on how much makeup she's wearing. Apparently, Harry feels her makeup is of "sufficient quality and quantity" (10). Just the way he says it makes me feel uncomfortable. Like if she were wearing more you wouldn't trust her or perhaps you'd think she's a whore? I don't know. Just a bit bizarre. <br />
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Now, here's where my real beef with this novel comes up. It's fucking sexist! The best part is it tries to not be sexist by going out of the plot's way by describing how Harry is chivalrous by opening doors for ladies (which in fact you should do for everyone, no matter the gender, because it's polite), but then turns around and spouts this crap at the brutal crime scene: <br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">Murphy glared at me, "You keep saying 'she,'" she challenged me. "Why the hell do you think that?" </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">I gestured toward the room. "Because you can't do something that bad without a whole lot of hate," I said. "Women are better at hating than men. They can focus it better, let it go better. Hell, witches are just plain meaner than wizards. This feels like feminine vengeance of some kind to me."</span> </blockquote><br />
Oh no you didn't! As if the author knew what he just did there, he lampshades by having an officer call him a chauvinistic pig. But Harry still doesn't back down from stating a woman probably did it. But hey! Maybe Harry's right. I mean, I most certainly am doing a fine job hating on this novel. Perhaps the fact that most murders are committed by white males means nothing after all. Still, I can't believe people like this character. I pray that this is supposed to be a James Bond, who the author wrote for the audience to hate, but everyone ended up liking him anyway. Well, I'm going to continue reading to see if it is.<br />
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The hotel, though, is described quite well. You definitely get a strong idea of what this love pad looks like. Also, it gives us a great idea of what kind of people the victims were, which I like. And that's it. Later folks. I really hope it does get better.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-87663779370944284232011-08-26T15:35:00.000-07:002011-09-20T17:24:14.616-07:00Alice in Wonderland - Halloween Party UpdatesMy party is going awesome so far! I calculated the total amount spent, subtracted how much I earned secret shopping for some of the items, and I came to about $18.22. I spending most of my budget on food, I think, since I'm currently making half the decorations out of card decks or papier-mache.<br />
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I finally finished my American McGee's Alice costume today! It's pretty much completely done; there are just a couple minor things I want to fine-tune before wearing it on Halloween. It looks pretty close to the picture and I feel I did a great job creating my own pattern for it. Can't wait!<br />
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I need to fix the back mostly: the bow's too droopy and the zipper's showing. </div>
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On a slightly different note, the funniest thing happened at the grocery store today. I saw a Halloween magazine at the checkout and just decided to flip through it to see if there was anything interesting.... Well, guess what I happened to find? An Alice in Wonderland themed party in there! I was completely floored. Usually when I find Alice themed parties, they are for the summertime and for kids. This is not only for adults, but for Halloween! I had to buy it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HwXzwvTZeAkgtSyDiRuZ9yqM3wyae5jk8u4fXVqZvTu1PhHj4ylWp1Cy188j5vKGoJEaIHuh0odhfe28uCn_IR8nWjf9-NYCH_P-JoEW9TlKGH1aXHvCHq7wYQUU-HeRSQSV6Lro9p1i/s1600/IMG_2902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HwXzwvTZeAkgtSyDiRuZ9yqM3wyae5jk8u4fXVqZvTu1PhHj4ylWp1Cy188j5vKGoJEaIHuh0odhfe28uCn_IR8nWjf9-NYCH_P-JoEW9TlKGH1aXHvCHq7wYQUU-HeRSQSV6Lro9p1i/s200/IMG_2902.JPG" width="150" /></a>This magazine was a special issue of "Better Homes and Gardens." They had some really cute ideas in there, but I'm probably going to stick with my ideas mostly. You can view part of it online <a href="http://www.bhg.com/halloween/parties/alice-in-wonderland-halloween-party/">here</a>. They mostly had great food ideas and some decoration suggestions. I liked this one food idea: "Convert finger sandwiches...into saucy playing cards with hearts cut from roasted red pepper slice." That sounds pretty cute. The magazine says I can get the recipes on <a href="http://www.bhg.com/halloween/parties/alice-in-wonderland-halloween-party/">their website</a>, but for some reason it's not loading properly. I'll have to try again. <br />
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One in particular I thought was absurd: "Use a few books to raise one side of an empty china cabinet...Then carefully arrange not-so-good china to look as if it slid topsy-turvy." Umm....I can easily see that falling over and hurting someone...not to mention damage the wall it was resting on.<br />
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Update: I have tried a Alice in Wonderland craft from this book! I give improved instructions, as well as pictures of my final results,<b> <a href="http://dizzilydreaming.blogspot.com/2011/09/wacky-white-rabbits-hat-detailed-step.html">HERE</a></b>! <br />
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Lots of excitement in regards to Halloween! Working on the Jabberwocky skeleton as we speak!<br />
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Posts of Interest:<br />
<a href="http://dizzilydreaming.blogspot.com/2011/09/alice-in-wonderland-party-music.html">Alice in Wonderland Music Playlist</a><br />
<a href="http://dizzilydreaming.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-papier-mache-or-paper-mache.html">Mushroom Decorations </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-7543940925974148072011-08-23T15:10:00.000-07:002011-08-23T15:10:40.678-07:00Work StoriesThink back to your very first job....don't a lot of memories and anecdotes come to mind? Well let's take a moment to share those. In particular.... the WORST scenarios. I'll share with you some of my funny stories, and you guys go ahead and leave comments with some of your doozies. <br />
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Isn't it funny? When you volunteer, people treat you really nicely. I used to volunteer at a museum selling ice cream, but I was pretty young and bad with counting back change without a calculator. Though people easily could have taken advantage of me, being alone and confused, everyone helped me out. Yet now, as a paid employee, people feel it's almost a right to treat me like a slave or something sub-human. Sort of ironic when you stop and think about it. <br />
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Anyway, here are some of my funny stories with customers I've encountered:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MUFFINS</b></span></div>One of my jobs was working at a Panera Bread. If you don't already know, Panera Bread is a fast food place that pretends it isn't fast food. They swear up and down they don't want to be treated like fast food, yet the one I worked at put in a drive-thru. Paneras serve bread, sandwiches, soups, salads, scones, coffee, and MUFFINS. Oh yes...muffins.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.gomemphis.com/media/img/photos/2009/01/15/16panera4_t180.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.gomemphis.com/media/img/photos/2009/01/15/16panera4_t180.jpeg" /></a></div>It was a busy lunch hour. I was working in the bakery and handling all of the bagels, scones, muffins, bear claws, and all that stuff. An older man approaches my register and says, "I'd like a pumpkin muffin." It was sort of loud, so I just wanted to double-check, so I double-checked with him. He starts raising his voice and declares. "No, I want a carrot muffin!"<br />
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Okay, I think to myself. I must have misheard him. Now, Panera has two types of carrot muffins. One is very much like a carrot cake, and the other is like carrot cake but without frosting. Earlier that week I had someone complain that the carrot cake muffins had too much frosting, and I wanted to make sure we avoided that issue again, so I tried to clarify the difference between the two muffins. Well, he wasn't having any of that.<br />
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"I want a carrot cake muffin!" He's starting to get angry with me so I just give up trying to clear up the frosting thing. I walk over to the bakery section. All of the products are behind a glass wall so customers can see all our products with all their calorie glory. I place a carrot cake muffin on a plate and hand it to the man. He pays and walks off to a table. About ten minutes later, he comes back.<br />
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"What is all this gobbly-gook!" he points an angry finger at the center of the muffin which has the frosting.<br />
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"That's the frosting, sir. That's what I was trying to tell you about."<br />
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"Well, I don't want it. All I want is a pumpkin muffin!" He's getting really angry at me now, but it's all I can do to not burst into laughter. I must confess, I probably was smiling like a goof when I tossed out the carrot muffin to swap it with a pumpkin. Oh, yes. Go ahead and be mad with me. I know I wasn't the one with the communication problems. Jesus....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>DIP</b></span></div>This other job was when I worked at Portillo's. Portillo's is a Chicago restaurant that serves Chicago food. Well, all Chicago food minus gyros and deep-dish pizza. I was a cashier there, too, though we take orders via paper bag instead of computer. What happens is when someone orders, we use short-hand to write it on the bag. We send this bag down the line instead of using computers. I don't know why they do this. It probably just speeds things up because we get SLAMMED. All the time!! If you live by a Portillo's, you're probably nodding your heads now. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sandwich has the juice on the side. This guy wanted his sandwich completely submerged and soaked in the juice. WITH MARINARA SAUCE. YUCK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anyway, this guy comes up and I'm starting to take his order. He says to me, "I'd like an Italian beef with red sauce [marinara sauce], hot peppers, and can you dip it. Can you dip it. Can you dip it. Can you dip it. Can you dip it. Can you dip it. Can you dip it." I swear to god I thought his needle was stuck. I just stopped writing on the bag and looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. And he just KEPT....GOING.<br />
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Finally I said, "You want me to dip it?"<br />
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"Yes!" he said. "That last couple of times I was here, you guys didn't dip it all the way. I want it completely dipped."<br />
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Fine, no big deal. I told him I would go to the woman making the sandwiches myself and tell her to dip it completely. That seemed to make him happy and I sent him on his merry way. I did as I promised and told the woman that the guy was complaining his sandwich was never correct. I thought I heard the last from him after that, but about twenty minutes later, he cuts in line, holds up his sandwich, and shouts, "Way to go guys, you still didn't dip it right."<br />
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Hey, big guy.... I did MY part. You're yelling at the wrong person. Maybe if you stopped treating me like I'm an idiot....oh no wait. Nothing different would have happened if you would have treated me respectfully because it wasn't my fault! Well, he ended up getting the whole damn thing remade from him because some of his bread wasn't completely sopping and greasy. Congrats. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Work Stories - TBC</b><br />
<b>trust me, they're going to get a whole lot better ;)</b></div><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-62478468368150667642011-07-24T13:00:00.000-07:002011-09-05T08:04:53.421-07:00Review-- Unnatural Issue: An Elmental Masters Novel by Mercedes Lackey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier on this blog--one of my first posts, as a matter of fact--was a review of <a href="http://dizzilydreaming.blogspot.com/2010/12/black-swan-part-3.html">The Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey</a>. This was a decent novel with a decent set of characters that was enjoyable to read. After that positive experience, and after hearing how popular this author is in the fantasy world, I decided to give <i>Unnatural Issue</i> a try. <br />
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The "Elemental Masters" series, as far as I'm aware, is about humans with the ability to control fire, water, air or earth. Those who are particularly powerful and bend their element to their will are referred to as Masters, though other non-Masters can have small abilities such as lighting fires or keeping milk from curdling...that sort of thing. Each book is a retelling of a popular fairy tale, but with these added twists of Elemental masters.<br />
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This particular novel I'm reviewing is based off the story<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_skin"> "Donkey Skin."</a> In case you aren't familiar with "Donkey Skin," consider yourself somewhat lucky. There's a reason why Disney hasn't had a cartoon musical made out of it yet. So let's just say that an alternative title for this fairy tale is "The King Who Wished to Marry His Daughter" and leave it at that. Yeeeeeeah....<br />
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Yet with such a controversial tale, how could this NOT be an entertaining read? I was sold. I placed a hold on a copy at the library and waited for the novel to come out. <br />
Just a couple months later, I swung by the library to pick up my copy. After a couple days of reading, I closed it and put it down with a sigh. Ultimately it was quite a let down.<br />
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<a href="http://mintyalice.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/peaudane.jpg?w=632" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://mintyalice.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/peaudane.jpg?w=632" width="200" /></a>The story is about a man named Whitestone who is called away while his wife is pregnant. As he's returning to his country manor, he realizes with his earth magic that his wife is in labor. He rushes home only to find her dead, but the babe is still very much alive. In typical, over-dramatic fashion, he blames his daughter for his wife's death, wants nothing to do with the baby, and locks himself away in the upper reaches of the manor for almost two decades. The baby grows up into a young woman named Suzanne. She's raised as a servant in her own manor and doesn't feel as if she fits in anywhere. The servants still act as if she's above them, yet she feels as if she's a part of them. The fairy, Puck, teaches her how to use her inherent powers since her father is most certainly not teaching her. <br />
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One day, though, Whitestone looks out his window and half-imagines he sees his wife walking towards the manor. He has been experimenting with dark earth magic, particularly necromancy, in attempts to resurrect his wife. The vision he sees is actually his daughter, but it takes him awhile to realize this, having not seen her for seventeen years. But seeing how identical she is to her deceased mother, that sets the ball rolling and the story begins.<br />
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Sounds like a great, exciting story, right? WRONG. For starters, it feels almost like this novel had a deadline that everyone was rushing to meet. There were instances of repetition or contradiction that just make it sloppy. For example, on the repetition, there is a passage from the father's perspective that explains ghosts. A paragraph or so later, the exact same explanation is given yet again but only slightly different. Contradiction-- does the main character have a strong country accent or not? I found a whole slew of contradictions that can just all go to hell for all I care...and perhaps they did because I cannot recall anymore. (Note to self: Take notes next time!)<br />
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Also, the author failed to realize what was more interesting to read about--the necromancy and father-daughter relationship gone wrong. We only get to see necormancy in action a couple times and a much larger portion of the novel is the protagonist in hiding, with a rather dull group of Elemental masters, or during World War I. Not once do we feel that Suzanne is in anyway threatened by her father. She either has some other Master take care of it for her or she just runs away. Whoopie.<br />
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On the brightside, the author did an excellent job of making me feel 100% apathetic toward Suzanne's character. A not too rare feat, indeed! Whitestone's misogynistic nature was also properly reinforced...sorry, let me rephrase that.... properly reinFORCED. His women-hating was so clear and vivid I could practically picture him twisting a thin mustache! Excellent writing, my friends.<br />
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Whoops, tried to not let my sarcasm take hold this entire review but there it popped up. Le sigh. Anyway, in all seriousness, the ideas in this novel are excellent. The way the author added in necromancy to the story of "Donkey Skin" worked nicely and logically. I also loved the images of dead soldiers rising from the trenches through necromancy, but ultimately this was rather boring to read. I found myself skimming to the parts were necromancy was used and jumping over the little romance sections and other "nothing happens" sequences. It's just a "meh" from me.<br />
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A big, boring MEH.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-19344561835866832162011-07-20T19:59:00.000-07:002011-09-11T12:17:52.632-07:00PAAAARTY....for under $100.....hopefullyWelcome to the first post of my new, general blog! I figured that the old blog was too specific for me to comment much on it, but I will still post ballet stuff I find every once in awhile.<br />
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This new blog entry is about a themed party I'm planning. I really, really love Halloween, so I actually start planning for it months in advance to sew my costume and make plans. This year I’m planning on making Alice in Wonderland as my party theme. By figuring out my theme already, that leaves plenty of time to make and find decorations, prepare a menu, and create my costume.</div>
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I want the party to feel surreal, horrifying, and playful. Weird combo, right? But I figured that with Wonderland, that would make sense. Each room is going to have something different. The kitchen, which is red, will be the Red Queen's lair (horror). The dining room will be the Mad Hatter's tea party (playful). The family room will be filled with odds and ends (surreal). Outside I would LOVE to have a Jabberwocky skeleton made out of paper-mache *crosses fingers and shoots for the moon*. There's going to be a lot of paper-mache decorations to keep my party under budget. </div>
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<a href="http://www.techshout.com/img/alice-madness-returns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://www.techshout.com/img/alice-madness-returns.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/alicepic/disney-movie/mad-hatter-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/alicepic/disney-movie/mad-hatter-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3861455642_855ebc6913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3861455642_855ebc6913.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.moytoy.eu/var/moytoy/storage/images/what-s-new/lowbrow-or-pop-surrealism/1521-2-eng-US/Lowbrow-or-Pop-Surrealism_big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://www.moytoy.eu/var/moytoy/storage/images/what-s-new/lowbrow-or-pop-surrealism/1521-2-eng-US/Lowbrow-or-Pop-Surrealism_big.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Above: inspirational and concept pictures </div>
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Speaking of budget, my goal this year is to keep everything, minus the costume, under $100. Food will probably put me over as it usually does, and in decorations, I’ve already racked up a quarter of that…. So that means games, food, and decorations all under a hundred bucks. Let’s just see if I can manage to pull it off or at least land close to my goal. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKmRVOKtXiJ6qUoLW2YSF4GsRHrDTJMXHwxiyqBR1ZL1n6FEdZjs-nnHH3TaHUe27RVZrp7H0sLsYkianAcJMV3_hTC5u4x0qZGClVYRHy1dRjgnIwekvI8Yq76FuoNDtfg46rXDkThy7/s1600/Untitled-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKmRVOKtXiJ6qUoLW2YSF4GsRHrDTJMXHwxiyqBR1ZL1n6FEdZjs-nnHH3TaHUe27RVZrp7H0sLsYkianAcJMV3_hTC5u4x0qZGClVYRHy1dRjgnIwekvI8Yq76FuoNDtfg46rXDkThy7/s200/Untitled-1.gif" width="105" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American McGee's Alice</td></tr>
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My costume is almost complete. I’m going as Alice for Halloween, specifically American McGee’s Alice. That way I don’t have to worry about a blonde wig for my costume and just have to straighten my hair. As an additional bonus, this Alice is from a horror video game--perfect for Halloween. I bought a jack-in-the-box to modify into a purse, but that’s not going to well for several reasons. </div>
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Otherwise, my costume is nearly complete. It just lacks the alchemy symbols on the apron pockets. I plan on using my aunt’s embroidery machine on those to make them look a bit sharper and so they don’t wash off in the washing machine. I'll post pictures once that's completed. Hopefully it won't look too bad...it's my own pattern and the puffy sleeves took a really long time to perfect.</div>
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Decorations I've already found:</div>
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Here are some decorations I've already found. Most of these will probably used for outside decoration and the kitchen (Red Queen Room). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUaC1dhzkwJA3_wX0IlzgC3cbAEM05Qqjt6ohMIDnF6pRLpY03V_TOh0deIf_ZwIAVYTS_GsHRMD9qfzMHApZU_EiTIR5l3r4hhjtUVzbaYFa2buWiXNhqNR0KMQKcOCp8MQJevowFVMM/s1600/IMG_2880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUaC1dhzkwJA3_wX0IlzgC3cbAEM05Qqjt6ohMIDnF6pRLpY03V_TOh0deIf_ZwIAVYTS_GsHRMD9qfzMHApZU_EiTIR5l3r4hhjtUVzbaYFa2buWiXNhqNR0KMQKcOCp8MQJevowFVMM/s200/IMG_2880.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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The first items I found were at Goodwill. Only one dollar each! The teapot is going in the Mad Hatter room and the bowl will be a candy dish in the kitchen. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ri8MsxTxa0Hl2NzoX2pvG6h1QClSmchIOJGKxoXT2ov6OOwMJyDlv0DpLsZDp-wIm9JcLcnE_UNtY529v9XZQPi_GGyXOJgFg7CuyMmppnPnJgzR9FkTXjzu_i9b0OxIsWvZNp9Jr1Op/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ri8MsxTxa0Hl2NzoX2pvG6h1QClSmchIOJGKxoXT2ov6OOwMJyDlv0DpLsZDp-wIm9JcLcnE_UNtY529v9XZQPi_GGyXOJgFg7CuyMmppnPnJgzR9FkTXjzu_i9b0OxIsWvZNp9Jr1Op/s200/IMG_2881.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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A trip to Hobby Lobby found me these chess pieces for sale at 30%. The white pawn was on clearance for a dollar, but the rest were a lot more expensive. The price for the lot of these is the most expensive so far: $12, but they were just too cool and too perfect to pass up. I'm glad I got these. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFM-KlVG88YVSg6g9iulL1PIw8qeCoHADcz9PNhypI30_BXo23KJcTgc6wurLxVxyumxRm1mcFEbS50ZYnQBMI6E6ZxwNl_f3iyGlw5IeOCQ7j2ijGmuWQFFHt4xpsNXY_S72wg5WChyphenhyphenwR/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFM-KlVG88YVSg6g9iulL1PIw8qeCoHADcz9PNhypI30_BXo23KJcTgc6wurLxVxyumxRm1mcFEbS50ZYnQBMI6E6ZxwNl_f3iyGlw5IeOCQ7j2ijGmuWQFFHt4xpsNXY_S72wg5WChyphenhyphenwR/s200/IMG_2883.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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These candles I found at a garage sale. This is what I love about shopping for Halloween in the middle of summer. Deals! But this wasn't any deal... I was working during the garage sale times, so I asked my mom to pick these up for me. She got them for $8.... not happy at all about that. Lesson learned: If you want something done right (and not pay a small fortune for it), do it yourself. Still, these are very cool, but I won't be paying that much for decorations this trivial again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdAJAr1rUEGE12Z-mYYyxrhtmR-7tElH3fdXX5Iq62C6M3xCQiEmE5t1IyHYLHy-6WTmAczteN4hJb7MICoZos9AU3pxld38mQPhn2fn1n5jzYGppk4hUldsCKdZiC8c74BEVW2eI3FO4/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdAJAr1rUEGE12Z-mYYyxrhtmR-7tElH3fdXX5Iq62C6M3xCQiEmE5t1IyHYLHy-6WTmAczteN4hJb7MICoZos9AU3pxld38mQPhn2fn1n5jzYGppk4hUldsCKdZiC8c74BEVW2eI3FO4/s200/IMG_2884.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Some whimsical stuff I found around in my room. The card deck was missing some cards so it'll be perfect to make into card streamers. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU15wqoU4TaT9su8bOZr2H_bFFw8-HmuXdkcNSBks_-Bk2rTEZ-BOBcV03Vkp8-qD1FrGKPOPO2CW8YE9uA_GD4-wQ5KexEa72jPPWlJAGR-EJRp_w_i7AG3JJS8O9-yjHfI4wynpbDAZz/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU15wqoU4TaT9su8bOZr2H_bFFw8-HmuXdkcNSBks_-Bk2rTEZ-BOBcV03Vkp8-qD1FrGKPOPO2CW8YE9uA_GD4-wQ5KexEa72jPPWlJAGR-EJRp_w_i7AG3JJS8O9-yjHfI4wynpbDAZz/s200/IMG_2885.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Some things I also have that people gave me that would be perfect for Alice in Wonderland. The right book I'm picking mostly because it has a raven on it. "How is a raven like a writing desk?" The Alice in Wonderland placard on the far left is actually from a Blockbuster that was going out of business.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXL3d8td2CVzZtZgt_NQRM7d6MOTnxguDKOi4TfiaAWrDN9Qv5vfVXnDZ0RTKnrhbgJLU1GtI7CCeRe2iyB3Z9viD0lbcEOG4JMvhwJaqEuP1aolGEX_unt3vKXxp5h2zmLtpYSv4SpUv/s1600/IMG_2887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXL3d8td2CVzZtZgt_NQRM7d6MOTnxguDKOi4TfiaAWrDN9Qv5vfVXnDZ0RTKnrhbgJLU1GtI7CCeRe2iyB3Z9viD0lbcEOG4JMvhwJaqEuP1aolGEX_unt3vKXxp5h2zmLtpYSv4SpUv/s200/IMG_2887.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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These are oversized cards, a heart tray, red shrink-wrap, and napkins that I got from Party City. I paid only one dollar for all of these thanks to a secret shopping job I did for them and getting partially reimbursed. Not only do I get these items for a whole lot cheaper, the shopper fee boosts my budget by $14! Sweet! And are those large playing cards not the most amazing things you've ever seen? For comparison, those napkins are your standard size napkins. </div>
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Total Amount Spent: $22.88</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-57484069848319617152011-07-14T14:41:00.000-07:002011-07-14T14:41:43.340-07:00Change of blogSo my toe is not any better and due to the fact I'm in college, my funds and time short. Basically that means no ballet at all. I was thinking about this blog and how much I liked adding to it, but because of both circumstances, I can't really contribute to this as much as I could when I was still taking classes.<br />
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That got me thinking, maybe I should just change this to a personal blog about basically anything. That way I'm not restricted. I can make more reviews on exercise videos that aren't just ballet-based; I can show sewing tips I've picked up--both really popular attractions to this blog. Due to this change, there's going to be a lot of alterations. For starters, this will still be called Dizzily Dreaming. Second, ballet will still be discussed, just whenever I can get to it and it will be mixed with other things.<br />
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The changes will start pretty soon! Hold tight everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-35875574522542183822011-06-20T19:25:00.000-07:002011-06-20T19:25:09.020-07:00Long time, Little Blogging!Just so you guys know, I'm not dead XD<br />
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It's just that with finals, summer school starting, my part-time job starting, my friends getting in a bad car accident, I broke a toe...life gets complicated.<br />
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Ballet is on hold for summer due to my summer school. My day is 7AM to 9PM with work and classes so there's no time for ballet right now. I do hope to start again in the fall, but I might not be able to because of work, but that's just going to have to be a sacrifice I'll have to make for college.<br />
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The recital went great! I didn't get stage fright on the recital, but I did get really nervous during the dress rehearsal. Right before the recital I hoped over an ottoman and fractured my pinky toe. I decided to dance on it anyway even though it really hurt.<br />
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Here is the video that someone took of our performance. I am the last person to enter on the left side of the screen:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115789548571305683061/AdultBallet03?authkey=Gv1sRgCOy4vfX98pCcjAE&feat=directlink#5609898369599382290">Recital</a></div>I hope that link works!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-15886526953809191922011-04-29T21:20:00.000-07:002011-04-29T21:22:21.209-07:00Sassy Gay Friend!I know I've repeatedly stated that I'm not a <i>Black Swan</i> fan, but I am a Sassy Gay Friend fan! God, this was hilarious. They made fun of all the dumb parts of the movie and the girl's acting is spot on XD<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">*spoilers in video* </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wNa9gYlKq6s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
I hope you like it! I got a kick out of it! And just in time before the month ends! (Though anyone else get the impression that he didn't enjoy the movie either? Maybe it's just me projecting my own opinions.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-36802775038296361732011-04-28T17:19:00.000-07:002011-04-28T17:19:12.847-07:00Diary update!It's been what feels like forever since I last posted. Ballet is going great! I decided to participate in the recital after all, and have been given a vacant position. YAY! Right now the moves are real simple, but I'm having a lot of trouble with this jumping combination she gave us. It's something-I-forget, glissade, and an assembl<span class="Unicode">é. I just cannot get this combination! ARGH!</span><br />
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<span class="Unicode">My form has greatly improved. My hips are correct for the most part, I'm turning out more, and my knees no longer hurt as a result of all these! YAY! During the weekend, I'm going to put a beginner's guide to form up here to help those starting out. </span><br />
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<span class="Unicode">I hope everyone else is doing well in their studies! Keep going strong!!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020050169508554115.post-61131035853743442572011-04-15T08:20:00.000-07:002011-04-15T08:20:18.399-07:00More funnies!Phew.... I don't even know where to begin. Ballet has been going better and I already feel a great difference in my plies. But I have just been a lot of...pain lately. I'm not quite sure if pain is the right word but it seems to be the best word to describe it. It's this pressure on my chest and I feel almost like I'm longing for something, but I don't know what I'm longing for. Wow, that probably sounded really, really melodramatic...but I'm wondering if this stress of school is starting to affect my health. <br />
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Anyway, to boost everyone's mood, I found another ballet clip. This one also features Dawn French but this time she is paired with an actual ballerina! It's very funny and I hope you enjoy it.<br />
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