Best of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

If you haven't already jumped on the bandwagon, you need to. Jerry Seinfeld's newest show is called Comedians  in Cars Getting Coffee. Each episode is about 15 minutes long. Jerry picks up a comedian in a different car each time--sometimes the cars are fancy (fast, old, rare, etc.) and sometimes they're trash heaps but still fitting. He'll start the episode by explaining why he picked the car for the respective comedian. Here are some of my favorite episodes so far, but they're all worth a watch. Check it!

Made & Found: Weirdo Valentines

Just kidding. Please don't.

I decided I was going to kiss off on the traditional cutesy valentines cards this year, so I made some weirdo black and white valentines...you know, because I'm kind of a weirdo sometimes. I selected sentiments from conversational candy hearts and applied my Addams Family filter (minus black roses and pictures of scabs) to create these creepy (but sweet?) endearments...

Peanut & Purls & some finished holiday knits!

I hate to admit it, but I haven't finished with my holiday knits quite yet. I did manage to finish this simple, yet classic, scarf for one of my favorite people, Pat!

Handmade Home: another handmade valentine

Get ready for another handmade valentine...

Book Report: A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time is one of the first science fiction books I remember reading. Can I just say that I love this book? I have no idea why I haven't read the entire series--it's a quintet!--but I aim to remedy that immediately. One of the wonderful things about Madeleine L'Engle is that she doesn't write down to her readers. Sophisticated concepts about space and time travel are explained clearly and with respect, and the young heros of the story are smart, capable, and willing to make sacrifices for those they love. And there are puns!

Insta-sista

This week I found a dead thrush in the garden beneath the sour cherry tree, and now I have more dead bird pictures in my phone than perhaps anyone should. Well, anyone outside our family. For we sisters, I feel that the number of dead bird pictures in my phone is perfectly appropriate. For the record, this bird was very recently dead and had no discernible marks of attack, so Mom and I decided/hoped it was old age rather than a bird disease. Also for the record, a night creature stole the bird before I could begin the specimen collection process, but not before I poked it with a small stick...

Best of An Idiot Abroad's bungee jump saga

So I was delighted last weekend to find that Netflix has the full series of An Idiot Abroad. The charming travels of Karl Pilkington, Ricky Gervais' self proclaimed most expensive practical joke ever played.

There are three seasons, the first Karl travels to see the seven wonders of the world, the second he fulfills common bucket list tasks (not his bucket list), and the last is with Warwick Davis and they retrace the route of Marco Polo.

Hilarity ensues. This is a video sequence from the second and third seasons relating to Karl's long tormented relationship with the bungee jump.

This first video is from the first bucket list episode where Karl is heading off to the South Pacific to spend a night on a deserted island; but first has to make a stop in New Zealand for the ultimate bucket list item, the bungee jump.

Made & Found: Housewarming quilt!

On My Honor readers--you have no idea how honored I am to be given such a bomb-ass housewarming present! Back in July, my good friend Kathy (who has some serious quilting skills) told me she was making me a quilt for my new house. She let me pick from some fabric options, a snappy 6 months later, she more than delivered the goods. Check it!

Peanut & Purls & Watercolors...& Beyonce

I first saw this phrase on a friend's instagram post. It was printed on a coffee mug. I decided right then and there that this was a mantra I needed in my life. I recently downloaded Beyonce's latest album, and like everyone else, I'm utterly bewitched by everything she does. So what did I do? I made myself this watercolor. Also, I needed a break from knitting. I just finished knitting all my (late) Christmas/birthday presents, so I need to think about what my next knitting project.

Handmade Home: It's growing on me

This is the next phase to my new year new space, greenery. One thing that makes me happy is that every so often Ben will say that he wishes we had more plants in the house. I love house plants! So we went out and made some new purchases to bring in the green...

Book Report: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is similar to The Witch of Blackbird Pond in that both books are about young women defying convention, following their moral compasses, and suffering the consequences. But while Kit in The Witch of Blackbird Pond dreams of escaping her drab Connecticut life to sail home to Barbados, Charlotte Doyle actually spends the majority of the book on the high seas. Pure girlhood adventuring! Plus rebellion, flogging, guns, knives, sailors at the mercy of the cruel ocean, and murder!

Insta-sista

"Ocean in view!" O! The joy!" Man on man do I love Lewis and Clark. I mean I loooovvvveeee Lewis and Clark. A few weeks ago some of the Nicolai clan took a nice little day trek down to Cape Disappointment. I'm just a little disappointed in myself that I didn't take the time to visit the actual market for William's famous declaration.

Top Five: ways to wear nature

Emi Jorge, Oyster Shell Vannal Clutch 

So we all know that decking yourself out in minerals is pretty amazing, but here are some different ways to incorporate nature in to your fly wardrobe...

Made and Found: love DIY

 date arrows by Sugar and Cloth

So, we all had our New Year, happy or otherwise, now we are mid January and it's time to switch from auld lang syne to be mine valentine. To get you in the mood here are some fun easy projects that I found for the season...

Brooklyn Tweed has their new 2014 Winter Look Book out. I've blogged about how swoon-worthy BT is and especially Jared Flood, their mastermind (read about that here, here, and here).

Brief Musical Interlude: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (on a bus)

Thank you, Grammys, for making this happen. 

Handmade Home: New Year, New Pillows

There's nothing like a good pillow to pull a room together. Last year I made some new pillows for the living room, but never really fell in love with them. I used some different fabrics and colors and after a while I decided that they had to go for a cleaner simpler look. Since I'm going for a fresh start this new year, I wanted to reinforce that with some fresh pillows...

Book Report: The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Elizabeth George Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond is very dear to me. It's one of the first chapter books I remember choosing and reading on my own. I probably read it in 3rd grade (around the same time as Kävik: The Wolf Dog), before I knew much about accusations of witchcraft in the New World, Quakers, or discrimination of any kind. Yes, it covers all three topics. But it's also a book about friendship and family, love and kindness, standing by your principles regardless of the consequences, and a young woman finding her way in the world...

Insta-sista

Even though Washington experienced nowhere near the cold snap the rest of the county endured, we did have a couple frosty mornings. Other than the possibility of icy roads, I enjoy a little frost. Everything looks incredibly magical when enveloped in a nimbus of ice crystals, don't you think? 

Best of Jimmy Fallon youtubes!

You know you love it (it being Jimmy Fallon youtubes)! I cannot stop watching youtubes. It's the most delicious lifesuck there ever was. I start watching one youtube, and 3 hours later, I've watched 35 youtubes.

Made & Found: Accordion Booklets

I checked this book out from the library before Christmas with the intention that I'd make some sweet books as Christmas gifts. Well, that didn't happen. Big surprise. But I still wanted to make use of the treasure trove of handmade book knowledge contained within, so I turned to Chapter 2 and got to work...

Peanut & Purls: 2013 Year in Review

Bo Peep scarf

The New Year kind of snuck up on me. Believe me, I wanted this year to be over with since the minute it started. 2013 was a giant sucker punched to the face. I thought it might be nice to take a couple minutes and  reflect on all the things I knit last year. Want to check them out too? 'Course you do!

Handmade Home: A Fresh Start

 
This year is going to be different. I'm reminded of 30 Rock every new year, when Liz Lemon visits her accountant and he tells her that he doesn't need to see her receipts because nothing has changed. She objects and recites menial differences in her life this past year. Or when Liz Lemon buys all her containers at the new container store, and is finally going to get organized... I've been watching a lot of 30 Rock lately okay.

But for me this year is going to be different, and to commemorate this a new start on my mantle...

Book Report Inspiration: Safeguarding the Written Word

Christmas clean-up has finally begun here. It pains me to defrock the Christmas tree, but even though it still smells quite like the noble fir it is, the branches are turning brittle. It's time to let the tree go. Sigh. There are also ornaments and decorations, wrapping paper, and boxes to be dealt with. We've accumulated SO MANY boxes. Some are destined for cardboard cat cottages (or villages in progress) and others will be deposited in the recycling bin, but a few lucky boxes are going to be repurposed for storage. This quick project is a good accompaniment for my annoying desire to organize everything in January. New year, new organized life? We'll see...

Insta-sista

Oh the holidays are over, and now we're just left with memories. Before I went home for Christmas Christine called and asked what kind of christmas cookies I wanted to request that they make. My answer cornflake wreath cookies!

Top Five: New Year, New Life!

Well, sort of. I should say I'm not much for New Year's resolutions. (Immediate sidebar: One year, I resolved to give up refined sugar. Not altogether--gosh, no. I could never. But I was so addicted to sugar that I'd get crazy cranky when I didn't have my sugar fix. I did give it up for several months-- and then I visited Mom in Tacoma and had a total sugar relapse, which she completely enabled. Rude. Anyway, I'm a sugar fanatic again and will probably attempt to go cold turkey this year, but that's not my NYR.) Like Liz Lemon (a great way to start a sentence), I plan on taking charge of my life. Minus that pesky obstacle, please...

Made and Found: Calendars!

It's the start of a new year, and that means it's time to pick out a new calendar (if you haven't already done so). On the plus side, some places might start discounting calendars soon. I've found some great letterpress options to get you started. Ready, set, go!

Peanut & Purls and Christmas Knits

First off, I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR! While I haven't quite finished the Battlestar Galactica socks (sorry mom, I'm well into the second sock), I did manage to whip up this seed stitch cowl for my dear friend Lindsey!