Pin curls and red lipstick.

It's been gray and drizzly for the past week in Seattle, and I've been having a ball watching Youtube tutorials for vintage hairdos (in addition to making lots of jewelry for the upcoming White Elephant Art/Craft Fair).

Right now, my hair is the longest it has been since I was 18, so I'm having so much fun playing around with it! I love short hair and have had practically every short style- shaved completely, mohawk, fauxhawk, pixie-cut, bob. All attempted at some point in my life. But there's nothing like long hair to make me feel like some mythical sea creature.

Yesterday, I tried out some pin curls and am really pleased with how it turned out! I followed these two tutorials:

And here's mine! Of course, I had to throw on some red lipstick and a faux beauty mark to get in the mood:

White Elephant.

I will be participating in FICTILIS Gallery's White Elephant Art/Craft Fair on 

Thursday, December 1st 

from 5-10 pm 

during the Pioneer Square First Thursday Artwalk!

There will be paintings, prints, photography, jewelry and more. Great if you want to pick up some interesting and artistic gifts for the holidays. Please note: cash and check only!

I'm super excited to be included, because one of my favorite jewelry artists will also be participating - 

Julia Harrison

She makes the most quietly stunning, sensuous and evocative wood jewelry I've ever seen. And she's a fiend for sweets from all around the world.

Working goats!

A few weeks, I came across a herd of goats busily munching away at a patch of brambles by my house. Turns out they are hardworking goats hired out by Rent-A-Ruminant as a way to clear the thorny area in an eco-friendly way. It was too adorable and I took way too many pictures...

Goats chewing!

This goat had no ears. Is he just a breed of ear-less goats that I never knew existed?

I don't think he was supposed to have been doing that...

Red velvet cake.

My boyfriend requested red velvet cake for his birthday and I was happy to oblige, since it's also my favorite cake! I adapted Bakerella's recipe for both the cake and the frosting.

Sift the following dry ingredients together:

1 cup of all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (gives it a nice nutty flavor)

2 cups white sugar

1 heaping Tbsp Scharffen Berger unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

Then mix the following wet ingredients together:

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups oil

1 cup buttermilk

1 Tbsp vinegar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 oz. red food coloring

Fold in the wet mixture into the dry mixture and mix until combined. Pour into two well-greased round cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes. 

The frosting recipe:

8 oz. Neufchatel cheese

1/2 cup softened butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups confectioners' sugar

Beat cheese, butter and vanilla together and then slowly add sugar. Beat until creamy! Frost the cakes after they've cooled.