Sidewize

I'm practically incapable of doing an activity in a straightforward manner, (I like to think I come at things roundabout or sidewise) so this often means I come up with interesting methods to accomplish something, or else interesting products. I figured this is a place where I could show off what results, and reblog similar things I find neat/interesting. Basically, there will be crafts, food, sewing, crocheting, that kind of thing. *Header and avatar photo are mine*

[sidewize]

Apparently Garage Cat likes salad dressing...

[sidewize]

So I've been working on a crochet design for an octopus hat and came up with this--crocheting around hair curlers (which I found at the $ store) to allow the tentacles to be shaped as needed and I realized it has potential other project uses as well, so I figured I'd share. (Horns, branches, maybe ears or tail? Not just crochet but also sewing/costuming/costume design/cosplay?)

[sidewize]

Project Woes

So I've been crocheting like crazy over the past couple months, but I buy my supplies mostly from a creative reuse store so there's a finite amount of said yarns to work with. I get as far as I can but then

there's only enough

for one glove. And I went to the craft stores in my town but so far no luck on finding these exact yarns to finish them.

And then there's this scarf...

GORRAMMIT NOT AGAIN.

[boopmcrantypants]

I should probably finish these...

It just needs googly eyes, and then: 

I had this idea I’d make a Tincampy hat

and then I realized how complicated it is

(source)

so I decided a regular amigurumi Timcanpy would be fine but it’s still not going particularly well

And I think I was going to make this into a jellyfish beanie… not sure how though…

and I made this for a friend and she wants matching gloves

but currently can’t afford to pay for either. :’(

My friend jeanricks said she’d buy these from me

but she wants me to crochet around the fingers first. -_-

[sidewize]

Slight Problem

So ever since I realized I'm probably ADHD or somewhere within the neuroatypical can't-sit-still, stimming category I've been crocheting like crazy as a form of stimming/distracting myself so I can focus only now

I have

all these hats

Also gloves

And the occasional scarf--the only complete one so far being the Hufflepuff-y one. So now what do I do with them? Hm...

[sidewize]

Psst... guys...

Guys I made a scarf!

It's like a mini infinity scarf--in Hufflepuff colors because Hufflepuff pride...

Ignore the hat I know it doesn't match but it's cold in my apartment and I'm too sleepy to go find a matching one... wait I haven't made any matching hats yet. Gosh darn it another project....

[mommabyrd23]

#introvert💭🌌

[boopmcrantypants]

ADHD Problems

*setting a timer to actually remember to pack up and head over to a friend’s house in an hour*

I swear ever since I started Abilify and then stopped taking it when I got manic I’ve been super manic. Like I have periods where I feel better/calm, but still. Mostly periods of manic. Whoooooooooo.

On the bright side, it means I’ve been making lots of things as a form of stimming and posting them over on my art/craft blog sidewize, so there’s that I guess?

I feel like Doug.

[ohmylaurie-deactivated20150427]

I never said I’m a mermaid but technically you can’t prove I’m not one.

[sidewize]

wait i made a necklace that would match your makeup... o_o

(It's the last picture---which isn't very good but I think you get the idea what it looks like?)

[boopmcrantypants]

Super fancy personal nachos. Ok not really. But they’re tasty…

You will need:

corn or tortilla chips

chicken

pico de gallo ~or~ mango pico de gallo (I use the pre-made store-bought because I’m lazy and I don’t know what I’d do with that much pico de gallo…)

black beans (boiled or cooked then canned)

avocado

grated cheese (I prefer a blend of cheddar and white—-specifically mozzarella, but you can use whichever cheeses you want)

seasoning (paprika or whatever you like)

toaster oven (or oven with broiler?)

plate/pan/something to put the nachos on

aluminum foil or parchment paper

Step 1: Grab an oven-safe plate, the pan in the toaster oven, a small cookie sheet, or whatever you feel like using to hold your nachos.

Step 2: Cover that thing with aluminum foil, or, if you’re fancy, use parchment paper because the chips and cheese won’t get stuck to it.

Step 3: Cover with chips.

Step 4: Cover the chips with pico de gallo, diced avocado, diced chicken, and black beans.

Step 5: Cover the chips with cheese.

Step 6: Sprinkle with seasoning.

Step 7: Place nachos in toaster oven on “toast/grill” or oven on “broil”.

Step 8: Leave toasting in oven for roughly 5 minutes. Feel free to set a timer. That, or hover around in the kitchen. Maybe clean while you wait.

Step 9: Remove from oven using pot holders because burns suck.

Step 10: Wait until it’s not mouth-melting hot, then enjoy! Feel free to add hot sauce, sour cream, guacamole, or whatever else you like on your nachos.

[boopmcrantypants]

Step 1: Assemble your supplies and ingredients. We will need:

saucepan

range/stove top

spatula or similar cooking utensil

kitchen knife

cutting board

seasoning (salt and pepper, add others if you so desire)

1 yellow squash

1/2 purple onion (can use yellow or white—I’m a big fan of the strong onion taste…)

2 cloves garlic *optional*

olive oil

bowl for chopped veggies

bowl/container for cooked veggies

Step 2: Rinse off your yellow squash. Use a vegetable peeler to slice up your squash.

Step 3: Slice an onion. Rings are good. We like rings.

Step 4: If you feel fancy, dice a couple cloves of garlic.

Step 5: Heat up a saucepan.

Step 6: Add the squash, garlic and onion.

Step 7: Drizzle olive oil over the veggies.

Step 8: Immediately stir it with a spatula (or whatever’s handy).

Step 9: Add your favorite seasonings. When in doubt, a little salt and pepper never hurts, but I might also add some garlic or onion powder and paprika.

Step 10: Stir every couple minutes so the vegetables are cooked evenly.

Note: If you are in a hurry, you can add a little water. I prefer not to, because this pretty much cuts out the opportunity for your veggies to caramelize.

Step 11: Once as cooked as you desire, place remove from saucepan.

I like to use this in savory crepes (crepe+this+chicken+mozarella=savory crepe) or pasta (your favorite pasta like spaghetti, angel hair, fettucini…cooked according to directions, drained and stirred with a little olive oil, with chicken on top.

Want to make the chicken too? I made a video…

Maybe I should make a crepe video… Or post… hmm…

[sidewize]

Headphone Hack

So you know how at some point when you use your headphones, this happens?

Or somewhere else on the headphone the cord tears and there's exposed wiring and just...you know...general lack of music enjoyment due to the entropy of headphones.

Well, I have a solution! You know how back in the '90s these lanyard things were real big? Also the '80s. It's the kind of thing we stereotypically supposedly learned in Girl Scouts, or at Summer Camp:

Well I realized you could use the same patterning around your headphones and voila! Fancy!

My headphones are so protected now... *dance dance*

Also the string I used was glow-in-the-dark... So fancy...

[sidewize]

And Now Wire

So I went to this thing called First Friday where there were musicians playing, tons of local arts and crafts about being sold, people meeting each other and chatting about town happenings, in the back there was food and wine, and even a couple of booths. One was a lady with paint, drawing up interest for her "paint from within" class, the other a "come play with wire" with this guy who is apparently a blacksmith, with different gage wires and tools and a few glass pieces (like mancala beads, not jagged broken pieces), wood beads, and rocks. We got to talking, a couple other people who came to his booth and I got to chatting, (turns out they're Browncoats and Whovians, so that's cool...) and somewhere along the way I made this:

which for some reason impressed the blacksmith guy... Anyway I've got some wire and string and stuff at home so hopefully I can turn it into a necklace. I'm thinking birthday present for my brother.

Then when I got home I remembered I actually have some really thin, cheap, multicolored wire I can play with, and since I'm having med reaction/ADHD issues lately, I've been stimming like crazy, which usually means I have to have some kind of craft (or at least ring or bracelet) in my hands, so then I made these:

Not sure what I'm going to do with this... bracelet?

Alternate pic:

and this star necklace/bracelet (depends how you wrap it), which I can't finish until I buy/get some clasps, but yeah...

Not sure why but these pictures are shitty. Oh wait it's because I'm using my iPhone. Well I tried. Anyway, making all the things!

[boopmcrantypants]

"…I never could get the hang of Thursdays." -Arthur Dent, Hitchhiker’s Guide, by Douglas Adams

[sidewize]

Can't sleep? Restless Mind?

I found this track a while ago, and it's all "science magic tones blah blah blah relaxing and soothing..." the point being when listened to, it can help still your mind a bit. I have found when I'm having trouble getting my brain to shut up long enough to let me sleep or if I'm getting too stressed out and need to relax this track is super helpful. Whoo.

Update: So I found a 10-hour version on Youtube? O_O

[sidewize]

Jar~with~a~Twist (by Michael Bissette)

I want about a million of these jars. Really, really badly.

Their website: http://jarwithatwist.com/

(Read the FAQ it's entertaining: http://jarwithatwist.com/#!faq/co2q)

GO VOTE FOR THEM: http://dreambigamerica.us/

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JarWithATwist

[sidewize]

"(Your first-aid kit--10 tips to keep you afloat.)

1. If you haven't already registered, try not to schedule back to back classes. You'll wear yourself out besides missing the best times to study--right before and right after class.

  2. Begin the first day of class. Know what's expected of you Take notes from the first day even if it's routine stuff you think you already know.

  3. Establish a routine time to study for each class. For every hour you spend in class, you will probably need to study two hours outside class. Studying for each subject should be at the same time, same place, if possible. Study includes more than just doing your homework. You will need to go over your notes from by class, labeling, editing, and making sure you understand them. Study your syllabus daily to see where you are going and where you have been. Be sure to do reading assignments. (Don't put them off just because there's not a written assignment.) Read ahead whenever possible. Prepare for each class as if there will be a pop quiz.

  4. Establish a place to study. Your place should have a desk, comfortable chair, good lighting, all the supplies you need, etc., and of course, should be as free of distractions as possible. It should not be a place where you routinely do other things. It should your study place.

  5. Do as much of your studying in the daytime as you can. What takes you an hour to do during the day may take you an hour and a half at night.

  6. Schedule breaks. Take a ten minute break after every hour of study. If possible, avoid long blocks of time for studying. Spread out several short study sessions during the day.

  7. Make use of study resources on campus. Find out about and use labs, tutors, videos, computer programs, and alternate texts. Sign up for an orientation session in the campus library and computer facilities. Get to know your professors and advisors. Ask questions. "I didn't know," or "I didn't understand" is never an excuse.

  8. Find at least one or two students in each class to study with. Studies show that students who study with someone routinely make better grades. You will probably find yourself more motivated if you know someone else cares about what you are doing in the class. Teaching a concept or new idea to someone else is a sure way for you to understand it. Studying in a group or with a partner can sometimes become too social. It is important to stay focused.

  9. Study the hardest subject first. Work on your hardest subjects at a time when you are fresh. Putting them off until you're tired compounds the problem.

  10. Be good to yourself. Studying on four hours of sleep and an empty stomach or junk-food diet is a waste of time. Avoid food and drink containing caffeine just before or just after studying."