Sassy Gina-D

Sew, what should I get?

Yeah, I agree. Bad joke.

I really want to get a sewing machine, and I have no idea where to start! I don't really want to spend a bunch of money on it. I know that I need something semi-automatic, because I know I will lose my cool too easily if I have to deal with making my own straight lines, and undoing too many fabric jams! I have NO previous experience with a sewing machine. Well, I take that back cause in 7th grade I took a home ec class and made a pillow for my gramma. And while using the machine I shorted out the damn thing and caused every machine in my near vicinity to turn off.

In that same class I blew up some cupcakes in the oven cause I filled the cup full instead of half way. I got a C in that class. But I got an A in wood shop that same year...go figure. But I digress.

What am I actually going to be using this machine for anyway? I have big plans for this machine! I'm going to sew up some purses! And make a bunch of Christmas presents! And hell, even sew all my own clothes! So you see, I need something that can do a bunch of different stitches (an embroidery option would kick ass!) and will withstand all the usage I plan to besiege on it. (I wanted to use that word cause I just watched the move Besieged last night- it was really well done- I highly recommend that you watch it too!).  But I don't need a fancy-pants-Project Runway-type machine.

OK, so in summary, I need:

• Cost-effective (aka, cheap-ish)
• Semi-automatic (it does the sewing for me)
• Can do a bunch of stitches (embroidery would be a bonus, but not necessary)
• Takes all the besiegement I plan to place on it (I plan to make a ton of stuffs)
• Not as fancy-pants as what Tim Gunn requires (he won't be telling me to "carry on" anytime soon)

So, I found a couple websites like About.com's sewing machine buying tips, the clippings at Garden Web, and this guide from Sew and Serge, but I just want someone to tell me what to get! Please! What do you sew with?

I need a guard dog

Can I dress Gizmo up to look like a doberman?

Cause as a bunny he isn't a very good guard dog!

Shit or get off the pot!

That's what my mom says. It's a stupid saying. But she uses is mostly when she's in a car and the car in front of her won't get out of her way, or the light turns green and the other dude won't turn fast enough. Mom yells "Shit or get off the pot!". Me? I'd rather just honk my horn like the New Yorker that I am (eh, New Jersey-er...same difference).

But this. This is the cutest pot I've ever seen in my whole life! And the used kleenex? To die for! Heidi over at My Paper Crane makes all of these adorable plushies! I just *WISH* the adorable toilet was still available. But Heidi makes other cute things like the donuts and the strawberry cupcakes! Go take a look at her shop! I'm sure you'll find something you must have!

So cute!

So stop messing with your fancy hair-don't!

OK guys, let's discuss Snakes on a Plane. I will NOT see it. And it's not that I don't like scary movies (which I don't), and it's not that I don't like the idea of being attacked by snakes (which I don't), the movie JUST LOOKS STUPID. Is it a joke? If so, I don't get it.

However, this voicemail is quite funny. I've sent it (personalized of course) to just about everyone I know! That Sammy...he just doesn't know when to stop!

YUMMMMMMMM

OK, so over the weekend let's just say I had an interesting experience with vodka and leave it at that. But after staying in bed all day Saturday, I had to make up for it on Sunday! So I went shopping. And spent a crapload of money! But I did get curtains for the place so that is one step in the right direction. Now I just need to hang them.

.

And then I went to the grocery store and got the stuff to make these tasty morsels that I found on Not Martha! Holy crap these Italian Parmesan Chicken Bites were like little nuggets of sunshine melting in my mouth! My mom makes a chicken recipe with the same idea, but she uses Bisquick...sorry mom, I think I might have found a new favorite chicken! I made enough to have left overs for the week...and believe me I'll eat them all week!

But I just saw this on ljc's blog today and I must have them! They're from Wegmans which is about an hour away from me, and I don't think I'll make the drive just to stuff myself silly! However, I would love to know how to make these "Incredi-Burgers" (and stuff myself silly in the comfort of my own home!).  Do you think I could just slightly under-cook a burger, then slap on cheese and assorted condiments, wrap it in pizza dough and then cook again? Thoughts?

Etsy!

OK so I have no idea how long this site has been around, but I'm addicted. Etsy.com is my new favorite (well one of them anyway)!

Once you find a seller you like, click on "View who hearts this seller" and you can find a ton of other cool shops that way.

I haven't spent any money...yet....but i want to buy stuff from this chick and this one and this one and I could go on and on....

.

Also, I really want a new laundry basket! The one I have is one of those cheep white lattice Target hampers, and I've had it since Freshman year in college so it's way nasty!   If this wasn't so expensive, this would be the laundry basket I wanted!

.

And in my bathroom I have these cheap white shelf things that I got at Walmart (I think), but I want to purty them up with some cute baskets. The problem is, I have to get the right size so they actually fit on the shelves (about 10 1/2 "). If these were the right size I'd snatch them up!

When I get all my boxes unpacked (hopefully within the next year!!!!) I'll put some pics up!

.

p.s. Still haven't sold my furniture :(

Rub the Buddah

OK, this is just way too cool! I MUST have one of these! I MUST!

The Il Buddino is a Buddah pudding mold! How do you mold pudding? I mean, I've seen molded Jello but pudding? What the?

.

.

But they really are cute, aren't they?

For Sale!

Now that I've moved and I'm in the process of getting all this new furniture, I have a bunch of stuff to sell on Craig's List. If you know anyone in the NYC/Jersey area that wants to buy some furniture let me know!

I have solid wood coffee and side tables (that I LOVE) for $100

Gorgeous solid wood side and coffee tables with convenient storage drawers for your remotes, take out menus, and other crap you can’t find a place for. There’s just a wee-bit of damage from puppy teeth on two of the coffee table drawer pulls, but you can easily replace those!

.

I have an entertainment center for $65

Entertainment center with room for your TV and all your electronics and DVDs (and CDs…and VHS…and even 8-tracks). If you look closely, you can see some of my yarn stash on the left. See! I do knit!

.

.

.

I have a sofa bed with a tan couch cover for $125

Jennifer Convertibles green couch with visible wear for $125. This couch is VERY comfortable, and with the tan ultra suede couch cover (included), you can’t even tell that a puppy nibbled on the fabric from the 4 bottom corners. And the Serta mattress in the fold out bed is barely used and is very comfortable!

Note: adorable lounging dog not included ...although he will really miss the couch!

Insert Elvis Song

So I've officially made the move to the Ghetto Jersey City and so far I really like it! Although I had some movers my mom and Kenna flew in last weekend to help me get settled and stuff. Unfortunately I haven't unpacked ANY boxes yet, but Kenna lined 32 of the 42 shelves in my kitchen while my mom helped me do a crap load of shopping! Target has sucked my bank account dry. And Bed Bath & Beyond. And Home Depot. And Lowes. And Linens n Things.

At Target I got this really really cute TV Stand, coffee table, and the 2 matching side tables...the reviews on the site were terrible, but I haven't had any problems with it and I think it looks really nice. It's the Exotic Retreat set..isn't she purty?

And at Linens n Things I got this really cute kitchen table, although from the picture below you can't really tell what it looks like. The chairs make it look too "country" for my taste, so I decided not to get those. (Note this is NOT my house...but the fruit bowl looks very tasty.)

Now all I need (well, not ALL I need, but all I need FURNITURE wise) are the Stefan chairs from Ikea and I'll be all set (well all set for kitchen furniture anyway)!

And I also found the PERFECT couch at Pier 1 but alas, only a few were made and I got to it too late! GAH! BUT they tell me that it will be available again in a couple months. I hope so!!!! It's the brown Alli Apartment Sofa. Cute, right? Well if you happen to notice that Pier 1 has them in stock again get in touch with me immediately!!!! I MUST have that couch!

As a backup plan, I'm thinking about the EKTORP couch from Ikea, but I really want a brown couch, so I don't want to have to resort to buying this one.

I need to win the lottery!

So. Hot. Can't. Function.

For crying in the mud will someone please turn up the a/c in New York?

I'm melting here! Not to mention I'm moving on Saturday.  This is going to make for an interesting weekend.

But in exciting news, I got the new IKEA catalog yesterday and I found a couch and possibly a kitchen table that could work for my new place! However, I found the PERFECT couch from Pier 1, but they only made like 100 of them and I think by the time I can afford it (2 weeks) it will be sold out. But isn't it pretty? I also found a table there that I liked, but I can't seem to find it online. AND I even have a 20% off coupon! Even better would be if I could find the black kitchen table that went on clearance at Target a few months ago. It was PERFECT but by the time I found it it was sold out. Very very sad.