So you think you wanna elope, a very helpful and truthful guide by Cinnamon at Poise.cc. Thanks Cinnamon!

Is longevity the curse of happiness? Know any happy 80-year-olds? at Ask Metafilter

What to do with 150+ plastic buckets? at Ask Metafilter. Bukkits!

Safety in the Tenderloin? (San Francisco) at Ask Metafilter

I'm looking for workout and weight loss podcasts and blogs. at Ask Metafilter

Recommendations for Sci-Fi while on the Treadmill? at Ask Metafilter

Knot tying cards, at Cool Tools

12 Bikes for Girls at Cool Hunting

The Slog reviews Penny Arcade Adventures: On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One.

Resources for thrill seekers and general superhero/spy training in Texas? at Ask Metafilter

42 Awesome Business Card Designs at [Re]Encoded

Floral Arrangements for Engineers at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

Soft Reading Lenses, Stick-on magnifiers, at Cool Tools. These might be good for some of the more intricate sewing work.

Digg has a round up of all the mems that appear in Weezer's Pork and Beans video. I, sadly, recognized nearly all of them.

What is being a baker or sous-chef like? at Ask Metafilter

A good, concise pep talk from Ira Glass, at Kottke.

HOW TO: Repair the Heels of Athletic Shoes at Craftzine

I'm looking for books set in subterranean locations. Caves, sewers, underground cities, hollow earth, etc. at Ask Metafilter

sticker shield at Cool Tools

NPR Road Trip Tool, cool, I didn't know about this.

Here are the games I need to make time to check out. Most of these are links to the JIG Casual Gameplay site since they often posts hints, and because I've allowed them to become my sole game news source, they are good like that.

• Netshift, by Rob Allen, I loved his previous game Blackshift, in fact I'm still trying to beat level 99.
  
• Get Lost, adventure game parody you say?
  
• The Big House and You Have To Burn the Rope
  
• Floating Island, Return to Dark Castle, and The Yore
  
• An Untitled Story
  
• Overture Facile
  
• The Roomz
  
• Best of Adventure 2007
  
• Bow Street Runner, an episodic game, must get in on that
  
• King's Quest II Remake, King's Quest II Remake!!
  
• Puzzle Boy Flash
  
• Lost Pig, a text adventure
  
• Untitled Story
  
• Anika's Odyssey
  
• fun things from Magpie & Cake
  
• Guest House, ah the good old escape-the-room games
  
• Dr. Dokkoy
  
• wogger mini games
  
• Tipping Point
  
• online games at Digg
  
• Aquaria
  
• Escape Game
  
• Trapped, this is part 2 but there is a link to part 1
  
• Synapsis
  
• Key To Adventure
  
• Sam & Max, another one I'm late to the party for
  
• Goliath the Soothsayer
  
• Submachine 5
  
• The Great Kitchen Escape
  
• Princess Bride, downloadable, this you have to pay for, currently in pre-order
  
• Vision, a room escape
  
• The Daydream
  
• Questionaut
  
• Dream Chronicles 2
  
• Haluz
  
• Ghost In The Sheet

Games I'm still playing/still like:

Knytt and Knytt Stories, you need to download these, it's worth it if you like to explore.

Magic Pen, I've gotten through all the levels but, gah, I cannot complete level 24 again. How did I do it the first time?

What's the funniest audio album you've heard lately that I can give as a gift? at Ask Metafilter

What is the best low maintenance, high gas mileage, low cost car I can buy (new or used) on a limited budget? at Ask Metafilter

PurseGuard Ultra, not only does it hang your purse from the edge of a table, it sounds an alarm if someone removes it, good in a crowded restaurant. at Chow

Slate's guide to overlooked Christmas movies, I have a soft spot for Bernard and the Genie, but I suspect it isn't neccessarily a crowd pleaser.

What the best formula for Calcium supplements? at Ask Metafilter

Angry Christmas Crackers at Cool Hunting

Bake and Shake on wishing to be "loving a magazine as much as I loved the few years of Sassy I was old enough to find relevant". Amen.

How Much Protection Can You Get From a Skin Cream? at The Beauty Brains

Privo Sofrito, shoes I just might want (also at Zappos).

Fluid Earth Bowl, a bowl made to resemble the topography of your chosen area, via GirlHacker.

I heart this upside down snowman, at Magpie and Cake

Re-Nest on the return of Brownberry bread, and the violent unrest the discontinuation of this bread caused. As crazy as it sounds, I understand, I love that bread.

Malenie Falick (did you know she keeps a blog?!) on the sheep and wool related art of Andy Goldsworthy, just take a look at the last photo in that entry.

Evany on her skin

dealing with blackheads on the nose and large pores in general, at Ask Metafilter

fabric trim box tutorials at Craftzine

how to make your own felting tool at Craftzine

firefly lamps at Apartment Therapy

crochet TV and Atari, I totally want one of these, at Craftzine

What's in your overnight bag? Violet Blue and Merlin Mann, at Dethroner

super cool egg water growing thing at LJC

Pak-Lite super small LED flashlight, at Uncrate

haunting and pretty snowglobes by Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz, I lost my reference link to this

Maifesto Games, at Cool Hunting

annoy-a-tron, at Sundry Buzz

making the informed LCD monitor purchase, at Product Dose

cute squeezy silicone travel bottles, at Cool Hunting. I recently went looking for travel bottles and found a large variety of small Nalgene bottles at Storables. They were tall and short, and came with wide or narrow openings, from 1 to 4 (maybe 6) ounces. They are made of translucent white plastic and look rather Muji-esque. I bought some for travel, and a wide mouth bottle to hold baking soda for exfoliation in my shower. The Container Store also carries them, and in square bottles too. Obviously, I like these.

twist and spout turns a water bottle into a watering can

replacing a p-trap, at Curbly, via Action Hero

self-charging smoke alarm at Product Dose

home hacks for building a better home, at Ask Metafilter

making the informed LCD monitor choice, at Product Dose

thumb saver for when I hammer things, at Popgadget

clever cocktail pick storage, at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

gentle lead dog harness, at Cool Tools

da*xiang's charging station



at Apartment Therapy

non-carpet floor tiles

Alto stair treads

Marimekko wall hanging, I might get this

how to cover walls in starched fabric

reversible decor: chandelier cover up

flash based room planner

magnetic bamboo file storage

weatherproofing the home

eco-friendly mold fighters

ceiling soundproofing (so glad we don't have to worry about that stuff anymore)

side sleeper pillows

turn an Ikea Lack shelf into a media console

how to hang all of our bags (I have a plan for mine)

what about small washers?

3M Command adhesives = good stuff

DIY hanging light bulbs

where to fit a recycling bin

DIY LED light box

garlic crusher, at The Kitchen

creative mixer applications, at Ask Metafilter

interesting chocolates at Shelterrific

miracle fruit at Boing Boing

experimenting with how to peel garlic, a photo essay to discover the easiest way, at Accidental Hedonist

products to get the perfect egg, at Chow

on flour and whole grains, at Food Chronicles

the bunny vs. the blue box a revealing look at Annie's Mac and Cheese, at Slate

kitchen clueless, resources for the very beginner, at Ask Metafilter (I need one of these too)

extra tasty, drink database (and they get the jasmine right!), from those people who do Threadless

too cute mini bagels at Delicious Days

wafer wonderland at Smitten Kitchen

cream scones with currants and fennel seeds at Orangette

pad thai for beginners at Chez Pim

tagliatelle con ragu alla bolognese, no idea where I grabbed this from

lazy ravioli at Pip in the City

mom roblin's potato chip cookies (scroll down a bit), at NPR

roasted sweet potato sticks with rosemary at The Kitchen

fig gorgonzola crostini wtih caramelized onions at Sundry Buzz

canned cakes at Delicious Days

my dad's garlic bread at 101 Cookbooks

homemade kettle corn at Seattlest

late to the no knead bread party, Splatgirl Creates

Scottish oats at Everybody Likes Sandwiches, I have just discovered the good compromise in flavor vs. time that is Bob's Red Mill Scottish Oats -- see also Jennie is sad to find Trader Joe's doesn't offer the frozen microwaveable oatmeal anymore so she makes it her own damn self

A Very Brief History of Egg-Poaching, at Seattlest. My own swirl-less method is here, and tips from Alton Brown here.

My Favorite Stitch Markers at Bleu Arts. These are mine too, the way I hold the needles means hard stitch markers get in the way.

How to Break in Your New Cookbook, or prep the spine of any book, at Brownie Points.

Just Say No to Drano, at Apartment Therapy SF.

A bad TV house makeover here in Seattle. The thing done to the hardwood floors sounds the most heartbreaking.

Culinary Fool on sparkling shiraz, I love sparkling reds.

Mint chocolate brownies at Shelterrific. It uses York Peppermint Patties.

Candy Cane Cake! at Sunset Food. (I forget where I saw this one.)

Some very soft trees at Two Straight Lines.

Craftapalooza turns us towards this tutorial on One Hour Craft for Humbug Party Bags.

This is a beautiful chocolate advent calendar, at Brownie Points.

David Lebovitz's best holiday snack ever.

Pretty snowflake templates at Freshly Blended.

Check out the Christmas stocking with a special access panel at Skona Life (about half way down). Awesome. Take a look at the rest of the site too, it's beautiful.

Drink accessories at Cool Hunting. I like the chocoates that perch on the lip of your glass.

NPR Holiday Craft Winners.

The Anticandy at Smitten Kitchen. They look perfect.

Martha Stewart's Tree Trimming How-To at Modern Roost.

It's beautiful, but might be deadly, go see the Peppermint Fluff Martini at The Spirit World.

Gingerbread house patterns at The Kitchen.

I've always wondered if it was safe to eat the silver dragees or not. The Dragee Report at The Kitchen.

DIY Holiday Tree to download and print out, from HP, very cool. At Swiss Miss.

related to the home

Ooh, nice cheery gift tags by Superfantastico, at Domicile.

Coat rack as shoe rack at Apartment Therapy. I don't like the way it looks, but the space saving is an idea to hold on to. See also: revised shoe rack.

DIY magnetic flower vase at Craft.

Easy photo hanging idea I see things like this in coffee shops around here.

Wow, potholder rug at Apartment Therapy.

What's the cutest $50 thing in the world? at Ask Metafilter.

Door-sized map of world history, I want one for my office.

How to make an interlocking quadrilaterals lampshade at Apartment Therapy.

Review of the Dirt Devil Cone.

Collapsible wall mounted laundry drying rack, Martha Stewart showed of something like this I think, it would be perfect for the space near our washer/dryer.

Corkboard alternative? at Ask Metafilter.

Reading aid pillow, I could use this.

Little Birds Soft Tree pattern! See the Flickr pool.


related to technology

Pillow for your laptop.

iPod screen shields and a favorite keyboard at Popgadget.

Lifehacker on Firefox 2: consolidating the chrome and config tweaks.


related to feeding yourself

Urban Outfitters ice: ice mice and DIY ice sculpture.

Cocktail bitters at The Spirit World.

Options for non-alcoholic drinks at fine restaurants. A lot of my friends don't drink and I've been meaning to collect grown up non-alcoholic drink recipes.

Celebrate Repeal Day Dec. 5th, good idea, at Brownie Points.


related to clothing yourself

I do like the Crocs ballerina slipper. See them on a human at Super Eggplant, also they look like Barbie shoes, no?

Sewing zippers at Craft.

Winter Woods Skirt via Evany.

Halloween link dump:

• Halloween Monster List
• Cylon Jack-o-lantern at Evil Mad Scientist
• how to make cheap hair extensions at May 5th
• flickering light fixture at Ask Metafilter
• ghost cupcake on Flickr, so cute
• Halloween cupcakes from The Cupcake Queen
• brining pumpkin seeds, good tip at The Kitchen old but still good stuff from Martha Stewart:
• creepcakes
• boonilla shakes
• ladies fingers
• pumpkin seed candy
• halloween candies other round ups
• treats at The Kitchen
• drinks and such at The Spirit World
• my own collection of food too disgusting to eat at Readymade and Thimble has a great bunch of Halloween posts on lots of stuff:
• projects
• knit and crochet patterns
• knitted wig patterns
• last minute costume
• ornaments
• wreaths

Mmm, pumpkin sage cream sauce, via Posie Gets Cozy.


A stacked ring to make a BLT, I kinda want this. at Cool Hunting.


Recommendations on where to get the best dessert in Seattle, I can second that recommendation for the El Diablo at Tango.


Good buffing pads for your feet, at Awesome!