Our upcoming nuptials mean we’ve been popping champagne corks more than usual. The last time we visited the lovely Kay she showed off this little champagne stopper that had little arms that grab underneath the rim on the neck of the bottle (where the twisted bit of wire grabs). So far, it’s worked great. We’ve even managed to keep the champagne bottle cold using our Vacu Vin ice pack, though at this rate we’ll have to invest in an attractive champagne bucket soon.

I found this champagne stopper at the grocery store in the wine aisle, but you can find them on Amazon, along with a few that are more expensive but have a bit of a nicer design: WMF Clever and Blomus.

The Art of the Tote, a blog kept by Eliza Truitt that is devoted to tote bags

What are your picks for mattifying moisturizers/primers for oily skin? at Ask Metafilter

How do I cover up my undereye circles without the concealer sinking into the skin creases and looking terrible? at Ask Metafilter

My dress at Posie Gets Cozy, she offered a free copy of her book to the funniest engagement story in the comments and they are well worth reading.

ScrapeRite Plastic Razor Blades, for getting off those pesky price stickers and such, at Cool Tools.

I’ve made very little progress since my last report but I need some advice: Do you think I’m going to run out of yarn? I started with ten balls and have four and a half left. I need at least six inches more on the body and both of the sleeves. I know sleeves can use a deceptively large amount of yarn. Here are harder stats:

yardage: 93 per ball, I have 930 yards total, and have about 415 yards left
my gauge: 13.5 columns and 22 rows over 4″
needle: 10.5
yarn: Lana Grossa New Soft

The sweater right now would come out very large on me (I’m going for comfort not looks with this one) and I’m happy enough to rip back to mid-shoulder and make the sweater slimmer if I need. So, what do you think? Will I make it with the yarn I have left?

I came across a story this morning about the miserable time a CNN reporter had after a family with some unruly kids were seated near him in a restaurant. To counter this I’d like to offer the story of what I observed last night in my own grocery store.

I was tired and hungry and after I grabbed a shopping basket the first thing I heard behind me was “Daddy I want to eat this right now!” Oh great, I thought, this family will probably be getting in my way the whole time I’m here (it’s a small store). But instead of the parent telling her no followed by shrieking outrage, a very calm father said “You cannot eat it right now because that’s not what we do. Can you imagine what this place would be like if everybody was eating their food right now? That’s why we buy it here and eat it at home.” “Oh.” the girl replied, and then followed with “Daddy I want that!” He kindly explained to her why they weren’t there to buy that (I think it was cheese) that evening but they’d have it again when it was time to eat that. The girl then said “Daddy! I want apples!” and I could see her leaning over in the seat in her cart reaching for apples. “All right,” the father replied “would you like the sweet ones like Red Delicious or the tart ones that are green? They’re called Granny Smith.”

I had to leave then but getting to observe this exchange of a father engaging his daughter when she was asking for attention instead of fighting against her unstoppable amount of energy made my whole outlook a bit brighter. Bravo, anonymous dad. (And, yes, I’m sure the family is not always that calm.)

South Indian Restaurant Menu Decoder Ring at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

Map of chef recommended cheap eats in Portland at Brownie Points

Bacon of the Vegetable World, on caramelizing onions, at Tea and Cookies

and then you can make the caramelized onion and goat cheese cornbread at Smitten Kitchen

Growing Food on a Windowsill – Microgreens at You Grow Girl, via The Food Section

Girlhacker points us towards Kitchenaid mixer attachments and a holder for the three beaters.

With an upcoming trip to Vegas I’ve been feeling the pull of getting a clutch, and it’s not exactly helping that Endless currently has a bunch of stuff on sale.

Black: Matt & Nat Sade* and Jessica Simpson Sapphire (yikes)

Red: Hobo International Meg (see? it was meant to be) and Melia (that was fast)

Blue: Rampage Ludlow and Stanton

* Matt & Nat bags are vegan and I’m a big fan of their designs. Stopped at a crosswalk in Vancouver once I creeped suspiciously close to somebody just so I could read the name on her bag, and yup, it was Matt & Nat.

I’ve also fallen desperately for Moop’s The Letter Clutch. It’s beautifully handmade and would work better with what I wear everyday.

The Game “In a Nevada desert, the ultimate fantasy adventure suddenly stopped being fun.” at the Seattle Times

The New South Ferry Terminal: See It Split, See It Change at Cool Hunting

Costume drama/Period film/tv recommendations? at Ask Metafilter

Brilliant but cancelled? What are some great, blink-and-you-missed them TV shows? at Ask Metafilter

A dialogue with Sarah, aged 3: in which it is shown that if your dad is a chemistry professor, asking “why” can be dangerous. at Kottke. My own dad is a chemistry professor turned engineer and I can tell you I feared having to ask questions about math or science homework because he would lean back and start with the teachings of Greek scholars and work his way up from there. Slightly related collection of fun chemistry videos.

Christine at Bodies in Motivation on the experience of hydrodensitometry weighing.

Defective Yeti on Mindfuck Movies

How do I get the happy pills? a question about the special Tylenol in Canada

The Untold Story of the World’s Biggest Diamond Heist at Wired

We’re lazy about weeknight dinners (too cranky to chop!) but find we’re really happy if we cook a bit on the weekends and have things like bolognese, prepped kale and pot pies in the freezer. In an effort to expand this I just picked up the Spring 2009 Cook’s Illustrated issue of Make-Ahead Recipes but I note with interest that there is also a The Best Make-Ahead Recipe book which I’ll have to add to my wishlist.

ribbon flower tutorial at The Storque, via Craftzine

DIY Origami Cherry Blossoms at Curbly

new: hable construction fabrics at Design*Sponge

fabric covered magnets at How About Orange

Sweet Art: A Tutorial on How To Make Fake Cupcakes at Cakespy. She leaves these around Seattle as nice-as-can-be guerilla marketing, genius.

This holiday came so quickly this year that I’m completely unprepared. In fact, I didn’t realize it was already mid-March until we encountered a St. Patrick’s Day parade crossing our path downtown last weekend. We have plans to seek out some Irish whiskey and a few beers later on in the evening but otherwise it’s too late for me to make anything. So I’ll just look at the picture of the Irish Soda Bread I made last year:

There are three upcoming events you might be interested in if you have or want to start a small business and just happen to live in Seattle:

Grassroots Business Association Meetup – Blogging for Small Business
Wednesday, March 18th, 7 p.m. at Vermillion

The next meetup for the Grassroots Business Association will feature Kristen Rask and myself talking about blogging for small business. We’ll be focusing on the basics for somebody who has not kept a blog before, free tools, basic etiquette and ways to draw traffic.

The Lab at Velocity – Creative Business Growth
Thursday, March 19th, 6 p.m. inside of Velocity

Creative Business Growth: A Workshop With Local Experts will feature Grassroots’ own Andrea Porter and Kristen Rask along with other speakers.

Crave Business Shop Symposium
Monday, March 23rd

Kristen Rask, Andrea Porter and myself will be representing the Grassroots Business Association at the lunchtime event. Jessie from Cakespy will also be among the speakers.

Morsoe Wood Stove at Cool Tools

Emira’s home, in a design tour at Design*Sponge. I love that Martin has made all that special furniture and has taken the care to put circular windows in doors, amazing.

What do you wish you had done to your new house before you moved in? at Ask Metafilter

How To: Make Shades Out of Mini Blinds at AT

Oto Rug Collection from the Nought Collective at AT

Taco Truck Prints to Brighten Up a Kitchen Wall at Chow

multi-talented bay leaves keep pests away at Shelterrific

diy project: window films at Design*Sponge

DIY globe cluster lamps at Door Sixteen

A bottle of St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram caught my eye the other day and I made a note to look into it. From the importer: “The allspice liqueur, known in classic cocktails as “Pimento Dram,” brings together the fine pot-still rum and classic allspice berries of Jamaica. Enjoy St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram in classic cocktails, Wassail and other punches, mulled wine, continental and island cuisine.” (ed. note: Wassail!) Two At The Most has a recipe that uses it in Black River Sidecar. Drink Boston calls it a lost cocktail ingredient that is being found again and includes recipes from various sources for Passenger Pigeon, None But the Brave, and Lion’s Tail. I’ll have to grab that bottle when we go back.

Your Morning Pizza, Mark Bittman on savory breakfasts

Savory Oatmeal at Tea and Food

Help me transition to a healthy, low fat/low calorie breakfast that is more “salty” than “sweet”… at Ask Metafilter

OH MY GOODNESS! Donut Pies! at Cakespy, Genius.

Big Shott’s Edible Shooters at Uncrate

LJC’s most amaing tube Pyrex bread baker, I really want one of these

Eating Cleveland declares the Death of Bacon, but at least my bacon cups are called a good idea

Creme Fraiche Quiche at Joy the Baker

Carri Lambert’s amazingly cute heart crackers

Modern Seamster is a new quarterly magazine that “fills the needs for a smarter, fresher, and more innovative sewing magazine” and brings together domestic sewing and fashion design. The first issue is available to download for free as a PDF. I’m enamored. The first issue is filled with familiar things from Seattle, an interview with the Seattle Craft Mafia and story about R.E. Load Baggage, and San Francisco, a tour of Britex Fabrics (including a picture of the only employee who was kind to me there, looking sharp as ever on the ladder). The magazine is well balanced with articles about high design, music culture, an advice column and sewing practice. So far it’s love. via Pink of Perfection.