I’ve wanted a sewing machine for years but I assumed that I wouldn’t be able to effectively use one without being able to use the foot pedal. A few months ago, someone told me about an affordable sewing machine that had functionality that allowed one to start and stop sewing with a button and a slider tool to adjust the sewing speed. I put it on my wishlist and mentioned to Stacy that I’d like it for my birthday. He was darling enough to cater to my impatience (as he often does) and let me have it when it arrived one week early.

The sewing machine, a Brother CS-6000i, is beautiful. It was easy to get started as the machine has drop-in bobbin and is self-threading. I practiced on some scrap fabric and then moved on to a couple of kits. Here are the results. Not too shabby for having the machine for less than a week.

Pillowcase

Side view of pillowcase

Quilt for Toca

My Quilty Triumph!

Next, I shall try sewing from a pattern and trying curves.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

I decided to make two desserts for my birthday party. I made tiramisu, of which I have no pictures, and cupcakes! Stacy found the instructions how to make cheeseburger cupcakes on flickr. I didn’t think they turned out well but people seemed to assume they were sliders instead of cupcakes which is a success.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

Candy Fireworks!

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

As you know, the position of Candy President is the single most powerful office in the world of Sweets. Through its leadership can come a more delicious life for all people. In it, are centered the hopes of sugar-lovers worldwide and anyone who longs to be treated to a tastier life.

Your next Candy President will be charged with making the most important and yummy decisions of the next four years. How to provide the mouthwatering gift of candy to all people, even in a weakened economy that already threatens our very ability to procure sweets. How to maintain important chocolate and licorice production levels at home and abroad. How to rebuild and maintain a viable infrastructure of sugar development through more candy funding and research. How to prevent the collapse of our local sweet shops and the decay of our teeth. How to achieve, without further sickness, expanded candy consumption benefiting all people. And how, in a time of booming social change, to awaken every man, woman and child to the fact that a piece of comfort, a piece of candy, can lift us up to the new delectable heights.

These are among some the very real, very sweet issues facing us in the coming Candy Election. And it is on the basis of these issues that candy-lovers and candy-voters must make the most tasteful choice for their future.

It is with a knowledge and understanding of all these matters firmly in hand, that I am announcing today my official candidacy for President of the United States of Candy.

I invite you to join me in this improbable quest, if you, like me, see the future of delicious possibility stretching before us. Together, starting today, let us delight in the tasty work that needs be done, and usher in a new dawn of sweet revival for this nation.

Yes We Candy!

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

I am totally digging Garfunkel & Oates! They are a pair of talented women singing hilariously funny songs. Check them out! There are more videos on their site.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

Check out playingforchange.com. Their message is Peace Through Music. Watch all the great videos they have there.

This one just warmed my heart. It’s a real and true heart-warmer. I like those.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

When I pulled into my parking spot at home today I looked to my left and made eye contact with a guy sitting in a car talking on the phone. I opened the backdoor and got my chair out. I looked up and he was still staring at me. I got my seat back and cushion in place and looked up. He was still staring. Apparently, he didn’t mind being caught staring. Then when I got out of the car he let me know that he thought I did a good job by giving me a thumbs up with accompanying head bob.

This experience encompassed two of my pet peeves:

1) Being stared at - especially when I’m getting in and out of the car. I find it intrusive even though people are well within their rights to look wherever they want. It’s not a graceful process and I’d rather not have an audience.

2) Being congratulated for completing basic tasks. I know it might seem amazing to people that I can get in and out of the car or grocery shop but I find it patronizing to get a thumbs up or to be told, “You get around good in that thing!” I work a taxing job and manage everything else in my life and to have strangers try to cheerlead me over getting out of the car makes it clear that their base assumption is that I’m helpless. It’s frustrating.

I know, I know… people don’t know, they mean well. The pet peeves remain.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

I happened upon this site, Catfox Design, where I found the cutest cupcakes ever. I’m sorry that I’m on a “look at all this cute stuff” kick.

I send this last one out to my poops, I mean, peeps.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

Here is my offering of cute pug pictures. Stacy sends me them in an effort to feed my womanly need to see cute things and coo over them. Oh how I love to coo at cute things.

This pug is clearly waiting for a bus. To where?

I can’t tell if this pug is ready for a fiesta or a siesta.

I have had this picture bookmarked for months. I look at it when I need to be cheered up.

I don’t know about you but I would do business with this pug.

And the greatest pug that ever lived… our dear, sweet Toca!

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

A month after the original thechantiki.com design was completed and ready for action Stacy started itching to redesign it. I would have nothing of it because I loved it so and I knew he had other (read: paying) jobs on which to work.

Time wore on and I saw that the more designs he did the better they got. This guy learns from every project he does. It’s quite impressive. Anyway, I decided to let him go to town and work up a design that is in line with current trends and he delivered.

I love it. I love that cartoon Toca is with me. I love that there is a rainbow, which I specifically requested. I love that there are no messy google ads at the top. I love that my latest tweet is highlighted. I love it all.

There’s a whole lot of love here at thechantiki.com today.

I hope you all enjoy the site and please make comments!

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

We went to see Colin Hay at a small theatre in Palm Beach Gardens. We were in the front row which was about 10 feet away from the man. He spoke before every song and had the whole audience, some of which were clearly just season ticket holders, laughing. His stories gave the songs that followed such authenticity. His voice was perfect and his lyrics were evocative.

We had a positively lovely evening that concluded with a steak dinner.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

Buzz Bake Sale - December 7, 2002

We arrived at 10:45 AM for the day-long festival. When we entered we got a flyer with the schedule. We assumed the last band would play around 7 but Good Charlotte wasn’t going on until 9:35 which meant we were in for a long day. I was happy to be with my friends but I knew I would get really bored after Everclear, the band I came to see, ended at 3:30.

We watched Nonpoint and then sat though a mostly unbearable set by Earshot. While they were on Art Alexakis of Everclear was standing on the side of the stage. I held up my little sign that read, “Art, Please play Thrift Store Chair.” He shook his head like he couldn’t play it. I put my hands on my hips like I was mad. He did the same. Then we shook our fists at each other. This put me in a really great mood. If nothing else happened, I had had my little interaction with the rock star of my choosing and my day was complete.

We wandered around a little more and I indulged a delicious hot dog. We wanted to get back in time to check out N.E.R.D.  I’d heard good things about them but didn’t know any of there music. Our seats were in the very front and I was totally digging them and decided to buy their CD. Before their last song Pharrell told everyone to come up to the front. This was bad news for me as I don’t like being crushed or surrounded by rabid music fans. To avoid it I started to head to the side and a giant body guard stopped me.  He had the security guards open up the barrier so I could go in there and sit. Pharrell said, “No, bring her on the stage.” Carol Lynn got me up the steps and we are on the side of the stage standing around with Art Alexakis, Joel and Benji Madden from Good Charlotte, and a bunch of other random people. Then, Pharrell told me to come over and put me right in the front of the stage in the middle and they played their last song, Rockstar. As soon as I got up there I flashed the crowd a rock sign and they all cheered. It was bananas.

After the song, Shay came over and gave me a hug and introduced himself. Pharrell did the same. Nice guys. Then we wandered off back stage and talked to Joel and Benji. Carol Lynn took some pictures and then we left the backstage area to track down Burak. For the rest of the day, people kept coming up and saying things like, “Dude, you were the one on stage, right?”

There was a break and I wandered around until Everclear started. Everclear wasn’t that great. I was excited to see them because I love them, but they didn’t sound as good as I wanted them to AND Art didn’t look at me once during the whole thing. I was right there in front. It was a little disappointing. After Everclear there wasn’t really anything we wanted to see until later. The bands were signing at certain times so we decided to try to catch the guys from N.E.R.D. I bought the CD and went over but they were being mobbed. Shay took the cd and signed it with my name. Then he said, “I’m going to go get Pharell to sign it. I’ll be back.” He went over by Pharell and got mobbed. After a long time, I went over to where they were and Shay said, “I’m sorry, Chandra, I didn’t forget you. I have your cd.” We took pictures. I cannot stress enough how cool these guys were to me.

I went back to get Everclear to sign their CD. The guitarist told me he liked my BMX Rider shirt and that he used to race BMX. I told him he was badass. Art asked me if I was the one with the sign. He said, “I can’t believe you requested Thrift Store Chair.” I told him that it was my favorite song and he told me it’s one of his favorites, too. It was a nice moment.

After that I was pretty much stoked for the rest of the day. We watched Hoobastank in the front. I didn’t like the crowd so close so for Cypress Hill we sat in the back of our section. It was nice to just watch them and not have anyone near me. They put on a fine show. Finally, Good Charlotte came out but I was tired so I headed out to the car and waited for my friends. We left at 10:45, 12 hours after we arrived.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

When I was leaving the nail salon a little boy, around 4 years old, looked me over and said, “I like your bike!”

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

Stacy sent me a link to these perfumes because of the cute bottles so I went to Macy’s and gave them a sniff test. I liked “Love” and “G” the most and ended up buying “G” because it’s coconutty and the bottle design is based on Gwen Stefani. She’s fierce.

* Love: Sensuous Floral- Notes: Pink Peonies, Delicate Paperwhites, Rose and Sensuous Musk
* Lil’ Angel: Fruity Floral Notes: Juicy Raspberry, Lush Pear Blossom and Warm Hinoki Woods
* Music: Delicate Floral Notes: Sparkling Clementine, Sweetpea + Honeysuckle and Creamy Vanilla
* Baby: Powdery Musk Notes: Sparking Bergamot, Tiare Flower + Jasmine Petals and Soft White Musk
* G: Modern Gourmand Notes: Fresh Coconut, Jasmine + Magnolia and Sexy Woods

Check them out. They’ll make you smell real nice.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

iPhone app: Grocery IQ - This app is great. I can input my entire grocery list with or without brand names. Just click the plus sign, type in the item, choose quantity,  and click done! In the Aisles tab I rearranged the the aisles to match my grocery store’s layout. Then I go shop and everything is pretty much in order for me to shop and check off. When I’m done shopping I click the little shopping cart at the top and move all the checked items to history. So at any time I can add to my list from my history or favorites list. I can even email the my list to Stacy and send him to the store! Very nice.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

I was just looking through some recipe magazines for dinner options and I saw an add for Ritz crackers with very distinctive illustration. It was clearly done by the same illustrator (Ron Barrett) of my absolute favorite book when I was a very little person. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” was a book that I could look at over and over. The book is the story of the land of Chewandswallow. The weather is extreme in that it comes three times a day and is the source of all the food. It rains soup, snows mashed potatoes and hot dogs blow in from the Northeast.  This is until one day when it all takes a turn for the worse and the weather starts sending giant pancakes and tomato tornadoes. They have to evacuate and make ships out of giant bread and pizza slices. In their new homeland they have to adjust to buying food at stores and weather of actual rain and snow.

Here are some pictures from my childhood copy of the book.

After some quick research I see that an animated movie version is being made starring Bill Hader, Bruce Campbell, James Caan, Anna Faris,  Tracy Morgan, and Mr. T.  From the one picture I’ve seen of the animation I’m worried but I do hope they can pull it off.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva’s website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks.  Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva’s loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

It’s finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they’re using it for.  And most of all, I know that I’m helping them build a sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.

I made small $25 loans to two different African women. One is a seamstress and the other owns a small cosmetics boutique. I find that helping this way make me feel much closer to what is happening with my money and who and how it is helping. The fact that it is such a small amount and that it can be reinvested when it the loan is paid back is an excellent reason to get started right now.

Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.

Thanks!

If you sign up you can note my referral with my kiva.org email address (chandra  @  bobohead .com).

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

Valentine’s Day weekend has been fabulous. It should always be on a weekend and I should always have a wonderful Valentine. Those two things are necessary for fabulocity. It being a three day weekend helped, too! I spent time with my sweetheart and my sweet pets cuddling and cooing like you do when you’re in love. I sicken my formerly single self. I had snow crab on Saturday, made potato pancakes yesterday and will top it all off today with homemade apple strudel. I got a lovely plush robe which I am wearing right now. I have to put the a/c on to enjoy it but I think it’s worth it. In your face, Snuggie! Toca and Lola spent some time enjoying my new robe as well.

Aside from all that cutesy stuff we played so many games of Age of Empires 3 that I see cannons and town centers when I close my eyes. We will play again as soon as Stacy is done working. I’m addicted especially since our xbox is broken and I cannot play Fable 2.

I am not ready to return to work tomorrow but will do what I must to keep the a/c blowing and the animals fed.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.

Here is my creative spin on Superbowl Squares that I made for our gathering tomorrow. Last year, I made a much fancier and serious version. I felt like this year was a good time to use stickers that otherwise might never get used.

Originally published at TheCHANTIKI. Please leave any comments there.