Moving along

[clevermanka]

Last night I dropped off stuology's brownies (keeping them in the house for longer than the time it took them to cool was asking for disaster) and I made three more needle cases (one for myself for my four pair of oversized needles). thefox_rb, I made one in a cream brocade with tiny gold paisleys and a green/blue/cream oriental print on the inside. It was the closest I could get to blue for your friend. It's really lovely. I wish I had more of that brocade, but it was purchased ages ago at a mill-end store. Alas.

This morning I woke up very early, tidied the sewing room, and paged through pattern books. I picked out an asian top pattern (the bottom view, with full sleeves) and some fabric so I should be able to start sewing immediately when I get home. No sitting down, no moping. Immediate! Sewing! Action!

I got a new balance ball to sit on at work, but as I inflate it (in hourly bursts of bicycle-pump action), I worry that it's not big enough. My old ball was 65cm and this one claims to be 63cm, but it looks really really small so far. Here's hoping I don't get the damn thing fully inflated and it's too small to sit on.

UPDATE: This ball (made by Champion) is most certainly not 63cm. Or if it is, the BodyTrends ball vastly underestimated 65cm. My elbows are slightly below the level of my desk. Shit.

On the other hand, now I have the opportunity to buy a Pink Paisley Ball from Gaiam!. It's ten dollars more than the Target one, and I'm sure shipping will tack on another ten bucks, but dude. Pink paisley!

UPDATE of the UPDATE: Rock! One of the grad students just bought my too-small ball! This is all working out nicely. Heck, maybe I should check Riverfront Chocolates for chocolate caramel apples on my way home!

Comments

[slinka.livejournal.com]

Your balls are uneven. :(

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Love that raglan sleeve top on the pattern too!

I was going to offer my crystal-like balance ball to you in trade, but wow, yeah.. pink paisley! I love the green paisley too. Wonder how those Rodney Yee Yoga Balls (http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product/95-1161)work?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Well, a trade would have saved me $30, but too late now! =D Maybe I'll take this one home and use it for sit-ups.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Damn. Oh well, the paisley is much nicer. You need the cheeriness at work.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Indeed. The grad student is very happy that she got a pre-inflated ball (see my update above). =D

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

(keeping them in the house for longer than the time it took them to cool was asking for disaster)

This cause both LOLs and nods of deep understanding.
I miss brownies. I have an oven now, though. I'll be bringing some brownie mix back with me, you can bet your bippie.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Rather than buying brownie mixes, I would recommend making up a few bags of the dry mix portion of brownies from scratch and then adding the butter and eggs when you're ready to bake. Here's the recipe I use:

Basic Brownies
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with non stick cooking spray. In large microwave safe bowl place butter and microwave until melted. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, hand beating well with spoon after each addition. Add cocoa; beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat well. Stir in 1 cup nuts if desired. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 - 35 minutes.

So measure and pour the sugar, cocoa powder , flour, baking powder and salt into a gallon ziplock bag. Seal it and ta-da! You've got your own brownie mix (the vanilla isn't crucial if you can't get that in Japan).

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

Bookmarked and noted, thank'ye very mooch!