Stay at home scientist

Another 6 inches fell on top of the foot of snow we had. I know, I know, all you east coast and mid west people are laughing going " Ha ha ha, that's small potatoes!" It is but Portland is not equipped with the resources to clear all this wonderful white snow for the city to commence work. I spent two hours getting a combo of snow/ice/snow off my car and my step dads' car and then to shovel all that snow somewhere to clear the driveway. It is fine and dandy to move up and down your driveway but when you can't get onto the road because there is a foot of snow there, well, it seems all in vain. So now that it is 11am, I emailed my boss to tell him that I will not be able to make it into work.


So what is on the list today?

*Drawing
*Finishing Rachel's present
*Reading the stash of "snowed in" magazines I bought

Whilst snowbound, I did some shopping.. for myself!

I'm an organizer starter-phile, this means that I love the idea of organizing and the stationery that allows me to but after a while, I get super duper lazy and don't carry on with it. However, any organizer starter-phile knows, beautiful planners sure help fuel that organizing start. I got this:

It is red. I mean, hello! RED!
(I'm keeping this planner for Muntedkowhai related business)

Ever since I saw LC wear her big checked flannel shirt, I scoured the internet for an affordable version. Boy, I had the hardest time but I did manage to track down and buy this one:

Billabong's Booyah shirt from Zumiez (what am I 12 again?)

I have around 8 packages I need to send out for Muntedkowhai but I can't get out and the postman is possibly not coming. Eeeep!! Relax relax, now I'm going to get out of my ultra warm snowgear and bid you a warm and safe Monday.

All I want for Christmas is a hand massage

because I really need one. This morning, I woke up and there is a foot of snow and 2cm of ice so that when I walked onto it, it crackles and breaks into big jaggered pieces of ice sheets. It is amazing. Global warming induced crazy weather much? The rain is supposed to be coming and so I only shoveled part of the driveway. I don't suppose we'll be driving anywhere soon. (Inside glee) All this inside time has created these:

All available now at Muntedkowhai

For those of you enjoying your lovely warm temperature, here's something to cool you off:

Now for my favourite part of the weekend: bundled in my blanket watching mind rotting reality tv shows and crocheting. (Boy I sound old!)

Tortilla soup

It's been snowing non stop and I love it! Everything just looks so pretty and I even had a few attempts at snowboarding again at the nearby park with some success. (Still not enough snow which is why I'm stoked for the 28th when the crew and I are heading up to Hood)

My main thing this weekend is to build up my inventory and make Tortilla soup. I love love love love Tortilla soup. Oh my goodness, if you have never had it. It is super duper easy to make and so very nice to your tummy.

You know how to make chicken soup right? Right! Well make that and put in tomatoes and onions as well. Right before serving, you prepare these:

*Chopped up cilantro
*Shredded cheese
*Tortilla chips
*sour cream
*avocado slices

All these ingredients go straight on top of your hot hot soup and mix. It's a soup you eat and one of my all time faves! I will post photos later but my stomach just did a flip because it is so excited to have some!

Before the storm on Friday

Endearing roses

Guilt

Eep! I did not go into work today because of all the "Artic blast" hype the Portland News was throwing around. Actually, I lied. I did not go in because I'm not feeling the lab right now, it has been frustrating and my boss is totally stressed with churning out this experiment out even though it does not work. It wears down your brainz when you keep on at things that do not work the way you want it to. It does not help that he is not wanting to buy the correct reagents to do the work efficiently but settles for cheaper solutions. I have been feeling quite inadequate in the science arena since we hit this giant stop in our experiments and it has made me very apathetic to its results. Which is bad! I'm beginning to loose interest in it. Bad bad bad. Thus it made me feel super guilty for not going in today. My dream occupation is part time science and part time Muntedkowhai. Oooo I hope that happens soon!



I was going to shop online for my family and close friends today with allll the free time but boy there is just not enough hours in one day. So now that I'm sitting down to blog, I have found AWESOME things for me but I'm not on the list. Hmmm. I hear you have to get presents for yourself out of the way before you get that "giving" feeling. Since alot of my loved ones read my blog, I will not post what I'll be giving them. I still have:

Dad (He is a golf nut so in theory this would be an easy one!)
Step dad (Mum and I already know what to get him, a TOMTOM!)
Val (My sister is not tooo hard, she is a pastry cook and loves all things active)
Aaron (He is a bit of a difficult one to buy for. Yes you mister.)

I'm keeping my list short this year for reasons that will be revealed after Christmas, however here is what I found while I was supposedly shopping for the 4 other people:

A vintage woollen dress from DewberryVintage's Etsy shop
With black tights this would be SUPER warm and cute. Hello!

These urban nature fusion decorations from Layerbylayer are genius and tickles my visual taste!

They are filled with boss, beeswax or dirt. Office makeover!! (via Modish)

"Baby, I'm home" photograph by Couragemylove
:( This photograph makes me sad and happy at the same time.
(Aaron and I have less than a month until our Borneo holiday!!!)
Red perforated Italian leather gloves from Forzieri
Now that the weather has turned icy and my fingerless gloves are useless, these beautiful red leather gloves calls my name! (Perforated leather gloves always remind me of blonde ladies in vintage cars)

Vegan Golf ball soap from Dugshop
Golf related presents are always the "go to" for my father. He's a golf nut.

Nerdy animal flash cards from Courtneymcornett's Etsy store
I am getting clucky! However, it also comes with nerdiness.

Time to head back to the crochet hook, if you have not done so you should enter into the Bliss giveaway. Traci has very kindly and graciously helped me host my first Muntedkowhai giveaway ever, to enter go here. A winner will be picked this Friday, 19th.

Oh the white stuff, how I love you so

What a perfect Sunday! I woke up to the sound of a car raving and I excitedly pushed my curtains apart to find the entire neighbourhood covered in gorgeous white snow! I rushed to get all my snowboarding gear ready for some urban boarding but mostly for just some silly fun in the snow! There is something so very magical about untouched new snow that makes everything look so beautiful. It is quite horrible of me but I can never let an undisturbed blanket of snow in peace, I have to ruin it for everyone else. As I'm blogging about this, I hear laughter and joyous screams from children which is so delightful and heartwarming. Our christmas tree is up and ready to be dressed, the snow is still coming down (fingers crossed for no work tomorrow) and the holiday excitement has begun.

3 inches of urban boarding never works out for anyone.

Next time boardy, you'll be up on the mountain

The past week, I've been making more Admiral on Leave necklaces because I've just fallen in love with the design of it. I'm always eager to try out different colours and buttons/baubles and for the Admiral, it seems like everything looks oh so pretty! I'm thinking of doing a giveaway on one of the Admirals, so stay tune! Here is what I've been up to this weekend in Muntedkowhai land:

Check back on Monday for information on a possible giveaway!

Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

9 inches? I can grow hair faster than that!!