Manufacturing Memories Since 1979

Of the Puppet Persuasion

2008-08-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

It seems that everywhere I go this summer in Chicago, I run into this little portable puppet box with fanciful music and dancing kitties/wizards/alligators. It really inspires a girl to grab a partner and twirl around in the sidewalk. Need I say more?

Brynn's wedded bliss recap

2008-06-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

Most of ya'll know how amazing Brynn and John's wedding festivities were (either you were there or you have heard me describe it in painstaking detail) but here's a recap in 10 easy bullet points anyhow:

-Brynn's dress was pulled from the costume storage at Annex theater and crafted into a stunning number by Mairi.

-"Groom, groom, where is the groom"?, "Bride, bride, where is my bride"? and "We want a wedding! When do we want it? Now!" chanted in unison by 150 people parading to Volunteer park.

-A 20 act cabaret performance with Brynn and John doing the MC work. The touching/creepy/hysterical mask number. Didi and I finishing up the night and barely remembering being on stage due to the many glasses of wine/excitement/nerves. Tin whistles.

-A 3-tiered sushi wedding cake (and a traditional one).

-A glorious and glowing Brynn with one HOT bouffant.

-The entire congregation singing "Daisy, Daisy" in a round (we had learned it the night before at the cabaret of course!) ending with a bicycle built for two zooming into the crowd and whisking away the married couple.

-Seeing friends from ye' old alma mater that I haven't seen in years and getting to know some new ones.

-Spending quality time with Brynn and all her girls pre-ceremony and shedding a few wee tears.

-Random music breakouts, blue-grass banding, and impromtu stage numbers (including the Little Mermaid). Singing "Freedom" by George Michael in 3-part harmony with John and Didi.

-Witnessing the love that is Brynn and John.

And all the people that love them.

***So ah, many of these pics are not mine (ok, I think only one of them is mine) so thanks to all those fabulous photographers!***

Procrastination links

2008-05-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Below are a few fun links I have recently stumbled upon.

I really can't get enough of the website Etsy for all my handmade craft needs but it can sometimes be overwhelming to sort the good from the bad. Enter Heart Handmade, a blog that highlights some of the best crafters and their homemade wares every day. It is a great place to start a-looking at Etsy products and the person that writes this blog seems to have consistently good taste.

While searching for the perfect pair of cheap earrings on Etsy, have Muxtape running in the background. The website is a simple concept- people upload their favorite songs and create an online mixed tape for others to listen to. 'Tis fun to discover new songs and rediscover forgotten oldies, all mix-mashed together.

***There is a mix that is entitled "Kill Yourself"- Megan, did you find this website before I did?

A Frosty pick-me up

2008-04-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

I have been battling a nasty cold for days and I been yearning for something cold on my weary throat but nothing has sounded good. I wanted something healthy, nutritious and satisfying. For some reason I started thinking of those Orange Julius stands in the mall and I realized that is what I craved. Obviously I wasn't about to learn how to drive a stick and hit up the suburban mall so I whipped up one of my own and it isn't half bad (and pretty healthy too)! Here's my improv recipe:

1 cup orange juice (orange juice concentrate might be better but I didn't have any on hand)
2/3 cup soy milk
splash of vanilla extract
handful of ice cubes until slushy

Then whoop it up in yer blender.

Although the orange flavor could be more pronounced the soy milk makes for a creamy and sweet aftertaste. The one thing missing is a colorful straw (and my health).

Because.

2008-04-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

A cheers to luxury

2008-04-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

Close your eyes and think of the most luxurious thing that could ever grace your Ikea dining room table that you purchased on Craigslist. If your brain is screaming SWAN ICE SCULPTURE then we think a lot alike my friend. A thousand thanks to Megan for fulfilling my dream of owning a reusable ice sculpture mold! It truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Just imagine the party possibilities?!

Michael and I enjoyed it's inaugural outing with pepper encrusted bison steaks and a large amount of wine. Nothing says pretentious Monday night dinner for two quite like a freshly molded ice swan (propped up on an ice tray for traction). Let's just say my parents are coming to town this weekend and we will be taking this baby out for another swim...

Pupper-power

2008-04-07T18:01:00.001-07:00

This is Madison. She is a Schnauzer. We take of her and her elderly mother Bailey (not pictured) when my boss goes on vacation. Bailey only eats microwaved turkey sandwiches and french toast.

Believe it or not.

2008-04-07T17:57:00.000-07:00

It's the Bakke blog, back by popular demand (aka Emily Bauer)! Let's just face it folks, the back-bloggin' just isn't going to happen so let's start fresh with some spring lovelies (by the way, spring JUST started here this weekend and it is April 7). I can feel myself recovering as we speak from a seemingly never ending winter haze....

Not surprising

2007-11-04T18:12:00.000-08:00

After checking out these pictures maybe it isn't so shocking that Michael got into the trouble he did the night before Megan's birthday (email me if you don't already know the details of this lovely evening).

Wild, wild Michael

2007-11-04T18:00:00.000-08:00

Ed and Allison hosted a wild west party where someone brought up the idea that Michael looked like that guy from Reno 911. After procuring a pair of ratty jeans from Ed, I helped Michael fully realize his potential as that guy from that show.

Pre-Reno 911

In process

Blurry yet representative

On the walk home

If only

2007-11-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

I would just update my blog on a regular basis I would not have the task of updating for the last 8 months. But alas, I owe it to the 3 people who regularly read my blog. Here goes!

Camera fun

2007-04-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Zoe and her nifty medium format camera for documenting our NYC trip in a whole new (old) way. Check her pics out here. While you are there, peruse her friend Jeremy's website...

Get out your ipods,

2007-04-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

this one's for keeps. Words can't describe, so just sit back and watch this lady sing.

Open your ears

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NYC redux

2007-04-04T16:16:00.000-07:00

Since Emily did such a fabu job blogging the majority of Zoe and my trip to NYC on her blog, I am going to provide some pics on one of my favorite things that we did-eat. So many tasty chomp times were had...
Before going to New York my brother sent me an article about a place that served Asian burritos. Randomly, the first place Emily insisted we go was one in the same, a small joint in the East Village called Momofuku. And holy momofuku, the "burritos" filled with marinated pork, kim chee, pickled mushrooms and other Asian delights were simply amazing.

Next stop, dumplings filled with soup. Before this trip, I didn't know soup dumplings existed. I do not know how I have peacefully existed for 28 years without the knowledge of these tender and delicate morsels. Although Emily has tasted these delights in the past, the excitement of bursting the dumpling membrane with a gentle nibble to find hot soup and meat lurking beneath still makes her giddy.

My LA treat

2007-04-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

What else is there to do in southern California but visit a restaurant on the ocean where the tables are set in the sand and a chilled seafood platter is the obvious lunch choice?? Let the food extravaganza of my bicoastal touring begin!

After cheating death by a flying torpedo umbrella that crashed into our table, Megan and I lounged in a safer area on the beach with compensatory free drinks.

Megan delights in her new St. Patty's day tat with the resident faux-priest.

My academic career is over!

2007-04-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

After barely getting out of graduate school sane and functioning, I took two weeks off before starting my new job. I decided I needed to get out of Chicago and go visit some old friends on the coasts. First up LA with Megan followed by NYC with Emily and Zoe.

Quad Whop birthday

2007-04-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Instead of providing Amy with a traditional cake for her birthday, we decided on a Burger King whopper specially ordered with four meat patties. Although there is a bit of inside joke with Amy and her "quad whop", everyone can appreciate the consumption of grotesque amounts of grade D meat. Enjoy, I know she did.

Quad Whop

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Don't judge my boyfriend

2007-03-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

Rock n' Roll Thanksgiving

2007-03-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

Nothing says "Give Thanks" like baking a bird and listening to 80's rock all night. The piano scarf and the unicycle didn't hurt either.

Josh: A modern day chameleon

2007-03-01T17:21:00.000-08:00

Kale does it again.

2007-02-18T17:28:00.000-08:00

Nothing starts a party like doing shots of kale, collard greens and arugula. How do you do shots of leafy greens you ask? Put it in a high quality juicer... Oh the bitter taste of nutrition.

Burn me a man, a bright shiny man.

2007-01-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

Although I could post many a picture of ridiculous art cars, tremendous sculptures and a vast desert of madness, I will stick to pictures of the people that I came with, camped with and created with...

Weddings are fun, even when they happened 6 months ago

2007-01-25T18:34:00.000-08:00

Bathed in taupe, Michael congratulates Joe on his vows...

Some fine looking young gentlemen....

Congressman Binkowski poses with a civilian...

Stillwater does Chicago....

The bride looks smashing in her post-wedding digs...

San Fran take 2.

2007-01-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

My cousin goes for father figure of the year status.

Gratuitous pics of his son Liam-

The slated Beast. The roots of kitty hatred run deep (please note satanic background hue).

Makin' the best in SF

2007-01-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

Lani, Topher and their unsuspecting and unwilling cat Beast graciously allowed me to live with them for 6 weeks this summer. After arriving, I promptly took over Beast's room, much to her dismay. Soon we became mortal enemies as head swatting, hissing and genuine dislike became the order of the day. Overall though, I think the people and animals of SF enjoyed me almost as much as I did them. Here are some pictures to prove it.

Lani and I revel in a sugar high at a Giants game

Everyone loves a Swedish mayonaise cake!

Especially when crafted by attractive Swedes...

In a similar thread of Europe meets San Franciso, there is nothing quite like hiking 2 miles to visit a Bavarian bar in the foothills.

Seattle, summer: part deux

2007-01-14T15:52:00.000-08:00

So many pictures, not a lot of witty captions. They will just have to stand on their own...

This guy will lay you down.

Brynn excites in her deck dinner party.

Justin makes his own fireworks.

Seth sandwiched between the real Russians...

Roman candles in the city...

Summer in Seattle: Part 1

2007-01-14T15:39:00.000-08:00

Oh sweet Seattle in the summer, how I longed for you and the people that reside in your city...

Everyone loves a startled/sexy Brynn and John-

Michael helps Didi improve her swing in a 7-11 parking lot-

Josh and his parents visiting from South Africa enjoy Didi and my rendition of "God bless America"

Costume-mania

ps joy is hot

Zoe bids adieu

2006-05-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

From the beginning of our fast and furious courtship in January, I knew she was too good to be true. There had to be a hitch, a snag. And so, she left me as quickly as she came into my life. I have to say though, for how sad I am that she has gone, we did have one hell of a send-off party, grimy teddy bears and all...

The crew...

Aw, sadness...

4 bears for $2! Jeremy successfully sniffs out a bargain...

$20 bacon ya'll

2006-04-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

Megan accidentally purchased $20 bacon in anticipation of our arrival to LA. Each piece of bacon was like fryin' up a greasy dollar (see below). I would like to take this opportunity to thank Megan for her tasty mistake.

Permutations of Pretty

2006-04-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Thank you Didi for a most versatile accessory. My favorite is my mother conjuring her 18th century self.

Above the Law

2006-03-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

For some reason, the city of Chicago finds themselves above the general workings of the Gregorian calendar by celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 12. Although I have only lived here for a few months I can safely guess the reason is to have an excuse to drink for 6 consecutive days. I guess altering the date of an international holiday to drink more is as good of an excuse as any.

Watching the Chicago river get even greener on this untimely holiday.

Erin goes for the green, I do not.

Brockism, Brockasm.

2006-03-12T19:34:00.000-08:00

There is nothing quite like having a Brock come to town. Thanks for successfully bringing together people from all walks of your past, from elementary school to your most recent one night stand.

Apparently, some college habits die hard.

Blurry, yet representative.

Cuteness on a ball.

I swear to god, we had never met before this night.

And finally, Meridel and her prized gloves.

The Discerning Mouse Palate...

2006-03-12T19:22:00.001-08:00

...with a side of death wish. Eat up you little bastard. May you rest in peace with peanut butter (or sweet cream) whiskers.

The healthy kind of mold

2006-03-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

Even as a Midwesterner, I was impressed with this moldy feat. Gelled to perfection, Carly's multi-color masterpiece was a hit on the plate and in my mouth.

Aw, the craftsmanship...

Thanks Guys.

2006-03-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

My classmates put on a nice show for my birthday~

There was fun,

There was cake,

There were drinks,

and...there was me trying to break dance....in slippers.....

2006-02-27T20:26:00.000-08:00

I love when whole fruits are sacrificed for our aesthetic pleasure...

and onto the bar...

Gurgling pope impression

I want an answer and a tomato.

2006-02-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

Why did NASCAR have to go and defile a perfectly good carton of cherry tomatoes? Is anything sacred? Just when I thought American commercialism couldn't get any worse...

Until we meet again...

2006-02-24T20:08:00.000-08:00

As a perfect tool for procrastination in grad school, I am now starting a blog that has no theme and thus no limits in posting capacity. In contrast, please view my old, and now defunct, sheep eye blog. And remember, there is a sclera out there for everyone.

http://mangmania.blogspot.com/