Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts

Monday, 14 March 2011

the A to Z of me

Key and button necklace

button and key pendant I'm wearing

a little meme unabashedly thieved from from Emma who stole it from someone else so its totally ok. Any Excuse to better my attempts at procrastination.. but first I must put the coffee machine one...

*slurps coffee* alrighty then lets begin at the beginning

A. Age: 33. Until the very end of next month.

B. Bed size: Double though it came from ikea so it is probably so odd measurement instead of an actual size.

C. Chore you dislike: hoovering and painting walls

D. Dogs: I wish. My parents have a pack of little pugs and I'm campaigning to get one here. I just need to find someone to take care of it when we go to visit my parents and thier dogs in the wilds of Idaho

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee....its the only way to start the day.

F. Favorite colour: Red.. which makes me laugh as I used to hate the colour back in the days of working at Target in Santa Rosa when I had to wear a red shirt every day. Strangely I never got phaser-ed or left behind on a mission to an alien world. Purple is my other favourite colour from when i was a little kid as I hated pink..and I still do.

G. Gold or silver: silver. my mother has always worn silver and so do I. Gold just seems a bit tacky.

H. Height: 5ft 5. I am average in height.

I. Instruments you play(ed): er none. I had a keyboard as a kid and taught myself to play jingle bells and a few other things. We also had to play recorders in school which was just painful. I have no musical aptitude whatsoever.

J. Job title: I'm technically secretary of the studio (Field Photographic) though I mostly just do busy work that Matt brings home for me.. occasionally if I'm very good or bad I get to help lug cameras about. Mostly I am at home, shoddily doing the housework, crafting, and lots of cooking to keep everyone happy.

K. Kids: just the Boy. but believe me he is enough trouble for anyone.

L. Live: Derbyshire England, the town isn't so great but we are very near to so beautiful places and now that spring is here everything will be lovely and happy. I am always in a much better mood when the sun returns to the sky.

M. Mom’s name: Marie

N. Nicknames: Meri. Its been that for awhile from mumsnet and a shortening of my blog Meridian Ariel, which used to be a chat room handle from ye olden days of the internet. I also always wanted a more exotic, less month based name when I was a kid and would pretend to be an assortment of Alexandrias, Meridians, Catherines, etc. I like Meri best though.

O. Overnight hospital stays: twice. the first time was when I was pregnant with H and had hyperemisis and was put on a drip for a week in hospital because I got so dehydrated from all the up-chucking all day every day. It was hell on earth. the other time was when I had H. they wanted to keep me in over night which was a good thing because I came down with the flu over night and was somewhat delirious.

P. Pet peeves: I have many. Top of the list is chewing with your mouth open. Talking with food in your mouth and generally being rude and obnoxious.

Q. Quote from a movie: ‘Shiny. Let's be bad Guys' Jayne in Serenity. I wear the quote in pin badge form on my jacket. It makes me happy.

R. Righty or lefty: lefty

S. Siblings: none. Just me.. unless you could all the animals I was raised with. ;o)

T. Time you wake up: 6.30 ish... well its aroudn then that H gets up and starts talking. I don't actually get out of bed till about 7am.

U. Underwear: Sainsbury's. I'm classy me.

V. Vegetables you don’t like: brussel sprouts. but broccoli hates me.

W. What makes you run late: I try not to be but usually its one of two reasons. 1) getting the Boy motivated and ready to go out is a nearly impossible task. And then when he is out you notice things like his trousers are on backwards or he has chocolate all over his face. or 2) I have at the last minute decided to do some chore or other. say laundry which means shuffling it all along the line. seperating stuff out. then making sure the cats aren't in the garage. The having to take the stupid cat Starbuck back to the house as he has tried to follow me down the road twice this past week and he has no brain.

X. X-rays you’ve had: dental x-rays only. I am thick boned and have never broken anything. touch wood.

Y. Yummy food you make: I'm pretty good in the kitchen. I bake all sorts of goodies cakes, muffins, brownies. And a pretty good cook for everything else. I do love to cook though I don't think I will ever be as good a chef as my dad. I rarely ever do full roast dinners except for holidays. I wait till we go visit my parents as my dad makes the best roast chicken and gravy, roast beef .. well anything. I miss my dad's cooking.

Z. Zoo animal favourites: I always loved seeing the tigers, but we used to go to Marine World Africa USA (which is now Six Flags Marine World) and there was a big tiger enclosure and the keepers would give them cream from a carton. I also loved to see the owls and any of the baby animals.

that's me a to z ... what about you?

Friday, 5 November 2010

errant blogger returns and eight questions

Little radio flyer wagon
little radio flyer wagon I bought while thrifting in Idaho last April
and only brought back this trip

Back home again from our Halloween visit to my parents' home in the wilds of Idaho. I will blog about that later as first I started a post about being tagged by Ali, from the lovely Very Berry Handmade blog, just before we went away.

The rules are that you answer the eight questions posed to you and then you send your own eight questions to eight other bloggers of your choice. Here are my answers from Ali's questions.

1. What do you enjoy about blogging?

I love the friendships blogging has brought and the inspiration.. but for me I like to get the ideas out of my head and weather they are read or not there are there in the world of the internets.

2. What’s your ideal holiday?

If not the holiday we just had to visit my parents in Idaho.. the probable the previous holiday in April when we got to visit with friends California as well as my parents in Idaho. I don't do beach holidays, sitting baking in the sun for two weeks is no fun, I like to visit friends, go thrifting, estate sale-ing, drink gallons of coffee in various coffee houses and explore cities.. and play with my parents pack of pugs.

3. What is your favourite comfort food?

either my dad's cooking with is fabulous... or something simple like pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese

4. What is your proudest achievement and why?

I have been really proud of the little dolls I have been making over the last few months, and writing the stories that go with them... It's something I never thought I would do but I have done and have sold several and feel amazed and proud every time one has sold.

5. What do you lose sleep over?

everything, I'm a worrier and at night my brain doesn't have an off switch so I will lie in bed for hours worrying and thinking and not being able to sleep.

6. What’s your favourite way to relax?

either curled up with a cup of fruity tea watching a show at the end of the day before going to bed...or I love to sit in a coffee shop with my journal doodling and people watching.

7. What’s your favourite film?

It depends on my mood as I have alot of film favourites. One of the films I consider a favourite is Serenity *sniffles at Wash* but I love Amelie, the Resident Evil flicks, the Last Unicorn, Labyrinth, the Lost Boys, Goonies, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I'm very fond of very terrible monster movies.

8. Where’s your favourite place to shop online?

it depends what I'm shopping for. Recently i have really liked shopping on a few of the Amazon 'shops' to find used books that aren't in the big shops and I always love getting lost on etsy though I rarely have all the funds to buy all the things I wish for!


my eight questions:

1. What's your favourite holiday to craft for?

2. Best thing you received in a Craft swap?

3. Favourite tv show(s)?

4. What has blogging given you?

5. What has made you smile recently?

6. What are you crafting/making now?

7. What's your favourite treat?

8. Why do you blog?


I'm not going to tag anyone as I'm to tired now.. and the dose of caffeine I had at lunch time is fast wearing off. but if you read this post, leave a comment and consider yourself tagged. I will visit you and comment when I'm a bit more awake and getting over the jet lag.

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Halloween Meme

vampire cupcake

the wind blows bitter through the last of the autumn leaves, time to huddle by the fire a spell, clutching a cup of steaming tea (coffee or cider you choose your poison) soon all manner of ghosts and goblins will be ranging the streets in search of sickeningly sweet treats.

The Halloween Meme

What is your favorite work of horror fiction?
I'm quite addicted to the Anita Blake, and Sookie Stackhouse series which I suppose are technically paranormal romance/urban fantasy/gothic... I love Neil Gaiman's novels too... and I used to obsess over the stories on tape when I was in elementary school, you know the beep turn the page ones, there used to be a couple of spooky stories I would listen to again and again. Like the one about the woman with the ribbon around her neck who tells her husband never to touch it and he does, and her head rolls off... and the one about Bluebeard ....

What is your favorite work of science fiction/fantasy?

Stephen King's the Stand.. one of my all time favourite novels, Neil Gaiman's American Gods, I think there are just tooo many to choose from .. have a look at my goodreads list as some of the more recent books are there.

Who is your favorite monster? hmmm Vampires or werewolves... thank god for TrueBlood having proper vampires because I can't stand that sparkly crap....sorry I dont mind reading pulp fiction but not Sparkles McGuffin.... also The Lost Boys best vampires ever.

Favourite Horror movie? ohh I love all sorts.. especially crappy ones.. nothing is more fun than being curled up in a dark room laughing your ass off at some terrible monster movie... Resident Evil (Alice kicks ass), Monster Squad, Critters, Aliens, Young Frankenstein, the Nightmare Before Christmas, Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice...... Zombieland, Day of the Dead (aka lets live forever in the mall)

What horror movie gives you the most chills? I prefer the crappier sort as the ones that really scare you never have the fun factor.

What character from any horror film would you most like to play? Alice in the Resident evil flicks... she kicks ass and survives everything... also she has really great boots and weapons.

Freddy or Jason? Freddy... I never liked the Jason movies much but would watch the freddy ones over and over.

What is your favorite Halloween treat? candy corn... dark chocolate, jelly beans, haribo sour cherries

Ghosts or goblins? depends on the Goblin I suppose some can be quite cute... or can be evil like the little bastard that pops out of the toilet in Ghoulies 2

jack pumpkin


Friendly-faced jack o’lantern or scary one? both really....I really like the elaborate ones but the best I could do was Jack Skellington last Halloween.

What is your scariest encounter with the paranormal? nothing specific but sometimes you go into a house or place and it just feels creepy.

Do you believe in ghosts? yes.. why not? there are too many things out there that we don't know about.

Would you rather be a zombie, werewolf or non-sparkly vampire? I suppose I would be a werewolf..or a vampire... though some might argue I'm already a witch before coffee in the morning. :oP

Favorite Halloween costume? as a kid I liked to be a witch, a cat, or a vampire.. I don't think things have changed all that much...though mostly I dress as a witch as I rather like my pointy hat.

Best thing about Halloween? Everything, the candy, the pumpkins, and crappy movies and just the whole thing.. I think I would live in Halloween Town if I could where everything is atmospheric and fantastic.

Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)? Harrison... as his birthday is at the end of October so everything is fantastic for him...and I may have trained him that Halloween is the best thing EVER...

Are you superstitious? If so, name at least one superstition of yours. not really though I sometimes play the stepping over cracks in pavement game with H.


If you have read this consider yourself tagged leave me a comment and I will trundle over to read your meme answers and hopefully remember a few more crappy horror movies to gleefully add to my list!

Monday, 17 May 2010

Day 04 — A favourite book

I probably read as much as I watch tv... more when I get into bookworm mode. I read mainly fantasy, sci-fi, horror, craft books and various paranormal/urban/fantasy/romance/horror/watchamacallit books. I love to get lost in a book and be somewhere far away from the mundane of everyday. I have so many favourite books and authors that I think I will pick something at random.


Illusion by Paula Volsky, I have read the book twice and would happily read it again if I hadn't inadvertently traded it in sometime in California or Idaho. I may need to order the book again so that I have it and can read it again. Its set in an alternative Earth of the French Revolution where magic exists. I really enjoyed the book it is beautifully descriptive and utterly fascinating.

Sunday, 16 May 2010

Day 03 — A favourite television program

Ok I admit it I'm a total tv junkie, there I said it you happy? I don't watch soaps, sports, game shows, or dramas but give me a a team of lab geeks, anti heroes, vampires, dolls, misfits, or just plain run of the mill geeks and I'm a happy bunny. I don't know what to choose a lot of my favourite shows have been cancelled Dollhouse, Veronica Mars, and Firefly to name a few. I adore Glee (its a total guilty pleasure, except for when a few cringe worthy songs are played and I have to hide behind a cushion (you know which ones I mean if you watch the show). I watch all three CSIs, Criminal Minds, and Bones for the gory murder mystery (and the stellar acting *ahem*). Fringe fills the gap that the X-Files left, and I laugh at every episode of the Big Bang Theory. I could probably go on for days.

I think that this question needs a special show though, so I choose Supernatural not for the pretty, or the awesome tunes, northe monster of the week, or the car, or the pie, or the epic cheeseyness but for the friendship that show has brought me. Supernatural lead to a friendship with Flame and Serenity, who are fabulous and I have met them not just on my computer but have met them in the real world too. Supernatural is that awesome it brings friends together.

Saturday, 15 May 2010

Day 02 — A favourite movie

I love so many movies but The Lost Boys has been my favourite since forever, even more than the Goonies, Legend, Labyrinth, and other classic 80's movies. When vampires were vampires, they didn't sparkle, and they had some kick ass music too. I had the album on cassette tape and cd and still listen to it every few months. Recently Seasons After did a pretty good cover of Cry Little Sister that was playing on the radio when we were driving round north Idaho in April.



awesome.

Friday, 14 May 2010

30 days....

30 days of blogging meme found via Rowan's Blog. I thought it was a lovely idea to get blogging more often.

Day 01 — A favourite song
Day 02 — A favourite movie
Day 03 — A favourite television program
Day 04 — A favourite book
Day 05 — A favourite quote
Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 — A photo you took
Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 — A fictional book
Day 14 — A non-fictional book
Day 15 — A fanfic
Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 — A talent of yours
Day 20 — A hobby of yours
Day 21 — A recipe
Day 22 — A website
Day 23 — A YouTube video
Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
Day 26 — Your week, in great detail
Day 27 — This month, in great detail
Day 28 — This year, in great detail
Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy

so Day 1 a favourite song....

I have alot of favourite songs/albums, and each one means something difrent. I sometimes get obsessed with one and need to listen to it over and over so i can day dream/imagine stories/ think things through while I'm listening to it.... the last song I was obsessed with was....


Her Name is Alice by Shinedown (I also was obsessed with the cover of Simple Man they did)

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

100 things about me

me, the day before my birthday

100 things about me

1. I love lists and memes.

2. I am an excellent procrastinator (see number 1)

3. I have never made friends very easily.

4. I hate parties and social situations with more than a few people.

5. I’m a terrible housewife.

6. I love to cook.

7. I never follow recipes to the letter, I prefer to make things my own way and document the success or failure of the dish.

8. I hate blackcurrant.

9. I’m very often homesick for the States and would move back in a heartbeat if Matt would agree to it.

10. I live in my head more than I should.

11. I like to make other people happy, more than myself.

12. I can knit but I have difficulty understanding knitting patterns.

13. I am trying to learn to crochet...

14. It isn’t going very well.

15. I have a package of Reece’s Pieces in the cupboard calling my name.

16. I’m not nearly as witty and funny as i wish I was.

17. I write stories but not many people get to read the despite having a writing blog.

18. I always dreamed of writing a book, but have always talked myself out of it once I start writing.

19. I have been working on a fairy tale for 2 years and keep avoiding finishing it.

20. I don’t believe in myself.

21. I am not comfortable in my own skin.

22. I think I am a pretty good mother.

23. I doubt that I am a good mother.

24. I’m allergic to broccoli, sage, and bananas.

25. I love watching bad movies.

26. Book shops are my happy place I could spend days in a bookshop.

27. I’m currently obsessed with reading about bento boxes, I bought H one a while ago but have only used it once, so I’m researching. For the record they are amazing.

28. I love to listen to music when I’m walking, cooking, gardening, crafting.

29. I never believe my crafts are any good.

30. I still craft anyway.

31. I love estate sales and yard sales, but am not bothered about English Car Boot Sales.

32. I have never broken any bones.

33. I’m not a girly girl.

34. I rarely ever leave the house without makeup on.

35. My hair never does what I want it to do.

36. I hate British weather. winter lasts for 3 seasons and sometimes 4.

37. I love cheese.

38. I can’t abide fruity chocolate.

39. I hate shopping for clothes.

40. I love coffee, but I’m very fussy, it must be proper espresso, and won’t drink a coffee if they have scalded the milk.

41. I have very bad eyes, the world is a blur when I take my glasses off.

42. I can’t type for beans.

43. I dream of owning a Kitchen Aid standing mixer.

44. I can’t drive.

45. I cook most things from scratch, aside from the occasional take away or frozen pizza.

46. When I was little I wanted to be a girly Indian Jones...till I realized he was really a crap archaeologist.

47. I don’t drink, (more than a sip or two) though I cook with wine and cider.

48. I like to neaten things, and organize them. I hate clutter on kitchen counters.

49. I would love to have a dog, but Matt says no and it probably wouldn’t be fair to a dog when we go away to visit my parents for weeks at a time.

50. I hate mice, their tales freak me out.

51. I vaguely aspire to a rock-a-billy style, but am really to laze to be bothered about fashion much, I just love the hair ( Bettie Page style)

52. I love gothic things, and have always worn a lot of black, watched movies/read books in a gothic way but never could be assed to go goth.

53. I once temped at a stamp company in Santa Rosa, but never owned any stamps till recently.

54. I love fabric with text on it.

55. I take crap photographs, but that’s ok, because I married a photographer.

56. If it wasn’t for the show X- Files I may never have met Matt.

57. i‘m listening to Velvet Revolver while I write this.

58. I watch too much tv. House, Supernatural, Criminal Minds, CSI: Wherever, Bones, Fringe, True Blood, the one about the Geeks, Glee, Legend of the Seeker

59. I’m a Browncoat... for those of you as geeky as I.

60. I rarely watch chick flicks and prefer action movies, sci-fi, fantasy, horror

61. I am very reserved and hide my emotions until I crack, start crying and can’t stop.

62. I suffer from depression.

63. I get very homesick for the States.

64. I love jelly belly jelly beans.

65. I’m a pretty decent cook, and love to potter about the kitchen.

66. I hate my photo being taken...so I married a photographer.

67. If I ever manage to finish this list I will make some sugar scrub.

68. The last movie I watched was Carriers, apocalyptic virus type movie.

69. Last night I watched thee episodes of The Big Bang Theory.

70. I have never broken a bone.

71. I started sewing some quilt blocks but only got as far as making 6 before abandoning the project. ( I will go back to it when I have learned to use my sewing machine a bit more)

72. I love cookbooks

73. But I rarely cook recipes exactly as they are printed.

74. I’ve never been drunk. (I’m too much of a control freak for that)

75. I drink full fat coca-cola none of that diet sh*t.

76. I should be sorting out the laundry now.

77. I really wish it was warm out so I could sit in the garden with my notebook/sketch book.

78. I hate cracking the spines on books, and will go out of my way not to.

79. I love pens and notebooks.

80. I’m a good navigator.

81. I have difficulty buying things for myself but love buying for others.

82. I am fiercely protective of H and his friends, and will not hesitate to tell off other kids that are being little shits to them.

83. I can’t stand when people talk with their mouths full of food, it winds me up terribly.

84. The last book I read was Too Many Curses by A Lee Martinez.

85. I’m so grateful for the blogging craft community for being such a happy and inspiring place.

86. I have dyed my hair, red, strawberry blonde, purple, and black.

87. My hair is naturally brown, like my eyes.

88. I never do my nails.

89. I live in my jeans.

90. I don’t draw as much as I used to, though I have never been that great an artist.

91. I’m an average 5’5”

92. You probably wouldn’t notice me.

93. My birthday was the last day of April.

94. I’m 33. *counts on fingers* yeah that’s right...I think

95. I still can’t put on mascara properly.

96. At night I like to lay still and imagine stories that I rarely ever write down.

97. I worry too much.

98. I like to walk on my own listening to my music lost in my own little world.

99. My ears aren’t pierced.

100. I’m not sure anyone will take the time to read all of this.