Definition: The genericized trademark for transparent adhesive tape.
Used in a sentence: When I need to stick one thing to another, I use scotchsello tape.
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Friday, 20 May 2011
Anyone know why?
This may or may not become a series... where I ask for help or insight from my readers.
We'll see. I make no promises. I'll do what I like! ;)
So I was out shopping today.
(You guys- I actually tried on jeans!)
I was in Peacocks, which is a pretty inexpensive store. Their clothes skew a bit young and cheap, but you can sometimes find a good deal. As I was looking around I wondered, not for the first time, about something...
I thought maybe my loyal readers could help me out with the wondering that a wondered.
The question is to do with tops like these:
In America, generally, these kinds of shirts would have letter sizes. Like S, M, L.
In England, they've got number sizes. Like 8, 10, 12, 14, 16....
In this case, the American way seems a lot smarter- at least from a retailer's point of view. Fewer variations of an item means more profit, right?
So, any ideas?
Why is this random thing done differently?
What weird little differences have you noticed?
We'll see. I make no promises. I'll do what I like! ;)
So I was out shopping today.
(You guys- I actually tried on jeans!)
I was in Peacocks, which is a pretty inexpensive store. Their clothes skew a bit young and cheap, but you can sometimes find a good deal. As I was looking around I wondered, not for the first time, about something...
I thought maybe my loyal readers could help me out with the wondering that a wondered.
The question is to do with tops like these:
(Yes I've posted this before. What? It's super-cute!)
In America, generally, these kinds of shirts would have letter sizes. Like S, M, L.
In England, they've got number sizes. Like 8, 10, 12, 14, 16....
In this case, the American way seems a lot smarter- at least from a retailer's point of view. Fewer variations of an item means more profit, right?
So, any ideas?
Why is this random thing done differently?
What weird little differences have you noticed?
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Nespresso Nes-tasty
I realize after typing that out that it looks a little like Nespresso Nasty, but it isn't!
It's my lame attempt at saying (in a fun way?) that our new Nespresso machine makes tasty coffee.
Our old coffee maker has been limping along for awhile. It's a Senseo that Ross bought a couple of years ago.
The single cup style was great since it meant he didn't end up making or drinking whole pots of coffee on his own. It had worked just fine, but in the last few months it started leaking whenever it brewed a cup. I was sooo tired of my counter having a pool of brownish liquid seeping out from under the coffee maker all the time. We kept an eye out for a new machine, but nothing was jumping out at us and we weren't desperate yet.
Then, as part of the Great Boiler Debacle of 2010-2011 (as yet unresolved. Blechgh!), something tragic happened. One evening, after one of the many (many, MANY!) plumbers had come to look at our boiler (and still not fix the problem), we heard a loud bang from the kitchen. When we went to see what had happened, we saw that a board that was supposed to be attached to the top of our cabinet to camouflage the top of the boiler had fallen off and landed on our poor coffee maker. So now, not only did it leak, it has a big chunk out of the top. The search for a replacement became more intense.
We really would have liked a Keurig. I got my mom one for Christmas a few years ago and it is awesome! It makes delicious coffee and is super-easy to use. Unfortunately, it isn't available in the UK.
After some searching and research, we finally settled on the Nespresso Citiz w/ Milk. Of the single cup makers, it seemed like the best option. The pods that it uses are pretty reasonable and it had good reviews online. I only wish I could have gotten it in red or black, rather than cream... sad face. It's still very pretty, though.
This coffee maker is super-fancy. I mean- for realz. Like SUPER fancy. It's got this little container that you put milk in and you can make lattes and cappuccinos. Are you impressed? I was. It's got one attachment to froth the milk and another to just mix it. The attachments attach magnetically to the thingie, which can make the milk either hot or cold.
We've been trying out the different flavours that came with the machine. They come in these adorable brightly coloured capsules.
I was a little overwhelmed the first time I used it because of it's aforementioned fanciness. Once I read through the instructions and had one latte under my belt, my fears dissolved. It's very easy to make a drink that is at least as good as one from your local coffee shop.
Here's how you use it to make a latte:
Make sure the water tank has enough in it and turn the machine on. (Duh!)
Pop the capsule into the machine.
Once you've put on the appropriate attachment in place, pour your milk into the container and place it on the stand.
Put your coffee cup under the spout and press the "big cup" button on top of the machine.
Press the button on the milk container.
Pour the milk into the coffee mug. Add your sugar and enjoy!
Overall: While this machine is on the pricey side, you could definitely make it pay for itself by using it to replace expensive Starbucks runs. I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of use. Even though it looks a bit complicated, it isn't and it's certainly easier than an espresso machine with the metal arm to steam milk. Ross, who like plain black coffee, has struggled a bit to find the right coffee flavour and make up. I think we'll get some Americano capsules soon and that should solve that problem. The capsules are available pretty reasonably on amazon.co.uk (48 capsules for £10.38) and you can get refillable capsules if you'd rather use your own blend of coffee than their pre-prepared ones.
Bottom line: If you love lattes or cappuccinos then this machine will rock your world!
**The Nespresso people have no idea who I am. They didn't sponsor this post or give me anything in return for it. I just think our new coffee maker is really cool and wanted to share it with you.
It's my lame attempt at saying (in a fun way?) that our new Nespresso machine makes tasty coffee.
Our old coffee maker has been limping along for awhile. It's a Senseo that Ross bought a couple of years ago.
The single cup style was great since it meant he didn't end up making or drinking whole pots of coffee on his own. It had worked just fine, but in the last few months it started leaking whenever it brewed a cup. I was sooo tired of my counter having a pool of brownish liquid seeping out from under the coffee maker all the time. We kept an eye out for a new machine, but nothing was jumping out at us and we weren't desperate yet.
Then, as part of the Great Boiler Debacle of 2010-2011 (as yet unresolved. Blechgh!), something tragic happened. One evening, after one of the many (many, MANY!) plumbers had come to look at our boiler (and still not fix the problem), we heard a loud bang from the kitchen. When we went to see what had happened, we saw that a board that was supposed to be attached to the top of our cabinet to camouflage the top of the boiler had fallen off and landed on our poor coffee maker. So now, not only did it leak, it has a big chunk out of the top. The search for a replacement became more intense.
The top of the cabinet where there used to be a plank of wood.
The giant crack in our old coffee machine. Poor thing!
We really would have liked a Keurig. I got my mom one for Christmas a few years ago and it is awesome! It makes delicious coffee and is super-easy to use. Unfortunately, it isn't available in the UK.
After some searching and research, we finally settled on the Nespresso Citiz w/ Milk. Of the single cup makers, it seemed like the best option. The pods that it uses are pretty reasonable and it had good reviews online. I only wish I could have gotten it in red or black, rather than cream... sad face. It's still very pretty, though.
Oooh Shiny!
The 2 attachments with the milk thingie (technical term) in the background.
The one on top makes foam and the one on bottom just froths is a little bit.
We've been trying out the different flavours that came with the machine. They come in these adorable brightly coloured capsules.
I was a little overwhelmed the first time I used it because of it's aforementioned fanciness. Once I read through the instructions and had one latte under my belt, my fears dissolved. It's very easy to make a drink that is at least as good as one from your local coffee shop.
Here's how you use it to make a latte:
Make sure the water tank has enough in it and turn the machine on. (Duh!)
The water tank is on the back of the machine.
Pop the capsule into the machine.
Close up.
Further away.
Once you've put on the appropriate attachment in place, pour your milk into the container and place it on the stand.
The little attachment sticks to a nub magnetically.
Put your coffee cup under the spout and press the "big cup" button on top of the machine.
Press the button on the milk container.
Go for milk!
Wait for the coffee to brew and the milk is mix and heat.
Fresh espresso.
Frothy, hot milk.
Pour the milk into the coffee mug. Add your sugar and enjoy!
Self-portrait of enjoyment.
Bottom line: If you love lattes or cappuccinos then this machine will rock your world!
**The Nespresso people have no idea who I am. They didn't sponsor this post or give me anything in return for it. I just think our new coffee maker is really cool and wanted to share it with you.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
WFW: So much love!
I am very lucky. Lots of people love me.
This has never been more clear to me than leading up to our wedding.
My bridesmaids (though I hadn't officially asked 2 of them yet) organized an awesome, low-key engagement BBQ. My parents were able to come up and Ross' Uncle Jeff was even in town for a visit. It was a great event filled with friends, hanging out, and even a few toasts that made me cry. (Cause that's sooo hard to do...)
Clockwise from Top L: Me with 2 of my BMs, Me and Ross toasting,
Us looking happier, Us with my parents
I had 2 different groups of friends from my church throw me parties. One was a more traditional shower and the other was a couple's cocktail party. Both were super-fun and I was blown away by all the effort that my friends put into them. For some reason, I don't have pictures from the couple's shower. Why is that? I know they were taken... Must email some people. Both showers took into account our international move. The ladies shower requested "small, easily packable" presents and the couple's shower had a wishing tree- which basically means that people gave us money. Awesome. But seriously, spending time with people that love us was the name of the game. I truly treasure the women from my church. It's great to have women of all ages that you can turn to for support, advice, laughter, and love.
Clockwise from top L: The ladies chatting, Awkward present opening (but awesome gifts), The great English Tea inspired shmorgasboard, the tea bar in action, more chatting, a happy bride-to-be
Next up was my bachelorette party/hen do/lingerie shower. My MOH Micah did an awesome job of incorporating some British traditions in honour of my sweetheart. Hen nights usually involve some sort of dressing up, and since my party was on Halloween, we went with a "Witches & Bitches" theme. The BMs and I dressed up as witches or historical/literary bitches. It was great, laid-back fun. First we went for mexican food, then back to the Hotel Belmont for fun and spending the night.
No captions required for this event :)
The next morning, we had continued the fun with a lingerie shower. Unfortunately, lots of people weren't able to come. Boo! But they sent presents, so I had plenty to open. Yay! Sneaky BM N put herself in charge of pictures, so she's barely in any.
More awkward present-opening pics. Note to self: wear some of this stuff once in awhile...
it's just sitting in a drawer feeling lonely!
I can't begin to say how awesome all these events were. It's one thing to know abstractly that people love you, but it's totally amazing to feel it so openly on display.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Stuff that you never realized was offensive
Since moving to the UK, I've learned lots of things.
There are plenty of words that are used differently between cultures.
When Ross and I were first dating, I remember going to Target with him. We were walking along and I spotted some super-cute baby shoes. I turned to him and said, "How freakin' cute are these?!"
Ross did a sort of double-take with wide eyes and looked at me questioningly. He acted like I'd said something weird and offensive. I sort of had. It's said here, but it's not the tame replacement for the other "f" word that it's seen as in the US. Ross says that he is still shocked when he hears it.
But that word isn't the one I want to talk about today.
Today I want to talk about the word "Spazz".
Does anyone else remember the sketch "Geek, Dweeb, or Spazz" from SNL? I couldn't find a clip on You Tube, but I found this transcript for your reading pleasure.
I remember thinking it was hilarious when it first aired. I would have been a teenager. My brother and I giggled and categorized people we knew into each of the three categories. I didn't think a thing of these names. They were pretty tame. (Looking back there's definitely a use of the word "homo" that would give me pause in a way it didn't back then...) Americans in general have gotten much more careful about words that are used (rightly so!). Using "gay" as an insult is frowned upon these days. Check out this article about athletes working to combat homophobia in sports. The term "retarded" as a description of something lame or stupid comes under fire regularly. This campaign reaches out to people, particularly young celebrities, to encourage them to think about the words they are using. This is all awesome. Words have power. Things that are said and written matter.
The word "spazz", however had never hit my radar like those words. It isn't uncommon for an American to describe themselves as "a total spazz"- generally after a clumsy accident while over-excited. I always thought it was fairly innocuous. Here in the UK however its a pretty offensive thing to say. I asked Ross if it was on par with, or more or less offensive than calling someone "a retard". He instantly responded that it is far worse. When I asked why, he had a hard time verbalizing it. At first all he could tell me was "Because it is!"
After some discussion, he said that it is particularly jarring because it is a very un-politically correct term- sort of like using the "n" word. Now that certainly gets my hair up. I never realized! Yuck!
It all dates back to the fact that "spastic" was used to describe someone with Cerebral Palsy. Initially, this wasn't offensive and the charity The Spastics Society was founded. The term began to be used in a derogatory manner and the charity eventually changed it's name to SCOPE in 1994.
The International Year of Disabled Persons was an event organized by the United Nations for 1981. It was an attempt to raise awareness about the inequality faced by disabled people. The organizers approached Ian Dury (a singer/songwriter who is hugely more famous in the UK than the US and who suffered from polio as a child) to support the event and he was outraged. He thought it was patronizing and insensitive to disabled people to imply that they would all be ok by 1982. He as a provocateur by nature and decided to write an in-your-face song that was part battle cry. This song was called Spasticus Autisticus. Dury saw it as "reclaiming" the word that had been used as an insult (like some of Richard Pryor's work).
The song was deemed "offensive to polite sensibilities" by the BBC and subsequently banned. It's an angry anthem, full of Dury's signature word play. Dury said it was the second best song he ever wrote, even though the outrage it provoked had a hugely negative impact on his career.
So there's your food for thought for the day. Some words aren't as harmless as you think.
Here's an interesting blog post on the difference between the two culture's perceptions of this word:
A comedian's perspective:
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