Lid of the Week: Super Chic Cycling

Okay, no shoes this week, but let's extend the "of the week" category to include hats or, in this case, helmets.

Tokyo New Jazz - Yakkay

This helmet by Yakkay is so cute I can hardly stand it.  In fact, I'm beside myself.  I like my regular helmet, but when you're out and about running errands or commuting, something cuter is called for.

Addendum:  You can buy other covers to switch out - more styling options!

Monday Muffins

No, not a new posting category, just something I thought I'd share.

Banana Muffins - Oat bran version (with a nod to The Fanny Farmer Cookbook)
Makes 12 muffins

3 ripe bananas, well mashed
1 whole egg                           1/2 cup of sugar
1 egg white                            1 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour                             1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup oat bran

Preheat oven to 350F.  Line muffin tin or grease it - your choice.  Mix the bananas and eggs together in a large bowl.  Stir in the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.  Divide evenly in the muffin tin.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from pan to a rack.  Muffin tin liners come away more easily when the muffins are cool, but it's hard to wait.

Marathon Film Viewing

I bought a pass for the HotDocs documentary film festival in Toronto, and while I haven't maxed it out yet, I'm feeling a little maxed out myself.  Yesterday I went to three screenings and had the good sense to let the fourth one I'd planned on seeing go.  I mean, really - do I need to leave the house at 8:15am and not return until 12:30am?  I think not.
   However, I have seen some really good films.  The best one so far has been The Black Power Mixtape:  1967 - 1975.  Using footage from Swedish television broadcasts, it painted a picture of how the Black Power movement was seen outside the US, and perhaps how Americans didn't get to see it.  For me, it also added fuel to my interest in the 70s as a time of social and political possibility - something I see less of in North America these days but more of in the current struggles in Africa and the Middle East.  Having come out of the hardcore punk scene of the 80s, another time when music spoke to the political and social climate, as well as teaching in universities today, I feel like there's less of that critical mass of agitation, or focus even, in North American youth culture.  Yes, it sounds like "kids these days..."  So sue me.  However, if I ever say "When I was a kid I had to walk twelve miles in the snow with no shoes...," send me a note.

Shoe of the Week: Wedge-o-matic

Yes, I disappeared for two weeks - traveled to see family and to play hockey.  But I'm back, perhaps a little spent, but a happy champion.  Yes, my team won our division, but let's save that for later.
  This week's shoe comes from my mother's closet.  We periodically borrow clothes and shoes from each other.  It's a "new to me" kind of thing, and then when we return said items, they're new again to us.  Bonus!

Time for a pedicure!

Shoe of the Week: Fairground Fun

I'm imagining a vintage summer fair...something that really doesn't exist anymore outside of our imagination.  However, I could make a stand at Whack-A-Mole in these!

Here's the narrative that accompanies them:  "So much fun to be had in these. Especially at the fairground, hurling wooden balls at the coconut shy. Then dangle those legs from the Ferris Wheel for all to see."
Not sure what a "coconut shy" is, but hey, I'll go anywhere these TN29 shoes want to take me.

Too Funny. Too Familiar?

Go to Unhappy Hipster and see if there's any pang of recognition.

Samantha Contis; Dwell

Shake -n- Make In and Out of the Ring

Pardon the delay in debriefing you on Shake -n- Make's participation in the Main Event at Rodman Hall.  It was a crazy blast.  We're looking forward to next year's event already.

Here I am practicing my moves in the ring before showtime.  Recognize the shoes?

Don't be fooled by the squint, I'm working on my intimidation factor.

In addition to wrestling (and let me tell you - it went beyond polite thumb and leg wrestling), we set up a crafting station so participants could make their own medals.

It's amazing what you can do with Shrinky Dinks, felt, beads, and other dollar store embellishments. 

Shake -n- Make 2011

Shake -n- Make 2011

Shake -n- Make 2011

Thanks to everyone at Rodman Hall for inviting us.