Shiny new old Motobecane

Shiny new old Motobecane, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Look, Ryan got a moped! Isn't it fancy? And its lovely. I am so glad. Now I need to sell my car and get one too! It would be so much fun!!

I feel kind of icky today. I shouldn't, but I am thinking about going and getting some pizza for dinner when I have perfectly good food here to eat. Somehow walking 2 blocks and getting a slice and a fountain coke sounds so much easier and more relaxing.

A movie and early bedtime tonight sounds good too.

Do you want to join me for a Valentine's swap? Meet me here tomorrow and I'll give you some details. I am thinking old school elementry school stuff, you know? like build your own valentine box to put your swapped valentine's in! What do you think? Well let me know tomorrow if anyone's interested.

So, I have been cooking and baking a bunch...

mmmmm, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

and I made this *super* yummy cinammon bread. Next time I'm making french toast.

Here is the recipe, generally pretty easy. It is for 3 loaves, but I only made 1.

1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup warm water(110-115 degrees)
2 packages active dry yeast
3 eggs
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
8 cups all-purpose flour
2 TB milk
1 cup white sugar
3 TB ground cinammon
2 TB butter melted

1. warm the milk in a small sauce pan until bubbling. pull off heat & let cool down.
2. Dissolve yeast in warm water(I added 1 TB of sugar too)and set aside until yeast is frothyabout 10 minutes or so.
3.Mix in eggs, sugat, butter, salt.
4. add cooled milk being careful that its not too hot that it cooks the eggs.
5. add the flour slowly to make a stiff dough.
6. Knead until smooth.
7. place in large buttered mixing bowl, turn to coat.
8. cover with a warm damp towl, and let rise for 1 1/2 hours.
9. roll out on lightly floured surface to 1/2 inch thick.
10.moisten the dough with 2 Tb of milk.
11. mix togther 1 cup of sugar and 3 TB of cinnamon. sprinkle mixture evenly on top of dough.
12. Roll up tightly(!! mine wasn't tight enough, I don't think)
13.the roll should be 3 inches in diameter.
14. cut into 3 parts and tuck under ends and pinch bottom together( if you notice I forgot to do that part :D my end is on top!
15. Place loaves into well greased 9x5 pans and lightly grease tops of loaves.
16. let rise in a warm place, uncovered, again for an hour.
17. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. (Mine baked for 28ish minutes and it was done!! so make sure you check it!)
18. Remove from oven and let cool. put melted butter on top.
19. after 20 minutes, lay loaves on their sides and remove from pan.

You should really try this if you have an afternoon. It is *good* mmmm

In other news, Ryan got a Moped. (thank god) I will have pictures soon, it is lovely :D We had to drive 2 1/2 hours in traffic to get it after work yesterday. It was worth it. I like it a lot. I had fun entertaining myself driving. He is totally happy and I am glad. He deserves it for sure.

Trying to regain my crafting mojo, any craft exercise ideas?

Is the DS my downfall?

Is the DS my downfall?, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

no, just a whole bunch of fun!

my new best friend!

Henry, originally uploaded by missysioux.

My bestest had a new baby!

Yay! 8 lbs 12 oz and 20.5 inches. wow.

*love*

Sleepy-Head

Sleepy-Head, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Yes that is my pillow, and yes that is what I have been thinking about ALL day! After having a guest for 10 days(we'll miss you Dustin) I had to get up at 3ish this morning to take the 40ish minute trek to the airport and back, and then get tp for work at 6:45am! Ugh I am ready for some slumber! Tomorrow I have plans to sew a little, and generally enjoy my craft supplies! Night Sleepy-heads! Oh wait, that is me.

My knitting!

1211081743.jpg, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Well It is official, I can knit in a line.

I am really going to learn more this year! One of my goals even! I did skip my knitting club meeting tonight, only because I am the newest knitter and I don't have a project and I feel silly just knitting back and forth, even though it is awesome to hang out and sit and talk with a bunch of super cool peeps.

Next week though, for sure. I bought circular needles but they are hard. I have been trying to look up tutorials and all of that but man, I just need to take a class. I am trying to get some money together to take a hat class at one of the places around me, it is just that old thing of, where is that money going to come from. Sometimes I wish I could not pay my car payment or something, you know? I want to take the sock class too so I can be one of those rad sock knitters. I would love that. And it would be cool to make some sweaters. I was on Ravelry and you know I have about a million sweaters in my mind saved on there!

For now though, I am totally good with making a long line of yarn. Soon I will rip it out and try some new stiches. But, you better believe it baby, 2009 is the year of sweaters for this little lady. I do live in San Francisco you know, its cold here!

P.S. Please save the handmade toys. I am a toy girl and I will get some stuff up on that in the next little bit, but I love making toys, I love having people like my toys and I would love to keep selling toys. Please support!

Interview!

Spending way too much time @ Ryan's work :D, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

I was reading Miss Laura's blog(www.mynewblogjourney.blogspot.com) the other day, as I can be known to do, because I love her little blog. Anywho, I stumbled upon her fun little interview thing! Here are my little answers :D

1-You make the cutest little and big plushies, how did you get started?

Oh goodness! Thanks! I actually got my start when I moved to California around June of 2006. My boyfriend, Ryan, is an artist and there would be times in our apartment that he would be drawing and I would be bored doing nothing. I hated that! I have always loved all things crafty since I was a little girl and couldn't bear the thought of my boy drawing and having a good artsy time and me like, watching t.v. or something. Anyways, I saw this little kitty that someone made, and I said to myself, I could make a pattern for something like that and make it for Ryan's nieces for Christmas! And I did that. After that, I caught the bug and have never looked back since! :D I have just honed my style and branched out a little. :D

2-Things seem to be changing in your life. Congratulations. How did you meet your new boyfriend?

Haha, he is actually my same boyfriend as before. We broke up for a little bit, but he and I just are 2 peas in a pod. We just get along so well and push each other in ways that no one can match. :D I met him at Gravity Games(a silly little skateboarding event) in Cleveland, Ohio in 2004. He was so cute and I told my boss " I love that boy" he has had my heart ever since.

3-What are the pros and cons of living in San Fran?

Oh geez!
Pros: living in the city, not driving, Tons of fun stuff to do all of the time, sunshine(lots more than in Ohio), the weather for sure!

Cons: its realllly expensive, I miss my mom!!

4-What is your favorite food ever?

I would tend to say tacos, but I have one super huge sweet tooth, I love anything sweet.

5-What makes you happy?

My family, my dog, my job, ice cream, sunshine, clean sheets, a full tummy, Brett Michaels when he is on bad t.v., making dinner for my boyfriend, crafting, sewing, learning a new skill!

Want to be part of it? Follow these instructions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

0103092236.jpg

0103092236.jpg, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Forgive the horrible pics! I can't find my camera, I really should ask Ryan if he knows where it is. He usually has some knowledge of my gadgets, just ask him about "his" Ipod. I am pretty sure I'm going to lose that cute little machine up there pretty soon too, seeing as how we just each ordered a game! He is a little thief! And I love him anyways! I will just be happy right now that I have my one game to myself while we are waiting! It really hasn't been too far from my hands since I got it!

Let's rock 2009!

Let's rock 2009!, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Ooh my 2 favorite things I received! My daddy sent me a DS(for which I own 1 game, Brain Age) and my super awesome handmade mug that Ryan's mom made for us! Yay for family who loves us! I am going to try and blog more this year, especially since I am feeling much more on my feet this year, and I am where I belong. :D Lots of exciting things this year are going to come from Miss LaurenSmash, that is for certain! For starters, I am going to host a Valentine swap! I sure hope you'll join me! More details on that soon, soon, soon!

Happy New Year! 2009 rules already!

Happy New Year! 2009 rules already!, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Hope 2009 is everything you wish it to be! It can bf anything you want it to be! Thanks to little miss Dainelleorama for the super cute pin that I am never taking off!