Seriously... Coffee Shops... What's up with that? Been to one lately? I have, let me tell you about it. I started drinking coffee a long time ago. And since then, if it's past 9am and I haven't had a cup, then chances are, you'll find me in some dark closet, curled up in the feeble position, rocking back and forth, singing every verse known to man ofKoombya and some I just made up. "Therapy's fun... my lord... Koombya".
But sometimes I just can't find the time to make myself a pot and I'll need to go to the local coffee house to get me a cup. The last time I was there, the person in front of me seemed like it was their first visit to this land of Arabica beans and CD's for sale. I couldn't help but think of my first adventure here. I won't lie, I was a little nervous. There was a look of confusion on my face as I looked up at the giant chalkboard with six hundred and eighty five different types of coffee. At first I thought the place was just being kind to foreigners by simply putting the translation of "coffee" in every language known to man on the board. But as I looked closer, I realized that the words weren't written in ancient Egyptian and the pictures weren't symbols for Seth the prehistoric Caveman, who was just thawed out and needed to warm up with a steaming cup of Java to understand.
Everything on the board was supposedly in English. Normally I would say plain English, but that would be a lie. And lying is wrong. I've seen computer-programming languages that were easier to figure out than simply trying to locate the word "Coffee" on the gargantuan menu. I looked everywhere, but couldn't find any familiarity. So now it's my turn to order. Not having a clue, I simply said what's worked for generations... medium coffee. That's when all hell broke loose. Well, as much as it could in a coffee house with Dave Matthews playing in the background. You see, my order didn't sit well with Jimmy "I can tell you every type of coffee even made, by order of aroma, grind, alphabetically, geographic region of growth, altitude, or just to show off, watch me leave out all the vowels and say them out loud as I balance this chocolate biscotti on my nose, and just for some flare, light it on fire. Wait for it... C_l_mb__n! Water please".
So Jimmy asks me which type of coffee, I would like. I reply, "Well, plain coffee will due." Poor Jimmy felt all insulted because plain coffee is so beneath him, like commissioning Rembrandt to paint a landscape, with a family of stick people in front of their house including tree and a sun in the corner with a big smile on its face that my little cousin could do with one hand tied behind his back. But because, he is a professional, Jimmy calls out my order to the "Coffee Maker". "Vertis Java" rings through the house, also creating a little shock in me. What the hell is that? Some kind of code words to mock me? Good thing I didn't order a large hot chocolate. Jimbo would be screaming Steamed Mocha at the top of his lungs, loud enough for any guy in a two mile radius, who heard my order, feel compelled by human nature to meet me in the parking lot and proceed to take away my man card.
Things are much easier now. I try to frequent that place as little as possible. Large double double is all the vocabulary that I really have to use before getting some wake up juice in me. Addicted? No, I wouldn't say so. But then again, my sponsor said that the first stage is denial.
If your walls are looking a little bare but you don't have the money to go out and buy someone else's art, create your own. This is your home, and it should reflect your personal style. If you're stuck for quick, cheap and fun ways to create artwork, here are some ideas using frames to get you started.
FRAMES
Bargain shop for frames at garage sales, flea markets and vintage shops. Don't worry about the artwork inside or the color of the frame, you can easily change those. You can also look for frames at dollar stores or places like Ikea if you want more of a cohesive look.
PAINT
Next you'll want to head to the hardware store to pick up some spray paint. You should buy a primer as well as a colored spray paint. Glossy black or white give a sophisticated look and you could always paint one frame out of the bunch and accent color, like red, to add some interest.
Follow the instructions on the can for painting and be sure to do it in a ventilated area and to cover anything you don't want to get paint on. If the frames surface is really slick, you may want to sand it first.
CREATE
Once the frames are dry, you can decide what you want to do with them. Here are a few options:
a) Use just the frames - remove the backing, matte and glass and hang the different styles of frames together on the wall, alternating styles, shapes and sizes.
b) Fill them with black and white photos - if you're going to use the matting, try to find frames that have the same color of matte. Gather all of your photos and take them to a photo developing shop to have them changed to black and white and the size you want. To add even more interest, you could crop the photos in the editing process.
c) Make a chalkboard - use the piece of glass that came with the frame and use a chalkboardpaint to cover it. Hang it by the door or in the kitchen and use it as a message board or to make your grocery list.
d) Use fabric, wallpaper or even wrapping paper - you can use different patterns and textures to add interest to your wall. Wrap the piece of fabric or paper around the cardboard backing of the frame. You can do some frames with matting and some without.
e) Favorite Quotes - build a wall of inspiration. Write out your favorite words or quotes on your computer and print them off on regular paper or get a little more fancy and buy some specialty paper. Use the same font for all of the frames or use a different one for each frame.
f) Make a mirror - you'll need safety glasses, gloves and a glass cutter and sealer, which you can pick up at most hardware stores. Follow the instructions that come with the glass cutter to score and break the mirror. When it's cut to size, you'll want to seal the edges of the glass to prevent the back of your mirror from turning black over time. The mirror can be adhered to the back of the frame or you can use the frames backing board to keep the mirror in place.
HANG
When it's time to hang your new art on the wall, you can arrange the frames on the floor first. Use hooks on the back of the frames to hang them or you can get a little more creative and use decorative ribbon; use a staple gun to attach each end of the ribbon to the top left and right corner of the frame. You can then hang the ribbon from the nail in the wall (keep in mind that the frame will hang lower).
Your car may have a soul in your opinion, perhaps an evil one even, but it is definitely a mechanical device. With all the components now crammed into it, sooner or later there are going to be squeaks. To take the "rattle" out of your rattle and rolling down the road, let's take a look at how to get rid of squeaks in the driver's area.
A squeak in the interior of your car can drive you absolutely crazy. It may not be that loud. It may not even be that grating. The problem is it is always there. You can't escape it. Like the sound of fingernails scraping down a chalkboard, it will slowly drive you insane. You must fight back! Fortunately, it is fairly easy.
The interior of your car looks very organized and efficient. To some extent it is. From another point of view, however, it is closer to the clean room of a teenage boy - you really don't want to open the closet door! Well, your dashboard is the metaphorical closet door. Down around your feet and up under the dash are a host of components crammed in every different manner. As the car interior heats up and cools down every day, these components can move about. It is in this general area that you'll find your squeaks.
The first area to take a look at involves any moving parts. The pedals for your feet often start to squeak. There pedals connect to hinges near the top and these hinges need to be lubricated from time to time. Because the hinges are up under the dash from the point of view of the driver as he sits down, it sounds like there is a squeak under the dashboard. Go ahead and lubricate the pedal hinge points even if you don't hear a squeak. It might just go away.
Now comes the really scary part for any man. Pull...out...the...owner's...manual. I know this is difficult. Feel free to close the garage door, turn out the lights and read by camera light so nobody sees you. Why the owner's manual? Well, many modern cars actually require that you occasionally lubricate some aspect of the interior of your car. The manual will actually have a section on it. Now, the people that write owner's manuals think in a very odd manner, so you might have to search around for it. If you can find the note, however, they'll often lead you right to your problem area.
Finally, you can take the car to a mechanic. I don't advise this. The mechanic is going to do exactly what I've written above, so why pay for it? With very little elbow grease, you can save a buck or two and find the problem yourself.
So you're planning a bridal shower -- and everyone says you need a theme. "Around the Clock." "Home and Garden." Yawn!
There aren't many times we get to be silly and girly in this world, so a bridal shower shouldn't be wasted. Make sure it's genuinely fun. It's simple --- just think about what makes your bride special, and let yourself loose with the theme. Here are a few ideas to charge up the noggin and organize something unique.
"Like High School -- But Better."
Revive some great times by tipping your hat to the bride's high school days. Look up all those slightly embarrassing hits from the year she graduated -- let's say the 80s. (Create a gift CD of same for all your guests -- they'll secretly savor them when no one else is around.) Yes, they still make banana clips! Pass them out, along with big, dangly inexpensive hoop earrings and loads of jelly bracelets (remember? You wear about a hundred on each arm, a la vintage Madonna). Slather on the pink, blue and green eye shadow, metallic nail polish and bright blue mascara. Play the soundtracks from Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles.
Now for the games: segment a flashback classic, such as Madonna's "Holiday," into three or four CDs. Divide your guests into the same number of groups, and challenge them to come up with a dance routine to fit their part of the tune. Bring them back together in 10 or 15 minutes to perform their mini-masterpiece before a video camera you've set up for the occasion. Tape everyone's routine in order. Give a prize to the best choreographers (actually, give a prize to everyone for being a good sport). Together, you've created a music video that no one could forget. With any luck, it'll mysteriously show up at the reception.
Wine and Chocolate
Sometimes, when you tour a bunch of vineyards in wine country and you're really lucky, you hit upon "wine and chocolate" day. But you don't have to wait to hit the jackpot -- you can organize your own. Plan an easy afternoon of popular, easy-drinking wines like Merlot and champagne, and ask each guest to bring a creative form of chocolate. Some of our favorites: chocolate croissants, chocolate papaya crepes, chocolate-covered ginger, and yes, jalapeno brownies.
But don't stop with the food -- make an outright bordello of it. Pile lots of velveteen pillows around the room, drape the walls with heavy fabric, burn a bit of incense. Put on some soothing Moroccan music, and arrange a few flowers in plum colored pails or vases you've dressed up with groovy gold fringe. Now pass out those beverages in pretty glass flutes, dropping a rose petal in each one. Then dig in! (Have doggie bags at the ready for blissed-out guests who want to enjoy the spoils later at home).
Occupational Hazard
Few things are more flattering than having your friends develop a party around your job. After all, you spend day in and day out there, and what you do is probably pretty important to you. Is the bride a teacher? Hand out apple-shaped candles as favors ... and place them in brown paper lunchbags. Give her a chalkboard eraser "to erase any grudges" after she's married: spray paint the top gold or silver, and have everyone sign it with a Sharpie. Sew or glue together a quick clip-on or bandana for her dog's collar that reads, "Teacher's Pet."
Is your bride an attorney? Hire a Judge Judy impersonator (yes, they exist!) to make a showing. Ask each guest to "submit a brief" -- a gift of lacey underwear for the honeymoon, accompanied by a personal note to wish the bride well.
More Ideas for Exciting Showers
Christmas in July: Place the bride's gifts under a big, frou frou artificial tree you've hung the guest favors on. Serve iced eggnog and mocha-cinnamon smoothies. Everyone loves Christmas ... especially when you've had a break from it, and don't have to agonize over what to buy the boss.
Dancing Queens: Dress up in big, pouffy prom dresses from the past (you'll find them at every thrift store), super-glam makeup, even tiaras. Lay on loads of body glitter. Head out en masse to your neighborhood restaurant or karaoke bar and toast the bride as she opens her gifts.
Cheesecake Party: Ask your guests who their favorite hunk is. Serve mini-cheesecakes in lots of different flavors (Baileys and orange, amaretto, chocolate fudge), and place a framed photo of their favorite "cheesecakes" next to each serving platter, with a special label: "Brad Pitt Blueberry," "Creme de Menthe Mel." Get inventive with the descriptions. Borrow or rent the biggest espresso machine you can find, and serve up steaming coffee drinks.
Whatever you end up going with, don't be afraid to be creative. The less you go by the book and the more you think about what makes the bride special, the more fun your shower will be for everyone.
chalk time with chip Big Hungry's Toyota bB Scion XB toaster box. at the time of filming the the specs on the box are as listed front and rear lip were something cheap purchased off ebay for temporary use until Big Hungrys jdm parts came in. the side skirts are oem the box front lip rear lip and side skirts sat no lower than a the oem parts. wheels were sportmax 002's painted house of kolor gold suspension was tein ss coilovers jdm parts include firesports grill esams visors jdm head lights pioneer carrozzeria rear window speakers RingoRocks and Gothbox are drawing on big hungrys box. UPDATE: the box has changed since this video was done. This video was done to show everyone that yes you can write on chalkboard paint. please view some of se memphis and driveway customs other videos.
Our Tabletop Easel has all the fun features of a regular easel, but takes up much less space. Give this to any young artist and theyll be thanking you as they get hard to work on their next masterpiece. Features include: • Chalkboard surface on one side and a dry erase surface on the flip side • Wooden strips can hold paper firmly in place • Two plastic paint cups • Eraser • Folds for easy storage • Made of wood • Smart, sturdy construction • Packaged with detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions
