Month in Review - December

I wanted to start a spot to review some of the things I've enjoyed in the past month because sometimes time just zips by and it's good to catch up.

Due to some aforementioned back issues, I spent a lot more of the past month relatively stationary, hence.....Netflix.  I tried to mix it up with mysteries, lighthearted fair and some documentaries.  Of course, first up was Stranger Things (Yes, I know, I'm late to the party) which was just as good as everyone said it would be.  It's good to finally understand all the Eggo references and #JusticeForBarb.  Inspired by a recent episode of All Time Favorite Podcast I started Parks and Recreation have been consistently delighted by it.  I'm nearing the end and though I will be sad when it's over, it will undoubtably live on in my life via Twitter GIF's. Lastly, I've been delving into Unlikely Animal Friends, which is just what it sounds like.  Everything from surfing goats to therapy chickens, it will fill you with happy feels.  Go watch it.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions we have is going to The Cheese Shop across from the Fashion Mall at Keystone.  Being from Wisconsin, cheese is very important to me and they have a wonderful selection along with meats, wine, coffee, crackers and jams. Their employees are always incredibly helpful and let you sample everything before you buy it, which is awesome.  Every year we leave with a variety of cheeses from around the world, interesting jams big smiles.  Because triple cream soft-ripened cheese and lingonberries are an essential part of life, never forget that.

Being from a small town, there is something immensely novel to me about city downtowns at Christmas.  Between the plethora of Christmas films that take place in larger cities and visiting Minneapolis many times as a kid, seeing all the lights and decorations just makes me happy.  Visiting the Circle of Lights in downtown Indianapolis is definitely one of the highlights of my holiday season.  Carriage rides, people with their families taking pictures, the monument transformed into a giant "tree" being guarded by giant toy soldiers and peppermint sticks...it just feels magical and always brings me joy.  This year I remembered to wear warm boots, so it was even better!

I hope you had a wonderful December, I'd love to hear what you have been enjoying lately!


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Internet Cat Video Festival

Due to some poorly timed back problems, I wasn't able to post this immediately following the Internet Cat Video Festival, but it was such a delight I still wanted to talk about it.  This is the first year I have attended, however not the first year Indianapolis has hosted the festival.  What is the Internet Cat Video Festival?  Exactly what you would think it is, and so much more.


It is a highly curated program of internet cat videos, watched in a theater with other cat enthusiasts, but it also brings awareness to local shelters and cats in need of homes.  In Indianapolis it is hosted by the IMA and shown in their lovely Toby theater, but it is a touring festival with many stops.  Being a huge fan of cats, I had to check it out.

Prior to the start of the show, pictures and tiny bios of local adoptable cats were featured and workers from the Humane Society were on hand to answer questions and help with the adoption process.  Cat related merchandise were available, as was face painting and cat accessories.

The program is divided loosely by "plot" such as Action, Comedy and Drama, with a thoughtful mix of animation and more carefully produced videos, to simple short clips. I was pleasantly surprised to find that filmmaker and master curator William Braden was in attendance, providing a brief history of the festival and taking questions from the audience.  The selections for this year's festival were thoroughly enjoyable and it was a wonderful experience to watch cat videos with a community of cat enthusiasts.

 It was one of the first bitterly cold nights of the season, but people turned out in droves, proudly sporting cat related clothing and ready to laugh.  I am very much hoping the festival returns next year, I can't wait to go again! 

Attending Conventions With Social Anxiety

So full disclosure, I am not a medical professional, nor a trained therapist.  I’m just a geek with GAD and social anxiety who also likes to go to conventions.  These things often do not mix, but you can absolutely learn how to enjoy 4 days of chaotic geekdom and still come out relatively unscathed.  Read on to see some things I’ve learned and tips for making your convention visit a great one.

Who's Yer Con 2016 in Review (Part 2)

   Greetings!  In my last post I talked about my general impressions about Who's Yer Con 2016.  Today I'll go over some basics you should know and then what I did this year and what I learned from it!

Registration
   The first year (last year) we attended WYC we did not preregister, but this year we opted to register online.  I 100% endorse preregistering.  We got there about 11:30 on Friday morning and there was a probably 20-30 minute line for registration, however there was no line for those that signed up online.  I hate standing in lines if I can avoid it.  All we did was walk up, give our name and *BAM* we had our badges and schedule.  It's worth noting that while the event is free, you can upgrade to a contributing member for $25 and you get a t-shirt and a tote with a few games in it.
   A few weeks before the convention, the event catalog is put online.  This has everything the convention offers along with times/dates.  Depending on the type and popularity of game, there may only be a few times available to play it.  I recommend looking through the catalog and preregistering for a slot if there are certain games you have your heart set on playing.

Who's Yer Con 2016 In Review (Part 1)

    Ever since moving to Indy 4 years ago, my hubs Chad and I have found ourselves increasingly immersed in the world of tabletop games.  Who's Yer Gamer's is a local group that has been promoting hobby gaming since 2008 and each spring they put on Who's Yer Con, a free, 3 day hobby gaming convention held at the Wyndham West hotel.  This was our second year attending, so I thought I would share my experience!  In the this post I'll go over my impressions about the convention in general, and in my next post I'll talk about the specifics of what I did this year.

Changes and such

Hi there!  It's been a while.  I've missed posting and I'm going to try and do something about that.  There will be some format changes, content changes and the like.  I've toyed with removing old posts, but for now I'm leaving things as they are.  I wont be posting daily, and I'll be focusing on more local activities/mini-adventures that are going on in my life.  Also maybe some thoughts on what I'm reading/watching/listening to.  I hope you'll follow along!  If you do want the daily aspect of The Daily Claire (IE me talking about geeky stuff and posting cat pictures) follow me on Instagram & Twitter at @thedailyclaire.  I am also Player 2 at Boards & Brews where my Hubs and I review board games and local brewed beverages.  He's very good at posting every week, so you should check it out if you like table top games, brewed beverages of any kind, or puns, because we've got them all.

Token Year End Post

    I know!  I'm alive!  You may have been wondering what was going on and why The Daily Claire seemed to be much more of a Faily Claire...Living in the sticks has its disadvantages (too many to list here) but the main one has been that since mid October our internet has been completely unreliable.  However, it seems to be somewhat functional now (IE, works for more than an hour at a time at random intervals), so this little blog should be back up and running soon, hopefully with a way better layout and a lot more structure.
   I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season, I shall be posting some pictures from ours shortly.  Also, for up to the minute (sort of...) updates, follow me on Twitter @thedailyclaire.  Have a safe and happy New Years! 

Virtual Fall Feast!

I'm so excited to be participating in Baking Bad's Virtual Fall Feast!  My contribution is my favorite Thanksgiving salad.  It was originally published on Goop.com, but I have made a few changes to fit my tastes.

Mixed Greens with Goat Cheese and Pecans.


SERVES: 10 to 12
TIME: 10 minutes

 (Maple Dijon Dressing)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 Tablespoons real maple syrup
1/3 red wine vinegar
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
coarse sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

(Mixed Greens)
2 Large heads of endive, washed, chopped
1  large head radicchio, washed, chopped
4 large handfuls arugula, washed
1 1/3 cup goat cheese
3/4 cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped
3/4 cup dried cranberries

For the dressing:
  Mix garlic, mustard, maple syrup, vinegar and salt/pepper together.
 Slowly whisk in olive oil.
For the Salad:
  Toss your greens together and divide up into salad bowls.  Sprinkle
each salad with cheese, pecans and cranberries.  Dress with Maple
Dijon dressing.

Notes:
  Feel free to substitute a bag/box of "baby mixed greens" for the
endive and arugula.  Also, to make the salad extra special, drizzle
pecan halves with real maple syrup before toasting them.  Chop and add
to salad as directed.  This is especially yummy with left over
thanksgiving turkey mixed in.

Happy Halloween !

   Due to a malfunctioning sewing machine and lack of seamstress skill on my part, the Angry Birds costumes were a fail.  However, Stormy still dressed up and I thought I would share his picture with you all.  He does make a pretty mean Catula.  

Ribbon Wrapped Bracelet

This is such a simple way to revamp that bracelet you grabbed from the dollar bin, found at Goodwill, etc. Here's what you'll need:
-Sturdy Bracelet
-Ribbon of your choice
-Glue (I recommend Fabri-Tac or hot glue)

Wrap a small piece of ribbon around your bracelet to act as a guide. You can either make a full loop or just enough to cover the visible part, it's up to you.  Cut out several piece of ribbon to match your first one (see picture in upper left corner.  How many you need will depend on ribbon width and bracelet size.  Add a dab of glue to the inside of your bracelet, attach the ribbon, wrap over and attach the other end of the ribbon with another dot of glue.  Repeat until you have covered your bracelet, being careful to overlap the ribbon slightly so your bracelet doesn't show through.  

Coffee Confessions

Confession #1
   I love things that are mini-mini animals, mini cupcakes...if you can find the miniature form of something, I'll probably like it.  The exception to this rule is mini corncobs.  I positively loathe them and find them to be somewhat unsettling.  They look like they belong on an episode of X-files rather than in my food.
Confession #2
   I love red lipstick but it intimidates me to wear it.  I've always thought "I'll wear it when I'm more grown up" Oh wait...
Confession #3
   I had Red Bull every day this week and feel no shame.
Confession #4
   I have to check my alarm at least 3 times before I'm able to sleep.
Confession #5
   I can't stand hipsters but love mustaches, scarves and Ray Ban wayfarrers.
Confession#6
   I love planning, but I'm not good at following said plans.
Confession#7
   I talk at the TV.  When something happens in a movie that I don't like, I make sure to voice my opinion.  I also ask questions I don't want the answers to.  "Is *character's name* going to die?"  "It doesn't end this way does it?" Yup, I'm one of those people.

Thirsty Thursday: Gluehwein (Glue what?)

   I don't know about you, but I'm always interested in trying the traditional foods that represent my heritage.  Being predominantly German on my father's side, I saw this and thought I'd give it a whirl.  It is a unique twist on mulled wine, which just seems right this time of year.  It is based off of this recipe, but since I'm a lightweight, I modified it to suit my tastes.  This fills your home with the loveliest spicy aroma, you simply must try it.

1 Bottle (750ml) red wine
2 Cups orange juice
1 Orange, cut into thick slices
1/2 Cup sugar (I used turbinado, but white works fine as well)
4 Tablespoons honey
1 cinnamon stick
10 whole cloves
1 Allspice berry

   Mix orange juice, sugar, honey and cinnamon stick in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and allow it to simmer.  Stick your spices into the orange slices and place them in the saucepan.  Allow to simmer for approximately 30 minutes, or until fairly thick.  Add your wine and allow the mixture to heat through until steaming.  Pour into mugs and drink!

Mid Week Laugh

Coffee Confessions

Confession #1-I'm a sucker for sparkly make up and accessories but I loathe sparkly clothes.
Confession #2-Sometimes I crave foods by color.  I know.  Weird.  Like all orange food, all white food, all green food, etc.  I don't realize it until it's all on my plate.
Confession #3-I have high expectations when I make a purchase...Whether it is my $1 McDonalds coffee or something far costlier, I expect to get what I asked for.  If I don't, well, you'll know.
Confession #4-I love having naturally curly hair.  Even though it can be rebellious, it still makes me smile.
Confession #5-I almost freaked out when I thought the lady at the check out wasn't going to card me for the wine I bought.  She did, but I felt really old there for a second.
Confession #6-I am really tired of allergy season, and it's only just begun...
Confession #7-I really want a cape for the fall, but I am afraid it will make me look like a hobbit.

Thirsty Thursday: Real Hot Chocolate

   With the onset of fall and the cool evenings I have really been craving hot drinks.  I tried making hot chocolate the other day but the cocoa based powdered mixes just don’t seem to cut it.  So, I set out on a search for a solid “real” hot chocolate recipe.  Mine is adapted from this recipe.  I couldn’t bring myself to make it with half & half like they call for, but I’m sure it would be even more tasty. 

2 ¼ cups milk (I used whole)

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate-chopped

2 ounces milk chocolate-chopped

1 teaspoon sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder

Heat milk over medium heat until just below simmering.  Remove from heat and stir in chocolate.  Once it is melted, add the rest of the ingredients and whisk thoroughly.  Reheat a bit if needed, then serve. 

While this is lovely as is….here are a few tweeks just for fun.

-add a shake of cinnamon or cayenne for some extra heat

-add 1/2 a shot of your favorite liqueur, such as creme de menthe, irish cream or Frangelico. 

-add a spoon of Nutella

-use flavored chocolate such as orange or raspberry 

Steve Jobs, Remembered.

   I was so saddened to hear about the passing of Steve Jobs today.  While most know him as the driving force behind Apple's genius, he was also the original financial backer of one of my favorite film companies, Pixar.  His vision, passion and remarkable ability to see the potential in others will live on in the hearts of millions. 

Coffee Confessions

Confession #1-I am a product junkie. In other words, I rarely buy the same thing twice. I'm always on the search for a better product.
Confession #2-Fall is my favorite season. I think I could be happy if it was fall all the time.
Confession #3-I am the queen of the unfinished book.
Confession #4-Sometimes I wake up panicky for reasons unknown to me. It's hard to shake.
Confession #5-I am incapable of giving up coffee. I have tried. It just doesn't work. Coffee makes me happy and makes me a better person, why should I give it up?
Confession #6-I can spend all day watching The Big Bang Theory.

October-Yay!

I am super excited because October holds many awesome things here in Claireland.  I am actually being smart and planning ahead!  October marks the first month of my monthly business spotlight, as well as a giveaway that I know you all are going to love.  In addition to awesome bloggy things, October means apples and apple orchards and Halloween and costumes and all sorts of exciting things.  I will be cooking up lots of fall foods (and drinks!) so keep checking back because awesome things are happening!

Mid Week Pick-Me-Up...Many, Many Maru.

The Noms...or the lack thereof.

   I must apologize for my recent lack of recipe posts.  I have been experiencing a number of culinary fails and most certainly not "bringing the noms."  I am resolved to do better and probably stick a little closer to the things I know I'm good at.  Look for a plethora of soups in the weeks to come.  In my book, soup is the official food of the autumn season and I couldn't be more excited about it.