meansoybean

I don’t know why, but I either hear of this craft fair the day before or just after it happens. I was looking for a neat local event to check out and found out that Rusty Plum was on again this weekend. So after Saturday lunch with a friend at Aux Vivres (I rocked the BLT with Dragon sauce), we took a brisk walk to the musty St-Michel Church Hall (105 St-Viateur O.).

This fair is always bustling with people looking for DIY, handmade, locally produced stuff. I was just passing through to check out the screen printed wares, not planning to buying anything, when I spotted the haramaki love table. I plopped down $20 for a belly band — because they make jeans way too low-waisted to be work-appropriate these days, plus a girl can only have so many long tops in her wardrobe! Belly bands, apparently, can also help firm up a baby bump. No, I’m not pregnant but a lady at the table thought that was why I was buying one. In truth, I could have easily made one for a fraction of the cost but I don’t have easy access to an overlock machine to deal with stretchy fabric. But rest assured, my next belly bands will be home made.

Anyway, it was inspiring to see what the local crafty peeps were up to, even motivating, in my search for a hobby. I’m ever closer to taking a stab at silk screening… it’s both scary and exciting. I’ve got to get my brain-hamster going on that project. It would be cool to get stuff that I made into Rusty Plum one day…

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If you’re going to miss the last day of Rusty Plum, you can catch a lot of these peeps and others at the 7th souk@sat: Fri Dec 11th and Sat Dec 12th from 12 to 9pm or Sun Dec 13th from 12 to 5pm. I would love to pass by and check out the clothes from Eve Gravel and Valérie Dumaine. I just love these necklaces from colorblindsmarties who’ll also be there!

This is the Editors take on the 2007 Calvin Harris dance song, Acceptable in the 80′s. The audio quality’s not that great, but it’s the only easily post-able version I could find. Listen!

It was acceptable in the 80s
It was acceptable at the time
It was acceptable in the 80s
It was acceptable at the time

I’ve got love for you
If you were born in the 80s, the 80s
I’ve got hugs for you
If you were born in the 80s, the 80s

I’ll do things for you
If you were born in the 80s, the 80s
I’ve got hugs for you
If you were born in the 80s
Yeah

[Repeat]

I don’t know what it is about this song, but it’s amusing. Plus, Tom Smith’s voice is hilarious — not to mention the equally funny lyrics. He always sings with that crazy baritone voice.
But let it be known that this is the only Editors song I truly like… I recently tested out their latest, In This Light and on This Evening, and Papillon is the only passable track. Oh well. I tried.

After reading about the other type of persimmon over at Chow Vegan I knew I’d eventually have to try one. I was at the grocery store and spotted a pile of Fuyus and promptly added three to my basket. At 40 cents a piece, how could I say no? Ahh, a fine example of the benefits of globalization. (I’ll admit, it’s the most exotic food in my kitchen right now but it’ll only be a special treat in the future.)

I just tried one and it was great; no hairy mouth-feel that the pointy persimmons of my childhood had. At the time, I never understood the appeal and they still haunt me to this day. Those pointy Hachiyas are pure evil. You’ve been warned!

Oops! Looks like I crossed out Fuyus from my Vegan’s Hundred food list during VeganMofo 2009. That’s because I was trying to cut out exotics and other well-traveled foods from my diet. As mentioned here, I’ve changed my mind but I need to gather my thoughts before sharing my opinion on the subject.

Until December 31, 2009, get 10% off any Life Without Plastic product labeled as new on their site. Just pop this code into the checkout: FUNNEWSTUFF

I had the opportunity to meet one of the owners at the Salon national de l’environnement this past summer and this is a very down to earth company. While chit chatting, I picked up a second set of my favourite stainless steel food storage containers.

At lunchtime, workmates always ask if they’re for camping. I may look a little crazy with my Klean Kanteen, but I’ve had it with this plastic shit. I was never happy with the dollar store containers and, I admit, I would change them up every few months. I used to have a bad habit of leaving lunch leftovers in them, then finding them a week later. Ah, to be young again.

It has to be said, though, that my disdain for plastic also comes from growing up in a household where the re-use of old margarine containers was a normal occurrence. Even putting them in the microwave. And sometimes they would warp from the heat. It wasn’t uncommon to see styrofoam food containers get nuked either. Plus, my seat at the kitchen table used to be right in front of the microwave. So yeah. I’m not crazy, rather just trying to undo a lot of the wrong from my childhood.