Ride The Tiger

I Know I Haven’t Posted In Months…

Dacoda — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:58:21 +0000

Because I’ve been really busy. I’m back home in Oregon and have already completed my first term at the community college here and am into the third week of my second term. I have entered into my first relationship in two years with a man of a very similar name (first name, that is, not last; who do you think I am?!), reconnected with old and made great new friends, and just recently gained employment at a local coffee shop in March.

I just turned 19 on the 8th of this month and went to Lincoln City and Newport Beach for the weekend.

That’s my super quick life update for the few who continue to check in. As far as the internet, what am I doing now?
TUMBLR

I know, I know, how trendy. But I really wanted something that allowed for more interaction not only with friends but also anyone who happened to read since everyone has a Tumblr account. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t really had time to properly blog and I don’t foresee my load lightening anytime in the near future. Tumblr is more snippet and random thought friendly without being as limiting as Twitter (which I have, btw).

So, go follow me on Tumblr? Let’s get social (:

Heigh-Ho Silver! & Pre-Christmas Soiree Treats

Dacoda — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:15:11 +0000

Hi!
I know I’ve been pretty lame at keeping up with this. Well, a lot lame considering that I haven’t posted since super late August (eep!). Truth be told, I haven’t felt the need to blog anything. And it’s probably really lucky for my very few readers that I haven’t been posting, because you probably would have stopped reading anyways. Why?: I hate Idaho, so so so much. I could go on and on about why I do, but it’s not even constructive and fun and I’ve already gotten in an appropriate amount of bitching thanks to the listening ears of my dearest friends and family. Remember when I said to keep depressing shit off the internet? Yeah, I practice what I preach, just in case you were skeptical. Anyways, maybe you’re not aware, but it’s hard to find the desire to write when you’re just bumbling along in a situation (or state) that you don’t want to be in.

In the meantime, I’m almost entirely done with the three classes I was taking (Philosophy 101, Intro to Communications 101, and Sociology 101, just in case you were wondering), I’m moving back to Oregon this Sunday (woo!), I’ve been upping my baking and cooking skills like a madwoman, Liz got two adorable sibling kittens who I will sadly be leaving when I move, and I’ve barely taken any pictures at all in the past six months (double eep!). Oh, and I’ve been reading just about every awesome blog I’ve tripped across.

I’m going to try to get back into the routine of at least semi-regular blogging, if only in preparation for a new blog I plan on starting with my friend Cliff once he and I can sit down and figure out the details (he lives far away). The hardest part? Picking a name, no lie. It’s our only roadblock. Some things are just flat off the table, so don’t even bother suggesting them:

Clifford says: I’m -thiiis- close to just registering masqueradingmuskrats.com or something silly.
dax m’coda says: Bahaha. Masquerading Muskrats. It sounds like a site created by pedophiles to draw in the kiddies.
Clifford says: How did you find out about my pl—err

He’s not really a pedophile. Just saying.

So, onto the second part of le post. This past Monday was my sister’s 23rd birthday. Saturday night she had a bunch of her girlfriends over to dine on treats and get dolled up for birthday barhopping in downtown Boise. I played super sister and provided the transportation to and from downtown, and made some deliciously easy and easily delicious treats (the titles are the links to the recipes):
Coconut Macaroons

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I highly recommend taking the advice from that commenter about using parchment paper; I liberally greased my cookie sheets and the macaroons still stuck like glue. Also, I baked mine for 11 minutes and instead of making them teaspoon-sized I opted to drop them by the spoonful. And when they say cool slightly, cool a lot, but not enough that they harden to the pan. After removal I put mine on a melamine plate and stuck them in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes to let them firm up, and then elected to drizzle them with melted chocolate. Très bon!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

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I love that this recipe includes a little history lesson on the origins of red velvet. I’m going to be honest: This was the first time I used cake flour, and oh my goodness, the difference is superb. I couldn’t possibly consider making cakes without it now. And I highly urge you to go out and buy buttermilk instead of doing the lemon-juice-in-room-temperature-milk trick, I had to use a buttermilk powder mixture but I think I could have fooled the common baker. I’ve tried other red velvet recipes before and was not impressed, but this one was excellent. I would only make one small change next time by adding a bit more cocoa powder. Also, I cheated and used store-bought cream cheese frosting, but only because I don’t have a mixer here at my apartment and I can never reach the right frosting consistency otherwise. I love these cupcakes (:

Candy Cane Cooler

So, this drink is super strong as is. Unless you’re a raging alcoholic, I suggest you make the following alterations:
3/4 oz instead of 1 1/2 oz of the mint infusion
Just under 1/2 oz. of brandy (not B&B, it’s pricey, and the general consensus was that plain old brandy would probably produce the same flavor for a lot less)
1 1/2 tbsp instead of 1 tbsp crushed peppermint candy
Add 1 tsp sugar
Add milk until desired strength
It ended up being a total headache, and by the time it was perfected everyone had already had a couple shares of the…

Pumpkin Pie Martini

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This cocktail was very well-received, and not just because the peppermint one was such a dud. Pumpkin is one of my ultimate favorite flavors (and scents) and it was perfect to make because I’ve been slowly working through a huge can of pumpkin puree I bought a couple weeks ago that has so far yielded 2 batches of pumpkin cookies and two pitchers of this drink. It’s still holding strong, Liz doesn’t bake so I’ll most likely end up throwing it out before I leave -sigh-.

Do you know what my most favorite part of making food is? Seeing people enjoy it. It was a very, very successful, though relatively simple, night in my opinion.

I’m feeling a music post coming soon, maybe tomorrow?

And to my three readers who expressed concern in some form over the past three months: I apologize, and I hope you’ll come back because it’s really awesome to know that someone actually reads this. Thank you (:

Love love love,
Dacoda

So…

Dacoda — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:17:18 +0000

If you just so happen to be whatthefucked about my lack of internet activity lately (and if you haven’t noticed, kudos to you!), I have the story:

About a week and a half ago as I was watching the season premiere of Weeds online, my laptop shocked me. Not just one of those little zings you get from touching someone who has been rubbing a balloon all over themselves, but a full on zap. I saw the light, felt the pain, caught it’s scent, and was left with a physical mark of it on my hand (no worries, it’s all gone now (: ). I immediately hit the power button out of sheer terror and haven’t touched it since. My internet prowling has been limited to the occasional email check, web comic, and Facebook spree on my sister’s laptop and until I find a laptop on the street or I get over my fear of potentially being electrocuted that probably won’t change.

Right now there is no prospect of me getting a new laptop soon unless my parents decide that buying me a new car just wasn’t enough of a gift, or Idaho decides to boost minimum wage in September. Once I’m back to saving money next summer in grand old Oregon, I will most definitely be putting funds into a new spiffy laptop. Any brands you trust? I’m absolutely done with Dell, and remember, I’m a Simmer (:

I’m hoping for a Christmas miracle or some sexy benefactor to magically swoop on into my life, until then, this lady will be exceptionally sporadic in her posts,
Dacoda.

Follow me on Bloglovin’!

Dacoda — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:52:39 +0000

Right here
(:

My New Favorite Thing

Dacoda — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:19:03 +0000

I spent my afternoon brainstorming cheap and fun ways to decorate my bedroom in my new apartment. The bare walls are becoming too much to handle, so I was thinking of having a wall full of pictures that remind me of Oregon, and adding to it as I create new memories here. Ideally, I want a wall full of Polaroids. Realistically, I don’t own a Polaroid camera and with the amount of pictures I’ll be needing (and because I want to use pictures I’ve already taken), it’d be pointless and too expensive to invest in one just now.
I started searching for photo printing services that offer a polaroid style for non-Polaroid photos and in the process I tripped upon Poladroid. Poladroid is software that you can download for free on their site and using it is as simple as clicking and dragging a photo from your files. And it doesn’t just slap the frame around your picture either, but gives it the actual appearance of having been taken with an actual Polaroid camera.
I myself have been having loads of fun with this program:

Bah, it’s so much fun (:
Dacoda.

Missed Connections

Dacoda — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:04:55 +0000

Have you ever checked out this site? It’s not nearly as popular as it should be. Reading through all the postings makes me lovesick and sets my heart all aflutter. If you think that’s perfectly lovely, then you will adore Sophie Blackall’s artistic renderings of such lost moments on her blog Missed Connections.
I experienced one myself this past Saturday while shopping for some wedding gifts with my sister:

I know, I know, I can’t draw to save my life. If only you knew how much time went into this :P

While shopping for yarn at a crafts store, I bumped into a display of fall-scented candles and it immediately set me to aching for autumn and cooler weather. I’m so excited, you really have no idea (:
A little while later I saw this:

And now I really want to make pretty pointless things with glass vases, sand, and random knick-knacks. Seriously.

I re-found this awesome t-shirt in my dresser last night before I fell into bed:

I am the thrift store queen.

That’s about all.

Tell me about your missed connections, hmm?
Dacoda.

Late Night Happiness

Dacoda — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 08:53:06 +0000

Have you seen anything cuter?

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She made it in five minutes! I’m thinking of trying my hand at making one similar to it, but you can also contact her and commission for one.

And I haven’t been able to stop singing this to myself:

I know what you’re thinking, “Sims, Dacoda? Seriously? Of all the videos people have probably made for that song?”
Seriously?
YES
:D

And everything about Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette is making me smile ear to ear. I love how bright and extravagant everything is, and how absolutely ridiculous life at Versailles was. It’s one of my all time favorite creatively inspiring movies. Perhaps I’ll have a post devoted to such inspiring movies? Probably :P

And to make you happy:

Cleaning shall now re-commence!
Love love love,
Dacoda.

So Many Changes!

Dacoda — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:26:16 +0000

In the past month…

I’ve Moved To A New Location

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I’m calling Star, Idaho home these days. Last night my sister and I went for a short 5 mile bicycle ride back behind our quaint little town. There’s a little duck family that hangs out around here, and a skunk that’s too cute for words! I would like to have one as a pet one day, if there were an ethical way to remove whatever gland produces the awful smell. Lately Liz and I have been watching a lot of Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami, Holly’s World, and The Real Housewives Of New Jersey. And guess what? I actually kind of enjoy it :P

Gotten A New Job Making Pizzas

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I’m working at my local Pizza Hut, about a mile away from where I live. It’s a change of pace from Subway and less frustrating. I’m still trying to get used to the drastic decrease from Oregon minimum wage at $8.40 an hour to Idaho’s current rate of $7.25.

Spent Way Too Much Money At Victoria’s Secret

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I’m so obsessed. After numerous pairs of panties and bras, cute new sweats, delicious perfume, and the promise of an adorable hoodie, I’m in love with the store, specifically the Pink line <3

And have decided to….
Apply To Transfer To Another School, Starting Fall 2011

I’m really looking into Linfield. I visited once a couple years ago and fell instantly. They seem to have a great Mass Communications program, and my dear friend Erin is going there. Perfect? I think so. Go there? Hit a lady up!

Mmmm, I love comfy new VS Pink sweats,
Dacoda.

Hey Guys, Wanna Get Laid?

Dacoda — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:11:01 +0000

Apparently Old Spice will all but do you itself:

Reagan has the cutest hair ever, and I have a message for American Apparel:

Dear American Apparel,
You should launch an ad campaign using Suicide Girls. I think you would find this method would even further improve your business, and they are fun, unlike the majority of girls that are featured in your lifeless photos currently.
Sincerely,
Dacoda.

… Is saying ‘Sincerely, Dacoda.’ required again to close this post? I vote no.

It’s All About The Auto-Tune

Dacoda — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:38:14 +0000

Hi hello!
I love LiveLavaLive.
AND THESE OWLS IN THIS VIDEO!!!! :D

More on auto-tune, some boys I know made this Ke$ha parody for the end of our senior video:

I got the best fortune a cookie could ever hold the other day:

Mmkay bye,
Ddacodaa