I went to target with my bf, and we walked through the target section. It was in that moment he fell in love with the idea of a domo-kun costume. We couldn't find a costume there, though. So now, I'm trying to make one...I would prefer it to be out of fabric, the cardboard box ones are pretty crappy. I figure if we make a good one, we can wear it to cons, also.

Any ideas on how to do this? I'm currently scouring google, but the ones that are good don't have tutorials.
Thanks!

[Fireworks on Christmas Eve]

My S.O. and I are celebrating our first christmas together. We want to mix the ones we already have (although they're few) as well as start new ones together. We're both really excited.  Hence the posting in September. 

Here is what we KNOW we're going to do:

Fireworks on Christmas Eve- S.O is from the Netherlands and they do fireworks at midnight there. Apparently the streets are filled with red paper from the fireworks. All we have this year are little pop-its that I remembered to save, but next year we'll save more little ground ones and sparklers.

Dutch Food- You haven't lived till you've eaten sugary almond paste gingerbread thingies that I can't pronounce. I will ask the boyfriend and get back to you.

Stockings- This is my tradition. My stepmom made me and my brother stockings when we were young, and they were filled with chocolate, nuts, oranges, as well as small presents such as card games, pens, tops, clues for what was coming up in the big presents (earphones the year they bought us our own stereos and our first Beatles cds), etc. So I want the two of us to make our own stockings

Things that we're going to do-

Make our own christmas ornaments- I like the thought of simple, non-glitzy things on our tree. Simple fabric ornaments.


Things about us-

We're non-religious, very big on tradition, family, etc. Simple things make us very happy. We're also more into 'natural' type stuff, like Waldorf-inspired things. Earthy, I guess. We also love cooking.


I would love to hear how other people celebrate the holidays, how they got started, and perhaps borrow a few traditions!

I have a sister and brother significantly younger than me. The boy just turned nine, the girl is turning six on Friday. I try to handmake things for them...it doesn't work. I put a lot of time into making a Harry Potter kit for my brother, which he didn't really like. I asked him also if he wanted my collection of the books (I have them all, and I figured I could just go home and borrow them if I wanted to read them.) He said he didn't want to re-read them, and that he'd pretty much lost interest in them when they started to get out of his reading level. His favorite part was the Jelly Beans. Everyone else got him video games, bionicles and webkinz, which he loved.

I'm experiencing a bit of a panic with my sister. I've been working on her a doll bed. I was going to make it from wood, but ended up using a shoebox for lack of materials. It's still nice, just not as durable. I cut it into shape and spent a long time painting it. I also made a small blanket, and will be making a little mattress and pillow. She loves dolls, so I figured she'd love it.

Except now, I'm seeing the things other people are getting her. She doesn't want dolls or clothes or books. The thing she requested from my brother was this: http://www.toystore.co.il/data/images/products/2007/11/28/littlest%20pet%20shop1.jpg

I don't approve of cheap plastic toys that will be forgotten as soon as they break or the fad is over. At the same time, I'm tired of feeling like the uncool sister who gives lame presents. Even when I buy presents, I'm still lame. My gift for when I came back from the Netherlands was a handbook on how to do all this cool outdoor boy stuff. My brother has never once opened it.

What do you suggest? Should I just give this present and then buy stuff from now on? Or keep trying? Or just give up on this present and go find something?

I'm seriously bummed out about this. What do you think?

My boyfriend and I have decided to get married in may 2009, he should be proposing within the next month (he says he has to wait for the right moment...cute!) We are having a great time forming new traditions that mix his culture (he's from the Netherlands) and mine (I'm a southern girl) together, and we have a really cute story, so I really want to start making albums/journals to remember these events. I've decided the first one will be of our relationship thus far, and our engagement period. I want to keep it a secret and present it to him the night before our wedding.

Okay, anyway. enough talk. my question is where can i find a sketchbook big enough? I want to be able to write stories, leave space for him to write memories later, pictures, drawings, etc.  But it's also going to be really huge! Does anyone know of sketchbooks online or somewhere that are really, really thick?

Thanks!

Does anyone have any advice for cutting your own hair? I want a mohawkish type style, but can't really afford to spend 50 dollars. I'm a college student who pays for everything on her own...so yeah. If anyone could give any advice, it'd be great.

This is sorta what I'm looking for. (ignore the long parts on either end. i want the middle part, not that long mess)

http://www.craftster.org/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=146867&cat=500

I'm considering hosting a firefly shindig...I'm sort of at a loss for ideas though. I'm going to be watching the episode over and over but wanted to ask ya'll for advice.

So, it's my boyfriend's birthday coming up. He loves meat; LOVES it. However,even though I don't disapprove of others eating meat, since we've been dating (several months) he has severely cut down on his intake of it in order to be able to eat with me/cook for me. He's really sweet about it though, he's never mentioned that he misses meat at all, unless I directly ask him. He has mentioned in passing how steak is his favorite food, so for his birthday I'm planning on cooking him dinner, and this includes making him a steak.

I have no idea what to do.

I think I'm going to buy a t-bone steak, just because I remember that's what I used to eat. I really have no idea what to look for, though, or how to cook it. If someone could help me out, that'd be amazing. Thanks!