October

I'm going to let you in on a little secret that is not so secret. I LOVE Martha Stewart. Not just love her, but want to BE (like) her. Part of the reason I created this website was to tap into my Martha Stewart after hours sensibilities. To me, peak Martha Stewart is October - December. The holiday crafts, yummy recipes, and oh gawd - the cookies! 🍪 To follow in her holy majesty's footsteps, I will be dedicating the next few months to the season & holidays.

Kicking off this celebration with October gives me sugar spiked spooked thrills. Crisp weather (buh-bye, summer!), costume planning, and snuggles fill the air as we all get ready to start the three month long part-ay 🎉 marathon. Speaking of party, do you have your costume ready for Halloween? Well neither do I. That is why we will be showing you how to make a quick mask (psst, or buy one from the ounce market). Also, in honor of the changing season, we will be posting a recipe inspired by the fallen autumnal red and yellow leaves on the still green grass. If you are hosting (or attending) a party, these baked root vegetable chips and green onion dip will be a crowd pleaser. 🍂 

So get a little freaky and get a little creepy, 'cuz October is gonna be ghoul(d)!! 👻 Come back soon for more crafts, recipes, and other odds and ends 😈 

Beach Club

Beach Club. I fucking LOVE beach club. Beach club, a once a year off shoot of dinner club (I will dedicate a post to them another time), has solidified the friendship of 8 people with beach bon fires, trundle beds, and loads of food and vodka. Beach club is a weekend of mindful excess as we sustain ourselves on produce from the local farmers and freshly caught seafood. Beach club is a master study of skillful and deliberate preparation and planning, spearheaded and guided by our lovely hostess Meghan and solidified over many boozy picnics leading up to the grand event. Beach club is anticipation and realization. Meghan, Hal, Carissa, Matt, Sasha, Kent, Greg, and Southold. I love you all - now, forever and always.

Not sure if you noticed, but I really love beach club; which made brainstorming for craft ideas super easy! Our first post will focus on a beach club classic, the watermelon. Whether it is an afternoon snack with feta and basil, or a dinner salad (with feta and basil), the simple watermelon is a true favorite. For Ounce&Crafts, we present to you a watermelon dressing with soy sauce, jalapeño, and a few more of our favorites. And, of course, we served it over a watermelon feta salad.

Though beach club comes but just once a year, it comes with the same calendar dance as our dinner club (again, another time!) Trying to schedule a time for all 8 of us to meet can be difficult, and I often find myself missing the sight of their lovely faces. So why not try to see them everyday with face magnets?! Only slightly creepy, these magnets are a daily reminder of food, booze, beach, and friendship. Ain't nothing wrong with that!

So here it is; my love letter to beach club. We will be uploading these crafts all throughout August. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Beach claaab  

Greg

So how is everyone’s week going? Good? Did you make a mojito inspired cake?  How about the vagina balsam fir sachet?  Random note; Sachet and Satchel are two (2) TOTALLY different things! In fact, a Satchel and purse are similar (almost the same) than a sachet and satchel. The only difference between a purse and a satchel is that satchels have a flap and are typically worn with a cross body strap. The more you know, huh?!

The friend featured this week just so happens to be my favorite one.  He conveniently also happens to be my boyfriend. He just might be the best boyfriend out there (sorry), or at least the best boyfriend I have ever had. He is also a big dweeb face with a poopy butt but that is neither here or there. People often think of him as introverted; they think of him as a man who speaks seldom but with great intent and confidence. They don’t know his repertoire of 7 year old boy jokes as well as I do. Greg is kind and caring in spirit and soul which is what I believe leads him to be so passionate about intern labor rights, feminism, and activism in general. Greg is witty, intelligent, and extremely supportive.  Greg sets me up to succeed in life, for which I am forever thankful. He also has an addiction to tickling which I think should be treated by having everyone we know tickle him when they see him next. I love him and he loves me. Gross.

To celebrate Greg this week, I focused on the two things he loves the most (after me and his family) – his laptop and Cincinnati.  I pulled some great Maharam Kvadrat textile memo samples to make him a laptop sleeve which in no way is too big for his laptop J And in an attempt to pay homage to skyline chili we have a recipe for Pa-Pow hot sauce (read the instructions about ventilation VERY carefully).  And with that I say thank you and I hope you enjoy!

First Post

So, this is the first blog post for Ounce & Crafts. No pressure or anything!  Next week will feature a friend (the first friend!) but to get thing going I figured I would start with myself.  After all, in the words of RUPAUL, "Honey, If You Can’t Love Yourself, How The Hell You Gonna Love Someone Else? Can I get an a-MEN?".

Trying to find the joy/inspiration in this year was a little harder than expected. It was a long and cold winter; which did not help with the isolation Greg and I were feeling having just moved to Jersey City (away from all of our friends in Astoria).  My responsibilities at work doubled but with that so did my hours. I love practicing Interior Design, however when all I do is work and sleep life can become a bit dull. I became a bit dull.

But all that dullness is just hardened fat at the top.  Because when I skim it away with a slotted spoon, underneath is gravy . . . glorious delicious gravy. My joy this year is the gift of amazing people, the power of friendship. Birthdays, dinner clubs, DIY spa weekends, bash-a-lorette parties, weddings, watching friends perform stand up comedy, hugging friends as they try not to cry, them holding me together until the dullness melted away.  The gravy was in all the amazing places we went to this year, and the crazy stories that joined the ride.  and THAT is where I find the inspiration for my first feature.

Look out for a dark chocolate, toasted coconut, mojito yogurt cake recipe (inspired by our trip to Puerto Rico) in the crafts sections.  You will also find a DIY Vagina Balsam Fir Sachet post which I am sure you want to know all about. Lastly, Ounce No. 01 (my handmade scented whipped body oil) will officially be for sale under the Ounce section!!

Thanks and I hope you enjoy!