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 😈 

Steve

As I write this love letter to my brother, the day after his birthday (but is posted a few days later), it is easy to come up with reasons to honor him and have him be the source of much inspiration for the month of September. Listen, I know that there are plenty of other people who will tell you that THEIR brother is the best. They are straight up mo fo lying. Obviously Steve is the best; and if you have a problem with that, then we might have a problem.

Steve is funny. He is the type of funny that makes you excited to be around him because you know it will always result in laughter. His funny comes naturally and is unrehearsed. That type of funny requires an insightful and clever mind, which is in abundance when it comes to Steve. He is kind. Steve is generous with his emotions in a way most decent people aren't anymore. Ask anyone who has met Steve; they will gladly attest to his good nature and kind spirit. Steve is caring and reliable. Whether it was helping me pack and move my stuff across boroughs, or simply hanging out and hate watching shows with me so I wouldn't feel alone; Steve has always made me feel protected, loved, and cared for. Steve is the ultimate big brother but in a secret ninja sort of way which makes it even better.

Forget the Dos Equis' "most interesting man in the world"; that title clearly belongs to my brother. Born in Czechoslovakia (What is now known as Czech Republic or the the ever confusing Czechia - srsly, wtf) and raised in Queens, Steve has lived more fully than most of us. He has surfed in the Pacific Ocean, hiked up a mountain in the Himalayas, and rode a horse in the Dominican Republic. Steve was a substitute teacher in the New York City public school system, a rickshaw driver in San Diego, and was sponsored to use holographic lasers (one of like only 4 in the world) in Columbus Ohio. Steve can play the guitar, bass, banjo, piano, and theremin ( which by the way, he also built himself). If that wasn't enough, Steve also started his own profitable business (shout out to Liquid Light Lab) which has had a major impact on the psychedelic light show industry and inspires countless people everyday. What exactly have you been doing with your life, huh?

Okay, so now you are probably thinking "WOAH. What can Ounce&Crafts possibly make, what can they possibly DO to honor such an amazing person?!". You know what? I feel ya. This wasn't an easy task. Damnit though, I think these recipes and crafts just might do the trick. For the recipe inspired by Steve, I looked back to our childhood. Being a little selfish (as little sisters sometimes do), I chose Smazeny Syr (a fried cheese famous in the Czech Republic), mostly because I am currently a vegetarian and didn't want to waste leftovers of goulash or fried chicken. This fried cheese will get a SLIGHTLY healthy spin with a yogurt based tartar sauce and a funfetti inspired salad. For the craft, inspiration is being taken from the graffiti in NYC my brother grew up with and to this day still finds his own inspiration from. Since I SUCK at graffiti, the subway car will serve as the ultimate canvas for a series of food safe baked sharpie dish ware. Remember to check back in for the month of September for recipe and craft posts and maybe some fun additions to the Ounce Market!

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  

Lexi

Sometimes you meet a person and it just clicks.  Like, “Oh, Hi!” friends FOREVER. Or 4 EVA. Lexi, for me, is one of those people. Lexi is intelligent, funny as hell, earnest, and even though I don’t want to objectify her, has a great ass.  We have shared face masks, broken into hotel pools, watched way too many lifetime movies, and have sunbathed in the park like the pros that we are. Lexi is always supportive of other people’s dreams and visions and in general is the most positive person I know. I feel lucky to have as great of a friend as her in my life – no matter where we live or what we do!  Bubbiez is the best!

During the many Lifetime movies and Downton Abbey seasons we have watched together, one thing remains constant. Cucumber Sammies. Knitting club, Ladies day, Spa weekend – all heavily feature the cucumber sandwich.  For Lexi we will be making cucumber sammies THREE WAYS – that is right, three ways! Exciting stuff, eh?

You know what else is exciting? The upcoming nuptials of Zach and Lexi! Those two lovebirds are gonna be stuck together for life and it is gross and beautiful and all things lovely. Since Lexi was very clear about no penis shaped objects or strippers for her bachelorette party; I am left with only one option. Clearly, I must make her nipple pasties with tassels. The glue gun was working extra hard on this one ;)

Come check out these awesome crafts during the week and I hope you enjoy!

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!