Wolves, Unicorns and Baby Skunks! Ridiculously Cute shirts by The Mountain

Back to school shopping season is upon us. Time for comfy/cool T-shirts! I have purchased tees for my kiddos and myself from a ton of different vendors over the years. The Mountain is one company that I keep coming back to. 

The Mountain tees are built to last a generation and they cater to nerdy animal lovers like myself. Perfect for Portlanders! Whether you are a student, a parent or someone else these shirts are sure to leave a smile on your face as they wrap you in coziness. 

A picture says a thousand words so I am sure you all currently understand how awestruck I am by the Yin Yang Wolves Hoodie. So comfy, so beautiful, so fuzzy looking... I just might cry. 

Behold the stunning Last Unicorn T shirt. Modeled by a man, it is clear that this unisex shirt looks great on absolutely everyone. The angelic unicorn looks breathtaking hovering above the jewel toned background. This may be my favorite. 

This beauty is a kid's shirt but I simply couldn't resist adding it as an option for myself lol. After all, an XL in kids has the same width as a men's small. The length is smaller but that is actually a benefit for the short torsoed people of the world like myself. Plus the kid's shirts are cheaper lol. 

Every boy needs a gorilla shirt. Just look at the grand ape's expression. He looks like a boss that is hard to please. I bet he's thinking, "I am not amused human, but I am also bored. Proceed."

Have a different favorite t-shirt brand? Please share it with me. Ts are life. Uniqlo is still my fave but The Mountain is a close second. 

<3 KM 

Finally, the perfect pencil sharpener! #CarlAngel5

I have been through a variety of pencil sharpeners personally and professionally. Each time they break I heartbroken due to the wasted money and wasted materials that will most likely end up in the landfill. I finally found the durable sharpener of my dreams, and its name is Carl!

How much is the Carl Angel 5? 

I paid just under $17 with free shipping on Amazon. 

How sharp do the pencil tips get? 

This sharp!!!

Can I sharpen colored pencils in the Carl? 

The Carl Angel 5 Sharpener sharpens colored pencils with ease to a precision point; however I feel as though they waste color so I stop halfway. If you are using an expensive set of colored pencils I recommend an art specific hand sharpener so you have more visual control. The Prismacolor scholar is my favorite affordable option, which is currently its selling for $1.59 on Amazon! 

Fully sharpened vs. halfway

What happens if a tip gets stuck in the barrel? 

The handle of the machine is attached to the barrel. If you loosen the handle the barrel will pop out and you can easily expel the broken tip like so: 

Anything else special about the Carl? 

In addition to being extremely functional the Carl pencil sharpener looks adorable anywhere you set it. It comes with an optional table clip. This is totally optional because the Carl has a built in function that holds the pencil in place and applies pressure while you crank. This makes the sharpener very portable and practical. It is even available in the adorable birdhouse version!

Happy sharpening! 

<3 KM 

Song Obsessions - Starboy and On Hold #theXX #theWeekend

I have been so over the radio lately. Too many repeats and new songs that sound the same mixed with some good ones that got old quickly. I am ready and waiting for a new music season!

Despite the lull in exciting new music these two songs have been playing on repeat for the last few months. I still turn it up when they come on and continue to play them again when I get home.

The Weekend has reached a whole new level with Starboy. The unexpected beat changes and variations in his voice pattern keep things interesting over and over again. It is a challenging song to memorize beginning to end. Plus its smoother than anything I've heard recently.

Starboy's music video has nearly reach 1 BILLION views and it has earned every single one. According to Urban Dictionary a starboy is "a womanizer, a philanderer". Bummer. 
I was hoping it was something epic and/ or extraterrestrial haha. 

When does it stop? When do you stop? When do you dare me to?

On Hold begins rather calmly but when it gets to this part I can't help but dance. The trap/dubstep beat is sick. I have totally replayed the loop before because it is my absolute favorite part of the song and one of my favorite pieces of any song the in last 6 months or so.

Anything epic that I am totally missing? Let me know.

<3 KM

Badass Dog Shirts

I am not really into dressing pets up in cute little outfits, but at times it becomes a necessity. My dog's hair is thinning as he gets older, so he is going to need some sun protection when he gets his summer hair cut. There is no way I am messing with goopy, doggy sunscreens. I am on the search for some badass, cool-dog shirts. This is what I found:

Astronaut 

Is there anything cooler than exploring space in a rocket? I don't think so. 

Cool Fish

I am always down for some fish skeleton. This shirt is full of summer fun. I mean - check out those sunnies!

Godzilla

Little dogs love to pretend they are big, and where better to do that then Japan! Plus, Tom Waits, obviously. 

Octopus Balls

Continuing with the Japanese theme, I have here a shirt with takoyaki (a delicious Japanese treat). The American flag just adds a touch of bizarro. The shop that sells this, DurianLovers, has so many crazy shirts for dogs, many of the designs emblazoned on American flags. 

Pizza Steve

Pizza Steve is a Karate master. And my dog turns into a secret ninja when there is pepperoni pizza around. I think my dog would probably chose this shirt if I let him pick.

Gonzo

Everyone knows that shirts with H.S. Thompson quotes on them are a sure sign of coolness. Also, I am pretty sure the quote exemplifies your dog. It sure does for mine.

Paranoid

This shirt if for the conspiracy theorist, super paranoid dog. The kind of dog that is bristling at every small sound. My dog is waaaay too chill for this shirt, but it is still badass. 

Junkie Dog

And now for our final little number. This shirt is only for hardcore junkie dogs. My dog was on a lot of painkillers a few months back and we were always joking that he had turned into a grumpy dope fiend. He's mostly better now, so he doesn't need this shirt anymore. 

Meanwhile In Portland - Current Pics #wandering @sizzlepie @stumptown @groundkontrol

We've been having lots of fun this year. Helps to scare away the fear of our newest president, global warming and the looming mega earthquake that is bound to hit PDX. Here are some shots taken during my recent escapades.

This is the prettiest alcohol advert I have seen in awhile. Such striking colors! I try to tread lightly when it comes to hards but this picture is my current favorite self composition.

Inclusivity based signs are popping up all over the place. I really like this one found at Ground Kontrol, one of my favorite arcades. It covers so many bases. Hugs to everyone feeling out of place lately!

I spotted this lovely terrarium while drinking coffee at Stumptown. Not sure which location. It is quite large for a terrarium. The vine may be baby monstera leaves, which remind me of Hawai'i. Been having a bit of island fever lately, in the midst of our grey skies haha. 

I bought these Smash Mallows for $4 a bag at REI. They are lightly sugared, absolutely delicious marshmallows. Everyone at my place loves them! Nom!!!

I absolutely love this unnecessary, overpriced Moschino bag. It was on sale for $750 at Off Saks. 

This vegan pizza is so good that it literally made me shed tiny tears of joy. Sizzle Pie's spiral tap pizza is THE BEST pizza for those who don't do real cheese or fake cheese. So good! I like the W Burnside location so I can look for books at Powell's after stuffing myself. 

This is what the homeless camp by Chinatown looks like at the mo'. They have tarp tents and porta-potties. I have no idea why this site was chosen or taken over but its been here for quite a long time. 

It is kind of scary to pass by, but I am glad that it provides shelter to some members of our homeless community. I have watched it evolve over time. I'll try to take some more pics of it in the future, for the sake of history. 

Wishing you all the very best! 

<3 KM

This Song Will Make You Werk!!!! #WildHorses #BishopBriggs

My newest song obsession is Wild Horses by Bishop Briggs. At the moment the official music video only has 140k views. It was just published in Dec 2016. If you haven't heard it yet I urge you give it a shot!

When I first heard this song I was listening to 94.7, the indie radio station over here in PDX. It's a mellow tune with deep bass that makes me wanna run as fast as I can so that I can be a wild horse too. Domestication isn't nearly as interesting.

Bishop's look is totally 90s but that's the thing right now. I hold Miley partially responsible for bringing it back. I made a lot of strange fashion choices during that time in my life, even as a child. Lots of neon, fuzzy sweaters and tattoo necklaces! I remember that Maurice's used to be super cool back then. Now it's much tamer.

Bishop sounds kind of bored when she sings but I relate to it in a Daria sort of way. I wish the Daria revival was actually a thing. She's the coolest. Well, maybe second to the Ghost World crew.

Happy Valentine's Day Beauties!!!

<3 KM

Awesome things at Target.

Target never fails to tempt me.

This bow is $3. Worth it? Maybe.

How could I not love this?

This is legit mayo with no dairy. 

Happy tasty food. Too kawaii!!!

I am really trying to be a minimalist so I'm posting these here instead of buying them for my home haha. I am also trying to use reusable bags only. Both are such a challenge but better for the earth... and my wallet! 

Lately M and I haven't been blogging regularly. We are both doing well and are spending our time exploring other outlets, even dabbling in the digital world of coding. We still may show up from time to time. 

Wishing you all the very best! 

<3 KM

Genius James Bay

If faux gospel folk like the jaw dropping Hozier is your thing you may already listen to James Bay. He's pretty mainstream now. I am just mesmerized by his music.

Just about anyone who has fallen out of love with someone at one point or another will resonate with this song. When I am in a mood it brings tears to my eyes haha. This is the song that got me into James Bay. Keep pulling on them heartstrings!

This song is nearly as popular as the first. The chorus is so fun to sing. Extra drama with some melody for good measure. The bridge that starts at 2:14 is everything.

"Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander
Let us hold each other." Lyrics from Google Play Music

These two are the only widely published James Bay songs I like right now but they are so amazing that I still wanted to write this post. Those songs alone are worth it. So good.

Scars just doesn't get me. It's starts to slow and my attention drifts away before I get to the chorus. I feel similarly about Move Together.

Best Fake Smile is not my speed. It sounds all right but it's not something that I can relate to. The lonely water lyrics make up for it all. One things for sure, Bay is an amazing writer/composer!

<3 KM

Tetra Pack Beans! @target #BPAFree

Being somewhat environmentally aware I have learned that most canned goods have BPA in the lining of the cans. To avoid this I use fresh or glass jarred items as much as possible, but sometimes convenience wins and I grab a can of beans or tomatoes. With these new strange beans I can avoid one more canned convenience food. Score!

I was pleasantly surprised with the tenderness of the beans. Sometimes kidney beans can be a bit tough, which is the worst. I had maybe two tougher beans in my pasta but it was better than some other organic brands I've tried.

Tetra packs still contain some plastic so ultimately it is better to cook your beans from scratch. Since that doesn't always happen these are a good alternative. Tetra packs are easily recyclable in most areas, Portland included!

<3 KM

Pokemon Go - the Easy way to reload a frozen iPhone app #FixTheGame

Despite server frustrations I am a huge fan of Pokemon Go. I have played it since the beginning as a little kid and to me this is just the most amazing app ever. Also, it encourages me to get over my fear of random people. Win win!

When I first started playing the game I restarted my phone every time the game froze. Then I learned this little trick for iPhone users that is so much easier. Check it out!

As I speak the server is back up. Thank goodness! Time to go into the forest and claim my space at the gym.

<3 KM

Brainless Funfetti Cookies

These cookies are way too easy, extremely cheap, and just fun. I wish I could tell you that they are healthy too, but sadly they are not. Make sure you have lots of people to share them with.

Ingredients:

• 1 box Funfetti Cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup coconut or vegetable oil
• 1-2 TB star Sprinkles (not optional, according to Z)

Extras:

• Sparkle Gel for cookie faces

Method:

Put all ingredients into a bowl. Mix together with a fork until all dry mix is combined. Sprinkle lightly with colored sugar if you'd like. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 on an un-greased cookie sheet. 

There is plenty of oil in the mix so the cookies shouldn't stick to the pan. The bottoms will probably brown excessively if you use cooking spray. Parchment paper may be a good alternative. 

<3 KM

Classic Digital Watches ft. Casio, Timex and Neff

I can't stand analogue watches. I can read them, promise! I just think that it takes way more time to figure out the actual time than it does to just look at a digital watch. I'm actually good with numbers but I am directionally challenged, and a touch dyslexic, so clocks just aren't my strong suit.

Also analogue watches are often not as waterproof or sturdy. I am not the type to diligently take off my watch off before I jump in the water, go for a hike or do the dishes. Delicate things are not going to survive on my wrist.

The problem with this is that analog watches are so much prettier than digital watches. Most digital watches are clunky, hideous or they scream "I shop at Walmart!!!". Nothing against the last by the way, you can probably find some of these there :P. Classic Casio and Timex watches are unisex, which means they are smaller and they come in all sorts of colors. Yasssss!

Colorful Casios by kmfern featuring Casio

These Casios are currently only available in the UK. I have the mustard and turquoise. Totally wish that these were carried in the US because they rock, and I don't like to pay shipping. At least they are unique!

Neff Watches by kmfern featuring neff watches

I haven't tried this brand but these are totally rocking. They remind me of M!

Timex Collection by kmfern featuring digital watches

Timex's indiglo function is boss. I wish they carried more pastels though.

Casios by kmfern featuring a gold wrist watch

This lot is perfect if you are looking for something a bit more presentable. I am waiting for the last to come in the mail. It's reviews aren't the best but I love the color combo. It seems that some people find the white numbers to be hard to read in bright light. Hoping this is not a deal for me.

I really wish there was a classier line of digital watches. I'd totally drop $200 for an elegant, waterproof, indestructible, adorable digital watch. Until then these are totally great. Since they aren't too expensive I have a few different types to go with my mood. I've been feeling turquoise lately apparently.

Happy summer!

<3 KM

Finished Pepper Pots + Free Stencils

My pepper plants' new homes are done! I think they look like cool hot sauce bottles. The only one without a pepper is the atomic bomb. I just couldn't sully the name-sake of my design. 

"The Atomic Age"

The Pink Flamingo is for the rise of the middle-class suburbs because I think that a contributing factor in suburban growth was the fear of bombs targeting major cities.

The Ray Gun is a toy popularized by sci-fi TV shows in the 50's, obviously influenced by rockets that were made to deploy atomic weapons.

The Gas Mask were stocked in bomb shelters, so if the unthinkable happened people wouldn't breath in radioactive particles.

The Angler Fish is because deep sea exploration was reaching it's peak during the time, and because deep sea creatures might be some of the only things to survive the nuclear apocalypse. 

The Mushroom Cloud is self explanatory. 

The DNA is for the damage and cancers that radiation from detonations has caused around the world.

The UFO is for the first sightings that coincided with the development of nuclear missiles and new airplanes.

The Bomb Girl was painted on planes and bombs in WWII.

Sputnik was launched using rocket technology originally meant to carry the bomb into enemy territory. 

The Atomic Symbol is the symbol of the age.

I still need to spray these suckers with some sealant. I hope they don't get damaged before then.

If you want to see how I made these pots:

Designing

Painting

8 Free Stencils Below!

I just used an oval for the atom symbol and did the pepper DNA freehand. The UFO is a little different than the one on the planter.

(the last two are a little tricky, but I'm sure you can figure them out)

Have Fun!

Philosophy Poem #1

Philosophy has always been a big part of my life. I share my strange thoughts with friends and family but today I figure I'll save them and share here instead. Lucky you :P! Here is today's little revelation:

Being

The decisions that we make

What to give

What to take

What to keep 

What to free

What to do 

Redo, undo

What to leave undone 

Makes us all
It's who we are

one
alone

One
Together

<3 KM

Painting Pepper Planters

I painted trippy new pots for my hot pepper plants! Don't worry - the strange black-hole look is not the final product. That's where The Atomic Age stencils go.

I got the 5 gallon, black pots from Amazon. I also got 1 inch painters tape. I sanded the pots a little and started taping. The ovals are just packing labels, which I do not recommend because the spray paint aerosol made them peel a little during painting.

On the striped pots I used other pieces of tape in-between the pieces that stayed to keep it all even. I peeled the measuring pieces off, of course. The checkered pots were taped all over then then cut with a box cutter parallel to the tape lines. The little squares took forever to peel off.

I used spray paint that is made for plastic. It took the whole can to paint 5 pots. I peeled off the painters tape about an hour after painting. It turned out super well!

I didn't really remember to take pictures of the painting process of the designs. I was concentrating too hard. I made stencils for the main designs and painted the peppers free-hand. It took a few coats of acrylic paint, which I mixed to match my designs. 

The doggie helped, too.

The Design Process

The Final Product