Showing posts with label Creativity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Creativity. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

An Elephant You'll Love-to-Plate

As part of our Monday routine, a small group of amazingly beautiful lady friends and myself gathered around steaming mugs of chamomile tea and gabbed about the recent headlines in our week.

While chatting as the temperatures grew steadily colder outside the windows, we also took on a creative feat to design pottery with sharpies and paint. Once you add the design that's bursting from your fingertips, heat the oven to 350 degrees, place the pottery on the middle rack, and bake for 30 minutes. The design is set for life and will not fade with wash or wear.

Because of the holidays slowly approaching, I decided to prepare mine as a gift for my grandmother. Her earlier travels to Africa are always ever-so-present in her discussions and will always serve as a capstone to her 85 years on this planet. That's how Eli, the plate surfing elephant, crystalized and materialized onto porcelain.



Here's to hoping Eli finds a great home with my Meemaw come Christmas day.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Don't Whine! Do Wine!

I love painting. Am I a natural Van-Gough? *cough* Ha! Funny joke! *cough*

But I really do love the art of splashing paint on a list of different kinds of canvases. Using water colors, pastels, and oils on paper and wood pallets was my go-to when stuck at home on the farm...


 When I was in college, wine bottles littered the streets outside of the campus perimeter on Saturday and Sunday mornings . So it's no wonder I became a dumpster diver to rescue interestingly shaped bottles to place my own story upon...

Remember my Mickey Mouse venture?
Or my Pixar dream that came true after I just kept swimming towards the final product?!

After taking a short hiatus from my wine painting days, I believe the time has come to get back to my roots and get the juices flowing again. Especially after a midnight walk that led me straight to a plethora of blank canvases just screaming to be painted...





Wednesday, May 29, 2013

To You

Who am I to you?
like wind that drifts below the trees
I'm there for a second then drift away
like the lapping waves of angry seas

Tossing, turning beneath dirty sheets
who am I to you today
the warmth of skin upon your shoulder
the kind that fades away

You see my face in the crowd
nonchelantly dismiss my smile
who am I to you tonight
another shadow in your heart's exile

The rain scatters on your furrowed brow
your eyes have never looked so blue
we say nothing, I speak to your ghost
Who was I to you?

Sunday, March 24, 2013

A Place to Call Home

It's official. I am currently living in my new abode. Upon moving all of my furniture and bigger belongings into the third floor of my new apartment, I sensed the excitement finally running full force through my finger tips.

Without internet and cable for the first week in my new apartment, I spent some free time (what little I could find) at the Starbucks a hop and a skip away. Yes, it may be dangerous how close and convenient this caffeine nook is to my quarters, but it allowed me to look up plenty of good decorating tips (for this girl on a budget). Thank you, Pinterest! You have saved me once again!

Tile 1:
1. Square Mirror- Dollar Tree- $1
2. Hexagon Mirror- Dollar Tree- $1
3. Aqua-Marine ribbon- Wal-Mart- 1 spool- $1.89

Tile 2:
1. Small Glass Vase- Dollar Tree- $1
2. Blue Opaque Pebbles- Dollar Tree- $1
3. (2) White life-living flower- Dollar Tree- $1 (x2)
4. Mainstay Floral Bouquet Candle- Wal0Mart- $3.50
5. Coffee Mug (gift from my homeland, Maryland!)

Tile 3:
1. "Get Naked" individual letters- Michaels- $.79 each (x8)=$6.40

Tile 4:
1. Tack and Tuck homemade cover (sheets) Wal-Mart- $5.69 (x3)= $17.20
2. (2 packs) Cushion Tacks- Wal-Mart- $.87= $1.75

All together, all seen above cost me approximately $37. Not too shabby when one couch cover averages $50! Hope everyone's weekend was crafty, not the least bit soggy, and all around lovely!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

New Apartment, Saving Spring Break, and Still Gluten Free!

It seems that with the ever-churning wheels of adult-hood, this girl has been going full throttle since day one of work. I thought about what it would be like to pull the emergency brake and stop for a few days to breathe... and then responsibilities kicked me out of this daze and back into the drivers seat 
0 to 60...

This past weekend, I road tripped to Charleston (for the first time!) to celebrate my roommate's last "Fling before the Ring." I met amazing ladies, ate some delicious food, and got into too many adventures... wait... is there such a thing? I think not...





Yes, that is my roomie and I... 
and yes, those are lady mustaches we are sporting out in public...

But with all good times come an end and we found our way back to the real world this week full of work, bills, and cleaning. Unfortunately, my roommate came down with a silly sickness and we have been wishing her a quick recovery...

On the other side, I have been feverishly searching for my new home here in Charlotte, and thanks to some quick thinking and a nice lady in the front office of the apartment complex... I have found my new bachelor-ette pad. 

How I'll decorate it, I do not know. I'm about as clueless as a turtle in an airplane about what to do to put an entire apartment together. Kitchen appliances, bathroom extras, living room furniture-OH MY!

 All I can say is Thank Goodness for Pinterest! 
How I'll incorporate different elements such as seen above... beats me. But once the furniture moves and space is reserved... I'll figure it out. If you have any input for this new apartment dweller, please share!

Also... while I am out of college and far from a standard "Spring Break", I will be packing my bags for a long weekend trip down south for some sunshine coming up in the next week! 
 
Who said I'm too old for spring break? Oh no, not I, says the girl on the fly! 
 
XOXO

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Chocolate&Gluten-Free Lent! Day 3

It's day 3 of lent and that means the third day without ANY chocolate or gluten products. When I set these rules for my 40 days of lent, I wanted to choose things that I knew were going to be a challenge. And while eating a chocolate donut, I realized what I needed to do...

So far, it has not been too shady. Just taking more time to read the labels to make sure no sneaky wheat/gluten ingredients were used in making the food I am consuming. Thank goodness for Trader Joe's gluten free breads and protein powders, I have been able to still make tuna fish sandwiches with only natural tuna fish, organic mustard, jalapeno salsa, and veggies for my take-to-work lunches. I've also been enjoying more salads topped with seared fish or white bean soup with quinoa.

 I have also been able to have tasty desserts like peanut butter and honey on race cakes and gluten-free frozen yogurt .

But this morning, I ran into a terrible craving for pancakes... and since it is hard to think "pancakes" without the fluffy flour that makes up these breakfast staples, I had to be creative... So I came up with this recipe to suffice... And it was no compromise. Just a tasty alternative!

GLUTEN-FREE VANILLA PROTEIN PANCAKES 
...WITH PEANUT BUTTER TOPPING

Ingredients-
Pancakes:
3 Egg Whites
1 Tbs Chia Seeds
2 Scoops Vanilla Raw Protein- Whole Foods
1 Tbs Almond milk- unsweetend
1 (mashed) Banana
Peanut Butter Topping:
1 Tbs Natural, Organic Peanut Butter
1/4 cup Fage 0% Greek Yogurt

Combine PB and yogurt into a small dish. Set aside.
Combine all pancake ingredients into a large bowl. Mash banana into the egg white mixture until creamy. Heat small skillet on medium high and spray light layer of non-stick cooking spray. Place dollop of mixture on skillet, flip after 2 minutes or until bottom is brown. Repeat. 
Top with PB/yogurt topping and indulge in a healthy pancake breakfast!
(Makes 3-4 small pancakes)
Calories per small pancake w/o topping- about 92
Calories w/ topping- about 120

Happy Weekend, everyone!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

A Letter to Imagination

DEAR IMAGINATION,
Computer screen one, computer screen two
tutorial on software. Computer games, ultimately
that get jobs done, or create organization
or something. I get it. We are improving the flow of information
but the only flow I'm worried about this morning
is that of my coffee mixed with coconut milk and a squeeze of vanilla.
((home)). Instead I'm encased
by glass windows marked up with breaths of melting shale
It's gray. Gray and lovely all the same.
Bring on the rain clouds and thunder claps and anticipation-
I'll run through it this evening to grow my intimidating thunder thighs!
I hope the sun stays on vacation, Oh sun-
shine your light on my parents as they vacation
too. I wish I was on vacation.
Take me to the mountains! Take me away, wishful thinking
to a land of barefeet and sweet summer flowers waving in a cool breeze.
A swingset, a seesaw. Nostalgia sets in.
I want to explore. I want to meet someones new. Someones different.
Upon these sidewalks, we all look the same- give me a different perspective
and open my eyes to the diverse souls I bump into on my way to work
play, and dream. It's hump day
so close to the weekend, yet too far away. Friends arriving
games to be played, activities and smiles
Ahh, I'm just where I want to be.
LOVE,
A CURRENT CUBIE


Happy Wednesday, world! Hang in there, we're halfway to the weekend!!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

With a touch of Glass...





Inspired by the highly anticipated Disney Marathon in January, I brought out my inner-mouse in my latest bottle-project.

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"- Walt Disney


Thursday, July 19, 2012

Spacin' Out

It’s been a crazy week, to say the least! Starting a new job is nothing short of overwhelming, hectic, tiring, but overall wonderful. Three days into my new job at Premier, Inc. and I am already seeing the working world at its finest. Pencil skirts, cute blouses, high-heels, and decked-out cubicals. Oh yea, and there’s actual work too. But that will come a little later…

When it comes to personalizing my space, I always like to bring out the corky side. That includes my Pooh Bear-tequila bottle, Michael’s Craft store clearance items, photos of family and friends, and coffee mugs upon coffee mugs. I love the occasional inspirational quote and postcard from family members overseas.

Do my desks look like these? No…Well… Not yet.
Oh, and work is going fine- The typical first week agenda, a few training seminars, meeting new people, mentorships, and reading… A LOT of reading and note-taking. (I thought I already graduated college?)

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Vegan July 4th Cupcakes!

It's almost that time to start celebrating the land of the free. Home of beautiful spacious skies, those amber waves of grain, and some purple mountain majesties... Oh America, happy ((almost)) birthday!

Just like those days of birth for my lovely friends of all sorts, I am a sucker for cupcake celebrations! So this wonderful country wouldn't feel left out, I went ahead and made some in honor of our free land! Since attempting a Vegan Lifestyle for the past 5 days (and still counting!) these tasty morsels are 100% vegan (free of dairy, eggs, meat) but 100% awesome sauce!

Whip up the cake recipe (found below). Bake at 350 degrees 20-25 minutes. Let cool.
 

Pipe icing (recipe found below) through a plastic bag with a miniscule slit cut at the corner. Top with something patriotic-colored...like raspberries and blueberries (staying vegan)!



And...DEVOUR!


To save on funds, I bought red cupcake liners at the dollar store to constitute for red berries. But if I may say, don't skimp on the blue b's!

Thanks to the lovely Liz for helping me make these babies! (And taste testing licking the bowl clean of any icing we whipped up!)

Vegan cake recipe can be found HERE
Vegan frosting recipe can be found HERE
Blueberries added upon the classy whim of an American heart <3

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

A Poem for Tuesday

There's absolutely nothing that I wouldn't do
for a wonderfully exciting trip to the zoo
Bring friends a plenty, or bring only a few
I promise I can show them each something new

You see... In this zoo across the street
Run animals that you'd most like to meet
With gifts and treasures from their trunks to their feet
Putting on shows that are surely a treat

These animals bring love in the most charming of ways
From the songs that they sing or the magick they spray
Each hope that their guests will sit and stay
So grab your coat, let's not delay!

There's the monkey with a thumb of green!
(If that's not the darnedest thing you've ever seen.)
Bee's that dance in puddles around the buzzing Queen
These humble bumbles invite all to intervene!

Marcy the Marvelous Mouse swings from vines
a trapeze artist way before her time
Her assistant, RaTzle Dazzle- She tumbles divine!
No telling the stunts when this duo combines!

The Lion is sassy, his hair glazed in gold
He weaves the ground into coats of moss and mold
Need a jacket for when the weather turns cold?
He'll add a scarf to every item sold!


Ellie the Elephant is my favorite of all
She is a gentle giant, standing thirty feet tall
Just tickle her tummy and watch her front heels sprawl
As a bouquet arises from her trunks loud squall!


I tell you, good fellows, this zoo is of its worth
These animals have all lived here since their birth
With only the purpose to share their love and mirth
And to give light to the beauty that is our one and only earth.


So now we must go, as dusk draws near
But give our friends a great big cheer
As they settle into a night so peaceful and clear
On our lonely yet lovely last frontier

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

National Chocolate Chip Day!

Today is National Chocolate Chip Day!... according to the American Food Holidays website. Now, before you all jump up and down with glee and anticipation to tear into a bag of Nestles' semi-sweet morsels... WAIT! 

Take a look at all of these scrumptious recipes that you can incorporate those babies into!

These chocolate chip cookies I made for a friends birthday last November... Gooey, Sweet, Rich, and worth every bite (dunked in a glass of cold milk, of course!)


Ok, now it is chocolate chip day, but how about these chocolate Chips?! Use a double broiler (or boil water in a pan with a bowl containing chocolate chips above it).
Once the chocolate melts, dip those chips for a sweet&salty explosion!


How about the best of both worlds? Mix Chocolate Chip Cookie dough with Silky Chocolate Chip Brownies.. Holy Chocolate! Whatta way to celebrate!



Don't want to wait for the oven to preheat or the stove to glow? 

(All images found on Google Search: Chocolate Chips)

Have a Sweet Little Tuesday!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

On the Move...

Spring time is here, and that means it's time for cleaning, fresh starts, and adventures! Hooray for yard sales on every corner and consignment stores getting new items daily (By the truck-full!) Why am I this excited about cleaning out the house and finding bargain furniture? 
Well...Because this girl is moving back down south on June 1st!

Scouring Pinterest for bedding ideas and DIY decor, I am so so SO excited to get my bargain-shopping on! One thing that I LOVE about moving into a new space is the creativity I will be able to put forth into a new bedroom, especially the headboard. Remember when I redid my room back at home

I replaced the overhead space above my bed with shelves of lights, Boyds Bears, and photographs. But this time, I'm leaning more towards a simple, rustic feel... Much like these Pinterest finds-
 Previously working at a coffee shop, I hope to use left over burlap coffee bean sacks to overlay wooden pallets. Another great reason to dream of coffee and its infinite glory...
Plain pallets are EVERYWHERE around this farm, so they are accessible (ahemm... FREE!!) and the perfect size! Plus, they lend to endless possibilities for hanging Christmas lights in-between the slates for a cozier feel.
Just as easy as pallets, four or five basic wood slates, sanded down and glossed. Finish them with a spray painted word of wisdom to wake up to. Me? I like the "love" in this picture, but any word that suits my fancy upon completion can be substituted!

Alternating window shutters. A little harder to find, but once they have been located, a thin layer of paint (I'll be leaning towards natural tan and white instead of green) and then to hang at pillow tops. 
 

What is your favorite part of moving and re-decorating? Anything come to mind when you get those creative juices flowing and spring fever hits?

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