Comfort Food Re-imagined

Being chronically under-employed has it perks: I get to work in the garden more, I get to hone skills, I get to spend many of my days with my students, I get to try some new things that I did not have as much time for before. It also has its pitfalls: depression comes in waves, I am unmotivated to do new projects, and I eat...more than I should. As many women before me, my go-to stress snacks are sweet and crunchy. Ice cream though is expensive and fattening. Enter chocolate banana "nice" cream sandwiches!

Sunday Funday: DIY Terrariums & Rock Gardens

In this time of diminished employment (I did not get the job, btw); I have been doing a lot of gardening. I have put in many hours in my herb and veggie gardens, at our plot at the Community Garden, and at my favorite guy's place. My house itself was feeling a little neglected. We unearthed some moss and I was recently gifted a miniature boxwood. You know what that means?! Rock gardens and terrariums. 

Back from the Dead...with projects!

When you decide to become a blogger, you always have great intentions: posting valuable and timely content, being engaging and interesting, taking eye-catching photos. Then life happens. Careers change. Relationships need work. Self-confidence and self-worth plummet. Well, not always, but that is what happened to me.

Working today for tomorrow

Some of you out there may think that I am a little scattered: jewelry-making, cooking, crocheting, felting, embroidery, plays, fitness, work, and now art. It may be true, but not in a bad way. For as long as I can remember, I have liked to stay busy. As a child, I had a vast imagination and could spend hours playing with Barbies or reading books. Summer reading challenges were no big deal for nerdy lil me.

As I reached adulthood, I have tried to maintain my imagination and creative spirit.I enjoy branching out and learning new things. I have always been fascinated with fonts, layout, and text (hence my metalwork) and my new online classes are fueling that fire. I think that they will really help me with my eventual goal of publishing my own embroidery patterns.

I realized, as I carted art supplies through the house that I have dedicated spaces for sewing and jewelry-making, but not "standard" art. Enter the new art space:

I want to make a line of patterns inspired by the Dowager Countess on Downton Abbey. Some possibilities above.

My first Downton pattern! I will stitch it up soon, refine the pattern, and post it here soon!

Elementary School Time

Last night, after dinner, I opened my new packages of pens and cracked the spine of a new composition book. It felt like the first day of second grade...and I loved every minute of it. I spent two and a half hours tracing lines onto graph paper and carefully printing out the alphabet. Seriously. And it was awesome.

It was not just repetitive movements and the scratch of the pen, but rather it was my mood lightening and lifting. By the end of the practice, I was happy and smiling. I felt super-creative and calm, kind of like meditation. I can't wait to practice more and learn more fonts and get designing!

Practicing my blog name, (someday) business name, and the tried and true typing phrase :)

I also worked on the journal cover for the second class which is more advanced lettering. This was a great investment of $70...2 classes, a creative outlet, new skills, and a refreshed Weas!

Art Class for Grown-Ups!

If you are a regular reader or my friend in the real world, you know that: A. I love learning new things, especially even art/craft-related things, B. I am a huge nerd and actually enjoy talking classes, C. I adore new supplies. D. I would like to design my own embroidery shop and design my own patterns. True story.

Last week, when the favorite guy and I were on our weekly library date, I found this gem:

52 drawing labs! I am so excited. I rushed out to stock up on more supplies and jumped right in.

I have spent a little while everyday working on a lab or two. It is challenging yet rewarding. 

Some samples from Lab 1: Drawing Cats in Bed

Smooth Sailing

Everyone falls off the fitness wagon every now and then, myself definitely included. I don't get crazy, but a few too many cookies at the holidays really add up. Given that, I always start the year a little down. You'd think that I would learn my lesson, year after year. 

I am only human, I guess.

This year, I have made a few more changes that I hope will stick. I have not eaten ice cream or fried foods (other than 3 onion rings) all month. That is a HUGE deal for me

. Ice cream could be a food group. 

I have made lots of smoothies, soups, salads, and other healthy make-ahead meals. I have started tracking my food and activity. It makes me feel more accountable.