Here is how the book is described by professionals:
"A companion volume to Lessons in Classical Drawing and an atelier in book form, Lessons in Classical Painting breaks down the foundational skills and techniques of painting in a format that is accessible and manageable for all readers.
With the same direct, easy-to-follow approach of Juliette Aristides's previous books, Lessons in Classical Painting presents aspiring artists with the fundamental skills and tools needed to master painting in the atelier style. With more than 25 years of experience in ateliers and as an art instructor, Aristides pairs personal examples and insights with theory, assignments and demonstrations for readers, discussions of technical issues, and inspirational quotes. After taking a bird's eye look at painting as a whole, Aristides breaks down painting into big picture topics like grisaille, temperature, and color, demonstrating how these key subjects can be applied by all painters."
I tend to find that the books description is not what I find inside the book, but this is the exception. The instruction is easy to read and understand and introduces painting technique in general before delving into the finer details of creating art. The photography in the book is outstanding; I would buy the book just for the photos. Juliette Aristides is amazing at eloquently describing the techniques necessary for creating masterful artwork in a way that makes it seem approachable and recreate-able. I absolutely recommend this book and her other book Lessons in Classic Drawing.
**I received a complementary copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my review**
Friday, September 23, 2016
Friday, September 9, 2016
The Divorce Papers. Susan Rieger
I was very looking forward to this book as an easy read and something fun to jump into. I was pleasantly surprised with the storyline. Sophia is a law associate who is charged with handling the surprise and somewhat messy divorce of her firms biggest client's daughter. The format of the novel was very enjoyable. It was told solely in correspondence through memos, emails, passed notes and legal documents. It felt like you were a part of the legal case and helping piece together the clues to win.
I was incredibly turned off the by personality of the character Sophia. She came across as whiney, entitled and a bit pretentious, so it was tough to put that aside and enjoy the storyline. Other than that, it was a pleasant read.
**I received a complementary copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my review**
I was incredibly turned off the by personality of the character Sophia. She came across as whiney, entitled and a bit pretentious, so it was tough to put that aside and enjoy the storyline. Other than that, it was a pleasant read.
**I received a complementary copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my review**
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
bonita avenue.
Here's another quick book review for your reading pleasure...hopefully the review is a tad more enjoyable than the book was for me...
This one was interesting. I went in for a fiction option this time because I wanted something a little different. I am all for pleasure reading, but this just did not deliver. Bonita Avenue is also a translation, which I thought was going to be especially refreshing but it did not seem to translate too well. To be completely honest, I actually did not even finish reading the book entirely...I had to throw in the towel about half way through, and below is why.
The pace was really slow to begin with. When I read the synopsis for the book I was thoroughly intrigued and expected decent paced writing to keep up with what should have been a thrilling plot line, but I was disappointed.
I was also confused through out as to what time we were in. The flashbacks through me off way too much. I actually really enjoy stories with multiple points of view or timelines, but the organization of the book and the writing needs to be impeccably clear for that to be successful. This was just not clear enough. I read through some other reviews of the book as well and this seemed to be a legitimate concern for other people as well.
All in all, not my favorite pick from Blogging for Books.
**I received a complementary copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my review**
This one was interesting. I went in for a fiction option this time because I wanted something a little different. I am all for pleasure reading, but this just did not deliver. Bonita Avenue is also a translation, which I thought was going to be especially refreshing but it did not seem to translate too well. To be completely honest, I actually did not even finish reading the book entirely...I had to throw in the towel about half way through, and below is why.
The pace was really slow to begin with. When I read the synopsis for the book I was thoroughly intrigued and expected decent paced writing to keep up with what should have been a thrilling plot line, but I was disappointed.
I was also confused through out as to what time we were in. The flashbacks through me off way too much. I actually really enjoy stories with multiple points of view or timelines, but the organization of the book and the writing needs to be impeccably clear for that to be successful. This was just not clear enough. I read through some other reviews of the book as well and this seemed to be a legitimate concern for other people as well.
All in all, not my favorite pick from Blogging for Books.
**I received a complementary copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my review**
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
picture packing.
I am very lucky to have a talented husband who paints and creates beautiful art. I love that I get to have his paintings on the walls. But with moving, that means transporting these canvases and frames.
That is where bubble wrap comes in. I am now a professional at bubble-wrapping and taping boxes. I was really worried about transporting these paintings this time because someone else is loading and unloading all of our boxes. I wanted everything to have some extra padding and protection to be sure that it will all be safe.
I learned a few important things about packing paintings: if there is no glass covering the painting, acid-free tissue paper is a must; small bubble-wrap paper is the best; there is never too much tape.
The acid-free paper is really important because it can be wrapped right against a painting without worrying that any sort of reaction is going to happen and ruin the paint. It also protects it from anything that might scratch it.
The small bubble-wrap paper is the best because there are more bubbles so it is easier to wrap all the way around a frame or canvas. It is also a thinner layer so it won't cause too much pressure on the canvas, which could cause the canvas frame to break or buckle...and that is no good.
Tape. Tape has been my best friend recently. Especially with bubble wrapping. We bought a four-pack of clear packing tape at the store and I have probably used almost two whole rolls. I do not shy away from heavy taping. The tape is what makes it sturdy. With bubble-wrapping canvases or frames, tape is a great thing to have as your last line of protective defense.
I am ready for this move to be over already, but I am very grateful for the time I have had to be able to pack correctly and stay organized. It has really been a lot easier than it could have been so I am glad for that, but next thursday can't seem to get here fast enough!
Some of my beautifully wrapped frames and canvases (just the really big ones).
Bubble-wrap selections and acid-free tissue paper for wrapping.
The acid-free paper is really important because it can be wrapped right against a painting without worrying that any sort of reaction is going to happen and ruin the paint. It also protects it from anything that might scratch it.
The small bubble-wrap paper is the best because there are more bubbles so it is easier to wrap all the way around a frame or canvas. It is also a thinner layer so it won't cause too much pressure on the canvas, which could cause the canvas frame to break or buckle...and that is no good.
Tape. Tape has been my best friend recently. Especially with bubble wrapping. We bought a four-pack of clear packing tape at the store and I have probably used almost two whole rolls. I do not shy away from heavy taping. The tape is what makes it sturdy. With bubble-wrapping canvases or frames, tape is a great thing to have as your last line of protective defense.
I am ready for this move to be over already, but I am very grateful for the time I have had to be able to pack correctly and stay organized. It has really been a lot easier than it could have been so I am glad for that, but next thursday can't seem to get here fast enough!
Saturday, January 10, 2015
pounded chicken breast.
I have recently become obsessed with pounding chicken breasts for cooking. There are a few reasons: it cooks a lot quicker, I use less chicken, they look so pretty all thin and pounded. And it is really simple to do.
Since we are moving soon and will then have to take on all of the shopping ourselves, I have been brainstorming and figuring out ways to stretch our food and money a little more. This is one of them. Because for a recipe that I would normally use 3-4 chicken breasts, I can pound out 1 or 2 and get the same results and amounts. That is really nice when I have such a big eater for a husband.
Here's how I do it.
Take a thawed chicken breast and slice it horizontally, like you are going to butterfly it (slice parallel to the countertop, instead of perpendicular like a normal cut). Slice the breast all the way through so that you have two pieces. Place the pieces next to each other on the cutting board and cover them with a piece of plastic cling wrap. Using a mallet, heavy bottomed skillet, or empty wine bottle (any easy to wield item with a wide surface area should work) carefully pound the chicken breast from the center out. Keep touching the top of the chicken to check for uniformity. You want the breast to be evenly pounded so it will cook through evenly. Gently pound any edges that are too thick. Be careful not to pound it too thin; you do not want to tear holes in the chicken breast.
When the breast is pounded thin enough for your liking, move it to another dish to season or marinate. In the picture above, I used salt, pepper, garlic, olive oil, and lemon to season the chicken before I pan seared it in butter. Then I tossed the chicken with egg noodles and fresh diced tomatoes and a little pasta water to create a sauce. It was perfect.
Friday, January 9, 2015
clean slate.
With the new year comes resolutions. Resolutions that usually involve being healthier or exercising more. 2014 was also full of the fade cleanses to detox your body and lose weight usually.
While there is nothing wrong with any of this, it is really lifestyle changes that are the best way to gain a healthier life and lose or maintain weight.
I just finished reading through a new book focused around the idea of making small lifestyle changes to promote healthier eating and help you feel your best: Clean Slate: A Cookbook and Guide. This book is from the editors of Martha Stewart Living.
The book is broken into two sections: a guide to healthy foods and choices (including two detox plans) and healthy recipes. I found this book incredibly informative and helpful. I found myself researching more about healthy fats, the benefits of legumes, and what makes products organic. The information is sound and is presented in a way that is easy to understand and not laborious to read. I enjoyed reading through the different types of quinoa, what makes a grain a whole-grain, and what foods and spices fight inflammation. Maybe I am just interested in the health components of foods, but I actually enjoyed learning how much better a choice avocado is than mayo or yogurt over sour cream.
The recipe section was also very interesting. Usually in healthy or clean eating cook books, you will find recipes will a bunch of ingredients you don't understand or have never heard of. Clean Slate introduces all of the ingredients included in their recipes in the guide section at the beginning. So when you see amaranth in a recipe, you can reference an earlier page and see what it is, why it is healthy, and how exactly to cook it. With that said, most of the recipes had less than 10 ingredients and all of the ingredients are readily available in most grocery stores.
The detoxing section was also interesting because it calls for the same meal to be served multiple times in a week. The three-day cleanse was the same three meals for everyday, so logically you could make each meal one time and eat off the leftovers for the rest of the cleanse. For the 21-day cleanse, each week had a rotation of the same three or four recipes for each meal of the day. So you could make each recipe in bulk and eat off of it on the corresponding day and meal. This makes it so easy to stick to the plan.
And the recipes really do look delicious. Salmon and avocado, watercress salad, roasted vegetables and pasta, halibut tacos. These are basic meals that I eat all the time, just with a healthy spin. Instead of ground beef for tacos, use halibut. Instead of creamy alfredo sauce and pasta, use roasted vegetables and a vinaigrette. These small changes really do make a difference health wise and are the first step to healthy lifestyle changes. I can't wait to incorporate more of these recipes into everyday cooking and reap the health benefits without sacrificing any flavor.
**I received a complementary copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for this review.**
While there is nothing wrong with any of this, it is really lifestyle changes that are the best way to gain a healthier life and lose or maintain weight.
I just finished reading through a new book focused around the idea of making small lifestyle changes to promote healthier eating and help you feel your best: Clean Slate: A Cookbook and Guide. This book is from the editors of Martha Stewart Living.
The book is broken into two sections: a guide to healthy foods and choices (including two detox plans) and healthy recipes. I found this book incredibly informative and helpful. I found myself researching more about healthy fats, the benefits of legumes, and what makes products organic. The information is sound and is presented in a way that is easy to understand and not laborious to read. I enjoyed reading through the different types of quinoa, what makes a grain a whole-grain, and what foods and spices fight inflammation. Maybe I am just interested in the health components of foods, but I actually enjoyed learning how much better a choice avocado is than mayo or yogurt over sour cream.
The recipe section was also very interesting. Usually in healthy or clean eating cook books, you will find recipes will a bunch of ingredients you don't understand or have never heard of. Clean Slate introduces all of the ingredients included in their recipes in the guide section at the beginning. So when you see amaranth in a recipe, you can reference an earlier page and see what it is, why it is healthy, and how exactly to cook it. With that said, most of the recipes had less than 10 ingredients and all of the ingredients are readily available in most grocery stores.
The detoxing section was also interesting because it calls for the same meal to be served multiple times in a week. The three-day cleanse was the same three meals for everyday, so logically you could make each meal one time and eat off the leftovers for the rest of the cleanse. For the 21-day cleanse, each week had a rotation of the same three or four recipes for each meal of the day. So you could make each recipe in bulk and eat off of it on the corresponding day and meal. This makes it so easy to stick to the plan.
And the recipes really do look delicious. Salmon and avocado, watercress salad, roasted vegetables and pasta, halibut tacos. These are basic meals that I eat all the time, just with a healthy spin. Instead of ground beef for tacos, use halibut. Instead of creamy alfredo sauce and pasta, use roasted vegetables and a vinaigrette. These small changes really do make a difference health wise and are the first step to healthy lifestyle changes. I can't wait to incorporate more of these recipes into everyday cooking and reap the health benefits without sacrificing any flavor.
**I received a complementary copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for this review.**
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
sausage, peppers, and onions.
I have always love sausage. That sounds really weird to say but it's true. I am a fan of meat stuffed into a casing. It's just good eating. Recently I have become a big fan of the classic recipe Sausage with peppers and onions. Put that nonsense on a bun or just serve it up on a plate and I will eat the crap outta it. This dish really is all about the sausage that you buy. So get something that you like and the dish will be a success. You can mix up the peppers you use and maybe add some spice if you are up to it. I keep the seasoning really simple so that the sausage shines through and the peppers really keep their sweet flavor. Here is how I have been cooking it up recently.
sausage with peppers and onions
5 sausage links (whole)
1/2 cup water or broth
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 yellow onion
2 garlic cloves, chopped
olive oil
salt and pepper
In a skillet with a lid, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage links and brown on all sides. When they are all browned, add the water and put the lid on. Let the sausages cook in the water for 5-7 minutes or until no longer pink in the middle. Toss them around in the pan every few minutes to keep them from sticking and burning. Watch the water level as well and add more if necessary.
While the sausages cook, start prepping all your vegetables. Cut the onion in half and then slice both halves into 1/4 inch slices. Slice all the peppers the same size.
When the sausages are cooked through, remove them from the pan to rest. Drain any excess water and heat some more oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the peppers and onions. Season with salt and pepper liberally. Keep stirring the vegetables and scraping any brown bits left by the sausages from the bottom of the pan. After cooking for 3 minutes, add the garlic and toss around. Keep cooking the vegetables until they are done.
If you wish, slice the sausages into 1/2 inch rounds. Toss the sausages and any juices back into the pan with the peppers and onions and toss to coat.
Serve hot on hoagie rolls or with pasta or just heaped on a plate.
(I like to slice the sausages before I toss them with the veggies because it stretches the dish a little farther and the sausage juices combine really well with the veggies, but keeping the sausages whole works well too.)
moving.
Moving is stressful. I don't think there has ever been a move in my life that has been stress free. There is organizing, packing, cleaning, loading the car/van/moving truck, traveling, unpacking, more cleaning, more organizing, and finally settling into a new place. That's a lot of stuff to do in a short period of time.
Alex and I have made two big moves. One when we left California and moved to Idaho for me to finish school and the second when we left Idaho and moved back to California (southern California this time).
The first move was dicey. There was only one car and we didn't have any money for a moving truck, so we shoved and stuffed and roped and taped and compacted as much stuff into our little Jeep as we could and we drove the thousand mile journey. It was not pretty. And it was a testament to how much we were still in the honeymoon phase of our marriage (being married for all of two weeks at the time) because it was hard. But we did it! And we vowed to never do a move like that again.
The second move was hard, but easier than the first. We had a truck this time and the ability to pull our Jeep so we did not have to drive separate. The truck was spacious and had plenty of room for our stuff. We took our time loading it perfectly and it was much less stressful. Except that we then drove, for 16 hours, through the night, with an 18 month old puppy, in little cramped two-seated truck. Rex was a gem for 97% of the drive. He slept, he chewed bones, he looked out the window, he cuddled, and he stayed calm. Except for the few times he whined and moaned and made us stop earlier than we wanted and then wouldn't go to the bathroom when we needed him to. But a great majority of the time he was wonderful.
This move is just as stressful. Regardless of the fact that we are hiring a moving company to move our stuff for us (not because we are too good to move our own stuff but because it is really the cheapest option we could find), that we have most of our stuff already packed and in storage just waiting to be loaded on the truck, that packing what we do need to pack could realistically take me only 4 to 5 hours to complete, and that we still have two weeks before this all needs to happen, it's still making me into a big ball of anxiety. Which is always fun to be around.
But it is all happening like it should. We are organized, we have the money saved, we have all our paperwork completed, and Alex is still able to work through all of this. There have definitely been blessings during this time for which we are truly grateful.
But the next two weeks will be filled with final preparations, actually packing the things that need to be, organizing for the moving guys, saying goodbye to Southern California, and soaking in the last of any sunshine the sky wants to give me because who knows when the sun is going to shine in Portland!
Alex and I have made two big moves. One when we left California and moved to Idaho for me to finish school and the second when we left Idaho and moved back to California (southern California this time).
The first move was dicey. There was only one car and we didn't have any money for a moving truck, so we shoved and stuffed and roped and taped and compacted as much stuff into our little Jeep as we could and we drove the thousand mile journey. It was not pretty. And it was a testament to how much we were still in the honeymoon phase of our marriage (being married for all of two weeks at the time) because it was hard. But we did it! And we vowed to never do a move like that again.
The second move was hard, but easier than the first. We had a truck this time and the ability to pull our Jeep so we did not have to drive separate. The truck was spacious and had plenty of room for our stuff. We took our time loading it perfectly and it was much less stressful. Except that we then drove, for 16 hours, through the night, with an 18 month old puppy, in little cramped two-seated truck. Rex was a gem for 97% of the drive. He slept, he chewed bones, he looked out the window, he cuddled, and he stayed calm. Except for the few times he whined and moaned and made us stop earlier than we wanted and then wouldn't go to the bathroom when we needed him to. But a great majority of the time he was wonderful.
This move is just as stressful. Regardless of the fact that we are hiring a moving company to move our stuff for us (not because we are too good to move our own stuff but because it is really the cheapest option we could find), that we have most of our stuff already packed and in storage just waiting to be loaded on the truck, that packing what we do need to pack could realistically take me only 4 to 5 hours to complete, and that we still have two weeks before this all needs to happen, it's still making me into a big ball of anxiety. Which is always fun to be around.
But it is all happening like it should. We are organized, we have the money saved, we have all our paperwork completed, and Alex is still able to work through all of this. There have definitely been blessings during this time for which we are truly grateful.
But the next two weeks will be filled with final preparations, actually packing the things that need to be, organizing for the moving guys, saying goodbye to Southern California, and soaking in the last of any sunshine the sky wants to give me because who knows when the sun is going to shine in Portland!
Sunday, January 4, 2015
garlic chicken and spinach with pasta.
I've said it before but it still rings true: pasta is my comfort food. It seems like whenever I need to just cook for myself, I make pasta. And this one was especially delicious. I found a chicken recipe online and started seriously craving chicken and pasta, so I made this one. It's for sure a winner.
garlic chicken and spinach with pasta
6 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 chicken breasts, sliced thin
3 tbsp olive oil
3 cups fresh spinach
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 lb pasta (any shape)
Salt and Pepper
Boil a large pot of water and cook pasta according to the directions. Reserve 1-1 1/2 cups of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. When the oil starts to ripple, add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute until it starts to brown and become fragrant. Season the chicken strips with salt and pepper and add to the skillet with the garlic. Toss the chicken in the oil and cook until the chicken is no longer pink inside. When the chicken is cooked through, add the spinach to the pan and toss it with the chicken to wilt it, about 2 minutes.
When the pasta is finished cooking, reserve some cooking water and drain the pasta. Add the cooking water to the pan with the chicken and spinach and toss around. Turn the skillet's heat down the low, add the cooked pasta, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese to the pan and toss well. Let the pasta cook for 3-4 minutes on low to thicken the sauce and combine the flavors. Taste, add more pepper and maybe salt if necessary. Serve immediately, with more parmesan cheese if desired.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
book shelves.
I love books. I am unashamed to admit that fact as well as the fact that I own a lot of books...including many books that I have not yet read. Again, totally unashamed.
I love how books look and feel and smell. Old books, new books, used books, books right from the printer. Books that have stains and torn pages and broken bindings and pen markings. Books with crisp pages and the bindings uncracked and no finger smudges. All books.
Alex promised me before we got married that one day he would build me a library in our home with floor to ceiling shelves and a ladder and portraits of great authors and maps and globes. I haven't stopped dreaming about it since he made that promise.
I have also started to fill that library, even though it is not built yet. I buy a lot of books. I am poor so I buy a lot of used books but they are all beautiful. But because I buy a lot of books currently, I need a lot of shelves. I have compiled some inspiration pictures for my library as well as for the shelves we will need when we move. I love book shelves.
sources:
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
I love how books look and feel and smell. Old books, new books, used books, books right from the printer. Books that have stains and torn pages and broken bindings and pen markings. Books with crisp pages and the bindings uncracked and no finger smudges. All books.
Alex promised me before we got married that one day he would build me a library in our home with floor to ceiling shelves and a ladder and portraits of great authors and maps and globes. I haven't stopped dreaming about it since he made that promise.
I have also started to fill that library, even though it is not built yet. I buy a lot of books. I am poor so I buy a lot of used books but they are all beautiful. But because I buy a lot of books currently, I need a lot of shelves. I have compiled some inspiration pictures for my library as well as for the shelves we will need when we move. I love book shelves.
sources:
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
Friday, January 2, 2015
pillows.
I love throw pillows. I love bed pillows. I love being surrounded by pillows all the time.
I am big on comfort. And pillows are highly comfortable. So without regard to my husband or how he feels about 8 billion pillows, I am having 8 billion pillows in our new apartment.
Only fun pillows allowed! I found an amazing place to get pillows too: Society 6. You will not be disappointed. Feast your eyes on some of my favorites:
I am big on comfort. And pillows are highly comfortable. So without regard to my husband or how he feels about 8 billion pillows, I am having 8 billion pillows in our new apartment.
Only fun pillows allowed! I found an amazing place to get pillows too: Society 6. You will not be disappointed. Feast your eyes on some of my favorites:
apartment decorating.
I am currently unemployed.
It feels so weird to say that but I tend to say it often.
The good thing about this though, is that I have a lot of free time to spend planning for our move (which is now only 22 days away) and plan for our apartment.
When we were in Idaho, we both knew that we weren't going to be there for long (same when we moved to Simi Valley, though we have been here a lot longer than we anticipated), so we didn't really take too much time to decorate or buy nice furniture or really settle everything into a place. But we have decided that Portland is going to be a settling place for us for the foreseeable future. Maybe not this exact apartment for the whole time but we don't plan on moving too much outside the Portland area.
That idea really excites me because I love to decorate and I want us to make a real home. So off to Pinterest I went. Obviously budget is an issue. We can't be blowing all of the money we were finally able to save on super expense items. So DIY and thrift stores is our best option.
One thing we will not have an issue with is art for our walls. Alex is so talented and I am very lucky to be able to display a lot of his art on our walls. The only problem is, we have A LOT of it. Paintings, drawings, pictures, nicknacks, you name it. So I have adopted the idea for a gallery wall. The floor plan of our apartment shows so really good wall space that won't be inhabited by furniture (because we don't have much) so we can do a really cool gallery wall. In Idaho, one thing everyone commented on when they came into our apartment was the art on the walls; how unconventional it was and how refreshingly different our apartment looked (granted, every married couple in Rexburg has the same wedding pictures, the same "families are forever" carved wood pieces, the same monogram letters, and the same chevron curtains. We knew we would never fit into that mold so we went way outside the box with our maps, orc paintings, and portraits). I want this same thing to happen in Portland, though I think we will fit in a lot better, mainly because there doesn't seem to be a mold in Portland.
Here are some inspiration pictures I have been drooling over:
It feels so weird to say that but I tend to say it often.
The good thing about this though, is that I have a lot of free time to spend planning for our move (which is now only 22 days away) and plan for our apartment.
When we were in Idaho, we both knew that we weren't going to be there for long (same when we moved to Simi Valley, though we have been here a lot longer than we anticipated), so we didn't really take too much time to decorate or buy nice furniture or really settle everything into a place. But we have decided that Portland is going to be a settling place for us for the foreseeable future. Maybe not this exact apartment for the whole time but we don't plan on moving too much outside the Portland area.
That idea really excites me because I love to decorate and I want us to make a real home. So off to Pinterest I went. Obviously budget is an issue. We can't be blowing all of the money we were finally able to save on super expense items. So DIY and thrift stores is our best option.
One thing we will not have an issue with is art for our walls. Alex is so talented and I am very lucky to be able to display a lot of his art on our walls. The only problem is, we have A LOT of it. Paintings, drawings, pictures, nicknacks, you name it. So I have adopted the idea for a gallery wall. The floor plan of our apartment shows so really good wall space that won't be inhabited by furniture (because we don't have much) so we can do a really cool gallery wall. In Idaho, one thing everyone commented on when they came into our apartment was the art on the walls; how unconventional it was and how refreshingly different our apartment looked (granted, every married couple in Rexburg has the same wedding pictures, the same "families are forever" carved wood pieces, the same monogram letters, and the same chevron curtains. We knew we would never fit into that mold so we went way outside the box with our maps, orc paintings, and portraits). I want this same thing to happen in Portland, though I think we will fit in a lot better, mainly because there doesn't seem to be a mold in Portland.
Here are some inspiration pictures I have been drooling over:
I like when the wall is full. Like really full. And when different textures are incorporated. I also like the lack of cohesion. We have plenty of things to hang on these walls, now it's just a matter of getting there and getting hanging.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
happy new year.
happy new year!
I spent most of the day yesterday reflecting, like all people do on new years eve and I came to the conclusion that 2014 was ok.
Just ok.
Not super-duper fantastical like I wish every year was. But not disappointingly disgusting and poopy like it could have been.
Here are my favorite highlights:
~ Rex. We started 2014 right by finding and being saved by this precious little cupcake of a pit bull. He definitely saved us as much if not more than we saved him.
~ We survived the frigid winter in Rexburg.
~ I graduated from college. Finally. With a bachelor's degree. yay me!
~ We left the icy tundra of Idaho for the beautiful beaches of California. (or close to the beaches)
~ Alex and I both got jobs relatively quickly after moving at Geekatoo and Target respectively.
~ I got the chance to spend a lot of time with my mother-in-law and just soak up the amazingness that she exudes. She's great. I'm lucky. I always laugh at things on the Internet that talk about "How to deal with your mother-in-law" because mine is fantastic.
~ We significantly decreased our debt and successfully figured out how saving money will work for us (trust me when I say that saving money works differently for everyone and we finally figured it out).
~ We had our first anniversary! I just love this guy so much and we went through a lot of crap during that first year that brought us much closer together.
~ We took a lot of trips. I went to Sacramento for my sister's bridal shower, Alex went to San Luis Obispo to visit friends multiple times, we both went to Sacramento for my sister's wedding and then to Texas to visit Alex's nana, and Alex went to Portland to scout out the city for our move.
~ We finalized our feelings and plans to move to Portland (even if it was just in our own minds and not on paper, it was still a good feeling).
~ We got to spend all the holidays with family.
~ We road-tripped to Reno to spend a Christmas weekend with my family and had a blast. We were pretty spoiled by everyone.
~ I quit my job at Target. It was a blessing.
~ We found an affordable apartment in Portland and signed a contract just three days before the new year!
There is a lot of not so good stuff that happened too, like running out of money and not having jobs for a while, but this good stuff is actually really good.
So here is to making 2015 a lot better and with a lot more adventures!!
I spent most of the day yesterday reflecting, like all people do on new years eve and I came to the conclusion that 2014 was ok.
Just ok.
Not super-duper fantastical like I wish every year was. But not disappointingly disgusting and poopy like it could have been.
Here are my favorite highlights:
~ Rex. We started 2014 right by finding and being saved by this precious little cupcake of a pit bull. He definitely saved us as much if not more than we saved him.
~ We survived the frigid winter in Rexburg.
~ I graduated from college. Finally. With a bachelor's degree. yay me!
~ We left the icy tundra of Idaho for the beautiful beaches of California. (or close to the beaches)
~ Alex and I both got jobs relatively quickly after moving at Geekatoo and Target respectively.
~ I got the chance to spend a lot of time with my mother-in-law and just soak up the amazingness that she exudes. She's great. I'm lucky. I always laugh at things on the Internet that talk about "How to deal with your mother-in-law" because mine is fantastic.
~ We significantly decreased our debt and successfully figured out how saving money will work for us (trust me when I say that saving money works differently for everyone and we finally figured it out).
~ We had our first anniversary! I just love this guy so much and we went through a lot of crap during that first year that brought us much closer together.
~ We took a lot of trips. I went to Sacramento for my sister's bridal shower, Alex went to San Luis Obispo to visit friends multiple times, we both went to Sacramento for my sister's wedding and then to Texas to visit Alex's nana, and Alex went to Portland to scout out the city for our move.
~ We finalized our feelings and plans to move to Portland (even if it was just in our own minds and not on paper, it was still a good feeling).
~ We got to spend all the holidays with family.
~ We road-tripped to Reno to spend a Christmas weekend with my family and had a blast. We were pretty spoiled by everyone.
~ I quit my job at Target. It was a blessing.
~ We found an affordable apartment in Portland and signed a contract just three days before the new year!
There is a lot of not so good stuff that happened too, like running out of money and not having jobs for a while, but this good stuff is actually really good.
So here is to making 2015 a lot better and with a lot more adventures!!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
yesterday.
My guys during our road trip for Christmas
Yesterday I did something that I have wanted to do for about a month. It was something that I've never done in my life and never thought I would do.
I quit my job. Without notice. Without putting in my 2 weeks. Without shame. Without guilt. Without caring what this meant for my employer. Without finding another job to take its place.
I pride myself on being a really hard worker. I always give a full effort at everything I do while on the clock. I am always the one who looks for something else to be done when it is slow. That is why I never imagined myself quitting on the spot without giving 2 weeks notice.
But I was done. I was frustrated and fed-up and annoyed and angry and stressed out and tired.
A part-time, minimum wage job should not bring up all of those feelings. A salaried career? Maybe. But not working as a sales floor team member at Target for $9 an hour.
So I quit. I talked it over with my husband, weighed the pros and cons of not having my (minimal) income for the next little while, and we both decided that my sanity and health are worth more than the few hundred dollars I would have made if I stayed another month or even a last two weeks.
As we drove back home from dropping off my resignation letter, Alex started humming the song "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. It was sort of prophetic song for him to choose because within hours of that car ride, we signed a contract for an apartment in Portland and solidified (finally) our move up to Oregon. So it was a good, good night for us. And a good, good day for us too.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
book review.
I love books. That is pretty much all I can say about my love of books. I just love them. But I don't love not having money to spend on books.
But I have found a way to combat that too! Blogging for Books is a website that I signed up with recently. They will send you a book of your choosing (FOR FREE) and all you have to do is read it and write a review of it on your blog. Easy peasy.
So here is my first book review. I read Inside the Criminal Mind because as a sociologist, crime and motivation has always interested me.
Inside the Criminal Mind by Stanton E. Samenow is an interesting look into the inner workings and thought processes of a criminal. This research gives a completely new perspective on the study of why criminals behave the way they do.
The main research idea behind this book is that the criminal motive is not based on nature vs nurture or that societal pressures mold a person. There is a lot of contrary research to combat these theories. Samenow is proposing that the criminal mind is complex and conscious; he is saying that there is such thing as a criminal personality that can be identified by observable factors.
First published in 1984, Inside the Criminal Mind is now in its third edition and is including new societal norms into the basic ideas and conclusions from the first two editions. The addition of cyberbullying, the Internet, drug trafficking, and terrorism have all broadened the basis of Samenow's research and brought it up to date for our society. Samenow establishes that the criminal mind has not changed and does not evolve, rather "society provides new avenues for the criminal mind to express itself" (xiii).
I have personally studied crime and read other research about the criminal mind and motivations. This book is definitely one of the better ones that I have encountered. Samenow presents his research in a logical and organized way while explaining theories and ideas in understandable terms. He simplifies everything so that those of us without a PhD can still understand and form an opinion on what he is saying. It is an easy read and very interesting to delve into the minds of actual criminals.
But I have found a way to combat that too! Blogging for Books is a website that I signed up with recently. They will send you a book of your choosing (FOR FREE) and all you have to do is read it and write a review of it on your blog. Easy peasy.
So here is my first book review. I read Inside the Criminal Mind because as a sociologist, crime and motivation has always interested me.
Inside the Criminal Mind by Stanton E. Samenow is an interesting look into the inner workings and thought processes of a criminal. This research gives a completely new perspective on the study of why criminals behave the way they do.
The main research idea behind this book is that the criminal motive is not based on nature vs nurture or that societal pressures mold a person. There is a lot of contrary research to combat these theories. Samenow is proposing that the criminal mind is complex and conscious; he is saying that there is such thing as a criminal personality that can be identified by observable factors.
First published in 1984, Inside the Criminal Mind is now in its third edition and is including new societal norms into the basic ideas and conclusions from the first two editions. The addition of cyberbullying, the Internet, drug trafficking, and terrorism have all broadened the basis of Samenow's research and brought it up to date for our society. Samenow establishes that the criminal mind has not changed and does not evolve, rather "society provides new avenues for the criminal mind to express itself" (xiii).
I have personally studied crime and read other research about the criminal mind and motivations. This book is definitely one of the better ones that I have encountered. Samenow presents his research in a logical and organized way while explaining theories and ideas in understandable terms. He simplifies everything so that those of us without a PhD can still understand and form an opinion on what he is saying. It is an easy read and very interesting to delve into the minds of actual criminals.
**I received a complementary copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.**
Monday, December 8, 2014
lists.
I am a constant list maker. The Notes app in my phone is full of lists that I've made about everything. I have daily task lists, Christmas lists, book lists, movie lists, travel lists, food lists, recipe lists, grocery lists, quote lists. You name it, and I've probably put it in a list.
I have noticed that as the holiday season has gotten underway in the past few weeks, and I have picked up a lot more hours at work, my list making has increased. It's not just because of Christmas gift buying and preparations for moving in a few months. I realized that when I have days off from work I rarely get anything done if I don't have a list. So I constantly make new daily task lists so that my days off aren't spent mulling over what needs to get done and when and instead are spent actually crossing items off my list. I am highly motivated by the cross-out (I made epic homework lists for school and Alex would constantly make funny of me when I would smile and scribble an assignment out. He also endlessly mocked me when I forgot my hardcopy lists at home and would make him send me a picture. Then I would make a list of the items I needed to cross off my hardcopy list when I got home. My life is an endless cycle of lists and crossing off).
For me, lists create a sense of calm and structure, since I can't really rely on my mind for either of those. Lists also help increase my personal feelings of self-worth and self-esteem. It's much easier to feel good about myself when I spend a day off from work doing things like laundry, shopping, and gift making instead of watching TV and painting my nails (though both of those things are sometimes included in my lists).
My Tuesday list:
Finish making christmas presents
wrap presents
laundry
vacuum
last gift shopping (components)
Obviously my lists make much more sense to me than anyone else, but that's all that matters right?
I have noticed that as the holiday season has gotten underway in the past few weeks, and I have picked up a lot more hours at work, my list making has increased. It's not just because of Christmas gift buying and preparations for moving in a few months. I realized that when I have days off from work I rarely get anything done if I don't have a list. So I constantly make new daily task lists so that my days off aren't spent mulling over what needs to get done and when and instead are spent actually crossing items off my list. I am highly motivated by the cross-out (I made epic homework lists for school and Alex would constantly make funny of me when I would smile and scribble an assignment out. He also endlessly mocked me when I forgot my hardcopy lists at home and would make him send me a picture. Then I would make a list of the items I needed to cross off my hardcopy list when I got home. My life is an endless cycle of lists and crossing off).
For me, lists create a sense of calm and structure, since I can't really rely on my mind for either of those. Lists also help increase my personal feelings of self-worth and self-esteem. It's much easier to feel good about myself when I spend a day off from work doing things like laundry, shopping, and gift making instead of watching TV and painting my nails (though both of those things are sometimes included in my lists).
My Tuesday list:
Finish making christmas presents
wrap presents
laundry
vacuum
last gift shopping (components)
Obviously my lists make much more sense to me than anyone else, but that's all that matters right?
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
christmas.
Christmas is one of my favorite times of year because I love to give people gifts. I actually really like trying to figure out what to give people and coming up with really unique gifts.
My husband hates it. It stresses him out and makes him really anxious. He is always trying to find the perfect thing to give someone, that is full of thoughtfulness and meaning, and will make them cry or laugh or say "this is perfect." So pretty much he is never satisfied with what he chooses.
I always try to get gifts early and be done with all my shopping early in December. I don't like to be the Christmas Eve shopper looking for anything that I can find for someone. I am sometimes the Christmas Eve wrapper because the wrapping I let get away from me.
My husband doesn't like this about me. Because I make him shop early too. I know that he is going to buy any present for me at the last minute and that is just something that I will need to learn to live with, but I can force him to shop early for everyone else on the list.
That was our day and night yesterday. We went to a few stores and picked out a few things for his mom and step-dad and then brainstormed some ideas for his brother and went home to find it online. He stresses out really easily so most of our online shopping was spent with me saying "he will love that" and "just breathe" and "oh my gosh just buy it" when he second guessed every item we put in the shopping cart.
All in all we got a bunch of really cool/cute/manly/wonderful/thoughtful/awesome gifts for his family. Like I said, my shopping is already finished, so this was all shopping for his family. I think it's important for Alex to be involved in picking out things for his family, especially his brother because just the act of him caring enough to shop for them is meaningful.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
projects.
I have been slaving away over some projects for Christmas gifts. I've probably given myself carpel tunnel from it all but I am really proud of the outcome.
I crocheted two blankets for gifts. One for my mom and one for Alex's mom. I started with the one for Alex's mom. It's a little more simple and straight forward but I think it still looks super cute. And it's her favorite color so she will love it. I finished this one a few weeks ago.
And I made a purple one for my mom. I thought the stripes would look really cool and interesting. And the fringe. I probably won't do fringe again on a blanket. It was such a pain, but it does look really nice on this one. I just finished this one today!
My next project is a few scarves for presents. I am making 1 grey scarf, 1 maroon scarf, and 2 tan/cream colored scarves for some of Alex's family. The blankets took about 2 weeks to finish each (of working at night and on my days off) and the scarves take about 3 hours each to make. I am still a beginner so I don't do any fancy stitches or get crazy with anything but I think they all still look really nice. I am very proud that I've made two blankets now!
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| Don't mind Rex in the background or my messy bed. |
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| And don't mind the lumpiness, Rex is underneath because he wouldn't move. You can see his little legs poking out the top. |
Friday, November 28, 2014
dogs.
I love dogs. Well I love all animals (except the creepy, crawly kind), but I especially love dogs. When I was growing up we couldn't have a dog because it was just mom and five kids so it was too much. But then we got a dog. When I was 11 I think. He's just a little guy and he was so much fun when I was growing up.
He's super old now and has a lot of problems, but he's still a little gem. He's got a little growth on his forehead that looks like a horn so I call him a unicorn. But he's a good sport and still lets at least my mom cuddle with him.
But we have a lot of dogs in our family and I love all of them.
Because of my love of dogs, it's no surprise that at Thanksgiving, when I saw a little lover of a dog, I immediately gravitated toward him. His name is Hatchi. I spent a few hours of the time we were there just sitting on the ground next to him scratching his neck and just loving on him. I was covered in hair when I stood up but I just couldn't resist.
Hatchi was in a fire when he was younger (hence the black burn marks on his face, and more on his back). He went through a lot to recover from them all, but now he lives a life of leisure with Mac. He spends his days laying on the patio and sleeping in bed and walking around the neighborhood. He is just a love. They call him "terminator dog" which is totally fitting for his appearance but his personality reads "spa dog."
He's super old now and has a lot of problems, but he's still a little gem. He's got a little growth on his forehead that looks like a horn so I call him a unicorn. But he's a good sport and still lets at least my mom cuddle with him.
But we have a lot of dogs in our family and I love all of them.
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| Kelsey |
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| Molly |
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| Buddy (pre-horn) |
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| Chase |
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| Rex, of course. |
Hatchi was in a fire when he was younger (hence the black burn marks on his face, and more on his back). He went through a lot to recover from them all, but now he lives a life of leisure with Mac. He spends his days laying on the patio and sleeping in bed and walking around the neighborhood. He is just a love. They call him "terminator dog" which is totally fitting for his appearance but his personality reads "spa dog."
Thursday, November 27, 2014
thanksgiving.
My grateful list:
~ laughter
~ beautiful views
~ someone else cooking dinner (and cleaning up!)
~ having a job. and not having to work black thursday!
~ my wonderful husband who always works so hard for our family
~ rex. mainly because he's cute and cuddly
~ all of my family and alex's family for being supportive and loving
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