Keepin' it real!

I know that this is primarily an art journal blog, but I have decided to venture off topic for a minute.

I want to talk about resolutions.  Yes, I'm talking about the New Year variety.  Do you know how many times I have made and broken resolutions?  Me either, but I do know that it's a lot.

I have decided that this year I am going to make my resolution openly and to the public.  My plan is to update you on how things are going, and this will hopefully keep me motivated and accountable.  Public humiliation is a great motivator.  I mean, if no one knows your trying to accomplish something, then no one will know when you fail.

Anyhoo, so what is my New Year's resolution?  I am going to memorize all of the elements on the periodic table.!

Just kidding!  I want to lose weight like all of the other millions of Americans.  I am so tired of feeling run down and not having clothes that fit properly.  Don't get me wrong.  I think that women with curves are beautiful, but I just want my curves to be smaller.  Right now I am weighing in at....(I can't believe I am posting this for all to see)....177lbs.  I would really like to weigh 140.  This was the weight that I felt most comfortable.  I am 5'6" and I think that this is a realistic goal.  Sooooo, I jumped on the computer and signed up for Weight Watchers Online. 

I actually followed the program years ago and got down to my ideal 140lbs, but then after about a year and a half of keeping it off I just stopped working the program.  And the weight slowly came back.  So I know that the program works, if You work it! 

So that's my resolution for 2012.  To eat better, exercise more, and lose weight.  This will be my first week on the new program, so I will let you know how I do next week.

Sick of being sick

I've been sick.

 Living in Houston, Texas it is bound to happen.  When the temperature goes from one day in the 80's to the next day in the 40's, my sinuses go crazy!  I have basically lived here my whole life and I still get the crud about three times a year.  Of course, it hit right before Avery's competition, so that didn't help that I had to spend the day running around after a bunch of teenage cheerleaders, trying to keep them in line and on time!!!

Anyshways,  since then I have visited my general practitioner who hooked me up with antibiotics and a lovely cough cocktail, taken only at night. :)

I don't know if it's because i wasn't feeling good or what, but I've been in a creative funk.  I forced myself to sit down the other day and just put paint to paper.  I felt like I was just going through the motions.  I think sometimes this is an important part of the creative process.  Or not.  Whatever....it's a drag and I'll get through it. 

Thanks for letting me vent!


                                   

Not sure if it's finished

I had a few canvases laying around that I had painted a looooong time ago.  I was itching to work on something, so I gessoed over one of them and got to work.  I did a lot of this with my hands (i.e. finger painting) which is my favorite!  I drew the flowers with neocolor watercolor crayons.  I'm not sure if I'm finished or not.  I don't want to over work it.  I like the simplicity of it.  Anyshways, I'll give it a little time and then revisit it later.

Unfortunately, I don't have my regular camera, so this was taken with my phone.  It doesn't do the colors justice. 

Adventures are my favorite

During the AED month, I used a lot of products and papers that I don't normally use.  It was fun seeing how different supplies create such different effects.  My favorite surprise was the watercolor washes on the cold pressed watercolor paper.  I normally work in a Moleskine or plain art journal, so the color isn't as vibrant.  With the cold pressed watercolor paper, the paint stays true to its color.  I will definitely be buying more of that paper to play with.

When my sixteen year old daughter saw this she said, "Hey!  Did you get that from me?"

I did.  She says it a lot.  Which I find funny, considering she spends most of her time under the covers, snoozing.  I'm pretty sure there are not many adventures to be had whilst sleeping, but whatevs.  She's a growing kid that needs their sleep.  Right?

Great Read

I recently got this book at the library and I cannot put it down!  It is an amazing story about one woman, her cells, and how they have changed the course of medical research and technology.  I highly recommend this book.