It's Friday Friday Friday

What better way to spend a day off than to run errands? Of course if I'm going to run out I might as well take care of a few other things. Like visiting Michael's.

Backup. Or visiting the Goodwill Superstore first.

Why? Well, because occasionally I find wonderfully inexpensive things there. Like used frames that can be spray painted to look brand new. Or these puppies.

They were five dollars. That's right. $5.00.

Ok, back to Michael's. I needed to pick up a few things for a project I will be working on in the near future. Can we guess?

Another hint: It is related to my one of my Pinterest boards.

 

Although I'm not a regular cake maker, I have had spurts of success in the past. This whole fondant thing still eludes me though. And the last time I worked with it I regretted it. I'm hoping this time goes better. I am also trying out a new brand to see if that helps.

(Side note: Just spent 20 minutes looking for a picture of my last fondant experiment. No luck. If you're curious, it was white, square, and had a Colombian flag on it. There may be a reason why I did not document the event...)

The other interesting part of my outing was the mayhem going on at the grocery store. Lots of balloons, purple, jerseys, and other Ravens paraphernalia. Oh and a news crew. At the grocery store. 

I get the whole Ravens thing. But party at the grocery store? Really?

Of course, then again, I'm the weirdo that photographed the whole thing.

Happy Cows

Completed 2012
16x20"
Oil

There are these cows that I sort of admired from afar for awhile. I would pass them on my way to work every morning and on my way home in the evenings. (I have a very scenic commute to work.) They would just hang out and munch on their grass.

Is it weird that I painted this picture with food in mind? Let me explain... I think most people envision that their burger is made out of happy cows like these guys. When that might not necessarily be the case. A lot of cows don't get to happily graze all day. (Ahem... factory farms... cough.) So it's nice to see this.

I'm not judging. I love a good burger too. I'm just saying...

So this painting is how I think cows should be. I am celebrating cows as the free-ranging ruminants they were meant to be.

(Word of the day: ruminant)

We all know I love cows. Remember by friend Frank from the farm?

Merry Christmas to Me

I finally got around to ordering my wedding collage canvas that I started back in November. Since I was ordering Christmas cards, it seemed like a good time to do a massive Shutterfly order.

Here it is. All 24x36 inches of it.

And a close up.

And hanging on our photo wall.

It's definitely large.

As for that Christmas card. Here's that. Although most people reading this have already seen it. Hi Mom :)

I'm certain people would rather see Meatball over Mike and I. And no, he is not actually wearing this hat. Lately I've been turning to Photoshop instead of props. Meatball would never sleep this peacefully with something on his head.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Christmas is exactly a week away. Less than a week if you consider that Mike and I do our own Christmas on the night of the 23rd.

House decorating is done. Most of our Christmas shopping is done. We have a lot of baking to do, but that won't happen till later this week. Aaand I'm pretty pumped for the pumpkin pie and various cookie recipes that we are trying out this year. I've also been busy working on a variety of crafty project/ presents that I'll share later- after the gift-giving is done.

In the meantime, a tour through our festive home...

Starting with our front door. This year's new wreath.

Meatball resting by the tree.

 

THE tree.

The stockings.

Best nativity scene. Ever.

Home-made Christmas donuts. Recipe here.

Not our home, but the carousel at the mall.

Meatball watching Santa go by on the fire engine! (By the way, I LOVE this tradition.)

A view from outside.

Now I'm counting down the days till this weekend. And looking forward to my short week at work :)