Art Class

Yesterday's art class was fun!  It was our second Art Fundamentals class, and the lesson was one that focused on how every artist is different and how they view the same subject-matter.  The project was trees. We viewed Tulips and Trees by Wolford, Mulberry Tree by Vincen Van Gogh, Tree of Life by John David Dillard, the tree series by Piet Mondrian, Cave Paintings, and tree drawings by Tim Knowles where he attached drawing to branches of trees and put canvas near it, and let the tree 'draw' on it when the wind blew.
Although all of these artists painted a tree, each painting is completely different.  Every artist is unique in their styles, medium, and how they interpret subject matter; and that we all see the world differently.  Even though each piece is different, that does not make the end result wrong.

Homemade Costume Ideas... with a unique twist!

Okay so this is a list of websites that have the cutest ideas for really cool homemade costumes.  I am really into the illusion costumes this year.  There are links all through this post of where I found the costumes, so be sure to check them out.  These costumes are a different take on what I remember as 'homemade costumes' and they are fabulous ideas. When I was little homemade costumes consisted of fake giant boobs made from random material and wildly hairsprayed and glittered hair which I am convinced is responsible for the styles of the 80's...

http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com

Now, this first one is pretty cool it is a stroller costume, of a cabbage patch kid,which pretty much consists of a box painted and some online printed logos modge podged to the box.  It is cheap, cute, fast to make, and fun with no actual costume for the baby to wear and can be found at this link.
This fire truck is also easy and very cute, and looks like it sits just nicely on a stroller.  This is one last stroller costume I found at the same website as the cabbage patch kid (which really deserves some quality time searching through) is R2D2  a little more time consuming to make but very cool follow this link for pictures.

Another favorite category is the illusion costumes.  Some of these are very elaborate but some are not and still very cool.  The first one is one that looks fairly easy to make, and very well might end up being my costume this year, there is a lot at this link.  I am not a fan of the bloody ones, but that's just me.  This next website has a lot of them with instructions but my favorite is near the bottom called 'witch with frog in cauldron'.   Here is another creative one that is extra, super cool; the link for this video also has the instructions and the there another video of the same costume as well that shows more of it here.  These girls made a version that seems to be easier to walk around in, as long as you secure the foot better, this is also a video link.   When searching for illusion costumes I find it best to select the images option and also the video option, to get a better idea of what you are looking at.  

This website has a few great ideas, check out the lego costume at this link.  If you change the red sweat suit to blue you'll have Mike from Monsters Inc at this link.  Familycrafts.about.com has alot of cute ideas including more stuff to do with cardboard boxes.  There is a really cute aquarium at Costume Idea Zone which also has a skill crane costume as well.  Family Fun is pretty great site I like their "last minute costumes" with their clever renditions of a quarter back and smartie pants,  but don't forget to check out all of their categories I especially love their jellyfish costume.

Budget101.com has tons of ideas for costumes, parties, decorations, makeup/special effects and more.  I would plan on spending some time here.  And last but not least, dog costumes; there's no reason why fido can't join the fun.  Check out family.go.com or animal.discovery.com for some cute ideas.

So go out, exercise your creative muscle and make a costume.

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The new Supermarket in town!

Wow!  I was in the center shopping and decided I needed to check this out.  It has been open since late September, but I don't like crowds and thought I would wait for a few weeks.  I had received a few ads in the mail, and though they are in spanish they had english "subtitles" so to speak.  I wasn't expecting much I had guessed that it was another larger supermarket... was I in for a surprise!

When I walked in, I had to stop for a moment.  It's super decorated with palm trees and bright colors, with festive music going on, this is not your regular store!  I loved it.  The bakery was filled with great looking pastries, and they have this deli counter with all my favorite mexican foods, and a few I haven't had yet... fantastic.  Which means I don't have to struggle to make these things, which I am not so great at by the way.

I rounded my way around to the SALSA COUNTER!!!  yup a salsa counter filled to the brim with many varieties also guacamole, and a few other things.  My senses were on overdrive,  next was the meat counter which was also fabulous, in addition to the standard meats you see they also have marinated favorites that were far to many for me to remember!  Oh and did I mention a tortilla machine, popping out fresh tortillas  mmmm!

Now as with any grocery store, not all of the prices were that great, but I am still excited to make some real changes to our "mexican food night" from tacos and burritos to some really great stuff!  I think this is a welcome change to my shopping choices, and also that I might enjoy grocery shopping more if I felt that I was at this party!

This blog post title is a link to their website, check it out!

The whole store is like this... piled high with food!

Recycled planter

One of my favorite finds recently is a giant asparagus fern at target on clearance for $3..  it was root bound really bad and I needed a giant pot.  And as it turns out, giant pots are expensive.  I started poking around the garage and the side yard, and found a perfect solution.

Last year we took out the diving board because it was cracked, and since we didn't really care about having one or not my husband took it out,  that is where my other free find, my "bistro set"  is now living.

which is good place because it also covers the small bolt holes and prevents the kids from running full circles around the pool.   


We hadn't gotten around to throwing it out yet so when I saw the base sitting there I knew it was perfect.  The holes were already in the bottom, so drainage wouldn't be a problem.  


I just filled it with potting soil and inserted plant.  So the total cost is $3 plant, $5 potting soil, and $0 for the planter box...  it is dark so I will finish up in tomorrow sometime.  I was just so excited that I had to share now.