IF: Contraption

Coats are great contraptions, aren't they?

I started sketching some awesome beauty tools for this prompt...beauty contraption was my first thought.

Never got around to painting it. My husband suggested I use a tree I painted as a 'nature contraption' but i thought this illustration of a coat that I was going to post for fun anyways, would do nicely.

A winter contraption..one that is soon to snake its way into our closets soon here on the east coast!

IF: Hibernate

There's nothing more comforting than retreating from the cold fall/winter with a nice steaming mug of herbal tea.
When I thought about hibernate I immediately thought of bears. Then i thought of our sweet turtle gammy. He hibernates in the winter - well, he would if he was in the wild.
I don't really draw animals - that's my husband's forte. I had this strong urge to paint a tea bag this week and so I did. When i was almost done i realized that it would be perfect for hibernate!
Love how it turned out :)

This Knitting Business! (Part 2)

Part 1
Fast forward a few years. Intimidated by more intermediate knitting, i dropped it entirely.

I found crochet and took to it immediately. I was a crocheting fiend!

I kept seeing amazing knitted items and a pattern for a cream coloured cable throw kept shoving itself in my face! Cables! How utterly, stomach flippingly terrifying!

IF: Ferocious!

Illustration Friday!!!!!!!
I haven't done illo friday in....hm...forever?
Quick fun fact - I met my sweet husband because of illustration friday!
Read on for our story:)

This Yoga Business

I like making stuff. That yummy pile of beads up there are stretchy wrist malas.

I may have left my mind here.....

Oh it was heavenly to lay on the beach and look at the clear blue-green water gently rolling onto the shore.

Mmmmm.

I should warn that it is VERY picture intensive after the jump. I definitely need to do more than one post.

P.s. i highly recommend that you click on the pics to see them larger :)

This Knitting Business! (Part 1)

(scarf i crocheted in 2009 i know it's not knitting but...it's yarn!)

In 2005 (ish) I decided that i just HAD to learn to knit.
I had an online friend who did some amazing knitting and she sent me needles and yarn to get started with! Cuz seriously? Where was i going to find THAT in Trinidad?! Maybe now a little more as people are opening little shops but just a few years ago - really hard to find.
So i took that baby pink yarn and those white plastic needles and I played around.

I watched knitting videos I tried, tried, tried and it just wasn't happening!
It took a week for me to get past casting on and to knit a row.
It was the wonkiest, ugliest, saddest little row ever. I was frustrated but not discouraged. My friend told me to keep trying and there was no way I was giving up - i wanted to make fun things to wear on trips! Back then I had no idea that i'd meet a boy, fall crazy in love, get married and end up living where i'd actually need knitted items!

Summer Goals!

These pictures are all spring flowers at the Ida Lee Park Wedding Garden

Mmm Summer Goals! Where to start? I've been composing this post in my head for a few weeks and I should really take notes. I've forgotten most of my thoughts on the subject.

I really enjoyed doing the Spring Goals even though most of them were a struggle throughout the season. There were times that I did really well and times that I got too relaxed about doing well and I struggled.

I do know that i kept them attainable, I worked at them and I kept going even when it was tough or even when I outright failed at them and I came out better at the end of it. So I definitely look forward to adding on and expanding on those goals to include the Summer.

Summer is such an energetic time. You can be outside climbing rocks, taking hikes, swimming, walking and just enjoying the warmth of the sun and the feel of soft fresh grass beneath your feet.

I think this Summer i'm definitely going to really try hard to be present and to enjoy it no matter what.

Work hard (and smart) AND play hard. PLAY. Hm what a concept!

Permission to just play. Like a child. Permission to have fun and enjoy your downtime/ off time. 

I have trouble enjoying downtime. I beat myself up so badly over the things that I really should be doing instead, that I never fully enjoy just being present in that moment and doing whatever it is that i'm doing right then.

Summer Goals 2011

Be Present

Whatever i'm doing, wherever I am, I promise to Be Present.

Play

I promise to give myself some time to just enjoy doing something/ anything without feeling guilty.

Work

I promise to be there and do what i'm there to do vs thinking about the dishes/laundry/gardening etc that needs to be done at home.

Craft

I need to be crafty for ME. Not because I promised to do or make x y or z. I want to work on my knitting again and knit up a shawl for the fall.

Mind and Body

I want to meditate. Every. Single. Day. It doesn't have to be a long drawn out meditation practice where I end up running through days events in my head and making my to do list for tomorrow (yea, you know you do it too). A simple short meditation and longer ones if i feel like it.

I want to continue with yoga and zumba. I would love to add a second zumba class but it would involve paying a gym membership which i don't really want to do but we'll see.

Walking. More walking with my husband. I love walking earlier in the day. Evening....not so much. But he loves to walk as late as possible. Not happening. If i go on a walk at 8pm  I will never wind down till 2am.

We'll just have to figure that one out. I'm good with Saturday mornings for now.

So there is my short list of Summer Goals.

I basically want to keep on keeping on and enjoy it. Be present. Enjoy my now.

Spring Goals Update

• A regular exercise routine. 

I have been working out a few times a week. I'd love for it to be every day. So far this week the only day i've taken off is Sunday because I was pretty wrecked from Friday and Saturday! Saturday was an amazing day. We walked into town and went to the weekly community yard sale and the famer's market. I look forward to repeating it this weekend!

• Taking lots of pictures. (pictures of the gorgeous new springiness!)

We went to DC and the ole camera got a workout. I still need to do a post about the yummy flowers I saw at the botanical gardens! I look forward to visiting again really soon. I would love to go on a weekday in the summer when maybe the crowds would be a bit lighter. I want to get the camera out around Leesburg soon. I'm itching to go spend some time in the wedding garden. Did that too and i'll include those pictures in my upcoming Summer Goals post.

• Starting and or completing a watercolour.

I've been feeling the need to play with watercolour again. Right before we visited the in-laws last month, I started a watercolour. Then I was lucky enough to see the amazing work of Andrey Avinoff at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. As soon as I came home I completed the painting and posted it a few posts below. I love how it turned out! I feel another one coming on this weekend :)  

• Spending time outdoors

The weather is amazing so spending time outside is pretty easy and fun again.

• Eating more greens - trying new vegetables too.

Green smoothies became a definite fave around here! Yummm! We tried a couple new fruits and veggies as well. I'm actually making a jicama salad tonight.

• Make some jewellery.

I made some mala beads for a local yoga studio and I also made a fun gemstone charm bracelet as well.

• Not heat style my hair at ALL (not possible but i'm going to try to minimize)

I did heat style my hair this weekend - twice. We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary by spending time in a nearby fave mini city of sorts. I felt a night out on the town deserved getting dressed up for. So i blew out my hair. Then i attended a wedding event on Sunday evening and thought it might be fun to do that again.
Other than that i've found myself loving my natural waves and i'm actually enjoying wearing it natural! Not to mention the time savings of wash n' go hair woo hoo!:D

You got that right,
ALL crossed off.
I'm not comfortable that some of them are 'routine' yet but they have been done, some multiple times!
I feel this life surge almost. This need to jump out of bed and seize the day and I fully believe that it has come from choosing better quality foods and moving more.
I cannot wait till i feel comfortable enough for it all to be habit/ the way I live my life and there is a part of me that is nervous that these new habits won't stick.
A recent trip out of town derailed me. I don't believe in willpower. I believe in planning. Poor planning and wishful thinking lead me down a path of not eating the best things, staying up way past my bedtime, getting stressed about it and ending up sick for almost a week. Next trip out of town needs to be planned better and i need to dump the 'vacation' mentality.
Here's to fun summer goals and whipping through those as well:)

Garden Update 2

Since my last update these little beauties sure have grown!

The tomato stalks are thickening up and getting those little 'tomato hairs' and true leaves!

I wake up every morning and peek at them to see the changes and there are usually significant changes just overnight!

I've learned that the seedlings need lots of water and they are LOVING the unfiltered sun they're getting this week since the weather is so nice out there!

This weekend will definitely be transplant weekend as I think they need a bigger space to continue their growth. Read on for pictures!:)

Had to share!

I haven't really touched watercolour in a few years. Not since my awesome and fun show at More Vino in Trinidad back in 2007.
I recently picked up my paints and brushes again. It was one of my spring goals to paint.
Another one to cross off the list:)
It was absolutely amazing to feel a loaded brush depositing paint onto rough paper. It made me remember all the challenges and fun and relaxation and the wonderfully happy accidents that happen when you simply allow the medium to just be. It was a good lesson in patience and also loosening up and allowing things to happen and to push my boundaries just by letting go. Watercolour has this wonderful way of reminding you that you're not really all that in control. The puddles will pool as they please and they always look wonderful at the end.
The time spent on this was truly a treat! I look forward to many,many more paintings this year!

I'm still here!

cucumber plant

That was a completely unintentional blog hiatus!
I have been watching our beautiful little container garden grow. I've been freaking out by the lack of growth in my basil plants,
surviving school, work, managing our household and all the other things that life throws at you.
I promise a lovely garden update along with some pics of the flowers at the botanical gardens in DC and some other stuff.
Until then, take deep breaths and enjoy the outdoors - looks like spring has finally decided to show up:)

March Bites

Being settled in our new place meant lots more cooking and nesting :)

Getting deeper into school means more experimenting with different foods too. We're trying to do as much organic and locally grown as possible (hence the garden!).

My faves from this month have to be the chopped salad above, millet (never got a picture!), quinoa and lentils - specifically lentil loaf. Mmmm! Ooh and on the sweet side - my love, chocolate vegan cupcakes! yummer!

Garden Update 1

Our little garden is growing and it is SO exciting / nerve wracking. Mostly exciting though :)

After the jump I explain (with the help of a few photos) how we're doing this little garden.

Happy reading :)

Scrub up!

I adore bath and body products and I'm a long time lover of body scrubs. They make your skin look and feel so alive and healthy! Scrubs remove the build-up of dead skin to reveal the smooth fresh skin underneath and scrubs that have an oil base moisturize the new skin at the same time. Giving yourself a scrub helps to stimulate your lymphatic system to promote drainage and also helps to remove toxins and improve blood flow to the skin. You want to glow? Have a little scrub.

Don't over scrub though! Too much of a good thing and all that.

Salt scrubs and sugar scrubs both feel delicious and are a wonderful way to pamper yourself after a long day or for no reason at all. We never need a reason for some self-care, right?

Maybe i should revisit this :)

I haven't indulged in making any jewelry in a long time! I really miss it. I bought some beads and things recently to work on some mala beads for the yoga studio that a friend of mine works at. I really, really missed creating with beads and wire and feeling my jewelry pliers in my hands. I'm thinking some more fun jewelry is definitely going to be in the works this spring/summer!:) All of the pieces in this post were created exclusively for Chick's Picks by Hillary 2010. There really needs to be a 2011 collection, no?

More pictures after the jump. Enjoy!

Spring Goals

Spring spans March 20th to June 21st.

Some of my spring goals are silly, some are serious and some are pretty small. Either way they are things that I want to accomplish this spring.

• A regular exercise routine. I'd been doing well, then i moved. The smallest move in the world but I allowed it to disrupt my routine. I'd like to do at least three days a week minimum.
• Taking lots of pictures. (pictures of the gorgeous new springiness!)
• Starting and or completing a watercolour.
• Spending time outdoors
• Eating more greens - trying new vegetables too.
• Make some jewellery.
• Not heat style my hair at ALL (not possible but i'm going to try to minimize)

That's it. I'm keeping it simple and attainable. No crazy long lists that would take me years to complete. Just a few tasks that i can accomplish and things that will help build my foundation.

Hey spring, welcome! Nice to see you - let's roll!

I see buds on the trees.

I can't wait till we can feel the warm sun without the chill wind! I'll definitely take today over the bitter cold we've had. 

In trying to cultivate a personal culture of gratitude, I tried hard not to complain about the weather, but rather to appreciate the good about it. Being almost forced to stay indoors allowed me to clean and organize our living space, spend time with my husband and enjoy some down time.

It also encouraged me to appreciate the days that were not as bitter cold and bundle myself up to spend time outside.

That said, I still can't help but be excited by the recently appearing buds and I might just be overly excited to see actual flowers pop out of those buds.

I look forward to spending time laying in the grass, reading and breathing in the fresh air.

I also look forward to hiking this spring!

I've already pulled out my spring purses and i'm trying to ditch my coat as often as i can :)

Let the warmth and renewal begin!

Have Courage

I'm not much of a collector. I don't really like 'stuff'. I like the idea of having a collection of things. Perhaps a giant bookshelf full of my favourite books but i'm more inclined to obsessively purge those books through freecycle or a thrift shop.

This past summer, I bought my first Kate Spade idiom bangle.

I bought it the weekend that hurricane Ivan was supposed to clip us. It's a gorgeous stormy blue and says ' the calm before the storm'. I thought it was funny. At the time I didn't have the kind of job where I could wear a delicate bangle without scratching it so it lived in its little box, carefully treasured till I could wear it.

I continued to snatch up these little treasures and squirrel them away till I could wear them lots and lots. I love these in part for the gorgeous colours and partly for the fun sayings inside. The sayings are plain fun, thought provoking and some even lend a little courage.

On the last day of my old job, I had soo many emotions. I was sad (not that it was over), relieved, confused, mentally and physically exhausted, but mostly I was terrified. I didn't have another job and except for school (which was a huge stress because i was behind) I had no plan.

No. Plan.

Underneath all of that, I felt hopeful and I held on to that. 

I went home, took a shower and changed. Went to Kate with a leftover birthday gift card and I bought the pretty pink and red bangle that simply states ' Have Courage'. And I did. Cuz my bracelet told me to :)

P.S I've been wearing my bangles a lot a lot :)

Getting it together.

I started today just easing into it. Then I panicked when I realized exactly how many things I needed to do!

I was about to start making a paper to do list when I thought about using an online service instead.

I picked Cozi because honestly it came up almost on top of the searches, cute logo and I wasn't in the mood for anything complicated - there was a list to be made and a day to get on with!

January Bites

January is a great month to spend time in the kitchen, It was so cold out that being in the warm kitchen was where I wanted to spend most of my time. I came out of a rough job situation in the middle of Jan and jumped right into school and into the kitchen. I didn't have much time (seriously 13 hour days were the norm) so our diet took a hit but no more, no more.

Delicious Love

Test post :)