Saturday, February 6, 2010

Confessions of a Closet Foodie

I think it is time to admit it. . .I'm a Closet Foodie. I say "Closet" foodie because I haven't acknowledged the fact I'm a foodie until recently. I've been a foodie for years, but I never really knew it or truly understood what it meant! I will explain.

I'm addicted to many food shows-Ace of Cakes, Chopped, Good Eats, Unwrapped, etc.
I'm fascinated with the history and evolution of foods!
Ingredients excite me- especially when I have to look something new up before I can even purchase it.
Seeing the ingredients come together is a such a thrill.
Experiencing the tastes of various combinations of ingredients is a phenomenal pleasure.
The science of baking and cooking is intriguing!
Seeing flour, baking powder/soda, sugar, and butter come together to form a dough is exhilarating!

Ok, with that said, I also want to point this out- baking used to be the only kitchen activity I really enjoyed. I still do- of course, I do! I live to bake. However, I've discovered that preparing/cooking dinner can also be a thrill!

This year, inspired by the movie Julie and Julia, I decided to try at least one new recipe a week. My husband and I were getting tired (VERY tired) of the same old dinners. Adding a new recipe a week to our standard meals makes a huge difference. True, so far, not all of them have been fantastic, but they have been different. Those different recipes (whether easy or hard) have made making dinner fun and exciting. What will this new recipe bring? How will it taste? Will it be added to our standards? It has made a huge difference. I don't dread making dinner anymore- even the old 'standbys' because I'm a Closet Foodie!

Confession 1-DONE!

Anyone else want to join this Closet Foodie. . . you aren't alone if you secretly love to bake, cook, or any other form of 'controlled burning'! Let's stick together!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

January

Oh, yes! January is here, and I haven't posted anything in about a month. OH well.

I found I'm behind in posting my art journal entries. Here we go!

This was an attempt at a portrait. The other page was practice sketches of whimsical faces. I'm still improving them!

In keeping with the tradition I started last year (here), I made another year in review page. You might noticed quite a bit of other people's artwork in there. They are the people whose art has inspired me this year. I wanted to include them for my own memory's sake!
Then I did another page for my 2010 dreams like this one here.


I also threw this little ATC (Artistic Trading Card) together! Isn't the image adorable??I've made some other ATCs for a swap, but I had to scan them at work, and, of course, I left my jump drive there. Next time!

I'm off to run a few errands and then to bake some cookies!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

December Update!

Phew, ok. . .it is 2 days until Christmas. I have a little time between my baking endeavors today to do a quick December update. It has been a crazy month. Hubby and I are still getting settled in our new house. This is our first Christmas in our new home. We got the tree up in the first weekend. (Now, it has presents underneath!) Now, I just need to take some pictures of it when it is dark in the room. Those 'glowy' pictures just look so holidayish!! (My camera battery was low, so the picture is kinda blurry! Oops!)

In trying to decorate the house, I found that I don't have much in the way of household decorations. Oh well. Time will remedy that soon!

I spent a the second weekend baking cookies to give as gifts. As a new home owner, we don't have much money for gifts, so I gave away many, many cookies and pastries! Here they are all laid out in their containers waiting to be capped and sent off to their recipients! (Peppermint macarons, Sugar Cookies, Marshmallows, Chocolate cake balls!)

I even made macarons (no flavor) to be filled with peppermint ganache! They all came out beautifully- little feet and smooth tops. Most had an air bubble, but oh well. I was very excited to see the little rows of perfect little macarons! (This was quite an accomplishment after Thanksgiving where I had to try three times to get some presentable macaron cookies!!!)

Now, I'm off work, and I'm working on making more cookies to give to my family and hubby's family. Also, I'm wrapping presents and attempting a pecan pie on Wednesday!

I so love this time of year! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! Hopefully, I'll be back more often in the next two weeks since I'm not at work! See you soon!

Merry Christmas!!!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving

Ok, this is just a quick blog entry to let you know I'm alive. Yes, I went back to work, bought a house, and now, it is Thanksigivng. I don't get on the computer as much as I'd like. I haven't been on my blog in ages. I just wanted to say hi! I hope to most more over the CHristmas break. Sorry I'm only a break blogger. I'll work on it!

Happy THanksgiving!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Winter Painting

First of all, I was so upset yesterday, I forgot it was my blogaversary! Oh well! I wanted to do something special, but that just didn't happen!

Ok, now on the Winter Painting. Do you remember my Autumn and Spring paintings? Well, they have now been joined by Winter!! Watercolor background, acrylic snowman, water color and acrylic girl! I think she looks very nice. I have to say Autumn is still my favorite, but I'm glad to see this series is almost finished! I'm working on summer, but she isn't finished! I just wanted to share with you!Have a great day. I'm off to court this afternoon to take care of a traffic ticket. . .oops! I've been on deferred adjutification, and this court day will end it! Phew!

This weekend, we have a great guest speaker at church, Paul Bradford of Warrior School Ministries. He is an awesome preacher, and our church is looking forward to his services tonight at 7pm, tomorrow at 6pm, and Sunday at 10:30am!

Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

A case of the "What ifs"

Ok, this is not an art entry. It is a place for me to put down my thoughts. I tend to go through these phases every once in a while, but this one seems to be long and really depressing me.

Ok, everyone has a case of the "what ifs". . . What if I did this. . .what if I followed this path and not the one I took. . .what if. . . Lately, that is all I can think about it. What if I had followed my dreams and not be practical about my life. When I was young, I loved to bake. Every break from school was time for me to make a cake or bake ginerbread cookies, etc. That was what I liked (in addition to drawing) more than anything else. Well, I never thought their was a future in it- just something fun to do when I didn't have to go to school. (Ask my mom. I'm certain she got tired of supervising me!)

Anyway, in an old book I used to fill out every summer about the previous school year, I grew up wanting to be a teacher. Good stable job. . .the practical side. The subject changed, but teaching was what I wanted to do. Ok, so, I went back to school two years ago to be a teacher. I tried it- taught 5th grade. I HATED it! Teaching is so not my bag. Even if I learned more on how to be a better teacher, I don't think I would want to go back. There just isn't creativeness in that job- so much by the book paperwork and details. No thanks! Not ever again.

Ok, so that dream was a bomb. What about the baker/pastry chef in me? What about the graphic designer in me? What about the artist in me? I just discovered through Facebook that a friend of mine from middle school is now a chef! Wow! How cool! (In fact, I think she might work at Disney World.) Also, another friend of mine from college is working at Disney World- how awesome. I was given the same opportunity as she was, but I was mad at her at the time, and I turned down the opportunity. How stupid could I be??? (I, of course, blamed it on the fact that they wanted me to start in Quick Food and Beverage- which isn't where I wanted to be. My friend started there and now, she sometimes gives the famous Keys to the Kingdom tour- a type of backstage tour for those of you who don't know.)

Now, my life is boring. Yes, I'm buying a house, and that is very exciting. However, other than that, my life didn't turn out as I hoped. I have a deadend job that doesn't pay well at all. I'm married-which is great. I also have a great church and a great relationship with God. That realtionship with God is the only thing that is really keeping me going. I'm certain God has plans for me that surpass my own. (There are big things going on at our small church, and I know God needs me there to do something no one else can do.) However, I don't know what God will need me to do, so for now, I'm trying to figure out my life with my carnal mind. My carnal mind is saying my life is really lousy!

My case of the what ifs starts here: what if I had gone to work at Disney- how different and awesome my life would be! What if I had studied something else in school? (Even in school I figured teaching wasn't for me, but I never figured out what was.) What if I did figure it out, got a degree in whatever I"m really supposed to do and lived that life??

I just don't feel happy with my life. I thought that when you found your niche in life, you would be happy and content and not wanting a different life. I'm not happy and content, and I do want a different life. What does that mean? What am I supposed to be doing? I guess the only one who can truly answer that is God. I have some ideas, but maybe I should be praying for direction. Who knows? All I know is that I wish my life was different- more exciting, more fresh, more creative, more fun, more me.

Sorry for the downer post, but these are things in my head. I just want it to be out there in case there are others who are feeling as I am. Just know you aren't alone.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Toys Gothic Arches

Tomorrow (Sunday) is a very busy day for me, so I wanted to have my arches up on my blog today! The theme for the Gothic Arch Challenge is "Toys-vintage or favorite from childhood!" I am posting an older arch because it fits along with two arches I created from my childhood toys- My Little Pony (Glory was my favorite according to my mother!) and Rainbow Brite. I can't believe Rainbow Brite celebrated her 25 anniversary this year. This holiday season will bring the newest version of Rainbow Brite (the one on the right in my arch) as dolls, etc!! They redesigned her- I have mixed feelings about the redesign, but I think they did a good job staying pretty close to the original!Thank you for looking!