Tuesdays with tyndall #2

Boyfriends

Valentine’s Day approaches. Some ladies like can-DY! And some roses.  But my friend Lacy & I, we like boyfriends. I am a decade long-bride and since my sweetheart doesn’t read this blog, it’s safe to tell you about all my boyfriends.  There’s coffee-shop boyfriend, bar-boyfriend, politician-boyfriend, boy-toy boyfriend, and even gay-boyfriend. Regrettably, these boyfriends only pass through my daydreams, but here’s the hot and dirty list that gets skin on skin:

Nordstrom Trouvé Button Front Boyfriend Shirt

Gap (PRODUCT) RED™ watercolor boyfriend T

A.E. Favorite Boyfriend Jean

UrbanOutfitters BDG T-Shirt Terry Boyfriend Cardigan

and

My virtual boyfriend Vinne Chase on Entourage 

We always hold hands.  If I let go she shops.  Henry

introducing....

... Kelly, my artsy fartsy BFF.  I make a lot of dumba$$ decisions but when it comes to holding onto lifelong friends, I am a rockstar.  There are a handful of art projects my mathematically minded son (who normally cries when I get out the paint sans numbers) created that I've kept and they were with Aunt Kelly.  How she inspires him to joyfully make masterpieces of his own I haven't the foggiest. This is no ordinary foam sticker, color the plastic mug and glue the pom-pom nose on the x craft teacher. We're talking bonafide use your right brain art, Kiddos.  You'll wanna check her post (see yesterdays) out every Friday Kelly's Creative Fridays. Speaking of rock stars, here we are in a NC beach arcade photo booth trying to hide our braces....

I like her because she smiles at me and means it.  ~Anonymous

kelly's creative fridays

Living a Creative Life written by Kelly

Embrace your creativity and begin living your creative life! The joy of creating art can be a personal, family affair or both. For me, I enjoy making art with children. It relieves mommy guilt, my kids enjoy a creative experience, and I get to avoid the pain of playing Candy Land for the 3rd time in a row. The beauty of creating is that there is no right or wrong. Creative Fridays will be a place to spark your imagination and bring a little art into your child’s life as well as your own.

This week begin by designating an area of your home for creativity. It can be a small desk in the corner of the family room or if you have the space create a family art studio. The key is to make it a place that is ready to go with all materials, reflects your personality, interests and above all inspires you. You also get to go shopping (Tyndall swears shopping is therapeutic and inspires creativity!) Who knew ? 

1. An Inspiration Wall~ this can be in the form of a board or wire. Have fun with your kids cutting images from magazines that inspire you. Create collages with the pictures, photographs of nature, ticket stubs, meaningful memorabilia, inspirational quotes, dried flowers, fabric swatches, paint chips, and of course photographs of your best creation yet….your kids!   Anything goes as long as it inspires you to create.

2. Aromatherapy~ I thought this would just be another excuse to spend $30 on a candle but as it turns out Naiman says: Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to produce a particular effect. For the purpose of creativity, Naiman recommends peppermint, cypress or lemon to energize.  Ylang ylang, geranium or rose to relax.  As it happens lemon is a dominant fragrance in my favorite candle EVER! 

3.  Music~ update your iPod with some creative music. Intermix your top 40 tunes with the music of Mozart, Jazz, New Age and even rock music. According to Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect, The music of Mozart, Gregorian chant, and some jazz, New Age, Latin, pop and even rock music can strengthen the mind, unlock the creative spirit, and, miraculously heal the body. For kids play Elizabeth Mitchell Little Bird. Laura recommended this CD to me and my art class LOVED it! 

4.  A sketchbook/journal: it can be an old book from Goodwill that you alter with a little gesso or if you want to invest in a sketchbook I recommend Moleskine. If you prefer something larger try this.  Paint the cover with acrylic paints and collage with stickers, photos, and words.  Make it yours.

5. Art supplies~ start small you can always add to your collection. To get started in your journal I suggest getting a glue stick, scissors, graphite pencils, pens, and Prismacolor colored pencils. Prismacolors are a little pricey but they make all the difference, the lead is soft allowing the colors to layer and blend easily. They work amazing on black paper.

I strongly advise getting yourself and your kids a little bit of the good stuff.  It makes a difference in the quality of your work and it shows your children that you value art. Modge Podge,this will allow you to collage paper, magazine clippings, and other objects in your journal.  Put the Modge Podge on the back like glue and paste it in your journal. You can always brush some on top too afterwards to give it sheen.

Happy Creating!Picasso Masks

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.  ~Picasso

aw, nuts.

My headache today I am blaming on: 1) Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) 2) Mold spores (never ending rain) and 3) Tension.

What tension? You asked.... I'll give you an example. Took Kid 3 for an interview at a Montessori school. Not a huge worry as I used to be a teacher and my overall laziness as a mother encourages independence in young children (self sufficiency = good in Montessori).  Kid 2 waited with me in the office.... shhh, I tell him. I'm trying to hear what your brother is saying (his current phrase somebody kicked me in the nuts I hoped would temporarily escape him). 

I heard him announce I need to go potty.  Not ideal, please excuse me while I visit the restroom I'd prefer, but it would do. I think he's going to the bathroom now, sounds like everything is fine I said to Kid 2.  I could hear the teacher in there helping him.

He's going to the bathroom? Kid 2 asked with a funny look on his face.

Yes.

Uh-oh.

What... what?  WHAT?

I forgot to tell you, he isn't wearing socks......or underwear.

Still no word if little Commando has been admitted or not.

Wearing underwear is as formal as I ever hope I get. ~Ernest Hemingway

fame

Watch out Tinkerbell, there's a new pup in town.  Hot off the presses,  Goldendoodles (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) features three images of my very own doggie diva.  Surely there is a life lesson in this for me.  This was not a pooch headed for stardom right out of the kennel (last February mealtime consistently included crushed pineapple to make her poop taste yucky???). Maybe the lesson..... It's not what you know but who you know? Eat raw... Anybody can make it to the top if they just try, Recycle?

Famous yet humble, Ivy has not become too big for her collar.  Always ready to share the limelight.  See her almost famous, ever so slightly more muscular cousin- Stella.

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but will make a fool of himself too. -Samuel Butler