Gratitude 52 - Prompt #3

Gratitude 52 - Prompt #3 - "Art Supplies" - Sketch or illustrate your appreciation for the gift of self-expression.



A little snapshot of my painting zone.

My thoughts on "adult peer pressure"

So when most people think about peer pressure, their thoughts lean towards kids or teenagers. I think that adults suffer from it equally or more than adolescents. I see it all the time. Here's an example. I constantly have people telling me how much they love my hair. Older ladies LOVE my hair! They are always saying "Oh I love that, I wish I could do it." My question is WHY can't you? A lot of these ladies are probably retired. If you don't have a job that holds you back, then what's the problem? So many people think they are "too old" to do things like that. Says who? Says society? Says adult life? I mean really... It's not hurting anyone. It's not morally wrong. It's not harmful to you or to others. It's simply fun and color. The same idea with clothes and style. Why don't people just wear what they like? Why are they so worried if it fits in to their age group or what's in style? I'm not saying I don't like things that are in style, I definitely do. But if I feel like wearing an outfit circa 2001, I'm gonna. People, please I'm begging you, just do what makes you happy! Don't worry about what other people think. You're not doing it for them, you are doing it for you. Ok, so maybe there's a chance people might think you're a little cray. LOL let them think it! Usually they are just jealous they aren't as bold as you. It's true, I do still have "adult peer pressure" from time to time. Sometimes I feel a little self conscious because I think people are judging me for my colorful style. I try to push it out of my mind, because it's who I am. I just have to hope that people can accept me for that.

It's possible that people are looking at me thinking "Gosh grow up already." I know I know. I'm going to be 39 years old tomorrow! I honestly don't give a flip. I'm over caring about what people receive as normal. If I look like a freak for the rest of my life, so be it.

So anyway. I don't know if this post is a pep talk for you or for me. Either way it's what has been on my mind lately. What are your thoughts?  Do you feel "adult peer pressure?" Tel me about it! I'd love to hear about your struggles, hopes and dreams.

Oh hey... and I got mermaid leggings!

Gratitude 52 - Prompt #2

Gratitude 52 - Prompt #2 - "Talks With Friends" - Sketch or illustrate your appreciation for those who laugh and listen."



Of course it's Dustin, Holly, Travis and myself shooting the breeze over coffee. ^_^

Alan Rickman.

"Severus Snape"

R.I.P. Alan Rickman

1946 - 2016

Bowie.

"The Man Who Sold The World"

R.I.P. David Bowie

1947 - 2016

Gratitude 52 - Prompt #1

If you're looking for something fun and delightful to do to help you along with sketch journaling, this is for you! Jennifer Frith has a great project going on that anyone can join! Every week of the year, she will send out a prompt on thankfulness. All you do is create a page in your sketchbook according to the topic. You don't have to be any certain type of artist, or consider yourself an artist at all. There is creativity inside of everyone! Here's a great way to get the creativity flowing and see what's inside of you! You can share in the community if you like, or just keep it to yourself! Sign up over HERE!

Here's my week #1 - Prompt "Quote it out - A favorite gratitude quote."



If you decide to draw along with us, let me know! I'd love to see what you come up with!

Currently

It's been a long time since I did a "currently" post. . . so here we go!



Obsessing Over
Getting my act together with fitness, weight loss and being healthy. This is an ongoing thing for me, not just a "New Year's Resolution." I love to work out and believe it or not I love eating healthy. I also really really love pizza and beer. Oy vey. My metabolism isn't great. Typically after I get to my goal weight I end up slipping back into weekend indulgence. . . like going out to eat 3+ times etc. Even if I exercise and watch what I eat during the weekdays, I'll still gain. Someday I will find a balance. Either way, I'm back to trying to lose again. 10-15 lbs is my goal. After that is WILL find balance in the force.  OH! Any cute athletic leggings. Yes. I love them all.

Working On
Getting back into the swing of things. I took a little break over Christmas. I'm currently coming up with some new pouches. I haven't been happy with the size of my pouches, so why should I think others would be? I'm attempting to make new ones that are slightly bigger. They will fit normal length pens and pencils and your big phones! I'm also going to reintroduce small coin pouches. As usual, trying to paint, draw and am working on commissions.

Anticipating
Umm... the next Star Wars film of course! Rogue One December 2016. Sigh. I've got a long way to go. Other than that, I'm pretty excited what this year holds. I've signed up for a few new craft fairs including Steel City Con in April! SO excited about that!

Listening To
Since Travis and I had a lot of vacation days together, we've listened to a lot of the same stuff. Recently the new Ignite pretty much on repeat. You should definitely check it out! When we are in the car, it has been Matt Baird of Spoken's solo album called Keeper of My Heart.  Love!

Reading
Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story. I got slightly stalled out on some books I simply was not enjoying. So when I picked a new one out, it had to be something that would totally capture my attention. This would be it. I LOVE MJ!  This book is HUGE. over 600 pages. I don't think that will be a problem. Every page is fascinating. I love going through and listening to the music as it progresses in the book.

Eating
Healthy. I guess I already talked about this. Staying away from gluten and processed foods. Eating a lot of protein. Good stuff!

Wishing
For summer. Ugh! I used to be such a winter person. Living in Virginia and bike riding ruined me of that. I still love it when it snows and such, but I want warm days and sunshine! This vitamin D deficiency is for the birds! 

What are you doing currently? Seriously... tell me!

Jar of Awesome 2015

The first year I did a "Jar of Awesome" I forgot to write about a lot of small yet awesome things.  I tried to be a lot more deliberate in 2015, not to mention I did a TON of stuff! Holy smoley! I am so thankful for all the fun adventures of life and blessings that come my way.



I unpacked my jar in a more organized fashion, laying them out by month and date. January was a big month since I went to South Korea and Japan. May it gets crazy again with our bike trip in NYC and then so on all summer. I was barely home this year. It was crazy fun. Here's to another awesome year!

In semi-chronological order, the contents of my 2015 "Jar of Awesome!"

~ Went to my first speakeasy (thanks Nate)

~ Hung out with Mike Mains and the Branches at my house

~ Got in to see Mae & Mike Mains on the guest list at Mr. Smalls

~ Art Center Throw Down

~ Went to South Korea

~ Read "Steal Like An Artist"

~ Used a "squatty potty"

~ Tried Soju

~ Held a hedgehog

~ Went to a dog cafe

~ Got pressed pennies in Seoul

~ Went to the top of Tower 63 in Seoul

~ Drank a black bean latte

~ Went to Japan

~ Turned 38 years old

~ Went up Tokyo Tower and walked on glass floor

~ Got pressed pennies in Japan

~ Snow in Tokyo!

~ Ate goose liver by mistake and brussel sprouts for the first time

~ Got land sickness

~ Watched Filmage (a documentary about the band The Descendents/All)

~ Went to get pennies at awkward places by myself (Front Royal and Skyline Caverns) in Virginia

~ Pizza Paradiso!

~ Went to National Cathedral

~ Sold "Kiss the Cook"

~ Solo show at Grove City ArtWorks

~ Sold "Grace Flood"

~ New Bike Day! 

~ Watched Exhibition On Screen featuring Van Gogh

~ Tonight at 8:30 by Hobnob Theatre Co

~ Fab Art Show 

~ Rode the entire way up Locust Street for the first time

~ Dustin Kensrue in Cleveland

~ Renovo Craft openhouse

~ Art All Night 

~ Went to NYC

~ Visited the Statue of Liberty and went up to the crown

~ Collected 42 pennies in NYC

~ Rode the Five Boro Bike Tour in NYC

~ Saw John Mellencamp at the Benedum Center

~ Saw Mike Mains and the Branches at the Hard Rock Cafe - Pittsburgh

~ Biked 43 miles 

~ Hiked Kennedy Mills

~ Flowers from my love

~ Weapons of Choice played with The Queers, Richie Ramone at the 31st Street Pub

~ Painted Jeep for Suburban Animal Clinic

~ Went to Nashville

~ Johnny Cash Museum

~ Made Soap with Choe

~ Biked the River walk in Chattanooga

~ Went to Chattanooga and explored

~ Went to Snoopers Rock - Chattanooga

~ Audiofeed 2015

~ SouthSide Works Exposed

~ Sold "I Made Friends Instead"

~ Got Star Wars tattoo

~ Rode the Pennypack trail and all around Philadelphia

~ Went to This Is Hardcore 2015

~ Rode Mt. Vernon trail and visited Roosevelt Island

~ Eureka Retreat in Annapolis

~ Rode a sailboat 

~ Travis rode up Signal Mountains

~ Dad gave me pressed pennies from my childhood

~ Achieved 100 beers on untapped

~ Did stand up paddle board for the first time

~ Went to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum

~ Rode Hoodlebug Trail and Ghost Town Trail - 44 miles each way for our 18th anniversary!

~ Commission for Sara Monfre

~ Living Dead Weekend 2015

~ Did painting for Mike at Pennies Bake Shop

~ Weapons of Choice played with Agnostic Front at Cattivo - Pittsburgh

~ Went to Reclamation Soft Launch

~ Slippery Rock VillageFest

~ Reclamation job

~ Moved shop into Mystique Moon

~ Met with Denyse my old high school friend

~ Mystique Moon opened

~ Alderton Fall Festival

~ Cook Forest Bike MS

~ Applefest 2015

~ Country Roads tattoo

~ Taught Cider, Coffee & Canvases at WPCA

~ Had photo shoot with David McCandless

~ Saw Eisley at The Altar Bar

~ Visited Smithsonian

~ Indian Echo Caverns

~ Saw Attalus

~ Visited Lynn and Tanya, Chris and Christa Wagner in Hershey

~ I Made It Holiday Market

~ Received my "Axis of Evil" enamel pins

~ Rode up and hiked down Stone Mountain - Atlanta, GA

~ Visited CNN Center and other various places in Atlanta

~ Went to Hibachi for the first time

~ Went to "Little Five Points"

~ Rode on same plane as Hines Ward

~ Samantha Newark liked my Instagram photo

~ Saw Leigh Nash at Club Cafe - Pittsburgh

~ Matt Baird played at Reclamation and met us awesome family

~ Stirling Yoga Show

~ Applied to Steel City Con

~ Sold "Bandito Lobster of the Sahara Sea"

~ Saw A Christmas Carol by hobnob

~ Star Wars the Force Awakens - opening night!

~ Star Wars again with Travis

~ Star Wars again with Crystal

~ The New Years Awakens NYE party

Decemdraw - second half roundup

Decemdraw is over. I'm very happy I did it, and at the same time I'm happy it's over. I like having daily prompts, but I think I'm ready to try and do my own for a while. I've committed to trying to sketch and/or paint 5 days a week. I won't always post them because I must just be working on a bigger project. So yea, here are the remainder of my Decemdraw sketches. Who knows, some of these may end up as paintings someday.