My Recipe.....For a Beautiful Day....

It's quite easy to have a beautiful, meaningful day....sometimes we complicate things....But here is my way of making a day....Beautiful......

- xx

For the Teachers....

This is for the teachers that I know that will be heading back to school soon. Even though our schools don't start until September in the northeast,  I still have Back to School on my mind....

Also, we went into Target this weekend....and they were fully stocked with BTS supplies....

Are you ready for back to school, or is summer still going strong for you?

Anyway, I have been itching to sketch some BTS girls so here is my first....

have a great week!

Be AWESOME

new prints celebrating childhood are coming to the shop!

Come take a peek, here

while we head out to be

AWESOME!

Thief!

Do you compare yourself to others?

Do you look at the people around you and think, " Gee if I only was as thin, athletic, talented, rich, happy, pretty, lucky, smart, (etc) as that person, my life would be better? More fulfilled?

Well, one of my favorite quotes, Comparison is the Thief of Joy really helps you put those feelings to rest.
Think about it....When you compare yourself to others, you are forgetting to see how capable and beautiful you really are. When we look at others in a light that's brighter than our very own, it diminishes your self value and your own self worth.

Why compare yourself to someone else? YOU are YOU. There is NEVER going to be another person like you out there....Isn't that kind of cool? Isn't better to look inside and see all the amazing things that you have to offer rather than looking at someone else and seeing what they have and measuring their worth against your very own?

So let's not let Miss Comparison raid our thoughts and steal our joy....let's be happy with who and what we are and focus on keeping the joy in our very precious one and ONLY lives!

Trick Or Treat - Popcorn Balls

Popcorn Balls are the perfect snack for Halloween guests and Trick-or-Treaters.

These treats are so delicious and easy to make!

Thanks to my friend Kristin for sharing this recipe with us. 

6 Cups of hot air popcorn

1 Cup of Candy Corn

1/4 Cup Melted Butter

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

10 - oz bag of marshmallows

Cooking oil/spray

 Combine popcorn and candy corn in a large bowl.

Melt 1/4 cup of the butter in a large pan over medium heat; Stir in the salt and the marshmallows. Reduce the heat and cook for 5-7 minutes until the marshmallows melt and the mixture is smooth, stirring frequently.

Pour marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and stir well to coat. 

Spray your hands with a bit of cooking spray. 

*The mixture is quite sticky so you don't want it sticking too your hands when you are shaping them. 

Next, shape the popcorn mixture into 12 - (2 inch) balls with your hands.

The mixture can be hot - so if you are doing this with your kids allow the mixture to cool a bit before they handle the popcorn and melted butter mixture.

Simple and delicious.

Have fun and enjoy. Do you have any favorite homemade Halloween Treats?

Creative Tuesdays - April Showers

After the rain...

the grass will always grow....

Even though things may seem dark and dreary at times,

 if we are patient and ride out the storm....

good things eventually begin to sprout!

The theme for this week's Creative Tuesday's is April Showers- 

after the April showers...the May flowers provide hope and new life...

I am sharing this illustration  with my friends over at Creative Tuesdays...

See you there!

Print is available, here in The Shop

holiday decorating at my house

We are almost all decorated at my house!

My house was built in 1763 by a man who was an officer in the Revolutionary War....

I hope he approves of my decorating style!

....it's the most wonderful time of the year and I love to decorate my home for the holidays...

I will be sharing more pictures with you soon, but in the mean time I used my favorite new program

Instagram to alter the above picture just for fun...

 Stay tuned for more photos. Also, come join the fun over at my FACEBOOK page, I am hosting a giveaway! Just wanted to THANK each and everyone of you for your continued support and friendship out there in the BLOG world ....It means so very much to me!!!

Yes, you could win a $50 gift card and a special gift from me!

just hop over here, and say HI!

Illustration Friday - Influence

Illustration Friday

Influence

The 80s were still a huge influence on Tiffany's world...

She was thankful that her cassette tapes still worked...

Duran Duran and Madonna were just a few of her favorites!

And the winner is.....and Thank You

Congratulations to Maddy Rose!!!

She is the winner in my book giveaway and $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble!

YAY Maddy!*

I let my kids pick the winning name out of a bag -They love helping out!

Thanks girls!

Thank you so very much to EVERYONE for entering the giveaway...

I LOVE giveaways, don't you?

You know,

I wish EVERYONE could win, so I think I will plan

another giveaway before the end of the Summer.

Also, I would like to say  a HUGE

thank you to all of my new followers and Facebook friends - YAY - I am so glad you are here!

Also, Thank you to all of you that participated in this week's Sunday Sketches, here on my blog - It was a pleasure to help Sophia out! I enjoy Sunday Sketches so very much - It's a wonderful group...if you haven't joined in please come out next Sunday with your sketch pad and pencil....See you there!

* Maddy, can you please leave your email in the comment section, so I can email you for your mailing address?

Thanks a bunch!

Sweet Saturdays- Cute Library Book Bag

I think this is pretty sweet....

the ability to take your own artistic creations and put them on canvas tote bags!

Available at The Shop

Our favorite way to use these canvas bags is at the library...

The kids fill them up with books and then they know exactly where to find them

when it's time to return the books!...

They really cut back on overdue fees!

other uses

for the dance student*groceries *sleepovers*toys*workout gear*art supplies*

---and the list goes on...

For more sweetness, hop over to Illustrator and artist Diana Evans' blog...

See you there!

Illustration Friday - Stay

Madeline was content to stay in Paris forever.....

Yes, the adventures of Madeline and her red balloon continue with a short stay over Paris for this week's Illustration Friday prompt.

Sunday Sketches - Smile

Good Morning, friends

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. It's beautiful here....

the weather is just gorgeous...it's the perfect summer morning...

Well, it's Sunday and that means it's time to visit Sophia and the gang over at Sunday Sketches. Come join the fun! Come share a sketch with us!

Here is another sketch I am putting together for my client...

the Dentist....

When it is complete, it will  be for a Thank You note for their office....

See you over at The Blue Chair Diary.

Happy Sunday!

*Update on the Toucan's Western Spirit Award - they won! Thanks for all of your encouraging words on my last post!

Madeline's Picnic

I can't wait to hear about your new school!

Tell me everything, my friend...

Even though Molly went to a different school, Madeline would always be her best friend.

AND, this illustration is also a game ( perfect for printing)

Can you find all of the little things hidden inside this picture?

1  butterfly

1 paintbrush

4 hearts

2 cups

1 pencil

4 plates

2 friends

Have a Sweet Saturday, my friends!

Do pop over to Sweet Saturdays, here...and share some sweetness

7 things to know....

A huge thank you to Miss Maddy Rose for passing this wonderful blog award to me! Maddy is a blog friend that makes the most adorable Santa Claus figures, seriously, they are adorable
...I love them! If you have not visited her blog, yet, then please hop over here and say hello! ....We all need a little Christmas now and then!

Part of the award acceptance is passing along 7 things about me that you may not know -

The beach is one of my favorite spots!

Brownie is our adopted dog.

We adopted him at a local shelter just over a year ago!

I love all things Parisian

This is my dream house on the ocean in New England

( yes, this is taped to my computer!)

Hey, a girl has to dream!

My doppelganger?

Maggie Gyllenhall....

People always tell me I look like this actress...

even my kids said, Mommy, that's you!

(my hair might be a little lighter! :)

and my favorite season is Summer....

and....one of my favorite restaurants

 - Blue Water Grill -

So there are a few things you might not know about me!

and you already know the basics,

I love pink, Starbucks and drawing!

and all of my blog friends....thanks for all of your continued support!

Have a great day!

Thanks Maddy Rose - xo

"The world's favorite season is the spring.

All things seem possible in May."

- Edwin Way Teale

I love the spring. We are having the most amazing weather. Blue skies. Cool temperatures. Sunshine.

Hope you are too! Have a wonderful Thursday, my friends.

and yes, anything is possible!

 

Illustration Friday - Beginner

All beginner readers need someone to tell a story to.

Illustration Friday theme of the week is

beginner

Join us at Illustration Friday for more illustrations

I am also adding this to Pop Art Minis Wednesday Buzz, hop here to visit!
Come join the fun! 

Creative Tuesdays - Purple

This week's theme over at Creative Tuesday's is

 PURPLE...

My girls suggested that Madeline the Mouse should have a friend - I agreed.

Summer thought that Madeline's best friend would be a frog, so we named her Violet, just in time for

Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's.

Come play along with us, here, it's so much fun!
see you there

Chip's Favorite 7 Layer Dip

It's Cinco de Mayo 

Time for 7 Layer Dip and Chips

This is one of my favorite appetizers. My friend Cindi brings this to all of our get togethers and it's always the first appetizer to go! It's quick and easy to make. We will be making this tonight with our tacos!

Chip's Favorite 7 Layer Dip

1 Can refried beans

                                                        1 Cup Guacamole ( small container)

1 Cup Sour Cream

1 Cup Mayonnaise

1 Package of Taco Seasoning

2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 Jar black olives

In large glass dish, layer in this order,  one can of refried beans. Then guacamole. Next,  mix 1 cup of sour cream and 1/2 cup mayonnaise together and add in the taco seasoning. Spread that on top of the guacamole. For the next layer chop 2 tomatoes, and place on top of sour cream mixture. Finally add the cheddar cheese - top with  black olives, if desired.

Serve with your favorite brand of chips! I like Tostitos Scoops!

Sunday Sketches - A Sketch of Summer

Summer
pen and ink

It's Sunday, and time for Sunday Sketches with Sophia and friends,

over at the Blue Chair Diary.

Grab a pencil and a sketch pad, and come join the fun!

This is a sketch I did this week of my daughter, Summer.

This sketch, is from one of my favorite pictures I have of her,

and it just appeared on my desk this week...

so I took the hint, and decided to sketch it

This is how I started to color it from the sketch pad.

I used pencil and my favorite Prisma colored pencils - Rose Madder and Pink

and then I went in with my Copic (L♥VE them) pens and ink...

to finish it...

I can't wait to give it to her!

What types of medium do you like to work in?

My Favorites...

Copics, Pens, Ink

and Watercolor

Have a great day!

See you at Sunday Sketches!

Hello 38!

heather 1981 

Yes, It's My Birthday, today!

and  that's me 30 years ago!

But wait, ...38???

How can that be?

Where has the time gone?

Well, like any Aries I am off to enjoy MYSELF, today!

I love my birthday,

and I sure am going to treat myself right!

Lots of Starbucks and cupcakes!

So....

See you at the bottom of the hill

(that's Clue #3...)

Yes, I am on a HUGE hill 

mountain somewhere ....

hmmmm????

OK, last hint  - 

It's home to the highest chairlift in North America...

remember the winner will receive a special gift from me!

Good Luck!

Make a Wish...

and have a great day!

xo