Hiking through the forest

Mossy forest floors, baby deer, and cascading waterfalls- just a few reasons why I love living where I do.  Yesterday, we hiked the Ramona Falls Trail in Mt. Hood National Forest.  So beautiful and tranquil.  After taking a short break from working on my art this week, I'm ready to paint again.

Away For The Week

I'm off to Girl Guide Camp till Aug 6. I was originally going to make up some posts to go up while I was gone and such but I just got home from hospital with my oldest and I was there for almost 3 days so I got nothing done. If I can get some internet access, I'll check in.

Have a great week!

PS - My daughters' fine. She had a UTI that went undetected, but for a while they thought it was appedicitis!

Green smoothie guide and tips for whole foods eating!

Here is a great guide to making green smoothies.  You can customize it for whatever your needs are and what you have on hand.  A wonderful way to start your morning and set the tone for a day filled with healthy eating.

I found this photo form sweat and the city.

I have recently been trying to get back to really focusing on healthy eating and working out.  I am currently working out 5 days a week.  See my personal fitness plan here.  I have found a lot of research that is pointing to a whole foods plant based diet and am trying to incorporate that.  Two book you might like to read are by Brendan Brazier a professional iron man Triathlete.  They include a look at recovery and fitness nutrition based on a whole foods plant based diet.  I am not a Vegan and am not pushing that, but making the bulk of your meals focused on this way of eating can be nothing but a boost to your health.  Personally I still eat fish and the occasional dairy (like some cheese) but try to aim for mostly grain and veggie based meals.  

      

I am alos subscribed to (free of course)

 "Thrive in 30 is a free 30-day online wellness program focusing on plant-based nutrition and offering a fresh approach to total body health. Sign up now to receive 12 email lessons on different key health-enhancing topics including lifestyle tips and short video segments with vegan Ironman triathleteBrendan Brazier."

Here are some additional resources for recipes and tips on whole foods eating..
http://sweatandthecity.com
http://www.wholefoodmommies.com/
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/

See the free diet and fitness planner sheets I posted earlier on my blog here.  I use these to be intentional about the way I eat and how much water I drink. I do not believe in restrictive starvation diets or life consuming diets.  Mentally you have to be able to handle the diet and still enjoy life. Tracking what you are eating and when is a great way to help you shed some unwanted weight or just improve your overall health.

How are you doing on your diet and exercise goals this summer? What sorts of things would you like to see here to help you reach your goals?  

Freebie Friday! Free Amy Butler purse / bag pattern

It's Friday and you know what that means!  FREEBIES!!  I love this free Amy Butler purse pattern,

free Amy Butler Blossom Bag PDF pattern 

Love to see your finished product when you get it done!

5 flat belly moves & nutrition inspiration - for Wellness Wednesday

We all want flat abs for summer time so here are a few exercises to get you headed in the right direction.  I am hitting my work out regime hard again after a busy summer has taken its toll on my workout schedule.  I am also really trying to focus on whole foods like veggies, fruits, whole grains, and only the occasional chicken and fish (no red meat).  I am also starting to track my water intake to make sure I really am getting the requisite 8 cups a day.  I like to just keep a sticky note on the fridge and mark every time I drink 8oz of water.

My workout plan? 

Monday 8 am - Do Turbo Jam or Insanity or P90X with friends at the local church (there is a nursery         room for my kids to hang out in while I work out!)

Tuesday 6 pm - Show up for Zumba class1/2 hour early so I can do lunges, ab work and weights.  Then ZUMBA for 1 hour till I am dripping in sweat! (MY FAVORITE work out!)

Wednesday 6 am - Run for 30 - 45 min while Josh is home to watch kids.

Thursday 6 pm - Show up for Zumba class1/2 hour early so I can do lunges, ab work and weights.  Then ZUMBA for 1 hour till I am exhausted!

Friday 8 am - Do Turbo Jam or Insanity or P90X with friends at the local church 

Saturday and Sunday - Play hard!

Below are some tools to help you on your way to a flatter belly!

  

(Both of the above found on pinterest )

You can do it! 

Tutorial Tuesday - Learning to sew? - links to tricks, tutorials and essential skills

It's Tutorial Tuesday but I wanted to do something a little different this Tuesday.  I know a lot of you love the ideas and crafts I post but you don't attempt them because you don't feel proficient enough in sewing to make them.   So this week instead of a tutorial on a particular project I wanted to have some tutorials available that will help you with your sewing skills so you can join in soon!  Sewing is an amazing art that is quickly making it's way back into the mainstream after a few years on the sidelines.  Even if you have never attempted anything these tutorials will help you get started.  Here are several that will help you on your way....


List of sewing tutorials from sew 4 home

If you are looking for a comprehensive resource that will help you learn sewing from start to finish you will love Disney's sewing tutorials that cover everything from what you need to get started, how to thread your machine and on to shirring. Hope you get the bug and find the time to start learning to sew or improving your skill set!

Porcelain necklace giveaway!

Here's your chance to win a handmade porcelain necklace by Emily Jull of Nesting Emily.  I have one similar to the blue necklace pictured, and I get compliments every time I wear it.  Keep in mind that each necklace is one-of-a-kind and can vary in shape and color from the one shown above. There's another photo of the necklaces in yesterday's post. 

To enter the necklace giveaway, all you have to do is visit Emily's shop here and then leave a comment below about your favorite piece(s).  One entry per person please, and make sure that your name links back to an email address so that we can contact you if your name is picked.



Two names will be randomly drawn this Friday, July 29, at 11a (PST).   If you are a winner, an email will be sent to you shortly after the drawing.  The names of the winners will also be posted below.

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Congratulations to Sara K. and Rebekah Leigh!

artist interview: Emily Jull of Nesting Emily

I have been smitten with the pottery of Canadian artist Emily Jull ever since spotting her vintage doily porcelain jars on Etsy.  One of her handmarked vases is perched on a shelf in my bedroom, and it's one of my very favorite ceramic pieces.  Her porcelain collection is thrown on the wheel in her home studio, and Emily was kind enough to share more about her creative process and space on Habit of Art. 



How would you describe your work, and what inspires you to create?



The work I enjoy the most these days is quite stark and minimal but I also do some with yarn, felt and colour which are more joyful. I think all my work is fairly simple, modern and organic. I am always inspired- there is so much to be excited about. Beautiful blogs like yours, other artists ( I run a gallery shop where I am surrounded by talent and beauty) and above all nature keep me constantly excited.

What does your typical work day look like?



My typical work day is at the gallery I mentioned above, but when I get to do my own work I wake late (I am part sloth). I have a fruit smoothie for breakfast and pick some tunes (this depends on what I am throwing and how much- anything from Nirvana to Stevie Wonder to Warpaint). Then I just jump on my wheel and get going. I love throwing and will do it for as long as I can till I ache too much. I’ll have lunch and then back down I go till dinner. I also love to clean my studio after- it feels like putting love and thanks into the space and all the tools.

What are the things you love most about what you do, and what are the challenges?



My absolute favourite part is throwing on the wheel. I am not as big a fan of the decorating the surface part. In fact I would love to partner with someone who loves that part and I could just throw all day. Maybe that’s why my work is so stark. I love the look of bare clay. That’s also why I love doing the woodfired pieces- the kiln does all the decorating and it is a complete surprise and one-off each time.

Emily and some of her vintage finds

Apart from art, what are your other interests?



Oh that’s tough. Almost everything I love falls under art, craft and design. I love vintage and antiques. In fact, in 2012, I will be opening a brick and mortar shop that combines all my loves. My greatest interest is my daughter but she is an artist so she counts under that heading too.

If you could change one thing about your work space, what would it be?



I work in my basement, and while it is filled with things I love including part of my art collection and is painted white, it can be gloomy. I would love a studio on ground level with lots of light and worn wood floors. Ahhh to dream.

Thanks, Emily, for a wonderful interview.  To see more of Emily's creative work, visit her Etsy shop and her flickr.  Also, her home was featured on Etsy here. 



And there is a giveaway! Emily is generously giving away a handmade ceramic necklace (shown in right photo) to two lucky Habit of Art readers.  Check back tomorrow for details!

Handpainted found objects in my Etsy shop

As mentioned in my last post, I have a few handpainted items up for grabs in my Etsy shop starting tomorrow morning.  In addition to the bear, there is a dolphin, a rock, and some more push pins (three sets to be exact).  The first sets of handpainted push pins went quickly after being spotlighted here.

Science fun for the kiddos - make ice cream in a coffee can!

Fun science project for kids! 

Make ice cream using a couple of coffee cans.

What could be more fun or yummier to do for a science lesson!

2 coffee cans with lids (one 2lb and the other about 13 oz size).

2 cups whole milk or experiment with thinner milks and note the differences. This is science after all!

1/3 cup sugar or use xyilitol or other natural sweetener. Other recipes call for 1/2 cup so it is up to you.

1 1/2  tsp vanilla

3 tbs chocolate syrup (optional for chocolate flavor)

Ice
About 1/2 cup Rock Salt

Pour all the ingredients except the rock salt into the smaller coffee can and seal the lid with duct tape. Place the smaller can in the center of the larger can and add the ice and salt around the smaller can.  Now put the lid on the larger can and seal it with duct tape to prevent leakage.  Have the kids roll it back and forth for about 20 - 30 minutes or until it looks solid like ice cream when you check it.  Be careful to rinse off the inner can before serving so that salt doesn't sneak in.  NOW THE FUN PART...EAT IT!

photo courtesy of Skip to my Lou

The science lesson to explain how ice cream is made can be found here.

 

Exclusive items coming soon

It's been several months, but I finally have a few new items to add to the Exclusives section of my Etsy shop, one of them being this bear.  (Remember the painted whale?)  The one-of-a-kind items will be available for purchase starting this Monday at 9a PST.    

Freebie Friday - Free cheeky printable luggage tags!

I love these free printable luggage tags fom Amy at Living Locurto.  She puts out tons of great printables.  Perfect for all your summer time travel coming  up.  You just print them off attach a business card to the back so that your contact info is visible when you flip it over and laminate.  Next use a hole punch and attach with ribbon to your luggage!  No more accidental luggage confusion.

Free printable luggage tags from Living Locurto

Hope you enjoy them.  They would make a great little gift as well.

Healthy main dish AND dessert with only 6 ingredients!

You heard me right.. A delicious main dish and dessert that is easy to make, low in calories, full of flavor and all you need are 6 ingredients!  You could whip this up in a hurry for tonight's dinner or turn it into a quick dinner for company if you add a simple mixed field green salad and whole grain artisan bread.

THE MENU: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken and Banana ice cream for dessert.

Photo courtesy of The Girl Who Ate Everything

Banana ice cream photo courtesy of The Kitchn

Here are the 6 ingredients you need -

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb.)

1/4 cup sun dried tomato vinaigrette divided or other vinaigrette according to taste.

1 tomato finely chopped

1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese.

1/4 cup chopped FRESH basil

       

and last but not least 

bananas for the ice cream

Chicken Bruschetta 

HEAT grill to medium heat.

COVER half the grill grate with sheet of heavy-duty foil. Place chicken in large resealable plastic bag. Add 2 Tbsp. dressing; seal bag. Turn bag over several times to evenly coat chicken with dressing. Refrigerate 10 min. Remove chicken from bag; discard bag and dressing.

PLACE chicken on uncovered side of grill; cover with lid. Grill 6 min. Meanwhile, combine remaining dressing, tomatoes, cheese and basil.

TURN chicken over; place on foil. Top with tomato mixture. Grill, covered, grill 8 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF). (recipe adapted from KRAFT)

1 ingredient Banana Ice Cream

Bananas make great ice cream because the small amount of naturally occurring fat in bananas makes them become creamy and rich when processed.

Peel and slice bananas and then freeze them. 1-2 hours later when the bananas are frozen pull them out and throw them into a blender or food processor.  Viola! You now have rich , creamy banana ice cream.  If you want to get fancy you can throw in a spoonful of  peanut butter before processing.  

There you have it 6 ingredients is all you need for a quick healthy main dish and delicious ice cream.  ALL perfectly acceptable on your summer diet I might add!  Let me know what you think!  

fgh

Gadgets for your iPhone

I try not to get sucked into the tech-gadget vortex, but I'll admit it takes a lot of self-restraint.  Here are a few new favorites that are sure to excite any iPhone fanatic. 

The iPhone SLR mount is a case-adapter that allows you to mount a Canon or Nikon lens onto your iPhone. It's crazy, brilliant, and I want it!  I can see this gadget being a sure-fire hit with avid iphoneographers who want more control of depth of field in their images. 

The cdock by local Portland design team Hatchet Goods is a sleek and modern looking case that displays your iPhone while charging it.  The desktop accessory can showcase your phone as a clock, a picture frame, or even a mini TV screen.  I love it when function meets great design!

So, this next gadget doesn't really have much to do with home design or photography, but it does make me feel like I'm in a spy movie [and I like spy movies].  Lockitron is a device that allows you to control the lock on your door with your smartphone.  And best of all, you can text the code to friends and family so that they can check on the family pet while you're away.

The olloclip is a lens that you can mount on your iPhone in seconds.  Sounds easy to use and portable- two things I love about modern gizmos.   You can choose from three effects- fisheye, wide-angle and macro. 



The cost of these gadgets range from $55 - $295, and, like many new iPhone accessories, they are exclusive to the iPhone 4G.  Seeing that I still have an iPhone 3G, I'll just have to admire these tech wares from a distance . . . at least for now.   

Picture Book Mini Reviews

Tallulah's Tutu by Marilyn Singer (Illustrations by Alexandra Boiger)
Stars: ****

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2011)

Tallulah learns that there is more to being a ballerina than wearing a tutu. Great book for those little ballet lovers. Tallulah gets mad that she is doing all these ballet lessons without a tutu. She ends up learning that having a tutu doesn't mean she can dance well, she needs to learn how to dance first, and she does.


Alfred Zector, Book Collector by Kelly Dipucchio (Illustrations by Macky Pamintuan)
Stars: *****

Harper - Imprint of Harper Collins (2010)
Alfred loves collecting books so much he ends up collecting every book in the town and no one else has anything to read but him. He secludes himself in his house. Alfred discovers the true joy in reading books and fixed the problem. I love this book. It illustrates how I feel about sharing books with others. Since I can't afford to send books to everyone in the world, I choose to blog about them instead.


Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley (Illustrated by Roberta Angaramo)
Stars: *****


Holiday House (2011)

A cute book my kids love. The dog goes to a shoe store to find footwear that is good for a variety of different things dogs do (digging, swimming, scratching fleas) but in the end finds out the best footwear is his own paws! The idea of dogs wearing shoes it what makes it so funny.

The Secret Box by Barbara Lehman
Stars: *****

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2011)
This is a different sort of book, quite different than other picture books. First of all it is wordless which I love. I get to ask my children what they think is going on and I can explain what I see, not read words given to me. It's not just being wordless that makes it different. It tells the story of a school or orphanage (it doesn't say remember...) over time, changing with the times. Then some children find a box hidden in the floorboards with items in it that are clearly from the past. They follow the map and find a special place.


Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone
Stars: ****

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2011)

This is a well known folktale, redone by the author. The illustrations are cute and I've always loved this folktale and was happy to share it with my children. Well done.

Time to Sleep by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
Stars: ****

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2011)
This is a unique picture book that is like nonfiction and fiction in one. It's a book about how different animals sleep. The when, the where.
e.g. Snoozing on autopilot - the white stork sleeps in flight. Scientists believe it does this by taking a series of naps that last just a few seconds each.

I Am the Book by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Illustrated by Yayo)
Stars: ****


Holiday House (2011)

A book full of poems about books!

What could be better. The poems are by different people but were all selected for inclusion by Lee Bennet Hopkins. For ages 4-8 but children don't seem to like poems. But yours might!

I Like You the Best by Carol Thompson
Stars: ***

Holiday House (2011)

A cute story about two animal friends who while playing one day, hurt each others feelings. Will they ever be friends again? Shows children that even if they fight with their friends, things will work out.

Love the illustrations!

Astro The Stellar Sea Lion by Jeanne Walker Harvey (Illustrated Shennen Bersani)
Stars: ****

Sylvan Dell Publishing (2010)

A book with real photos, showing the amazing story of Astro, a real sea lion who was found orphaned and was saved. They tried to release him into the wild but he was too accustomed to humans so he moved into the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.

Wordless Wednesday - as this says it all

Tutorial Tuesday- mason jar chandeliers and more jar ideas

I was looking for something fun for you all and came across a ton of fun uses for mason mars.  Here are a few tutorials to get you going.....

Mason jar chandelier tutorial


another DIY mason jar chandelier from re-nest


DIY pottery barn inspired jar chandelier from - from our hiding place


DIY jar lantern from Elisa Joy with full tutorial

Mason jar storage tutorial from Liz Marie blog


Jars for office or craft storage (photo from re-nest)



Mason jar lantern tutorial from chezbeeperbebe


DIY Jar solar lights for inside or out from blog free people


You could even use two of the above tutorials (hanging lanters and solar jar lanterns) combined to create this look that came from Martha Stewart!


Tutorial for mason jar soap or lotion pumps from - the blissfully content life

What do you think? I love comments so let me know which project was your favorite!