I Made Art (or #38 in the #100in500)

If you have been following along, you know that I am plugging away at my “do 100 fun/important/just ’cause things” in my deadline of 500 days. Number 48 on that #100in500 list is to create at least 30 blog posts talking about completing items on this list. If you count the first post about the list (which I will), this will be post #3. Still a lonnnnng way to go, but here it is!

NUMBER 38:   Paint an abstract painting

AND HERE SHE BLOWS:

 

Please allow me to explain. I have been a fan and follower of Illustrator, Artist, Blogger, etc Lisa Congdon for many years. She always amazes and inspires, but lately she has been doing a ton of abstract paintings. They are really amazing. I have been thinking to myself lately, “Self? Wouldn’t it be fun to put paint on a canvas and create something?” But here’s the thing: I’m not a painter. I know amazing artist and painters – and I am just not one of them. At least I didn’t actually get a formal education in fine art. But I put it on the #100in500 list anyway, hoping to inspire myself.

 

Then, I came across this:

 

 

Then, I found a blank canvas at our condo garage sale for $2. The universe – and my list, were trying to tell me something.

I pondered on an image, a thought, that inspired me. I came across this amazing piece, I pinned it, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was the white space and the reflection that really spoke to me. So I ordered some silver leaf and stuff that Amazon  recommended I might need with it. I’ve never used silver leaf, and have no idea what made me think of it – but there you have it:

 

I painted the canvas with my favorite interior white, that I just happen to most always have around: Ben Moore’s decorators white. Then made a half circle maker with a ruler (to center), tack (on the back), piece of tape, string, and chalk:

 

Then I painted the circle with some silver paint I had leftover from the failed ‘stainless steal’ backsplash. (I was on a budget!)

 

Then I used the ‘glue’ that I got from Amazon and painted over the silver part, waited for about 30 minutes until it was just very tacky, and then my son and I went to town on a windy Chicago day sticking super thin silver leaf all over that bad boy. Until it looked like this:

 

 

SO there you have it! Post #3 complete! I kind of love it in all of it’s reflective glory. I AM an art-teast!

 

Advent 2013

I have (not always successfully) been trying to simplify things these days. So this year, advent is going to get a little simpler than the last few years around here. This year, I am going to use up the bags I have left over from last year – and hang up on a wall. In a Christmas three shape? Maybe. In each bag will be a little chocolate or treat, along with something that I love, admire, and/or appreciate about my son. Ahhh. Here’s to simplicity! Cheers!

Here’s a sneak peak:

1. That he loves to learn street names and cares about how he gets places
2. That he loves broccoli
3. His handwriting
4. His great cuddles
5. That he loves Classical Music and Hot Tea
6. That he’s a morning person
7. That he remembers the little details of things
8. That he always, always washes his hands after using the restroom
9. That he is always rethinking what he will be when he grows up
10. That he is reading Moby Dick with his father – and that he loves to read in general
11. That he helps me make great fort
12. That he takes public transit like a champ!
13. That he is a very loyal friend
14. That he is a good dinner conversationalist.
15.  That he loves a long bath.
16.  That he plays video games with his pops.
17.  That he always asks great questions
18.  That he likes to sing.
19.  That he is always working on his story.
20.  That he is such a great swimmer.
21.  That he loves Lake Michigan, the beach and the water.
22.  That he is so very sweet with all animals.
23.  That he is so curious about everything.
24.  That he likes to tell knock-knock jokes.

Happy Birthday To The Ci!

Today is this blog’s 4th birthday! *shoots confetti*

What a whirlwind it was for this gal (is a blog a gal?) yesterday! Record views and all that good stuff. It was fun and very, very scary to share this little bloggity with my whole social network. Everyone was really nice and the Chicago’s classifieds beta is: so far so good!

Thanks to everyone for their support! Now let’s go and look at some more classy-fieds!

A beautiful vintage purple dresser with the sweetest little wheels at its feet? Just around the bend in Uptown? Don’t mind if I do!

 

 

 

Trying Something New

Here’s something I don’t think I have mentioned here before: I don’t share this blog with very many people. Well, really anyone. It’s been here for years as a spot for me to (publicly) privately share my thoughts. Well, I’m changing that today. And here’s why:

Let me back up… Now’s where I finally come clean on what it is I do for a living. For the past 5 years, I have worked at the nation’s largest city monthly magazine – Chicago, as the Classified Advertising Manager. Working in Classifieds, for a city monthly no less, has always been a bit of a challenge in this day and age, as you might imagine. I have embraced and enjoyed that challenge however. If you know me, (or even if you don’t and have just perused this blog,) you will know that I am a fairly progressive and digitally-minded girl. What does all that translate into? Well, moving Classified advertising into the future, of course!

There has been a few very notable exceptions for success in this arena, but no hyper-local content publisher, to my knowledge, has done it in a way that is as big as I would like to see it. Until now.

Please allow me to be the first to introduce you to the brand new Chicago Classifieds, powered by Krrb. It is in beta test right now for the next few days, so please try it out. Browse these listings by neighborhood, by price, or whatever you want! Just have fun! Have some great furniture, jewelry, or other things that you have been thinking about selling? If you happen to live in the Chicago area, I hope that I have made that a little easier, more comfortable, and more fun than it was yesterday.

Thanks in advance for being a first adapter with me, and let me know what you think!

Here’s to growing, evolving, and making life better.

Cheers!

First day of School: Kindergartner

 

The mommyblogger in me goes nuts for things like this. That little guy was so excited and nervous to start his first day of school! In the end, he was so brave and I am so very, very proud of him. Good luck, G!