Painting Bliss

Top 10 Reason Why it's Cool to be an Artist

 

 

 

 

 

A Day of Adventure and Chips Please

 

 

Our day started in our own separate fluffy hotel beds, stretching out and saying to each other "what do we wanna do!?". 

I have been driving in Texas!! HA! I'm a bad passenger and often find myself nauseated and feeling close to death. Okay maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it feels like that when I am in the throws of a stomach turning bout of UGH! So yup, I've been driving! It's fun and Jax makes an awesome travel guide. It's so refreshing to not be on any type of schedule.

We go, do, and drink coffee whenever and wherever we want.

 

 

 

Breakfast at Starbucks and a drive onto the Galveston Ferry. I have never been on a ferry let alone drove a car up onto one! It was such an experience! Once securely on board and moving, we got out of the vehicle and perched over the edge of the boat. The laughing gulls chased us as the pelicans which I have aptly named aviators for their precise flying skill graced the sky off shore. Back in the car, driving off the ferry, we drove twenty or so miles on High Island where we checked out the local graveyard and after made our way to the beach and stayed for hours just combing through piles of shells looking for sea glass until we decided we were hungry and had to pee.

 

 

Turkey wraps, a soda I couldn't open, and a bag of chips and we were setting up camp back on the beach!

 

 

 

 

There are only so many chips you can eat in one sitting and we found the perfect way to use the rest... by sharing!

 

 

 

 

These feathered friends had extreme precision! After throwing chips to them we began to throw them straight into the air over our heads! These laughing gulls knew where it was at for sure!

 

 

 

 

We said goodbye to the beach, rode the ferry again, and drove back to Galveston and walked the strand. There I bought my first cowboy hat (straw one) and some souvenirs to bring back home. I have fallen in love with italian sodas which are flavor mixed with I think sparkling water. My first one was a lemon drop, yesterday I decided a perfectly pink strawberries and cream was in order. After a long day of adventure we two girls were worn the #$%# out. Crashing early back at Jacquie's humble abode was a immediate necessity.

Did I mention I saw dolphins!?

 

 

The Art Project of Houston

 

 

 

Graffiti art IS art. It's an amazingly colorful and inspiring medium I have completely no understanding of. The idea of using different tips on the end of spray cans to complete a larger than life perfectly blended piece of art just blows my mind. Who knows, maybe someday I will have the opportunity of trying out some can art!

After poppin' tags at the nearest thrift outlet we took a hop, skip, and not even a jump to a series of buildings amazingly decorated with works of evolving and ever changing art. This project is called the Houston Art Project, supported by the Bread of Life and funded by the Rice University.

Jax and I wandered down paint laden corridors as we talked in our best white girl street slang. Cameras snapping and lines like "I'll pop a cap in yo ass" echoed off the walls.

Here are images I took at the Houston Art Project. I was blown away at every turn, by every new amazing piece of WOW!

 

 

 

 

 I told Jax I would pay her a whole dollar to lay on one of those couches, but she declined (come on! lol).

In my opinion every town, city, and place should donate an abandoned building to this sort for cause. Not only is the cause great, but the public gets to experience graffiti art in a positive light.

 

Pillow Talk and a Threesome

 

 

So I'm having a little affair with... my pillow.

 Please don't tell my new pillow, but I'm still seeing my old one. I thought my old pillow wasn't treating me well. Our relationship had gone, oh how should I put it? Flat. So I was out and about seeing what caught my eye one day when this new, fresh, and voluptuous thing came my way. I couldn't say no. It was irresistible.

So I took it home, helped it take its outerwear off and let it into my bed. It looked good there, it had a lot of promise and I decided to kick my old pillow out. Literally. On the floor. I had had it with its attitude... it was making me feel uncomfortable. It wasn't fulfilling my needs. It had been many a moon since we connected and well I just felt it was time.

The first time me and the new fling spent the night together I was so excited. More than I probably should have been... as far as pillow talk goes this new and soft landing place had it all. I cuddled up and had no problem getting cozy, it felt so right.

It felt so right that is...until the next morning. You know, that awkward moment when you wake up and realize your rose colored glasses fell off... that you need to slink out before the other notices. No need to leave a note, I just slid out of my covers and made sure it wasn't looking when I left. It's always so touchy these things, you feel so guilty and dirty... even a little ashamed.

The day after was rough, my neck hurt... I went through my whole day wondering which way I should go. New pillow? Fresh start? Or my old pillow...

I couldn't help it you see... I went back like a puppy hit with a newspaper, tail between my legs. I sort of ho hummed, didn't really give an apology. I think my face must of said it all cause my old pillow didn't say a word. That night I cuddled up with it under my head and it felt so familiar. It didn't mind that it was sloppy seconds. In fact, I think it might have liked it... to be the one that won.

But did it? I still had feelings for the new pillow? I thought about all the what if's. What if I gave it another chance? What if I gave it time to break in... it too could become what I needed with a little molding. What should I do?? My mind was a mess with the ideas and possibilities both could offer...

So I gave in and now I'm sleeping with both. At the same time.

 

 

 

Celebrity What If List

 

We have a running joke in our house, and a running celebrity list. Yes celebrity lists...  what is that you question? Well I'll tell you... our celebrity lists include a number of famous folks we find attractive. If I in some odd rare freak chance we meet said person on list and they are willing we are excused from retribution for hooking up with them. We know that in real life we would be truly devastated if such should happen and we both know we would never really act upon it...  it's fun to tease each other and add to the list. My list is much longer than my husband's list. I am attracted to creativity mostly, and confidence. I have picked a series of charismatic celebrities mostly for their inspirational genius. If they have a good face, that's just an added bonus.

Do you have lists like this? Or are we just silly weirdos?

 

My list includes...

 

Dr. House a.k.a. Hugh Laurie - I like to believe I could be the one to draw him out of vicadin addiction with just my looks. Ok, very unrealistic... but who cares? This whole list is!

Tim Roth - For his accent, for his quirky maneurisms. Love them. Love him. I love his cocky self assurance also. I am drawn to confidence. Tim Roth played in the Hulk as The Obomination and Dr. Cal Lightman in the awesome sitcom Lie to Me.

Thom Yorke from Radiohead - For his genius and dance moves. I like how he loses himself in his music quite literally. Yes I am aware he is not attractive, it doesn't matter to me... I see what I see, so it's all good.

Charlie Cox - This actor is from one of my favorite shows Boardwalk Empire. I like him for the irish accent, even if it might be fake! Actually I think I am truly just attracted to the confident adorable romantic character he plays on the show. I was devestated when in a recent episode they killed off his character!

(For the record I had 4 more choices, but the hubby suggestsed I narrow my choices)

(p.s. My list is subject to change or addition/subtraction at any time)

 

 

Husbands List: He's a man, so therefore he doesn't think deeply into his choices.

I asked why he liked who he likes and he said "uh... they're real purdy?".

Giada De Laurentiis ~ Anne Hathaway (I call her doe eyes) ~ Jennifer Love Hewitt ~  Kate Beckinsale 

 

This is my thoughts into why he likes his choices...

Personally I like his choices. Giada is attractive I think for her charming personality, ability to cook, and big boobs/revealing cleavage. I don't think her face is exactly attractive. I think she sort of looks like the joker.

Anne is a great choice, she is elegant and has an eternal youth about her. Her large eyes which is attractive mostly on baby animals, is quite beautiful on her sweet face.

Kate - I really think this rounds down to her ability to rock black latex and vampire fangs.

Jennifer Love Hewwit - Has it all... except the poor thing can't carry a steady relationship in real life. Poor pretty dear.

 

 

 

 

My Week Through The Eyes of Instagram 1/7-1/13

 

 

 

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”
 

~ Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Screenplay

 

If you enjoy the way I see the world and happen to be on Instagram, you can follow me via

@Paintingbliss

Thanks and Warm Hugs

 

 

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We Get by with a Little Help From Our Friends

 

 

Friends are so healthy to have outside of your marriage. A friend that's known by your spouse of course, but is someone you made friends with on your own. It's also a a great time to give your friend the attention that they need and deserve.

I thrive on one on one communication. It's my love language. I adore eye contact and intelligence. I bloom in laughter and shared inside jokes that are only privy to that particular friendship.  Being a friend is about being there (even when it's not a physical friend who shares a zip code)...

A Friend is about being there when your needed, or need to be there in return. It's evenly balanced, because if it isn't... it tends to fall apart.

Friends are a safe place. A sense of comfort and fun. They can bring you up and be with you when your down. Friends are magical and they love you. Rely on them and they will rely on you. Friends accept you for who you are no matter what. Even when your having a backwards air head kind of day!

They are the family you choose for yourself!

Friends are the butter to your toast, eraser to your pencil. They bring so much and when needed, so little. You can talk and talk and talk and they will listen listen listen (just make sure you repay the love).

Friends complete you... they are the cream that holds your oreo together!

 

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Beer Bread Recipe

 

 

 

 

Take out after 45 minutes of baking, slit the top and pour 1/4 cup of melted butter into the slits and atop the bread. Bake for additional 15 minutes. At this point I like to sprinkle salt on top. The course ground kind.

Oh! Oh! And don't try and go all healthy on this and use Whole Wheat Flour! It makes the bread a bad texture and it just doesn't taste right. So please, don't go there!

 

 

It's a tradition in the Blake family to have beer bread Christmas morning with warm melted butter on top. It's a super simple recipe that I don't make enough, but really should! It has minimal ingredients and if you have beer in the house, well then your good to go!

This is a biggie, and make sure your reading this... USE CRAP BEER! a.k.a. light beer. Really light beer. Yellow beer. We only keep good beer in our house, which means NOT budweiser, Michelob, or any icky stuff made with corn instead of hops and barley! In fact most beers in our house don't have names you would even recognize ;) But for this you want the cheap can of God knows what from your local gas station. The stuff that you wouldn't even give your dog!

 

 

 

I have tried this recipe with good beers such as Founders pale ale and Sam Adams winter lager thinking that good beer can only make better tasting bread. NOT SO! The better the beer the more bitter the bread. If you try that, and you like that, then go for it! Me? I like the subtle flavor a crap beer gives my beer bread. I used to think, well why does my mom in laws bread come out better? The answer was low grade brew.

I hope you like it, I LOVE it. In fact leave the loaf out and I will make due of it little by little. I love how very crispy the outside of the bread becomes and how very soft the inside remains. A little hint? When you

 

 

 

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My Week Through The Eyes of Instagram 12/17-12/25

 

Due to Christmas being on the day that I usually post my "Week Through the Eyes of Instagram" Posts, I'm posting it today. A little late, but no biggie, right?

This past week was well... rough! So much stress, last minutes Christmas things, and all 5 of us sicker than sick. Thankfully we are past that now and can start a brand new week. Any week that starts with Christmas has to be a good one, right? Right!

 

 

 

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Mr. Rogers and Bob Ross Remix Some Beats

 

I don't usually share music videos, but I just had to share these. PBS remixed some amazing versions of Mr. Rogers and Bob Ross. They are moving, catchy, and inspirational. Or maybe it's just me that reads more into the words...

Give a listen, and just try not to hit repeat.

 

 

 

I deem these genius... and yes, I listen to them for more than just entertainment.

Does that make me a wee bit dorky?

So be it.