Its only a little crush I swear...

I love nights like tonight!

Outside it is gently raining, my cat Figaro is cuddled near me on the couch. I am drinking an herbal tea made from fresh ingredients from my garden and I am reading a great book! I only wish I could spend more nights this way!

The tea I made was a "relaxation tea," if any of you would like to make it here are the ingredients.

2T Fresh Chamomile flowers
2T Fresh mint leaves
2T fresh fruit or pineapple sage leaves.

Bring your water to a boil, but DON'T boil for too long. I think I did mine for a too long and the flavor was a a little flat.

Runaway - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Can't help looking back. Run, run, runaway. Lost, lost, lost my mind."

A little more on "Spring Cleaning"

This spring I am cleaning out more than just my room. The thing I am tossing is:

Baggage. Lets face it we all have it, and its time to get rid of those metaphorical suitcases!

There are somethings that are not worth the struggle or the fight, and are harmful to hold onto. I'm letting go, and in doing so I hope to find the courage to live the life I desire, and to love freely with an open heart.

If anything or anyone is weighing you down and holding you back join me, and together lets let go.


Image of suitcase: via

Spring Cleaning

I know that I am not alone when I say that I am not a fan of extreme cleaning. Perhaps many of you reading are also tired of constantly battling the second law of thermodynamics when it comes to keeping your home-room-etc neat and tidy.  No matter how often or diligently we clean everything manages to get messy again doesn't it?! Its an eternal battle that never ends! Because of this I have developed the unfortunate tendency to drag my feet with the never ending task and have become comfortable with a system of organized chaos.

However my negative view of cleaning was altered this week while reading a passage in Paulo Coelho's novel "The Witch of Portobello;" a book I would highly recommend to anyone. In this particular passage a character, Edda takes a rather sunny view on the simple task of washing dishes.  Edda says:

"When you are washing up, be thankful that there are plates to be washed; that means there was food, that you fed someone, that you've lavished care on one or more people, that you cooked and laid the table. Imagine the millions of people that have absolutely nothing to wash up and no one for whom to lay the table."

This idea can definitely be applied to more than just washing up. It is wonderful that I have a home and a place to clean.  Even though constantly having to clean up can be a pain, it is a sign that people are present in and enjoy my home. As a playground of some of life's fondest memories, it is only natural that a home requires an investment of our time and energy for maintenance.

Image via

Sleepless Beauty.

Its that special time in the semester when lots of shi* needs to get done, and sleep is a rarity.

As I prepare to stay up late again studying, I am reminded of the fairytale Sleeping Beauty. I have to say 100 years of sleep and waking up to a prince's kiss sounds lovely right about now... unrealistic perhaps, but lovely all the same.

In a bookshop I found a greeting card that read:

"She requires a steady diet of faith and fancy, with a little mischief here and there for good measure."

I love it! :)

May I Live Here?

Source via

Saturday April 2nd

I discovered a fun and quirky illustrator, Schettler. Check our their profile it is lovely!

Character Design Fun

Hey everyone!

In one of my illustration courses we are working on a sequential art project. Tonight I have been playing around with the characters I am going to use in mine and I thought I would share some of my rough work. I am still trying to get the hang of the medium guache... I don't know why it is so hard for me to use.

When my project is finished I will post the whole sequential piece.

Well, it is 2 am and I am off to get what sleep I can.

Cheers! :D

Artists Think They Are So Funny

Well...maybe they are...

Getting Started

I know that I have been really bad at putting my artwork online in the past. I am afraid I have the classic problem of never being satisfied with my work. However, it is time that I move on from that stumbling block and just get started! I am working on a website and it should be up and running by summer. 

In the mean time here are some pieces from my sketchbook. Last week in my life drawing class we began to study drapery. All week I have been drawing and studying clothing! I absolutely have loved it!

The Tapioca

This week my friends Stephanie and Hilary are having a combined birthday party and the theme is the 1920s. Do you know what this means? Oh yes, it is time to bring out the tapioca!!! Hahaha.

An Early Birthday Present for Me?

Floating Gardens

Finally it is the season for planting gardens and flowers! Although I am still working on obtaining a green thumb (sadly my indoor herb garden didn't survive the winter) I love gardens, and gardening. I feel that everyone should try gardening at least once in their life. There is something truly special about caring for plants and watching them grow. It is incredibly rewarding.

One problem that seems to get in the way of gardening for people my age is lacking sufficient space. I found a brilliant solution to this problem on Fossil's lifestyle blog. Fedor van der Valk has created a space saving, urban-friendly, and gorgeous garden technique called string gardens.

I am looking forward to making my own string garden. Although I know I will not have time to do so until after the semester is over. I am simply too crunched for time now, and I have a feeling it is going to take me a few attempts before I get it right. None the less, I welcome the challenge and look forward to the results. :)

Sources:

http://blog.fossil.com/2011/01/string-gardens/

http://www.stringgardens.com/

Ice Castles: My Farewell Post to Winter.

As of yesterday Winter is officially over and Spring is here! While Spring is my favorite season and I am in no way sad to see Winter pass. I thought I would honor the parting season and do a farewell post for it; writing about something unique and special this winter offered me.

For those who live in Utah or visit it frequently, you may already be familiar with the Ice Castles in Midway. I just discovered them this year and all I can say is "WOW!"  One man, Brent Christensen (with some help from nature), took art to a whole new level with his incredible ice castle creations.

How fun and romantic would it be to get lost in magical ice castles on a date? Sigh, perhaps it is pathetic but I keep envisioning holding someone's hand while walking through these and cuddling when we become cold. So boys who is up for it next year?

Images via:

Shutterstein

Alan Fullmer

Jeremiah.Cougar

I ❤ Crepe Sunday!

One Sunday a month the girls in my ward get together in the morning and have a crepe party. It has turned into a really fun and delicious tradition! After I had  finished eating one too many crepes I was left feeling very grateful for good friends and with the thought: "Bless the French!"

Here is a recipe for crepes if you want to get together with your friends and start your own "Crepe-Sunday" tradition. (I would highly recommend it.)

Ingrediants:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons whole milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Pinch salt
• 6 teaspoons melted unsalted butter

Directions:

1. Whisk together the flour, eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and 4 1/2 teaspoons of the butter to form a smooth, thin batter. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before proceeding.

2. Heat a heavy 6-inch skillet or crepe pan over medium-high heat. When hot, brush with a light coating of the remaining butter.

3. Ladle about 1/4 cup of crepe batter into the pan, tilting the skillet to evenly coat the pan with batter. Cook until golden brown on the bottom and the top begins to look dry, 1 to 2 minutes.

4. Using a spatula, carefully turn the crepe and cook on the second side just until the bottom colors slightly, about 30 seconds.

5. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.

For more fun crepe recipes go to partysugar.

----

Also, I know it's random but I would like to give a shout out to the BYU Basketball team for their amazing game yesterday! It was a great game to watch (and not just because player 41 on the other team was incredibly hot...). Keep it up boys! We need you to bring it when we face Florida!

At this time I am reminded of an old saying that follows: "If you put in what you have always put in you will receive what you have always received."  I don't like what I have been "putting in" lately. The past few months I have been afraid of my own shadow, afraid to take the risks I need to take, and sulking in self pity. At times I have displaced the hurt of my failures on those close to me. I haven't been living up to the person I know that I can be. Soon it will be the beginning of a new month, and I want to make some changes in my life. In all areas of my life.

I apologize to all those around me for when I haven't been as strong as you have needed me to be. I am sorry when my areas of weakness have burdened you or might have caused you pain. With every mistake I make I am learning, and I hope to become a better person for you and for me.

To myself, I am sorry because I know I have always been my greatest restraint. I wish to shed my hesitation and open the doors I need to open. I am sorry for always looking backwards, I know now that the only direction for me and my heart to go is forward. I want to be the best I can be.

An Adventurer

Remember the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" Some of the girls around me wanted to be princesses, dancers, teachers, presidents, etc. Had you asked the little girl Ashley what she wanted to be, she would have boldly proclaimed that she wanted to be an adventurer!

An inner voice whispers to us to seek, discover, and finally to know.

Is 21 too old to still be searching?

Is 21 too old to still be yearning to break away?

That inner voice I mentioned is not whispering to me, it is shouting.

To be honest, I fear the day I can no longer hear it.

My Favorite "Lullaband" (Name Courtesy of Kurt Beard)

This post is for Scott, Emily, and Ciera some of the coolest people I've met. Thanks for the music guys.

I remember the first time I heard Book on Tape Worm perform almost a year ago. When Scott, with his ambient vocals, began to sing I was swept away. The words and melodies reflected all of my darkest secrets; my insecurities, pains, regrets, and hopes. I know that the music is his personal story, yet I cannot help but feel when I listen to their band that no one knows me better than Scott Shepard.

Finally (after much arm twisting) the band has announced that they’re recording an album! To fund the project they have started a Kickstarter page. After one performance on Saturday they have almost raised half the money needed! Woo-hoo!

Together, Scott, Ciera, and Emily make a good team. Their stage set is always really neat too. Look into this band if you have a moment.  If you like what you hear become a fan on Facebook or look at their website: bookontapeworm.com. To raise awareness for their new album, this month is "blog about Book on Tape Worm month" (as if I needed a reason to write about them) so to further contribute I will post more videos of the group on this blog. Here are two for now, enjoy :).

The song in this last video, "Corners", is one of my favorites. It is beautiful.

"I'm not photogenic, but I'll take your pictures love, You'll see I'll be the finger in the corner of your favorite memories."

"Growing old is the slowest form of time travel."