Kate, My Best Friend is YOU.

Sometimes this mama needs to listen to some music that's not so kid-friendly, too...

My days have been pretty hectic lately....at times I lose motivation to get some chores and such done around the house. To get my productivity going and spirits up, I gotta have some music playing. Whether it's cranking out some design work or washing a huge stack of dishes, one of my absolute favorite artists to listen to is Kate Nash. This British singer/songwriter's indie pop style is whimsical and catchy. Her lyrics are witty and sarcastic, which often express a brass female point-of-view on relationships and life. She reminds me of Lily Allen and Lenka, with a cheeky twist. Haven't heard of her? Check out her website at www.myignorantyouth.com. Lovin' her latest album, My Best Friend is You and it's collage-y cover (below).

 

Another one of her albums to check out is "Made of Bricks" (below).

I hope she comes out with a new album soon, cause I'm itching to hear something new from her. What music do you listen to be productive?

Jot It Down : Featuring a Free Grocery List Download!

How do you write down your grocery list? I randomly jot my groceries down on the first scrap piece of paper I can find. Usually it's because I'm rushing to get out the door. But the other day, I decided to customize my own personal list. I thought, "How can I make my grocery trip quick and easy?? I need to get home and start cooking!" The answer? Why, by categorizing my list by sections, of course! So I mapped out my local grocery store's layout, in my head, and listed the categories out in order of how I walk through the store. First the produce and bread, then the organic section, and so on and so forth. I just printed it out on a regular 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and voila! There's two lists per sheet. Just cut, tear or fold the center.

It worked out so well for me, I decided to give this to YOU, too! It may even be the perfect thing, as you get ready for your Memorial Day cookouts and gatherings this weekend!! Quick tip: You can print this on both sides to save paper! Click button below to download the 8.5 x 11 printout for free!




The above download is FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. Thanks! Also, just in case you might need this, here is the link to the Adobe Acrobat Reader  web site - Adobe Acrobat website.

Let me know if it works out for you! Have a great long weekend with friends and family!

My Art House Co-op Sketchbook is officially part of the Brooklyn Digital Library!

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Finally! My 2012 Art House Sketchbook has been cataloged! They informed me that it would take a while to digitize because it has accordion folds and needed to be photographed instead of scanned. The images turned out great! The archive displays the whole sketchbook, not just a few pages like my previous Art House post did. To see the my other posts regarding this project, go here, here and here. To see it in the Brooklyn Digital Library, click here. Below is the opening spread with a quote by Simone de Beauvoir. 

If you do end up viewing the whole sketchbook, let me know your thoughts about it. I'm just curious. Also, if you have thought about participating in the 2013 Sketchbook Project, you should!! For more info and details about it go here. It has been great experience, so far. I cannot wait until these go on tour...just another part of the experience to look forward to.

Out of the Old Toy Chest

The past few times we visited my parents' house, my mother brought out some of my sister and I's childhood toys! She saved them all these years. I'm happy to say that I'm really glad she did! Here are some of my favorites.

I'm not surprised Ellie enjoys playing with them just as much as we did! Now she's asking to listen to our heartbeat and check our blood pressure every second.

There's something about these toys...they were just made better. Any kid could do just about anything to them and they'd never break! Worth every penny.

Oh, Teddy Ruxpin...his voice still works, however, his mouth stopped working. I still remember falling asleep to his stories. haha!

And then there was the travel Pee-Wee's Playhouse...

 

There was Randy, the cool Puppet Band, Pterri, and Conky 2000!!

I even found Cowboy Curtis (aka Laurence Fishburne...haha!), Jambi ("Mecca-lekka-hi, mecca-hiney-ho"), Magic Screen, Globey and Clockey! Too bad Miss Yvonne was missing...

What's the word of the day? Reminisce.