An Artful Life

My Art

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:26:00 +0000

I have not posted in a while. I've been busy with trying to get this house finished being built and then we all got the flu. So, I've been busier than my usual busy.

I did hardly any painting in 2008, and I have done none in 2009. Life has just not lent itself to that. I have ideas in my head and I sketch them out and put them in my art ideas folder.

A month or so ago I ran into a girl that I don't visit with often. She said that she had seen my large mermaid painting hanging up in a friend of hers bathroom. It was a piece I donated to the local theater company's auction. So, I didn't know who had bid on it or who won it. So, I felt that was kind of a little reminder and blessing from God to hear that someone valued my art enough to have it hanging in her home. I'm looking forward to painting again soon. I would really love taking some lessons. I've never done that and I would love the opportunity to learn. Maybe that season of life will come around one day.

Some New Underwear Paintings

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:44:00 +0000

The rest of my life has consumed any time for painting. I had not painted in a long time, but I knew my sister-in-law was missing some paintings with this theme I had done for her a long time ago but that she doesn't have now. So, I painted these and framed them for her for Christmas. I added some gold accents to them and then framed them in gold, ornate frames. She is going to hang them in her bathroom.

The next project I'm figuring how to do it to paint some canvas pillows for a couple of new couches we bought. I want something bright and folkart ... maybe a rooster on a couple of pillows and some fruit on another couple. I would love to paint a rug, too ... but that might be a little overkill. :o) If I could figure out how to make it really durable I would LOVE to paint some seat covers for my dining room furniture. I have some flour sack dishcloths that I am going to try to sew to make some bright, casual seat covers for my formal dining room set that was my grandmothers. Something a little unexpected and a little funky on some cherished old furniture. :o)

Central Texas Snow in DECEMBER!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:44:00 +0000

Leaf Angels

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:25:00 +0000

I went by my hairdresser's shop today to get an appointment. Probably my last expensive haircut for a while, so I'm going to enjoy it. My parents' 40th wedding anniversary party is coming up this weekend, and I needed to get my hair trimmed.

When we came out from getting the appointment, I started strapping the 2 year old in his carseat and noticed I didn't see the 4 year old anymore but heard leaves rustling. I walked to the front of the car, and he was laying on his back flailing his arms and legs in a large long pile of leaves that had swirled up on the sidewalk. I asked him what he was doing. Without stopping his arms and legs from flying and very seriously and proudly he said, "I'm making a leaf angel!" He hopped up. Inspected it and pointed to the angel shape he had left in the leaves. "See? A leaf angel!" Then he promptly went to the next pile and started again.

Only in Texas do we make leaf angels instead of snow angels. What a creative and fun boy I have!

Much To Be Thankful For!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:15:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for I could never list it all, but I thought I would share a few.

1. As I sat thinking about all of the people, things and situations I am thankful for, it occurred to me that the only thing I am thankful for that I can never loose is my relationship with Jesus Christ. It is through Him that all of the other blessings flow and come from. So, most of all I am thankful for my precious Savior. Without Him, none of the other blessings in my life would be possible. I know that none of the other blessings are guaranteed to go on forever like the blessing of knowing Jesus on a personal, real level.

2. My wonderful husband. What a tremendous blessing he is to me. I love him more and more each year. He loves me so good. :o) He takes good care of me and our boys, he is loving, I love seeing him smile at me and the twinkle in his eye, he is very manly but tender. I could go on an on here, but I'm very thankful for him.

3. Our boys. They are (most of the time) sweet, loving, fun, funny, constantly into things (which drives me crazy but I know they are learning, too). They are healthy and beautiful. I love watching them learn not just "book" things but life things. It is neat teaching them and see some of it stick.

4. Our extended family. We are so blessed on both sides of our families with wonderful in-laws. They are such treasures to us.

5. My husband's job. Even in this tough economy he got a raise and a bonus this year. His company is doing well ... something I try to remember to pray for ... that his company and its owners and bosses would be blessed so we can share in their blessings, too. Thank you, Lord, for my sweet husband's job.

Hope you are enjoying some of your sweet blessings this holiday weekend.

Christmas Tree BARGAIN & a House Update

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:09:00 +0000

I know I've been a terrible blogger. I've heard grumblings to my face and through the grapevine about it. I apologize. Life has been beyond crazy. I haven't read any blogs either, so forgive me for being a bad blogger in general. :o(

Today I just couldn't NOT blog about the great deal I got on a Christmas tree! We have 12 foot ceilings in our new living room (we are still building ... I'll update on that below). Anyway, my little 8 foot tree would be swallowed in the room. I'm planning to put it up in the study in the front of the house. Anyway, I've been trying to find 10 foot or 11 foot trees. Oh, I've been able to find them if I was willing to pay $300 to $600 and up! I'm cheap, so I've been waiting.

Today, I went to the Walmart to get somethings for the concrete staining project I'm going to do in our new house. The boys asked me if we could go to the Christmas section to look at all of the pretty things. I promised them I would after I finished getting the things I needed. At the end of our trip, we headed to the Christmas section. I noticed a huge box that was new to that section, and it wasn't labeled for sale but as the large trees that are in the front of every Walmart you go in ... at least in our town. It was labeled with directions to the store for when to put it up, how to display it, etc. So, I asked if it was like the 12 foot thin tree with the red and green balls at the front of the store. I know some people like fat trees, but we've always liked the thin trees (which works out well that both my hubby and I like the thin trees. They said yes, it was just like the tree at the entrance. They had been sent 2 but only had one entrance, so they boxed it back up, duct taped it and offered it for sale. Get this ... $198 for a 12 foot prelit tree! My hubby said he could probably saw down the end of the tree and put in in the base so that it doesn't scrape our 12 foot living room ceilings ... although later talking to my mom she reminded me that usually there is a really tall piece the sticks up but that can be folded down. I was thinking I could just put a huge bow up top and let the ribbons flow down the sides since there probably won't be room for a star or an angel. Anyway, had to share such a great deal!

To update our house: We have brick. We weren't sure we liked it at all sitting on the palate, and then we decided we HATED it after they put it up. But, once the mortar dried and rain washed it off, we LOVE it! Which is good because we are going to have a 12 foot tall fireplace made with it and under our kitchen island will be bricked with it, too. I was sweating it out there for a little bit telling myself I was going to have to learn to love it. Glad I just loved it and didn't have to learn to. :o) We hadn't seen it up on anything when we picked it out, but we did like the little swatch they had.

All of the wiring is done. We are ready to insulate and sheetrock, but they had to tear out the back door because it was warped and wouldn't shut all of the way. So, we are waiting on the door frame so the security system can be rewired and THEN we can insulate and sheetrock. The insulated carriage garage door is in ... and they are anxious to install it, but we have to wait for the sheetrock to get done to install that. It is such a crazy game of waiting and scheduling and deciding. Oh, we also have the drawings done for our cabinets. They will be custom made but in a place close by rather than in the actual house so it won't hold up scheduling anything ... they'll just come install them when they are done. Hopefully the bid will come back within our budget, so we can do all of the cabinets I want to. Anyway, that's an update. Here's some pictures of the house with the brick and then a close up of the brick. I'll try to do better in keeping up the blogging. I have a recipe to update my recipe blog, too. I'll try to get to that today, but no promises. I will also try to post more than once a month. That's embarassing! :o(

Way Behind on Posting!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Okay, I know I am beyond behind on posting. So, if any of you are still reading, please forgive me. I have a lot to catch you up on ... more than I want post on one post. So, I'll just do today and give more detailed updates as I find the time. And, I've just about given up trying to paint anything ... though I still have ideas, sketch them out and keep them in a folder for January when hopefully I'll have more time.

I'm working on two separate HUGE Christmastime ministries with our church and volunteering at the 6 year old's school (yes, we had a birthday I haven't blogged) along with building a house and raising three little boys pretty much by myself lately, because my super talented hubby is doing the wiring on our country house (and uncharacteristically is SUPER swamped with work ... which is putting him behind with the wiring ... but we want to keep work happy! ... and all of it keeps us apart which we hate but appreciate each other all the more and the fact that we normally get to spend lots of time together). Pray he gets the wiring finished this weekend. The house survived Ike well (we didn't get too much from it), the roof is on, the brick will start on Monday, and HOPEFULLY my hubby will be finished this weekend with the rough-in part.

Tonight for dinner, I let the two older boys make up recipes for dinner. I put out cans of what we had and let them pick what they wanted to mix in. My 4 year old did the main dish ... Mexican Skillet Ala 4 year old. It had canned chicken, green chilies, pepper jack soup, torn up tortillas, garlic powder, cumin, fajita seasoning, chopped frozen bell pepper/onion/celery mix, diced tomatoes and corn. It was VERY tasty. The 6 year old made Refried Beans Ala 6 Year old. He added the rest of the 1/2 can of tomatoes the 4 year old had left over, green chilies, fajita seasoning, garlic powder and cumin. Also, very tasty. They had SOOO much fun cooking dinner and getting to choose what to put in the dish ... for the most part. The 4 year old wanted to add broccoli to his, but I told him I wasn't sure that would taste so great. Then he asked for carrots in it. I told him carrots was a good idea but that I didn't have it handy and that the next time we made his dish, we would add some carrots.

It was a little messy, but loads of fun. I told them I would be their sous chef like in Ratatouille ... they kept calling me their "soup" chef. :o) I've been called worse. :o)

Prepared for Ike

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:55:00 +0000

By God's grace and lots of help from family and neighbors, we got ALL of the construction trash picked up and hauled off, burned or put inside the new house. I don't know how we got so much done except that God multiplied our time. We started at 8:30 and by 1 PM we were lighting the three piles in the back. We made two hauls to the dump but knew we wouldn't have time before we would start to feel the effects of Ike to take anymore, because the lines were so long at the dump. So, we made 3 burn piles on the back of the acre lot, we used the box blade on the tractor to trim down the grass, used the hose to wet the area and lit them up. We didn't have any of the fire jump to anything else even with the winds that had picked up. I'm quite sure Al Gore was somewhere flinching, and I hated doing it that way, but we had no choice. We couldn't let all of the left over boards with nails and hardie and steal be such a dangerous hazzard to our house or to our neighbhors' lives and property around us. The brick people came and moved the brick they had delivered from the ditch. That was God's doing, too. The truck they needed to move the brick had been in the shop, and they couldn't find their driver (or there was some issue with the driver's liscense or something). Anyway, the truck got fixed and they were able to move the brick and keep it from blocking up the ditch and cause flooding.

I'm so thankful to my brother-in-law and his wife who have helped us in so many ways throughout our house building and today with hauling and burning and making arrangements for dump trailors, my husband's parents who watched the kids, my sister, my father-in-law who took the two loads to the dump so we could keep working, my mother who baked cookies and sent them with lemonade, our neighbor across the street who brought two wheel barrows and gloves and helped us haul SO much, and our next door neighbor who came and helped haul, too. We were so blessed today in so many ways. I'm praying for continued blessings for our community and the rest of the great state of Texas. I'm so glad we have a God who could calm that storm in an instant and Who is with us right here through the storm. Pray for God's glory, mercy, protection and peace for the our state. I know that no matter what, everything is going to be alright.

Another House Update

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:33:00 +0000

Here's a picture of our house from today. You can see the brick in front of it. My hubby is super excited about the brick. I think it looks good but there aren't as many red brick (showing on the top of the brick piles anyway) as I was anticipating. It is cool looking in that it looks like old reclaimed brick ... which we like. Anyway, you can see we have windows and all of the Hardie planks done. We also have bathtubs inside.

We are going to be working ALL day Friday trying to get the leftover wood and trash picked up and either carried away or burned. We have to get it picked up with Hurricane Ike maybe heading our way. The 5 year old, the 4 year old and I picked up 3 TONS of trash a couple of weeks ago. They LOVED helping and working with me and their dad (who was doing the electrical rough-ins inside the house), and I was amazed at HOW MUCH they REALLY did help. We've got a lot more to get cleaned up before any strong winds come our way. I hate that we are going to get lots of rain (probably) and the shingles aren't on the roof and the brick isn't on, yet. And, we don't have a garage door, yet. I'm praying for protection for our property (and for everyone else's, too) and trusting in the Maker of Storms who is also the Calmer of Storms, too. :o)

We Have Windows!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Not in this picture, but we went out yesterday afternoon, and they have most of the windows in the house and are working on getting the staircase up. It is a neat process for the boys to see. Wow, in this picture the roof isn't completely on ... well the plywood and tar paper stuff that's on it now. I need to take some more pictures. Anyway, this gives you an idea.

We are getting used to our new family routine ... up at 6 AM for the whole family. QUITE the change. It is kind of nice though. Over breakfast I read the boys a Bible story from their picture Bible, and we do prayer requests (from the whole family ... though I'm not sure they understand the idea of a "prayer request" just yet) and pray together. Such a special time. I want to always do that before they start off to school.

First Day of Kindergarten

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:38:00 +0000

The 5 year old started kindergarten this week. He was so excited when I woke him up the first morning. He did his little hands in a fist and shook them excitedly and said, "My first day of kindergarten!" I'm glad all three of my boys wake up in happy moods ... they don't always last, but they all three start out that way. When I wake them up I sing, "This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it and be glad in it." That song always brings a smile to their faces as they are coming out of their sleep.

Our middle boy who is 4 was talking to the 5 year old at the dinner table the night before school started. He said, "5 Year Old, I'm going to miss you tomorrow. Are you going to miss me?" It was so sweet! They are best friends ... when they aren't trying to aggrevate the fool out of each other!

We Have Walls!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:31:00 +0000

We poured the slab Monday. The framers started framing yesterday (Wednesday), and by Wednesday night we had WALLS! I only took pictures of one side of the house for some reason. The other side of the house has walls up, too. The middle part of the house doesn't have walls yet, but those are 12 foot ceilings. It looks so much bigger now that the walls are going up and all of the rooms that don't have walls are marked out on the floor. I cannot say enough good things about the framers (they worked until 7:30 last night) and our builder (my brother-in-law)! :o) Very impressive. I had the boys go stand in their bedrooms and I took a picture. I couldn't get back far enough with the other side of the house framed to get the 5 year old in his room (he had to stick his head out to get him in the picture). I'm standing between the framing for the back wall of the kitchen when I took this picture. The 2 year old was so proud of his room. Our neighbors and my mother in-law and my brother and sister-in-law all came down to check it out and the 2 year old had to show everyone "my room." He just walked around it and checked everything out and was SO proud. So very cute!

Slab Poured & Framing Starts TODAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:20:00 +0000

They poured our slab early Monday morning. The Lord provided perfect weather! The boys and I got up early and went by McDonald's to pick up a couple of pancakes and sausage breakfasts. I brought a blanket, and we sat out in front of my mother and father-in-law's house and had a breakfast picnic while they poured the concrete into the forms across the way. On the way out to the lot, we got behind one of the cement trucks so the boys got to see it close up. They were very excited about that and seeing it turn constantly.

They are starting to frame TODAY! It blows my mind. Also, all of the decisions blow my mind. It is crazy how much I have been on the phone and researching and traveling to different stores. I don't know what I would do if I had a full time job (other than the one I have keeping up with three little boys!).

I SURE hope it looks as good framed up as it does on paper. I have such a hard time visualizing things. Or, I have an idea of what it will look like in my head, but it may not come out that way. I'm not going to worry about it and work on being happy and thankful no matter how it turns out looking. Anyway, that the house update for today.

House Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:57:00 +0000

My husband's sister-in-law posted their house plans per her readers' requests, so between comments here on my blog and requests in person, I've had several people ask me what our house plans look like. Thanks, sister-in-law A!!! :o) Love ya! ;o) Their house is looking AWESOME by the way (they have a great plan) ... the framers have been working 10 days on my in-laws' house, and they already have windows and stairs!!! It is amazing. We are set to pour our slab on Monday morning, and the framers are wanting to look at our plan Monday or Tuesday ... it is possible they could be framing our house by Friday ... but I'm thinking it will be more towards the beginning of the next week.

Below is what the front of our house looks like (it will have white hardee plank under the front porch on on the upper part and a red/black/white brick on the ends ... and black shutters) and the downstairs floor plan. The floor plan is hard to read because it is so small but the boys' rooms will be on the left, the master suite will be on the right. When you enter the front door, there will be a study to your left and a formal dining room to your right. The kitchen, living and breakfast area are all open concept and basically one big room. The upstairs will eventually be a huge game room and a full bath and storage (but that is way down the road ... when we have money ... which will probably not be for a long time after we build this house!!! :o)

I'm nervous about them framing it up ... I hope we have it set back far enough, I hope it looks as good in person as it does on paper ... my in-laws' does. I hope ours looks good, too. We are so blessed.

House Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:36:00 +0000

I've had several people ask me about the progress of our house, so I thought I would post the latest picture I have. We are a little farther along than this picture where they were bringing the dirt to put in the forms to get ready to pour the foundation. They are ready to pour the foundation on Monday ... in theory. We'll see if it gets done. We aren't in that big of a rush because we haven't had to draw on our construction loan, yet. And, they won't be ready to frame for another week or so (at least) because they are finishing framing my brother-in-law's house which is down the street from our new house. My brother-in-law is our builder, so that's been pretty neat ... especially since they are getting to build their house at the same time, too.

The boys were watching the dump trucks from my in-laws' front yard. We'll be down the street and around the corner from them as well, but they'll be able to see the back of our house from their front yard.

Think On These Things Painting

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:22:00 +0000

Think On These Things, $75

I finally finished this painting and got it posted for sale. If you are interested in reading more about it or purchasing it, please click the link above.

Cracked Out

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:57:00 +0000

My almost 6 year old comes up with the funniest things. He tries to say common sayings, but sometimes they don't come out exactly right.

The other day at my in-laws' house, he was playing on the computer. He came into the living room and said, "Hey, Mom. Come in here and see. This is going to CRACK you OUT!" It took me a second to realize he meant "crack you up." Anyway, he got embarassed when I started laughing. He doesn't like me to think he is cute.

He's growing up so much. Can't believe he starts kindegarten in August!!!

My Coupon Addiction Confession

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:16:00 +0000

I am so addicted to saving money shopping sales with coupons, that I have started shopping for my sister, too. She is a single mom who works full time (more than full time) and doesn't have time (or the obsessive personality) to do this for herself. I'm sure I have just about driven her nuts asking her questions like, do you prefer liquid or powder laundry detergent? Do you have a shampoo, razor, or tampon brand preference? Do you use antacid? Do you like Raisin Bran? What flavor toothpaste do you prefer? But, in just two shopping trips, I have picked up $46.53 worth of products for her while I was doing my shopping, and she only had to spend $16.17 out of pocket ... a 65% savings!

Do you want to know how bad it is? I have a whole drawer of deodorant for myself. I don't need anymore deodorant. But, I found some for $.27 ... yes, that is twenty-seven cents ... and I had to buy it. I knew someone could use it. I've been asking around (my sister has to use a certain kind and this wasn't it) and was about to to figure out how to get it to the local food pantry when my mother-in-law said she wanted it.

Anyway, just needed to confess! :o) Also, a thought just came to ming, if you have lots of a certain item stockpiled but find good deals like free mustard or hot sauce or $.25 BBQ sauce or $.27 deodorant or a free bottle of Advil, and you don't have a sister locally who is a single mom (or someone else you know could use a little help), consider picking up the bargain anyway and donating it to your local food pantry. Or, if you know someone is struggling financially, pick up some of the bargains on staple products (everyone uses toilet paper and paper towels) and leave a bag of bargains on their doorstep anonomously. Let your addiction be used for good! :o)

4th of July Weekend Photos!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:33:00 +0000

4th of July Family Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:25:00 +0000

We spent the long 4th of July weekend at my grandparents old farm (they have both passed away) in North East Texas in the Piney Woods. My parents, my brother's family, my sister's family, and my family all spent the weekend at the old farmhouse. My sister-in-law's parents came out on the 4th and fried fish for us and ate with us. My brother went and bought $300 worth of fireworks for us to shoot off that evening. It was SO much fun. On Saturday, the kids spent part of the day running through the sprinklers while my mom watered the plants. It was the "Best Weekend Ever" as the kids kept saying. My mom had 4th of July necklaces and bracelets and cups and plates and house decorations. It was just a wonderful, blessed weekend enjoying our family and being thankful for our great country! It is a summer tradition that we love!

Popular Vote

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Okay, by popular vote, I posted my "coy" self photo in the bathroom mirror picture. :o)

My new treadmill works great! It is so nice to have when I can't get to the gym. I'm hoping my hubby starts working out on it, too. I told him just because he is tall and thin does not mean he is healthy. He knows that. There just never seems to be enough time in the day ... or evening when he gets home.

Becky, maybe I can call you when I get on my treadmill and we can talk to each other while we workout on our treadmills at home!!! :o) I can remember being in high school (before cell phones and texting) and calling my BFF (who I have no idea where she is ... I guess just BF at the time! :o) and watching reruns over the phone together of Little House on the Prairie ... the episodes where Almanzo (Manly) and Laura got together. I know ... I'm showing my age. Don't remind me ... my 20th HS class reunion is this summer.

I have a painting done I need to get posted and I'm going to enter a painting (that I haven't done, yet ... but need to get busy doing) for a giveaway at Funky Finds, http://www.funkyfinds.blogspot.com/

So, stay tuned for some actual art from my Artful Life ... not to mention I need to get some things done for the Mushroom Festival.

We should close next week on our construction loan, so we can get started building our house. We went and picked out our appliances the other day to get bids on and to know what size things need to be framed up as ... that was LOADS of FUN!!! Can't wait to entertain with my cool new appliances (I love to entertain and just haven't had the room to do it for the past few years) ... I'm just excited to be getting a dishwasher that works!!! At least works better than the one I have here in this little house.

Another New Photo of Me

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:54:00 +0000

My husband still isn't done with the treadmill (but almost). So, I touched up my make-up and went to our bathroom where I was able to get a better angle and lighting and took this photo in the mirror I now have posted to the right. It is a little better. Still a little goofy looking, but at least I'm smiling.

I could be doing laundry, but this is more fun. I'm entertaining myself. :o)

I took this self portrait in my bathroom mirror, too. It is kind of cute, but I look a little coy. I can't decide which I like better of the two ... until I get my husband to actually take a photo not in the mirror of me! :o) They are both a little blurry close up. Okay, enough about me!

New Picture of Me

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:20:00 +0000

Okay, I know this is a terrible new picture (see to the right). But the old picture was about a year old, and I have cute new short hair now. This is a self portrait I just took in our hall bathroom mirror because my husband wants me out of the way while he is putting together our new treadmill. (he's one of those who reads the instructions first, lays out all of the parts to make sure he has everything ... the exact opposite of me ... which is one of the things I love about him ... he does things right ... it also kind of drives me crazy because I'm more the just throw it together and this looks like this goes there type ... thus why he asked me to find something else to do other than sit and watch him and comment. :o)

Back to my photo ... I couldn't get a good smiling one at that angle ... I don't have a tripod ... which I need to get.

I just got back from the gym this evening, haven't touched up my make-up since this morning, havn't brushed my hair, and I have on an Old Navy shirt from 2001! The black and white helps.

Anyway, I'll get a happy picture posted soon ... next time I look cute and all dressed up with fresh make-up, I'll get my hubby to take a happy photo of me to replace this one. He took the other photo when my hair was long, and I liked that picture.

The Mushroom Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:58:00 +0000

I got an invitation to be a vendor at the Mushroom Festival in Madisonville, Texas on October 25th. Last year at the Kolache Festival in Caldwell, a lady who was on the vendor committee saw my art and asked for my business card. She sent me an invitation last year, but we had already made plans to be in Disneyworld during the Mushroom Festival last year. So, this year she sent me another invitation, and I'm going to take her up on it. I think this festival is geared more toward art than the Kolache Festival is. With the Mushroom Festival being in October, hopefully it will be a little cooler, too. It was SOOOO hot in September last year at the Kolache Festival.

I need to get painting. I have a few pieces, but I want to do some smaller pieces like ACEO's (baseball card size) and some on just canvas board so that I'll have a wider price range ... so I should have pieces from $5 up to $200.

Here's a link for more information about the Mushroom Festival, and I'll keep you updated. It was nice to be invited and not have to go through the application and waiting process. I still need to get my information in, but they contacted me! :o)

You want to know something funny ... I hate mushrooms! :D At least I won't be tempted to eat while I'm there (at least mushrooms!)

Ninfa's Needs to Join the 21st Century!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Brittain) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:24:00 +0000

I've been trying to watch my calorie intake (along with protein, fat, carbs, sodium, etc) per doctors' orders and regular visits with them, because I've been struggling with some health issues.

My extended family is planning to go to Ninfa's tomorrow for lunch, so I tried to find a website for the restaurant to plan ahead what I would like to eat that is healthier. The only website I could find was for the one in Houston ... what business doesn't have a website in this day and age!? Especially a chain!!!

I called today to see if they had nutrional information available, and the girl who answered the phone acted like she didn't know what that was so she got a manager. When I asked the manager about it, she said no at first and then she asked me what I wanted to know. I'm not sure what she thought I was talking about ... I told her calories, fat, carbs, protein, sodium, etc ... she said no, they didn't have anything like that.

So, rather than take a chance, I'll just bring something else to eat. Maybe I'll bring a Lean Cuisine and ask them to heat it up for me! I could get a salad, but I *HATE* not knowing exactly what I'm eating when I'm trying to be so careful, and it is so easy when you are eating at Chick-fil-a, Subway, Freebirds, Olive Garden (though their's is not extensive), Chili's, Taco Bell, even McDonalds!!! I love the Bacon Ranch Salad with grilled chicken and low fat balsamic viniagrette at McDonalds ... only 260 calories for the salad and 40 calories for the dressing. You can go here and "bag" a meal at McDonalds and they'll tell you all of the nutrional information about your meal.

So, next time the family suggests Ninfa's, I'll suggest a restaurant that has information so that I know what I'm eating. Another place we love but won't be going to anytime soon because they don't offer nutrional information is Texas Roadhouse. They have great salads and I'm sure their 6 oz. sirloin isn't just terrible calorie wise but the fact that they are unwilling to disclose to consumers what they are eating makes me leary.

Wise up restaurants!!! Your customer base is in the information age ... join us!!! Do you know some other good sites for finding nutritional information at some of your favorite restaurants? What is your favorite low calorie restaurant meal?