Art and potatoes

I've been working on some art for the Iron Man Festival on April 30th and May 1st.

I was able to complete these 4 in just 3 days. 

(big thanks to my big sister for helping me with the back round on a few of these...she saved me a load of time)

This one is about 4 feet tall.  

Let's just say this one rocks : )

This is three 8x10 canvases.  My first attempt at the grunge look. 

inside scoop: those diamond shapes were created with my homemade potato stamp.... Yes I really am that cheap.

This one is three 8x10 canvases.  It just makes me smile. 

I would like to encourage those aspiring artist out there that you don't need a ton of money or supplies to create art.  These pieces were all completed with:

 *3 different size brushes

*paint

*some canvases from Michael's

*a potato

*paper towels

Don't be afraid to try something... and if it doesn't work out you can always just paint over it : )

Favorite THINGS : Part 1 *HAIR*

I've been wanting to post a few of my favorite things.  Items I love or that just make my life easier or better.  This will be the first of many.  Being the indecisive person that I am I have a lot of favorites.

#1. Redken Anti-Snap Leave-in treatment
The lovely Melissa used this on my hair when she cut it a few weeks ago. I am amazed at how soft this makes my hair feel.  I picked up a 8.5 oz bottle at the Wal-Mart salon for a cool $16. Totally worth every penny!

#2. CHI Straightening iron

I'm in love! This is the best straightening iron I've ever had. It gets super hot in 30 seconds and it stays that way. The curved edges also make it easy to do great curls with little effort.  I picked this up for only $48 online with free shipping.  

*funny fact: on the warning label of this it said: 

"DO NOT USE WHILE SLEEPING"

Hilarious!! 

#3. Flat/Curved Bobbie pins

I bought these 5+ years ago at a Target in Utah and I have failed to find them again.  They hold your hair in place all day.  Because of the curved design they don't stick off of your head. They are slowly disappearing just like any other small hair accessory so if you see these in the store buy 5 packs for me + 1 for yourself and send me the bill (and my bobbie pins). 

Eyes...

Before:

After:

What I used to spice it up:
Curves
Dodge on whites of eyes
High Pass filter on the eyes
Gaussian blur under the eyes to soften it up.

I really love this picture of my niece Aspyn... I took it in a parking lot as we were loading in the van. I liked the color in her eyes and I was pleasantly surprised by her expression.  It really makes her look grown up.

Funny Vandals & Paparazzi

I know vandalism is wrong but I enjoy some humorous vandalism every now and then... 

I took my new zoom lens on our little weekend adventure.

I felt like the paparazzi as I snapped this shot of the most color coordinated family in a parking lot.  I gotta give this mom props... I'm lucky if I can get the kids shirt to match their pants. : )

Only in Utah.

This weekend on the way to the park we saw a truck with these stickers on the back window... do you notice anything odd?
*you can click on the picture to get a closer look*

That's right people... count them. 1 Dad. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Wives. Wait... 5 wives!!!

Now we live in Utah and there are Polygamists that live in a few nearby cities... but could this be? Did they really just broadcast it across their vehicle?  Yes, yes they did. We actually chased this truck down to take a picture of this. 

Only in Utah.

ONLY in UTAH.