A life, still

Last Friday night, Wesley took me to the North Carolina Museum of Art.  We went to see the new exhibition "Still Life Masterpieces" that is running now through January 2013.

It can be easy to rush through a still life exhibit (as Wesley wanted to do), but when you take the time to stop and ponder the paintings that catch your eye, you can find a story even in something as seemingly simple as a still-life.

Here is a peek at some of my favorites that we saw in the gallery visiting from Boston:

1. Renoir is one of my favorite Impressionists.  He has an amazing skill of personifying beauty with movement and color.  This particular piece made me think of all of the charming (ok....eclectic) bouquets that Wesley has put together for me over the years.  And how when I am admiring the surprise he put together for me, I wish time would stop and be still for a while. (I confess I will often tote the bouquet around the house with me...it is so great that flowers can be so portable, especially when you want to enjoy them in every room!)

Renoir, Mixed Flowers in an Earthenware Pot, 1869

2. The Dutch put together some striking still life subjects called the "Vanitas" (Latin for vanity) that will tell you a story of how fleeting and vain human life is. By doing this, they are pointing out how important it is to turn to the eternal: "to lay our treasures in heaven."


Gijsbrechts, Vanitas Still Life, 1668

3. This piece is of apples that instead of being in the standard bowl on a table, are painted as a bushel on a sheet on the floor.  It looked to me like they had been wrapped in the sheet and in a mishap, or perhaps mistake of someone in the house, got knocked to the floor and began spilling out.  How many times after making mistakes in our own life do we stop, be still, and think about a lesson or two to learn from what just happened? In the rush and bustle of our lives, perhaps not often enough.

Sterne, Green Apples, 1924

Take a few moments to be still this weekend. Who knows what you could learn, appreciate, or discover?!?

Happy Friday!

Halloween Treats

Nothing says Halloween more than Jack O'Lantern Cookies that my mom used to make.  I was also inspired on our Orlando vacation to make Cauldron Cakes that we saw at Zonkos. They are a chocoholics treat, which makes Wesley very happy.  I was inspired by this recipe, but left off the chocolate butter-cream frosting to better enjoy the fantastic chocolate mouse filling and swapped the base from a chocolate cupcake with a chocolate chip muffin to make it more authentic.  

Here's the recipe for Jack O'Lantern Cookies:

Cookies:
2 eggs
2 c sugar
3/4 c butter, melted
3 1/2 c flour
2T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground cinnamon
2 T water
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c finely chopped pecans (optional)

Cream the eggs, sugar, and butter.  Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, and cinnamon in a separate bowl and gradually add to the egg mixture on low speed.  Stir in the water, vanilla and pecans (optional).  Divide the dough into fourths and wrap in foil.  Chill for at least 2 hours.  Once chilled, roll the dough into 1/8 thickness (use powdered sugar instead of flour!!) and cut into 3 inch circles with a biscuit cutter.  Place on lightly greased pan and bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes until lightly browned.  

Frosting:
3T butter, softened
1/4 c + 1 1/2 t whipping cream
1/8 t salt
3 3/4 c powdered sugar
1 1/2 t vanilla
orange paste food coloring

10oz semisweet chocolate, melted

Cream the butter, cream and salt.  Gradually add powdered sugar.  Stir in vanilla and use small amounts of the orange coloring to get the icing to the depth you want.  Spread onto cookies and pipe the melted chocolate to make faces.

Delicious!

October Favorites

I can't believe its almost November!  October has been great - loved the change in the weather and visiting with family and friends.  My favorite things, however, have been our date nights this month.  They seem extra special since we are working on opposite schedules right now.  (Can't wait for that to end!!) 

1. Melting Pot

Who doesn't love the Melting Pot??  Even though it is far and a little pricey, it is so worth it and a great date we treat ourselves to every once in a while!  When we go, we go all out and split the cheese, salad, meat, and chocolate.  YUM!

2. Dinner and a Movie

Dinner and a movie is our go to date.  It was the first date Wesley took me on, and it never gets old for us.  This month we had Mexican and saw Taken 2.  Obviously Wesley's choice...my favorite part was that everyone good was ok at the end.  Oh, and by agreeing I won next month's pick: Anna Karenina.  I get excited about it every time I see the poster for it hanging on the wall in my sister's room!

3. Late Lunch Out

 

Working every other weekend, when your spouse doesn't, just...sucks.  We try and do our best to do something fun for the few hours we are awake together on Saturday before I have to go in.  Last week Wesley treated me to a late lunch/early dinner at our favorite restaurant in Fuquay: Tacos Mexico.  

4. Pizza and Planning

So one night this month we were trying to figure out where to go eat and I suggested pizza.  To me, this meant trying a new place downtown that had New York style pizza.  To Wesley, this obviously meant "Pizza Hut."  Since it was closer, we went with his choice, even though I secretly hated it.  It ended up being so much fun! We had the place to ourselves, and we came up with the brilliant idea of going to Belgium and France for our anniversary next year.  So all in all, best date night of the month!

Linking up here

DIY Infinity Scarves

I think my favorite thing to wear when it turns cold is a great scarf.  I like them warm, cozy, and eye catching.  They are also so easy to make...in fact I can't remember the last time I bought one.  Here is a great YouTube tutorial to make the one that I am wearing.  I also have a small stockpile of crochet/knit scarves that I will be transforming to infinity ones using this tutorial.

DIY Wall Art

This stunning piece of inspiration was one of my first pins (so of course, the link no longer works...bummer!). So when it was time to put it into action for the house, I had to make it up as I went.  Here's a peak at the finished product:

To make it, you can either buy frames, or make them.  I opted to make them with the extra amount of shoe molding  and spray paint we happened to have in the garage.

Once they were painted, I just grabbed scrapbook paper that fit the color scheme of the loft (I admit not as elegant as the original picture), cut it down to size, and applied it to the frames with hot glue.

The only upgrade I made was a monogram in the center.  Because everything is just better monogrammed...

The best part is that it is so easy to interchange the paper...so I have a feeling it will look very different come Christmas!

DIY Papercraft Display

I have a new love with scrapbook paper.  This great wood piece display was put together using this technique.  They are quick, inexpensive, and a great way to change up your decor for each season!!

DIY Halloween Art

Meet my fantastically versatile 5 x 8 frame.  I think this was one of the first frames I ever bought.  Currently, it resides on my mantle proudly displaying whatever I happen to have in it at the time.  (Yes, the picture had to be this big for you to see the full effect)

This cute Halloween art is a variation of this pin.  I put some classic Macbeth lines to a mixture of these fonts for a witty background (instead of the sheet music).  

Two words...so easy! Oh, and... Happy Friday!