burger blessings

The other day, my friends were trying to guess how many burgers I draw in a year... I said that I probably drew 15 this past year... they guessed I drew 50-70. In retrospect, I think they were probably right. I probably think of burgers so much that it has slowly become second nature to doodle them by default. Clearly, I'm obsessed. For Christmas this year my mom actually got me a burger-shaped chew toy meant for DOGS... (thanks? Or should I be taking offense? haha). 

So anyway, when I was supposed to prepare a Secret Santa present this week, not surprisingly the first thing I thought of drawing was a burger. In my defense, the present wasn't for anyone specific so that's why I decided to give the gift of art + burgers = two things that are very dear to my heart. haha. 

The verse on the burger is from the Bible and it's a good reminder for me of all that God has brought me through and all that I've accomplished through trusting in Him. When I rely on His great plan for my future instead of my own strength, I am constantly amazed at all the opportunities that He opens up for me - better than anything I could have ever imagined for myself. That being said, I think there's a misconception that if someone trusts in God, everything is all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows everywhere but that's definitely not true. Relying on God is an ongoing learning process and obviously there have been times where I think, "Oh man... everything in my life is sliding into slug slime" (or something equally atrocious). Everyone goes through crummy times in life. But personally speaking, when I am able to reflect on all the blessings I've received I am reminded that God continually provides - from little luxuries like amazing burgers to bigger things like deeply-rooted relationships and moments of inexplicable joy and peace. 

I'm sure 2012 was full of ups and downs for everyone but whether you believe in God or not, I encourage you to think back over the events of this past year and reflect on all the blessings you've received. That way, when life smacks you in the face with a bucket of slugs (can you tell that I really dislike slugs?) you've got a batallion of blessings to remind you that you'll be okay.  

I'd love if you would comment with a few things that you're thankful for from this past year. It could be a momentous occasion or a little surprise that warmed your heart... like the one I received today! I had just ordered a drink in the Starbucks drive-thru line and I was pulling up to the second window, ready to pay. The cashier opened the little glass window and told me that the lady in front of me had already paid for my order and wanted to wish me a Happy New Year. That really made my day to receive such a simple, kind gesture from a complete stranger so I continued the chain and paid for the person in the car behind me... and hopefully it kept on going (until of course someone orders $100 worth of Starbucks... hahahaha). But really, I have to say that whoever started the chain of paying for a stranger's coffee is just awesome and deserves a burger and an awkward slow clap that turns into a standing ovation.

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Anyway, let me know in the comments below... what blessings have you received this year? 

=)

-Laura

Christmas is around the corner...

 I've definitely been feeling in a holiday mood lately! Today while I was driving to work, it was raining when I left home, but somewhere along the highway the rain turned into snow. I didn't even realize it until a few minutes later when I noticed the streets were turning white with what I like to call God's dandruff. Later the rain came back and washed it all away but at least it was a winter wonderland for a few hours. =)

Since I'm feeling festive, here's a wintery doodle I drew this week plus a list of "Christmasy things" that I love doing (or just a random mishmash of recent photos that I sadly attempted to string together into some sort of cohesive blog post)... let's just say I tried. Anyways...

Stay cozy! ;)

I love...

lighting warm apple-scented candles...

snuggling in wool blankets with a lavender-scented pouch under my pillow (lavender is supposedly relaxing?)...

bundling up in a thick chunky knit scarf...

drawing wintery cartoon characters in my sketchbook...

making little clay penguins (for penguin snowglobes at work)...

drinking sugary caramel brulee lattes (with extra whipped cream!!!)...

and consequently, vandalizing Starbucks cups with creepy doodles.

I also like to collect men (GINGERBREAD men, that is)... like this one...

and this one...

...and THIS ONE...on my handmade UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER! =) It was actually my dad's sweater that I "borrowed" and never returned.

So that's my photo collection of random Christmasy things. I hope that was mildly entertaining. And by the way, Starbucks in no way sponsored me for this post (although I wouldn't mind if they did... in the form of FREE DRINKS...ha!) but I was looking at my doodle of the girl with the scarf and I thought, she looks like she needs a cup of coffee. And that was all the excuse I needed to go out and buy myself a holiday beverage.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

What are YOUR favourite Christmas sights, smells, or scenes?

DIY: floral hair wreath

During such a cold and frosty December, it seems counterproductive to be making whimsical floral wreaths but that's exactly what I did yesterday, for no apparent reason other than the fact that I had recently acquired some floral tape and some pretty rose garlands from the dollar store. That was a good enough reason for me so here are some pictures from that little craft session and thankfully there was enough daylight to give off a pseudo-summery atmosphere. 

These floral wreaths are super easy to make: all you need are some flower garlands, floral tape, scissors, and (optional) green floral wire. First, I pulled all the flowers off the garland. Then I measured the size of my head and cut a length of the garland to wrap around as the wreath. I joined the ends of the garland firmly together with floral tape. I also wrapped some floral wire around the entire garland length to make the shape of the wreath extra secure. Then I arranged the flowers as I wanted them to look and attached them to the garland using floral tape. As an extra touch, I cut some leather scraps into thin strips and wound these strips around the whole wreath. I made two of these flower crowns - one with large flowers all around, and the other with two simple yellow rosebuds and a little bit of (fake) baby's breath. The large flower one looks too awkward and "costumey" in my opinion but I really like how the more simple, understated wreath turned out! 

The last step is to put the wreath on your head and prance around your room like some weird fairy nymph... but be sure to close your curtains before doing so.

Right now I am picturing myself dancing around in a meadow wearing that yellow floral wreath and my favourite mint green dress. In reality, here I am huddled over a computer screen, bundled up with a cup of hot chocolate beside me. 

Side note #1: the "fly away home" sign was drawn on a scrap piece of cardboard one day and it currently resides above my vintage dresser. I painted the edges with mint green paint. Ideally it would be nice to have a wooden sign, but I suppose for now, cardboard will have to do. haha. You can make your own interpretation of what the quote means but it's something that's been on my mind for awhile. 

Side note #2: I finally have some links up on my DIY links page (it's just a compilation of all my old projects from this website) but at least it adds some organization to this chaos. Feel free to check out my old projects and I'll be sure to add some more to the list soon! =)

Side note #3: I went to my work party this week (it was a painting party!) and I got to paint something that incorporates a lot of the elements in this post (such as mint green, flowers, a bird, and a floral wreath!). I'll be posting that painting later on this week! 

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so...check back soon ;)

-Laura

my own little prison

I've been pretty unmotivated to keep up this blog lately, but ironically I've actually been drawing more this week. I work full-time now so I'm usually too tired to upload all my random scribblings (although if you're my friend on Instagram I tend to post more of my drawings there just because it's so quick and easy). But anyway, here's one quick sketch that encapsulates many things that are characteristic of my drawings... flower crowns, vines, little birds, and intentionally disproportional bulbous heads.

DIY: Burger Shoes

I am obsessed with BURGERS. So when I found some red sneakers for $5, I just got them even though I never wear sneakers, just so I could paint burgers on them. I think they'd look good with a Ronald McDonald costume wouldn't they? And don't ask me why I made a giant laminated paper burger. I just did. (Okay actually, I made it to teach paragraph writing during my practicum. HAHA! Burgers make English more interesting in my opinion... for the students, and for me). Anyway, does anyone have any ideas on how to "seal in the paint" on these shoes so it doesn't crack? I was just thinking of taking them to work and pouring acrylic varnish over the tops.

By the way, these pictures are from late August - back when the sunshine still graced us Vancouverites with a few rays here and there. Nowadays I'm getting served a daily dose of November chills with a side of hypothermia... but nothing a warm juicy burger can't fix. I now present to you... my burger shoes!!!

And here are some other random pictures of gifted burger paraphernalia! 

Seriously though, I should stop collecting burger things. Every time I look at my collection I get HUNGRY.

Mug Cake

I've been sick for the past few days so I've been at home, holed up in my room, looking like a zombie. Anyway, I was looking up remedies for fevers and got SO EXCITED when one site said "EAT ICE-CREAM" (no joke!) but then I realized it was talking about the kind of fever where you feel really hot, and I had the OTHER kind of fever which leaves you with cold chills. The remedy for that one was to drink hot soup. Yay. It took all my self-control to not eat ice-cream but I did go with the hot soup option instead (with a side of cookies)... and I do feel better today.

But, since I couldn't have the cold dessert of my choice, I went with a hot sugar alternative in the form of something called MUG CAKE (which is basically cake made in a mug). Now, awhile back I came across a recipe for Nutella Mug Cake which sounded so delicious, but I actually never got around to trying it since I'm lazy and the recipe needed ingredients (which most recipes do). Since getting eggs, cocoa powder, and Nutella was going to be a huge undertaking on my part, I was happy to see a package in the baking aisle labelled MUG CAKE... the pre-made kind. All I needed was milk, a mug, and a microwave. I believed I could handle that. So I took the package home, and being the amateur chef that I am, I meticulously followed the three instructions on the back of the box without fail. And NO, I didn't get more sick after eating it. In fact, I think this little cake attributed towards my recovery (Mr. Potatohead would vehemently disagree). Hahaha.

The best part about this mug cake is that if you scroll down below, you'll see that it has 30% of your recommended daily intake of IRON (what!!!!). That's more than Vector Cereal which is pretty healthy (29%... I just checked haha). Take that, ANEMIA! And well maybe, just ignore the calories statistic. There... I conveniently blotted it out for you. Just eat the cake. 

NEXT KITCHEN MISSION: Learn how to make... JELLO!!!!!! (oh how pitiful I am)...

By the way, do you like my gingerbread cup? I LOVE it. It's like I'm eating his brains. But he doesn't mind. 

Anyway, if you are curious, here's the recipe for the Nutella Mug Cake, where you actually have to put ingredients together (but then you can say you made it from scratch! haha). One of these days I WILL attempt this recipe. One of these days...

Recipe for Nutella Mug Cake 

(from The Family Kitchen)

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons self rising flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons Nutella
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a large coffee mug.
2. Whisk well with a fork until smooth.
3. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 – 3 minutes.
4. Top with whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce if desired.

HAPPY CAKE EATING! =) 

thriftstore find: $5 bookshelf

Hello my dears! This is the first time I've gone on my computer in almost a WEEK! It's just been so busy and then right on Remembrance Day, I somehow got sick with a fever which left me bedridden for all of yesterday. But now I'm feeling well enough to drag my sickling-self those grueling two metres from my bed to my computer, so you shall get a blog post (or two?) today! =)

Last week I had a super awesome thriftstore find at the "thrift store with the red door" at Steveston Village. This place always has really unique furniture and it just so happened that all furniture was 50% off on the day that I went! I had been looking for a bookshelf (to put my shoes on, actually) and I found one that was deep enough to use as a shoe-shelf! It was an antique cream which perfectly matches my vintage dresser (acquired from another thrift store in Steveston). The best part was, the bookshelf was only $5!!!

So the next day, I borrowed Mr. Potatohead's SUV and then I borrowed my DAD to help me lug the ginormous thing back home. We got there and my dad started using his hand width in an attempt to measure the shelf. Consequently, I went over to the staff in the back and asked them for a measuring tape. In the end, after walking around the bookshelf for about half an hour hmm-ing and pondering about whether the massive thing would make it home, we shoved it into the back of the SUV and luckily, it JUST fit. We drove home with the entire trunk open, at the pace of a snail, until we safely arrived in our front yard with the bookshelf, me, and my dad still intact. =) Success!

good ol' BEAST was such a handy vehicle in our predicament...

(lurker below) not creepy at all... not creepy at all...

The turquoise shirt I'm wearing was also thrifted from a Value Village in Toronto for... $3.99? But really, nothing beats the $5 bookshelf. Except for those shady free couches on Craigslist...

wanderlust

When I was making those peanut butter and jelly costumes last week, I had a lot of leftover cardboard. So as not to waste, I decided to doodle a quote and make a random cardboard sign. I chose one of my all-time favourite quotes, and of course it just had to be from one of my all-time favourite books (and movies!), Lord of the Rings. 

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king."

J. R. R. Tolkien

image sources: leather luggage tag // the Shire // the rest of the images are mine! all mine! my precious...

It was one of those rare sunny October days so I took the chance to take some pictures outside (picture credit goes to my brother Lawrence!). Also, I couldn't resist including a cameo appearance from Lego Frodo Baggins whose pale plastic face is in a state of permanent angst (just like in the movie!). And by the way, don't you just love the handcrafted leather luggage tag? You can buy it on Etsy from Mesa Dreams. They specialize in leather and vintage native jewelry and everything looks amazing.

One more off-topic side note: Now that I look at these pictures again, I think it's time for a haircut since I'm starting to look like Hagrid from Harry Potter. If I had it my way I would get it cut short and get a whole new choppy hairstyle but I do want to keep it relatively long for the wedding next year, so I guess I'll just settle for a little trimming of the hedges ...hair. I think at this point my hair is so tangled and messy I need a lawnmower to attack it (on second thought... it looks like a lawnmower ALREADY attacked it).

Anyway, I just took an allergy pill (a pill for allergies, not one that gives you allergies, ha!) and it's making me drowsy so my mind is wandering now... and yes, now I do feel a bit lost. So I shall go to sleep and dream of legendary adventures, epic battles, and festive celebrations in the Shire!

Farewell my dear hobbits!