Dabbling in Art & Interior Design

     What a great weekend we had. Friday evening we went to see Jim Gaffigan at the Alabama Theater thanks to Fran and Helen.  He was hysterical and kept me wiping my eyes the whole time as his jokes kept me on the verge of tears from the belly aching laughter.

Saturday, of course, was brilliant.  Katherine & Jay hosted such a great party.  Watching all that football outside, surrounded by good friend, great food and cold drinks was perfect.  Not to mention the final scores for Alabama and Auburn.  Those were pretty perfect too!  That night took us to Bourbon Street for some karaoke observation.

The best part of the weekend was working on my dressing room on Sunday.  Coby's aunt, Linda, is a fantastic decorator and we spent the day making my dressing room one that I could be proud of and enjoy.  It truly reflects my styles and the exciting part is that we also turned it into an art studio.  Which led me into finally deciding to that my latest piece is finished.  Below, please enjoy the pictures of my latest piece of art and my dressing room. 

This is the inspiration of my latest piece.  A building in Ravello, Italy.  Not sure why I liked it so much, but the very second I saw it I was completely enthralled by it.

One of the early stages of the painting.  At this point I have applied ground pumice mixed with paint to create a stucco like texture.

Here you can see that the painting is developing into it's final form.  Also, at this point I have started experimenting with more texture by using clear gel with my acrylic paint.

And Wallah! Here it is!  My final piece.  It's different and I am still learning and developing my craft, but I love it!  I love the colors.  I love the textures.  I love it!

On to the dressing room slash art studio.  I am so excited about this room!  Linda really helped make it a space that I could be super comfortable and productive in.  For the most part we had everything in the room that you see in the pictures.  We just completely rearranged everything.  It is a beautiful room that completely embodies my taste in decor as well as my various interests.

 

 

 

My Life's Agenda

1.  Train for and complete the Vulcan Run 10k .  Also on my plate, the Race for the Cure in October as well as the Mercedes Marathon in February (probably I'll be doing the half marathon).  Julie and I have been running pretty much every day at either 6 in the morning or 6 at night.  We are actually being coached as part of Danny Harrelson's Run University, Running 101.  Tonight, we are putting ourselves to the test by running 2 miles straight, no walking at all!  Might not seem so bad to a lot of people, but it sure seems pretty rough to me.  I think, I know, we can do it.  So far, I am very proud of Julie and I for the commitment we have made to ourselves and one another to start and finish this program.  And, to tell you the truth, I am getting to the point were I actually like the running.  It's a challenge to ourselves and one that I am looking forward to us completing!  I have decided that if I am able to complete this, I will be joining a gym.  

2.  Become involved in politics starting at the local level.  Contemplate my quest to run for City Council.  Really, I could go on and on about the politically charged notions in my brain, but I am refraining at the moment.  That's a whole other post on it's own and one that will be very well thought out and written and passionate!  Suffice it to say, I am definitely a BRITE BLUE DOT IN THIS REALLY RED STATE!

3.  Donate my time and money to two different organizations that help the greater good of this world.  After watching the show Dogtown: Saving the Michael Vick Dogs on Nat Geo last Friday, I was completely blown away by the organization, Best Friends in Utah.  They run a animal sanctuary that takes animals in from across the country that are being faced with beintn euthanized.  To see what these loving and kind people were able to do with the Vick pit bulls brought so much emotion to me.  I couldn't believe how courageous and patient these people were.  To take such a sad situation and turn these dogs into loving and loved animals was amazing.  This is definitely the organization that will be the "donate money" portion of my quest.  I am still looking for a local charity that I can donate my time to.  I would like to somehow be involved with children and making a difference in their lives.  I would love any suggestions about local charities that any of you or involved with or have heard of.  

Bring on the Sandpaper! Rachel Ashwell watch out.

Shabby Chic, French Countryside, English Garden. Home decor that reflects this style has always appealed to me. Something about the soft pastels and the warn textures reminds me of a perfect place. The serene whiteness and the plush pillows and couches, that has to be what heaven is like.

The downside of my quest to have a house that Rachel Ashwell would be proud of; It's Expensive! So, it's been challenging for me to create the home I want given the realities of my financial situation. $2,000 mirrors, $5,000 sofas, $2,500 linens and $7,500 dining room tables aren't exactly realistic home furnishing for the Lake Household, yet (although, I am not sure I could ever justify such pricey items).

My hard earned dollars are spent at TJ Maxx, Homegoods, Tuesday Morning and World Market. Places that offer the average consumer some average prices! Usually, I am only able to find knick knacks and wall hangings, not the larger furniture items that I would like to have.

So yesterday, I took matters into my own hands. After all, the whole premise of shabby chic is taking what you have and blending it to create the comfy look you want. Please enjoy these pictures of my first feeble attempt.

Lake Family Photos

This summer, Coby and I had the chance to have professional photos done of us and our "dog-children" Buddy and Sammy.  The photographer is a friend of ours, Jessica Chapman (her web site) and I can't even begin to express how happy both of us were with the photos.  Here is just a small sampling of the pictures.

 

Watch, Think, Act

YouTube - Last Dayz-Rap Government

My Latest Endeavor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This has been one of the most fascinating and fun years of my life thus far. 2008 has turned out to be a year full of really learning more about myself and developing skills I never knew that I had. Not only rapping and bongos, but also art. You could say, that I this is the time of Renaissance Cindy.

Lately, my quest for personal creative development has lead me into the art world. Upon taking several "Sips N Strokes" classes, I realized that I did have a bit of paint flowing through my veins. While the instruction is always great, I can't seem to stick with the suggested painting and always find a way to make the paintings truly my own.

So, over the past couple of months, I have invested my time and money into building my own art studio. Acrylic paints, brushes, canvases, mediums, color wheels, pallets and books. To come home from work or to take my extra hours on the weekends and focus them on something so positive and fun has truly been a blessing in ways. The stress loads off and the positive flow of the paint sets in.

Above, please take a look at and feel free to comment on my very first original. Of course, as a fledgling artist, I do realize that I'll need names for my original creations so I am open to suggestions on this one. 

I have also started on my latest painting. It will be my interpretation of one of my favorite pictures from our HoneyTime. The picture below was taken in Ravello, Italy. I'll try to take pictures of my painting thus far and frequently update my progress.  I am also going to try to do some research on this building. For some reason, it always sticks out in my memory as one of the most fascinating and interesting buildings I saw while we were in Italy.  Interesting, because, we saw a lot of buildings, which most people would have considered to be much more interesting!

Sex And The City

Last Tuesday, a group of us got together for probably the biggest movie event this decade (for me anyways). Julie, Cathleen, Allison, Anna, Katherine, Melanie and Heather and I went to go see Sex and The City - the movie! Before the movie, most of us went to PF Changs for a quick bite to eat. And, of course, some Cosmos! It really was the perfect night. Great friends, food and one of the most satisfying films I have seen in probably all of my life.

Enjoy a pre movie picture:


After leaving the movie theater, all I thought to myself was that I wanted to walk right back in and watch it over and over and over. It was so good. Everything that it should have been and then much much more...

More of My View

Here is an old, rusty, wood cabin that ian about 20 yards from the deck I am laying on. Something about those old wood cabins always makes me stop and think. I wonder about whose hands built them and what they used them for. And really, how do they get left behind?

What a Beautiful Life

Here I sit. With this view in front of me. Buddy to my right and Sammy to my left. Somewhere in the picture, is my husband, quietly fishing. Cat Stephens is in my background, along with the chirping of birds at sunset and the breathing of our tired dogs. Tired from a day of swimming, exploring, playing, living.

Tomorrow is our one year anniversary and I say this with utter confidence: this is one of the most peaceful and complete moments I have ever felt. If only I could capture the serenity and simplicity of the very minute and save it for later...

Success!

Note to reader: the below post didn't mention Coby as being in the picture. That is because when i wrote the text I didn't know which picture I would pick from my cellie.

My first mobile blog

Including Buddy and Sammy, of course.

Sunshine, Sunshine

 

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake..."

- Marie Beyon Ray

 

"One day in retrospect the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful."
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Austrian psychoanalyst

 

"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done."

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

"Some men go through life absolutely miserable because, despite the most enormous achievement, they just didn’t do one thing—like the architect who didn’t build St Paul’s. I didn’t quite build St Paul’s, but I stood on more mountaintops than possibly I deserved."

- Lord Thorneycroft

 

"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

- John Wooden

 

"Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not remain so if you only perceive an ideal and strive to reach it. You cannot travel within and stand still without."

- James Allen

 

 

"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success."

- Norman Vincent Peale

 

"Activity and sadness are incompatible."

- Christian Bovee

 

"You are what you think about all day long."

- Dr. Robert Schuller

 

"Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret - curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable."

- Walt Disney

Support the Revolution

 

I have had the honor these past months of getting to know some of the coolest guys around. A group of artists and their label Alien 8 Entertainment. As a matter of fact, without those guys, my dream of recording a rap song would have been just that, a dream.   These guys are my homies (that's right, I said it)!  They have encouraged me to not only step outside of my box, but leap from it.  Because of them, I not only recorded my rap song, I performed it as well. 

 

 

 

 
"The First Meeting"

 

Marcus and J Moon are the business end behind Alien 8 Entertainment, Drizzy D.R.O & Tre Gottie (Rap Government) and J Grubbz are just a couple of their artists. Together, these guys are truly inspiring, encouraging, positive, unique and most of all TALENTED!  Their passion and drive for their music and it's promotion is nothing less then riveting.  Being around these guys, listening to them speak about what they do and what music means to them is sheer excitement. 

 

"Drizzy D.R.O., Cin-D-Z & Tre Gottie"

If you haven't already, please check out their blog for more information: http://www.alien8ent.blogspot.com/ 

Listen to the music & spread the word!  Be a part of something.  And I promise you this: 

Listen, Live, Breath Alien 8

and

You too, can be a part of this revolution!

All my love, Cin-D-Z

.5 Things

I know I know… this blog needs some music! So, in an effort to provide my visitors with not only something to read but something to hear, I am trying to figure out a way to upoload my rap song so that we can listen to it. Don't worry. I'll have it all figured out soon enough. However, before your mouth starts watering in anticipation of my uploading my live performance. You can forget about it! No way! That was a very special treat for only those who were in attendance.

A Better Place - Please Take a Moment to Read

My brother, Chris, is only 25 years old.  And yesterday, one of his good friends and former roomie, Zach McNutt, passed away after battling cancer for a couple of years. 

Life is precious and far too often, it can be too short.  A lot of times, it just doesn't seem to be fair or to make any sense at all.  I think though, that somehow, there has to be a reason for everything. 

Zach is a good man and a great friend.  I am thankful to have him known him, and even more, I am thankful of the friendship and inspiration that he is to my little brother. 

I know that Zach is in a better place today.  It's a place with no pain and no sickness.  A place full of love and light.  A place of happiness.  A place where he can once again breathe.  For that, I am thankful.

 

Getting Started On My Two Things

I just ordered my new bongos.  They are LP Matador Wood Bongos in Blazin Red.  And they are very pretty.  I can't wait to get them.  My thought process is that hopefully, they will help me develop a better sense of rhythm.  This should help me when writing and performing.  Funny, I know.  But, I need a good and positive hobby.  And I want it to be something that I can take ownership of.  I had so much fun recording my rap song, but it really taught me how hard it is to be a rapper.  I at the very least, would like to get to the point where at least I sound decent...

2 things

That I want to accomplish;

1. Fun & entertaining blogging
   
2. Learning about Spoken Word
   

OB Recap

Well, our trip has come and gone. Sad. It was so much fun though, that I forgot to take any pictures....

Yippee! The Lakes are OB Bound!

Coby bought our tickets for Panic in April at Orange Beach!  I am so pumped.  Seriously, there just aren't many things as fun at the combination of good music, good friends and THE BEACH!  Enjoy these pictures from last years adventure, but keep in mind the nature of that event.

 

 

 

 

 

That was the one of the most fun weekends I have had in my entire life!

Oh, the Rain!

*** note to reader:  this was actually my first blog post ever but somehow, i managed to upload it to the beginning and date it with today's date. ***

 

Well, it's raining right now.  And, I am on my computer, in my bed, watching MTV and taking another stab at blogging.  Still, not very sure what I will do with this... what information I will share... what information I will omit.  Really, who knows?

 

However, I invite you to enjoy this lovely picture of Sammy's nose in lieu of my lack of creative spunk...

 

08 Update

Not much to report.  Same old same old.