MOTW 5 | Halloween Edition

Musings of The Week. I mean, weeks. If you're a newbie around here let me explain. I started this series MOTW, as a way to help keep me inspired + focused on my current ideas + thoughts. It's easy to get caught up in the BS of day to day living, which often leads me to becoming uninspired, or to lack to energy to create, at least that's what happens to me from time to time. Which is why I thought a weekly check-in with what my current ideas for future projects or what I'm currently thinking about would be quite helpful to me, + it has been! Now I should mention when I initially started this series it was going to be a weekly one, but I've been brimming + boiling over with ideas + the results of these ideas that there wasn't enough space to share them all with you in one week. Sooo I've cut my MOTW back to a bi/tri-weekly series instead, so there will be more space to share all of my current thoughts, ideas + projects. As this series is going to be cut back I plan on including even more of my currents thoughts, ideas + projects because I'll have the time needed in order to share them + the results with ya, so it's definitely a good thing! For those who have read my MOTW before, I hope this series has rubbed off a little on you + has inspired you to dig a little deeper + start checking in with yourself a little more. There are all sorts of ideas swimming around you just have to look for them! :)

Anyways let's get down to business!

Artsy Projects:

Current art projects I'm thinking about trying in the coming weeks...

+ Halloween Cards: YES! The season has come for homemade Halloween cards! One of my favorite holiday activities to do! With all those exclamation points I'm sure you can tell just how excited I am about this project! :) I made these cards last Halloween + I think I'm going to stick with tradition of what I did last year + make my cards using glue + glitter again. It worked well for me last year + the cards definitely stood out with all their sparkle :) Halloween is fast approaching so I'm going to get on this project ASAP + share the results with ya soon!

+ Pumpkins: Of course this is a given. I so love getting to carve pumpkins + this year is no different! I did see this really cute idea though for decorating pumpkins using glitter on Carrie Ellen's blog + I'm somewhat tempted to try her technique this year instead of the usual carving. Just for something different, but we'll see. Maybe I'll have to get 2 pumpkins so I can do both lol. 

Recipe Aspirations:

'New to me recipes' I'd like to try...

+ Pumpkin Pie: Yes I've made pumpkin pie before, making the pie crust from scratch + filling it with canned pumpkin. I've done it this way plenty of times. But I've never made actual homemade pumpkin pie before. I'm talking about the pumpkin part of it. My family + I have always used canned pumpkin, it's convenient + delicious. But this year I thought I'd challenge canned pumpkin + try to make my own pumpkin filling for the pie by prepping + scooping an actual pumpkin. I'm not exactly sure just yet what the whole process entails, but I'm pretty excited to try my hand at it! Will be sure to let ya know how it turns out ;)

+ Halloween Cookies: Okay so I'm kinda cheating with this one as the recipe I'm going to use for my Halloween cookies is the same one I used last year. Caz if it ain't broke don't fix it. Looking forward to getting into the spirit of the holiday by eating my way there with these cookies lol. Be on the look out for pictures :)

MOTW | 4 CHECK IN:

As I mentioned before the goal of this series of posts is to help keep me inspired + focused, 

+ accountability is part of it too. Here's how my last MOTW projects + ideas went...

Art Projects:

- Abandon An Inspirational Rock + Sea Shells: CHECK. It felt good to get out there + abandon some art! It had been a minute since I had done so + I had forgotten just how much fun it is! Will be sharing photos of my abandoned rock + shells here in the next few days! :)

- Fuji Instax Photo Projects: FAIL. I've been keeping busy with other art projects that I completely forgot about this one! Will work on something in the coming weeks!

Recipe Aspirations:

- Mini Chicken Pot Pies: CHECK. I've already shared my experience making these along with the recipe. If ya missed it, check it out! :)

- Chocolate Avocado Mousse with Sea Salt: CHECK. OMG this dessert was sooo good! I've already shared the recipe for this bad boy as well, you can find it here :)

Pretty happy with how my MOTW have been going :) Can't wait to catch up with ya up + let you know how these newest upcoming projects go on my next MOTW!

Until next time friends...Cheers!!

<3 Noonie

MOTW | 4

Musings of The Week. I mean, weeks. If you're a newbie around here let me explain. I started this series my MOTW, as a way to help keep me inspired + focused on my current ideas + thoughts. It's easy to get caught up in the BS of day to day living, which often leads me to becoming uninspired, or to lack to energy to create, at least that's what happens to me from time to time. Which is why I thought a weekly check-in with what my current ideas for future projects or what I'm currently thinking about would be quite helpful to me, + it has been! Now I should mention when I initially started this series it was going to be a weekly one, but I've been brimming + boiling over with ideas + the results of these ideas that there wasn't enough space to share them all with you in one week. Sooo I've cut my MOTW back to a bi/tri-weekly series instead, so there will be more space to share all of my current thoughts, ideas + projects. As this series is going to be cut back I plan on including even more of my currents thoughts, ideas + projects because I'll have the time needed in order to share them + the results with ya, so it's definitely a good thing! For those who have read my MOTW before, I hope this series has rubbed off a little on you + has inspired you to dig a little deeper + start checking in with yourself a little more. There are all sorts of ideas swimming around you just have to look for them. Try something new, the options are limitless!

Anyways let's get down to business!

Artsy Projects:

Current art projects I'm thinking about trying in the coming weeks...

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+ Abandon An Inspirational Rock + Sea Shells: In one of my most recent Instagram perusings I stumbled upon the Word Rocks Project Insta page. This page consists of vibrant photos from all over the world of abandoned rocks that have positive messages beautifully written on them. They are abandoned with the intention for others to find them + cherish them. Now if you're a regular around these parts you'd know I LOVE to abandon art (I've written about it here + here + here whew!), but I haven't done it in forever! However after finding the WRP my drive + desire to abandon art has been rekindled once more! But the fun doesn't stop there. I'm not only going to abandon a rock with a positive message on it, but because I wanted to put my own twist on it, I'm also going to abandon a couple of inspirational seashells. :) I have a ton of seashells on hand + I've been wanting to do something creative with them + thought this project would be one fun way to utilize them. Especially since it'll brighten up someone's day :) Will be sure to update ya on this fun little project!

Check out the Word Rocks Project's Insta + Website for more info + pretty pictures of inspirational rocks that have been abandoned all over the world!

+ Fuji Instax Photo Projects: As I mentioned in an earlier post, I recently purchased a Fuji Instax Mini 8 camera, which I love! The photos it instantly prints are high quality + have such a nostalgia about them. Ever since I took my very first photos with this camera I've been scheming up ideas of ways to showcase them. Of course I could just frame them (which I am planning on doing with some of these cute little business sized photos), but there are so many other fun ways to showcase them + that's the direction I'm headed! In the coming weeks I plan on putting some of my fun ideas into action + I can't wait to share the results with ya!

Be on the look out! :) 

Recipe Aspirations:

'New to me recipes' I'd like to try...

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+ Mini Chicken Pot Pies: I love little single portion sized foods, which is why when I saw this picture on the 'net I immediately knew I had to try my hand at making these! Will let you know how it goes. :)

+ Chocolate Avocado Mousse with Sea Salt: I know some of you out there might have your face twisted up + head cocked sideways after reading that last line. I know I did when I first read it on a dessert menu while out at a restaurant one day. But my curiosity got the better of me, I ordered it + it was heavenly. Ever since that day the desire to make my own chocolate avocado mousse has been in the back of mind + I think it's about time to bring it to the front + make it already! I've already found the recipe, now I just need to make this delicious treat! Will be sure to share the recipe + my experience making it in the coming weeks! 

Random:

A few recent random musings of mine...

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+ Teacups: I saw this photo of this pretty little teacup the other day  + it got me thinking....I need one of those! I'm a huge coffee + tea drinker but I don't have my own special mug or anything. Not that I ever wanted my own special mug, but after seeing that picture I decided I need to get myself one! Silly, I know. But it's the little things that count right? :)

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+ Slow Internet: I'm sure you've all experienced this at some point, slow internet that is. Well I'm currently in the land of slow moving internet + I'll tell ya it sucks, big time! I've definitely had to que up my patience since I've been in this land of slow 'net. As I'm sure you all know it's quite frustrating waiting for what seems like an eternity for a website to load. It's especially frustrating when the advertisements take longer to load on the website than the actual content of the site. Quite frustrating, but I'll survive (although I may end up pulling some of my hair out lol). #GrindsMyGears #FirstWorldProblems

As I mentioned before the goal of this series of posts is to help keep me inspired + focused, 

+ accountability is part of it too. Here's how my last MOTW projects + ideas went...

MOTW | 3 CHECK IN:

Art Projects: 

- Gallery of Frames: CHECK. I finally completed this project which I talked about last week. It was super easy to do once I finally had all of the frames needed! Will be talking more about this project in the coming weeks.

- New Art Technique: FAIL. I had wanted to try the technique of using various objects to create different textures/patterns using paint, but I didn't get around to it. I honestly kind of lost interest in wanting to try this technique. I think it's because I've been focused on other art projects + have been putting all of my passion + energy into them rather than trying this new particular technique. I'm sure I'll eventually get around to trying it sometime in the future. + when/if I do I'll be sure to share. 

- SN&R Newsstand: CHECK. YES I finally completed this project! It has been in the works for quite some time now so I'm very happy to finally be done with it! Working on putting together a post for it now which should be out in the coming weeks! :)

Recipe Aspirations:

- Creamy Lemon Garlic Shrimp with Fettuccine. UH HUH, I did make this dish + it was delicious! Recipe can be found here.

-Bamya aka Beef + Okra Stew. CHECK! I also got around to making this dish for dinner! I've enjoyed it numerous times throughout my life, but had yet to make it myself that is until recently. Recipe for this yummy Arab meal will be comin' atcha this week, so be on the look out! :) 


I think I did pretty damn good these past few weeks completing my projects! Can't wait to catch up with ya up + let you know how these newest upcoming projects go on my next MOTW!

Until next time friends...Cheers!!

<3 Noonie

Noonie's |MOTW| Edition 3

I gotta say I'm pretty dang proud of myself for keeping up with this weekly series regarding my Musings of The Week. It's definitely been doing exactly what I had wanted it to + that is to help keep me inspired + focused on my current ideas + thoughts. It's easy to get caught up in the BS of day to day living, which often leads me to becoming uninspired, or to lack to energy to create, at least that's what happens to me occasionally. Which is why I thought a weekly check-in with what my current ideas for future projects or what I'm currently thinking about would be quite helpful to me, + it has been! I've been scheming up all kinds of projects I'd like to do, recipes I like to try, etc.! I'm brimming + boiling over with these ideas + the results of these ideas that there isn't enough space to share them all with you in one week. Sooooo I'm thinking about trying to make my MOTW a bi/tri-weekly series instead of a weekly series so there will be more space to share all of my current thoughts, ideas + projects. As this series is going to be cut back I plan on including even more of my currents thoughts, ideas + projects because I'll have the time needed in order to share them + the results with ya, so it's definitely a good thing! I'm so stoked with the results of this series so far + I can't wait to share them! I hope this series has rubbed off a little on you + has inspired you to dig a little deeper + start checking in with yourself a little more. There are all sorts of ideas swimming around you just have to look for them. Try something new, the options are limitless!

Here are a few of this week's musings...

Artsy Projects 

to Try:

+ Gallery of Frames: Thinking about finally getting to this project, which I've talked about before with my Bedroom Wall Revamp post. A few days ago I finally got the last frame I needed in order to complete this project! Really excited about it + can't wait to show ya the results! :)

+ New Art Technique: I've been interested in trying the technique of using various objects to create different patterns/textures with paintings for a while now + it's my goal to try it out in the following weeks. Might end up doing an abstract piece or perhaps a mixed media piece utilizing this technique, I haven't quite made up my mind just yet.

+ SN&R Newsstand: Tacking this on from last week's MOTW. More about it in my "MOTW Check In".

Recipes 
to Try:

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+ Creamy Lemon Garlic Shrimp with Fettuccine: I don't recall where I originally was inspired to try to make this dish, but I found this recipe + it sounds delicious! I've been craving shrimp lately so I'm going to incorporate it into the dish. I've never tried to make any sauce from scratch so I'm pretty excited to try my hand at this recipe in the next week or so + let you know how it is!

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+ Bamya: It's like Okra + Beef stew served over rice. You may not of heard of it before as it's an Arab dish, but I grew up eating it + still love it to this day. But just like many other Arabic dishes I've eaten since forever, I've never actually made it before. My mom or dad are the ones who usually make this dish, but I think it's about time I make it myself, with mom's help of course. ;) I'll be sure to share her recipe!

Other Random Musings 

+ Nathan's Urban State of Mind: This feature has been in the works for a little while + I can't wait to share it with you! Hint: San Diego

+ The Downtown Plaza: My once favorite mall in Sacramento is currently being ripped apart + torn down *sniffle* in order to make way for a brand new King's arena. I'll admit the Plaza wasn't what it once was before they started tearing it down, but I'm still going to miss it. Planning on putting together a post all about my love for the Downtown Plaza, comin' atcha in the next week or so!

+ My Bad vision: This is super random but lately I've  been thinking about how shitty my eyesight is. I've had to wear glasses (+ later graduated to contacts) ever since I was about 8 or 9 years old, so I'm somewhat used to having poor eye sight + having to rely on a device to see. Now that I'm older I don't really view (pun intended) my bad eye sight as a bad thing, in fact I've really embraced it. (I know it sounds weird but stay with me.) The reason I've embraced it is because my bad eye sight affords me a different perspective. When I don't have on my glasses or contacts I get to see things in a different (but blurry) vantage point. This blurred vision let's me see things in a way I wouldn't normally see them. In fact some of my artwork was inspired directly from this distorted vision of mine. The moral of the story is embrace who you are + what you're made of. Accept your "flaws" + open your mind to how you can turn them into a positive. :)

As I mentioned before this series of posts is all about keeping me inspired + focused, + accountability is part of it too. Here's how last week's MOTW projects + ideas went...

MOTW ED 2 Check In: 

Art Project: My SN&R Newsstand. I have been working hard on this project, but still not quite done with it yet. An incident occurred which pushed back the completion of this project, but I'm gettin' there. You just can't rush art afterall, it is a process. Promise to ya show pictures when it's finally finished! Which I'm hoping will be this week! *fingers crossed* 

Bedroom Wall Mural. Didn't get to sketching out the mural(s) that I'd like to paint just yet. But I have been working on putting my bedroom together + will be sharing photos of what it looks like so far once I've completed the Gallery of Frames that I spoke of above.

                                         

Recipes: Brown Sugar + Garlic BBQ Chicken. Check. If you read A Few of My Favorite Things Ed 3 you'd already know I did make this delicious dish! I was really happy with how it turned out + with how simple it was to put together this 4 ingredient recipe that took under 30 minutes to make. I'll be sharing the recipe for this in the next few days. :)

As for the Apple Pies Baked into Apples or Apple Rings recipe that I spoke about on last week's MOTW I didn't get around to making it. Maybe I'll get to it this week. I know I know shame on me, lol.

Can't wait to catch up with ya on these upcoming projects on my next MOTW!

Until next time friends...Cheers!!

<3 Noonie

Noonie's |Musings of The Week| Edition 2

Hi friends! If you happened to catch my very first Noonie's |MOTW| Edition 1 you'd know what this post is all about, but for those of you who missed let me catch ya up. I wanted to start this weekly series in order to help keep me inspired + focused on my current ideas + thoughts. It's easy to get caught up in the BS of day to day living, which often leads to becoming uninspired, or lack of energy to create at least that's what happens to me occasionally. Which is why I think a weekly check-in with what my current ideas for future projects or what I'm currently thinking about would be quite helpful to me. Heck maybe it'll even inspire you to dig a little deeper + start checking in with yourself a little more. 

Here are a few of this week's musings...

Art of the Week:

+ Sacramento News & Review Newsstand: I haven't mentioned it yet but this project has been in the works for over a month. It's taking longer than expected due to health delays, but I'm hoping to finish it up this week. As you might've noticed I'm being somewhat vague about this project because I really don't want to spill the whole can of beans until I've completed it. 

+ Artist Feature!: This week I'm working on putting together an artist feature for a very talented Abstract Expressionist Painter by the name of Russell Willis who also happens to be a Sacramento based artist! I'm very excited about this upcoming feature because Russ is the very first Sacramento based artist to be featured here on BSOM! Be on the look out for this Q+A comin' atcha this Friday! Here's a link to Russ's Instagram so you can get a little taste of what's to come! 

Recipes To Try This Week:

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+ Brown Sugar + Garlic BBQ Chicken: Found a yummy looking recipe for this chicken dish on Pinterest a few days ago + I'm planning on making it this week! It looks so good! I can't wait to share it with ya! :)  

                                                                             

Source                                        Source  

+ Apple Pies Baked into Apples or Apple Rings: Found recipes for these sweet treats while perusing the net the other day + I'm thinking about making one of them this week. I've never tried to make apple pies like this or apple rings before so it'd be a first + I do enjoy trying my hand at new recipes. 

Other Random Musings:  

Other things I'm currently thinking about/working on...

+ Bedroom move: This has been another 'under wraps' project I've been working on. I haven't mentioned it yet, but I did move bedrooms a few weeks back + if you're a regular here on BSOM you'd know of my bedroom wall revamp  plans which I had made for my old bedroom. Well the plans are staying the same it's just the bedroom that has changed! lol This week I'm planning on sketching out the mural(s) that I'd like to paint in my new bigger bedroom. Details to come!

+ Earl Grey: Turning my nose up + sticking my pinky out. I've written about my love for Twinnings Earl Grey Tea before. But until this week I never realized I've become an Earl Grey snob. No joke. Lol. My mom had got me some Bigelow Earl Grey, and of course I was grateful to her for it. She knows I love me a good ol' cup of Earl Grey. The snobbery of this story comes into play when I tasted the BEG. I've drinkin' BEG plenty of times before + enjoyed it, but this time as I was drinking it I realized it's definitely not as good as TEG. I've become an Earl Grey snob out of no where. To me the BEG tastes more watered down + doesn't have that strong Earl Grey taste that a cup of  Twinning brings. #FirstWorldProblems

Hope you enjoyed this installment of my "Musings of The Week"! I'll be sure to check in with you on next week's MOTW + let you know how this week's projects went!

Last Week's MOTW Ed. 1 Check In:

So this is the part where I check in + tell ya how my previous week's musings/projects went. After all this weekly series of posts is all about keeping me  inspired + focused, and accountability is part of it too. 



+ So far so good! I've been keeping up with my goal to post a weekly Musings of The Week + A Few of My Favorite Things posts + I've been having a lot of fun putting them together! :)



+ Art Project from last week: Done + done. Created my very first relief print last night + I'm totally stoked with how it turned out! Stay tuned in the coming week(s) for this project's tutorial! 

+ Recipes To Try: I did end up making both the Bean Salad + Pumpkin Muffins that I had wanted to. I've already shared the bean salad recipe before here on BSOM, but it was my first time making it + it turned out great! It was super simple to make + made a great side + snack. The Pumpkin Muffins were new to me, but the recipe I ended up using was also really simple to put together + the muffins are sooo good! I'll be sure to share the recipe for these bad boys sometime this week!




All in all I think I did pretty damn good for my first MOTW, can't wait to share these new goodies with ya! 

Until next time friends...Cheers!!

<3 Noonie

Noonie's |Musings of The Week| 1

At this very moment you are reading the product of my most recent musings. This week I've been working hard on getting myself re-inspired to create + that's where this post comes in. I've decided that from here on out (fingers crossed) I will be posting a weekly installment of "Noonie's |Musings of The Week|" as a way to help keep me inspired + focused on my current ideas + thoughts. It's easy to get caught up in the BS of day to day living, which often leads to becoming uninspired, or lack of energy to create at least that's what happens to me occasionally. Which is why I think a weekly check-in with what my current ideas for future projects or what I'm currently thinking about would be quite helpful to me. Heck maybe it'll even inspire you to dig a little deeper + start checking in with yourself a little more. Here it goes.

As I mentioned this week I'm working hard on getting myself re-inspired to create, in a couple of aspects of my life. Including musing up new ideas for BSOM blog posts, new ideas for future art projects/pieces I'd like to create, + new recipes I want to try.

 Here are a few of this week's musings...

* BSOM Blog Post Ideas: 

+ "Noonie's |Musings of The Week|": This type of installment comin' atcha weekly!

+ "A Few of My Favorite Things": The title says it all. Inspired by the blog A Beautiful Mess, one that Nelli + I both follow. A few of my favorite things will consist of all of my favorite things of the week. This is another type of blog post that I'd like to start doing on a weekly basis. If you missed it I just posted my first installment of this new blog post series a few days ago, you can find it here.

+ "Change of Seasons: |Summer 2014|": Will be the title of my first installment of posts focusing on the changing of the Seasons. I'm starting to realize Summer is coming to an end + I wanted to document what it's held for me, such as a favorite memory or cool photo I've taken this Summer. Be on the look out for this post to come in the coming month or so.

* Art Project of the Week:

+ As you may know I am an artist, an active artist. Which means I'm always musing up new art project ideas or finding ones that I'd like to try. This week I stumbled upon this little number, an easy DIY that shows you how to make a simple print. 

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The photo quality isn't that great but you get the idea. Check out the link above for a clearer picture of this fun little project. Since I rarely eat out I don't have any take out boxes in the fridge, but I do have my eye on the egg carton in the fridge which I think will work just fine.

+ Wanting (Art Related): A new sketchbook/diary! Specifically a bound sketchbook that has blank thick white pages on it, maybe a moleskin? What prompted this recent urge is that I was looking at Tanxuan's sketchbook online that looked just like the sketchbook I described + it was filled with huge pieces of artwork that engulfed both pages of the sketchbook + I absolutely loved how it looked! I think I'd like to not only create works of art that engulf the entire pages of the sketchbook but I'd also like to include my personal thoughts within these pieces thereby making it a sketchbook/diary :) 

*Recipes To Try This Week:

+ Bean Salad: Thinking about making that bean salad that I shared with you all last Summer on my post End of Summer Potluck. I hate to admit it but I have yet to try my hand at making it. Maybe I'll get to it this week! 

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+ Pumpkin Doughnuts: Another food I may try to make this week are Pumpkin Doughnuts. I know it isn't quite Fall just yet, but pumpkin is good any day out of the year + so are doughnuts for that matter. I haven't found an exact recipe I want to use yet, but the one linked above looks pretty good. I don't have a doughnut pan on hand so I just may end up making pumpkin muffins instead. We'll see.

Hope you enjoyed this first installment of my "Musings of The Week"! I'll be sure to check in with you on next week's MOTW + let you know how this week's projects went!

 I'm so excited to see these fresh new ideas grow + blossom right here on BSOM! 

I know you're goin' love it + I hope it inspires you too! :)

Until next time friends...Cheers!!!

<3 Noonie