Archive for the ‘Art’ Category

As you know I love easy ways to make cheap and affordable art. While I’m not actually able to paint anything on my apartment walls, I have a feeling that when I am able to let my creative juices flow I’ll be picking up some IdeaPaint. This isn’t your typical art supply paint either, it turns

practically any surface into a white board. Talk about the possibilities! Think how awesome this would be in a kitchen or office – no more stupid lists or cluttered fridges full of notes. I’ve dabbled with chalkboard paint in the past, but have never been a fan of chalk as it’s so dusty and dirty. Also, that paint only comes in black and green, whereas IdeaPaint you have lighter and brighter shades to choose from. Plus, white boards are so much cleaner. The paint itself cost more than your typical wall color, but it’s good for the environment, will provide lots of entertainment, and is a sure fire conversation piece! Pictionary anyone?

IdeaPaint

If this is the first time you’re visiting Ami’s blog, you’re probably wondering who I am and why I’m writing on her blog. Today Ami and I are doing a switcheroo and she’ll be guest blogging on my blog, while I’m over here writing on hers today. While Ami lives in LA, I’m across the country in NYC! Have you ever driven cross country before? I haven’t, but I would really love to one day! My little cousin has and she had some gorgeous pictures so show afterwards. While we’re so far away, we are both in two of the largest cities in the world with so much awesome stuff going on in them!

I thought I’d do a little show and tell about where I live and some places you should definitely see if you ever come by and visit NYC. First, start with Union Square Marketplace and park on 14th street. In the Fall, its gorgeous. Stores like Starbucks, Whole Foods and Forever 21 encircle a little park that includes a dog park, and a large paved area where protests, a huge pillow fight and street performers do their thing. In the winter, the Christmas markets encompass the whole park and red and white tents are put out with lots of homemade goodies for sale. Before the holidays and after in the Spring, the Green Market takes over where loads and loads of fresh veggies and fruits and plants are sold from local farms from upstate NY and NJ. There are fresh tomatoes, apples and greens. Every time I walk through there I smell a delicious aroma of fresh basil and tomato! This past weekend I walked through there and saw some gorgeous artwork. It seems that most of the people showing there stuff are into green living, so it was nice to see an artist reflect that too. Her one painting was a huge tree with little tiny doors throughout it, I was thinking she was meaning it to represent the tree as an animals home. Another was of rolling hills while under one large hill was, what it looked like, a superimposed outline of a naked woman curled up underneath the ground. It reminded me that the earth holds us within her womb and she sustains us just like within the womb of a woman holds a child and sustains the child. It was such beautiful wholesome artwork and simple but meaningful.

Another cool thing to go on in NYC is Fashion Week! Fashion Week is sponsored by companies like Maybelline and Mercedes-Benz. The show takes place in Bryant Park at 42nd Street next to the NY Public Library and shows off fashion designers like Anna Sui and Calvin Klein, among many others. It happens twice a week, once in February, and once the week of September 10th and kicks off with a huge party where celebrities, fashionistas, designers and socialites mingle. I’m sure you’ve seen the Sex in the City episode (and the movie too!) where the girls go to Fashion Week in NYC! I haven’t gone yet but a few people in my office have, and they say it is AWESOME! And the parties are so much fun. Its a great place to show off upcoming collections for designers and for all of us to go and check out new and some of the best fashions in the world!!!

About.com says of Fashion Week in NYC- “Fashion Week is an excellent opportunity for American (and a few international) designers — ranging from Oscar de la Renta to Zac Posen — to show off their upcoming collections. The fashion shows are often entertaining, accompanied by loud, mood-setting music and changing lighting. The press writes about and photographs the runway collections for newspapers, magazines, internet and television so the general public can see what is going on in fashion.” Its a great time and you should definitely check it out if you’re thinking about visiting over here!

Well thats one aspect of me, where I live! I hope you’ll stop by and check out more of my blogs, recipes and Frugal Friday tips!

Thanks for stopping by! Nikki

Thank you Nikki of Simple Travels in My Homeland!

The following photography series is titled Lipgloss from Elisabeth Hoff. I hope you find the prints as intriguing and visually stimulating as I do.

via 2dayBlog

I’ve never been to the circus or seen a single Cirque du Soleil show. Kind of ironic seeing as how I used to live in Vegas, but still I just never made it. The circus itself kind of freaks me out, but the classy Cirque is obviously in a whole realm of its own. While looking for unique and fresh fashion ideas for Halloween, I keep being mesmerized by the ads for Kooza from Cirque du Soliel. Their intricate costumes are beyond impressive and most have to withstand some sort of body contouring or death defying stunt. While I’m not looking to get into that kind of trouble on Halloween, I am looking to to have something flashy and flattering on.

Anyone could dress up as a Cirque du Soliel character – just wear a colorful, bizarre outfit with some sort of head piece and you’re good to go. It’s the ultimate playful costume and even though you may be no trapeze artist, you’ll get cred for originality.

I know I’m going to have a little Cirque flair this year. After seeing the glamorous Laurie B Style‘s interview with the Kooza Icon I can’t stop thinking about that hat she’s wearing. I want one for my Halloween costume so bad – I may even try a DIY project. See what I’m raving about:

Oh and if you’re braver than I, you can see the Kooza show currently in Santa Monica, but it’ll be making its way through Irvine and San Diego in the coming months.

Images courtesy Cirque du Soleil

If you’re perfectly content paying $38 for a polar bear in a tuxedo from Urban Outfitters then this post isn’t for you. However, if you don’t want to spend a lot of mula on art, but aren’t exactly crafty enough yourself to draw anything, then I have the free economical solution for you.  While surfing the internets I ran into Feed Your Soul, this site that allows users to download hi-res pdf print images to use however they wish. This free art project has different artists involved, so if swamp thing holding flowers isn’t your style, perhaps modern city or beautiful bird collage is (Ed note: those are not the actual names of the prints).

Feed Your Soul

I inadvertently opted out of Los Angeles Fashion Week Month this season, probably because I’m a busy bee looking for a new jobby job. After reviewing a lot of the LAFW coverage thus far, I must say it’s vastly similar to last season. Well, needing a fashion and sweet fix (I do have a sweet tooth!) I’m finding that images from the 2009 Paris Chocolate Festival complete my craving. The event, which started October 14th was kicked off with a tasty fashion show full of chocolate themed garments. It must be mighty tempting to be a starving model and dressed in chocolate.