Mossimo

So I temporarily lost my sanity and sense of good judgment and forgot my sworn oath that I wouldn't getting any more pets while my kids were little, and we got a kitty a while ago. I apparently learned nothing from Lola our basset hound we had for about a year, but had to watch closer than my children because she was constantly getting into trouble, stealing my kids food, shedding on my couches, making my back yard uninhabitable and ruining my floor. Did I learn my lesson with my guinea pigs, when Felix got really sick, two vet bills later, a month of syringe feeding, two different sets of antibiotics, one of which I HAD TO INJECT MYSELF, as well as having to personally inject him with IV fluids twice a day, all of which happened WITH A NEWBORN BABY! And then he ended up dying anyway, and I felt guilty because it was such a blessed relief. No, apparently I am one incredibly stupid sucker for a cute animal.

Though Mossimo is one really cute animal, he is however, one very strange cat. He isn't overly tempted by opening cans of tuna as is every other cat in the known universe, but will jump up on the counter to filch CORNMEAL PANCAKES! ..or brownies, or jam sandwiches, or cake, or toast or anything else that every other cat would never look twice at. I've also learned from a rather unfortunate experience you can't turn your back on a uncovered wedge of brie.

Mossimo does have traits normally associated with cats too. He is very playful, and has some rather hilarious antics. He likes to stalk and pounce on Max and sometimes Sohvi. Sort of the whole Hobbes effect. It would be a lot funnier if it didn't involve claws. He loved climbing our Christmas tree and swiping at the ornaments from a different vantage point. Between Lucy and Mossimo, the tree was constantly in pretty sad shape.

His biggest redeeming quality though is his inherent need for cuddling. Not necessarily being petted, he just needs a warm lap. Even if that lap belongs to a kid. But he also loves to cuddle me at night. Not curled up docilely at the foot of my bed, he prefers to be under the covers if I let him. Weirdo.

I'll show him though.. in the immortal words of Jack Sparrow, "eunichy snip-snip". Meanwhile, I'm not going within 100 yards of a pet store anywhere. Only the vet.

Art Madness

Thus begins my self induced fall from sanity. I am going to be doing both the Taylorsville Art Show (March 21st) as well as the Beehive Bazaar (April 30-May2) which for all practical preparative purposes are almost simultaneous. I realize that yes, technically there is over a month in between said events, but there is also less than a month before the first one. They also consist of totally separate things. One is an art show, that I'll be displaying my as yet unfinished art. The other is a craft show where I'll have prints of my art and other things from my etsy shop. Two completely different preparations.

Not only that but I suffer from a severe case of chronic, debilitating artist block. Sure its easy and convenient to blame my lack of progress on my having three kids, but honestly, thats not really the issue. I have in my studio a painting that is very close to being finished THAT I HAVEN'T TOUCHED IN THREE YEARS. It seems the more I like a piece the harder it is to finish. I don't want to mess it up, and the longer I am away from it the more intimidating it is to come back to. I think in some weird way my potential as an artist scares me. The better I do, the more I have to live up to. And I never know if something will work. Just because I have before, doesn't mean I can do it again, I can't predict anything. Creating art takes a lot of concentration, I like it when it works, but it is certainly not relaxing. Maybe for other artists it is, I don't know. But it takes a lot of effort for me. So, don't expect me to emerge from my dank, cluttered, unfinished, basement studio anytime soon. However I fully plan on retaining all portions of both of my ears. Wish me luck.

Happy (Late) Valentine's Day

For some reason, I was feeling extra festive about this Valentine's Day. I'm not a very big holiday person in general, but I thought it would be fun to make some Valentines with my kids. Crafts with an (almost) three year old and a five year old, aren't exactly relaxing, but it was mostly fun. ...and too bad but I have no pictures of their chaotic cutness! I did also decide to make some fancy cookies to go along with the cute haphazardness of my kids glue stick creations. I found the idea from an old Family Fun magazine that to this day I have no idea who got me a subscription for it. ..but that is neither here not there.. Basically you make sugar cookies, and use two cookie cutters, a large heart and a smaller heart in the middle, and you bake it with a jolly rancher in the negative space (over pam-sprayed tin foil so you can get the melted mess off in one piece, after it cools of course). The result looks really fancy (for me) and was quite the accomplishment for me who hates rolling out cookies. (especially since you have to WAIT to chill the dough, I don't do well planning ahead normally). Besides the delivering to all their neighborhood friends, I wanted to take some pictures of the kids and I for a Valentine's present for Austin. I had just figured out the self timer on my camera (the first thing I've had to look up so far, yay for intuitive Cannon design) and wanted to play around with it. I also wanted to try out a backdrop and pretend I actually know anything about photography.

I got in some good ones before Austin woke up.
..and he shockingly agreed to attempt some of the whole family. We are notoriously bad with our lack of family pictures. The last formal one was when Sohvi was about 1 1/2. So, even though layout sucks (hey, its hard to compose a picture with you and a baby not in it yet.. and I've never messed around with a timer before). I think its not half bad.

Then, Austin made me a multiple course steak dinner, and sang and played a new song that he wrote for me, because he's probably the best sweetie ever. It was a pretty awesome day.

couples questions

I stole this from facebook so, if you've already seen it too bad! I figured I'd post it on my blog for those non-facebookers and the sad fact I have pitifully neglected my blog. I'm not going to tag anybody specifically, but I'd love to see your response if you feel like it.


This is kind of like the 25 things - except there are pre-decided questions and it's about you and your spouse, not just you.

♥ What are your middle names?
Joan, and Robert

♥ How long have you been together?
Married for seven years in November.

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
over a year

♥ Who asked who out?
Austin asked me, despite a misunderstanding that he thought I just wanted to be friends.

♥ How old are each of you?
Both 29.

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?
Depends on where we/they live. We usually see whoever lives closest most. Usually mine.

♥ Do you have any children together?
Three. Sohvi is 5, Max will be 3 this month, and Lucy is almost 9 months old.

♥ What about pets?
Simon the turtle, and Mossimo the cat.

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Austin works lots, and has a pretty unpredictable schedule.

♥ Did you go to the same school?
Nope. not even close.

♥ Are you from the same home town?
nope.

♥ Who is the smartest?
Hah, isn't that a loaded question! It depends on the subject. We even each other out most of the time. Like I'm smarter in science, he's smarter with history. Then we're both good in english (though he is better with grammar and rules and such), and both suck at math (but I am better than he is). Artistically I'm visual, he's musical.

♥ Who is the most sensitive?
Depends. He cried when we got married (tears of joy), I didn't. (hey I was happy too, I just don't cry in front of people!) But I will cry more in movies... This is totally subjective though, neither one of us is very weepy.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Johnny Carino's.

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple
..not very far. We've done the back and forth from Portland to Utah and Idaho too many times to count. ..and I don't think we've gone farther than that (at least together). Traveling with kids sucks.

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
hmmm.. probably me.

♥ Who has the worst temper?
huh. neither one of us has much of a temper. Maybe me when I'm preggo.

♥ Who does the cooking?
I do generally, but Austin cooks when he can, and he's really good at it. I've learned a lot from him.

♥ Who is more social?
It depends. Austin hates organized social things, but likes big groups of people. (he is great at entertaining when he feels like it) I like small groups, or one on one. But we mostly just like to hang out with each other.

♥Who is the neat Freak?
hmm. Its certainly not me.

♥ Who is the more stubborn?
uhh... me.

♥ Who hogs the bed?
I used to, I've gotten better.

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Me.

♥ Where was your first date?
Baskin Robbins (informal, we were just hanging out, but he paid). or my parents sailboat (the first formal date) depending on which you count as a date.

♥ Who has the bigger family?
We each have five siblings. I have more in-laws and nieces/nephews on my side though.

♥ Do you get flowers often?
No. But he writes me a song every anniversary, which is much more romantic.

♥ How do you spend the holidays?
At home, and some with extended family.

♥ Who is more jealous?
huh? I don't know.

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
a week and a half.

♥ Who eats more?
Austin.

♥ Who does/ did the laundry?
I do generally. But Austin does his own sometimes too.

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
Me, hands down. there is absolutely no contest.

♥ Who drives when you are together?
Austin. He gets carsick when other people drive.

Help.. please!

Every time I get really annoyed with the uselessness of maintaining an etsy shop, someone randomly buys something. Okay its not an exact formula, but it happens. Its not about making money for me at all, if I wanted to seriously make money with my art degree, it certainly wouldn't (and won't) be on Etsy. I'd go get a graphic design job, or better yet do enough paintings to do a show in a gallery, or illustrate a bunch of kids books. Those things may come eventually, but I can do an Etsy shop now. Its about still getting my art “out there” at all while I am mainly concentrating on being the mother to my kids. I can do it with theoretically minimal effort, and still be at home.

But, I am in serious need of some opinions here. I don't know what to price my stuff in my Etsy shop. If you look on the forums in Etsy, you will get all sorts of stuff about 'not selling yourself short' and spreadsheets on how to exactly price with charging as a professional for your time and materials and all, and thats your wholesale price, then you double THAT for retail. Most of the time its a plea for others to up their “too low” prices because then they can't sell their over priced ones. But guess what! Etsy is in a capitalist market, its all about supply and demand and undercutting is a way of life. I may have been forced to take econ101 to graduate, but I didn't completely zone out the whole time. There are an insane amount of sellers on Etsy, and it sure seems there is far more supply than demand. The supply tends to get buried pretty quick too.

So my economics class would tell me to lower my prices to be competitive, and the Etsy forums would tell me that by doing so I am undercutting 'serious-this-IS-my-day-job' etsians, and selling my work short. Then there is also an actual risk of cheaper prices making it look like they are lesser quality. Also I am totally cheap. ...and I wouldn't buy my prints at their current price (well, impulsively at least) I'd have to REALLY like it. Conflicting theories aside, I still have no clue what actually works. Obviously, I could use some feedback here. This is NOT a plea to go buy my stuff. (if you do happen to want a print, PLEASE let me know first and I will drop the price in HALF at least, if I don't find an excuse to GIVE it to you first)

So, should I lower my prices? ..and if so, by how much? Pelter me with your opinions. Feel free to critique whatever you want.

It's all about me!

What is your favorite brand of jeans?

I have no idea, I've never paid attention. I wish I knew though, because I desperately need some new ones right now. All my nice comfortable and cute jeans ripped at the same time. Just when I could fit into them again. Jean shopping with three kids isn't really very productive... and this time of year, not really a priority.

What is your favorite restaurant? What do you get there?
Johnny Carino's.. though I think the name is now changed to Carino's Grill or something like that. The Chicken Marsala is my absolute favorite, artichoke hearts and chicken medallions... oh, it is to die for.

What is your current favorite song?
hmmm... I've been loving the soundtrack to Across the Universe. My kids favorite is to sing Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds at the top of their lungs. They like that it has Lucy's name in it. She thinks its hilarious.

What's your "type"?
I have always had a crazy weakness for curly hair. Nice broad shoulders are very attractive too, I don't like a scrawny guy.
Is that what you ended up with?
Yup.

What is something unusual about you?
Take your pick. I dislike Santa, despise Mickey Mouse, and don't scrapbook even a tiny little bit. I could go on, but I won't.

How do you describe your everyday style?
Whatever is clean. Usually pretty darn casual. I like comfort. Occasionally I feel like 'dressing up' and will wear a more fitted t-shirt, and jeans that show off my nonexistent butt. Those are the days I wear makeup too. When I get around to it.

What were the last three movie you saw? How were they?
I don't see movies in the theater very darn often anymore.
Iron Man – loved it. I'm glad that Robert Downey Jr. is back in movies, he's excellent.
Kung Fu Panda – Hilarious. Yay for a kid movie I like as much as my kids do.
Get Smart – Is anyone who loves The Office surprised at how funny this was... no, of course not.

What are your favorite TV characters?
Everyone on The Office. I can't think of a single show that has better characters. All of them are chock full of quirkiness and hilarity.

What was the last book you read? How was it?
Empire, by Orson Scott Card. Good, not my favorite of his, but thats not a bad thing as he is one of my favorite authors. Its not his usual style... this is more of a John Grisham type book, political action thriller sort of thing. Very well written, with an intelligent plot, and decent characters.

You are asked to bring your best dish to a party, what do you make?
Hmmm... Maybe my spaghetti. Not your standard stuff, I make it spicy with sausage and chicken, and put cheese in the sauce. Its horribly fattening and bad for you, but it tastes oh, so good.

What qualities do you find attractive in your significant other or a prospective one?
He makes me laugh, and is my best friend in the whole world. He is witty and intelligent and well read as well as being incredibly talented and creative with music. I love his striking green eyes, curly hair and dimples when he smiles. He is so, so, so sweet to me, he works really hard for us, and is a really good Daddy. I will spare you all the rest of my sentimentality... I could go on and on, but it feels rather PDA-ish.

Is there a song that everytime you hear it, it reminds you of a certain memory? What is it and why?
Not really. I have some that remind me of certain times in my life, but not an exact memory.

What is your worst vice?
Like I'm going to list it HERE! I don't know and I don't want to expend the effort it takes to run through my bad habits and faults and shortcomings and pick which of those is the most repugnant and then BLOG about it for all the world to see.

Yeah yeah, being materialistic is bad. What is your favorite THING you own right now?
Honestly, I really don't know. Probably the camera I'm going to get for Christmas!

Coke or Pepsi?
I'm not a big cola person. Pepsi if its plain. But I also really like a Coke with Lime.

Beach, Mountains, Big City, Country, or Desert?
Mountains. Big, cragged and monolithic.

Whats your favorite Candy?
Foreign chocolate is the best, European, Canadian, whatever, its all better than American. But I do love Symphonie bars with toffee in them. ..and candy of any sort of the gummy variety. Mint M&M's should also be available all year.

If you could dress your significant other (or prospective mate), how would you dress them?
He's pretty acquiescing when it comes to that.. and I don't care that much either. Sometimes I buy him clothes, and when I do he wears them.

What is your favorite dessert?
Ice cream. hands down. and its not just a dessert, its belongs in its own separate food group.

Whats your least favorite fashion trend?
ugh, there are so many! Skanky clothes for little girls is probably at the top of my list.

How much did you love doing this??
I didn't LOVE it, it but if I really hated it I wouldn't have done it at all. So if you like doing this sort of thing, you're tagged.

presumptive rantings on art and creativity

Residing somewhere in the corner of my psyche there is a wee beastie. He is only content when fed upon with bits of creativity. When the scraps are meager or sporadic, he gets frustrated and must be appeased. It is not wise to mess with a cranky beastie. It starts as a mere yearning, but if unfed, soon grows to a ravishing hunger. Perhaps my brain would explode with all of the ideas it is constantly getting, if none of them came to fruition. Probably I would just get rather depressed.

I have in my repertoire too many things that can fill my beastie. And many more I'd love to add. His tastes are quite eclectic. Some fall more towards craft than others. Which leads me to the interesting question. Where exactly do you draw the line between art and craft? First of all, I think very few things fit completely in just one or the other. To me, something that epitomizes crafty is a skill that can be learned and then executed, once you know it, you can repeat it (though improving each time). It is logical, analytical and has definite rules (left brained stuff). Art is something that cannot be easily explained, or reasoned (right brained 'intuition'), is unpredictable and sometimes fleeting. The actual DESIGN is art, the skill of whatever TOOL you are using is the craft part. Its a spectrum, with a built-exactly-by-the-rules kit of some sort on the extreme craft end, and minimalistic or nonobjective abstract art on the pure art end. I personally prefer things that utilize measures of both. Extremism in anything bothers me.

Doing things towards the craftier end is more relaxing to me. I don't have to think as hard. I'm putting less of myself on the line. My beastie is content. But when I really stretch myself and against all odds create a really beautiful painting that echoes truth to my soul it is much more fulfilling. And my creative beastie, swollen belly softly rising and falling, contentedly curls up, and is satisfied. Theoretically at least.