What Day Is It ?!

...I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. So sorry faithful Followers! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and is enjoying the season so far. Mine was very nice and the Christmas spirit hasn't fully kicked in with me yet. So as usual I am behind in my shopping that has to be mailed. The year started with good intentions and I had acquired 1 gift by March, but that's as far as I got. *patting myself on the back anyway* The spirit will kick in though, I'm sure of it. Hubby decorated the tree & did a lovely job. I have to dig into the boxes before they dissappear back into the shed. I thought if the spirit really hit me I could do another Christmas Tour video until I realized that it would be pretty much the same as the last one. hahaha
This reminds me I have got to start thinking about what to bake for Christmas!

To See New work listed on Ebay: Click HERE

No Dinner Tonight!

I went shopping today to get some new tops for Vegas. Most of mine have paint on them. My son was my shopping buddy and I had a nice time even though I was doing something I hate. We even went into a gallery that we found. Our House Gallery in El Dorado Hills. I had no idea it was there but I don't get out much. They had some pretty interesting pieces. I did find a few tops so I'm ready to go. I hate the fun house mirrors in the dressing rooms which really aren't fun at all so I am going to bed with no dinner! haha but speaking of dinner...

If you follow my blog you know another passion of mine is cooking. Well here's a little something I made for dinner the other night that I thought I would share. It was looking so good that I took a picture of it! haha I buy thinly sliced rib-eye steaks at the Korean market. They call it Bulgogi meat. (mentioned on a previous post) One steak must be cut into 30 slices at least. It's almost shaved. If you don't have a Korean market nearby I'm sure your grocery butcher could slice something thinly for you if you wanted to try this. I marinated the thinly sliced beef in approx 3 tbsps of Top fish sauce for about 15 minutes. I browned finely sliced onion & 1/2 of a red bell pepper in about 2 tbsp of olive oil, (my pan was almost dry). When those were soft & golden I removed them, added 1 more tbsp of olive oil and cooked the meat. When it was almost done I added a handful of chopped fresh Thai basil (if you can't get Thai basil I'm sure regular fresh basil would be almost as good) & fresh cilantro with 3 cloves of finely chopped garlic. We ate this on white rice with a big squeeze of lime & chopped green onion. I cooked it outside on the bbq burner. It smelled so good I bet it drove the neighbors nuts. This recipe is definitely a keeper. The guys & I loved it and it was fast & easy!

I'll Might As Well Consider Myself...

... On Vacation! I haven't been painting at all, I miss it, I think about it, but I haven't made time for it lately. I have too much on my mind. It's even been hard to sleep. I have doodled some things I might like to paint and they are right on top of "My Things To Do" list. haha

Today I am tired but happy because I got a lot of shopping done. Next is the wrapping...ugh...(oh yeah I've posted about my bad wrapping) I stumbled upon this Japanese method of wrapping and found it really interesting... don't forget to pause my playlist to listen...


I have one more excursion in the morning and I'm finished! Yippee! I must sound like a Scrooge but honestly I'm not. I am just a procrastinator and overwhelm myself. Every year I say I will buy something throughout the year for someone when I think they will like it and every year I don't do it. So when I do go out I am on a mission. I pretty much know what I am getting, I get it, and get out. My husband shops the same way and he occasionally accuses me of "window shopping" but he's never been shopping with my Mom! I am not a Window Shopper!

My husband & his band made it back from Lake Tahoe safely but had to put chains on to make it home. He said that the snow was about 5 ft high and it was so dry their fingers were splitting & cracking from playing music. They went and bought Krazy Glue and glued their fingers so they could play the last night. Seriously OUCH!

Every Picture Tells A Story ...

I'm still shopping.

Photo by Kristen Wilson. Please check out her beautiful work & shop on Etsy.

Let it Snow!

Told ya I'd say it again......I hate shopping! I am on a mission now. I pretty much know what I am shopping for and that is actually a good feeling. It's when I don't know what I'm buying, running down the isles, with my eyes wide and crazy on Christmas Eve that I really hate. So I talked myself out of going out today and instead I packaged gifts to mail to my family in South Carolina. I love flat rate boxes! It is cold today too! Jim was headed to Walmart to buy wood pellets so he even mailed them for me. We have a pellet stove in our fire place and pretty much heat our house with it throughout the winter. A bag of pellets cost approx $6 and lasts for 2 or 3 days. This year the pellets are plentiful but last year they were hard to find. People were buying them up like crazy because the news media said that the supply was low. If the media says something is running out then people run and gobble it all up which makes it worse. Remember the rice several months ago? The news said we may get snow tonight in this case I hope they are right. Our regular heater may come on because it's cold cold cold out there! It does kick on if the stove it's keeping it warm enough. I live just below the snow line, 9 miles up the mountain in Placerville there is always snow but we've only had it snow at my house only handful of times in the last 13 years. It's always exciting but never lasts long enough. This picture I took in January while Jim was taking the chains off my car. We were on our way back from Lake Tahoe. I'm looking forward to a snow day!

Oh What A Night!

The Swell Sister Society gallery opening at the Coffee Garden was awesome! There were so many people that came you could hardly move around! It was so much fun! I've mention before how I am always forgetting my camera or batteries for my camera ...well I did it again! I got a few pictures before my camera pooped out. My oldest son Joe (plaid shirt)managed to get one picture of me hugging my youngest son. All you see is the back of me so I guess I'll remain a mystery for now. I hate my picture taken anyway! I was super proud of all my "Sisters" and grateful to all of the collaborative work from each to make this a great night.

I got a little shopping done today, 2 paintings mailed to Italy and 2 crocheted cuffs to Florida. I have lots more shopping to do. My husband is going to be playing 3 shows in Lake Tahoe this weekend with the Spotted Dogs so I will get the rest finished when he's up there.

A Few Things I Forgot I Was Thankful For...

... Jeans & self tanning products. I think the Devil made panty hose. I can't tell you how much I hate the thought of putting on a pair. Just the thought creeps me out now. Back in the day, while working my way up the ladder, I added it up once and determined I spent approx $1000 on them one year. I wouldn't wear the cheap ones that really feel creepy and crunchy. It doesn't matter what they cost they all run. Even the ones that say they won't run do or get holes. Mandatory suits, Dress to Impress seminars, getting your "colors" analyzed and high heels, pearls & pumps. Ugh. How did I do it? Most companies are business casual now or have dress down days on Fridays. I don't know what happened or remember when it all changed I just know I was thankful when it did. Now I hardly have anything to wear that doesn't have paint on it and I am perfectly happy and comfortable with that! But I have to go shopping for something nice for the gallery show. I hate shopping. I know I have said that before and I'll probably say it again. One of my Swell Sisters suggested we wear a cocktail dress and I was the first to scream with terror in my voice NOOOOOOO! Whatever I wear there won't be panty hose underneath. Many kudos for those of you that endure them.

Strung Out on Sriracha

If there was a meeting I'd have to sign up. I love all things hot & spicy but Sriracha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sriracha )is my new drug of choice. It makes everything all right. Tonight I didn't feel like cooking so I pulled out a MichaelAngelo's "Gourmet" (right!) Pizza Snack & popped the carton in the microwave. It was dreadful, like fried cardboard with a microscopic bit of filling. I was about to throw it out, about to try to figure out a quick alternative, then it came to me...just put Sriracha on it and eat it! Not a very nutritious I know but I just couldn't talk myself into preparing anything else. It's one of those days when nothing sounds good. Well the Sriracha did make it edible, however, I could just as well put some sauce in a bowl and eaten that for dinner.
I started eating jalapenos when I was 12 and living in Tucson, AZ. My family & friends were in shock & awe that I could eat them like I did - a large pickled can at a time, carrots and all- and I must admit I liked shocking people but I truly like the peppers too. By the time I was 16 I was encouraged by many to go to the Rosamond, CA Chili Cookoff and participate in the jalapeno eating contest. I never did, I was too shy to do something like that, and why would I want people watching me stuff them in my mouth as fast as possible? Gross! But I know had I gone I would have given someone a run for the championship! Hot peppers don't effect me, if you know what I mean, like they do other people. I couldn't imagine life without hot sauce or hot peppers. I pretty much eat some kind of pepper or hot sauce everyday. They say they are suppose to raise your metabolism, let me tell you that's not true! There is only 1 sauce I have come across that I can't handle and that's Dave's Insanity Sauce. I use it in a spray bottle with water to spray on plants and decks to keep the bugs off! hahaha It works too! Last year I finished a collage cookbook entitled "One Hot Mama's Hot & Spicy Cookbook And Mama Don't Like Crybabies". I gave it to people for Christmas. It's a collection of my own hot sauce recipes, salsa recipes & hot & spicy dishes. My favorite being my "Don't be a Wienie" sauce. One day maybe I'll get up enough nerve to have it printed to sell.

I finished the mermaid commission I was working on and will be getting all my paintings mailed out tomorrow. Then it's off to Michael's! I'll walk off those pizza snacks! I still have some money left on my birthday gift card so while I'm out I'm gonna go see what I can get into & what I can't live without!