Project Four: Final

Our final assignment for my ARS-372 class was to once again elaborate on our myth. Based on previous critique, I decided to make some changes to my artistic direction. I decided that my depiction of internal sin was too "pretty," so I shyed away from the Baroque-style images that I had been creating.

I had avoided making a correlation with religion up to this point, but I decided that there was no way to reference sin without bringing an element of religion into the images. I wanted this to be a positive correlation, so I referenced my personal beliefs on internal sin instead of concerning myself with appealing to the masses through shock value. The mealworms were an element that I added to symbolize something living inside of us, and yes, they are alive crawling around inside of those boxes. All in all, the project was a success, and hopefully, it earned me an "A" for the semester...I am keeping my fingers crossed...

If You Build It, They Will Come

The Husby and I are a bit of a creative duo...I tend to be the idea, and he is the action and implementation. Well, the other night, as we were flipping through channels, we stopped for a minute to watch The Bachelor. At that moment in the episode, they were showing a girl that had brought an airbrush tanning machine with her and was spraying one of the other girls. I looked at The Husby and said, "We need one of those." He nodded and said, "I wonder how much they cost."

A few minutes later, we were scoping them out online. The good airbrush tanning machines run for about $2,000...uhm...no thanks. Now, I have had the pleasure of getting an airbrush tan a couple of times when I needed to be tan for a special occasion. In general, I have been in full boycott of getting in the sun for almost five years now for two simple reasons: I don't want wrinkles, and I don't want to die from skin cancer because I am too vain to admit that endless hours in the sun are bad for me.

For any of you that have had the pleasure of having an airbrush tan, it runs you about $60, but it looks natural because it is applied as a fine mist by hand and lasts seven to ten days. As I was laying in bed that night, I thought about the setup of all of the airbrush tanning machines that I had looked at online as well as the machines that I had seen in person. I realized that they are all little more than a compressor outfitted with a hose and an airbrush.

The next day, I did a little bit more research and announced to The Husby that I was sure we could make an airbrush tanning machine using the compressor that we already own. We decided to order a Paasche airbrush system for $40 and invested in some sample size bottles of tanning solution. We were excited once all of the parts came in, so that we could test our little experiment.

On Saturday, we put together our tanning machine, and The Husby let me test it on him first...eureka! Our little homemade tanning machine worked as well as the real thing. The Husby and I both look like we spent the weekend lounging at the beach. The cost for our little endeavor is a fraction of what it would cost if we went to a salon, and we can spray each other every weekend, or whenever we need a touch-up. Friends and family are already lining up to get a spray down.

Welcome, summer! I am tan already!

Bottoms Up...Or Down

I have a great husband for many reasons, but one of many reasons that I love him is because in all of the time that I have known him, he has never left the toilet seat up. Now, this is not an exaggeration...never. I have become so used to the fact that he has never left the seat up that I never even think to check and make sure that it is down when I go into the bathroom.

When I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, which I do at least three times a night, I never turn on the light in the bathroom since it shines directly onto out bed, and the light switch is outside of the bathroom...so closing the door and turning on the light is not an option.

Well, the other night, I was making my second trip to the bathroom...groggy and half asleep as I stumbled my way to the toilet. When I got into the bathroom, I pulled down my pants and went to sit down...SPLASH! Wet hiney in the toilet! In all of the years that I have known him, the one time that my husband decides to leave the seat up is when I am trying to go to the bathroom in the dark...of course.

StickyBun-Scotti's 1st Haircut

My Sentiments Exactly

iStockPhoto Designer Spotlight

One of my Nemesis images that I created for my ARS-372 class was picked by iStockPhoto.com for their Designer Spotlight Design of the Week...very exciting!

http://www.istockphoto.com/design_spotlight_details.php?ID=18223

Shake It Baby

With all of this warm weather, I have finally been able to break out my favorite shoes...my Teva flip-flops. I don't think that there is anything more wonderful than a pair of shoes that you can just slip on and go. Not only are they some of the most convenient and comfortable shoes, but you can wear them with everything...pure perfection. The only drawback to flip-flops is the fact that you really have to keep your feet looking good to wear them, so pedicures seem to be a necessity...or at least that is what I am telling myself.

Today was my day to get a much needed maintenance pedicure. I decided I would try a lovely little Vietnamese-speaking nail salon by my house. It had all of the necessary pedicure criteria: good health rating, spa pedicures, reasonable prices, OPI polish, and massaging chairs. This is where we get to the "meat" of this story...with the massaging chairs. Now, I am sure that most of you have experienced the massaging chairs when getting a pedicure, so I won't elaborate too much.

As I sat down in the chair, I noticed that the remote was looking like it had been trampled by a stiletto and was only being held together by a few strips of packing tape. I picked it up and pushed the "knead" button...nothing happened. I pushed the "rolling" button...nothing. About that time, my pedicurist (if that's a real word) looked at me and said, "Auto only." With those words, he grabbed for the remote and pushed the big yellow button at the top.

I admit, the first few minutes were relaxing with a little bit of light kneading mixed with some rolling. Then came the money shot...the percussion portion of the massage. Now, for any of you that have ever experienced the percussion setting on a massage chair, it feels like someone alternating punches on either side of your back. The problem with this is that those punches were hitting either side of my back directly in line with my boobs. If you had given me some tassels, I could have been making tips in there. It was hilarious. A few seconds later, my pedicurist looks at me waving my "tassels," and then says something in Vietnamese to both of the men on either side of him. They both giggle, and I am mortified. I discretely grab the remote and turn off the burlesque show that is unfolding before their eyes.

The moral of this story is, please use caution with that percussion setting...or don't forget to bring your tassels.

Favorite Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu

Last night was the first time that I have ever cooked this for The Husby, and it received rave reviews. Even the kiddos enjoyed it! This is one of those recipes that you could cook for guests for a special occasion as well. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
4 thin-sliced, skinless, boneless chicken breasts
4 slices Swiss cheese
4 slices deli-style ham
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup white wine
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
2 teaspoons corn starch
2/3 cup milk

Directions:
1) Place one slice of cheese and one slice of ham on top of each chicken breasts. Roll-up chicken breasts around filling and secure with a toothpick.
2) Mix flour and paprika in a small bowl. Dredge rolled chicken breasts in flour mixture until evenly coated.
3) Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until lightly browned on all sides. When finished browning, add wine and bouillon to pan. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.
4) Remove chicken breasts from skillet when finished cooking and keep warm. Remove toothpicks from chicken breasts. Blend corn starch and milk in small bowl. Whisk mixture into skillet. Cook until slightly thickened. Pour sauce over chicken.

Wordless Wednesday: Breakfast With Brother