Life on Canvas

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Life on Canvas has moved...

I'm now blogging with my sister at Everyday Planet.

Come check it out!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

victory.

"Easter is about more than baskets of eggs and pastels-

it's about the fact that what we believe

actually is true."

-J.R. Kerr

source

"But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written,

'Death is swallowed up in victory.'

'O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?'

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

but thanks be to God,

who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Friday, March 30, 2012

Inspiration Friday: Mamma Mia!

*Updated version of Inspiration from: Mamma Mia at Everyday Planet*

I have a confession.

I'm totally obsessed with Mamma Mia.

Yes, that Mamma Mia.

source

The one with Meryl Streep & Colin Firth & Amanda Seyfreid & Greece & um...Pierce Brosnan.

All singing ABBA songs.

I just can't help myself guys. I love it.

Here are a few reasons....

1. Decor.

I read somewhere that you should watch this movie on mute and then you'll love it. It's just so pretty! And kind of makes you want to move to a Greek island.

blue & white
plants
water- fountains, the sea
candles & twinkle lights

source

patterns - on towels, bedding, curtains, etc.
light
I even love all the sparkly scenes & suddenly feel that I really need a little more glitter in my life.

source

2. Female relationships.

I love how totally open the women in this movie are- with themselves & others. Yes, I know this movie is based on songs by ABBA, so they are obviously portraying extremes. But I love the idea.

source

These women scream when they're excited, cry & run away when they're sad, & tell each other exactly how they're feeling, even when it's not always nice. They are super close and supportive and they know how to have fun together, which brings me to point #3...

source

3. Fun.

Seriously. Meryl Streep does a toe touch in this film. They dance, sing, laugh, and wear sometimes insane clothes.

source

Because as Dr. Suess would say, "These things are fun, and fun is good."

Seriously though, this movie always makes me think, I really need to lighten up and just have fun (plus, you never know when a feather boa might come in handy!)

source

3. Style

Don't even get me started. Oh wait...

deceptively simple outfits
lots of blue & white plus the occasional 70s bellbottom pantsuit.
wavy hair & barrettes.
dresses & skirts.

source

fun jewelry (necklaces, rings, anklets)
That cowboy hat!
I've noticed they actually wear fairly not-simple outfits (lots of jewelry, patterns, etc.) but in a very simple- just walk out of the house- way. I love it.
They don't always wear things that look perfect on them (see above picture of Amanda Seyfreid: no offense, but the swimsuit/white skirt combination is weird. But I still love it). This works because of the next point:
Confidence. Amanda Seyfreid spends an entire montage wandering around the island in a one-piece swimsuit. When was the last time you even felt comfortable wearing a swimsuit by the pool? Confidence goes pretty far.

source

So you've got the simple "I grew up on this Greek Island" clothes and then the "my mom was a hippie/ABBA singer" clothes.

bellbottoms
sequins
sparkly shoes
blue eyeshadow
feather boas
platform shoes
going all out.

Come on, guys, those scenes are awesome.

source

4. Lightening Up.

When I found out a good friend of mine also liked this movie, I said "No way! I love it! But everyone I talk to hates it cause it's so crazy."

She said, "Anyone who says that is just taking themselves too seriously."

I concur. Let's lighten up.

source

5. Meryl Streep

Yes, I know that Pierce Brosnan sings in this movie, and I agree: it's a travesty. It shouldn't have happened.

But can we just all contemplate for a moment how awesome Meryl Streep is? She can basically play anyone, and I love that she chose this film.

source

She dances, sings, and wears overalls and a cowboy hat.

The woman can do no wrong.

source

6. That scene with the scarf.

Ok. If you still hate this movie, you have to at least give me this one: the scene where Meryl Streep sings The Winner Takes It All is Just. So. Amazing.

source

7. Dancing Queen.

Who doesn't love some ABBA? And 2+ hours of ABBA songs + Meryl on a Greek Island sounds like a good time to me.

source

Monday, March 26, 2012

It's It

The Chicago river is dyed (bright!) green every year on St. Patrick's Day, and I wanted to take Ian & Adrianne to see it, but we wanted to avoid all the people (who started drinking at 6am) so we braved driving by the river and crowds instead. It was crazy, but so fun!

Then we headed back to my place to make It's It ice cream sandwiches!

The cookies are apparently a San Francisco classic and the recipe is from the second Babycakes cookbook (i.e. Yum).

Seriously guys, these are gluten- and sugar-free, and vegan.
And so delicious.

They are chocolate chip cookies, with mint ice cream (mint=green=st.patrick's day=festive!)

between them then they're dipped in chocolate.

And frozen.

Mmmm.

We were pretty excited to eat them. :)

Friday, March 23, 2012

friends.

Last week was awesome. That's because my best friend from high school, Adrianne, and her awesome husband Ian, came into town!

Seriously, every time we see each other I consider either:

a)kidnapping them & keeping them in Chicago or

b)moving back to MN so we can live closer!

I'm so grateful for these amazing friends!

They got to see the city, we hung out & laughed, ate lots of good food, & basically had an epicly great time.
Can't wait till the next visit!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Dorm Room Rules

*Updated version of Dorm Room Decorating at Everyday Planet*

College is awesome, isn't it? Yes, it can be one of the most stressful times of your life :), but there are also so many things about it that are fun. I went to a community college for two years (living at home) then transferred to a Bible college and was there for three years (my school pretty much required you to live on campus, so: dorm room for three years. I was on the same floor all three years, but lived in two different rooms and had four awesome roommates (all at different times).

The dorm rooms were tiny, with two small closets, lots of regulation furniture and about 2 inches of floor space. Decorating each year required some creativity but was so fun.

Now that I am gainfully employed, I am shocked to remember how poor we were as college students (my roommate and I once turned down going to an event because it cost $2.00. Two dollars.) So here are a few things that are helpful for decorating your dorm room (or other small space) on a college student budget:

1. Creativity

If your dorm is like mine was, there are about a thousand rules for what you can't do to decorate (no nails, candles, paint, etc). So you have to get around those rules with some creativity. Case in point: Note the mirror in the picture below:

yup, that's me studying in college.
One of the few pictures I could actually find of my room.

We couldn't put nails in the wall, so we painted 3M hooks, stapled two pieces of ribbon to the back of a ($5 Target) mirror, and hung it sideways. Voila! Something on your wall, and bonus: it made the tiny room look bigger.

2. 3M hooks

I realize now, I should have bought stock in 3M hooks as a freshman. Some ways we used them:

*the tiny clear ones lined the wall next to the ceiling to hold twinkle lights
*for holding back curtains
*painted different colours and hung vertically, to hold mugs
*hanging pictures, obviously.
*the larger ones can hold bathrobes or a pretty dress on a hanger.
*small hooks hung horizontally over a dresser to display pretty necklaces.
*just the tape is also great for hanging maps, posters, and pictures.

source

3. Paper.

I was lucky enough to have both an art supply store and a Paper Source two blocks from my dorm room. We would buy sheets of decorative paper and maps each semester (I now have some of those cheap maps framed in my apartment!). Girls on my floor got pretty creative with this stuff.

*Use large pieces to cover almost an entire wall.
*Hang them diagonally and write a favorite quote across them.
*Origami! My friend Kate has a star on her wall in her apartment now, and it's awesome.
*As a background for favorite pictures.
*Use to cover anything ugly. We covered light fixtures (don't start a fire though!), and a myriad of other ugly things in our dorm room.
*leftovers can go in the front of your class notebook or to a poorer dorm room neighbor.

source

4. Comfort

Dorm rooms are often filled with wooden furniture. Soften it up! Make sure to have lots of cozy blankets and pillows for studying, chatting with friends, and the all-important nap. Put down some throw rugs, have framed photos of far away friends and family, and a few favourite things from home.

5. A beverage corner.

Tell me you don't drink more coffee then ever in college! Make sure it's out of a cute mug. My roommate and I had a whole set up on top of our small fridge: coffee pot, electric tea kettle, spoons, etc. Fun coloured hanging mugs on the wall. It was always fun to have girls in for a cup of tea or coffee and a study break.

source

6. Pretty storage

This goes for both your school supplies/ notebooks (that could be a whole separate post as I spent 4+ years refining my school organization system :) as well as all your stuff. You probably have to pack a lot into a small amount of space. This requires some ingenuity. Some ideas:

*one of my roommates and I put one of the two regulation-dressers into the closet: we had less closet space, but it made for a lot more space in the room.
*Under-the-bed rubbermaid bins. Lifesavers. Label them so you can easily see what's inside.
*Fabric/Paper-covered boxes. For computer cords, extra school supplies, snacks, you name it. Hide the stuff that's not cute!
*Use baskets to hold bigger items: blow dryers, dishes, etc.
*Stacking rubbermaid drawers. These can go in your closet or you can use the top of one for your beverage corner!

7. Light

As if all that homework isn't already giving you a headache.I don't know if it still exists, but in college, we were all in a Facebook group called "People Against The Use of Flourescent Lighting." Open your blinds, turn off the overhead lights and bring in some ambience!

If you can't light candles in your dorm, Target has some great battery operated candles (some are even scented!). Paper lanterns from IKEA are fun, and get some cheap standing lamps for lots of light. Plus clip on desk lamps and fun beaded lamp shades. Make it cozy!

source

Twinkle lights: everywhere. These are great for getting ready on those early mornings after a really late night of studying. No one needs to see you looking that tired.