Come paint with me at Michaels (Lewisville)

***If you know you want to take my class and you'd rather not read all this, simply call the Michaels Lewisville store at (972) 316-0837. Tell them you want to sign up for a painting class, and they'll hook you up! If you want more information, keep reading.***

This past spring an educational coordinator for Grumbacher sent an email asking if I would be interested in teaching painting classes at Michaels. I jumped on board because I am always looking for ways to make some extra money, plus I think exposing the community to art is essential if we want art education to remain in our public schools.

Tonight I taught my first class and had a really good time. I didn't have as much of a chance to fully complete the demonstration painting because I was so involved in helping everyone else, but this is it anyway:

Landscape Lesson Plan: "Live Oak Lane"

I've had a number of friends ask for more information about the classes, so here's the scoop.

Many Michaels stores around the country offer painting classes from a Grumbacher instructor. Grumbacher is an American art supply company that has been around since the early 1900's. I have Grumbacher oil paints from college that are still good and I still use (11 years later.) Quality stuff.

If you are interested in signing up for a painting class, go here to find a class by state and city. If you are looking for me, click on TX_Lewisville, hit search, and my schedule will pop up. You can then click on any of the classes to see the store address, phone number, curriculum, etc.

There are four categories offered- Floral, Landscape, Seascape, and Still Life- and multiple lesson plans for each category. I like to rotate through the categories and allow my students to pick which lesson to complete, but every instructor is different.

Once you have decided which class(es) you want to take, download the class syllabus from the same calendar page. The syllabus will have general information, class information, and a supply list. Take the syllabus to the Michaels store where your class is offered and an associate will help you find your supplies and sign you up for the class. The classes are $25 per person per class and the supplies are a one-time cost of $49.99. A Michaels 40% off coupon (found here or in the sunday paper) can be used to bring the cost of the supplies down to $29.99.

Here's what comes in the kit:

3 fl oz. tube Academy Acrylic Titanium White

3 fl oz. tube Academy Acrylic Cad Red Light

3 fl oz. tube Academy Acrylic Ultramarine Blue

3 fl oz. tube Academy Acrylic Cad Yellow Medium 014173351258

Bristlette Round #2 Brush

Bristlette Filbert #8 Brush

Grumbacher Small Painting Knife

MacPhersons 9x12 Canvas Board (2)

After that, you just show up! In two hours you will leave with a painting like these:

And again, if this seems like a lot, simply call the Michaels Lewisville store at (972) 316-0837. Tell them you want to sign up for a painting class, and they'll help you out. Feel free to ask questions (by commenting on this post) and I will get back to you. Children 7 and up are welcome, but a parent must be in the class at all times.

Come paint with me!

A couple of weeks later

I went ahead and cancelled my Amen subscription... not because I didn't think it was helpful, but because there is no way I'm paying $30 a month basically for a service I get already on CalorieKing. But I did learn a few things and have put them into place, so I thought I'd share.

1. Take your vitamins.

I do this already- I take a multivitamin- but I've supplemented it with more vitamin D. Some studies have shown a link to insufficient D levels and depression. Since I am already prone to depression and anxiety, I jumped on board. The specific pill I take mixes vitamin D with fish oil- which we all need- but I specifically need it because I have ridiculously dry skin/hair.

2. Slow down.

Tell a teacher to slow down when eating lunch and you're likely to get a spork in the eye. But now that it's summer, I really need to. I've been trying to take my time when it comes to food- observing it, noticing the colors and smells, chewing sufficiently, and putting my utensils down in-between bites. I also need to stop eating in front of the TV, but one thing at a time.

3. Step away from the computer.

The whole idea of Amen's program is to take care of your brain. Forget "This is your brain on drugs." Replace it with "This is your brain on computers/TV/your smart phone." Am I addicted to technology? I don't know, but I will tell you that I spend an EXORBITANT amount of time on my iPhone. I must check my e-mail, Facebook, and WWF 50 times a day... or more. (As a matter of fact, I'm going to tally tomorrow and see what the real number is.) Anyway, I am doing my best to limit my TV time. Computer will come next, then the phone. Baby steps.

4. Exercise.

Like, every day.

Every.

Day.

5. Sleep.

This is probably my favorite one. I love to sleep. While some people are ok with 6 or 7 hours sleep, I could easily sleep 13 hours a night, every night. I really think my needs are up around 9 hours, so I am making sure I get at least that. We'll see what happens when school starts.

There are others- mainly about what I am putting into my body. I am cooking with coconut oil instead of margarine. I'm eating organic. I've cut out almost all diet drinks, but I wasn't a big soda drinker anyway. I've discovered stevia, which is a plant that sweetens without jacking with a person's blood sugar. I try to eat a rainbow of colors every meal- berries for dessert to get in blue and purple- and I really like vanilla almond milk.

So, is it working? Have I lost a ton of weight? No, not yet, but I know I'm healthier when I put these things in place. It's all about taking better care of myself so that I can be better for others. :)

A New Journey

So, I'm starting on a new journey. Thanks, PBS midnight infomercial.

I had already read one of Dr. Amen's books, so seeing him on TV talking about weight intrigued me. The book I read (well, mostly read) was called, "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life." Amen's new book is "Change Your Brain, Change Your Body." I'm fascinated with the human brain and I've been trying to lose weight for, oh, about thirty years now, so of course I was hooked.

Now, this blog post is not a commercial for Amen. He's trying to sell you stuff just like the next guy. The site is full of supplements and books and memberships and whatnot. My $1 trial will only last until 2 weeks when they start charging me $30 a month to use the site.

BUT (and this is a big one) I have been preaching for years that a certain family member will not be able to beat his addiction without getting to the root of the problem. He has to change his thinking - change his brain - or he will continue with old habits. Yet, when it comes to my physical health, have I taken my own advice? Not in the slightest.

I know cognitive therapy works. I use it to fight my depression and anxiety. And that's basically the gist of Amen's program from what I can tell. Cognitive therapy, understanding nutrition, and keeping your brain healthy. That last part is what I am particularly excited about.

The site has all these games to train the brain. I've downloaded three to my iPhone already. If I am looking to kill time I would much rather do relaxation or memory exercises than play hanging with friends (sorry all the people I am playing hanging with- I'm losing anyway because apparently my brain sucks.)

Anyway, I am excited about this new journey. I saw my grandmother suffer from Alzheimers. I want to be able to teach my father how to train his brain and possibly prevent that. I want to be mentally capable my entire life. And if a hot body just happens to come with a healthy brain, I'll take it.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Children

This is going to be a serious post, so if you're looking for a laugh just click "education" over there on the right.

I will be 33 this summer and I have no children. Sometimes this makes me very, very sad.

When I was younger my mom told me a story. When my mom found out her mother was 29 when she had her first child, my mom said to herself, "There is no way I am going to be 29 when I have my first child." And she was right- she was 30 when she had me.

The moral of the story is never to tell God how he should direct your life. Still, when my mother told me this story I thought to myself, "Well, I'm different. I am definitely not going to be 30 when I have my first child." And again... I was right.

I refuse to tell my future children that story. And I sit and cringe when I hear my students planning out their lives. "I'll get married around 25 and start having kids at 27..." Yeah, I thought so, too. Life is rarely what you plan, kids.

My life is definitely not what I planned. I never thought I would be single, with no children, living in an apartment at 32. But I also never thought I would be a teacher who absolutely loves her job. I never thought I would have been a missionary to Slovakia of all places. I never thought I would get to travel throughout Europe and have so many international friends. I never thought God would bring me closer to him not by obeying rules or attending church but by relying on him in times of extreme pain, illness, and heartache. But he has. God has been faithful and has brought me through my life thus far.

So with that, I will trust that God has a plan for me. I will remember this every time another friend gets pregnant or has a child. God has a plan for me.

Keep Breathing

The storm is coming but i don't mind.
People are dying, i close my blinds.

All that i know is i'm breathing now.

I want to change the world...instead i sleep.
I want to believe in more than you and me.

But all that i know is i'm breathing.
All i can do is keep breathing.
All we can do is keep breathing now.

All that i know is i'm breathing.
All i can do is keep breathing.
All we can do is keep breathing now.

All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing.
All we can do is keep breathing now.

Keep Breathing, Ingrid Michaelson, 2003

The Trash Room

Dear fellow neighbors at my apartment complex,

The trash room is for stepping into before throwing your trash down the chute. It is not a room for you to throw your trash, although I know the label on the door is confusing. What you are doing is equivalent to walking into the mail room and throwing your mail on the floor, expecting someone else to stick it in the mail slot. Your mail would never get mailed... however, magically, your trash does in fact make it down the chute. Maybe our rent wouldn't be so high if the complex didn't have to pay someone to clean up after you. Just a thought.

Love,

Ms. Nelson

Unprocrastination day

Today is my unprocrastination day. It is the day where I will attempt to accomplish all those things I have procrastinated doing over the EIGHT other days of spring break. Blogging was not in the day, but I refuse to call blogging procrastinating. My lunch is cooking, so this is multi-tasking. :)

The idea of unprocrastination day came from the April issue of Real Simple, my most favorite magazine in the entire universe. The bf got me a subscription for Christmas because he loves me and listens to me... when I complain about not getting the magazine from my secret santa at work when I SPECIFICALLY wrote it on the sheet and underlined it. Twice. But I digress.

Anyway, I have scheduled my entire day. And while the list of tasks I have seems daunting (at least to me), when looking it over I realized all these tasks mean I am immensely blessed.

Going to church means I live in a country where I am free to worship the god I choose.

Washing dishes means I have food to eat.

Having an electric diswasher wash them for me is just ridiculous.

Washing multiple loads of laundry means I have plenty of clothes to wear.

Researching for my graduate paper means I have an education.

Grading papers and writing lesson plans means I have a job.

Paying rent and putting in a service request means I have a place to live and people to help me keep up my home.

Taking out the disgusting, smelly cat litter means I have two animals who I love and sometimes love me back.

It also means I have the money to take care of two animals.

Painting a portrait of a dog means that people think I am talented enough... to pay me to paint their dog.

Preparing a print of one of my latest works means someone wants to own my art.

My to-do list means I'm blessed.