In the spirit of Valentine’s Day which is just a 4 days away, I made this Angel of Love. This was my last painting in this 5.5″ x 8″ journal. I finally filled it up, Yay!
I somehow keep making that beautiful turquoise blue color. I have mixed and mixed trying to duplicate but haven’t had any luck. Funny enough, it happens completely by accident. I don’t even notice it until it dries. I’m waffling buying a tube of paint, the hard part is finding the color of turquoise.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. We all know that we should express our love every day to those we hold dear, but Valentine’s Day is that 1 day to really shine. Without spending a lot of money, here are 14 Ways to Show Your Love to that Special Someone in your life:
Make a nice breakfast.
Take over and do their chores for the day.
Go for a nice walk together.
Do a yoga or other exercise class together.
Go out on a picnic.
Watch a movie with candy and popcorn.
Bake a special sweet dish like the vegan brownies from last Thoughtful Thursday!
Make a handmade Valentine’s Day Card.
Create a surprise “Love You” display on the kitchen table with candy, flowers.
Order a “To Go” meal and have a candlelit dinner at home.
Create a romantic music play list and dance the night away.
Leave little love notes for them to find.
Give them a Spa Day at home with candles, chocolates and bubble bath.
Spend quality time together talking with no distractions and really listen.
“Where there is Love, there is Life.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
Thanks for stopping by. Share the Love and the Happy!!
I always believe that angels are around every minute of every day, guiding and protecting us. In these tough times we need their love now more than ever.
I painted this angel, Bethany on 9″ x 12″ 140lb Watercolor Paper. She is full of bright, fun, happy colors and made with lots of love 💖 and is available for purchase in my Etsy Shop: FlowingWatersArtShop
“May Angels guard you through the night and keep you safe till morning light.” ~ Unknown
Many moons ago when I tried eating vegan, it really wasn’t the tastiest, at least not the recipes I tried. I’ve been vegan now for the past several years and can say that the recipes have improved tremendously. Some recipes are so good you can’t even tell they’re vegan and not made with eggs, milk and the usual ingredients. A lot are even better all plant based.
You may have seen Zucchini Brownies for sale in health food stores and restaurants. The thought of making something as delicious as a brownie from a vegetable didn’t quite appeal to my taste buds at first. But being a chocolate lover I finally gave into my curiosity and tried one at a small restaurant. To my surprise it was so delicious and moist, I pretty much inhaled it, lol.
Since I love to bake, I figured someone on the internet must have a pretty good recipe. Lo and behold I came across ElaVegan.com hosted by Michaela. She is a very talented vegan food stylist, recipe creator, photographer and writer.
Michaela’s Zucchini Brownie Recipe was absolutely delicious as are her many other recipes which I highly recommend you try. The recipes are written with easy instructions, lots of photos and helpful tips. She also puts a tab at the top of each recipe for a quick print. Even if vegan isn’t your thing, it’s a delicious alternative to healthier meals. I highly recommend trying these delicious brownies!
“Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it.” ~Josh Billings
This is my latest angel that I created in my Strathmore 5.5″ x 8″ watercolor journal. I started with a sketch and then painted her. I wasn’t too crazy about her green colors at first but it definitely grew on me. I can’t decide whether I like the halo or glowing aura more. Which style is your favorite?
Apple Cider Vinegar has become the latest buzz with all of it’s health benefits. Growing up, it was a staple in our house. My mom would use it to make delicious foods and salads, color Easter eggs (my favorite thing to do, although I remember not liking the smell too much) and to clean just about anything. There really wasn’t anything that vinegar couldn’t do.
Apple Cider Vinegar is made from fermented ripe apples. Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, which is cloudy and has cobweb looking pieces in the bottle contain lots of gut friendly bacteria and is often referred to as “The Mother.” The unfiltered variety is considered to be the most nutritious.
Studies have shown that it can help with weight loss, lower blood sugar levels, reduce cholesterol, improve heart health, improve skin health, detoxify the body, reduce dandruff, clean and disinfect fruits and vegetables, soothe sunburns and the list goes on.
Too much vinegar however can cause nausea, itching, sore throat, head aches, loss of tooth enamel to name a few. It can also adversely interact with medications.
I believe that moderation is the key to success with any health regime you start. But always check with your doctor/health practitioner before starting anything new to make sure it’s right for you.
“Nature itself, is the best physician.” ~Hippocrates
I wanted to share a quick post with you today. I created this lovely girl in my Strathmore 11″ x 14″ Watercolor Journal. She is part of the “She Blooms in Ink” online course taught by a very talented artist, Tamara Laporte at Willowing.org.
Since this is part of Tamara’s online class I can’t go into detail on how she was made but I can say it was loads of fun! I highly recommend Tamara’s course, it’s well worth it! I have a few more projects to do, so I’ll post them as I go.
Soap nuts, also known as Sapindus mukorossi are native to India and Nepal. They are not nuts, but actually a fruit, a berry to be specific. However, when you dry them, it forms a hard outer shell that looks like a nut. The shell contains saponin, a natural detergent. Saponin gets released when the shell absorbs water, it also softens your clothes. Soap nuts are a great alternative for people with allergies who need a chemical free detergent.
To use soap nuts you would need to put about 4-6 of them in a muslin bag and then toss it in your washing machine with your laundry. If you prefer a scent just add essential oils to the muslin bag before tossing them in. Soap nuts don’t create a lot of bubbles and can be used several times before they break down. They are very eco friendly and cost effective!
You can also use soap nuts to make facial washes, shampoos and natural soaps. I found quite a few site online that sell soap nuts. So I’m going to buy some and see how it goes.
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
This is my latest angel that I created in my Strathmore 5.5″ x 8″ watercolor journal. I always start with a light pencil sketch first and then paint with bright fun colors. I’m currently working on a larger angel but she isn’t done yet, so stay tuned.
Once I get the colors to where I like them I let them completely dry. Next I painted her halo with gold acrylic paint and let that dry. I then added doodles with my white Posca pen and a little more detailing with watercolor paints and colored pencils. I finished her off with a little bling. I love the little sparkles of magic.
I think we can all agree, 2020 is a year we will not soon forget. But the New Year has begun and it’s filled with endless possibilities. More importantly these possibilities will be a direct result of the choices that are made.
When you think about it, our lives all boil down to the choices we’ve made through the years. There are the good choices we’ve made when everything was simply peachy. Then there are those choices that when we look back, we question what the heck were we thinking at that time. It would be great if we had a crystal ball to see how things would turn out based on our choices. But where’s the fun in that?
I strongly feel that in the “not so great choices that are made” are important lessons to be learned. Sometimes the lessons are revealed quickly while other times, it just takes a while before it shows itself to you.
Make 2021 a Great Year! Be patient and kind to yourself, as well as with others. Do the best that you can. When faced with adversity, take a minute to breathe deep before responding harshly. Make the choice to have a positive enlightening day! Turn those days into a week, month and year!!
“May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears.” Nelson Mandela
Flowing Waters Art 