Summer Projects

I have two big summer projects that I am determined to finish this summer.

• The first project is a quilt for my new full size memory foam mattress. I saw this beautiful quilt at Anthropologie and fell madly in love. However, $198 is way out of my price range, so I decided that I can totally make one just as good, if not better.

• My second project is a self-portrait. My ever encouraging boyfriend who constantly pushes me my art, suggested an assignment of a self portrait. Which definitely inspired me. It goes so well with all the things going on in my life right now. I am finding the really strong awesome woman that has been cooped up inside and when I think about strong amazing women who happen to be artists who have done self-portraits, I obviously think of the one and only Frida Kahlo. So my portrait will be inspired by her's, but it will be all my own. My style, my ideas, my talent. I am very, very excited.

I have one other project that I need to finish by the end of June. It is a a few mixes for my sister's roadtrip and a little scrapbook/journal to go along with them. It's exciting stuff.

For now let me just say that tonight's episode of Glee was the best thing ever. I loved it. However, I am totally dreading next week's Lady Gaga Episode. I really don't like her.

Adios,

Amanda

Exciting things!

So much exciting stuff seems to be happening! This is my one week off before my three online summer classes (A.K.A. Eight weeks of hell), and I have so many things I want to at the very least get started on. Before I tell you about all of my exciting projects (I think I'll put all of this in another post later this week), let me recap Friday for you.

Friday was my beautiful mother's 39th (wink) birthday. I was able to spend the entire day with her, and boy was it a fabulous day. We started it off with breakfast at Ram's Horn. I tried to convince my mom to steal the syrup pourer but she said there were not enough people in the restaurant and she didn't want to get caught. At least I got her to seriously consider stealing it. Then we headed over to Solid Ground, a homeless shelter my mom volunteers at all the time and we scrubbed the kitchen cupboards. I don't enjoy all the cleaning, but that is what we do. After that we met up with Papa and Grandma Carol at our favorite Barnes and Nobles. My family loves hanging out there. We even meet up with my aunt who lives in Traverse City at the B&N in Midland, Michigan sometimes. Once we got home I started on my mom's peanut butter cupcakes with peanut butter frosting with peanut butter cookies on top. I bet you didn't guess that she loves peanut butter, did you?

Everyone enoyed the cupcakes, though I must say, I have not eaten one yet. For some reason I tend to skip out on some of my cupcakes. I probably shouldn't so that I can test them out. I do always eat my chocolate cake though. So good! (Some of that to come this week!)

So we ordered pizza and everyone came over. By everyone I mean all of my mom's adoptive children. All of our friends adore my mom and she adores all of them. We had a lot of teenager's at our house Friday night. We ate pizza and cupcakes and we played some crazy, ridiculous game called Dicecapades. What a random, weird game. We laughed a lot and everyone had a great time. Here is most of us. KJ (A.K.A. Ronaldo) was the only one missing I think. He,sadly, had to leave early.

Friday was such a fun, awesome day. I loved it just as much as last Friday. It was an all-day-long celebration of the most awesome woman I know, and I know that she absolutely loved every second.

So long for now, but I promise I will be back soon. I have lots of fun stuff going on this week that I want to tell you all about!

-Amanda

My Perfect Drawing Score

This past semester I decided to take a drawing class. I was missing art like crazy since i haven't really done anything with it since I decided to get a degree in business. I mostly just wanted to have a class that was fun instead of all business and I am so glad that I decided to take this class. I got a perfect score on every assignment and its really showed me that drawing is something I am really, really good at and something I really want to continue doing. I have officially decided that I am going to minor in drawing, or possible double major. We'll see how that works out. One thing that I realized today is that there are a lot of people who think that I should in fact, be going to art school. While that would be amazing, it's not where I am headed. I hope I am not letting anyone down. I know I'm not letting myself down. I can do it all, trust me on that one.

So without further ado, here is the artwork that got me a perfect grade.

• Assignment 1: Contour and Half Contour Drawing

Just so you know, these are supposed to be grapes.

• Assignment 2: Gesture Drawing

• Assignment 3: Atmospheric Perspective

• Assignment 4: One Point Perspective

• Assignment 5: Two Point Perspective: Sadly, I can't find that one. I have no idea where I put it.

• Assignment 6: Two Point Perspective

• Assignment 7: Value Range

• Assignment 8: Eraser and Charcoal Draperies

• Assignment 9: Triangle Composition

• Assignment 10: Circle Composition

• Assignment 11: Morphed Composition

I worked really hard in this semester, did my best, and it really paid off. I am very proud of how well I did and really feel as if I have proved well that I have some talent and that my future will most definitely be filled with lots and lots of drawing. My teacher said today, "Good luck with your next adventure, where ever your education may take you." And do you know what? I am so excited for my next adventure! It is going to be exciting.

I also pulled an A in my accounting class. I was very surprised, and excited. My GPA is gonna be so good this semester. I definitely think those people at EMU are gonna be excited to accept such an awesome student. I am sure they will give me some scholarships. Hehehe.

Love ya!

Amanda

Happy Momma's Day!

(this picture was taken on my 19th birthday, almost 2 years ago!)

This is my beautiful Momma. She is hands down the most amazing woman I know. Her heart is so big and she loves everyone with all of it. She gives so much to all of her family and she is quite a lot of the reason why I have turned out so awesome. She is my best friend in the entire world and I so lucky to be able to say that.

(This is a super cute picture from Riley's 1st birthday. Sadly I don't have a picture of just the two of us right now.)

And this is my equally beautiful step-momma, Susie. She is hilarious, always. She has been such an awesome second momma for almost all my life. We always have a good time. She is also a totally awesome momma to my beautiful baby sisters. She is a very awesome lady who I definitely look up to and she has always been there when I needed her and I am so thankful to have her in my life.

I am truly a lucky girl to have two such awesome moms. I love them both so much!

Happy Mother's day to all of the other awesome mom's out there!
-Amanda

PROM 2010!

Well, this was my third and final prom folks. I was my little sister, Taylor's hot date for the night. We had the best time ever rockin the dance floor with our Grease moves and poker face dance. I still wish I was dancing! It was seriously a awesome night.

I do not claim to be related to this freak.

What a handsome group.

Maybe not...

My corsage...

her corsage...

They were not matching, but the rest of us were.

Charlie's Angels pose.

The Angels with Bosley.

Our baby brother. So cute.

Some random cutie who dropped by.

Taylor loves her cat.

I can absoltely say that this was by far the most fun prom I have attended (my third, just so you know.) Taylor was the best date. She even pulled out my chair for me. We ate good food and danced with even better friends. I am sure that I will have some more pictures to show you of the actual dance and we'll see what shows up on facebook in the next few days.

Love you lots! Back to work for me now.

Have a great weekend!

-Amanda

Mustache!

Look at this beautiful mustache. LOOK AT IT! It is amazing. I wish it were real. Sadly, it is photoshopped. I do not actually have a mustache. No facial hair at all on this girl's face, in fact. It is hairless. My cousin's boyfriend made this for me though because he knows how sad I get because I cannot grow a mustache of my own. He won the "Amanda's Favorite Person of the Day" award. It is very prestigious and has only been given to a few people. I couldn't tell you who though because no one has ever kept track. If I have indeed given you one you should let me know, though. I can make a list.

In other news I made these banana cupcakes yesterday.

They are for a bake sale at work that my department is having to sponsor our Heart Walk 2010. I'm not walking since I am working, unless it is this Saturday, but Friday is my sister's prom and I am her hot date so I am sleeping in Saturday and working in the afternoon.

Tonight is work and homework and then it is Iron Man 2 with my boo and pals. So I am super excited for the next like 30 hours. It's gonna be amazing.

Well my laptop is covered in graphite since my hands are as I have been working on my final drawing project. I am excited to finish and show you all.

For now I must go to work. Peace and love!

-Amanda

Things On My Mind

1. Summer. I am one and a half weeks away from summer vacation. Of course a week after it starts so does the summer semester and my three online classes (AKA- 8 weeks of crazyiness)

2. Letting the woman inside of me out. I think I have really needed to connect with parts of me that I have been keeping caged up. I am letting myself go free. It's been a really big issue that has effected myself and the people around me and I am finally figuring it out. There is so much more to myself than I ever imagined. It's so exciting to discover new things.

3. Growing up. I realized today that I will be moving out in eight months to go to a college that is an hour away from home. It is crazy but exciting. I am starting saving money every month and sticking to a budget. It's really crazy stuff.

4. This boy. He's amazing.

Though there has been a lot on my mind the end of the school year is upon us and I have lots to do this weekend. Bedtime is coming early tonight so that I can wake up early and start doing research for a paper, restart my final drawing project, and study for my very last accounting exam. I did make banana cupcakes today. I will post pics tomorrow.

-Amanda

Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting

I have decided to share my top secret chocolate cake recipe with you. It is the most moist amazing chocolate cake I have ever had in my entire life. (And that is coming from a girl who always used to prefer yellow cake.)

Ingrediants:

• 
  
  2 cups sugar
• 1 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk (I only ever buy 1%)
• 1 cup HOT coffee
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cups cocoa powder
• 2 cups cake flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup sour cream

-----

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Grease and flour your cake pan(s) (2 round, or 1 sheet).
3. Add all dry ingredients (except sugar) to a bowl and whisk to combine.
4. In mixer, add sugar and oil and mix to combine.
5. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated.
6. Slowly add milk, coffee and vanilla extract.
7. Add dry ingredients in increments with mixer on low speed.
8. Add sour cream and stir to combine
9. Pour into cake pans and transfer to oven.
10. Bake cake for 40 minutes and cupcakes for 20 minutes (or until toothpick inserted comes out clean).

The first time I made this, which was last week, I was really scared I did something wrong because the batter is very watery, but it turns out I did everything right. So delicious. For the cupcakes, it was definitely better to put these in the more durable cups since this cake is so moist and soft. I bought mine at Michael's or my local baking supply store, I am not exactly sure, but I do know that you need to make sure that if you find them, they do not have wax on the inside. That would not be very tasty to eat.

The raspberry cream cheese frosting was homemade:

 Ingrediants:

• 1 stick butter, room temperature
• 1 block (8oz) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 5 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup raspberry jam

Directions:

1. Beat butter on medium-low speed until smooth and creamy
2. Add cream cheese and beat on medium-low speed until smooth and creamy (30 seconds-1 minute)
3. Sift powdered sugar over creamed mixture and beat on medium low until the sugar is all incorporated
4. Add jam and continue beating.

It wasn't as thick as I would have liked, so next time I will probably add more confectioner's sugar.

I did, however, cheat on the chocolate frosting. I didn't want to make a whole batch, so I bought a jar at Meijer. Tastes just as good.
I posed with my tasty cupcake before I ate it. :)

Angelo took all of these lovely pictures of yours truly. He sure is talented.

Today my throat is hurting once again. I have no idea what I am allergic to, but it's killing me to have to give directions to so many people at work. I cannot wait till the volunteer comes in so my voice can have a break.

So for now, adios. And I am glad these words don't have to actually be spoken.

Love,

Amanda