Easy-Peasy Taco Soup

I decided to make some taco soup, because it's semi-cold outside. This recipe is courtesy of a lady that works in my office, Melanie.

Ingredients:

• one pound of ground beef (or turkey if you want to be healthy)
• a pack of taco seasoning
• a pack of ranch powder
• a can of diced tomatoes (I used rotel tomatoes)
• a can of white corn
• a can of chickpeas
• a can of black beans
• Swanson chicken stock
• water

Directions:

1. Brown and drain the ground beef. Then put it in the large pot you will make the soup in. Add 3/4 cup of water to the beef, as well as the taco season and ranch powder.
2. Let meat and seasoning cook for a minute or so, and then add tomatoes, white corn, chickpeas, black beans, chicken stock, and two cups of water.
3. Let the mixture cook for 35-40 minutes.
4. Serve with bread or chips or crackers.
5. Enjoy!

Happy birthday, boss!

Finally! The Arrival of the Black Swan

Totally worth all the hard work I put into it.

Geaux Tigers Wreath (Beat Bama)

My boss told me about this wreath on Pinterest.  It's just tulle and ribbon on a foam base.

Black Swan Costume Update

Definitely making some progress on my Black Swan Halloween Costume.  I've got all the pieces of the tutu ready to be sewn to the basque, but my sewing machine decided to quit working.  Can't wait to get to the fun part--decorating!

Will post pics soon!

Fleur De Lis Series

I made the top one a while ago and slowly made the rest throughout the past months. Painting different color stencils takes a while, because the paint has to dry.

Splatter Painting

This was a fun one. Except when I got the permanent black paint on the bottom of my feet.

It's actually pretty big. 24 x 36, I think.

For you I'd wait, 'til kingdom come

The song "Til Kingdom Come" by Colplay really speaks to me.  I decided to devote an entire canvas to the lyrics of the song.

I painting pieces of watercolor paper with different shades of blues, purples, and greens. I wanted it to look as if the words were pages of my soul. Then, I used a paint pen to write the lyrics on the painted paper. I tore the paper into pieces and glued it to the canvas. It took a LONG time, but it was very worth it.  It's a great addition to my bedroom.

Flower arrangements

I know the flowers are fake, but my bathroom was in definite need of some decoration.

Inspiration

Saw these at Z Gallerie. Will be making some things like these in the near future.

I carry your heart with me

I got these really expensive acrylic paints and they are really fun to glob up and make paintings more three-dimensional. I will be doing this a lot more now, because I love the way it looks. Here's something I made.

The words are supposed to be subtle, and it may be hard to see them, but it says: I carry your heart with me. I carry it in my heart. -E.E. Cummings.  Definitely one of my favorite quotes.

Hair by Lady Gaga

I was inspired to do this back before vacation (there is a post with the preliminary drawings), but I just finished today!  I'm thinking it needs a little more lyrics or something extra, but I'll let you decide. Leave advice or suggestions in the comment box. And be sure to check out the song if you haven't heard it before.

Just face, no hair yet.

 Some hair. It looks more red that it actually is. I think it's just the lighting.

And again, kind of red. This is the base coat before I added all the the dimension. I felt like a hair stylist mixing up shades of brown.

Here's the hair with added dimension. Now it's ready for some song lyrics.

Finished product ready to be hung up.

Finished product on the wall!

She likes to be by the window so she can get wind in her hair ;)

Canvas for a Friend

Can you say... Geaux Tigers!

Lazy Sunday

Just a little canvas for my bathroom. Ice blue metallic paint on a little canvas with glossy black for the chandelier stencil.

Great addition to the metallic 90s wallpaper in my bathroom.