O My CBC Week faith, blogging, and you

O My Friends and readers (who are friends I just haven’t met yet), I need your help. At 12:45pm Mountain Standard Time on Saturday May 26th 2010 I will be in front of a room filled with people who will expect me to have stuff to say about the interaction of bliggity blogging and faith. I’m so glad it’s a panel discussion with Marty Halverson, Natalie Holbrook,  Heather King , Kristen Howerton and Dallas Petersen. I am really looking forward to bouncing around this great topic with such great people.But before I get to talk to them about it, I’d love to talk to YOU about it. What do you say, will you bounce around the topic of blogging and faith with me?I’d love to hear your responses to any or all (if you have a lot of time on your hands) of these questions that strike you. Are you ready? Here it goes:How do you incorporate (or not incorporate) your faith into your blogging?What do you appreciate about how other bloggers address faith in their posts?What turns you off about how other bloggers address faith in their posts? (*No names, please!*)Do you regularly read blogs that represent a different faith than your own? Why or why not?Has blogging ever enriched your faith? How?Lastly, and most importantly, if Jesus had a blog, would it be on Blogger or WordPress?Happy CBC Week!

Alex Kopps..

I have always admired artists and people that can reclaim found objects and use them in their craft. I found Alex Kopp's website recently...thought you guys would enjoy these images as much as I did. There is a calm, tranquil feeling around them, then you get to the dollar bill suit. It's crazy how a cloth (dollar bills are made from cotton and linen.) can hold so much power.

Reader LOVE David Gomez..

Well, I wish I could tell you something about David Gomez, but I can't read Spanish. Normally, I always contact the artist...but it's late and when I stumbled on David's colored mugs of celebrities and other lovelies I just had to get these up. Plus, I am a sucker for anything Chloe Sevigny is involved in.

can't ever get enough of matthew feyld..

this is a tad bit on the early side...but i can't stand it. it's important that you see these now as matthew's pieces sellquickly...so best start savin' those pennies and gettin' a place inline now. matthew feyld's work is always so colorful, whimsical and oddly great, these new pieces are no exception. he's truly one of my favorite painters. matthew's got a show coming up at cinder's gallery in brooklyn on february 22nd w/ a few other folks. matthew is always updating his blog and flickr account w/ new work, be sure to stay tuned to those channels, as i'm sure there is more awesomeness coming our way.

Video This is Not a Place..

I got pretty mesmerized watching Isaac Gale & David Jensen's film This is Not a Place. Made on location at Justin Vernon of Bon Iver's Wisconsin studio. I keep replaying it over and over. A little bit about the film (that originally accompanied a show at XYandZ Gallery, in Minneapolis, MN):

Compiled over the past year, the duo's film work traverses the wilds of April Base, the Wisconsin studio of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. Trundling through rich forest landscapes and ephemeral, sculptural environments, the films’ pure visual moments mesh with graceful digital effects, creating entangled shrines and smoke-filled twilights. At its root, the work deals with themes of space--both external and psychological.

$5 highlights

Being young and married certainly has its advantages. Larger tax break and automatic off campus housing aside, life is such an adventure at this stage and I feel blessed to have an amazing travel companion. However, it has also come with a fair share of obstacles. Boys can create some pretty smelly odors, and we do have to keep a close watch on our budget. This last factor is tough on me sometimes (read: all the stinking time) when I want things that I don’t need. Case in point: highlighting my hair since I was 15 years old has cost me approximately $1750. Ouch. Something had to be done but I REFUSE to quit cold turkey and have a straight line of bright blond v. roots growing out for the next dozen years.Solution one: dye my hair back to natural, boring, lame, generic “dirty blond”(professionally). Cost: $45 Result: My hair is exactly 28 shades darker than anything that naturally grows out of my head and my skin looks alabaster next to it. I start using a darker color of foundation.After 4 weeks of listening to me complain every morning about how “my hair does NOT look natural” and the fact that “it totally washes me out”, Dan conceives a possibly nightmarish situation:Solution two: we buy a boxed highlight kit and Dan becomes my life-long hair stylist. Cost: $5 on sale. Result: Not bad! He is so precise and meticulous about everything, and he did a pretty good job. The color of the highlights is a 7 on a scale of 10, but hey – for less than the cost of 2 grande chai tea lattes, I absolutely can’t complain.By the way, don’t tell Dan’s guy friends that he dabbles in hairstyling.

agov..

i need to make a confession; my life has become netflix'd episodes of past seasons of project runway and celebrity gossip blogs. i know, i know. it's disgusting. i don't know what the eff happened. winter started a few months ago, it all got blurry, time passed and here i am. how i got here, i don't know. but i feel like i am waking up from a long, dark slumber and thank the good lord harry i woke up to agov's colorful paintings on flickr. agov is an artist from the ukraine. and yes, that's pretty much all i've got for you. oh, and i really like his work. if you need to know more, add agov as a friend on myspace and create some false intimacy w/ comments, msgs and who knows perhaps adding him as your #1 just to shake things up a bit? see more of agov's colorful work here.

in time for not my child! monday

O’Baby is finally here in real human form, and I could not possibly complain about one iota of our last 4 days together. Not even the first ever diaper blow out that occurred chez grandma and grandpa yesterday. Not even that we’re already on our 3rd onesie today. Not even his fussy “I just need you to hold me, constantly” cries.Yes, this entire post was typed one-handed.fin.PS: I can touch my toes.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~All sorts of folks are linking their blogs this Monday with funny anecdotes of things their children would certainly not do. You can click here to check them out on MckMama’s blog!

help wanted

Our first furry baby has staged somewhat of a rebellion lately in the form of conspicuous wet spots on our living room rug.Because our home didn’t have enough bodily refuse to clean up already.The real issue is the smell for heaven’s sake, the smell. OBaby’s diapers pale in comparison. What do we do? Spread down baking soda then vacuum it up… you know, with the one arm I have available?Anyone have an odor solution, preferably one that can be performed by a tetraplegic? All suggestions welcome.

a very ruffled giveaway!

There once was a girl named Gus.Who moved to MinneapolUS.She was on quite the mission,ruffles for all was her vision,so she set out to build her businUS.She made headbands and totes,Ruffles for home or to go,O, and build her business she did,She even (heaven forbid!)quit her day job to stay home and sew.So why do I tell you this now?First, take a seat, don’t have a cow…It’s a  giveaway – there I said it!One of you gets a $40 {GUSSY} shop credit!:: :: :: :: :: ::Yes, you heard correctly (despite the poorly metered poetry) that this is a giveaway for a $40 shop credit to Gussy Sews. To enter, go peek over at Ms. Gus’ shop and come back here to leave a comment telling me what your favorite item was!Of course, for those over achievers, you can gain one extra entry by tweeting this:O how I love @GussySews! Check out her giveaway hosted by @OMyFamily here: http://bit.ly/hRoTPwJust tweet it and come back here to leave ONE ADDITIONAL comment on this post letting me know that you tweeted and what your twitter name is.This giveaway closes at 10:00pm CST Thursday, March 10th. The winner will be announced on Friday.Good luck!******Disclosure: Gussy Sews is an O My Family sponsor and has provided the spoils of this giveaway today.

babies my anti-drug

This baby thing, man. Can’t get me enough.What is it about the everywhichway hair that is maybe sort of balding along the back that gets me? Why does it make me giggle and feel all bubbly inside?And his daddy’s eyes. How on earth is it possible to have exact replicas – but miniature – of his daddy’s eyes? Sometimes he looks right at me (the baby) and I tell him that he can have anything he wants. (It’s true. He pretty much can.)The eyebrows that convey expressions far beyond his level of understanding. The cheeks that squish-squoosh against mine when I lean in for a kiss or a zerber. The lips and chin that are too heavy to hold up so whenever he’s vertical his mouth is permanently open.I can’t get enough of them. I’m an addict, I tell you.Speaking of his mouth being open – the drool. That constant silver string hanging from his lips. Or sometimes it’s hapless bubbles he’s blowing. Both are equally adorable.Man. This is bad. How and when did it come to pass that slobber makes me swoon?I don’t know how it got to this point, but I don’t want to quit.

Pitcherzzz Week Ending 10.15.10..

The pics are a little sparse this week thanks to the ongoing plague I have had for god knows how long. ;) There is a ton planned for this weekend, so I am sure the post will be pretty heavy next week. Have a great weekend you GUISE! <3

Not fit to raise a child

We went out paddling on Saturday with the nieces and nephew. I was so excited to go because I haven’t been in quite awhile. But I always forget how crappy I am at it.. and how scared I am that the boat is going to tip over.. but I always have fun!

I guess I also forget how much work it is.. but work is good for me! Right???

It was also a little more difficult because I’m currently on “light duty” (I’ll explain more about that later.) Aaron wouldn’t let me help carry the 40 lbs kayak.. or blow up the inflatable canoe.. or let me paddle too much. Which was probably a good thing, because more than likely I would have over done it. I’m very thankful that he pays attention to those things and always keeps *us* safe!….. However.. it didn’t really cross his mind that we would be out on the lake for 4 hours without sunblock!! Okay.. I take that back.. it did cross our minds.. we just didn’t really care at the time..

Guess What???

WE TOTALLY CARE NOW!!!

Check this out..
(I would also like to thank Emily for pointing out that I have a mole the shape of a heart!! It’s so cute! on the bottom left by the edge of the burn…)

This is just the back.. the front is a little less burnt than this.. but my arms are just as burnt..

And I feel like an IDIOT!! Who on earth is going to let people who get this burnt raise children? I’m pretty sure DCFS will be at more door shortly to deem us “unfit”

Really though.. I feel so stupid. Grown adults should be smarter. Every look of pity just makes me cringe. I hate it.

And the STUPID questions.. when will they stop?? I’m really going to wear a sign tomorrow that just says.. “Don’t Ask!”

Do you have any idea how many remedies there are in the world? Because.. when you’re sunburned.. its an open invitation for advise..

vinegar. I was very skeptical about this one. But my mother in law confirmed itburn cream. makes senseice cream. Aaron thinks this is a giant waste of perfectly good ice creamegg whites. my arms and back are so HOT right now we could have scrambled eggs for breakfastshaving cream. interesting.. but still not trying itwrapping in a cold wet sheet. I’m already FREEZINGbathing in various concoctions.. number 1) I have way to many issues with my insides right now to even think about getting those sorts of things in there. 2) its my upper neck, and upper arms mostly. And those are two very hard parts to get submerged.

So I’ll stick with my Aloe with Lidocaine. Which I sure hope isn’t going to make the baby cross eyed or anything. I googled to make sure Aloe was safe, and all it said was you shouldn’t ingest it while pregnant. So as long as I resit the urge to swallow it.. We should be okay.. But fyi.. If you do ingest aloe.. it turns your pee pink! i guess Aloe is a acne treatment when taken orally.. but I’m sure its in a pill form or something.. and I’m officially rambling now..

Anyway.. I leave you with some pictures of .. umm.. i have no idea when this was. But its the only pictures of us paddling that I have.. But they were at least a year ago, I think two…

(Thanks babe for filing the pictures so neatly..) This is from our camping trip in 2006. Silver Lake up by Brighton

Thanks for at least gasping a little when you saw my burn.. it does make me feel a little better that you care.. But it doesn’t make it hurt any less.. and doesn’t make me sleep any better.

Aaron has been taking NyQuil to help him sleep… but not me and baby.. we just toss and turn and pee all night.. because there is no way to avoid laying on some part of burned flesh..

Poor baby is probably so sick of my gasping and flinching every time I move. It’s probably kicking me in a bladder every time I annoy it.. which makes me have to pee more..

I’m pretty sure it’s already in control.. Welcome to the next 60 or so years of my life…

Neon Sculpture Meryl Pataky at Gallery Hijinks..

Friend and contributing blogger Jillian Mackintosh shares with us some extra special news about her new venture, Gallery Hijinks along with some thoughtful sculpture. - meighanI’ve been hiding a littlesecret but now I’m proud to finally announce the debut of Gallery Hijinks, a space for new andemerging artists! Stemming fromartistic backgrounds, working in numerous galleries, and curating art for bothprivate and commercial spaces, my business partners and I decided to ventureout on our own and create a space completely unique and genuine. We are excitedto have this opportunity to build our own roster of emerging talent. Althoughour doors are not yet open to the public, we’ve installed three neon sculpturesthat light up the new space and shine through the front windows. 

How we perceive ourselves and the world around us is described by the adjectives we use. Whether something is beautiful, ugly, yellow, green, small or tall, we use these words to create meaning in our lives. Meryl Pataky, an artist who works with mostly metals, dear hide and neon lighting, has translated this very philosophy of using words as an expression of her artistic nature. Her work combines certain resources and visual languages that might not often be seen together in a traditional setting.

"My work relies heavily on personal narrative. I tend to base my work on the experiences in my life that shape me into who I am. These experiences are what I relate to most intimately and, in turn, allow me to confidently make the appropriate decisions about my work, its concepts and materials. We are all molds that are filled with different substances. These are a delicate blend of our paths, experiences, beliefs and interactions that form our being. As a result, we are all different casts – we are all made of different material." - Meryl Pataky

Visit the installation after 7:00pm at Gallery Hijinks, located at 2309 Bryant Street, SF CA 94110.

Lindsey Carr New Work..

Lindsey Carr shares a bunch of new work that she has been working on for her upcoming show on the 27th of February at Imagine Gallery, Suffolk, UK. Aren't they gorgeous? Of course, I am always excited to share new work from all of the artists featured on the blog...and Lindsey is no exception. The amount of detail and depth in her paintings continues to blow my mind. Like the monkeys? AMAZING.

half baked

February 23, 20 weeksHalfway there! Our little boy weighs just less than a pound and is 10.5 inches from the top of his head to his heels, which would explain why I can feel his right hooks and roundhouse kicks more everyday. We’re excited to meet him but he’s still got some cooking to do in there, so we’ll have to wait!

real men use glue guns

(The following is a belated Halloween post. Because there weren’t enough out there already.)After 5 years of trying to get DanO to be something for Halloween, all it took was an office party for him to bend over backwards to make and wear the sweetest costume ever.(I see where I fit in.)When I married him, I knew he was an all or nothing kind of guy, but I never in my wildest dreams thought that he would one day spend three consecutive evenings trying to make the perfect Willy Wonka hat.Let me tell you, he succeeded.The man has not known a challenge he could not complete to perfection. Ok, well, maybe there was that one.