Tidbits and Juice

Holiday Countdown Begins Today!

Ready or not, the holidays are fast approaching.  For years, I have followed along with OrganizedChristmas.com's Christmas Countdown.  Cynthia Ewer has put together  a series of templates and checklists to help get you organized.  By breaking down the many chores of the season, from housecleaning to addressing cards, the countdown will keep you on track so you will have time to actually enjoy the season rather than just running from store to party to post office.

Just a few minutes invested now can make for a more enjoyable holiday season. 

New Line by Line Drawing Lessons

When I took art classes, I felt like I could draw fairly well.  But it has been years since I put pencil to newsprint every day. I supposed drawing is like any skill; use it or lose it. 

I must have blocked out how long it had been since I drew regularly, because I signed up for The Sketchbook Project without hesitation.  Then as soon as my blank book arrived, I started to have art anxiety.  Would my work stand up to the art of the other participants?

Just in time for me to start working on my moleskine, I found NY Time's series Line by Line.  I look forward to taking a mini-refresher course in drawing through the series, so I can feel more confident with my sketchbook.  Writer/artist James McMullan throws in some examples using classical work for good measure, which appeals to my regret for not majoring in art history.

Drawing Credit: James McMullan 

Seasonal House Cleaning

The weirdest thing happened today.  I came home from work at 5pm on a Friday night and was inspired to.....clean!  I attribute this burst of energy to throwing open the windows in the kitchen and bedroom.  It felt wonderful and was invigorating. 

 

Are you feeling inspired?  Check out Martha's fall housekeeping tips.

Do you decorate for Halloween or the season?  I'd love to know what you have planned.  Now that my house is clean, it is time to add some embellishments!

Maine, Maui and Other Great Scents

After seeing the quote from instyle.com beauty editor Hannah Morrill, I knew I had to smell MCMC Fragrance's Maine scent.   Maine just happens to be one of my favorite places, and I often go there in my daydreams as my "happy place." I like anything that reminds me of collecting sea glass along the shore or hiking along pine lined trails.

I hopped on over to MCMC Fragrance's site and was excited to see in addition to the Maine scent, owner Ann McClain has created a Maui scent.  Another one of my favorite places!  It just so happens these are two of McClain's preferred locations, too. 

The philosophy of MCMC Fragrance explains:

At MCMC, we believe that fragrances should have meaning.  To make a perfume with meaning, we start with inspiration.  Whether it is a trip to a distant land with all of its exotic sensations, a loved one, or a fantastic piece of art, there is a way to translate inspiration into ingredients, and from there, into a fragrance.

Luckily, MCMC sells a sample set of all the scents, allowing you to try them on before commiting to a larger bottle.  I can't wait for my samples to arrive so I can be transported to Maine, if only through my nose.