Archive for October, 2011
As an art teacher the Day of the Dead Hispanic tradition is on my radar as one of those things that is probably really interesting and something I should teach students about. “Last Minute Lauren” over here didn’t quite get her act together in time. But I learned a few things that I might work into next year’s plans. For one, the tradition of the Days of the Dead (there are actually three) is all about celebrating loved ones who have died in a completely open, positive, festive, fun kind of way. It’s everything I was ever told about death flipped on it’s head.
I don’t talk about death easily. I don’t know what to say when someone brings it up, and my natural inclination when it does come up is to just kind of shrug and nod or hug and just kind of be somber and quiet – I would call it respectful. But I am getting my head around this Dia de los Muertos (Days of the Dead) thing and thinking of death differently and hopefully will handle this part of life better. Grief happens. Death is everywhere in many forms and everyone is grieving the loss of someone, something, some idea, some dream….
Another thing I learned is that there is a very special food item associated with Dia de los Muertos. Like Thanksgiving’s turkey, or Christmas cookies, Pan de Muerto is “Bread of the Dead” and it’s very sweet. Bread + sweet = something I wanna make. Now.
So I did and followed this recipe. But I don’t recommend it because although my bread came out okay (my skull and bones evaporated) I found the recipe hard to follow. So do your own research if you’re interested in making Pan de Muerto for your Celebration of Dead Loved Ones.
Oh and one more thing. Happy Halloween!
Just a little montage of the goings on in Lauren Alexander Land:
Sorry other art teachers, I am in fact the best art teacher “ether”.
It’s absolutely the most beautiful time of the year and I am trying to get out and walk around and enjoy it as much as possible.
My little cousin Daphne was born and she’s super sweet and schnugglie.
The vile greedy rotten squirrels devoured my patch-perfect pumpkins.
My daughter bopping along in the park after dinner singing “It’s a jolly holiday with Mary” is pretty much the most wonderful thing I can think of.
What is making your heart light in an otherwise heavy world?
Being a postcard hoarder has its benefits. I ate dinner at The Farmhouse a while back and although I didn’t care for my first taste of headcheese (which apparently involves actual head of an animal – ooopsies) I did notice the amazing farm/nature/fancy decor surrounding me. They had tree branches hanging from the ceiling that looked so simple even a un-handy but kinda crafty gal like me could recreate the madness. Here’s what I had on hand at my home, no shopping necessary:
broken tree branches
rubber bands (two)
hand drill
ceiling hook
ribbon
postcards (I happened to have a stash of the fake vintage Halloween variety)
tape
I’m not even going to bother trying to tell you how to do it. It’s as simple as attaching some branches from your back yard to your ceiling and hanging stuff from it. It looks cool. It impresses people. You feel like Martha Stewart only without glitter or a glue gun. (although if you want to have those in your tree branch decor go ahead!) I’m excited to hang things from my tree branch according to the season…what might I hang for Thanksgiving? Any ideas?
I awoke to near freezing temps this morning. I stood out in the cold waiting for my dogs to poop like the moron I am every day and even though I have had a dog for over 5 years now the misery of waiting for poop in the cold never gets better. Nor does my ability to train my little poodle princess to do her business alone. She just needs an audience or she’d rather put her winkle poos all over my floors.
The good news is that I have new paintings. And I feel like doing more which is a feeling I haven’t had in a long while. Maybe it’s the sense that cold winter is coming and baking myself into a blob of useless couch matter is not the way I want to go…paint paint paint!
Happy Thursday, folks. After all Thursday is like Friday Jr. my wiser older sister once told me.
not that all those people on her list don't deserve a better world too.
Took the kid to Whole Foods to pick up some dinner ingredients on the fly. I found this crustacean in the produce aisle. Freaky huh? Turns out it is some genetically formed hybrid of broccoli and cauliflower – and that is based on about 30 seconds of internet research I did. It could all be baloney. But the thing tasted a lot like cauliflower with slightly more flavor. I just chopped and boiled it. Served it up. Nobody complained. I think this veggie is a little too style over substance – or maybe I should have just been more creative when I cooked it. It is gorgeous after all! It’s like staring at a optical illusion. Can’t take eyes off…..
Curious, what’s the freakiest thing you ever served up? I’ve never eaten anything with eyes still attached. And don’t plan to…
Starting at 7am (central) Oct. 14th – midnight Oct. 16th get 25% off everything in the Lauren Alexander Shop on Etsy. Get some pre-holiday shopping done! Prices are already reduced to sale price. No need to enter a coupon code or anything. Have any exciting weekend plans? I think I’ll head to the most sincerest pumpkin patch. Happy Friday!
Something wicked is on it’s way. And I’m not talking about Halloween. But I did finally put up our decorations. I know, it’s cheezy as all get out BUT it’s fun to decorate the house; my daughter had tons of fun helping put things out and it was cool that she remembered certain things from last year. This will only be our second Halloween together after all.
So what wicked thing is on it’s way – well, I will be making a limited one time only appearance selling artwork in person, in public, among other humans, in the world…this Thursday, Oct. 13th. Scary, I know.
Here are the details if you are a local person and want to see me in action! I think I might bring some things to paint while I sell sell SELL my crafts. I’ll have magnets and calendars among ba-jillions of prints and paintings.
Brookridge Boutique
2-8pm Brookridge Elementary Gymnasium (I’ll be a bit late)
9920 Lowell Ave Overland Park, KS 66207
From just three 11×14 prints to an enormous 13 – I am proud to share the newest editions to my Extra Large Print section of my Lauren Alexander Shop.
At the Seams 11x14 print
Hello There 11x14 art print
May Bouquet 11x14 art print
No Better Love 11x14 art print
Play Date 11x14 art print
The Lucky Days 11x14 art print
You and Me 11x14 art print
