SweetGirlSmirk

I could not agree more!  I, personally, love to paint and enjoy live theater. How do you use art to relax? *If you like this as a poster it is available (without the watermark at the bottom)   in my zazzle shop for sale  Check out  http://www.zazzle.com/kwartdesigns  for this along with many other products!

Today, as the first day of Fall, brings the dire need for that favorite cozy sweater. The nights are longer, the air is crisp, and the soundtrack is changing. So, I bring you the September playlist! These songs may illicit that summer is over (quite literally, courtesy of The Kinks) or just give a certain coziness or last ditch hurrah that is perfect for the bonfire. There are so many emotions, maybe you are looking forward to a new beginning at school or are longing for that summer love. Some are old favorites, and others are new gems. I hope you enjoy! Green Day- Wake Me Up When September Ends The Kinks- Summer's Gone Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes- 40 Day Dream Regina Spektor- Eet Belle and Sebastian- It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career Hustle Roses- Alive The Airborne Toxic Event- All At Once Fun.- All At Once Save Ferris- Come On Eileen Cold War Kids- We Used to Vacation The Killers- Runaways Amy Winehouse- Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Radio...

I know exactly what I am doing this Christmas day. After opening gifts, visiting family, overstuffing myself on roast beef and snickerdoodles, I am heading to the movie theater and watching  Les Miserables!  I have been in love with this story since I saw it at the Forrest Theater in Philadelphia back when I was in middle school (so, needless to say, a very long time). The music was enchanting, it moved me to tears, and still does to this day. The book, written in 1862 by Victor Hugo, tells the tale of love, poverty, loss, and redemption during the French Revolution. The story centers around Jean Valjean and the people that he encounters. The novel begins with him being released from prison for stealing bread. He ends up meeting Fantine, a working woman, who must give up her daughter Cosette, who is raised by Valjean as his child. We watch Cosette grow up, and fall in love in the midst of war. We watch Valjean battle for his freedom and escape his past against prison guard J...

TGIF!!!! Everyone survive the week mostly intact? Time to celebrate! We also have another reason to celebrate, Autumn is here! On September 22nd at 10:49 am to be exact :) Sooooo, we have two choices on this lovely Friday. Enjoy the last day of fun summer drinks (hint: go under the label "what's in your cup" for a bunch of great recipes- the link is at the bottom of the post). OR say, who needs to wait until tomorrow, I need to start my fall drinks NOW. If you are in the second group (I know I am!) this list of a few fall drink options is for you (Next month I will post more Halloween themed drinks- keep an eye out!). - Woodchuck Pumpkin Private . I was obsessed from the first sip. If you need to locate it, you can on the company's  website . It is a limited release, so grab it quick. And, it is naturally gluten free! -Another easy to grab off the shelf drink: Dogfish Head Punkin Ale . Back when I was a gluten consumer, this was my favorite fall drink. It is brew...

Saturday is the first day of Fall!!!! If you are anything like me, this is super exciting. Autumn can be a lovely time of year. The leaves are turning, the air is crisp, pumpkin coffee is at every corner shop, and Halloween is bringing out the kid in everybody. It is a great time of year to really appreciate what your local area has to offer- or travel (kids are in school, so it's not a prime time) to a place a bit more hoodie-friendly for those in the warmer climates. Wine trails - These are not just for Napa. While the best wine may come from more distant locales, much of the United States is covered in grapes. Wine trails are a beautiful, and delicious, way to sample some local vintages and get gorgeous views of the local area. A simple Google search of "autumn wine trails" has brought   up such diverse states as Ohio, Michigan, and Connecticut. Delaware is offering a wine AND ale trail, and York County Pennsylvania has many trails to explore. There may be seasonal w...

Yesterday, I posted about  blustery days are great for creating .  I wanted to follow up with my endeavor (and prove to you, my beloved readers, that I do in fact practice what I preach. I had a large sun/moon drawn out, and I finally accomplished it. It really was quite easy to knock it out with the wind whistling at the window. So cozy, and lets you get in the zone. Here is the final product! The original painting is available on  Etsy! Now, if you would like a print of the painting instead of the original, those are available (for a much more wallet friendly price!) at  Zazzle I hope you had just as much success creating! You can follow my art, recieve blog updates, and other cool facts at  https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyWallsArtAndDesign

The rain is falling, the wind is whipping, the clouds are swirling... Fall is here. No one wants to go out in this weather. Yet, just lying in bed all day isn't productive. So create! Everyone feels some sort of way on gloomy days. So why not make it something beautiful? Write an open letter to that someone (take out the names and publish if you dare!), work something out on the guitar, or put brush to canvas. I'm working on a new painting I call "dance in the light" (sorry, no sneak peeks!) I am expanding into oils and plan on going far with this theme. So exciting! What emotions do cloudy days bring out in you, and how do you express them?

I apologize for the lack of posts. I promise to start back soon. Personal issues. Whatever.... it gave me inspiration for tonight's post, and I won't die, so it is all good :) Tonight i just needed to veg. I made the room look like a fall paradise. Orange twinkle lights, candles illuminating pumpkins and skulls, beautiful scents wafting through the air. A few bites of Halloween candy. It is mid-September, time to get the party started. The only thing that would make this better is a caramel apple. *I will be posting MANY fall decorating ideas, getaway ideas, movies, play lists, wine and drink and food ideas over the next coming weeks. In addition to my best resting gown and comfy Egyptian cotton sheets.   I don't think I need to recommend any, but if you haven't made the switch, start here:  Anyway, I absentmindedly let the last six episodes of Revenge  sit on my DVR. What was I thinking? The deception, the absolution, the CLOTHES. I think I watch i...

"Delicious Autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive Autumns." - George Eliot Amen, sister! What a lovely time of year! A lot of great activities are starting this weekend that make for perfect Autumnal enjoyment. I am currently working on compiling staycation ideas for the fall, and destinations for those that need/want to travel to get the full experience.  In the meantime enjoy the weekend, and top it off with some cider! Apple cider is wonderful for the whole family. Enjoy it cold, or hot with a dash of cinnamon. For the more mature drinks, add 1 part Jameson for every 4 parts cider (hot or cold!)  TGIF!  Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  George Elio t

Today, we reflect on the 9/11 tragedy. No one will ever be able to wipe those scenes from our eyes. America was shaken to its core. But, we had resolve. We flew our flags higher. We smiled at people passing by. We were not going to let the terrorists take us down. Sadly, so many have forgotten what we learned on 9/11: unifying the American spirit. The government and citizens have turned social and political discussions into "teams" and shout as if they are watching NASCAR or wrestling. We spread lies and propaganda as truth. We don't look at issues, it is a preconceived propaganda vs the rest, all with the tenacity of ford vs Chevy. We twist the truth to fit us, and ignore informed debate. We use hyperbole and accept it as truth. That is not the country our men and women died for on 9/11 and in the resulting wars. So, in memory of today, let's reflect not on the towers only, but what has happened since and what each of us can do to fix it.

With Autumn on the horizon, we are turning our attention to more seasonal drinks.                                          For many, pumpkin lattes are the new fall tradition. They are simply delicious blends of coffee and cream and pumpkin spices. I can't really put into words just how delicious these are. The most popular places to get one are Dunkin' Donuts. It comes hot or iced, if you still have warm temps. One warning, it is very sugary- so either drink with moderation or forgo the whipped cream time to time (Gasp- yes, I know! But we don't want to be as round as a pumpkin when the season is over!) For regular coffee, Dunkin' Donuts does offer pumpkin k-cups for a limited time, and those I recommend highly. I just bought my first box and I am hooked! A must have for any Keurig owner (and really, who isn't?)! If you want information on purchasing a Keurig (it wil...

I spent 1 week canvassing Facebook and Twitter asking this very question. Not "what is the best", but if you could only watch three EVER. And you had to respond quickly. There were many different tactics people used to come up with their personal list. I received many "I'll get back to you-s" and some tried to come up with a balance of movies, while others knew exactly why they chose what they did. It was a fun exercise. We have all read the best lists that tell us what movies are great based on who the director is or historical importance. This list describes what really hits home for the most. For example, @adimike55 on Twitter said: Pinocchio (first seen), Casablanca (have to watch beginning to end every time), Life of Brian (fall over every time I watch). He picked with sentimentality and taste. Some people completely disregard the "classics" and post simply to what makes them feel good. For example @DeannaI23  on Twitter  laughed that sh...

We can all agree, nothing quite beats a perfectly chilled bottle of Moet. When people think bubbly, they most likely think class, celebrations... accessories? This is not a new phenomenon, but one that is intriguing. If you frequent hotel mini-bars or the spirits shelf of an upscale cafeteria, you may have have stumbled upon Sofia. This is sparkling in a can. Yes, sparkling wine in a can. This fun refreshment comes courtesy of the Francis Coppola Winery. Yes, that Francis Ford Coppola. It is quite delicious, and the pink can and accompanying straw make it a great conversation piece. I have been a fan for several years now.  How feminine! I recommend you pair it with dark chocolate Toblerone! The extendable straw I was a bit surprised, though, to find this next piece in the sparkling aisle. I guess it is popular because there was only one left. Say hello to Hello Kitty Sparkling Wines . Yes, you read that correctly. I ALMOST bought the bottle, but decided agains...

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain This goes for everything.