Amazing Artists

Sorry I haven't been blogging lately, I've been SOOOO busy! I have been researching artists to study for art class and found some AMAZING paintings that I think you guys will enjoy.

 
Source:
http://www.art.com/products/p10018557-sb-i874128/salvador-dali-soft-watch-at-the-moment-of-first-explosion-c1954.htm sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=5000126&ui=c8402bf599ba4e95b4b510411d4df167

This painting is by Salvador Dali. It's a melting stopwatch. Pretty crazy right?



Source:
http://www.art.com/products/p12528310-sb-i1890317/michael-cox-stargazer-lily-watercolor.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=5060077&ui=c8402bf599ba4e95b4b510411d4df167

This is a painting by Michael Cox. Believe it or not, it's a watercolor painting. It looks real, don't you think?



Source:
http://www.art.com/gallery/id--b175712/beach-scenes-posters.htm?ui=C8402BF599BA4E95B4B510411D4DF167&WT.cg_n=Search+Ahead&WT.oss=Beach+Scenes

If you're thinking, "This is not a painting!", you're right. It's photographic print. This relaxing image was taken by Walter Bibikow.


Source:
http://www.art.com/products/p14093385-sa-i2802474/terry-eggers-palm-trees-and-beach-chairs-florida-keys-florida-usa.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=175712&dimvals=175712&ui=c8402bf599ba4e95b4b510411d4df167

Look how white the sand on this beach is! This photo was taken by Terry Eggers.

I love to make fruit smoothies, and  I found some recipes that I really want to try.

Fruit Smoothies

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2006

Prep Time:

10 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

--

Level:

Easy

Serves:

6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 bananas, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 pint fresh strawberries
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 cups crushed ice

Directions

In a large-capacity blender combine all of the ingredients and puree until smooth. (Alternatively, puree in batches if necessary.) Serve the smoothies in chilled tall glasses.

Copyright 2012 Television Food Network G.P.
All Rights Reserved

I found the recipe above at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/fruit-smoothies-recipe3/index.html

Creamy Blackberry Smoothie

January 22, 2010 · Filed Under Dessert Smoothies, Fruit Smoothies, Strawberry Smoothies· 9 Comments 

Photo Credit: sreelus

Okay, I realize creamy and blackberry don’t usually go together but that is what smoothieweb.com is all about, mixing flavors and textures that don’t always come to mind. This blackberry smoothie is worth the risk. Let me know how you like it.

Ingredients:

• 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream (a good start, yes?)
• 1 1/2 cups of frozen blackberries
• 1/2 cup of strawberries
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp lime juice (for a tart kick)
• dollop of whipped cream

Blend until you can’t wait and then add the whipped cream.

Tags: berries, blackberry, blackberry smoothie, ice cream, lime, lime juice, milk,smoothie, strawberries, vanilla, vanilla ice cream

I found the article above at: http://www.smoothieweb.com/category/dessert-smoothies/

If you're a smoothie-lover like me, www.foodnetwork.com is a really good resource for you. This website offers recipes from well-known celebrity chefs, such as Paula Dean and Emeril Lagasse.
I found the website where I got the second article from, www.smoothieweb.com, today and it offers a ton of different recipes! Whether you're looking for a healthy, protein, dessert,or regular fruit  smoothie, they're all here!

Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery's album Clear as Day

       This name may or may not sound familiar to you: Scotty McCreery. If you watch American Idol, you know that he was the winner last season. Right now, you're probably thinking: American Idol has already begun airing its next season! Why are you just know talking about Scotty? Well, I know I'm a little late, but when I made my blog, I knew that I would have to write a blog post about him. Scotty is a country singer, and he wowed the judges with his deep voice, despite the fact that he was only 17 at the time. When he won American Idol, he released his first single: "I Love You This Big". This single is now available on his debut album "Clear as Day", which came out on October 4, 20ll.
My favorite songs on this album are:
1. Water Tower Town
2. Dirty Dishes
3. The Trouble With Girls
4. Clear As Day
5. I Love You this Big

There are plenty of other great songs on "Clear As  Day"! Go to iTunes and buy it now!

MOVIE REVEW

      Yesterday, I went to the movie theater and saw Joyful Noise, starring Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Keke Palmer, and many others. 

     The movie is about a small town that has fallen on hard times. A local church competes in the national "Joyful Noise" competition, making it the only thing that keeps the town going. However, when Vi Rose Hill becomes the new choir director, the rivalry between Vi Rose G.G. Sparrow gets even hotter, making it hard for the group to get along. This movie features romance between two teenagers, fantastic performances, and talks about the hard times that many people are going through today.

      I  loved the movie and walked away feeling grateful that God has blessed me so much. While there is a lot of comedy, this movie still teaches an important moral. No matter how bad things are, if you trust God everything will be okay in the end.

This movie is rated PG-13 and has some adult language and short kissing scenes.

My First Book Review!

         

  I've been referring to myself as a "bookworm" , but I haven't  talked about books yet. I think it's time for me to write my first book review!
           Andrew Clements has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read his book, The School Story. I recently finished reading his book, Troublemaker (I read it in a few hours. It was REALLY good!), making it the perfect subject for my first book review!
            Troublemaker is about a boy named Clayton Hensley. Clay is a well-known troublemaker at his elementary school, but he only does it to impress his big-brother, Mitchell. However, when Mitch tries to smack some sense in him and makes him promise to do better, Clay is shocked. His brother had always been a prankster, but now he was trying to turn himself into a good role model. Clay tries to keep his promise, but is constantly tempted to cause mischief by his old buddies. Will Clay succeed or let his brother down? Read the book to find out!

My Opinion: 

• What I like best about the book: My favorite thing about this book is that it is entertaining and funny, while teaching a very important moral about how the decisions you make now affect your future.

To learn more about Troublemaker, by Andrew Clements, visit:

http://www.andrewclements.com/books-troublemaker.html

Already read Troublemaker? Here are some other books I think you might like:

By Andrew Clements:

• The School Story
• Lunch Money
• The Report Card
• No Talking
• Lost and Found
• Extra Credit

My Room

            I really want to re-do my room, but it's SO hard! My sister is in college and I share a room with her during the summer. With two twin-sized beds in my room, there isn't room for a lot of other stuff. My parents recommended that I get a trundle bed. I agreed, but now I don't know what to do with the stuff under my bed! Right now, my room is pretty boring and I spend most of my time in my living room. I tried re-arranging some of my furniture, and I even thought about taking some of the furniture out of my room. Most of the furniture has to stay where it is because of where my closet and the windows are located. I need all of my furniture to stay in my room for storage purposes. I just don't know what to do! If you have any ideas, please leave a comment below!

Here's a few of the organization tips I found online:

Source: http://www.hgtv.com/kids-rooms/8-kids-storage-and-organization-ideas/pictures/index.html
Use all the space you can for storage!

Source: http://www.hgtv.com/kids-rooms/kids-storage-and-organization-ideas-that-grow/pictures/index.html
hgtv.com says, quote:

Show It Off

Let's face it: Kids are natural collectors. So, it only makes sense to give them somewhere to stylishly display their stuff.

Please Snow! PLEASE!

I REALLY WANT IT TO SNOW THIS WINTER! Where I live we hardly ever get snow, and if we do it doesn't stick. With Spring coming in  almost a month and temperatures already in the 60's, I'm not confident that my wish will be granted. The only bad thing is that if it snows on a weekday, we have to make up school on Saturday or get a day taken out of Spring Break. Still, it would be so much fun to play in the snow!!!

Here's a cool picture I found on: http://www.beechmtn.com/blog/events/february-18-snowman-building-contest.html

EA Sports Active 2

     I have a Nintendo Wii, and my mom has been looking for an exercise-related video game ever since I got it. I recently found a video game that the whole family enjoys: EA Sports Active 2. The video game comes with a heart rate monitor (which goes on your arm) and  a monitor attached to a leg strap. The two devices track your movement so that you are not constantly holding the Wii remote. You have option of starting out with a six-week introductory program, or you came jump right to setting up your personalized fitness program. There are a variety of activities to choose from, including: basketball, skateboarding, running, biking, soccer, and football. You can also choose from several  different stretches. One of my favorite things to do is jump rope,   which the game calls skipping. It really gets my heart pumping!
    The game also comes with a flash drive so that you can track your progress online. All you have to do is set up an account, upload you workout files that are saved on the flash drive after each game play, and your all set!
Interested in EA Sports Active 2? To learn more about the game, visit:
http://www.easportsactiveonline.com/fitness-games/ea-sports-active-2/wii
It is also available for Xbox 360 and Play Station 3

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

     Last night, I wanted to throw some Pillsbury cookies in the oven, but I was disappointed to find that we didn't have any. I REALLY wanted chocolate chip cookies, so I decided to look up a recipe. My mom and I had never made home-made cookies before, so I was eager to try. We made a mess, but I had a lot of fun! The cookies turned out great, this recipe is definitely a keeper.
Want to try the cookies for yourself? Here's the link to the recipe:
http://www.food.com/recipe/nestle-toll-house-chocolate-chip-pan-cookie-108248?scaleto=5&mode=null&st=true

Cute Baby Animals!

I LOVE to Google 'pictures of cute animals'. The images really cheer me up! Some pictures are just so cute that it'd be a crime not to share them. Enjoy!
I also found a great website for finding pictures of baby animals and learning more about them. Check out: http://animal.discovery.com/guides/baby-animals/baby-animals.html

Baby Porcupine
Picture found on: http://www.funnycoolstuff.com/2010/11/08/baby-porcupine-story/


Baby Bunny
Picture found on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oh-joy/152684209/


Beagle Puppy
Picture found on: http://dogs-cats.wikia.com/wiki/Beagle


Kitten
Picture found on: http://wondrouspics.com/cute-kittens-pictures/


Polar Bear Cubs
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/baby-animals/mammals/polar_bear.html

Crazy Pet Stories

      I am currently the owner of the most adorable pet you'll ever meet, a blond Cocker Spaniel named Chelsea. She is 13 years old, but my family has had several other pets in the past. Get ready for a good laugh, I'm about to tell you some of my family's craziest pet stories!
 
Pearl
      When my older sister was in the second grade, she had a goldfish named Pearl. Pearl was determined to escape, and one night she was finally successful. Just when my sister was falling asleep, the fish jumped out of her bowl. My sister heard the splash, but didn't feel like getting up to see what was going on. The next morning, Jade found her fish lying on the carpet, dead.

Strawberry
      My older brother got his first hamster when he wad 4 years old. He named it Strawberry, because of its bright red tongue, which was always sticking out of his mouth. Strawberry was plump, mean (he always bit my brother's fingers), and lazy. Instead of running on his wheel, the hamster would lie on his back UNDERNEATH the wheel and kick it with his feet.

Ducky
       My sister named her first hamster Ducky, after the adorable character from the movie The Land Before Time. Ducky wasn't as loyal as the character she was named after. She constantly tried to escape, and eventually got out and made her way downstairs. She escaped through the pipes behind our washer and dryer.My mom heard her scuttling around in the floor vents. Ducky was never seen again.

Chelsea
      As I stated earlier, my family's current pet is a Cocker Spaniel named Chelsea. What you don't know is that Chelsea is REALLY hyper, especially for her age. Once, my aunt asked us to watch her black Poodle, Kaya. Kaya is very proper, and when she saw Chelsea racing around our living room, she was shocked. The Poodle jumped into my mom's arms, posing like a Koala Bear climbing up a tree. The expression on her face was priceless!

Chelsea