Thursday, October 27, 2011

Making Homemade Dog Bones!

Who doesn't love the classic throw it in the air and catch it trick!?
I've always wanted to make my own dog biscuits but it's always just been on that list of things I want to do....
So I took action the other night! My mom borrowed me some bone cookie cutters over a year ago, and I finally used them! I hopped onto google and looked up some recipes at this website! Buddy LOVES peanut butter so...
I started with this SUPER EASY recipe:

Peanut Butter Goodness Dog Treats

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups white flour
1/2 cup peanut butter (all-natural or organic if you have it)
1 cup water
2 tablespoons oil 

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Combine oil, peanut butter and water. Add flour, one cup at a time, forming a dough. Knead dough into firm ball and roll to 1/4 inch thickness.
Roll out the dough and cut with your favorite cookie cutters and 
Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.


Buddy is SO flippin smart, I told him I was making him some bones... he was so excited with anticipation! He kept sniffing the oven.
We also made this recipe since Biggie loves carrots!

Veggie Bones Ingredients:

2 3/4 C. Flour
2 Tbls. Bran
2 Tsp. Baking Powder
3 Tsp. Minced Fresh Parsley (good for doggie breath)
1/4 C. Shredded Carrots
1/4 C. Shredded Cheese (your choice--mozzarella, cheddar)
2 Tbls. Olive Oil
1/2 Tsp. Flaxseed (optional)
1/2 C. Water

Directions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Mix together parsley, carrots, cheese and oil. Combine the dry ingredients separately from the veggie mixture. Slowly add 1/2 c. water and mix well. Dough should be moist but not wet. Knead for a minute.

Roll out dough to 1/4" thickness. Using cookie cutters of your choice, cut out shapes and place on baking sheet.
Bake 20-30 minutes until biscuits have browned and hardened slightly. They will continue to harden as they cool. Store in an airtight container once throughly cooled.

He patiently waits...





















Spoiled golden at this house!

Monday, October 24, 2011

What do you like?

I found this video while ago and I may have even mentioned it before but it was brought to my attention again through the World's Biggest Summit!
It's SUCH a great reminder to focus on the good, and it'll make you smile!
So here's your assignment for the week! (It's super easy I promise!)
I want you to start your day off each morning this week focusing on all the things you like! Cheese city? It really works, I promise!
Do it before you start receiving message on your phone, from the TV, emails and every other source - your family, your co-workers, whatever and whoever! As a society we are constantly bombarded with NEGATIVE crap. And by starting your day with positive things I think we can change our attitudes!
Laugh at yourself, seriously, it's fun!
Don't want to scream it at the mirror? Think of everything you LIKE while you are taking a shower...
Here goes...
I like my house! I like my husband! I like my family! I like my dog! I like my hats! I like my coats! I like my art room! I like my art supplies! I like my backyard! I like the park by my house! I like to walk the dog! I like the outdoors! I like to hug trees! I like life! I like my car! 


Okay... so that's everything? You're out of things to like?


No way! Keep going, go deeper.


I like America! I like my church! I like my friends! I like water! I like that my fridge has lots of fresh food! I like cheese! I like coffee! I like Minnesota! I like to cook! I like to walk! I like to eat! I like to do yoga! I like to spend time in Duluth! I like my best friend! I like blogging! I like you!
Positivity Train coming through...
Yep! I have the biggest smile ever just thinking about all these things I like!
Call it a gratitude list, call it a pep talk! Call it a cheese fest! Call it what you will... just do it. Today and every day!
Let's make things shiner and brighter!
Nat





Sunday, October 23, 2011

Sunday Sketches

Today I'm participating in the Sunday sketches - over at Sophia's blog. I finished this the other night and wanted to share this SUPER COOL BLOG with some other artists! You upload your picture to flicker and then Gemma Correll chooses the one she likes, and features them on her blog. What a cool idea! I LOVE IT! Hope you are all enjoying your Sunday!




This was my outfit on Thursday, one of my favorite fall outfits!
I discovered it from Kaitlyn's blog she is such a talented illustrator and inspiration!
Have a beautiful day,
Nat

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Nature Inspiration!

I have had no time to create and my art room looks like a massive BOMB went off!
But I just wanted to share some of the beautiful things I've seen in nature recently that I think you might adore too! God is just such an amazing artist! Damn there's so, so much beauty in this world.. I get excited just thinking about it! So much to be thankful for, just to be living and breathing and have the opportunity to go and explore the beauty in my own state - the beautiful Minnesota!




There's my eagle. Showing up always right when I need that positive push, that yes from the universe... I see one of these beauties! I saw 7 eagles on my 3 day trip this time! WOW! What animal keeps showing up in your life or dreams? 





OMG! This is where I could just flip and have a bird! Freak! I freaked out when I saw this dried up moss hang from the trees! It looks like the Grinch got caught in the branches... Seriously!?! BEAUTEOUS! STUNNING! LOVE! Is it just me? Or are you flipping too?


And the MOSS?!! I want to lick it, or hug it or squeeze it... Something?! I am just so, so so in love! So inspiring!

Find something in nature that you think is beautiful too! Look in your own backyard. I LOVE doing this... it makes me appreciate what I have right in front of me every day!


Lots of love,
Nat

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Face Your Fears

I'm growing.
I'm facing my fears.
It's been so hard for me to be tough, to be real, to stand up for myself.
In college I had a good friend who gave me a rock that said Face Your Fears.
My biggest challenge.
How can it be so hard to stand up for ourselves? To have strength and courage.
I've learned that sometimes doing the hardest thing, is really the best thing.
That sometimes our biggest trials, our biggest losses are the ones that REALLY change us, help us grow and teach us the most!
There is joy and relief and happiness in my heart as I face my fears lately.
I encourage you to face your fears whatever they may be.
What do we have to loose? 
Stop and REALLY think about that question.
Don't judge yourself, or let anyone else's opinions or judgements affect your choices.
You can face your fears! And the joy and rush you feel when you've faced that fear... AMAZING!

Story TIME!
A couple of years ago my husband I were driving up the North Shore, we got to the Temperance River. We got out to hike around. The huge rocks that have formed the landscape near Lake Superior are amazing! The rivers and streams that reside along the lake are so beautiful, they cut the large boulders and rock forming beautiful cliffs.

My husband is the guy jumping off the boulders and cliffs. Yea. He's Army, he's strong, he tough, and so freakin' brave! Me - nope, not happening. NEVER.
I think we balance each other. He pushes me, and I hold him back when he needs it. (even though he probably doesn't like it) After hiking around for awhile we decided to swim,(hubby talked me into it) it was late afternoon and the water was cold. We met some girls from the area who were going to swim up the river and it's rapids into this rock cave where a big waterfall poured into this huge hole, that had formed from the beating of the falls. They invited me and hubby. I was terrified.
I can't.
I won't.
I hate swimming.

I'm not brave.
It's too scary!
These amazing girls talked me into it.
I resisted... telling them "I can't, I'm not a strong enough swimmer!"
Yes you can they chanted! "We'll hold your hand, we've done this so many times... we're from the area! We know where all the big rocks are and we can make a chain link to help pull you up and over the rapids if you're not strong enough." I was freaked. They kept calling to me "Come on, really you can do it, we'll help you!!!" My husband the thrill seeker was ecstatic that these girls were urging me on! His eyes just lite up and he was ready! He getting in on the encouragement too. 
He didn't think I was going to go for the idea.
Somehow I think the word "Fine" came out of me?!
I was scared shit less!
The anxiety was so overwhelming, it felt like an out of body experience. I couldn't believe it was happening. I wasn't a strong enough swimmer. BUT together the four of them got me up the rapids and into the rock cave where we all stood under the powerful waterfall. My legs were jello. How did I get there? The noise was so loud - even while shouting we could barely hear each other. I did it, I couldn't believe it.
I faced my fears. I was alive... and I did it! 
We carefully and strategically got back down and out into the calm lake-like pool at the bottom of the river where we started. When my feet finally reached the earth, just sheer joy and excitement! We were freezing and I was shivering. I don't think we even had a towel! I was amped, excited, blissed out beyond words. When we got back to the car, we turned the heat on and my body finally relaxed.
I gushed with hunny about what I had just done! Could he believe it? I couldn't!


Within minutes I was out, out like light.


The rush of adrenaline had taken everything out of me.


Everything.


And, for me (probably not for most people) this was a major fear to face!
What's your biggest, scariest fear? Maybe you don't even know really what it is that your afraid of. That's okay.
When you feel that resist, you feel that fear, the No, No, No - you can't, won't, couldn't shouldn't... TRY IT.
Take a risk. Even if you hate risks.
Look inside you, and prove to yourself that you can do it!
I'm working on being brave, and as scary as it is...
It's changing me and I'm growing.
And it's good.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Featured Artist: Mariah at Me on Life Designs!

While at the Skyline Art Crawl this weekend I met some cool artists and so I wanted to share with you some of these neat people. I really believe we all have so much to share in this world. Every person has AMAZING gifts to share. And getting to meet other artists fills me with so much joy! No matter how far along each artist is in their artistic career, we can all learn from each other, AND inspire each other! Meeting artists and sharing our passions is what lifts us up, helps us grow and keeps us creating.
  So.... Drum roll please!
Bdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd!
Meet Mariah at Me On Life Designs!
This brilliant artist has an Illustrated card line of stick people with sayings that make you smile, laugh out loud and inspire. I love the simple clean lines with the 'pops' of color!
  They're whimsical and funny! Mariah had such a bright smile and as soon as we started talking, we instantly connected. I love it when that happens! She has a store on her website at MeOnLifeDesigns.com
These clever little cards were definitely a hit at the show! I absolutely LOVE her work! Her creativity just shines! Please go check out her store and share with anyone you think you might enjoy! She also does custom cards for that special occasion or special person! What a great artist to support! She's got a great story about how these came about as well on her site! I love her original first 10 that inspired the cards.
HOW CUTE ARE THESE!? Love, love, love em'!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Fall Color Love


   What a beautiful fall weekend here in Minnesota. These are the weekends we live for... 70 and sunny! The fall colors were just glowing and dancing! I had a fun weekend showing at the Skyline Art Crawl. I was a little disappointed in the turn out, although I met some really cool artists! And jiving with other artists is SO inspiring! Talking to others about my passion and hear them talk about theirs, is so exciting!
  I felt bad that I missed out on Saturdays weather other than a quick evening walk with Bear. So today I went on a long walk with Bear and explored some trails off the trail we normally go on. Nature revives me, it is so alive. With out I don't think I could exist. The sun, the plants, the animals, the sky, the air, and sunshine, fills my heart and makes my soul dance. It's no wonder I dream of living somewhere closer to nature. If ever I need to fill my heart and be reminded of what I have to be thankful for, nature does it.
  The colors are so dreamy... I hope they last awhile. I can't believe how quick fall snuck up on me, it feels like beginning of September, not October. I'm super exhausted from the show and need to go get some tea and climb into bed. More on some of the cool peeps I met soon! Stay tuned. Much love to you...







Happy Fall!
Love,
Nat & Bear