Boyfriend wrote a book - pre-order it here!

 I made the cover, hopefully the publishers will use it. 

Boots! Boots! Boots!

February is the best month to buy boots because they are all on sale! Seriously I bought a pair of fifty dollar black boots from J.C. Penney's for $14! I have actually been pretty excited over J.C. Penney's re-branding. The prices are great, the style is pretty up to date and I think that they are marketing to a younger demographic. I usually always find something in their stores that I like which used to be a rarity.




I also found a great deal on a pair of Timberland Earthkeepers boots at a mall in Pittsburgh. These waterproof leather beautiful boots run around $160, and I picked them up for $34! Check out your local Shoe Dept. for more savings!

Jewelry and Metals

Spent way to many hours out side of the studio to complete this Tardis Bookmark. It was my first time working in metal so I was pretty excited for how it turned out. 

I also had some professional pictures taken of a piece from the 2012 trashion show. Unfortunately, the photographer did not capture the dress as it had looked in real life. It contained LED lights in the plastic gown and the back was made of the same circular disks as in the front.

Happy Valentines Day!

We celebrated our 7th Valentines Day together.

I failed my juice fast :(

Well I failed on my 5 day juice fast and only made it three days...It is a lot harder then I thought it was going to be. I started going out so strong, I even thought I would make it to 10 days but by Wednesday I was weak, and all I thought about was food. I Started this morning with an amazing grass green super food smoothie. I am going to juice from now on  to make sure I get the nutrients that our bodies need everyday, and maybe try another fast during spring break when I am not in class.

day three

My third day juicing has been the hardest so far. I'm hungry and I want real food. I spent my morning on Chocolate Covered Katie looking a all the delicious healthy deserts. I don't know what I was thinking because its all I can think about is homemade Oreo pancakes and chocolate cream pie. I am barley  choking down  a kale, lemon, apple, cucumber mint juice hungry and DON'T want to go to class. I skipped 2 yesterday  because of he nausea, so I would recommend juicing on spring break. Maybe I will do it again over break to keep clean.


And I failed.... Dinner came and Alex wanted to go out... so I caved in. I was so hungry, but it was more of a mental hunger. I did eat 90% veggies and 10% rice all of it would have been juiced anyways... so

day 2 so far.

I'm a little angry today, mostly because my juicer broke. I had to buy a new one because my fridge is full of fresh produce that would go bad if I don't juice it soon. Today I was feeling really nauseous and couldn't drink my savory tomato, celery, parsley, carrot, red pepper, garlic juice…. I broke my fast and went for some cashews because I thought I was nauseous do to hunger. I l called my dad and he explained that it was “Toxic Hunger” that I was feeling. Which is basically withdraw symptoms that our body experiences as it detox’s. My Dad sent me this video about Toxic Hunger. After I felt better I got myself out of bed and went back to the store to buy Skyfall. 

Today has been harder I definitely want some tasty food. It sucks that I can't have any Valentines day candy on Thursday. I told my boyfriend I wanted flowers instead. 

^grapefruit mojito 

Day one of juice fast

I wanted to start my morning normally so instead of drinking a cup of coffee I went for some pomegranate green tea, and caught up on The Carrie Diaries.  I’m not really sure about this show yet, the first few scenes of the show got me all worked up because she lost her mom. In the continuity of Carrie Bradshaw her father left her when she was young, and I think it played a big part in shaping her relationship with men (her daddy issues with other men like Big.) I am starting to try and think of the show as not a prequel to Sex and the City but a show about a girl in high school with crazy Carrie hair who hasn't lost her virginity. Maybe they will make this Sebastian Kid character really screw her over and mess up her relationships with men.   I started with a Red juice 1/2 medium beet, 2 fresh carrots, 1 apple, ¼ lime and I topped it off with a little water to make the glass full.  First impression – It was good at first, and then the after taste hit me like a mouth full of soil. I decided to chug and it really did get better, like my pallet became accustomed to it the longer I drank.  I felt like Dwight when he invented his beet juice energy drink. My second juice at 10 am was orange #12 carrots,1/2 lemons, juiced1/2 Cucumber1 inch knob ginger, juiced (optional)1 orangeAgave nectar to tasteThis juice was really refreshing and is going to be so good this summer.  

Energy level/Feeling: Normal, I was surprised that I wasn't tired or cranky. I felt full most of the day and when I got hungry I craved that feeling with some water until my next “feeding.” I finished my night off with the cashew milk recipes which called for soaked cashews, agave nectar, ice, cinnamon and water in a blender. I read that a fuller smoothie will help you to sleep though out the night and keep you from getting hungry while you sleep. I didn't want food so much, only when I saw my boyfriend eating it, I hear the bag of potato chips rustling and my mouth is watering . . .  I did have a little nausea after drinking the cashew milk. I feel asleep fairly early – definitely quickly, which is good because I usually lay in bed for a few hours until I fall asleep. I woke up this morning and my juicer broke!!!! I was very angry but I was not going to quit so I went to Walmart and bought a similar one by GE. The juice the GE makes is very pulpy so I’m kind of disappointed but its going to have to do for now…  

The Loot

Ban the beige with this rainbow juice fast!

My dad has been trying to cure his type 1 diabetes for the past 2 months with diet and has had some success. He has a extremely rare autoimmune disease where his body rejects any insulin he puts into it. His doctors basically told him that there is nothing they can do, that "bad things happen to good people." This along with my grandmothers recent death from cancer, I have been particularly concerned with my long term health goals.
A few months back I watched a documentary on Netflix called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" and decided I wanted to give juice fasting a shot. I bought the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor 67650 and Joel Fuhrman's book "Live to Eat" (a recommendation from my father) then started researching juice fasts. I noticed that the juice recipes I was looking at were  broken down by color and decided I wanted to include the whole rainbow in my fast. So six times a day I will drink each color from the rainbow.

Ms. Lyss Rainbow Fast

Eating all the colors of the rainbow will help you to achieve some of the highest levels of vitamins and antioxidants from each meal. These Functional foods (foods that provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition) are often grouped together by their color.

The benefits of drinking nutrient dense colors.
Orange/Red foods include beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body .Red foods May reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and complications from diabetes.Orange fruits and vegetables are vital for maintaining healthy reproductive and neuro/endocrine systems

Yellow foods contain lutein, magnesium, and Vitamin C and limonene. This Functional food is loaded with many antioxidants and phytochemicals
which help promote healthy function of the liver, gall bladder, pancreas as well as other vital organs and the nervous system.

Green foods have a long list of nutrients including: potassium, dietary fiber, folate, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin C. They are loaded with many antioxidants and phytochemicals which help promote healthy function of the liver, gall bladder, pancreas as well as other vital organs and the nervous system.

Blue foods contain Flavonoids which are beneficial to our health because they may contribute to the maintenance of proper brain function and blood flow.

Purple foods tend to contain essential phyto-chemicals and fatty acids which are beneficial for the cerebral cortex, pineal glad, hypothalamus and upper brain function, as well as the lymphatic system.

White foods like most dairy products contain vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus are good for bone health.Other white foods that are rich in sulfur and quercentin
strengthen the lungs and large intestine.

Now lets work on banishing the "blah" beige!

shopping list:
kale
cucumber
celery
apples
lemon
ginger
parsley
agave nectar
beats
carrots
romaine
pears
banana
pink grapefruit
mint
lime
pineapple
cashews
romaine
pears
blueberries
blackberries
cabbage
pomegranates
spinach
oranges
coconut juice
almond milk
-------------------
total cost $87

when to drink: Every two hours

 8am  10am    12pm   3pm       5pm         7pm
 red, orange, yellow, green, blue/purple, White


I made tons of different options so that every day and every meal I will be exciting!

red #1
Beetroot juice
1 beet
2 big carrots
1/4 lemon
1 apples
1/2 inch fresh ginger


red #2
1 beets
2 carrots
1 orange
1 apple - Golden Delicious, Fuji, or Pink Lady; .
1/2 stick of cucumber
1/2 inch ginger root

Red #3
- 1 beet
- 2 carrots
- 1 1/2 stalks celery
- 1 apple
- 1/2 lemon and/or inch-sized piece of ginger to taste

orange #1
2 carrots,
1/2 lemon
1/2 Cucumber
1 inch knob ginger

Orange #2
- 1/2 red or pink grapefruit
- 1 Orange
- 1/2 lime
- 5-7 mint leaves
Optional:
agave nectar to taste


Orange #3
2 large carrots
1 red bell pepper
1 medium beet
2 celery stalks

Orange #4
3 medium carrots
¼ head cabbage
2 celery stalks
1 garlic clove


Yellow #1
1/2 small grapefruits
2 juice oranges
1/3 lime


Yellow #2
½ pineapple
½ cup mint
4 stalks celery

Yellow #3
 1-2 cups fresh pineapple (depending on if you add or don't add one apple)
Optional: 1 apple
ginger (very small piece)
mint (about 5 leaves)

Yellow #4
Juice from one lemon
1 tbsp (or less) agave nectar
shakes of cayenne (as much as you can handle)
water

Yellow #5
1/2 cup pineapple
2 large cucumbers
1 bunch kale without stems (4 cups chopped)
1/2 lemon, squeezed
1/4 inch of ginger
1 bunch of mint (1/2 cup)

Green #1:
Huge handful of kale (I use about three handfuls)
1 cucumber
4 stalks celery
2 green apples
1/2 lemon
some ginger root (about an inch-sized piece)

Green #2:
Handful of kale
1 cucumber
handful spinach
half handful parsley
2 apples (I've been using Honeycrisp)
1/2 lemon
some ginger root (about an inch-sized piece)

green #3
1 celery stick with leaves, chopped
1 green apple, cored and chopped
2 large kale leaves, stems removed
1 cucumber, chopped
1/2 inch piece of ginger, chopped
handful of spinach leaves
handful of mint leaves
juice of 2 limes

green #4
1/2 cucumber
3 pears (or apples)
5 stalks kale
3 large pieces romaine lettuce
1 small lemon

Green #5
1 cup coconut water,
2 handfuls spinach,
3 pineapple spears,
1/2 lemon (peeled),
1 small green apple,
1 tbsp. ginger (fresh),
and 2-3 wheat grass ice cubes (amazing grass frozen)


green #6 (smoothie)
1 heaping cup spinach leaves
1 heaping cup chopped kale leaves
1/2 pear
1 frozen banana
1 1/2 cups cold almond milk (or soy milk or orange juice)
1 tablespoon honey


Blue #1
1 cup blueberries
2 oranges
1 pink grapefruit ( or white grapefruit for more tartness)


Blue #2
1 cup blueberries
1 cup blackberries
2 juice pears


Blue #3
2 cups blueberries
2 juicy ripe peaches


Blue #4
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 pear, chopped
1 cucumber


Purple #1
8 ounces (250g) blackberries (if frozen, thaw first)
3 ripe pears
2 grapefruits, peeled

White #1
Strawberry Cashew Milkshake, makes 1 juice (nightly “dessert”)
½ cup cashews (or blanched almonds)
1 cup water
1 tsp agave nectar
½ tsp vanilla paste
pinch cinnamon
3 strawberries
handful of ice cubes
Soak the cashews 1 hour in the water to get soft.
Blend all ingredients in a blender until frothy.


White #2
1 cup lime juice (about 10 limes), fresh squeezed
1 cup sweet coconut flakes, packed
2 1/2 cups hot water
1 1/2 cups coconut water (optional, just use regular water if you prefer)
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/2 vanilla bean, scraped (or 1 teaspoon vanilla paste)


Preheat oven to 350 F.  Lightly toast the coconut on a baking sheet,
 thinly spread out, for about 5-7 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
 Juice the limes and put all of the used halves into a bowl,
 along with the coconut and vanilla bean (or vanilla paste),
and cover with 2 cups of hot water.  Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
The hot water pulls all of the natural oils out of the lime skins and adds so much flavor.
 Strain into a blender and add the coconut water, lime juice, and agave nectar.
 Blend until just incorporated. Pour into a pitcher and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.



I will try and write everyday on how the fast is going.

Organized chaos

A peek into my sketch book (aka the inside of my head) - a way to organize the chaos.

I  am working on a Doctor Who inspired bookmark for my Jewelry and Metals class, I plan to give it to my boyfriend (Alex-an English major, and #whovian) for Valentines day.The bookmark will be two separate pieces of metal brought together symbolizing two halves of a whole. 

I also want to use the Gallifreyan symbol to represent time forever. Since im celebrating my eighth Valentines day with my boyfriend I want the gift I give him to symbolize our relationship. Showing him that he completes me, and hopefully saying that our time spent together will go on forever...Cheesy I  know...

I did some simple designs in Photoshop because the software allows me to have some what decent symmetry and proportion. Also, I can print them out and make stencils to trace on the metal.

The last design I did was supposed to incorporate a drawing compass (since im an artist) but the final results looks kind of like the Freemasons symbol which was a happy accident since the Doctor could very well be a Freemason.

The mythology of Freemasonry describes them as an international secret society "having as its principles brotherliness, charity and mutual aid," (Websters) or, as stated by Colin Wilson in his history of the occult, seeking nothing less than "the regeneration of mankind." Wilson goes on to state that the Freemason organisation has become the home of "occultists, alchemists, astrologers, and so on," -- in other words, an order of a very similar nature to the Time Lords of Gallifrey.

The Egyptian branch of Freemasonry was founded by the charlatan magician Cagliostro, and has as part of its mythology the following interesting claim (again from Colin Wilson) 'the pupils of the prophets never die... they have twelve lives, and after each, rise up from their ashes like the phoenix. Cagliostro began to drop hints that he was thousands of years old.'

It seems likely that  Doctor Who writers Terrance Dicks and Robert Holmes did some research into the real-life 'secret society' before they wrote the character. source