Week Nine 2011

Just when we thought that fresh new Spring was here to stay, and that old man Winter has gone away - we were greeted by brisk winds and thunderstorms with occiasional tornado sirens filling the air. But yet, the trees have begun to blossom with the promise of warmer weather around the corner.

Amazing how something old, can be new again. When asked to write a quick article about Kids Workshops for an internal newsletter, I realized that even though two of our grandsons have lived here for over a year I haven't taken them to experience this fun activity. So, here's  'My Favorite Picture of the Week', taken at the local Home Depot where our daughter also works.

So, what you ask is new this past week?

• A new series of First Friday Art Walks at the Marietta Square began on Friday, March 4th. It was very chilly, really on the verge of 'cold' for us southerners - so the turn out wasn't as good as one may expect.  I began my evening at my favorite shoppe Limelight, where I shopped for a gift for a dear friend and found something that describes her to a t. (no pun intended).  Angela and the boys then joined me for a trip to Lizards & Lollipops where you'll find lots of retro toys at a reasonable price. Elijah had to have the yellow school bus, while Nathan opted for Pop Rocks. And I have to admit that I had a moment of weakness and chose a small 'Gumby and Pokey' for myself. One more shoppe and we would be on our way.... off to Doodlebugz, a quirky little shoppe with lots of fun stuff. I can't tell you yet what I got there as it is for my Darlin' and there's an ever so slight chance that he may read this. Keep in touch with what is going on at The Marietta Square, and remember, 'It's Hip to be Square'.

         

 

• The next stop after The Home Depot this past Saturday was Hair by the Square for a brand new 'do'. I trust Deborah so much that I let her have free reign with my hair style, and I think that she does a fantastic job. This one's really short. She cut off so much hair that I feel light headed - ha-ha! If you ever need a 'new do', stop by Hair by the Square and tell her that Pink sent you. (another story - another day!)
• I discovered (new to me!) two online newspapers, during this past week as a result of meeting new friends via FB. The Back Street Beat and Bold Spicy News both covered jams/performances by local Atlanta musicians. Always interesting to read what is documented about performances one was present for.   If you're new to the Atlanta area, and are a musician or just someone who appreciates great music - there's plenty to be had. 

This weekend was the first of a new era for Robert and me. Robert had this weekend off, which is the first weekend of the rest of his life off. You see, he has four more days until retiring from his job of over 28 years. Time for a change - rest assured that he, and we will be doing  alot more 'new' things starting in 4-3-2-1 days! 

Until next week - find something, do something NEW!   

Week Eight 2011

Reflecting on the past week as I sit here in the ATL with the doors to Margaritaville wide open, and Christmas lights giving off a soft glow. I know that as soon as I utter the words out loud, that Spring has sprung, a freeze will come in the night to prove me wrong. So I'll just give thanks quietly for the beautiful weather we have been blessed with.

My 'Favorite Photo of the Week' was actually taken last week, but as sometimes happens I am a bit behind in editing. This one was taken at The Marietta Square in Georgia while hanging out with the boys, our grandsons Nathan and Elijah. If you look closely, just to the right of the pole, you'll see my favorite shoppe on the Square, Limelight. Make sure to stop by if you are out and about in Marietta.

So, I took my new book, Still Mostly True by Brian Andreas to work as I mentioned last week and here's what happened....

So what's new?

• First Friday Art Walk at The Marietta Square - This is a free self-guided tour is creating an art scene renaissance on the Historic Marietta Square. Along with more than 30 merchants hosting artists in their stores, this year's First Friday Art Walk will feature  Artists' Alley: intimate exhibit of juried artists showing wide variety of styles Artist's Alley: located in Dupre's Antique Market,  Artists will also give demonstrations around Square.
  
  
  Art Walk maps, which denote what locations are featured and what artists will be spotlighted that evening, are available at each participating merchant, at the Marietta Welcome Center & Visitors Bureau, located near the Square and online. You can choose your own route or start at the Art Walk headquarters tent in Artist's Alley.
  
  Visit various merchants and Enter a raffle for chance to win $100 gift certificate redeemable at any participating merchant on Square . The Historic Marietta Trolley will run a free shuttle service from 6-8 p.m. to make it easier to get to all the Art Walk stops. Trolley stops: marked by flags around Square, can be found on Art Walk Map
  
  Parking is available on the Square, in the Mill Street lots, and free parking is available in the Mill Street lots and the Cherokee Street parking deck. First Friday on the Square and the Art Walk will be held rain or shine, and admission to the Art Walk is free. Handicapped parking is available.
  Mark Your Calendar for these Upcoming Dates April 1st - May 6th - June 3rd - August 5th -September 2nd - October 7th. There will be no First Friday in July, as Marietta celebrates America's independence in the Park.
  
  For more information about First Fridays and the First Friday Art Walk, visit artwalkmarietta.com. To stay informed about everything going on at The Marietta Square, go to The Marietta Wine Market to sign up for their weekly newsletter. Now you all have my secret! This is truly how I stay in touch, and now you can too!

• Paint in the Pods - First show of the year for Women in Focus at the Sundial Restaurant at the Westin in downtown ATL. Join us on Wednesday evening, March 9th from 7-9pm for the opening. The view is breathtaking from the top of the Westin (73 stories), where you can enjoy the photography of WIF members and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. The show runs through April 30th, so you've got time to check it out if you don't make the opening. I dropped my piece off this afternoon - hope to see you there!
• I've been learning alot of new photoshop tecniques by checking out the Matt Koslowski  seminar via Peachpit Photo Club. They have a library of past seminars that are 1 hour to 1 1/4 hour long that you can watch for free. Even better you can download these lessons for future viewing at time that is more convenient to you (and when you may not have internet access). I learned about these on one of my very favorite blogs, Weekly Photo Tips. Make sure to check both of these out.

New adventures!
We are 11 days away from a new adventure. Robert has enjoyed his current job, but is anxious to begin a new chapter of his life. We'll start with a visit from Noe & Brayden, then a visit to Savanah the following week. I excited for him.... and me!

Until next week, go out and try something new!

Week Seven 2011

Wow! Great week for 'new' and 're-new'!

My 'Favorite Photo of the Week' is of two of my favorite guys, Nathan and Elijah. Now keep in mind that I have several favorite guys, including Robert, my Dad, Brayden, Mike, Chris, Tommy, Sky.... but these two just happen to be accompany me to The Marietta Square today.  Just to set this up, Elijah is always the clown and Nathan is now a self-proclaimed model after he watched a certain episode of the show 'Big Time Rush'.

Wednesday marked new beginnings for one of our favorite venues, Darwin's. If you're not familiar with Darwin's, it's been one of the best Blues Bars here in Marietta/ATL for many years. We were all disheartened when it closed several months ago. There's just something about this hole in the wall that endears so many. A new owner/operator Christopher Robinson has re-opened Darwin's and another of our favorites, Larry Griffith is hosting a Blues Jam every Wednesday beginning at 8pm. (Click here for a peek inside)

I've told you about the 3/50 Project in previous posts, so I'd like to share my fabulous February finds with you. I'm also sharing the 3/50 Project with my favorite local retailers/venues to see if they want to participate to drive more of our residents to shop right here at home in Marietta.

• Necklace of carved bone, and bracelet of copper wire & findings from a Ecologie - Trendy Consignment in Kennesaw at the Town Center Mall. 
• A funky Kelly Rae star ornament from Limelight at The Marietta Square.
• A new book (to me) titled 'Still Mostly True' by Brian Andreas from Limelight at The Marietta Square.
• Big bottle of Aquage Working Spray from my favorite hairdresser Deborah of Hair by the Square.

As soon as I picked up the book by Brian Andreas, I remembered the two that I had purchased years ago. Trusting Soul and Strange Dreams. Short little stories or sayings that provoke thought and correlation back to one's own life. I joke with friends that I don't like books with words, but rather pictures and find that my favorite books/authors do just that. The list is short, but the possibilites that are evoked through pictures and the written word are endless.

• Life is Good - Simple Words from Jake & Rocket - I keep this one on my desk and let my friends choose the page to leave it open to. (also purchased from Limelight at The Marietta Square.)
• Eat Mangoes Naked and Succulent Wild Woman by Sark - These books look like they're written by a first grade student with colorful markers. Lots of picture drawing and thought provoking exploration of ourselves, pushing the limits to become who we want to be. Check out her website - it is awesome!
• Still Mostly True - by Brian Andreas - I think I'll take this one to work too!

A couple of new places that I checked out this week, are too exciting not to share with you!

• Tucci's is an exciting new Consignment Shop of in Kennesaw of eclectic furniture and home decor. They've even got a stop light that I've got my eye on!
• Then there's Sugar Plum Visions, a shoppe that can create any cake you can imagine. My friend Margret K swears by them! We'll be trying them out soon.

And the biggest new News is that Robert has turned in his resignation and will be embarking on a new life in a couple of short weeks from now. It's time..... A quote from the Still Mostly True book by Brian Andreas sums it up.

most people don't

know there are

angels whose only

job is to make sure

you don't get too

comfortable & fall

asleep & miss your

life

Until next week my friends....

Go try something new!

Week Six 2011

This post is a week late, but certainly not forgotten. I had no idea that anyone was actually following regularly, but was reminded during lunch with a few of my dear friends that I missed last week. Time just 'slip-slided away' from me, but I'm back!

So, my 'Favorite Photo of the Week' was taken back in December, while driving from Nashville to Memphis. Robert & I had just attended my sister Mary's Memorial Service the day before and made a spur of the moment decision to go to Memphis the following day. This pix was taken from the passenger's side through an open window while Robert was driving. Just another reminder that Mary is safely in His Hands now.

Sometimes if we don't document our lives along the way, it gets lost in the everyday routine. Luckily, I am pretty good at capturing a slice of life at least a couple times a week. So, I search my hard drive and FB for memories gone by to find the new things I've done to share with you.

When a co-worker said to me, "I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress", I replied, "You right." Not sure what got in to me that Friday morning as I stood in my closet wondering what to wear.... I think I heard that great Chico's dress calling my name, saying "What the heck Sheri, try something new!" And so I did....

And so what did I learn that was new to me? Well, there's an awesome site, The 41 Nicest Photoshop Photo Effects, that I learned about at Weekly Photo Tips blog. I tried the cartoon effect on a photo of Robert, which came out so-so. I'll need to refine some of the settings, or try it on a photo of a face only. Regardless, it's a fun photo.

And on Saturday, I helped my Darlin' Robert with something new. Together we wrote his resume, something that he had not done in 28 plus years. It's ironic how 28 years of hard work can be summarized into two short pages. It's even more strange that those two pages have the power to change your life into a something entirely new!

All in all, Week Six was a good one... from smiley faces drawn in the ice of my car window on a snowy day, to planning for new beginnings.

Week Five 2011

Being a bit under the weather this week has put a damper on my 'new' activities, but I'm giving it my best shot here.

My 'Favorite Photo of the Week' is titled, "It's Millie Time". Millie is my dear friend Donna's Mother, who lives with her and Marvin. Millie is an artist by trade and a fabulous, sassy woman by the grace of God. I clicked with Millie the first time we met a few years ago and haven't spent near enough time with her. She may be moving back up north soon, and I will miss be able to pop in to see this dear, sweet, witty woman.

As I roamed on Facebook this week, an ad for the Atlanta Bucket List popped up and I began to think about what mine would look like. I came up with the beginnings of my list, some of which I have already done, knowing that it will be ever growing and changing. So, my 'new' of the week is beginning 'The Bucket List'.

1. Learn to play the congas
2. Learn to dance the hula
3. Go to Hawaii in 2011
4. Build (or have built) Makalani Studios website
5. Adopt a child in Africa in honor of my sister Mary Ellen
6. Write a song
7. Dye my hair black (done 11/2010)
8. Sell a photograph (done 2009)
9. Drive a vintage car
10. Buy our house
11. Build a sandbox big enough for four
12. Learn to paint - a painting - not a room ;-)

Then I thought, shouldn't a Bucket List be more than just a list of things? Shouldn't it represent what we aspire to be?

Learn something new - A small, yet very kewl Photoshop tool that I learned is that brushes are not just for painting anymore. Check out both the photo and the list above to see what fun brushes I downloaded from Brusheezy for free!

Until next week, take care and go do something new!

Week Four 2011

What a difference a week can make. Last week I noted that it seemed many had cabin fever and were anxious to get out of the house. There were as many, if not more out and about this weekend, but for a much different reason. It was an unseasonably warm 70 degrees! Even as I sit at the bar in Leilani's Aloha Lounge at 5:30pm on Sunday with the doors wide open, it is 69 degrees. Thanks to the Big Man for this break in weather as it is very much appreciated.

My 'Favorite Photo of the Week' is an amusing one. Our house is united in love and often divided in Football. In this picture you'll see two of the main factions represented for the game this past week between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. And as we all know, the Packers were victorious, so we'll be rooting for them on Super Bowl Sunday..... or will we? We also have family representation in Pittsburgh....

So, what's new this week? 
Learn something new -
I just watched a 45 minute review of CS5 by Terry White that I learned about on the Weekly Photo Tips blog by Scott. I've already been using some of the new Photoshop CS5 tools that I learned a couple weeks ago, but learned more about refining edges and using the healing brush with content aware to take out telephone lines as well as power cables on a stage.
Go somewhere new -
Robert & I went to Vinyl, a fun venue in Mid-Town, to see The Lefty Williams Band this past Friday.  
Treasure Hunting for things new to me -
For those of you who really know me, you already know that I am a huge fan of thrift and antique shops. Everything old is new again..... So, as I left the nail salon on my way to Hair by the Square to pick up a bottle of my very favorite hair spray ever - Aquage Working Spray, I stopped in at the Thrift Center on Roswell Rd across from the First Baptist Church. Something was calling my name, as I historically haven't had much luck there. As I walked in the door, directly to my left was a booth, 'Retro in the Metro' in the process of being set up. Imagine my delight when I saw this 'Therm Ware' carafe by David Douglass and four retro cafeteria trays.

Signing off until next week. What wil you do that is new?

Week Three 2011

What a busy week this has been! Seems as if many had a case of cabin fever from the crazy weather last week, evidenced by the multitude of people everywhere you turn.

So, this week's 'Favorite Photo of the Week' was quite accidental as the boys (our grandchildren Nathan - 6 and Elijhah - 4) were hanging out with me on a lazy Saturday morning. As I sat at the computer editing the photos from the prior evening, Elijah leaned over the back of the couch chatting with me and I simply couldn't resist picking up the camera.

So now on to what's new with me this week. I've always been a big supporter of local business, but am now formally committing to The 3/50 Project. The premise is to spend a total of $50 each month with three local, indepent businesses to save our local economy. For anyone who really knows me, this is already true of my habits, but I want to encourage you, my friend, to consider committing to The 3/50 Project as well.

Marietta Square (GA) is by far, my all time favorite place to 'hang out' and what fabulous places there are to shop and eat! Oh, and let's not forget entertainment, there's plenty of plays, live music performances and movies too. My January 2011 3/50 Project purchases are:

• Love this Life t-shirt from Limelight on the Marietta Square
• Necklace from Go Fish on the Marietta Square
• Funky child's step stool/chair circa 60's or 70's from A Classy Flea

Until next week, consider the challenge presented by Craig Tanner of The Mindful Eye. "Being now who we want to become."

Week Two 2011

There's been many photos this week to choose from, but this one has to be my 'Favorite Photo of the Week'. Snow began falling on Sunday evening here in the ATL, and we woke Monday to a winter wonderland. This picture was taken on Tuesday afternoon in back of our house. Such a small lake, manmade at that, with a large dose of beauty. If you look closely, you can see the kids old and young alike having fun in the snow.

And what, you may ask, have I done 'new' this week? I am so excited to have learned a few new functions in Photoshop CS5. To those of you who know this program, it may not seem like a big deal. To those of you who don't know Photoshop, let me amaze you with these magic tricks!

• Content Aware - lets me (OK, and others too) remove cymbals from in front of Jonathan's bass and telephone wires from in front of a building. Whoa!
• Smart Objects - keep their original resolution/pixels. I just hate when I lose them, and this will help prevent that.
• Puppet Warp - sounds kewl, huh? This one will let you curl the trunk on an elephant and take the muffin top off of your jeans.

Excuse me while I go to my Photoshop Playground......

Week One 2011

So, here we are at the end of Week One, and you may wonder how I will start my 'New' list.  Well, I missed out on the ever popular 365-Photo-a-Day, so I thought that I would begin my 'Favorite Photo of the Week' collection.

This first one was taken on a Thursday morning, January 6th while my grandsons were getting ready for school. In these days of electronic games and TV, it warms my heart that children still play with stuffed toys and weave stories to go along with them.

Aloha until next week, when I shall post another 'Favorite Photo of the Week', and something 'New' for Week Two......