Thankful Thursdays!

This week I'm grateful for:

• Receiving 2 snail mail goodies: "The Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet" book and for my Bogus Recycled Rough Sketch pad! So much better than bills! lol
• Dads wanting to spend time with their kids cuz I got a weekend of pure adult time. :)
• Places like Cattleman's that can grill up the best steaks in existence. Oh... was just like heaven.
• Doodads and gadgets that can photograph my insides
• Divorce settlements! YaY!
• Sketching time... always gives me the warm fuzzies
• Eyeglasses because my Mini Me can see so much better
• FB-- because I can vent and laugh all day if I feel like it
• My beautiful red crossover ♥
• Financial reaps!
• The invention of the internet because it's become a quick source of information
• Technology... it's simply amazing
• Strangers who kindly leave me comments on my blog and pics

"He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have." ~Socrates

 

Camping 101

Green, originally uploaded by Eclectic_Endeavours.

Today's blog is dedicated to those that would like to go camping for the first time, those that camped as kids but haven't camped since and those that love camping. I'll be providing a few checklists on camping equipment and supplies. Keep in mind that it can be tailored to suit your needs. All of these big ticket items can be found at: Academy Sports + Outdoors, Big 5, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop, Walmart or Kmart.

If you're planning to go camping for the first time, the following is a list of MAIN things you'll need to shop for:

• A durable and easy to set up tent
• Tarp (To place underneath your tent. Keeps it cleaner and less bumpy if there are rocks)
• A mallet
• Coleman Metal Tent Stakes (are the best in my opinion)
• Sleeping bags
• Lantern (Propane powered or battery powered)
• Two-burner Stove and Grill
• Propane Tanks (2-3)
• Camping Chairs
• 5 lb Water Container (Water from here is used to wash hands, face, brush teeth)
• Ice Chest (preferrably 2... one for your food the other for drinks)
• Table (There's some that fold in half for easy storage. May consider using 2: One for eating on and one for cooking on.)
• Firewood (easier to purchase ahead of time than to scrounge for some later)
• Matches
• Camping Coffee Maker (super essential) lol
• ICE
• Food and Drinks
• First Aid Kit (You never know)

Additional items to add to your list that can be found at home:

• TP (super duper essential)
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Pots, pans, spatulalalalalas, tongs (I like to use the tephlon type for super easy cleaning and re-using)
• Coffee mugs and cups (May not need cups if you take bottled water or sodas)
• Forks/knives/spoons
• Paper towels
• Paper plates/bowls (for cereal)
• Hand Sanitizer
• Clorox wipes
• 2-3 Dish cloths (For drying dishware after cleaning it, drying hands, storing knives)
• Dish scrub
• Dish/Hand soap
• Trash bags
• Broom/Dust pan (To sweep out your tent from whatever may have trailed in)
• Sunscreen
• Insect Repellent
• Flashlights (Glow Sticks for kids are fun)
• Toothbrush/Toothpaste (Completely essential!) lol
• Clothing
• Shoes

Luxury items (non-essential):

• An air mattress
• A port-a-potty
• Hand warmers
• Radio (distracts from natures own sounds)
• Power Generator
• Camera (Although this is SUPER essential for me) lol

Things to know:

• Make sure you keep your trash bags away from your tent (in case animals decide to snack while you sleep).
• Make certain your ice chests remain closed or your ice will melt quicker.
• Leave your campground BETTER than you found it. Which means, pick up all trash and take it with you to the nearest dumpster.
• Take an extra set of clothes to change into once you're done packing up to leave. This can be messy.
• Attire for camping depends primarily on the area you'll be camping at. If there's a creek, then you might consider taking water shoes and a bathing suit. If there are trails, you may want to take your hiking boots, hiking stick and backpack. If it's super cold at night, take extra warm clothes.
• S'mores are also an essential part of camping, so don't forget to purchase big white fluffy marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. :)
• Most importantly, respect Mother Nature. :)
  
  

Cuties!!

Cuties!!, originally uploaded by Eclectic_Endeavours.

Yay! I got another snail mail surprise last night: Bogus Recycled Rough Sketch by Bee Paper. :) Thanks to Karen Blados for the info on where to purchase the sketchbook. Found HERE. Ok ok... so not so much of a surprise since I placed the order, but nonetheless, it was a warm fuzzy moment.

I did "borrow" Karen Blado's drawing style on my first test run to see if I could pull it off as well as she does. I think I got pretty darned close using my son's Twistables Color Pencils. LOL This just means I'm going to have to dig out my color pencils from storage and go to town on this new paper.

Downside:

• The sketch pad isn't the size of a Moleskine.
• I press too hard with color pencil so I decided to tear out the sheet from the sketch pad before drawing (which means loose papers flowing). Why? Because then you leave an embossed pencil drawing/ghost drawing on the sheet(s) underneath.

Brightside:

• I can make my own art journal with the new sketch collection by folding each sheet in half.
• Ordering from DickBlick from the comfort of my own home. lol
• Devouring the Cuties was part of the fun!

The Story of Us

Today's rant is brought to you by House. lol

Why is it that not everyone gets what it means to love or show love? They say they love but it's not your definition of love. Co-existing isn't love. Amazing sex isn't love. Lack of interest isn't love.

It seems that I haven't, yet, learned the lesson I need to learn because I end up in the same cycle. Different person, but the same theme. The same response, "Nothing I do for you is ever good enough." Well no. It's not.

How hard is it to show the little things? To take time to read my blog. To show interest in what I'm creating. To ask me about my day. To actually listen and save the information in your mind. To respond to texts or links. To appreciate and show respect. Guess it's pretty darned hard for some. Oh, but if something is "wrong" all of a sudden, that's when they're scrambling to find out info. That's when my blog is read. That's when my texts are responded. That's when bouquets appear. That's when. I don't get it.

The other day I was listening to the song "Grenade" by Bruno Mars. It's a really sad song, if I do say so myself. The guy is willing to risk his life for an unrequited love. It's pretty dumb, too. Seriously. You know this girl doesn't love you the way you love her. So, move on. But, it's never that simple. It's the battle between your heart and mind. I'm not at the Grenade point in my life. I was at one point, but all of the burn that's gone on has completely numbed me. I am, however, constantly in the heart vs. mind battle. I'm routing for the mind.

Illustration Friday -- Layers

Here's another little ode to Starbucks. This week's topic was: Layers and what a better way to show layers than to illustrate their Caramel Macchiato. :D

I cut down on my coffee and tea intake and have elected to drink Starbucks 1-2x a week. I normally order myself a Soy Chai Tea Latte (Iced or Hot), but this week the Caramel Macchiato worked as my "Layers" illustration. And heck, it's pretty tastey, too! :D

Next week's topic: Swarm

Retro Sweets

Do you remember the days of Bazooka bubble gum, Garbage Pail Kids collectors cards with gum, Wax Lips, Tiny Chiclets, Candy cigarrettes and the Big League Chew? The other day a FB friend of mine was wondering why they didn't make the Peach flavored Jolly Ranchers anymore; which are also one of my favorites. I searched online and found that they're sold in a variety package called "Passion Mix" at my local Albertson's. Yay!

I still have my collection of Garbage Pail Kids cards stored away at my mom's. lol Hey! Maybe they're worth something!

So, I began to reminisce about my middle school days when I'd stop at the nearby 7-11 for quick and sweet deal. 5 Super Bubbles for 25¢! What a bargain! I haven't seen the Apple Super Bubble in ages. Once in a while I'll stroll down the candy isle looking for this particular brand and flavor and hadn't found them until now at Retro Candy Online.
*sigh* Now I get to remember what my first French kiss tasted like. True story. lol

Thankful Thursdays!

It's that time of week again! :)

• I'm grateful to have medical and dental insurance for myself and my Mini Me
• I'm grateful that there are new advances in medical and dental technology
• I'm grateful that my current job gives me extra funds to use for medical purposes like getting my Mini Me glasses for the first time
• I'm grateful EVERY DAY for having a reliable vehicle that I love :)
• I'm grateful that my divorce settlement is almost over
• I'm grateful that the X and I get along so much better now
• I'm grateful my tax return came in and was enough to pay off some debt
• I'm grateful to have a quick witted, loving, understanding and intelligent son
• I'm grateful that my Mini Me's dog, Brina, is always happy to see me
• I'm grateful to be able to take personal time off to get myself checked out
• I'm grateful to Wendy's for having some tastey salads (The Apple Pecan Chicken Salad and their Baja Salad are soooooo good)
• I'm grateful that my job is finally keeping me busier during the day
• I'm grateful I have a new sketchbook arriving via snail mail
• I'm grateful to still have money in the bank and more coming my way
• I'm grateful to be able to go to "The Bank of my Mini Me"; even if he charges 10% interest :D
• I'm grateful that I'll get to pay him back next week. lol
• I'm grateful for homemade oatmeal that magically appears most mornings ♥
• I'm grateful that I can make my Mini Me's birthday wish come true.... soon :) (He wants to go to Yosemite National Park)
  

• I'm grateful to have a Mini Me that loves the outdoors as much as I do
• I'm grateful that my Mini Me thinks I'm the best artist there is; even if I tell him there are tons of others that can outdo me in different areas of art ;) He'll say, "No, mom. You're still the best!"
• I'm grateful to be able to dream and have so many goals that I still want to accomplish ♥

"Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty." ~Doris Day