My New Obsession: Affordable Artwork

I have a new obsession, I've recently become addicted to blowing up photos for artwork in my house. I mean artwork can be really expensive! I'm all for supporting artists but frankly, sometimes I can't afford their one-of-a-kind beauties. Also, if you're looking to get art on the cheap and you go the generic print route, you're probably going to get something that is in the homes of thousands of other people. So, if you want something original, you've got to do it yourself.

In the past, I've taken the time to paint some canvas artwork for some inexpensive home decor (as seen in the master bedroom) but I'm really digging the photo thing right now. With some recent Groupon deals and other sales I've been getting some cool stuff for a crazy steal!

For the longest time Bry and I have been looking for a piece of artwork to fill a spot in our living room. Last week, I took a photo through some dirty window of the Philly skyline, I was playing around with the photo and putting some cool effects on it, and all of a sudden it was this colorful, funky abstract piece with a little nod to Philly. So, I shared it with Bry and he was all gung ho about it, and said we should order it for our living room. Gallery Direct was having a 45% off site-wide sale (can you believe that? It's madness), so we got the 33" x 33" custom framed piece for $130 (regular price $235)! Looks like the sale is still going on...

Sweet Potato Soup with Chicken and Avocado

I heart sweet potatoes, and I heart soup. Therefore I just had to make this soup (per usual, it was inspired by a recipe found on Pinterest: Sweet Potato Soup)

It's very simple really and very very flavorful. 

My Week in Photos 4/15 - 4/21

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1. There is nothing better than a margarita with freshly squeezed lime juice, even though it's a major pain the ass to do. 

Am I More Attractive Than I Think?

Has everyone seen this recent video from the folks over at the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty?

If you don't feel like watching the whole thing I'll give you the quick summary:
Part 1: Women were asked to describe their face to a forensic sketch artist (he couldn't see them), he sketched a portrait based on their description. 
Part 2: Strangers were asked to meet the women who had been sketched. Each stranger then described the woman's face to the same artist and he drew a portrait based on their description. 

My Week in Photos: 4/8 - 4/14

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1. Many mornings on my way to work I stop at Green Line Cafe on 15th Street. It's quite an adorable little shop and they brew some delicious java. One morning last week, I got a dud of a cup. I kept finding coffee rings all over my desk and couldn't figure out what the heck was going on! My leaky cup was a pain, but I still enjoyed my coffee. 

Caesar Salad with Lemon Caesar Dressing and Garlic Croutons

Sometimes I just crave a good caesar salad. By good, I mean one with homemade garlic croutons, a dressing that's not too thick or mayonnaisey, and flavorful chicken or shrimp to top it off. I'm lucky to now work a few block from Fuel, which boasts healthy food that is not made by a machine (their terminology, not mine.) A friend of mine recommended that I try their caesar because she really liked that the dressing had a lot of lemon flavor and wasn't very thick. So last week I ordered up a caesar salad with chicken for take out. I was really happy with the salad, the size was good for a lunch portion, the dressing was amazing and the chicken was flavorful. 

Well a few days later, the craving struck again and I figured instead of spending $10 on lunch, I'd just go buy the ingredients and make a delicious caesar salad myself. 

I wish I could share the dressing recipe with you because it was really flavorful but the truth is I just kind of winged it. I looked up a bunch of caesar dressing recipes and just kept adjusting it until it had enough lemon flavor and the right consistency. But I'll outline the process for you below anyway. 

Sorry for the blurry cell phone pic

Bedroom Decor: Where the Magic Happens

I'm one of those people that is never done decorating a room. I believe that as time passes, tastes change and a new home decor project can breathe life into a tired living space. With that being said, we moved into a new place almost four months ago, and I can finally say that I'm at near-completion with the master bedroom. 

In our former apartment, our bedroom was small and created some tension between BryGuy and I. My closet was located in the bedroom (his was in the living room), but my closet was really tiny, so things had a tendency to spill out onto the floor, which wasn't a good look. We also had somehow managed to fit two unmatched dressers into the small bedroom, one which held a television, so we were also jointly sharing the surface area of one dresser. The situation was no bueno. 

My Week in Photos: 4/1 - 4/7

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1. I needed some color and decoration in my office at work so I stopped into Lowe's and picked up this lovely little succulent arrangement. I'm obsessed with succulents. I was looking for something a little larger, but they had a limited selection, so I'll be looking for a few more plants and decorations to spruce the place up. 

Why Women Can't "Have It All"

Generations of women (and men) fought for our rights; rights to vote, to own property, and to hold public office. And many are still fighting today for other women’s rights like equal pay, or the right to choose what we do with our own bodies. You might be thinking, “Marissa, you really don't think women can have it all?” Correct. I don’t think women can have it all. But more specifically, I don’t think ANYONE can have it all. 

Even Oprah, with her solid gold toilets doesn’t “have it all.” I’m sure Oprah gets stressed, frustrated, and sad sometimes too, maybe she even has regrets. Who knows? 

This pressure that women feel to be the perfect mother and spouse, and simultaneously climb the career ladder and become a high-powered executive is unattainable. It leads to disappointment, guilt, and stress. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you can’t have a family and a career, because you absolutely can, but in order to be fulfilled and happy in both of those arenas, there are sacrifices that will have to be made. In other words, you can’t be two places at once, so focusing on work means you might miss your child’s soccer game, and quality time with family means that you won’t be at work. That’s just the hard facts. 

My Weeks in Photos: 3/17 - 3/31

Oops, I totally forgot to post my Instagram photos last week! Here they be. 

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1. My husband and I took a fun little Saturday Trip to the Philly AIDS thrift shop, and this lovely piece of artwork was in the children's toy section.