Planning A Thoughtful, Healthful and Artful New Year

Oh my it is 2013!
I am not resolving to strictly change, but giving more thought to sharing my blog and my "thoughtful, healthful and artful life" on a more regular basis, as well as being more thoughtful, healthful and artful myself.

Maria painting "en Plein Air", Killens Pond State Park, Delaware
November 2012



In fact here are some tips I want to share.  Setting goals and aspiring for self-improvement can be set anytime during the year.  Although the measurement of achieving a goal over time needs a starting point such as the first month of the new year. (So I do not want to call our goals and expectation for 2013 - New Years Resolutions.)
 
Make a strong commitment, but aim for a realistic result.  Believe in yourself.  Know in advance that you can really accomplish what you want to achieve.  Share your goals with a friend you can trust.  They can help you be accountable. Being aware that someone else knows and may ask about your commitment may also keep you focused. Have a vision of how you will see yourself after achieving the resolve set at the start. Focus on that sight.

Make realistic expectations.  Don't set the result too high, which creates failure in advance of success.  Do give yourself an achievable challenge. 

Write down your goals.  That always makes them real.  They are a concrete reminder of what you want to create. Keep a brief list in areas where you spend time.  These notes keep you aware of your goals during busy times of life.

Plan out your goals.  Plan how to achieve the end result.  How will you get there.  Have a plan.  Make a rough outline by the week and month to help with you achieve the goal. (Example:  I have outlined topics to share with you by the month.  Now I can research each topic and create a post when complete.)

Be flexible in achieving your goal.  Being too rigid can be confining.  You may need time off from the challenge.  From time to time your goal may not fit into your free time, vacation, home life, or a crises.  Allow time for some distraction or excuses.  And don't punish yourself.  Each day is a new day to allow for life's challenges and success.

Conclusion:  Be the best person you can be.  Think positive, be positive. Take time to take care of your own self, so you can also take care of others.  Be the example, not the follower.

To summarize my own goals:  To create a balance in my life of health, thoughtfulness, purpose, thankfulness and creativity.

Stay tuned for for more about my goals and new topics I will share along with "Maria's Artful Life":  Recipes & Food, Gardening, Natural Home Living, Organizing, DYI, Health, Shopping (favorite products), Sewing & Fiber Arts, Creativity & Art, Plein Air Painters, Design, Simple Living and Saving Money.



January 2, 2013 Sunset

Go forward, one step at a time and "Peace Be With You",

Maria Liberto Bessette



My Daily Paintings & Cannoli Cheesecake - Oct 5, 2010

A Painting a Day, Is It Possible?  Why not!  Can Do!:  What a challenge, but what fun.  It is possible and I have started and completed a daily painting in my studio.  The challenge is staying focused and working quickly. I use small canvases and choose subject matter to create a series within that theme.  One advantage of painting small works is to be price the art affordably.  The customer can't say, "I really don't  have a place to hang this wonderful art."

Living is coastal Delaware with access to the sand and sea is a blessing, especially when choosing beach scenes to paint.  I am also fascinated with the many colors of sky and formations of clouds, dawn and dusk variations of color.  There are days I just drive and stop along the way to take photos of cloud formations, sky colorings and many other scenes we normally are to busy to focus on.

Here are two of my daily paintings:

                                             "Blue Sky Cloud"                    "Autumn Sky Beach"

  Two of Maria's Daily Paintings

   

Plein Air Painting:  Another similar quick style painting is Plein Air Painting:  Plein Air is a French phrase that translates "in the open air". Plein air is pronounced plan air or sometimes plane air. This term is used to describe artworks that have been created chiefly outdoors, rather than in the studio. Photo reference is not used.

The roots of plein air painting

Are found In 19th-century Europe John Constable and the Barbizon group near France. With the invention of portable pigments artists took their sketch books in hand and travelled outside to paint and draw nature on site. They're efforts combined laid the ground work for the Impressionist Giants, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Winslow Homer, Camille Pissarro, and John Singer Sargent. Who challenged and revolutionized the truth of the eye, form, light and color.

     Plein air's popularity has been aided by the development of easily portable painting equipment and materials

Plein Air Tuesday:  My friend Donna called to ask if I would like to travel off to the Easton, MD area to join one of the Plein Air-Easton Groups.  A location is previously arranged where artists will meet to paint on location as guests of the owner of the property.  Everyone paints from 9 am to noon then gathers together to compare and critique the art.  It is very interesting to see the the comparisons, compositions and painting technigues. 
     But on Tuesday morning we decided it was too wet, after 2 days of raiin.  After all we would probably end up with our ankles covered in mud.  Maybe next Tuesday???????????

Another Recipe from Weight Watchers & Maria:  If you love cannoli and cheesecake you will love this recipe.  Easy to create, but allow enough time for it to firm up.



No-Bake Cannoli Cheesecake

16 amaretti cookies, coarsely crushed

1/4 cup unblanched almonds, toasted and chopped

1 envelope unflavored geletin

1/3 cup cold water

1 (8 oz) pakage fat-free cream cheese

1 (15 oz) container part skim ricotta cheese

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup fat-free Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup thawed fat-free whipped topping

1/3 cup mini simisweet chocolate (I used 1 square of baking chocolate grated)

Spray a 9 inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Mix together the cookies and almonds.  Reserve 2 tablespoons.  Sprinkle the remaining crumbs over the bottom of the pan.  (I added 2 tablespoons melted butter, pressed into the bottom of the pan and baked for 5 min at 375)

Sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a small microwavable bowl, let set 5 min.  Microwave on high 45 seconds, stirring until gelatin is dissolved.

With an electric m ixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth.  Add the ricotta, sugar, yogurt, orange zest and vanilla beating until blended.  Beat in the gelatin.  Refrigerate the mixture 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Fold in the whipped topping and chocolate chips.  Spoon over the cookie mixture and smooth the top.  Refrigerate until set, at least 5 hours or up to overnight.  Sprinkle the reserved 2 tablespoons cookie mixture of top. Decorate with thin orange slices and mint.

Per serving:  1/12 of cake:  191 Cal, 4 Points

From:   Hit the Spot recipe book by WeightWatchers

# # # # # #

Another artful day comes to an end!

Best to all,

Maria L B

Consider Them Finished - Sept 21, 2010

3 Finished Paintings - Seriously!  Up early the last few days and a good time to apply another layer of paints to speed up the process.  Working with oil paints can create a lengthy completion of a painting.  Although Plein Air Painters create paintings in one session, sometimes in 2 hours.  But of course the drying time of thick paints will be considerable.  I framed the art with 2 frames I had on hand and 1 that my husband had created for me out of the barn board.  Hook & eyes, wire, and a backing completes the painting, but does take more time. 

I did forget to take images of the completed and framed paintings. Today was the deadline to deliver entries for the Food, Farm & Foliage Art Exhibit.  So delivered they are and on time.  I will take photos to post to this blog during my next trip to the Delaware Agricultural Museum. Stay Tuned

More Artist Talk:  It was another great day for me.  It looks like the Holly Branch will have a successful exhibit.  The number of professional entries, by individual artists will fill the South Gallery. To accept art for the exhibit, meet the artists and discuss their many different art experiences keeps the juices flowing.  We all have information to exchange with other artists.  That is one thing that is great about coming together as artists.  It makes organizing an exhibit so worthwhile. 

My Olive Oil Handcrafted Soap:  Did you know I use all natural ingredients, such as olive oil, Castor oil, soy oil, coconut oil, sea salt, spring water and natural essential oils for fragrance?
My long lasting, moisturizing and extra foamy soap is great for your skin. We make bath soap for men & women, kid's fun soap, men's shaving soap & pumice hand soap, doggy soap, laundry soap and more.  We real soap cakes, tarts, muffins, etc.  Great for party favors, and gifts.  We have many repeat customers and a great inventory of soap creating a heavenly scent wherever you go in my home.  Please check out our site:  coastalcottagesoaps.com.  Shipping is currently free for any orders Below is an image of a group of our products.

Maria's Recipe Produced Today:

Apple-Oat Muffins

The shredded apple adds moisture to the muffins. You'll find that the batter fills the muffin cups more than most recipes, but it shouldn't overflow in the oven.

Yield:  1 dozen (serving size: 1 muffin)

2 cups shredded peeled McIntosh apple (about 3/4 pound) (I used chopped peeled Granny Smith)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (8-ounce) carton plain low-fat yogurt (I used light sour cream instead)
1 large egg
Cooking spray
CALORIES 190 (19% from fat); FAT 3.9g (sat 0.9g,mono 1.1g,poly 1.5g); IRON 1.5mg; CHOLESTEROL 20mg; CALCIUM 96mg; CARBOHYDRATE 34.6g; SODIUM 238mg; PROTEIN 4.5g; FIBER 1.9g

Maria's Apple Oat Muffins

Adapted from myrecipes.com

Can't wait to have the muffins and fresh cantelope in the morning!

Sweet Dreams,

Maria L B

 


  

Preheat oven to 400°.
Place apple on paper towels; squeeze until barely moist. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine the flour and next 6 ingredients (flour through cinnamon) in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture. Combine milk, oil, vanilla, yogurt, and egg; stir well with a whisk. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Stir in apple.
Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove muffins from pans immediately; place on a wire rack.