Drawing

The Oregon College of Art and Craft offers inexpensive Open Life Drawing Classes every Saturday morning at 10:00. This is something I discovered a while ago but for some reason I always forget about it! So I have made grand plans to attend this Saturday's open studio. It's a great resource for artists since they provide the space and model at a low cost. I am looking forward to get my creative juices flowing! I haven't worked with a live model in years so this should be fun! The photo above is of a sketch I did while attending UCLA as an undergraduate. I still remember that day fondly. Here's a sketch of an abstract version of the same figure:

I love getting to experiment with different techniques and materials to create something new and different. Sometimes it is nice to just allow yourself to be free and not over analyze every detail. This technique quickly became a favorite of mine. Here's another example:

I apologize for the terrible photo quality. These were taken when I was still in college, and clearly wasn't concerned with editing. Yikes!

...

Thoughts on Puppies

I love dogs. Like really truly love them. My voice turns all high pitched and squealy when I see one and I become instantly happy. Oh how I want a puppy of my own!!!! It would make me so happy I wouldn't know what to do with myself! Except smile and smile and smile until my cheeks hurt so bad that I can't possibly smile any more.

Let me introduce you to Bear the Bernese Mountain dog. My super awesome husband found him on The Daily Puppy for me. Yes, my husband loves me very much. He sends me puppies he thinks I will love every day from The Daily Puppy. I am pretty much the luckiest gal ever.

Meet Bear:

I KNOW!!!!! He's the awesomest. He also solidified the fact that I want a Bernese Mountain dog. Do you see those giant paws? And fluffy head? AND THAT TONGUE just peeking out!

Look how sad he is. It's because I'm not there to play with him. Don't be sad Bear! 

Yep, my heart just melted into a big pile of goo. 

Thank you puppy owners for sharing Bear with the rest of the world! He is greatness. 

(all photos of Bear via The Daily Puppy)

You should also meet this little fella:

I met him at the coffee shop I frequent and oh how I fell in love. I saw him every day for a week straight (it was a really good week) and now he has been MIA. Tim and I go by each morning in hopeful anticipation of seeing him, but he's never there anymore. It's terribly heart breaking. 

Come back, my friend!

Spring Has Finally Sprung!

Dear Portland, 

I hope you are not playing a evil trick on me. It has been beautiful and sunny for three whole days in a row. And we're not talking the kind-of-cold-and-windy-but-still-sorta-kinda-nice sunny. This is full on blue skies and almost 80 degrees and happiness in the air! It's oh so loverly. Thank you, thank you, thank you! My poor little heart couldn't take much more of the dreary rainy cold days. You see, I am not a true Oregonian. I expect for sunshine to make a daily appearance along with it's good friend warmth come April or May. It's reasonable, no? But don't get me wrong dear Portland. I do love your beautiful crisp falls. You have definitely perfected fall. 

So if you love me at all my dearest PDX, please (pretty please!) keep this gorgeous weather comin'. I appreciate it ever so. 

Yours truly, 

Mrs. Butter

P.S. Here is my spring-has-finally-sprung wish list!

1.  Those are some good lookin' yellow pants. 

2. Saltwater sandals pretty please!!!

3. I tried on this skirt at Top Shop in NYC and now I can't stop thinking about it! I love how it's sheer on the bottom. 

4. I am lovinggggg chambray tops of all kinds right now. This would be adorable paired with a flowy skirt! Good job, Madewell.

:)

A Day for Mothers

Mother's Day is almost here and I hope everyone has something sweet and lovely planned for the moms in your lives. I celebrated Mother's Day early with my mom in NYC and we are looking forward to celebrating with Tim's mom this weekend. Here's some gift ideas I am loving for the mamas:

1. Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: This book is amazing! I first discovered it way back when I was working in retail. Alas, it was not until this past Christmas that it became a member of my book family. It really does have everything you would ever want to know and more regarding the care of your home. And Martha is the queen of all things home related so you know it's going to be good. I recommend it to all! You can find it here.

2. A Mani/Pedi Date: When I was in high school my mom and I would have monthly "Mommy-Manda" days where we would spend the day together - just the two of us! - doing something girly and fun. Many times this resulted in getting a lovely manicure and pedicure at our favorite nail salon near the Beverly Center in LA. You can chat and catch up with each other while you are getting pampered and you will leave feeling all relaxed and happy!

3. Bath Goodies: Obviously I am a big fan of bubble baths and all bath related treats. But I am also a big fan of any product that is good for you and makes you feel good. It's such a simple way to add something special to your daily routine. The Lavender Apple Body Scrub from Sabon is my absolute favorite special treat. I took my mom to Sabon in NY and we had such a good time picking out all kinds of goodies together. She is a fan of the Lemon Basil Shower Oil and we both love these fun soap flakes. They even have a sweet Mother/Baby line for the new moms out there!

4. A Magazine Subscription: I love the idea of a magazine subscription as a gift for someone. A few Christmases ago my sister got me and my mom a subscription to Martha Stewart Living (of course!) and we both loved it. I get so excited when the new issue arrives in my mailbox each month! There are so many options to choose from when it comes to finding the perfect magazine for your mom- perhaps she loves cooking (Bon Appetite and The Food Network Magazine are both great choices!), or health and fitness (I like Whole Living and Women's Health), or interior design (Architectural Digest is beautiful), or perhaps fashion floats her boat (hello, Vogue!). 

Have fun!

xo!

Photo credits: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

And It's Monday Once More

I hope you had a great weekend filled with sunshine and mexican food! Luckily we had both of those! I also made waffles with our brand spanking new waffle iron purchased by my sweet and loving husband. After a delicious brunch o' waffles we took advantage of the gorgeous sunny weather here by enjoying a cigar (i know- but it's actually fun! It's one of those manly hobbies my manly husband enjoys every once in a blue moon) out on our balcony with our good friend Chris.  Afterwards we visited the Donahue side of the family for the first BBQ of the season and oh my was it delicious!

Ah but alas, Monday has come again. Thankfully the week ahead looks quite promising, including a chocolate tasting extravaganza this Friday night.

Here's some highlights from the weekend:

I love this photo of our friend Chris because it really captures what a fun and happy person he is! He definitely brightens up our lives with his infectious laughter!

I'm keeping it gansta at the Donahue house.

...

Blue and Orange and Red, Oh my!

We passed these lovely colorful appliances when we were out walking in NY last weekend. Aren' they lovely? Oh how I would adore having a colorful kitchen (just none of that avocado green, ok?). Do you see that pink refrigerator in the back? Too much? The red is pretty amazing too...

That's all.

Happy Lazy Saturday!

Today I took part in what I have named "The Lazy Saturday." I got out of bed at a reasonable hour, but shortly after kissing Mr. Butter good-bye as he headed off to work I decided to simply relocate to the sofa and eat a bowl of cereal and watch some TV. After that exhausting endeavor I debated whether or not it was too early to take a nap and decided that yes, indeed it was. However, it was not too early to take a bubble bath, eat macaroons, and watch my favorite guilty pleasure show. So I drew myself up a oh so delightful bath, got out the last of my macaroons, and put on Gossip Girl to watch while I lounged around in my warm tub. It-was-great! 

Post-bath I decided it was time to repaint my nails and went for a bold gesture with half hot pink, half black. I thought it was fun and unexpected but when Mr. Butter came home he proceeded to ask me "What's on the tip of your nails?". I took that to mean they were not approved. What do you think?

After the nail update I came to the conclusion that it was now an appropriate time to take a nap and snoozed for a bit on the couch under our cozy faux fur blanket. Ah, but the laziness had to end. I finally rose from my slumber, did a load of laundry, made the bed, and walked over to the grocery store to pick up some treats for today, the fifth of May. I made us a feast of chips and guacamole, vegetarian tacos with all the fixins and some "cold beer" per the husband's request. 

I picked out a mixture of beers because I wanted to try a few kinds and we don't really have a favorite. I got one called "Lucky Buddah" (despite being told by the grocery store worker that "it was awful") because let's be honest here, the bottle is awesome. And it was cheap. So even if the beer was awful the bottle rocked my world and it would be worth it. By the way, it kind of just tastes like Coors Light. 

That husband of mine had to run back up to work after dinner so now I am finishing up my Buddah beer and waiting for him to return home to me. I don't know how on earth it is possible but I am ready for another nap. 

:)