Zero Calorie Chocolate Cupcakes

Craving chocolate, anyone? Check out these chocolate cupcakes adorned with Whitman-like candies and chocolate dipped strawberries. And, no worries about extra pounds from enjoying these chocolate delicacies, they are zero calorie, zero guilt polymer clay cupcakes!

Ideally Living

Running from meeting to meeting, checking off the to-dot list-that isn’t really living. Discovering the playful side of life. Spreading joy. Being colorful…clever…creative.

Now that’s living. “Be Brave, Lose the Beige” hopes to inspire and encourage people to live their lives creatively and with at least a little more fun. Now “Be Brave, Lose the Beige” is not only the name of my blog but also the name of a journal I’ve just finished writing and illustrating. Through the use of whimsical and (hopefully) humorous, sometimes tongue-in-cheek art images and questions, you can explore your interior self and discover what your ideal life might look like. If you would like a sneak peak of the journal, write me in the comment section below and I will send you a few pages.

Cupcake vs. Cupcake

Don’t miss Cupcake Wars tonight at 9 on the Food Network. I presume since this is a “food channel” there won’t be art cupcakes that look like this one-

The Power of the Purse

I contributed several colorful clay purse cupcakes to the “Power of the Purse” silent auction sponsored by the Center for Women’s Philanthropy. This is the third year I’ve participated in this event. I love the title and it makes me think the “power of the purse” is a concept girls and women should consider exploring in their lives, relationships, and marriages. Throughout history, fathers and husbands have held the purse strings. Daughters and wives often resorted to manipulation as a way of accumulating resources of their own. Financial resources dictate our ability to make choices…to make decisions about our own lives and even our bodies. Financial empowerment impacts the way we view ourselves and even how others view us. This is not just an issue about working women versus non-working women. There are many income producing women who have little control over their pocketbooks; there are women not in the employment sector who exercise considerable control over family resources. What about you? Do you feel you have power over your purse?

Zero Calorie, Zero Guilt Cupcakes

Modern society is weight obsessed. The business of losing weight in the United States has “ballooned” into a 30 billion dollar a year industry according to MSN Money. The cost of losing 30 pounds ranges anywhere from $300 to $5,000 depending upon the diet plan. What is your view of your body? Do you agonize over your weight? How can we resolve to be accepting of our body image on one hand and making good choices about our health on the other hand?

I sculpted a series of clay cupcakes entitled, “Zero Calorie, Zero Guilt Cupcakes”.  At least one of my five senses can enjoy the deliciousness of these tempting treats even if my tongue can’t.

Santa Yogi Will Help you Breathe through the Season

 “Breathe” is one in a series of clay sculptures entitled, “Santa’s 12 Tips for an Ideal Christmas”. This whimsical art piece features Santa Claus seated in a lotus position on a yoga mat. Santa’s tip- relax and breathe in the midst of the frenzy and festivities of the season. To see more in this series go to http://tinyurl.com/ydjde88.

Santa’s #8 Seasonal Tip- Give to Others

 #8 in my “Santa’s 12 tips for Celebrating an Ideal Christmas” series is, “Give to Others”. The sculpture (see below) features Santa Claus distributing presents from his gift bag. Santa’s tip- let generosity be your guide during this holiday season.

Santa’s #7 Seasonal Tip-Eat Forbidden Food

 Day 7 in our “Santa’s 12 Tips for an Ideal Christmas” series is entitled, “Eat Forbidden Foods”. This art piece features Santa Claus gobbling up a plate full of Christmas cookies. Santa’s tip- Take a vacation from dieting during this holiday season. 

“Experts” admonish us to avoid fatty foods and to exercise several times a week. To our credit, we do our best to follow their well intentioned advice. But dieting all the time gets boring. If you find yourself craving a chocolate cringle, go ahead, indulge the urge. Soon enough you will be back in a dieting mode again. Santa’s tips in this series are about “ideally living”. Spend some time this season to define what “ideally living” means to you. Usually it’s about achieving balance in your life. In this instance it’s about finding the balance between over-indulgence and absolute denial. Happy eating… (to see more of Santa’s tips go to http://tinyurl.com/ydjde88.  

Santa’s Tip#5- Enjoy Others’ Traditions

Day 5 in “Santa’s 12 Tips for Celebrating an Ideal Christmas” series is, “Enjoy Others’ Traditions”. We manage to get fairly narcissistic in this country about our holidays, particularly as it relates to Christmas. December is host to other holidays, including Chanukah, Kwanza and even Boxing Day. A little participation and recognition of someone else’s tradition will go a long way toward making this an ideal holiday for you. Be like Santa in the image below as he lights a menorah in observance of Chanukah. Very enriching! Go to http://tinyurl.com/ydjde88 to see Santa’s other tips for an ideal Christmas.

Santa’s Tips for an Ideal Vacation

Day four of “Santa’s 12 Tips for an Ideal Christmas” is, “Go On Vacation”. This piece features Santa in a tourist mode, complete with camera, luggage suggesting an island destination, and, what everyone needs during an island vacation-a surfboard. Santa’s suggestion implied in this vignette is- Use the holiday season as an excuse to take a much needed vacation..now that’s an ideal Christmas present.