jacq.mcadams: I have been wanting to learn more about logos and ...

jacq.mcadams: I have been wanting to learn more about logos and ...: "I have been wanting to learn more about logos and this is my logo that I am working with so far. My sister recommended that I had jmac or j..."

I have been wanting to learn more about logos and this is my logo that I am working with so far.  My sister recommended that I had jmac or jacqmcadams under the letters.

And these flowers were right beside my grandmother, Gammy's, house and I snapped a few pictures before I left.  The hydrangea color I love and it reminds me of the periwinkle color that is used in my logo.  One of my favorite colors.  And it just so happens to be the color that represents my birthday according to a book that Collins, my sister, picked up recently in a store.  And I am on the hunt for that book because it kind of described me to a "T".  And it would be a lovely coffee table book.

New Illustrator design that I made today.  Thought it would be a good way to start the post about the weekend.

After a Flaming Lips birthday celebration in Charlotte, NC this past week for my friend, Matt, I came home for a few wedding showers for Collins, my sister.  Biscuitville came first on the list.  So Mom and I met Gammy Thursday morning.  And going into Friday...Mom and I had to soak up some sun and dive into the new Coastal Living magazine that just came in and a book that Mom had at the house, "The Help" before we got party-ready.

Friday night featured Collins and Alex's engagement party at our God parent's house, Margie and Dennis, that was hosted by many close friends.  The pork was carefully cooked by one of our friends, David Foy, and thoroughly enjoyed by all.  I believe the best way to enjoy food is with those that know how to cook it and how to enjoy it.  (Also known as, family and friends.)  Unfortunately I did not get any pics of our engaged couple together this night.  Food and friends are always a main feature though too.

Saturday (dooms day), Collins was showered with more friends and gifts by the Girl Scout troop that she has grown up with and that Mom led.  Her scout memories were tested by her fellow troop when questioned about memories that were had and who they were spent with.  The bride, Collins is featured in the pic, a beauty.

And the fun was not over yet after the shower.  It was time to pick out the Junior Bridesmaid's (our cousin McKenzie) outfits for the wedding weekend.  She got to play dress up for a bit and Collins just got to look pretty in the shoe aisle in the meantime.  And McKenzie left a happy little Junior Bridesmaid.

Sunday was another wedding shower for another fellow troop member.  Of course more yummy food happened, presents opened, laughters heard, and hugs given.  The Lilly animal crackers were the party favors and have never witnessed an animal cracker cake before.  Cute!

And Mom, Gammy, and I have topped off this weekend by my french toast this morning.  And making a yummy green bean casserole with some chicken added for dinner.  (Our own version)  Yum,yum,yum!

This is also another post that did not go through last week due to some updating that was being done on the blogger website.  Again, more paintings to come next week...

There are always lessons learned...I rode my bike to yoga this morning and noticed that my tires were a bit low so I stopped by the local bike shop to get them pumped up because I don't have a tire pump.  Well instead of using their fancy tire pumper, I was taught how to pump up my bike tires.  And my ride home was smooth.  When I got back to the apartment, I finished up putting a type of varnish on the Bicycle window so that the paint stays to the glass surface.  Then I decided that this other painting I had started a few days ago could use some attention.  I added some various other colors in different layers.  Applying paint in layers is something that I had learned from one of my teachers this is to let colors show through and it brings out the colors on top.  I believe it would be even more so with oil, but I have acrylic to work with now and I like how fast it dries.  I am heading to the store to getting some stuff to hang the window with and then off to Pink to hang up a few paintings!  Yay!

This was a post made the other day when I was in painting mode and it got deleted.  I will be back in the game of painting next week when I am back in Greenville...

I went by the store, Pink, on my walk today to check on wall space in there and confirm my interest with her.  And needless to say, I am glad that I popped in because she has gotten some new designs and prints in from Lilly that only inspired me and the painting that had yet to be produced.  Once I returned to the apartment. I didn't do anymore work on my coral window painting that I worked on earlier today, but worked on a new window while talking to the birthday girl and ended up having to finish because I liked the way this one was going.  I believe that I would like to try a window with a different pattern in each panel.  But if you have any suggestions send them this way!



Still a very happy birthday to my sister Collins!  Love you!

Wrightsville Beach weekend...much enjoyed.  

(My pedi still in action from Mommy's Day pedicures last weekend)

Saturday we took our lunch hour off the beach and decided that sandwiches just wasn't going to completely cut it for us.  So Oceanic played a role in the crab dip, hushpuppies, and Shecrab soup.  And Robert's (the local grocery at the beach) played the role in the rest of the PB&J ingredients and the new Jalepeno Jack SunChips.  If you like jalepeno flavor, try these new chips, you just might love them.  I think there was certainly a thumbs-up consensus in our group.  And now that I have finished "Water for Elephants" I got a book recommendation, "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel.  And by golly, it is the first book I have purchased on my Kindle.  Yes, I completed the Amazon transaction this morning and it is wild to think that I have a whole book in the palm of my hand that can go anywhere without having to step in a bookstore.  I am sorry bookstores, especially our small local ones, I will still be visiting you just not as often.  And the visit will probably consist of using your quaintly quiet atmosphere to sit on my other electronics, like my computer to do more reading and learning.  I have not thought of a new way for bookstores to get the customers in there, but I think Barnes and Noble has the right idea of combining the coffee shop.  My favorite small bookstore is one called Quail Ridge Books and Music in Raleigh on Wade Avenue, a few stores down from the Whole Foods.  They provide a good atmosphere and offer book signings by authors, speakers, etc for the locals.  And they also always have great customer service and selection of books.  But they do not have the coffee shop.  That has not come into play for them, but I feel that the customer service that they provide and events they put on, brings the customers back.

Sunday...besides the wind, the sun came by for a bit to let us soak up some vitamin D.  And although they look like ants in this photo, the longboarders were out in the water catching the waves.  Pretty cool to check out the surfers.  I always enjoy watching because I can imagine the rush that they get whenever one is caught.  One day I will live at the beach...

Beach shopping is always fun too and we managed to get enough in today to get some laughs and a Starbucks frappuccino.  Guiltily I say yum and good day!

I am about to go for a jog and wanted to post my progress made on my first window.  I am learning to work on the glass because the paint doesn't always make friends with the glass at first contact or decides later that it doesn't want to continue to stay.  Time for a break...

And Happy Birthday to my sister Collins!

Before I left for a fun filled weekend, I purchased the first season of Sex and the City. And watched the whole first season. Needless to say, I got into it and am a bit inspired by Carrie's journalism character. After my Thursday girl night in, I left Friday morning to see my friend and meet up with Mom for lunch at the Heron to prelude our Mommy Spa day at the Umstead Spa on Friday.  We topped the evening off with a lovely dinner together in Burlington with Mom's new gift to herself.  Happy Mother's Day to all mommies out there!

Saturday was a fun day...Tiffany's Bridal Shower for Collins put on by some of Mom's friends. Within the invitations sent out for the party, they sent out recipe cards for everyone to write down their own recipe to pass down to Collins and use in her kitchen once she is married. And the gifts received were based around the kitchen. Funny enough, is it true that you have to wait and use your things that you receive as a bride and groom until after you are married? I had no idea. What are your thoughts on being able to use things received before your wedding day? Do you feel that you should be able to use it once it is received? Immediately following the shower, we drove up to a local store for Collins to choose her fine China and register for a few more odds and ends. When we arrived home there was an old light blue punch buggy in the drive. He was there for Collins's veil fitting. Mom had met him recently at a function and it turned out that he is the costume designer for the Elon theater. Mom asked how much we owed him and he said it was a gift from the goodness of his heart and to pass this goodness on to someone else,  to keep the chain going. I encourage you to pass goodness on to someone else today.  And when I asked how we came across this guy she turned around with water-filled eyes and responded "God...it was God."  Start your own chain of goodness today. 
Saturday night my cousin got married to a friend that I graduated high school with. Everything leading up to the wedding and her wedding was formal and pretty. It made me realize how soon Collins's wedding is and gave me ideas to plan. I just loved it when she twirled though at the reception. She must have felt like a princess in that gown the way she twirled. Which is exactly what I want for Collins. Weddings can be so fun!

Sunday, I made my diploma from Meredith College official. I did the official walk across the stage and got to see my professor, Doc, that saw me through my years at Meredith.  After tracking down Doc, we enjoyed lunch at The Pit, which if you watch the Food Network, you have probably seen on there.  It features authentic BBQ and yummy southern comfort food.  Collins and I discovered it when we lived together in Raleigh, NC and it became a go-to for us that we had to share with Mom and Gammy.  I am thankful for my years at Meredith College and that is what the photo of the boats below is linked to, my study abroad experience to Costa Rica while I was at Meredith College. I was just discovering my interest in digital photography and applying it when I took this photo. This was bound to be my favorite photo taken while I was down there because I got the right aperture and adjustments needed in order to capture this shot that I would like to paint one day. Always be inspired...and who says you can't be inspired by your own accomplishments. Pat yourself on the back from something you have accomplished today! Way to go!

And yes I just discovered how to include photos in my posts.  Yes, I know what Collins is probably thinking, but this is all a learning process for me.  One day at a time!  Paintings to come

Mayday...it is the first day of May and I just got back into town from my birthday weekend in Wilmington with the people I love.  On the way back I heard, "What I want is what I've not got, and what I need is all around me..."  So true.  There are always going to be things to want that create the urge to need them, but what you need is already surrounding you.  Eye opener right there.  I love the idea of that but often forget that everything I need is already here.  Right now I am in Starbucks and my computer, book, and coffee is right beside me because I need to study for my exam tomorrow.  (If you are deciding between the Pike and Italian coffee at Starbucks, I recommend the Italian.  It seems a bit smoother to me.)  Fill in on weekend to come...

Hard to believe, but I did not go to the beach while I was in Wilmington, but all I needed was already around me.  So we did the backyard laying out with Pina Coladas in hand.  I have an exam today, but I am looking forward to a yummy Salmon dinner with asparagus tonight.  Of course this is in between studying for my finance test tomorrow, but is something to look forward to today.  And tomorrow will be my last exam for the semester.  Then back on the painting wagon and looking for someone that would like to move into my apartment so that I can work at NOFO this summer and help out with my sister's wedding that will be held at the City Club in Wilmington at the end of July.  It is just going to be beautiful.  The bachelorette weekend is now in the works!  So if there are bach weekend success stories shoot them my way for some ideas.