The Artsy Side of Crystal

Better late than never - and a little bit refocus not just on awesome products I have been given the opportunity to review, but focus on life in general.



Anyone who really knows me knows that I'm creative.



If people don't know me, they're amazed by my awesome creations.

I may be Clark Kent by day...but my true passion is being artsy!



Here's my whirlwind of September/October creations.



The Stairwell Family Tree

We painted most of the house at the beginning of September.



After painting, Husband requested a tree in the stairwell.  So I painted  a tree covering 3 walls. Then the birds. Later on, the pups.


There are also 2 leaves on the tree, as I couldn't decide if I wanted leaves on it or not - they in turn represent Husband and myself.

This was all Freehand.

The dogs...I couldn't finish these until I knew Fynn would be ok

The dogs, The Tree, The Parrots

Merlin & Rosco - Rosco even has fangs

Stryder doing his dance

Calvin & Hobbes zipping down the stairs (covering up where Fynn broke the wall 3 times)

Halloween

I won the Costume contest FINALLY at work.  I've been the Tardis, a Zombie Pirate, Parrot, and this year - Dragon!  Shazam!

My boss is also awesomesauce and let me decorate the workplace like a crime scene.  It was a lot of fun, and made me thankful Pinterest wasn't around when we got married.  

We forced all team members to wear silly hats and take Prison pictures to post on our wall.  Everyone got a laugh out of it, and people really came out of their shells :)

Handprints and writing were mainly myself and my boss - we're a bit crazy. Weapons and Evidence Tags were hand crafted by moi.

I'm in the Pen!

Merlin and me - our annual Halloween Selfie. Awesome 5 minute mesh makeup for dragon scale effect!

YES! I finally had a reason to make the Dexter Cupcakes!  Handmade Sugar Glass and all :)

My co-worker was Spaghetti and Meatballs - I was heating her up. Such a fun day!

I also created Christmas gifts for family - we're having it a month early with my family as my parents leave for Amurica on December 1st this year.  So weird.  

What's next on the creative list?  

Crystal's Epic Murder Mystery Party at the Cat's Meow Jazz Club - Prohibition Age debauchery will ensue!

Photobooth with props there will be!

The Aftermath of Not Exercising

It's been almost 4 weeks since I've been able to work out.

I ran up the escalator on Friday to go get my coffee from the Tim Hortons at the food court before work, and felt my groin overstretch.  I sort of slowed down running, but I was almost at the top - SO CLOSE.

I walked slowly the rest of the way to and from coffee.

I just started walking slowly down the stairs sometimes at work (4 flights) - I just feel pressured to go faster if someone else is behind me, so I'd rather not feel that anxiety.

I've been walking the dogs again as well.  One at a time - mainly Gideon, as Fynn's sutures are still healing and I don't want HIM to pull his leg the wrong way if he sees a Trigger (dog, person, runner, bicyclist, squirrel...anything that moves). Fynn and I did our first walk, and it was awesome - he didn't get all upset at his normal triggers, but he sat whining softly, and we were lucky enough not to get cornered, so only had to turn around once (avoiding an oncoming dog).

I've avoided the hills on these walks, again, to avoid over stretching.

Besides not doing what I've grown to love and need over the last year, I feel like crap.

It's like my metabolism just stopped, and I had to buy a new pair of pants as the one of two that fit me decided to pop a seam (after 2 or 3 years of constant wear - so they had a long haul).

Pants shopping is SO depressing.  Even when I was younger, I've had an hour glass shape.  The part that I've been working so hard on was finally starting to see some improvement when my accident happened.  So I'm back in my biggest pants, had to buy a bigger pair than normal as I'm on a super strict budget and can't get Ricki's $60 pairs that are made for real women, and had to find a pair that didn't make my legs look like sausages or give me muffin top.

Pants shopping makes me feel out of shape, huge, and just gross.

I just want a no pants party.

I had lots of no pants parties as a kid.

And right now, other than starving myself, there's not a lot that I can do.

I have been feeling so Blarg and Meh.  I have no energy for anything. It's a trek just to stay up past 7pm. Seriously.  It's taking a toll on me physically and mentally.  I'm in the abyss of negative thinking and self doubt. It's not so great.

If I get 6 hours of non-consecutive sleep, it's a bonus.

I have little motivation to do much.  I don't feel like cleaning, cooking, or anything really.  I feel really stuck.

I've likely been a grump at work too (sorry co-workers)

I've even had Husband drive us to and from work several times as I haven't been able to stay awake and needed a nap to somewhat function.

The only positive is I've finished making my Halloween costume, started Husband's Halloween Costume, am planning an epic Murder Mystery Party for my Birthday next month, and have been able to finish making some of my xmas gifts (budget + crafty talents = making things people need vs buying them).

To me, the above isn't a lot for me - I normally cram pack in hobbies and activities to stay busy and happy.  I've been more of a slothy vegetable.

3 more weeks. 3 more weeks. I can do this, right?

I am SO looking forward to working out again. It will be SO awesome!  It will hurt so much!

Soon Shaun T can kick my behind again

Halloween Costume 2015! The Dragon...

I LOVE Halloween .  I think it's the fact that I can be someone else, dress up, and not care what other people think.  The remaining 364 days of the year, I just don't feel as liberated.



I don't care if I'm 36. I dress up for Halloween at work. It's awesome! It's probably my favourite day at work of the year.



I pinned a menagerie of Dragon-DIY costume parts that I could make at a minimal cost and use materials I already had in the house.  I only had to get the black fabric (75% off at Fabricland!) which has an awesome dragonesque design to it, black elastic, and stuffing for the tail.



The rest I used was silver fabric (I think I bought that for my Tardis Costume created in 2014), Red fleece (from the Crystal's Bird Toy Days), and black thread.



It took me overall about 2 weeks to make on and off on weekends in 1-2 hour spurts, and the occasional weeknight.  For me, it's actually one of my easier costumes.



And here is a sneak peak - it's difficult to Selfie myself in it, and others just don't seem to take pictures that I feel represent my costumes to their fullest.  Maybe this year I'll luck out :)



And don't worry - I'll have my annual Selfie with Merlin when I put it on for the 30th (which is the Friday before Halloween).

Tail - it's about 5 feet long with fishing line sewn in so it can attach to my hand for full waving motion.

The gloves - these were the first pieces I made...they still look cool under the cape

Leg warmers with dragon spikes. I went there.

Inside of Dragon wings with silver lining sewn in - and the gloves laid out near the middle

Dragon Wings outside - the material pattern is SOOO cool and appropriate!

Prom dress circa 1996.  I can still squeeze into it, and it's the underbase of my dragon costume.  Oh yeah. 

This week I start Husband's costume - as a Knight.  Apparently I'm going to be leashed around my neck somehow so I can be the tame dragon...hmmmmm...very Game of Thrones.



Now if someone has a Halloween party we can attend, that would be awesome!