Chili?

It's national Chili Day!  Fire up the crock-pots and crack a window, it's time for some beans sour cream.

Happy Birthday Grandma! (And Aunt Angela)

Happy birthday Grandma!  We love you and miss you!

*HACK!*

So everyone here at the Sinagra house is sick. We've got whatever "bug" is going around. Jess and the kids are all staying home. I figure I can get more rest at school than I would if I stayed home with them.

This is a pretty nasty virus. Anyone else out there getting sick?

Portrait Tutorial

I love drawing. It’s easy to do and apparently people are easily impressed by it. When I show a piece of mine to someone I’m usually asked, “How do you do that?” To be quite honest…I have no idea. I just move the pencil around and when something doesn’t look right I erase it. But for some reason, that answer doesn’t seem satisfy their curiosity.

So, in an effort to be a more helpful to other aspiring artists, I’m posting these “10 Simple Steps to Drawing a Successful Portrait.” Enjoy.

Step 1:
Have a couple cute kids. (That’s the easy part.)

Step 2:
Take a nice picture of the kids. That part tends to be a little harder.

Step 3:
After several hours, tears and bribes one shot will stand out as the best.

Step 4:
Using digital imaging software, adjust the pixel dimensions of the selected image to 1668p X 2085p with a .5” grid overlay with an optional .25” grid to act as a 1:2 proportional reference to match a vertical 1” gridded piece of 18” X 22” textured Blick All-Media paper with a 1” border.

Step 5:
Start drawing.








Step 6:
Take a nap. This is crucial to the creative process.








Step 7:
Get back to drawing.








Step 8:
Watch a movie, play a video game, take another nap, play around on youtube, check out iTunes, or perform any other number of tasks essential to the creative process.

Step 9:
Sooner or later a drawing appears on the paper. I still can’t explain this one.












Step 10:
Display your work.

There you have it. If you follow these 10 simple rules you're sure to be drawing like a pro in no time. Good luck getting started on your own work.

If you get anywhere let me know.

Jell-O Shots

I wonder if Bill Cosby ever did any of these...

Apple Jell-o Shots recipe

16 oz DeKuyper® Sour Apple Pucker schnapps
1 package sour apple jell-o
16 oz boiling water

Mix the boiling water with the single package of sour apple jell-o. Stir for 2 minutes until all dissolved. Add 2 cups of DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker schnapps, and mix well. Pour into small cups with lids and let set overnight. Serve, preferably at parties.

Jell-O Commercial

Remember this?

Jello-O Week

Break out your molds and your shriveled green grapes...it's National Jell-O Week!
(Don't ask me how these things get decided)

Anyway, you can read all about the history of Jell-O, get some "snacktiviy" ideas as well as some other recipes here at the Jell-O website.

In the meantime, here is a favorite webtoon of mine answering a question that long plagued the male brain.

Gotta love these...

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck Norris?

All of it.

Liberace

So apparently today is "Liberace Day."

Happy Liberace Day.

Happy February!

February is here. The politically active nut-jobs out there sure have crammed a lot of strange holidays into the shortest month of the year. Here's a list of about half of the official holidays on record in February:

February Monthly Observances
Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month
Bake for Family Fun Month
Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month
International Boost Self-Esteem Month (…you stupid freak…)
Library Lovers Month
National Bird Feeding Month
National Care About Your Indoor Air Month
National Cherry Pie Month
National Get To Know and Independent Real Estate Broker Month
National Laugh-Friendly Month
National Mend A Broken Heart Month
National Pet Dental Health Month
National Time Management Month
National Weddings Month
Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month
Relationship Wellness Month
Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month
Spunky Old Broads Month
Sweet Potato Month



February Weekly Observances
International Coaching Week: 1-7
Publicity for Profit Week: 1-7
Intimate Apparel Market Week: 2-6
Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 3-9
International Hoof Care Week: 3-6
International Snow Sculpting Week: 4-8
New York Comic Con Week: 6-8
Dump Your Significant Jerk Week: 7-13
Rejection Risk Awareness Week: 7-14
Jell-O Week: 8-14
Love Makes the World Go Round; But, Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week: 8-14
Just Say No to PowerPoint's Week: 9-13
Celebration of Love Week: 10-16
Random Acts of Kindness Week: 11-17
Great Backyard Bird Count Week: 13-16
Build A Better Trade Show Image Week: 15-21
National Pancake Week: 22-28
Telecommuter Appreciation Week: 2/24-3/1
American Crossword Puzzle Week: 27-3/1
Texas Cowboy Poetry Week: 27-31

February Daily Observances
G.I. Joe Day: 1
Give Kids A Smile Day: 1
Hula in The Coola Day: 1
Robinson Crusoe Day: 1
Spunky Old Broads Day: 1
Groundhog Day: 2
Groundhog Job Shadow Day: 2
Hedgehog Day: 2
Sled Dog Day: 2
Liberace Day: 4
Weatherman's Day: 5
Wear Red Day: 6
Bubble Gum Day: 6
Ballet Day: 7
Dump Your Significant Jerk Day: 7
Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbor's Day: 7
Laugh and Get Rich Day: 8
Grammy Awards Day: 8
Man Day: 8
World Marriage Day: 8
Read in the Bathtub Day: 9
Be Electrific Day: 11
Pro Sports Wives Day: 11
Satisfied Staying Single Day: 11
White Shirt Day: 11
Blame Someone Else Day: 13
Get a Different Name Day: 13
Ferris Wheel Day: 14
National Have A Heart Day: 14
Quirky Alone Day: 14
Valentines Day: 14
National Gum Drop Day: 15
My Way Day: 17
Chocolate Mint Day: 19
Clam Chowder Day: 21
Mom’s Birthday: 23
Inconvenience Yourself Day: 25
For Pete's Sake Day: 26
National Chili Day: 26
Floral Design Day: 28
International Sword Swallower's Day: 28
National Tooth Fairy Day: 28
Open That Bottle Night: 28