Mother's Day Collage for my Mom

This was a collage I did on canvas for my Mom's Mother's Day present. Washed the canvas in rose pink acrylic paint and wiped and dabbed with a paper towel. Used rose Starburst Spray and dabbed large droplets with my finger. Applied "Walnut Stain" Distress ink (Ranger) around edges. Cut the pic from background and adhered with gel medium. Adhered lace and applied "Antique Linen" Distress Ink by Ranger. Added adhesive backed ribbon roses (used gel medium even though they have adhesive. they just didn't seem like they'd stick without it.) Used a journaling stamp to stamp "sweet", cut it out, applied Distress ink to edges and adhered with gel medium. Mom liked it lots. :)

Someone contacted me about doing a tutorial using their products! Sweeeeeeeeet! :) Will post when I get something together and tell you all about it. :)

"Cool" collage for Art Chix challenge!

After seeing my Artist Trading Cards in this month's top 10 gallery over at Art Chix Studio, I saw a call for "warm" or "cool" art pieces. I had just drawn up a design for these altered book pages and this helped me to narrow my choices. I cut out images while Angelo played on the slide and in the sandbox and after dinner put it all together. If one of Helga's kitties picks my collage, I can win some free stuff! Pick me, Kitty, pick me! There are even kitties in my collage! :)

Exciting Art News!

My ATC's are in the Art Chix's top 10 gallery!!! How exciting!!! :)

http://www.artchixstudio.com/shop/gallery_top10.html listed as Kimberly Minardi there.

I have a few new pieces I'll be adding to my "stuff I've made" album on Face Book. Check it out (and friend me at): www.facebook.com/narah.arrington.minardi

Going Vegetarian

This is actually a message I sent to someone who asked for advice on going vegetarian and since I've had this question before, I thought I'd post it. 

I didn't go veg all at once (but my final 'no more meat ever' moment came after reading a Buddist monk's booklet that put every argument for not eating meat all in once place). I cut out red meat, still ate fish and seafood and occasionally had turkey (sub from subway). Then cut out seafood, and after reading the booklet, none at all.

Arm yourself with nutritional info so people who give you a hard time about "not getting enough protien" can be educated. Beans, nuts, dairy and eggs (though I went a while without even eating those), provide plenty of protein. If you are worried about getting enough, just write everything down to keep a tally. Peanut butter/almond butter + fruit is a really yummy snack. It is easy to add walnuts and a little shredded cheese to salads. 


I really like the Quorn brand meat subs- they are meat (obviously) and soy free. I can't eat a lot of soy due to a thyroid condition and most people shouldn't make it thier primary source of protein due to its plant estrogens. Too much is not so good, even though it's reputation as a "health food" makes it seems that way. The quorn brand also goes through a fermentation process, which is good for digestion.   I add the grounds to marinara for pasta dishes. Quorn chick'n tenders are good in stir frys of all kinds. and there are plenty of "beans and rice" versions out there- red beans and rice, black beans and rice, chick peas and quinoa with sauteed veggies + garlic, oregano, little salt, pepper to taste, hummas + sauteed veggies + pasta + cumin, corriander, black pepper, garlic, little salt (super yummy).


I'm also eating gluten free since wheat gives me sinus inflammation and who knows what else is becoming inflamed. So I eat brown rice pastas- Tinkyada is excellent! There is a corn and quinoa pasta from Ancient Harvest that is good, though I eat it in smaller quantities since I think corn is an issue, though a much smaller one, for me too. Also, you need to attend to this pasta when cooking more- stir often- or it doesn't cook evenly. When cutting calories or watching inflammatory-causing foods, carbs, especially pastas and rice, etc. are not helpful. Whole grains are better than refined, but still I try to be careful about watching portions.


Love these cookbooks: Vegetarian (Ultimate Recipes)... available used on amazon and



Basically, any lasting change usually happens when you get well educated on the matter and ease into it. Make small, easier to handle changes and it goes more smoothly.

Subscribe to this blog if you like it, Please.

I'm going to make this post short so people checking at the very last minute still can see the info on the new beginner's bellydance class starting tonight. (Previous entry...)

So, if you read this blog regularly, go ahead and subscribe! I know I mentioned that I may switch, but I still haven't looked to see if I just need to know more about blogspot before I make the move. I'm already preparing to move our household, so that's enough for me right now. :)

The description is a little crowded over there, but the button's near the top on the left side. Beeeee one uv us... one of us, one of us, one of us... ok, that's creepy, so I'll stop now.

Future blog posts: "how I became a vegetarian and how you can too if you're interested", "what I wish I'd known or done differently when I was pregnant even though I read a ton of books" and some pics of a few altered book pages I've done lately.

Join us Wednesday for new Beginner Belly Dance classes!

A Beginner's Belly Dance Class will begin May 5th at the Northern WV Performing Arts Academy 6:30-7:30pm.

Participants in this class will learn basic posture and fundamental technique of the ancient art of belly dance. Each class begins with a yoga warm-up and continues with a fun and thorough breakdown of basic movements, which set the foundation for this beautiful and empowering art form. Narah will often guide students through a series of movements and combinations, keeping the energy up and teaching them how all the basic movements make a dance. No experience necessary!

6 weeks/$60 + $5 registration fee.

Register with the NWVPAA:
Stop by the studio Monday-Thursday 5:00-8:00pm, or mail a check (made payable to PAA) to:
Northern WV Performing Arts Academy
950 Parkway Dr.
Morgantown, WV 26501

For registration questions, call 304-292-3119 or Email performingartsacademyllc@hotmail.com

Direct friends to www.TribalBellyDance.net/classes