Artist Spotlight: Jane Perkins

Jane Perkins is a UK based multi-media artist who recreates some of the most well-known images of our time using found objects.  All of the pieces she uses are the original color- she never alters them to match the image she is creating.  There lies in her genius.  She is able to match color so well, that each piece she places seems to fit magically into place and reflect the original image perfectly.

Look closely...you will be amazed to see all of the different objects she uses- buttons, legos, animal figurines, beads, and lots and lots of tiny pieces of plastic.  LOVE it!

(via My Modern Met)

One honest mother's answers to her son's heartbreaking questions...

Kids have all kinds of questions for us, but I often wonder if there are some questions that don't get asked. StoryCorps gave Joshua, a 12 year old boy with Asperger's syndrome, an opportunity to interview his mother Sarah. Maybe it's the Asperger's that allowed him to ask what he truly wanted to know, but his mother answered all of his questions in an honestly, beautiful way.

Q&A from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

I LOVE all the stories shared through StoryCorps.  You can check out more StoryCorps interviews here, but have a tissue ready : )

(via Cup of Jo)

My Pinterest Menu: Week of February 10th

For a month now, I have been cooking my way through the Pinterest recipes I have been pinning over the past couple of years, and I have to say, I have found a lot of keepers.  I am very happy...but Jason and the girls are really happy.  Some hits from last week were the Thai Beef Tacos and the Aloha Burgers, which were supposed to be sliders...but we upped the ante to full on man-sized burgers : ). 

This week, I am excited to try the Chicken Escalopes and the Spicy Roasted Shrimp Sandwich.  And actually, the Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad looks so good too!  This is going to be a good week : )  Now, off to the grocery store (don't forget there is a grocery list for all the recipes at the bottom of this post)...

Here is this week's menu...Enjoy : )

Monday: Spicy Roasted Shrimp Sandwich with Chipotle Avocado Mayonnaise

via Damn Delicious

Tuesday: Chicken Escalopes with Olive, Caper and Tomato Dressing

via Simply Delicious

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Korean Beef

via Damn Delicious

Thursday: Grilled Pineapple, Chicken and Avocado Salad

via Gimme Some Oven

Friday: Santa Fe Stuffed Peppers

via For the Love of Dessert

Grocery List:

Spicy Roasted Shrimp Sandwich with Chipotle Avocado Mayonnaise-
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 baguette
Romaine lettuce leaves
Sliced avocado
1-3 chipotle peppers, in adobo sauce
1 avocado, pitted and chopped
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 teaspoon salt

Chicken Escalopes with Olive, Caper and Tomato Dressing-
4 large skinless chicken breasts
1 cup flour, seasoned with salt & pepper 
1 cup Mediterranean Delicacies Calamata Style Olives
2 tbsp capers 
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup olive oil 
juice of 1 lemon 
1/2 cup fresh parsley
salt & pepper to taste

Slow Cooker Korean Beef-
3 pound boneless chuck roast
1 (13-ounce) package Campbell's Slow Cooker Sweet Korean BBQ Sauce
10 mini sweet peppers, thinly sliced
1 green onion, thinly sliced
Sesame seeds
White rice

Grilled Pineapple, Chicken and Avocado salad-
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tsp. olive oil
salt and pepper
1 fresh pineapple
8 cups baby spinach
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 avocado
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
quarter of a red onion
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. honey
2 cloves garlic, minced

Santa Fe Stuffed Peppers-
1/2 lb. lean ground turkey
Salt to taste
1 (15.25 oz) can of black beans
3/4 c. frozen corn
1/8 c. chopped jalapeno peppers
1 (14 oz) can of tomatoes, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. garlic, minced
3 tbsp. chopped onion
2 tbsp. cilantro
3 tbsp. taco seasoning
3 bell peppers
1/3 c. chicken broth
Shredded cheese (your cheese of choice)
Paprika for garnish (optional)

The Friday Five...

{ Enjoying a sweet treat with the girls to celebrate 100 days of school.
This little stinker is pretty proud of herself : ) }

{ We stopped into the Guglhupf bakery in Durham this past weekend.  I loved it!
Amazing interior...and super good coffee and pastries! }

{ Krispy Kreme is certainly ready for Valentine's Day! If I were only half this prepared : ) }

{ Very proud of my Ava this week! She auditioned for her first school play.  
For all the time I spent worrying about it, she didn't get nervous at all.  So proud of her !  }

{ This is "SugarPlum"...or maybe "Violet"...Isabella goes back and forth.   Anyway, she is
the new addition to the family and she is officially Isabella's responsibility.  
We are starting off small : )  }

What are Your Five?