Art – Page 4 – Blondie Birdie

Moose Crossings and Ice Cream Sundaes…

June 20, 2018June 26, 2018by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning and Happy Hump Day, everyone!

Every year, when Father’s Day rolls around- I like to take a day or two to just get out of town for a little while and visit new places, try new dishes, or see new art and otherwise keep myself preoccupied for a little while. My own father passed away from chemotherapy complications nearly six years ago- and while I don’t fall into a deep depression the way I did during the first couple of Father’s Days after he was gone- I still tend to get sad/emotional from time to time.

Thankfully, the weather was lovely this past weekend- which made taking a mini road trip up to Brattleboro, Vermont on Saturday all the more enjoyable since I could spend time outdoors in the sunshine. And, since I naturally took the back roads to get there- I was able to stop along the way at different farms and along trails and river edges to squeal at cute animals or dip my toes in the water to cool off.

I put a lot of miles on my cars, for sure- but it’s worth it. I love to explore, and on warm Summer days- nothing beats driving through the countryside with the windows down, listening to music, and sipping iced coffee or tea. It’s very therapeutic for me.

And with all the hiking I did on Saturday when I wasn’t behind the wheel- I made sure to treat myself with a little hot fudge sundae at Northfield Creamie. I pass by it a lot whenever I’m in Western Massachusetts, but had never actually had the chance to stop and savor their delicious desserts until now! It was well worth the pit stop.

On Sunday, one of my longtime and dearest friends out in Western Massachusetts invited me out to Turners Falls for an afternoon to get a behind-the-scenes look at a show he’s performing through this weekend at the Shea Theatre. It’s an immersive theater experience- which is right up my alley- and I’m excited to see the play in it’s completion this coming weekend. It was really interesting to see all the work and preparation that goes into it- and I had a lot of fun meeting everyone since they were all so unbelievably friendly.

After a dinner at Riff’s (their goat cheese and avocado quesadilla is the best, by the way) and doing a little street art tour by some of the building sides and alley ways- I had to bid my dudebro adieu and head home so I could get a good night’s sleep in me before sliding into work bright and early on Monday morning.

Overall, I had a beautiful, relaxing and food-filled weekend- and I knew my dad was there with me in spirit. He would have loved the scenery- since he was a fan of taking long and aimless drives, too. That’s where I get it from, after all!

Many thanks to the friends who took time from their days with their own fathers to check in and send good vibes (and more than one funny joke or meme to keep me in good spirits) and to the new faces I met along my travels who made me feel welcome and cherished. It means more than you’ll ever know!

But I’ve got to get to work and make sure I’m staying on top of my tasks today!

Here’s wishing you all a wonderful mid-week!

And, with only a couple days left to go- there’s still some to enter my Beach-themed giveaway! Get on that!

– Ashley –

“There’s a starman waiting in the sky…”

March 20, 2018by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning, everyone!

This week’s blogging schedule may be a little off. Instead of my usual Monday, Wednesday and Friday posts- I’m updating today and Thursday (and posts should be back to normal next week!) I was away/out most of this past weekend- which left pretty much no time at all to decompress at my place, catch up on e-mails, and get working on my Blondie Birdie stuff for the week before I was suddenly hurrying back to the office yesterday morning bright and early!

But what a weekend I had! On Saturday, I opted to spend St. Patrick’s Day in Brooklyn, New York- kicking things off at the Brooklyn Museum where I caught their “David Bowie Is” exhibit (which runs through July 15th.) Featuring mementos from Bowie’s childhood up until his death in 2016- including costumes, letters, photographs, instruments, handwritten music sheets, and so much more- the self-guided audio tour was fascinating and gave an intimate look into the life of one of the most talented, entertaining, versatile artists and visionaries of our lifetime.

I truly could have spent the whole day in there dancing and singing along to the music. It was brilliant- and it you’re in Brooklyn anytime soon- I can’t recommend checking it out enough!

Photos aren’t allowed within the exhibit, but I snapped those in the queue area.

Of course, while I was there- I checked out the rest of the museum, as well- which boasts a pretty impressive art collection. One of my favorite exhibits, apart from the Bowie exhibit and tucked away in a far corner on the fourth floor was Judy Chicago’s ‘The Dinner Party’- a large, triangular dining table scene where each seating arrangement was decorated specifically for various groundbreaking women throughout history.

The museum was a little more lenient about allowing photographs throughout the rest of the exhibits, of course…

(Click the thumbnails to enlarge.)

And with Saturday being St. Patrick’s Day- I made sure to grab a Guinness at a nearby pub before i had to get back to my train to catch a late night ride home!

On Sunday, while I had every intention of heading down to catch the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade- the cold weather and packed sidewalks caused a bit of a road block, and coupled with the newly shortened parade route due to the still towering snowbanks from the recent series of storms/blizzards- finding a decent spot that wasn’t in the direct path of the very chilly wind proved to be a daunting and somewhat hectic task.

My BFF and I finally decided to celebrate the extended holiday indoors with spicy food and an “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” mini-marathon bundled up under blankets. Worth it. Best of all? Friends who did manage to find a spot with a decent view sent some photos over from the parade- which was super sweet of them!

But for now, I’ve got to get to work for the day! A little later on this week, I’m talking Spring makeup (tomorrow is the first day of the season, after all- even though it doesn’t feel like it here!) including finding the best foundation for your skin tone and type. I’m excited to talk about all the hues and trends I’ve been loving lately!

But until then- enjoy your Tuesday, everyone!

– Ashley –

Brightening Up with Takashi Murakami

January 15, 2018by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Winter in Boston can be a trying time- even for the most outdoorsy of snow bunnies. It’s bitterly cold. There’s sludge everywhere from cars and endless foot traffic. The temperatures make everything run slower than usual (like the T, or your phone)– and every once in a while it warms up just enough to melt the snow that’s been piling up for weeks- only to suddenly drop back into the single digits seemingly overnight, freeze all those melted puddles- and turn the entire city into a slippery nightmare.

That last thing happened this past weekend, actually.

Anyway, this recent cold snap is just one of the reasons I’m heading out to Southern California for a few days starting this coming weekend- but leading up ’til then- I needed a break. I needed something warm, and bright, and cheerful- to get me back into a chipper mood and make me feel refreshed again. You can only stay cooped up under your blankets for so long, after all.

Enter the Museum of Fine Arts and their current exhibit honoring Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami.

I’m a big fan of Murakami’s work- which has always been colorful, fun, and most of all- unique. The MFA never fails to showcase talent in such a way that the entire experience is memorable- so I was really excited to see what they’d do with this exhibit.

Let’s just say that by the time I left- I was dreaming of Spring and I couldn’t stop smiling. This gallery was exactly what I needed.

Between the flower-printed floors, light fixtures, and the huge and busy, bustling murals that took up entire wall spaces- this exhibit is truly something to behold. If you’re in the Boston area and you need something to get you out of your Winter blues for an afternoon- ‘Takashi Murakami: Lineage of Eccentrics’ runs through the MFA until April 1st, 2018.

You’ll have a blast. I promise!

– Ashley –