Fine Art by Tom Matousek

Friends,

meet amazing art!

Louis Armstrong, oil on canvas, 30"X48"

Sometimes you see art that just takes your breath away. 

When you admire my friend, Tom's artwork you are impacted by the size, color and exceptional

ability to capture the essence of a person. This artwork I find so brilliant because he's able to 

execute a perfect likeness in this prismatic style that he discovered inside himself very recently.

Tom Matousek, is a self taught, San Francisco Bay area artist, 

who is no stranger to the creative. 

He has done decorative murals both commercial and 

residential, has an eye for design, runs a construction business, yet very recently

discovered the passion and gift of creating these high drama, fine art, pop culture portraits.

I am so captivated by them that I had to post them for my corner of the world to enjoy as well.

My photography does not do justice to his work, in fact the above painting has much more blues in real life

and the yellows are more citrusy. The art simply envelops you and captures your attention in the way that you

just linger there. I love that! I love art that holds the attention of the spectator. His keeps you there in awe. I feel like his art reveals the radiant beauty inside these creative souls. 

I took the above picture to give an idea of the size of these beauties. They actually have a larger than life quality to them as well as the clarity of the images seem to have life to them. I've noticed that the image becomes more clear as I stand back, which is a super spiritual quality to me. Isn't it true in life that as you step back from

situations, your perception changes and is often more defined? 

SOLD Tom Waits, oil on canvas, 48"X60"

John Coltrane, acrylic on canvas, 48"X30"

Van Morrison, oil on canvas, 48"X60"

Here is a new one he's working on. It looks like a sculpture emerging from the stone.

I love it just as is, but I'm sure it will blossom into a stellar picture like the others.

Anyways, I thought you all might enjoy these pieces. You got a small viewing of this man's unique gifting.

I wish everyone could see them in person as my camera seems to have

added some extra golds and reds to the images. 

Of course if you are in the market for original

fine art you can contact him.

Tom Matousek

925 787-1225 or

tjmatous@astound.net

Prints are available. You can contact him for pricing or perhaps

commission him for an art piece.

Either way, I thought I'd share the experience of marveling at beautiful work.

Miles, oil on canvas, 16"X20"

MIKEY! HE LIKES IT! Part 2

A few weeks ago

I posted the page "Mikey! He likes it!"

In that post I tried to candidly

tell you all about how hard I've tried to get my kids

to regularly consume healthy foods.

I thought that someone out there might be able to relate

and might in turn be inspired to try

some of the things that

I've tried that work.

Saving the agony

of sour faces,

"toxic waste"

comments

and 

the like 

that I have endured over the years.

I also promised to give you two 

green smoothy recipes

that are 

without fail

winners!

With the Kids!

Yes, they are winners with me as well,

but I don't gag at that thought of

eating healthy foods,

I rather enjoy!

But for kids,

especially the one picky eater in my home,

the one that prefers

beige food-

crackers

chips

toast

pasta

cheese-

do you see a pattern?

The idea of this child getting excited about a 

Green Smoothy

is actually worth telling about.

So, here is the second recipe.

It's been adapted from one that I found

in  Real Simple magazine.

Let's call it 

"Green Vanilla"

as to not frighten the beige eaters,

after all,

Vanilla is creamy colored (well it's actually

quite dark espresso color, but thanks to the ice cream

industry we can reference vanilla as a shade between white and beige).

Here's what you need:

Now, you must not let the picky eaters

see this stuff. 

It seems impossible that grapes, spinache, coconut milk, and vanilla protein powder

are going to make an enticingly sweet drink,

even while I'm splashing one down now,

it is a mystery to me,

but trust me-

isssssgoooooooooooooood.

And they will love it!

I feel it is my necessary to explain that the Arbonne Vanilla Protein Powder

is absolutely divine.

If you read the first posting then you can sign out,

but if this is new to you,

then it's worth noting that this powder 

has been a God-Send to our home.

20 grams of vegan protein per serving

gluten free

no junky junk (you know what I mean)

no saturate fats

no cholesterol

no trans fats

no artificial sweeteners

no artificial flavors

(tastes like real Tahitian Vanilla, I'm telling you)

and no artificial colors.

It tastes AMAZINGLY good.

Almost like vanilla cake batter.

But without all the chemicals and junk.

It fills us up.

It does not bloat us all up

and if you are familiar with protein powders then 

you know what they can do to one's

digestive track.

All those pumped up farty weight lifters at the gym,

you know,

they are not drinking this protein powder.

It's fabulous!

We buy it from my friend Kris who just looking at 

how healthy and gorgeous she is,

makes us want to know what

she's eating and how

she's maintaining.

That was a side note.

Main text.

Try the smoothy.

Try the Protein Powder.

I will be giving you more amazing smoothy recipes

as time unfolds,

because they are the easiest

way to pack in a bunch of

nature's abundance

first thing in the 

morning.

It's cool, sweet, light, refreshing, nutrition packed,

and best of all

the kids will like it!

Enjoy.

Auction House Grand Opening!

AH!!!!!!

It's finally here!!!

Tonight.

September 28, 2011

6:00 pm

AH as in "aaaahhhh"

we are so excited to have an 

auction house in our very own 

back yard.

Please see my post 

"Auction House is Here!"

for more information about why we

are so excited about this!

See you there!

Tonight!

Reliveit! Carmel

We just had a whirlwind weekend trip to

Carmel by the Sea

with 

great friends!

It started with just the four of us chilling around Ocean Avenue

and grabbing some quick "snacks"

at

Hog's Breath Inn.

See the hog up there breathing on my son?

Yeah, that was fun.

We grabbed our own fire pit and just enjoyed each other.

And speaking of "Hog's Breath"

we sure had it after 

we stopped here.

Spicy Garlic Fries.

Need I say more?

This was real fresh garlic from Gilroy

and man

the whole inside of my head

was taken over by 

the lingering presence.

Even my eyeballs felt hot.

They were good.

I must apologize for the lame pics you are going to have to suffer through.

Guess who forgot her camera?

RRRRR!

So all of these were taken with my phone and not half bad,

but I do apologize.

TrueLove

eek! might have needed to photoshop 

the right side of that picture

And an apology to anyone on the patio that

endured our silliness that afternoon.

Oh yes,

we were very silly 

and there are pictures to prove it

but unfortunately 

they are on TrueLoves' phone.

After that, 

our friends treated us to a lovely

play at 

Forest Theater.

Just imagine how fun it was to watch

Little Orphan Annie

with picnic basket bursting with hot food,

wine and nibbles,

outside (good thing too-remember the garlic breath?) under trees and stars-well

maybe not stars-fog, but beautiful dreamy whispery kind-of-fog,

in a rocky amphitheater flanked with fire pits.

I apologize for the run-on sentences.

You'd never believe I once taught a writing class.

So we also enjoyed some very dramatic special effects

when 

a flash of lightning 

stretched above the set

followed with that

awesome rumble that reminds you

that nature is alive

and will make a cameo appearance

if it so chooses.

It was a lovely memory.

Even the short drive home was romantic.

Driving through the sheer fog,

street lamps glowing,

tiny streets that are interrupted

by strong crooked trees,

and 

that misty reminder that you are

indeed

by-the-sea.

The next morning was scrumptious!

Slept in

ate breakfast spectacular-

(which is what my SweetFriendJill calls "low key")

fresh juicy fruit, fluffy eggs, sizzling sausage, 

and buttery chocolate croissants

served hot right out of the oven.

(I might have just drooled thinking about it.)

Espresso and I'm pretty sure there was 

champagne too.

I'm not sure why,

but do we need a reason?

Oh I know.

Sleeping in!

 Definitely a reason to celebrate!

Sorry no pics.

We were too busy indulging.

Trust me it was gorgeous!

Then to top off how gorgeous our morning was,

we lingered.

We lingered for hours on a foggy day,

in a cozy cottage,

just enjoying 

good company,

good coffee,

and 

good memories.

MY FAVORITE!

Then we ate again.

Just so you know,

this is how we vacation. 

Some people like adventure,

sight seeing,

 exercise,

entertainment,

but not us.

We like those things.

But when we are honest with ourselves,

vacation really revolves around

amazing food around 

every corner.

And conveniently,

Carmel is filled with 

fabulous food

around every corner!

So we were in the right place.

So for lunch our friends introduced us to a fabulous place!

Carmel Belle.

Oh jeez!

They make their own cheese!

(I did not intend for that to rhyme-just a cheesy coincidence.)

This place might be beyond words.

It felt like a food court in the way that it was inside the breezeway

of a mall

(a quaint little Carmel mall just sayin'),

however,

the food faire completely

blew away any previous reference

of food experienced in this kind of venue.

oh.

my.

word!

It's one of those places where they understand

that if you use the 

highest

quality

local

ingredients,

that you don't need much more.

It felt farm-to-table fresh to me.

Farm-to-table delicious.

Seriously.

Why had I not been there before?

I probably would have misjudged it by it's location.

No view.

People crowded around your table.

Noisy.

But as I said,

it would have been a misjudgment

because-

This.

Place.

ROCKED!

They make their own mozzarella!

I saw it and it nearly sparkled.

This is a place you go where ambience does not even need to play a roll.

Everything is second fiddle to the amazing local ingredients

and decadent flavor.

Simple.

Go there for the food.

Already planning how soon I can

get back there.

(Because I saw the fresh mozzarella after I ordered 

and now I'm obsessed).

Then 

SHOPPING!

Yes, the girls and the boys,

did a divide and conquer,

although there was nothing to conquer

except

fun to be had.

So with full bellies,

focused pursuit,

the ladies shopped

and the boys

cruised.

So fun!

Now

anybody who's anybody

knows that shopping

also involves snacks!

Don't judge us.

Shopping uses energy and 

we tried a lot of things on.

So we earned ourselves a little treat 

and tucked into

sorry for the lamo pic

Pastries and Petals

This is a bakery cafe from Heaven.

All I can say is

"Cinnamon Pull-Aparts".

Insane!!!!!!!

I'd describe to you the taste sensation,

but I'm afraid you would

be mad at me

because

you'd have to get in the car now

and drive to Carmel

and 

order one.

But after the long drive (depending on where you are)

you couldn't just get one.

You would buy a whole case of them.

And you wouldn't be able to stop 

yourself from eating them

ALL

on your way home,

so you must 

go there

when

you are in Carmel and taste for yourself.

There.

Is.

Nothing.

Like.

It.

And the "petal" part?

you ask?

There is a fresh garden picked arrangement

on every table

AND!

every plate that

comes out of the kitchen

has a sweet little flower on it.

I just saw all the girly-girls smile when they read that.

Me too.

Well now we're on to dinner at Demetra's.

And all of my silly pics from my chair.

Delicious mediterranean faire,

with the most gracious hospitality you will find on this continent-

smiles-hugs-cheek kissing-compliments-and-

SERENADE! 

Who does this anymore?

They do.

Yep.

It's wonderful.

And so are they.

And so are they.

And so are they.

Then,

the young ones wanted to go back to the cottage for

facials (the girls did)

and

movies.

So the old ones went down to the 

Cypress Inn

for 

entertainment.

Entertainment is an understatement.

(again, did not intend for rhyme)

I'm stumbling with the right words to describe this place.

It is a landmark boutique hotel,

owned or co-owned by Doris Day,

nestled in Mediterranean architecture and 

meticulously appointed decor.

It's glamorous and cozy.

You can step into their lounge after dinner

and curl up with a decadent wine on a gorgeous deep sofa

or handsome wing back chair,

as if you are in someone's home,

while listening to live jazz.

However, 

as much as I've described it's 

beauty and warmth,

nothing can prepare one for the pampered

guests that pepper this 

glorious place.

DOGS!

Oh

my 

gosh.

It's so hard to believe it until you experience it.

It's a dog friendly hotel.

This picture I grabbed from tripadvisor was photographed during the day

but at night it's dark and dreamy

and there are dogs

EVERYWHERE!

cute dogs

ugly dogs

big dogs

barking dogs

fluffy dogs

dogs that match their owners

It actually reminds me of that Dr. Suess book Dog Party.

They are in the lounge,

by the fire,

on the patio,

in the bar,

in the walkways,

and 

apparently

in the beds.

Such an amusing experience.

And don't let the dog thing fool you.

There's Ginger, our friend's dog.

This place is top shelf,

from the decor,

to the food,

to the service,

to the live music.

It's first class all the way,

except there are dogs

everywhere.

So fun.

So we are winding up our whirlwind weekend

by saying that we had to leave

Sunday morning early

to go home and

host the CAbi 

party I mentioned in a previous

posting.

On our way out,

Breakfast.

"Oh no you didn't?" you say?

Oh, yes we did!

We went back to 

Pastries and Petals.

It wasn't fair.

The boys didn't get to go with us the day before.

So there we are.

Very happy.

Rich Velvety Hot Cocoa

Grilled Nutella Sandwiches

Pastries

Eggy Sandwiches

Vibrant Fruit

Foamy Cappuccinos.

It was a perfect cap 

(no pun intended)

to a perfect

 weekend.

Thanks "Bagels"!

Making Memories!