winter Archives - Stephanie Martel: Artist

Lately Around Here: Winter + Art

We’re in a deep freeze here lately in the northeast–It’s been cold, cold, cold here for weeks. I’m a pretty up beat person, but this crazy weather can wear anyone down! We did have a tease on Sunday though–40 degrees and it felt like a Spring day, but now we’re back to the frigid teens. Boo hoo.

In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. -Albert Camus

Well played, Albert. This too, shall pass and the warmth of summer will be back.

With the cold winter comes some beautiful views too. I mean, really? Sometimes I feel like Snow White in my own enchanted forest when I look out the back window and see this:

This isn’t a great picture, but I feel like this duo-selfie captured the moment perfectly–me and my Valentine went out for a romantic dinner together on the 14th. We had such a great time checking out the Biergarten for a pre-dinner drink and then heading to Moonstruck for an amazing feast. Swoon.

On the art front, this is another girl coming to life. I love watching the process progress through pictures, it gives me a different perspective on the whole thing.

And here’s a peek inside my tweaking process with the color of the prints. Since I have my own fine art printer, I needed to figure out the process so I can create a print I’m proud of. I also wanted to make sure I was consistent, too, because there are so many different ways to create a print.

Along my journey, I’ve realized I just have to figure out the combination that I like best. Have the printer control the color? Have Photoshop control color? There are a lot of combinations that can change how the print looks and it took me awhile to figure out which to use. And even though the whole color management process can make me ca-razy with all of the adjustments, I’ve learned a ton along the way and I’m happy for my pages + pages of mistakes.

Tweaking colors

Here’s the final result of my tweaking. I gave this sweet girl away for my Valentine’s giveaway. Congratulations Felicia!

Valentine's Giveaway

And, oh yeah–I’m also in the middle of planning my wedding. Holy moley, it feels like it’s taking over my life right now! And it is, but that’s ok. I dodged a major invitation debacle this weekend (the time was printed wrong!) so I feel like I got my one bad thing out of the way. Smooth sailing from now on…

Invitation graveyard

Signature

PS: Don’t ask for permission to take care of yourself

How can I get healthy? 5 simple steps to get the ball rolling

Doesn’t Winter seem to bring out the slothiness in everyone? I find it so hard not to overload on comfort foods and burrow in; I end up skipping my workouts and the maddening cycle takes hold. I have to remind myself that part of that feeling is just natural–after all, we’re meant to slow down and hibernate in the Winter. It’s a part of nature, but tell that to those extra 5 pounds. These are some of my (not so proud) stellar shortcuts:

“If I just skip breakfast, I will be able to fit into those pants”
“I’m too tired for the gym after work”
“I’ll start eating better next week”
“Dessert isn’t going to kill me!”

Sound familiar?

So when Spring rolls around, the sirens go off and I start thinking about wearing a bathing suit (yikes!) I DO know that in order to get healthy, (a new version of healthy that I really relate to and connect with) I have to be willing to do things I may have not done before, both mentally and physically. It makes me think of that old phrase: do the same thing, get the same results.

Here are my tried and true ways to get back on the bandwagon and kick that lazy butt into gear. They may help you too:

Drink Water. Whenever I’m kicking it back into gear to get in shape, I just start drinking lots and lots of water. Copious amounts. Not only does it help hydrate my body, but it makes me feel full. Less snacking + more water = amazing skin + a detoxed bod.
Set a goal. If there’s no target, it’s hard to hit it. I try to set something that’s realistic like going to the gym at least 3 times a week and cutting down on the sugar. Keep it real–I’m not dreaming about running a marathon in a month when I haven’t been running at all. The idea is to set yourself up for success.
Think from the end. Getting in shape means doing a number on my mind as much as my body. I know I take more action from my thoughts and feelings about getting healthy when I can imagine where I want to get to. It’s like setting a compass and letting it guide me. I know if I work backwards from my goal, it takes the anxiety and mystery out of the whole process.
Ask for help. There is no need to go it alone (or reinvent the wheel) so I ask a friend, colleague or family member to be a support during this change. Joining an online community like sparkpeople can be a great help too. When someone is holding me accountable it’s a great motivation. Even better, I try to recruit them to take the journey with me! There’s nothing better than a partner in crime.
Keep the main thing the main thing. I take some time each day to think about why I want to become healthier. I meditate, but you can do something as simple as journal or have a check in with your buddy about your goals. Even if it’s something as simple as looking stellar for a class reunion, understanding the reason for all of the effort is a great motivator when I want to ease up on the pedal and start coasting.

These are just some ideas I wanted to pass along that usually help me get started back on the road to health. Also, here’s a free Spring Detox Guide to help jumpstart the process. How do you get motivated when you fall off the track? What are your tricks? Tell me about it in the comments below.