Classy and Opinionated Lifestyle Mom Blog
If you keep up with food trends, you know that cooking with exotic global ingredients is all the rage. One easy way to bring global flavor to your kitchen easily and inexpensively is through the use of spices, such as Zahtar. Now Pereg Natural Foods …
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about probiotics, prebiotics, and how a thriving microbiome of “good” bacteria contributes to overall good health. Suppose I could tell you about a simple way to add prebiotics to your diet to nurture your microbiome without adding a …
The Holiday Gift Guide here at The Classy Chics is in full swing, and today I have a great craft book for you to consider for the artist on your gift list, or perhaps for yourself. Allow me to introduce Modern Acrylic: A Contemporary Exploration of Acrylic Painting by Blakely Little (Walter Foster Publishing, October 2018).
* Complimentary book received for review. This post contains affiliate links.
Modern Acrylic is part of Walter Foster Publishing’s Modern Series, which also includes Modern Drawing and Modern Watercolor. The publisher describes this series as offering “a fun, fresh approach to working with traditional art media.” Judging by what I’ve seen in Modern Acrylic, this series does indeed have a lot to offer, especially for beginners eager to learn.
The early chapters of Modern Acrylic provide an overview of the fundamentals of acrylic painting. Starting with a description of the tools and materials needed then moving through the basic techniques of painting with acrylics (including cleaning up), both the illustrations and the explanations are clear and understandable, with some great tips sprinkled throughout. Once the basis is established, subsequent chapters provide the reader with step-by-step instructions for painting interiors, botanicals, still lifes, landscapes, coastal scenes, and architecture.
Two terms are key: Concept and technique. Modern Acrylic covers both of these in detail, helping the reader understand both the concepts behind creating artwork with acrylics and the techniques required to bring it to fruition. The author, Blakley Little, does a great job of making it all accessible for people who might not be familiar with painting, and in particular, with painting with acrylics.
If you have a budding artist on your gift list, consider wrapping up a copy of Modern Acrylic for them. Add some supplies like brushes, acrylic paints, a palette, and some suitable paper or a canvas or two, and your recipient will be ready to embark on a lifelong journey of creative expression through acrylic painting.
Walter Foster Publishing, an imprint of Quarto, specializes in books on art instruction. Take a little time to browse their selection of books on painting, sketching, drawing, lettering, illustration, and so on, then visit Quarto on Facebook for the latest news about book releases, authors, and more.
* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!
Giveaway: One lucky winner is going to win a copy of Modern Acrylic for themselves from Quarto Knows. Good luck!
Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the US ONLY age 18 and over. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering. This giveaway will close on December 18th, 2018 at 11:59 pm EST time. No purchase necessary to enter or win.
Disclaimer: A. Bailey received a complimentary product for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. Please read the blog’s terms of service policy before entering any giveaways. The Classy Chics are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping of any items won from this blog. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we may or may not make a small commission which helps to support this website. Thank you!!!
Mouthwash is an important part of a complete oral care routine. Many popular mouthwashes contain alcohol and their harsh, burning sensation makes them very unpleasant to use. Good news: With Oxyfresh Cavity Protection Fluoride Mouthwash, you get all of the benefits of mouthwash with none …
For me, baking is about more than making good food for people I love; it’s also a special time for myself, when it’s just me in the kitchen with my equipment and ingredients. It’s a creative and contemplative time, and I truly enjoy both the …
Yes, you read that right: Slow-cook your food using only minutes’ worth of electricity or gas, thanks to the innovative Wonderbag. How? Basically, the Wonderbag is a highly insulated bag constructed of polyvinyl fabric and recycled foam that retains heat so well that hot food continues to cook for hours. Bring your one-pot recipe (stew, chili, oatmeal, etc.) to a boil, put your covered pot into the Wonderbag, insert the Wonderbag’s lid, close it up, and the food continues slow-cooking for up to 12 hours.
* Complimentary product received for review.
Aside from the savings from not using gas or electricity, the easily-portable Wonderbag can free you to prepare your food ahead and bring it with you wherever you go—picnics, potlucks, camping, boating, whatever—and have it fully cooked, hot, and ready later. The Wonderbag can also be used to keep cold foods cold, so you can safely bring along chilled dishes or wine, or even ice cream.
If you think the Wonderbag is amazing for those of us in modern society, imagine the impact it can have for people, especially women, in parts of the world where they can’t afford or don’t have access to the amenities we take for granted, like cooking fuel. As the Wonderbag company puts it, “Wonderbag is an economic catalyst. In rural African communities the intervention of a Wonderbag can help a family go from 20 cents a day income to $2 a day.” Now that’s a positive impact! And that’s only scratching the surface of the Wonderbag’s positive effects. I urge you to visit Wonderbag’s website, as well as the website for the Wonderbag Foundation, to learn more about how this remarkable product is enhancing lives and bringing positive change where it’s most needed. As Wonderbag says, “The Wonderbag is a catalyst for change around the world….found in both the poorest and most affluent of homes around the globe.” For inspirational stories and current news, visit Wonderbag on Facebook, too.
Wonderbag comes in several colors and two sizes, and I received a large Urban Grey Wonderbag for my review. I love it! It’s big enough to hold my enameled cast-iron pot, my go-to pot for recipes that require long simmering. Now I can simply bring the food to a boil, let it simmer for a few minutes, then transfer the whole pot to the Wonderbag and let the magic happen. One additional use for my Wonderbag that I’m thrilled with is using it to carry home a store-bought rotisserie chicken; before, I worried that the chicken wouldn’t be safe to eat after the long drive home, but the Wonderbag keeps it piping hot not only during the ride but right up until dinner time.
As you prepare your gift list this holiday season, consider the Wonderbag for your favorite cook, camper, or boater. It would make a thoughtful and useful present—maybe even for yourself!
Disclaimer: A. Bailey received complimentary products for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we will receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thanks!
You may remember seeing reviews for Petani products here at The Classy Chics during the last year, and I’m back today to introduce you to even more fun and useful products from Petani. For today’s review, Petani sent me three different products: Sweet Moments paper …
Let me tell you about my new favorite way to take care of myself: Nutritional supplements from Pure Synergy! Pure Synergy (formerly The Synergy Company) has been making organic wellness supplements for over 25 years. In that time, they’ve developed an amazing variety of products …