Hobbies

Bookshelf: Steal Like An Artist

by Reb Stevenson on March 8, 2012

I’m not sure how Steal Like an Artist landed in my mailbox. Usually I receive cookbooks.

But some freaky psychic publicist must have guessed how much I obsess about creativity, inspiration and the life choices that lead to success, because one fine afternoon, Chris in the mailroom handed me the book like a little gift.

You should know that I think it’s crucial to keep yourself ever-so-slightly uncomfortable, to continually cattle-prod that part of you that wants to lay low and shy away from risks. Steal Like an Artist is a great refresher course/reality check for anyone who yearns for artistic fulfillment. I felt good after I read it, like I’d just showered and put on fresh clothes.

It’s an easy read that’s full of graphics, which I appreciate. Good to see creativity when we’re talking about creativity, y’know? I don’t wanna read 100 pages of 10 point Times New Roman on this topic.

I especially like the illustration above. Have you ever taken that leap? I have. It’s barfy-scary. But I hope to do it again and again, even though that chasm makes me quake in my boots every time. There’s never a shortcut to true personal growth.

The book is based on these ten commandments:

Some of my personal favourite excerpts from the book include:

As the French writer André Gide put it, “Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.”
Have two desks: one “analog” and one “digital.”
Creative people need time to just sit around and do nothing, that’s how ideas are generated.
Harold Ramis said: “find the most talented person in the room, and if it’s not you, go stand next to him. Hang out with him. Try to be helpful.”
Don’t make excuses for not working – make things with the time, space, and materials you have, right now.

Speaking of the latter, that’s why I’m writing this post in lieu of capturing a rainbow in a jar and transforming it into music.

Want more? Visit author Austin Kleon’s great website here.

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Candy Cane Elimination with Trish Stratus

by Reb Stevenson on January 10, 2012

I don’t do magical weight loss powders or pills. For the most part, I believe in whole foods, regular exercise and occasional indulgences without overthinking or self-loathing. It’s not good for your mental health to fixate on your shortcomings (and please, please stop openly complaining about how disgusting and fat you are, unless you want the rest of us to start thinking it’s true).

But – I’m sure many of you identify with this – my post-Christmas period is a bit different. It’s a time for reflection on all the crap that I ate without restraint: the trifle, the restaurant meals, the gigantic artisan chocolate bar I didn’t even like…I’ve come around the bend, arrived at the crossroads of Feeding Ave and Fed Up Street. Cake? Blech! You may as well be offering me a boiled boar’s head.

So if, like me, you’re looking to atone for your sins, here’s something I’ve recently tried: The Stratusphere Yoga DVD.

Trish Stratus is a fellow Canadian and a WWE wrestling champion. She is also the owner of Stratusphere, a yoga studio near where I live in Vaughan, Ontario.

The thing that actually brought this to my attention is the Fit Gloves that Trish uses in the DVD. I think this is a really cool idea to increase the toning in your arms while you practise yoga. They each weigh a pound, and you’ll feel them when you’re holding your warrior pose.

The DVD itself is fast-paced and incorporates non-yoga moves like bicep curls and moving lunges. It’s broken down into five 10-minute segments which you can mix and match:

lean legs & glutes
toned biceps & triceps
sculpted shoulders & calves
defined chest & back
tight abs & core

In my opinion, this is not for absolute beginners. I find it quite challenging, especially the abs & core portion. Billy probably thinks I’ve gone into phantom-pregnancy childbirth, judging by the sounds I make as I try to get through the 7th plank.

The only thing that’s missing is a warm up – you’ll have to do your own. I feel like the DVD launches into a hardcore workout too fast.

Another reason I’ve decided to post this now is to tell you about the 30 day challenge that Trish is running this month (you have to start by January 24). It includes a nutrition guide, workout plan and a nuTRISHon journal (oh they do love their puns at the Stratusphere). I’ve perused it, and I must say it looks very realistic. The diet is based on whole foods and encourages a “cheat meal” every week. There’s even a checkbox on your journal that says “poop?” which made me laugh. How often do you see that second “p” in action?

There are prizes to be won and there is community support on Twitter (#stratusphereliving), though if you tweet during your plank for sympathy, you’ll probably just make it harder for yourself.

I’m not officially doing it because of my blog-related food commitments, but I did pay the $4.99 to get the nutrition/workout guides and I intend to use it for inspiration to clean up my act a bit. You can get the whole shebang (fit gloves, DVD, journal, literature) for $39.99, which is a helluva lot cheaper than a bootcamp or gym membership.

Have you launched into a New Years fitness/diet routine? Tell me about it!

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Apron Obsession: A Gift Gallery

by Reb Stevenson on November 25, 2011

If you saw my previous post on how I turned an Irish rake into an apron hanger, you probably have a sneaking suspicion that I have an unnatural obsession with aprons.

First of all, I do think they’re functional, especially if there’s flour involved. Apron = the sloppy cook’s full body bib.

Secondly – and more importantly – a fun apron introduces an element of dress up into your domestic endeavours. And ever since I wore one of my mom’s discarded negligees to elementary school (thinking I looked like Madonna) I’ve been a huge fan of dress-up.

So spread the apron love this Christmas! Here are a few snazzy ones I found online: [ CLICK TO CONTINUE ]

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