Dianne de Las Casas & Tedd Arnold - Sept 25, 2008

On Thursday and Friday, the Baton Rouge Public Library hosted a children’s book author/illustrator program (this is their 31st year). Their featured author/illustrator was Tedd Arnold. Tedd Arnold is the author/illustrator of Green Wilma, No Jumping on the Bed, Parts (and its sequels), Super Fly Guy (and its sequels), and many other books.

Thursday night’s program was a family program with the presentation geared for kids. Tedd Arnold shared how he was inspired by his two sons, Walter and William, and their stuffed animals, Charlie (the dog) and Foxy (the fox) for a couple of his books. No More Jumping on the Bed was inspired by Walter. No More Water in the Bathtub was written for William. Tedd’s books are filled with laugh-out-loud humor. If you haven’t read any of the Parts books, you have to! Here is Tedd drawing the main character from Parts.

Tedd Arnold Drawing character from book, Parts - Sept 25, 2008

Tedd’s presentation was infused with great humor and light audience participation. He held the interest of children and adults alike. Super Fly Guy is one of Tedd’s most popular book characters. Tedd drew Fly Guy for the audience.

Tedd Arnold's Fly Guy - Sept 25, 2008

Marita Gentry, the illustrator for my picture book, The Cajun Cornbread Boy, won an illustration from Tedd Arnold.

Marita Gentry & Tedd Arnold - Sept 25, 2008

Here is a picture of our book cover. Isn’t Marita talented?

The Cajun Cornbread Boy By Dianne de Las Casas Illustrated by Marita Gentry

My 18 year old daughter, Soleil, is majoring in art at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She wants to pursue a career in children’s book illustration. I thought it would be a good idea for her to attend the program. Soleil really got a lot out of both the Thursday night presentation and the Friday morning program. She was able to see the other side of being a children’s book illustrator – presenting for the public. Here is Soleil with Tedd Arnold.

Soleil & Tedd Arnold - Sept 25, 2008

I highly recommend Tedd Arnold’s books. He’s a phenomenonally funny author and great guy, a super “fly” guy! LOL

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Eliana Making Original Recipe - Ladybug Pizzettas

Friends:

It’s been a few days since my last blog. I have been spending a lot of time in the kitchen with my 8 year old daughter, Eliana. What a delight she is. I love being around her – her enthusiasm is contagious. Since we began her blog, Eliana Cooks! A Creative Kid in the Kitchen, Eliana has been working hard at her craft in the kitchen. We plan menus together, shop together, cook together, and blog together. Eliana has even started writing her very own recipes. She keeps a “Food Notes” journal. Her delight has inspired me to “get creative in the kitchen.” I cooked this meal for my famiy: grilled portabellas with chorizo stuffing in a chipotle adobo cream sauce, grilled stuffed Anaheim peppers, roasted sweet corn, and homemade salsa for a fabulous Fiesta dinner last night.

Portabella with chorizo stuffing in chipote adobo cream sauce, stuffed anaheim pepper, roasted sweet corn, and homemade salsa

The past couple of days have been tough ones. Yesterday, we found out that my husband’s 55 year old uncle died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Our family is saddened and in shock. My husband just lost his father three months ago so this news came as a big blow. Please keep our family in your prayers.

I have some medical issues I am dealing with and had to have minor surgery today. I am okay – now awaiting test results, which is always nerve-wracking. But this little face helps to keep me going. What a sweetie!

Eliana Making Cream Soda Floats

Tonight, Eliana made me dinner since I had to take it easy. She made her original “Ladybug Pizzettas.” These mini pizzas were absolutely delicious. I would serve them at a party! Eliana and I plan to write a cookbook together, Cool Kids Cook! We look forward to developing recipes and spending more time cooking in the kitchen together. Eliana will post her recipe on her blog, Eliana Cooks! Check it out.

Eliana's Ladybug Pizzettas on the Plate

I am looking forward to tomorrow. I visit my 18 year old daughter, Soleil, in Baton Rouge. She will be accompanying me to the Baton Rouge Library’s Author-Illustrator program featuring Tedd Arnold. We are both very excited.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

LSU 2008 - Soleil's Freshman Dorm Room - Complete View

Friends:

Last week, my husband, my mom, and I moved Soleil into her dorm room at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was bittersweet for me. Things had been very tense leading up to the weeks before she left – I guess it’s just Mom not wanting to lose control. But that’s what life is about — allowing your children to spread wings and fly away on their own.

To keep my mind occupied, I decided to dive deep into planning and organizing her dorm room. It helped distract me from thinking about the real issue – my first-born baby leaving home… Anyway, when we arrived, Soleil was left with with the top bunk, a small desk area, and a shoe box closet. Her roommates had the privilege of moving in ahead of schedule because they were sorority pledges.

We started out with a cute theme – hot pink, black and white. Soleil chose her colors and her bedding. I made zebra fabric roll pillows – fun. Here is a picture of her top bunk. A metal tray clips to her bed to hold her alarm clock/iPod dock. A clip on lamp provides light. Check out the art above her bed. Those are photographs we bought in NYC in July from a street vendor.

LSU 2008 - Soleil's Freshman Dorm - Top Bunk

My husband and I built the white bookcase to provide more storage. It is placed in the space between the closet and the end of the bed, which would have otherwise been dead space. Here, she stores clothes, utility items, dishware, and linens. The top of the of bookcase serves as a “nightstand” since she’s on the top bunk. A hot pink feather boa hangs over the window for fun. You can’t see it (and I forgot to take pics) but I also made a curtain with accents of hot pink, lime green and zebra to unify Soleil and her roommates’ color themes.

LSU 2008 - Soleil's Freshman Dorm - Bookcase

The desk area is so ooh la la. With Soleil’s favorite icon of style and beauty, Marilyn Monroe, setting the glamourous atmosphere, the desk is dressed with a zebra runner (made by my mom). The small university-provided bookshelf houses desk necessities, a coffee center, and make-up. This desk triples as a work space, eating area, and vanity.

LSU 2008 - Soleil's Freshman Dorm Room - Desk

Next, I had to tackle the closet. There was little hanging space but fortunately, there are built-in shelves. Storage is maximized with over-the-door hooks on the front of the closet door and an over-the-door shoe organizer on the inside of the closet door. Everything in Soleil’s area is containerized and labeled.

LSU 2008 - Soleil's Freshman Dorm Room - Closet

In the end, Soleil LOVED her room and so did her friends.

LSU 2008 - Soleil & Friends in Dorm Room (Soleil in the middle)

Yes, moving her in was not easy but we made it through. When I walk by her room at home, I still feel twinges of sadness and longing for the little girl she used to be. But I am happy that she has grown into an intelligent, independent young woman with a bright future ahead of her. Like I said — bittersweet. But then again, bittersweet is my favorite kind of chocolate. You can’t appreciate the sweet without a little bitter…

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

On Saturday, we accompanied Soleil to Loyola University New Orleans for an introduction to the college. Soleil received a $72,000 scholarship offer from the university so we wanted to see if Loyola would be a good fit for Soleil. We attended panels and information sessions throughout the morning. In the early afternoon, we toured the Visual Arts building.

We met the department chair and faculty of the Visual Arts program. While Loyola is a beautiful college with a small, intimate campus set in the heart of the Garden District of New Orleans, we discovered that it wasn’t quite the right fit for Soleil. Soleil felt that the Visual Arts program was too small and they didn’t offer a major in illustration, which is what she is interested in. We will also be looking at the School of Visual Arts at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge). They also offered Soleil a substantial scholarship and financial aid package.

After Loyola, we ate at Slice, a delicious pizzeria on Magazine Street uptown. You can order pizza by the slice and the pieces are HUGE and yummy. Soleil discovered a “funny” on our receipt. See if you can catch it…

Yes, that’s right. We had a slice of “ASS” for just $3.25! “ASS” stands for Artichoke, Spinach and Sun-dried tomatoes. Yes, the staff at Slice has a sense of humor…

Here is a picture of beautiful Soleil with her Dad.

And Soleil with me…

It’s hard to believe that my “baby” is all grown up now and going off to college… Sniffle! Graduation is just a few weeks away! But I know that wherever Soleil ends up going to college, she will not just survive, but thrive because she is that kind of person. Smart, caring, and incredibly talented. Not to mention gorgeous! Soleil, Dad and I will always be behind you, no matter what. You will reach the stars – skies the limit for you!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne