adventure

My New Facebook Artwork Page

Well, I’ve officially made the leap, and published my Amanda Kayla Liberty Art Facebook Page!

On this page, I will be sharing my artwork progress updates, final renderings, inspiration and quotes. I hope you will enjoy watching my artwork evolve, as much as I enjoying evolving with each of them. So make sure to drop by, and like my page, so you can following along on my crazy artistic journey.

Thanks in advance for all your continued support, I appreciate each and every one of you!

Before I leave you, I will share this wonderful quote I stumbled upon this morning:

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Keep on keeping on all my lovely weirdos. xo

Amanda Kayla Liberty | Blog | Video Games

I’m back!

Hiiiiiiiii!

I’m back in Ottawa, and I’m getting a bunch of new posts ready for my blog!

My trip to Trinidad & Tobago was absolutely amazing, and I can’t wait to share some of my favorite memories with you.

I even managed to get a hint of a tan! HOORAY!

Here are a few pictures from my trip in the meantime:

 

MUCH more to come! xo

21 Day Yoga Challenge

I’m freaking out!

I officially only have 21 days left, until I get on a plane, and leave for vacation. A well-needed vacation…

In order to avoid inducing panic attacks due to my overwhelming number of tasks I have to accomplish in the next few weeks, I’ve decided to give myself a 21 day yoga challenge.

This will help me relax and breathe, while still giving me a seriously great workout. My goal is: 1 full hour of yoga per day, for the next 21 days.

I have exams coming up, 3 staff holiday parties to attend, 1 birthday, Christmas shopping, and three paintings to finish. No big deal, right?

Simply writing out that list makes my chest tighten.

That’s exactly why I need a release. Yoga will help my body and mind relax through meditation and exercise, and this practice will help increase my feeling of well-being.

Do you have any advice for me?

Let me know in the comments below, I would appreciated anything that will help make the next 21 days less stressful.

But seriously… VACATION! I’m so excited I could cry.

Amanda Kayla Liberty | Blog | Video Games

A Perfect Long Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend just passed, and it was absolutely perfect. It also happened to be my first full weekend off in over a month and a half – so that alone was amazing!

On Friday, all I wanted to do was take my pants off, drink wine and chill on the couch with Nick and the puppies – and that’s exactly what we did.

Saturday was a perfect day, from beginning to end. Nick and I headed to Little Italy and had fresh deli sandwiches from Di Rienzo’s while sitting on a picnic table facing a basketball court. With the red and orange leaves in the background it was a beautiful view. The food was delicious. If you live in the Ottawa region, make sure to check out Di Rienzo’s for the best sandwiches you will ever taste!

Sanwhich

Bball court

After our lovely lunch we drove around Little Italy and Chinatown, and decided to stop and have some gelato. Ever since my trip to Italy I’ve been obsessed with gelato. There, I ate tiramisu gelato, every day, twice a day. Obsessed.

icre cream

Later on in the night we decided to go out in the market and have some drinks and food while we watched the hockey game. It was a perfect night, a perfect day.

On Sunday, I was viciously hungover, and I headed to my sister’s house to hangout, and run some errands together. We also decided to go on an impromptu adventure to feed the ducks near her house. This involved almost falling into the water a few times, being circled by vicious seagulls, stepping in mud and getting prickly-plants stuck in my leggings. Essentially, my favorite kind of adventure, lots of silliness involved! We eventually managed to get close to some of the ducks and fed them some bread. Afterwards, we did some shopping which involved the usual cry-laughing and creating havoc in the stores. Because, sisters. #FSU

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I spent the rest of my night watching movies, playing Borderlands and Army of Two: Devil’s Cartel with Nick.

On Monday we had a puppy spa day at our apartment and gave the girls baths and haircuts. They smell so nice now! Lily however, has never been a huge fan of her grooming process, as you can see in the picture below:

lily bath

Afterwards, we visited Nick’s parent’s house and had dinner with his family. The food was beyond delicious, and as if turkey dinner couldn’t get any better, dessert was: ICE CREAM CAKE! I’m starting to realize that I have an obsession with anything and everything ice cream related.

It was so nice to spend some time with them and a great way to end my perfect long weekend.

path

A Funny Story. A Forever Friend.

When we stop and think about the small moments that lead us here today, it’s almost impossible to deny destiny. For example, my best friend. Our friendship grew out of the most unusual circumstances – and I’m so very happy it did. We’ve been through a lot… almost 10 years of friendship and a roller coaster ride at times, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

We went to the same high school but always had a different group of friends. In 10th grade our circles of friends started to become closer, but I still can’t remember speaking to her very much at first. Basically, the reason we began to talk was that in 10th grade my first ever skater-boy-boyfriend dumped me, and started to date her! As if life couldn’t be more ironic, we ended up going to Italy together weeks later, with our school’s art students – and had to sleep in the same room.

How many girls could have said that within those 4 walls, they could have built a forever friendship with the girl that stole her boyfriend? (She didn’t really steal him – I mean, we were in 10th grade after all.)

I don’t think it would have worked in most cases. What it took was two awkwardly hilarious individuals with kind hearts and open minds. That’s the reason we became friends in Italy, and that’s the reason we are still friends today.

I owe a lot of who I am today to her. She’s picked me up at my lowest, she loved me even when I wasn’t lovable and she never gave up on me. There’s nothing that I could ever do to repay her for being my friend, especially when I didn’t even deserve one.

Through broken hearts, bleeding limbs, lost jobs and failed classes. Through new love and new friends, new puppies and new homes. To our crazy business ventures and never-ending imagination, our karaoke silliness and rolling down grass hills. You’re my best friend, you’re my family. I love you and I’m forever grateful to have you in my life.

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#gogetmesomebread #poursomesugaronmeeeeee #italysistasforlife

peanut butter and jelly love

The Peanut Butter to My Jelly

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Yin to My Yang.”

Today’s Daily Post prompt is, how do you define the term “soulmate”?

I’ve often debated whether soulmates were real. In my mind it was impossible to define, even if you found someone that you loved entirely, what made them your soulmate?

Today I know what it means to find your soulmate. It was in front of me all along – it was so natural to me, that I didn’t realize I was surrounded with people that had found their soulmates.

First, my Grandpa and Nan. They weren’t the touchy-feely kind of couple, but they were obviously in love. I remember my Nan yelling “FRANK!” from the kitchen to let him know that lunch was ready. They watched movies together and they cooked together. They did everything together. My Grandpa would always joke that every time my Nan would touch his computer, she would manage to break something. She still quotes that joke to this day. I know she misses my Grandpa dearly, we all do. It’s practically impossible to suggest that my grand mother should look for someone new to spend her time with – but she said it best, “I don’t need to find someone new, I had my true love, my best friend, that’s all I will ever need.”

Secondly, my Mamie and Papie. The funniest and the most adorable couple you will ever meet. They are the kind of people that still kiss each other every day, hug and hold each other at family gatherings and the kind of couple that still taps each others butts when the other is walking away. I remember being young and saying “I hope I’m in love like they are when I grow up.” They would do anything for each other, and it’s not because they’ve said that specifically, but everything they do, the way they still look at each other – I have no doubt when I look at them that I am looking at two soulmates.

Lastly, my parents. As their child I know their relationship more than most. My parents dream together, set goals together, and attain them. They’ve always worked as a team, and they always confide in each other. They’ve always had each other’s backs, even when I gave them hell as a teenager. They are the best definition of “support system” you could imagine, and honestly if you don’t have that in a relationship, what do you have? They build projects together and give each other endless credit for the work they accomplished. The sweetest part about them, is when I’m with either of them, they are always saying nice things about the other! My parents love each other beyond belief. I’ve always wanted a relationship like theirs. They are goofy and they make each other laugh. Even if my mom is playing her apps while they watch TV, my parents are always together, because that’s just where they want to be. My parents are the definition of soulmates, it’s clear to see, but even more clearly felt when you are around them.

It’s impossible to go out looking for your soulmate. As many have quoted:

“You don’t find love, love finds you.”

Love found each of my grand parents, and love found my parents.

True love isn’t perfect, it’s flawed and inconvenient at times, it’s hard and it hurts, but love is also perfectly imperfect, grateful and kind. Finding your soulmate is finding a balance within another person.

Falling in love with someone and spending your life with them, now that is one of our lifetime’s greatest adventure.

Basically, my latest artwork sums it up perfectly:

peanut butter and jelly love

You’re the Peanut Butter to My Jelly
Amanda Kayla Liberty
2015

Happiness Defined

“To live in the present moment is the highest calling, the source of all happiness”Naval Ravikant

I always come back to this quote, it’s beautiful and meaningful and mostly it’s a necessary reminder for me to focus on what’s truly important.

Lately, I’ve been very distracted. I probably often seem to be more interested in my phone than my surroundings. For that, I am sorry… because that’s the farthest thing from the truth.

I’ve always been the type of person to encourage everyone to live in the moment, seize the day, and be grateful. But mostly that they need to stop worrying about things that are out of their control.

I should take my own advice more often…

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been overwhelmed and disappointed about decisions I made in the past. I’ve been scared, and even angry at times, and it’s affected every inch of my life.

The truth is that I’m happy, I’m overjoyed with my life – the problem is, I need to start acting like it.

I’ve basically worked for 30 days straight now, yesterday being my first day off in a long time. I keep telling myself that because I’m so busy with my two jobs and school, I don’t have enough time to paint and write. In my defense I do try and use my free-time wisely, even if it means lounging on the couch playing my Xbox or watching Netflix. That time is important, everyone needs to unwind.

This is my happy place

This is my happy place

However, I’ve been making too many excuses. If I truly wanted to balance my schedule properly and give myself time for painting, drawing and writing, I most certainly could. But often, laziness takes control of me and I truly just want to do nothing…

But time is our one resource that isn’t renewable, therefore we all need to use the time we have wisely. I need to kick my behind back into shape and make things happen for myself. Because I know that being creative, giving myself time and space to unleash the ideas I have buried in my head… that makes me happy.

Which is why this week I will be launching my new website which will feature all of my artwork that’s for sale, and a page for custom requests. As some of you may not know, not only do I paint, but I also do a lot of graphic design. So make sure to keep an eye out for the launch as I will definitely be posting it on my blog!

Thanks to everyone who has supported me in this incredible time in my life, and everyone who has shown immense support for my blog. I love you all – I can’t thank you enough.

AKL ♥

Ps. Last week I officially sold my first piece of artwork, here is “Messier 8”:

Messier 8 Amanda Kayla Liberty 2015

Messier 8
Amanda Kayla Liberty
2015

Wanderlust

I want to travel. I want to be immersed in other cultures, and in other worlds. I want to try new flavors and speak new languages. I want it all. I want to make new memories all over the world.

I’ve always been fascinated by those who drop everything and go travel. Personally, I love adventures and the idea of exploring something unknown.

I was lucky, and traveled to Italy in 10th grade, as well as Disney World with my family, and a couple trips to Sudbury with my grandparents.

However, at 23 years old, I hadn’t accomplished as much travelling as I had hoped I would.

When I met Nick in 2013, I made it abundantly clear to him that I wanted to go on a trip… “I want to go on an adventure!” I told him. And I didn’t have to tell him twice… We started planning our first adventure to Toronto almost immediately after that initial conversation. In the 2 years following that first trip, we went to Montreal twice, Toronto again, Las Vegas and to Cuba twice. Considering my track record for travelling, we really blew it out of the park!

We have officially started planning our next adventure to… Trinidad and Tobago! I could cry I’m so excited. We are going for 15 days early next year, and I know that this trip will be a true adventure in its purest of forms.

Where are you planning your next adventure?

Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland