A Birthday Post! And The Balance Artist Links

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Sam @ The Balance Artist

Not only is tomorrow Coop’s Big 3-0….but today is my blogging anniversary! TBA hasn’t been around that long (since April!), but my original blog, Sam Bock Illustration & Design, began this day, last year.

(Any readers remember this?)

Happy Birthday, Coop!

This past weekend, I surprised Mr. I-Don’t-Want-a-Party-Grumpy-Gus with a room at Windrift in Avalon.

(Photo via windrifthotel.com)

We fell in love with it Memorial Day weekend when we first saw the renovations, and I knew we had to stay there! Had to do something special…thirty is a big deal!

I made the two of us some veggie-filled pitas and some smoothies to get some last-minute nutrition, and we headed down to the good ol’ Jersey shore early Friday afternoon.

It was a really great weekend full of friends and surprises. Started off with discovering our sweet room view (right over the pool!) and cracking open some Malbec after hunting for a wine opener.

We ate lots of great food (wood-fired pizza, sushi, oysters, Bang Bang Shrimp, etc. from Windrift are all Sam & Coop-approved), and my sister Allie and her boyfriend Oscar came for the first night.

Shenanigans ensued.

Gosh, I love them.

Saturday was a hot one, but our friend Norty met us after the four of us had brunch on the deck and we beached it for hours until we took it to the pool.

(Photo via windrifthotel.com)

It was so convenient having our meals at the hotel, and we actually didn’t make it out to any other bars at all in Avalon this time. We had too much fun and never left! Saturday night, a bunch of our friends from Ocean City came to surprise Coop, and we ended up hardly leaving our small suite…we had the best time!

Sunday was reggae happy hour at the Golden Inn next door, where we met the CUTEST basset hound/black lab puppy named Sadie and Coop sat in for one of our favorite reggae bands, The Raggamuffins!

My rockstar can play chill reggae, too! It was a very different “shore weekend” for us, but it was so much fun! Already can’t wait to go back to WD. If you are ever a Jersey shore-goer, definitely check it out. It is our absolute favorite!

Happy Birthday, Blog!

I also wanted to implement a new little aspect to my blog, since it IS my blogging birthday!

Called “TBA Links,” I will link up four links of possible interest at the bottom of posts. Since my posts tend to be lifestyle-related on a regular basis, I figured these links will help me stay true to my original intent for my blog…balancing my life of art, food, fitness, and fun.

One for each section of the heart and soul of TBA: Art, Food, Fitness, & Just for Fun. Here are my first TBA Links!

Art: Wine Tasting Party Printables -via MoreDesignPlease
Food: 19 Food Tips That You Need to Know! -via Buzzfeed
Fitness: Fall Fitness Fashion Preview: 6 Trends to Watch For -via Well+Good NYC
Just for Fun: “6 Days to Air” Reveals “South Park”‘s Insane Production Schedule -via Cartoon Brew

Are you a big birthday-celebrator?
Have you found any great links lately?

Playing Catch-Up

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Sam @ The Balance Artist

Well, hey there! Remember me?

As I have been consuming most of my free time with hitting some freelance deadlines, I have neglected my little blog. Working and drawing isn’t the ONLY thing I have been doing, though!

1.) I’ve been enjoying walking around the city. Coop is moving from his awesome house in Old City Philadelphia next month, so I am trying to soak up all the fun things within walking distance while I can.

Ikea and Fro Yo kinda day….

2.) I’ve also been attempting to enjoy the Flyers….although they are making it reallllly really difficult for me.

…I even turned the boy onto it! He’s been to a good amount of games with me as we have season tickets. He has lived in Philly for like seven years now, and he (thankfully) wasn’t a Bruins fan, or had really followed hockey much before. And now he bought a Jagr shirt at the last game! Stacy thinks he is a keeper.

3.) I got new business cards, mailing labels, and blank notecards.

4.) Also, food and drink has consumed the other portion of my life while not drawing, working, or workin’ it out.

I won a giveaway on Alyssa’s blog….well, sort of! The number of entrants was wrong when she first did the random number giveaway, so it totally wasn’t fair to the others that entered. My girl did the right thing (and apologized profusely)….aaaand Lauren from Sharkies still hooked me up anyway! Verdict? Get these organic, delish fruit chews and energy chews if you see them in stores. LOVE them, can’t get enough!!!

Made some pasta salad with kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, roasted peppers, onions, and garlic, and veggie rotini. And avocado. Always. Psh.

Tone It Up inspired me to make a roasted portobello mushroom, stuffed with red quinoa and veggies…a new fave!

I fell in love with Wegman’s, just like I knew I would….

AND they had pumpkin ale (my fave)….a really good one!….amongst all of the summer brews.

And also have started brewing my own kombucha each week!!! Anyone interested in a how-to? The pictures may terrify you a bit….that “scoby”? Yeah, it’s a huge mushroom-like culture that grows a baby (also a huge mushroom-like culture) on top. Scary!!! But it tastes just like store-bought for the most part and will definitely save me some bucks so that I am not buying (freakin’ delicious) Synergy all the time. I added pineapple juice to some of my last batch. So good!!

My dad, the antique car guru, has a customer from Italy who delivered these awesome little guys to me…..luckily, the cookbook has some English. Not so luckily, the coffee, which is “not like that dark water you Americans drink,” is straight-up in Italian. Anyone care to interpret??

I also have made a giant, shrimp-infused version of my Roasted Veggie Pad Thai. I would like to marry that TJ’s Soyaki sauce. Oh. Man.

Saturday night we went to Philadephia Bar & Restaurant again….because after watching my boy Guy on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives eat the best looking mac and cheese around, we decided we needed some fried mac and cheese balls. And crab guacamole. Best idea ever. AND look what is happening in two weekends?! So there.

AND Sunday brunches with Coop have been amazing lately. Like this past one at Revolution House. Totally my new favorite Bloody Marys in Philly.

Eggs in Purgatory! Similar to the Shakshuka I love at nearby Cafe Ole.

We made new friends and learned about traffic apps...

I don’t normally do sweet, or cocktails at all for that matter, but this pineapple juice & Chambord deliciousness our bartender whipped up for me was uh. mazing. Despite what my face would infer, here…

And has anyone else ever heard of a Bloody Maria?! Aka, a Bloody Mary…with tequila! Be still my tequila-lovin’ heart.

Okay, I am still a ball of sweat after a kickbutt BodyCombat class and I have some freelance to work on….and some Flyers to cheer on. Later gators!

Let me know if any of you foodies want a “how to make your own kombucha” post….it’s super easy, albeit a little time-consuming!

Vegas Part I: Oscar Does Yoga & The Sexy Sax Man

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Sam @ The Balance Artist

Hello!

As I am fighting off a weird stomach bug (acquired the last few days of my trip….great!), I haven’t been able to do much the last few days, and regressed today. NOT fun.

Anyway, the next few posts will be mostly picture documentation of our Vegas trip. I will eventually put together a Best Of Vegas post, as I have been there many times, and it seems like many of you will be making a visit within the next year. In the meantime, I finally came up with the right name for my blog, and I will be using the Vegas trip recap posts to hold you guys over while I make the switch to my own domain (and to WordPress!). Slowly but surely! There will be some major construction going on, but I promise it will be worth it! Any WP lovers, feel free to give me tips…this is confusing!

In the mean time, keep checking here until I debut my new blog (although all of my posts will transfer over to the newbie, too) with a new look, a giveaway, and a fitness/health post! Can’t wait, lots of new things comin’….just stick with me!

But for now….VEGAS, BABY!

Part One

Their first Vegas gamble!

Excited! But this would be the last picture taken with my iPhone before it got stolen…

Donald Butler from the Chargers

My seat for most of the trip…in the back with the bags!

Oscar stretching it out before we go out…

“I call this ‘scorpion!’ See my pinchers?”

Windiest day ever!!!

Yardhouse is my dream come true…

“I’m not getting a sig on my beeper…”

Beers make moms hide in bushes…

…and make us smile pretty….

…and watch Sexy Sax Man Sergio Flores on our phones…

….and CRY laughing for a solid hour. Surprised no one clapped when we finally left the restaurant. But we continued the sexy saxophoning well into the trip…

In my backseat with the leftovers!

Part II will come…..bringing about some videos of Oscar sexy-saxin’ in public, Coop arrives and we have a pretty sweet dance party, and we get some street performers on the Strip to perform the George Michael hit for us. First videos on here ever!

More to come. Now I will continue to sit here and try to stomach my ginger ale as I attempt to decipher this WordPress mumbo jumbo! xoxox

The Mustard-Colored Apartment

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Sam @ The Balance Artist

Tomorrow is the day….my return to Vegas! I haven’t been there in two years, and for someone who was relatively a local for a few years, I CANNOT WAIT to get back there!! The southwest owns my heart.

Before I leave, let me recap a bit.

Although most of my meals have been super nutrient-and-veggie-dense this week (hey, pool parties!) and have looked like this:

….the week before, not so much. First was dinner I cooked at my parent’s house last Friday…homemade guac, green chili chicken enchiladas, and blackened shrimp tacos with cabbage, radicchio, an avocado cilantro crema (made with plain Chobani), and homemade pico de gallo. I could eat like this every day.

Then St. Paddy’s Day in Philly.

First we met a friend at a house party. Coop called to get the details about where to meet, and when he said, “Oh okay, the mustard-colored apartment?” I scoured the horizon for a bright yellow, French’s colored building. Then he pointed here.

“That’s mustard-colored?”
“Yes you know, like, spicy brown kind?”

…really? I would never consider that mustard-colored, but okay!

After the mustard party, we headed to Moriarty’s for some drinks and apps. If you are ever in the area, Moriarty’s is known for their wings. They are amazing! I didn’t have any this time, but they are killer. The girls from my dance studio and I used to go here before we would see any Broadway shows at the Forrest Theatre.

Even Stacy was in the St. Patrick’s mood!

The next day, Coop and I wanted to try something a little different. Sunday was gorgeous here, so we opted to walk to South Street again. This time, German food was on our mind.

Two Germans at Brauhaus Schmitz!

Ohhhh my goodness. We both agreed this is one of the top places we have ever been. The atmosphere was awesome (the front of the restaurant was open-air since it was so nice out), our server was fab, beer selection was amazing, and the food was spectacular. Fresh-baked bread, a delicious soft-pretzel, smokey fish spread, spatzle with veggies, housemade bratwurst (I just typed “mousemade”…..Ratatouille on my mind), sauerkraut….everything was on point. So different and so fun!

Oh….and two mustards came out with our pretzel. One is what I would consider “mustard-colored”, and the other is what Coop apparently considers “mustard-colored.”

Just like the building! He is a treat.

I also laughed at “WinterFahrt.” Because I am a twelve year old boy.

We then stopped in the Adidas store where Coop picked up some sweet new high-tops and I lusted over interesting kicks and gear of my own….

Wow.

And then I talked him into sharing a humungous fro-yo on the way home, in true foodie form, of course.

Hope you all had a great week…happy Friday!!! Enjoy your weekend….I know I will! See ya when I return!

Oh….and to hold you over here until I get back from my vaycay… you may watch the penguin cam.

…you’re welcome.

The ‘guin Cam <- click here for instant happiness.

As my BFF said (thanks for the penguin links, Biggie), “Penguin has to get to the stock markets. Penguin has work to do.”

Freakin’ penguins. So cool.

Caution: Do NOT Read If You Are Hungry!!

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Sam @ The Balance Artist

Hello everyone!

Sorry I have been non-existent lately…I have been super busy with some freelance gigs (that I just can’t share yet, up in here!) and preparing for my upcoming vacation. Promise I will share more art here when I can! Hopefully I will have time to work on some personal art ideas when I return from Vegas with the fam. Next Saturday! Can’t wait!

I will have a foodie-based giveaway the week that I return, so be on the lookout for that! I have been super active in the kitchen lately, trying new-to-me things like chia pudding, homemade pesto, overnight oats in a jar,

and new creations like healthy Bang-Bang Shrimp Pasta, taco pie, and a Southwestern chopped quinoa salad inspired by one in the newest Fitness magazine. Agave + apple cider vinegar + lime juice + olive oil + spices makes the BEST dressing….oh man. And for some reason, when fresh salad ingredients are chopped up into itty bitty pieces, they just taste so much better! This reminded me of a salad I would be able to get at Choice Greens in Tucson. MAN I miss that place…and their ciabatta bread. Yum.

We have also checked out some amazing local food joints…South Street Diner in Philly made my dreams come true with a Crab Cake Eggs Benedict,

and La Laconda del Ghiottone in Old City proved to be one of the best Italian joints I have ever encountered. The staff was knowledgable and fun, and oh-so-South-Philly-Italian, the setting is unique and intimate, and the menu…ohhhh the menu….

I was craving mussels, so we ordered those in a red sauce while we sipped on red wine. I planned on sticking with a relatively healthy fish dinner, but when I saw that they had gnocchi on the menu that they make with ricotta (the authentic Italian way!), I had to try! It is a signature dish of theirs and after hearing rave reviews, I went with it. The time that I made my own gnocchi, it was a ricotta gnocchi, as well! So I was pumped to try theirs. It was absolutely delicious; the gorgonzola and tomato sauce was perfectly creamy but not too much so. We all agreed it was the best dish of the night. The serving wasn’t huge, so I didn’t walk away feeling like a blimp…plus, we all shared a little of each dish that we got. The veal was also spectacular, and the sauce was just as good as mine. No sauce was left behind, thanks to the bread basket at the table.

Plus…BYOB always makes me happy. We came armed with plenty of Malbec! Definitely check out La Laconda if you are in the Philly area.

We also went to our friend’s 30th birthday party at Clipper City Brewery in Baltimore (they make Heavy Seas beer) for a beerfest; Black Cannon IPA was on point. Lots of good brews. We took a pitstop at Little Havana before heading home to Philly. Little Havana….best. Mojitos. Ever. I didn’t take many pictures, but hopefully I can get a few from friends who did.

Pup has also gotten plenty of outdoors time, especially since the days have gotten longer (wahoo!!) and the temperature has been hovering around 60-70 degrees around these parts! Spring is in sight!!!