Winter Window Season

Winter window season is in full swing around these parts.  

Here are some of the Winter shenanigans going on in Somerville!

At Two Little Monkeys:

...over at Treeline:



And down at Petsi Pies:

And a quick Frosty at little Tayla's house!

Off to paint more windows now.  Contact me if you'd like one of your own!

Halloween Window at Magpie Kids

Halloween window painting at Magpie Kids in Somerville, MA.

My little busy bee and her ladybug friend.

Buggy Bugs giving hugs in front of the photo backdrop I painted for the Halloween Party at Magpie Kids.

Photo cred: Allana of http://www.arsmagnastudio.com. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Mums the Word window painting

Fall window painting at my real job, BIDMC, Boston, MA.

*Photo bomb by Lauren.

Fall Window at Two Little Monkeys

Union Square Vet's Summer Window

The Snowman Family window painting

Winter window in the EU at Beth Israel:

a snowman family celebrating the upcoming Winter Solstice!

We're celebrating the winter solstice in our house too 

because it's our baby snowgirl's first birthday on the 21st.

I can't believe it's already been a year and at the same time that it's ONLY been a year.  What a whirlwind!  

Happy Birthday little snowgirl!  Mama loves you!!

First Christmas Window of the Season: Monkey Claus & the Missus

I did my first Christmas window of the Season yesterday at Two Little Monkeys in Union Square, Somerville, MA!!  

 The store is at the intersection of Somerville Ave & Bow Street.  Go check it out in person and get all Christmas-y.

Here's a link to the Christmas countdown clock in case you need to check it every 3-4 minutes like I do:

http://www.xmasclock.com/ 

36 days 'til Santa comes!!!

Nothing to see here, just a pickle turkey in Jordans.

You know, just your standard turkey with pickles feathers rockin' Ray Bans 

and some first edition Jordans.  

This guy has gotten the Humpty Dance stuck in my head AAAAALLLLLLLLL 

day long!  (Much to my husband's chagrin)

"My nose is big, nu-uh, I'm not ashamed, 

Big like a pickle, I'm still gettin' paid..."

Pickles are Spooky

Halloween window at the pickle store.

Jack-o-lanterns are notoriously fearful of spiders.  The other pumpkins and pickles have no sympathy for the little fella though.  So rude.

Let's go Red Sox! {clap clap} {CLAPCLAPCLAP}

Tonight is the first game of the 2013 World Series featuring some of my close personal friends...

From Left to Right: Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks, Jackie Bradley, Mike Napoli & David Ross

They stopped by Beth Israel (aka my real job) after the marathon bombings to say thanks, be awesome & check out my window.  Job well done. 

LET'S GO RED SOX!!  

{clap clap} {CLAPCLAPCLAP!}

Hay Girl! New Fall Window at River Dog!

Here is the new Fall window over at River Dog in Union Square- a furry little Scotty and his cat.

If this guy were a real dude I would be all over him!  With his adorable emo hair swoop and fat feet...we'd be buddies.  He's seen on the window keeping Dennis the sleeping shop cat company.

Dennis really has it made in the shade at River Dog and he's the reason there's some hay missing under the dog...that's his perch in there and he needs to be able to see out.  It's important work he does over there.

And because it's Halloween and I just couldn't resist...here's a pumpkin with some spiderwebs on the front door.  Spooooooky!

Stop by River Dog on Oct. 20th to enter your dog in their costume contest!!  More details on their facebook page. Good luck!!

New September Window Painting at Two Little Monkeys

Two Little Monkeys is at 77 Bow Street in Somerville.  

Go check 'em out and tell them Mandee sent you!!

Putting the "Grill" in Grillo's

Well, the end of August is here and Sam the Pickle Man knows what that means...it's time to grill!!

Labor Day is the second most popular BBQ day in the United States coming in only slightly after the 4th of July in popularity.  (I made all that up.)  And it's right around the corner!

It's time for one last hurrah with your friends before the days get shorter and the nights turn chilly.  

Head over to Grillo's Pickles in Inman Square in Somerville to get some pickles for your Labor Day BBQ and make sure to tell them Mandee sent you!

(Not because you'll get a discount but because I want them to think I'm sooooooo cool.)

Happy Grilling!!

The Dog Days of Summer window painting

August window at River Dog Doggy Day Care in Union Square, Somerville. 

Two Little Monkeys Window Painting

Earlier this week I was invited down to paint the windows at Two Little Monkeys, a children's consignment shop in my neighborhood by the owner, Sarah.  Sarah buys & sells  gently used kid's clothes, baby swings, strollers, baby carriers, bikes, trikes...you name it, she sells it.  (And at incredibly reasonable prices I might add.)

The store front has 8 windows at is about 20' long.  

I used Sarah's existing monkey characters but gave them both the signature cheesy grin that you'll find on all of my own characters.  The monkeys are having a water fight with the hose to beat this oppressive July heat here in Boston.  (Though as I type this it's a dreamy 70 degrees outside and you could even get away with wearing a hoodie.  Eep!)

I also added the shop's logo right on the center glass at eye level for greater visibility for passersby.  (I love that word.)

Contact me if you have a window that could use some love.  The designs are waterproof but also easily removed.  Perfect if you're renting or if you just have commitment issues. 

Enjoy the rest of your Summer!!

Boston Public Garden Swan Boats Window

In the wake of the terrible tragedy that occurred in Boston during this year's marathon, the true beauty of this city and it's people has taken center stage.  People donated money in droves to help those most effected by the bombings, there were fund raisers every day, at my work, Beth Israel, people regularly check in on the care givers who were present that day & you don't go more than a couple feet without seeing someone wearing their Boston Strong shirt.  The people of Boston are determined to not let this event define our city.  And that is a wonderful feeling. 

I wanted to focus on that beauty and highlight one of the true gems of Boston.  The Swan Boats at the Boston Public Gardens have been run by the Paget family here in Boston for over 130 years.   The pedal-powered boats glide through the pond in the Public Gardens throughout the Spring and Summer and are part of the fabric of this city.   

The boats cruise by the Make Way for Ducklings statues at the far end of the lagoon before circling back to go under the foot bridge that was built in 1867 and once held the record for being the shortest suspension bridge in the world.   

And it seems the price for this little trip around the lagoon hasn't changed in over 130 years either.  Tickets are only $3.00 a person, $1.50 for kids and babies under 2 are free.   Pretty awesome.

Boston is always a beautiful city but right now especially, it's a good time to be a Bostonian.  

July is National Pickle Month!

Good Morning and happy first day of National Pickle Month!  To kick off this month-long pickle party I went over to Grillo's Pickles, my local pickle store, painted their window, ate way too many pickles and talked about world pickle domination.

Travis Grillo, Chief Pickle Officer, started making and selling pickles in 2008 using his family's 100 year old recipe.  He was slingin' them out of a pickle cart at the Park Street T stop 2 for $1 and now has made his way into Whole Foods all over New England, Fenway Park and at his very own pickle store.

The store is located in Inman Square, Somerville (on the Cambridge/Somerville line which I hear is referred to as "Camberville" but I'm not buying it) at 1075 Cambridge Street and they are definitely worth a trip.

Go over, check out the window, have some pickles (try the hot ones they're AMAZING!) and tell them Mandee sent you!  Happy Pickle Month!!

Mandee-ville Open Studios

This weekend is Somerville Open Studios and the whole town is bustling with people with street maps seeking out houses with orange balloons.  It's a really cool event and I love going to see everyone's studios every year but, alas, I don't have a studio of my own (unless my drafting table in the basement counts) so I did a little public art in Union Square instead on the windows at River Dog. 

River Dog is located at 321 Somerville Ave in Union Square, Somerville.  Go check 'em out!

Approved by 1/8 of the Red Sox

Five players from the Red Sox came through work today to personally thank some of the staff who were here last Monday with a meet-n-greet and while they were here they stopped to see my new window. 

From Left to Right: Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks, Jackie Bradley, Mike Napoli & David Ross

It's been a difficult week in Boston and an especially trying week here at work so it was really classy of these gentlemen to come by and spread some love.  #redsoxnation

#icantbelieveimissedthemby10minutes!

Photo by Bruce Wahl.

2013 Boston Marathon window painting

In honor of this upcoming Monday being Marathon Monday in Boston I painted a course map of the marathon route on the window in the EU.

At the beginning of the marathon in Hopkinton, MA we have some excited runners posing for a photo next to the now-famous 'Welcome to Hopkinton' sign.

From there it's time to stretch and make your way to the starting line.

At the starting line you may recognize some familiar faces, father-and-son Rick & Dick Hoyt who to date have competed in over 1,000 races together.  You can read more about their inspirational story at their website.

The race then takes you through Natick, into the halfway point in Wellsley, MA and then up the dreaded Heartbreak Hill in Newton.

Over the hump and down the hill, the route now goes through Brookline where a Subway car with the name Rosie on it speeds past the other runners. Rosie Ruiz famously "won" the 1980 Boston Marathon only to be stripped of her title moments afterward when it was revealed that she took the T for most of the course and actually only ran the last mile of it.  Tsk!  Tsk!  Rosie!

The course goes through Coolidge Corner and towards a packed crowd at Fenway park which is the marker for the final mile of the race.

And on to the finish line on Boylston Street downtown where the whole of Boston is there to cheer you on!!  Congratulations!!  You did it!!

And, because one of our own is running the marathon this year, I obviously had to paint her a special message from some adoring fans and her cute dog, Bachi.

We're proud of you Jackie!  You're gonna do great!!

Happy Marathon Monday everybody!!