The Art of Eilen Itzel Mena

Eilen Itzel Mena is a Los Angeles based artist with a focus on abstract expressionism, surrealism, spirituality and the African diaspora. The cartoonish style looks elementary at a glance, but her paintings and drawings are gateways into a world populated by the provocative juxtaposition of a childlike imagination with adult thoughts and emotions.

"Imagery in my work reflects personal dreams, memories, and spiritual experiences that have acted as clues to my self-discovery," she explains. "I include imagery depicting my ancestors in order to showcase the role they play in my understanding of purpose and legacy."

Eilen grew up in the Dominican Republic and received her B.A. Fine Arts degree at the University of Southern California in 2017. She has participated in many prestigious national and international exhibitions, and her work has been featured in various websites and publications such as the New York Times, Artnet and Hyperallergic, amongst others.

You can follow Eilen on Twitter and Instagram.

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A story about a duck who likes being different

The hilarious "Duckie Duck" by Kate Toms is one of my recommendations for kids learning to read. My son got this book from his aunt in Calgary a few years ago and since then has become one of his favorites. First of all, this is not your average duck tale. This is a story about a fowl who, candidly, seems to have missed the memo on duck protocol. Most ducks quack, but Duckie whistles. Others love to swim, but not him — Duckie likes boat rides. While other water birds fly, he enjoys floating inside a hot air balloon. The rhyming text and delightful hand-stitched illustrations make the book visually appealing to children. So, if you're looking for a book to teach your quirky little kids to read, "Duckie Duck" is just perfect.

Biking to School with Kids

I love biking to school with my children. It's a great way to start the day, and it's a lot of fun. Both of them have their own bicycles, meaning I'm basically herding two slightly erratic cyclists. My kids' two-wheelers are quite new and pretty decent. Mine is more like a rusty ten-speeder with a penchant for chain slippage. It's a cheap, rickety bike from China but it's my vehicle of choice for running errands, and honestly, it gets the job done. My youngest is still working on his steering. My eldest, on the other hand, is all about speed. She thinks she's in the Tour de France, so I'm constantly shouting, "Slow down!" Of course there are moments of near disaster. But you know what? Despite the mayhem, there's something undeniably satisfying about arriving at our destination, slightly out of breath, on our bikes. There are also moments of pure, unadulterated joy – like when we are pedaling along the street, the sun on our faces, the wind...

Hey, Wanna Build a Guitar?

Six strings attached to a wooden frame, capable of producing simple tunes and intricate melodies. But before a guitar reaches the Royal Albert Hall or the dark corners of your bedroom, it undergoes a fascinating transformation at the hands of skilled craftspeople like Nick Branwell. Guitar making is more than just assembling pieces of wood and strings; it's about understanding the connection between materials, design, and sound. It's a craft that requires years of dedication and a deep passion for music. The result is an instrument that is not only beautiful to look at but also capable of producing music that can move and inspire.

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