Painting with a Twist

As of late I have been spending most of my days home working on my proposal. I have found this to be a very isolating process, so when I do make plans to go out and do something I am trying to make the experiences really fun. Katie and I have known each other since college and she is one of my best friends. They do not make many people like her.... she is sweet, kind, and has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever known! So we decided to do something different this weekend, we went to a place called Painting with a Twist. Now being a professor and working on my Ph.D., my world is pretty much black and white. If you know me well, you know that I love love love rules and I love order and structure. If you do not believe me you can talk to my mom. Well to say I was nervous about painting was an understatement. I even had told my students about my apprehension. I have never taken an art class and never ever painted... But as Katie and I read on the website, they said that it was expected. They did not want you to think of this as a formal art class, more of a fun experience. You get to bring your own

drinks and snacks. So we decided to be spontaneous and just go for it...

Here is Katie and I about to embark on our painting experience.

Now at the beginning the art instructor mentioned that this was one of the harder paintings and I was feeling a little bit doomed, but we started sketching things out and taking the painting on in quadrants. I was not so great at sketching, but what I realized later was everything can be adjusted as you paint... So we got to painting... it was so fun. The session was three hours long, but I would have never thought we were there that long since it was such a great experience. As we painted the instructor played music and everyone was singing along. Well I did get a little frustrated at times, but the instructor would just come around and help you see what I was not be able to see... I was completely amazed at how quickly my instructor could help me adjust or suggest a different approach. As I looked around the room I saw that people that were more comfortable began to take their own approach, they would add details etc that the instructor did not suggest, but she loved their ideas. So Katie and I made a few adjustments along the way.

Here is a picture of Katie mid process, I do not have my picture because Katie was using every moment we had to perfect her painting!

Here is my finished painting!

Finally here is Katie and I once we were all done... One thing my mom pointed out, was that my Tiffany's box was quite a bit bigger than Katie's. I think I did this on purpose since I have learned the bigger the better when it comes to diamonds! We had a great time and I learned a lot along the way. Sometimes I do not have to stay inside the lines, it is okay to break a few rules, and painting is all a matter of perception and what you like! All and all it was something that definitely made me push my boundaries, but encouraged me to remember to always be willing to try new things... You never know you might love something!

Spring Break till the Present!

So I left off my last post around St. Patrick's day, which was my Spring Break. At the beginning of my Spring Break I went with Seth to Houston. One of my best friends lives there so I got to spend some quality time with her and catch up. We stayed around the Galleria, so I got some major shopping done. Seth also has family in the area so it was a nice break. I then spent the rest of the break home in Oklahoma. When I returned from SB I was pretty much just working on school stuff and teaching Leadership. I really enjoyed my students this semester... Maybe it was because they were nice enough to laugh at my really bad jokes :-) Next big event was my birthday! And if you know my family... Especially if you knew my Nanny, birthday's are always important. So as a gift to myself and an avid DC cupcakes fan I ordered DC cupcakes for my birthday... They were sooo good!

I also hosted a small party, which I had a great time at, but started to get sick with laryngitis... Which would then last for another week :-( But the great thing about my party, as one of my friends pointed out was that each of the people who came I had met at a completely different stage in my life. So I thought that was pretty interesting- (one from kindergarten, high school, collage, my 1st year here, and my second)... Everyone got a long great and we had a fun night! On my actual birthday I had to teach but my student brought me a card and handed out little goodie bags to the class! On the way to class I received a video from Maggie (3) and Henny (1 1/2) it definitely made my day.... Or should I say made my cry, but it a great birthday way.

After my birthday the semester was almost over so I finished up with finals and returned to Tulsa to celebrate Maggie's 3rd birthday. We had a great time and I got to spend a lot of time with my family and the Harpers. Below is a collage of pictures, on the left is Maggie on her special day... We went to get pedicures and manicures... I have never seen a 3 year old take the process so seriously, but I think she is a diva in training. On the right is Maggie and I on her 3rd birthday at the music play place. Below are pictures of Henry and I on Christmas and then Henry sporting his new suit for our pool!

Now, I am back in business and all caught up. My mom came down and we did a major cleaning session because and organized life is an organized mind... Or so they say. It was great to spend time with my mom and also feel really productive. I have now met with my dissertation chair and am starting the process of my dissertation, it will be a long road but I have a lot of great support. I start teaching Leadership in June. I am excited though because I have been working on my Vita (aka Resume) and have a lot of fun events coming up! One night my friend Katie and I are participating in an art class called Painting with a Twist (it is supposed to be for people who cannot draw) so I said sign me up! Also, my friend since 6th grade is visiting for a wedding and finally my cousin Laurie is headed to the great state of Texas to spend time with me... I know I would be scared... But I am already making lists of fun things to do. When I was about her age I few to Seattle and stayed with all my cousins. It was life changing in a way because I got to really know part of my family that I otherwise do not get to see very often and also I gained a lot of independence on that trip ( Thanks Rhonda!) So I am just hoping to make her visit as special as mine. That is all for now, promise to keep up my blogging more... But how could I not with this new cute layout!

My Revised Blog!

I know I have not blogged in forever, but thanks so much to my friend Jessica she designed a whole new layout which I love, and highly recommend her work! You can contact here at mybeatlesbabies@gmail.com she can do almost anything!

Well I guess I have to update everyone from Halloween on... Which I had a great Halloween, my friends JT and Clayton had a spectacular party. They went all out and had "Ghost toast", "zombie punch" and about anything else you can think of... We had the best time!

After this I was still finishing up my comprehensive exam process and moved right into Christmas, I held my annual Christmas party and we had a ton of fun! And if you are thinking to yourself, did she decorate those cookies??? Yep I did! I have no idea how but my creative side came out for an evening.

During Christmas break I had a great time at home. I was able to catch up with old friends, have a lot of quality time with my family, spend Christmas Eve with the Harper's and met a great guy along the way!

I had a great break and then when I returned, I was just finishing a paper called a Research Paper Experience... And lets just say it was an Experience all right... I am so glad it is over! What it was, was a paper that was reviewed by my professors, and then I would have to revise the paper and defend all my comments, this process is to get your ready for your dissertation, so it was extensive.

But here are a few pictures I took along the way.... On the top is Seth and I getting ready to head downtown for St. Patrick's day and McNellies, we had a great time and got to see a lot of my friends from high school. It sometimes amazes me when I am out in Tulsa how many people I see. Next is Valentines day at the symphony. We had a great time listening Mozart and Bach, we also went to the Melting Pot. On the bottom we have the Valentine's Day matching pajama's thanks to Big V!!! All in all it was a great Valentine's Day! I am exhausted though, so I will pick up starting with Spring Break tomorrow.