My first chair

Here's a throwback to the first chair I ever painted.  It took me all summer to paint and I don't even know where it is now!  Since then I've painted almost 50 chairs/rockers and countless other items.

If you are interested in getting something custom painted, visit www.swirlsandstripes.com for details and pricing. 

Photoshop and a (late) New Years Resolution

For years I've been reading articles and following blogs about body love. This blog is mostly full of fluff and pictures of Nola, but something happened in Vegas and I can't stop thinking about it. So, as the saying goes... 

What happens in Vegas, gets written about on your blog.

Rob and I got to Vegas around 2 our time, checked into the hotel, and walk next door to one of our favorite restaurants. While we were eating, a woman came over and took a souvenir picture of us. She came back at the end of our meal with the photos. When I looked at the pictures I realized that they had been Photoshopped to make my husband and I look thinner. 

I looked at her and said, "These have been Photoshopped."  

She said, "Just the colors, a little bit."   

I said, "These have been Photoshopped, I don't want them."

She took the pictures and left.  

This is what I should have said, "What makes you think that I need/want to be Photoshopped to look thinner? What is so wrong with my body that you felt the need to "fix" it?  It's things like this that make children go on diets because they don't fit the mold of what society thinks is pretty. Would you have Photoshoped a picture of a ninety-year-old? A teenager? A child? A cute little baby with chubby cheeks? Now go shred those pictures and bring me a free dessert."

Guess what lady?!?!? I like myself and I like my body. I like my body despite the fact that I have to shop exclusively in the plus size section. I like my body despite the fact that it doesn't look like the bodies I see in magazines. I like my body despite the fact that I still have a pouch where my now 3 year old use to live.

  And I'm not going to feel bad about myself because some chick at a restaurant (who sucks at Photoshop, BTW) thinks I should be thinner. 

My New Year's resolution, like so many others, is to be healthier. Not because I don't like what I see in the mirror but because I want to set a good example for Nola that you can be healthy and not be a size 2. Not everyone was created to be a size 2!!! Being healthy doesn't mean I don't like my body. For a long time I thought that losing weight would make people think that I didn't like who I was, but that's not true at all. And I really need to stop thinking about the opinion of others <---- resolution #2??

So, in 2015, do yourself a favor. Love the body you're in. Do something to make that body feel good. And don't let a soviner photographer in Vegas make you feel bad about yourself!!

And if she does, make her bring you a free dessert.

Vegas Baby!!

WE WENT TO VEGAS!!  

My sister was planning a trip to see Justin Timberlake in Vegas with my parents over New Years, so we decided to go too!  It was an awesome five-day trip, here are some of the highlights:

1.  JT in LV

The trip was planned around Justin's 20/20 Tour.  Rob and I weren't originally going to go to the concert, but my Dad got us tickets (thanks Dad!) and I'm so glad he did.  It was AWESOME!  The music, the lights, the dancing, THE MAN!!  At one point the stage moved and he got pretty close.  We were all very excited and he did not disappoint!!

2.  New Year's Eve

Did you know that The Strip is basically a big block party on NYE?!?  Well, it is!  They close it down to traffic so people can walk on the street and see the fireworks at midnight.  We flew in around noon that day then met my sister and Kyle for dinner at MGM.  We picked up some party supplies and spent the rest of the night gambling, laughing, and watching the fireworks!

3.  Gambling

This was my third time in Vegas.  The last two times I did the club and lay by the pool thing.  This time it was winter (and the coldest it's been for 10 years) so the pool wasn't an option, and the club thing sounded horrible.  I'm too old for that.  So, during this trip we did some gambling!  The hotel offered free Craps lessons, we played some slots, and learned how to play Black Jack thanks to a friendly bartender.  We all won a little bit- except Mom and Dad :(  Rob, Sara, and Kyle won some money on the slots.  And on the last night there, I used my new Craps knowledge to win $303.01!  It was so much fun, and kinda addicting....

4.  Girls Day/Boys Day

We split up one day so that the boys could go on a tour of A&E shows.  They got to tour The Pawn Shop, ATM (Tanked), and a toy shop.  They learned a lot on their tour and got to meet "The General" from Tanked.  Meanwhile, the girls went to an outlet mall, had a few drinks, and went to Serendipity.

Dad and The General

We found so really good deals- ha!

5.  The Food

We ate and drank lots while we were there, and it was all delicious!

6.  The people

The best thing about the trip was the people I was with!  Maybe it's weird to want to go to Vegas with your parents but mine are so fun!  And time spent with my sister and her friend Kyle is never boring.  We all laughed a lot!  Everybody else left on Saturday, so Robert and I got to spend some time together Saturday night.  We went and saw Zumanity, had dinner, and won some money!  It was nice to spend some time together before coming home to start a new semester.

Our trip was awesome.  It was so great to get away and we are so lucky that Nola's aunt, Jennie, was able to stay with her for the week.  I'd like to say I feel refreshed and ready to take on another semester, but I'm actually pretty exhausted...