My First Book Signing.....

I went to my first book signing EVER to see The Pioneer Woman. 

I am the farthest thing from a "reader" that you can get.  I do not read books, I don't like to read them, therefore I don't.  I haven't read a book since college when they MADE you read ALL the time.  I have NO TIME for reading people!  I've got a crazy brain full of ideas screaming to get out and hands that need to create!  Thus, no reading.  

But since discovering P-Dub (as she sometimes calls herself), I have purchased more books in the past few months than one trip to the campus bookstore at the beginning of a semester.  Ok, not THAT many, only three......but still, that's a lot for me, considering it's books.  :)

This is the book that P-Dub was promoting at the signing. 

It's her latest release, a children's book, about her fave, floppy eared, bacon loving Basset, Charlie. 

This is my autographed copy.  

 

This is the first Pioneer Woman book I purchased.....her cook book. 

This is my copy, but it is not autographed :(   

Here is the novel.  The Love Story...."Black Heels To Tractor Wheels"
Don't freak out anyone.......

 but I AM ACTUALLY READING THIS BOOK AND I AM LIKING READING IT!!! 

Reading this book kinda makes me wanna read more books!  Well, maybe that's pushing it, but I am enjoying it.  Ree's inner dialogue is HYSTERICAL.....she's got some stories that are absolutely a HOOT. 

And being a fellow Okie, I totally relate to a lot of what she talks about.... 

This is my autographed copy!  :)

Let's just say that I am definitely a fan of the Pioneer Woman.....

And I got to meet her at the signing!  YAY! 

She was so welcoming and sweet......cool as a cucumber, sitting and signing her life away.....

...Greeting and thanking her fans for coming out to support her.   

She liked my feather extensions in my hair, I'm sure she made an appointment today for some extensions for herself, ha! 

Until next time, peace out!

Whatever Wednesday.....The Bread Box

It's no secret, I heart to paint.

I heart to paint random things.....for instance, you see a blank, wooden, bare TV tray or table top, I see it as a canvas just screaming for color and life.

If you read this post, or this post, you will remember that if anything stands still in my house, there is the risk of being painted, ha! 

Here is what I painted over the weekend......the bread box. 

This is what the bread box looked like BEFORE I got a hold of it......

First, I spray painted the box with Krylon Brushed Metallic paint in Caramel Latte. 

Then I dry brushed the box with a paint brush and black paint giving it a little bit of a distressed/weathered look.  Then added all of the color and FUN!

TA-DA!  Here is the final product!!

Here is one side of the box.....

The other side of the box......

Who knew a bread box could be such a decorative piece!

I hope you like it, I sure do!

Until next time, peace out! 

New Paint

Just thought I'd share my latest canvas......it's an 11x14 "flat" canvas. 

This baby doesn't have a "name" or "title" yet, but I love how it turned out. 

I hope you like it too. 

I painted something else over the Easter weekend and I will post pictures of it very soon! 

Wishing you a "Peace"ful Monday!

Until next time, peace out! 

The Pearl District

Last Saturday, Mom and I visited the Pearl District.  It's at 6th & Peoria in Tulsa.

 This is an area that has been unpopulated and run down.  Lately, there have been plans to revitalize this area to bring in more businesses, like restaurants, stores, etc.  There was an "event" at the Pearl District, last weekend, where local businesses used the recently cleaned up store fronts to sell their goods.  Here are a few scenes from our visit there.....

Mrs. DeHaven's Flower Shop had lots of BEAUTIFUL flowers for sale! 

Inside The Eclipse, there was an art show and art and photography for sale....

...all by local artists, of course,  

A mural on one of the buildings....was ~SO~ GREAT!  There were so many elements to it and so much to look at throughout the mural....loved it.  

The Etch-A-Sketch, which was part of the mural, was so cool! 

 I thought this was such a hoot!

ALL KINDS of art was on display......

our day wouldn't have been complete in the Pearl District without belly dancing "art".  ;)

And then I found Raven, the henna artist. 

Here she is, giving me a henna tattoo. 

Raven and her friend's henna tattoo's. 



The finished product!  My henna tattoo......isn't it so fun, shiny and pretty??

Until next time, peace out!

Whatever Wednesday.....Be Prepared!!!

It's that time again, folks. 

Spring time in Oklahoma. 

You know what this means, severe weather, and a lot of it. 

What do I MAKE SURE I have charged and ready to go during a storm?? 

FLASHLIGHTS!!!!!!!

Yes, FLASHLIGHTS......and lots of them....you should have one in every room of your home.  These are just a few of mine, yes, I have more, don't judge me :).  It's kind of like a pair of scissors in every room, it's just handy and practical.

This was the scene last week on TV....Dan the Weather Man and an UGLY weather map! 

See on the map where it says "Jenks".....that's where I live......it was headed straight for the White House.  EEK!  The red and purple colors look pretty on the map, but I'm telling ya, it's not a good thing during a tornado watch.  And when there's black spots on the map, just take cover (and don't forget your flashlight).  

This was the first time we saw the storms this season, but I'm betting it won't be the last.

So, MAKE SURE you have your flashlights (and food, water, a battery powered radio, your bike helmet, and other stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting) READY to go in preparation for the next storm!!

Until next time, peace out!

Looks Like Spring

Spring is in the air! 

Grass is turning green, there are leaves on the trees again, flowers are starting to bloom, and old man winter is on his way outta here! 

Here are a few scenes from Momma & Honey's outdoor springtime extravaganza......

Mr. Ed is on point and ready to show us all which direction the wind is blowing....

And this little boy is very happy to be hanging out on the patio again instead of cooped up inside when it's cold and yucky outside....

Until next time, peace out!

Whatever Wednesday.....Denial...

I have been telling myself, "I am not sick, I am not sick, I am not sick!" 

Well, it turns out that I am a horrible liar to myself......I woke up about a week with a killer cough.  No other major symptoms (outside of the normal/daily allergy type symptoms), so I called my friends at the Allergy Clinic.  After five days of a mass dose of Prednisone, (currently on day ten of) 14 days of antibiotic, Mucinex pills, my rescue inhaler, and coughing like a 10 pack a day smoker, I came to the realization that I might be sick.  I'm sure my mother will agree with this statement.:) 

Here's a little background for you......

I had RAD (Rapid Allergic Desensitization) in July 2009 in an attempt to stave off the sinus surgeon.  I had had several sinus CT's and the medical people recommended surgery, but I politely told them, "No, thank you" and asked so nicely asked about the alternative. There was just something AWFUL about the thought of someone digging around in my face with surgical instruments!  I had to prep my body with TONS, I mean TONS of prednisone and anti-histamine.  I got 27 allergy shots in one day, three shots every 15 minutes.  My arms looked like they got chewed up by a hornets nest.  The up side of doing this procedure, is you accomplish in one day, what you would accomplish in 4-6 months (or longer) of getting allergy shots once-twice weekly.  So, this was very beneficial for me.....or so I thought.

My allergies really did start to improve.  I do take the daily maintenance medications for my asthma and allergies.  But I did continue to get sinus infections.

Meet Dr. Hudkins.

I had sinus surgery on April 14, 2010.  I NEEDED to do it much sooner in my life, as my sinuses were a disaster!  I had a bone spur, chronic infection in all three "sets" of sinuses, and a blockage because of the bone spur.  And, also, I was a candidate for new and cutting edge technology.  The doctor would insert stents in my ethmoid sinuses (the ones between your eyes).  The purpose of the stents was to open up the sinus cavity and keep it open.   I had NO idea what they would look like (obviously) until they were removed two weeks post-op.  I will spare you the photo of them, but those things were as long as a large paper clip!  I was completely in shock that I could not feel them ~at all~.  On my next visit to my allergy doctor (not my surgeon), I told him about the stents and he was elated with excitement.  Remember, this was new and cutting edge sinus technology, ha!  He was even more elated when I showed him the picture of them I had snapped on my phone. 

Don't get me wrong, surgery has helped me in many, many ways.  My sinus surgeon is my BFF, I really heart him, he fixed the very inner parts of my "face" for the better.  But it still doesn't change the fact, that I live in Oklahoma, I am a serious allergy sufferer and will still get the occasional sinus infection.

My "new" normal, post-op, was supposed to be all happy, shiny, and infection free!  I knew going into surgery that I could still get sinus infections.  I guess what I'm trying to say is I wanted to believe that infections would be GONE forever!!!  And ever and ever and ever!  But that's not the case, I have only had two sinus infections in the past year since surgery (versus the 118 days of antibiotic I took in a calendar year, pre-op)....how about a BIG, FAT,  YAY ME!!!!!   Oh heck, how about another one, YAYYYYY MEEEEE!!!!!!

So, for anyone else out there that has allergies, asthma, and is dealing with all of this fun (not), windy, Oklahoma tree and grass blooming weather, I am right there with you. 

Hang in there, we will all get through it.....and soon it will be hotter than heck outside soon and we will be griping about that.  :)

Until next time, peace out!