Sips n Strokes

So, there is this painting place called Sips n Strokes. You go, take your favorite beverage, grab a canvas and paint at location, then they show you step by step how to paint a picture (you pick the date you go based upon the picture they are doing that day). Depending on the picture, they will outline it for you - beware if it's not outlined it makes it harder. They tell you how much "scoops" of which colors to mix, which brush to use and which brush stroke to do. It's really great. It is definitely more of a social outing than an art class. But at the end of the night, you take your beautiful or not so beautiful painting home and decide whether or not you should actually hang it on the wall or place it in the corner of a closet.

Here are pictures of my "artwork".

I guess they're not that shabby, but thank God there was someone telling me what to do step by step!

Watson Got A Haircut...Finally!

Those of you with dogs that require grooming know that it can get a little pricey. I finally bit the bullet and took Watson to the groomer today. The last time he has been groomed was August 2010 before the wedding. He was extremely shaggy and could hardly see because his bangs covered his eyes. They were so long I almost considered pinning them back with a bobby pin or clip, but decided he was too manly for that nonsense. So I took my $10 coupon (thanks to Jennifer) and kept reminding myself that he'd appreciate it with the hot weather that is to come.

Here are the before and after pictures.

 Before...

We gave him a little fluff! Big hair is in, right?

Another pic of him and his scraggly self

 And after...

 

Oh, how handsome he is! He was so glad to be home after a stressful couple of hours. Glad I don't have to put him through that very often!

Welcome, Maggie and Lisa!

We added two members to the Hayden family. They are Russian dwarf hamsters. They are sisters, so Eric named them Maggie and Lisa from the Simpsons.

They are cute little things. Watson is a very big fan of them. He watches them carefully from below wishing he could get a closer look/taste making sure they are comfortable in their new home.

I honestly don't know which one is Lisa and which one is Maggie based upon these pictures. They do have different personalities. The "nice" one is Lisa. Maggie on the other hand is a little bit more hostile. She doesn't like to be held or touched...

Maggie or Lisa? 

I don't know. 

You can choose.

Again, Maggie or Lisa?
Your choice again.
They could be pictures of the same one!
Maybe one of these days I'll be able to tell them apart by just looking at them...

Photo Memo Boards

Allison and I used our crafty hands to make a photo memo board. My mom had made me one when I was younger that I loved, but unfortunately I don't know where it is or if we still even have it. This time I took an old bulletin board and made another one. Allison and I spent an hour or more in JoAnn's (since Hobby Lobby was closed) and picked out fabric, ribbon and buttons.

Here they are together. Mine is the brown one and Allison's is the blue.

And close up pictures of both...

I think they turned out great! I'm going to have to have pictures printed to put on mine!

Welcome 2011!

What an exciting year 2010 was.

2010 was a year of weddings amongst my family and friends.First and foremost, my wedding. The day finally came where I married my best friend. We shared the last few months of 2010 together as a married couple and are anxiously awaiting what 2011 has in store for us. We have a new member added to the Slate family. Dad was married to Jan in April. It was a very bittersweet time. Bitter-knowing another woman besides my mom would be the main lady in my dad's life, yet sweet since my dad was happy and had found someone who he could share the rest of his life with. I am happy for both of them. There are many other weddings that took place-friends from Memphis, friends from school and two other family members, Eric's brother and my cousin. May all of these new marriages be blessed by God.

2010 was a year of adventure. Eric and I went on our first cruise for our honeymoon. I've only traveled once without my dad and that was when I went to Italy in high school. So every part of the trip was exciting from step one of deciding and planning everything to packing, driving to New Orleans to exploring Mexico by ourselves as a newly married couple. What fun!


2010 was a year of learning. After our marriage, Eric moved into my small one-bedroom apartment. We have had to learn the lesson of patience. It is hard for two adults and two dogs to live in a one-bedroom apartment. We have learned to wait patiently for the bathroom and to have patience with each other when we annoy one another since there isn't anywhere else to go to "escape".

As exciting as 2010 was, I am welcoming 2011 with open arms. I know God has great plans for Eric and me. I pray that this new year brings happiness, a ministry job for Eric, friendship and a greater, more fulfilling relationship with God.

Early Turkey Dinner

I've had a turkey from last year that Kroger gave to their employees (don't worry, the sell by date was in 2011) that we finally decided to make. Eric and I both didn't have to work and had the entire day to figure out how to make a turkey and make all the other dishes to go with it.

I'm not going to lie...I think the turkey turned out pretty well for it being our first time to make a turkey.

It was slightly dry and I don't know why really, but I am going to blame the ancient oven in our apartment! Ha!

To go with the turkey I made my mom's sweet potato casserole, baked corn and dressing. Allison made the mashed potatoes and gingerbread cake. Delicious!

Here's my handsome hubs with the turkey.

And the two of us.

4 years later...

Next Friday, the 19th, will be 4 years after my precious mom passed. Sometimes it doesn't even seem possible that it's been four years, but other times it seems like eternity since I've talked to her or hugged her. What hurts me most is all of the things she has missed or will miss. She and Dad always stressed the importance of college; she wasn't here to see me walk across that stage. I watched she and Dad have the most loving marriage, and she wasn't able to "give me away" with my dad. I've always seen weddings as a special time between the bride and her mother. Unfortunately I wasn't able to share all of those special moments with Mom. I wish she were able to see her grandkids - to love them and spoil them rotten.

I'm not bitter. At times I still am not able to give one good reason why things turned out the way they did, but I do not blame anyone - not her, myself or God. All I know and can live by is her life and example. She was a special mother, wife, sister and friend. I pray that I can make her proud and love others the way she did.