You may have picked up on the fact that I am a Redskins fan.  Yes, I know it’s not always easy, but I have rooted for them since middle school and I’m a loyal fan.   So, of course I was excited when we drafted RG3 last year as our quarterback.   If you watch football, you may have noticed that he wears a sleeve on his left arm.  It really doesn’t serve a purpose.  It’s just a fashion statement.  When asked about it, he said something like this (this isn’t the exact quote), “If you look good, you feel good.  If you feel good, you play good.” So, after working with Ella, the stylist, last Friday, I wanted to take to heart the things she was teaching me.  (You can read all about that HERE.)  It would be pointless to work with a stylist and then put on sweats

A few times on my blog, I’ve mentioned how lost I feel when I’m shopping for clothes.  It’s a little embarrassing, because, as an “artsy person” I’m supposed to be good at that.  I used to be good at it.  I used to be fearless with my berets and blue nail polish and mary janes.  I used to scour magazines for the latest fashions and trends in clothing and then I would hang out at the mall for hours, trying things on, picking through sales racks, putting together outfits.  Then I started working in the corporate world.  A pair of striped corduroys I was fond of became known as the “seizure pants” at the office and I knew I needed to calm down and grow up my wardrobe.  I traded in my platforms for pumps and school girl skirts for suits and sweater sets. Every once in a while, a

 I have picked a winning name for the name that cow contest!  My newest, sweet little cow painting has been named… Gwendolyn!  I kept looking at her and that’s just the name that stuck for me.  I’ve also always liked the name AND “Gwendolyn Penn” was a role I played in college and the name became my British alter ego when I was being an immature musical theatre major.  You know how they are. Anyway, I absolutely love all of the names suggested and thank everyone so much for taking the time to share your ideas with me and even some wonderful personal stories and pictures of you with your Holstein cows.  I love this one of Breida in her dairy whites with her cow, Verona. Your comments will be a fun part of  Gwendolyn’s history, who, if I went with every suggested name I liked, would have a name

 One of the first bloggers I met in real life was Shaunna of Perfectly Imperfect.  I had noticed her painted furniture around the blog world, but a real connection was made when we got to chat at the Blissdom conference in 2011.  I basically learned that I had a non-identical twin living down in Alabama.  We had so much in common and can do that creepy I-know-exactly-what-you’re-thinking-and-can-finish-your-sentence kind of thing and we even use the same deodorant and have the same toothbrush for goodness sake.  It’s pretty funny. So, I just love it any time we can get together.  We got to spend some great time together rooming together at Haven this year… …and teaching painting workshops together… We also got to hang out recently when we were both vendors at The Chapel Market.  We went out to dinner with our husbands and there’s a bit of a “bromance” going

 I have picked a winning name for the name that cow contest!  My newest, sweet little cow painting has been named… Gwendolyn!  I kept looking at her and that’s just the name that stuck for me.  I’ve also always liked the name AND “Gwendolyn Penn” was a role I played in college and the name became my British alter ego when I was being an immature musical theatre major.  You know how they are. Anyway, I absolutely love all of the names suggested and thank everyone so much for taking the time to share your ideas with me and even some wonderful personal stories and pictures of you with your Holstein cows.  I love this one of Breida in her dairy whites with her cow, Verona. Your comments will be a fun part of  Gwendolyn’s history, who, if I went with every suggested name I liked, would have a name

Good morning, all!  I know many of you who have read my blog for a while are familiar with Decor Steals.  The girls behind this cool company are bargain hunters like us, only on a larger scale!  They search for great home decor finds, wheel and deal to get the best price possible, and then make those cool finds available for us to buy.  Many things in my home were purchased through their site. Here’s the deal of the day today…   …and, you get a special preview here of sales that are coming up, including the ever-illusive metal cow head that you see in my kitchen. I tell you what, that things sells out so fast, it is crazy, but they have assured me that they are stocked up and ready for your orders.  I never knew when I picked that cow head that it would spark such an