Friday Cheer

Just a few pictures that cheer me up on this Friday morning: 

How can rolls be so cute on dogs and babies, but not on adults?

Le sigh.  He's definitely catnip to my cougarness.

 

The Next Tigers

Brittany, Katherine and I have been taking golf lessons the past few months.

It has been a blast. We get out there and laugh so hard at ourselves.  

We have basic rules.  The most fundamental one is that we do not take it too seriously. We stop counting at 15 strokes, and we often get re-dos.  My personal goal is double par, and I get really excited if I come close. But, we get more excited about getting new outfits. We try to get out there once a week, and generally refuse to play with the guys--this is our girls time.

We are pretty darn good. So good, in fact, that before our latest lesson, we got asked to leave the driving range (by another lady out there) because in her view, we were not capable of hitting the club we were using. Ouch. Clearly, we'll have sponsors beating down our door any day now.

But, we are having a heck of a good time learning it together and laughing our way through the course.

My Sister, the Artist.

Today is my sister's birthday--love you Ang! 

My sister is amazing. Growing up, she's always been a wonderful artist.  Exhibit A: this Kenny Chesney drawing (circa 2000) that she got him to sign (before he was as famous).

Now, she runs her own transcription business and is a single mother to two beautiful (yet very active) boys.  Recently, she has begun dabbling back into art.  

She just sent me a few paintings she did for C and me.  I am so thrilled with how they turned out, and I can't wait to see them in person!

I love how she incorporated C and me in the bottom left of the crowd.

I asked her to do an more abstract horse painting similar to the 132nd Kentucky Oaks poster, and I absolutely love her rendition.  It will go PERFECTLY in our eat-in kitchen (which is Kentucky/horse themed).

Some of my other favorites of her recent art includes this painting, inspired by the movie, For Lovers Only: 

And this picture from the Castle's Pennybaker Club/Blue Butterfly:

She also does incredible sketches:

Hodgins and Angela from Bones

Actors from For Lovers Only

Clearly, she's very talented--and the saddest part is that most of the time she doesn't recognize how great her art is.  

After much pushing from the family, she is beginning to sell her art and/or do commissioned pieces on her website, http://icraveilove.deviantart.com/.  I'm so proud of her! Definitely check it out if you are looking for something unique to hang on your walls.  

I am so excited to have such special and incredible pieces of art in our house.  For C and I, our artwork is all very significant/meaningful, but Ang's pieces will be the most special to me. 

I love you sis! Happy birthday!

My Best Friend's Wedding

Last month we headed out west to see my best friend (and maid of honor) get married. 

Me and the beautiful bride. I've been trying to embrace my crazy paleness, but clearly that's not going so well.

Just one reason why they are a fabulous couple.

 We stayed a few extra days and went north to hike around Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.

Me in front of the Hopi pueblo ruins in the painted desert.

Hubs during in a hike in the desert in front of Cathedral Rock.

Us after hiking to the top of Cathedral Rock.

C at the Grand Canyon (south rim)

Cactus on the top of Doe Mountain

A Reason to Smile

Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate.  The condition can be genetic, but a common cause is malnutrition and illness during pregnancy.  Sadly, these children's parents often cannot afford the surgery to fix the problem (which takes about 45 minutes and costs around $240 a surgery). 

Maria (Brazil) holding up a "before surgery" picture of herself

 Often, these children cannot eat, speak, or smile and are outcasted socially.  Even more heart-wrenching, one in ten children with a cleft palate will die before they reach the age of one. 

Operation Smile, a children's medical charity, is an organization that sends doctors to the impoverished and even remote areas to help repair these beautiful children's smiles and spirits. 

What's even better? You can help.  Campusbookrentals.com has paired up with Operation Smile and has committed to donating over 1,000 surgeries to these beautiful children.  In an effort to exceed 1,000 changed lives, a portion of all textbook rentals will be donated to Operation Smile.  If you're still in school, rent your textbooks through Campusbookrentals.com and help out this wonderful cause.  

This post is in partnership with Campusbookrentals.com.  All pictures and facts are taken from Operation Smile's website.

8pril

 I know, very late, but it's still 8pril, right? I saw this video today of the celebrations and had to share.  Still so proud of my CATS. 

WILDCATS - Short Film from No Def on Vimeo.

You Sneaky Santa

When we were budgeting for Christmas and buying our gifts, C comes and shows me his list.  He was so proud of himself for spending almost to the penny his budget without going over. I look it over, and point out the obvious: You forgot me, darling.

He sheepishly laughed, and we agreed that we wouldn't get each other much because of the roof.  

A few days later he comes home with a fancy schmancy Delonghi espresso machine and told me it was my early Christmas gift.  Yes, it sounds great in theory, and was really nice of him.  Except I'm allergic to coffee, so I could never use it.  We decided it was a better gift from me to him, and he uses it every morning.

One of his morning cappuccinos

So, last night Santa came to our house and filled his stocking with UK tickets, whiskey stones, and other little things he's been wanting.  My stocking, on the other hand, sat empty. 

But, after a while, C managed to find two presents Santa left under the tree for me.  I wasn't forgotten after all! 

Not only that, but Santa knew I wanted an iPad because my laptop died over Thanksgiving, and he knew I would need the extra heavy-duty military-grade case because I tend to break things.  Needless to say, Santa's back on my "nice" list!