Recent Posts

Traditional Mom

All of us moms are different women with different personalities wrapped up in different bodies. However, we all have one thing in common and that  is our love for our children. I don’t believe I have ever heard a mother say, “I hope my child grows up and makes nothing of their life”. We all have high hopes for our children. We love and encourage them through the hard times and give them hugs and high fives in their achievements. They can bully their siblings all day long, not listen to a word us parents say to them and cause us an immense amount of frustration but at the end of the day, we love them and will do anything to nurture and protect these precious lives. I recently received a Newsletter from  Mom365 in my email and inside it had a quiz to determine what mom personality you have. My personality is a Traditional Mom. They define it as this: “You came out alright, and your kids will, too. There’s a good chance you’re using the same rules to raise your kids that your parents used on you. You believe that sometimes a kid needs a spanking, and teaching your …

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Save the WNC Nature Center

  www.wildwnc.org Late Tuesday afternoon, we learned that the City of Asheville has proposed to close the WNC Nature Center, along with a number of other city resources and programs, to balance the city budget, which will be short $5.7 million if recent bills introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly are passed. Information on the list of bill names, sponsors, descriptions and considerations about how the bills may impact city residents, can be found on the City’s website, along with the proposed expenditure reductions. The City of Asheville is hard-pressed to find solutions to balance the budget if these bills are passed. In 2011, the Center adopted a new 2020 Vision  that outlines a strategic business plan as well as a site plan for improvements and additions to the Nature Center. This plan includes initiatives to alleviate demands on the City of Asheville budget to operate the Center and to reconfigure the Center into a public/private partnership. The beauty of this plan is that we have already started thanks to our supporters with exhibit updates, corporate sponsorships, and a Wild Vision Society. And now, we need your help to spread the word as we work to protect one of our city and region’s …

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Old Plaster Walls

There is nothing I love more than aged, plaster walls, and I have been wanting that look for years. I finally just did it. I had some fabulous inspiration photos… This one from Spanish photographer Montse Garriga Grau HERE .   This one from Sweet Southern Vintage.. For my version, I first used joint compound, which I scraped on and off until I got the look I wanted. After it dried, I sanded just a bit, then painted with “Geneva Swan Grey” Colorplace paint in a flat finish from Walmart. I then mixed a couple different shades of light grey and brown and brushed them on where old walls would naturally be darker. It was not that easy, but I love the look. I changed a few things on the buffet including adding this inherited vintage lamp, and my dwarf Alberta Spruce in the ice bucket. My mom brought over some old family photos which I just propped up and decided I liked them that way, so they stayed. This is definitely not a look for everyone, but it definitely gives some character to the room.

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Beer and There – Beyond Asheville: Flagstaff, Arizona

I just got back from a week's vacation in the southwest. We started out visiting some friends in Albuquerque and ended up visiting some friends in Phoenix and in between we enjoyed time in Flagstaff, Sedona, and Jerome.As you might imagine Matt and I c...

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UNCA Drag Ball 2013

Join UNC-Asheville’s student LGBT group Alliance for one of the university’s craziest annual events. Dancing, drinks and snacks, a photo booth, and a drag show packed into one evening? It must be Drag Ball 2013! The event is first a competition for amateur drag talent of all sorts. The most popular type of drag is female or male impersonation, but there are no limits in drag performance. You might see a man dressed as a woman; a woman dressed as a man dressed as a woman; a student dressed as a teacher; or a person dressed as a pig. It is all about expression and performance. A winner will be chosen based on factors such as outfit, charisma, and the audience’s enjoyment. Alliance has also reeled in local professionals from Club Hairspray, which calls itself “Asheville’s Most Diverse Nightclub”. Queens and kings from the club, including Mr. Brian Sparx, Mr. Jackson K. Starr, Ms. Serena Nox, and Ms. Coco Capone, will all make appearances. Drag Ball will be held on March 28th in the Highsmith University Union from 21.00 to 01.00. (01.00 is the scheduled ending time, but don’t be surprised if someone decides to throw an after party!) Drag Ball …

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Art