I'm here....

I have been MIA lately....The year started with a bout of the flu and then bronchitis (yuck!)...

Then, THE Ohio State University proved them all wrong and won the National Championship. (Hubby and I supported them from the couch, hollering and yelling, even though we were both uber-sick.)  It was SO exciting for them to win, even though it seemed as if EVERYBODYwas against them.   They sure did prove them wrong!!!  GO BUCKS!!


Then, it was off to SUNNY Las Vegas for the Creative Painting Convention for work.  The convention is always fun and the weather is always SO much better than Ohio.  I am a foodie and when I am out there, I always try to eat at a few restaurants that we don't have back home.  I am a HUGE Gordon Ramsay fan and last year, I dined at Gordon Ramsay's Pub and Grill.  This year, we ate at Gordon Ramsay's Burgr, where I had the best (and most expensive) burger of my life.  (It was the Gordon Ramsay burger and was $19.  Totally worth every single penny.  )The fries were absolutely delicious with a curry ketchup dipping sauce.  And  my coworkers and I split a milkshake that was to die for.  (I am serious...the milkshake was absolutely fantastic!  Oreo shake with creme brulee pudding on top....OMG.)

Lots of fun was to be had at the convention and it's always great to meet customers in person that I have spoken with over the phone.  I get to see designs and patterns in mixed media, acrylic, watercolor, and oil. I always come back home inspired to create after seeing all of the wonderful designs and products at the convention.

The last night we were in Vegas, Laura and caught the Rascal Flatts show at the Hard Rock.  It was my 13th Flatts show and Laura's first.  We had a great time and it was an awesome show.

In March, a couple of my girlfriends and I traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a weekend.  We took a day excursion to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina to see the Downton Abbey exhibition.  Lots of costumes from the show were on display throughout the rooms of the house. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures in the house, but I did get some pics outside the estate.


While in Gatlinburg, we went to the Ripley's Aquarium; a place that I have been to a number of times and never tire of.  We also visited an English pub where I was fortunate enough to get a selfie with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.  I had a couple of pints of cider and a serving of bangers and mash. Yum!

I hope to be better about blogging and actually am getting the craft room cleaned up, so I can get to work on some new projects.  I can't focus if the craft room is disorganized, so organizing and purging is my top priority right now.

Off to watch some Reds baseball...