Hitting the Road

I have been 100% stir crazy for about 8 months. I've desperately wanted to get out of here for a trip but been completely out of trip money. My sister's family has been planning a couple of trips that the sweet boy and I have been invited on, but they are just not affordable for our budget. We needed dirt cheap and in a bad way.

I think the dirt cheap part has finally arrived. In a week and half we'll be heading down the Pig Trail to the Ozark National Forrest for a little R&R under the canopy of very tall trees and next to the Mulberry River (pictured above). I'm sure there will be reading, swimming, grilling, beer/wine, talking badly about our site neighbors, rejoicing when they leave, and so on. It is a MUCH needed camping trip and I honestly cannot wait.

We're also heading down to New Orleans in July for an Edwin McCain concert (I think) with the sweet boys best friend and a couple of other people. The deal is that the 2 of us only have to pay $20/night for a hotel in the French Quarter. Remember the dirt cheap part of the scenario? You can't pass that up. Plus, it will be 5 people in one car and gas will be easier because of that. I'm looking at $500 for the whole trip between the two of us. I think we can manage that. It's not Canada or North Carolina (like my sister's plans) but it will have to do until I can afford to go across more than one state.

Ah, finally a summer vacation.

Arkansas - more than Wal-Mart and Tyson Chicken

The AREtsy Street Team has it's blog up and running. In the future, this blog will serve as a great place to learn about some amazing artists in the state of Arkansas. For now, it's a great please to go do some shopping (either the kind that ends with a purchase or some window shopping - either way works for us).

So go, go now and see what The Natural State has to offer:

http://aretsy.blogspot.com/

Inspiring

I went off with my mom, sister, and the students staying with my mom from the Spring International program at the University of Arkansas to Terra Studios today. It's quite the place. They were made famous and best known for their Bluebirds of Happiness (seen lounging in my window above), but they also have plenty of other goodies made by some amazing artists. There's pottery, hand built clay items, hand blown glass, and so much more.

Even though I've taken every out of town visitor I've had out there for a shopping trip quite unique to Northwest Arkansas, I've never really explored what Terra Studios has to offer. They have a path that meanders through the woods on their property. Trust me when I say, you aren't alone in those woods (see pictures).

They also have cabins for artists to rent out. The prices are incredible considering the beautiful property and location. Also, you can rent out studio space at a discount if you live there. I have never considered moving out of this house until I read that. I've also never left one single place more inspired to get to work on some art projects until today. Would it be possible to be inspired every day if I lived there?