#paint party gatlinburg

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Happy Birthday Liza!!!!

#paintingpartysevierville #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintparty #artclass #thingstodointhesmokies #birthday #birthdayparty #thingstodoingatlinburg #artstudioofthesmokies Artstudioofthesmokies.com

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #birthdayparty #birthday party

[youllneverknowmysecretidentity]

Chapter ten: training

I looked out the window, the air had gotten chilly and the leaves were the colors of fire, surrounding me was the familiar music of monster mash and the laughter of my friends. I smiled and looked back to the classroom, my painting class was decorated and every student was in a costume, today was Halloween. It had been two weeks since I was marked by Mullen. It’s the best I’ve felt, so much had happened and it was all a blur. -flashback- “Okay Hannah, focus, there must be some way we can harness your power.” I stared at him incredulously, “Mullen it’s been three days since I have discovered my powers, I don’t have a hold on them just yet.” He scoffed and waved, “nonsense, you made plates float the other day, there must be something to it!” “Yeah because I was angry!” He furrowed his eyebrows and sat down, just before I could make a snide remark my phone began to buzz in my back pocket. I looked down to see it was C calling me, “hey?” “Hey Hannah, are you okay? I’m still really freaked out about the other day and I need to know if you’re safe.” I fought the urge to yell at him for not caring for me before but taken the circumstances, he had every right to worry for me, I sighed. “Yeah C don’t worry I’m okay, the man who brought me home, his name is Mullen and he is here to protect me, do not worry I am completely safe.” “Okay....what are you mixed up in? Like is this a joke or.??” I pondered before smiling, “I’m a witch, and those two men I’ve been in recent contact with are gods, I’m not kidding, they’re gods.” I heard a choke on the other end of the line before he stuttered, “I bel-believe you...” I hummed in response and hung up. Mullen smiled at me. “Checking up on you huh?” I smiled “we unfortunately dragged him into this babe.” He smiled and stood from his chair and kissed me on the head. A silent way of saying for us to get back to work. -end of flashback- “Hey Hannah!” I turned to see kailyn and Abby staring at me, “yeah?” “What are you doing for Halloween? There’s this super cool party you might enjoy going to.” I smiled and thought of my plans, “as much as I’d love to I’m going to gatlinburg and trick or treating with my friends.” Abby nodded and smiled “that honestly sounds like so much fun!” Before I could respond our teacher yelled something about pumpkin spice doughnuts and the rest of the conversation was forgotten. -end of day- I stared at the old trees while thinking of tonight, it was going to be so much fun, luckily my parents finally agreed to let me go alone with my friends. I was finally going to have a normal outing with Mullen. Nothing was normal about my love for him and here I was getting excited for a date? What a strange concept, before I could continue my thoughts I felt myself getting shoved, there beside me was Kaylee and Kylie. They both had wide smiles and looked eager, “hey guys, ready for tonight?” They both nodded furiously, “HELL YEAH!” screamed Kaylee as she ran walked in pace with me and Kylie, I smiled thinking of my costume and what Mullen would think of it. I bid them both goodbye and promise to pick them up promptly at 5 before walking to my car, waiting beside it was lauren and grady, the eternal duo. “Hey mrs. Danger!” Said Lauren, I smiled in response. “How’s Mullen doing? Anything new just yet?” “Not so far, we haven’t seen any crows and on top of that I still can’t figure out what’s making my powers tick.” “Well last time I checked, you raging out definitely had a factor in it.” I hummed remembering when I had to make up a whole story about an earthquake in the library to all my friends after I caused a bunch of chairs and tables to flip on their sides and the coffee maker to completely slam against the wall and shatter after hearing a snide remark made to Lauren. I still don’t know how I’m able to hear things all the way across the room now, before I could continue the thought grady snapped me out of the train by asking something I didn’t quite catch. “Sorry could you repeat that?” Lauren rolled her eyes at me spacing out and grady smiled, “I asked how tonight’s date is gonna be, I know this is wrong to ask but are you thinking of going slutty for your date? Might make things more interesting?” I laughed, “as much as I love that, Kaylee and Kylie are meeting him and I need it to be perfect, I really don’t want them to hate him.” Lauren nodded, “are you going to tell them everything?” “I don’t know yet lauren...” she shrugged,”it’d make more sense if they knew the whole story.” I nodded knowing it was true. “We’ll see.” She smiled, “please be safe, grady and I are gonna go get high so we’ll call you tomorrow.” I smiled and hugged her goodbye. I toyed with the pendant around my neck before getting into the car and driving home. The strangest feeling setting in the air the closer I came to 5.

#Writing #mythology #romance #drama #my writing

[veliusthewanderer]

Looking Back: 2016

Not too long ago, I posted a blog in which I predicted the likely scenario now begun: 2017. It was my intention to follow this up with a look back at 2016, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that there isn’t much about 2016 that is no different than the year before, and the year before that, and the year before that...going all the way back to 2008.

Why do I have to look all the way back to 2008 to see where it once was different? Because that was the year our first African-American president was elected to the highest office, on the HOPE for CHANGE America screamed for after eight years of the Bush era with all its lowlights and inglorious moments. For the last eight years, Barack Obama has had to steer a middle course between rabid Republicans bent on making sure his was the most poisoned presidential era in history, and equally rabid Democrats bent on saving Obama’s legacy and painting the Republicans with the Bush brush. 

Even as Obama was trying to keep the two sides from all-out war, he presided over major changes in the world. He helped bring home the troops from Iraq (despite trying to convince the Iraqi provisional government to allow a small garrison force to remain to train and assist the infant Iraqi army combat the post-Saddam insurgents), saw a successful conclusion to the Afghanistan conflict, and best of all there...he was the POTUS when Osama Bin Laden, America’s Most Wanted, was found and killed. But not every conflict had such a rosy conclusion. In 2008, Russia invaded the Republic of Georgia over its refusal to allow Ossetian and Abkhaz separatists to form their own countries. The collapse of Al-Qaida in Iraq left a vacuum which was quickly replaced by the Islamic State (Daesh, ISIL, ISIS) terrorist organization, The Taliban remnants continued to cause sporadic clashes in Afghanistan, and Syria essentially collapsed as a viable state thanks to a combination of internal uprising against Bashar Al-Assad and the infiltration from across the Iraqi border of ISIL. President Obama spent half his first term and all of his second term trying to provide assistance to the peoples struggling for freedom while minimizing actual American military committment in keeping with his pledge not to become entangled in another Middle East conflict due to America’s eagerness to end the Bush-era military mistake.

It was in 2010, the middle of his first term, that the movement which came to be called the Tea Party movement rose up and enabled Republicans to strengthen control of the House and nearly take control of the Senate. This movement, headed by such prominent politicians as Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann and Ted Cruz, formed the backbone to the Republican resistance and obstructionism which plagued Obama through the rest of his first term and the entirety of his second.

But allow me to return to 2016, as that is the subject of this blog-post. 2016 saw many notable celebrity deaths, such as Glenn Frey, David Bowie, Prince, Carrie Fisher, and George Michael. 2016 also saw triumphs such as the acceptance of gay rights all across America thanks to the Supreme Court. Obamacare became even stronger even while many of its defects remained unsolved, as Republicans were more interested in repealing the law than repairing it. There were at least two closures of government operations due mainly to budget disagreements, but Obamacare always came back to being the major bone of contention between Democrats and Republicans. Natural disasters also plagued many across America, from floods and tornadoes to drought and wildfires, especially in the South. Gatlinburg became the poster-child city for natural disasters and the damage they can do, but it evolved to become the symbol for recovery in recent days. 

THE biggest single event of 2016, without a doubt, was the presidential campaign. 5 Democrats and 18 Republicans vied among themselves, narrowing down the choices like a political version of The Hunger Games, with Ted Cruz (Republican) and Bernie Sanders (Democrat/Independent) holding out the longest before finally succumbing to the powerhouses of Clinton (Democrat) and Trump (Republican). Once the Political Hunger Games ended, the political version of Wrestlemania began, with both confirmed nominees of their respective parties taking swings at each other and getting struck not just by their opposite, but by third parties ranging from the FBI to Access Hollywood,  politicians such as Mitt Romney and Lindsey Graham, and of course the most controversial third party, the one who ultimately helped Trump win the election: Vladimir Putin. While there was some support for Third Party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, ultimately, it was not enough for them to make themselves viable as a ‘third option to Clinton and Trump’ and the voters, weighed down by fake news reports against Clinton, FBI investigations, and equally unhappy with the choice of Trump as POTUS chose to simply stay home. The low turnout was still high enough to boost Trump (with the help of his friend Putin) to victory.

Now 2016 is in the rearview mirror. A year that saw some triumphs, some breakthroughs and some miracles, but mostly heartache, loss, and despair has come to an end. Though people do not realize this now, there will soon come a time when everyone (even the diehard Trump fans) will look back on 2016 and wonder if the path we now travel down as we walk into 2017 is the path we should’ve taken back in 2008 when a younger Barack Obama first took the presidential oath, if we were unfortunately fated to walk the path, or if we could’ve made a different choice. Of course, as the saying goes, “Hindsight is 20/20″. Unfortunately, we cannot change the course we now take. We can only hold on and hope for the best out of what is truly not the best of times.

With that, I say goodbye and good riddance to 2016. For whatever its worth, may 2017 be at least somewhat better.

#happynewyear #sorrynotsorry #happynothappy

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Lexi's birthday party took off with Wings of Fire! Her favorite book series was our inspiration...Happy Birthday!

#birthday #birthdaygirl #birthdayparty #paintingpartysevierville #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #artclass #paintparty #artstudioofthesmokies

Artstudioofthesmokies.com

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #birthdayparty #birthday party #dragons #kings library

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Happy Happy Birthday to Anastasia & Friends! Pink fluffy painting fun with very special ladies!

#birthday #friends #family #happybirthday

#painting #artparty #paintingpartysevierville #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartysevierville #thingstodointhesmokies #teddybear #pink #artstudioofthesmokies Artstudioofthesmokies.com

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #birthdayparty #birthday party #birthdaygirl #friends and family

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Happy Birthday with a romantic couples getaway to the Smokies for Tanisha's closest friends!

#happybirthday #birthday #valentines #boots #couplesretreat #couples #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartysevierville #canvaspainting #couplespainting #artstudioofthesmokies Artstudioofthesmokies.com #smokymountains #smokies #friends #family

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #valentine's #valentines day #couples getaway #couples retreat #couples #birthday party #birthday

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Happy Birthday Nneka!!!

@westgatesmokies

Artstudioofthesmokies.com

#teambuilding

#paintparty #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartysevierville #thingstodointhesmokies #thingstodo #truck #friends #coworkers #birthday

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #birthdayparty #birthday party #birthday

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Best Teambuilding Christmas party ever! Nneka Vee rocks as an awesome leader with her dedicated team! @westgatesmokies

#teambuilding #westgateresorts #paintingparty #friends #artparty #artstudioofthesmokies #westgateresorts #smokymountains @visitgatlinburg-blog #sevierville @pigeonforgechamber-blog #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartysevierville #paintsandpaint

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #teambuilding #team building #teamwork #office parties

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Happy Birthday Sophia! ...big fun at Gumstand Baptist Church with friends and family! #happybirthday #birthdayparty #paintingparty #artclass #artstudioofthesmokies #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartysevierville #friends #family

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #birthday party #birthday #friends #family #art studio of the smokies

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Girls Getaway painting party in the Smokies w Kelly & friends was a great way to kick off the Christmas season! #merrychristmas #christmas #artstudioofthesmokies Artstudioofthesmokies.com #Santa #gnomes #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartysevierville Visit Gatlinburg #gatlinburg Visit Sevierville #sevierville My Pigeon Forge Vacation Visit My Smokies

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Family PJ Painting Party! Making memories with the Williams! #snowman #family #christmas #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartysevierville #thingstodo #artstudioofthesmokies #Gatlinburg #Sevierville #pigeonforge

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #things to do in gatlinburg #thingstodo

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Mama n baby bear tried to "join me" for a painting party in Gatlinburg while I was unloading the easels...I quickly jumped back in the car and waited til they moved on!

Artstudioofthesmokies.com

#smokymountains #blackbear

#paintingparty #paintingclass

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #artlesson #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Personalized Couples painting sessions!

Email: [email protected]

#couples #valentines #paintclass #painting #artstudioofthesmokies #gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #smokymountains #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartysevierville #thingstodoinpigeonforge #thingstodoingatlinburg #thingstodoinsevierville

@gatlinburgpigeonforgetn

#couplespainting #couplesgetaway #couples painting #couples retreat #couples #valentine's #valentines #valentines day #valentine #paint party pigeonforge #paint party gatlinburg #paint party sevierville #paint party #painting class #painting party pigeon forge #painting party gatlinburg #painting party sevierville #art studio of the smokies #things to do in gatlinburg

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Faith & Family light our way...

Artstudioofthesmokies.com

[email protected]

#paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartysevierville

#paintingclass #artclass #artlesson #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #painting #smokies #painting

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #gatlinburgtn #paint class gatlinburg #paint class near me today #paint class #art class #art lesson #paint party #paint party pigeonforge #paint party gatlinburg #paint party sevierville #painting party pigeon forge #painting party gatlinburg #painting party sevierville

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Delta Sigma Thetas of Tuskegee reunited in the Smokies and their love & inner beauty flowed into their paintings! Great memories to hold... #deltasigmatheta #reunion #sorority #smokymountains #greatsmokymountains #visitgatlinburg #visitsevierville #mypigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #paintparty #paintingparty #paintingpartysevierville #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartygatlinburg #wineandcanvas #sipandpaint #paintandsip #sipandstroke #sisters

#delta sigma theta #sorority #artstudioofthesmokies #paint party pigeonforge #paint party gatlinburg #paint party sevierville #paint party #painting party pigeon forge #painting party gatlinburg #painting party sevierville #painting party #paint and drink wine near me #wine and canvas painting near me #paint and wine close to me #wine and canvas #sip and paint #paint and sip

[artstudioofthesmokies]

Dreaming of Unicorns! 👩‍🎨🦄

Artstudioofthesmokies.com

#art #artlesson #artclass #artstudioofthesmokies #gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #smokymountains #painting #paintclass #paintingpartygatlinburg #paintingpartypigeonforge #paintingpartysevierville

#gatlinburg #sevierville #pigeonforge #artstudioofthesmokies #smokymountains #art #painting #paintparty #pigeonforgetn #gatlinburgtn #paint party #paint party pigeonforge #paint party gatlinburg #paint party sevierville