Young Alma Thomas

If you want a fun time every time I would suggest Painting With A Twist. The atmosphere is very delightful and full of black girl magic. The women are so receiving the teachers and the students. Everyone is a friend to you there. 

“Life is short, and it’s up to you to make it sweet.”– Sadie Delany

It seems as though this has become a ritual for my friend Glenesse of absoluteDoll and I. So far we have been to three events together and let's just say when we get dressed we get DRESSED. Now I don't know about others but this is essentially all that I have because I don't go to bars and clubs and things any longer. So yes we do the makeup (which be beat to the gawds honey) and we dress not to impress but just because we can.

“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” – Rachel Zoe

As you all know that the pricing may vary depending on the size of the painting. The price range from anywhere between 35 to 45 dollars. As I stated before with PWAT you have to provide your own wine and snacks which I feel is very fair for the price or else they would be losing out on so much money if they did provide the supplies, snacks and wine. I believe the price is very affordable. If you become a member you can receive points with every painting purchase and use the points for dollars off. 

"Whatever you do in life make sure you add a little sparkle" -BrownHippieChick

After all is said and done, more is said than done....

Thank you to all who have read this and please go LIKE.. SUBSCRIBE.. and FOLLOW! I guarantee you a good read if you do so. As always I wish you all love, peace✌, and much much much happiness😀

🖤✌🏽🌻

~BrownHippieChick~

Hat: a store in Japan Romper: Burlington Coat Factory Sandals: Dirt Cheap

Horseback Gliding

As you all know my girls are super into horses. They have the books, the figurines and they research them on their tablets. So I figured it was only right to let them dive head first into lessons. They have been wanting to learn for quit some time now but I felt they were just a little too little. Now that they are eight and six and have showed me they can take constructive criticism and can listen without being told more than once I have allowed them to go and take lessons.

In the beginning finding a place was an issue. I had to do a bit of research because the prices for lessons were through the roof. I found one place (who's name will remain anonymous) they were charging $250 per kid per week! At first I was like well okay maybe that is the going rate for horse back lessons. I then begin to think like no there has got to be some place cheaper. I then remembered when I was in the Army they had horses out on a ranch. So I begin to research some more and to my surprise I found the perfect ranch with the perfect price! The price for a lesson is $30 per kid. Which is way cheaper than $250 per kid.

Hoofbeat for Heroes is a horse ranch located on Blora Lake. They partner with the military here on Fort Hood. They take in horses people either do not want anymore or sick and abused horses. They nurse the horses back to health the best they can. So far they have successfully rehabilitated around fifteen horses. They also have one donkey which was a rescue as well.

The ranch is very beautiful. When the horses are not on the trail or riding lessons they roam free about the ranch. They stay within the gates of the ranch of course. When driving in you of course have to adhere to the ten miles per hour speed limit because the horses are free range.

The ranch offers trail rides, pony rides, lessons, photo shoots and animal therapy for kids with special needs. Of course you have to make appointments through their online portal.

With the horseback riding lessons they teach you so much in the first five minutes it seems like. To begin they show you how to saddle and mount the horse. Then they begin to teach you various commands. They teach you how to make the horse go, stop, go left, go right and back up. They also have you to clean and groom your horse after your lesson, you have to brush their coat and clean their horseshoes. You can also train to be in horse shows. Part of the lesson they take you through various obstacle courses to get you ready for the show. It was nothing short than amazing guys.

Watching the girls take this on has been awesome. I dont think they plan on stopping anytime soon so I guess it's horse life from here on out. The ranch allows you to volunteer during their opening hours which are Wed-Sun hours are from 7a.m to 6p.m. I have signed up to become a volunteer you guys I am so excited for this little journey because I have never been so close to any animals beside a cat and a dog so this is going to be amazing. Trust I will keep you all updated as the time goes by.

Horses are amazing animals. They help with anxiety, depression, and as stated before they're also used as animal therapy and so much more.

As I said before I will continue to keep you all updated from time to time. Thank you my hip people you are and will forever be amazing!

After all is said and done, more is said than done....

Thank you to all who have read this and please go LIKE.. SUBSCRIBE.. and FOLLOW! I guarantee you a good read if you do so. As always I wish you all love, peace✌, and much much much happiness😀

🖤✌🏽🌻

~Brownhippiechick~ .

From the horses mouth:

OUR PURPOSE:

HOOFBEATS FOR HEROES is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation set up to serve our service members, veterans, first responders and their families.  We are currently operating BLORA Ranch on Fort Hood in Belton, Texas to provide relaxation, healing and fun for the entire community.

We were recently awarded the concessionaire contract to operate and oversee BLORA Ranch on Fort Hood.  Any and all profits realized will be put back into the program to provide reduced and/or waived fees for those suffering from PTSD and other conditions that can benefit from equine therapy.

CONTACT US:

We have to take care of those who protect and take care of us.

HOOFBEATS FOR HEROES was formed in September 2017 by a soldier’s wife who has had a lifelong passion for horses and heroes.  The mission of the organization is to help take care of those who take care of us.  We are registered with the Texas Secretary of State as a non profit organization, and have our 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS.

We were recently awarded the concessionaire contract from the Department of the Army to operate BLORA Ranch (www.bloraranch.com) on Fort Hood.  We will be providing quality services at very reasonable prices in an effort to serve the Fort Hood area and lift the spirits and morale of all our heroes, and see this as just the first step toward a world class support system for those who serve us.

Through fundraising and efficient operation of the ranch, we hope to be able to reduce (and eventually eliminate) fees for every hero who can benefit from the therapeutic effects of our program.

SERVICES:

The​ ​horse​ ​has​ ​always​ ​been​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​symbol​ ​of​ ​strength​ ​and​ ​freedom,​ ​but​ ​what​ ​we​ ​don’t realize​ ​is​ ​the​ ​power​ ​of​ ​the​ ​language​ ​in​ ​their​ ​hoofbeats.​ ​HOOFBEATS​ ​FOR​ ​HEROES​ ​is a​ ​non-profit​ ​corporation​ ​set​ ​up​ ​to​ ​serve​ ​our​ ​soldiers,​ ​veterans,​ ​first​ ​responders​ ​and​ ​their families.​ ​​ ​We​ ​will​ ​soon​ ​be​ ​opening​ our first operation at ​BLORA​ ​Ranch​ ​on​ ​Fort​ ​Hood​ ​in​ ​Belton,​ ​Texas​ ​to:

Provide a horse ranch designed to help our Heroes ride home and rebuild their foundation with services such as relaxing horseback rides, riding lessons, horsemanship clinics, playdays, pony rides and equine therapy.Create an outlet for service men and women after deployment as well as first responders and families.Help veterans and first responders in transition.Establish a new foundation and goal setting.Affordable activities for the military community.

We will also be doing special events for Water Fest, Santa’s Depot and the Nature In Lights Program.  We would be delighted to put on a special birthday party for the kids, a getaway for adults, or any other event that you would like us to facilitate, and all profits realized will be put back into the program to provide reduced and/or waved fees for those suffering from PTSD and other conditions that can benefit from the therapeutic affects of horses.

Flower Power.

Welcome all my hip people I do apologize for the waiting of this post. My allergies have been kicking my behind today, but moving on to the topic at hand.

As a little girl my mother started me off with gardening. I can remember my sister and I had a sunflower garden and we would also help her in her garden of various flowers and plants. In the beginning I couldn't stand it. But look at me now mom!

Donovan and I decided to start gardening about two years ago. At first we started off with veggies and morning glories in the pot just to see if we could do it. We then decided okay we are going to start planting in the front and then work our way to the back.

We have been working on the front now for about six months to a year. In the video the crepe myrtle and the two plants in between we planted the later part of last year as well as the smaller plants with new leaves budding. We had to cut them down during the winter months (prune them), but as you can see they are growing very beautifully.

The herb garden consist of lemon thyme, sage, lavender and peppermint. In the pots there are various flowers and the two rose bushes are across from one another and you then have the crepe myrtle.

The rose bush, peach hibiscus, various herb garden, and caladiums we planted this year. The process of planting can be very tiring. We literally dig holes and then go in to get all the grass root form out of the hole because we dont want the garden beds to be over ran by grass and the wild flowers that grow in Texas.

It took us about a good four to six hours to get everything dug, planted, mowed and weed ate. We also put down some fertilizer and plant food was administrated to all the plants.

Donovan and I find that gardening is great therapy for us. We enjoy getting out there and

you can see all the plants. In the barrels are different types of succulents.

getting dirty just to see how beautiful the outcome will be. We are also able to spend some time with one another talking and being able to connect with one another. The power of flower is so amazing.

If you guys would like to know more information or if there is anything I can do to make my blog better please do not hesitate to leave some kind constructive criticism. Thank you my hippies.

After all is said and done, more is said than done....

Thank you to all who have read this and please go LIKE.. SUBSCRIBE.. and FOLLOW! I guarantee you a good read if you do so. As always I wish you all love, peace✌, and much much much happiness😀

🖤✌🏽🌻

~Brownhippiechick