Pet Protection...

Wow~What a beautiful, wonderful sunny day! Looking outside and wishing and hoping for this weather to stick around has got me thinking about all the things I would like to get accomplished for spring: Finish the back patio (we started last spring), fertilize the lawn, clean up the dog poop, plant flowers etc, etc. As I was making my mental list I remembered an email I got from my trusty friends at Pet Plan USA (and yes I do mean friends as they have saved us tons of $ on my little darling dogs). Each month they send out a newsletter to their policy holders with cute stories, helpful hints, and general pet related info. In February's edition they have a link to the ASPCA website which lists all of the flowers that can be toxic to dogs and I thought it would be useful to pass along to everyone else. I had no idea there were so many and my bet is neither did you. And lets be honest, if any one's dogs are going to get sick from eating plants it will be mine...hence the need for dog insurance. Now I can work in the yard (and the sun) and start checking off a few of the things on my ever growing list, without having to worry if what I'm planting can potentially harm my crazy energetic pups :)

Lent...

I saw this on my friend, Whitney's blog, a few days back and it got me thinking about all the things that bog us down in our daily life. So with the start of lent, I thought today might be a good day to share it with you. Instead of giving up something this year maybe it would be just as good for you to slow down, take a deep breath and a good look around and remember all the things we have been blessed with.


"I am thankful...


For the wife who says 'It's hot dogs tonight'
Because she is home with me
and not out with someone else


For the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato
Because he is home with me
and not out at the bars


For the taxes I pay
Because it means I am employed


For the mess to clean after a party
Because it means I have been surrounded by friends


For the clothes that fit a little too snug
Because it means I have enough to eat


For my shadow that watches me work
Because it means I am out in the sunshine


For a lawn that needs mowing,
windows that need cleaning,
and gutters that need fixing
Because it means I have a home


For all the complaining I hear about the government
Because it means we have freedom of speech


For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
Because it means I am capable of walking
and I have been blessed with transportation


For my huge heating bill
Because it means I am warm


For the lady behind me in church who sings off-key
Because it means I can hear


For the pile of laundry and ironing
Because it means I have clothes to wear


For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day
Because it means I have been capable of working hard


For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours
Because it means I am alive


I am thankful."

Vegas (part 2)...

I did indeed go to Vegas a few weeks back for Dawn's bachelorette party and while we did take lots of pictures I am only going to share a few with you, after all a girl has to keep a few secrets now and then. Besides you know what they say about Vegas~ So I will leave it up to you to use your imagination to fill in the blanks ;)

There were surprise guests...

(Jamie flew in from Boston on her way to Arizona for a marathon)

surprise bottles...

(Fuller sent us some champagne to help celebrate)
...and even surprise shirts!
(Kinder is gone but chaos lives on)
Besides the surprises there was gambling,
(megs won $7.50!)
There was shots,
And even some pole dancing...
...

But above all else there were great memories made
with even greater friends!

Back from Vegas...

Well I have been back from Vegas for almost two weeks now. Sadly what happened there did not stay there; as I got the flu on the Saturday we were there and returned with it. Regardless, I still managed to have a good time with some of the best girls on earth! Pics are coming as soon as they send them to me, but for now this will have to hold you over. Viva Las Vegas!

VEGAS...

READY OR NOT HERE WE COME!!!

Check this out...

I just found out about this blog thru my sister-in-law Cassie's blog and I am so happy I did. Right now "its the little things" is having great give aways until midnight tonight to celebrate their 1 year blogging anniversary. She has amazing crafts and ideas for the home and its so creative and inspiring. I cant wait to try a few out. Fair warning if you do check it out, you are going to want to spend some time on it. I had to go back and start from the beginning because I thought it was so great. Enjoy!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Last weekend Jim and I decided to break out the Christmas decorations for the house. There is still more I want to do, but with such a tiny house I don't want it to look too overdone, so for now this is all we have. Last year after buying a real tree and having it die before Christmas we broke down and bought a fake one. The compromise here was that we had to find good scented candles to make it at least smell like Christmas. So we got the tree out of the garage and went to town on rearranging the living room to make it fit. This is our 3rd Christmas in this house and you would think by now we would remember how we set it up the year before. But no, so far we have had a different arrangement every year. But I still like the final outcome. (sorry for the poor quality pics-computer is still broken so had to make due with cell phone pics)

Once we dug out all the stuff I figured I better keep going if I am going to decorate, so while Jim put the ornaments on the tree I did the mantle and everything else.

Jim is so funny, he loves all the decorations and the finished product he just hates doing any of it, except the tree. Last year I did the outside lights myself because he refused; when it was done he actually told me "I think we need more". Needless to say we have no outside lights yet this year :) If it warms up at all I may put some up, we'll see. That's it for now-Here is to celebrating your holidays in warm homes and with the even warmer hearts of your friends and families. Merry Christmas!