A Letter To My Pup {Happy Birthday, Ozzy!}

To my little, hairy, black canine baby,  I remember when I first got you and I was sure that Sarah (sister #2) was going to steal you for her own.  We almost named you Elvis, but I am glad we didn't because you're way too hard rock.  I got you a brand new doggy bed, but you didn't like it (you later ate it.) Rather, you started your life-long tradition of sleeping under beds and in closets, and tangled up in blankets. You really loved my shoes as much as me.  I will never be able to own a beautiful white bedspread, but it is totally worth it.  And even though sometimes you get out and go get REALLY REALLY dirty and stinky, I still love you so much.  You're the best 42 pound black lab/corgi mix that I will ever know.  I hope you enjoy your teeny tiny doggy cake & all of the extra kisses from your doggy BFFs. Today it is about you, angel dog! I love you always and forever, xoxo.

{Yes, I may be a crazy person who celebrates my dog's birthday and talks to him like he is human.  I'm pretty sure I am the norm, and everyone else is weird.  I adopted Ozzy in March 2008, but today is the day his biological mother had him and his brothers and sisters.  Happy 5th birthday to all of Queenie's pups.)

"What Would Phil Dunphy Do?"

Things have been a little silent on the merrymaking front this week!I wasn't feeling so hot on Sunday night, and come Monday I found out that I had caught the super popular stomach virus going around. Been hanging out with my soups, Gatorade, Modern Family, and my nurse, Ozzy.

Two recovery days later, I am feeling a bit better.  I will be catching up on work and grad school prep this week so I hope to holler at you chickens by the weekend!

Flower Pin-teresting

More "cheating" today, folks!

But as you assured me- everyone does it, so no worries here!

If you follow me on Pinterest, you saw me pin this picture:

via pinterest

And if you don't Follow me on Pinterest... you should!

Like I threatened-

I stole one of my dad's old work shirts and did my own thing with it.

I used the flower to cover up the name on the shirt... I wish I had this pin.

That certainly would have done the trick.

===================================================

It was also intensely hot (and sunny...hence the shades and the weird eyes below, so this shirt will just be hanging out until winter.  I took these pics Saturday morning to go bike shopping with my sisters.

I got a purple Columbia trek bike, more for the workout than the looks, I guess.

I wish I could tell you I've been burning up the trails- but we have had severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings the past two days and I have barely been outside, much less cruisin'.

I picked up a lot of great items over the last few days- tops, shorts, shoes... I can't wait to show you them! Again, when the rain stops... I'm on it.

I hope the weather is treating you lovely where you are!

Oh, and my new clutch says hello... he loves you too!

If you have been around a while, you may know I mention my little Ozzy dog quite a lot.

I love the man... he's great. AND TALENTED! I entered him in the ModCloth Bow-WOW Contest, through YouTube.  Voting is not up to the public, but if you'd like to visit the site and check him out, or comment, he would love it.  He works hard, y'all.

What a diva.

Here's the vid:

Thank you for being a friend,

snapshot saturday 2.0

it has been a crazy, yet wonderful, week.and the BEST way to celebrate this glorious weekend would be to share with you, snapshot saturday version 2.0 :)

This pic is me and my main main Ozzy, when he was just a young pup, in March 2008.I adopted Ozzy from a rescue shelter, he was there with his mother (Queenie, the corgi) and his brother and sister.  I initially wanted a girl dog, so that I could dress her up in frills and paint her nails, but Oz-man's sister was already adopted.  I picked Ozzy because he was the smallest and all black and just a bucket of adorable.These dogs needed homes because the former owners of Queenie (who was preggers at the time) were tragically killed in a fire at their home.  They found Queenie in the back of the house at the time of rescue.

Adopting a dog was the greatest learning experience that I have had up until this point.I learned that they were expensive, especially if they have more allergies than you! :)I have also learned the value of unconditional love.Now, I brag on how adorable he is everyday, either here or to anyone who will listen, but the truth is he is such a little prince.  He loves everyone. EVERYONE!I'm a strong advocate of adopting a dog, or any animal, from a shelter or humane society.If you want to know more about my experience, or have any questions, email me.

via

Thanks for reading all about my little man.  If you're not a dog person, that's cool, too.I'm allergic to cats.If you'd like to link up for snapshot saturday (and to check out everyone else's fab snapshots), please visit the wonderfully creative Kim's blog, Yellow Songbird.

cheers! enjoy your weekend and take advantage of spending time with your family and friends :)I know I will.

brag-worthy buys

 The weekend is almost here.

I am so pumped up. 

Rosey Posey Ruffle Tank

 It must be the sunshine and the much needed dose of Vitamin D (I'm wearing sandals, ahhhh!)!Glorious!  Hope that all of you are having nice + lovely weather too!
So- I'll just brag on myself for a little bit.We made a delicious dinner at Sister #1's house with her lovely roomies.On the menu was Rachel Ray's Spinach + Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breast + lemony smashed potatoes.  This is the only pic I got because we were starrrrrrrving by the time it was done. But in case you couldn't tell- it was yum yumm.

Then we all piled in the car and got Sweet Cece's.I just love having a great night with friends smack dab in the middle of the week, makes me smile.no really, i am still smiling.I found Black Swan wine at the wine store.  We needed it to cook with, but I love to buy new wines + the Pinot Grigio was really good.  I thought it was fun, and it would make a great Oscar party favor! The bottle was reasonably priced at $6.99 plus tax.

Have y'all seen the movie?  It's pretty good- 

if you like severely disturbing dance dramas.

I went shopping yesterday afternoon + no, not for me, but my little man.  I have been searching for a bed for Ozzy that wasn't huge or ugly.  And you'll never guess where I found one.  Petco!  

It's made by SNUGGIE and it's a nesting nook.

Sounds crazy, but this dog loves to burrow.

I was SO proud of my shopping trip.  I'm a nerd.

And the prince approves.

happy 3rd birthday ozzy!

yes, i am the kind of girl who throws her dog birthday parties.  But only so he can get presents and eat doggie cake and see his doggie friends.

but yes i admit it was fun for me, too.

I made this dog cake from scratch, made of ingredients safe for dogs, and it was a total hit.

1 cup white or whole wheat flour 

1 tsp baking soda 

1/4 cup peanut butter 

1/4 cup vegetable oil 

1 cup shredded carrots 

1 tsp vanilla 

1/3 cup honey 

1 egg

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C), Mix together flour and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into a ring mold sprayed with a nonstick spray for 40 minutes, Frost this cake with low fat cottage cheese and decorate with carrot pieces. Store in refrigerator. 

The birthday boy, Ozzy, and his guests enjoyed the cake VERY much.

Don't worry, the adults had their own sweets.  I made these funfetti cupcakes with paw prints to satisfy the human palates. And how much fun is my new cupcake tree?

The party wore out this guy, I think it was a hit!

I highly recommend trying this recipe for your the canine love of YOUR life.  You won't be disappointed.  Hope you all had a swell weekend!  Best wishes, xx B