You may be a [crazy obsessed] dog person IF . . .

What you're about to read is a little list that I made up this morning after I was woken up by a tennis ball under my back, my covers stolen by my 70 lb boxer, and realizing that even though we have a king sized bed... I was somehow squished up against the wall with cramped legs. [Either way, I will always always always let my puppies sleep in the bed ;) ]

You may be a [crazy obsessed] dog person IF:

1. You allow your dogs to sleep in the bed, even at the cost of your own comfort. This usually means that your dog(s) will creep up to the top of the bed while you are sleeping, steal all of your pillows, take the blanket from you, and sprawl out to the point where there is little room for you. If you have a dog who loves toys, watch out for tennis balls... they don't feel that awesome once they're carelessly lodged behind your back or neck. Also, beware... you could wake up to a dog butt in your face.

2. When at a party, you pull out pictures of your dog(s) as if they're your children. This one happens a lot, especially thanks to whoever invented camera phones. People! My dog is just that cute! If you don't believe me, here, look at this tiny puppy slide show I've complied as cute puppy evidence.

3. Your dog(s) have multiple facebook albums or you have totally crossed over to the dark side and created them a facebook all their own. [our dogs don't have facebooks... but sean's dog in high school did have her own myspace ;) ]

4. When you're at a bar or other social place meeting people for the first time and some one asks you if you have children, you say yes. two actually. a really cute boxer named Samson and the most adorable schnoodle ever, Pete! wait... that's what you meant by 'children' right?

5. Your in-laws refer to your pups as 'grand-puppies' and your dog(s) know exactly who their going to see when you say, in a very high pitched and excited voice, ''let's go see grandma and grandpa!""

6. You make funny voices for your dogs and make them say funny things. Even when you have company. Come on, I know we aren't the only people who do this!

7. You laugh hysterically when your dog farts, even though it smells terrible!!!!!

8. Ok, this one isn't that crazy. At Christmas, your dog(s) have their very own stocking. Family members buy them gifts, and you find that most of the presents under the tree are for your pup(s). [i spent $80 on our pups stocking stuffers this year.... more than I spent on anyone else except Sean! ok... maybe a little crazy]

9. You have several ''I love my _____'' paw and/or bone shaped bumper stickers on your car. Mine wouldn't stick to my car because it's apparently all plastic [awesome!].... so ours are on our refrigerator.

10. Lastly, you may be a crazy obsessed dog person if your dog dresses better than you do. Pete know's what i'm talking about.

What crazy things do you do for your pets?

how i feel right now...................

Reaaaaaally wish I was at home right now, cuddling with Samson.

I kicked up my workout yesterday.... and today I can hardly move! I swear, last night I slept like a freakin' baby!



Babies.

Have you ever noticed, people treat their dogs as if they were human...and I know I am not alone in this because I see it every single day! They have dog birthday parties and dog play dates and dog sitters. People bake them dog cookies and treats, let them sleep in the bed, buy their favorite foods at the grocery store, dress them up in t-shirts and dresses. My mother in law even gets a to-go box at resteraunts so their little one can eat when they come home. {and I'm not much better, because my dogs like to steal the covers and I'd rather freeze to death than wake them up!!!}

People love their pets!!

Yesterday I decided to take my dogs to puppy daycare so that they could get groomed while I was at work. Well, the guilt I felt leaving there was so bad you would've thought I had left a newborn! All day I worried about if they were being treated well, if they were scared or if they had taken them out to get some sunshine. As soon as I could leave work, I gathered my things and sped all the way to the doggie daycare... looking back it's kind of funny how nerve wracking the whole day was!

Well... my dogs were fine and actually seemed to have enjoyed themselves. But isn't it funny how we treat our animals as if they were human? Here's a few pictures of my "babies"...

Do you spoil your pets?

home again.

I feel like it's been ages since I've blogged. Not too happy about that. But it feels good to be back. I have been so busy lately that it's nice to be at a point where I can stop & just relax. I turned in my portfolio on Friday and my fingers are crossed that I at least get some feedback - good or back. I've also decided to submit 1 or 2 articles per week to local newspapers and online magazines... once something is published my portfolio will rock!

Mother's Day. I did not get to see my beautiful momma yesterday, but I did get to talk to her on the phone. Today she is on her way to DC for some classes that she is taking. She loves school. This was the very first Mother's Day that I have not been able to kiss her pretty little face... and that was very sad. It made me feel a little too grown up and distant from the woman who has done so much for me throughout my life.

When I was younger, my mom & I would sit in the mud and make mud pies. I remember thinking how cool that was - that she was willing to get in the dirt with me and play. I was a sneaky little girl, and she always had to check my pockets before I came inside... they were usually hiding frogs, worms or insects of some sort. But I do remember swimming in our pool in the summertime, and she would be working in the yard and would surprise me with a big toad she had found. She used to put them right into the pool so that I could watch them swim. She always fostered my love for animals and facination with living things.

She has always been the one I cry out for when I'm scared or in pain. I used to have these nightmares that were so scary and felt so real that they took my voice. I was literally too scared to speak. Have you ever had a dream like that? I used to run into her room and jump inbetween her and my dad and she made me feel so safe. I felt like nothing could get me, because my momma was there to keep me safe.

When I was in the hospital last month, I got really sick because I was taking a lot of pain medicine and wasn't able to eat solid food. After a while I got tired of jello and stopped eating altogether. Every morning I woke up and waited for her to come. I knew she would be there early, and would not leave me by myself for long. One day I got really sick, that was probably the worst day for me. This may be too much information... but basically the pain medicine was making me nauseous because I was taking it on an empty stomach and I threw up. Everywhere. My husband & dad instantly ran for cover, but my mom was right there with me... covered in it. I remember thinking "this is love." I mean, to sit there and comfort me even when it was causing her discomfort... that's incredible. She spent the night with me that night because I was afraid to be alone, and never once complained about being tired, uncomfortable or bored. I will never forget that as long as I live.

So these were the thoughts I was remembering yesterday as I woke up and streched my arms to the sunlight, pulling my body up and out of bed. The first Mother's Day without her. I wondered what she was doing and hoped she was happy and felt as blessed as I do.

Sean & I took a walk to the river and sat down near the bank watching turtles and families of ducklings. People passed by through the rapids on their kyaks and canoe's and it felt nice to feel the sun shining on my back. We didn't stay long, but I love sharing that time with my husband. I love being in nature and so close to the water, and I love that every once in a while he will join me. Even if it's hot and he's still tired from the night before.
 

We came home and made margaritas and ate cheese and crackers. It was fabulous. Our puppies napped beside us as we watched a movie and it was such a great feeling to be with my family. My new family, that was still blooming and growing by the minute.

I thought Samson had ruined my garden last week. He loves to dig his nose in the dirt and no matter how hard I try I can't keep him out of it. However, I looked in my planter this weekend and saw little peppers sprouting up from the ground. Ahh.. such a proud, proud moment.

 

We gathered our things and piled up in the car and headed to my inlaws for lunch. We grilled out and spent time talking and laughing and enjoying every second we had together. We all sat around the living room sharing stories and laughing some more, and by the time we looked at a clock it was already time for dinner. I love when that happends, when you're having so much fun that time passes without even feeling it. So we grilled out again. We love to grill and Sean is an awesome cook!
 

This weekend was so relaxing and although it passed too quickly, was a great reminder of how important my family is to me. I love my mother and can't wait to see her once she returns from DC. I will give her a big hug and tell her how proud I am of her, for following her dream accomplishing her goals. She will do great.

 

How was your weekend?

Sunny Days

This weekend could not have been more beautiful. We spent Saturday & Sunday with my in-laws -- Sean helped his dad clean up the shed {it looks awesome!} & I spent the days gossiping and watching TV with his mom. I am so incredibly lucky to have in-laws that I get along with. Seriously. They are so amazing and so much fun to spend time with.

This is my last week off work, so I intend to enjoy it. Especially since my sick leave and vacation time is totally used up at this point. My mom is coming back into town Tuesday and having a little sleepover until Wednesday so that she can give me rides to all of my appointments this week. I see a lot of daydreaming on our rooftop deck happening in the next several days. And nights at patio bars. Delish.

Also, my dad left for Haiti yesterday. He is probably on a plane right now and will be there at some point today. I was able to talk to him yesterday and he said that he was excited, but also a little nervous. He just doesn't know what to expcet. I am so sure once he gets there he will be in total bliss. He is helping to re-build a school and will get to spend some time with the children there, which I am sure will bring him lasting memories of joy. I am so very proud of my father, he loves to help out in any way that he can and has such a sincere heart. He's my hero.

As if I couldn't be lucky enough with everything I just shared, my friends Dan & Ellen are coming to visit this weekend. I just continue to feel so blessed. I always love it when people come to visit, because I love my city so much that I want to share every little detail with people I love. I want them to love it, too.

I am counting my blessings every single day and continue to remember how lucky I am. My family is so special and unique and complicated and I just love them all so much. People always say that you can't choose your family, but I think that if I could, I would choose every member of mine in a heartbeat. Please keep my father and the children whose lives he will surely touch in your thoughts this week. The positive energy that surrounds him is so evident and I can't wait to see pictures and hear his stories once he returns home.

Enjoy the sunshine and warmth of today :)

xoxo

Happy Day!

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” {Howard Thurman}

Yesterday was such a blessing because Samson is feeling much better -thanks to many kind thoughts and prayers- and my wonderful husband surprised me with these lovely flowers {pictured above} last night. This makes today even more special, because I truly feel loved. I woke up feeling happy, optomistic, excited...alive! Sitting here this morning, I keep looking around my office. Almost taking a mental photograph of a place where I spend nearly 50 hours of my week. I am so thrilled that I won't have to work for 2 1/2 weeks... but I still wonder if I will miss this desk, my co-workers or my lovely little teenage clients {heh!}.

But right now, in this moment, all I can think about is being free! Sure, I'll be recovering from surgery... but I can still sit outside and enjoy lunch on our rooftop deck, fall asleep in the middle of the day watching movies, and hopefully do a little shopping in Cary Town.

It's still hard for me to imagine that this is real. That in 3 days one of my organs will be taken out of my body and put into another. The whole concept is facinating... and I am so so so excited to be apart of this process. I feel so lucky that I have been given this opportunity, to give a person their life back. I just know that it will change me and inspire me and give my life more meaning.

So today is not just Friday. It's the last day to run my fingers through my hair before dreading them tomorrow morning, the last day waking up early, and basically the beginning of something so much bigger than I can understand right now.

I hope you find inspiration in today. If nothing else, the sunshine alone should be able to help with that! And never underestimate the power you have in this universe -- you can even change the world if you so desire.

I believe in you.

Bittersweet

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." {Roger Caras}

Today is bittersweet. First the bad, then I'll leave you with something good. I think Samson is sick... he is still active and happy and loving, but he keeps throwing up his food and this morning he threw up a little blood. He has allergies so I am crossing my fingers that the blood is just a reaction to his throat being raw. Either was it's very, very scary. Today I am a worried mother. Please keep a warm place in your heart for my doggie. If he isn't better by this evening... he's going stright to the vet.

I love you, Buddy.

now for the good:

Today is April 1st. For many people... it's just April Fool's Day. For me and Sean however, this marks the 9th year in a row that we have been together. We have truly grown together and I could not imagine my life without him in it. He was made for me.

Cheers, to my best friend and my lover and my safety net. You are perfect for me in every single way.

xoxo

our week in north carolina..

{packed in the car like nobody's business!}

Wednesday we left our loft once again for another road trip: this time, NC bound. We dropped our puppies off at my parent's house and needless to say, it was close quarters for the hour drive... we were all ready to stretch our legs and my dogs always have a blast in my mom's giant backyard. {i wish they could've come with us!!!}

So we drove 4 hours and finally arrived in North Carolina... and it is so gorgeous here. We are staying in a "village" and our room is where the old stables used to be. I keep hoping this place is haunted, but so far no ghost sightings.

This place was built in the 1930's and it feels like I am in Europe, especially with this misty weather we've had for most of our trip. I went for a jog yesterday and it felt so good to reconnect with nature and really push myself... I haven't been running outside for a few months and the weather was perfect. 

After dinner I walked home and it was sprinkling outside, and I enjoyed breathing in the moist air. I keep pretending I'm back in time and can't help but feeling like I'm a character in The End of the Affair. I swear... I was looking for Bendrix yesterday, pretending I was Sarah. I love pretending.

Today we are going on a mansion tour and I am so excited because I looooove history! I am excited to hear all of the stories and mysteries that this old place seems to be hiding.

Tomorrow we'll be here for a few hours before heading home. I love it here, but I miss our loft and am ready to get back to our crazy, everyday lives.

Hope your week has been as pleasant and calming as mine has been! xxoo

Sleepy Monday.

{i wish i was here.}

{this works, too!}

This weekend was amazing. I honestly didn't realize just how emotional I would be at the last Copeland show Thursday night... but I needed a good cry and it felt good rocking out like I was the only other person in the room!

I am absolutley in love with Alexandria, Va... the place is gorgeous and the weather was perfect! DC was awesome, as usual. I am still plotting ways to convince Sean to move here!

It was so good to see my pups this morning... I have missed their cuddles. It was really really really hard for me to get out of bed for work... we didn't get home until around 11 o'clock and I still wasn't ready to leave knowing my puppies were still snuggled up in our warm bed.

We leave for NC on Wednesday and so it looks like another road trip for me and the hubster. I have a lot of work to catch up on in the meantime.

I miss you, bed.

"Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton / Talking in our bed for a week / The news people said / 'Hey, what you doin' in bed?'/ I said, 'We're only tryin' to get us some peace!'" {John Lennon}

May sleep envelop you as a bed sheet floating gently down, tickling your skin and removing every worry. Reminding you to consider only this moment. {Jeb Dickerson}

Best Cuddler Around!

{Meet Samson}

I think it is facinating that our pets can some how sense when we are not quite ourselves and possibly even a little sad. Lately I have not been myself, and nobody realizes this as much as my pup. We adopted Samson from the pound the November before last, and I actually feel like we have had him since he was a puppy. I can't remember life without him. He is probably the sweetest and cutest dog around {yes, he's better than yours!} and it's obvious how much he loves all of us - me, Sean, Pete, Imogen.... and basically anyone who walks through our door.

There's no bigger ego boost than watching Samson wait patiently for me while I'm getting ready - because he knows that after I get dressed in the mornings, I always always always sneak back into bed for another 30 minutes. He watches me with his big droopy eyes and usually has his tongue hanging out.... and then we climb into bed and he snuggles up as close as he possibly can to me. Pete is already waiting for me... but Samson waits for me to get back into bed. Lately he has been super cuddly and I think it's because he knows I've been sad. He doesn't know why... and he doesn't really need to understand that I am sad about my friend who passed away or that I am unhappy in my current job. He just sits and rests his head on my shoulders. When I got back from my friend's funeral, he layed with me while I cried. He is truly a support to me unlike any other.

I went to therapy today {which I highly reccomend, because it's nice to talk about yourself to some one every few weeks and just have them listen} and started thinking about how much I appreciate my family. My husband is such a great guy - and he allows me to be independent while also letting me know that he is there if I need him. We've been together since I was 14 years old and have gone through the good, bad and ugly... and he's never left my side! Pete is the baby of the family, and he makes me feel needed. Which is always nice. He's also a pretty good cuddler and absolutley loves tennis balls. Imogen is always good for a laugh. I love watching her play hide and seek with the dogs... and she has a great sense of humor. But Samson - he is like an old soul. He know's me and I think he really does understand me.

Maybe it's weird to dedicate today's blog to my pets - Samson in general - but they are always there to listen and I think that sometimes I forget that. They never interrupt or expect anything in return. My dogs and my ferrett help keep me connected to nature. They remind me that all living beings are the same - we all want to feel safe and we all need to be loved. No matter what happends today - I know my pets will have my back once I get home. And as for Sean... he made the best dang vegan chili around last night! He's pretty cool too :)

Snow Day!!!

Today was such an awesome day -- we got around a foot of snow... and we love snow around here! Our two pups, Samson & Pete played around in it throughout the day and Sean & I played video games, I did some knitting, cleaned the loft and made snow cream {a family tradition!}

Here are some pics of the pups enjoying their snow cream:

 

yum yum!

two happy puppies :)

 

samson looooooves this stuff!

all over his face... but cute!

little pete -- he was too busy eating to pose for a picture!

I needed today. A day to relax, veg out and forget about everything that's been stressing me out. I love days spent with my beautiful family... and I hope it keeps snowing and snowing so that the fun can continue!

I hope you got to see a little snow today, too! Here is the recipe I use:

1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
scant 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
large bowl of snow (about 3 quarts)
Blend milk, sugar and vanilla. Stir in enough snow to make snow cream to an ice cream consistency.

Sometimes I add chocolate syrup for variety... but it's good plain and keeps in the freezer for a few days :)