Friday, September 30, 2011

Saving Puppies and Expanding Families.

T.G.I.F. Dolls!

This week was a TID BIT exhausting for me so I am so glad to see Friday once again.

With this terribly exhausting week though, something wonderful did happen to me.

Wednesday evening around 6:20, Trevor and I were on our way home from the gym and had just crossed over I-10 onto T.C. Jester on our way back to my apartment. Trevor went to pass a car and right there in front of us was what appeared to be small yellow lab mix sort of wobbling down the road. You could tell it did not realize that it was in harms way since it wasn't moving to quick. I immediately tell Trevor to stop the car (Yes, in the middle of T.C. Jester at 6 o'clock); I jump out of the car stopping incoming traffic and call the dog over to the edge of the road. After some observation I realize she is a girl, doesn't seem to be dirty, just dusty, and has a sort of limp to her back legs. I am guessing at this point that maybe she is an older dog. Trevor moves the car to a side street why we take a look around and ask a couple of neighbors if they have ever seen her. No one knows anything about her. I am not about to leave a sweet dog on the side of a busy road to get hit, so after a quick discussion we decide we are going to bring her to my apartment and then during the day on Thursday Trevor would bring her to a no-kill shelter that works with the pet organization we volunteer with. She was a little hesitant to get in the car but we finally got her in there and made our way home.

At my apartment, we realize she is not familiar with stairs, so we carry her up inside. Chanel is very confused at this point, and CLEARLY not happy with us. If she could talk then I am thinking she would have said something similar to this, "Umm WTF MOM AND DAD!?!?! Who is this dirty tramp that you’re bringing into our HOME?!?! OMG, she just touched my toy, and my bone..OMG NOT MY BALL YOU TROLLOP!" Poor Miss Honeybrowne (as me and Trevor temporarily named her, yellow dog just wasn't working) did not understand why this pretty dog was being so angry. So after about...20 minutes Chanel finally let up enough for us to get Miss Honeybrowne into the bathtub. She didn't appear to be really dirty, just dusty. After a bath we decided we better try and feed her, and we concluded she hadn't eaten in days. She proceeded to eat 4 bowls of Chanel's food. Again, another tough moment for Chanel but she handled it....barely. So after a week's portion of food and nearly 2 gallons of water she started to pep up. Chanel decided since she had been bathed she would now play with her.

45 minutes of playing, wrestling, and a couple of "freak outs" by Chanel later both their tongues were dragging the ground and it was time to relax. Chanel proceeded to get her bone and go lay on Trevor, her typical behavior in the evenings. All was good in the world until Miss Honeybrown decided she would grab a bone too....you can guess how well that went. Chanel leapt of the couch with lightening speed, ripped the bone out of Honeybrowns mouth and growled her very mean growl as she jumped back onto Trevor's lap. After a stern talking and me giving Honeybrowne her own bone we had a fairly relaxing remainder of the evening. We decided that they should probably be separated when it came to sleeping, so Trevor took Miss Honeybrown back to his apartment for the night. After all of Chanel's very "diva-like" moments when Miss Honeybrown poked her head out the window of the car, Chanel put her paws up on the car and gave her a kiss. This is when I started actually contemplating how I could keep her, but deep down I know that just isn't possible for us right now, especially living in an apartment with one very high maintence dog already. Sad day.
This was Miss Honeybrown at my apartment.

The next day as soon as I woke up all I could think about was this dog does not belong in a shelter, she is way too good of a dog. She didn't bark once, she's friendly to everyone, (even Chanel with her severe case of only child syndrome) and is very well behaved. Trevor and I went to work, sending out e-mails at work, posting posts on facebook about her, and working with the Houston Howdy Club to try and find her a home so she wouldn't have to go to the shelter. Around 11:30, something amazing happened; a woman I work with e-mailed me and said that her family would like to take her in. My heart soared, especially since Trevor was getting ready to leave work to take her to shelter. Trevor immediately made a route change and headed up to my work to give Miss Honeybrowne to her new owner. When they arrived she already looked so much better than the day before. She had more energy and her eyes weren't red anymore, it was wonderful.

Miss Honeybrowne's new owner left work early and brought her to the vet to get checked out before bringing her home. Turns out she is a 2 year old mostly lab mix with some golden retriever in her. She weighs 40 pounds, she is fixed, and doesn't have any fleas. She also tested negative for all diseases and heartworms. She did not have a microchip. Only negative thing that we found out was her limp she had actually came from getting hit at a slow speed by a car...bless her heart. But by God's grace she didn't break any bones when it happened and was just badly bruised. The Vet told her new owner that she should heal fine. I swear on my own precious puppy that if I knew who hit poor Miss Honeybrowne I would hit them with MY car and leave them on the side of the road, see how they like that. I will never understand how cruel some worthless human beings are to animals and I seriously hope they all drink arsenic.

Okay back to the happy moment...besides being a little bruised up she is a perfectly healthy dog who is doing great in her new home where she has half an acre backyard to play in with her new sister Brownie, who is also a lab, two twin 4 year olds who spend every afternoon playing with the "doggies" and a loving family that lets them sleep inside every night.


Cupcake with her new sister Brownie

Cupcake with her new family. :)

It seriously makes Trevor and I the happiest people to know that we helped this wonderful dog (recently named Cupcake) find a new family where she will live a full and happy life. It makes us smile to know that those kids will grow up with that dog and will be part of family memories for a lifetime. Helping her was one of the most rewarding things I have done all year. Dogs deserve to have a family that loves them as much as they love you. The incredible thing about dogs is that love unconditionally, selflessly and with their whole hearts, no matter what. I am so glad that we found her and changed her stars.

I hope that everyone has an awesome weekend, not just a good one, but one of the best of the year.

Happy Friday Dolls!

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Tasting Room, Old Friends and Letting Go.

Hey dolls! I hope that your Monday has been moving by quickly. Mondays suck, point blank. Who really wants to crawl out of bed the day after a long and extremely fun weekend at 5:30 AM before even the birds are up? NOT THIS GIRL! Sadly though, that paycheck won't appear in my bank account if I don't.

So here we are again, Monday, so NOT nice to see you.

I had an extremely fabulous weekend. Except for the whole okstate beating us thing, it was really a lot of fun. Friday night we went to what is becoming a usual spot for us, The Tasting Room at Memorial City, with J.C., Marina, Coco, and Heather. Now if you haven't ever been to the Tasting Room, it's a wine bar but it also has very good food. We have also, because of our stellar attendance there on Friday nights, became friends with the singer/songwriter guy that comes out and plays on the weekends. We are so familiar he came up to us on Friday handed up his song list and we picked nearly all of the first set. Pretty sweet. Check out their website for more information.The Tasting Room  .  A delicious pizza and two bottles of wine later, we retreated back to my apartment to get ready for Saturday's game against okstate.

After fighting the traffic and making it to Aggieland we had a solid hour of tailgating before heading to the game. I am not discussing anything else about the game as to not arouse emotions from Saturday. It's time to focus on Arkansas now. Thanks and Gig'em.

After the game we WERE supposed to be going home, however, my boyfriend is easily swayed at times and since a lot of good friends were staying in town we ended up making the choice to stay as well after getting a last minute offer on a place to crash for the night. (Thanks again Kristin).

The rest of the evening we got to spend some quality time with friends we don't typically get the chance to do that with. Anonymous best guy friend, Marcus, Kristin, Kori and another old friend that I really haven't spent any time with in years were all out with us, along with some new friends. We made our way up and down Northgate and had an absolute blast being back there.

The friend that I haven't hung out with in years, at one point, was a very close friend of mine. I would be lying if I said that I didn't completely enjoy getting to hang out once again. This particular old friend and I have quite the collection of good times. It was fun re-living them and rehashing old inside jokes, Lord knows we had a lot of them. I'm sure you’re wondering, if you were such good friends then why haven't you talked in years? Now I could try and answer that question but it wouldn't do anyone any good. As difficult as it is sometimes, bad things happen to good relationships, and sometimes there is a solid reason and sometimes its many different things. Never the less it usually ends up with one person (or surprisingly both) harboring resentment, anger, and/or bad feelings towards the other wondering why things happened the way they did. It seems like you'll never get over it. You wonder how a friend so close could just forget about all the things you went through together and all the good times you had. So you just push it out of your mind and only allow yourself to think about it when you have a weak moment. Then sometimes, when you least expect it, something good happens and those horrible feelings fall away. Sometimes you realize that person hasn't forgotten at all, and that makes it all better; the light bulb comes on, and the exact thing happens that you need to let it all go. Even though you know there is a very good chance this is only temporary and outside forces will never allow things to be like times again, you smile and enjoy that moment in time. Moments like that are necessary for one's piece of mind. Resentment can eat you away if your not careful.

Overall-great weekend, which led to an extremely lazy Sunday. After picking up daughter (Chanel) we spent the rest of the day watching football and doing laundry. And now here we are, Monday, the start of another countdown till the weekend's festivities.

Happy Monday Dolls!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Innocent Couch Cushions and Stressful Happenings

It's been one hell of a week. And I am so ready for the weekend. I need to escape off to Aggieland, see my best friend, yell my head off, and drink lots of beer diet cokes. 

My daughter/dog/destroyer of happiness this week has decided that she did not like the under part of my couch cushions.  After she turned one on June 29, I thought we were done with her random-pissy behavior. She has had a near perfect track record since May, until this week...

Now before I get the whole, "that's what happen when you leave your dogged locked up all day speech" 1-I love my dog and she is more spoiled that most toddlers.
2-She has free reign of the entire apartment
3-I wake up early (early as in 5 AM early) to take her on a walk. When I get home we run, or she goes to the dog park.
4-We play "ball" 90% of the time I am awake and home with her.
5-She has never done this.

Okay now that I covered all that, let me tell you what I came home to Monday after work (after the 45 minute drive through traffic that keeps me from not getting home till 5 even though I work 7-4)...I walk in excited to see my -wonderful ball of fluffy joy who normally turns my grey sky blue- and I see my couch cushion on the floor, flipped over and the very thin lining has been ripped off, by what looks like, sharp tiny teeth. Also the stuffing that is in the back part of the cushion has now made my living room look like a winter wonderland. Super. After the initial "Look, I am so cute and sorry and I will prove it by running up to you and falling over onto my back" tactic she makes a break for the bedroom once she realizes the boiling rage that is about to overflow. I manage to drag her out from under the bed (she barely fits so it wasn't a difficult task) and do the standard, "DO YOU SEE THIS? NO!" lecture followed by the dreaded water&vinegar mix. You would think it's molting lava the way she runs, I don't blame her though vinegar is pretty gross alone.  After my freak out and the "I WILL send your ass to the pound" it seems that she now realizes the severity of the situation and that this was just a bad lapse of judgement on her part. After a couple of hours of the silent treatment from me, all is well again and we have a pleasant evening.

Fast Forward to Tuesday...another LONG day at work...another long drive home.....and so incredibly ready to be home.......what to I walk into you ask? Something equivalent to the Santa Claus display at your local department story on December 1st. Today it's worse. Both cushions are off but she has turned her wrath to the same one as yesterday. I am furious. The smart little woman hid before I even walked in the door. She hid so well that I actually thought that Trevor had gotten off work early and came and picked her up. The only reason I found her is because I heard the very light sound of a 8 inch puppy leg rubbing up against the carpet. She had tucked herself behind the front door and up against the couch. She new her fuzzy butt was going to be in trouble! So after the (but honestly much worse) lecture, vinegar spray, "I AM SENDING YOU TO THE POUND" repeat from Monday. I put her in her kennel, pulled myself together (dramatic crying much?), and went to brainstorming. The dog clearly doesn't like the underside of the cushions, which the material is about at thick and a paper towel, true story. She never once chewed on the actual top cushion or the big pillows, just the paper towel like part. Clearly I need something thicker at the bottom part. After talking with Trevor and making plans to go cushion cover shopping on Sunday I came up with the slightly ghetto/temporary choice to cover my couch in a maroon sheet for the remainder of the week. AND to "lightly" spray the water&vinegar mix onto the bottom of the cushions. And just for precaution put her kennel on top of the couch. No I do not live in a trailer but desperate times call for desperate measures. I could not deal with another couch cushion murder scene a third day in a row.

In is with great pleasure to inform you all that I came home yesterday to the same apartment I left. THANK JESUS! However, the little woman did attempt to teach that cushion a lesson. The kennel had fallen over and the cushion was slightly exposed but it seams she didn't find the taste of vinegar very tasty when she went to sink her little teach into the innocent cushion. It seems we have finally made a break through. 

Chanel even got an extra 2 hours of playing time last night since Mommy had to deal with unnecessary, preventable stupid stuff and didn't go to sleep until after mid-night. So here's hoping, to coming home to an apartment that looks the same as I left it.

I am leaving you with something that I saw on pintrest.com. It just really made me think with all the stressful happenings (No I am not just talking about my misbehaving pooch) that a positive attitude, keeping the faith when it's not easy, and believing in good things when all you can recall are bad things can make life a little more tolerable.



Happy Thursday Dolls.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Home Decor and Dream Closets

HEY!

I know, I know, MIA...WTF....OMG, sorry guys I live a busy life!

I hope that everyone had a great week last week and that this week is going good.

Since last week I have discovered the time sucking, "Where the F did my last 2 hours go???" website that is Pintrest.com. Okay seriously greatest website ever??? (besides facebook duh!) Yeah I think so!

So with my new obsession and my shoebox size of an apartment, I have picked up the wonderful habit of home decor planning. I am in "The Shyer" (As some people call my apartment complex) until next July but after that it's time for something WAY BETTER (or at least a teenie bit nicer :) So below are some "inspirational ideas" that I hope to use to decorate a new place in....(stopping and counting) 10 months! That leaves me plenty of time for planning. :)

p.s.-If you know me well enough where we have the same friends and you steal my ideas, I will kick you. Seriously, I am an only child and am still working on the whole "sharing" complex at 23. Stop judging...


Okay, so this is my ideal grown-up/unisex bedroom. I never thought I was one for Navy but I fell in love with this. I also love the cushioned head board. I would however do different art above the bed. (See Below)


Okay so forget about the Little House on the Prairie bed, and focus on the "You&Me". I love it and would do something like this the previous picture. The only thing I would change is the color. I'm thinking to a very bright white.
  
I would definitely have this sitting on a dresser or hanging on a wall in the bedroom. So pretty and easy to create.

I am in love with this entry way. The black, white, and grey is so classic and you can even splash some color in the mix if you would like. Of course the "W" has to go. And instead of a book on the right I would try to find a crafty looking black or grey box to set keys/wallets/change in.

So, I'm not sure how Trev would feel about this but I love it! The pink stripes and black&white photos just give it this laundry room really cute feel. It even looks clean. HA!

 
Okay so some things I would change, the black and white pillow/rug I would not have, I would replace them with a solid color most likely black. I do love the Tiffany blue and the beach feel. I would most definitely replace the lamp & end table that doesn't match at all and add more beach/nautical accents. I'm kind of in love with beach cabin/nautical decor.

Hey you! Yeah you, the B!atch that told people I wan an alcoholic, I bet you wish your staircase was as cool as this!

Seriously though, how bad ace is this?!?! (homeportfolio.com)

I love the wooden frames and the beach feel to it all. So pretty. http://kristendukephotography.com/?p=5767
 
Okay so more than likely this will NOT be in my next home. Let's be honest. However, a girl can dream right? This closet is incredible and I love how it's all black. I need something this big to fit all my stuff, serious. I have 3 closets in my apartment and they are all filled so much that not even a midget could hide in them. Dream Closet

 So that's the big inspirations for now. I hope you all enjoyed them. :)

With Trev at flag football tonight, I am now going to focus my attention on "Something Borrowed" (Definitely one of my new favorite movies) and this glass of wine.

Goodnight Dolls!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Fightin' Texas Aggie Football


I know I am incredibly behind in blogging and for that my apologies. But hey it’s FRIDAY! Whoop to that!

My birthday was perfect. I seriously have the most amazing group of family and friends. I feel very lucky to have such a large group of wonderful friends that came out and celebrated with me. Thank you to everyone who came to dinner and/or to Shot Bar. Thank you to "anonymous friend" for renting the hummer limo. It wouldn't have been the same without ANY of you! I promise to do a birthday recap post once I get the pictures uploaded on to my computer. There are seriously like 112 pictures and some of them are NOT, I repeat NOT facebook/cyber world friendly, meaning I do not want to see these pictures in 10 years when I am an "established" adult. But seriously best, most amazing birthday yet.

Trevor and I's anniversary was equally as perfect. For our 4 year anniversary, Trevor took us to Vick and Anthony's Steakhouse in downtown. (OMG SO GOOD!) He also surprised me with flowers and Dancing Lessons for an entire month. Dancing lessons you say? Ballroom, Dancing with the Stars type of stuff, and I am BEYOND excited. I have been dying to learn how to do all those dances since I started watching the ABC hit. After these lessons, we will be ready to tear up the dance floor for all the weddings we have coming up to. ;) Serious stuff Ahead- God has given me the thing I have always prayed for with Trevor Davis. The past 4 years I have spent with that guy have been the best 4 years of my life, seriously. I couldn't have dreamed up a more perfect man for me. He is my best friend, partner in crime, love of my life and no one can make me smile like he does. Thank you Trevor Davis for putting up with my dramatic-long-drawn-out stories, being patience when I won’t pick somewhere to eat and say no to anything your suggestinghaving only child syndrome some days loving me with all your heart. I will always return the favor. Cheers to 4 years and endless amount of years to come.

Okay now it's time to get a real with some of you people. Blogs are supposed to be a place for honesty and truth, the good stuff and the bad stuff...so here we go. Yes, I just celebrated 4 years with an amazing man, yes; we had a romantic night out, NO! WE ARE NOT ENGAGED!@!$!#$%#$^%$@!$&%. If one more idiot person asks me that very unintelligent question, I may quite possibly drop kick you in your head that holds that undersized brain of yours. Look people, it doesn't matter nor is it none of your business if we are engaged. AND YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT (If your imporatant in my life or we are friends on facebook). I do not need your life coaching nor do I need you to bother Trevor about it. We are big kids and are very happy. We will get engaged when we damn well want too. There is no law anywhere that says after X (X being 4 years in this case) amount of time together that you have to start planning a wedding. I would hands down bet on our relationship over some MARRIED couples I know. People need to remember that every relationship is different. Yes some people meet and after a month get married and stay married for 50 years (unlikely but it can happen). There are also people who date for 10 years before they get married and still live happily ever after. However, a lot of people don't. Just a little fact...
  • 41% of first marriages in the U.S. end in divorce
  • 60% of second marriages in the U.S. end in divorce
  • 73% of third marriages in the U.S. end in divorce
So back off people. We plan on getting it right the first time. I am happy. He is happy. WE ARE HAPPY TOGETHER. And besides, good things come to those who wait. :)

In other news, I can barely contain my excitement for Sunday because FIGHTIN' TEXAS AGGIE FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!!! A-WHOOP!!!!! I cannot wait to be back in my beloved Aggieland, tailgating for hours, hollering till my voice is gone (Which, I might add, will be done in pre-game this week because I have this God awful cold that makes me sound like an 75 year old smoker) and watching the Ags get the "W". Being back in Aggieland for football games for me is like going home. I spent 4 incredible years of my life there and going back just makes me remember all the great times. BONUS, when I go back, I get to make more memories with a lot of the same people. It's an amazing thing to get to tailgate and SIT DOWN in our alumni seats with the same people you use to stand in the BLAZING HOT SUN the entire game with years back. So cheers to Fightin' Texas Aggie Football! (Press Play on the first one)

 Robert Earl Keen-"Fightin' Texas Aggie"

  


Thanks and Gig'em!

Have a great Labor Day weekend dolls and wear your maroon on Sunday!