Friday, September 30, 2011

Aloha Friday - Musical Instruments


Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!


Do you play any musical instruments? If not, which instrument would you most like to play?


As a child, I took piano lessons for about three years and clarinet lessons for one year. To this day, quitting piano is one of my biggest regrets.



Photobucket

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Update On Our Dog

On Monday, I told you about our dog getting hurt when she fell while running up our back porch steps. She spent Monday night at the vet's office and first thing Tuesday morning she was sedated so that they could do xrays and a thorough exam. Well, the news was not good. Both of her back knees have torn ligaments. She cannot stand, bear weight, or walk. The only option is surgery.

When the vet called to give me the news I just started crying. This is our beloved family pet. She's in a tremendous amount of pain and the only way to fix it is surgery. The cost?...$700 per knee! That's not even counting the xrays, exams, meds, etc. When all is said and done, the total cost will be around $1800. That's $1800 that we do not have. But, this is our beloved family pet! We have no choice but to figure out a way to make it happen.

Both knees require surgery, but they can only do one at a time. They operated on the right back knee yesterday. We have to wait 2-3 months for that to heal and then they will perform the surgery on the other knee.

We actually brought her home last night. It's going to be a very long and challenging recovery and a lot of work for us. She is still unable to stand or walk on her own. We have to physically get her up and take her outside to the bathroom. I can't do it on my own (she weighs 76 lbs). We have her set up on a pallet on the floor, lined with disposable pads and sheets. (I have a feeling that we will be needing new carpet after this is all over)


Besides the difficulty of getting her up and outside, there's medications to give, range of motion exercises to do on her leg, and getting her up to try and start slowly walking her. Right now, the walking part is just impossible. She's on heavy-duty pain meds for the first 4 days and she simply can not, will not, use her back legs. She's pretty out of it. She tries to get up or switch positions and it's so hard - she just looks like she doesn't understand what the heck is going on. I don't know if dogs get bored, but I worry about her just laying around like that. At least we put her right near the back door. I raised the shade on the door so that she has a decent view of the outside. And, (my husband laughed at me for this) but I left the television on for her last night. Not that she's watching the tv, but maybe just the sounds of it will be somewhat comforting. Maybe it will make her feel like she's in her normal environment.

It's all so stressful! Her pain, the money, figuring out how to take care of her...all of it! I can't really even talk about it without tearing up. I know some people don't understand this kind of attachment to pets, but she is truly a member of our family. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and I will keep you posted on her progress.






Photobucket

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Catfish



This social documentary is a must-see! Nev Schulman is a 24 year old photographer. When a talented 8 year old artist contacts him about his work, Nev begins a Facebook correspondence with the little girl and her family. His filmmaker brother and friend decide to document this experience. Soon, Nev finds himself growing close to the family and having an online relationship of sorts with the little girl's 19 year old sister. But, after awhile, a few things just do not seem right. The guys decide they must travel and meet the family in person to get to the bottom of things. What happens next is bizarre, laughable, unbelievable, and even a little sad. You really must check this out for yourself.

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references





Photobucket

Monday, September 26, 2011

Our Poor Dog Fell Down


Some of you may remember me talking about our dog, an Airedale terrier named Emma. She's 7.5 years old and spoiled rotten. She's totally my kind of dog -- lazy, clumsy, diva-ish, doesn't like to go outside if it's raining, can be very sweet but also very grumpy, loves to eat, loves to sleep and have her back scratched (I could seriously be describing myself ). Anyway, this afternoon she had an accident and injured herself and now we are all worried sick about her. I had let her outside to take care of her business. As she was running up the porch steps to come back in, she suddenly yelped loudly and dropped down onto her back legs/butt. I'm assuming she fell coming up the steps. She didn't cry or whimper after that but she simply could not get up. She was visibly shaking, breathing very rapidly, and could not stand, bear weight, or walk. She was actually stuck there on the steps, unable to move.

My husband was at work during this crisis so I had to rely on my boys to help me (I pretty much immediately turned into a panicking-crying fool). They somehow managed to drag her right inside the doorway to the living room - did I mention she weighs 75 lbs? The few times she tried to stand, she just fell right back down. I called the vet and the boys managed to get her into the car so that we could take her in to be checked out.

At this point, we still do not know anything. The vet doesn't think she broke any bones, but seems to be leaning toward a possible torn ligament in one or both knees. That would be bad, as in requiring expensive surgery. She is staying overnight at the vet's office and they will be sedating her first thing in the morning for a thorough exam. She was so tense and her legs so tensed up that the doctor couldn't even properly examine her tonight. They gave her some pain medicine and will let me know what's going on in the morning. I'm so upset over this. The thought of our dog being in pain and without us at the vet's office is just so heartbreaking. She's probably wondering where we are and why she's not here sleeping in one of her cozy little spots around the house. There's also the worry of how much this is going to cost. Of course, she's a member of our family so we will do what we have to do. But, financially, it's just such a bad time for us. Ugh! The stress of it all!

I will keep you posted about her condition and would appreciate your thoughts and well wishes for her.


Here's an older photo of Emma. This old chair was her absolute favorite place to lounge and sleep. We finally had to throw it out because it got ripped up and stinky. She would actually arrange the pillow to her liking.


Here's another photo of Emma being sneaky. She's not allowed on our beds or furniture and she knows that. But, I came home one day and caught her snoozing on my bed. She had literally climbed over my laundry piles and situated herself upon the pillows. Clever girl!



Photobucket

Pico de Gayo

Fresh Pico de Gayo...it doesn't get much better than this! My husband made up a batch this weekend and I have to say that the stuff is addicting (the kids even helped with all the chopping). Saturday, we ate it with grilled flat iron steak burritos. Sunday, we had it with grilled chicken burritos (can you tell we really like burritos?). And, all weekend long, I snacked on the Pico with nacho chips. Delicious! I've decided we must now keep this in our refrigerator at all times.


The recipe we used was found online at Just A Pinch Recipe Club.  We used the lesser amount of jalapenos so that it wouldn't be too spicy. What about you? Are you a fan of Pico de Gayo?




Photobucket

Friday, September 23, 2011

Aloha Friday - Regrets


Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

What's something that you regret?...

I regret getting 6 inches chopped off of my hair earlier this year. I'm now impatiently waiting for it to grow again.




Photobucket

Welcome Autumn!


Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
~George Eliot






Photobucket

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Fall TV Time


Tomorrow is the official start of fall and with this time of year comes one of my favorite things...fall tv! Not only will my favorite shows be returning to prime time, but there are also many new shows that I'm looking forward to watching.

I have no life I take my tv viewing very seriously. During fall tv season, there's usually something on most nights that I want to watch. It sometimes becomes a problem because my husband is not really someone who wants to plan our evenings around what's on tv that night. And, he's more of a channel flipper anyway. Often, I will DVR my shows and wait until he's working to watch them. Here's a look at my tv viewing ambitions for this fall...

Returning Shows
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Private Practice (ABC - is this returning? I haven't heard)
Hawaii Five-O (CBS)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Survivor (CBS)
Parenthood (NBC)
Sons of Anarchy (FX)
Nikita (CW)
Gossip Girl (CW)

New Shows
Charlie's Angels (ABC - gosh I loved this show when I was young!)
Revenge (ABC)
Suburgatory (ABC)
The River (ABC)
Pan Am (ABC)
2 Broke Girls (CBS)
Person of Interest (CBS)
Whitney (NBC)
Grimm (NBC)
American Horror Story (FX - looks very creepy; has great cast)
Terra Nova (Fox)
The X-Factor (Fox)
I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox - terrible title but funny preview)
Hart of Dixie (CW)
Ringer (CW)

See, I told you I take my fall tv viewing very seriously. Next, I thought I would share clips of some of the new shows on my watch list. Y'know, to get you in the mood for some good tv times, too. Check 'em out and let me know what you think. I would love to hear what's on your fall tv lineup...






















Photobucket

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Movie Trailer Tuesday - You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger



After Helena's husband has a midlife crisis and leaves her for a younger woman, she turns to a psychic to learn what her future holds. At the same time, her daughter deals with her own apathetic husband while also developing a secret crush on her handsome boss. Written and directed by Woody Allen (of whom I'm not usually a fan), this movie was quite comical.

Rated R for some language






Photobucket

Friday, September 16, 2011

Aloha Friday - Shopping Bag


Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

What's the last thing you bought for yourself? (not including food)
 

I just bought a pretty teal colored coat yesterday at Macy's. C'mon cool weather!



Photobucket

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Country Living Fair 2011 - Columbus, Ohio






This weekend I'm going on a fun little trip with my mom and sister. We're heading to Columbus, Ohio for the 2011 Country Living Fair. Have you heard of it? It's a fun festival-like event that features over 200 vendors and artisans that sell gifts, jewelry, home decor, antiques, and more. You can also check out presentations from Country Living editors and special guests, listen to live music, and have something good to eat from the gourmet markets.

The location of the Columbus, Ohio Country Living Fair is Ohio Village - a recreation of a typical county-seat town in Ohio during the mid 19th century, about the time of the Civil War. The dates of the fair are September 16-18. There's also a Country Living Fair that will be held October 21-23 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Check out this link for a list of the vendors who will be at the Columbus fair. Wow...I can't wait! There's sure to be something for everyone. I'll be sure and share pics with you when I get back.

Photobucket

Friday, September 9, 2011

Aloha Friday - Sibling Situation


Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Do you have any brothers or sisters?  If so, how many? And, where do you fall in the order - youngest, middle, oldest?

I have one sister and two brothers. I'm the youngest (by quite a bit - I came along as a "surprise"). There's 7 and 11 years difference between me and my brothers; 12 years between me and my sister.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Upcoming Daily Deals from 6pm.com


Recently, I shared some trends in fall boots from 6pm.com. Now I want to let you know about a few of their upcoming daily deals. Take a look at these themed daily deals and check out the products/brands that are being featured...


9.9 Casual Friday
Perfect for the ‘Casual Office’ or weekender. Stock up on head to toe deals!
Dansko: Up to 60% off
Lassen, Tsubo, La Canadienne: Up to 65% off
Rialto: Up to 50% off
AK Anne Klein: Up to 80% off
Rockadelic, Perry Ellis, Clarks men's: Select Styles: As low as $29.95
Reebok Toning: Select Styles: $44.95


9.15 Fierce Fashion Friday
BCBGMAXAZRIA
Designer Heels: Pour La Victoire, Elizabeth and James, L.A.M.B, Dolce Vita
Designer Denim: 7 For All Mankind, Levi's, Chip and Pepper, Joe's Jeans, James Jeans, Paige Denim, Rich and Skinny
Whimsical Obsessions (Jewelry): Betsey Johnson, Gypsy SOULE, Tarina Tarantino, Kenneth Jay Lane
Cashmere Sale: Get em' while it's hot
Cosabella and Natori Intimates: Under $29.95


9.21 International Day of Peace
Let your inner love child free! This day is themed to spread a little more peace and love in the world.
Patagonia – one of the most conscientious environmental brands from the raw materials they use to giving back.
Charitable Brands: Cool People, Donald J Pliner (select Peace branded shoes) & Skechers' Bobs (only 7 styles) – The Cool People is a great brand that collaborates with popular fashion designers and a portion of their sales goes directly to charity. Pliner shoes with the Peace logo donate $2.50 to the Peace for the Children Foundation per shoe sold. Bobs, by Skechers, donates 2 shoes for every 1 pair you buy.


9.23 First Day of FallFree 2 day upgrade on orders over $100 from 9.23-9.26
It’s official! Now we don’t have to feel guilty buying beautiful boots and lovely sweaters.
Converse – Trade out your summer flip flops for these fall appropriate flats!
Go MADden this Fall: Steve Madden Collection
Lightweight Scarves: Gabriella Rocha, Michael Stars, Love Quotes, Echo Design,Jessica Simpson,Lucky Brand,Yarnz
Contemporary Fall Fashion: Naughty Monkey, Not Rated, Dolce by Mojo Moxy
Best Bang for Your Buck Boots (Timeless boot silhouettes)
Denim Select Styles Under $39.95: BlankNYC, Big Star, Radcliff, William Rast, Worn, Levis


Visit 6pm.com where you can find name brand clothing, accessories, and footwear - all discounted at up to 75% off.


Disclosure:
Images and information used in this post were provided to me by 6pm through Kel and Partners. No compensation of any kind was received for this post. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.





Photobucket

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Find The Hottest Trends In Fall Boots at 6pm


I recently posted about 10 items on my fall fashion wish list. One of the things on my list was a new pair of fall boots. I'm leaning toward some tall, brown leather boots and have been shopping around for the perfect pair. One place that I've discovered to have a fantastic selection of boots at great prices is 6pm.com - the place to shop for brand name apparel, footwear, and accessories that are up to 75% off.

There are literally pages and pages of boots for you to choose from with something for every style and budget. Check out some of the trends in fall boots at 6pm.com:


Tall Boots
With so many chic high-heeled boots out there, it’s hard to choose just one. One of our top picks for this fall is the Jessica Simpson Angie boots.


Boots with buckles
The more buckles the better. These boots from Madden Girl feature a strap and buckle detail at calf and instep that will add an edgy appeal to your wardrobe this season.


Flat Boots
Effortlessly pull your autumn look together with a pair of flat boots like these edgy shoes from Rampage. Gathered fabric upper running the length of the boot adds intrigue and the flat, man-made sole provides both comfort and durability.



Platform Booties
A staple for any fashion forward women, platform ankle boots, like these Gabriella Rocha booties, are fashion craze that is here to stay.


Rain Boots
This fall, don’t get caught in the rain without a pair of these fantastic rain boots from Sperry Top Sider.


Lace-up
From runways to celebrities, it’s nearly impossible to ignore this up and coming fashion trend. These Michael Kors boots feature a lace-up closure that makes for a perfect choice if you’re looking to make a statement this fall.


I don't know about you, but I'm definitely ready for some cool weather and fall fashions. I'm sure I'll find the perfect pair (or two) of fall boots at 6pm.com. Stay tuned for my upcoming post that will feature some of their daily deals that you won't want to miss.


Disclosure:
Images and information used in this post were provided to me by 6pm through Kel and Partners. No compensation of any kind was received for this post. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.


Photobucket

Stick2It Decals and Skins from American Greetings - Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway for the Stick2It Decals and Skins sample pack from American Greetings. The randomly selected winning commenter is:

1. latanya said...
I like the owl phone skin
August 30, 2011 2:05 PM


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
1
Timestamp: 2011-09-06 13:30:15 UTC



I will be contacting the winner shortly.

Photobucket

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Organizing My Kitchen Pantry

Last weekend I spent an entire day cleaning, decluttering, and reorganizing my kitchen pantry. I can't tell you how much better I feel now that it's done. It probably doesn't look too bad in these "before" pics but it was really unorganized and had things overflowing onto the floor (I can't stand to have things strewn all over the floor). I'm one of those people who likes every single thing to have it's own place and be organized all nice and neat. I mean, my peas were mixed in with the peaches and the soups were mixed in with the beans - I just can't have that, LOL! I wouldn't go as far as saying I alphabetize my can goods (I actually did that when I first got married, sheesh!) but I do like everything in it's own place.

Pantry pics - Before


To get started, I removed every single item from my pantry. You know what I learned during this process?....I learned that I might have a slight hoarding problem when it comes to canned goods!


I think I counted 27 cans of soup, 17 cans of peas, 15 cans of carrots...you can see where this is going. I like to stock up on canned goods. But, I actually had to throw out around 10-12 cans because they were out of date. Ooops!

I had bought some neat, new containers and bins to use in my pantry. These Martha Stewart Collection Storage Containers are so nice and compact. They come in different sizes, each with their own little measuring cup. I bought several to use as canisters for my flour, sugar, brown sugar, etc.

I used several of these Linus plastic storage drawers in various sizes for things such as oatmeal packets, boxed items, and sauce mix packets. They came from Organize.com and worked out very well.

I also bought some lidded glass jars at Walmart. They look so pretty sitting on the shelves. I used them to store tea bags, doggie treats and those kind of things.

So, the veggies are now in their own little spot, the fruits and soups in theirs. And, best of all, the floor is cleared out, making room to actually stand in the pantry. It all came together pretty well. It's amazing how much a little organization does to reduce my stress. I find myself just standing in the pantry, marveling at how orderly it all looks.

Pantry - After

What about you? Do you have any tips on kitchen/pantry organization?



Photobucket

Friday, September 2, 2011

Bounce It Off Millions Contest


Have you ever had an important decision to make and wished that you could get some input from others to help you decide?...some advice to guide you in the right direction? Maybe you wanted to know if you should take your family vacation at the beach or at the ski lodge. Or how about this, should you get a cute little lapdog or a big ol' great dane?

Well, right now there's the perfect place for you to go and do just that. Head over to the Bounce Facebook wall and click on the "Bounce It Off Millions" app. There you can submit your question that you need help making a decision on. Your question will be turned into a poll for other Bounce fans to vote on - helping you decide which way to go.

"Bounce It Off Millions" will be going on for four weeks. To help celebrate this campaign, Bounce is going to choose four lucky participants to win a grand prize - the chance to turn their question into a Facebook-wide advertisement, inviting Facebook's 150+ million users to help decide between their two options.

During this time, fans can also enter to win two Bounce dryer bars - one to keep and one to share with a friend. You can enter this special sweepstakes through the Bounce Facebook page.

I've been contemplating buying some new exercise equipment. A question I might post on the Facebook wall could be:  Should I buy a stationary exercise bike or an elliptical machine to help me lose weight?


The "Bounce It Off Millions" contest ends on September 17, 2011. Be sure and visit their Facebook page and submit your question for a chance to be featured in a Facebook-wide ad.

Disclosure:
I participated in this blog posting campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.



Photobucket

Aloha Friday - 24 Hours


Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

You're given 24 hours to do whatever you want and money is no object...what would you do?

I would have my entire house repainted and redecorated - all new furniture and appliances!







Photobucket