Weekend Happenins' and a Surprise 50th Birthday Party

Welcome back to another glorious work week!

I can not believe we're already into the second week of August. 

I LOVE August! Not only because its yours truly's birth month but we also

get to welcome preseason football into our evening schedules andddd...

it's Shark Weeeeeeek! 

Recall last year's post HERE if you feel the need to partake in the infamous

 "Shark Week Drinking Game."

This weekend we also celebrated my mother in law's 50th birthday.

With a milestone birthday like the big FIVE - OH, a blow out surprise party was only necessary.

So that we did! Although I had every intention of snapping photos that night, once guests

started to arrive it completely slipped my mind. Here were a few that were captured!

Please note, our fabulous guest of honor's face as she walked in the door.

#nailedit

 

About an hour or so into the party I realized I didn't even snap a photo

of the Sangria Bar that I set up. Judging by all of the missing mason jars

and the half full (optimism, people!) beverage dispensers of the sangria, 

I'd say it was a hit!

Another exciting weekend happening was Jake's early Saturday morning 

trip to the pet hospital. YES. So NOT fun. For being 7 1/2 years old, he's actually been quite healthy!

When we woke up early that morning to start tackling some pre-party errands, we noticed

that Jake must have licked his little back paws raw the night before. They were bright red

and we could tell he was in pain. We checked his paws and all around the paw pads

and couldn't find any cuts or bites so we knew it must be some type of a rash or allergic reaction.

One huge cone collar, a pack of antibacterial paw wipes, 3 different types of meds 

and a $300 vet bill later, our little boy is better and back to his happy tail wag.

Seriously though, it took us a hot minute to pull ourselves together after seeing

Jake in his newest accessory. He absolutely hates us.

Another Jake-related topic! We are 99.98% sure we have located Jake's little sister.
Would you just LOOK at it ?!
(Name that YouTube video)
They're like twins! Jake is a Jack Russell/Beagle (or a Jack-a-Bee) so
our neighbors were thrilled to finally know what breed their new pup was!

I foresee another puppy in the future very soon. 

Pet Paw Ornament

FACT: 

Americans will spend approximately 5 million dollars this Christmas

on presents for their fur babies.

That tells me that I am NOT the only one who goes overboard

this time of year on my pup, despite what Bryan tells me.

I picked up a little paw print ornament kit near one of the registers at TJ Maxx recently.

Seriously, $4 dollars how could I go wrong?

I am such a sucker for anything near or even in the vicinity of a register.

It's like it's practically already purchased, no? 

Anyway here's our end result and how to master your own..

The kit looks a little something like this:

Start by squeezing the clay to break it up a bit. Once it is no longer firm,

mend it into the circular tray. Use the rolling pin to smooth any bumps.

Next, grab hold of your victim, even though he is peacefully eating his dinner.

Squish his manicured little paw into the clay, holding for a few seconds, reminding

your pet to hang tight because it will all be worth it in the end.

#obsesseddogmom

Next, use the straw to make a hole in the clay for the ribbon.

Allow it to dry overnight and finish with ribbon aaaannd a bow!

Now go hang that baby right smack in the middle of your tree.

Not so bad right, Jake ? 

He has been through worse... like our Christmas card shoot for instance... 

Happy pet torturing ornament making!

{ DIY } December To Do List & Christmas Fonts

Leeeet's talk about Christmas today! 

I realize for most of you that may be an annoying statement, BUT

coming from the person who makes that comment in June, mid-November

is a perfectly acceptable time to be gushing over Christmas-ness.

Everyone has seen the Fall, Summer, etc. "to do" lists on Pinterest, yes?

They're usually the super fun looking printables made up of several different fonts,

framed, and then, more often then not, displayed next to a festive apothecary jar.
Ok so maybe I'm continuously repinning the same one? 

Since this is my first December back home in 7 years I am milking every 

last drop of Christmas out of this month. So I found an acceptable/cute

way to compulsively list-make for all of my December "to do's." 

You will need:

Your computer

Whatever paint app you typically use

Fonts (see below!)
Printer

Christmas scrap book paper

Twine

Magnets

First, click below and download some festive fonts.
The more the merrier!
No pun intended.

Next, go ahead and start your collaboration of all of your
"December to do's" and don't forget to use different fonts.
When you have thought of every possible holiday-related activity,
you're ready to print!
Add the scrapbook paper as accents and since we're from the south,
nothing is complete without either burlap or twine.

You can frame it or hang it or whatever you like but I chose
to display mine right smack in the middle of my kitchen on my
fridge where I know I will see it EVERY stinkin day in December.

And GUESS who else is equally stoked about Christmas??
THIS GUY!

Note: No animals were harmed during the process of taking this photo

Happy Friday :)

October Photo Recap

I can NOT BELIEVE the month of October is already over.

We are 4 months away from wedding day and I know it's going to just fly by.

My new little Canon has been coming out to play quite a bit these days.

Here's some snap shots from the past month:

We decorated.

We took festive Halloween photos of our fur baby.

We went to the pumpkin patch.

We pouted like a small child when we were told "no" to getting

the lacey-looking pumpkin. ....still pouting over that one.

We baked Halloween ice cream cone cupcakes for our niece and nephew.

We forced our niece and nephew to eat the cupcakes so we can take pictures.

We burned through 4 Sweather Weather candles.

I know, I have a problem. 

We went to the carnival. 

We also watered our mums twice a week just like Mom said to and 

they still never fully blossomed like they should have. 

#overit

We watched our soon to be husby coach his football team.

We attended Mom's Zumba class for their annual costume Zumba party.

We carved a pumpkin.

Go Knights!

We went to the Coon Hollo corn maze.

We dressed up and passed out candy.

Correction: I passed out candy. 

Bryan went all out and purchased a smoke machine

and a strobe light and scared every small child that walked up our driveway.

Our neighbors hate us. 

I miss you already sweet October!

Birthday Boyyyyy!

Well, welcome back sweet thangs :)

Let me begin this post by requesting that you eliminate
all forms of judgement prior to reading any further....

Good? Good! Now we can proceed. 

This past weekend was Jakey Baby's  6th BIRTHDAY!!!!

Yes, we celebrate pet birthdays around here.

I didn't have time to make him any homemade treats
and could NOT find a pet boutique that was open on Sundays so I headed to 
PetSmart and found, quite possibly, the cutest little thing ever:

Pup Pies! Complete with a "Happy Birthday" pick, duh.

He opened a couple prezzies from Mom & Dad:

If you have 3 minutes to spare and the patience to listen to me

saying "Get it Jake!" a gazillion times (OBNOXIOUS)

 you can watch this video of him opening one of them:

Good LAWD can you imagine me on Christmas

morning with a real child ??

Annnndddd then he dug right into his Birthday Cake-

which smelled fabulous, by the way.

I was semi-tempted to break a piece off to sample

until I got the "what the hell is wrong with you"

look from Bryan.

Which is a look I know all to well.

Moving on!

So other than my sweet boy's birthday, it was a pretty low key weekend.

Friday night went unpictured and Saturday

I headed out to one of the venues that Bryan and my company staff

bartenders for- the Birdsong Barn.

How gorgeous is this place??

Anyways! I know it's a tad bit late- but don't forget to
link up for weekend updates with Sami!

Smooch!

Halloween Treat Countdown: 3 days! [candy corn cupcakes]

Ok I skipped yesterday's treat post.

Oops!

So now we're only 3 days away from Halloween!

YAYAYYAYYAAAAYYY

Butttttt, today I have for you:

I believe the ingredients and instruction

process is pretty self-explanatory.

However!

Check out this Vanilla Cupcake post for a refresher if you must :)

I was a busy bee this weekend!

Friday night went unpictured but we braved

the 20 mile an hour winds downtown and went

out for dinner, a movie and celebrated one of

our bartender's birthdays. 

SATURDAY was Jake's Halloween costume

contest at his Vet. Yes you read that correctly.

You know those people that blow up your news

feed with pictures of their kids? Every. Hour. 

I am kind of that way with my dog. 

Sorry I'm not sorry.

Is he not the cuteessstttt little Sheriff??

Anyway he won 5th place..

and no, not out of only 5 other dogs,

Mom already tried that one too.

There was probably around 25 dogs entered

and let me tell you- competition was steeeeeeep.

For example:

Coco was a pilot and she took 3rd.

Very impressed with her compliance with the sunglasses.

We actually ended up leaving with a ton of stuff.

Jake won a 2-night boarding stay (Hellooo vaca for Mom & Dad!)

a routine exam, a big bag of Science Diet 

and a bunch of little treats.

I'd say we made out well :)

The rest of Saturday consisted of

watching a TERRIBLE Gator loss.

Georgia is such a dirty team.

Also! It appears that Georgia brought their own

officials- how cute. 

And then for our Halloween party!

It wasn't as intense as it has been in the past-

mostly because a lot of our friends

were out of town for the FL/GA game. 

We weren't even sure we wanted to have people

over until last minute but it was fun

and I love me a good bonfire!

Our costumes totally sucked.

Hello last minute.

Last night basically just proved that I am, in fact,

getting old. Uggghhhh holy headache.

Gone are the days where I

paraded around downtown for Halloween

in pumps and a tutu exposing my ass.  

I am totally ok with that. 

Currently I am watching Hocus Pocus

(for the 293128746th time this week)

with my Pumpkin candle lit, windows open

and Bryan has some ribs thrown on the grill.

CONTENT.

Until tomorroowwww <3

Jake is 5! =)

Today is Jake's 5th Birthday <3 <3

HANDSOME!

Here are some photos from his 4th Birthday..


[ Yes I am that person who wanted to throw a Dog Birthday Party ]

More Treats :)

Here are a couple pet-friendly treat websites:

http://www.dog-treat-recipe-exchange.com/dog-birthday-cake-recipes

http://www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/Recipes/Recipes.htm