2011. A year in review.

So, I’m stealing this from a friend/blog inspiration.  It’s a year in review a lá high school-esque list form.  You all know how much I love my lists!  AND It’s been nearly 2 months since my last post, so let’s see if this gives me some sort of traction.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

GET ENGAGED,  Duh.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for this year?

I don’t like to feel like a failure, so I don’t make resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Actually, no.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not this year.  Thank God.

5. What countries did you visit?

None.  It’s been a stay close to home kinda year.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn’t have in 2011?

A husband. That’s all.

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

August 15 because TONS of stress was relieved that day.

August 20 because that’s the day Spurs put a sparkly ring on my left hand.

October 15 because our lives forever changed that day.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Putting together a pretty stylish guest rom on a budget.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I hate failure.  Set yourself up for success and there will be no failure.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had a pretty nasty mosquito bite on my leg in August. My back went out once. Maybe twice.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A new place for the dogs to play.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

The Brats! I think he’s growing up!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The Brats!  He’s still a brat!

14. Where did most of your money go?

Some just vaporized, but some went towards house-fixing stuff.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Everything that happened in August!  Great month!

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

I have no idea.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a) Happier, but more nervous.

b) Fatter…ugh.  Maybe someone needs some resolutions around here.

c) That’s a relative question.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Hiking, traveling, relaxing.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying about stuff.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With family and friends. I think it was one of the most perfect Christmases yet.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Yes.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Big Bang Theory

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

This question does not dignify a response.

24. What was the best book you read?

Geez, I’m not sure I even read one! Oh, yes I did!  Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Ummmm.  None.

26. What did you want and get?

See #11

27. What did you want and not get?

Many things.

28. What was your favorite film of 2011?

Why ask these things, don’t you know I have a horrible memory?

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 33 and it was so long ago I can’t remember.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not having things to stress about. (Notice a theme here, do you?)

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?

None.  Absolutely. None.

32. What kept you sane?

The dogs, ironically while driving me insane. And Spurs.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Politics in general.

34. Who did you miss?

Really?  My parents, duh!

35. Who was the best new person you met?

A lovely lady named Tessa.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

I can handle a lot of stress, but I don’t like it.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Really?  Please.

Dog Silhouette Art and Other Great Gifts

I had a slew of gifts to buy a few months ago and found Brooke on Etsy. Her shop is called Cloudless Sky Studios (if you remember my previous post, this is still her – she changed the name of her shop) I instantly knew that these would be the BEST gifts for all our friends. I first posted about them here when I thought her sample/stock work was great. But what we got was sooooo much better!

This one was for the wedding for one of Spurs’ old friends. They got married in Santa Cruz, CA (which is where the little heart is). I asked Brooke to use a chocolate-brown and deep red, which I got from their invitation.  I love how it turned out.

Then, we had another wedding, for one of my oldest and dearest friends. They got married at San Francisco City Hall, in a lovely ceremony that was prefect for them. I asked Brooke to use the image of City Hall for this one, and one of my friend’s favorite colors.  Didn’t it turn our great?

Next, I loved the dog silhouettes so much, I wanted to get our pups done, so I sent her photos of both the dogs and she turned them into great pieces of art! The stock photos she uses just didn’t work for me.  The Lab was too chunky and the legs we too short for the Old Man, and even though she searched for a good Pudelpointer image, we love the personality that we get from the Brat’s actual image. Here are the before and afters:

 

 

 

And

last, but not least, I got a gift for a friend of mine who happens to be the pups’ trainer for agility and all things dog related. This photo of her and her Border Collie at a herding competition is her all time favorite shot of her and one of her dogs, and it absolutely perfect for a silhouette. When I gave it to her, she cried.  I absolutely love how it turned out and it’s my overall favorite!

Brooke did such good work, if you need a personalized gift at a reasonable price, check out her store here.

Gluttony.

Spurs and I went to breakfast yesterday at a local diner. I ordered a simple breakfast sandwich and Spurs ordered a mountain of potatoes, eggs, sausage, bacon, ham, cheese, all topped with country gravy goodness.  I know Spurs loves his breakfasts and anyone who knows him knows that the man can eat.  Take a look at these before and after photos, and please excuse the even-worse-than-normal-cell phone-pics:

It’s not too often he leaves yummy food on his plate, but he brought home enough for two leftover meals. I’ve never seen so much food on one plate.  Serving platter, yes, but plate, NO!

Grammar Police

Where are the grammar police lately? I’ve been increasingly annoyed with poor grammar since the ’08 election.  Yes, I can tie my grammar obsession to a political campaign.   Remember when everyone was talking about the historic election?  Yes, that phrase was thrown all about.  However almost every news person refered to it as AN historic election!  I cannot tell you how much it bothers me to hear that.  Yes, it was an event, even a historic one…What, have we dropped the “h” from “historic”?

Next on my ladder of peeves is the pronunciation of the word library without the “R”. Li-Bary.  What is that?

And a newer trend – ending sentences with the word “so” strung out there and dangling like there is more to the thought process.  This irritates me on television more than in person, but it makes me want to throw things at the TV.

Lastly, one of the most common mistake is the misuse of “there”, “their”, and “they’re”.  Sometimes I’ll read something in a format without grammar check, like Facebook posts, and honestly now be able to understand what is trying to be said.

With all that said, I’m going to go over their to the libary to find a book with a exciting plot, so…

Let there be light

How many people does it take to change a light bulb in our house? Two, and apparently 2 dogs. And a ladder. And an extendable pole. And sometimes a screwdriver.

How many different types of bulbs needed to? be changed? Seven.

How many trips to the store were required? Two.

How many trips to the store do we still need to make? One – at least!

How long does it take to change all our dead bulbs? Four + hours!

How many bulbs were changed this weekend? Twenty six! (For reference, at our previous home we only had 21 light sockets!

Insert any lightbulb jokes here…

Lists

I’m a list-maker.  Most things that I do, did, think, need, want or love end up on some sort of list. I make and keep grocery lists, address lists, to-do lists, want to go there lists, what to see that lists, things I want list, and so on and so on.  Some lists are written, some merely in my head, but even then they are a list.  I will walk into the grocery store and think “now, I know there were 3 things on my list” and of course walk out with 15 things.  Written lists are better.

Here is a sample list I’m in the process of compiling.  I haven’t made one of these lists since 5th grade when I thought it would be “cool” to see if I could make the list grow to 100 items.  My parents saved this one and I ran across it recently.  Yes, I had some issues, but most of it were things filling space – more like I’ve heard of this so it will go on my list.  It’s kinda a Christmas/Birthday list.  Let me explain.  I am notoriously hard to shop for and Sprus always struggles with this and often spends more money on my gifts than he should, just because he wants it to be perfect (Isn’t he sweet, girls?) and that can make me feel guilty.  For a minute.  Then the shinyness or sparkleyness (yes those are words, cough cough) overpowers me and I get over it.  So this isn’t as much of a Buy Me This list, as it is an I Want These Things That I Probably Won’t Buy For Myself – At Least In The Months Leading Up To The Holidays While We Need To Be Saving For Home Repairs.  It’s a working list, so feel free to make some suggestions to it for me.

1. A weather station (or at least a thermometer that can be mounted away from the house but read inside).  I love watching the weather.  Yes, I’m a dork.  I know.

2. One of those pads that charge your phone just by placing it on top.  That would totally help with my phone-dying-mid-day-every-day issue.

3. A nice camera. An SLR, obviously, so I could start taking awesome photos!  But I have no idea which one or what kind or anything, so I probably shouldn’t put it on the list yet.

4. Agility equipment so I can work the dogs in the yard.

5. Beautiful fabric.  I would like to make a duvet and shams for our bedroom, maybe even an upholstered headboard, and curtains.  And re-cover the seats of some chairs.

6. A “new” car. With leather seats. That won’t break down all the time.

I know I’m dreaming on that last one, but a girl can dream, right?

What is on your wish list? Do tell!

Babble

So, I’m obviously behind on this but it happens to be National Blog Post Month, or as some call it NaBloPoMo.  That’s kinda fun to type   So in the spirit of this, and following the lead of the lovely and very funny CKD of Is This Thing On, I have been inspired to post something every day.  I have no idea what I’m going to talk about, but I’m going to try it.

So for today’s ground breaking post: I’m going to talk about some randomness.

I noticed a few hours ago how gorgeous the moon is tonight.  It looks like it may be exactly half full.  And it looked amazing rising behind the mountain with the patchy dark clouds.  perfectly fall.  I wish I had a good camera to capture it, as I’m certainly not doing it justice.  So, I suggest you go outside and look for the moon.  Maybe it’s just a beautiful above you as it is above me.

Is faux shearling the big “it” thing this fall?  While shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond today I saw faux shearling in the form of dog coats, bedspreads, throws, and a Snuggie.  It felt like overload.

Have you seen the commercial for Fishihi? WTF?  Isn’t this just a ball floating inside a larger, transparent ball? Check it out at Fushigiball.com. Apparently it’s sweeping the nation.  Who knew?

I have the worst case of dry, cracked hands lately.  Like, they are as rough as my elbows get when I don’t tend to them regularly.  I’ve used all my go-to’s…Mary Kay Satin Hands system (at stuff is usually heavenly), Udderly Smooth, a few different lotions and creams that I find throughout the house or in my purse, even good ‘ole Vaseline at night with those deep moisturizing gloves.  Nothing is working.  I need suggestions.  What is your best remedy for really dry cracked hands?