Fun in the Snow

Matt and I had decided at lunch that when we got home from work, we would go outside and make a snowman and throw snowballs at the dogs (because this is our version of fun!).

So, I hurried through the afternoon and came home immediately at 5 to prepare myself for an evening of snow.

Unfortunately, Matt walked in to the house and said that he didn’t realize that it was going to get so cold out during the afternoon and the snow might be a little too hard to be throwing or making snow people.

BUT… we went out anyway. And of course, I had  to bring out the camera.

And yep… I got some pretty great pictures and video.

And then I got a couple of these…

Fun in the Snow – Part I

Fun in the Snow – Part II

What we deal with all the time…

And Bob says I’ve had enough of this snow business.

So… even though there were no snowmen or throwing of snowballs, there was plenty of laughter.

There usually is!

That God… He’s a Funny Guy!

This morning, I woke up to this:

Yes… that’s my car underneath the HUGE tree branch.

As I pondered how on earth we were going to get my car out from underneath this monsterous branch, I was curious.

Was God trying to tell me to:

a) Not go to work today?

Or was he telling me to…

b) Get a new car?

Or was he just giving me a BIG sign to just…

c) Start parking my car in the garage?

Unfortunately, Matt was able to get my car out unscathed. So obviously, God’s way of telling me to start parking my car in the garage was to slam a big tree branch on top of it, but not cause any damage.

That  God… he’s a funny guy.

But what he forgets is why I do NOT park my car in the garage. It’s because I have two mongrels that are just WAITING for that garage door to open so they can escape and run … quickly … to a neighbor’s yard. I have had to chase them so many times that I finally decided it wasn’t worth it.

It’s not worth working up a sweat and getting my neatly pressed work clothes messy to chase after them… because obviously, they do not care. They are happy as clams for me to be chasing after them… Bob usually will stop long enough to look at me, then do a 180 degree leap and sprint as fast as his little legs will let him go (which is pretty darn fast).

I thought God and I were on the same page about these dogs…

I guess not…

Not after this.

Etsy Finds of the Week

Somehow, we have already reached the second month of this 12-month year – and everybody knows what February brings.

Besides Black History Month.

Valentine’s Day!

This week, I searched high and low for numerous Valentines Day treats to show you. I really only made it through page 30 of my ‘Valentine’s Day’ search before I had seven lovely things to show you!

I hope you enjoy the finds! I wish I had more time to write about each of them specifically … but I barely had time to put this wonderful post together. Work is crazy and I don’t get home until 7 and at that point, I want to do nothing but veg out on the couch.

I apologize for the bluntness.

Hope you enjoy the Valentine’s Day finds! Maybe next month when St. Patty’s Day rolls around, I can do a search for homemade Irish beer… yum!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

They Just Wanted to Say Hello!

You might be asking yourself how I can possibly ever get angry at these two creatures. Look at them. They look so angelic!

What you don’t know is that the only reason they are sitting as still as can be for a photo op is because I had a stuffed teddy bear under my left arm that they were dying to get a hold of.

This is my life.

On a sidenote, Happy Groundhog Day to all. And a special shoutout to my good pal, Emily ‘Punxsutawney Peine’ Rundle! Today, she turns the big 2-7. She’s such a young’n!

Two Nut Bags ... Classic!

This is my favorite picture of us. Two super special gals!

Happy Birthday, P!

The Life of Al on a Saturday Morning

As I stated yesterday, we got LOTS of snow yesterday. My cute American Eagle fake Ugg boots were put to the test when I was climbing in and out of my car in our driveway yesterday.

The boots lost – they were soaked immediately.

This morning as I was lying in bed, I was thinking about how much it would help if someone would shovel the sidewalk and driveway so my boots could refrain from being six inches into the snow when we’re out today.

Apparently at the same time I was thinking about the sidewalks, Matt was thinking about waffles from our new waffle maker for breakfast.

Most would assume that since I am the wife, the homemaker, the woman… I would make these beautiful, yummy, delicious waffles.

And you would also think that Matt as the husband, the strong one, the man of the house would clear the sidewalk and driveway because as a Manly Man, that’s what he would do.

Well…

Think again!

We aren’t your normal Husband and Wife!

But man… didn’t my sidewalk look great?!

Sidenote: ESPN GameDay is in Manhattan and this is the best sign I have seen so far:

Sidenote 2: We let the dogs out this morning and I heard them both on the other side of the house barking. I peeked out the bathroom window and this is what I found…

Look closely… see a certain basset hounds head in the fence?!

Random Musings from Moi

* It snowed. Earlier this week, we were enjoying 55 degree temps. And last night, it snowed.

Alot.

This picture doesn’t do the snow justice … since it was taken from inside my car.

I don’t have any issues with snow since I’m an official member of the I Love Snow club. I’ll tell you who else doesn’t have any issues with the snow.

These two muts.

They get to enjoy a nice, warm, cozy bedroom all to themselves with the snow and cold temperatures arrive. This was them (above) at 8:00 am this morning.

And this was them prior to bedtime last night. My precious, and for the most part, obeying dog, Wrigley, lying quietly on the bed. While his cousin, Robert, is on the ground hoarding the newest toy that was given to them.

Notice I say ‘them’. The toy was for both of them. But since SOMEONE has a problem with sharing, Wrigley very rarely gets ahold of that toy. Unless it is to taunt Bob.

Which is usually quite funny!

* Let me tell you what is NOT funny.

Letting the dogs out to do their morning deed, thinking to myself, “OK, I’ll let them out, I’ll run back upstairs and change, I’ll come back down, pull my car out of the garage, go back inside and let the dogs in.”

Great thought.

Too bad it didn’t work.

Unfortunately because of the snow, the garage door did not make it closed all the way after Matt left for work this morning – the snow was stopping it from completely closing. I did notice this before I let the dogs out to the garage and backyard. Because I thought, “Oh, there is a tire track from Matt’s car, but they can’t get out through that.”

So, I change, pull my car out, go back inside to the let the dogs in… but the dogs are nowhere to be found.

Guess who finagled their way out the garage door?

So, I immediately open the garage door and Wrigley comes running up (this is why I said he obeys ‘for the most part’), but where is Bob?

Well… Bob had found the Wandering Dog of the Neighborhood. This dogs makes its rounds to every house every morning, but this time, he found some other wanderers, Wrigley and Bob.

Once I found the Wandering Dog, I looked close and could see another tail wagging. I yelled and yelled, propping the door open with one foot while holding on to Wrigley with another – thinking that if Bob saw his two favorite things (Wrigley and indoors), he’d come arunning.

Wrong.

Instead, I had to chase him … through the snow. What made it worse is that the Wandering Dog followed him. What made THAT even worse is that the Wandering Dog has had no previous encounters with Bob so he doesn’t understand when Bob is trying to play. Listen, if I had someone jumping on top of me, I wouldn’t think they were playing around either.

Well, that sounded wrong, but you know what I mean.

Bob’s attempt at playing didn’t go too well with Wandering Dog – Robert got a deep growl from him and was caught off guard just long enough for me to grab his collar and drag him… literally… back to the house.

Remember when I was feeling sad about Bob leaving me?

I have rethought that thought.

* OK … so apparently this Random Musings post should be retitled to The Pains of Dog Ownership.

Anywho, I hope everyone has a great Friday and don’t forget to tune in to ESPN tomorrow morning at 11:00 am for College GameDay, live from Manhattan, Kan. Tipoff for the K-State/KU game is at 6:00 pm.

LET’S GO CATS!

Etsy Finds of the Week

Believe me. I know…

I have sucked at blogging over the past week.

The problem is that I am back to having nothing to talk about.

Work is busier than … well, busier than it has been since last year at this time.

Matt and I spent the weekend with his parents and watching my brother-in-law – his brother – coach our high school’s basketball team. They didn’t win and I had to sit by students that now attend my old high school and parents of those students that attend my old high school. If you wanted me to post a blog about the lack of intelligence that has infiltrated throughout the students and parents of those students that attend my old high school, you would probably never return to read my blog. You would think, “Allyson attended a school like that?” … which is what I would think if I hadn’t known it when it was filled with just dumb high schoolers, but dumb high schoolers that had some pride… and some intelligence.

ANYWHO…

This is why I have not been blogging! You would have been bored!

But hey … atleast it’s Wednesday and I will never let you down on Hump Day!

1) Pink Knit Cowl Scarf with Pearly Buttons – Seller: Raghousenternational

• I came across this scarf and I’m not sure if I was drawn to it because of the gorgeous color, the fact that it can be wrapped a few times, or the fact that this girl is wearing a tank top with a scarf. We’ve went from weather in the ‘teens to weather in the 50’s – somehow, I have gotten a little bit of spring fever. But, per normal Kansas weather, we’re suppose to get 6-12 inches of snow tomorrow.
• So… I’m pretty sure that though I wish I could be wearing this cute scarf and a tank, with tomorrow’s weather prediction, I would have to be wearing a parka with this scarf (plus two more scarves just to make sure I’m warm).

2) Seller: Pink Perch

• My friends and I were having an e-mail discussion about one of our sorority sister’s choices in baby bedding for her soon-to-be-arriving newborn. Though the style was not so much any of our tastes (but TOTALLY this particular sorority sister’s), I thought I’d browse around at baby items and what I would come across.
• And then I came across this seller! I’m in love with her mobiles! They are adorable … there are monkeys, sheep, bees, astronauts, jungle animals, etc.
• So … if you’re ever shopping for baby gear, give this gal a shout!

3) Hoot Owls – Seller: Buttercup Bloom

• I have left it as no secret that I love owls. Cute owls. Not scary owls. But I love them. And I blame that on my sorority. It was our ‘mascot’ if you will.
• I guess I should be glad it wasn’t a muskrat or a opossum.
• Anyway, these owls were featured on the front of Etsy and I fell in love… she has hoot owls and tiny wee hoot owls, as well as cashmere elephants and lambswool mice. The seller says that all of the fabric has been pre-washed and that they are kid and earth-friendly, plus totally snuggle worthy.
• Sold, right?!

Everyone enjoy their Wednesday and hopefully I will have something of interest to blog to you about in the next couple of days! Until then… Happy Etsy’ing!

If You Ever Fall Through Ice…

No worries! This guy can save you!

Matt spent a few days in Michigan… no Wisconsin… No. Hmm… OK, it was somewhere North! Anyway, he spent a few days sponsoring an ice rescue certification class (for Coleman) . Apparently he has returned as a certified technician in Ice Rescue Training.

Yep… they certified THIS guy!

You would never get me into one of these suits. First of all, they are not figure-flattering, which is always the first thing you should look for in an outfit (besides the color). Second of all, if you want someone to save you from falling through something you probably shouldn’t have been on in the first place, I doubt you’ll want this gal to be the one saving you.

But then again… who wouldn’t want a nice swig of beer while they are stuck in below-freezing water?

Etsy Finds of the Week

My brother  moved into a nice house in Manhattan on Monday, which only means one thing. We had to give him back his full-size bed.

Oh… we also have to give back Bob.

Have to. Get to. Same thing.

My brother called on Monday to talk about the return of his items as well as a few items that we were giving him: a TV, a washer and dryer, his dog. Since Bob could not be loaded up in the back of my dad’s truck (because it was full with many, many other things), we talked about when we would make the swap.

We will probably end up making a special trip to Manhattan to return him and as I was thinking about this in the shower the other night, I almost had tears.

We’ve been through alot with Bob over the past eight months. He has grown into a more mature (not fully mature), no nightlight needing, one – not three- daily feedings, garage sleeping dog. To say that I will not miss him would be a complete lie. To say that I will not be sad to see him go will be false. To say that I won’t miss his whining, non-sharing, pawing at the door, demon dog routine is true. I will miss none of those things.

So, in honor of my nephew dog Robert…. I give to you my Basset Hound Etsy Finds of the Week!

PS. If you are actually interested in purchasing any of these items or atleast want to know the seller, just leave me a comment. I will not judge!

All Grown Up

This weekend, my cousin attended his school’s Winter Snowball Dance… this is not his first Snowball, but it is his first Snowball to ask a date. And if you can all revert back to your days as a 16-year-old, this is a big deal (to all gals out there!). Or if you can revert to the days of being a 16-year-old male, it really isn’t a big deal, which is kind of the route my cousin was going with.

But my aunt (his mother) was very excited for him and had asked my opinion on what he should wear to the dance. Since I didn’t know what high school males were wearing to dances these days, I did some googling. And then just went to my trusted Gap and Banana Republic websites. I threw some ideas at her and off they went to shop.

I also thought I’d get Matt’s take on teenage males attire to dances, thinking maybe he would have some bright ideas!

And then I remembered this picture. And I remembered that this picture was taken at one of our high school dances.

So I rethought my first thought about asking Matt’s opinion on the teenage males attire to high school dances. Because do we really want my cousin to be remembered for wearing a sleeveless sweater vest/sleeveless T-shirt to a Snowball Dance?

I was happily surprised when Matt’s reply to the ‘What to Wear’ dilemma was actually something I had already suggested. Now that I think about it, we both suggested sweater vests… Hmmm …

Anyway, my aunt took my cousin shopping and reported back that they were pleased with his selections, HE was pleased with his selections and thanks for the help!

And this is how he turned out…

Pretty dapper if I may say so! And his date is quite cute as well … I could never have pulled off a tiger print in high school. Hell, I couldn’t pull off a Star Spangled Banner bathing suit!

Anywho… the first Snowball Dance attire situation has been handled. And handled very well by all parties.

Now we will all patiently wait until next year when this one gets into high school.

Lord, help my aunt!