just incase...

Yep...it has been a week since I have entertained my family with a blog post.

As every other "blogger" always promises, "BE BACK SOON!"

But, I am not going to promise that. I have been busy.

Writing a book about health food for children.

Don't you think my picture could be on the cover?

Summer time has been full of "junk" for our family....but, it's ok....right?

A chocolate covered doughnut with candy sprinkles makes a trip to the store more enjoyable...for me....for my kid...and for fellow shoppers.

Pretty sure my book would be a best seller.

Yes...I am kidding.

Hope to entertain you with a blog again soon. That is...if I'm not too busy.

;)

The dog

We just got back from the beach. The kid wasn't thrilled with the sand this time....but, do you think the dog had fun? Doodle the Poodle jumped through the water the entire time....think she will be sleeping for days.

Being the clean freak that I am...I washed her every time after we took her to the beach....no sandy dogs in the house please. Can you imagine? Stinky.

So Shorty and I have always just taken her to regular grooming places....nothing fancy or special. Our neighbors have Standard Poodles and they always look so much better than Doodle...she always looks like Doodle the Shaggy Poodle compared to them.

So I found this place...that really only does Poodles. I took her there this morning.

When I walked in...I almost started laughing. It is called "Fee-Fees" yes...I know...I know.

The little old house was decorated with china plates with poodle profiles on them...you know..the kind you order out of the dorky magazines. (Sorry if you are a commemorative plate fan) ;)

So we picked her up today...and this is how she looks. This is what they are supposed to look like.

And she knows it.

Who would have thought this animal would be in the back of my car? She sure is sweet.

Think my kid likes her?

Dog Show!

;)

A girl and her dog

My kid and my dog love each other.

I took this blurry photo of them playing...they do this every day.

Doodle the Poodle is quite tolerant of a certain 3 year old. They play "doggie school" and "doggie nap time" and "grooming salon."

Glad to say they have moved out from under my feet in the kitchen.

Just sharing a picture of the 2 things I spend my day taking care of. Too bad the laundry, trash, papers, and toilet bowl cleaner brush couldn't be in the photo too. Then it could be all my duties in one! ;)

ha ha....

Enjoy your day.

yea or nay

So this is my family room....or as I call it...the den.

Last weekend, we took care of our neighbors dog. I developed "floor plan envy" in doing so.

Their home is like ours....backs up to a reserve...no neighbors behind them. The have huge open windows.

We however, do not. They are covered in shutters.

Our "den" can be fairly dark....and that is OK too.
Here is another shot of the back windows. Like I said...we have been here for 2 years...and if you know Shorty and I at all....you know we like change in our house. We are always looking at real estate....pondering changes.

But, I am trying to change a few things....maybe a little easier than packing a moving truck. ;)
So I took off the shutters this afternoon before Shorty got home. It is hard to believe how much bigger and brighter the room is.

But, does it look good? Seems as if they need some sort of window treatments....they have pretty moldings....but don't think that will cut it.

One last shot of the shutterless Shorty windows.

What do you think? I like it one minute...then the next, I don't. Do they look stupid?

Dang indecisiveness.

B4 and after....

So this is a picture of the Shorty's master bath from 2 days ago. It has looked like this since we moved here about 2 years ago. My Mom put a fresh coat of paint on it for us then...and I have been needing a change. So.....well....kinda boring.

We are lucky to know one dang good "painter-color helper-pickerouter"

His name is Jim...painted this house, and the one we lived in before. He is a champion at helping pick the right colors for the right areas...it ain't so easy sometimes.

He suggested a red ceiling at our old house....we did it and it was the best. I SO miss that red ceiling.
So here is the new bathroom. Pretty dark....and I love it.

This picture is a sorry excuse to show the new look...the lighting is hard, can't use a flash, and I am a moron when it comes to adjusting color in photoshop.

At least you can see the difference a little.

Dark is better.

So, if you need a face lift for your walls, home, cabinets....call Jim. Message me and I can send you his number.

Amazing what a simple coat of paint can do. :)

Bad Bad Mother...

How could you forget someone's birthday? Will she ever forgive me? Or will she hold a grudge forever? No cake, no presents, and no hats. I am just so busy these days....sometimes things like birthdays just slip my mind.

Happy belated birthday, Doodle the Poodle.

Her birthday was June 30th. Think the human Shorts spent the evening at the pool....all while Doodle stayed at home alone.

Man, hope she will forgive me.

;)

another bug....

Another huge bug. This thing was massive.

It almost lost its life....from afar....I thought it was a sickening roach.

With spray in hand....Shorty realized it wasn't a roach....and we left it alone.

This is not the same beetle as the other day.

Just want to know why they have to come hang out at my house and make me think I have the World's Biggest Roach on my wall.

I don't mind beetles or bugs....but no roaches. Ever.

::Chills::

Proceed with Caution

There she is....my kid about to take on the wild and crazy "butterfly slide" at our neighborhood pool. Took this today....during her swim lesson....her teacher wanted to get her to finally do it.

After 2 years....the kid finally did it on her own.
Here is an action shot...

The slide is tiny...goes into the baby pool.

My kid isn't a risk taker....well....at least it takes her a while to warm up to things.

Safe to say 2 years is a pretty good while.

So after she did it once....she did it about 80 more times.

Thanks Miss Lauren.

Feels good to learn something new!

Lovely

So here it is....my "new" painted buffet. Love it. Really. It used to be brown....with a few cigarette stains from 1950. Kinda miss them...but I can manage. It looks perfect in our kitchen.

My talented Mother suggested the location and I picked the color. Love both of them. Today....I fooled around with putting a few "pretties" on top. Only thing I bought for it was the lamp. At my favorite place of course....Target. :)
I still don't understand adjusting colors in Photoshop...so this picture really isn't real....the color isn't that drastic. The first picture is a better representation.

Like it? Like the stuff on top? Should I move stuff around? Was pretty happy with the whole thing and think I did the right thing. ;)

Thanks Minnie. I owe you. Too bad I can't paint.

Pretty, isn't it? :)

The 4th

Happy Independence Day!

The Shorty family spent half the day at the Short family's house...

Eating, sitting, and eating.

Shorty's cousins were here visiting, Shorty's uncle, and the little one's great grandmother also came to join in for the eating, sitting, and more eating.

I will be the first to admit that while I think fireworks are great and dandy...I don't strive to go out of my way to watch them. Today...I was thankful that her Dad piled the kid in the stroller and took her on the 20 minute hike to watch them....all while I stayed in the AC and watched television and stuffed my face. Gee, aren't I a great Mom?

Today was good...did I mention I ate too much?

Yum.

Happy 4th of July!

National Geographic

Please tell me why large strange bugs and critters come to MY house.

First a Coral Snake, then a Wolf Spider, then the World's Fattest Walking Stick with mate, and now THIS!

This beetle was huge....just hanging on the side of our garage.

He left me alone...and I left him alone. I am sure he is harmless....but come on...he looks kinda scary!

EEEK!

knock knock...is anyone there?

Outta practice....outta habit....out of stories....out of time....

4 excuses as to why I haven't blogged in 6 days. For my 3 readers...I sincerely apologize.

Here are a few highlights of my most exciting life....just to get back on track. Then, more riveting blogs to follow.

*My 3 year old has started telling jokes.

*A magic solution of water and floor restorer made my scratch covered floor look almost as good as new....or should I say better than ruined. ;)

*I experienced the zoo in Houston during a rainstorm produced from feeder bands from a hurricane. Yeah, no thanks. The zoo is bad enough as it is. (Yes, I am a bad Mom...I do not enjoy the zoo)

* Watched a movie called "Taken" and have decided my daughter will never leave my sight until she is 30

* Received a letter from the doctor I referenced in one of my recent posts. The letter reconfirmed my belief that this doctor should go back to "Bedside Manner" class in medical school. The letter was just as cold and unfriendly as the doctor was in person.

* Ate a Godiva Cheesecake that was out of this world. Had to send it out of my home to ensure that my pants would fit me the next day.

* Starting to shop for a new mattress.....I hate laying on the floor model beds. What if the person who was there before me hadn't showered in a few weeks....or had head lice? ha ha!

* Thinking about painting our bathroom....wonder what colors make you look thinner. BLACK! Painting our bathroom black!

* Excited about my grandmother's old buffet. Kind of an art deco inspired wood buffet that we have had since we were married. I really do like it....just no place for it in our house...until my creative Mom suggested we move it into the kitchen. I pulled it out of hiding...and it looks great. I picked a color and yet again...my artsy Momma is painting it for me. Should be getting it soon!

* Got to eat lunch with 4 girls I have known almost all my life...and their little munchkins...spending a little more time with the girls this summer....been nice.

* Praying for a dear friend's Mom. She was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and is meeting with doctors today....

* Enjoying a somewhat lazy holiday weekend with family....

* Being thankful I found what I consider to be the greatest doctor! :)

That pretty much sums up what I have been doing....

Hoping to bore you some more in the future with my Short Story posts.

Will share my 3 year old's joke next....think I should send her to Hollywood to Last Comic Standing...

Happy 4th!