book shopping

So sad this is the my last post for August.  I may be the only Texan to stay this EVER, but I'm sadly not ready for summer to end.  I'm desperately going to miss the pool, bbq's, the sun not going down till late.  So good-bye summer months it's been fun!

I haven't done a book post in awhile so to finish out the month I'll update y'all on what's on my nightstand and past and future reads. 

::Just Read::

"Firefly Lane" by Kristin Hannah- This was a perfect pool read.  It's about two friends and their journey from their teen years into adulthood.  My only complaint was I felt it was just a little longer than it needed to be, but I still enjoyed it.

"The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes" by Diane Chamberlain- this girl convinced me to read this book that's going on with the Book Beginnings and Bookends Blog Book Club (say that 5 times fast).  I'm kind of following along with the book club reading everyone's discussions just not linking up since I started late.  This was an amazing read!!  This is one of those books you find any excuse to read so you've got a book in one hand making dinner with the other.  I'm excited to see what the next book they choose is.

::Reading::

"The Summer We Read Gatsby" by  Danielle Ganek- not too far into, but loving this book.

"Twenties Girl" by Sophia Kinsella- I heart Kinsella!  This is just the perfect girlie read!

::To Read::

"Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay

"Choosing to SEE" by Mary Beth Chapman

"The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" by Stieg Larsson

My piles of books are overtaking our home.   I've put in pink the ones that I own so if you're interested in trading/borrowing give me a shout. 

weekend highlights & random thoughts

hey friends...hope y'all had a great weekend!  just a few weekend highlights.

1. we did a quick surprise visit to the parentals on friday and had a blast.

2. pug had a play date. 

3. i got to witness pug ralph and then eat it...thankfully that was outside.

4. the sis-in-law came to hang saturday and brought some delicious cupcakes.

5. today i tried to pay sonic with a belize coin. 

6. i've never been to belize, so i'm not sure how that snuck into my wallet.

7. the yardwork we did today has exhausted me to no end.

8. i'm off to watch some big brother and peek in at the emmy awards too.

::updated:: 9.  why is kate at the emmys?

hope y'all had a great weekend!

back to school (thankfully not anymore)

This week is back-to-school for all the kiddos in the neighborhood and I'm sure for so many other schools too.  I can honestly say that I am not envious at all.  Nope you could not pay me enough to hop back on that big yella fella and start a new school year.

This back-to-school time of year always brings back bittersweet memories for me.  I was a shy girl that dreaded change of any kind so the end of August was never the highlight of my year.  It came with much dread and many tummy aches, but despite that this time also holds some of my fondest memories growing up.  My mom always knew how hard the transition was so as distraction she always had a super fun day planned for just her and I.  For 12 years she made sure this day was not forgotten and oh how I love her for that.  It usually just involved shopping for a new outfit for the next day, lunch at a girly restaurant, maybe a pedicure or a movie.  I may not miss the school part, but I do miss those special days.

I hope one day to get to do that with our kiddos; I think it's a fun tradition.  Do y'all have any fun back-to-school memories/traditions.

P.S. I wonder if I can still convince her of a back-to-school day for a new outfit?

in sickness and in health

Thank you all for your sweet well wishes on our anniversary.  I wish to report back that the day entailed a candle light dinner, dancing and a carriage ride (I've been watching the bachelor for too long) instead we laid around all day fighting off sinus infections, passing the box of Kleenex back and forth, watching movies and dining on Boston Market in our pj's.  Marriage at it's finest folks.

A few weeks ago boy had been struggling with what he thought was his allergies and luckily he had his yearly allergist appointment scheduled so he waited till then.  Come to find out he'd had a wicked sinus infection going on for quite some time and is now on his second round of antibiotics.  My response, how do you not know you have a sinus infection?

Then comes along me who kept thinking her allergies are just off the wall this year.  I never really struggle with them, so I thought I'd maybe schedule an appointment to join the Zyrtec gang.  Apparently it is very easy to not know you have a sinus infection.   One look up the nostrils and doc says, you do realize you have a pretty bad sinus infection?  Score.  So I leave with my antibiotics, which apparently decided after 24 hours to wreck havoc on my poor body.  I'll spare the details.  I swear I don't know what it is, but I do not handle antibiotics well.  I put in a call yesterday to beg and plead maybe for some kiddie stuff and see if I can do that.  Anyone have any recommendations?

So that was the day.  As awful as we felt it was still fun to enjoy a day of doing nothing.  We recently got hooked on the series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" so we laughed at that, then I talked boy into watching the "Babies" documentary which although I thought was interesting scarred my husband for life.   We're a little to used to our bubble world I guess.

Hope y'all had a great weekend!

five

"Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without".

Dr. James Dobson

five years ago today i did.  and the funny thing about marrying your soul mate is that when you say i do, you don't think you could possibly love this person more than you do at that very moment standing there.  but through all the trials, all the laughs and all the arguments you wake up each morning and love this person more than the day before.

marriage is a beautiful thing.

crying at the vet

Yesterday was pug's annual check-up at the vet.

$$Cha-Ching$$

It started off great he's super clueless and so was more than thrilled when we walked in and was loving all the attention and cuteness compliments he was receiving.  We headed back to a private room then his memory started kicking in and he realized this is not a very fun place and the whimpering began and my heart started breaking.  They took him to another room and I stepped outside to return a phone call.  A few minutes later I step back in and standing in the lobby is a woman bawling her eyes out.  She just had to put her dog down.

She's crying.

I start crying.

It was awful.  I have this thing where if someone cries I cry and also the fact that 10 months ago we had to put our family cat of 18 years down brought everything rushing back.

It's a terrible feeling.  A sense of lost and bewilderment of how the world can keep moving on without your furry friend beside you. 

So, when my ever pissed pug returned to me I scooped him up loved on him like crazy.  As ridiculously high as the bill was for once my mouth didn't hit the floor instead I just handed over the debit card blessed he was healthy.

Pets are so worth it.

miscellaneous bin

1. The words "back to school" still make me cringe.

2. Big Brother is finally starting to get really good!  Who's watching and who are you rooting for?  I'll tell you the two I'm ready to see walk out that door...Brendon & Rachel.  Holy hair extensions batman!

3.  Tis' the season for me to start my Christmas shopping.  The families already annoyed that I'm asking them what they want.  I've been doing this for years so I don't know why I  have to explain each year that the mall in the month of December is a giant panic attack waiting to happen and must be avoided.

4. Our pharmacy hands out ice cold bottles of water between 4 & 6 each day.  How wonderful is that... allergy meds & ice cold water...it's all you need really.

5.  Football season has offically begun...oh dear I'm going to have to resend this letter.

And that is all.  You're welcome for this dose of randomness.

cupcakes make everything better

Sorry friends I'm on a cupcake kick at the moment both experimenting and savoring!  No one in my family is complaining about this new obsession though.  Bear with me their will probably be some more popping up here soon.
 

This one you have to try is a cookie dough cupcake.  I saw a recipe for this and did some simplifying too it.  Kind of the perfect dessert when you're torn between a cupcake and a cookie...why not have both.  It's a super easy recipe that's heavenly. 

Now I'm off...the treadmill is calling me.

the great debate

Boy and I have been car shopping.  I should include we've been car shopping FOREVER because we're lazy, tightwads and very indecisive so we'll probably continue to be car shopping two years from now.

The car models just come and go at this point.

We also can't agree on anything.  So far we agree SUV and going to last us a very freaking long time.   Where we clash is one only cares about fuel efficiency and compactness and the other wants it in black and to not feel claustrophobic when shutting the door.

Want to guess who's who on this debate?

This will become the new family vehicle hauling around groceries and certain pugs.  We're also hoping this will haul around some kiddos one day so we're keeping that in mind.  Down the line of course...don't get any ideas now.  So, I brought up the kids part during a car debate and how I want to have enough room to travel with a kid and pug in tow whether it be to the park or a visit to the lake.

His response.

"How much stuff could a kid possibly come with?"

(Insert sound of babe toting mama's everywhere gasping)

I know right.  I'm pretty sure hubs has never been around a baby EVER!  You're also welcome to drop off your kiddos (the fussier the better) and their gear and I'll rent a little vehicle and we can sit in the shade drinking sweet tea and time him to see how long it takes him to get it all in.  Pictures of gear loaded trunks also welcome :-)

a bond stronger than 650 thread count sheets

Have I ever told y'all about the time half a decade ago when I was in Target during a storm and the tornado sirens were going off?  Well since I was 1 of the 5 weather braving shoppers they corralled us back to the bedding section because everyone knows in case of a tornado those 650 thread count sheets and Rachel Ashwell duvets are going to come in mighty handy.

We all survived and continued on with our shopping although I'm not ashamed to admit that as I sat on that cold Target linoleum I told the Lord that if He needed to take me home right then and there I was super grateful it'd be at Target and not Wal-Mart.

So Target and I have a strong loyal bond after that stormy night and this past week that bond has grown even stronger especially after scoring these flip-flops super cheap.

I'm wishing I'd gotten some more now because I love them so.

And the grand hooray, a few months ago our Fieldcrest Matelasse duvet that I heart so very much got a rip in it.  Probably due to some fiber break downs since I'm a weekly duvet cover washer.  But I love this duvet so very much and after not being able to find it in the stores I sent a desperate plea for help to the magical Target fairies asking if they could locate one for me.  They kindly told me that it was discontinued and they could not locate one anywhere, but they'd send my e-mail to the design department.

I cried, searched ebay, tried out Pottery Barn's Matelasse, discovered it's not the same, cried some more, ate some dark chocolate.  I needed this duvet because it's equivalent to sleeping on a cloud and who doesn't want to sleep on a cloud.  So a few months have passed and I went back online and look what I found!!!

 It's back.  I'm so excited.  I headed to Target to get it, but it's not in stores yet so I'll just order it.

Target I could kiss you!

tweet tweet

so once upon a time i opened a twitter account and that lasted all about 2 hours.  then a few months ago i was like i refuse to be a twitter quitter so here we go again.  oh the social networking pressures.  so come tweet with me @boygirlpug.  i have to be honest and say i really have no clue when it comes to the retweeting,  this sign #, or linking.  i don't even have it hooked up to my cell phone because a) i don't know how and b) i'd probably never get anything done.  i'm a hot tweeting mess i'll tell you, but it is lots of fun!

oh and my account is private...cause you know i don't want any weirdos reading about what i'm having for lunch.