memo to pug #8

To: Pug
From: Upper Management
Date: 1/28/11
RE: Houdini Stunt

Dearest Pug,

The next time you get the urge to escape out of our fenced in backyard and have me chase you down the street first thing in the morning; would you do me a favor and please let me know in advance so I can put a bra on first.

many thanks,
Girl (and probably the neighborhood too)

{past memos to pug can be found here 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7}

book shopping

Well it's been awhile since we talked books...I always love hearing what books are tickling your fancy!  I have to be honest and say I think I went the good month of December without picking up a thing to read.  But now that the craziness of the season is over I'm on a book hoarding mission.  I also told myself this year I'd utilize the kindle app on my ipad more, but I keep finding these great used books and some great deals on newer ones so my book pile is looking a bit overwhelming at the moment.  But here's what's on my nightstand for this month.

Read:

"Decision Points" by George W. Bush - fascinating read and so glad that I had a chance to read it.  I loved hearing his thoughts regarding certain events.  It's not light reading though so it took me awhile with this one, but worth it.

"The Wedding" by Nicholas Sparks- this is an older book of his and it's one that I've had for awhile sitting on my shelf.  It's sort of a continuation of "The Notebook" and I have to be honest and say it was just sort of boring.   Not my fav. of his is a good way of putting it.

"The Courage Tree" by Diane Chamberlain- good read...kind of predictable though.  Anyone have any better recommendations of hers besides Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes?

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins....- ABSOLUTELY loved this book!  It's crazy to me because I read the back and was like this is so not my genre of book and even went into it going I'm not going to like this, but I LOVED it and could not put it down.  I never read Harry Potter or Twilight if that helps sway you to read it.  Definitely worth the read.


Reading:

"Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen- just started and love this book so far.  I figured I'd better read it before the movie comes out.  Love Reese Witherspoon!


To Read:

"How to Bake a Perfect Life" by Barbara O'Neal....-Target had this one on a big display shelf on sale...I couldn't resist it's cover is super cute.

"Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins.... -hope it's as good as the first!

"The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" by Ree Drummond- cannot wait to read this!!

What's on your list?

circle of life

I tweeted about this last night, but thought I'd bring it to the blog because I soon found I'm not alone in this.

Here was my tweet:
Your parents raise you and then you become their tech support for all their electronics.

It's a vicious circle.

One that requires way more patience than God granted me.

For instance, last night Big Daddy (my dad) called because he was trying to find the "plug" (memory card) on my mom's mac so he could see what was on the "plug".  I'm really terrible with walking people through something over the phone, especially when that someone is complaining about how confusing apple computers are.  I tried.  I failed this time though. 

Sometimes I do succeed though, like the time my mom called me after she first got her mac and couldn't figure out how to find a document.  I told to her to go to the "finder" button at the bottom left hand of the screen.  She proclaims "Oh the face".  I'm like the what and sure enough I look at my mac screen and the finder button does resemble a face.  I lucked out on that one.

And then there are the days when they need to scan something and I'm convinced it would be easier to launch someone to the moon.

But I love them dearly and I'm sure way in the future I'll be calling on our kiddos to help me figure out how to use my robot that irons.

I'm praying really hard for that robot.

pug's survival guide to winter

So, pug and winter are about on as good of terms as Kim and Kyle from Real Housewives of BH (did y'all watch that finale??)  My word the drama.  But as I was saying pug is not so fond of the cold or me telling him every time I open the door to go outside that he should be thankful that he's not a pug living in Canada.  We really only have a few weeks of the cold and dreary days here in Texas, but I've noticed pug has mastered his own little survival skills to beating the chilly days.  He is quite the drama king.

1. Don't go outside.

2. Become resourceful and do your business while your owner is watching Real Housewives.

3. Find a furry blanket or warm lap.

4. Stay there and under no circumstances move.  Unless a treat is involved.  Then take it and resume position.

5. When the dryer is going in the laundry room, push bed against it so the bed warms up, then curl up on bed.

And this sums up pug's last few weeks.  On #5 I'm not sure if he is the laziest dog or the smartest.  Jury's still out on that one.

oh goodness help me now

a moment of silence please for cookie time...i also like to tell myself that these gems are fat free.

could i be anymore random?

I've been rather absent on the blog front lately.  I'd like to blame it on the cold weather and the fact that netflix's brought me "eat pray love".  So between a pug that's on an outdoor potty strike because it's too cold and the world's longest movie; there you have it.  See some Texas snow...

Oh and there was the 10 hour stretch of time where our water got shut off thanks to a construction mishap and that day I learned I would never had made it in the Ingall family.  You really don't realize how precious of a luxury it is until you don't have it.  I also realized I wash my hands a lot during the day after putting soap in my hands 4 different times that day and screaming "DOH" when I remembered we were waterless.  All turned out well and we smell good again.

I also feel the need to tell you all that right around the first of the year my e-mail had up 2011 horoscopes featured on the homepage.  I don't believe in the whole thing, but was intriqued/bored so I read what mine had to say for the year.  It started off saying this is the year I would be fearless...I thought cool.  Then it started talking finances in 2011 and I kid not stated "this year you've got your mind on your money and your money on your mind".

And that's why I don't read horoscopes...they rip off Sean Paul rap songs.

some randomness to start out 2011

1. I took down the Christmas decorations earlier this week and my house looks so empty it's depressing me.  I feel this week needs to be named "my-house-looks-so-stinkin'-bare-and-i miss-the-Christmas-lights-week".  I'm still working on a name.  Oh change I loath you so.

2. Speaking of decorations.  Boy took down the Christmas tree all by himself and without one complaint.  All thanks to a bet.  We're a bit competitive over here so the other night we got to talking about old tv shows and "Christy" was brought up.  Do you remember it with Kellie Martin?  He was telling me how he was forced to watch it in school and how horrible that experience was.  Then somehow we got to talking about the spelling of it (don't ask because I'm not sure how we ended up there).  He was convinced it was spelled "ChristI" and I was positive it was "ChristY".  We bet and then googled it.  If he won I had to sit through a football game with him and if I won he had to take down the tree and put it back in the attic all by himself and without a scroogy comment.  So I won, the trees peacefully in the attic, and now I have to go write Kellie Martin a thank you letter.

3. Sadly, I did not watch the Bachelor Monday.  But no worries, mama called me first thing to give me the 411 and all the juicy details on the face slap. 

4. Has anyone ever done a Kelly Minter bible study?  I really want one to do at my own pace and like that it's just a workbook, but can't decide between the 2 she offers.  I'm excited to get going on that.

And that is all...hope everyone has a great Friday!

guest blogging

the pug and i are guest blogging today over at my own little corner. and since erin has a pug as well i felt it important to break down the daily schedule of a pug.  it's a tough pug life y'all!  we'd love for you to hop on over and say hi!

happy new year!

I still can't believe it's already 2011...just when I finally got used to writing '10 on checks it goes and changes on me ha!   I'm excited to see what 2011 brings for us though!

For the last few years instead of posting traditional New Year's Resolutions, I've always posted my Fashion Resolutions and it always involves a trend I am going to avoid for that year and pretty much forever.  You'll be proud to know from, last year's, a bump-it never set foot in this girl's hair.  amen!

So for this year's I have to be honest and admit I was a little overwhelmed with the options.  First you have the padded hiney panties which although clever are just a bit too creepy for my taste.  And then you have the pajama bottoms that look like jeans...which make me fear we are one legging away from bringing back stir-up pants (please not the stir-ups).  So both are wise choices to avoid and I'm sure Rachel Zoe would back me up, but I think I'm going to have to go with....

The Toner Sneaker

oh friends these things drive me bananas!  forgive me if you are a toner shoes wearing fan, but I just can't do it.  a. they look wonky and b. I'm fearful you but just rock forward and fall down something or backwards even.

So there we have it... 2011 will be the year of no toner shoes for me!