Someone is 4

Its Friday! And I my first fur baby girl's 4th Birthday! Celebrating the wonderful 4 years I have spent with the most amazing puppy,  best friend, study buddy, tanning partner, cuddle monkey, travel companion, and all-around sweetest little girl imaginable! We have been through 7 homes in this short time, but you have done it like a champ! We graduated law school, passed the bar, got married, got divorced, got a sister and bought a house! Wow, you have quite the accomplishments for 4 years old! I love you with all my heart Chloe Elaine!

Dogs, babies & Jesus

If ever there was slogan for my life or that of my friends' lives, this would be it. Dogs,  babies and Jesus! This also easily describes that last year or so of my life.

DOGS:
Yes, one year ago today I brought this sweet baby home.

She turned Chloe and my life upside down, inside-out and every which way from Sunday. Sophie is the complete opposite of Chloe. She is wild, needy, whiny, throws tantrums, and wants your constant attention.

Chloe is sweet, loving, calm (for the most part), does her own thing, etc... you get the point. BUT.... They are inseparable. Chloe has loved having a built-in playmate and best friend. They run and jump and play and get into adventurous situations. They are my puppy-girls, and my first babies.

BABIES

My friends and co-workers are popping these things out like waffles from a toaster! From my bf lawyer at my office, to our paralegal, from two girls in my city group, including my incredible bestie K (who might be the cutest preggo ever!). Add in several sorority sisters, including my little, my first friend at TCU, who just had twins! Its the year of the baby!

JESUS

We laughed about this at city group, but its so true for me. I have spent the last year + finding myself again. I went from wife to single woman. I went from doubter to believer. I went from living in darkness to stepping into light and seeing and speaking truth. I have embarked upon the greatest journey of life, and its the most fulfilling of them all. I have found that life is messy, and dirty and dark. Humans hide in the darkness by pretending it doesn't exist or by justifying it. We are all guilty of this. I am guilty of this. But what this year and what I have learned is that He gave up His only son so that we could live in the light. He knows we will struggle, but His grace is infinite and loving. I have learned that we are not meant to do this journey alone. Life is meant to be lived in community with others who love us, disciple us, and lead us into the light. So, yes, this has been the year of Jesus.

Three words to sum it all up: Dogs.Babies.Jesus.

Hearts & Flowers & Food, Oh MY

Yup, my weekend consisted of food, food and more food.

Friday, V Day... I received (right before I left for the day) this lovely lil arrangement. Brightened my lil ole day.... Then, le guy and I headed to a super yummy dinner at a local place called Ellerbe. Its motto is farm to table and they use lots of local produce and seafood. We dined on pork chops, a beef pot roast (umm to die for tender beef) and then some dessert. There was also this scrumptious potato leak soup, but I gulped it down before le guy could say, hey didn't you want to photograph that? (Funny he now doesn't even put a fork in anything until I take my phone out, and he even says, he you wanna snap a pic of that?). Then we headed in (yup  lame) to watch the new season of House of Cards which was released Friday. If you have not seen this show, well you should. Get ya some Netflix and get addicted, you will not be disappointed.

chocolate pave with raspberry mouse

puff pastry filled with a delish lemon curd with candied fruit

Saturday, I had to endure a workout without my sidekick trainer. Alas, I pushed myself just as if he were in my ear saying "you can do it!" Then there was errand running. Oil to be changed, puppies to be groomed, cars to be washed. Then, I headed out to North Park to get my shopping on. Well, ok so I got some make up and a top on sale at Lululemon. But, then I got to eat my at absolute fav Mediterranean place, Café Izmir off Greenville in Dallas. By far the best hummus you  have ever had. Its a lil tapas place, so we had a lil bit of everything. The beef dolmas, coconut chicken, babgnoush... yup, so good.

post puppy salon visit

yup, Chloe got a new outfit!

Sunday, I walked to church, it was so nice!! The sermon was wonderful. Nothing like sitting in a room with a hundred plus believers to set your week on track for greatness. I then took advantage of the 70 degree weather and got in a good run. I love Fort Worth for its trails. Running through the city, enjoying the sights and sounds is just a great way to get in the mindset for a great week. Then we lazed around before I went in for some pageant training with the Fort Worth organization. Then home to some grilled chicken and pasta. Chloe, my lil begger.... was just hoping le guy would drop something on the floor. Then some more House of Cards and a good night's rest. But not before I let Chloe do her favorite thing, ride with her head out the window on the way home. Hope yall had a great weekend, and enjoy this week~!

I Bought My Dogs a House

I get that my dogs are pretty much my babies, but I mean do your kids take over everything? ( I ask this knowing they do from my mommy friends). But seriously, they do! They hogs the couch, take my pillows and entire side of the bed! Its like I bought a house for them! They look at me like, hey mom, so nice of you to buys us a yard we can run around in, sticks to bring inside to play with, and neighbor dogs to bark at all day long. Oh, and mom thank you for continuing to only use 1/16th of your queen bed so we can sleep on the other parts (sorry for any guy who would like to partake in my bed, you get about 1/82nd of space).



Ex. A. - last night this is them in bed



Ex. B - sophie sleeping pretty much right behind my head on the couch

But, I digress from my weekend wrap up! It went a little like this....

Friday - 4:30pm - nap, nap, nap, snuggle, nap; umm do we want to go out? well what should we do? well, its getting late now and I'm not sure I want to drive anywhere, ok well I'm still on my couch so night! Yeah, the amazing life of the 30 year old....

Saturday - 6am - Mom!!!! Get up we have to pee!!! Seriously? So, it went a little like this: dogs out, oh its Saturday my day to water.... set up sprinklers, turn them on, see  they are pretty much watering everything but the yard, move to sprinklers, get soaked; chase dogs back into the yard; watch sprinklers, decide eh the grass will get some water. What I learned? Your neighbors will stare at you at 7am while in your pj's watering your yard and by yard I mean, my car, neighbor's car, front porch and some patch of grass in the yard... 8am - workout and mile run. noon - Nails! They were bad people, bad... Even the lady looked my hands and asked if I had changed jobs to a landscaper (slightly true). 2:30 - much needed pool time. Friends, Gentleman Jack, beer pong (spectator sport for me) and some fun in the sun. 8pm - Dinner at one of my fav Fort Worth finds, Grace. Nothing like apps at the bar, wine and some espresso martinis!
And then what? oh yeah I was home about to zonk out at about 10pm when some sh*t hit the fan... Need not be discussed, but my early bed time turned into a 2am bed time and I was tired.

Sunday - Church! And it was epic. I am not sure I have been as moved as I was Sunday. We have been doing a mini series on Saved following Romans 8. This week, glorification and wow, it hit home. I am constantly amazed at how my pastor's sermons tend to hit home, but this was pretty life-changing for me (and Ive got more on this later this week, promise). So, after a good start I had a nice coffee date followed by some more... napping! Then the productivity happened. Dishes, laundry, workout... Yup, done and done. Oh did I also mention the visit from my ex-hubs? Oh I didn't? Yeah, so M showed up to visit Chloe/see the house. Amazing how that person knows how to push your buttons and take emotion to another level. The best part though? Chloe! She was in heaven. I didn't realize how much she missed him. She wagged, kissed, loved and was just on doggie cloud 9 to see her daddy. For that, the visit was worth it. But it left my poor baby girl, depressed.


didn't move for 2 hour post visit



But, ya know what? When you're tired, pooped and have settled in for an evening for Devious Maids and Drop Dead Diva? You should eat pizza and ice cream and that I did. Nothing like ending the weekend with a little splurge and great company.


Next weekend? Momma Rose turns 65! I do believe there will be cake! Happy Monday y'all.

When you Take a Girl to CM

Cm--Central Market that is. Yeah, so our small group met there last night for a lil food, fellowship and grocery shopping? No, its just happened that I needed several things pretty much only found here, hello xantham gum? So, post eatsy I headed through the aisles (E did not know what hit him).

I took out my lists, yes you heard me lists... I was armed and dangerous with items to make several meals and some yummy shakes courtesy of Katie over at The Dashing Dish. If you have never read her blog or delighted in her recipes, well you should. She takes all the food I love and turns it into healthy alternatives (a girl after my own heart). And she has a million recipes for protein shakes.

Well, after a few samples, a hunt for cocoa powder and $101 later, I came home and stocked the fridge and pantry.

Also, Chloe Elaine got a summer cut yesterday and was just too cute for words! She pranced and danced all the way home!

 

And here lies the menace to society that I call Sophie Diane who caused the fiasco from yesterday and continues to terrorize the world (and her sister).

 

Happy Thursday y'all, week is almost over!

When it Rains

I live in Texas, the DFW area to be exact. Its crazy weather central here. For example, yesterday I left the house to 60 degree weather, enjoyed a high of 76 at about 2pm, then the rain came. And by rain, I mean lightening, thunder, hello tsunami downpour. Which left the temperature at a mere 55.

Fast forward to this morning, and by morning I mean 4am when my power went off. Yes off, people, off! Scared the beejesus out of me and all. And hello wind chill of 37. Yes, 37 and no heat. So there I sat huddled in bed, with a whimpering dog, an aching back, cramps, headache, and no heat. All because its rained, or that I live in Texas, either way no a happy camper.

Did I mention that back, the cramps, and the overall less than sunny disposition? Oh ,I didn't... well add that to the  Jekyll and Hyde Texas weather. Yes, Monday morning I awoke to a wonderful surprise my body decided I needed another infection of some sort and off the the pharmacy I ran for some meds. Tuesday was not much better. I had/have the worst lower back pain in my life. (As in I am currently sitting at my desk at work with a heating pad behind me). Excruciating pain, so much that my butt went home yesterday, and worked from the couch with said heating pad attached to my back and pain meds galore.

So, back to the weather. See I have this lovely, wonderful, loving pup named Chloe Elaine. Yeah innocent looking huh? Well, have I  mentioned how M ruined her for all eternity? Yes, M aka Mr. Clean, Mr. OCD has rubbed off on my dog! She cannot do her business unless it perfect conditions. She will not get her paws wet, let alone step nae a paw into a puddle. She will literally jump over a puddle to avoid the splash. She will take the most insane route to find the perfect place to pee! And let's not get started with the thought of being dirty. So, imagine how fun taking her out to pee in the rain and puddles may be. It was 1. cold 2. wet 3. I felt like death; and 4.  MY DOG WOULD NOT PEE!!!

Defeated by a dog.... So, if you are in the vicinity of me today you should either 1. run or 2. bring cupcakes.

How's that for a rambling Wednesday?

What a Night

Ok, so for those of you who do not follow me on Twitter or facebook, I experienced the worst last night, my poor baby girl had to be taken to the doggie ER. Chloe Elaine has been a little under the weather for the past week, but we chalked it up to extreme heat. Well, last night the bottom fell out, literally.

She returned from her evening business trip, came into the kitchen and vomitted. Like the worst I have seen. I'm not sure where all this came from, but it did from my lil sweet girl. She then collapsed. Passed out, collapsed on my kitchen tile. Her breathing was shallow, and her eyes were barely open. Right then all I wanted was for her to open her little mouth and say mom xyz hurts.... The look in her eyes was so sad. I tried to get her to drink some water, nothing, she did not even want an ice cube (which normally is a treat!). So, hubs and I headed to the emergency vet.

My heart raced, I have never been so worried in my life. My sweet precious baby was ill and could not even tell me what was wrong. Well, neither could the vet. Several tests and dollars later, we were home, slightly more active. Well this did not last long. She continued to vomit throughout the night.




Needless to say, but the family did not get much rest. Chloe seemed okay this morning, but not herself. I am one worried mama. I think its even worse because she cannot even tell me what is wrong. So, thoughts and prayer for my lil angel-pie. I wish it was take your dog to work day.