Perfection

Tonight I was taking my usual hot relaxing bath and reading one of many house magazines. As I was reading and trying to relax, the images in the magazine made me long for a perfect winter home. I began to wish that my life was as perfect as the picture was.

I sunk lower in the bathtub and began to wish for a candlelit claw foot bathtub. Music playing around me. Instead, I had a dog barking at me, waking me from my fantasy, I looked over to see Jujube demanding dinner and Pete whining behind her.

After my bath, I continued to read the magazine and looked at the wonderful food being served on the finest china. Instead, I had a store bought chicken and rice-a-roni.

I was determined to finish the magazine and decided to head upstairs to lay in bed and read. Of course, the bed in the magazine was made with fresh winter white linens, perfectly folded and fluffed. I looked at my bed,which probably hadn't been made since I moved in and what did resemble the little bit of order was destroyed in seconds by three little dogs digging around to find their spots.

OMP climbed in to bed beside me, I secretly wished that he would recite the poem from the back of the magazine I just finished. "Your eyes are like waves in the ocean..." I'm pretty sure no love poem started with, "Can you hand me the Tums?"

As I sat there, with my eyes closed, OMP reached over and kissed me, "Are you okay?" he asked. I thought back to the entire magazine, with its photoshopped pictures, its perfect dinner, beautiful furniture and luscious winter settings and looked at my bed, with its sheets from Target, laundry piled up in the chair that has yet to be put away and the three dogs who have managed to take over my entire life. I let out a sigh and began to respond but was quickly cut off by Lola burping in a way that should be outlawed in twenty states and in no way could come from a dog of her size or stature.

I thought to my self for a moment. Then I settled in relaxing and thinking "I've never been happier in my entire life."

I'm sure I could have all those things I saw in the magazine but would life be real for me? Would it make me laugh? Cry? Scream at the top of my lungs? I don't think so. My life is far from perfect, but it is my life and it makes me happy. All the dirty piles of clothes, the rice-a-roni dinners, and lack of bed space make up the happiness in my life. Reality is wonderful. It keeps me humble and allows me to see and appreciate the little things in life. A kiss, a small puppy warming my toes, and Target flannel sheets-all the best things in my life. Allow your reality to make you happy too.

If Pete Were a Celebrity...

If Pete were a celebrity, he would be Clark Gable. The resemblance is uncanny.

I can't even tell the difference.

Yeah, this is what I do instead of watching award shows. 

Feel Good Friday!

FINALLY! Friday! I am SOOO happy that it's Friday. You guys have no idea! 

It's Friday and what better way to make you feel good than to have a giveaway. Oh, did I mention that there are TWO prizes! You heard me right!

Ya know what I realized, I am not very good at sewing. I can embroider and cross stitch pretty well but actually sew a straight line, forget about it. That's why I am so glad that Brett Bara wrote the amazing book, Sewing A Straight Line. She gives you step by step guides that even the most sewing challenged (cough*raises hand) can follow. Apparently she has an one hour skirt you can make, I don't think she knows me very well... 28 great project will keep you extra busy during the winter season.

Remember in the last paragraph when I said I wasn't very good at sewing, well, nothing has changed in this paragraph. I still can't sew but that doesn't stop me from looking at the amazing projects in Sew What You Love by Tanya Whelan. Ranging from a super cute French-inspired day dress to an easy to make ottoman, this book has you covered. You get 30 projects, tips and pattens. Score!

Now that I have you drooling for these amazing books, here's what you have to do to win them:  Just leave a comment and tell me which book you want to win. That's it, you don't have to put it on Facebook or tweet it or whatever else is out there. Just one entry, telling me which book you want. Easy Peasy. The winners will be announced next Thursday. 

And for those of you who don't want to enter, here's some cute puppies for you. Happy Friday! 

Dilly Days

Have you ever had one of those days when you knew getting out of bed would be nothing but trouble? Well, today was one of those days. First off, the pups decided 4:30am would be a good time to get up. Okay, not a big deal, I can do that.


Get to work, dealing with the same thing I always do, bad people doing bad things. Okay, again, I can deal with that.

Then I get a call, my bank account has been hacked and some scumbag has decided to go shopping on my dime. To add salt to the injury, the jerk has lousy taste!


Finally, I get home and our recycling has blown all over the backyard and into the pond. I pick it all up and let's just say, the dogs are excellent at landmines and their placement.

I just sat down and cried for a minute, then looked up at Lola and I could have sworn she said, "Mom, treat yo' self." I did just that, Dilly bar in one hand, drinky drink in another, I settled into a hot bath and enjoyed my fantastic frozen treat and a trashy magazine.

Now I can face the rest of the night and even tomorrow...I might just need one more Dilly bar.

Remember, even in the worst situations, treat yo' self, but hands off the Dilly bars, their mine!

Feel Good Friday

Thank you Mary Elizabeth

Man! This week was LOOONNNGGG! I swear! It took forever for Friday to get here and now that it is, I'm gonna par-tay! Whoop! Whoop!


I know the holidays are over but I can't resist this snowman from Sweet Elise. It's still winter, so he counts! So stinking cute! PS-All of her pictures are beautiful and she has a few free patterns. AWE-SOME!

I love this idea and I love Camille Styles. So many beautiful pictures and great ideas.

Rodeo season is gearing up, better polish my buckle and get my duds ready. If my plan goes right, I'll be roping  the pups and OMP in no time! I'm pretty sure all I need is a lasso and these gloves.

Replace the cat with a small black and tan dog...you have our house, oh, and add a little pee into the mixture, then you definitely have our house.

Well my favorite cats and kittens, it's time for me to get out and enjoy the day! I have puppies to snuggle with,  an OMP to kiss  and chocolate to consume. I know, it's rough...

Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what is going on outside of us, there's always something we could be grateful for.

- Barry Neil Kaufman

Treating Myself

2012! Or as I like to call it, Treat Yo' Self! That's right! I have deemed 2012 to be the year of Treat Yo' Self.

The beginning of Treat Yo' Self is all about getting rid of negativity. How can you truly treat yourself if you are pinned down by negative garbage? Flush that crap down the toilet, take the garbage to the curb. Get rid of it!

In a bad relationship? Well, treat yo' self and send it packing! A one sided friendship-So long sucker! Cause you are treating yo' self to some good positive vibes.

Now, treating yourself hasn't nothing to do with material goods (although, I am gonna treat myself to some fine leather goods sometime this year). It's all about doing what is good for you. This includes body and spirit.

Wanna know the way I kicked off my treat yo' self year? I took a nice hot bubble bath, poured me a glass of champagne and then ate a piece of chocolate cake. Why? Cause I am treating myself! Will I do this every night-of course not, I'll mix up chocolate cake for bons bons. I mean I'm not going to be completely overindulgent. Please!

So, say good-bye to those resolutions of starving yourself or trying to change someone and treat yo' self to some decadent and happy living. You deserve it! Maybe if we all treat ourselves, we will treat others in the same way and it will become a happy, fun revolution!

This week I am treating myself to letting go of crappy relationships and nurture ones that make me feel great about myself and being in this world. What will you do this week to treat yo' self?  C'mon people! Indulge!

Tie One On Tuesday

It feels like it's been forever since we have had a Tie One On Tuesday. Oh, how I've missed it. Trust me, I haven't missed a cocktail but I've missed sharing them with you. In honor of you, the loyal reader, I have taken some requests.

My friend AlwaysInspired asked me to make up a mocktail for her since right now she can't have cocktails. Okay,  let me see what I have in my recipe book...

Mamarita
Ingredients:
1 ounce agave nectar
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce orange juice
3 ounces organic limeaid
1 lime wheel
rimming salt

Directions:
Rim a margarita glass and set aside.
Stir agave nectar and lemon juice in the bottom of a mixing glass until nectar dissolves.
Add orange juice, limeaid, and ice, then shake vigorously.
Strain into the margarita glass, and serve with a lime wheel on the rim.

My other friend, Digital Misfit, well....she needs a saucy beverage to go with her saucy new year.

Heidi's Saucy New Year
Ingredients
2 oz. Banana Liquor
2 oz.Vodka
2 oz. Whiskey
2 oz. Peach Schnapps
3 oz. Cranberry juice
3 oz. Pineapple Juice

Directions:
Add all ingredients to a glass filled with ice and serve to your saucy sweetie.

And finally, a dear friend, probably my best friend asked for something she could share with her sweetie on a romantic night. Okay, I'll fess up, the best friend is me and the sweetie is OMP.


Chocolate Covered Strawberry
Ingredients
1 oz. Godiva, dark chocolate
1 oz. Liqueur, strawberry
1 oz. Schnapps, strawberry
2 oz. Tequila Rose
1 oz. Vodka, strawberry
1 pinch Chocolate Shavings

Directions:

 Put ice, vodka, tequila, schnapps, liqueur, and Godiva in a shaker.
Shake and pour contents into a martini glass.
Garnish with chocolate shavings


There ya go my wonderful reading audience, a few drinks for a few occasions. Go out, do what you will with these wonderful recipes, spread the word that Tie One On Tuesday is back, baby!