Sir Barks-A-Lot

We have a little bit of a problem in the happy daily household. Dundee, our sweet little bundle of fur has become…a barker!!

Who would have thought that this little guy…



Would turn into this…

In the course of a few weeks, his barking has becoming something of a bad habit. He barks in the yard, in the house, morning, noon and night...I know some barking is normal, but this has crossed into the abnormal category, I think. I have looked up everything I can find on puppy barking (including watching hundreds of “dog whisperer” clips), and the articles and books say that he wants attention when he barks (or else Timmy just fell down a well and he needs our help! Hehe. Sorry, I couldn’t resist a Lassie comparison!!).

We have tried using the command, “no” “quiet” and “shhh” and they don’t seem to work. We have tried turning our backs to him and that doesn’t work. We have tried a water bottle, but he thought that was a game. He is getting two walks a day, but maybe I need to up that to three?

Does anyone have any advice about how to temper your puppy’s barking? I don’t want him to be silent, but the neighbors are starting to complain…

I will try anything!

(Doesn't Dundee know that he is supposed to be like this?? hee hee)

Best Weekend Ever!!

This past weekend was my best friend’s wedding, and it was so magical! When D and I started driving on Thursday morning, the whole east coast was being pummeled with rain. However, by Friday morning, everything was sunny and beautiful in Jacksonville, Florida!
On Friday we had the bridesmaids’ luncheon at one of the bridesmaids mother’s home. It was so welcoming and fun! We were greeted with mimosas and fried green tomato appetizers, and then sat down to an amazing luncheon with wonderful sweet tea to drink! Oh my goodness, I miss the southern hospitality of Jacksonville!

The wedding was at the Cummer Museum of Art in the gardens and it was just beautiful. There are not many locations like it. The gardens are right on the St. John's River and are filled with live oak trees with spanish moss hanging. So lovely!

D and I stayed at the Riverdale Inn just down the street, and it was so much fun to stay at a Bed and Breakfast! I just loved it. I want to post some photos, but I probably need to wait to let the bride post some first!

If you are ever in Jacksonville, FL, you MUST stop at a Peterbrooke Chocolatier shop and try some chocolate popcorn. It may sound a little strange, but it is the most amazing stuff on Earth! When we arrived to our room in Jacksonville, the bride and groom had a gift bag waiting in our room with, you guessed it, the chocolate popcorn! D is not even a chocolate lover and he devoured a whole bag!

What a wonderful weekend!

It’s Happening Again

I’m back to being completely obsessed with Twilight again! When I first read the books (the “saga” really), I was bitten by the bug like everyone else. I devoured all four novels and even went so far as to read “Midnight Sun” (the unfinished novel written from Edward’s perspective) online. I was a woman obsessed!

Then, time passed, the movie came out, and my fascination subsided. I saw the movie and thought it was pretty good, put the books on the shelf, and life returned to normal…or did it!? Now, more than a year later, my own personal Twilight mania is back!! I really feel like a true addict that has fallen off the wagon!

Over the weekend, I innocently borrowed my friend’s DVD of “Twilight.” Then, just for kicks, I picked up the first book again and started to reread it. Big Mistake. In one weekend, I have now managed to turn into a major fanatic again. I am no better than the screaming, 13-year old fans wearing “Team Edward” shirts!! I am now counting down the days until Nov 20th, the New Moon movie premiere. However, I don’t just want another movie, I want another book!! I can’t get enough!!



“Say it”
“Vampire”

hehehe

I hope you have a great day!

Wedding Day Fun!

The countdown has begun! I am now less than a week away from my best friend, Darling’s wedding day! D and I are heading to Jacksonville, FL on Thursday morning, and I can NOT wait! Darling is going to make the most beautiful bride and Jacksonville is one of my Top 10 places in the whole world (I spent my elementary and middle school years there)! What a happy occasion!!

One thing that my sister did for me, that I am doing for Darling, is to assemble a “wedding day survival bag.” Even though I didn’t end up needing anything from it on my wedding day, for some reason, it just made me feel better to know that I had every tool I could possibly need to avert any sort of emergency “wedding” situation. I even had my sister bring duct tape in case of a massive rip in my wedding gown!

So, apparently there are pre-made wedding survival kits you can buy, but knowing Darling well, I want to make this one myself. So here is everything I think a bride may or may not need on her wedding day!

Dress and Shoes Survival

· Shout wipes
· Double sided tape and, again, some packing tape.
· White chalk (I read about this as a last ditch remedy to disguise any stains on the wedding gown…genius!)
· Sewing kit (with tiny scissors)
· Safety pins
· Blister guard
· Bandaids
· Lint brush

Beauty survival

· A little mirror
· Blotting paper
· Lipstick
· Q-tips
· Makeup remover
· Brush
· Little hairspray
· Bobby pins
· Nail file
· Tissues

Comfort

· Tums
· Advil/Midol/Aleve
· Little Deodorant
· Breath mints
· Tampons
· Eyedrops
· Purell

Mood Stabilization

· Alcohol (just kidding, but not really…)
· EmergenC (I doubt she would be low energy, but just in case)
· Rescue Remedy (for any jitters)
· A ginger ale and saltines (cure for an upset tum!)
· Maybe a magazine? (Darling does love mags, so maybe I will bring one in case she starts feeling overwhelmed?)

I found a really cute bag that fits everything, and Darling will be able to keep it after the wedding! Also, my sister will take the bag and stash it somewhere inconspicuous during the reception, so everything will be “on hand” throughout the day and into the night.

Okay, now I need some help. Can you think of anything else a bride might need? Or is there something you wished you had on your wedding day?

Its Beginning to Look A Lot Like…

Thanksgiving, right? I think Thanksgiving is supposed to be the next holiday, but you wouldn’t always know it when you go to stores! There is red and green holiday stuff everywhere! However, I love Christmas and the whole holiday season so much that I get so happy seeing the red and green, even if it is a tad early.

So, this morning, I slipped into Starbucks for a cappuccino (I have REALLY cut back on my SB habit, but this morning I couldn’t resist!), and I was handed one of these! Yay!

The colors on the Christmas cup are more muted this year, but it is just as fun to get one! I hope you have a great Friday!

Harvest Moon

But there's a full moon risin'
Let's go dancin' in the light
We know where the music's playin'
Let's go out and feel the night.

-“Harvest Moon” by Neil Young

Wasn’t the Harvest Moon beautiful last night? I got home early and took Dundee for a walk, and when I saw the gorgeous, orange moon rising, I, of course, started singing the song “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young to Dundee! I love that song so much!

Just as I was really starting to belt out the chorus to Dundee (“because I’m still in looove with yooouuu! I want to seeee yooouu dance agaaainn!”), I came to the realization that I was in public and dangerously close to becoming the crazy, singing, dog lady of the neighborhood! Hee hee. I can’t help it. I know when I have kids, I am going to embarrass them to death!

D has been on a business trip the last few days, and he arrived home last night. I am so glad to have him home!

I hope you enjoyed the full moon last night!

If You Are Someone...

...who thinks that animals should not wear costumes, you may want to stop reading now! Just look at my little Halloween Pumpkin!!

D was beside himself when I dressed up his manly dog in a pumpkin costume, but I couldn't let Dundee's first Halloween pass us by!

This is Dundee bowing his head in shame! He quickly tore apart the headpiece, so I am thinking no santa hat at Christmas. Very sad.

I hope you had a happy halloween!