Life Lately

We have had a crazy summer. The first two months were extremely rough and August started turning the corner. Jake accepted a job transfer to Petoskey and a week later we were moving in with my parents and commuting to our jobs while searching for a house to buy. That process has been quite interesting but we're nearing the end:) Here are a few photos of our summer:

I've been a bad, bad girl...

I mean, blogger.

What have we been up to, you ask? Just living the dream here in the H.L. (Are you sensing my sarcasm?)

Today, however, is a fabulous day. Happy Good Friday All!

(So glad Android finally got on the instagram train:: Layla Lou:: New greek key bracelet:: The pup cuddling with my dad.)

new obsession

Yes, someday I will own a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Preferably a female. With a girlie name like Ruby. I have a soft spot for all dogs, but I really am in love with this breed; with their sweet faces and curly ears. They remind me of my first dog, a Cocker Spaniel name Cindy. Yes, at 5 years old I named my dog Cindy.

The last thing my husband wants right now is another dog. We have been having some issues with Layla. She wants to beat up just about every dog she comes in contact with. I am hoping it's only the females she dislikes but I'm not so sure. The other night Jake was in the livingroom playing with Layla and he called out to me, "You know what I think Layla's problem is?"

"What?" I asked. Thinking, Here we go...

"She has zero social skills." He answered.

A light went off in my head. What would be the perfect solution to that? Why, buy her a sister of course!

Layla's basically the light of my life, but I have a big heart. There's room for two!

fall in northern michigan

(Fall 2010, my parents' front yard)

 There are certain aspects of Northern Michigan that I have spent the last 10 years trying to escape but have come to find rather endearing. Like this time of year when all the critters come out. On my way home from our cabin yesterday I passed two cows, just walking alongside the road, stopping every couple feet to munch on some grass. Not a care in the world. Reminded me of last December when this friendly creature crossed the road right in front of my moving vehicle: and then started coming toward my car when I hollered out the window, "C'mere Baby."

That was interesting. I also passed some roadkill on my way home. Four dead racoons! Now, I know they're pests but it was a little disheartening to see 4 dead ones lying side by side on the shoulder of the road. So, if you're ever in my area, please drive slow or you might just take out an entire generation.
 How about the time I came home to find a huge, feathery, dead partridge on the front porch? The most northern michigan thing about that partridge is he was later laid to rest in my parent's kitchen freezer...

(Dead as a doornail. Birdie hit that window hard.)

More recently, the animals have gotten larger...

I was introduced to this bear last week. He had been shot dead by an eager and excited hunter. That's my fake sad face but I really felt sad. I kept thinking how he should have been running through the woods with his friends, or dipping his massive paws in the pond in search of a fishy dinner. But instead he laid dead in the back of some redneck's truck. Population control...yea, yea, I've heard it before.

These are the kind of animals I like to see in the Fall...and every other season as well. The live ones, who get plenty of love and ride quads with their papas:) Layla is so spoiled. Wait until you hear what she did the other day! I guess you'll have to wait for the animal chronicles part dos. Stay tuned.

In celebration of fall in northern michigan, check out one of my fave country songs:

Moving Again

It is the story of my life. We are moving again. New town, new house, new job, oh--and a new car. It is another year of change for us. (Read about other moving adventures HERE and HERE.)

I had to say goodbye to my little monsters, which was heartbreaking. There were a lot of tears...that day, the next day, and a few days later...

But change is inevitable, and here we are- faced with it again. It's scary, a little sad, and a little exciting at the same time. Jake keeps reminding me to make the best of it, even if we're not living in our ideal town. Considering our history, every location is fairly short-lived. (fingers crossed.)

We packed it up, Beverly Hillbilly style.

That's what Layla did while moved heavy boxes and furniture in the 90 degree heat:)



weekend.

~New $6 flats. Gotta love the Gap Outlet~

~The snow is officially gone. Spring has sprung, just a little behind schedule~

~Don't knock lime green nails. It's all the rage~

~Had a house party Saturday night, and Layla was the perfect little hostess~



Im dying over this:

Who gets dramatic over dog beds? This girl does.

Layla needs one of these. Black trellis bolster arm dog bed? (in the larger size, of course.) Yes, pease. It even comes with a black monogrammed bone pillow with white piping!

I realize the photo is small, but enlarging it only fuzzed it up. Check it out HERE.

Grandma and Papa, if you want to pitch in for Christmas, feel free:)



Puppy Love

Have you ever seen something and you knew right away that you HAD to have it? Despite the cost, or the consequences, or even the added responsibility, it just must be yours?

I have.

Layla, 8 weeks old

I'm a big time dog lover. Sometimes I fall in love with dogs that aren't even very cute. I cry during "Old Yeller", celebrate my dog's birthdays, and would seriously clear out the Humane Society if my husband would let me. So, it's no surprise that when I saw Layla's sweet face back in November of 2007 while visiting friends in Nashville, I HAD to make her mine.

And the rest is history, she's just as much a part of the family as my brothers are. jk:)

Well, Sunday I fell in love again. Someone was giving away this puppy for FREE outside of Jay's Sporting Goods. He was so cute, and he had that incredible little puppy smell. And a sweet face, and he laid his head on my shoulder. I wanted him. He was a Beagle/Walker mix, which I have never seen before and is definitely not on my list of dogs I must have, but sometimes the logistics go flying out the window and all there is is puppy love:)

I tried to convince Jake to love him too, but no such luck. He's a little harder to crack than I am. So, we went home puppy-less. But I did say a prayer that he would go to a good family, seeing he was investment-free and all. But ever since Sunday, I've been feeling the itch. I want a puppy, and Layla needs a little sister or brother to play with.

a third birthday

Our Layla girl turned 3 on Monday, which means she's really 21- Big girl:)

Layla is the greatest dog. Sure, she's gotten into the garbage a few times, and she sheds like it's going out of style, but once she starts shaking her butt at you, you can't help but love her.

Happy Birthday to our favorite girl!



Guest Bedroom/Closet

"Be. Our. Guest. Be our guest, put our service to the test..."

Five bucks to anyone who knows where that song is from!

This is our "guest room." Of course, when living in a house this small a few of the rooms are multi-functional.

It is also our closet! If our guests don't want to wake up to the sight of our clothes, I'll have to suggest the couch. But this room has gotten more action than I anticipated. (And I don't mean THAT kind of action:) Mom and Dad are staying tonight.

That little closet on the left is the ONLY closet in the entire house. It's packed with clothes as well. And a hamper, and a broom, and a swiffer. I tell ya, multi-functional. We've gotten a lot of use out of our Sam's Club industrial clothes rack. See it in our previous house HERE. We try to keep the clothes as organized as possible since it's in plain sight, but let's face it- it's not first priority.

Bought this little framed painting for $3. The orange matte is actually real velvet. Love it.

Gotta love how Layla sneaks into about every picture one way or another.

Figured I would get a full body shot. She's everywhere I am. All the time.

this tuesday

With another move on the horizon, things are crazy over here. The house is a disaster, with boxes everywhere. All of the odds and ends lying around have me wondering whether to "pack?" or "pitch?" Jake already vetoed my vote and pitched my soul-singin'-black-girl wall art. Right now, I am feeling like I can part with things I never thought I could. I really dislike living in chaos and am now looking forward to moving. The only thing that remains the same are the flowers that Molly constantly picks from the backyard.

Layla doesn't like living in chaos either, so she opts for a spot outside in the shade.

In the 80s-90s

This is May, in Northern Michigan, and it's 85 degrees. What gives?! Does this mean we get an extra long summer? Because that would be fabulous...as soon as Jake figures out why the air conditioner upstairs keeps blowing a fuse! The upper level of this house is so hot, it's basically unbearable.

I stayed in town over the weekend, the first in several weeks. Saturday night I had a wonderful dinner with a girlfriend of mine. Had the best pesto hummus and sun-dried ravioli EVER. Then we decided to browse Target, as we are both huge Target nerds. We had so much fun shopping for absolutely nothing. When it was time to check out, we had to laugh at our random assortment of purchases; several $5 DVDs, hair ties, pregnancy tests (hers, not mine), tank tops, etc. We had so much fun.

Then Sunday, I went to church and by the time I got out it was already reaching 80 degrees, so I decided to take Layla to the West End beach, where it's usually pretty quiet. Not yesterday.

Unfortunately, I had to keep her on her leash, otherwise she would be kissing every human being on that beach, and I figured not everyone would appreciate that:)

My dog is a sissy. Maybe it's a Boxer thing, but she hates the water. She will barely get her paws wet, tiptoe in to get a drink, and then she's running out. Last year, I had to pick her up, walk into the water, and then set her down. I want her to be a water dog. I want her to be able to cool herself off, or else we'll be resorting to the hose in the backyard.

We saw the cutest set of Golden Retrievers. Their owner would throw a stick out into the water and they would both jump in after it. Then they would each grab an end and swim back, bringing the stick back together. It was so cute. It made me want a sister for Layla..bad.

It reached 100 degrees this afternoon and will be in the 80's-90's all week--woot woot!