I’ve become obsessed with Seattled-based, Erin Vey photography. Her blog is appropriately titled, “bark.” She captures the true emotion and bond between dogs and their humans and finds ways to make the dogs look like superstars! She has a gorgeous Great Dane named Gracie who is her muse. Gracie is such a diva.
Erin Vey hosted a contest recently where she asked her readers to send in an inspiring story of their dog or a dog they know. If you are the winner, she will fly out to where ever you live and photograph your dog. I knew I had to enter Fiona. She’s a little survivor and I know it must make her so sad to see so many gorgeous photos of Boudreaux that Kelly Moore took last year. She needs her own photo session. Erin hasn’t announced the winners yet, but I’m hopeful that we’re in the running!
Here are some of my favorites from Erin Vey.
What’s better than an old Golden with his baby?
This is Erin’s Great Dane, Gracie. Look at those lines!
I don’t think it’s any secret how much I loved our professional wedding photos. It was the best money spent on wedding details and our photographer is a true artist.
As part of our wedding package with her, we received 12 photos mounted on boards in various sizes from our engagement session and from my bridal session. We displayed them around the wedding reception. After the wedding, I had them framed in black frames with white mats.
Then I decided that I wanted our hallway to look like this.
I also love these two photos (in poor quality) from Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott’s house. I love all the photos lining the hallway and the two gorgeous prints of the two of them in their bedroom. Someone posted a comment on Mojito Maven’s post about it only being right to hang photos of the two of you in your bedroom. No kid photos, no parent photos. Just the two of you in your romantic room.
Because I only had about 12 photos of all different sizes, there was no way that they’d all fill up the walls, so we ordered more. A lot more. In 4×6, 5×7, and 8×10. I framed one large bridal portrait and then there are some really fun candids. We got some gorgeous photos of our parents and one of my favorites is of Todd’s hands.
The frame shop called yesterday to tell me that they’ve finished framing them all, so we’ll get the hanging done tomorrow before our house guests arrive.
I’m not the first to post about this. Mojito Maven asked for everyone’s advice on what to do with wedding photos. I promise I’m not trying to steal her post. I’m just so excited about our photos being finished. I actually don’t want anyone’s opinion on whether or not they like my idea of hanging up all the photos. We’ve paid for the photos and the framing and we’re doing it anyway! I have a few small prints in the guest bedrooms. The photographer gave us a disc with all of the high-res images and I’ve been able to print these on my own.
As the years go by, I plan to have Kelly come take photos of our children and our home and we’ll replace our wedding photos with these.
Mrs. Newlywed also did a post similar to this one asking for your opinions on having photos of yourself in your home. I sort of think of it like this: it’s our home and we’re starting our own little family. I have photos of my brother, my parents, his parents, our dogs, and us as a couple. These are all the people (and canines) I love and I’m happy to see their pictures hanging on our hallway walls.
I think one of my favorites that I ordered is of my mom and me dancing to “Sweet Caroline” at the end of the night. When Neal Diamond says, “Reaching out– touching me— touching you” we reached out and held hands and the picture turned out so great. It’ll be hanging in our hallway.
Todd and I have a huge crowd of people coming in town this weekend for the USC v. Tennessee game. Thirteen of his law school friends will stay at our house from Friday until Sunday. We’re very excited because it promises to be a very fun weekend. I’ve got a lot running through my head of things I need to do to get ready. I’m going to make some casseroles to have ready for Friday night as people trickle into town, I need to get tailgate food in order, and wash all of our towels and sheets to make sure that everyone is accommodated.
Todd goes out of town today until late Thursday night, so I’ll be handling most of this on my own and I wanted to make sure that we weren’t forgetting something before he left town.
I called Todd at work to run some of this by him and here’s how the conversation went:
Me: “We need to make sure that we have tailgating in order because it will be so late when you get back.”
T: “Yeah.”
Me: “We should just order some chicken and pick it up on Saturday morning. I’ll make pigs in blankets, cookies, brownies, and something else that will stay hot.”
T: “Sounds good.”
Me: “You’re going to help me, right? I just don’t want to forget anything.”
T: “I understand.”
Me: “Well, are you writing any of this down?”
T: “No. Actually, I really haven’t even been listening to you. About fifteen emails just came in and I’ve been reading them while you’re talking.”
While I’m on the subject of TV theme songs, why don’t we just listen ot Josh Groban sing all the classics by himself? When I saw this on Emmy night I was blown away!
Todd and I were singing a certain TV theme song the other day and really got cracked up at ourselves. I went on to You Tube last night to try and find the song and the opening credits and I found it!
After we watched the Step by Step theme song, I was on a roll and wanted to hear lots more. Here are some others for your trip down memory lane for the day! So much fun!
I love how all of these theme songs pretty much sound the same– and we all knew all of the words!
Here are the rules: Pass it on to five other bloggers, and tell them to open the nearest book to page 56.
Write out the fifth sentence on that page, and also the next two to five sentences…The CLOSEST BOOK, NOT YOUR FAVORITE, OR MOST INTELLECTUAL!!
I’m at work in my office and the closest novel is Marley and Me by John Grogan. Seriously love it! I’m having my students read it this semester (some love it and some are complaining about it) so I’ve got a copy in my office.
Some days I felt like Anne Sullivan to Marley’s Helen Keller. I thought back to Saint Shaun and how quickly I, a mere ten-year-old boy, had been able to teach him all he needed to know to be a great dog. I wondered what I was doing wrong this time. But our little fetching exercise offered a glimmer of hope. “You know,” I said to Jenny, “I really think he’s starting to get it.” She looked down at him, plodding along beside us. He was soaking wet and coated in sand, spittle foaming on his lips, his hard-won stick still clenched in his jaws. “I would be so sure of that,” she said.
1. Do you have the same friends since childhood? Really, just one. My mom and her best friend were pregnant together and her friend’s daughter and I grew up being best friends. Distance did separate us, but I’ll always love her and she was bridesmaid in the wedding. We moved around so much that I really lost touch with my young childhood friends.
2. What do you value most about your friends? Honesty, humor, similar interests, and patience. Aw… I’m getting sad thinking about how far away my friends are!
3. Are your friends sounding boards? For sure! My friends and my mom. I’m just so busy these days and they’re so busy that we don’t talk as often as I’m sure we’d like to.
4. What is your favorite activity to share with friends? It doesn’t matter. Just being together. I have different ways with each friends. One is the best to explore a new city with! (holla, I know you’re reading!) One is great to lie in bed and watch Sex and the City on DVD with. Another is great to just sit and talk with. One is great to take long walks with.
I’m passing the Bookworm Award and the Friendship Award on to the following ladies:
My blog twin, Mojito Maven, is hosting an incredible giveaway in honor of her 100th post!
Go to her blog and enter this giveaway for a chance to win a wishing thread and charm from Stella and Dot! And look at all of the other gorgeous pieces from Stella and Dot.
Today is my little brother’s birthday. Only now he’s not so little. He turns 23 today and he’s 6′2″! He was seriously the cutest kid ever with bright red hair and the cutest little voice. I have to go back and watch videos to see and remember that because he’s such a man now!
Happy Birthday, Brother!!!
This is one of my favorite photos of the two of us that was taken last December in Chicago. Our favorite movie to watch together is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. We can basically quote the entire thing and this is a photo we had always wanted to take. When we visited the Sears Tower for the first time way back in 1995, we weren’t tall enough to take this picture and it was much too crowded at the top. Last year, we got another chance and it turned out pretty funny.
As soon as we got in position, Brother said, “I think I see my dad.” {a good old Cameron Frye quote}
I’m getting my blogging act together enough to post about Weight Watchers Wednesday!
My weight fluctuates by the seasons. I’m always a little heavier in the warm months and I slim down in the cooler months. Some people are just the opposite. I like to exercise outdoors when the air is cooler. I take five mile walks with Boudreaux and eat light soup meals.
Exercise is definitely key for me. I find that if I’m exercising, I’m more motivated to watch what I’m eating. I don’t want all of that hard work to be for nothing. I can drop pounds, but still be “skinny fat.” I like the lean muscle and you have to get moving to achieve that.
In the winter months, I like to go to my spinning class twice a week. I’m able to get cardio and resistance doing that. It kicks my butt! Spinning causes you to sweat like you wouldn’t believe and I like to sweat when I work out. If you’re not ready to sweat then you probably need to reevaluate.
The other days of the week, I’ll take a long walk with Boudreaux and come inside for crunches and light weights with high reps. I like to use 3 and 5 pound weights. I can lift more than that comfortably, but I can’t go as long and won’t achieve the desired effect with higher weight.
I’ve attached a yummy taco soup recipe. It’s only 2 points which means you can eat a little more of it if you’re not full from the first serving! It always helps me when “seconds” are an option!
2 Point Taco Soup
1 large onion, diced 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles 1 (11 ounce) canned corn with red and green peppers 1 (15 1/2 ounce) can low-fat or fat-free canned refried black beans 2 cans water (3 1/2 cups) 1 package taco seasoning mix 1 package ranch salad dressing mix (dry)
Saute onion with vegetable oil cooking spray. When softened, combine all other ingredients and cook until heated through.
Makes 9-10 cups. Serving size is 1 cup.
How have all of you done this week? Has the weather made a difference in your eating and exercise habits?
This blog is not supported nor endorsed by any part of the Weight Watchers Corporation. All point values are figured using the Weight Watchers eTools and are assumed to be as accurate as possible. Recipes that are labeled as “Core (WW)” may contain trace amounts of non-Core ingredients, but the point value per serving of those ingredients would figure to be .5 points or less in all cases.
