Liebster Award

I am finally getting around to passing on the wonderful Liebster Award given to me by Betty the Bichon. 

First, here is a bit of background on the award:

"The origins of the Liebster Blog award are somewhat unclear but the general consensus is that it originated in Germany, Liebster meaning favourite or dearest, to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Upon accepting the award the recipient can then pass it on to five more blogs of note. A way of introducing other bloggers to the blogs you enjoy."

Okay, the blogs I chose are ones I have really enjoyed following, so drum roll please...

The winners are:

1. Groucho the Wonder Westie

2. Pebbles the Puppy

3. Murphy and Stanley

4. Ziggy the Westie

5. A Pirate Dog and an Air Traffic Controller

Begging for a Beefy Treat

We got a special package today from a very special duo. Our friend Noodles recently celebrated his 500th post! As part of the celebration he let his buddy Sunshine take over the blog for a day and they held a caption contest. Well, I entered and got second! As our prize, Noodles and Sunshine sent us a wonderful bag of PureBites, and Bosley could not be happier! Thanks so much for the wonderful gift, Noodles and Sunshine!

We Went Wading

Yesterday we went out to the county park to play. Erik threw a line in the pond and Bosley went wading to cool off. Once he figured out that the water did not equal death, he had a really good time. 

Found a stick

Spotted a fish!

Oops, it got a little deep

Bosley would have walked all the way around the pond in the shallows if I would have let him - we went most of the way. He kept trying to pull in full sized logs! It was pretty funny. When I finally pulled him out, I had half of a completely different dog. I had half of my little white fluffy puppy and half of a scrawny little black one. 

Getting fully immersed in nature

Tasting the wonderful flavors of fishy water

After a very sudsy bath, Bosley reminded me that Father's day was coming up. I got out some of my crafting supplies and we set to work.

Getting ready to give daddy his card

I had a non-toxic rainbow ink pad that I had Bosley step on. The paw prints didn't come out really well so I free handed them a little.

Happy Father's Day, Erik! Bosley and I love you so much!

Acrobatic

What started off as a little puppy photo shoot, turned into an interesting display of flexibility and balance, as well as stubbornness....

Dad thought he could sit in the chair...well I'm not giving up my spot

Never give up! Never surrender!

Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour

The girls needed to get together. It had been far too long since I had seen Abba-Dabba. I was getting desperate. Plus, Dalyz is leaving for a two week trip to Texas, so she need the proper send off. Luckily our favorite spot, Red's Ale House, has an amazing happy hour and an even better patio. The drinks are two for one!

We loaded up on queso dip, balsamic chicken flatbread, some pretty fantastic loaded fries, and one of the most delicious looking steak dishes. Mmmmm, it was like food porn.

Wordless Wednesday

Welcoming Summer and Puppy Forts

Welcome mats are fun, but sometimes nothing says 'welcome to my home' quite like a beautiful wreath. My front entry has felt a bit bare so I wanted to add that bit of summery warmth.

I picked up a grapevine wreath and some wood letters today at Hobby Lobby. I spray painted the letters white and everything is attached with fishing line stolen from my pink Lady Fish rod. I already had the silk hydrangeas, the paint, and the line so the whole project cost $6!

Erik was at a softball game while I was getting crafty, and he was pleasantly surprised when he got home.

Bosley was a little preoccupied with the pillow fort I built him to care about the wreath.

I GOT A NEW BALL!!!

I got a new ball...

and it squeaks when I bite it really hard!

I wore myself out

Love All the Fluffy Things!

Bosley has been showing his massive affinity for fluffy places lately, and I can't stop giggling about it! His new favorite spot is on the blanket tower in the living room, and he was a huge 'help' during laundry today - he kept grabbing towels and tried to make a warm fluffy nest and wouldn't let me fold them. Then he found my robe, fresh out of the dryer, and it was game over. I let him snuggle with it for a while but I practically had to fight him for it when I wanted to put it away!

Crafty Happy Birthday

 My brother's girlfriend, Saddie, is celebrating a birthday tomorrow! I'm taking a risk by posting this before I send the card, so Saddie - if you are reading this STOP!!! Also, sorry the card was late.

I went for broke and completely made the card. I have been getting little scrap booking doodads to make my cards with but I was inspired today. Are you ready for this? I dyed tissue paper!

4 drops red + 1 drop yellow food coloring in water

Dip paper then dry with hair dryer

My supplies - note the foil cupcake liner and my newly dyed pink paper

3 layers of dyed tissue paper and 2 layers of foil cupcake liner

I'm crazy happy about how this turned out and I really hope she likes it!

Little Nuggets of Wisdom

I've been doing semi-homemade gifts lately, and its so enjoyable. It's really gratifying giving someone something you put more than just money into. Plus, it's a great creative outlet. 

Now, when I do creative gifts, I like them to be on the cheesy side. For example, Erik's valentines day gift this year was specialty hot sauces and I made him a card that said "I've got the hots for you". He loved it by the way.

Today we had a graduation party for one of Erik's cousins, and I definitely wanted to give her something cute and unique. Since she is the oldest in her family and will be the first of her siblings to go off to college, I thought I would share some 'Little Nuggets of Wisdom'.

I printed out labels with little tips like:

 "Get plenty of sleep - all night study benders aren't as beneficial as you think"

"Get to know your professors - they are the best network for after college"

"Have school spirit and show it often"

"Get a flu shot"

"Make lots of friends"
"Ask questions - don't be afraid to raise your hand"
"Sit in the front - you will be more likely to stay awake"

"Register for classes early - if you think its a good class, so does everybody else"

"Get involved - student orgs are another great way to learn"

"Study - no matter what, school comes first"

 and

"Have fun - these are the memories that will last you a lifetime"

I took these labels and some money and wrapped them around Hersey's Nuggets. I also made her a card with one of my favorite quotes,

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

 -Eleanor Roosevelt

Arts Festival

Abby working the red carpet for the Chait Gallery

by Bekah Ash

Drummer for the dancers

Walked downtown after work to grab some good food with great people. We sat in the sun out on the patio and people watched as the Ped Mall slowly filled with people. Our restaurant was right next to a whole row of food vendors. The smells of funnel cake, BBQ, and kettle corn made our stomachs growl while we waited for our dinner.

After thoroughly enjoying our meals we began strolling the booth lined streets. There was so much to see and it's almost impossible to see it all. Several artists stood out among the crowd to me, and as we discovered on the Gallery Walk, Dalyz and I have completely different tastes. Abby and I also had a therapy session about our inability to commit to large art pieces. There are so many paintings in the sea, and we're not ready to be tied down to just one yet. Hopefully we'll settle down some day. 

Between the booths of pottery, handmade silver jewelry, photography prints, and wind chimes were other forms of art. Someone playing the community piano, a drummer keeping the beat for dancers drawing a large crowd, and a couple strumming a banjo and bowing a violin kept the Arts Festival patrons entertained as they wandered.

As I usually do, I found the perfect gift for my sister's birthday, but I'll have to wait to share until August. I also absolutely fell in love with every piece by Bekah Ash. I might settle down with one of her paintings...maybe.