Meet Fiona!

I guess if you write a blog, your wish will come true the next day!  I am excited to introduce you to Fiona - Princess Fiona I should say.

I adopted Fiona yesterday at the Fire Station across the street.  Seminole County Animal Services was hosting an adoption event titled, "Furry Friends and Firefighters."  Did the dogs lure me?  Of course, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't also looking forward to maybe adopting a firefighter as well.  Unfortunately, all of the firefighters were inside and never really came out.  But it was probably for the best since I may not have given this little lovely pup much attention.

As I was crossing the street, I first made eye contact with Fiona and knew I was in trouble.  She has these big ears that stick straight up and she was looking right at me.  As I got closer to check her out, I noticed that it almost looked like she had been recently shaved.  The adoption volunteer said she had a non-contagious skin condition that was induced by stress and trauma.  This poor girl is a nine-month old stray and all I can think about is what her life was like before :(  After finding a permanent home and maintaining a grain-free, fish-based diet, her fur should grow in thicker.  But honestly, I love her just the way she is. Anyways, after taking her out and spending some time with her, I was sold.  This dog just couldn't stop giving doggie kisses, and she also put both of her paws on my shoulder as if she was giving me a doggie hug!

She's a tiny bit nervous and skittish, but oh so sweet!  She was freaked out by the stairs but now she walks up and down them like a pro.  She loves her crate, even though she did have two accidents already inside the apartment.  BUT I will give her the benefit of the doubt since it was a stressful day for her yesterday.

So funny thing is that she was living with a foster family prior to me adopting her.  As I was filling out the adoption application, the woman from the agency said that her foster mom had my same last name!  My last name is not super common so I just thought that was awesome.  She was meant to be a part of my family!  Originally her name was Scrappy, but I just didn't like it.  A volunteer said she should have a princess name and then I just blurted out Fiona, as in Princess Fiona from Shrek.  It seems fitting.  So welcome home, Fiona!  You found a forever home, yay!  And I've got a dog back in my life!

Doggie Withdrawals

I love having my own apartment.  It's almost where I want it to be.  The bedroom is still kind of....ehhh.  Definitely need to shop for drapes, which I have learned that I hate.  Everything is going well.  I just really miss my doggies, which are at home with my family.  I debated bringing Jerry with me, especially since I thought he would be happier without Tommy always bothering him.  BUT, I actually think that Jerry would miss him and I know for sure that Tommy would be devastated by not having someone to pull by the ears.  So here I am, dogless for the first time in a long time.  I'm not really sure what to do with myself.

Part of me thinks it's good to live without a dog for awhile, especially as I adjust to having my own place again.  I don't want the dog to start peeing on the carpet, etc. But I can't help it.  I need a furry friend with me here.  I've been looking for a dog to possibly adopt, but doing most of my looking online.  It's sooo difficult!!  I want to take them all home!  I just really need to think about what dog would be a good fit for my lifestyle.  I would love to have a small to medium sized dog that's pretty calm and definitely house-trained.  Another Shih Tzu, Cocker Spaniel, a shelter-mix special??  Ugh, this is painful, difficult, impossible....

Stay tuned.  Maybe I'll introduce you to a new friend soon!

New Digs!

Congratulations to me!  I moved to a new place, and it's all my own.  I mean, it's not something I own since I am just renting, but I consider it "mine."  It's been a long time coming and it does feel good to finally have a space I call my own, and that is close to work.  No more one-way hour long commutes.  Yipee!  After some time posting design inspirations to Pinterest, I finally have made up my apartment to fit my current style.  Below are some shots of the living room.  Funny thing is, I noticed that the same colors I chose to design my apartment in are the same colors I used to decorate this blog - teal and yellow.  Oh well.  I have an awesome mirror that is hung on the wall over the fireplace (I have a fireplace!), but I don't want to post pics of it because I plan to paint the wall gray.  So look forward to some before and after shots.  But the place is so cute!  And affordable!  Some of my favorite features include the french doors, the fireplace of course, wood floors (laminate I think...I don't care, it looks real to me) in the kitchen and bathroom, and a huge bedroom with walk-in closet.  Jackpot!  Okay, back to organizing...

Teal/turquoise, yellow, and gray

The hunt for drapes was so frustrating!

101 Things in 1,001 Days

UPDATE:  1/4/15 - I have obviously not completed all of these things.  However, they will remain on my general list of things I'd love to complete.  I'll give myself some credit though.  I did cross off some more items before posting this update!

I saw that a friend of mine had posted this on her blog and I simply fell in love with the idea!  What 101 things do you want to do in 1,001 days (a little less than 3 years)?  It's harder than it looks.  Don't believe me?  Then you should try it.  Here's my list (don't judge - some items are ordinary, some a bit too idealistic, but all of them - me!)

1.      Sell something on Etsy
2.      Bake an actual cupcake recipe rather than just decorate one
3.      Take a ballet class (like the old days!)
4.      Learn some Italian
5.      Make some yummy homemade guacamole - Delish!
6.      See a Broadway show  - Saw Beauty and the Beast in Orlando - it was awesome
7.      Visit Marco Island and Amelia Island in Florida
8.      Volunteer with Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
9.      Write a book
10.    Get a passport
11.    Get a stamp in my passport
12.    Go strawberry picking
13.    Try ziplining
14.    Be a good sport and attend a UCF sporting event
15.    Visit Mt. Vernon, Virginia
16.    Have my dogs pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test (I'm being optimistic here!)
17.    Sing at a karaoke bar
18.    Stop biting my nails
19.    Create a piece of art and hang it up somewhere
20.    Decorate my own place
21.    Visit the Florida Everglades
22.    Eat vegetarian meals for a full week
23.    Start attending church again
24.    Visit the World Trade Center memorial
25.    Go to an Orlando Magic game
26.    Try snowboarding
27.    Visit Las Vegas
28.    Take a photography class with my digital SLR camera
29.    Be someone's godparent (pretty please, you guys are all having kids!)
30.    Buy a piece of Disney artwork (since I'm always browsing through the art store anyways)
31.    Get dogs to serve as therapy dogs (or at least one of them)
32.    Donate old business clothes to 'Dress for Success'
33.    Join Kiwanis
34.    Visit a large national park - Yellowstone or Yosemite
35.    Bike the entire length of the Clermont/West Orange Trail
36.    Do something awesome for my 30th birthday - Miami, Broadway shows, Halloween goodness, friends and family, October 2012 was a good month
37.    Visit Chicago
38.    Stay at a Disney resort
39.    See seaturtles hatch and swim to the ocean at night
40.    Present a workshop at a conference - Presented at ASCA this year, woo-hoo
41.    Watch 'Modern Family' from the beginning
42.    Go deep-sea fishing
43.    Make my own coquito
44.    Visit the major national museums in Washington D.C.
45.    Finish my college scrapbook (so that it's done and can finally be put away...)
46.    Revisit Kennedy Space Center
47.    Swim with the manatees
48.    Make pumpkin cheesecake
49.    Get a tattoo....maybe....yes?
50.    Watch five classic movies I've never seen - Working on it, watched 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' - Ehh.., 
51.    Do a cartwheel in public for no reason
52.    Teach a class
53.    Understand the game of football
54.    Become fluent in Spanish
55.    Look into what it takes to open a business
56.    Visit Tybee Island, Georgia
57.    Visit New Orleans again - Just took a group of students here for Alternative Spring Break!
58.    Create a cake, cupcakes, or cake-pops for someone's very special occasion
59.    Purchase a fancy dress
60.    Take a cooking class
61.    Make my own scarf
62.    Get a new pair of glasses
63.    See a ballet other than "The Nutcracker"
64.    Submit a piece of art for 1st Thursdays
65.    Become First Aid/CPR certified
66.    Go camping
67.    Try paddle-boarding
68.    See Winter the dolphin in Clearwater (from Dolphin Tale!)
69.    See Dolphin Tale
70.    Snorkel in Silver Springs
71.    Celebrate New Year's Eve in NYC
72.    Play in the autumn leaves in Central Park
73.    Ride to the top of the Citrus Tower
74.    Remember a really funny joke and tell it well
75.    Host a holiday party
76.    Do something creative/good with my bridesmaid dresses
77.    Drink more water
78.    Return my overdue library book and leave a nice note in the book
79.    Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind"
80.    Ride a real train somewhere
81.    Go to an estate sale
82.    Buy a lottery ticket
83.    Buy fresh flowers once a month
84.    Attend a midnight premiere of a movie
85.    Don't log in to Facebook for at least one week
86.    Visit the Grand Canyon
87.    Build a butterfly garden
88.    Stay at a Bed 'n Breakfast
89.    See a local community play
90.    Have a picnic at a winery
91.    Read 50 new books
92.    Refinish a piece of old furniture
93.    Visit LegoLand
94.    Get a facial
95.    Donate blood
96.    Visit Leu Gardens
97.    Get a skin test done
98.    Teach Kiwi, my parrotlet, to say a word or sing a song - RIP Kiwi :(
99.     Go to a major league baseball game
100.   Visit Tampa Art Museum
101.   Fall in love with a great guy :)  I can include that right? lol

___________________

So, I have been trying to come up with this list for awhile.  It was a bit difficult, but I can happily report that I have completed item #73.  After almost 17 years of living in Clermont, I never went up the Citrus Tower and it is literally a baseball's throw from our home.  It was really quiet since I was the only person up there.  And I thankfully did not have a freak-out moment since I'm afraid of heights.  I actually did okay.

The Citrus Tower was originally a look-out post for all of the orange groves in the area.  It's amazing to see that all of those groves have been replaced with housing and development.  Take a look:

That was then.  And this is now:

Rolling hills and subdivisions...

I love that this picture says the horizon is 35 miles away.  Well here's one thing I can cross of my list.  I'm excited to see whether I can accomplish most of the things I listed!

A Look Back at 2011

It's New Year's Eve, it's New Year's Eve!  You know what that means - time for reflection!  Reflection....or reminisce....should be my middle name.  It's been quite a year.  I'm not quite sure where to start since it's definitely been a roller coaster year.  I just want to thank all of my family and friends that have been there through everything this year.  Sometimes you have to realize that not everything can be dealt with on your own.  It's been a year where everything could have changed forever (in a negative way).  I am thankful that it all worked out in the end, but there were some intense dips on this roller coaster ride! I want to acknowledge it, and that's all.  I'd rather focus on the positive.

I just want to highlight some of my favorite moments and memories of this year.

First of all, I am so thankful to have seen my nephew Abriel this summer.  It's been quite a few years.  That story is quite a journey in and of itself.  Although it makes me sad that he's so far away, I was excited that I got to see him this year.  It's amazing that he's thirteen already.  My goodness, I still have the picture of him as a rowdy baby on my desk :)  I hope that I will be making more trips to see him.

Sunset in Louisville, Kentucky (the only pic I
snapped while I was there for a conference!)

I'm thankful for all of the wonderful trips and places I got to visit this year.  I went to Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee.  On all of these trips, I enjoyed my time with family and close friends, and met new friends.  I also got on a plane quite a few times this year, and all by myself, too!  This is quite the accomplishment since I don't really like to fly.  I'll give myself a pat on the back for sucking it up and being a big girl.

It's been fun working in my new job.  I have great coworkers and busy days that keep me focused.  I really appreciate all of the wonderful opportunities that have come my way this year and all of the awesome people I have been able to meet along the way.

My Connecticut Huskies won the NCAA basketball championship this year!  Yay!!  Gotta love my UCONN Huskies!

My best friend got married....in a SURPRISE wedding I helped her pull off during her housewarming/holiday party.  I didn't think we'd be able to do it, but we did.  I'm so very happy for her and am so happy that she let me in on the secret!  This small ceremony reminded me that all you really need is love, love, LOVE!

I'm sure there are many more personal moments that happened throughout the year, but these special ones stick out in my mind as I reflect on 2011.  I'm surprised at myself actually.  I thought I would write much more.  Sometimes when you've had a difficult year, it's hard for that to not take up a huge part of your "yearly memory space."

I am hoping 2012 will be a wonderful year full of new beginnings and major changes.  I will be the first to admit that I am sometimes afraid of change.  Guards and walls are up, but I think 2012 is calling for a surrender.  When it comes to the serenity prayer, I feel like I have serenity and wisdom  (maybe) somewhat down, but that courage bit is a challenge.

Happy New Year everyone!  Blessings, love, peace, happiness, and much laughter to you all! xoxo

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey

"Spending Out"

I recently finished reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin.  It basically is a personal story of one woman's pursuit of happiness.  I enjoy reading these types of books (Hello, Eat. Pray. Love!).  Unfortunately, Gretchen was unable to just drop her life and travel around the world as Ms. Elizabeth Gilbert did so I was curious to see where her personal journey would lead her.  It really is a simple book.  There was no earth-shattering revelations here other than the simple things that she did which made her happy.  She focuses on the typical day to day:  family, work, relationships.

Some of the favorite things I took away from this book were her emphasis on de-cluttering and what she called "spending out."  It's the end of year and a good time to de-clutter, go through the closet, and pull out those things you don't need or want anymore.  I love the feeling of purging the extra useless items from my space.  I haven't gotten all feng-shui just yet, but I just feel so much better knowing that I don't have random things all around.  This physical clutter (even if it's not really much) begins to turn into mental clutter.  I can't seem to focus until things are in order.  Again, this was not earth-shattering advice, and I'm not saying that what I'm about to bring up next is either....

But she brought up the idea of using what you have. "Spending out" she calls it.  Sounds pretty basic, huh?  It probably is to most people, but I have always been someone who likes to save stuff - save it for a special occasion, save it so as not to waste it, etc.  But why?  Why not use it now?  Silly examples:  candles and stationary.  For years, I have collected notecards, pads, stationary of all sorts, but never wanted to use it all up.  Now I have boxes full of paper just sitting there, never having been used.  And candles, my goodness, candles!  Tealights, votives, jars - all of these are screaming "USE ME, USE ME!"  So I have been doing that recently, and it feels great.  Why does something so silly and simple feel so good?  Because a purpose is being fulfilled is my guess.  

I guess I just realized that being a "saver" can actually be wasteful.  Appreciate what you have - the here, the now.  Appreciate the beauty.  Don't let those things just die in a box.  Everything has a purpose and that purpose should be fulfilled.  Here's to lighting those candles and sending those notes!

Oh how you've piqued my Pinterest!

Oh Pinterest...how crazily addictive you are.  When I first learned of Pinterest, I just saw it in people's Facebook status updates, "Thank you Pinterest!" attached to a picture of Christmas jars....I didn't get it...Then I did some research and saw that it is a virtual pinboard where you can post things you find on your own or repin from other posters.  Very cute idea.  Once I got my formal invite to join, it was on!  There I was scouring the web for inspirational and cute things to post - recipes, books, ideas for my dream home, etc.  I really have come to love it.

I've come to love it so much that I got a little giddy when one pin I posted had 91 repins!  Woo-hoo!  Why does this make me happy?  I have no idea.  It's pointless really.  A pin board is something you see as valuable and inspirational.  Who cares if others want to share my pin?  I mean really......I do!! Just being silly, but it's a cool site.  I've got several crafty ideas from there, and plenty more I'm willing to try.

A few random things I've noticed about Pinterest though:

1.)  I'm not trying to judge people's boards and stuff, but some of these things do concern me.  One of them being boards devoted to fitness and physical appearance.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with posting fitness tips - I love it, it's great, hoorah.  BUT, I do have a problem when people have boards of pictures but nothing but incredibly skinny people - like model skinny, not realistic, unhealthy unskinny.  One girl had a whole board with just captions of "Hot," "Wanna have those legs!", etc, etc.  For whatever reason, it all just slapped me in the face.  We always hear how the media plays into body image and whatnot, but this site makes it very clear as it's right in your face.  I just want to comment on some of the pins and type, "THIS ISN'T CUTE OR HEALTHY!!!"  Blahhhh.....but what really threw me over the edge was a massive repinning of a fitness regime.  It seemed innocent enough at first until you continued to read through the list of about 50 tips.  It actually was a list of how you can be a successful anorexic or bulemic.  I hope that sh.... was pulled from the site real quick.  Ugh.

2.)  Maybe I don't like to jinx stuff - maybe it's just me.  I'm not going to post baby things or plan my wedding until those things are actually in the works.  Okay, I will call myself out on the whole dream home thing.  I am posting things for the home, but that is something that is technically always in the works.  But nurseries and wedding dresses, not until it's somewhat of a near reality will I be posting stuff.  Hopefully I will get to do this one day on Pinterest as it will be super duper addictive.

Here are a few things I've made recently:

A paper wreath

Birdseed ornaments!  So cute and so easy to make.

Initials from magazine paper.  A homemade gift from me to my coworker for Secret Santa: "Something Made of Paper" day.

Rudolph cupcakes!

Happy Holidays everyone.  I'm already scouring Pinterest for next year's ideas!

xoxo