Mutt Monday!

Today's edition of Mutt Monday comes to you courtesy of Amy at The Un-wife Housewife Life. Amy was my Summer Swap partner, and she was so sweet to include some Bil-Jac liver treats for my furry kiddos. I took some video of the kids enjoying her gift, and I can't believe that I am even posting something that features my voice, but here it is - puppy talk, Texas drawl and all...

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Mutt Monday was spawned, in part, by you - my fellow bloggers! In my blogstalking, I have come across so many of you who, like me, have adorable hounds that you love to show off! And what better way to brighten a dreary Monday than man's (and woman's!) best friend???

So all you dog lovers out there, I want to see your mutts and your purebreds, your tiny Chihuahuas and your huge Great Danes, your brand spankin' new puppies and your lazy, graying flea bags! Do you want to join the Mutt Monday fun? Link to your Mutt Monday post (not just your blog) through Mr. Linky below so we can all melt over your precious mutt(s)!!

My Summer Swap Package Arrived!

I recently participated in Miss Sweet Tea's at the Sweet Tea Diaries Summer Swap. It was such a fun experience! Thanks so much for hosting this Angela! Before I get to the goods, can I just say that I had an awfully crummy day yesterday?? I got some disheartening news about a co-worker, and it is going to make the next several weeks strange and difficult. But when I came home to my summer swap package, all that faded away!

I got the best partner in Amy at The Un-wife Housewife Life! We have tons in common, and I'm sure if we lived closer, we would be great IRL friends. For now, we will have to settle for bloggy friends, BUT Tony did ask me if we needed to take a trip to FL when I went on and on about how much I enjoyed this process with Amy!

I opened up my package to find this awesome tote bag on the top!

Inside the tote bag were all my goodies. Everything was wrapped super cute, and she even played into my blog theme with this "A Girl's gotta SHINE" label!

Some other items of note were gifts for Riley & Gidget and Tony! She is so thoughtful!

Here's all my loot:

• the tote bag
• koozies for me & Tony
• liver treats for Riley & Gidget
• a book light - sure to get lots of use while I work on my Sookie Stackhouse books
• a floatie for the lake
• Orbit gum in the best flavor - Bubblemint!
• a super cute nail polish color & clearcoat that I will definitely be taking to my next pedicure
• Maybelline Shine Seduction gloss. It's spooky how in tune we seem to be. Amy got me the EXACT same lip product that I use, without telling her, ONE shade off from the current color I am using. That's so great!
• and probably my favorite of all - a great chip & dip bowl for the lake with Amy's personal guacamole recipe! Tony is really intrigued to try this, so I will definitely be whipping it up for the 4th!

Here is a better shot of just the tote bag and koozies. These were all HANDMADE by Amy's mom Angie over at TLC by Angie! How cool is that?? Thanks ladies!!

Here's a close up of some of my other goodies. The lip gloss was already stashed in my purse, and Tony and I were drooling over the guacamole!

Gidget waited for her treats like a good little girl. Riley was impossible to capture as he was bouncing all over the room. I made a video of them, but I didn't have time to load it, so I think it might make a good Mutt Monday post!

This swap was so much fun! Thanks again to Angela, Amy and Angie!

Inside the Actor's Studio with Jordan

I love watching Inside the Actor's Studio with James Lipton! Do you? I like hearing the behind the scenes stories, seeing a side of a celeb that makes them more relatable, and learning more about the people who captivate my attention with great screen works.

In each episode, Lipton asks the guest to answer the Bernard Pivot questionnaire. Since being recognized on a blog is the closest I will ever come to celebrity, I'll give you my answers here!

1. What is your favorite word? Couture. It's such a pretty word.

2. What is your least favorite word? Cee U Next Tuesday. That word just rubs me all kinds of wrong.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Wit, chivalry and a great butt.

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Infidelity, disloyalty and irresponsibility.

5. What sound do you love? A thunderstorm.

6. What sound do you hate? Nails on a chalkboard...and the alarm clock.

7. What is your favorite curse word? The F bomb. It's so versatile.

8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt? Foley artistry. I've wanted to do that since I was a kid.

9. What profession would you not like to do? Anything involving needles in any capacity. Count me out.

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Welcome to the party! All your friends are here, and there's free beer inside!

Play along if you want. I'd love to see your answers!

Mutt Monday!

Today's Mutt Monday picture features my two preshies on the night we had picked them up from the vet after a long week of boarding while we were in Tahoe. We gave them new babies, but you can tell by their expressions that they are still mad at us!

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Mutt Monday was spawned, in part, by you - my fellow bloggers! In my blogstalking, I have come across so many of you who, like me, have adorable hounds that you love to show off! And what better way to brighten a dreary Monday than man's (and woman's!) best friend???

So all you dog lovers out there, I want to see your mutts and your purebreds, your tiny Chihuahuas and your huge Great Danes, your brand spankin' new puppies and your lazy, graying flea bags! Do you want to join the Mutt Monday fun? Link to your Mutt Monday post (not just your blog) through Mr. Linky below so we can all melt over your precious mutt(s)!!

Wordful Wednesday: Oh Deer!

Wordful Wednesday is hosted by Seven Clown Circus.

This past weekend, we took a break from Fort Smith to head to Possum Kingdom Lake with friends. We started to see quite a few deer as the sun went down, and Mark mentioned that they would come closer if I threw some corn out. So, I did, and the next several pictures show you what happened next.

OMG, it's eating out of my hand!! (I couldn't fix the red eyes on this one. Please resist the urge to draw horns on me.)

Tony got in on the action for a few minutes. I think he was resisting the urge to wrestle the deer to the ground.

Here come some more...

They ate out of my hand like this for a long time. Their little noses are so soft. I loved it!

I had just told this one that he needed to lay off and let someone else have a turn. He wasn't amused.

At this point, there were 15 or so in my little area. There were several more approaching on the other side of the fence.

The next day, these ladies were feeding on a brush pile in front of the house.

And, look what was hiding in between our fence and the neighbors...


A baby deer!! This little thing was almost as cute as a puppy. Sorry baby deer, nothing beats puppies in my book. It let me get pretty close before it hightailed it for its mama.

I found it with its mama a little later. Reunited and it feels so good...

I hope you enjoyed!

Acceptance Speech

I've got a few awards that I've received that I need to distribute. First up, I was awarded...

Neno's Award!

For this award, I would like to thank Lindsay! Lindsay @ Goodbye Martha is one of my many Linds(e/a)y followers, but this particular Lindsay sets herself apart. She is a lovely, Christian woman who writes about her faith, food, fitness and other fun stuff! Her posts reflect both her honest nature and genuine personality.

Neno's Award - Rules & Regulations:

1.As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.
2.To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.
3.Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.
4.Don't forget to mention the person who gives you the award.
5.Answer the award's question by writing the reason why you love blogging.
6.Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.
7.Don't forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

Q: Why do I love blogging? A: Well, I love blogging for a few reasons, but the main reason is...YOU! I love coming across a blog that makes me laugh, finding a blogger with whom I have something in common, discovering fabulous new products based on blogger recommendations, gaining inspiration from bloggers dealing with life's difficulties and gathering ideas from bloggers about anything and everything. I love sharing in your stories, your pictures and your lives. And I also love your comments!

I would like to present this award to:

1. My dearly missed friend Rachel @ The Kersting Klan. She and I were inseparable through my last few teen years/early twenties, and as BFFs, we have shared so many ups and downs. She's in Missouri now with her darling daughter Ava and firefighter husband, and we are long overdue for a reunion!

2. Happiness Is... She really knows how to capture life's simple pleasures from Peanut M & Ms (my fave!), fresh flowers and dog love to Mac & Cheese for dinner, beautiful vacay spots and shopping. You name it, she nails it! I always leave her blog with a smile.

3. Lindsey @ Learning to be a Wife. Lindsey is one of my best commenters! She is one of the newlywed bloggers that I have been drawn to because her stories of wedded bliss/blahs remind me of my first years as a wife. She also turned me onto the 30 Day Shred, and my flatter stomach thanks her!

Then, I was given...

the Friends Award!

I'd like to thank Iva for this award! Iva is an amazing blogger! She has managed to garner a large following in a short amount of time, and it's not hard to see why. She loves to meet other bloggers, and she is fantastic about featuring and crediting other bloggers. In one post, she tagged 40+ blogs (including mine!)...just because! Her posts always make me smile or laugh.

Then, I need to thank Lil' Woman! Lil' Woman is a list maker deluxe (shoutout), and my favorite list of hers has to be her 101 things she wants to do in 1001 days. I've seen these before from other bloggers, but Lil' Woman is blazing through it with lightning speed. She deserves major kudos for trying new things and achieving goals! She's inspired me to compile my own...whenever I get around to it. ;)

Lastly, thank you to Mel! Mel has a little one, Aidan, who is cute as a button! Her daily dose of his baby blues are enough to make any one melt. In addition to her little boy, she blogs great recipes and fun fashion/beauty finds. I am also just a tad jealous of her life in Scotland and all the awesome trips around Europe (which she details in great pictures!) that she gets to experience.

"This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

I would like to bestow this award upon:

1. Chelsea @ From My Front Porch. I have recently found Chelsea, who has bravely chronicled her journey to be a mother, and she's preggers right now! She is a fellow Texan who lives a charming country life with her husband and three gorgeous dogs!

2. Trina @ Fabulously Frugalicious. I adore Trina's blog because she shares my love of peacocks. She comes up with some amazingly frugal finds, and I love her DIY eye. She has a beautiful family with two charming kiddos!

3. LiLu @ Live It, Love It. Charming is the perfect word to describe LiLu! She is one of the most candid, brutally honest bloggers I've encountered. Her content is often gross and borderline offensive (yet somehow it still endears her readers to her), and she is always good for a laugh!

4. Danielle @ Well, That's Just Fabulous. Danielle is fabulously charming! She was so excited to have won my first giveaway. In addition to just being all-around fabulous, she shares my obsession with the tv. She designs blogs that are always clean and classy, and she's surprisingly grounded for a blogger living in LaLa Land. ;)

5. Amy Lynn @ The Un-wife Housewife Life. Amy is the charming partner that I was graced with in Miss Sweet Tea's summer swap, and I believe it was blog destiny that we were paired together. Amy and I share so much in common that it saddens me she is so far away in Florida.

6. Jessica @ This, That & My Blog. And when I say this and that, I mean it! Jessica blogs about everything under the sun (just check out her labels!), and I'm always sucked in to her posts. She designs charming blogs, and bonus - she is another Lone Star State blogger!

7. Lindsey @ The Wynn's World. Lindsey is another charming blogger I think I was destined to stumble upon. She is a fellow Texan (yeehaw!)/firefighter's wife/mom to two precious Boxer fur babies. I enjoy reading about her daily life, especially because it seems so similar to mine.

8. Amanda @ My Life as a Wife. Amanda was my very first blog to stalk, and she lured me into blogging with her cute stories about her life as a new wife. She's always got adorable puppy pics to share (two beautiful Chocolate Labs), great recipes to demonstrate, tv shows to review and funny newlywed stories that make you giggle. And shoutout - another Texas girl! Can you tell I love my Texas bloggers?? :)

Thanks again! Please check all these lovely ladies out!

Mutt Monday!

Riley is a great sport when it comes to hats!

Gidget on the other hand...

...NOT so much. ______________________________________________________________

Mutt Monday was spawned, in part, by you - my fellow bloggers! In my blogstalking, I have come across so many of you who, like me, have adorable hounds that you love to show off! And what better way to brighten a dreary Monday than man's (and woman's!) best friend???

So all you dog lovers out there, I want to see your mutts and your purebreds, your tiny Chihuahuas and your huge Great Danes, your brand spankin' new puppies and your lazy, graying flea bags! Do you want to join the Mutt Monday fun? Link to your Mutt Monday post (not just your blog) through Mr. Linky below so we can all melt over your precious mutt(s)!!

Fabulous Friday

It's time for another edition of Danielle's Fabulous Friday! Today's topic:

My absolute favorite summer treat is Ice Cream!

Blue Bell's Mint Chocolate Chip is my all-time fave. Other honorable mentions are Rocky Road and Cookies & Cream.

While we are on ice cream...Oreo Fudge & Ice Cream Cake

This is a HUGE hit anywhere I have taken it. It is so yummy and easy!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup hot fudge ice cream topping, warmed
1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip, thawed, divided
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) Jello Chocolate Instant Pudding
8 Oreo Cookies, chopped (about 1 cup)
12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches

Directions:
1.Pour fudge topping into medium bowl. Whisk in 1 cup Cool Whip.
2. Add dry pudding mix; stir 2 min.
3. Stir in chopped cookies.
4. Arrange 4 ice cream sandwiches, side-by-side, on 24-inch-long piece of foil; top with half the Cool Whip mixture.
5.Repeat layers. (You have to do this FAST or your ice cream will melt! I usually have my husband take the sandwiches out of the freezer and unwrap them as I need them to speed things along.)
6.Top with remaining sandwiches. (I put in the freezer after this step to help it form up before frosting. It really reduces the problem of melting ice cream.)
7.Frost top and sides with remaining Cool Whip.
8. Bring up foil sides; double fold top and ends to loosely seal packet.
9. Freeze 4 hours.

My next fave summer treat is Grape Salad!

modified from Recipe Zaar

This again is a BIG hit. I usually cut the recipe in half for serving 4 or less.

Ingredients:

4 lbs red seedless grapes (I personally make mine with red grapes only, but you can use 1/2 red, 1/2 green if you would like.)
8 oz sour cream
8 oz softened cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract (can be more or less, I don't measure.)
A splash of milk

Topping (I don't even make this up until just before serving.):
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
1. Wash and stem grapes. Set aside.
2. Mix sour cream, cream cheese, white sugar and vanilla by hand until blended. (This is where I add the milk. It's hard to get the right consistency by hand, and the milk helps in the stirring. You can add more, but you don't want the mixture to be runny! It needs to be able to coat the grapes. I have used a hand mixer before in a pinch.)

3. Stir grapes into mixture, and pour in large serving bowl.

4. Chill several hours or overnight.
5. Add brown sugar/pecan topping (use as little or as much as you'd like) just before serving.

What are your favorite summer treats??

Thoughts Rolling Around in My Head.

My friend Ali is in Ireland. right. now. Is it possible to die from envy?

I've already written my Fab Friday post on super yummy summer treats!

That whole April Rose thing? Tsk, tsk, tsk. When will people learn that the blogosphere knows ALL?

I am peeling on my forehead, just on the inch or so down from my hairline. GAH-ROSS.

My folks are on their way to see my sister and BIL. They will probably go to P F Chang's tonight for dinner. Mmmmm, lettuce wraps. {Homer Simpson drool}

How do people wear contacts? It plagues me. I had a small hair on my left eye for 90 seconds this morning, and I almost had to commit myself.

I made a pact with my husband about five months ago. If he did A for six months, he would get B in return. Unfortunately, lack of fundage is going to prevent me from keeping my end of the bargain next month. :(

The grocery store had M & Ms on a two for one sale. Thanks, 'cause me sliding on the one bag wasn't enough.

Mutt Monday!

I'm sorry to bore you with more pics of mutts at the lake! I will try and get some pics at home this week.

Miss Gidget doing what she does best - loving her some lap! Next week, I am going to try my very best to have video of Miss G swimming.

My Riley. I can't believe that he is going to be six next month! I still see him as my baby boy.

Next up, we had a mutt visitor - Sadie! I LOVE this picture!! Doesn't it look like she is enjoying a beer while watching the storm blow in??

And last, but not least, yet another mutt visitor - Maggie May! Maggie is Sadie's much younger sister, and she had to be kept on a pretty tight leash due to her keen Beagle nose. She wanted to explore everything!

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Mutt Monday was spawned, in part, by you - my fellow bloggers! In my blogstalking, I have come across so many of you who, like me, have adorable hounds that you love to show off! And what better way to brighten a dreary Monday than man's (and woman's!) best friend???

So all you dog lovers out there, I want to see your mutts and your purebreds, your tiny Chihuahuas and your huge Great Danes, your brand spankin' new puppies and your lazy, graying flea bags! Do you want to join the Mutt Monday fun? Link to your Mutt Monday post (not just your blog) through Mr. Linky below so we can all melt over your precious mutt(s)!!

ETA: If Mr. Linky does not appear for you, please just leave a comment with the link to your MM post.

And the winner is...

This morning, I printed your comments and numbered them according to how many entries for which each commenter qualified. Very scientific...

The numbers were then plugged into random.org (which actually IS scientific), and the winner is...

Danielle!

Congratulations Danielle! Hopefully, now it's a fabulous Monday! Please email me at twodogsagirl{at}gmail{dot}com with your shipping address so I can send you your winnings!

Thanks to all for playing along! It was fun, and I can't wait to do it again. :) Mutt Monday is coming up next!

Last Call!

My giveaway ends TODAY at 5 p.m. CST. If you've not entered, there's a few hours left!

Winner will be announced Monday morning. Feel free to join me for Mutt Monday as well!

I am off to Fort Smith to drink cold beverages, float and sun myself (with the proper SPF of course!) on the lake. Have a great weekend lovelies!

Pop Quiz

I saw this little quiz on Adventures in Newlywed a while back, filled it out and never posted it. I gots nothing today, so here ya go.

♥What are your middle names? I’d rather not say, but they start with M (me) and D (Tony).

♥How long have you been together? March 7, 2003 – ‘til death do us part.

♥How long did you know each other before you started dating? Hours. I don’t remember how many. There might have been underage drinking going on.

♥Who asked who out? He did.

♥Who said I love you first? He did.

♥How old are each of you? 26.

♥Whose siblings do/did you see the most? Mine, but not by a huge margin.

♥Do you have any children together? Nope. Let's keep it that way for a while longer, mmmmk?

♥What about pets? Duuurrr...check out the header.

♥Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? We’ve had various issues over the years, namely adjusting to Tony’s schedule as a firefighter, but I have to say family estrangement has been the hardest.

♥Are you from the same hometown? Sorta. He was born elsewhere in Texas but moved here 18 years ago.

♥Who is the most sensitive? Queen bawl bag Jordan.

♥Where do you eat out most as a couple? I don’t think we have a frontrunner. We are equal opportunity eaters.

♥Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Cabo San Lucas.

♥Who does the cooking? Tony ‘cuz I’m spoiled like that.

♥Who is the most social? Tony. Consider me a recluse compared to that social butterfly.

♥Who is the neat-freak? All me. Tony doesn’t have a neat freak bone in his body.

♥Where was your first date? A local bar and grill.

♥Who has the bigger family? Definitely Tony - Mexican/Polish Catholics.

♥Do you get flowers often? No, but I did when we were dating. I prefer to spend that money at Anthropologie.

♥Who do you spend the holidays with? We split time between his family and mine.

♥Who is more jealous? Tough call. We are rarely jealous, but we have each had a moment or two.

♥Who’s better with the computer? Me. Ha!

♥Who picks where you go to dinner? This is an agonizing process of “You pick.” “I picked last time! It’s your turn.” Groan. “Ok, well what sounds good?” “I don’t know. What did you have for lunch?” And on it goes. It’s a wonder we ever leave the house.

♥Who eats more sweets? Tony.

♥Who cries more? Queen bawl bag Jordan.

PS: Don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends Friday, June 5th!

Mutt Monday!

Like many of you, we spent Memorial Day at the lake, so today's Mutt Monday presents mutts at the lake house!

Miss Gidget ho'ing herself out to anyone with an open lap. Work it girl, work it!

Riley is impossible to catch during the day because he spends it down at the dock flirting with chicks. So you get him at the end of the day, tuckered out!

And because she made a guest appearance, here's our friends' mutt, Roxy (not to be confused with the Roxy I rescued, even though they look similar!)

______________________________________________________

Mutt Monday was spawned, in part, by you - my fellow bloggers! In my blogstalking, I have come across so many of you who, like me, adorable hounds that you love to show off! And what better way to brighten a dreary Monday than man's (and woman's!) best friend???

So all you dog lovers out there, I want to see your mutts and your purebreds, your tiny Chihuahuas and your huge Great Danes, your brand spankin' new puppies and your lazy, graying flea bags! Do you want to join the Mutt Monday fun? Leave a comment and link to your Mutt Monday post (not just your blog) so we can all melt over your special mutt(s)!!

PS: Don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends Friday, June 5th!