I'm still here and all over the place with this post.

Hello lovelies! I'm sorry I've been away for so long. I do apologize for the absence, but I just can't seem to get it together and blog lately. I do so appreciate my readers, and I've missed your wonderful comments. Thank you to a special few of you who have sent "miss you" notes!

So, let's see - it's September and in North Texas that = dove season. Want to see what we've been up to for the last month?

Riley is such a proud bird dog!

"Uh, hey guys? I think you missed a spot right there on the tailgate!" - Riley

On another dog note, Roxy has been missing for two weeks now, and that has had me pretty down. As her "rescuer" and foster mama, I still feel responsible for her. I think that not knowing what has happened to her is the worst part. Did someone see her and take her? Was she hit by a car? Did she just run away? There's just no closure, so we hold out hope that maybe she will still turn up. The unknown is killer.

Speaking of the unknown - I've got to keep it vague, but my husband and I are struggling with a difficult decision. It would be a huge leap of faith, and that scares the hell out of me. I find myself trying to strike a balance between supportive and cautious, between trust and security. I want to be supportive of him and his aspirations, but I find myself thinking selfishly of myself. Has anyone else been caught in this situation?

That's all I'm able to muster at this point without pictures from my home computer. But hey, it's something right?

Oh, and calling all Anthropologie lovers: I have a new blog crush. Kim @ Anthroholic is absolutely fabulous!! I love the outfits she puts together, and it's awesome to see Anthro pieces (that I wouldn't know what to do with) in action. Check her out!

The greatest presents make their way to my mailbox!

So, there are a slew of reasons that I have not been able to post this post until now. I promise it has very little to do with laziness or Sookie Stackhouse and much to do with technology. After major camera/computer issues (GRRRR - if you hadn't noticed lately, I have been posting cell phone pics, pics on my work comp and scans from the office), I am FINALLY able to blog the much-anticipated package I received through Kate's blog swap from Amber!!!

But first, let me say how awesome Amber was to have as a partner. She was so much fun to shop for, and although we only know each other by what we read, I had to stop myself from buying more and more great things that I knew she would love! Check here to see all the neat stuff she got in her package.

Ok, on to the goodies...I didn't get a picture of the before wrapping because I was too excited, but Amber fit everything into a boot box with cute wrapping and tags. After ripping open my package five year old on Christmas Day style, I found all of this great stuff!!

Goodies for Riley and Gidget, a polka-dotted "J" koozie, a hat, Chapstick, nail polish, candle, OREOS! (my all time fave), great tote, magnetic shopping list and a yellow box.

What is that fabulous yellow box? Yellow Box flops!! Anyone who knows me knows that I am addicted to these flip flops. I have at least ten pair in different colors and styles, and Amber got me the cutest pair in blue that happen to match at least three different outfits in my closet!

Here's a close up of some more of the goods.

I have been wanting a pink Dallas Cowboys hat to wear with my jersey for so long, and Amber actually included this at the suggestion of her husband. It's so perfect, and it made its debut last Thursday during the preseason game! I wish I had a picture of that!

The Chapstick, which is a cant live without item for me, is tropical scented and has shimmer. I don't typically venture outside of the plain jane kind, but this stuff rocks! I got a new OPI shade, and that great koozie is residing at the lake. You can never have enough koozies at the lake!

Then, there's the Circle E candle. You ladies outside of certain areas in Texas probably aren't privileged enough to know of Circle E Candles. They are the best! And the best fragrance?? Bird of Paradise! Seriously, this single fragrance outsells all of their other fragrances combined. I've never met a woman who didn't love Bird of Paradise!

And, it always makes me happy when someone remembers my babies. Amber was awesome enough to include some spa wipes and yummy cookies for Gidget & Riley.

A HUGE thank you to a new friend, Amber, and a gracious swap hostess, Kate!! Please forgive me for the tardiness of the post. Amber, I need to ask you about your new camera. I'm not sure if mine is going to make it. I sure hope I didn't forget anything. I feel like I remember taking more pictures, but these are all I was able to salvage off a corrupt memory card. Let me know if I did!

On another fun note...I won a giveaway!! I never win anything, but last week, I got a little email from The Beauty File letting me know that I had won her 100th post giveaway. I picked out my prize from The Inglenook Decor, and it was on my doorstep when I came home from the lake this weekend. Isn't this candle holder precious?

It does not yet have a place in my home. I am working up a complete re-design of my living/kitchen area, and I am saving this baby for my new look! Please check out both The Beauty File and The Inglenook Decor for lots of lovely ideas and decor!

Wow, that was long. Watch out - she's back!

Mutt Monday!

This week's Mutt Monday features pictures of absolutely worthless mutts. The picture of Gidget was taken last Sunday during a rare treat of sleeping in the bed. She was so worn out from the lake that she slept wedged between me and Riley, like this, all night.

This picture was taken of Riley last night after another fun-filled weekend at the lake. He slept like this until I moved from the couch. Worthless, huh??

I probably should've edited out his weenis, but I just posted twice in one morning. What more do you people want from me?!?!____________________________________________________________

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)!!

I'm not a fan of Mr. Linky anymore, but there it is. You can also just leave a link to your post in the comment section if you choose to participate!

Mutt Monday

This picture was taken in 2005 during our first "family" photo shoot. Riley was just two here. He looks so long and lean! Riley's a bird dog, and as we were sitting next to the duck pond, he was so excited here that he forgot to put the lid on his lipstick. Ah, the joy of boys!

I promise, I promise that I am good for more than just MM. I've been having some personal issues, and I don't think anyone wants to read my "woe is me" posts. Have mercy on lame-o me!

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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)!!

A Late Mutt Monday!

Tony's aunt says that our dogs are more photogenic than most people. I'm inclined to agree - they give good face!

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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)!!

I know I'm late, but please add your link if you played along. I don't want to miss anybody's mutts!

Mutt Monday

I apologize for the absence of Mutt Monday last week. I have been in a blogging funk lately, but I am trying to pull myself out! Today's MM post is a few pictures that I found last week in an old Photobucket account.

I used this as a signature several years ago.

This is probably four years ago at Tony's grandparents' pine tree farm. Gidget looks so big compared to Riley in this pic!

Don't be fooled by their cute faces. They can turn cutthroat in no time!

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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)!!

As a side note, thank you sincerely for your sweet comments about this post. I was a little nervous to be that vulnerable, but y'all squashed that pretty quickly! :)

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!

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)!!

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)!!

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.

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!)

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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, 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!

Mutt Monday...on Tuesday

I am back home from the lake - sunburned, tired and happy that the weekend went so well. I spent my Monday night in a vinegar bath, so MM is a little late this week. I can't wait to catch up on all your blogs, and I noticed I have picked up a few new followers while I was away! A giveaway is coming soon, so you might want to follow me! ;)

Without further ado...here is Mutt Monday Tuesday!

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! Post videos or pictures - as many or as few as you would like!

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These pictures of my preshies are three(???) years old I believe. Riley put on a big old grin for the camera, which is sometimes hard to get, and Gidget looks like a little chunk because she still has long hair. I started having her shaved every four weeks a few months after these pictures, and she really appreciates her slimmed down figure. I just appreciate not having to clean up so much of her hair!

If you were good enough to post without me yesterday, or you want to play along today, please leave a comment with the link to your Mutt Monday post (Mr. Linky is apparently experiencing some issues) so we can check out your cute canines!

Mutt Monday

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, on Monday 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! Post videos or pictures - as many or as few as you would like!

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I'm throwing together Mutt Monday from the pictures on my office computer this morning since I forgot my camera this weekend! I really wish that I had it because Riley & Gidget both tried to help us texture and ended up wearing it all over. Oh well, today's pictures are from two summers ago at a friend's lake house.

Riley spends all day in the water, but Gidget is too prissy. We worked with her some last summer, but two years ago, she wasn't having any part of it. Riley tries not to leave her out by coming to say hi often.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

Gidget still manages to have a good time running up and down the pier to follow Riley in the water.

"Can I go back in now??"

Come play along!

Presenting: Mutt Monday!

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, on Monday 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! Post videos or pictures - as many or as few as you would like!

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Today's Mutt Monday is brought to you from the truck. We spent all weekend at the lake, and my kids were exhausted. As soon as we hit the main road to head home, both of them were trying to pass out.

Riley still has some kick in him when he first settles in.

Gidget needs some beauty sleep...and a bath. Look at all the dirt!

Gidget gets right on that bath. Riley craves sleep and wants mom to stop snapping pictures.

Ahh, finally getting to fall asleep.

I'm feeling ambitious, so I've gone ahead and added a Mr. Linky. Join me for Mutt Monday!

Vintage Riley

I came across this on my computer yesterday. After two comp crashes over the past few years (backup your pictures, people!!), this is one of the very few puppy pics that I have left of Riley. This is his first day at home with us in August 2003.

Never give a dog a credit card.

Saturday afternoon, Gidget and I decided to visit the Paw Spa to get her some new bling. She had her heart set on a B B Simon collar with lots of sparkle, but alas, her mud blood gives her bad genes. She was too big for the small, and too small for the medium.

So, after much debating, she selected this fab pink diamond necklace.

When we returned home, I discovered that she had swiped my credit card and treated herself to a few splurges. She picked up this pink Kate Spayed purse. She loves her some pink!

She also managed to find some Manolo Barkniks in her size.

Then, she indulged her sweet tooth by picking up some organic yogurt and peanut butter cupcakes. Don't worry, though. She plans on rationing them so she can maintain her girlish figure.

Oh, and she couldn't leave her brother out, so she bought Riley some Puptron tequila and a Ruffio & Julieta cigar. I smell a partay!

"Mom, can I keep my purse? Pretty please with sugar on top? I promise I'll be extra good!"

She was exhausted after her free reign with my credit card. She looks so cute though. I think I'll let her keep her purchases!