The Napkin Story!

I have been meaning to tell this story for some days now, well I'm finally getting to it. So I happened to mention out loud that we were out of napkins. Brad quickly chimed in to say, "we aren't out of napkins there's a huge pack of ASU napkins in there".  Say what? My facial expression was one of complete annoyance as well as being baffled. He didn't just say open the "ASU napkins" did he? Soon as he noticed the look on my face he responds with, "what?...I don't know why you don't open those so we can use them?"  My face is still expressing confusion! Clearly my husband has fallen and hit his head since he's suggesting we use the treasured ASU napkins!

I quickly and loudly remind him, "my mother-in-law purchased those napkins in an online auction. Those are never getting used!" They are ASU NAPKINS, they're priceless! We live in Dallas, it's not everyday I can get ASU napkins. However, I can purchase Longhorn napkins any time. I then add, "It's like a Star Wars souvenir to me!" He laughs and rolls his eyes, then says, "you mean those things are going to follow us around, never getting used?"....I emphatically announce, "you better believe it!...Okay, if they make it to the National Championship or the Rose Bowl I'll consider opening them but not until then." He turns to Piper to tell her, "those napkins are likely to outlive you young one!"  Perhaps! But no time soon will they be opened, I guarantee it!!!! ;)

ASU is not known for great basketball but I understand this year they are making some noise, so if by some twist of fate they dominate March Madness and wind up in the final four, I might have to reconsider when to break into the ASU napkins! Although I must say I picture opening them up some day when ASU football faces off against whomever in the National Championship or Rose Bowl. Something BIG!

Quick Snap Sunday: Life of a Cat!

Life of a Cat!

 

Piper's favorite human?...her daddy! Mommie takes care of her basic needs everyday, cleans her and her litter box. Plus delivers discipline. Mommie also takes her to the vet and clips her nails when they get too long. Nonetheless her one true love is Brad! Oh that's not to say she doesn't show me affection, because she does but it's not quite like she does with Brad. She loves to lay across his lap on a nightly basis.

 

I think I'm a pretty decent mommie to a cat but I'm still learning about her. One huge difference between raising the boys and Piper I recently noticed is the more demanding nature of a cat. They are in charge or at least they strive to be. Definitely not going to work in my house. The cat is not the CEO!  

Rainy Days!

It was a rainy day here. In our area it never did stop, steady as can be. The speed at which the rain fell was the only variable.

I started a new workout program on Monday. Holy smokes I'm sore. Nobody touch me, because even my earlobes are feeling the pain. Slight exaggeration. I'm shocked I'm as sore as I am because I'm what I would consider, addicted to working out. My addiction is under control for the most part but I have to watch myself because I love working out...too much! Nothing and I mean nothing interrupts my workouts. If you call, text, knock on the door while I'm working out...plan on waiting until I'm finished. Only acts of God can get me to stop my workout.

I remember a few weeks ago when it rained, it got super dark in our home, then suddenly got lighter. I quickly clued into what this sudden shift usually means. Within a few minutes my suspicion on what was about to occur was occurring, the skies opened up to begin pelting the Dallas area with hail. In the middle of my workout I threw my weights down and ran at blazing speed towards our front door. Then I ran at lightening speed down the hallways towards our Pathfinder that was on the top level, not under cover in the parking garage. My neighbor comes in the door as I'm going out the door and he instantly tells me I'm going to freeze. Oops, that's about the time I realized I didn't take time to grab a coat. There I was in workout attire heading out into this freezing hail storm. See what I mean, nothing gets in the way of my workouts except damaging hail and other acts of God.

I must admit, I've even kept working out while the building fire alarm LOUDLY sounded. I would get out with the pets if I started to hear commotion in the hallway or of course if I smelled smoke. But when you live in a mid-rise building the fire alarm goes off for no reason at times. Or because someone is dumb and decided to smoke in the hallway. Duh, no smoking in the hallways it will cause fire alarm to sound. How do people not know that?

I'm happy to report no damaging weather conditions today, just rain. A lot of rain. And boy is it colder than it has been. Ready to get to the end of the week when weather is supposed to improve. Brad's already lined up a motorcycle ride outing for the weekend in hopes of nicer weather. Depending on how nice the weather is, Cody may join him. Just kidding! Although both pugs have been on Brad's motorcycle before. Simon seemed to enjoy it more than Cody. No surprise there! Simon is much more daring. Cody prefers his feet to be firmly on the ground and doesn't trust moving things that don't have solid containment around him. He's crazy that way! ;)

Quick Snap Sunday: Stars Gametime!

Stars Gametime!

 

 

Can you guess where we went? A Stars game! Brad received 2 tickets to a Dallas Stars game courtesy of his Valentine last Sunday. Lots of fun! We would have preferred if they had won but it was still a nice experience. We are currently questioning though if we have ever attended a game that they have won. Perhaps we aren't very good luck for the Stars? Although I believe they've won at least one of the games we've attended. ;) We typically choose Mavs or Stars each winter to attend.

 

One year we snuck in 2 Mavs games because my mom was here and we wanted to treat her to a game. The very first Stars game I ever attended was against the Coyotes. Brad surprised me with those tickets during our first year of dating.

 

This time around I was smart enough to buy a parking pass online from the ticket exchange website that is so heavily advertised. In case some aren't aware, the ticket exchange is for season ticket holders that cannot attend a game for some reason. On the ticket exchange they can post their tickets online for others to buy. Some even post their parking pass online. I wasn't willing to buy our tickets to the game thru the ticket exchange because I was not going to pay extra fees on top of ticket prices. But I was willing to do it for the parking pass. Which I highly recommend! It was a breeze to park in the lot and totally worth the cost of the pass. Good time was had by all!

Simon VS. Piper's Snowman!

Oh my oh my! The life and times of Simmie! It doesn't matter how many candles occupy his cake, he's still the same little overly curious and at times overly destructive puggie he was from day 1. Nothing gets by this little man. Nothing!

So Piper has a cute little snowman toy that dispenses treats(pic at bottom of post). She loves her snowman. She loves batting at it's head to make it dole out a treat. It has a rounded bottom, designed to roll around and easily bend from side to side when hit by a cat paw. The head of the snowman twists off so that us humans can fill it with treats.  Once a full snowman is hit by a cat paw it dispenses a treat. However, the hit needs to be substantial. This treat dispensing snowman is not for the weak!

When it comes to this treat dispensing snowman we are careful about where it is placed for Piper so that it doesn't wind up in the jaws of Simon. The other day I placed the snowman filled with treats on the side end table that is also "Piper's feeding station", I then left to go tend to other things. I estimate I was gone for about 40 maybe 45 minutes. Upon returning, the moment I walk in the door I notice a snowman head staring up at me. No body just a snowman head. Ever seen a decapitated toy snowman? It's not exactly a pretty sight. The hunt was then on for the snowman's body. Yes, folks picture me frantically looking for a snowman body. First place I checked was Simon's bed. Then Cody's bed. No snowman. Next up I began crawling around on the floor so I could get a "pug view" of the situation. Although the snowman's head was completely fine, it had not been crushed in Simon's jaws, I feared the worse for the body of the snowman.  I finally found it just a little ways under our large overstuffed chair. To my surprise....it was "alive". As "alive" as a toy snowman can be. He did not appear to have a scratch on him. I then snapped his head back on him and placed him FAR away from any pet's reach. 

My guess is Piper was trying to get the last of the treats out of the snowman when it fell off the edge of end table. Simon likely snagged it at that point but at least he didn't break it. Her treats do not have quite the delicious overwhelming "dog" treat smell so I'm thinking the snowman got lucky and Simon gave up quick. Perhaps, big brother Cody interceded as well. Cody hates for toys to be destroyed!

One point Snowman....Zero points Simon!

Website News!

Let's see in the last 4 weeks I have baked 4 cakes and 2 different batches of cupcakes. Can you believe it? That's a lot of cake/cupcake baking. I completed this afternoon some banana cupcakes with smooth and creamy milk chocolate frosting swirled up high atop the banana cupcake.

My sister-in-law recently celebrated a birthday and we had a belated get-together for her this past Saturday. For her celebration she requested a red velvet cake. I'm becoming quite rehearsed in red velvet cake baking. It is my favorite too, so I certainly love it when someone requests red velvet. Sign me up!

Not sure if anyone that is a follower of this blog has noticed my other food website(Never A Dull Bite) has not been kept up to date for more than 2 months now. That website we decided to let go. It was a little more work than I was prepared for. Not to mention I have other things in the works and I was getting too overwhelmed doing it all. As my husband noticed, it was like I was working 7 days a week. Regular job and household running during the work week, then household stuff and food website took up lots of time on the weekend.

Here is the good news though, or at least I think it's good news, I will be starting a new website in place of food website. It will not be only focused on food. It will have a broader focus. Which I believe will help me keep up with it much better. There will be a recipe section on the new website but new recipes will not appear on a regular schedule. Recipes will be posted when I feel like it, basically! There will be a little of everything on the new website. Should be lots of fun for me to do. I'm definitely looking forward to it. I'm not completely giving up just changing things up to make things a little more interesting for me as well as readers(hopefully).

As for this blog, it will continue to exist...however, I said changes were coming...remember? A name change will be coming soon! I will give readers of this blog at least a 1 week notice maybe even 10 day notice before the name change becomes official. The name will be determined later this week. I'm still tossing around a couple names, final decision requires input from my sweetness. ;)

So there is the news for now! I'll be doing my best once again to become more committed keeping up this blog. Sometimes life just gets too busy. Now that NFL playoffs and some family bdays have passed I should have more time.

Quick Snap Sunday: Hooded Up!

Hooded Up!

 

Here's one of my little cuties hooded up in his Cowboy's hoodie! Now how many dogs do you know walking around sporting such a fashion statement? He's one of a kind! Oh wait, two of a kind...Cody has the same hoodie! Matching puggies! You know I like it when the boys match!

 

Now I'm not overly crazed about dressing the boys, which they are thankful for I'm sure. Mostly for warmth and for Halloween otherwise it's not done. I must admit I never did think I'd be specifically searching around town for 2 matching hoodies though which occurred back when I bought these in early December.

 

A pug in a hoodie, does it get any cuter? His daddy says he looks tough in his hoodie, playfully calls him the "thug pug". Well what can Simmie say, "I didn't choose the pug thug life, the pug thug life chose me!" LOL!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

It's Valentine's day, which I have to say is much more meaningful when you are married than single. Although my mom and I had plenty of girls night outs way back in my early single days. Usually including dinner at Applebee's. No offense mom, I prefer these days now with my special someone!!

 

I came across these two cards pictured above while out shopping for my sweetness. The cat card is currently posted up on our fridge carefully staying in place courtesy of a pug magnet! A hippie pug magnet at that! Groovy, I know! LOL!

 

Hope everyone single or not has a nice Valentine's day. We keep things kind of low-key. Neither one of us is into long wait times at a restaurant simply because it's Valentine's day. So it's all about take-out for us! Take-out followed by an at-home movie night. Spectre is our feature presentation for tonight. I told Brad I preferred watching a movie equally appealing to both of us. I'm not that into chick flicks and just because it's Valentine's day doesn't mean I need to make my husband suffer thru one of those. First things first...we have to go buy Spectre! We have the entire James Bond collection so it's not like we are purchasing a movie just for tonight. Alright, off to Best Buy we go!

Changes Are Coming....

Well after quite a bit of thinking for some months now, I've decided it's time to change things up. Changes will be occurring on this blog in the near future. Perhaps some of the changes will be an ongoing process. But understand in the near future things will be different....very different! Stay tuned!!!

6 Days To Go

Raise your hand if you are excited for the Super Bowl this Sunday? I have my hand down!  Usually I'm quite excited! Perhaps the reason I'm less than enthused is due to the fact the Cardinals were so close to making another Super Bowl appearance. I'm not sure what my deal is this year? This was the first time since I moved to TX the Cardinals have been in the NFC Championship game and at the doorstep to making the Super Bowl. I guess it makes sense somewhat then as to my lack of enthusiasm for the upcoming big game. I already considered wearing all black since I'm still in mourning for my Cards, but then I realized one of Carolina's main colors is black, no-go with that idea.

I actually asked Brad if we could skip doing a Super Bowl get-together because I'm not feeling it. But apparently I was overruled, the Super Bowl party in this house must go on. My food prep work will start on Thursday night while Brad is at tennis practice. Which means I have to figure out the rest of the menu soon. Come on motivation! I need to get my game face on.