The Story Behind the Pink Socks

 If you have been perusing our wedding photos you may have run across a few with me in stripey pink & black socks and wondered…what’s the deal with the socks? Well, there is a story behind them. When my Aunt & Uncle got married I wore neon green socks that matched my black & white, hot pink & neon green outfit and my family will never let me forget it. (Yes, I loved bright colors back then too…but hey, cut me some slack – it was the 80s!) It’s kind of been a family joke every since and Aunt Pam asked if I would be wearing my neon green socks to my wedding. I smiled and said, “You never know…!”

 

Obviously, green didn’t match our colors so I went with hot pink. J I had the DJ tell the story and present a poster to my Uncle Gary before requesting a special dance with him. The song I chose was the Fat Boys remix of the Twist, because I remember dancing to the original version at his wedding. I thought the remix was pretty fun and a little more my style so I figured why not?! Let me tell ya…WHAT a hoot! J

 

 

 

 Watch some of our dance footage here!

 

Photos Posted

I’ve finally found time to post some of my favorite shots from one of our photographers and I’m anxiously awaiting more photos from the other. Check out the latest here: www.flickr.com/photos/themeckleys :-)

Sneak Peak!

Angie sent me a teaser…and I am DYING TO SEE THE REST!!

Product Review: PediPaws vs. Peticure

One of the joys of being a responsible pet owner is making sure your pets are properly groomed, either professionally or at home. Luckily all three of our dogs are short haired and do not require periodic haircuts…unless we feel like it. It’s not so terrible in the warmer months when we can give the dogs a bath outside but Andy has forbidden me to wash the dogs in the bathtub or shower for fear their ridiculous amount shedding fur will clog the drains. Fair enough. We agreed that it’s worth adding to our budget for the $16-$18 PetSmart charges to groom them (includes a bath, blow dry, brush, clean ears and trimmed nails).

 

That being said, the dogs’ nails grow at an alarming rate which means we have to do some upkeep in the interim. And they hate getting their nails trimmed with a capital H-A-T-E. I have tried many things in the past – treats, trying to get one or two while they’re sleeping, being nice, being mean, and I always pay to have the vet trim them while we’re at a visit. I once was charged $18 and all they did was get a tiny bit from a couple nails on Putter b/c he struggled and screamed so much. Oh yeah, Putter screams. Like a little kid being tortured. I should record it sometime; it’s hilarious…only because he’s not really in physical pain, just freaking out. When we have the dogs’ teeth cleaned I always make sure they trim them really short. (P.S. – That’s not cheap either.)

 

So, we finally decided to check out some of the latest gadgets to try to properly care for their nails. Here are our findings/review on these tools:

First, we tried the Pedi Paws. I had a 20% off coupon for Bed Bath & Beyond (and a gift card from the wedding come to think of it…) so it was around $18.

 

Pros: lightweight, inexpensive, not too noisy, has a guard to put the dog’s nail in and maintain a level of safety.

 

Cons: Not a lot of power; not sure how long the sanding wheels last (it comes with two).

Verdict: Had moderate success on my 8 lb Chihuahua but the pugs’ nails caused the sanding thing to stop. If it had more power it would be better, but it’s probably suitable for really small dogs. I gave it to a co-worker to try with her Jack Russell Terrier.

 

Next, we decided to up the ante and go for the Peticure Safeguard that attaches to standard dremel tools. This. Thing. Is. Awesome!!

 

Pros: plenty of power, has multiple openings on the guard to adjust to the size of the dog, fast,

 

Cons: a little more expensive (we got it on eBay for around $38), 4-6 to ship if ordered directly from the company, a little noisy (but surprisingly not as bad as I expected), can get carried away if you’re not careful, and you must be careful and try to actually shape the nail or it will just sand down at whatever angle.

 

Verdict: I repeat – this thing is AWESOME! We had all three dogs done in probably 10-15 minutes. Of course they didn’t enjoy it, but they all behaved surprisingly well. Even Putter, who unfortunately did get nicked enough to bleed. L In the future we will just do a little at a time to maintain their nails and be extra careful not to do too much. I felt absolutely awful when I noticed the blood, but I chased him around the yard trying to get a better look and he just wanted to play so it didn’t appear that he was it very much pain.

 

 

The Post Wedding Cut

Well, after nearly two and a half years growing it out, I chopped it all off! (Sorry Andy…I know you’ve got a thing for long hair but, it’s too much work and really…it’s just not me. What’s the point if all I do is pull it back in a ponytail everyday?)

I didn’t tell a soul, except my stylist who knew I’d be in sooner than later. I made the appointment and went over my lunch hour last week. When I came home I snuck in the house while Andy was on the phone and somewhat to my surprise, he gave me the thumbs up! He said it was a bit short (and it is, especially in the back) but he thought this style suited me more. I agree.

What do you think?

 

Move Over J. Lo! Here Comes the NEW Wedding Planner!

Well, Personal Attendant willing to play Wedding Planner as much as the bride will let me, at least. My good friend Wendy has asked me to be her personal attendant next May and I am absolutely THRILLED!! Yay! More wedding projects and planning!!!

Obviously, I’ll keep you posted.

New Doggie Condo

 If you recall, we recently put a shed in the backyard (that Andy moved all by himself). It was just in time for the pooches to get some shelter from the cold midwest weather. The new doghouse, I feel, is more like a condo because it’s not as extravagant as the old versions at the last house.

Here’s awesome Andy out cleaning the boys’ room before they got home from the groomers last night:

It doesn’t look like much, but the left side of the shed is boxed off with two heat lamps hanging into the bedroom and dining quarters. Have a closer look:

 

Okay, this photo is with the ceiling removed looking down into the dogs’ area. Imagine the doggie door all the way to the left. When they enter the boys walk right into their comfy bed of blankets, warmed by an overhead heat lamp. There is a small divider to keep the blankets out of the dining area, which has the black water dish (also with overhead heating to avoid frozen water) and a silver tote turned automatic dog feeder.

The doggie condo has much less space than the last doggie palace, no radio, ramps, throw rugs, or A/C (yet) but I do believe less is more in this case; they so far (knock on wood) have not gone potty inside this house to our knowledge. They seem to enjoy their new house and we like it too. Plus, we can use the entire rest of the shed!

I’ve Been Hit! Er, um…Tagged!

  I’ve been tagged for the very first time!
Kim at Newly Woodwards has awarded me with
the Kreativ Blogger Award – how exciting! 

My instructions are to list 6 things that I am thankful for and pass the award on to 6 other bloggers. So, here we go…

I Am Thankful For:

1. Andy – my best friend and new husband. As cliché as it sounds, I truly feel my life is a modern day fairytale. The lyrics to Rascal Flatt’s “Bless the Broken Road ” pretty much sums it up for me. I’ve never felt more loved, cared for, and respected. Andy is amazing. He can finish my sentences before I even open my mouth to speak. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for me, my dogs, or my family. He’s everything I never knew I always wanted.

2. Friends, Family & Dogs – I have been blessed with wonderful friends and family, both old and new, near and far. And, of course my boys Max, Putter & Tiger are included as family; ornery but loveable, they are my babies.

3. Home – Andy & I have been fortunate enough to buy a beautiful home that we absolutely adore. Having a house that you enjoy coming home to after a long day really makes life so much nicer.

4. Job – It has its ups and downs but I appreciate having a steady paycheck during such an unstable time in the economy; I have everything I need, a good majority of anything I want, and the ability to give to those less fortunate. Plus, it’s nice to have an employer that provides the flexibility and a good portion of the funds to get my MBA and even study abroad!

5. My Workshop – Maybe something silly to mention, but it’s my very own creative space with LOTS of fun (and expensive) tools, equipment, and supplies. This space allows me to make and do things for fun and every once in awhile for profit. J

6. Internet – Hello my name is Laura and I am an Internet Junkie. Seriously, I really am. I go crazy when I don’t have immediate online access. It is a lifeline to me. I know that may sound silly to some, but consider for a moment how intertwined it is with all the abovementioned things I am thankful for…without the internet I would have never met Andy (thank you match.com yep, believe it or not!), or be able to meet new friends online & keep in touch so easily with other friends and family via e-mail and keep them updated through this blog, we may not have found our dream home (thank you qcfsbo.com), I couldn’t perform in depth research for my job, or find and share great ideas or inspiration, or get supplies to run my small business, etc. while working in my awesome workshop. Makes perfect sense now, doesn’t it?!

 

Now, I would like to pass the award along to:

1. Laurie at Tip Junkie – Laurie has a couple wonderful sites geared towards creative women; I check Tip Junkie almost daily for great ideas and inspiration. She’s addicting…don’t say I didn’t warn you!

2. Stephanie at Crockpot365 – This girl is amazing! I can’t think of anything I could do for 365 days straight (but it sounds like an interesting project!) I’ve found lots of great crockpot recipes on her site.

3. Angie at Visions of Nothing – My friend Angie is a wonderful up and coming photographer in the Colorado area. She flew back to do some photography for our wedding and I can’t wait to see the photos! (She promised me by the end of next week so stay tuned; you know I’ll be sharing with the world!) Angie is a busy girl these days and hasn’t had as much time to blog, but I think she still deserves to be on my list. J

4. Amber at The Sweeneys – Amber is also a newlywed that I blog-stalked while she was blogging on Trip to the Altar. She had some great wedding ideas, also used black & pink in her wedding, and I am still jealous that I never stole her idea and bought my own wedding Chuck Taylors. J Amber is going to be a mommy again next year and I enjoy reading her posts on her new blog.

5. Laura at Sparkly to Single – I haven’t been keeping up with Laura ’s blog much lately (school REALLY cuts into my internet time!) but I enjoy catching up with I can. I am in awe of Laura ’s strength and independence…her profile states, “I got engaged at 26 and spent a year planning my wedding, but then my fiance and I split up before tying the knot. A month later, I got laid off, and decided that my newly single and unemployed state was the perfect excuse for a trip abroad. I spent three months traveling solo through Europe and figuring out what I wanted to do when I got home. Now back home in Vancouver , I’m building the life I want for myself from the ground up.” WOW. And I thought I was Miss Independent!

6. Cindy at Skip to my Lou – Another creative soul that encourages her readers to Craft, Create, & Celebrate. Cindy shares lots of crafty ideas and yummy recipes!

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas…

We went shopping for our first Christmas tree this weekend. I had to hold Andy back from buying a second tree that was 12′ for the living room. Instead, he settled for a 7′ tree for the purple room. Here’s Andy putting it together (before we realized there was a much larger layer in the box that is supposed to go on the bottom:

Of course I should’ve known he’d want to wrap the house in lights. He had me holding my breath while he propped a ladder up against the house in the bed of his monster truck so he could reach the top peak of the house. I guess it’s better than letting him climb to the top, which he was determined to do if that’s what it took:

All so we could enjoy this at night:

Andy’s favorite view is the Christmas tree outside:

We love this house.

I also made a fun new vinyl decal for our mailbox:

I admit I snagged this idea from Kim over at Newly Woodwards.
P.S. Check out her posts on the remodel work they’ve done on their house…I totally envy them. (And they’ve got two super cute pugs too – Extra brownie points!)

Ladies & Gentlemen…Mr. Rachel Ray!

Since he wasn’t feeling real well on Friday, Andy spent most of the evening on the couch watching the Food Channel. He decided he wanted to try some new recipes from Rachel Ray’s show. We usually lunch with my grandparents, my sister, and two nieces on Sunday so it gave him the perfect opportunity to show off his cooking talents. 

On Saturday we went to good ‘ole Wally World and bought fresh green beans, new potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, feta cheese, frozen chicken breasts, bacon, Rachel Ray’s Chicken Stock-in-a-Box, and some biscuits. Sunday morning Andy was a cookin’ fool…Check out his delicious masterpiece!

Beautiful! (Notice the awesome striped silverware, a wedding gift!)

What a meal!

Spinach & Feta Stuffed Chicken Breast Wrapped in Bacon

Fresh Green Beans and Tomatoes – these are WONDERFUL drizzled with Pampered Chef Basil Blend Canola Oil and a bit of ground pepper and salt. 

Although I didn’t get any photos, Andy also made a big ham and tested the new roaster and meat slicer we got as wedding gifts. It was delish! The boys were happy to get the bone and some scraps and we sent Grandpa home with some ham so we can have ham and bean soup later this week…yum!

We have some new neighbors a couple doors down so while Andy was cooking I whipped up some Chocolate Chip Kiss Cookies in my awesome Pampered Chef mini-muffin tin. Of course I designed a fun little note to attach.

 ** Anyone in need of Pampered Chef items can shop online here or e-mail my favorite PC Consultant Brenda Cunningham!

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