I’m so proud of my sweet puppy who continues to grow and learn. It’s honestly hard to believe we almost lost her, she is so full of life. We enjoy her more every day. I had to share some of the latest photos of “the Bird” as we call her.
Birdie the Beauty
Bird on the bed
Birdie + Wiggles
Birdie snuggles
Birdie and Georgie (her sister)
Plans fell through/changed and I couldn’t be happier. In a mere 5 hours I will be settling into a four day sun-drenched weekend. I am thrilled to be at home with my bests, my beau and my puppies for 4 days that have a glittering forecast of mid-eighties and plenty of sun.
I’m banking on sitting by the pool, taking the Bird to the farmer’s market, cruising around the lake, staying out and sleeping in, walking in the park and possibly getting my dance on!
The snuggle puppy
happy weekend!
This weekend I’m off for my first float trip of 2010. It has the makings of an epic weekend so far. 10 of my best friends, a fully-functional cabin in rural Arkansas on the Mulberry river. The forecast is calling for 90 degrees and sun. Needless to say we’re pretty pumped. Here are a few glimpses of what has happened in the past…
So what does one bring on a float trip? Allow me to illuminate my packing list:
Koozie necklace, sunglasses with flame croakies, bikini, flip-flops, rain boots, plenty of alcoholic bevs, sunscreen, bug spray and these beauties…
Happy weekend!
My mind is taking me to New Orleans today to fete with the festers at Jazzfest. Alas, I remain in Arkansas. In store for me this weekend? Cabin on the Buffalo river tonight and shrimp/crawfish boil tomorrow. So…I have to admit those are pretty good weekend plans.
I stumbled onto this photographer, Jose Villa’s blog today. Just look at this gorgeous “Honeymoon in New Orleans” – ahhh I die.
This is where I’ll actually be – Buffalo River
Fayetteville Farmer’s Market
PS: Here’s a peek at my fat little puppy. We caught her with her paws (literally) in the cookie jar, gorging on her cousin Dwight’s – the mastiff- food. Below is the aftermath.
Happy Friday!
The other day I was looking at the lovely blog Apartment34. While Erin, the owner of the blog, is off getting hitched she asked some of her favorite bloggers to share the things that bring them joy. Sometimes it’s really good to look at your life and recognize the things that truly bliss you out.
Here mine goes! (In no particular order)
Warm Weather
Sun-drenched afternoons, midnight swims, baseball games, picnics, sundresses. This girl loves summer.
Girlfriends
My girlfriends mean everything to me.
Food
Food and the dining experience. Long conversations over dessert and wine. Meals that make you appreciate being alive. Trying a new recipe and knocking it out of the park. Fresh fruit. I believe in eating for sustenance of the soul.
Being a girl
Makeup. Tulle. Smoky Eyes. Sky-high heels. Baubles and bangles and berets and belts. Hair -curly or teased or straight or up. I love being a girl because of all the wonderful things a girl can be.
Reading/Learning
Becoming more aware of the world through the words of those capable of expressing amazing, insightful things.
Everyday Luxuries
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Fresh flowers, laughs, puppies…
Winding down
![ldv-gp-love[1]](https://i0.wp.com/lh4.ggpht.com/_FfZMBBaCF8w/S9e8L-R9S8I/AAAAAAAAKv4/rdibS2HvWio/ldvgplove1_thumb.jpg)
Crawling into a clean bed, lounging on a rainy afternoon, sleeping in, the few moments before you drift off to sleep…
Adventure
I’m talking travel, music festivals, float trips, a new thrift shop or restaurant. I try to go on adventures often and whenever possible. It keeps life fresh, exciting and provides great photo opps!
Music
Music feeds my soul. Discovering a new band or song can make my whole day turn around. Concerts, instruments, singing…I couldn’t live without it.
Merriment
Whether it’s a holiday, a birthday party, a job well-done or just the weekend. I love to celebrate, drink champagne and enjoy life’s happy moments.
Love
The love of my sweet-as-pie beau, my family, my puppies…love is the thing, you know?
Mom & me back in the day
Mother’s day is nearing and we all love our mamas. I thought about my relationship with my mom the other day when she was upset with me about something (doesn’t actually happen often now that we don’t live together) and realized for the millionth time how special it is. Like most girls, my mother was my main female role-model as well as who I aspired to be as a child… and like many girls (unfortunately) my parents were divorced. So that was definitely the catalyst for my mom to become my predominant parent. We’ve always been close, but it’s so interesting how that relationship changes as the child -me- becomes an adult. Since I’m completely supporting myself and have been for almost three years, she’s taken on the role of mentor/friend, but that doesn’t stop her from resorting to mom-mode every once and a while.
My 10th birthday
My mom has had such an interesting life and the most exciting part about it is that she’s entering a really exciting phase now. She’s got great things happening in her work, she looks amazing and she’s even dating again – for the first time in about seven years. When I think about it, there’s no other woman in my life that I know as well or that I’ve truly been through everything with, she almost provides a blueprint for me to use in my life. Here were the right decisions, here were the wrong ones. They’re there in my memory for me to personally to decipher and almost to judge – what to learn from or do differently as well as what to use as “gospel” for my own life. My mother is the only woman I feel I can truly know what she’s gone through. But, as I write this and think about my mom’s life, it almost reinforces how much I have yet to learn about her.
She’s the most amazing woman I know, so I feel pretty lucky to have her. Plus, I’m counting on her genes to look as good as she does at almost 57!!!
Mom & me - Recently
Love you mom!
My baby is home! Hallelujah! I feel like I’ve been through a war in the past week but just look at this face!
Thank you to everyone who was praying for her, for us. Birdie is home and we are nursing her back to health!
I have the sweetest story to share. Last weekend, Robert and I visited with his Aunt & her family for Easter in Memphis. She has two young sons that had a ball playing with Birdie. When they heard she was sick they were so sad. On Friday morning, the vet gave her a last-ditch-effort blood transfusion. By 2pm, Robert had gotten word that the transfusion hadn’t worked and we needed to prepare to put her down. He let his mom know, who called her sister. The boys held hands and prayed out loud for Birdie. By 4:30, everything had changed, the transfusion had worked! Saturday morning she was eating and holding it down, wagging her tail and barking. Sunday we took her home.
Today I’m thankful that God answers prayers.
Hello Gorgeous! 
My bf and I have gotten a puppy together. We’ve wanted to take the dive for quite some time but have never actually come close. I have a bi-polar dachshund and he wanted a great dane, so we were having a hard time compromising. Then it all happened so fast! We met her sister (my bestie – Lo’s sister had adopted her). Robert got an email the next day and we went to visit her, the next day (yesterday) we brought her home!
She’s adorable, I know. Her name is Miss Roberta Roux Bridewell, Bertie for short. She’s just a delicious dessert dog! So precocious and affectionate. I’ve never had a puppy! Wiggles was 2+ years old when I adopted him. I just want to do everything right so she turns into the type of dog you can take anywhere and that everyone wants to be around! I’m so nervous! I bought Puppies for dummies yesterday! I also don’t want my already sour wiener feel left out.
Robert seems confident that we’ll figure everyone out. But, I don’t want to miss that small window where they’re so impressionable and learn with ease (not to nip, not to pee in the house, not to jump, not to beg, tricks). Who knows what will happen? All I know right now is I am in love with this beautiful creature and even more charmed by my beau when I see how sweet he is with her…
Did you melt?
Support your local Animal Shelter!
I hope the next two days and nights are filled fun for you! Here’s what I’m hoping for me.
A little lovin’
Some rest 
Spring Flowers 
Dinner with friends (al fresco- natch) including a champagne toast 
I’d like for boyfriend and I to talk wiggles on a long walk. (This is them – below) Aren’t they adorable? I am lucky!
In this park. Perhaps he’ll bring along delicious drinks for us to share?
I’ll swing and he’ll push. Then he may or may not have a picnic put together for us EXACTLY like the one below.
Sunday will bring peonies and coffee and lazing.
Wishing you the same and much more. xx
I’m borrowing a little bit from my favorite and my best but I have a few to add.
Green Food, esp cupcakes, they’re not exactly “Irish” but whatevs
Cute cuddly dogs like the Irish Setter
Eye Candy
Beautiful, tucked-away cottages that beckon you to build a love nest and maybe garden
The Irish Coast
Fairies, Leprechauns, Nymphs
Four Leaf Clovers – DUH
Irish Whiskey
Have fun & Be safe! xx
The Window Shopper 