Back to Life

Yes, oh yes...I am back, and this here ol' blog of mine has been brought back to life. You see, I got myself a new Blackberry, in which I love, love, love! I thought I was a basic kind of girl, but after getting my hands on one, I was hooked. So, the hubs bought myself and him one. We are look like two peas in a pod. Well, after having my phone go off a million times the first day with email notifications of just JUNK mail, I decided I cwanted to start fresh and create a new email. I never realized what all that would do to a girls life. I had so much I had to notify to get changed on some accounts I needed to still hold on to. So after doing so, I figured how to get my blog up and running. I was pretty upset when I thought my blog had died.

Anyway. Life around here today has been pretty low key. Mike had to work this morning, so I just chilled around the house until he got home, which consisted on Kaci and I heading with him to Lowes to get an air filter for the house.

I'm guessing the whole point to this post is to let you know, that I have slacked for a bit, but I am back in the game! Happy Saturday to all!

'Round Here Randoms

* The most exciting news I have to share is Mike and I have a new niece...Olivia Kate! She is beautiful!! To see pictures, check out my sister's blog, Moments with Mabrey!

* Right now, I have the neighbors little white fluff ball over here! He's precious, and loves to play with Kaci. Needless to say, it's my way of getting Kaci worn out for the evening!

* I honestly have not had much to blog about until Olivia arrived. Nothing as been too exciting in the Thomas household.

* You know you're growing up when you get excited about things like a new wreath for the front door and seasonal decor for the front yard.

* I am so glad to be off tomorrow! Of course I have to work Saturday, but we have Monday off for Columbus day. Ahhh, the life of Bankers. And it's nice, because since my Lovey is a banker..he's off too.

* Have I mentioned I have a new beautiful niece??

* One of my BFFS, is getting married this coming weekend. I'm so happy for her! They are honeymooning in Miami, Fl....ahhh, how wonderful.

* Speaking of Florida...I am counting down the days till our Destin Vacation. I hate that we won't be at our early Family Thanksgiving...but this is few and far between for Mike and I. I'm so stoked...we are so stoked, more like it.

* The Titans....what's their deal?? Jax Jaguars are killing us!!!

* Friday night, we headed to Maggiano's down town with some great friends of ours. It was so delicious, and I have to say...it is now my all time favorite resturant. Hands Down.

* I love lazy Sundays with my Husband. I love him, and although he can drive me absolutely nuts, I don't know what I would do without him.

* With that...I'm gonna go find him. :)

Paw Prints.

The past few days have been pretty wild, and different. I would say I am I pretty straight-laced kind of person. I'm not spontaneous by no means...I have to have a plan of action or it drives me crazy, and you get a regular ol' freak out session. Yesterday I did something totally out of my realm. Something that looking back, was pretty stupid. But, I was blessed in more ways that one. If anyone knows me, they could very easily see that I am a dog lover. I "ooh and awwww" at just about any breed. Lately, I have brought up to the husband of how bad I wanted a playmate for Kaci. A second dog that could keep her company when she's here during the day and what not. Browsing through Craigslist, I decide to check out the lost and found. There I find a listing for "Small Lap Dog Found". I contact the lady and converse back and forth throughout the day on details of what had happened. She stated that she had found this small dog on the side of the road, took him in, but unfortunately had to leave to go out of town and could not keep him. She didn't want to take him to the shelter because they would put him down. She said she had taken him to the vet, and every thing looked to be fine other than being malnourished. So, from then on, a soft spot formed for this little puppy. I meet her after work at the Chic-Fa-Let in Rivergate and pick up the pitiful little puppy. He was skin and bones, and pretty much looking like he could die any second. Very lethargic, and zoned out. I immediately take him to a local vet, and there they say that he is approximately 8 yrs old (determining my looking at his teeth), he has a faint heart murmur, he's malnourished, still intact (not neutered), and on top of that, needing to be vaccinated. There I am in tears sitting in the vets office. My heart was crushed thinkin' what this poor little guy had been through. The whole evening, my head is spinning. None of the shelters were open considering it was after hours. The animal control would not take him in because I pretty much took him in my own care, so now he was considered my own pet. I never thought before picking this little guy up, what I would do with having Kaci. I couldn't have him near her, just in case he had some strange things going on. Instead, I called my FIL, and he gave us a wire cage to put on the back deck. The whole night, all I heard was it crying...was he crying because he was starving? Probably. Was he crying because he wanted some love and attention? No doubt. This morning I woke up with a headache from hell, pretty much. I called every no-kill shelter known to man in this area. Unfortunately, since there are only very few around here, there were atleast 3 mth waiting lists. Praise God, Mike got off work early and was able to come home and do some research. Praise God, he found a shelter in Franklin. They told him to bring the little guy in, and they would see what they could do. They welcomed him with loving arms, and placed "Buddy" in a foster home they use. I now know that this little guy came in my life for a reason. He was taken off the streets, where God only knows what could happen and placed in a home where all he would receive was love and care. This little guy made me realize just how lucky I am to have a sweet, healthy puppy waiting for me to play. I know animals are animals...but they have souls too. Let's just say, Buddy left paw prints on not only my heart, but my husbands heart too.



This was taken right before Mike gave him away. :(

Random Kind of Sunday

+ As of right now...I'm feeling pretty yucky. Not sick or anything of that nature, just kind of blah. I hate when the weekends consist of really doing nothing except a few things here and there. Yes, sometimes those are nice, but when it consists of watching football, being on the computer 90% of the time and then eating...I start to feel insanely guilty of not getting out and doing something active.

+ I love my husband with all my heart, but sometimes he just plain out gets on my nerves! ((Like at the moment when he is repeating his favorite sentence, "Feed it"...as in reference to my addiction of blogging.

+ I went to Wal-Mart to grab a few things, and when I got home...I opened the car door, and the gallon of milk I bought slammed to the driveway. Talking about wanting to cry over spilled milk!

+ Am I ready for another work week??

+ We found out today that Mike's cousin, Matt...him and his wife are expecting a new baby! This is their first, so please pray! :)

+ Kaci's new hair-do has grown on me...some.

+ We had Taco's tonight...I don't know why we don't have those more often! It's so easy. The longest part is cookin' the meat!

+ Today I froze my account at Sun Tan City. :( Although I quit months and months ago in the tanning beds, I really enjoyed their spray tans (the Versa). Now, I'm officially a whitey.

+ I have officially decided I LOVVVVVVVEEEEEEE Eric Church. I do believe more than Kenny baby Chesney. Now that has to say somethin'!! winks.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

Chili and Garlic Chex Mix

Tonight, we are having a few friends, and Mike's brother, Nick over for the Ohio State game! Of course we have to have some snacks for game time! I made the famous Buffalo Chicken Dip and this new recipe I found last minute (my chocolate for Puppy Chow mix didn't turn out, and this was on the side of the box! :))! I hope it's a hit...seemed yummy when I tried it!




1 bag (3 oz) fat-free butter-flavor microwave popcorn, popped
1/4 cup dry-roasted peanuts
3 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons chili powder

1. Heat oven to 300°F. In very large bowl, mix cereal, popcorn and peanuts. Drizzle with oil; toss until evenly coated.
2. In small bowl, mix remaining ingredients; sprinkle over cereal mixture. Toss until evenly coated. Spread cereal mixture in ungreased large roasting pan.
3. Bake uncovered 15 minutes, stirring once. Spread on waxed paper to cool, about 10 minutes. Store in airtight container.
**I must say though, I did not add the peanuts and popcorn in it.**

B is for Butchered

Thursday afternoon, I decided to make Kaci a appointment with the groomers. Besides having a puppy cut when she was younger, she had never had a full blown grooming experience. I loved when Petsmart did her Puppycut. She did well, and looked nice, and it only took 2 hours if that. Unfortunately, there isn't a Petsmart (that I know of) that is around Hendersonville or Gallatin that was convenient to take her to while I was at work. So, I took her to a groomer in Hendersonville that I had found online, and had 5 star reviews, and a plus was..it was located 2 blocks up from where I work. So, Friday morning I hauled her to the groomers...got there at approximately 7:30. ((Oh, and I will keep the place nameless due to several unmentionable reasons)) Explaining to them several thoughts and facts such as 1. Kaci has allergies (she's on meds) so any sort of fancy shampoo they may have planned on using they might want to rethink it 2. Behind her ears, she had a matted clump that needed to be cut out 3. This was pretty much her first "real" grooming experience and 4. Keep her look the same, just trim up some of her thick areas. And I made sure to emphasize trim quite a few times. Thinking she would be ready around 1:00 considering that's what time I told her I would like to pick her up since we live 20 mins away, I didn't recieve a phonecall till around 5:30ish stating she would be ready by 6. WHAT THE HEC!!??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I should have called and asked what was going on to begin with, but knowing that she said she would call when she was ready, I didn't want to rush the lady and get her to do a crappy job on her. When I pick her up, Kaci's still standing on the table being chopped away at. She still looks cute, but like a totally different dog...so not what I explained to her I wanted. I know it's hair, and it will grow back, but seriously?? She butchered her hair!! She might as well have shaved her!

For those who have seen her know what she looked like...but I will post a picture anyway...
Before:

After:


See how choppy she looks?? And where her matted areas were behind her ears, are now holes of shaved hair? Let's just say she will not be going back again!

OH...And just so everyone knows...we have decided that sweet Kaci was never a MaltiPom to begin with...she looks to much like an American Eskimo. :)

Back with Randoms

-To all my many peeps that read my blog (yeah right), I do apologize for being MIA with my postings. For awhile there, I was blogging everyday, sometimes twice a day...but lately, I have been in a blogging rut. But I am back!
-Thank God for fights. Yes, I said the "f" word. Mike and I had a fight the other night...and it was probably the worst one ever. I'm not one to air our dirty laundry out for the world to see (or read), so the details will remain private...but ever since then...things have been great. It's like sometimes I believe a good fight can bring you back to reality. Thank goodness for the man I married, and for what he makes me want to be.
-This week @ work has seriously been draining. You ask "why are you up blogging away at 11:30 at night??" I haven't a clue. I can't go to sleep. If I lay down, I just toss and turn.
-Mike and I are looking for a playmate for Kaci. Well, actually it's me looking for a playmate for Kaci, but eventually when I find the right one, I believe I will finally be able to say "we".
-Why is it when driving home, I had a whole list of things to blog about, and now when it comes time to type away, I am having the hardest time?
-I need some major work done to this head of hair. It's bad. I need to get a good cut, and color...that will last.
-I have come to realize that the community of Hendersonville, loves McDonald's. Why that is?? I haven't a clue. But as I sit at work in the drive-thru...it is always busy. Crazy that that one location is considered a million dollar store. (I have my ways of knowing this).
-I have some crazy coughs tonight. Aweful.
-As of right now, we are counting down the days to our precious Olivia Kate! If we are anxious, I know the proud parents (Amber and David) are excited!! :)
-There is this girl who sits out in her driveway pretty much in the middle of the yard, and stares at the passing cars. Her sitting there has become such a normal thing to see everyday, that to my Hubs and I...she is known as "my friend". If I go without seeing her for a couple of days, I begin to get concerned...which leads to my Hubs asking about her. Strange that she has no clue she comes up in our family's evening conversations.
-I know tomorrow I will be regretting this late night blogging.
-Ugh.
-Time for bed.
-Good night! :)