keepin' cozy

It's a chilly night in Fort Worth! Matt brought out the big blanket...and guess who loves it?

{stay warm}
-j

a {stinky} situation

Not to be confused with a "sticky" situation. This situation is most definitely stinky.

As of lately, Milly May's favorite pastime is {digging holes} in the backyard...and in the beginning it was pretty cute.  I mean watching her was free entertainment as she'd have her entire head in the hole and booty sticking in the air. 

digging in the herb garden

Laughs aside, our backyard was starting to resemble a {battle field} and this mine explosions weren't little anymore.  One hole in particular (which is probably Milly's finest work) was so large that we'd find the pupperoo with her whole body inside the hole...still digging away.

We tried filling the holes back up with dirt...HA! Like that would stop the digger!

We tried redirecting her behavior every time she started to dig.

1. throwing a ball

2. chasing her (which made digging holes a very fun game)

3. yelling her name with a firm "NO"

4. knocking on the window from inside the house - our {laziest} attempt, we're not proud of it.

Nothing would deter Milly taking pleasure in her favorite pastime. 

So while I was at PetSmart getting that 30-pound bag of puppy food, I took a few minutes (okay, maybe 20) and perused the puppy training books.  Why buy the $15 book when I can read it in the store!? I learned lots of useful information that I took home, such as training your dog to shake, hand signals AND how to prevent your dog from digging!!! {ding ding ding}

What I read was that dogs tend to dig holes in the yard when they are bored. Bored....seriously!? You're bored, Milly May!???? Two solutions: 

1. be outside with her at all times to monitor and engage her in play - great in theory, but Milly loves to be outside ALL the time. I'd get nothing accomplished (I already have an issue with this because I'm so busy capturing adorable photos of her)

2. Put in her poop in the hole she's digging. HA! I laughed at this one and came home to tell Matt all about it. Like I'm going to search and move my dog's poop into a hole...That's exactly what I did. 

I went to the backyard with a shovel in hand, searched for {movable poop} and then transported the poop to each hole. Yes, this is my life - I'm a {poop movin' mama} and proud of it! Why? Because it works!!! Milly May has discontinued digging in those holes. 

Now that's not to say that she doesn't find new spots to continue her exceptional digging skills, but when she does...I put her poop in there, too :-) 

Matt's dad {Papa John} must certainly think I'm nuts (which I'm not denying) when we're outside and I start moving Milly's poop around the yard. And Matt, while he's loving this solution, can't take part in it because the poop makes him gag...which, of course, I find hilarious and chase him around the yard with my shovel of poop.

Welcome to our outrageous and sometimes stinky life! 

fbofw,

-j

{no mom, that's not dirt on my head from digging}

catching up

Let's get down to it.

On a whim, I applied for several teaching positions at daycare-preschool facilities. After taking the I received 2 phone calls almost immediately after submitting my online assessment.  It took me by surprise, and suddenly I had 2 interviews lined up for the week: 1 on Wednesday and 1 on Thursday.  I prepped for my interviews by printing out my resumé and letter of recommendation, as well as putting together a collection of work from my previous teaching positions.  I was ready to do this!

Wednesday's interview was formal and lasted at least an hour.  I left the interview with a job offer to be the lead teacher in a 4- and 5-year old class, pending on a copy of my college diploma. Done deal, right? No. They offered me this full-time position starting at $10 per hour. Now I don't mean {toot my own horn} here, but I will admit that I believe I am highly qualified with a background of excellent education and experience... So, I politely declined.

Thursday's interview was...well, casual.  It took place in the building's {small} lobby where parents, children and workmen were arriving and leaving.  I sat at the secretary's front desk where a credit card machine was available for parents to pay their bill.  Twice I needed to lean out of the way for this machine to be used. The interview was interrupted at least 12 times...


"Where do you want the television installed?"
"Where am I working today?" - Uh, really...

"The teacher says my child can't eat this donut." - Probably not, lady. There's a large nut-free sign and seeing as you have two children here, I would've assumed you knew that all snacks and meals were provided.
Oh and my favorite...a package was delivered and what does the secretary do? She starts opening and unpacking it at the very desk where the interview is being conducted. Are. You. Serious.

It was too casual and not enough professional.  I was offered another full-time teaching position with 2- and 3-year olds, this time starting at $12 per hour. Better, but it didn't feel right... So, I politely declined this job as well.

Yes, I am being picky and will only accept a job offer if it's the perfect fit.  I don't want to settle for the "okay" job when my "dream" job could be right around the corner. So, now I continue the job search and continue the process of becoming a certified teacher in Texas - another lengthy conversation for another post.

Post interview #1, I was feeling motivated and started painting the stairwell of our house. Out with the "baby poop" brown color and in with the classic silver! Matt was {so pleasantly surprised} when he got home that he picked up a brush and painted with me. What a huge difference paint can make...our once small and narrow tunnel now appears to be twice as big! Pictures to come...I know I've been slacking on house pictures...bear with me :-)

Post interview #2, I decided to quit procrastinating and finish painting the upstairs bathroom. And by "finish" I mean to paint the ceiling because the previous owners thought that was good idea. Matt arrived home from work and was delighted! {Finally} this bathroom is {almost} ready to be used! Again, pictures to come...the final touches are being completed.
Side note: painting is way more fun when you're drinking wine. 

Friday night, we got dolled up (well I did, Matt was just his normal, handsome self) and went to a {newer} sushi restaurant called {Shinjuku Station} where we ate stir-fried edamame, vegetable rolls, steak & tuna rolls, chicken meatballs and green tea ice cream. Pretty delicious! My favorite was definitely the stir-fried edamame - so much flavor!

We slept in Saturday and had a much-needed lazy morning! Matt, Milly & I attended our very first West Side Animal League {WSAL} event in the afternoon.  It was at the Fort Worth Police Training Academy where the officers have been donating food, bowls, treats, toys, kennels and money for the rescue groups.  Hundreds of pups were there, all looking for their forever home :-( if I could, I would adopt them all!

The WSAL volunteers were so excited to see Miss Milly and couldn't believe how big she's gotten! She definitely stole the show, and I can confidently say that we picked the {right pup for us!}

This coming Saturday we will be volunteering at another WSAL adoption event - this time at a PetSmart.  We are really looking forward to being part of this wonderful organization and supporting WSAL in any way we can!

Not only is October my favorite month, but it is also the month of birthdays! Between Matt & my families there are 4 birthdays: my brother-in-law {Brock}, my dad {Bill}, Matt's nephew {Henry} and Matt's dad {John}. And it's one week until Milly May's spay! See how I did that..I just segued into my favorite subject ;-)

We are overdue for a weigh-in (perhaps we'll get it done tonight), but let me assure you that Milly is still growing at a very rapid pace. Within 1 month, she finished a 12.5 pound bag of puppy food. So what does this mean? It means that I bought our very first {30 pound bag of puppy food!!}

Milly is loving {walks} and she gets 2 walks out of us - 1 with me in the morning, 1 with Matt in the evening. She'll go shake her leash that hangs from a hook in the laundry room to let us know it's time for a {stir-fry and WOK} :-) She's also loving to {dig lots of big holes} in the backyard, so big that she can sit in them. And while she has plenty of toys, nothing tastes and feels as good as mommy and daddy's clothes, shoes, tools and papers.

She's a hoarder of all things {off-limits}...In fact, in the time I have been writing, Milly has found 2 shoes, 3 shirts (that she pulls out of the laundry basket), 1 sock and 1 hanger. We seem to finding many lone socks when doing laundry these days. 

Quick story: I picked up her toys last night and put them in the basket. I went to brush my teeth - takes 2 minutes. I returned to find that Milly had flipped the basket over and dumped everything out. I felt like it was a big "take that, Mom, my toys don't go there!" 

She's still sleeping a lot, but not nearly as much as before...

I snapped this photo of {Matt & Milly} after our walk yesterday :-)

Life is really good & very happy down here! I love my pup and I'm more in love with Matt every day.

fbofw,

-j

smells like {autumn}

I love fall weather! It is {without a doubt} my favorite season and {October} is my favorite month.  I love everything about it...the chilly weather that requires you wear layers, the pumpkins and gourds (but not those warty ones), the leaves and the crunchy sound they make under your feet, the excitement everyone around you is feeling about the first cooler days of the season.

I'll admit I was a little nervous when moving to Fort Worth that I miss out on my favorite weather. It arrived this past Wednesday and carried through the weekend.  A little later than some other places, but nevertheless, it's here! For how long? I'm not sure...

I have lots of updating for y'all from our past week and that post is coming! Until then, to hold you over, here is {what I'm loving} as of this moment...

1. Revere House {apple pie scented} 2-wick candle from Kroger for {$8.99} - this was a {Matt find} and man am I grateful for that! It fills our house with the yummiest, coziest smell :-) it is also available on Amazon.com and in tea lights!

photo credit {google images}

2. Since we're all about scents, I found this through a google search: orange peels and vanilla simmering on the stove and I am loving its aroma.  There are 4 more recipes on this website that are perfect for the fall season.  

Do you have any scents you're loving this season? Please share :-) We're always up for trying something new!

Time for a walk with Milly May! Until my later & longer post...

fbofw,

-j

bragging moment about {guess who?!}

I was feeling brave this afternoon when I went to meet up with Matt's sister {Heather} and her kids for lunch. Milly had already been crated for a couple of hours this morning, and she was being so sweet and cuddly and sleepy...so I decided not to crate her.

Well lunch was a good ol' time of talking and lasted longer than expected, not to mention I stopped at the grocery store before heading home. I hesitantly walked inside and found..

Milly waiting in her crate!!...with zero accidents and zero bouts of chewing! O.M.G. Talk about a proud mama...

I rewarded her with a giant, yummy chicken rawhide, which I have had to remind her of its existence at least 3 times during this post. Apparently the rug is still tastier than any bone will be...especially when mama is present.

Outside we go for some chase and fetch!

fbofw,
-j

still my baby...

Even though Milly weighed in 38.5 pounds at tonight, she'll always be my baby!

how much longer will i be able to hold her like a wee babe!?

We saw {Marchell} her foster mom today for her last puppy shot, and she was speechless when she saw Milly. She couldn't believe how big she has gotten - that's my girl :-)

fbofw,
-j

{kisses} for mama

weighing-in with dad

oh my goodness.