a tribute to...

NUTELLA! yummy yum yum! oh my goodness, where do i even begin. We discovered the greatness that is Nutella on our last visit to Kansas to visit the Probst Clan (Adam, Kim, Addi B's, and Weezer aka Audrey) those are the girls nicknames, they make sense when you're with them, weezer was given from Audrey's middle name "Leigh" -- somehow leigh-leigh turned into weezer. it works, and addi b, --- addison brynn. there you have it. Anyway, needless to say, Kim got a container of Nutella and a box of keebler Club crackers, and they were both gone in about an hour... total awesomeness! and healthy? yes, thats right... healthy. check out http://www.nutellausa.com/ for all the info. So, needless to say... Drew and I gladly jumped right on that bandwagon, and happily enjoy our nutella on many things, including but not limited to: toast, waffles, pancakes, bananas, crackers, and our latest and greatest, strawberries!!! Oh my goodness, nutella + strawberries = deliciousness x 100 :) you like my math skills? so, for this edition of "a tribute to" lets all toast to Nutella (no pun intended) haha! I highly recommend you all go out and buy lots of nutella asap!

Like father, like son...

Actually, like father, and grandfathers. Yep, Coach has a bad knee. Yesterday was a beautiful day, so we took Coach to the dog park down from our house, on our way home we heard what we thought was his hip "popping" every step he took. Since great danes have major hip problems, we decided it was best to take him in for a check up sooner than later. After finding an emergency animal clinic (saturday at 4:45pm is quite difficult to find an open pet clinic) we got him in, and the vet pretty immediately noticed his back left knee being swollen and has calcification nodules on it.
Once we took a look, it was pretty obvious that his left knee is much larger than his right. We would have never noticed, because he doesn't limp or anything. She said it had been injured before, that the damage and swelling was built up, but it probably got irritated when he and Drew were playing at the dog park. Now that we watch him, we feel horrible for not noticing that he is very gentle with it and hardly puts weight on it at all when he stands, and it sticks out differently than the right side when he sits. Poor guy!

The vet gave him some anti-inflammatories, and said to rest him. No more wrestling, which is just so hard to do because he gets soooo excited to play. Our long term option is most likely going to be knee surgery ($$$$) but she wants to do this series of anti-inflams (23 days) and then see how he is healing. Hopefully, if we can be very diligent about trying to keep him calm and rested, we wont do any further damage and he can be fine for a few years before we have to make any surgical decisions. So, for $250 worth of office visit bills and meds for Coach, we were not given too much good news, except that his ears are healthy and he weighs 130lbs. Great dane = great expenses. We are just going to try our best to make him rest and keep him from doing any more damage, but this is definately not what we wanted to hear. On a good note, he's being a darling and taking his meds like a trooper. Keep your fingers crossed for the best!

new on etsy

Here is my latest creation, i got kinda inspired by the dictionary. No, I do not sit around reading the dictionary, i'm not that lame! Anyhoo-- I'm wanting to incorporate joy into my art, and into my life. I'm approaching my days as much as possible with the attitude of "blessed", not "entitled". It's not easy, but its certainly not going to hurt me to be a more positive person! So, spring is right around the corner (i know it is, it just has to be... right?) so its time for bright colors and happy artwork! I've added a few things to the etsy store, check it out at http://www.passionatelypink.etsy.com/ And, a little surprise from my sweet husband is arriving on Monday--- i'll give you a hint : its not a clock and its not pink.

Coach, you're still our favorite...

BUT-- check out this dane on Oprah. Stephanie sent me this text the other day about "George the giant dane" she saw on Oprah on monday, so I watched the youtube video, he's precious! He's a beautiful blue dane, but he has floppy ears... Drew and I both prefer cropped ears. My goodness though, he is a big boy!!! Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRdD7hyk8UU

Drew has had his heart set on a blue dane for our next one, so just for an idea of what the new little guy might look like: we are still undecided on when the new dane will join our family, but I can't resist looking at their pictures. LOVE Them!

Coach's Baby Album

Well, since Coach dearest was adopted at age 1 -- we don't have any pictures of him as a baby. I am sure he was the most adorable great dane puppy that ever existed, but just to give you all an idea these are pictures of merle puppies, to show what he "might" have looked like before he grew into the precious angel he is now! I apologize in advance for the man below who finds clothing to be optional. This was not the environment Coach was raised in. Also, the puppy is similar to what Coach would have looked like right before he had is ears done! Darling arent they! Drew and I are heavily considering "dane #2" but not anytime in the immediate future! For now, we're happy spoiling our Coach Tchoupoutoulis!

bedroom decor making progress

hello friends, i've decided to take the yellow plunge-- i went out hunting today and successfully shot and captured 3 yellow throw pillows, 2 yellow picture frames, and a yellow candle. here is the bed all made up with the new pillows!

and here is our very very unfinished "black and white wall" -- its a work in progress, but i did finally pick the location to get it started.

and last but definately not least, my super funky dresser and antique bevelled glass mirrors (love them) i've only got 2 as of now, but hopefully over time my collection will grow!!! last night and today i painted the bathroom cabinets, we will see if they need 5 coats like the kitchen cabinets did. andrew has been so sweet helping me hang pictures, he even put together a shelf for our closet (he hates anything that requires instructions to be put together) -- and he's been very agreeable about the yellow, which i realize is not the most masculine of colors. i'm so lucky to have such an agreeable and supportive husband, even when my decoration ideas are completely off the wall -not literally, figuratively- thanks drew!!!

a tribute to.... my pink necessities

In honor of Valentine's Day--- i'm letting everyone into my bathroom to check out all the pink things i actually use in my everyday life! Now you might be thinking this pink obsession of mine has gone too far, perhaps... but its really not my fault. I blame my parents: Dad for putting pink ballons up all over the house when i was born, and Mama for always having a pink bow on my head, which caused the pink to seep into my brain and resulted in an obsession. So, here you have it: all my pink bathroom items, not included in this picture is my pink blowdryer, pink nano straightner, and pink Cricket (trimmer that i use to shape and groom Drew's beard) and last but not least pink towels. OHHH and i only wear perfume that comes in pink bottles, there were a few too many of those to add to the picture, maybe another time! Anyway, enjoy: from left to right: blush, mascara, pink toothpick, pink dove deodorant, pink hairclip, pink lip gloss, pink tweezers, pink baby lotion, pink hairspray, pink body splash, pink eyeshadow cream, pink brush, pink toothbrush, pink foaming soap, and pink round brush. Yep. If it comes in pink, i must have it in pink, no exceptions. Enjoy!!!