Meet My New Best Friend, The Couch

Me and the Couch spent a lot of QT together this weekend. It all started on Tuesday when I felt an inkling of sickness coming my way. It figures... I feel like I always get sick after I travel on planes.

I willed it away with all my might thinking it could be kind of "mental" sickness. That sounds bad, but you know what I'm talking 'bout - kind of like hysterical pregnancies - you make it up because you are getting burnt out or need a day off. Well, I could only be so lucky.

Almost a week later, I'm still fighting this thing. Hacking up a lung, runny nose, super stuffed sinuses. I won't bore you with all the gory runny details, but it was not pleasant. The only good thing to come out of it was that I had time to finish Book Two of The Hunger Games trilogy - Catching Fire. And it was good. Now I'm on to Book Three, hoping it can continue to deliver.

Other than spending time with my new BFF, Couch, this weekend we watched a lot of HGTV (my new fav show is Secrets From a Stylist), watched Love & Other Drugs (it was OK - although Jake Gyllenhaal isn't bad to look at!), and took quite a few naps. Buster entertained himself by trying to gobble up every used tissue I accidentally left lying around... Picture this: sick me slowly chasing after hyper puppy thinking he's all that and a bag of chips for once again defeating mom and dad and getting his sharp little teeth on something he shouldn't.

Now I'm just looking forward to a nice Kleenex-free and cough-free week... and so are my boys!

Buster the Champ

We finally started training classes for Buster a couple of weeks ago. Thank goodness. His chewing habits haven't died down at all (he's up to about a bone a day now), he still won't come when called, and his manners are lacking to say the least. So we are really excited to get this process going.

So far, we've had two classes, more like two first classes. The first class we went to only had one other puppy that was completely scared and anti social (and we thought Buster was nervous around people!). The second class had two different puppies - a 6 year old Mini Maltese named Teddy Bear that did not like Buster and kept barking the entire time (this should be fun...) and a super cute 7 month old King Charles Spaniel named Marigold.

Last night we learned Sit (which BBoy already knows - Champ!) and just started learning Come. We are pretty excited about teaching BBoy to come when called. He gets distracted very easily, so it's good being in the class with another dog barking the whole time and a lot of things going on in the store while he learns. Luckily, Buster will do anything for a treat, so he is a pretty fast learner.

I was a totally embarrassed mama last night when Buster had to relieve himself in the middle of class on the floor... Maybe he was a little nervous, but he definitely stunk up the place. I was so embarrassed! Oh well, it happens to the best of us... haha.

Needless to say, Buster was exhausted after class. (Yes!) Usually we have to put him in his crate to get him to sleep, but not last night. He was conked out!

Zach's also been taking him out to the grassy field by our apartment and letting him run around with a couple other puppies whose owners go to his school. Buster loves it and it has been awesome to get some of his energy out!

And just because I think he's funny, here's a pic of how BBoy sleeps in his crate... what a weirdo.

The Hunger Games

(source)

Ahhhhhh! This series is my new Twilight! And it came at the perfect time - just as the Twilight and Harry Potter movies are coming to an end. All credit goes to my awesome sister-in-law Jenn who has been hounding me to read this series For. Ev. Er. and then ended up getting me all three books for my birthday. (Thanks!!)

I finished the first book in two days on the plane (it would have been one if I didn't have so much going on) and loved it. Such a creative and suspenseful story. I would highly recommend it! Aaaaand... they are already making a movie. Yes!

Husband just started reading it last night and he is already almost done. I have to get going on the second one now so he doesn't keep bugging me to get it done! I just hope it's as good!

Showers in Seattle (Pun Intended)

For my burfday the husband bought me a plane ticket home to Seattle! I played hookie from work on Friday and took off for the rain. One stop in Portland and 7 hours later (right?), I was in weather 50 degrees cooler than when I started. Kind of crazy.

Friday night we had a bachelorette party for my friend, Kristy. She didn't know I was coming, so it was a total surprise! Lots of drinks, laughs, and inappropriate jokes ensued. Saturday we spent prepping for the bridal shower, also for Kristy, and then I met up with one of my besties, Kim. We hung out in downtown Seattle, went down to Pike's Place to pick up some flowers for Mother's Day, and of course, talked about her wedding in August (so excited!). It was so good to see her! Then I got to meet up with my parents, my in-laws, and my sister-in-law for dinner downtown. They are awesome and I'm so lucky to have such a kick ass family!

Sunday was the shower (bridal and rain) and then I was on my way home (stop in San Fran this time). Yay for cheap flights. I had such a great jam-packed weekend and I'm so glad I got to see everyone! Only a few more months... and this will be the norm!

A Year Ago...

I was Bungee Jumping for my 25th birthday!

Sometimes I still can't believe I did it... Crazy, right?! (my lovely mother certainly thought so!)

I'm off work today for a little birthday weekend trip sure to be full of lots of fun and adventures! So excited!

Have a great weekend everyone!

April Savings Update (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly)

You may remember me saying that April was going to get the "crap saved out of it," and well, it did - kind of? Allow me to 'splain.

The Good
First of all, we were able to put $1,000 in the old savings account again for April (woot!). That seems to be a recurring theme for us the past couple of months, which I think is good. But I know we can do better. Another good thing - we bought our plane tickets to Europe! We are super excited and can't wait. Especially to see my baby brother school those Germans in some American Football!

The Bad
The bad news is that while we saved $1,000 this month, our credit card bill went up by triple that (probably more) due to birthdays/Mother's day/Europe plane tickets(!). So while we "saved" $1,000, we really didn't save $1,000. But that's OK. Part of what we were saving for was our Europe trip, so it's nice to finally put our hard earned cash to use! (Side note: Why are we using our credit card at all? Well, the plane tickets are self explanatory, but for gifts we buy online to send to family we usually use the old plastic just because it's online and it makes us feel better/safer. Plus we get cash back with our Costco AMEX card!).

The Ugly
Speaking of using our hard earned cash... the real ugly part to all this was realizing a couple days after we bought our Europe tickets (to the tune of $3,000 - YIKES!), I learned that I could have bought the tickets flying though a different (and closer) airport for $400 less (cue sad Charlie Brown music here). :( I was pretty mad/disappointed/sick to my stomach when I figured that one out. But, live and learn, right? We tried calling to get it changed, but it was already too late and the change fees wouldn't have been worth it. I was mostly frustrated because we have been working so hard to save, and there went $400 down the drain... The husband keeps reminding me that nothing can be changed, what's done is done, and we are still going to Europe(!). But it still makes me a little sick when I think about it...

One thing I'm struggling with on our Spending Diet is when it comes to gifts. I like to go all out, make people feel special, and spend a little more than I should because it is their special day. But, this is not good for the spending diet. Like Anna, I am hoping to find a way to make some more homemade gifts, or find unique ways to spend less money, but still give gifts. Some how I don't think the macaroni necklace is still going to cut it for Mother's Day... (Any ideas???)

So there you have it. Another month of savings in the books! Here's to May!

Yoda & Union Jack

I like to make note cards. It's just like scrapbooking but faster, and hopefully I can make some one's day a little bit better. Plus, I already have a ton of scrapbooking supplies, so it's a cheap way to keep in touch instead of paying $2-6 per birthday/ anniversary/ graduation/ whatever card. A few weeks ago, I had a couple reasons to make some note cards... First, the hubby's birthday. Then, the Royal Wedding/my friend's (belated) birthday. It was a busy week!

For the husband's card, I wanted to make something unique. I remembered I had my Star Wars cookie cutters (see more on those here) so I got a little creative! The husband loves Star Wars, so naturally it was an easy decision. I went with Yoda and chose some coordinating scrapbook paper.

And of course, Buster wanted to add his own personal signature... notice the bite marks.

Outside: Have a Happy Birthday... 

Inside: You Will. 

I know... I'm a total dork. :)

Since I missed my friend Amanda's birthday due to busy season, I decided to send her a much belated birthday card that just happened to coincide with the Royal Wedding (which she also loves). Perfect!

Supplies: card stock paper, scissors, stamps, stamp pad, double sided tape/stickies