Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Christmas is by far my most favorite holiday EVER.  This is only my second Christmas spent in my new home, so I have yet to acquire a multitude of decor.  Here are a few of my favs:

            

So I know its not the greatest, but it makes me happy and it works for now:)

   

This was a gift from Roz last year. LOVE IT!

Love the monogrammed stockings!  I got one for myself and my old roomie last season for $10 bucks!  With the addition of dearest Annie, I knew I wanted to get one for her but was afraid I wouldn't find the same ones this season.  Fortunately, I found it the weekend after Thanksgiving for $5 on sale at Kohl's!  Since I don't have a fireplace or a long stair railing, I hang hers from the backdoor.  Dually purposed: when she needs to go outside, she just nudges the bell on the stocking:)

 

I love the idea of using traditional Christmas bulbs in other places around the house besides the tree.  I bought this set for $6.99 from Marshall's.  I just replaced the fruit normally in this bowl with the bulbs and tada!  The round thing its resting on is actually a placemat that I also got from Marshall's for $10.  I stole that this placemat idea from my good friend Em. When I brave up, I'm going to try and make a bulb wreath like this one:

Oh Canada!

At the beginning of November, I was able to take a trip with my friend Roz to see our dearest and favorite Canadian friend, Andrea. We had so much fun just hangin' out, catching up and exploring her cute little town of Goderich (which happens to be known as "the prettiest town in Canada".  Although I haven't seen too many towns in Canada, I'd have to agree with this statement. 

 

This pic was taken after a long day of traveling. I don't recommend 7am flights.  

 I do recommend, however, the purchase of one of these crucial travel accessories.                                                                   

With a 7am flight, we had to get up quite early to make it to the airport in time (0300 to be exact).  With that in mind, you can imagine we were some cranky tired chicas (not to mention we had both just finished working a few 12 hr shifts in a row).  Unfortunately, we didn't make this pillow purchase until after the first flight (I think our necks were so contorted from trying to sleep on the plane that we were desperate to find a solution).  For the cheap ole' price of 2 for $20, we had just the answer we were looking for!  Here we are demonstrating the use of our awesome neck pillows.

  
 A few things that I found unique about Canada....

            Black squirrels.....

   Milk in a bag...that's right folks, no cartons here.

 I found this quite humerus..."Vex" in the City...really?

The most delish cookies EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Once I have her permission, I will post the recipe...oh.my.word. SO GOOD!


Ok...I think that's enough blogging for me today...the blogging vortex is SCURRY!  

Catching up...

Well, its been a bit since I've blogged so I figured I'd update on what has been going on since I last posted. To start, my fence is finished, and boy, what a difference it is having an enclosed area for Miss Annie to run around.  I do believe she thinks it is her kingdom domain.  No worries about intruders, Annie will stop them with her obnoxious fearful bark.  Below is Annie checking out her fence for the first time.

On another note, we also checked out the local pumpkin patch at Snead's farm.  It was fun to go as a whole family (with the exception of K).  Here are a few pictures from our time at the pumpkin patch. 

 

  Liv on the tractor

 

The whole fam minus K

Liv and I on the tractor

 Dad enjoying the chickens

Next came Halloween. We enjoyed dinner and snacks with family friends followed by a night full o' trick or treating through the neighborhood.  The novelty of going to houses and getting free candy has yet to wear off even at the ripe old age of 24.  Growing up, my sisters and I were "fortunate" enough to attend our church's "Hallelujah" party as an alternative to Halloween.  We always never resented the fact that we didn't get free candy like "all the other kids" hahaha...Anyways, below are some pics from this night.

 

      Desi and her friends dressed up as "boys"

 Spiderman meets Batman.

 Tinkerbell

 Sam and her friends

Ok I will blog later about my trip to Canada.  Great times were had and some awesome pics to share!

A fence building frenzy!

So with the new addition of Annie to my oh-so-small household of 1, I found myself wishing I had a fence to give her the "freedom" she needs to run around while still maintaining boundaries.  Annie was used to having a fence at her old home, so coming here she was very disturbed at the thought of "pottying" while on a leash.  After all, a girl has gotta have her privacy, right?  For the first week I had her I swear I could count on one hand how many times she peed; she apparently has a bladder of steel. I tried letting her out off of a leash, and it worked at first, but over time she has become more brave and discovered the neighbors decks/cats/dogs etc...and is no longer fooled by the "Annie, come here, I have a tasty treat for you" trick.  Needless to say, I made the decision that is was completely necessary for Annie's happiness (and my sanity) for her to have a fence.  My good friend S and her hubby W so graciously offered to take on this project.  With the help of a few awesome friends, we are making great progress and the fence is coming together beautifully.  I feel very accomplished having successfully learned how to use some vital power tools.  I cannot wait for the fence to be finished! So exciting!

 

First post!

 Hello fellow bloggers!  As a first time blogger, I find myself slightly insecure as I type this having read so many amazingly inspiring blogs.  Why start a blog myself, one might ask?  Well, over the past year or two I have experienced many new and terrifying  exciting life-changing events!  The first being the start of my first "real" job as a labor and delivery nurse, next was the purchase of my first home in August 2009, and then finally, in August of this year, Annie (a 10 month old labradoodle pup) came to live with me (more on that later).  So, long story short, I feel that it is only appropriate to document my journeys through this adventure we call life....Here are a few pictures!

           Some fellow L&D girls

                                                               

   

              My first home!

 

And last, but certainly not least....meet Annie!