Monday Blues

I've been in a funk lately with blogging, meal planning, and working out. Things have just been crazy, and hectic for the last month or so, and while I love staying busy, everything else sort of falls by the wayside, doesn't it?

On the plus side, things appear to be slowing a bit and I was able to thoroughly clean Casa de Crews, and treat myself after to a facial, from the most eccentric and wonderful of estheticians, and have my hair done, this weekend. I'm feeling refreshed and ready to start tackling this thing called life, again.

Gigi Marie

Yes, yes this is a post about my dog. Does that sound ridiculous? Maybe, but it's my blog and I'll write what I want to, right?

Two years ago, Jason and I adopted {or whatever you'd like to call it} Gigi from a friend, who couldn't keep her. Gigi was this little thang who initially wanted nothing to do with Jason or me.

But that changed in oh, about three hours.

She is the most spoiled of babies. She is a nervous little thing, and while I may be biased also the smartest and prettiest.

another one bites the dust

Another dog bed, that is...

A-holes

Meet Oskar!

Labor Day weekend, Jason and I finally grew our little ol' fur family! We had been wanting to adopt another little fur baby and brother/sister for Gigi for quite some time. Honestly I had been putting it off because now that J is in law school, its all me taking care of these babies. But after being unemployed for four months this year, meant going back to work made me feel extremely guilty to leave her all day alone; before my unemployment I didn't really think much about it...

We went to the Tampa Bay Humane Society the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. We brought G-love with us because obviously it was important that the two dogs would get along before we knew if we could adopt any dog. I wasn't actually expecting us to find our next fur baby the same day, but we did and we are SO happy (and so is Gigi, she lurves her new bro!!)

On the car ride home from the Humane Society...fast friends

Oskar's name was  Stitch when we adopted him but A)he didn't respond to that name and B)it just didn't fit for us...We were told Oskar is about two years old, but he acts like such an old man! We're not actually sure if he's maybe older or not, but a little ol' man name seemed more fitting to us; and so with that Oskar was born! He is a dachshund mix (we think with min pin, like his sister!) and we kinda wanted to stick with a German sounding name. Jason actually wanted to name him Walt at first (some guy on Breaking Bad is named Walt White or something and is German; I don't watch the show so I don't know the whole story there) but since he is part wiener dog, "Oscar" fit and then J and our next door neighbor both said, "Oskar, with a "K"", so there ya go.

Oskar has adjusted quite nicely into our little home! He and Gigi play, wear one another out and she now whines if we walk them separately. In just under two weeks, she has become quite attached to her new brother. The only thing we are having an issue with is Oskar going potty when we're not home. He didn't do it the first week we were at work, but all last week (and this weekend) he has peed in his bed, our hallway, and unfortunately in the water bowl. I don't know if its a behavioral thing or what...I'm looking for any and all suggestions! I know he isn't a puppy puppy, and so I don't know what is up? We have a crate but never needed it for Gigi; I don't know if we should crate him a bit or what we should do (what we do while we are at work, currently is put a baby gate up in a hallway we have to give them more space; its worked quite well before we got Oskar...) Other than that, old man Oskar loves to sleeeeeeeeep and cuddle and lick. He's very sweet and polar opposite of our crazy hyper Gigi girl...Jason has said maybe Oskar wasn't the perfect fit for Gigi and us but we are the perfect fit for him <3 I think he is so happy with us and that in turn warms my heart...we love this little guy and he has already brought us such joy!

attached

My weekend (in pictures!)

Oh heyyyy. It's Monday and time to link up with Savanah & Ashlee for some weekend recaps!

This weekend I had a lot going on. Friday night, my littlest sister graduated from USF.

Littlest sis and her boyfriend

The ceremony got out late so we just went back to  the parentals for pizza and some of us did dinner the following night at a Japanese steakhouse (yes, very Cinco de Mayo-ish, lol).

During the day Saturday, I helped set up my last  wedding for the Spring. Cross Creek Ranch has a few more May weddings but then not another one until...September. Since its all outdoors, they don't have anything going on in the ridiculously hot months (and after working Saturday in that heat, I am glad to get a break from the sun!)

The bride & groom opted to play up the Cinco theme for their wedding. I initially thought, "I could never do that for a wedding!"...until I saw it all together. Ya'll, I am eating my words because this wedding was so beautiful. I've loved most all the weddings I have helped to set up this season, but I think this one is one of my top faves  (and why I have way more photos of this one to share).

These banners really made the stable! BUT they were tissue paper; I'd say if you ever use flags like this, don't use tissue paper outside. Other than that, they are gorgeous!

For eats, they had tapas and a fajita bar, margaritas and churros.

 I wish I was a guest at that wedding! LOL...

The flowers made the tables. Did I say I was in love with this wedding?!

...their florist used Patron bottles for the bar area. Loved!

After being deliriously hot and tired, Emilee and I decided to take our own photo with props!

After work, I hightailed it home to get ready for dinner with the fam. After eating (a gazillion carbs), littlest sister, her boyfriend and some friends came over for margaritas and games. It was a very chill "holiday" but considering how busy of a day it had been, I was glad to drink at home and no one had to drive. I had a great time (and I hope my friends did too?!).

I know Gigi loved all the attention she got!

Hiding under the coffee table after grabbing her toys. This is my life...

How was your weekend?

XOXO,

Nichole

Furbaby Friday

Happy Friday, kids! I was supposed to have a job interview today but they called at the last minute to say that they had to reschedule...The good news? The pants I wore were loose! The bad...well, obvs that I didn't get to go on my interview...

Anyway, since I'm home all the time now, I am spending much more time with my Gigi-Pi. I love it and I think she does too. Unfortunately, it means I take an unnecessary  amount of photos of her.

Not gonna lie, sometimes when bloggers constantly post about their pets (and only their pets) I get kind of annoyed at the lack of a "real" post. But I get it, their furbabies are their babies and they love them. I love our Geeg and so since it's Friday and I've seen this "theme", I'm taking the bait. Am I a hypocrite? Perhaps, but once you see my baybee, you'll see why :)

{Girl loves her dog bed and blankie}

{Constantly trying to get belly rubs. She doesn't care if I'm online; she plops down anyway}

{Always nappin'}

{Watching tv with J and she turned at me like this. Coincidentally they were watching Walking Dead.
I think G-love was channeling her inner "zombie"?}

That time I poked my eyeball

...and scratched it. Have you ever scratched your freakin' eyeball before?!


So, the other day, J and I came home from work to find quite the ball of "fluff" on the floor...
Obviously, Gigi was the culprit. We looked under the bed to see what she "killed" (usually a poor, unsuspecting stuffed animal is the victim) and sure enough we found said animal, toilet paper (she's a friggin' ninja, ya'll. I swear we keep the bathroom doors shut and yet, there was a tp jungle under there) and.....my Fossil sunglasses that I JUST BOUGHT.

I was pretty annoyed but that didn't stop me from snapping a pic with my broken shades. And when I went to take my broken glasses off, I poked my eye. And apparently scratched it too...first time for everything. 

{Not the best photo (BB quality) but you get the point}
{Also, I am an a-hole. Clearly}

I went around the house with a leaking eye and had to wear (other) sunglasses at night in the dark (it was really sensitive). Swear this happened. And if I took the glasses off, I had to keep my left eye closed. Jason kept telling me to stop winking at him (thanks, ass).


Thankfully, my eye is  better. Still irritated, and a tad red but better. Good thing too, because I'm not sure if I could rock the whole eye patch "look"... 

{Amen!}







Lazy Sunday

What.a.weekend. After making pie Wednesday (and deciding to go out after that), eating too much turkey Thursday, babysitting a three year old (with a cold) and his four year old sister after said glutton fest for 32 hours, we then moved the bestie into a new place, Saturday.

I then dragged hubs to our local comedy club for some free laughs (seriously, people sign up for everything, everywhere. Free ish is the b.e.s.t) and because it was only 9pm, we then went and saw the new Muppets Movie. I think Jason Segal is my new hero. I was seriously laughing and smiling the entire movie. I loved the Muppets when I was a kid and was so stoked someone decided to bring em' back.

Since we've been busy, our place looks like a freakin' tornado blew through. Hubs has a cold and is currently in bed (where I have quarantined him; dude better not get me sick, too!) and I have no desire to do a thing, ya'll. I mean, seriously I just want to sit on the couch like a vegetable...

Even Gigi is snoozing...

What are you doing with your Sunday?

Happy Halloween!

Since Halloween is today, we celebrated Saturday with our friends at a Halloween party. Not gonna lie, when it comes to costume ideas, I am beyond un-original. I usually go with some cat ears or a mask of some sort. Hubs on the other hand, always has a good one brewing (side note: one year he made me a sash that said "drama queen" and I wore a dress and tiara with it. Major props to that guy).

Last year's theme was Masquerade so you know I was relieved!
(Look closely at hubs, he still made his own costume (Rick Flair))

Because I am so boring when it comes to this holiday I actually updated my facebook status (On Saturday-nothing like last minute, eh?) asking what I should be for Halloween. The best idea came from my (future) brother in-law, J. He said, "Go as your evil twin and put on a goatee". At first it was hysterical, but then I thought a goatee on a girl isn’t cute and the party we were going to would undoubtedly have some sex-ay costumes. I’m not usually one of those gals, anyway, so I knew a skanky nurse/cat/whatever wasn’t gonna work for yours truly. Once Jason saw the fb post, however, he said I had to be my evil twin (he called me Natasha, lol). So with that, a costume was born.

Clearly amused

The party was fun, but I totally stood out. And people definitely did not get it. I was asked at least ten times what I was, and some just thought I went as a man, and called me "sir" while others commented, "Oh. You’re the Kool-Aid man’s wife…" (Yep, I'm "Mrs Kool-Aid") Also, two different guys said they were digging the ‘stache and called me cute (I assume that was the alcohol talking, lol).

Pretending to burst through the wall, "Oh yeaaa"

Lost the goatee at some point...

But I still had a good time, so who cares, right? I think one day when we have kids, it will be different and I’ll get more into it. Until then, we have Gigi who we dressed up several times this month (don't judge); I mean hell-o is that not part of the fun in having a furbaby?!

So spooky!

She also has a Halloween tutu, but she kept trying to eat it in photos....





How did you (or are you) spending your Halloween?

Meet....GiGi

Last week I posted about hubs and I, maybe getting a furbaby of our very own. Even though wanting a dog was initially my idea, as soon as we met GiGi, I knew Jason made the decision right away. Hubs grew up having dogs and I did not. We had birds in my family so even though Gigi isn't a biggin', I wasn't about to pick her up all of a sudden or play with her (what if she bit me?! Nevermind that she's only 10lbs) the way Jason did. We told our friend, C, we'd love to give Gigi a new home, and so on Friday, Gigi became ours.

It has been quite the learning process so far (for me). I thought Gigi might cry when "C" left, but she did pretty well! She is def a lover and likes kisses and seems to like both hubs and I the same, which makes me happy because I was a little nervous she'd sense my slight fear, and not come near me. But she warmed up right away so getting to know her has been easy and has eased any doubts I had. She is used to getting up at 4:30am to go out and  to eat so these last two nights/mornings have been something else. Last night she cried every hour on the hour until hubs took her on the couch and then she passed out in his lap (what a trooper, my dude is). I also feel so bad crating her but I know we have to when we're gone (anyone have any tips on this?). She really is our baby now and I am loving every minute of it (well, minus the lack of sleep)!

Our "attack" dog?



Expanding the fam?

Jason and I can be exact opposites in a lot of ways. I am pretty impulsive and quick to react whereas hubs is more of a thinker and needs time to make a decision. Some days, it's a great balance and I love it and other days, well….not so much.

We have been talking about getting a dog for months now. Actually, right before we got married, we went to a Rays spring training game at Brighthouse Fields and sat on the berm (P.S. March in the sun with a gazillion other people sitting on the lawn, was the worst idea. Ever) and there were so many adorable kids there hyped about the game that I looked over to my then-fiancé and said, “I want one. Just one baby” Our friends and Jason all looked at me like I was certifiably insane. I get that. I mean I like my me time and we babysit the niece and nephew a lot so we feel like part time parents some days as it is, but just like my mom has pointed out—my eggs ain’t getting any younger. But I know we are truly not ready for a baby (but then I ask, is anyone ever really…”ready”?) so I then told J we either needed a baby…or a dog. Phew! I could see the color coming back into Jason’s face. A baby was not happening, but a dog he could handle.  

But again, the rusher that I am as really wanted a dog and actively had began to look. Jason was on board but hadn’t done much on his end so I kind of let it go for a bit (starting to get the hang of this wifey thang and am trying not to push an issue unless necessary because usually it all works out in the end anyway. I’m learning, people). We have talked numerous times about what kind of dog we’d like. Any small dog is fine by us. I have always wanted a Chihuahua and Jason had always wanted a miniature pinscher. But again, any small dog would do (we’d love a lab but not in an apartment)… 

A friend of ours, C, lives in a one bedroom apartment with two dogs right up the road from us. We don't see her too much, but she's fun to hang with. She is busy like the rest us though and she always would joke if we had a dog, we’d probably see her more because she goes to the dog park a lot. Well, C is having a hard time taking care of her two dogs at her place and asked us last night if we were still thinking about getting a dog because if so, she’d like us to think about taking her smaller pup, Gigi.

I didn’t even hesitate to write her back. There are so many “yes” factors here that I feel like this may be meant to be. Gigi is a chihuahua/min pin mix! H-e-l-l-o??? A combo breed of the dogs J and I wanted? Close to her first “mom” so they can still visit, helping a friend out and pup would be free?! I don't know how much I believe in signs, but how could this not be one?

Our “family” may be growing soon, folks! Keep ya'll posted