Adventures in Puppyhood and Face Paint

The morning started out with a difficult decision: what do we do with Bowie?
I mean... why doesn't Disney allow puppies?? Bowie would LOVE Disneyland!

I don't care what people say... Having a puppy is ALMOST like having a child
I will totally delete this post when I have kids

We ended up having a "boarding" trial run while we spent the day at Disneyland. We figured, we will have to board her sooner or later, and it would be best to try it while we will still be close... so we did.

And I asked Mason about 17 times "Do you think Bowie is okay????"
He finally stopped answering me and just gave me the "...if you ask me one more time" look.

Turns out, she is a natural! First thing the lady said to me when I picked her up:
"She did great! She didn't even poop in her crate!"
Proud mama right here! I left the doggie shop and yelled to San Diego
"MY DOG DIDN'T POOP IN HER CRATE!! DO YOU HEAR ME??"

On another note, Disneyland was spectacular! Best part of the day was when this happened:

It just so happened that a woman walked by with her two little kiddos all covered in face-paint pictures and I had an inspiring moment! I begged and pleaded with Mason to indulge my childlike nature and get his face painted with me. He watched as the facepainter magically transformed my face into a mystical something-or-other and he knew... he had to get tribal.

I think he felt very tough for the rest of the day... or until it got really hot and he smeared it all wiping sweat from his forehead.

Mason was full on geeking out over Radiator Springs. He actually had a few of his old car parts that made it in there as decorations! And I am pretty sure he felt right at home wearing his "Napa auto parts" shirt. 

hate that shirt

I am pretty sure there is no one else on the earth that makes Disney as fun as he does.

stretching... it hurts.

pause

take a deep breath

start running

almost freak out

freak out

hyperventilate 

take a deep breath

feel tears

feel healing

keep running

start smiling

stretch

pause

while I am stretching it occurs to me... 

I have been stretching this whole time

this is right now

Hot coffee on a hot morning

I love sitting and drinking my coffee in the morning and reading "inspirational blogs" as Mason calls them.

This morning, it is already 90 degrees outside, we have no air conditioning, and I am trying to drink this piping hot cup of coffee.

I must admit... it looses some of its magic if I am concurrently sweating.
(I even tried to put coconut creamer in it to give it a summer kick... it didn't really work)

But!
I got to SLEEP IN with my not-so-small puppy right next to me.
And she didn't jump on my face once!

And it is a GORGEOUS day outside
I think we will go to the beach

And Mason gets to work for himself
and comes home with a huge SMILE on his face every night

And I GET to work for the next 3 days in a row
(steady job is a good thing, work is a good thing... I have to keep reminding myself)

And I have the TIME to sit and drink a cup of coffee... even though I am sweating

LIFE has been good to me
THANKS to the Lord's blessings

I give this day to Him with thanks
Happy Friday!

Bowie

Bowie was born April 14, 2012 

We got to meet her and take her home on June 23, 2012

Since then, our lives have never been the same

She has so much energy

sometimes, I think I might kill her

But she also has this redeeming factor:

she is super cute when she sleeps

I know my love is conditional... I am working on it

I cant picture my life without her now

and I am so thankful that Lord blessed us with her

She turned 4 months yesterday

and in light of this

I thought I would post a crap load of pictures

These are some of my favorites

(Sorry if you have seen them before, I love to show off my first daughter)

Make Yourself Some Homemade BBQ Rub!

I found this recipe in a Southern Living Mag and loved it! The recipe is super easy and I found the jars at Home Goods for really cheap, printed the labels and tied them on with twine! It made for a fun craft that you can use for any BBQ!

     

Yeah... had a little difficulty with this one

Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
- 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp smoked paprika

- 2 Tbsp sugar

- 2 tsp garlic powder

- 2 tsp freshly ground pepper -------------->

- 1 tsp dry mustard

- 1 tsp ground cumin

- 1 tsp ground ginger

First: mix all the ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to a month! Easy as that!

Download "Smokey-Sweet BBQ Rub" labels Here 

Enjoy!

In light of wedding weekend

This weekend one of my longest, closest friends got married! Being at weddings, I cant help think about when Mason and I got hitched (selfish, I know). Mason and I hadn't really got to spend time together in like, well, a month... and I realized I missed him, even though he was sitting right next to me.

He must have been thinking the same thing because he leaned in to me and asked me on a date.

Mason planned this whole day out for us. It included visiting the place where WE got married and then finishing the night at Casino Morongo at the all you can eat buffet.

I really couldn't think of a better way to spend my day.

This look disgusting... and it was my 3rd plate at that time

Thank you, Mason, for such a great day <3

For Mason

keep your back straight 

keep your head held high

keep your eyes on the prize

keep the fire and passion of Jesus in your heart

keep a sense of adventure tangled around your feet

...and may you always find your way back home to me

I miss you Mason
Japan can't have you anymore
I am over it
You gotta come home