5 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

This week has been a horrible spiral of getting nothing done at work. It's terrible cycle--there's so much to do that it causes stress, which makes me do nothing and then I get more stressed that nothing has been done. I don't even know where to start. Anxiety to the max over here in the land of having to ask businesses for thousands of dollars. If you have any tips, please send them my way.

But while that shit spiral was taking place in the work world, the real world made me happy in a lot of ways this week.

1 | Tuesday night a couple girl friends came over to help me "secretly" decorate my living room. The BF tends to be anti-decorations and stuff, so I opted to do this while he was gone. The hope is that he would come home to it done and miraculously like it. Jury is still out on that. However, every time I walk into that room now I smile. It finally looks like home after 2 years of living there, instead of blank walls, a rug and a couple couches. I'll do a before and after post, I promise.

2 | I tried adding cinnamon to my coffee this week and now I'm obsessed. The combo of the cinnamon and hazelnut creamer has left me with a Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavored mug of goodness and it couldn't be better. I had to get a cute new mug to celebrate.

3 | Wednesday night I got free Chipotle. FREE CHIPOTLE! I was out running errands and deliberated for almost half an hour where I wanted to eat. I must have selected right because I got my dinner for free! This was due to having to wait on grilled chicken. So not only did I get it for free, but I got fresh off the grill, sliced and thrown directly on my salad chicken. Bomb dot com. 

4 |  I had an enormous amount of blog love from this post, this new link up and just some of my blog friends in general. You guys make me really happy, you have no clue!!

5 | There are two forseeable vacations in my future and I am absolutely giddy. One is still a maybe - a bachelorette weekend in New Orleans! The other is a family trip to Washington D.C. I cannot freaking wait. And I think the BF is going to go on the family trip which is a really big deal... Having those things on the horizon makes for one happy (but impatient) girl over here!

 Happy Friday!

Birthday Pupcakes | Gunner is 2

Ok, first off, I'm sorry to have two dog posts in one week. But he is a major part of my life and apparently this week, a major part of the blog.

I have made my first blog-dog-mom fail. I forgot to mention Gunner's birthday on the blog. OOPS! He turned two last week, on the 18th. My beautiful baby boy is officially out of "puppyhood" yet I doubt he'll ever truely leave that phase.

And in true crazy-dog-mom fashion I made him birthday cup pupcakes. And I made enough for all his friends at the dog part too. We had a straight up birthday party at the dog park for my boy and I'm not even ashamed. Last year we celebrated too - with cake and taking off his cone of shame.

I have to say, these pupcakes we're kind of a masterpiece of mine and I am so excited to share them with you! I hope that you other dog moms out there can treat your kiddos with them too.

Oh and I might add, they smell like heaven and you could probably eat them yourself if you're into peanut butter carrot cake...

Doggie Pupcakes (source - Pretty Little Pastimes)

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 cup whole wheat flour (preferred) or white flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Additional peanut butter, carrot shreds and doggie treats for toppings

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cupcake pan with liners (6 or 7 is what the recipe will yield). In a large bowl, mix egg, peanut butter, oil, vanilla and honey. Stir till smooth. Add carrots and mix till well incorporated. Then sift flower and baking soda in, folding into the batter. 

Batter will be sticky. Scoop cupcake liners about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before decorating.

I frosted them with peanut butter, sprinkled with carrots and topped each with a mini Milkbone!

Feed them to your best friend and watch them go nuts!

Do you celebrate your pet's birthday? Or am I the only crazy one over here?

#HASHTAGHUMPDAY | Tits and A$$

Well hello lovelies! Welcome to #hashtaghumpday where the best of the best come to confess and hashtag the shiz out of it along the way. Makes sure to stop by and give love to my amazing co-host and partner in blog-crime, Lauren @ Genuinely Lauren. She's the #beesknees

<div align="center">
<a href="http://lauraakalolo.blogspot.com/" title="#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with Lolo" target="_blank"><img src="http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab136/lwelch900/Hashtaghumpdaysm_zpsc121607a.jpg" alt="#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with Lolo" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 First a little business. Here’s the scoop:

• Each Wednesday create a post about what’s going on in your life and #hashtag each item or story. See an example HERE. Be as creative as you want! 
• Grab the button and include it in your post
•  Link up so we can all #creep on you and find out what’s new/funny/awesome /shitty in your life.
• Comment on at least one other blogger’s post from the link up (someone you don’t already know!) if there even is anyone who links up…
•  Share on all your social sites with #hashtaghumpday
• Have fun! #hashtagtheshitoutofeverything #whocaresifitsarealhashtag

Kapeesh?

Ok, let's start with the rant that gave this post it's sweet title.

My city league volleyball team played our arch nemeses in last week's game. Who are these evil beings you might ask? Well we like to call them the Tits and Ass Team. They've been around for a while, we've played them before. Some of their players switch out a bit, but the core group is always the same. Imagine body builder Barbie, full hair and make up, the tiniest shorts possible and (although I still have no clue where they find them) a push up sports bra. Seriously, they have cleav where cleav should never be - at a city league game. We could have a nip slip at any moment #titsout #shortshorts #SLUTS

Ok, I get it, if you got it, flaunt it, right? I'm all about that. But shorts that ride up to your hooo-ha and tanks cut so low I wouldn't even wear them to a club? Pushing it ladies. It doesn't help with the fake eyelashes and hair extensions either. In a junior high gym. Hot stuff #yougotdoneupforthis #whodoyouthinkyouare

Top it all off with the giggles and "like" every other word. It's like a volleyball version of Clueless and not in a good way. And to make it worse, they usually beat us (they did last week). Personally I think it's our own hate that does us in. We're too busy hating them to be good at volleyball. But man are we good at hating #atleastweregoodatsomething #doilookjudgeytoyou #yesimjustjealous

 

   

So really I'm just the bitch that is jealous of their smoking bodies, cute workout clothes, perfect ponies and nice make up. I still think the volleyball court is not the place to flaunt it though. So I may have secretly let one of these slip #oopsdididothat?

Next time we're beating their perky asses!!! #yoursogoingdown

 What are you confessing? Link up and throw a #hasthag on it.

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Blogger Men Tell All | Gunner

Samantha at the Samantha Life hosts a "Blogger Men Tell All" link up the first week of every month. 

I've been wanting to join in, but haven't gotten my act together up until this month.

And.... since the BF is out of town, you get to hear from my other main man, who, in my opinion, is a little more entertaining anyway.

GUNNER

What is your favorite winter hobby? Fetching a ball

Did you do anything special for your blogger on February 14th? Fetched her my ball

 

 

What's your favorite kind of candy?  Milkbones and balls

Which Rom-Com would you choose to watch while you snuggle up with your Valentine? Anything as long as I'm snuggling with Mom, after playing fetch

Who, in your opinion, is the best US president ever? Ruuuuhhhh, whoever invented the ball?

 

 

 

Things I Can't Wait To Do

It's always popular to have goals, or a 30 x 30, or bucket list here in the blog world.

A bucket list, in my opinion however, is a list of desired accomplishments.  This list I don't consider accomplishments. They are the things I know, or desperately hope, will happen in my life. Things I don't need to make plans for, strap on a parachute to do, or fly 10,000 miles to see. They are the milestones I can't wait to have - the moments that make up my sincerest wishes and deepest dreams no matter how big or small.

I can't wait to...

... marry the man of my dreams

... sing my babies to sleep

... buy or build my dream house

... have a father daughter dance

... shop for maternity clothes

... pick baby names

... watch my husband become a dad

... decorate a nursery

... have a job I love going to every day

... make airplane noises with baby food in a spoon

... share my favorite movies with my children

... be a "soccer" (or insert the sport) mom

... bake cookies with my grandchildren

... celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary

... host my entire family for Thanksgiving or Easter

... watch my kids hunt for Easter eggs and carve their first pumpkins

... become old and gray with the man I love

... hear the pitter patter of little feet

... hear that tiny voice say "I love you" for the first time

Life can be fickle and sometimes way too short. The fact I look at this list and realize it might not all happen breaks my heart. But the fact it could also makes my soul sing...

Here's to all the things in our futures. May they be filled with love and joy!

Happy Monday, 

Turkey-Avocado Patty Melts | Savory Sunday

Sometimes you really, really want a burger, but don't have any hamburger buns.  The struggle is real my friends.

Then you decide not to let that set you back, and that a melt-y, cheesy, onion-y, avocado stuffed patty melt might just do the trick. Because when you don't have buns, any bread will do.

Ok, maybe not any bread. But some really solid Dave's Killer Bread fully loaded with whole grain goodness. When any bread is piled with a seasoned turkey patty, fresh avocado, caramelized onions, chipotle-BBQ mayo and a whole lotta cheese - well, it turns into the bread of your dreams.

The beauty of a patty melt is that you can really put anything on it. It's the grown-up grilled cheese on steroids. Load it with your favorite meat, veggies, cheeses, etc.

Really I just gathered what I had around the kitchen for these beauties, and they couldn't have been any better. Also I feel inclined to tell you I'm eating my leftover One-Pot Pasta for lunch right now and it's just as good re-heated. I love meatballs in my mouth. You're welcome.

For the burger patties:

• 1 lb extra lean ground turkey (makes 5 patties)
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan
• 2 TBS bread crumbs
• 2 TBS minced garlic
• 2 TBS onion powder
• 1 TBS Worcestershire
• 1 egg white
• Salt and pepper to liking 

For the chipotle-BBQ mayo:

• 1/3 cup light Miracle Whip (or mayo if you're a mayo person)
• 1 heaping TBS of your favorite BBQ sauce
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1-2 tsp Siracha, to taste, depending on how spicy you like it 

Patty Melt Assembly Items (makes two melts):

• 1 ripe avocado, sliced
• 1 large sweet onion, sliced thin and sauteed/caramelized over stove
• 4 slices of Dave's Killer Bread, or other hearty whole wheat
• 2 turkey burger patties
• chipotle-BBQ mayo
• 3/4 cup of shredded cheese (sliced cheese would work as well)

What you do:
Add all burger patty ingredients to a large bowl and mix well, I recommend using your hands to mush together. Separate meat mixture into patties. Using a Griddler, stove top, or oven, cook your patties until there is NO PINK remaining. Meanwhile, brown/caramelize your onions, stir together all mayo ingredients, and slice up your avocado.

Assemble your patty melts with chipotle-BBQ mayo on each bread slice, one patty, half of the avocado, a healthy helping of onions, and cheese. I recommend putting the cheese on either side of the patty for maximum melting. Put your masterpiece into the Griddler, or cook over the stove as you would a grilled cheese. Heat until cheese is melted, being careful not to burn the bread.

Slice into that bad boy and chow down.

Now that I have written it all out it seems like a lot of work, but really this took me less than 30 minutes. Just make sure you are multi tasking. Trust me it is very, very worth it!

Let me know what you think!

5 Lessons I Learned at my Entry Level Job

Everyone has to start somewhere right?

I was lucky enough to start my career, and my first entry level job, at an advertising agency. Looking back now, I didn't appreciate it nearly enough. Coming out of college during the last economic down turn (2010) with an Advertising degree is a tough place to be. Yet somehow I landed right where I was supposed to be - even if it took me 9 months post graduation.

Sure I had to do things like make the Costco or Jimmy Johns runs, sit for hours collecting surveys for a market research project or stuff and address hundreds of Christmas card envelopes, but I also got to do the cool advertising stuff like go on commercial shoots and work with radio stations.

But whether you have your "dream" job starting out or not, that first entry level job teaches you a lot.

Here are 5 things I learned from my entry level position:

1 | The blessing of a mail merge. College teaches you things like PowerPoint and how to write well, but sometimes those simple things like balancing a check book or creating a 300 contact mail merge goes untaught. Although for one project I had to hand address nearly 500 envelopes to make them look "personal," utilizing the mail merge for some of my other entry level projects was a life saver. Along with that, Excel in general. As a non-business major the joys of Microsoft Excel escaped me until my first entry level position - where I had to learn hard and fast to keep up with the workplace.
 

2 | No task is too small. As hinted to above, I was kind of the "everything" bitch slave at my first job. Whether it was taking everyone's lunch order or facilitating the design of a client's ad, I did it all and everything in between. I handled contracts, ran focus groups, collected and summarized research data, the works. And it really paid off. Not only do I now have experience in soooo many things, I also got rave remarks from everyone I worked with that I was the "go to" person for just about anything. It's a cool title to have, even if you are running next door to get 8 cups of coffee...

3 | Personality goes a long way. Along with #2, I did everything with a smile. I wanted to help and be a part of everything. I never hid my sense of humor or my competitive spirit. In fact, I was told by the managing director of the company (my boss' boss) that they hired be because of my snarky cover letter. It was sarcastic, sassy and full of confidence, and they liked it. So when they met me in person they knew exactly what they were getting. Just make sure if you are all those things you still are OK doing #2 and can always tone it down when needed.

4 | Be the Ying to the Yang. My boss at my first job was not always the most organized. And, I am the first to admit that I am not that organized either. However, since my position was somewhat of an "assistant" to her (as well as everyone else), I needed to function as her organizational component. I filed her papers, often helped with her schedule and was always there for her to "bounce" things off of to make a plan when things were flying in every which direction. Although I was aware it was not my strength I knew it was what she needed - I acted as that ying to her yang. The result? I was a much needed part of her business and thus that much more valuable.

5 | Don't be afraid to ask for help. I think this applies to your entire lifelong career path. Often times when I started out I would sit completely overwhelmed trying to tackle a project and not get anywhere. Then something magic happened. I swallowed my pride and asked my boss for help. You know what? She was thrilled that I had came and asked. It allowed her to show me how she wanted it done, and honestly I learned a lot along the way. From that point on I was never afraid to ask for help. I want to get the job right the first time, so if that takes a little assistance, I'm all for it!

What did you learn at your first real job? Are you still in that position? What work lessons have you taken for granted?

All this work talk makes me glad it's Friday!

Basic White Girl Margarita | Thursty Thursday

Sometimes you just want a margarita dammit.

And then you think to yourself, I'm 25 26,  if I want one there's nothing stopping me.

STEP ONE | Decide you want a margarita (easy peasy)

STEP TWO | With wet hair and no make up, put on your yoga pants and a sweatshirt and head to your nearest liquor store (or grocery store if you live in one of those cool states)

STEP THREE | Take entirely too long combing the shelves deciding what you want to buy

STEP FOUR | Purchase cheap tequila and some no sugar added margarita mix

STEP FIVE | Arrive home and select the largest capacity drinking cup you have (mason jars are preferable). Salt the rim, and add ice

STEP SIX | Measure out 3 shots of tequila, add to jar, top with mix till full

STEP SEVEN | Add a pink straw, because your basic

STEP EIGHT | Enjoy

Linking up with Kristin for Thursty Thursday!
 

 

#HASHTAGHUMPDAY | Why I'm Crazy

Yipeee! Humpday comes so quickly when you have a three day weekend!

Time to link up with yours truly and/or my gal pal Lauren for some #hashtaghumpday #confessions!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://lauraakalolo.blogspot.com/" title="#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with Lolo" target="_blank"><img src="http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab136/lwelch900/Hashtaghumpdaysm_zpsc121607a.jpg" alt="#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with Lolo" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 First a little business. Here’s the scoop:

• Each Wednesday create a post about what’s going on in your life and #hashtag each item or story. See an example HERE. Be as creative as you want! 
• Grab the button and include it in your post
•  Link up so we can all #creep on you and find out what’s new/funny/awesome /shitty in your life.
• Comment on at least one other blogger’s post from the link up (someone you don’t already know!) if there even is anyone who links up…
•  Share on all your social sites with #hashtaghumpday
• Have fun! #hashtagtheshitoutofeverything #whocaresifitsarealhashtag

Kapeesh?

Ok, this week I'm going to fill you in on some of reasons that I sometimes consider myself "crazy." I mean we all have those moments right? 

First off, I don't care whether it's Coke or Pepsi. Diet soda is diet soda. I'm ambidextro(soda)ous and I don't care #caffeine #itsallgood #getinmybelly

Second, I talk to my dog as much or more than anyone else in a day and I'm 99% sure he understands every word #hesmybestfriend #nottalkingtomyself

Third, I whole heartedly believe my car is 100 x sexier when it's clean and a car was does not count as breaking the rules of my spending freeze because I NEED a sexy car #shallowmuch #sexyredcar #ihaveissues

Fourth, I consider Trivia Crack educational and therefore not a time waster #ilearnedreelgood #theresanappforthat

Fifth, I have to have a plan, and if I deviate from the plan I get very irritated. I need to know what time I'll be leaving work, what my plan is for the dog park, dinner and household activities by noon or I have a panic attack the rest of the afternoon #typeA #planner

Sixth, that planner in me also likes a schedule in the morning and if it's thrown off my whole day is off. That schedule includes brushing my teeth in the shower and wearing sweat pants around my house in between pajamas and my work clothes and BOTH must happen in the morning for me to function #weirdo #imakesweatpantslooksexy 

Do you have any habits that make you sort of crazy? Spill and link up!



TTFN,

An InLinkz Link-up