Linking up with Lauren and Kalyn for Coffee and Conversations.
This week’s topic is:
Who has influenced you the most in your life – personally or professionally and why?
I feel that everyone who is a part of your life, influences you in some way or another. Even people that may not be the best influences, influence you to do better or you learn what not to do.
There are two people in my life that have the most influence on me personally.
My mom.
My mom had me when she was 17. She gave up her whole life to take care of me and provide for me. She is the friendliest person you will ever meet. She never knows a stranger. She tries so hard to please everyone, and always puts people before herself. She went without for so many years so that my sister and I always had everything we needed.
I always go to my mom when I need advice. She has always taught me to tell the truth and be honest no matter what. She is always there for me, even when I may be in the wrong. She has always trusted me. Even when I was younger, and the teacher would say one thing…she would always believe my word over hers.
She always has encouraging words. Believes in me 100%. I am pretty sure if I told her I wanted to fly to the moon, she would have faith that I could.
My sister, Tracy is also a huge influence to me personally. We didn’t always get along. In fact, when she was in middle school, and most of her high school years as well… I pretty much didn’t like her at all. I loved her because she was my sister, but I didn’t like her.
Today, she is the best person I know. She has 2 sons and 2 step daughters, and is the best mom in the entire world. She would do anything for her kids, her husband, her family or her close friends. She is always there for me when I need her. She is very blunt, no filter type person. But, I love that about her. She will always tell it to you like it is. I wish I was more like that sometimes.
She volunteered with the fire department for many years. She helps raise money for a little boy that has cancer that goes to my nephew’s elementary school. She gives so much, and never does anything for herself.
Tracy is the best mom on the entire planet to her kids. She always has their best interest at heart. She is never selfish. Ever. I hope that one day if Chris and I ever have kids, that I can be half the mom that she is. I know my nephews are going to be incredible men because of her.
Good morning, everyone. So remember that time when we had spring break? Yeah…I want that back. Why don’t adults get a spring break every year? You know…just a week to relax and enjoy the changing of seasons? I believe it would strongly increase work production and employee moral. Let’s put this into action, k?
So lets review the weekend, shall we? Friday night after work, we helped a friend move. Then we came home, and I was in bed by 10:00pm. I am so cool, I know.
Saturday was super productive. The dogs spent most of the day outside soaking up the sun. I cleaned the entire house when I first woke up. Then I cleaned the interior and vacuumed my car. It was so much fun not really so I decided to surprise Chris, and do his car too. Then he came outside, and we washed the exterior of both of our cars. There were layers upon layers of dirt and grime on mine. I think we washed each side no less than 5 times before we could see the true color and shine. Whoopsy. Gotta keep up with that better!
We then decided that the weather was just to pretty to not go sit on a patio somewhere and eat fattening food and consume beverages. We headed over to Billy’s and did just that. We were probably there a good 3-4 hours. Then we came home and let the dogs back out. My allergies were starting to get to me, so we came inside and just opened a window.
This is what followed.
Once Gracie realized the window as well, she literally tried to jump inside. This is what we can’t have nice things.
We closed the windows, and headed down stairs to the basement. Ultra Music Fest was this weekend in Miami. Since I am not cool enough to be able to hang at one of these things for 3 days straight, we decided to pull it up on our projector and watch it. Between the large picture and our surround sound downstairs, it was like we were there. You know…minus the drugs and sweaty hippies. Best. Night. Ever.
Sunday Chris and his dad went out and bought a new toilet for our master bathroom. We have officially waved the white flag at the piece of crap toilet the builders installed in our house, and got the creme de la creme Kohler toilet. It is nice to have all 3 bathrooms again! Chris got his windows tinted yesterday, and I hope to have mine done next weekend or sometime REAL soon. If you live in the Birmingham area, Shane from Tint One does an amazing job! He comes out to your house and everything. Hit him up. I meal planned for the week and did some grocery shopping, as well.
1. What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
My favorite thing to do on a rainy day is to be at home, snuggled on the couch and watching TV. More than likely we will fall asleep for a little bit too.
2. What is your favorite thing to do on a summer weekend?
I love to go to to the beach in the summer. It is the only place in the world where I don’t mind how stifling hot it is!
4. What is your favorite spring activity?
I love to go to fun restaurants and sit outside in the spring. Chris and I went yesterday for the first time this season. We stayed for like at least 3 hours. It is just relaxing.
5. What is your favorite season, and why?
My favorite season is fall. I love when the weather starts getting cooler, I love the smell in the air. I love college football season. The colors the leaves change. The fall flavored drinks, Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte..I am talking to you! Fall decor is always real cute with the burnt orange, red and chocolate. Candy Corn M&M’s will make an appearance. It also means that the winter holidays are getting closer!
6. What is the best birthday you ever had?
The best birthday I ever had was the first one I spent with my husband the first year we were dating. I had just moved to Birmingham about 2 weeks before, and so I was still adjusting to being here without all my friends, and living with him. He made it very special. When I woke up in the morning, he gave me my presents. He had gotten me a beautiful diamond heart necklace and a new Coach perfume that I hadn’t tried before. He spent the whole day with me. He took me to dinner at a really nice restaurant. It was just a wonderful day. His family also had a birthday dinner for me that weekend, and had gotten me a cookie cake…my favorite.
1. Old Navy. I know, I was skeptical too. I normally do not have much luck in there, when I do find things I think are cute…they never fit right. However, I got the cutest dress in there for $25! There were a few other cute ones too, I may have to go back for more!
2. Cooking Light. Have you ever purchased/read this magazine? I think I may need to subscribe. Pasta’s for around 300 calories? Sounds like a win win to me. I made one of the pasta’s from this issue Monday night and it was amazing. I really liked it because it was different. Chris wasn’t as huge as a fan as I was, mainly because it has peas and edamame in it, two things he despises. I will be making it again for sure though!
3. Spring is here. I am so excited to be whipping out the flip flops and cute summer time dresses. It is going to be 70 today! I will miss hiding behind my cozy winter sweaters though. I just love spring time. It is sort of like a new beginning. I started growing basil last week, and look…I have some sprouting!!! This is the first time I have ever been able to grow something. My sinus’ are another story…already having some allergy symptoms. That is what happens when you put a northern girl in the south! Darn you pollen!
4. Hand Creme. My hands are terrible every year. They are always so dry, and cracking. I have found a hand creme that has really helped me this year. Best $15 I have ever spent. Chris uses it every morning too!
5. My Fitness Pal. We have a love/hate relationship you and I. I am sorry that I broke up with you last week…but am thankful we were able to work things out this week and get back on track. You aren’t very forgiving each day, and I usually don’t like what you have to say. However, you hold me accountable, thanks jerk!
Lover of: her mommy, her little fur brother Mac, any and all blankies, treats, apples, peanut butter, toys, bones
I haven’t had a chance to post about her this week, but my little Gracie turned 7 on Sunday, March 10. 7?!?! Seriously, where did the years go?
I have had Gracie since she was a puppy. She has been through so much with me, I guess that is why I treat her more like a child than an “animal.”
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? When I graduated college, I wanted a dog so bad. I was finally moved out of student style apartments, and in my first real life apartment with 2 of my friends. One day, someone told me about 2 baby chihuahau puppies at an animal shelter near them. I believe in rescuing dogs, not buying them. My best friend and I were all over that. However, because we lived in an apartment, and didn’t have a fenced in back yard…we were denied. Um, really? You are going to risk these 2 dogs dying because I live in an apartment? They are 2 lbs for goodness sakes, they don’t need that much room! Just because I didn’t have a fenced in back yard, didn’t mean that those 2 dogs wouldn’t have been walked, or had play time outside. Ridiculous if you ask me, but whatever. A lot of shelters and rescues that I encountered were very strict about having a house and a back yard. There goes that idea.
A few months later, I was walking around the mall with one of my guy friends. We happened to enter the pet store, which is always a huge mistake for me. I just want to save them all! There was this tiny little boy pug. He was the cutest pug puppy I had ever seen. The sales associates saw me eyeing him, and took him out and let me play with him for awhile. I was hooked. I even named him. His name was Winston, and when I got paid that Friday….he was coming home.
Friday came and went and I didn’t have a chance to go to the pet store. Saturday, my best friend and I went after work. There was Winston, sleeping in his cage. So cute. However, there was a sign saying “unavailable at this time.” The girl that let me hold him earlier in the week recognized me, and came over. She said that the day before a little girl was holding him and dropped him. That he seemed to be fine, but they were not going to let him go home with anyone until they observed him for a few days. Apparently he had his head pretty hard on their concrete floor. So sad.
I didn’t care…I still kind of wanted him but in the back of my mind..I knew if he wasn’t OK and something happened, it would be devastating. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw this little tiny puppy in the cage next to him. Immediately I knew she was it. I looked at her tag and it said “Female Puggle.” I asked the sales associated what a Puggle was. She told me that she was a Pug/Beagle hybrid breed. That they breed the two dogs on purpose for certain characteristics and looks. She was literally the cutest puppy I have ever seen in my entire life. She just laid there staring at me, while all the other dogs were barking and going crazy. The girl smiled at me, and went to go get her out. She handed her to me and I shook my head. I was like “I can’t hold her, because she will come home.” The girl just smiled and laid her in my arms. The puppy looked up at me and licked me right on the lips. I could smell her little puppy breath, and I was hooked. My friend and I took her in to one of the “play rooms” and played with her for a few minutes. The girl came over with the paper work and asked if I was ready to start filling it out.
I left my friend in the playroom with the puppy, and headed over to fill out the paper work. It took forever, and I didn’t know it at the time…but apparently the puppy was going crazy in the play room with my friend. She was chewing on her, running around in circles, trying to dig her way out. All the red flag signs that this was one crazy puppy. My friend didn’t have the heart to tell me though.
About 45 minutes later, the paper work was filled out, the puppy was freshly bathed and they were handing over to me a “new puppy mom” kit with everything I needed immediately. My puppy was in my arms and heading to my car with me.
I had a hard time deciding on a name in the store, but within minutes of her being home with me she had a name. She ran into walls, tripped over her own feet, and was a little clumsy. I named her Gracie, so that she would have some grace. Her ears were bigger than her head, and her tail looked as if it was dipped in black ink on the tip.
Gracie was just like any other puppy. Super playful, winy, and super stubborn. I didn’t know anything about the breed before that day. I started doing some research online. My eyes watered when I saw the life expectancy was only 9-12 years. My German Shepard Harley that lived with my dad was 14 at the time. Some other things I read that these dogs were stubborn and hard to train. I did read that they were very loyal, and always seeking approval. They couldn’t have had the personality traits more right.
The girl at the store told me that Gracie wouldn’t get much bigger than she currently was, 6 lbs. Um, Gracie currently weighs 32 lbs…all lies! I wouldn’t have her any other way though.
Gracie is the sweetest dog I have ever known. She is so very loyal. She is my shadow, following me around everywhere. She gets upset and sulks any time she does something to disappoints me, yet does things to spite me sometimes because she is very stubborn. I couldn’t be happier with the choice I made that day. I knew the second my eyes met her little sad puppy eyes, that she was the dog for me.
Gracie has moved all over with me while I worked in property management and had to change apartments a lot. She has lived in Villa Rica, GA, Macon GA, Atlanta GA (Dunwoody, Buckhead, Smyrna, back to Buckhead and then downtown/4th Ward district) then to Trussville, AL for 2 years and now most currently our new home that we moved into in June. She has traveled and spent the night with me while visiting friends and family as well. She never complains, though every time she saw me start to pack…she would sigh and go gather her toys from around the room for me. I think she is happier than anyone that I do not work in that field anymore! She never had a problem making new doggie friends where ever we were though. She is very social.
Gracie is the best big sister to her crazy brother Mac. The place that we board them when we are out of town always tells me that Gracie follows Mac around everywhere when they are there to protect him. She never lets him out of her site. Even if he is an asshole and steals all of her toys at home and never lets her have any one on one time with me without swatting her out of the way to steal the spot light.
Gracie, you have scared mommy on more than one occasion. Rushing you to the emergency vet when you tried to swallow an entire raw hide in one bite was not OK. You have ruined more apartment carpets that we are both willing to admit. You sometimes snore when you sleep. You drool all over me. Your fur is all over our house. You hog the covers.
You take care of Mac like he is your baby. You are excited to see me all the time, even when I am not in the best of moods. You know when to chill and just be there for me. You have licked my tears. You are great at sharing. You have the best personality. You let me dress you in ridiculous costumes and a rubber duckie rain jacket.You light up my life. You are my best friend.
