Today

A little Random Today.

Those are the pictures I have had and not used at this point and are too cute not to 1,2 . My nephew Oliver James came over to hang out for the day and he loves wearing hats (or maybe I made him....the details are a little fuzzy) we got some cuddle time in and we watched Yo Gabba Gabba...if you haven't seen it, well you my friend are missing out!! 3. Our big little Hound Dog is such  a cuddly, this is her idea of Heaven, us laying on the floor holding her. What a silly big Hound.


I am off to do a photo shoot for a cute little family with 2 little boys this morning, the weather is holding out...fingers crossed and lots of praying going on to keep it that way! Then a fun trip into Ikea with one of my favorite very pregnant friends!

Have a great Thursday, thank you for stopping by. Dont forget tomorrow is Fashion Friday!!

Coconut Milk Kind Of Days.

Shoes- Target / Skirt- Lauren Conrad / Shirt- Nordstroms / Blazer - H&M / necklace- Forever 21

I have had writers block for over a week...nothing comes to my mind when I open a new page to write its like one minute there are all these thoughts and the next not even birds are chirping. So these are my thoughts, points, facts that i could and have mustered up!!

-We just submitted our Taxes, Praise the Lord they are done, and I thought we would get more money back because we bought a house....I was wrong, come on people where is my kick back! They (and by they I mean just people) told me when we got married and filled jointly we would get better refunds...WRONG. Then it was "buy a house" .....WRONG now they say have a baby, in fact have an entire herd of them and you will get money back....not to sure I believe them.

-Hound Dog went to the Grooming Barn (our local Pet Groomer) Tuesday, we did a month pass of self wash, I wish I could have videoed that episode. The employee a nice woman about 10 years older then me showed me how to use all the showers and fancy products and left Hound dog and me alone to do it....took about 10 minute of sheer willpower to get my flailing, out of control, smelly 90pound puppy into the tub (3 step on a ladder people, that's all she had to climb) Employee came back in and said these words, which i am pretty proud of "Wow I am impressed you didn't give up, most people after trying that long just leave" I smiled with water all over me and dog hair on my face, said "well see something you should know about  me, I am a fighter and have more stubbornness and determination then this dog, I have to!" we both laughed and for the next 45 min...yes that long I washed and "tried" to dry her...she bit at the blow dryer and howled like an old Blood Hound pro, I felt pretty sorry for the lady washing her well behaved dog next to us. we both walked out clean from our bath!!

-I pretty much have insomnia every night.
-Husband and i are in a littler predicament seeing as he is lactose intolerant and I am allergic to Soy (milk included)....so needless to say we do not buy milk EVER. But have found Coconut milk, which is dairy and soy free, we win!! This is how I would like my everyday life to be, a good product and day that both husband and I enjoy and a life of small pleasures and finds!

-All I want to eat this week is homemade smoothies, Frozen any kind of fruit, coconut milk, spinach, flax seeds Oh SO GOOD. but I am completely out of everything, Ya for grocery shopping day today!
-Have booked 4 more photo shoots. 2 next week, 1 newborn shoot as soon as baby is born, and family shoot in a few weeks! LOVE IT.

-Have been turned onto Mad Men on netflix...just started season one...oh how i would love to be back in the 60s and wearing those outfits! Adore all of them, havent drawn a conclusion about the show yet.

Well that should be enough to sum up the last few weeks. Have a fabulous Thursday.

Nicole

Big Dog.

 One Day.

I have been debating putting this on here, because well, no one wants to read a big long story, and its pretty sad, I also feel like a big ole sap, but its my life blog and this has been a big part of our life the last 2 days so my better judgment says "YES, do share" so here we go. There is your forewarning that it will be long and I promise to keep them shorter down the road.

 Hound dog at her best!

 Gotta Throw the outfit in !

Scarf- Urban Outfitters /  Sweater & Striped shirt-Forever 21 / Pants- Gap / Shoes- Spares

 Oh Husband and Hound Love

 Our little family.

 Us at our best.

First I am going to start by saying how much I love my little family. Husband is the greatest man in the entire world, the heart that he has...leaves me speechless. Hound Dog and her excitement for us makes me laugh and love. Sure we have our days that we are out of sink and its Panamanian and our back yard is a disasters and dishes not done and dog hair is all over and my OCD kicks in but how could i not love this?! 

On Tuesday  a stray dog showed up at the school (where I work) we have had it happen many times, but this time was different, it was an older, well trained, well groomed yellow Lab, it looks like the dog had been abandoned and wondering for some time. Dog shelters, pounds, vets had been called to inform that we had found one and ask if anyone called in for a missing older lab dog. At the end of  the day no one had called in to our school looking for her, or had called the pound for a missing dog.
 Non of the teachers could take her home so I called up Husband and asked if we took her to the vet to get checked out if she cleared we could keep her or until someone claimed her (I don't want to be known as a dog stealer) Husband said yes (this is how you know he loves me beyond words) So I loaded her up , and headed to the vet, no micro-chip was in bedded in her or collar to be found. On our way there and while at the vet, she won me over her sweet temperament and love of all the students and the other teachers was obvious. So well behaved and she had a calming presence about her. We pondered names all day long, as we went into the vet she obeyed my commands and did what we needed her to do. What the vet found was devastating, the dog, who turned out to be pretty old they think maybe 10 or older had several Cancerous tumors that had been spreading over time and was in a weakened state. There was nothing we could do at this point unless we were willing to put in a lot of money for biopsy's and lab work, surgery and ex rays, all not even with a guarantee that she would be okay after or if the cancer had gotten into her lungs and other organs.
 As i walked big dog back out to the car and she got in I cried, I broke down and bawled my eyes out, because 1) who just tosses or drops off their dog because they are sick 2) I would have kept that dog forever if she was not in pain and getting worse, she was so sweet and such a lovable dog 3)  I felt so sad for the dog, who has only ever loved her masters and been used as a breeder dog and then left abandoned. 


I took her home, gave her a bath and some food she didn't want, she laid on her bed in front of our fire place and slept all afternoon and evening. Hound Dog loved her, wanted to play chase and tug of war and wrestle all day long. I had to give Hound a time out so she would leave poor big dog alone for a bit. But all night this big dog was a joy to have. As husband came home she greeted him at the door and let him love on  her and pet her all night, we spent that our first and only night together as a big family. Husband and I laughed and talked and played and cried knowing what tomorrow would bring (at this moment I felt as though i was in a movie, it was one of those perfect weird moments in life). We could not find a name that fit her, so we started to call her big dog earlier that day and it stuck. The next day husband found a great little shelter about 40 min from our house that helps older sick dogs get treatment or just be comfortable until the end, and as we let her out in the morning and she greeted us like she had known us all her life and i petted her and said goodbye tears streamed down my face, husband is the brave one in our family, the strong one, he took her up there and gave her a good home where an 8month old puppy wouldn't paw at her face to play, where she can sleep and get medicine that we cant afford. Husband and i came home later that night and a piece of our family seemed missing. Its amazing how just one day could change our little family, change our routine, change our mindset. I have never loved it more then i do now, and there will always be  place in our family and our hearts for big dog and the love she brought to us and Hound Dog, So in someone else loss of giving up a dog that was sick it  was our gain, so thank you for our one day with her. 

We have decided that her name would have been Stella. 

 What Stella did, Hound dog did, for one night Hound dog obeyed and kept herself entertained with out Husband or I having to play with her.


Thank you for stopping by and I promise tomorrow will be a much funner happier post! Less dog pictures more actual people pictures.



Nicole 

Awesome & Awkward ( D is for....)

Awesome & Awkward.
D is for Dressed on A Dollar.

Blazer- Thrifted (Gap) 4.99

Button Down- Gifted  Free

 Belt- Came with another outfit

Skirt- Thrifted (The Loft) 6.99

Purple Tights - Target 3.99

Shoes- Target (on sale) 7.99

Necklace- Forever 21 9.99

Total outfit - 33.95 (And its sad to me that my necklace is the most expensive piece of this outfit! :) )

Awkward.

-Most of these poses. I mean really??! Come on Nicole learn how to pose and take pictures or no more . period.

- Getting to wear your shirt inside out one day this week because of our schools spirit week and new people coming in to the school and I look like I don't know how to put my cloths on.

-Making a trip to the grocery store buying: puppy treats (3 kinds for her training) Dog bones (she needs the big ones, no puppy size for her) dog food, and a dog brush. Getting home to remember you needed people food or you and your husband will starve by tomorrows dinner. Opps I guess I care a little too much about the puppy.

-The weather man saying we would get 4-8 inches of snow only to wake up to about 10inches of water and rain. No Mr. weather man we are in a flood state not a winter snow storm...sorry buddy.

-Driving through puddles that have flooded the road and now could be considered new rivers , too late to turn around , too late to stop just power through and realize you had your eyes closed while you drove through the river.

  Awesome

- Taking said puppy to her first Obedience School and she rocked it. I know most moms (and yes that should go under Awkward, i just called myself her mom, I am aware) say their dog's / kids are the best at all things but I was prepared for an unruly dog, just out of control, smelling everything, jumping, barking, going crazy....and she didn't. She didn't obey first time but she learned and came into line, I was very impressed. Even the teacher used her as an example and did okay!

-watching a movie on tv with no commercials with husband..

-Wearing outfits that cost under 40.00 from head to toe!

-Working through tough and hard situations and knowing that God will never leave me or give me more then I can handle and will be by my side through it all.



I am linked up with ABC's of Style. She is pretty awesome and super creative!

And with The Day Book. Awkward & Awesome Thursday


Happy Thursday my blogger friends!! Tune in for tomorrow it is letter E day....I know you are on the edge of your seats.

Nicole

Awkward & Awesome Thursday

A&A .

This Weeks Awkward and Awesome is Disneyland edition. I realized I didn't really post any pictures and well I am slacking on my outfit pictures yesterday and today, so this kills two birds with one stone! ! 




 A Beautiful Malibu California Wedding.

 We meet Micky Mouse!!

 Hello California Adventure.

 Me and Husband....one of my favorite Rides.

 We made a TON of memories.

 How could you not love this man?! He still makes my heart beat fast.

 A little Blurry (before the new camera) But what girl does not love Castles!

 DAY 2 RAIN DAY....apparently we did not get the message that one day it will be 85 degrees next day 50 and rainy....

Day 3 RAIN. My poncho never left my side.

 This is how empty it was while it poured rain...we stuck it out for as long as we could or until we were too wet and at that point didn't need to wear a poncho because you were the rain at that point. unfortunately the latter is what made us go home and rest (love nap time)

Came back Day 3 after nap, cloudy but sunny!!! 

Tower of Terror.....or as I like to call it "What will Kill Nicole"  HATE IT SO MUCH. But husband loves the ride and so we rode it 3 times.....I screamed like a child all 3 times and yelled in the middle "IS IT DONE YET???!!!"

 I am 4th person on the back wall.......SCARED to death, eyes closed (entire ride) screaming, holding on for my life to the point my knuckles turned white, (I think I might have peed my pants a little bit)
The things we do for LOVE.

This is not the best picture, but it was the last night, it stopped raining, dark (semi warm night) 

Husband and I walked hand in hand with hot chocolate (in other hands) through the pathways, looking and watching and taking it all in. Just the two of us, being young, in love and having a blast. As we walked towards the exit I cried a little because Vacations are so special, the memories the quality time nothing is like it. so this is our last picture before they practically kicked us out because we wouldn't leave we left.

Awkward:

 -The Rain. The Rain coming down sideways and wind blowing it straight to your hiny and other places you shouldn't have big wet spots.....good thing everyone else around me looked like they were having too much fun in Disneyland and didn't want to take the time to go the bathroom too.

- Ponchos....they stick to you in funny places like a wetsuit, and cause static reaction with your hair. Never wear one on a date. . wont go over so well

-Paying $36.00 (wow, consumers will pay anything if they need it) for 2 MUCH needed Ponchos.....I mean it people, it was no little rain or mist it was full swing, flooding the park kind of rain.
- Only Craving Churro's....Have you ever had one from Disney Land??!!! Skipping lunch to get a Churro was a normal thing the entire week and of course having them for dessert and lets face it Breakfast too!
-Riding "water rides" while its raining....think about it. You are wearing a poncho to keep the water off you, then you on purpose sit in a log that is floating in water, has water in the log,  ride around with water splashing on you and the wind/ rain soaking you even more, they you go down a 50 foot drop into a bigger water splash...are you suppose to enjoy it or hid from it with your poncho?! And why are you riding it ....that's right because its FREAKING awesome! We were the nut jobs who 1st rode it while wearing ponchos, 2nd continued to ride it because no one else was in line (4 times in a row people) and we LOVED IT!

Awesome- 

-Disneyland! (enough said)

- Taking the love of your life to Disneyland and being big kids for a week, no responsibilities, no worries just FUN! 

 - Going in the "off season" and not having to wait longer then 30 min for a ride. 

 -Rain in Disneyland clears the park out. . I mean it goes into a ghost like town in a matter of 30 minutes, and if you are from the Northwest, rain is your middle name, you power through. Causing lines to only be 3-5 min (and that is the time it takes you to walk around all the ropes set out and actually get on the ride)

- California Adventure's new World of Color water show........Amazingly Awesome.

- Starbucks across the street from our Hotel.

-Malibu Weddings, were you get to eat the most DE-lish food EVER, breath taking views, watching your friend get married, paparazzi over head in helicopters (truly a weird thing, I guess there was a celebrity wedding the next hill over) Dancing to Thriller, dancing the night away under the stars on a hill in a vineyard in Malibu! 

-Because of the rain I did get to change and wear all the outfit I packed for the trip (that has never happened for a few reasons, 1. being that I over pack 2. I never have reason to change and be that person that has a new outfit for every meal. But when you are soaked you get to be that girl!!!) And FINALLY my over packing  paid off!

Thank you for listening to my long and could have been longer list of our awesome (not so awkward) time in Disneyland. 

To check out  the ORIGINAL Awkward & Awesome lady here is her link!

The Daybook

Nicole

Thursday Awkward and Awesome

Awkward and Awesome.

Awkward

- Taking my (fake) Niece to Starbucks this morning, I may have straightened her hair , got her a mini Starbucks cup of apple juice and a treat and she looked just like me, and all these older moms gave me the stink eye. I am thinking its because I look like I am 15 and she is 4 and they are trying to do the math (thinking I am her mom)  I think I need to get use to this because although I found a whole lot of wrinkle lines when I smile and gray hair yesterday I am destined to look like a teenager!

- Wrinkle lines....Yes lets chat about that. Was getting ready for church last night and was studying my self in the mirror, Husband made me laugh and I saw myself laughing.......There they were, plan as day, and sadly I think I am the last to know, and see them. My wrinkles (big Sigh) I strangely felt my age for a second...and not 19 any more. Not a fun feeling. 

- Finding gray hair . My hair dresser says it stress because its not true graying...but then lets think about that for a second. What in the world am I stressing about so much that its causing me to have gray hair and how do I stop...then that stress me out and I swear I feel another one popping up or sprouting up like weeds. Thank the Dear Lord for hair dressers! 

- Learning how to sew.....and realizing I am not so good at it. I got a jam up of thread and now can not get it re-loaded......I think I need my moms help. Also I have already got my finger stuck and punctured by the needle...oh boy,  "I want to do what? design and sew cloths" I have a lot of work ahead of me.  

Monday Outfit. Shirt- H&M , Belt -Thrifted. Pants- American Eagle, boat Shoes- Thrifted, Dog- Courtesy of Rosco the blood hound  and a lab named Lucy....Priceless.

Awesome

-Today my mamma and I are headed out for a beach, shopping adventure. Much needed quality time with her and plus CLOTHS SHOPPING. 

 - Going out with a group of about 30 to see the new movie "the Help" and have some Fro-yo. What a great adventurous day for me. Then crying my eyes out at the movie - not sure if that should have gone on the awkward post but oh well. Some scene's in movies just hit a little to close to home, no I have never had a maid (sorry for any confusion in that last sentence) 

- We get to leave for an entire week...which we have not done since our honeymoon and head over to eastern Oregon to see Jim and Kathy! Forecast : SUNNY in the upper 90's and NO chance of rain. That means this girl will be out side soaking up every ounce (not sure if you can measure in ounces the amount of sun you get?!) of sun I can get. I am expecting great color and relaxation this next week. And they are excited to see Elliott, who will be making the trip with us!

- Only 41 days until we are off to Disneyland!!!!!! 

Sweater- Ann Taylor (from Sarah Closet, garage sale) , White shirt- American Eagle, Leggings - Nordstroms, Sandals -Target , Watch - Nordstroms

Happy Thursday, may your day be filled with A LOT of Awesome and not so much the Awkward. 

Nic & Cole

Awkward and Awesome Thursday!

I wish I could say this is my door because it rocks but its not. However before you start to judge me or get a weird look on your face, and think I am a creeper, please know that this is my sister in laws door and I was going to their house for a BBQ I just happened to stop before I went in for a great photo op!

Scarf - Forever 21
Gray over sized shirt - Target
Sweater- Old Navy
Jeggings - Macy's
Sandals - Target 

So today is Awkward and Awesome Thursday....I actually for once can not think of anything awkward I did or saw. My weekend revolved around Brittingham Family in town, BBQ, Fireworks, Traveling back and forth. and can I tell you it was a blast! I love family and I love people being able to stay at my house and hello HAPPY 4th of July weekend to us!
Oh I guess I can confess.....I have been hooked on Keeping up with the Kardashians (KUWTK). I have blown through 2 1/2 seasons and am still going strong. KUWTK has be trying to conceal my laughing late at night while I am watching on my IPAD while husband is asleep next to me. It reminds me of me and my sister of course minus the cameras following us 24/7 and the foul language and fortune. But their sisterly fights, their inside jokes, their friendship. . . I love it!!! I now follow all the sisters and the mom on "The Twitter" ... I got suckered into having an account. And secretly I would like the Kardashians to follow me :) LOL oh man that is awkwardly embarrassing to admit.
Awesome is my style is being inspired by watching it, they wear over the top and casual  stuff so its a good middle ground for me to take away ideas. Thank you Kardashians. (outfit displayed at top was courtesy of one of their outfits)
-Week off! GREATEST WEEK EVER!!
- Tomorrow Me and mom go to Home Depot to purchase our craft table material. Cant wait to use power saw and nail gun!!!!


NIC & COLE

Awkward and Awesome Thursday

Awkward-

- Running into someone you know and forgetting their name. and just saying "Hey You" 
- Waking your self up by hitting and trying to "kill" a bug that is on you...but you were in fact just dreaming....no bugs! 
- honestly forgetting your age, when someone in the store asks you...."no sir I am not making up my age to sound older i just honestly forgot." Yes I am 26 now. I had a birthday.
-belting out a country song while stopped at a red light and then looking over at the car next to me and seeing them making fun of me! Awkward for them...I do not care, i am busy practicing for my future career as a country singer..."don't they know who i am?"
- Screaming like a man (because I lack the ability to high pitch scream) when a baby frog was on my lounge chair.

AWESOME-

- Wheat fields....have you ever walked through one? they are super awesome and amazing. 
-knowing while walking through that wheat field if there was a snake I had my boots on and could step on it...not that I honestly thought I would step on it but just in case I didn't take off running I could. 
-Brittingham family reunion this weekend. Hello family!!
- having out first house guests...my in laws (love) and my oldest brother and sister in law and their 3 adorable kids!!! 
- 4th of July is this weekend, which means BBQ's , Buckaroo, Carnival, Cowboy boots, Cowboy Hat, Country Music,  and best of all 80 degree weather! 
- Line dancing at our church  during the morning service. Hold onto your hats its going to be Epic! 
-purchasing an old trunk that I am turning into something super cool.....don't worry I will not keep you in suspense too long..Tomorrow you will see!




NIC & COLE