Meet our little Nelly

meet nelly.

Or Nellers, Nelly Belly, Nala (that's Josh's).
Nicknames... they just come naturally!

We got Nell about a week ago in a spur of the moment type of decision. For the past couple months we were thinking a lot about getting Sam a companion, someone who could be his friend while me and Josh work all day. We checked out puppies on KSL.com and when we saw her cute picture with those little stink face eyebrows...

...we just couldn't resist! Normally when we search through the puppy ads I always find something I don't like (I'm really picky) but when I know... I just know!

We made an appointment to see her 45 minutes after viewing the ad. I felt so scared and excited at the same time... scared to take on another huge responsibility and also scared for Sam, just hoping he will be happy with our choice.

She was so shy and quiet when we first met her, I really didn't think she couldn't handle our hyper Sammy, but there was something special about her. We actually almost brought home her sister because she was a lot more playful. After an hour of arguing, contemplating, and asking my husband about a hundred times, "Well what do you think??" we finally made up our minds. We just couldn't leave this little girl behind! She literally stole our hearts.

Nelly was her original name and we thought it fit her perfectly so we kept it. She is a miniature dachshund (doxie), same as Sam but she's a wire haired which means she's got some wavy hair. She's black and tan with some cream spots, really cute markings. And now she is 10 weeks old. We took her to the vet last weekend and she weighed in at all of TWO pounds! Seriously like she's the length of my forearm.

It took her a couple days to come out of her shell... but boy we had ourselves fun week! I'm telling you these puppies- all they do is eat, play, and poop. And then poop some more. The puppy phase is always a love/hate relationship for me.... hate them cuz they just pooed all over your sheets or woke you up at 2 in the morning to go potty, but love them because they are just too damn cute to stay mad at. And because you know the outcome is definitely worth all of the hard work and time you put into it.

Sam has been adjusting well and enjoys having a playmate. We got him neutered last week shortly after we got her. So poor Sammy got a cone on his head for a couple days. He's a trooper and is healing very well. Nelly is really feisty with him when she plays, she gets all sassy and she barks and chases him. But she loves to cuddle too and will fall asleep in your arms like a little baby. She even snores... :)

And can I just express my love for having another female in the house??

I have always had Josh, my very, very male minded husband, and we have always had male dogs. And now our family is complete and I finally have a woman on my side! I know I'm going to enjoy this:

1) She can watch America's Next Top Model with me without whining (even though she will most likely sleep on my lap the whole time).

2) She will let me read my Marie Claire without barking to throw a squeaky toy outside.

3) She might even let me paint her toenails someday...

4) ...and let me put a cute dress on her and maybe even LIKE it.

Who knows, maybe I'm wishful thinking, but I have a feeling there's going to be some much needed girl bonding going on...

But of course my Sam will always be my man. Nothing will ever replace that. I love them both the same and I like being a mommy to them. It's weird.. I really have no interest in having kids anytime soon so my motherly instincts go toward canines. I guess I will always be a sucker for pups and I'll accept that for now!

For the time being my baby hunger will have to rely on my older and very pregnant sister! 15 weeks... and they think it's a.......

*whispers*

BOY!

... more details next time! :)

One Flaw In Women

I got this forwarded email from my mom the other day and thought I would pass along the message to all of you wonderful, amazing, strong women out there :)

One Flaw In Women

By the time the Lord made woman,
He was into his sixth day of working overtime.
An angel appeared and said,
"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"
And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,
have a lap that can hold four children at one time,
have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart
-and she will do everything
with only two hands."

The angel was astounded at the requirements.
"Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's
too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."

"But I won't," the Lord protested.
"I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days."

The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
"But you have made her so soft, Lord."

"She is soft," the Lord agreed,
"but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or
accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel. The Lord replied,
"Not only will she be able to think,
she will be able to reason and negotiate."

The angel then noticed something,
and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.
"Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak,"
the Lord corrected, "that's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,
her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,
her loneliness, her grief and her pride." The angel was impressed.
"You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly
amazing."

And she is!

Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry
burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.. They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight
for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice. They don't take
"no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go
without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend..

They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear
about a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal
a broken heart. Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll
drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring
joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideals. They give moral
support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and
everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Making faces

I went shopping with my sister Amber and my niece Addy last weekend and I couldn't help but notice how much this little girl is growing up! She is such a ham, she will do anything for attention and loves when you laugh. Hence, these hilarious faces she was making...

This one is my favorite because she stuck out her tongue at the last second!

We went to Jamba Juice and took some pictures. She likes taking pictures "cheek to cheek"

She is so beautiful!

I am loving watching her grow into her personality and learning from everything around her. And I can't believe my sister has another one on the way. Kids really are amazing creatures aren't they?

De-stress

God I hate being stressed.

It makes my whole body ache, mostly in my shoulders and in my head. When I'm stressed I hate the person I become. I start getting selfish, I have no energy when I come home, I put myself in this negative frame of mind and I pretty much starting hating on everyone. So I figured instead of being a grump throughout the week, I would research some ways to de-stress.

Below are a few ideas I scrounged up on a Google search. I hope you take a few of these ideas and apply them to your own lives to help you calm your nerves and get yourself back to that lovely person you are inside:

Be aware of your body.

"Slumped shoulders and a bent spine can actually induce moodiness. Tensed stomach muscles can induce mental anxiety"

So stop slouching at work when you are sitting in that chair for hours. Keep your shoulders back and maybe do a few head rolls through the day. Another way to de-stress at work is by laying on the floor with your legs straight up against a wall, and scoot your bum as close to the wall as possible. Then lay there, with your arms out, palms up, and just take 5 minutes to meditate. Hopefully your co-workers won't catch you..

Listen to music that makes you feel calm and peaceful.

Since I don't have an iPod (and because I'm cheap and I don't want to pay a dollar for every song) I listen to Pandora radio and I get to choose a genre I would like to listen to that day. Then I steal songs from there and look them up on playlist.com and make special mixes for my different moods. When I'm feeling exceptionally stressed I will put on some classical music, piano, or Enya. It helps me from swearing at people at work :)

Take a warm bath.

I love taking a bath after a long overworked day. It's so nice to feel the hot water release all of the tension in my body. Just listening to silence and focusing on myself really makes a difference. I swear someday I will have a nice jetted tub in my house just for me!

Breathe.

Deep breathing can reduce stress and increase relaxation. Try taking a deep breath, and then releasing it twice as slowly as you inhaled. If only I could stop smoking and just breathe... damn that nicotine!

Participate in activities that leave you with a sense of relaxation and peacefulness.

This is why I love yoga. The breathing and stretching helps me calm down and find peace. I also love to unwind by reading a good book with a cup of tea while relaxing on my couch. Any activity that helps you get your mind at ease will work.

Take a nap.

Studies show that a quick 30 minute nap will help boost your energy. So if you're feeling really tired, lay down for a bit and close your eyes. Don't overdo it though or it will have a reverse effect.

Pray.

Even though I don't really go to church anymore I still like to pray every once in a while. Just telling someone about my fears and stress helps me get those negative feelings off my chest. Its kind of like having a personal shrink. Only the shrink is Jesus.

(ideas provided from this awesome website)

Coraline

"A young girl (Fanning) walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life – only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home – and save her family." (courtesy of imbd.com)

Josh and I went to see this last night in 3-D! It was imaginative and dark, a little creepy yet still humorous... and watching it in 3-D was a totally different experience, making the movie even more exciting.

I was positive this was a Tim Burton movie, which I now know is a common misunderstanding. Henry Selick directed (who also was the director for "The Nightmare Before Christmas," Tim Burton wrote and produced it) and Neil Gaiman wrote the childrens book it was based off of. Looks like they stepped out of Tim Burton's shadow for this one and I am certainly impressed! I love the creativity, like these adults somehow held on to their childhood wonders through the years and made it all come to life. Simply amazing.

Josh and I loved it and I'm not gonna lie... we felt pretty cool rockin those 3-D glasses, hehe!
Go see it- you will not be disappointed!

One step forward, Two steps back...

(Apologies for not blogging in like... what, 20 days now? Gawd. I am slacking and it doesn't feel right! )

Lets do some catching up, shall we?

I feel like time is going by faster than ever, especially at work. Ever since the big transition at my job all I can think about is getting ready to do it all over again the next day. So when I am finally home I don't even want to be near a computer- I just want to eat dinner, spend some time with the hubby, watch a few TV shows, and pass out by 9:00.

It's been very stressful to say the least... I've been doing this job for almost 2 years now and I had a perfect routine going, making my job enjoyable for the most part. I was in control and could finish everything on my list in one day and sometimes in a matter of hours! Now it seems as soon as I finish one thing I get 2 more things piled on... I sometimes find myself looking around at all the crap I have to do and I honestly just want to cry. Lately I feel myself biting my tongue so I don't lash out on anyone who asks me to do a favor for them. If they only knew what curse words I hold back from my polite smile...

But I have to keep reminding myself that going slightly insane at work is better than going insane at home without a job. I can't believe the unemployment rates. Seriously? This is nuts. Even college graduates who are completely qualified are jobless! What is going on in this country?!

At least I have gotten through these first 2 weeks and the worst is over. Hopefully this will mean Mr. Rai$e will come along my way next month... but I won't hold my breath.

Hmmm what else is new........ oh yes, I CUT MY HAIR!

About 4-5 inches to be exact. I had been growing it out for the past year and it only took that one bad hair day to realize my damn hair is just too thick and too heavy to be long. I called up Hailey and asked for an emergency appointment. I'm telling you, this girl is a genius! Needless to say I LOVE the cut, it is so much easier to manage and much more "me." She gave me a nice A-line cut so it's slightly shorter in the back and it frames my face perfectly. Check out the new doo:



Besides all the stress at work I have been feeling really good health wise. Josh and I purchased the P90X program a couple weeks ago and it has totally made a difference in the way I feel. I forget how much eating breakfast boosts your energy for the day. It's much better than running on coffee all morning and starving until lunch. I thought the food would be the biggest challenge but I was wrong! It's the exercise!!!

I don't know if you are familiar with P90X, but this Tony Horton guy is certainly no joke. The routines are long and they are very challenging. Let's just say the first time I tried plyometrics (jump training, lunges...) I lasted 12 minutes, collapsed on my way to the couch, and couldn't walk right for 2 days. Not kidding, ask Heather.

I forget how painful exercise is!! But it's also very rewarding... and I feel much better knowing that I'm treating my body good. So far I am loving the yoga, kempo, and cardio routines. It makes me not want to give up, to keep going, and to see how far I can really push myself...


Here are some of my current obsessions...

My new blackberry phone
Starbucks soy vanilla bean powder lattes
Grapefruit sprinkled with organic sugar
Yo-ville on facebook
"Day & Night Remix" by Jim Jones
Practicing my cursive handwriting
Night time baths
The new Nip/Tuck season
Sweater dresses w/leggings
Practicing my Vinyasa

NAMASTE:
"The light in me honors the light in you."

Ch-ch-ch-Changes!

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."
~Author Unknown

So I got to thinking about all the changes that have been going on around me and thought I would give you an update on the changes in my own life...

First of all, I have decided to go back to school at Eagle Gate College in April for the Graphic Design program. I'm really excited about this! I feel its the right time to start working on me, finally. I've been waiting and waiting and I know the only way I can feel whole is to better myself through using my God-given talents. I can finally work towards a life I've always wanted, one that can be spent not really working, but doing what I love and enjoying every minute of it. I hope to someday be able to design custom blog templates for personal or business, maybe even make custom invitations, business cards, stationary, advertisements- I'm up for anything!

Ever since Josh has been working for O'Currance, our happiness has multiplied! He is finally doing something he can grow in, and he's amazingly good at what he does. He is coaching the agents on the phones and teaching them how to sell like a pro. He has this energy- this self motivating excitement- and his boss sees it and wants him to go far in the company. I'm so happy for him, that he has finally found his niche. Not to mention we're finally getting back on track with the billy-bills!

And I've also seen some seemingly negative changes in my work place. My company is going through major changes and letting people go left and right. I'm really starting to feel the effects of this economy. It's really sad to me, to watch people lose their jobs that they have worked so hard for. But I also realize that its necessary if we want to keep afloat. We have to consolidate, let go people we love, in order to save ourselves. That's business for you I guess... but I do see the positive parts in it. My office is going to be transitioning into our biggest one yet. We're going to go from 35 agents to 70 in the next week! I'm pretty excited actually, and grateful that my superiors see me as someone who can handle all of it, and value me enough to keep me around.

This year is going to be huge, and I can feel myself transforming into the butterfly I've always wanted to be :)

Things to think about...

I received an e-mail from my mom the other day and it listed 24 things that I too often forget. I thought I would share my top 10 favorites with you, and wish that we all remember these important but simple things throughout this new year:

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in ::SILENCE:: for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God (or a friend) about what is going on in your life.

3. Drink Green Tea and Plenty of Water. Eat Blueberries, Wild Alaskan Salmon, Broccoli, Almonds and Walnuts.

4. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day :)

5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy on the positive present moment.

6. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

7. DON'T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY... no one else does.

8. Don't compare your life to others... you have no idea what their journey is all about.

9. However good or bad a situation is, it will CHANGE.

10. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Slum Dog Millionaire

"The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love." (courtesy of imbd.com)

This was an extremely powerful and captivating story- me and Josh both loved it. It is nominated for 4 Golden Globes and I'm not surprised! I would highly recommend seeing it!

I mean really...

...does it get any cuter than this?