Life & Love with the World's Worst Dog

Cover of book

Ugh! Where to begin...

For those of you who have read Marley & Me, the story I am about to tell you will sound familiar. When I first saw this book last year, I was instantly drawn to it.

Riley 9 weeks old - 2001

As you can see, I have a beautiful dog, Riley, who looks almost identical to Marley. So of course, I had to buy it. It was a beautiful story about a very mischievious dog and the life lessons learned by the owner. I laughed, I cried, I wept uncontrollably - but mostly, I felt like I was reading the story of my life with Riley.

Before I go much further, I have to say that I LOVE RILEY. He has been such a blessing to me and he has many great qualities. Most of the time, he is well behaved, but then there are days that test my devotion. If I didn't love him so, he would be living on a farm somewhere... trust me.

Riley has some behavioral problems... to be specific, he has severe separation anxiety. So... slight changes in the normal household routine can result in a complete melt-down. When he gets stressed, he likes to make a mess. Apparently today was a stressful day.

I couldn't believe what I walked in on today. If I hadn't been completely enraged, I would have taken some photos so you could share in my experience. The neighbor probably thought I had gone completely insane... I was screaming at the top of my lungs.

The trash can, which belongs in the kitchen, is one of those big heavy stainless steel kind. It has a lid that he cannot open... or at least so I thought. Apparently, when you push it into the dining room and tip it over, the lid just comes up on it's own. Trash everywhere... in the dining room, in the kitchen, in the den, in the living room and even in his room.

He managed to find time to get my small Longaberger canister down and chew it to shreds. And, Rich will be so happy to know that he got in his golf hat samples and pulled out the big straw hat and shredded it too. Wasn't that nice of him?

It's days like these that I seriously question my desire to have a dog. Rich is back to travelling again, which leaves me here alone and the dogs (yes, there are two and the other one has a totally different set of issues that I won't bore you with) completely stressed out and anxious. I seriously don't want to have to medicate the poor pup, but I am coming to the realization that that may be the only way that we can get through these rough days when Daddy is on the road. Calgon, take me away!

**Anyone else have a bad dog?**

**Have you read Marley & Me?**

You've Gotta Be Kidding...

I am completely bummed out. My website and online store is currently shut-down. My hosting service is doing some routine maintenance, and I think I'll be down until sometime tomorrow. For those of you trying to log on to shop, try again Wednesday. If there is something you just gotta have right way, shoot me an email

I am currently working on a large wedding project that I need to finish up, so I will take advantage of the down-time to get that wrapped up and out the door.

Thanks so much for all of the wonderful bloggers who have visited my store and made purchases. I have lots of new goodies to share including new colors, new card styles and very soon I will have two new product lines that will knock your socks off... so cute! I will also be adding the 'Everything Wedding' section as well as all kinds of cute invitations. I can't wait to share it all with you!

All-American Fun

For the past four years my best friend, Lisa and I have spent the last weekend in April at the Longaberger Collector's Club Gathering. They first started this big event in 2004. We went to the very first one and loved it so much that we go back every year. Last year, my Mom and her friend Susie came along as well. We had such a ball! It's always so fun to get out and go on all-girl trips every now and then.

Registration opened today at 1 p.m. EST for this year's event. I hopped online right on time and am excited to say that we are now all registered and I am so excited about this trip I can hardly stand it. I am ready to go now!!

If you are interested in learning more about the event, click here.

** Do you ever go on all-girl trips? **

** Have you ever heard of Longaberger? **

** Is anyone else going to this event? **

I've been tagged...

I happened to read Dana's blog this morning to see that she had written 10 things she loves about her husband. She tagged anyone who read her blog to do the same. I suppose I could just pretend that I didn't read it, but since it is Valentine's Day, I thought it would be the perfect time to tell you a little more about my husband, Rich and why I love him so.

1. He has a big, boisterous laugh.
2. He is a dog lover and cares for our 'boys' so well.
3. He is not afraid to cry.
4. He loves my cooking.
5. He loves to dance to "Love Machine."
6. He works very hard to grow his business.
7. He will let me push the shopping cart even when it's full because he knows I have issues with not pushing the cart.
8. He has more faith in me than I have in myself most days.
9. He has beautiful eyes.
10. He will make a great father one day.

The Shopkeeper

I have done it! It's taken me years to get here, but I have finally opened an online store for my stationery business. I am not sure what has been holding me back for all this time. Well, that's not entirely true... part of it has been that I am a wee bit of a perfectionist. I have had a vision in my mind of what my website should be, and I have an 'I can do anything' attitude that tends to get me into trouble. So for years, I have been struggling with trying to teach myself to be a web designer (which I can handle) and how to write HTML code (without actually reading a book or taking a class).

I finally found a couple of great resources online and took the plunge... and you know what? This is actually better than I could have ever imagined! I'm thrilled, I'm tickled, I'm giddy and I hope I will soon be completely covered up with business.

If you are reading this, I hope you will click on the open sign above and take a look inside. There are hundreds of products available and many more to come including invitations, birth announcements, everything wedding, personal cards, foldover notes and lots of other goodies.

Getting this far is truly a dream realized. I absolutely love, love, love paper products and have been designing my own stationery and cards since I was a little girl. Thanks to everyone who has gotten me this far!

Ouch

I had a fabulous weekend at my retreat - more to come on that later. Sunday as I was attempting to load my Tahoe, I slipped off the 8" step at the entrance to the retreat and did a complete body slam into the pavement. Fortunately my best friend, Lisa was there to help me back inside.

I sprained my right ankle, busted up both knees and my right elbow. I was so sore on Monday I could barely move. I have gotten gradually better everyday. What a way to end a great weekend!

At long last

It is finally here! Well, almost anyway. Friday morning, I will pull out of my driveway and make a short drive to Chapel Hill, TN for my much-anticipated weekend retreat. I have been looking forward to going back for this since it was over last year. The thought of having an entire weekend completely devoted to crafting and spending fun time with other women just makes me giddy. I am organizing the event this year, which has been a lot of work, but so worth it. I have 29 women coming and many of them I've never met! I still have quite a bit to finish up before I leave on Friday.

I'll take lots of pictures so I can blog all about this when I get back. Have a wonderful weekend!!

*~Wish me luck~*

I am embarking on a new project that is somewhat ambitious, but far too cute to not try. I got so many amazing patterns for fun projects in this crochet magazine, this one, by far my favorite. I couldn't hold myself back any longer, so here I go.

bright cheery afghan

Is this not the cutest afghan ever? Seriously, I think I squeeled when I saw this picture. I really bought this magazine because they have a darling Santa (you know how much I love him) Suit pattern inside. I kept flipping through ooohing and aaahing at all the beautiful things I would like to make and then there it was, on the last page.

danee at my wedding, october 22, 2005

I loved the colors, so bright and cheery and thought this would be a perfect gift for my niece, Danee. She is nine, so it is becoming more and more difficult to buy things for her. She is getting a little too old for toys, and she likes to shop for her own clothes. Fortunately, she LOVES to read. So I have been buying The American Girl series of books for her. But, I like to give her something cute and girly that she will love too.



I have done some work so far. The yarn is so soft and I am very happy with what I have done so far. I'll post more photos once I finish. If it ends up not being too much work, I plan to make a double-size afghan for myself. :-)

Getting Organized

all rolled up and tied with a bow

I have been looking for a few years for a way to organize my crochet hooks. They sell small zipper or snap-closure cases just about anywhere that sells hooks, but they are not very cute. I recently picked up an incredible crochet magazine about a month ago and inside it, they had these really cute roll-up hook organizers. I took one look at it and said "I think I can make this myself."

open with hooks in place

I found some really cute coordinating fabric at JoAnn's. It is a duck cloth. They had polka dots and stripes - which is my favorite combination and it was 30% off - fabulous! I bought a yard of each so I could make a few extras to give to friends, etc. Last night, I came home around 9 and got started. I was pleasantly suprised at how easy it was to make. As you can see from the pics, it turned out great (at least I think so) and I can't wait to make more.

Do you crochet?
How do you keep your hooks organized?
Do you want instructions to make one yourself?

Happy Birthday, Friend!

Today, my dear friend Kristi is celebrating her 36th birthday! Since everyone seems to be into making lists these days, I thought it only fitting that I make a list about Kristi for her big day! Happy Birthday, Kristi!

36 Things I Like Most about Kristi

She is the friendliest person I know.
She is thoughtful.
She is a wonderful mother.
She taught me what it means to be a good neighbor.
She has a terrific blog.
She is uber creative.
She can sew anything – and beautifully.
She has a great eye for color and design.
She loves to share her ideas.
She is skilled at bringing people together.
She brings out the best in people.
She is inspiring.
She embraces the importance of traditions.
She has strong values.
She loves ribbon.
She is caring.
She makes friends in an instant.
She never ceases to amaze me.
She takes the time to fall in love with the city she lives in.
She is encouraging.
She is great about documenting life through photographs.
She is warm and open.
She appreciates life’s sweet little moments.
She has a strong faith.
She will cry when she reads this blog.
She teaches her girls how to be polite and respectful.
She is totally in love with her husband and wants the world to know.
She wants to share her experiences with all she knows.
She makes great chocolate chip cookies.
She makes me feel good about myself.
She organized Pink Christmas.
She loves paper.
She always finds the neatest things.
She has a terrific smile.
She introduced me to the world of blogging.
She is my friend.

Is Crafting Genetic?

As you can probably guess from the name of my blog - I have a thing for crafts - just about all crafts, too! I got some amazing handmade gifts (see below) from my Aunt Diane for Christmas and it got me thinking... could my love of crafting be genetic?

My mother and her sisters are all very crafty... Diane being the craftiest of all. She can knit anything you can possibly imagine. She is also great at sewing. She sends gorgeous handmade gifts every year for Christmas, which is no small feat. She starts her projects months in advance so she can have them finished and wrapped in time to ship around the country.

My maternal grandmother was also very crafty. She loved to knit and crochet. I was always amazed at how fast her hands could work. Many babies have been shielded from the cold by her blankets and afghans.

My paternal grandmother was an unbelievable seamstress. She didn't necessarily sew to make pretty things. She did it because she had to. Raising three boys alone as a single mother in the middle of the Great Depression, she had to sew to provide for her children. She never had an electric sewing machine, ever.

I have a love for all these same things (and many more as my husband would tell you). I am so thankful that I grew up in a family with such a love and appreciation for crafting. I have no doubt that Joann's and Michaels are thankful too - ha!



I got this great scarf for Christmas from my Aunt Diane. It is actually kind of a purple color. I love it. It is oh-so soft and I like the fuzzy texture. Very cool gift. This actually provided inspiration for a gift that I just made to send to someone very special. I was surprised how quick and easy these are to make.



Those who know me, know that I love Santas. My Christmas tree is decorated almost exclusively with Santa ornaments. I have Santa decorations for the entire house too. So when I opened this Christmas gift from my Aunt Diane, I was incredibly excited. This can be used as a table covering or a quilted wall hanging. This was the best kind of gift... completely unexpected and absolutely perfect for me. I can't wait to display it next year and for many more years to come.

**What was your favorite gift from Christmas '06?**

Favorite Things

The past month has been especially trying for our family. My mother-in-law had an accident in her home and has been confined to a wheelchair (and will be for at least another 12 weeks). The added responsibility of providing her care has been tough - especially for my husband. Our holidays were okay, but not great and we have both been feeling a little sorry for ourselves. Today I got an email from a close friend who has been struggling through a very tough situation for the past four years and this week, they were given some dreadful news. After hearing about it, I really started to think about all the great things I have in my life and that I should be more appreciative. I thought it would be fitting to share them with my fellow bloggers.

This beautiful fella has been such a blessing to me. Riley came into my life almost six years ago. My good friend Kristi and her daughter Annie Kate (who was just 2 at the time) went with me to pick him out. Riley loves to smile and cuddle. His favorite things are frisbee, riding in cars and bathtime!

Leroy was my husband's dog before we met - now he is ours. Although we had a rocky start, we are good pals now. Leroy is not quite three, so he loves to play - if only his big brother had a little more energy! His favorite things include chewing up paper, sleeping in a mountain of pillows and tormenting his brother.

My newest favorite thing is my neice Josie. She was also our family's Christmas miracle. She was adopted from Guatemala and came home on December 11. She is five months old and the most pleasant child I've ever met! She has a smile that will melt your heart. We never expected her to be here so soon, but we are certainly thankful for the blessing of her early arrival. It couldn't have come at a better time.

I have many more things that I am thankful for - my husband especially. Riley, Leroy and Josie have really pulled both Rich and I through the last few weeks. That is why I wanted you to meet them.

Friday, December 29, 2006

New Year (almost), New Post!

It's been quite some time (more than four months) since I last blogged. What can I say... things have just been a little out of control. I'll try to be better... maybe blogging more frequently could be my New Years' Resolution. I've got lots of ideas to share.

I am planning a scrapbooking/crafting retreat February 2-4 at a state park just south of Nashville. With the event just a little over a month away, I'll be busy getting ready for that. I still have spots available, so if anyone is interested, it's $40 per person. Email me if you would like to register. It is going to be a fun weekend!


A few weeks ago I purchased this magazine at JoAnn's. I immediately fell in love with many of the patterns in it. Of course, I somehow managed to throw this jewel out with the Sunday paper, which did not make me very happy. After a lot of googling, I was able to find out the name of the magazine, thanks to this blog and more googling to find this website where I was able to purchase another one. Oh happy day! Here are just a few of the great things you can crochet from the free patterns...

Aren't these little animals darling? Oh my... I'll have to hold onto that pattern for sure!

**Do you make a New Years Resolution?**
**Have you ever been to a Scrapbook Retreat?**
**What is your favorite crafting activity?**

Monday, August 1, 2006

Shop Till You Drop

This morning we got up and went to the convention center to take a closer look at the new Longaberger products. We spent a few hours there before we came back to the hotel for our next shopping adventure.

One of the highlights of visiting Columbus is shopping at Easton Towne Center. It is by far, the most unique shopping experience I've ever had. Got some fabulous goodies at The Container Store and Crate and Barrel to take home.

Tonight we went back to the arena for the closing session. The most exciting part of the evening is Bee Line for Baskets. This is where they select someone from the crowd and they have 30 seconds to fill as many shopping carts with baskets as they can. If they pick a special colored basket, they draw a section and row and everyone sitting on that row gets a free basket. OUR ROW WON!! Mom and I both walked away with the retired Ficus basket. It's gorgeous and huge.

Tomorrow morning we are heading for Nashville... after we pack the car. That's going to be something to see!

Sunday, July 30, 2006

You Can Never Have Too Many Baskets

Today is the first day of the Longaberger Basket BEE. I am a Longaberger consultant and this is our annual conference. Sure, we go to learn about new products and programs and ways to grow our businesses, but it's really about the shopping!!

Today was a great day. Mom and I got up, planned which seminars we would go to and off we went to the convention center. We went to the workshops we planned on, but the main event came at 3 o'clock. That was our scheduled time to get into the obsolete product sale. This is always my favorite part of the BEE. Basically you get to go in and purchase all kinds of retired products for unbelievable prices. I picked up some pottery pieces I've been wanting and liners to several baskets. I'm psyched.

Tonight, we went to Nationwide Arena for the General Session and that is where we got our first glimpse of new products... including Holiday. It's all fabulous... email me if you want to see a catalog or flyer! When we were on our way out, we were given a gorgeous new American Craft Traditions Medium Market Basket for FREE, a piece from our So Rachel line of jewelry, and a pack of catalogs and flyers. It's been an amazing day, but I can't wait until tomorrow, so I can get a closer look at all the new products.

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Over the hills and through the woods to Amish Country we go!

If you travel about an hour and a half north east of Columbus to Holmes County, you will encounter the largest population of Amish in the United States. Last year we made our first visit and there was no question that we were coming back again this year!

We had lunch at The Amish Door in Wilmot, OH. I thought we might never get there... we were so busy looking at the scenery we missed a turn and took a little detour through the beautiful countryside. After lunch, we made our way back to Berlin & Millersburg to stop in at some of the local businesses.

I am very intrigued by their way of life and each time I visit the area, I find more reasons to go back. Next year, I will have to plan two days in Amish Country, because one is just not enough. This is a great place to visit with the entire family. I was in absolute heaven with all the crafting ideas around!

Friday, July 28, 2006

Buzzing with Excitement

It's the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas! It's time for the Longaberger Bee! I have been a Longaberger consultant for three years. Going to the BEE is always the highlight of the year. For the 2nd year, my Mom has agreed to come along for all the fun and excitement.

We left Nashville early this morning and had an exciting stop planned in Louisville. One of my all-time favorite people lives in Louisville. Her name is Amy and she and I were Alpha Gamma Delta sorority sisters in college at Murray State University. I had not seen her since I moved away from Louisville 8 years ago.

We stopped by to have muffins and coffee with she and her beautiful boy, Alex. She took us on a tour of her gorgeous home while we visited. It was so good to see her and reminded me of how much I have missed her and that I need to keep in better touch with my old friends.

Once we were back on the road, we stopped about an hour south of Columbus at an outlet mall where I finally purchased my first Coach purse! Talk about a momentus occasion. I have been searching for 'just the right bag' for quite a while and wouldn't you know, when I got there, they had it, but weren't supposed to sell it until Monday. Must have been my lucky day, because they agreed to let me buy it a few days early and I LOVE IT!

From there, we were off to Columbus!!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Come Spa with Me

Today is an exciting day for me. It's been about a year since I moved out of my old condo and I've not had my girlfriends over for any kind of get together. For those who know me, this is highly unusual. I finally decided that I didn't care whether my house was in perfect order... it was time for a get together!

I went to a spa party at my best friend Lisa's house a few months ago and I agreed to have one so she could get something for free. So, I had the girls over to Spa with me and we had a great time. If you are looking for a fun afternoon for your girlfriends, call a local Beauti Control consultant and have her come do a Spa Escape for you. The products are actually really great and you get lots of freebies for hosting it. My girlfriends and I all had fun and we all got products that we will actually be able to use at home.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Must be a Philly Thing

It's day three in Philadelphia... and the last day of our trade show. My feet and legs are sore, but not the worst they've ever been. Fortunately, this show has been very short in relation to most of the others we do.

Tonight, I went with three co-workers to a great place called Bookbinder's. It's a well-known seafood restaurant in the old city area of Philadelphia. What a great time we had! The food was incredible and the service was a welcome change to what we had experienced so far. Good thing we were on the company tab... while it is good and worth the price... it was quite expensive.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Brotherly Love

My job takes me to different cities across the US about 10 times per year. To most people, travelling for work sounds very exciting... and most of the time it really isn't. But, I am in Philadelphia for the American Culinary Federation annual conference and trade show. My company is sponsoring the conference as well as the Pasty Chef of the Year competition.

I have never been to Philadelphia before and it is pretty cool to be in the city and staying just a few blocks away from where the Declaration of Independence was signed. There is so much history here... and it is all so fascinating!

Tonight, I ventured out to a place called The City Tavern for dinner. It was originally built in 1773 and was home to many historically significant events. The food was so-so, but the atmosphere is great and a wonderful experience. If you find yourself in Philadelphia, this place should be on your list of places to go!