puppy love

For the past week or two I have really been wanting a puppy! Like, really wanting one. I have seen some beagle puppies running around randomly in a neighbors yards and they really pulled on my heartstrings. So, I asked Justin about it and he thought that getting a beagle puppy could be a possibility. The only thing is our yard is not really the best place for a dog. We would have to add some fencing on two sides of the yard to close the back off. And, there's no the way the steps down the deck would be enclosed, so we would have to walk it down the deck and then put it in the backyard (which could be annoying when it's raining).

BUT HOW...

CAN YOU RESIST...

THESE FACES?

I'm not sure what to do. I told Justin that it would be up to him and he's going to give it some thought. Does anyone out there have a beagle? Does it dig like the dickens? Does it howl like crazy?

When it comes to dogs, Justin and I differ on what we want but I think a beagle would be a happy medium. We also aren't crazy about small dogs, so this is as small as a dog as we will probably get. And the fact that our yard and house aren't huge, we can't have a lab just yet. My dream dog is a border collie and his is a basset hound. Could two dogs be any more different?

What he wants. (I could never go on a walk with this guy)

What I want! (Justin doesn't think I will be active enough for him) I truly think my mom letting us watch the movie Babe when we were little ruined me. Ever since then I've wanted border collies. I'd probably be one of the crazy people on ESPN doing the agility courses with the dogs! I would love that!

We also want a puppy over a grown dog because the cats will freak. If we introduce them to a puppy over a grown dog they will be more used to the dog. We went to the local animal shelter today and saw so many sweet dogs and cats, it killed us! They didn't have any beagle puppies though, so we will keep searching!

update on grandma

Just a quick update on my Grandma. She went through bypass today and it turned out to be quadruple bypass and not triple. The surgeon told us that she did fantastic and her heart looks even better than he had hoped. She's in ICU and is slowly waking up. We waited in the surgical waiting room for the better part of the day. My sister showed up and we were wearing the same shirt in the same color. It was hysterical. Grandma would have thought that was hilarious!

Also, as we all know, when it rains it pours. My mother's grandmother (my grandma's mother in law) has been in a nursing home since right before our wedding last year. Well, she is not doing well at all. She's 93 and has dementia and a blockage in her bowel, meaning she can't keep much food down. It's really only a matter of time. Shouldn't it be a rule that only one family member is allowed to be sick at one time?

I just ask for continued prayer that grandma heals quickly and that my great-grandmother is comforted in her final days. My blogging has really been effected by the sickness of the family members, massive amounts of school work and cookie baking. Hopefully in the next few weeks things will lighten up again!

prayers needed

I want to ask everyone to please say a prayer for my Grandma. Yesterday she went to Patient First and they called the rescue squad because they thought that she was having a heart attack. After running some tests at the hospital they found her heart is very weak and is going into failure. She needs a triple bypass surgery but can't have it until Tuesday when she will hopefully be stronger. The good news is that they thought that she would need a valve replacement but it turns out she does not need one! They thought last night that they might have to put her on dialysis and again they did not have to do it! Praise God! We just keep wondering how a 5'1, 100 pound lady could have so much heart damage! I guess it goes to show that size does not matter. So, I ask that you please keep her in your prayers. She is in ICU and is good spirits but is facing a scary surgery. Thanks ya'll!

oh to be there

With the massive amounts of lesson plans and projects that I am working on, it kind of makes me wish I could get away to any of these gorgeous rooms. Sigh.

All images via Coastal Living

my plans

A few people have left comments asking me about taking the Praxis and if I was in school to be a teacher. The answer is yes! I have never really talked about it because when I worked at my last job I never wanted to tell them what I was doing, so I never blogged about for fear that they would find my blog.

Last spring I decided at the last minute to start classes at the University of Richmond. They have a great program called the School of Continuing Studies, which is meant to propel people further through school that already have a bachelor's degree. I've always wanted to teach, so I just went for it. It hasn't been easy but this is my third and last semester before I start to student teach in the fall. There is one class I need to take over the summer but I believe that I can do it all online. After student teaching in the fall, I'm done! I've taken the Praxis 1 and 2 and this Saturday I take the VRA, the Virginia Reading Assessment. This is a four hour long test to assess your knowledge on all of the content of reading and I am scared to death! It is intense!

I've also been baking a lot of cookies to try to build a business in case I don't have a teaching job right away. Lately there have been so many budget cuts in the local school systems that I know I'm not going to get a position right away. It will also help us financially as I get through my student teaching, since that will be my full time job for a semester. So, if you know anyone who needs cookies, please send them my way! I really would appreciate it!

grape limeade

I have found the yummiest drink in all the land. Grape limeade from Sonic. Just had to share!

poor sandy

Update: Jesse James apologizes to his family HERE on People. So sad.

If the rumors are true, my heart is breaking for Sandra Bullock. "Allegedly" her husband had an affair while she was filming The Blind Side last year. My mom and I saw this yesterday while we were researching Jamestown (for a project) and we couldn't believe it! I just watched a life story about her on Saturday and they seemed so in love. I also read that she pulled out of the London premiere of The Blind Side, which makes me think this may not be just a rumor. Poor Sandy!

wishful wednesday

(something like this)

'I wish' .... I could win the lottery REAL soon, and I would hope to open up my own local cookie and cupcake bakery and sell cookies to everyone!

But ya'll already knew that! It would just feel good to be able to turn my little business into a bigger business by opening up a cute little bakery in a cute little neighborhood in Richmond. It would also be nice to have the money to buy the top of the line packaging and graphic design to really help me stand apart. It would be a great destination for moms and kids to come in for a sweet treat! This would seriously be my dream! Any investors???

I would also:

- Buy a beach house
- Pay off all my student loans
- Go on a mega shopping spree in NYC
- Travel around the world (why not?)

peter cottontail cookies

The perfect addition to any Easter basket! These are my first Easter cookies and I have to say I am tickled with how they have turned out. The bunnies have "fluffy" tails sprinkled with non-pareils and the carrots have green sanding sugar on the green stems! How cute?

wedding dress cookie favors

UPDATE: Some of you have asked how to order cookies. Simple. Just get on my Etsy page and find something you like or email me if you are looking for something custom. I would love to do orders for anyone who wants them! It would be an honor!

Etsy shop - Swanky Bakes
Email me - swankybakes@hotmail.com

I made these adorable wedding dress cookie favors for a local bridal shower this past weekend. It's so funny how connections are made because my grandma's next door neighbor had a baby, she asked me to make some baby cookies for the neighbor, and when we delivered them I met the neighbor's baby's aunt (say that 3 times fast), she loved the cookies and she wanted me to make some cookies for a bridal shower she was throwing! She even gave me the invitation so I could match the deep plum color to the cookies. It turned out to be an exact match! I actually made a couple different designs but this is my absolute favorite. I tied them up with a coordinating ribbon and put them in a basket with coordinating tissue paper! It couldn't have been cuter! I just listed these in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested!

bravo kate!

Kate Gosselin has finally taken the extensions out and is showing off her her bob! I love it! I feel bad that the paprazzi take such unflattering photos, however these pics are just to show her hair I suppose. I hope that she keeps the extensions at bay, she is much more glamorous with the short do! Will you be watching her on Dancing With the Stars?

praxis II freak out

I am taking the Praxis II - Elementary Content Knowledge on Saturday and I am a little freaked out by it. I have a study guide by Cliffs Notes that I have been studying from which seems to be nice. However, today Justin and I went to Barnes and Noble and I sat down with another study guide and the content of the book was totally different. Justin could tell that I was discouraged so he bought the study guide for me.

Have you taken the elementary Praxis II? How was it and how did you do?

On another note we went to see Avatar today and it was surprisingly good! We had the whole theater to ourselves too! Justin really wanted to see it so I suggested that we should go before it leaves theaters and I'm so glad that we went. I really enjoyed it!

why i should have listened to my mother

In the sixth grade my mom told me that I should be a graphic designer. Seventeen years later I wish I would have listened to her! Lately I've been racking my brain as to what to do with my blog. I feel like it's a hodge podge of different things right now and I would like to have a real meaning to it besides these random posts.

What I *think* I want to do is start a Swanky Bakes cookie blog and dedicate it to my cookies and promote my business. Lately I have been getting a lot of press and positivity for Swanky Bakes so it's only natural that I give it its own space. I would like to take this blog (which is long over due for a name change and a makeover) and make it more about our lives and less about randomocity (ha! new word).

I should have listened to my mother because getting a blog design is SO expensive! If I had gotten into graphic design I would be able to do it myself. What I need are things like a logo design, business cards (have some but not crazy about them), etsy banner (had one made however it was blurry and the creator never got back to me about fixing it...hmmpf), letterhead, packaging, etc. It is so frustrating to have a product and not be able to afford to brand it! I found some designers and they are charging upwards of $500 to create a "pro" blog, because I have read that if you promote your product you are no longer a personal blogger. That doesn't mean I can afford it! I also don't want the everyday ho-hum blog design. I need something fantastic that can really bring in buyers to look at my cookie creations and want to buy!

What a conondrum! Sorry mom, I should have listened!

Have any business owners out there had a really positive experience without breaking the bank when it comes to branding your business???

j.crew rainbow of spring clothes

(this was only fun for the first few pictures...then it became hard...enjoy!)