shine on.

I got my SHINE necklace in the mail last week.

Talk about excited?!

I haven't taken it off!

 (okk, exclusion- to bathe, that's it).

I love the length.

The meaning.

The antique flower & pearls.

It's perfect!

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You'll be glad you did!

Ashley was so kind to let me purchase 15 necklaces for my storefront!

Yaa-hooo!



I challenge you to Make a Change!

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"

birthday.

in celebration of my birthday yesterday, the family {all 20 of us} cruised over into town and ate at Longhorn's Steakhouse. Parmesan crusted chicken, pahlease? yes!

When my birthday {or christmas} rolls around and gift ideas are being tossed about, I always have a short list of items I have stumbled upon that I really like and would love to have.

If I end up with cash, I never spend it and buy something I truly want with it.

Therefore, the only way to get the desired item is to suck it up and tell somebody.

I wish everybody was that simple.

They all just had a written list for me to choose from.

I struggle with gifts & I find myself utterly happy and satisfied when somebody tells me exactly what they want! :)

Although it's still on it's way, I am now the proud parent of this babyyy.

a new, sassy Jo Totes camera bag.

looks like a purse, with the space & compartments of an ideal camera bag!

i hate lugging around the big ole' black/blue clasp tote.

mama/daddy ordered it in the fuschia...

so that it matches THIS adorable camera strap!

i'm stoked!

what better way to take pictures than with a little fancy strap around your neck & a cute camera bag to tote all of your accessories?

{MelVDesigns}

of course, the Longhorn's staff had to surprise me with singing & a delicious fat-free sundae.

glad I saved some room, the sundae was to die for!

the hubster, who forgot to tell me happy birthday, ordered a handstamping jewelry kit from beaducation for me!

cam, my brother from another mother, ordered me the "SHINE" necklace that I mentioned in my previous post.

still waiting on it to come in the mail :)

we are off to National Night Out downtown tonight!

xoxo-

10 day you challenge {one picture}

ONE PICTURE

of yourself.

22 years ago, i was brought into this amazing world.

i couldn't be more thankful & proud of where i am in my life today.

21 was full of fun & major life changes.

i'm ready to see what 22 may have in store ♥

And that ladies wraps up my 10 day you challenge!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mom's 42nd Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the best Mom in the world ♥

meet Bella.

Yea, ok, so I told a white lie.

I apologize.

I told you all several days ago that I would be posting pictures of our sweet, new addition Bella.

What day was it, Sunday? Yaa. I know. Slacker, right?

Well, I've finally uploaded them to my computer today and I can actually share the whole story.

I wasn't able to mention last week the fact that not only did I get Cliff a GSP (German Shorthaired Pointer pup), but also my Mom, bought my Dad one for their upcoming anniversary {tomorrow the 14th}.

I don't think Dad reads my blog, but I'm sure someone else around town would've read it and mentioned it to him before he even knew that he was getting it!

Anywho, Friday the 10th was the day we were able to pick them up.

There were two girls left, so we brought my Brother along to help Mama decide which one Dad would like.

They were ALL sooo stinkin' cute.

This is the Mom, Georgia.

And the Dad, Rider.. (I think?)

After choosing the pup, we all piled up in Mom's car and took them to Dad's office for the big surprise.

He was SoOo happy!

After a few days, he finally decided to name her "Dixie".

**********************************

Saturday we had to take Bella along hunting with us because no-one would be home to let her out to use the bathroom every few hours.

She had a ball... that is, when she wasn't sleeping.

********************

Potty training is going well so far.

However, she is 7 weeks old and wants to chew on e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

Today I caught her chewing on my new cell phone charger.... it's inoperable now. 

I have several chew toys laying around the house, but she still manages to grab everything from cords to shoes to her own puppy pads.

Problem #2: Snapping.

Her mouth honestly looks like a little cobra when she does it. 

I can't count the times she has came pouncing up on me and snapped at my face. 

I pop her gently on her nose every time and tell her "NO" firmly. 

Any suggestions on how to break her from chewing on everything in the house and snapping?!

January 3rd Recap

I spent the entire day with Cliff on Monday.

Our day was planned out accordingly:

1. hook up trailer to truck
2. pick up junk
3. haul junk to junkyard
4. get moolah for junk
5. pick up & burn leaves in yard
6. choose puppy
7. eat supper

We started out fairly early Monday morning. 

The sunrise over the fields was a pretty sight to see :)

After making two trips, we left out with $200ish.

The rest of the day was spent around his Dad's home.
I helped him feed, water, and pressure wash the dog pens out :)

We then loaded up the riding lawnmower & pull behind "leaf picker-uper".
I rode that bad boy around and around our yard until there was hardly a leaf on the ground.
All while Cliff was steadily feeding my piles into the fire.

Shortly after, my Mom met us at the house and we took a trip over to pick out Cliff's new German Shorthaired puppy!

{We are picking her up tomorrow morning! YAY!}

Around 7, we ventured back over to Cliff's Dad's for his birthday supper.
Home cooked fried chicken, rice & gravy, rice-a-roni, cheeseburger helper.
It was delish!

Pictures coming tomorrow of the new addition, Bella :)

Cliff's birthday gathering

Yesterday afternoon was spent cooking, shooting skeets, playing cornhole and spending a little quality time between the two of our families.

For dinner we had quite a variety to choose from.. Dad and I grilled Bubba Burgers and pork steaks while Mom prepared Cliff's favorite cheesy chicken casserole.

Cliff's not much of a "sweets" kind of person. He said he'd take a strawberry cheesecake rather than a regular "birthday cake" so that's just what he got.

Poor thing couldn't keep his eyes open due to the bright flash.

I had ordered him a coyote decoy prior to Christmas but it never came in in time, so I used it as one of his birthday gifts :) 

My Aunt Kim & Uncle Noah joked that they were somewhat "slim" on funds this year, therefore they were having to use generic brands.

This is her idea of a generic birthday card.

It was cute!

 

Cornhole in the shop has been a hit every night this past week.

My brother, Cody and Cliff's brother, Jeffrey.

And now, for the big birthday reveal...

A German Shorthaired female puppy!

We went by and let him pick out which one he wanted this afternoon.

If we're not mistaken, we think it's the one in the center of the picture with the small brown spot near its tail.

She's actually the runt of the litter.

Cliff said he had been thinking about dog names early last week so when I asked him he immediately spit out "Isabella". 

I.Love.It. 

We shall call her "Bella"!