sudoku

Okay, so I'm totally into sudoku again.  I like to do them when I'm feeling a little bored... so, if you feel the need for a little time filler, go ahead!!

blogover!!

I just had a lovely time giving my blog a huge makeover!  It was actually a lot of fun playing around with different backgrounds and headers.  I found the  background and header at shabbyblogs.com.  Their style suits me just perfectly!!  I'm still trying to decide if my blog looks too busy, I did choose a lot of design.  I think it is so cute though. 

Also, I added a third column to my blog.  I was totally scared to attempt it, but I found a website with very easy to follow instructions.  I am so excited to have a third column now!  I have a strong feeling I'll just end up filling it with junk, but hey, everyone needs extra storage, right?  The website with these instructions is threecolumnblogger.com. 

So anyway, I hope you all enjoy the new layout and design :)  I sure do.

some of my favorite things...

I thought it might be fun to do a little post about some of the things I am loving lately... so, here goes nothing.

Alela Diane - musician

Bon Iver - musician

Cactus Cooler - weakness in a bottle or can

Didi Benami - american idol favorite girl so far

Quaker True Delights Blackberry Pomegranate Crisps - mmmmm

The Bachelor - cheesier than cheez whiz

Going to the Gym

and...

SLEEPING PUPPIES!! 

dust pans and blushing cheeks

Well well well... I will just admit it up front that I am just horrible at keeping my apartment clean.  I am good at cleaning, just not maintaining the cleaning and keeping it up as we make the messes.  So, if you ever ask what I am up to and I say cleaning ALL THE TIME, this is why.  I am grateful to have a husband who insists our house is kept picked up.  If I didn't have him, I would probably live in a dump and end up in a deep deep depression.  So, even though it gets on my nerves sometimes, thanks babe for trying to help me be motivated to keep this place clean.

So today, I decided I was going to get everything cleaned up.  Don't you worry, I procrastinated this most of the day by playing with the puppies.  Finally, I decided it was time.  I always seem to get distracted during the cleaning process and it slows me down.  So I decided to go one room at a time, and set a timer with how fast I think I should be able to pick everything up.  I was surprised at how it went!  Here are my times (mind you, I didn't deep clean, just picked up and wiped things down).

bathroom - 5 minutes

bedroom - 10 minutes

kitchen - 5 minutes

laundry, folded and put away - 10 minutes

living room - 15 minutes

This task that is so daunting to me, only ended up taking 45 minutes!! 

 Soon, I'll be cleaning with a smile like this...

(and I wouldn't mind legs like this either!)

The second part of this entry will be about my sudden SHYNESS!  I know, who would have thought that I would be shy?  I am just having a hard time talking to people without it being SUPER awkward.  The reason I bring this up is that tomorrow night some girls in our ward are having a "Girls Night Out"... going to dinner and a movie.  I am seriously debating whether I should go or not.  I just don't have the confidence to get to know people from scratch anymore. 

Since we've moved, I've basically made one really good friend and a handful of more casual friends.  I totally understand that making friends takes time, but for some reason, I feel SO awkward getting to know people.  I'm sure the fact that I totally freak myself out before hand doesn't help at all. 

So awkward.

I'm ALIVE!!

Day three of the new puppy and I survived!!  Olive is doing much better today.  We switched her over to rice cereal to help her wean off of her mothers milk and to transition to puppy food.  Also, I found a recipe for a high calorie formula for puppies to help them put on a little weight.  Olive is pretty skinny.  I'm pretty sure we got her malnourished and maybe a little dehydrated.  She is doing really well with the new food and her new brother!!

So, this morning I milled around the house for a few hours trying to get out and go to the gym.  I was feeling totally guilty about leaving the pups in their kennels for the first time.  Toby is great with his kennel and he has always done really well with it.  Today was Olive's first day in the kennel.  I left the house long enough to go to the gym (which was amazing and much needed) and the grocery store.  When I got back, she had peed and pooped all over herself.  I definitely felt bad :(  BUT I know she has to get used to it because I need a life as well!

After I got her all cleaned up, she was ready for a nap, so I held her and both of them fell asleep.  (I swear I blog as though these two are my children.)  Tonight, they've actually occupied themselves and I've been able to get the house cleaned up.  I'm grateful for that!

Trying my nerves

Sheesh. It is only day two of the new puppy and I feel so discouraged!! I remember that puppies are hard at first, but I didn't take it into account that Toby would be so jealous and rude to her. He keeps tackling her and throwing all of his weight on top of her. He walks over top of her and won't let her go anywhere without him freaking out.

Also, I think she is having a hard time adjusting to the new dog food. She keeps acting like she needs to poop and her little tail just shakes and nothing comes out. I feel bad for her!!

I am to the point where I like her, but I don't know if I love her.

The hardest thing for me is that I was finally getting into a good strong routine with myself... going to the gym everyday, making and keeping goals, just making improvements, and now I feel like I'm back at square one. It doesn't help that we haven't gotten another kennel yet, so that will be better after we get that (hopefully today!!). Then I will actually be able to leave the house and get back to the gym!! I love the gym, it makes me feel so much better to exercise.

Well, I now understand how some people blog just to have someone to talk to. It totally makes sense to me now. So miscellaneous someone, thanks for listening.

Puppy momma... AGAIN!!!

Well hello bloggy. Last night I get a text from my husband saying that he was going to get us another puppy. What am I even supposed to say to that!!?? On one hand, I knew I'd love another little dog. On the other hand, puppies are a lot of work and we just barely got Toby to the point where we can let him do whatever he wants and he minds his manners...

Needless to say, Greg made a drive this morning to get our new little girl. She is super cute and has tons of attitude. She already likes to bark while she plays, but I really hope this will die down. Toby isn't a barker and we've been so lucky!! She is just like a little babe, she sleeps all the time and poops and pees.

Toby is pretty jealous of her, but I think they are going to get along just great!!!

Today...

is the first day of the rest of my blogging life!!

I've decided it is time to start another blog... more personal, more random and much MUCH more fun!!

As I was trying to come up with a name for my new blog, I realized it is HARD to come up with something fitting and cute that isn't already taken!! Some of the other names I was debating were...

confessions of a bean, conversations of a bean, what a bean thinks, be engaging, be delightful, be intriguing, be refreshing, chicbean, see lovely, ilovely

I am extremely pleased with the title "You're Lovely"... I hope that it will serve as a reminder to anyone who stumbles across my blog... there is life worth living and there are so many terrific things in the world... but nothing as great as us. People, humans, kindred, folk... none of it would make sense if it weren't for all of us... and each of us have a purpose... and if for no one else, then the name is for me, because I'm allowed to encourage and love myself. It is okay and I don't feel conceded one bit!!

So here it is! I'll raise my glass and give a shout. Welcome new blog!!