Tuesdays are for blogging

Happy Tuesday after Christmas! Oh wait...that's not a thing. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! 

Eric and I had a great holiday that included: making the dogs wear sweaters, getting to rock my new VS pjs, spending lots of great time with family, eating lots of good food, receiving lots of very sweet gifts, seeing some movies and being in denial that work must resume. I really think someone should pay me for holiday-ing. I'm pretty good at that. 

We're getting scary good at self timed photos...The below is from Christmas Eve. :)

Gracie is giving the stink eye...likely because she loves her sweater so much. ;) (Actually, she was falling asleep...haha!)

Anyway as far as holidays go, it was a great one. :) I tend to spend a lot of time stressing and guilting myself about seeing everyone for a good amount of time, doing everything and wanting to make everyone happy for the holiday...while also trying to maintain sanity and figure out some traditions for Eric and me to start for our little family. I hope I'm not alone in all that craziness. Thankfully the holiday always goes seamlessly so I'm not really sure where all the self-induced guilt comes from. I just really want everyone to feel special b/c everyone in our lives really IS so special to us. I couldn't imagine people who have families spread across the country or divorced folks to visit. We are so lucky to have everyone so close. 

After a nice chill weekend, I went in to the office Monday but worked from home today... 

Therefore, these were my coworkers... 

They're ruthless bosses. ;) 

...and these were my work shoes. 

I'm pretty sure I could get behind this whole "working from home" thing. That said, there's no photo of my face or hair b/c I haven't showered today or put on makeup. So there's that. 

I am currently in a state of frustration at several fashion blogs I follow b/c they are making me want all the things. ALL THE SALES. And then all the NEW things for spring. I think "I might want utility pants..." Within about 15 minutes, I am like "I MUST HAVE UTILITY PANTS" and am insanely searching for any that are on sale. I really need to get a grip. Glad to be meeting a friend for a drink tonight b/c I'm pretty sure I'd end up with some weird purchases if left to my own devices for a few more hours. 

We're expecting some serious sleet on New Years Day, which should provide a great opportunity to post some goals/resolutions. I'm trying to keep a list. Mine are pretty simple this year. 2014 has been  a really solid year... It's actually crazy to think of all the things that can happen in just 12 little months. This year alone, Eric and I got a new house and I started a new job. In isolation, a year doesn't feel like a long time, but the things that can be accomplished...just awesome. We're headed out with some friends for NYE tomorrow night and I may have gotten a new sequin dress. After the holiday food, I'm fairly sure an errand tomorrow might include going to get some spanx before the eve. Eh whatever. 

Since I was cranky last week...

I had to make time to come over and post when I'm NOT cranky. B/c well... I'm rarely cranky...and I rarely post these days...and I don't like seeing my most recent post as spewing rants. (I like using the word "spewing" in everyday language.) So, instead, here's a heap of random before I've had coffee. 
* I think I need an intervention with my "must save all the dogs." Don't get me wrong... I LOVE that. But.. well.. I've friended so many groups and rescues on Facebook that my feed is like one rolling replay of the sad scene from Old Yeller. I think I just need to maybe organize what I'm seeing on a regular basis a little bit more. B/c seriously...I think Eric is fairly concerned I'm about to grab a posse and go Red Dawn on some puppy mills. I guess I just like to think that if everyone was educated about what went on, they wouldn't ever get a dog from a bad breeder (bad breeders=puppy mills). But sadly, that's not true. It seriously makes me SO upset that people can just turn a blind eye b/c what they don't know can't hurt them. *sigh* I just never knew that most puppies online were from mills. I never knew that those places could register their dogs with the AKC b/c there's no real regulation. And while I have rescued and consider myself informed, I still never knew. I never knew that some of the worst puppy mills are maintained by the Amish (what?!). (Seriously- read this). So I'd think that if I could help educate others, they would do their research... But I've learned some people still wouldn't...and that makes me so sad and disappointed in humanity. To me, it's just sensical to go MEET the dog in person...to meet the breeder...see where the dog lives (unless of course you rescue...which I'm obviously majorly a fan of). B/c good breeders...they WANT to meet the buyer b/c they want the dog to end up somewhere good and safe. The ones set up on the corner of a parking lot? Maybe not a solid breeder. The ones who will ship you a dog from the web without any references or meeting you? Not a solid breeder. Anyway... I've gotten really wrapped up in it lately and it's sort of impacting my sanity. It feels good to be so impassioned about something, but it also feels a little helpless to just read about all the dogs that need help. So... must clean up the Facebook feed and shift focus to organize my efforts a little more before I decide to start a literal one man army and march in for the puppy mill apocalypse. 
* So haaaaaay...how about I talk about something else... Like these amazing leggings. For real, people. These are the best leggings in the history of leggings. (Is there a history of leggings? I'm sure there is...) Anyway, on one of my recent work trips to Houston, I visited the Galleria (seriously the only think I do to entertain myself in free time there). I popped into Loft and tried on some leggings with a sweater I thought I "needed." The sweater was a toss back. But the leggings... wow. I didn't even expect to like them. They were just to gauge the sweater...but gosh I.love.these.leggings. They're ponte so they're thick and they fit so well. They hold their shape, hold their color after multiple washes, don't pill (at least mine haven't) and are actually quite warm! They're very dark black and matte...not sort of shiny like some can be. I mean...shiny can be good but not when you're wearing something super tight on your derriere...haha...Anyway, I'm 5'7 and the length is great for me, but they also have them in petite. I'm typically a 4-6 and went with a small and they're great. I only say that b/c sometimes I go with a medium in tights/leggings but the medium was too big in these. Small was perfect. They're 50% off today and you won't regret it if you get these leggings. Trust me. I hadn't found a pair of leggings I liked...ever..until these. I mean they have like 600 positive reviews. Can't go wrong there. 

Link to leggings at Loft

* Eric and I met with our builder again last night and I think we're thisclose to final plans for our new house! We are both SO excited and so thrilled with what we've come up with. January will likely start demolition! We're moving the kitchen to another room, which will then move the dining room where the kitchen is and increase the living room space. We're adding an outdoor sitting area, a master suite and some other really fun stuff! I can't freaking wait to get started! That said, I'd better buy all the leggings and other stuff I can now b/c something tells me Eric is about to ground me from shopping when this gets underway...haha... And admittedly, I'm thrilled but also kinda bummed that this is likely the last Christmas in our little cottage house. I love this house! We just need a leetle more room for a potentially growing family (at some point...not yet). Wanted to share a pic of our tree and stockings in our casa this year. :) I really love our little decor set up this holiday. It may or may not need to stay up well into January... 

Annnd that's all I've got. Except I bit my cheek and now it's all weird. Don't you hate that? Aside from that, Tuesday is looking pretty good... I hope you have a good one, friends!

B/c maybe my coffee hasn't kicked in yet...

My life is FULL of things to be thankful for so to even rant or complain is often just...well...dumb. But when I re-read my posts and am all sunshine and daisies, that doesn't feel very authentic...haha...I mean we all get annoyed at things, right? So, while the things that annoy me are admittedly first world problems, I'm going to share some anyway...
* When people say "You aren't going to even pay attention to those dogs when you have kids someday." I hear this one A LOT. And I have to preface... It's not from friends, family or people who I know really well. It's typically acquaintances or pseudo strangers. And while friends/family have made allusions to it before and it still bothers me, it's more like "Oh goodness..what are you guys going to do with your fur kids when you have babies..." in a teasing/sweet way. But not rude like "YOU WILL DISREGARD ALL OTHER LIVING THINGS WHEN YOU HAVE BABIES." And yes...that is exactly how some people communicate it...maybe without the yelling caps lock on, but that's how it feels...lol! 

But anyway... here's my thing... Why even say that unsolicited comment? It's like you telling me "Look at this awesome thing I love" and me saying "Well, you won't even like it once you have something totally different that doesn't even relate at all." How is that even tactful or appropriate...or sensical?! And actually...it's not even like that b/c I am usually just hanging out and make a passing comment about our dogs when the unsolicited comments occur. And no, we don't have kids yet, so I feel as though any defense I have is basically fruitless to these comments and ends up just making me angrier, so I just say "Well, we'll see..."And okay... I get it. I'm sure we'll get frustrated at the pups more than we do when we have human babies...and won't baby them as much as we do...fine fine. But really... you're talking to someone who just joined a freaking legislative advocacy group to fight puppy mills. I love dogs. And I REALLY love mine. I didn't get a dog as a placeholder for a baby. I didn't get a dog b/c I thought it was fun. I got dogs b/c I love dogs. So for someone to say something like that to me is not only disrespectful, but also hurtful b/c they're insulting my love for my FAMILY. 
Sure...they're furry family...but they're my family. And really.. why say anything at all? Why the comparison I didn't even ask for? Dogs are not kids. Kids are not dogs.So yes.... they will be treated differently. I just don't get it. And it's not like we treat them like royalty now... I mean we walk them, we play with them, we enjoy them, we love them...I don't have sceptors or crowns for them. I don't get it. 
* Are you up to date on Walking Dead? If not...stop reading.... Have you stopped? Seriously.. Stop. B/c here comes a spoiler... I am mad they killed off Beth. Just when I was starting to like her. *sigh* I will miss her songs and goodness. Also she was starting to kick some butt and I liked that.   * I don't love allthedry skin. Allthedry is totally one word. I used to be on the swim team so with regular swim practices in high school, I grew a hatred for dry skin induced by chlorine. I am pretty much addicted to moisturizer. But I feel like nothing is working. Recommendations appreciated. :)
* Debates on Facebook. Good grief I can't stand that if I post something fairly benign, someone can fine a way step in and debate on it. If I was that person always engaging in debates or posting politically charged statuses, fine. But goodness. I have entirely better things to do than stir up stuff on Facebook. Sheez. It actually happened to me today on a post I never anticipated would create a debate...about our college's ex football coach. Sheez. Anyway....
* I travel to Houston for the last time this year later day...and I am so thrilled it's the last time! B/c I am over traveling. I want to be home. And let me say.. I love my job and am so thankful for it and the people I work with. But I'm just ready to settle in for the holidays and not have to pack all my toiletries in a one quart baggie. :)
If these are my biggest annoyances as of late, I'm doing pretty well, I think. Also the baby photo I posted in this post that found on a meme site sort of made my day...haha... Happy Wednesday, friends.