Excuse my absence, the end of the school year has been a little crazy with teachers trying to cram for finals, plus finals week this week! Any who, ever since I switched my major I've thrown myself into interior design and decorating websites and blogs. I need to start getting ideas flowing and figuring out what I like/what I don't like, what style I like, etc. It's been really inspiring! Here's a few of the favorites I've been drooling over:

I love this whole area, it's so open! The kitchen over on the left, the living area (look how cozy those couches look!) in the middle and the eating area on the right. I love all of the windows letting in the natural light throughout the room but you can also draw the curtain over by the eating area for privacy. I love the beams on the ceiling and the overall neutral and calming colors of the room. And I also love that this is all on the second floor (notice the stairs by the kitchen). I never knew that people that live up north do this, put their living areas on the top floor as opposed to the bottom like we do here in the south, until I went to Canada to visit my uncle Bill's family. It seemed odd at first (because it was different) but the idea grows on me, it's intriguing. Ohh I also love the hood above the stove, it does so much for the kitchen. Photo Credit: Blayne Beachum

I LOVE this outdoor area. The vaulted ceiling is amazing! One of my friend's mother just did this with her back yard area and I can't tell you how great the transformation was. If I would've known about her doing it I would've taken a before picture to show you the difference but alas, I did not. Heck I don't even have an after picture but it does look a lot like this. Anyways, I love the huge white fireplace, love it, and the circular decoration against all of the straight lines going on is gorgeous. The lighting fixture works wonderfully with this space, it's rustic and the dramatic lines go well with the ceiling beams. I think a rug would've been really nice against the tile though. Don't you just want to cuddle up on the couch among friends with a fire going? Photo credit: Limestone and Boxwoods

I got this image from The Pioneer Woman when she used it for inspiration when redoing The Lodge at her property. The thing I love most about this area is the warm cozy feeling you get from just looking at it, imagine being there! The shiny backsplash that goes all the way to the ceiling is such a different aspect to doing backsplash and works so well. Once again, the ceiling beams (I just now realized three of the four pictures I posted have ceiling beams, I guess that's something that I'm drawn to), love them and I love the steel ties that match the steel framed windows. All of the white furniture mixed with the brown furniture and the cream furniture, it all flows so well together but the details on them make them stand out. The two tall black decorations by the window provide a beautiful contrast between all of the neutral colors. And lastly, the two lanterns in the kitchen, they're so delicate and creative. Photo Credit: The Pioneer Woman

I love all of the room in this kitchen! Look at all that space, you could have so many people helping you and it would be impossible to get in each other's way! I love the detail around the stove, it lightens the severity of the huge stove (perhaps a Viking?), the arch over the hall way is such a simple concept but definitely draws the eye to the curviness, and the cabinets! I LOVE the glass cabinet look! I also love the contrast between the dark warm wood floor and the clean white look of the rest of the kitchen. Every time I look at this picture, I find something else I love about it (look at the backsplash behind the stove)!

I can't remember where I found this image but I in no way claim it to be mine, I'm still back pedaling to find out where I got it. I wanted to go ahead and get this post up though :-)

Yesterday I woke up to Chloe yelping in pain so I let her out of her crate and she could barely walk because of the amount of pain she was in. This has happened one other time but it was late at night and it passed within 15 minutes. This time it didn't pass though so I called the vet and they told me to come right away.

Long story short, this is the beginning of the well known back problems dachshunds have. The discs between her spinal cord get calcified over time and push up on the spinal cord, this is the pain she was feeling. She's only five though, this isn't supposed to happen until they are 7-8. Luckily, we've caught it really early and I know now to bring her right in if it happens again. In the mean time, she's on an anti-inflammatory medicine for a couple weeks and is on strict "crate rest" so she is forced to rest. We also have to completely nix her jumping (on/off couches, up to people or beds or chairs, off my parent's deck, etc). This sounds a lot easier than it really is but we (Blake and I along with the much needed help from my family) are going to all make sure she doesn't jump at all. This is what causes the back problems, every time she jumps, the discs in her back absorb the shock (which is bad).

This could potentially get very serious down the road resulting in lots of pain for Chloe, very expensive surgery, possibly more than one, and could even lead to paralysis. The good news is, we know what causes it and we know what we need to do to prevent it from worsening. So, if you have any positive thoughts or vibes you wanna send over to us, I would really appreciate it. Today she is back to her normal self, she's very happy and probably wondering why everybody is showering her with this unusual extra amount of love and attention. Blake and I took the doggy stairs by our bed and moved them to the couch since that's where she's on and off the most. We're going to get another set of stairs for our bed and another crate to keep at my parents. When she stays there she sleeps on the couch when they're gone or sleeping so this way she can't do that. I was pretty shaken up yesterday but I'm calming down now and realize she's okay, we just need to change some habits. Thanks for listening to my rambling (yet again).

Just for good measure, here's a picture of the cutie with a booty:

So did anybody catch the snow yesterday morning? I didn't (boo)! I got up for work at 9, got ready and drove to work. When I got there my mom asked me if I saw the snow....WHAAAT? I thought she was yanking my chain but then I realized she wasn't, I had just slept too late to see it. If it was a Tuesday or Thursday I would've been up super early and have been able to see it (but then would've had to drive to Denton in it). Supposedly it's going to snow tonight/early tomorrow morning so hopefully I'll catch it this time around (because this could very well be the only snow we get this winter).

So, this semester is almost done, I could not be happier! Now that I've changed majors, the classes I'm in currently have absolutely nothing to do with my new major so it sucks having to get up at 6, shower and get ready, drive to Denton, and spend my day there all for (technically) nothing. Oh well, only 2 more classes then finals! Then I get to start on what actually interests me!

(random weird incident: my printer just started making printing noises - it is turned off, and my computer is not only not plugged into it but it is nowhere near it...spooky)

I've been reading this blog lately (http://www.younghouselove.com) and it's got me itching to get into my interior design classes. I love this blog and it is so inspiring! They also are very frugal which is inspiring me as well. I spend too much (unnecessary) money and I have been making a conscious effort to not spend a dime on something unless it's really necessary. I suppose this is how it should always be but, well, I'm not perfect. Since I'm blessed enough to not have to pay bills yet, I am able to save every penny I make for my future. Although Blake pays for every single one of his bills, he still squeezes out some money to put towards our savings too so hopefully by the time we move onto the next phase in our lives, we'll have a padded savings account already. Sorry, I'm ramblin...

So how are ya'll coming along with your Christmas shopping? I did the majority of it earlier in November (for once!) but I still have a few last minute gift cards to pick up and that should be it! I got our little 4 foot tree up on Sunday along with a few Christmas decorations and I wrapped my presents on Tuesday and put them under the tree. I'm almost set for Christmas (3 weeks early)!! What am I going to do when school gets out and I have two days of nothing to do? Maybe I'll cook recipes out of The Pioneer Woman's cookbook! (thepioneerwoman.com)

I always say I'm going to keep these short but I always ramble! I really did take pictures of one of my crafty little Christmas decorations that I do plan to share with you all but I have to charge my lame camera battery first. Soon, I promise! Caio!

Well I thought I would do a list of what I'm thankful for since it is Thanksgiving week!

I'm thankful for:

- My family, I have the most wonderful family surrounding me in life, I really couldn't have asked for more kind and gracious people.

- My boyfriend, I guess he could fall into the one above but why not give him his own 'dash' :-) Especially since he took care of me today while I was under the weather (more on that below)

- The upcoming holidays! I picked up a few Christmas decorations at Hobby Lobby the other day (50% off!) and have already started wrapping presents. I'm so ahead in buying Christmas presents this year! I also just started listening to Christmas music at work so it's gotten me in the Christmas spirit.

- Chloe. She makes me smile and laugh every day, she's a goof ball. I'll have to upload a picture of her in her new sweater, it could possibly be the cutest thing in the world.

- My opportunity to get an education completely student loan free. My parents are amazing people and have really taught me the importance of money yet they don't force my brother and me into struggle in trying to do so.

- Christmas presents! I love to get them but I love giving them more. I love thinking of the perfect gift to get somebody and giving it to them.

What I'm NOT thankful for:

- My cold I caught yesterday. I went to the doctor today to make sure it wasn't strep or the flu and luckily, it's just a cold. It's so frustrating, I never get sick, and just to be sure I've been washing my hands all day every day since I'm in public places every day. My doctor told me to make sure I "drink a lot of cough syrup before Thanksgiving" lol. Well actually she told me to avoid "newborns and young children, elderly, pregnant women, people going through chemo, etc." and then she realized what she was saying to me two days before Thanksgiving. She said that by Thursday though, I shouldn't be contagious enough to give my cold to people anymore.

- I'm also not thankful for having to finish these classes this semester knowing that they have absolutely no value to my new major and won't count towards it at all. Oh well, there's only 3 weeks of school left.

Ok, so I did a little project with my Hobby Lobby decorations and I actually thought beforehand that I should take pictures while I'm doing it so I can share with all of my fellow bloggers how I did it! :-) So organized.

I'll try to post again before Thanksgiving but if I don't, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Alright so I found a bunch of random pictures from my phone. This one is the picture of Chloe in her sweater...is this not so cute?!

Aww Chloe and Jenny snuggling on their favorite rug.
Penguins! at the St. Louis zoo!
Blake and me at the St. Louis Cardinals game!
Lol Chloe and Jenny laying on Blake's back and neck (in our old apartment)

Ah ok so I've been a little bit of a slacker, not too bad though, I only got back on Sunday and I've been working and going to school since. Any who, Terlingua was A-mazing! Much needed rest and relaxation! I say it every time I come back but I really can't wait a whole other year to go back! Here's a just a few of the 150 pictures I took!

Brandon and I judging chili!
hehe Blake and me
My artsy fartsy photo
...Cowboy hat

(maybe an attempt at another artsy fartsy photo)
This is what the sunset looks like shining on the mountains every night!

I've been rocking school lately. I just changed my major over to Interior Design on Tuesday and finally finally finally got my schedule figured out and enrolled. It was an almost impossible task. I'm going to be going to school for nine hours (it was going to be twelve but I just couldn't do that) on Monday and Wednesday and one hour on Friday (there's one Monday, Wednesday, Friday class), and I'll be working full days Tuesdays and Thursdays. So basically I've just switch-a-rooed my schedule...and added six more hours to my school load (two of my classes have three hour labs so I'm in eighteen hours of school next semester ahhh). I'm really excited to start this new major and start taking classes that I actually will have interest in and enjoy though! And I'm really excited about having three day weekends (minus the one hour I'll be at school on Friday). If it gets too hectic, I can always divvy up the two days of work in to three. Alright, I just realized nobody wants to hear about this. I apologize.

Oh! and I bought my first Christmas gift this year! It's for Michelle (my brother's fiancee), I highly doubt she reads this but juuuust in case I won't spill the beans about what it is. Oh! and I finally spent my last Victoria Secret gift card from last Christmas! I got two pairs of yoga pants (in all honesty though, they are probably just going to be lounging around in my butt pants). Who knows though, if I get a spur of the moment feeling to work out...my yoga pants will be there waiting for me.

Speaking of working out, I'm debating if I want to ask for a few personal training sessions for Christmas. I don't need a personal trainer every time I work out, I just want somebody to give me a routine that I need to do and also have somebody hold me accountable for the two weeks that it takes for a habit to set it (so I can get back in the habit of working out). I don't know though, I feel silly asking for something like that when I know how to work out, criminy I just need to go running.

I really can't figure out what I want for Christmas this year, so give me some ideas, what are you all asking for this year? New kitchen gadgets? New shoes? A new purse? A new cookbook? Or just a new book? Either way, let me know (so I can steal your idea and put it on my list)

Wow, is it really already November?? I mean, I knew it was coming but wow, before we know it December will be here! I'm not complaining though, November means Terlingua which is in exactly 2 days! I'm a little stressed trying to get everything together for school but I'll manage. I hope I will. I just need my teacher to post our weekly discussion board so I can do it and get it out of the way. My list of things to do before I leave:

1. Study today for my history test bright and early tomorrow

2. Pick up laundry from Blake's, his mom was nice enough to offer to do it for us even though I really didn't want her to and she really doesn't need to buuuut that's another story for another time.

3. Finish laundry that's at my parents (counting down the days until my brother's fiancee finishes her thesis and moves back home so I can snag the washer and dryer she's using)

4. Pack pack pack

5. Throw out all of the bad stuff in the fridge and take the trash and recycling out (technically the latter is Blake's job)

6. Do both discussion board posts for this week for class

7. Figure out what to make for dinner and make it.

8. If I study enough and have time, watch my Sunday night shows!

9. Drive out to Denton tomorrow morning to take my test, come back to apartment to grab bags and dog, drop them off at my parents and head to work.

10. Wake up Tuesday morning at about 4:45 and leave for 10 hour drive to Terlingua!!

Whew, that was exhausting just talking about it.

Thursday was my brother's fiancee's birthday so Blake and I went out to eat with her family at Pappadeaux, yummmm. By the way, their portions are ginormous. Mitchell and Blake ordered the 11 oz. portions (the large size) and it was enough to fill them up that night, fill my mom and I up the next day for lunch and there's still another portion left in each to-go box that my mom and I will probably have for lunch again tomorrow. It was pretty expensive though, definitely a special occasion place.

Friday night Blake and I went out to Savianos with my family then Mitchell, Michelle, Blake and I went out for some drinks. Had a really good time and my dad was nice enough to come pick us up.

Saturday night Blake and I went over to his parent's for some delicious gumbo then got in an argument about what to do so we just went back to the apartment and went to sleep. lol

Well I'm being told we're leaving in 5 to go watch the Cowboys game so I have to go get ready! Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday afternoon. Go Cowboys!

I know, I know, it's been beyond forever. I apologize, life is hectic. I work Monday, Wednesday and Friday, go to school Tuesday and Thursday and try to have fun and hang out with Blake on the weekends. Even though he works on the weekends, ugh.

*Side note - I just watched somebody in my apartment complex get arrested right in front of my balcony. I'm pretty sure it was the guy that I ran into this morning when his mini-Chloe (that's my cutie pie's name) ran after me and he had to come get him. She was the most precious thing, besides my baby of course. Anyways, pretty weird.

So school's going well, work's going well, I'm about to go on my most favorite vacation ever, life is good. This time next week I'll be in Terlingua, TX for the annual Chili Cook-Off I go to every year. It's a week in the desert drinking and hanging out with the best people in the world, and oh yea, I judge chili. I wait for this vacation from the day I leave the previous year and it is almost finally here!! I had to rearrange a test and promise my boss I would bring him chili or I couldn't come back to work, but it all worked out thankfully :-)

I know for sure I'm going to change my major (fyi International Studies is probably not what you think it is or at least for me it wasn't), it's all about foreign politics and blah, just boring. I'm 87.5% sure I want to change my major to Interior Design, I think it would be such a fun job and something that would be easy to come back to after I start having children years and years down the road. And how cool would it be to actually know how to decorate your home?? I mean, I think I know what I'm doing but I'm not sure. There's so many things I'm interested in but I don't know what to chose to actually get a degree in and do it the rest of my life. I know people say that degrees don't matter, as long as you have it, but I don't want to spend 2-3 more years studying something I don't love or intend to do when I graduate. I'm probably just stressing out about it too much but one thing I am sure, I don't want to spend the next 2-3 years learning studying international studies.

I'm trying something new, I'm going to try to just post short updates or snippets so I won't feel so much pressure to write an "entire" blog entry. I've been reading a lot of blogs lately and I've noticed that's what a lot of people do and it seems like it would be easier to keep updated. Besides, my life is not that interesting, definitely not interesting enough to write novel blogs entries all the time.

That being said, I will leave you with some pictures of Terlingua. It has everything you need....

Tequila

Sunrises and sunsets over the mountains
Dolly Parton impersonators
Cowboy hats
Shark tents
Plenty of alcohol
Lots of friends and family

Dancing
Food
and CHILI!