Happy Thanksgiving!

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Thanks, Blogville!

 

 

I'm so busy that we often miss out on Blogville activities.  I just don't have the time, or I'm not aware of them until after they're done and over with.  However, I knew that I had to participate in this one!  Thanks to Murphy and Stanley for hosting this special event. 

Where do I even begin? 

When I first started this blog, I never imagined all the joy it would bring me.  I've made friends with people all across the world that I never would have known existed otherwise. 

I've only had a couple of bad experiences, but nothing near what I know others have dealt with.  And those few negative occurrences are outweighed greatly in all the positives that I've had.

I first got into blogging after I got fired from a really shitty job.  I blogged before then, but it wasn't really a priority.  If I had the time and inclination, I would blog.  If not, then I wouldn't.  Simple as that.  After being fired, I suddenly had excess time on my hands, and I used blogging as an outlet to avoid facing how bleak my life had become. 

I looked for work almost daily, applying everywhere I could.  I applied for jobs I didn't want, jobs that I knew I probably wasn't qualified for, jobs that I desperately wanted, jobs that I knew didn't pay enough to cover the monthly expenses.  Several people in my "real" life gave me extremely bad advice about how to land a job, or made snide remarks about how there must be something wrong with me that no one would hire me after over a year of looking.  No one made those kinds of remarks on my blog.  They may have been thinking it, but they never said it.  And for that, I thank Blogville! 

After having several people offer suggestions to improve my resume, and doing mock interviews with the Department of Labor, and still not getting anywhere, I decided to go back to school.  This seemed so overwhelming to me in the beginning.  And yet, I got nothing but support from Blogville. 

Booker and Asa's mom asked for my address just before Christmas time.  I thought it was because she wanted to send me a Christmas card.  I was shocked to receive a package, and even more shocked to find school supplies!  I remember being asked to post pictures of my outfit and textbooks on the first day of my first and second semester.  It felt good to know that people cared about me. 

Shortly after my first semester, my father passed away.  To this day, I still have friends in my real life who have never once acknowledged his death.  That really hurts, especially since I know that they are aware of it!  Shortly after his passing, I had a few bloggers reach out to me privately to express their sorrow and to share their stories.  That meant so much to me.  I really felt the love from Blogville. 

The thing I most thankful for though?  The friends that I've made.  I'm shy in real life, and don't open up easily.  Yet, I have 130 friends who care enough to follow my blog.  I've laughed with you, I've cried with you, I've experienced your ups and downs, and you experienced mine.  We've felt each other's pain and sorrow, happiness and joy.  Some of you have really inspired me to be a better person, to be a better version of me.   

I'm very thankful that everyone has stuck with me all through school.  I have one more semester to go before graduation.  I'm scared to death about what the future may bring, but also excited.  The best part though?  I know you'll be right there with me every step of the way, pulling for me to succeed, and to be the best me that I can be. 

These are just some of the reasons why I'm so thankful for Blogville!

Wordless Wednesday

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Chewy.com Review

My boys can't get enough of Chewy, so we always look forward to getting new products to review. 

If you'll remember, last month we tried the TropiClean Fresh Breath water additive.  Shiver and Chico both seemed to like it, and it really helped their breath a lot.  I use it when I change their water every day and we still have enough left for probably another month! 

When I saw the TropiClean Fresh Breath + Plus Advanced Cleaning System Dental Dog Treats, I thought it might be fun try this too!  We got a 20-count bag, which is currently on sale for only $16.27 - a 22% savings off the original price. 

Here's a little bit of info from the website:  Tropiclean's Advanced Cleaning System features a unique design that uses the mechanical chewing action to simulate brushing and help reduce plaque and tartar. Selecting specific wholesome ingredients like whole flaxseed to work as an abrasive, baking soda and parsley as a breath freshener and Jinsei Green Tea Extract to promote dental wellness. Tropiclean's dental treats are proudly Made in the USA.

I love that the list of ingredients is all natural:  Potato Starch, Tapioca Starch, Glycerin, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Chicken Flavor, Cane Molasses, Chicken, Gelatin, Ground Flaxseed, Water, Poultry Fat (Preserved with mix tocopherols) Sodium Bicarbonate, Lecithin,  Parsley Flakes, Green Tea Extract, Sorbic Aced (preservative), Blueberry Powder, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Rosemary Extract.

As you can see, Mini-Shiver and Mini-Chico are both really enjoying their treats!  (Much thanks to Lynne for the mini's.  We love them!!!)  Both chi's ran off with their treats and I couldn't get a non-blurry photo of them, so the mini's are a simulation of the real thing.

 

So do they really help my dogs' breath?  I didn't think about it when I ordered the bag, but my dog's already have fairly decent breath since they've been using the TropiClean water additive.  Honestly, I couldn't smell a huge difference.  It did smell better, but I think I would be able to tell more of a difference if they weren't already using the additive.  Regardless, the boys do really like the bones, and chomp them right down whenever they get one. 

You can call customer service to order these, or better yet, go online and order 24/7.  And to top that, you can even set up automatic delivery so that you never run out!  We ordered the bag for small dogs, and the bones are still a pretty good size.  They're not too big, yet not too small - they're just right!

We were not compensated financially for this post, but were provided free samples of dog treats in return for our honest opinions.

Wordless Wednesday

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Baby, It's Cold Outside!

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Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!  We got our first snowfall last week, and it was a doozy!  It was so bad that the school actually cancelled classes one day - which NEVER happens!  Of course, my boss said we still had to come in that day, but luckily I wasn't scheduled that day, so I was able to stay at home in the comfort of my own bed, curled up with the chi's!

I'm off all week next week - no work, no classes, no dealing with other people's drama, no internship, but lots and lots of homework.  I hope to be able to visit everyone almost every day too.

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Took this from here.

1.  What has been the most insincere expression of faith that you have ever witnessed?     

Probably people that like to preach their faith, but then go against it in various ways.  I used to know someone who loved to share her faith, although she never tried to push it on me.  However, she was not always the nicest person.  

2.  If you could paint each room in your house a different color, what colors would you paint them?  

My bedroom is purple, my "girly" room is sponge painted a mix of pink and blue.  The third bedroom I'd like to do kind of a soft green, not quite a sage green.  One of these days I'd like to paint the living room blue.  I'm not sure what I'd paint the bathrooms, kitchen, or hallway.  

3.  What's the biggest myth about sex?

That it's easy for girls to find a guy interested in having sex with them.

4.  Who is the most charming person you've ever met?

I don't have an answer for this one.  I don't know...

5.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.  

There's a ghost town my family used to go visit every summer.  We stopped going, and I'm not really sure why.  Now that my dad has passed away, we will probably never go again.  The roads are windy and twisty and a bit scary to drive, so unless I can find someone else to drive us there, I likely won't go back.  It's really too bad too, because it's such a fun place in the summertime.  I have a lot of fun memories of that town.

That's what this reminds me of.

Wordless Wednesday

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Brrrrrrrrrrrr

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I knew it had to happen sometime or another.  But deep down, I was really hoping it would stay warm just a little bit longer...  OK, a lot longer actually!  But it can't last forever, so alas, Father Winter is on it's way.  I'm just hoping against hope that my neighbors actually keep their Doxies inside this winter.

I just had the B - U - S - I - E - S -T week ever this past week!  There was something to do almost every night after work and classes.  I was absolutely exhausted by the weekend, where there was still a lot more to do.  This week shouldn't be quite as busy, but I have an exam coming up that I need to focus on.  I bombed the last exam so badly that I am now failing the class, which just cannot happen!  I also have a 25 page paper to work on.  So far I'm on page 12. 

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Took this from here.  

1.  What do you think about ghosts?  Are they real?  Hallucinations?  

I don't think they're hallucinations.  I've actually seen a couple in my house.  I never got a bad vibe from them.  They were just there, and then disappeared as quickly as they appeared.  I haven't seen one in a long time.  

2.  What's your favorite part about visiting a new place - the food?  The architecture?  The people watching?

I would definitely say the people watching!  I love to people watch.  

I enjoy eating too, probably too much.  It's always fun to try out a new restaurant or deli though, especially if it's something that the place is known for.  

I usually don't think a lot about the architecture unless it's a place specifically known for that.  The office where I intern is actually an old house from the early 1900s.  It's been modernized, but the owners have also tried to leave a lot of the old architecture and features behind, which is cool.  There's an old church near the office that I often park near.  It's gorgeous from the outside, and I hope to actually be able to step inside one day.  Usually I'm in too big of a hurry to think about it, but maybe I can find the time to slow down and check it out. 

3.  What magazine(s) and/or newspaper(s) do you subscribe to?  

I subscribe to People magazine and that's it!  I don't even know why I subscribe to that, because I rarely have an opportunity to sit down and read an issue from cover to cover.  I've got a stack of them in my kitchen that I one day hope to be able to read.

4.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one. 

It just looks like a brick wall to me!  I do like it though.  Each brick is different in size, color, and thickness, which makes it that much more interesting.  

Wordless Wednesday

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Election Day!

The big day is finally here.  Don't furget to vote fur Murphy and Stanley!  You can cast your ballot  here.

Mundane Monday

This past week was extremely busy with tons and tons of homework that was difficult to keep on top of.  This coming week will be extremely busy with something to do after school/work/internship each day.  Tonight night I have to do something related to my internship that I do.not.want.to.do in any way, shape or form.  But then I get to do something tomorrow night (also related to the internship) that should be fun!  

I signed up for classes for my very last semester of college this past Friday.  Hard to believe my college career is almost done!  I'm excited to see where my new life will take me, but also freaked out that now I have to face my future.  If all goes well, I will graduate in May 2015.

I took an exam recently and the professor allowed us to use notes.  My friend and I created an 11 page study guide to use.  I felt pretty good about it afterwards.  Well, I got the exam back and failed it so spectacularly that I am now also failing the class!  It was an essay exam and I apparently missed answering a  major portion of the question.  I don't know how that happened.  Thank God we still have 2 more exams and a paper to turn in, so I still have time to get that grade up.  

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Took this from here.

1.  How do you feel when it's your birthday?  Why?

I usually feel a little depressed.  Most of the time, no one acknowledges it other than my mom.  My friends all seem to go all out for their own birthday's, but mine is never important to them.  One friend called me this year and left me a voice mail where he sang happy birthday to me though.  I saved it, because it was so special.  

2.  What was your favorite decade?

I loved the 80s.  Big hair and 80s music hairbands.  Need I say more?  I think not!

3.  Finish this sentence:  My closest friend is ___.

My chi's.  They're the ones I spend the most time with and who never judge me.  They love me just the way I am.

4.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.

Everything is better with sprinkles!