Too personal, let's vote!

I have had an incredibly hard time blogging lately. I think it's because it's one of those times when you think is this something I really want up on the blog? Do I want to share this with all my friends? cyber friends? co workers? family?

Is it ever hard for you to draw the line of what you post and what you dont? I have a lot going on in my life, but so much of it is personal. Some days I think WOW I am learning so much about growing up, about myself, about marriage, about beliefs and I really want to share that knowledge. Not only share it but I want to preserve it. I want to dig up posts a year from now and re-read them to remember all these things that I am learning and cherishing right now.

Then on the other hand I start to think.... WOW what if I get back lash from one of these posts that I want to write. How hard would it be to deal with that when it's things that are so personal?

That's where I am at right now.

Let's take a vote.

What would you like to hear about?

• Dog training/ Dog naughtiness
• Marriage work/ Therapy
• Religious Views
• Learning about myself
• Growing up

Here I am!

This is me.

I have been following the Blog Everyday in May challenge, obviously, I haven't posted each day. However, I clearly pick and choose which days I'd like to participate. This was the prompt for today.

"A favorite photo of yourself and why"

This was from a photo shoot that Jared and I did. Actually it was our first shoot together, and so far our only. I was trying to show off my new dress and my favorite pair of shoes. I am in love with this photo, because the smile on my face is very genuine. Jared was making fun of me for about falling on my face in those heels. I was trying to re-adjust and he made a comment that I don't remember. I just know that it was funny, because of the look in my eyes. I am looking past the camera and straight at Jared. Isn't it weird how this photo could just be an awkward pose to anyone else, but it speaks so much to me?

So what does this photo say to you?

Don't worry - be happy!

10 things that make me happy!

1. Jared. Aside from all the husbandy stuff. He's like the hottest guy on the planet. I love just looking at him. Knowing that I scored THAT guy makes me happy. *high fiving myself*.

2. Dr. Jones and L. Spinelly. My puppies are the best companions. If I get home from work and had an all time horrible day or even if it was a good day. I love seeing the funny personalities. Plus they get so happy to see me and the happiness rubs off onto me.

3. Cotton Candy, no matter what cotton candy will bring a smile to my face. I remember one time I had horrible cramps and was curled up on the floor. Jared went to the gas station and brought me back cotton candy and immediately I smiled... then cried again.

4. The sun has been hiding a lot the past few months and now that it's out and shining. It definitely makes me happy.

5. Being an aunt. I love my niece and nephew. They are my closest connection to children. I never liked babysitting. I'm not sure if I'll ever want to be a mother, but I sure do love Elsie and Colt. They make me happy to be an aunt and give me funny "those darn kid" stories!

6. I love water sports. I never have been an athletic girl or really cared to even watch sports. However there is something about being in the water with no one else on the wake board or surf board with you. It's serene. I love cruising on the water.

7. Sleep. I love naps and I love sleeping in. If there is one way to make me happy, put a binky in my mouth and send me to bed!

8. Animals. I already mentioned my puppies, but animals all together make me happy. I love seeing wild deer while I'm out driving, squirrels on the rocks, birds in my girl (nesting of course) or house cats roaming around at night. I love all animals. They put smiles on my face.

9. Apple products. I seriously fell in love with Jared a little bit more when he got an iPhone....

10. Amusement parks. I love going on roller coasters and really spinny rides and rides that make your stomach drop. I love it all!

What makes you happy?

..... and then Jared turned 29!

Today is Jared's birthday and I am so excited to celebrate. This is the most important birthday ever, because if Pam did not birth Jared well my life would suck. That's the truth. I love celebrating Jared's existence because he's a vital piece of my life! There is absolutely nobody that I would rather be raising 2 puppies and 4 birds with. (Oh yeah our birdies hatched yesterday).

This handsome husband of mine deserves some praise and some shout out, so here's a post dedicated to Jared! Cheers!

Here are 5 interesting facts about Jared.

1. He used to have a lip ring when we first met and I miss it dearly.
2. He is a twin and he was the first born twin.
3. Jared used to have tons of goats behind his house when he was little and he was mean to them.
4. Jared is ADDICTED to wikipedia.
5. He will kill you at a game of pogs.

The top 10 things I love about Jared.

1. He never EVER loses his cool. He stays very calm and collected in every situation.
2. He is a great friend. He will leave our house at 2am to pick up a friend that has been drinking. No matter how big of an inconvenience it is to him, he will do it.

3. I love that Jared gets something in his head and sticks with it. No matter how hard it will be to obtains, if he wants it he will have it. You should have seen him when he wanted the job he has now. He is very persistent!
4. He is incredibly patient.
5. I really admire and love that he's such a hard worker. He takes great pride in his job and no matter what day it is he will stay at the office until everything is finished.
6. Jared is really good at planning. He pays very close attention to detail. It was so easy to plan our wedding together, because I'm a big picture person and he's a detail oriented person. He was awesome at hunting down vendors and getting just what we wanted.
7. He is the most non- judgmental person I've ever met. He always bring up a point of view I don't see and he refuses to talk poorly of someone.

8. Jared never has stepped a foot inside of a college and yet he is one of the most educated people I know. He doesn't limit his learning to a classroom, right now he's learning Spanish. Hola Jared!
9. He is honest. Sometimes I may get annoyed about this, because I want sympathy or I want him to be on my side. In the long run it's helped my balance out my life, because I know that whatever Jared is saying he's being completely honest about. He's not just saying what I want to hear. To me honesty is more important that a good earful!
10. No matter what I want, how much I make, or what I do - Jared always supports me. He's my number 1 fan and is behind me 150%. Even when I told him I want to be a dog trainer. He was down. Or if I tell him I'm going to buy a pink chicken.

Happy 29th Birthday J.

I love you.

Won't you be my neighbor?

How well do you know your neighbors?

I was in for quite the shock yesterday. My brother and a few friends came over to celebrate Cinco De Mayo. We were planning to go hot tubbing, cook dinner and end the night by watching The Avengers. (I was on a Marvel kick this weekend, we saw Iron Man 3 which of course, made us watch Thor and then it was a MUST to watch The Avengers). By the way, hot tub - dinner - movie - that is a perfect night for me. Best Sunday night I've had in a really long time!

I live in a town home and we have a community pool and hot tub. It's a pretty small neighborhood, so usually when you go down there you're alone or there is one other "group" like a family or a couple. The hot tub is one street down and we could tell there was a party with loud music and drunken laughter. Some people might have turned around, but I really love these social situations. Every one  is always is so nice and is living by the motto "the more the merrier". Even if it's just for the one night.

There were 5 people from our group plus another 10 people gathered around in our little hot tub. Unlike normal this was not one group but 5 small groups. There were 2 young boys (15-ish), an Army dad and his daughter, a single man (the neighbor with all the bird feeders), a young single woman (the lady next door),  2 brothers (the partiers on the block), then one other couple (whom I have no identifier for).

All of these people had lived in their houses for between 2 - 7 years. Jared and I have lived in our home for 4 years and we have NEVER met any of these people. Isn't that terrible? I hate that. I wish I knew every single one of my neighbors. Before last night I only knew 2 people in the community. My next door neighbor and the guy who walks his dog late. I don't even know the dog walkers name. My next door neighbor is Laurel. She's an old woman and is in love with Indiana. She is the sweetest old woman, and always has her grandkids with her. I think that's a fun part about owning your home. You know you'll be there for a while, so you can settle in and get to know people because they'll be around for a while too. We met the young single woman who lives next door on the other side last night and I was so happy to finally meet her! I have seen her almost every day for the past few YEARS but had never introduced myself, so now we'll be BFF's. Yes, I have high hopes for all my neighbor friendships.

Turns out my neighbors are a bunch of party animals and I really like that about them! Jared and I are a young couple and we like staying out late and socializing - so it's cool to know that our neighbors aren't bothered by that lifestyle. It's like we all have a secret identity. Quite and calm during the day and then a loud welcoming crew in the evening. It's awesome - I'm impressed with my new (old) neighbors. I already said "Hi" to one of my new found friends today. He was out on his porch when I was home on my lunch break and we had a small chit chat about my baby birds!

Oh yeah... I have 7 birds now. My triplets turned into seven-duplets! I decided they are not Robins they are Starlings. Does anyone have any information about starlings... I need to read up on these buggers.

(There is one hiding outside of the nest.)

Soo.... 

How well do you know your neighbors? Do you prefer to know them or not?

Live on after me.

My favorite quote in the world is from the movie "Big Fish". That movie has shaped many parts of my life. Do you have that one movie that you juts cannot get enough of? Big Fish is mine. I swear every Valentines J and I have been together, we watch this movie because it always puts a giant smile on my face. Also when J proposed to me, Big Fish was the movie we watched after.

My favorite quote:

This quote is totally "Miki". My entire life, I've been told that I am a story teller and that makes sense because I absolutely love telling stories. I love that they are mine. They came out of my mouth and it's from my perspective. My stories are how I want to be remembered. Not only when I pass away, but even when someone is just describing me to their friends. A big part of my personality is that I love to talk and to tell stories. I can tell 1 story in 15 different ways. I love that about me.

Cheers to Big Fish!

What is your favorite quote?

** This topic is a prompt from the May Blog Challenege (button on sidebar)

Taped feet and Friday Funnies!

Last night Jared and I went on our second date night, since we started scheduling date nights last week. We got a late start to the evening, because we are laying lawn in our front yard. We have lawn but it's dead and our HOA wanted to fine us a heft fine for them to do it, so we were like screw this we're capable young humans we will do it ourselves. However, turns out like everything else it's kind of a big job. Yikes. Anyway, our date night was pretty fun we went on a shopping spree to get some summer clothes and grab some food! Then on our way home we blew $30 at the dollar store. I love walking out with 4 bags packed full of stuff when I only spent 30 bucks! Win win! I bought the dogs like 5 toys.... how could I resist, they were only a dollar!

I decided to stick with the theme of last Friday. The Friday Funnies. After we got home from our date night, I was giving the dogs their toys. Of course, Indie wasn't as interested in his adorable leopard print stuffed bone as he was the new broom we got for the garage. I was taking off the sticker and Indie was so excited, he thought it was a treat. So of course, like a good puppy momma. I put it in his mouth. He spit it out, but it got stuck to his feet. Jared and I laughed for a solid 5 minutes watching him walk around with stickers on his feet.

Here's the 2 videos I took. After he got it off one of his feet, Shia got it stuck on her foot. It was a very entertaining night for us! I love my baby bullies.

Enjoy.

Has this ever happened to your pets?

Have a happy weekend!!