Sunday, December 27, 2009

B-Man had been begging us for months to get a puppy. After our last puppy fiasco ended in me lying to some unsuspecting woman about how great Makita (Cairn Terrier) is and what a lovely little pet he will make, both Hubs and I were a little leery about making the jump back in to the doggie world. But B-Man was persistent so we started doing our research... I think I read countless pages about every breed out there, so if anybody is searching and needs an expert opinion, don't hesitate to ask.

Finally we decided on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier or 'the nannydog' as it affectionately called. After searching for a few weeks and finding nothing under $500 (sorry in the end it's just a pet, don't think I can spend that much for an animal that I'm going to have to pick up poop and scrub carpet for). We changed to our #2 choice: a boxer. Great with kids, very gentle and easy to train. Doesn't shed much, so won't bother my allergies to bad. Sounded pretty good. The search started again... and low and behold... we found Harley. (He's not full blood boxer. 1/2 Boxer, 1/2 Husky. But he's adorable and so far holds the looks and temperament of the boxer.)

Hubs and I were playing Wii and he just laid on his foot and went to sleep.

So far we are extremely happy with our new little friend. He's picking up potty training really fast. He is great with both boys, and helps me wear B-Man out in time for bed. All in all, I guess B-Man was right, it was time to take the jump again.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

So I always try to be really creative over the holidays. Something inside this crazy head of mine screams "It ain't Christmas until somebody is getting something homemade." So for the last few months of ignoring said voice, I gave in and made these letters and envelopes for B-Man.
He's been really into writing letters to everybody. We've gone through a whole pack of paper (you know the plastic wrapped ones you get from Staples... yeah, a whole one of those). So to save the environment and add my little sprinkle of "go green" to the world, these are my contribution.

The letters are made out of foam. A full white sheet for the back (letter portion) and cut strips for the words. They have velcro and are all interchangeable with each other. So he can write to anybody he wants and say whatever he wants. (Well as long as I wrote it out, but I guess we could always make more if he was needing something new.)

The letters are made from felt. One full white piece just folded in half and then a half of the colored sheets for the back. The names are from the same foam as the letters and those too are velcro and can be changed around from one envelope to another. I can't wait to give them to him for Christmas. I think he'll really like them!

Monday, December 21, 2009


What a strange tradition sitting on Santa's lap is really, if you stop and think about it. We talk our kids up all year about never talking to strangers. Then come the holiday season, we seek out an old man in a red suit and fake beard and beg our kids to sit on his lap and share their inner most desires... And then we wonder why when they turn 30 they need therapy? Hmm..

Saturday, December 19, 2009

So the Carolina's don't get a lot of snow. (Go figure huh.) But, they do get these crazy things called Ice Storms. I almost looks like snow, but not quite. It falls slowly like snow does, but it looks more like hail. Then when it hits the ground it creates more like this slushy stuff. It's really weird. It's really heavy too. In fact, during a big Ice Storm, thousands of people lose power because the tree branches can't hold the weight and break off onto electric wires.

Snow panic is an annual tradition in the South. We don't get very much of it, therefore its arrival is treated with the same reverence and fear as the announcement that aliens will be stopping by for a visit. Today, Bi-Lo and Ingle's will no doubt be overrun with locals stocking up on bread, milk, beer and white powdered donuts. And when the flurries start early tomorrow morning, drivers will slow down to a crawl, hugging their steering wheels and peering fearfully through their windshields. Despite the self-imposed 5 mph speed limit, there will be about a thousand fender benders on the roads.

I've done some research into it and according to southern customs, tonight, schoolchildren across the state will continue some time-honored traditions. They will wear their pajamas inside-out. They will put an ice cube in the toilet. They will place a white crayon in the freezer. And then go to bed and dream of snowmen. And thanks entirely to their efforts (or so the legends say), when they wake tomorrow morning, there is likely to be SNOW falling.

And without further Ado... Dun Dun Dun...
The Blizzard of 2009...
B-Man didn't care though, it was close enough to snow for him!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Dear Santa...

Since he was a little boy, maybe even from day one, B-man has been obsessed with the color orange. He wants it on everything! From the color of his walls, to the clothes he wears (right down to shoe laces), to the food he eats. So I wasn't completely shocked when he specifically demanded something orange for Christmas this year. The part that got me was the object: a pillow. An orange pillow.

















Now if he were a fourteen year old teenage girl looking to redecorate his bedroom with that new pink and orange retro scheme, I would at least understand. But people, we're talking about a 4 YEAR OLD boy who's always been into fast cars, planes, and anything else that makes noise or moves.

In one hand, I'll admit I'm grateful. But in the other, I know I have to do something a little bigger for him. Of course, come Christmas morning he'll have his pillow nestled under the tree, but I'm thinking Transformers, or Dinosaurs, or even Lego's. I'm not sure, anybody else got any funny stories about Christmas Wishes? lol. He's full of surprises, but I never saw this one coming!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

'Tis The Season. Snow begins to fall, carols start playing on every radio station in the country, children begin writing their never-ending lists to Santa Claus, and Christmas Trees pop up in the houses...

Ok... So the plan was to set up the tree the day after Thanksgiving... and then Dec. 1,... and then... Ok so it was a week later, but shoot people, it's up! And it's been decorated twice, so I think we've more than made up for the delay! (Married almost 7 years and yes, I only have 1 box of decorations. It's always a, "next year I'll be ready, we'll get a bunch of stuff that all matches and our tree with just be the cat's meow!"... next year.)

This is Baby M's first Christmas. He loves to lay under the tree at night and drink his bottle. He loves to look at the lights. He never tries to touch them, to my surprise, but he loves to watch.
He looks so peaceful and calm. I love this picture!

So I took some pictures of our tree from that angle. I think they turned out great! It looks almost magical and surreal, like out of a children's book.

Absolutely Gorgeous!!!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

School Time

B-Man is very excited to start school. He's more than ready and very eager to learn. So everyday we have "school time". It takes anywhere from an hour to two hours, depending on how fast I can come up with stuff to do. We start by going over all our letters and their sounds and have started on learning our "sight words" (ie. the, they, he, see, she... etc.) We also go over numbers and are working on counting to 100. He's getting really good at all of it!

This time we worked on our sorting and graphing. (Thanks to Hubs for the use of his poker set. LOL.)

I pull out random amounts of 4 different chips. Then mix them all up and B-Man has to sort them out. Count them. Color the appropriate number in the column.

Then answer a few questions about what he just did. All in all it's really good for him. He's learning so much and loving every second of it. I love being a mom and watching my little guy improve an grow up.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

I am a designer by trade, graphic layout designer to be specific. Recently I started my own business, www.digdeepdesignstudio.com (you know 'cause as a mom I have tons of spare time...). I created Dig Deep Design Studio, LLC for my business identity as a freelance graphic designer. I also use it to showcase my ongoing portfolio of work that I have crafted.

It's been said that great ideas come out of nowhere. Coincidentally, that is where my home town is located; hence, great ideas are in my blood. I originated from "West of the Rockies" and went to a small art college where I honed my design skills through their graphic design department. Since then, I have worked as an in-house designer for a number of local businesses while simultaneously maintaining my own business as a freelancer.

When all is said and done, I love to design and create. Whether it's finger-painting with my children or sitting at my computer creating the perfect brand for a company - I enjoy constantly seeking new ways to marry creativity with functionality to provide compelling user experiences.

Logos. Posters. Brochures. Business Cards. Invitations. Announcements. Post Cards. Letterhead. T-Shirts... You name it, chances are I have designed something in that category over the last six years.

Have a project that needs some quality design? Contact us to get an idea of what it will cost, how long it will take, and what I can do to help you better market yourself.

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