New Look

I'm totally diggin' my new look!

What do you think?!

It's a little bit more me.

I've been looking for a new layout for a little while now, and haven't really found anything I liked until now. Plus, I was off today to be able to spend some time on looking harder and working on getting it to look how I want it. Recently I was really hating my previous template so much I was thinking of switching back to Xanga, but I think I'll stay at Blogger!

Now, maybe I'll post a little more here.

I talked Lowell into working from home today, so we've pretty much just hung out, watched some shows, got caught up on some of the Olympics, and just vegged out. It's been nice to be able to spend two whole days together in a row! It all ends tomorrow though. Back to the grind until Saturday.

Saturday will be our 6yr anniversary. It's hard to believe. Today we even talked about taking the next step and go look at some engagement rings. We've got some money saved up, and with both our tax returns (yes, we both did ours already!) we have enough to get a nice starter!

I'm pretty excited about it, but I won't hold my breath. Things tend to come up at the most inopportune time. Life for us as usual. :)

Until tomorrow,

Dexter & Irish Creme

I've been off for two days in a row...was supposed to be three, but I knew that wouldn't last long. In all honesty, I was expecting to get called in early today. One of the girls who worked only two days a week called in and quit. I luckily I was the first to be called (due to my awesome C.S. skills of course) to pick up her hours. For how long, I'm not sure since they seem to have bigger plans for me.

Last week I was informed I'd be moving up to a Bridal Consultant soon. Once training is said and done (I only have a Bakeware class left, plus actual Bridal training). I'm pretty excited about it. Means more hours, and more pay. Probably working more weekends though. :(

I've been trying to keep an eye on my list of things to do this year, and thus decided to check on some online classes/pick a major. Going back to school at this point would be ideal, but tuition fees...wow. Maybe a little bit more down the road I can finish a four year degree. The majority of my General Ed. classes are done, so my main focus would basically be picking a major and finishing. It just seems so far fetched on this budget.

Sooo...I checked into some certificate programs that were available online. Some of those look a little promising and much better for the budget. Something to work for and not so overwhelming, ya know? Something in the medical field probably. Transcriptionist? Coding? Something along those lines. We'll see, after a little bit more research. I've never actually met someone who's done those jobs for a living. I'd like to talk to one.

Today I spent the day going through all the magazines I've collected of the past few months and ripping out pages for my 'Inspiration Book'. It's sparked some blog posts for here already, plus some eventual decorative ideas for the apartment.

Also, I'd like to get a list together of all the creative outlets I'd like to try/do, and try some new things with the ones I do already. Or, well...actually pick them back up. I don't even remember the last time I've picked up my camera. It's depressing.

Off to finish watching this Dexter S3 episode and enjoy my Irish Creme before it gets cold...

Up Early...

It feels really good to be up really early and not HAVE to be up early. Up at my own will and not because some piece of paper says I have to be up and somewhere! I can tell I'm going to get a lot accomplished today because it's only 6:30am and I've already eaten breakfast (some Organic Multi-grain cereal we got at Target this weekend for 50% off and paid like $1.88 for it! And it's so filling!) and am half-way through a cup of coffee!

I've gone through some emails already, said 'Hello' on Facebook, getting ready to read MySpace blog posts, and then I'm off to Google Reader to get caught up!

After that...lots of posts need to be written, freebies and coupons need to be found, and articles NEED to be written for future post! I've been meaning to do this for awhile now, but it's hard to find the time to do it, and it takes time! Working 40hrs a week takes up a lot of your blog post writing time and when you get home you do NOT feel like writing posts or doing anything other than filtering through emails and trying NOT to get too far behind! And you know you don't want to go too long without a post because otherwise you lose readers, but it's not like I have much to READ on the blog anyway since it has turned into mostly coupons and freebies lately (as it the past 4 months!). It really was not the way I wanted to the blog to be, and where I wanted to be, but we've had so much going on (who doesn't) that it's really hard to find the time where you can completely engross myself into it and not be distracted.

I'm off to go and get some work done and I'll probably be back for a bit here and there today to take a break!

Breaking Dawn & Christmas Shopping!

I'm thinking about purchasing my advance tickets for New Moon tomorrow!

I'm almost finished with the fourth book...almost. I have like 1/4 of it left and thus far, IS the best book of the series! Although my good friend Gina disagrees with me (she thinks Eclipse is the best book), it's great to have a friend who loves the Twilight Series too so we can talk about it!

I was going to hold out reading Breaking Dawn until the paperback came out, but who knows when that will be (probably two years from now since Eclipse just came out); however, I decided to just go get a library card and rent it! DUH! It's taken me awhile to read it since I've only been able to read it at night before bed between work everyday 9-5, and trying to keep up on the blog (All Dog Blog) at night after work...it's the best I can do. I went to Barnes & Noble and bought a LightWedge to read better at night while Lowell is sleeping and all I have to say it's one of the best purchases I've made in a long time! I recommend it to all night-readers!

I'm drinkin' a pomegranate martini and getting ready to watch Dollhouse, workin' on the blogs (which has an awesome giving away right now btw =]), and relaxing. I'm off tomorrow, but I still have a lot of running around to do: Walmart to return a shirt that is too small, Target to exchange some undies that I purchased WAAAAY too big (they were in the wrong spot and I didn't look!), renew Breaking Dawn at the library, and then go with Lowell to Verizon to check out some Blackberry's, cut coupons and organize a trip to the grocery store for meals for the next two weeks, and clean the apartment for a bit. I was off on Sunday too, but I got asked to come into work for two hours in the morning for some form of class. My Saturday night is lost! Bummer. Oh well, what can ya do.

I started xmas shopping for Lowell & myself today. I've decided that we need all new bedding for our bed. I can't stand it anymore, and it's time that I splurge for the good stuff. I bought a really nice Berkshire Duvet mini set (comes with two standard shams) in a really soft lavender that almost looks gray that was originally 100 bucks, but was on sale for 50, and then with my employee discount I must say, I got a great deal!! I still need to purchase the down comforter (and I'm NOT going cheap either), the euro shams, euro pillows, new pillows (not skimping their either), the bedskirt, at least two sets of sheets (I'm thinking Modal...I really like the feel, and they're affordable, but possibly some 720 thread count DreamZone sheets too), a great featherbed, and a comfy blanket too. Hopefully, I can get everything (or close to everything) before Christmas Eve so Lowell and I can sleep and wake up on Christmas Day in our new big comfy bed. I'm so tired of waking up with sore shoulders, back, and just all around achy everyday. I'm over it. It's time for the good stuff.

Anywhoo...I have lots to do tonight, so I should get off here for awhile!

Until the next post...

Around Here Happenings

Don't they look yummmy! Last Friday I purchased some really pretty Mikasa Martini glasses that we had on the 'As Is Merchandise' section (the set was missing one glass) and I got three for like $2.98 each! I bought a really cool martini shaker that shows you how to make several drinks, and made some pomegranate martinis! They were soooooooo good!

Yes, it's been a few. I've been working a lot the past couple of weeks, and by the time I get home, make dinner, eat, clean-up dinner, and sit down, I just don't feel like blogging. I feel like sleeping! I'll go through emails so they don't get backed up (which it will do quickly!), and then relax for the night.

The All Dog Blog has been doing well, despite the drop in numbers this month, but we've been receiving a lot of freebies for review, and companies that want to be mentioned on the blog! It's great to be recognized, ya know? It's definitely a work in progress still, and I'm not happy with the direction it's taken, but I hope to get it back on track soon.

The New Green Girl Blog has been on the backburner for awhile, and so has my writing blog (hence, so has my writing). I haven't forgotten about them, but All Dog Blog has really been my main focus for awhile. As it should be, since it was my very first blog and really needs to get off the ground before I start working on any others. At least I have them somewhat established, know they're there, and can work on them when I have the time, or an interesting post. I'll hopefully get to them soon, but I'm not going to let myself feel guilty for neglecting them. I'm just not. A couple years ago, heck...maybe even a few months ago I would have felt guilty about it, but what's the point! I'll get to them when I get to them. I'm not going to fret.

I'm not sure if I mentioned that Lowell brought me home a work computer! It's a Toshiba Netbook. Very easy to transport, weighs pretty much nothing, and very easy to use. I really did want something I could use on the go (Starbucks, in the car, the park, etc.) instead of using my hunka-Dell that weighs like 15lbs! Seriously, it's heavy, but it's a great computer for how old it is. I love both my computers! My life wouldn't be complete without them!

On a personal note, everything else has been going well around here. I love the new apartment, my new job (everyone is so great and it's not stressful), and Lowell loves his (I'm pretty sure he does!). His sales have gotten greater each month, and they are finally getting him some proper employees to get his sales numbers up even higher! It's good to be in with a young company that is ready to make moves to better the company (a.k.a. hire Lowell), and fire the employees that are holding him back in sales, etc.

Anywhoo....I have some work to do on the blog(s) before I start cleaning and packing for the weekend! We're leaving tomorrow to head home for a wedding/marriage ceremony! Lowell's little sister is getting married at the courthouse on Friday!! I'm so excited and can't WAIT! Plus it will be nice to have Fri., Sat., and Sun. off, see friends and family, and relax!! And read (I'm in the middle of reading Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight Series, and it's the best by far, but I haven't had much time to sit down and read large chunks! I caved. I couldn't wait! I went to the library and rented it.) :)

Well, I'm off to do some work!

Compilation Blog

Welcome to my blog! I have several others, but I really needed a blog I can use to post personal things about my life, post photos, and showcase my other blogs! So here it is. It will certainly be a work in progress, so please bear with me!

More to come soon!