Meet Clark

Clark was found at the Tacoma Pierce Country Humane Society yesterday online via a coworker who was just looking around. Jason and I have been randomly talking about getting another dog for sometime now and just figured if one came up we would give it a home. Well one came up.

 Clark was a stray. Had been at the shelter for 10 days already and was in need of a loving home. He is a purebred poodle approx 4, and the exact same size as Lewie. When I first saw the picture I couldn't help but think he looked like Lewie's long lost brother. I didn't hesitate to call the shelter or Jason. Got the ok's from both and went on my way with my filled out application to see if Clark would be a great fit for our family. Turn out he was!

Instantly warming up to me and wanting cuddles the little guy just couldn't be left in the shelter any longer! So he got to come home. Great in the car, we went to petco and he got his own leash and collar. He will be wearing teal from now on since Lewie loves to wear blue.

We did the recommended introduction on natural territory out in the back field. There was never any growls, barks or hesitations on Lewie's part or either dogs part for that matter. Which, to be honest shocked me. After a while of hanging out in the back yard both dogs came in the house, and since than there have been no problems. It seems Lewie is welcoming Clark to the family perfectly.

 So far Clark is quieter than Lewie. He is more calm, and he doesn't like noisy toys. He loves to be close to people, and is so good on a leash! It seems too that he is house broken. He goes right away when we have gone on walks.  He does however need a real poodle hair cut. His top hair is out of control. He was fixed at the shelter so we have to wait for the wound from that to heal before he can go get his hair do. When that happens I am sure they will look like twins. :) I just couldn't be happier with how the adjustment is going.

Let the Adventures of Lewie and Clark begin....

Bad Taste In My Mouth

I think I am a happy person.

I like to make the most of the day, and try not to be the grump in the world even if part of my day is going badly or something odd is happening. That being said, a perfectly happy day can suddenly go sour when u get that weird eerie feeling inside. Kind of bone chilling, irritating, the kind of feeling that makes u want to do one of three things..


1. slap someone


2. go back to bed


3. scream and than have a drink/eat something greasy


or maybe u want to do all three because of the feeling..that's understandable too. slap someone, scream order fries and a beer..than go to bed...perfect..


I have that feeling right now. I was having a great day, happy, sunny, slept in, had a coffee..good day..than suddenly turned sour..trying to make it sweet again..but dang its hard. Its weird how just the littlest thing said by someone, or that you hear about can do that to a perfectly good day. Maybe my skin isn't thick today, maybe I am being to sensivite..maybe..but really i don't think that's it..i think its just me and that feeling is here because its supposed to be..and will always come back at times like today..


Anyway...that's that....just needed to vent i think. Do you ever feel that way suddenly in the middle of a perfectly good day?

Quilting...part 1

So I have a new addiction in my life..I think it might even be beyond addiction and a full on obsesson..fabric..and with fabric comes..quilting...yes quilting..and no i am not a grandma, or Amish..or a stay at home mom or four kids. I am still Erin the adult sports coordinator who works two jobs for fun, with the recreation degree and a husband and a child...i mean poodle. Speaking of lewie, he has been enjoying this obsession too....Every time i lay one out, no matter the stage, he moves and lays right in the middle! (the one above is my now finished central park quilt)

Anyway, why quilting? i am still not really sure, but I think it has to do with the ability to create something with my hands from scratch. Every element of the quilt i get to decide on, from the fabric choices to the shapes, to the binding, to the backing to the actually quilting design. Love it. Also there are some pretty cool fabrics out there I never knew existed until recently.

Now first thing I should bring up is I am basically teaching myself via the blogging world. While I am good with shapes, colors, and design I am horrible with math and I have had only a small amount of time spent on a sewing machine growing up. I do not come from a long line of quilters, or anything like that. I believe my mom has made 2 that i know of in her life. Her sewing experience has been more on the clothing and decorating side of things. Anyway, needless to say as i go on my way with this addiction I am learning ALOT!!!

So how did this all start...about 2 years ago i told my mom i wanted to make a tee shirt out of all my sorority shirts... so we researched and together figured out how to do it. The quilt was about half way done with this happened... yep i got engaged. So not surprising, i was suddenly not interested in planning and making a quilt but instead planning my wedding..and on the side buying a house...so finally this happened.. yay i am married...but the house wasnt done yet..so we still had this... and since i am the one with the good taste(dont tell jason i said that) i spent alot of time picking out everything...

which eventually we moved in and become this...

Than it needed decorated and we started to adjust to living in a new home as a little family ahhhh...

ok so how did this turn in to the quilt again...well one rainy weekend after eastern won the national championship...

I picked up my tshirt quilt and started it up again..i finished it in one sitting and well it was fun! So i ordered some fabric and started my central park quilt..and that's when I discovered the wonderful world of fabric that exists away from Joanns! Than one quilt just leads to another, and one blog leads to another full of ideas..so here i am..below is my first quilt..the Alpha Xi Delta tee-shirt quilt!

I will admit..i took this quilt apart over 3 times at different stages to fix mistakes i didn't know i made. Its alot of work and if i had any advice for anyone wanting to make a quilt..I would say dont start with the tee-shirt! its harder than a normal one and HUGE!!!!

Anyway..thats how i got atticted to quilting..the first of many more quilting entries i am sure..

2010 the year of _______________

Everywhere u look today there are list top things of 2010. People describing it as the year of bad baby names, the year of lady gaga, the year of phone apps, the year of the facebook revolution, the year of silly bandz, the year of low interest rates and so on. I think you get the idea. I was trying to think of one fill in the blank to decide my year and all i can come up with is the year of obsessions. So instead of one description like 2010 the year of marriage and buying a home, you are going to get a list of all the items i was obsessed with in 2010....enjoy

obsession #1 (or uno for my spanish readers)
bright green: it was the color of my wedding flowers, wedding invites, wristlits for my bridesmaids. Its a color that makes me smile. It has energy, it brings things to live, and basically its just frekin a cool color. Has it carried over much into this winter season? you ask? kinda, with bright green holiday accents on my walls and table cloths. It fulfilled its year as my color to be obsessed with.

obsession #2 (or deux for my french readers)
Etsy: I wish this obsession would have started sooner! It is defiantly in full swing right now and i don't see it going away. This website provided endless inspiration, ideas, dreams and of most importantly ways to spend my money! Love it! Its like the best ever craft fair full of stuff i really want, or want to laugh at.....coolest things i bought on etsy this year were personalized art for my sister and friend who had her second baby.

obsession #3 (or drei for my german readers)
Fiesta dishes: this obsession actually started long long ago, probably in the early 90s, my aunt has been collecting for years and i always loved setting the table for her due to the bright colors and combos you can come up with. So I had always dreamed for the day i would get my own fiesta dishes! So with getting married i did! and lets just say i got allot, and continue to do as. This is another obsession i do not see ending anytime soon.

obsession #4 (or vier for my dutch readers)
My poodle Lewie: first thing first he is not a dog he is a poodle. Jaiden even told her preschool teacher that last spring. His curly hair, fluffy ears, wagging tail and cuddly personality make him the perfect child, i mean poodle, for me and jason. Lew is some what spoiled, but what only child isn't? He loved to play with octi (a rubber octopus) watch the ducks (and sometimes chase them), greet vistors with a few barks, lick lotion off your hands, and eat puperoni. Oh did i just say puperoni, he is standing next to the pantry like he is gonna get one.

obsession #5 (or fimm for my icelandic readers)
my couches: they took me weeks to find and I must admit I think they look perfect in my new house. The gray material the sleek lines, the button and square option. How comfy they are to nap on, how easily stains can be removed, how fun they are to accent with colored pillows. How I have never seen anyone with couches like them! How they are as far from mocha colored as you can get (which I feel everyone has a mocha couch or at least latte) the only thing I dont love about them is the price..but oh well they are almost paid off! Gosh I love my two couches and chair! Love them so much I featured them on my Christmas card :)

obsession #6 (or Sei for my itailian readers)
cake balls: or maybe its entertaining people as a whole. Maybe its the fiesta dishes fault for me liking to make food and have people over. Either way cake balls come up on top. delish! In fact i made a batch to ring in the new year! Resolution for 2011: perfect the dipping of the cake ball!!

obsession #7 (or sete in brazilian portuguese)
gilly hicks: www.gillyhicks.com however i prefer to shop in store. They literally make the most comfortable undies EVER!!! a few time a year they have a sale, a kick butt sale to summarize it correctly where undies are a stead at only a dollar and some cents a pair! There sweats, jammies bras and booties also win awards. Especially since they now feature at D...can i get a hallelujah from the girls with boobies!

obsession #8 (or nine for my Canadian readers)
my droid phone: texting has never been better. Facebook always at my fingertips, an app for amazon shopping, angry birds, a you tube app, great navigation and yeah i could go one for a very long time about how much i love my droid phone. it is attached to me, i wont lie. It does wake me up in the morning, and is usually the last thing i look at before i go to sleep. Its a total full on obsession. Maybe the biggest of my year.

obsession #9 (or siyam for my fillipino readers)
filling my time writing this blog...

whos kissing who....

i love this picture..i might print it for my closet...its funny to think of different times in life and name the boys if i was her...u should do the same..might brighten your day...and make u laugh! love u!

things....(a non wedding blog)

Things i have learned in the last month....

...hugs cure heartache...

....that sometimes its better to let go and move on that push yourself through something your gut tells you is not right.....

....poodles can be your best friend, but also your worst enemy when they get into your closet...

...doing the dishes really isnt that bad....

...the Mt Rainier view from my house on clear mornings is the most relaxing view i could ask for...

...angry birds is the most addicting phone game ever....

...my donations to starbucks are out of control...

...my mental toughness on the second mile, has yet to exist....

...a night of drinking with old friends who know the real you is the best medicine in the world...

...true friends will tell you it will be ok, even when its not gonna be....

...3 glasses of wine make most things better...

...i can be good at fantasy football....

...supervising older adults is hard no matter what...

...not constantly buying new clothing can provide more happy hours in your bank account...

...day dreams are fantastic lunch breaks...

...i can spend more money while at work than ever before (thank you Amazon and etsy)

...facebook is way to important to our world...

...teaching sunday school gets harder when the kids really like you and u like them....

and one thing i already knew, but was reminded of recently...I AM LUCKY

3 simple reasons i miss college.....

1. the bar in the afternoons that turn in to nights with $8 tabs at the end. Lots of memories made this way, no worries in the world except if the juke box is gonna acutlally play your song, and always friendly people around. Also, afternoon bar trips were jeans and tshirt days..nothing better than a afunny screen tee and a beer buzz to help u meet people!

2. having girls around!!! not just for the always needed laughs and pillow talks and rescuings...but always having someone in the living room to help you pick out an outfit!!!! i might miss this the most some days. I really need a group of girls telling me what to wear, i am so indesivie most mornings and my husband could care less which shoes i wear with those jeans...

3. It being ok to hang out with a large group of guys on a regular basis...may sound funny but its true i miss having large amount of guy friends to laugh with, go workout with, shop with(in a few cases) and drink with!