cliches scmiches

when we were first dating grant was sooo excited because 

he brought me a gift.  he held it behind his back with the biggest 

smile on his face and told me that he was so proud of himself 

because he bought me the most thoughtful gift.

"what is it!?!?" i couldn't wait!

it was this book...

he said he wanted to help me because i typically say my cliches wrong. (ok, it's true)

for example:

nip it in the butt

no need to beat a horse

like a bowl in a china shop

play it by year

i'm at the end of my straw

i usually have the right idea.  anyway, thanks honey.

we have referenced this book many times to find out the 

history of different cliches.  it's actually very interesting.

 it helps me in the work place?

actually my recent boss melissa taught me a few new

cliches like "the proof is in the pudding" 

(yes, i looked it up in my book even though i could've used "the google").  

she also taught me some funny old timey phrases/words that

she probably picked up from her cute father... like "hunkerin"?

bon iver

i was a little anxious so i ran ahead.

then i had to stop in my

tracks to catch grant when he didn't

think i was looking & appreciate him.

he takes care of me.

made it...

he played my two favorite songs.

(i found them on youtube recorded by a stranger who attended the indy show too.

i took some videos myself but, believe me, no one wants to see them.  i like to groove.  this makes the camera blurry and shaky.  thank you, stranger.  next time, i'll leave the videography up to you.)

blood bank

and, of course, skinny love.

i adore the way he did this live. 

you won't regret watching it.
if you only have 1 minute,
start half way through.

buy his album.  

won't you be my neighbor

our neighbors are always spoiling us with delicious things.

they have shared things like smoked ribs, home made beef jerky,

smoked salmon, bakers bourbon, chocolate wine, steaks, etc.

they even had us over when dee's chef brother was in town. 

he made this amazing multiple course dinner with alcohol pairings.

while grant was in china for one month not only 

did they have me over for dinner, but they also dropped

off "to go" dinner plates unexpectedly.

check out dee's little foot print. 

she rang the doorbell and ran.

love her.

this year they have had an amazing yield of tomatoes.

and they are SO YUMMY.

here are a few of my favorite tomato dishes...

wedge salad.

tomatoes and cottage cheese.

BLT.

avocado & tomato w/ toast.

tomato snack.

and yes, more wedge salads.

thank you lee & dee!

lee is bo's bff-eva.

speaking of tomatoes...  

this is grant standing next to his mother's

tomato plant back in july.  i can only imagine how 

big it is now! (grant is 6'4")

personally, our tomatoes are still green.  but that's ok :)

agree to disagree

party

grant is in a special program at work
and he needed a headshot.

i think it's really funny that he wasn't wearing pants.

craigslist

i LOVE to get rid of things.
(ok, i LOVE to buy things too... but i'm trying to quit.)

this week we sold a few pieces of furniture on craigslist.
grant was a little skeptical about people coming to our home.

so when i spoke to the people on the phone, i made sure
to tell them that we do have a very protective 200 lb dog
and that my husband is a retired robocop.
jk. i didn't say the robocop thing,
but it could work if you want to use it.

protective dog

husband

anyway, it was a success!!!  

a beautiful middle aged couple from the burbs bought the wood bed.

and johnny new jersey, tan, slicked hair, popped collar, skinny jeans, guido came to buy our sofa. 

loved him!  he was no nonsense.  didn't haggle.  came with cash.  brought the truck.  in. out. done.

now i want to sell everything!
cash and a house w/ less stuff.  sign me up!
(grant, i'm kidding, i'm done for now. promise.)

ok, i am just blogging to put off the inevitable.
MONDAY!
time to go to sleep.

samuel ryan

date with sambo

i was able to hang w/ my nephew sam last night....

on skype!

here are some photos of that precious miracle, samuel...
(yep, they're pictures taken of the computer screen...
i know, if feels like you're really there!)

sooo sleepy
(my sis should've been a piano player, hu)

what up home boy

hi alert, beautiful boy

(i got her to take his clothes off so i could see his chubby wubby self)

hugs from daddy

he sleeps w one eye ooopeennn, gripping his pillow tight

(it's a song)

i love you precious, samuel!

click here for sam's story.

he is the youngest of 4,

his 3 older siblings are angels

and sam is a rainbow baby.

perfect blessing.

i know, i'm obsessed

...back to picking up cute animals.

i found this on pinterest!!

A worker holds a new-born giraffe as it is weighed for the first time at the Virginia Zoo in 

Norfolk, Virgina. (Photo: The Virginia Sun via the AP / The Telegraph)

grant is really strong so i

can get him to pick up most dogs.

grant with obie

grant w/ ella & brody

(when we went to adopt bo from 

second time around mutts

i put this picture in our application to 

show them that we love animals.  i know. weirdo.)

bo's first day in our home

grant w/ lulu

stranger w his dog.  i asked if he ever picked up his dog

and he proceeded to show me.

i know what you're thinking,

thank GOD i carry a camera!

today's jam

grant and i love to find songs that we can go crazy too.
in typical fashion, we close our eyes & feel it.
it involves running & jumping through our basement
with various props... trampoline, exercise ball, crazy dog, etc
and, of course, amazing dance moves.
sometimes we may even challenge each other to a dance off.
everyone wins here.


get it girl.  get it, get it girl.
just turn it up and play air drums.
it's ok if you close your eyes and the drums are on the ceiling
and then behind you
and then to the side
and behind you again




good night

monk dog

super hero monk ninja.  

or cute dog w his warm 

fresh out of the dyer blanket waiting for banana bread.  

love him.

bo has bad allergies and the other day

when he broke out in hives 

i google image-d dog hives.

why did this picture pop up?

i saved it to my phone b/c it makes me giggle.