Top That This Halloween

For your Halloween viewing pleasure, a look at the greatest movie of all time, Teen Witch.




Thanks for finding this, Clint.

Overheard: Being Politically Correct

Diania: We should take one of those Old West photos for a work picture.

Me: I love that idea. I want to dress up in an Old West costume.

D: We can be whores and Indians.

Me: Diania!?!

D: Sorry. I mean whores and Native Americans.

Flashback Friday: Dogs of our Lives

I apologize in advance for posting two times in a row about my dogs. But since I've hopped on the Flashback Friday bandwagon (scoot over Diania, Natalie and Teri) and this one of Parker is one of the oldest photos I have on my computer right now, here you go.

This is Parker when we first brought him home about five years ago. He only weighed 8 lbs. and got cold easily so Zach's mom made him a little sweater out of the sleeve of a sweatshirt. The day we picked him up was the first day we stayed in our house, even though we bought it six months earlier (so don't judge the bed-in-a-bag bed ensemble in the background). It wasn't livable until that day, though. And for two weeks we didn't have a shower and had to drive to Taylorsville every night to bathe.

This sleeve won't even fit around his leg now. Not that I've kept it in a box in our closet along with his puppy collars and onesies that he used to wear...

And this is Sydney as a sort-of puppy. We got her when she was around four months old. Like me, she's from the greatest city in the world, Price. My aunt found her there at a bank and she needed a home, so she joined our family.

For some reason, she loved getting my underwear out of the laundry basket as soon as it came out of the dryer. And she also put them on. Which is weird. We have no idea how she did this, but it sure makes for a funny photo.

Reverse Napoleon Complex

A while ago I read (part of) the Dog Whisperer's book in an effort to better understand my canines' psychological issues. The book begins with something like, "Dogs are dogs. They are not people in dog costumes." I remember thinking, Well, of course. Duh. Everyone knows that.

Except that's not true for my dogs.

Although I'm fairly certain someone like Kenny Baker doesn't reside within a gray and black furry costume, roaming our house for a soft spot to lay his drool-filled jowls while he contemplates how hard it is to have to sleep 23 hours a day, I think sometimes that Parker forgets (or maybe he doesn't know) he isn't human.

He doesn't like to spend too much time outside. He refuses to lay on the ground unless he has a cushion or a soft blanket. He won't drink out of a bowl. The list goes on.

He also doesn't know that he isn't a 12-pound dog.

Last weekend, in my crack high that is a Costco visit, I forgot that at 30 pounds, Sydney really isn't a tiny dog, and bought her a bed that is way too small.

Sydney humoring me.

Apparently, though, it isn't too small for Parker. Who is a petite 135 pounds. And nearly 6 feet tall on his back legs. Once I got out the new dog bed, Parker claimed it for his own and insisted on trying to curl up on it and sleep, no matter where I moved it.

Parker calling dibs on the sweet new bed.

Oh yes, it's under there.

Fits like a glove. A very, very small glove.

Summer: Stay Cool, Call Me & Don't Ever Change

It hit me today when I was making lunch plans with Aubrey, and we were planning a date to meet in NOVEMBER, that summer is officially, unquestionably OVER. I won't miss the unbearable heat but I will miss the warm nights, barbecues on our new patio, having an evening glass of wine outdoors with Zach and the flowers' brightly colored blooms.

Stand-out moments of this summer for us are our fun trip to Zion National Park with the Millers (before they moved to South Carolina and ruined our lives), hiking with my mom and dad at Calf Creek Falls, celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary (?!?), celebrating Sydney's first birthday with us and our always-fun neighborhood game nights and barbecues.

A few of Zach's favorite times included finally getting to play baseball again (his first opportunity since college 7 years ago), finishing the long-awaited (and badly needed) concrete at our house and getting to take a couple nights a week away from the restaurant.

My highlights included going to Europe to be with one of my favorite clients in Switzerland and then getting myself--in one piece--to visit one of my best friends in the entire world, Maegan, in Rome (three trains, four bags of luggage and numerous bumps and bruises later), cheering for Zach at his baseball games alongside my fabulous in-laws, getting to see and celebrate adorable mom-to-be Kristyn and reunite with my CHS pals at our 10th high school reunion.

I love fall but am going to miss summer--especially once winter has settled itself in. Goodbye summer, catch you in May '08.

An Apple a Day

This weekend Zach and I had a great time. The last couple months, every once in a while, he has been able to leave the restaurant on Saturdays at around 3 or 4 p.m.-- a HUGE accomplishment for us. Since we started the restaurant THREE YEARS AGO he has never been home for an entire Friday or Saturday night, except for a handful of times to go to a wedding or an event out of town. Saturdays have always been especially hard because he heads to ZP at around 8 or 9 a.m. and doesn't usually get home until midnight or later and I am home alone. All. Day. Long. This makes for some very long days that usually result in me discussing celebrity gossip and politics with our dogs because there's no one else around. Which can be frustrating since Parker still hasn't forgiven Britney since the VMA debacle and Sydney is so over Barack and really, what else is there to talk about?

So, on Saturday, Zach and I went to Canella's for dinner (the second Saturday in a row for us there), rented Blades of Glory (I thought it was funny but I still fell asleep) and made caramel apples. We were serious about this, people. We even made the caramel for the caramel apples. We had planned to eat them for our dessert but we both ate so much of the caramel, chocolate and white chocolate while preparing each, that by the time they were finally ready we couldn't eat a single bite. It was still fun, though.

The two lovely, decorated apples below are Zach's creation. I'm pretty sure a certain someone has a budding career as a food stylist.


This one below is mine.

The next day, Zach thought they tasted great.

Bringing Sexy Back (For Store Credit)

It seems that the relationship experts at Cosmo and Glamour agree that after a few years of marriage one should keep things interesting by investing in some frilly, pink underwear.

Thanks to Abby for making sure we're all stocked up in that department.