Must love dogs (or just my dog).

No better truth could be said. This should also read, "Who loves me, will walk my dog." One of my favorite things these days (especially in the brisk, fall evenings) is taking Gizzie on long walks around where I live. The changing and falling leaves- shades of autumn. Mums on front steps. Gizzie rolling around in the soft, spongy grass. I love it.

Número Dos.

Everything you would ever want to know (and that I'm willing to share)

2nd installment of many

Confessions

- I don't cook. I am not any good at it. And I don't enjoy it.

- I love to watch Golden Girls. I've seen every episode at least 3 times.

- I used to dislike movie premieres, until recently. Now I love them- they're like mini movies!

- I eat cookie dough, even in spite of it not being good for you. Not a lot though. Usually a small square of the slice and bake on a given day.

- I sometimes let my dishes pile up in my sink.

- Every night, around 11 pm, my dog jumps up on the couch and sits about 3 inches from my face and just stares at me (she's saying, "bed time!"). I would be lying if I said it didn't creep me out a bit.

- Every day is a Dido, Frou Frou, and Zer0 7 sort-of-day.

- As an undergraduate, I drank Dr. Pepper everyday. One day, I decided to stop drinking soda altogether. Now, I almost never drink soda-- maybe once a month.

- I'm usually the opposite of a defensive driver...especially now that I live up north near one of the most populated cities in the country.

Questions

Questions I find myself asking quite regularly or just once.

When did people stop saying, "thank you?"

When did the world become Noah's Ark- everyone paired in 2's?

When did summer in Pennsylvania and Jersey start feeling like summers in Florida?

When did Americans decide it was ok to wish someone dead in cases where the justice system didn't hand down the decision they wanted or expected (e.g., Casey Anthony case)?

When did it become acceptable for a girl to wear a sports bra as a top to the movies?

When did promises stop being promises?

When people qualify a statement with "just kidding," how often do they actually mean it?

When people ask "how are you?," why don't they stick around to hear the answer?

Is alcohol really a truth serum?

Does Facebook perpetuate laziness?

Just a few to ponder...

Fall.

Fall is....

- Pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks.

- Brisk mornings.

- Blazer weather.

- Fresh, crisp air.

- A pup with even more bounce in her step.

- The start of the holiday season.

- Visits with family.

- Changing of the leaves.

- Falling leaves.

- Apple cider.

- Tones of burgundy, rich chocolate brown, and rust orange in shop windows.

- Potted mums in shades of yellow and orange on doorsteps.

- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

- Trips to New York City.

- Knee high boots.

- Beginning of the year's best fashion.

Philadelphia, PA. 2010.

Things.

Everything you would ever want to know (and that I'm willing to share)

1st installment of many

- I'm old school and like Times New Roman font- it's pretty much all I ever use.

- When I was young (as in elementary school and earlier), I wanted to appear not as a follower and stereotypically "girly" so I always said my favorite color was blue when in reality, it was pink.

- If not for the Sun-In catastrophe in high school, I may still be blond today.

- I prefer shopping alone. I like to spend hours, or not, but want the freedom to chose my own pace. I feel odd when shopping with others (usually), unless it's my mother.

- I tried wearing heels to work the other day. I'm pretty sure I've worn heels 3 times since I moved up north, 2 years ago. I lasted 2 hours.

- I wish I was that person who got up half a hour early in the mornings to read the paper and drink a cup of coffee, but I'm not. I wake up with just enough time to get myself ready. I probably never will be that person.

- I look forward to the holiday season all year.

- I have no problem listening to Christmas music in October (gasp).

- I love to vacuum.

- I spend about 10 months of the year wanting (or enjoying) cold weather. I spend only about a month wanting hot weather. I was meant to be in the north.

- Still, I take driving in the rain any day over driving in the ice and snow.

Camo

...something missing from my blog during the past 2 years- my scrapbooking creations. My scrap projects have been few and far between. Since I moved from Florida and started graduate school, life got in the way and I haven't had the time to scrapbook. I did bring all my materials and supplies with me (I had high hopes), but it has been an impossibility. The only things I have been able to create have been gifts such as the one below. I made this for my brother-in-law. It's their chocolate lab, "Camo." I thought John might like a piece celebrating one of the loves of his life. I included all his nicknames for him too. It's one of my favorite pictures of Camo. I really like the way it turned out and the color combination compliments the sepia toned picture well.

Now that I have finished graduate school (yes!!), I will have more time to devote to one of my favorite things. It's such a great release for me. Very therapeutic.

[click on images for a larger view]

10 things.

Things that make me smile:

Pinterest

Colin Egglesfield

Long walks with Giz

Days when it doesn't rain

Honey green tea

Rizzoli and Isles & Suits

Perusing design/decor blogs

Being able to scrapbook again

Brisk mornings (fall is coming!)

Fall product at PB

Would you like a lemon with that?

I took a trip to Florida during the end of June to visit my family and friends. The trip was well overdue. My dear friend Christina and I took a short trip to Mt. Dora. She had never been, and I've been many times before. I enjoy visiting the small town and knew she would enjoy its quaintness. We had such a good time together- catching up, laughing, complaining about the heat...she and I are so alike. Our time together always goes by too fast, but I am thankful for it.

View outside our hotel

Day at the Beach

Took Gizzie to the beach for the first time during my visit to Florida. I learned that, like her mother, she is far from a beach girl. She is definitely not a water dog! She hated it and looked terrified anytime dad or I put her in the water. In fact, her favorite place? With my mom on the towel, under the umbrella, as far from the ocean as possible. But she did make some furry friends...

Play time with a Westie puppy!

Ash and I

Wet and sandy- looking a little rough.

Yes, that's Gizzie trying to get under my hat, where it's shaded. Sweet girl.

She would much rather watch all the other pups having fun in the water.

A little modesty goes a long way.

I could not have put it better myself. True for me and true for the whole world. She has it right.

"I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me - dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. Then there’s the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini-skirt. But that’s not me. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini-skirt. It’s nothing to do with protecting the Hermione image. I wouldn’t do that. Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. What’s sexy about saying, ‘I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got?’ My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder."- Emma Watson

Loves and the other stuff

Things I'm loving:

- Gel manicures

- my new Marc Jacobs watch

- taking Giz on walks

- House Hunters International

- warmer weather!

- cake in a mug (thanks Ash)

- the fact that I *finally* found a wine I can drink...

- Adele's Rolling in the Deep

- all my summer shows premiering

- my bed

- sun dresses

- painted toes

- So You Think You Can Dance

Things I don't like:

- uncertainty, not knowing what's next

- New Jersey (I want to move somewhere new)

- editing papers

- dog digs in everything!

- sun burn

- sitting in traffic

Moosh, moosh

It's been far too long since I updated my blog as well as post recent pictures of my lil moosh face. She surprises me every day. She's a handful and full of energy. She only ever takes 10-minute naps and wakes up rejuvenated, as if she's slept for 10 hours. It's impossible to stay mad at her (for eating something she's not supposed to, or chewing something she's not supposed to) because she's just so damn cute. She's the lap dog I never had. Giving kisses, playing with her toys (Humphrey, Oofa, Rufus, Ducky, and Lion), and her long walks outside are her favorite things!

bone.

brown eyed girl.

pillow talk.

rawr.

Some things I love...

Some of my favorite things...all on my wish list, of course. Nordstrom, ShopRuche, and Etsy. Love.

Night Owl

I have always loved the owl cookie jars at Anthropologie. The winking owl is new to me. I saw it for the first time at the anthro in the city. I absolutely love it! I can't decide which of these I like more, but I do know that I want at least one of them for my kitchen...

Katie's Farewell

It's been too long since I posted pictures other than those of Giz. Pictures were taken at my general manager, Katie's farewell. She's now living in upper east side Manhattan! I envy her. I love NYC more and more with each visit.

Cheers!

My coat (nice mittens)

Nelson!

Two of my favs- Dennis and Amy

21 things.

21 things I learned in 2010 (+2 months in 2011).

1. I can't use chopsticks. No matter how hard I try.

2. I knew a puppy would be a lot of work. But I didn't know just how much work until I brought her home.

3. It's important to be as politically correct as possible. Burning bridges is not advisable.

4. There are people who are meant to be in your life and then there are those who are not. Focus your energy and emotion on those who clearly want to be.

5. I want to move around as much as possible, while it's still possible.

6. I'm having a love affair with cupcakes.

7. New Jersey is not where I plan to settle down.

8. I may never like wine.

9. Trans-Siberian orchestra was, by far, one of the best concerts I've ever experienced.

10. Confidence needs to come from within first (work in progress).

11. The only person you can count on is you. After all, you're the only person looking out for your best interests.

12. I need to focus more on things I have control over, and ignore those that I do not.

13. I do not miss living in a place that feels like summer 11 months out of the year.

14. But I do sometimes miss the sunshine.

15. ...not enough to move back south.

16. Getting a Masters is no joke.

17. I only (for the most part) watch dark and depressing crime/law dramas.

18. After bringing home Gizzie, I discovered, maybe I can be maternal. It's just buried deep, deep, deep down.

19. I need passion in my life again.

20. I CAN like martinis!

21. I wish life was more like the show Glee.

2010 in pictures.

As I did last year, I have decided to ring in the new year (a little late, I know) with a summary of my year in pictures. There is a noticeable change, or addition rather to my life. Little Gizzie. Affectionately, "Gizaboo."