My dogs are like bad kids...

So my dogs don't listen. AT ALL!  Mocha can be a complete bitch.  She really doesn't like to be bothered unless you are going to feed her.  She doesn't like other dogs, and she doesn't like kids.  She's just very calm and likes to sleep.  She doesn't listen at all.  The dog has been potty-trained for 7 years but still pees in my house very often at night. She won't go outside if its too hot or if its raining.  She will just sit on the porch and look around.  But then when she does go outside she often chases people that are riding bikes or running in our neighborhood.  She won't hurt anyone though.  She doesn't bite she just likes to chase people away.
Once she gets going she won't come back either.  Sometimes if I try to go get her she runs away. 

And then there's Fred- sweet, floppy-eared Fred...

He is really the sweetest dog ever!  He just rolls over when you go up to him. He's never growled.  He only barks at cats and other dogs when they come near our yard.  He can be very territorial.  But he loves kids and people.  Or so I thought...
Fred stays on a rope, like the one above, that gives him full access to the backyard and porch.  Its really long so he's very free back there.  But we have a gate that closes across out driveway, but its electric.  Here it is:

So you have to have a remote to close it.  The motor on it went out a few months ago and we haven't fixed it yet.  So we just leave the gate open.  Normally, this isn't a problem because Fred is in the backyard on his rope, and Mocha is inside.  

My husband is working on a project at work which means he's not really around much right now.  And I work about 50 miles away from home. Yesterday while at work I got a phone call from a random number around 4:00.  I didn't answer because I usually don't. I listened to the voicemail.  It was the very sweet older lady that lives next door.  She said, "We have Fred in our backyard because the animal control had him.  They were ringing your doorbell.  So we took him for you."  So I'm thinking great!  I guess he got loose or something. So I left work because I felt bad they had him.  Plus, I had plans later so I needed to deal with this situation. 
Well when I got home I had this on my door!!!

Please notice the sentence at the bottom! He tried to bite citizens? Are you kidding me?  I was actually pretty embarrassed.  Also, 1st warning?!  How many do I get?  Did Fred get a ticket?  I don't understand this!
So I gathered Fred, thanked my neighbor a million times, and put him in the backyard .  I called this Mary lady this morning.  She said someone called and said there was a basset hound running around the baseball park trying to bite people.  So they went to get him, and he growled at them.  He wouldn't come to them.  Then when they caught him they tried to bring him back home, and no one was there.  So they knocked on the neighbor's door.  (Thankfully they love Fred!)
I'm convinced he was minding his own business and some bad ass kid tried to mess with him or something, and he didn't like that.  I highly doubt he would just start terrorizing people! 
I thought this was a funny little story and just wanted to share!
XO-Heather

New Beauty Regimen: Dry Brushing

So that title may sound a little funny... Especially if you've never heard of dry brushing before.  Let me start by explaining it a little.
Dry Brushing is exactly like it sounds.  You brush your body with a natural bristle brush when its dry (before a shower/bath).  I first heard about it GlamLifeGuru's YouTube video below.

Her title intrigued me so I watched the video.  Then I started my own research about it.  Turns out... It has a ton of benefits.  Such as:

• it helps shed dead skin cells 
• it helps increase circulation to skin
• this aids your body's discharge of metabolic wastes, which helps the lymphatic drainage of the body
• basically it helps rid your body of toxins!!!
• helps to tighten the skin because it increases blood flow
• this can lessen the appearance of cellulite
• btw, cellulite is toxic!  it is actually toxic materials that are accumulated in your body's fat cells
• umm hello.. i've definitely got it! 
• stimulates the lymph canals
• helps with muscle tone and more even distribution of fat deposits
• rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings
• helps your skin to absorb nutrients by unclogging pores

So I figured... Why the hell not?!  It certainly can't hurt me.  It will either do nothing at all or possibly do all or at least one of the above claims!

I had a long handled bath brush laying around that I am using.  Like this one from Amazon.

   

Her video also explains how to do it.  But here's a quick breakdown of how I do it:

• I start at my feet and brush upward, toward the heart
• It helps to go over each area at least twice
•  I brush in long strokes over my legs, front and back
• On the back of my legs I do circular motions also
• Then I do my hands and arms 
• I lightly brush my stomach in circles
• I also lightly brush my back
• Then Shower!

Make sure to avoid sensitive areas, any rashes or cuts, and your face...

I've read you should do this every day, and it can take up to 30 days to see results.  

Anyone else do this or ever tried?  Heard good/bad things about it?  I will report back if I notice any differences! 

 XO-Heather

Random thoughts about 50 Shades of Grey...

I've been having this book on my Kindle for iPad for a while now to read.  I would read it here and there, but I wasn't very committed to it.  The beginning was a little slow... I think I was only on the third chapter or something

But yesterday I decided to give it another try.   Holy Hell!  I know everyone has been talking about it like crazy, and I should've known... But people tend to blow things out of proportion. So I wasn't expecting it to be quite that racy and vulgar. 

But I was wrong!  I read up to 53% just yesterday. I think I was on like 20% that morning morning. Ha!  I really am hooked. Its hard to get to a good stopping point because its pretty intense. 

But here are some random thoughts I've had about it:

• The writing is not very good
• It doesn't have a very well-developed plot- its pretty simple
• just a lot of sex!
• They use really outdated language
• I swear, Ana (main character) uses the word "surname" several times instead of freaking last name!  That bothers me...
• Ana talks about her "inner goddess" A LOT!
• that is probably the one thing that throws me off. its just too cheesy for me.
• I wonder if other authors will try to mimic this since it is such a huge hit
• How the hell are they going to make a movie out of this without it being classified as porn?
• When people say that is what it is... They aren't lying... It really is!

Despite the few negative things above I'm hooked just like everyone else!  Once it gets started its really hard not to be interested or at least intrigued by it all. 

And because I love a good SNL skit I have to share in case anyone hasn't seen it yet.  Its honestly probably my one of my favorite SNL skits ever because I think its absolutely hilarious.  But I will warn you its also pretty racy... So I wouldn't watch it at work!  http://youtu.be/DW-4Fn-d9OY

PS I cried a little during Kristin Wiig's goodbye on the season finally of SNL last weekend. I just love her so much!

Who else is reading this?  Where are you in the trilogy?  I want everyone's thoughts!!!

XO-Heather

An Announcement

Now everyone don't get too carried away... I am not with child...  That's usually the first thing that comes to mind when I tell people I have something to tell them!

I am, however, a new Stella & Dot Stylist thanks to Lindsey of The Bargain Blonde.
I've wanted to become a stylist for a while now.  But she pushed me to make the decision and she is my sponsor!  

I'm sure everyone has heard of this awesome company!  If not, click through to read a little more about it.  I'm hosting a launch party in June.  And luckily I am taking outside orders on my website! 

Make sure you take a look!  I also see a giveaway in the near future once I get this little business going!

Just in case anyone was wondering... These are my favorites:

Gorgeous Signature Clover Necklace

Campari Necklace

Clover Double Wrap Leather Bracelet (my favorite)

Capri Chandelier Earrings

Gold & Black Diamond Stackable Ring

In case you all can't tell.... I love yellow gold accessories! 
There are a TON of gorgeous accessories UNDER $50!!!

If anyone lives in the New Orleans/ Baton Rouge area and would be interested in hosting a trunk show please let me know.  There are great incentives to being a host- including FREE and HALF-PRICE jewelry! 

Weekly Meal Plan

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  We had a very relaxing weekend, and we didn't do much.  I've been trying so hard to stick to a meal plan again.  I started to get away from that, and its costing us more money...  So this should hold me accountable. 

Monday: Crockpot white beans and rice

Tuesday: Skinny Taste Cajun spiced fish with tomatoes (made with tilapia)

source

Wednesday: Spaghetti

Thursday: Skinny Taste baked broccoli Mac & cheese

source

Friday: frozen pizza

Saturday: Unsure- probably a date night

Sunday: leftovers

Hope everyone has a great Monday!!

Xo-Heather

Tasty Tuesday: My New Fave Snack

via

A couple days ago a friend of mine told me about the side dish she had at an sushi restaurant.  She said it was delicious, and she asked her waitress what it was!  It was cucumbers marinated in ponzu sauce with wasabi sauce drizzled on top.

So we set out on a hunt to find ponzu and wasabi sauce.  After searching several grocery stores we found it at Albertsons.  Both products were made by Kikkoman. 

I've been eating this pretty much every day since I started making it.  It is the best thing ever. I don't even have a picture but I wanted to share this simple and quick snack.  It can be pretty spicy though depending on how much wasabi you put.

I just slice up a cucumber and put it in a tupperware container.  Then I pour some of the ponzu sauce on top and put it in the fridge until I'm ready to eat it.  I let it sit as little as 30 minutes and as long as a day before.  Then when I am ready to eat it I drizzle some of the wasabi sauce on top.  It is so delicious!

Wardrobe Wednesday

pants- Target Mossimo Ankle Pants
top- thrifted- random brand
wedges- Diba via DSW
watch- MK

The lighting is awful in these pictures. I snapped them real quick before running out the door, and I didn't have time to edit them. 
I love these pants.  I know its hard to see them in the pictures.  But they are a nice thick material.  They look like regular dress slacks, but they are more of a skinny ankle fit.  I bought them in black and this royal blue color!  They are very flattering and comfy.  I would definitely wear them outside of work too.  They are sold out on Target's website, and it says they are not sold in stores.  But that is not true.  I bought each pair at a different store.  So I highly recommend looking for them!!!
Have a great day!

XO-Heather

Run Forest Run 5K

On Sunday the husband and I ran in a 5k race with 2 other couples in New Orleans.  It was sponsored by Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, and the proceeds went to Children's Hospital of New Orleans.

I had to wake up at 5am, and we had to leave at 6.  We all met up and headed to New Orleans.  We arrived around 7:45 to pick up our packets.  According to an article on Nola.com there were 1400 race participants.  The race started at 8:30.

 I didn't do as well as I wanted because I kept getting terrible cramps.  So I finished in 38:01, and it was hot as hell!

wore: LuLuLemon tank; Target capris

There was a ton of food and free beer afterwards.  I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've started drinking at 9am!  We all hung out for a bit afterwards and drank and ate food provided by Bubba Gump.

The girls & Forest Gump look-alike

 

We ate again around lunchtime at a restaurant on Magazine Street called the Rum House!! It was AH-MAZING! 
Then we continued our drinking at not one, but 2 different Bulldogs in the city!  The Bulldog is a pet-friendly beer bar!  Its a fun place to hang out!

It was such a fun event! I was so glad we all did it together!!  Now I'm considering training for a half marathon in October. But I'm terrified I will die!

XO-Heather