super cool camera bag!

Check out the awesome camera bag Gina and Paula got me for my birthday! I'm super excited about it! It is made by Janine King Designs, she has a ton of stuff on Etsy. I used the bag this weekend, and it worked out really well. It hangs like a purse, but is really soft and cushion-like which is perfect for a SLR camera.
If you are looking for a fun, functional camera bag, I highly recommend it!

Thanks Gina and Paula!!

Keeping Vashon Wierd.......

This weekend was Milo's first trip out to Vashon Island. We had a blast! He is one tuckered out chubby Basset! We started our day early on Saturday. Milo could tell adventures were on deck when I put his bed in the car. He could barely contain the excitement! If you've ever seen a Basset jump up and down with enthusiasm, it is super funny. Let's just put it this way, you can't jump very high when you have three inch legs, and your belly is about an inch off the ground :)
Once Milo had sufficiently sniffed around Jamie and Ralph's house, he decided to take one of many naps on the furniture. The picture below has to be one of my favorites of all time, it is very much a Milo pose. Completely sacked out, and if there was sound to go a long with the photo is would be deep snoring.

I can't remember if this was before or after our walk down to the beach. Probably after. Corey, Norah, Milo, and I took an alternate route through the neighbors yard down to the beach. The stairs at the house are treacherous enough without 3 inch legs. Once on the beach, Milo had his first encounter with barnacles. No bueno would be his response if he spoke Spanish. He was super excited to go to the water, only to be slowed down my those pesky sharp barnacles. He pretty much gave up at one point and laid down on the rocks, it was kinda sad actually. The beach was a short-lived adventure for Milo's tender paws.

Meet Milo's new buddy, Norah!! They had lots of fun getting to know eachother. Norah is just the right size for Milo, so they bonded on the floor, hanging out by the pillows.

Milo felt so comfortable around Norah, he decided it would be a good idea to try and sit on her lap. She's such a good sport. Between Milo sitting on her lap and Lincoln washing her face with his tongue, she did a great job!!

Milo was one sore little guy by the end of the weekend! It took him, no exaggeration here, at least 10 minutes of coaxing to get him out of the car when we got home Sunday evening. He kept looking at the ground and deciding it was too far to jump, then he'd sit back down for a minute or two, then try again. Repeat that 5 times. I opened every car door to see if that was the one he would jump out. Ridiculous, I know.

He slept last night for about 12 hours straight, and has been pretty much exhausted all day today. Such a trooper!

the simple things in life......

It doesn't take much to make me happy! I love this time of year.....new day planner buying time!! Yes, I'm old skool--I still use a paper day planner. I'm sure most of you aren't surprised, as you know I still use my check book register to log purchases. One of these days I'll start using a spreadsheet to keep track of my finances, I promise! :) Maybe when that day comes I'll also start using an electronic calendar. I've been super excited to buy an iPhone the past few months, and I was so close to pulling the trigger this week, but decided to hold off until the new model comes out in July. Until I get an iPhone, I will continue to get great pleasure from using my paper calendar.
It is really no wonder I was a college student until I was 28 years old! I love school supplies. Admittedly, when Heather talked about going back to school, I thought about how fun it was going to be to go school supply shopping! Trapper Keepers, notebooks, pens, highlighters, dividers, page protectors, etc. Can't wait to use my new Tul gel pens to fill out my 2010 / 2011 day planner :)

In other news, hand model I am not. But check out my newest chunky ring.....it's absolutely ginormous!! This thing could do some serious damage in a bar brawl. And you know how this bitch likes to fight.

That is all for now.

I love you Etsy........

Look what I found!!!!........
Yeah, I'm pretty darn excited about that belt buckle. I have been searching for cool pharmacy gear for awhile, and when I saw that it had my name written all over it. Now I just need a belt to go with it. Photo courtesy of City Cowboy's Etsy page.

I thought this necklace was pretty cool. It is a Scrabble tile decoupaged with the words Pharmacist and Pharmacy, taken from a vintage dictionary. Sweet!! I can't wait to get it. Photo courtesy of Rose Creek Cottage's Etsy page.
If any of you see any cool vintage looking pharmacy stuff during your travels on the internet, please let me know!

I think I might like this better than the original!!!

Seriously, this kid is awesome!

Arrrooouuuggghhh!!!!

This afternoon Milo and I met up with other Basset Hounds and their people at Northacres Off-Leash Park. This was our second Basset event we have attended since joining the Basset Meetup Group in March. We had never been to Northacres, so it was an exciting afternoon for the both of us! Milo gets so excited when he is in the car, lots of slobber and panting :)
Milo is a total spectator at dog parks. He doesn't like to rough-house, so its hard for him to hang with the younger kids :) He warms up after a half hour or so and we then venture more than a foot or two from the fence.

I'm a sucker for a pudgy Basset paw. So I took quite a few pictures of Bassets with those bear claw like paws. The droopy face, wrinkly skin, and pudgy paw....that is my favorite kind of Basset.

Oh, and definitely long ears. I like a long-earred boy.

This elderly lady could barely keep her eyes open! She was arthritic and old, but still out there having a great time with the other Bassets!

Milo and I walked a couple loops around the park, Milo paced loops that is. Which means sniffing most everything, with a few burst of energy here and there. Milo is one pooped out little guy this afternoon. In usual Milo fashion, he barely made it in to the car before he passed out snoring. We had a blast, and I'm looking forward to attending more of the Basset Meetups!! It is inspiring me to plan a costume for this year's Howl-O-Ween party, and for the 2011 Basset Bash!! Any ideas for Milo costumes?

The finished product!!!

OMFG! I love my new necklace created by MarKhed!! Is it not the coolest thing ever? Well, I actually haven't received it in the mail yet, but it is on its way! I will be waiting anxiously by the mail box this week for my little personalized package!

Photo courtesy of MarKhed's Etsy page :)

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day to the best mom in the world!!! She looks pretty darn good as a pregnant lady! The below polaroid was taken while they were building their house in Marysville. I'm the little bun in that oven. The above photo was taken the day I was born.

Check out my mom and her sister, Stella. My mom is on the left. Can you say hot stuff? Damn! She looks like she's a go-go dancer, minus the go-go boots. Is that her actual hair, or is that bun a hair piece?

Here's a shot of her with her two little girls. Who knew plaids and strips went so well together? Then again, I'm wearing no pants. But I did manage to put on my Sunday shoes.

Another picture with the little ladies. Do I look mischievious or what? Either that or I just had an accident in my pants.

My mom with the love of her life, my dad. I'd say they are a pretty good looking couple, no?

After 32 years, I can say with complete confidence, that I have the best mom in the world. She's generous, loving, supportive, and hilarious. And she loves Barack Obama.

Love you Mom!!

My chubby little man......

*Warning*.....Milo post. If you are tired of me talking about my dog, you might want to stop reading immediately. As you can tell by the picture below, Milo desperately needs his nails trimmed. He's been clacking those suckers around the house for months now. I took him to the groomers at the beginning of the year, they tried clipping his nails, not so much. Milo is a growler when it comes to people touching his precious, pudgy, potato-chip-smellin' paws. Sometimes I'll just touch his paw with a finger and he'll give me the evil eye. It's crazy. Anyway, Gina came over the other day and she was like dude, Jess, you gotta clip this dog's nails. Sooo, this morning I called the vet and was excited to find out they clip nails for a mere $22 dolla! Holla!! So this is the "before" photo:
And this is the "after" photo.... Look at those little nubs! They look a little gnarles barkley to me, but whatever, they are clipped and I'm a happy girl. Milo though? Not so happy while they were clipping his nails. I could hear him squealing in the back while the vet tech's were doing their work. Poor little man. I also had them clean his ears while he was back there. He's got some ear stank that'll make your eyes water, but luckily no infection.... :)

While we are on the subject of Basset Hounds....check out the Mother's Day card I got for my mom...... She has my blog address but I don't think she looks at it that much so I'm pretty safe posting this. The card says "I grew up, I moved out, I have a job, I'm not in jail", then on the inside it says "What more could a mother ask for?"..... True that. I think she'll enjoy it. Plus Milo will sign it with his paw, so she'll be happy.

And on the outside of the envelope? Yeah, that is a Milo postage stamp peeps! How cool is that?!? You can make any picture you want into postage at Picture It Postage. Hopefully the postage rate won't increase in the next few months because I have like 20 of these Milo stamps. And I won't be putting them on my Seattle City Light bill if you know what I mean. Those people have to settle for Gulf Coast Lighthouses, or The Simpsons if they are lucky and I'm feelin' sassy.

In other Basset Hound news, sad story..... The woman I adopted Milo from has been rescuing Basset Hounds for 30+ years. She runs Basset Rescue of Puget Sound. A few days ago, her and her husband's home burned to the ground. They were only able to get out with the clothes on their backs. They managed to save the 10 rescue dogs they had, but they lost one of their own dogs, their cat, and their birds. My heart hurts for them. Luckily all the dogs have been put in to foster homes until they are adopted, but they are starting from scratch. As a fundraiser, another Basset owner and enthusiast is selling Basset stuff on her Etsy page. All the proceeds are going to The Pauls. I purchased this vintage resin bakelite needle felted Basset Hound brooch pin from her.

And for those of you that are curious.... yes.... yes, I am becoming a crazy Basset lady. Watch out for my next purchase..... a license plate frame that says I love my Basset Hound :)

I love me some Washington state!!

Check out this totally awesome pendant!! Yep, that is Washington state with a heart located in Seattle. It is currently in the mail, en route to yours truly, so excited!!

The story behind this pendant starts with a one Jessalyn Haggenjos. During her last visit to Seattle she was wearing a totally awesome necklace.....California with a heart located in San Francisco. I fell in love with it and have been searching for a Washington version since.

Remember my Just Breathe necklace? Well, the artist, MarKhed, does commission work. So I approached her with the idea, and this is the creation!! It isn't entirely the end product, I'll post a picture of the finished necklace once it arrives on my door step. I can't wait to get it!!