Changes All Around!

Happy Tuesday, Everyone! 

There are all kinds of changes that have been happening around me recently, some small, while others have completely changed my life. Here they are just for you!

1. New design!

You may have noticed that my blog looks a little differently than it did yesterday. I loved my previous blog design in the beginning, but I started feeling like it didn't reflect my personality. It was bland, dry and not me at all! Messing with blog design makes me so nervous. I'm scared that if I mess something up, I won't be able to change it back. I ended up creating a practice blog to try everything on and then once I liked it, I went at it on mine!

I also created a new blog button, so make sure to grab it!

What do you think?

2. Getting Paisley!

I learned very quickly that puppies are a lot of work! I knew she was going to keep me busy, but getting up 2-3 times a night for 8 days straight and not sleeping past 6am is taxing on a person! My Mom keeps saying "It's just like having a baby!" Every day is something new and she ceases to amaze me! Even though she is a lot of work and wears me out, I wouldn't change a thing. I love her so much!

3. Going back to work!

The restaurant where I work closes for the entire week surrounding July 4th. The time off is great for those that travel out of town with their families, but for people like me that don't do much for the Fourth, it sucks! I've had nothing to do for the past week and without work, there's no money to spend! Luckily, we re-open today and I'll be back on my regular schedule. Who ever heard of wanting to go back to work?!

A Koozie Swap & The Sunday Social!

Today I'm participating in two link-ups because they seemed like too much fun to miss out on!

Koozie Swap!

First off, I participated in a koozie swap last month that was hosted by Sarah of Simply Sarah and Katie of His Diamond and Mine! I love koozies and this was the perfect way to add a new one to my collection, as well as get to know another blogger and pick out a cute koozie for her! I was paired with Anna of Adventures of a Type-A. It was a pleasure getting to know Anna, and being able to pick out a koozie for her! Stop by her blog today to see just what she got from me! Anna did an amazing job picking out my koozie! I seriously would have chosen the exact same thing myself!

She picked out this blue whale koozie from Vineyard Vines, one of my favorite stores! She also went above and beyond and got me a pair of pink croakies! Seriously, what an awesome gift! A new koozie & croakies!

Thanks so much Anna for being an amazing partner! 

Thanks to Katie & Sarah for hosting this super fun swap!

Now for the Sunday Social with Ashley & Neely! 

When I saw the questions for this week's Sunday Social, I knew I had to participate!

The Topic: TV

What is your favorite TV show of the past?

I probably sound like a nerd, but I loved watching Seventh Heaven and Full House when I was younger! I don't know why, but shows about families stuck out to me as a kid! I knew the theme songs by heart and would sing along! I know, nerd!

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What is your current favorite TV show?

I like a variety of shows from reality TV, like The Bachelorette and Dance Moms...to more serious shows like Law & Order SVU and Suits!

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Which reality show would you never do?

I love my bed, a shower and good food too much to ever do a show like Survivor! Those people look so unhealthy by the end of it! Don't get me wrong, I know there's  a million dollars up for grabs, but I don't think that would be the show for me!

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Which reality show would you love to do?

I think it would be so fun to be the Bachelorette! Not so much the dating 15 different guys at one time part, but to look pretty all the time, get to wear amazing gowns and travel to places that most of us dream of! Sign me up!

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What is the TV personality/character that you feel is most like you?

This is a tough one! Maybe Lauren from Laguna Beach/The Hills... I like her because she's a good friend and always tried to stay out of the drama (if that's even possible on The Hills)!

What TV character would you want to date?

Just because I can't think of anyone better, we'll go with Harvey Specter from Suits! I think we'd get along just fine!

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Friday's Letters!

On this beautiful Friday morning, I'm linking up with Ashley at Adventures of Newlyweds for Friday's Letters!

Dear Paisley, I'm sorry that last night you had to sleep in your crate. I hate to hear you cry, but I'm leaving you in there for your own good. I love you!

Dear Mama & Daddy, Thank you for all your help with the dog. It's so nice to have a little time to yourself!

Dear closet, I'm really excited about attending First Friday in Greensboro tonight. I would be so happy if you would present me with the perfect outfit.

Dear MTV, playing re-runs of The Hills first thing in the morning is the best thing you've done in like 5 years. Keep up the good work!

Dear Sam's, I'm so ready for you to re-open so I can have money again! It's tough not shopping for Paisley or myself.

Happy Friday Readers!

July 4th Recap & Bow Craft!

I hope you all had a fab Fourth of July! Mine was really relaxing and low key. I was at home all day yesterday playing with Paisley and doing things around the house. My family grilled out for dinner and then spent the night watching The Help. It was actually the first time I'd ever seen the movie and I was so impressed!

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Paisley enjoyed her holiday by playing in the monkey grass outside our house and posing in her July 4th bow!

My friend Kim made this bow especially for her and was sweet enough to tell me how she did it for my readers!

Materials:

Ribbon (usually around 1 yard)

Blank hair blips

Glue gun & glue sticks

Yarn

Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of ribbon six inches in length and tie a knot in the center

2. Fold the long piece of ribbon in half, fold the last two inches on the unfolded side, then fold in half one more time. Make sharp creases!

3.    Let the long piece of ribbon unfold once the creases are made. Starting at one end of the ribbon: place the first crease onto the second crease, the second onto the third, and the third onto the fourth.

4.Once the ribbon is folded, tie a piece of yarn around the middle to secure the placement of the folded bow.

5.    Use hot glue to secure the folded ribbon onto the hair clip. Be careful where you glue, I do mine on towels so I don’t mess the counter up!

6. Glue the short piece on top of the hair bow on the side without the clip. Wrap the two edges around the back of the bow, glue and trim.

Ta Da!

Thanks so much Kim for all your help! Here are a few of the bows that Kim has made for herself!

To make Miss Paisley’s bow, she made two and stacked them on top of each other! Her dog Boone helped to model it!

Presenting Paisley!

Happy Fourth of July everyone! 
In honor of today's post about Paisley, I wanted to show off her Fourth of July bow that my sweet friend Kim made for her!

Tomorrow I'll be talking about what my family did for the Fourth, as well as Kim's how-to for making these cute bows!

For all of you that have been waiting to see pictures of Paisley and read how everything went last Saturday, the post is finally here!

On Friday around 6pm, my Mom, Dad and I started on our 275-mile trip to Murphy, North Carolina. This is where we would be staying for the night, before picking up Paisley the next day! Much of our LONG drive looked like this!

We didn't get to our hotel room until around 10:30 that night, needless to say I was exhausted, nervous and so excited. I tried my hardest to sleep, but ended up waking up multiple times during the night.

The next morning we left the Holiday Inn in Murphy, had lunch and then drove 20 minutes to a little town called Blairsville. We were finally in Georgia! I don't know why, but the closer we got, the more nervous I was! I was just praying that everything would go perfectly. 

We arrived at the local Walmart (where we were picking up Paisley) and I finally got to see my sweet girl. I have never been so happy in my life. All my worries disappeared and tears of joy ran down my face as soon as I saw her. I just couldn't believe she was really mine! My Mom held her for a little while while the breeder and I got all the paper work completed.

I packed Paisley's bag the night before with everything that I could think of that we might need! Fresh water, bowls, bed, toys, leash, etc. She fell in love with her bed immediately and did a lot of this on the way home...

and this...

and this...

We could not have asked for a better driving experience! Seeing this precious dog made all the research, the happiness, the tears, the ups the down, and the money completely worth it. She is like my little shadow, and I'm absolutely loving watching her learn and grow!

Jake's Birthday Celebration

On Tuesday of our stay in Hilton Head, we celebrated Jake's 22nd birthday! We started the day off with some chocolate milk, coffee and donuts from Dunkin' Donuts! Yumm!

After finishing our breakfast, Jake and I headed to the Tanger Outlets for a little shopping. Hilton Head actually has two different Tanger Outlets, so we made sure to spend a little time at both. Later that evening, we went back to the condo to get ready for our night in Savannah, GA. This is also when Jake decided to open his presents! My parents and I got him two pair of J.CREW boxers, some of his favorite candy and a Tucker Blaire needlepoint belt that he really wanted!

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 Jake's sister lives in Savannah, so we headed into downtown to have dinner with her! We weren't familiar with any of the restaurants there, so she picked one that she'd heard of called The Olde Pink House Restaurant. We had a reservation, walked right from her apartment and didn't have to wait at all!

In honor of Jake's birthday, we all had a celebratory drink. I'm sure I looked so funny drinking out of the large flute glasses they poured them in!

 

I checked out the menu earlier that day and it all sounded so delicious! I finally decided on a mixture of a few things. The "BLT" Salad (fried green tomatoes, bacon and buttermilk dressing), the She Crab Soup and a side of macaroni and cheese. I'm a huge macaroni fan and like to try it anywhere I go! You can check out their menu here!

After our meal, we looked at the dessert menu, but decided to forgo the last course because we were all so full! It turns out, for birthdays at this restaurant, they bring out a plate with Happy Birthday written in chocolate. I think I enjoyed this little treat more than Jake did! They also sat a single lit candlestick in the middle of our table.

And...If you were wondering, the restaurant really was pink!