Monday, July 31, 2017

Lyme Disease. Mono. And, A Stunned Baby Bird


On Saturday, we hosted our backyard anniversary party. Yesterday, despite our sore muscles, exhaustion, and lack of ambition, we got the outside and inside cleaned and back in order. Once that was done, I packaged some leftovers for our neighbor friends and made a quick dinner consisting of all leftovers. Our neighbor friend joined us.

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Our Backyard Anniversary Party Was Fabulous


Yesterday was the big day. Our backyard anniversary party. After a stressful week and multiple curveballs, it ended up being a fantastic day. No rain. Overcast skies. Cool temperatures. Dry grass. We couldn't have asked for a better day weatherwise.

Friday, July 28, 2017

I'll Take Overcast And Cool Over Sunny, Hot, And Humid.


Today is backyard anniversary party prep day. It's been quite the week. On Tuesday we rescheduled the party from Friday to Saturday because of Mother Nature. Wednesday, Lisa make an emergency trip to her doctor and discovered she was infected with Lyme Disease for the second time over the past year. Yesterday, the stress of it all got the best of me and I was almost ready to call off the party. However, Lisa and I had a moment when we stood in the home office doorway and had a good laugh...compliments of Willa. She had made the hole bigger in our love seat and pulled out enough stuffing to make her version of a DIY doggy bed.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Willa's Version Of A DIY Doggy Bed And How It Relieved My Stress


In July of 2015, we inherited a rocking recliner love seat from our Grammy who had recently passed away. The home office is one of the largest rooms in our home. It made sense to put it in there. The day Lisa brought the love seat home, we spent the rest of the day converting the home office into a combination second living room/home office.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Another Curve Ball In The Form Of Lyme Disease...Round Two


A little over a month ago, Lisa and I started planning a backyard anniversary party. Originally, the date was this coming Friday, July 28th. On that date, 5 years ago, Lisa and I got married. Unfortunately, yesterday, we had to move the party to the following day on Saturday because of Mother Nature. Okay. I can deal with that. We had a few people who have canceled, but in return, a few people who couldn't make it on Friday are now able to join us on Saturday.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Seriously, Mother Nature?!?!



I know I posted this photo a couple of days ago when I published a blog column about our upcoming backyard anniversary party. At the time, we had scheduled our party on Friday. It's kind of an odd day to plan a party, but it's the middle of the Summer season. People usually have plans on the weekend. We figured Friday would be the better day. Unfortunately, Mother Nature is giving us a bit of trouble and today, we had to reschedule the party for Saturday, July 29th.

Monday, July 24, 2017

10 Things You Shouldn't Say To A Dog Parent


Although my tongue isn't sugar coated and the words I speak are candid, I do believe some things are better left unsaid. Some situations warrant a little thought as to how a question, statement or opinion might be received. It is never my intention to offend or come across as judgmental. There's a time and place for no-holds-barred.

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Come As You Are


On Friday, July 28th, we're having a backyard anniversary party here at our home. We've been planning this for about a month. We're excited about this event. There will be about 30 people joining us for scrumptious food, great company, live entertainment by the incredible Jonny Debit, desserts, a special guest, and door prizes. It'll be a fun day and evening for all.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

20 Things To Remember If You Have Fur-Kids


There is a slew of articles written for those who are thinking about getting a dog or already have one...or two, three.  One of my favorite (of many) reads is "20 Essential Facts Dog Lovers Must Always Remember." I wish everyone who has a fur-kid would read this. Really read it. Take it to heart. Absorb every word and reality.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Poopy Paws And Peanut Butter Smudges


This morning I stepped on a large, dinosaur shaped Nylabone while walking across the kitchen floor. I'm not sure what's worse...a Lego block or heavily chewed Nylabone. I was barefoot. The door frame leading into the biscuit room was my saving grace. I restored balance. Dropped a few F-Bombs. Located an old pair of Crocs flip flops. Exhale. I headed towards my office. This requires me to walk through the living room. That's when I noticed it.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

How About A Lil' Homemade Febreze To Get Rid Of Pet Odors...


Regardless of how often we clean, vacuum, wash blankets and everything between, odors linger. It doesn't matter if you have human kids or furry kids. Humans emit odors. Dogs emit odors. It's a natural occurrence. The marketing world is fully aware of this. Just take a stroll down the air-freshener aisle. Sprays. Candles. Wax melts. Plug-ins. Reed Diffusers. Scented gel beads. It's overwhelming.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Ask First. Always.


A few years ago, while at an event, I was chatting with a woman holding a pup who was up for adoption. This pup was about 15 pounds, mixed breed and absolutely adorable. He was resting comfortably in her arms. A man approached from behind. He immediately started petting the dog. He then put his face up against the dog's face for a kiss. The woman turned around so her back was facing the man. This all happened within a few short seconds. The man was baffled and made attempts to pet the dog again. I spoke up.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

They're Not Just Dogs. They're Our Kids. Our World.


A month from today, we'll be celebrating Coco's 5 Year Gotcha Day. Five. Years. I remember that day if it was yesterday. When we adopted Coco, almost 5 years ago, our lives changed overnight. We knew Coco needed medical attention however, we didn't know just how sick he was.

Monday, July 17, 2017

This Will Be Our Last Yard Sale. This Time We Really Mean It.


After our Fall Bodacious Yard and Bake Sale in October of 2015, I swore we'd never have another yard sale again. Ever. Lisa was fully on board with that decision. There's too much planning involved. It's a lot of work. The week prior to the yard sale, the kids would be stressed out because each room had piles of boxes and yard sale items. The day of the yard sale was too much for the kids. Their anxiety was in full swing and it didn't help that they had to be confined to the bedroom and home office.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Ol' Frilly Is About To Fully Retire


I've lost count how many times I've posted an update that read along the lines of, "Time to put the frilly apron on and bake." The other day, someone asked if this piece of apparel really exists. Yes. It does. Most times, when baking for both pups and humans I wear it. And for the past 5 years, it has served its purpose. However, like the old Bodacious rolling pin and my beloved Bodacious kitchen timer that was glued to my side for over a year, the Bodacious frilly apron is about to retire.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

The Bench Is Done And It Came Out Gorgeous!


The other day I mentioned that Lisa and I had scored a solid wood bench at a yard sale. Our plans were to repurpose it into a doggy themed bench. At the time, I wasn't sure how I would decorate the bench after it was primed and painted. I had a few ideas, but nothing concrete. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do lettering and pawprints on the actual bench or make separate plaques. Decisions. Decisions.

Friday, July 14, 2017

My Encounter With An Elk Antler


I've been doing good with my not-so-graceful moments up until earlier this evening. I dove onto the bed, in a kneeling position, NOT realizing there was an elk antler on the bed. If you're not familiar with elk antlers, they're pretty big. The tip of the elk antler can get pretty sharp when the kids chew on them.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Today Was Willa's Spay Day


When Willa joined our family on March 2nd of this year, she was in full blown heat. A few weeks later, during her initial visit to the veterinarian for her shots and check up, we learned she was about a week away from being fully out of heat. From that point, the best route was to wait 3 months before getting her spayed. Today was the day.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

If You See Something, Say Something!


One of my favorite quotes is, "If you're shocked by what I say, then you obviously haven't paid attention to who I am." I have a mouth. A voice. And I don't hesitate to make that apparent. For some, it has a tendency to shift their disposition towards me. Those who know me well aren't phased when I take a stand.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Inspiring Photos Of Dogs Before And After Their Rescue


I have an obsessive habit of bookmarking everything I come across relating to pets...primarily dogs. I have folders, sub-folders and sub-folders of sub-folders. Thankfully, a few years ago, I created a Pinterest account and that has subdued my bookmarking addiction. To an extent.

Monday, July 10, 2017

The Great Debate...Regular Leash Or Retractable?


Dogs have always been a part of my life. Growing up, we had dogs. In my adult years, I've almost always had a dog. Of course, with having a dog as part of the family, comes the responsibility of taking them out to do their business, walks and the occasional day trip to the lake. Back in the day, collars and leashes were your typical run-of-the-mill and geared more towards functionality than style. Over the years, that has changed.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Our "Hooman" Kids Would Be Dirty And Super Uncool


With a houseful of rescue kids, taking on a little extra work, a ton of stuff I need to do with both blog sites, writing my book, and everything between, I've lost track of time. It's been busy. Beyond busy. So, let's just say within the past week, I was on the phone with an acquaintance of mine going over details for a project I'm working on. I don't remember the conversation in its entirety. At one point, she blurted out, "You're lucky you don't have kids." I was slightly caught off guard.

Saturday, July 8, 2017

This Yard Sale Find Has A Lot Of Potential


One of my favorite things to do in the world of DIY Dog Mom Projects is scope out yard sales and flea markets for sturdy, solid wood pieces that I can repurpose and refinish. Last month, Lisa and I ventured out for a few hours on a Saturday morning to check out some yard sales. We encountered our usual frustrations. Old signs with no dates that hadn't been taken down in the weeks prior. A yard sale consisting of 2 tables that had been advertised as "large, multi-family yard sale." Small signs that are impossible to read even when you stop in front of it. Yard sales that are in a garage and 95% of the stuff could easily be classified as trash.

Friday, July 7, 2017

Pay Attention To What's In Bucket Number Two


In October of this year, we'll be celebrating the 4 year Anniversary of Bodacious Biscuit Love. I was chatting with an old friend of mine the other day and shared this bit o' news. "Has it been almost 4 years already?" Yes. "Are you going ahead with year 4?" Yes. The conversation continued. Questions. Answers. Trials and tribulations. Mistakes. Goals reached. Growing pains. Successes. Memorable moments. Towards the end, he asked, "If someone wanted to do this full time, like you, what would they need to do?"

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Mud-Caked Slippers And Mushy Home Fries


This year, there has been an abundance of wild bunnies hopping through the neighborhood. They're in our backyard. Front yard. The side yard. I honestly can't remember a day when we haven't seen a wild bunny or two over the past 6 months. Each time I see a bunny, without fail, I think about the domestic bunny rescue that happened in late November of 2014.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Wiping My Mouth With A Page From A National Geographic Magazine


On the overnight, my brain shifts a bit. I become slightly contemplative...especially in the wee hours of the morning when the world around me stops buzzing. I reflect on the happenings over the past year and some that have taken place over the past decade. Once in a while I flirt with questions that start off with, "Where was I ten years ago...five years ago...three years ago." Then, I take a good look at the here and now.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

The Fine Art Of Parting With My DIY Dog Mom Projects


The weekend before, the weekend after and the actual 4th of July, we stay put. Our kids are terrified of the booms and crackles and pops...especially Sophie. I can't remember the last time we saw a public display of fireworks. We're okay with that. We've seen enough firework displays in our lifetime. When people ask if we get bored or do we feel as if we're missing out, the answer is always, "Nope."

Monday, July 3, 2017

More DIY Dog Mom Projects Are In The Works


More wood. More sanding. More painting. That's what I've done all weekend. We did take a couple of breaks to enjoy dinner and a backyard pit fire with our neighbor friends. In our own backyard. We had a blast. I'm always impressed at how much fun can be had without leaving the kids and the comforts of home.

Sunday, July 2, 2017

We Learned Quite A Bit From Our Sweet Remmy


At one point or another we've been asked. Or, it's us who have asked. Wondered. Contemplated. It's normal. How soon is too soon. Do we wait longer? A week? A month? A year? What will others think? Will there be guilt to follow? Am I betraying my beloved fur-kid? Question after question after question. It's a tug o' war with the heartstrings.

Saturday, July 1, 2017

It's The 4th Of July. And, I Have A Pile Of Wood To Work With.


All of our fur-kids are terrified of fireworks so this weekend, the actual 4th of July, and next weekend, we'll be staying put. It's the perfect time to gather some wood, go through the totes of wood we already have, and create some cool DIY Dog Mom Projects to sell. Amid all of that, we'll probably have a pit fire in the backyard with a few of our neighbor friends who have become family, sip some wine, and make a few more memories.