This Is What Happens When I'm 10 Minutes Late...

Today was one of those days. I had a bazillion things to do. Finish up a few custom orders. Bake homemade dog treats. Housework. Work on Willa's Gotcha Day gift. Deskwork. Prep and cook dinner. On top of that, we have a massive storm heading our way and there's talk about it potentially turning into a Bombogenesis. Mother Nature doled out one of those storms back in late October. We were without power for almost 2 days.  So, there's a good chance I'll be doing a lot of prep work tomorrow if this monster storm continues to stay on track.

Homemade Chicken And Carrot Meatball Dog Treat Recipe

Last February I created a recipe for homemade Bodacious Turkey Veggie Meatball Dog Treats. It was the first meaty treat that made it to the Our Dog Treat Recipes page. In addition to lean ground turkey, I added shredded carrots, sweet potatoes, cheese, and herbs. I have no shame in admitting that I ate a couple. Of course, that involved dodging the "Mom, those are for us" glares from the kids.

A Jar Of Yeast Was On The Grocery List...

As most of you know, I'm an avid cook and baker. My passion in the kitchen began over 30 years ago. It's in my blood. As I've gotten older, and with the help of the generations before me, I've learned how to make lots of scrumptious items that I used to purchase at grocery stores and bakeries to accommodate my dishes and baked goods. Some of those items include spaghetti sauce, salad dressings, marinades, gravy, pie crust, croutons, pizza crust, and freshly made bread.

I Didn't Plan On Grabbing A Hammer And Tearing Down Walls Today, But...

Lisa and I live in a 2 family home. The owner lives upstairs with her daughter. Over the past few years, they've become family to us. Earlier today, while tackling some desk work between the dry times for paint, I heard banging. Lots of it. Normally, loud noises irritate me when I'm trying to work on blog columns, but this time around, I was sporting a smile from ear to ear. I knew what was happening.

So Far, 2018 Has Been Kind Of Great...

It's been a couple of weeks since I completed the last 6-week project for a client. This was the last of a stream of 6-week projects that lasted for a little over a year. These projects sucked up a lot of my time during my Monday through Friday schedule. However, during that year, I had gotten into a routine. It worked. Once I no longer had to contend with the 6-week projects, I felt a little lost. The first week after completing the last project, I had to adjust to a whole other routine. After Lisa's inspiring words, shifting my schedule and routine was fairly easy.

You Can Sell Your Stuff And Preach About Jesus Online.

The first time we were approached by a solicitor was a year after we moved into our home. Lisa and I were sitting on the front porch during a warm Summer night. Sipping iced coffee. Chatting. It was around 7:00. A young woman was walking up the road. She had a large, generic spray bottle hanging from one of her back pockets. In the other pocket was a rag. She was carrying a folder. Hanging from her neck was a photoless badge. Lisa and I both exhaled.

Save The Molds For Jell-O And Cake. Please.

A friend of mine posted a video on Facebook a few weeks ago. I'm not usually one to watch lengthy videos, but this one caught my attention. It was about a young boy who is passionate about ballet. In the first portion of the video, the boys' father is walking him into ballet class. The video proceeds to give an outline from the boy's decision to take ballet to how often he's picked on because of his choice to dance. Towards the end of the video, I was reaching for my 34th Kleenex.

It Took Several Months To Transition, But I'm Finally On A First Shift Schedule. Yay!

Tomorrow is kind of a big day for me. For the first time since we moved into our home over the Summer of 2012, I'll be acclimating to a first shift schedule. It's been a process. One that I've taken in tiny steps. In the past, I've attempted to relinquish my third shift sleep schedule cold turkey. It didn't work out. Within a couple of days, I threw my hands up. Threw in the white flag. Then, in October, I got smart took Lisa's advice. I made the decision to slowly transition.

Random Rant - I Am Writing In My Voice And Giving Osho A High Five

Back in 2012, I started a blog site titled 'That Batty Bitch Fhee.' This was my place to write in my voice about random stuff that piqued my attention or strummed my nerves. I wrote about those who are inherently confused by the terms semi-homemade and homemade. Or, Moms of human kids who feel that grocery stores should invest thousands of dollars in fancy grocery carts that will entertain their kids while they shop.

We Will Be At The Ledyard Animal Control Appreciation Day!

In January, I was adamant that we wouldn't be participating in any events this year. It's a lot of work to prepare for one and it takes up an entire weekend day. However, on occasion, I make exceptions. This is one of them. The Ledyard Animal Control Appreciation Day. We participated in this event a few years ago and we had a blast! So, we're doing it again!

Willa Told Us What She Wants For Her Upcoming One Year Gotcha Day Celebration

During our coffee chat this morning, the topic of Willa's Gotcha Day came up. It's on March 2nd. It will be her first Gotcha Day celebration. Lisa and I both commented on how quickly the past year has flown by. How is it possible that it's been almost a year since she joined our family? It went by too quick.

A Moment Of Dog Mom Clarity While Eating The Best Ravioli We've Ever Had

Earlier this week, I started creating new DIY Dog Mom Projects. I've got close to a dozen that I'm currently working on. My goal was to finish them by the end of the week. However, it ended up being a weird week. I didn't get a chance to finish. Last week, I wrapped up the last 6-week project for a client. I've been tackling these various 6-week projects for over a year. In addition, last year was crazy. Between these 6-week projects, Lisa's promotion, Lyme, Mono, and other miscellaneous mishaps, I put a considerable amount of stuff I wanted and needed to get done on the back burner. Now, I don't have to do that. I can focus on my work.

Our Latest Homemade Dog Treat Recipe Includes Fresh Apples And Carrots

I was going to wait until the weekend to create a new, homemade dog treat recipe, but I had a bit of a Dog Mom Dork Moment during the early morning hours. Lisa gave the kids their after-breakfast treat. She let me know that we were out. Wait. What? Wasn't there another bag in the freezer? Nope. Sigh. Obviously, I couldn't wait until the weekend. Today was the day. I had to flip my creative switch into high gear. Lisa was at work and wouldn't be doing grocery shopping until much later.

I Sat There. I Didn't Do Anything. She Had To Experience Something In Its Entirety.

In October of last year, I moved Lisa's desk and laptop back to the home office. There's a story behind that. You can read about it here. I was more than overjoyed to have Lisa's home office space put back together. For the 6 months that Lisa didn't have her space in the home office, it felt empty. I was a little sad. When I had long work days at my desk during the week or worked at my desk on the weekends, I loved having her in here with me. At her desk. Checking emails and her social media streams. Plus, she had her own space. She no longer had to use her laptop at the table or on the sofa.

Our Traditional Valentine's Day Dinner Dates Back To 2011

On our living room wall, we have two collage photo frames. The one on the left contains various family and friend photos from over the years. The one on the right holds photos that are symbolic to Lisa and me. The day Lisa proposed. Our first trip to the ocean. A plate of Valentine's Day cookies Lisa baked for me in 2012. Our first Christmas tree. A lot of people who have visited our home stop and admire the photos. At times, we've shared a few of the stories behind the photos. There is one photo that most people will point to and ask, "What's the story behind this?"

It's Time To Bake Some Homemade Valentine's Day Dog Treats

Lisa and I are not huge fans of Valentine's Day. Like Christmas, it's a holiday that has become obnoxiously commercialized. Retailers, florists, restaurants, and chocolate shops want us all convinced that the perfect bouquet of long-stemmed roses and a pricey romantic dinner is quintessential to celebrating Valentine's Day. In our Bodacious world, it's not. We lean more towards unconventional. Lisa and I fix a simple dinner at home. This year, the kids made Lisa a photo collage. The kids presented me with all the fixings for my favorite cocktail. While the dinner we make and the small gifts from the kids change year to year, there's one thing that doesn't change.

I Am Retiring From A Few Services That I Have Provided Over The Years

Last week I finished the last 6-week project for a client. It was the last week. Final deadlines. I had been working on these projects for over a year. It's been a phenomenal journey. While it's a little bittersweet, I'm relieved that I'm finally done. The last deadline marked a milestone in my life. I made the decision to retire certain services that I've offered for the past decade and more...

Our Lil' Saturday Morning Tribulation

On occasion, a dear friend of ours will send a box of goodies. Or, when she and the hubs visit, they'll bring a big bag or box of goodies. The boxes usually contain dog apparel, dog toys, balls, dental chews, leashes, collars, etc. The unwritten message for these boxes is, "Keep what you want and need, find homes for the rest." Receiving these boxes is a big event in our home. We always open the boxes at the kitchen table. Our kids, regardless of what they're doing, run to the kitchen, tails wagging.

A Chilled Bottle Of Wine Is Better Than An Ice Pack

A couple of days ago I mentioned that we were making some changes to the home office. Back in July of 2015, we converted the home office into a combination home office and second living room. Part of that process was adding a rocking love seat that we inherited after our Grammy passed away. We did most of the work the day before Lisa and Char headed to Massachusets with the pickup truck.

I Don't Need Confetti To Fall From The Ceiling

The moment is here. After spending a year working on various 6-week projects for a client, I'm done. It was the last week. Final project. Final deadline. I completed the deadline yesterday. Unfortunately, less than a half hour into my celebratory happy dance, a creepy, overzealous solicitor scared the crap out of me. I spent the remainder of the afternoon making a DIY Dog Mom Project sign in record time to translate what 'welcome' means in our Bodacious Dog Mom household.

My Solution For Those Creepy Overzealous Solicitors

I'm a Work at Home Dog Mom. It's no big news that I'm here alone in the morning and most of the afternoon with the kids while Lisa is at work. The doors are always locked. The kids let me know if there's someone close to the house. I keep my eyes and ears peeled for anything that's out of the ordinary. For the most part, our neighborhood is quiet with very few disturbances. So, early this afternoon, when all of the kids rushed to the front door growling and barking, it immediately caught my attention.

Snow. Sleet. Freezing Rain. Rain. And, A Little Sweet Gratitude.

Today was another weird weather day. Snow. Sleet. Freezing rain. Rain. All in that order. It was a mess. I had no idea what time Lisa would be arriving home from work. The weather report mentioned a possible drop in temperature. I feared the driveway, walkway, and lawn would turn into an ice skating rink. I gave myself an hour to continue working on the deadline I was plugging away at. Then, I'd head outside to shovel several inches of slush in the pouring rain.

We're Making A Few Changes To The Home Office This Weekend

On July 3rd of 2015, I started this blog. On that date, we were renovating the home office. This was the photo I posted. Our Grammy had just passed away. My family, after going through her belongings and taking what they wanted, had a few things left. One of the items was a rocking loveseat. We decided to take it. Lisa and our neighbor friend Char were going to drive up to Massachusetts the following day to retrieve it along with a few other items.

Another DIY Dog Mom Project Makeover Is Done...

I'm on a kick.  After spending over a year completing multiple 6-week projects for a client, I'm on the final week. Final projects. Final deadlines. After over a year, and after this week, the finish line is in sight. I will finally be able to dediate all of my work time to this blog, creating homemade dog treat recipes, DIY Dog Mom projects, social media, everything and anything related to Dog Mom stuff, and everything between.

This Decorative Piece Was Worthy Of A Makeover For So Many Reasons

There is a history behind this tattered piece of decor that has been hanging in our home. In the same spot since we moved here in July of 2012. Back in September of 2011, Lisa and I housesat for my brother while he vacationed in Colorado for a week. He lives in the White Mountain area in New Hampshire. Years ago he built his house. It's in the boonies. Very peaceful. No street lights. Dirt road. We deemed that week as a vacation. It was just Lisa, myself, and our 2 fur-nieces.

The Jumbo Wooden Dog Bone Photo Collage is Done

Over a week ago, a rather large box was delivered to our doorstep via UPS.  Inside of the box was a jumbo, custom-made wooden dog bone. I had plans for this gorgeous piece. Last weekend, I started the process. Throughout the week, I was busy tackling work projects. I only had a bit of time here and there to work on the jumbo bone DIY Dog Mom Project. Today, we finally finished it.

I'm Going To Slide. On My Tummy. To The Final Finish Line.

For the past year, I've been working on various 6-week projects for a client. Some have been back to back while the others have allowed a few weeks between projects. I've thoroughly enjoyed working on these projects. They've been a mix of challenging, interesting, inspiring, and as each project ended, I gained something from it. No project was ever a waste of my time. I put my heart and soul into each one and the end result reflected that.

Snack Time Is Always Worthy Of A Photo Shoot In Our Home

During the afternoon hours, our kids get several snack times. Sometimes it's our homemade dog treats. Other times, it's a mix of our homemade dog treats and fresh produce. Other days, it's fresh produce and lean protein that we've roasted or grilled. Today, it was a mix of our homemade dog treat recipes and roasted boneless, skinless, chicken breasts.