The Annual Grover Birthday Video!

=) It's nothing stellar. Trust me. The quality is crap. (Compression killed my images. I must have saved it in the wrong format, but I can't be bothered to re-do it.) The videography is crap. (I am NOT good with video. I don't claim to be. Ha.) But he's my guy and I always have to document his birthday. I've had him since he was just a wee pup.

For the record, bulldogs only live 8-10 years, and he's showing absolutely no signs of slowing down at 8. So that's why today is so special to me. I can't imagine life without him... 8 years old seemed so far away back in 2001.

So, a new honky chicken (to replace the plethora that have been de-footed), some fun outdoor chicken romping (indoor toys NEVER get to go OUTSIDE) and a delicious Bravo dehydrated bone. YUM!!! Rides and treats are in store for the weekend. =)



And if for some reason you can't see the video, a few highlights...


Bring it.


How many bulldogs do you know that can really CATCH?


Eight years old. Yep.




Take-off...


My handsome little snow-obsessed fool...


Thanks for humoring me. =)

Happy Birthday to my favorite little man, Grover!!!

My best little buddy on earth turns 8 today. Hard to believe he's been in my life since he was just a wee 11 weeks.

Happy Birthday!!!!! XOXOX

"Be silly. Be honest. Be kind." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy weekend everyone!

Practice makes perfect... right?

So, I want to branch out a little with my skills. I have zero experience with studio lighting. And minimal with lighting in general. I would LOVE to have some Alien Bees and a backdrop in the future to set up if need be... or even in my loft. ;) But, that's down the road.

My mother has a jewelry business (still no website to linky-link to) and in order to get that moving, I need to take some pics of her work. But I have zero experience with jewelry photography!

This afternoon, after a lovely morning with Mz. Dini and a wedding couple (I can't WAIT!!!) I came home and played around with a cheapie little light box and some goofy lights.

It's hard! And I'm picky. I figure once I get the settings exactly right, it's probably a breeze, yeah?

This is the stuff of hers that I happen to have in MY collection. :)








Practice makes perfect... they're a little hot in spots. But sooner or later, we'll get my mom up and running!

Home Sweet Teeny, Tiny Home ::: Advice needed...

OK, so I'm using this low-key evening to post something I've been meaning to post forever... especially since I would love some input. =)

This is my silly, tiny little home here near the water on the Connecticut Shoreline. It's an old summer cottage, nothing fancy, and it's roughly 600 square feet. It's the perfect size with just a kitchen, living room, bedroom, second bedroom that is a giant walk-in closet/laundry room, bathroom and loft office. I bought it back in 2003 (and 2008.) ;)

I'm ALLLL about fun, bright, and colorful... as you will see. But I want to get rid of the green in all the photos in favor of some blue. A crisp cottagey, beachy blue... same idea of the lighter shade over the darker shade, separated by the white chair rail.

(I feel like I should do a slideshow...)

Outside in warmer weather... ahhhh...


What it looks like currently... siiiiiigh.


Lots of random shots of the living room from over the years.


From the galley kitchen




Kitchen










Alternating tread stair up to my office/loft (if I could make it a studio, I would, but I don't have the height)


The view down


Upstairs


Where my desk currently is... haha.


Before I loaded it up with crap...






And just for good measure, bedroom


And bathroom




I love it. It's cozy, it's wicked easy to clean, it forces me to try not to be a pack rat, it's cheap to heat and A/C, it's the perfect size for Grover and me, it's right near the water, cute little neighborhood, fenced in yard, huge deck, 15 minute commute to work, and close to town... given that I refinanced a few months ago, I should be here for a while. Doesn't get better than that!

So, the dilemma. Trying to find someone to paint this one room for me relatively inexpensively. Those of you following me on Twitter and Facebook can now see why I say it's labor intensive. That's all real wood paneling that has to be painted. ;) Here it was freshly painted 6 years ago. Been there, done that. It's time for a change. Everything that's green needs to be made blue. Any suggestions on color? I'm totally clueless on what color to use, and I'm terrified to go with one and have it look awful. I have a brown leather sofa in the living room now, along with brown and blue pillows.


Hope I didn't bore you all too much. I've been debating hosting a Painting Party as many of you have poked me about just doing that and have even volunteered... (crazy people!!!!) but I don't think we could all FIT. =) Hehehe! Pizza and beer for everyone!!! And cookies!!! And everyone takes a wood slat! Hahaha... I just think it would be pretty close quarters. I could be wrong... =D

So if you have any friends who are painters, or can recommend someone I should call, feel free to share. I'm open to all suggestions! =)