Wordless Wednesday: Awwww..

Okay, okay, the part where she kisses the dog is a little softcore puppy porn for me, but its still an adorable dog...

And my own lil pupper this morning: 

First Gray Hair...

Last night, I noticed the first grays...

  ...on Ritz, our dog. 

It is so weird to think our pup is getting old enough to have grays, especially as she still acts so puppy-like. She is only turning 4 this year, and I absolutely can't believe that is old enough for grays. I suggested getting her "Just for Men," while Cam just stared at me.  Clearly I was joking (for the most part).  

After I found it, I consoled her and told her told her it would be okay, but I was clearly more upset with this discovery than she was--she was just happy to be cuddled.  It made me feel old to think our sweet dog (that Cam and I bought together) is already turning gray.

I just can't imagine what I'll do when I find the first gray on my own head...

Halloween :)

I know this is few days late, but here are our halloween pictures.  Cam went as a sugar daddy and I was a trophy wife. I made my costume, and Cam borrowed his step-dad's old costume for the sugar daddy suit.

 

We clearly had a great time at the law school Halloween party:

 We also carved our pumpkins last weekend. I did the pirate ship, and Cam carved a screaming face. I think they turned out well, if I do say so myself.

 

We had so many trick-or-treaters this year that I almost ran out of candy (which is devastating--I'm a little upset that there isn't any left over for me).  It was fun to see all the little kids in costume and I dressed Ritz up while I passed out candy. She was a pretty pink pig.

Sorry for the crappy blackberry pic

She was a little hesitant at first of all the kids running through the yard, but when she realized that they all wanted to pet her, she loved Halloween as well. All the attention from the kids wore her out!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween weekend! It got cold here all of sudden, so it suddenly is beginning to feel like late fall.  Sigh--just another reminder that finals are a month away...

Wordless Wednesday

A Slice of Americana Heaven

Cam and I had a great 4th of July.  I had never been in Lexington over the 4th and he hadn't been here in 15 years, so it was nice just taking it easy at home and seeing Lexington celebrate.  We went downtown to watch Red White and Boom--a country music concert and firework display.  We actually cheated and didn't have to fight to crowds downtown--we watched them where I am working this summer.  I was pretty impressed with Lexington's show--it lasted about 20 minutes and really pretty. 

On Sunday we went over to Cam's neighborhood growing up and watched their backyard fireworks.  Their show was also great--and it was pretty impressive that they managed not to catch the golf course, other homes, trees, or themselves on fire.

On Monday, they had a "parade" in their neighborhood of golf carts, bikes, and walkers.  It was the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Cam walked Ritz in the parade and my good friend and I drove his parent's golf cart.

Ritz, our pup, ready to go.

All the golf carts lined up to start the parade.

A close up of one of the golfcarts decorated for the parade.

Kids even decorated their mini golf carts and rode.

Others decorated their power wheels, awesome.

Cutest thing ever: one girl went as the "parade princess" in a red white and blue bathing suit, sash, tiara, bouquet, and heels. She clearly got the wave down as well.

Ritz and Cam after the walk.

We then laid by the pool all day and got some sun.  The weekend was absolutely a little slice of heaven. 

In other news, the kitchen is coming right along. I promise a post TOMORROW of pictures and an update!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe Independence Day Weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

**I know, I normally do wedding Wednesday, but this week is our 1 year anniversary so I'd rather do a wedding post then. This week, just enjoy our gorgeous little bat dog.**

Weekend Recap

 Cam, Ritz and I had a great time in TN.  Our nephew, Noah, is abso-freaking-lutely precious. 

Being around good little babies makes me want one, especially when I see how good Cam is with them and what a great father he will be one day (heck, he even laughed when he got peed on). I am positively NOT ready in my life right now to have a child (hello, law school and career!); but for some reason, there is something magnetic sometimes when you take things and make them cute and miniature. Ah, it is years away until I will even begin to entertain that notion. When I get home and away from the cuteness, I realize just how not ready I am and how our pup Ritz is the closest thing to a baby we need for a long time. Anyone else in this boat?

We also got to see our other nephew, Brady. He is 15 months and all boy! He is in that stage where he is starting to get his own personality, which is always so fun.  We are all going on vacation together this summer and Cam and I cant wait to see how he likes the beach.

Ritz played and played all weekend and wore herself out. She literally has left the bed since last night, bum.

As for me, I'm no so thrilled it's Monday and back to law school. I'm over it. Really. I am getting so tired of studying and school in general.  I am *thisclose* to finishing up my equine law paper, so I'm struggling today to bring myself to finish it up. Ugh. But, I did make progress today with journal (I only need one more acceptance to fill our journal) and have read ahead for most of the week so that is good. 

I think I am just in that mid-semester blues where the work load is piling up and my morale is sinking. I hate having all the studying and finals just looming over my head.  Just about one more LLOONNG month until I am a 3L--summer can't be here fast enough.

If you haven't already seen it, don't forget to check out my Sephora give away!

Green Acres is the Place for Ritz

Green acres is the place for me.
Farm livin' is the life for me.
Land spreadin' out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside. 

This is Ritzy's mantra of the day.  She traded in her coach collar for sport hunting (and Tennessee) orange so she could come along on our weekend trip to TN to visit Cam's family and meet our nephew, Noah. 

She was a little hesitant of the change at first, giving us the cold shoulder and sad puppy eyes...After all, what's so ritzy about farm-life?

...but she soon warmed up to the trip and slept the whole way navigated us there. 

Because of the horrible accident on I-65, we took the backroads (literally) to get there. We actually went through Somerset, which is home to Amon's Sugar Shack. I have wanted to go there for a while now after Southern Living listed it as the best bakery/pastry shop in the country (even above Cafe du Monde).  We drove right past it; but, of course some nazi asshole my husband wouldn't stop because HE gave up sugar for lent. Let's just say he owes me big time for not killing him on the spot, and I think he knows better now than to try to get between a woman and her #1 rated pastries and donuts. 

Well, everyone made it in one piece after the long car ride and now Ritzy has run (literally) of 800+ acres. She seems to be enjoying her freedom. She has gone for a dip in the creeks, chased everything creature in sight, rolled in dead animals, eaten tons of grass, and is covered in mud and thistles. 

But, in keeping up with her name, she's still a pampered housedog at heart. She decided there is nothing like comfortably lounging on the porch to inspect and keep an eye on her vast domain.

Later today we get to meet Noah and cheer on our CATS to a (*fingers crossed*) victory for a trip to the Final Four! I'm wearing my blue proudly today! Don't worry, even Ritz has a UK tag on that lil' orange collar of hers. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. 

In honor of our fabulous cats, here's the Yiggy Yes Yallin' (John Wallin') video :)

Birthday Weekend and Girl's Get Together

Sorry for the double update, but it all is clearly too much for one posting. Apologies in advance.

C and pup both had birthdays the weekend. C turned halfway to old (or 25 in layman's terms) and pup is now 3.

My favorites playing dead in bed on their birthday.

His dad and stepmom, who live in TN, came in town to celebrate (likely just to celebrate C's birthday, but we won't tell pup that). C and I cleaned around the house before they came, including the dirtiest part of the house: our bengal cat. She literally often refuses to clean herself, and honestly would smell awful if she didn't get regular baths. I laugh that C, the biggest clean freak of a husband I could think of, would own the filthiest cat. Luckily, she likes water so it's not a big ordeal.

On Friday night, we cooked at the house. Everything turned out well--except of course what I made. Who knew that mashed potatoes take over an hour to heat up in the oven if they were in the fridge beforehand? Clearly not me because I served freezing cold mashed potatoes. But, lesson learned. Oh well. Everything else was really good.

Saturday morning I went to a great get together with the girls at Buddy's. It was great to see and catch up with the girls I already knew and fabulous to meet so many sweet ladies. We will all have get together again some time soon! After our meeting, I met up with C and his family at Drake's to eat lunch and catch the second half of a certain game that shall not be mentioned. At least Kansas lost as well, right?

After lunch, C's brother, who works in advertising for Rupp, took us to the holy grail of college basketball itself for a behind-the-scenes tour. As you are probably aware, C and I met at UK and bleed blue, so this was super neat to see all the different parts of arena without having 24,000 other crazy fans around.

Shot of Rupp as the floor was being laid and C and I on the floor.

C, doing the John Wall while "dunking" on the UK goals before they were put back onto the floor.

C in the doorway of the locker room. The giant wall-sized blood bag is my favorite advertisement in Rupp.

That night eight of us went to Euro Wine and Tapas Bar in Nicholasville for dinner. C has been talking about trying to for a month now so I figured his birthday was the perfect time.

I initially made reservations on Friday night without a problem,but then remembered that no one else could eat meat since its Lent and we are Catholic, so I called to switch the reservation to Saturday. I called almost every night they were supposedly open throughout the week and no one ever answered or returned the two voicemails I left. Sketch.

We made the drive to Nicholasville with fingers crossed and a backup restaurant in mind. Luckily, they were open and informed us that they just have policy of not answering their phone or checking their voicemail. We ordered almost every tapas on the menu and C and I really enjoyed the restaurant.

Everyone's dinner, including pup's, was lip-licking good.

This morning we had a fabulous breakfast at Doodles. None of us had been and it is nice to finally have good breakfast-style place in Lexington. I'll admit, I'm still partial to Wild Eggs in Louisville, but Doodles was a great find. Doodles is an eco-friendly and locally grown, which I really appreciate. 

C had a wonderful birthday. Not only did he get to spend it with his family, he received a set of 8 Wusthof steak knives, serving pieces of our silver, a statute of a jockey for our living room, a needlepoint flask, a bottle of Chimay, and much appreciated money.

I loved the card I got him since I am a democrat and he's more conservative (and grumpy about paying taxes):

Next best gift: a signed John Wall jersey from his brother that we will get framed.

But he loved the present he got himself the best: A CAR.

You read it right. He traded in his truck and bought himself a car. I love the car and have made him promise to keep it for at least 4 years. He's a serial car trader-inner (seriously, he's had 8 cars since he has been driving), so we will see how that works out. But so far we love it.

Much love,

Lauren

Another Snowy Day for Ritz

Ritz got a clean bill of health from the vet. She hates going, even though they are so sweet there. I even brought her favorite toy (the alligator) but it didn't help. She isn't mean, she just consistently wants to run and hide in my lap or behind me. The way it breaks my heart to see my dog get a shot--i know I will be the most horrible mother at the doctor's office.

Whenever the vet left the room, she seemed interested in sniffing out their treats.
But once they gave them to her, she refused to eat them and just kept looking at them. However, once we got home, she devoured them--it is as if she just knew they were going to poison her.

Then this morning, I woke up to this view out of our window:
Clearly mother nature does not know that spring is only weeks away. Unlike everyone, else I am not sick of the snow--I love it. If it is going to be cold, let it snow!

But, I hate not being able to curl up and enjoy it from home with my husband.

Cam had to go to work, as usual. Here's a shot Cam took of New Circle Road at 8 am (I was a little upset to see he was taking a picture while driving with those conditions, but of course I'm just the worrying wife):
And of course, UK believes we should risk life and limb (and car) to drive into class. Here were the road conditions at 10 am when I drove down Tates Creek (only one lane each way was passable) (also, i waited to take the picture at a red light like a good driver should, ahem ahem Cam).
One would assume UK could definitely clear the sidewalks since they dragged us in on what was deemed the most hazardous weather day of the year this far, but of course, that would be too much to ask for.

Luckily, I got to go home and play with Ritz in the snow though afterward.

Here is a video I took with our camera out the window of Ritz playing on our deck (and yes, thats Maury you hear in the background, of course).


Sophia clearly thought Ritz was crazy to be sitting out in the snow.


And of course, Ritz went crazy in the snow:

And then it started coming down a little too heavy for her to be happy anymore outside.
And she was ready to come in--poor thing started shivering at the door.