Summer Pugs

I took these photos about two weeks ago. We bought a little baby pool to see if Phyllis and Priscilla would like it. They didn't really care about the pool, but they were cute out in the sun. Travis picked up a Phyllis sized life jacket. The pool wasn't deep, but since neither of our girls are that steady on their feet, the life jacket was nice for when they inevitably fell down.

Also it is very cute. 

We gave them baths while they were in there as well. It was nice to do it outside on a beautiful day.

Steamy girl sun bathing. 

Oh my little girl, I miss you so much. It has been almost a week and I still can't sleep. I'm posting this at 5 am because I have been up all night. I'm not sure what to do about it.
Priscilla is doing ok. We have been keeping her in bed with us, and during the day she wants to be as close to me as she can. We have applied with a couple pug rescues and are hoping to have a companion for her soon. I hope that might help me sleep, but I don't know. I still feel really sad, and I think I'm afraid to sleep, because I'm afraid something will happen to Priscilla. It is irrational, I know.

I have a new waterproof camera that makes gifs. Here is one of the girls enjoying the pool. The perfect pair.

In Memoriam: My Phyllis

My tiny perfect Phyllis left this Earth on Saturday. It was sudden and I am completely heart broken. I wish I had eloquent words to represent what I am feeling, but I do not. It is like I keep forgetting, then it hits me again like a ton of bricks. She is gone. I am missing her.
Phyllis was a light in the darkness for me when we lost our pug Rose in a very violent way. She has been my constant companion for the past 5 and a half years. She had health problems this past year, but I would never have guessed she would be gone this soon. Too soon. It is always too soon.
I started to go through all of my photos then realized I have hundreds of her. Hundreds of happy memories that I am going to cling to, so I can hopefully forget the last, sad morning.
Here is just a small selection of some of my favorites.

The first photo I took of her. She didn't know yet that she was safe and loved. 

With her sister, Priscilla. 

I have been keeping Priscilla close. She is stressed without her friend.

I can't believe it. I am having a hard time right now, afraid to sleep because I am afraid I'll wake up and Priscilla will be gone. I know that it will get better, but now I am grieving for this little soul. This is our last photo together. I held her from the moment we found her until we left her at the vet. My sweet Phyllis. You are so so missed and so so loved. 

"My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend has stopped running today."

Tubing Down the Buffalo River

Summer! The ultimate season! You can't skip it, you've gotta have it! This summer we made a discovery that is going to make it even better. We found a place to go tubing! The Buffalo River Resort is only about an hour and fifteen minutes from Nashville. Totally worth it for 4 hours of floating down the river. 

We went in late May with Crystal, Marc and Thomas. For $16 bucks a person you get a tube and they shuttle you to the drop off point. The van is covered in graffiti, they even hand you a marker to leave your own name or whatever. Thomas wrote the initials of his company because he is a total work dork.  

 This was my favorite. 

The water was a little bit cold for comfort, but it was a hot day so it ended up being ok. It was a little shocking when you first got in.

 Ahhhhhhh. It is so nice to just float down the river. 

 And feed each other chips. 

Travis was in charge of our cooler tube. It is an extra ten dollars, but worth it I think. You can put your dry clothes in there, and your lunch and sunscreen. You can also all tie on to it if you want to float together.

The water in the river seems to be from five feet deep to a foot. Most of the time you can see the bottom. You can dangle your legs down through the tube and swim, or sit on top and just float. BE SURE TO PUT SUNSCREEN ON YOUR SHINS! I didn't and got SO burnt!

The water in the river was so nice! If you go, call ahead and check the water level. If it is low, tubing isn't as fun.

Hey! It's me! There are a couple places that you can pull up to the shore and stop a while. You can have a picnic, or just set your tube up and swim.

 Check out these really cool water shoes!

When we got in sight of the pull out point we pulled on up a little rocky island to hang out for a while. We weren't ready for it to be over! I THINK it took us about 3 hours to float the five miles.

 This hat is a lifesaver. I haven't gotten a burn on my face since I started wearing them. 

 While we were sitting around this tiny turtle swam up and sat on Travis' foot! Look at him! 

Couldn't get over how cute it was. We held it for a minute then put it back in the water. It swam right back! Little turtle wanted to be our friend.

Once we were ready to go, we all got in a train and got Travis to tow us in. So relaxing! I can't WAIT to go back. I hope we can make it a regular thing this summer. If you are in Nashville, I highly recommend the Buffalo River Resort! 

Home Office!

I got a new job! I know I mentioned it in my last post, but I wanted to tell you again. I LOVE IT so far. I don't even feel like I'm going to work. I'm a sales rep for a brokerage that represents several brands in the natural products industry. My territory is middle/west Tennessee and Alabama. I'm doing a little traveling, meeting lots of people, and really having a good time so far.
I have office work to do as well, so the first thing Travis and I did when I found out I got the job was clean out our front bedroom to make an office for me! Here is post about that...

This is embarrassing but here is a before picture. Even more embarrassing, I have a whole bunch of photos like this from 2014. I planned on cleaning it out then and never did! When we first moved in we had a roommate (miss you Dana!) for about six months. When she moved out we put a few boxes in this room, occasionally added more,  and then pretty much closed it up for five years! Such a waste! Once it was all set up, it felt like we had done a renovation or something! A whole new to us room.

One of my favorite things about this room is the wallpaper. It is just this one wall and it is so cute. I didn't want to cover up much of it, so I just put two little shelves to hold my papers and collateral. And I bought a big kewpie. Because every office needs one? 

I'm looking for a wide desk but for now this one is working for me. It was my dad's when he was a kid! I made a map with pins showing all my stores on it (because I need a visual!) and as you can see, I'm super into little post it notes. I have a full color code system in place.

Some of my favorite business lady office supplies. Every desk needs an eyeball Pez dispenser and washi tape.

It took me a few days to decide what I wanted my banner to say. Then it became obvious. 

Who Run the World? 

Girls. 

You guys know I love a gallery wall. I've been hanging stuff up, and ordering a few new things, like this CUTE Spock from Brett Manning.

The girls aren't sure how they feel about this new gig. They can't sit in my lap while I'm at my desk, they are stuck on the floor. Poor things. (I was cracking up at Phyllis when I took this photo. Is that comfortable??)

While cleaning out my desk I found this photo strip from our trip to Florida in 2014! I remember us thinking it didn't really turn out when we got it. Now I love it.

I got an air plant for my window. This room gets the best light in the house! This guy has lasted a month, we'll see how long I can keep it alive!

This has changed since I took these photos, but I thought I would keep my collection of children's books in here. They are mostly vintage, and I have this idea that maybe our little nephew will come to visit some day and want to look at them. Then I got more and more stuff for work, so I have to use this shelf for supplies. Rethinking the reading nook....Also there is a little pile of stuff I need to hang up.

I've been saving that hand made set of book ends for a while. And I'm going to get some succulents for that planter. The candle is maple syrup scented and delicious.

This piece of carpet is very special to me. It was in my grandparents house (which I LOVED, you can see a post about it here). My cousin Katie bought the house and remodeled it (I've heard it look amazing) and saved this carpet for me, and some strips of the floral wallpaper because she knew I loved it. I'm so happy to have this little piece to keep.

I have a lot of carstock to store, but I like to get some little wacky touches in when I can. Like that google eyed bear. And the puppy! I love that picture, I totally forgot I had it!

I've been holding onto this printer's tray for years. We all know I don't really need another shelf to hold tiny things, but they bring me so much joy! I look forward to finding more tiny treasures to put on it. I also framed some of our photobooth strips finally. The one on the far left is from the day we got engaged (at six flags, hah!)

The unicorn sitting on top is the first thing I ever bought at a yard sale, when I was maybe ten years old? I still love it and would pick it up if I saw it at a sale today! That little donkey is a jigsaw thing that I bought at a craft fair when I was young as well. I can't believe I never lost it!

This is the light fixture in the room! I need to take it down and clean it, but I really love it. 

Scampi LOVES the new room. She waits by the door for me to open it in the morning. She climbs the shelves and sits on everything and is her normal annoying/enduring self.

All three cats often join me in the room. I pretend it is because they love me. It's really because they love boxes to sit on.

Since taking those photos I got an office chair! I was dreading buying one (they are so ugly and expensive!). But then! A friend was moving and selling most of her stuff and had this vintage one! For ten bucks! It is perfect.

And this guy! I've been wanting one of these forever and finally treated myself when I got the job. He is from Yetis and Friends and is SO CUTE in person.

Guys, I am so happy. I was incredibly stressed in my old job, then I had months of unemployment and part time work. It is like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders!