Cake Smash!

Sunday I had the pleasure of accompanying my cousin Kristin to cake smash photo shoot.  What is a cake smash you ask?

smash cake n. a celebratory cake intended to be destroyed, especially by a child. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

Growing up, my mom made my brother and I each a tiny cake to smush into for our first birthdays. I still have the pictures my dad took as I demolished my cake in the midst of my birthday party.  The looks on the friends and family around me are almost as priceless as the look on my face at the texture and taste of yellow cake with chocolate frosting!

These days, professionally documenting a cake smash is all the rage! More often than not, it's done a few weeks before a first birthday and the pictures are either shown by mom/dad on social media on the birthday - or used for the birthday party invitation.

Sunday's photo shoot was for an absolutely adorable little girl, I'll call CC.  (Don't get me wrong, mom and dad were REALLY nice - but little CC was just the sweetest little thing!)

Prep: White backdrop and pink & green party decorations

Looking adorable in her party dress!

It took a little convincing - but she finally DOVE into her cake!

I can't show you pictures of the final product (yet).  Kristin is good, but needs a little more time to work her magic AND let Claire's parents see the pictures first.  Instead, here are a few other recent cake smashes! 

What are your thoughts on cake smash sessions?  Did you do it for your kids?

While I Was Gone...

I won't bore you all with the doldrums of what happened in my life over the past 19 days.  (You're welcome!)

Instead, I'll share just a few highlights...

My handsome Beckett turned 10!!

Happy birthday Beckett! You are vocal and stubborn and can be a bit of a loner. But you are one of the sweetest, most affectionate dogs I've ever met. You had Grammy convinced I needed you before you even had me convinced! I love you a bushel and a Beck....oh, um peck! #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #instadachshund #weeklyfluff #longhaireddachshund #instacute #beckett #birthdayboy

A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on Dec 19, 2015 at 12:13pm PST

If you weren't on my Christmas card list - you missed out on this cuteness!

I read three books while gift-wrapping at Barnes & Noble for Little Paws Dachshund Rescue.  Reviews coming soon...but this one is my favorite of the three, I think.

I took part in an dog cookie swap, and as you can see - Paisley thought our swap partner makes some GOOD cookies!  I think I might want to try a dog cookie (or human cookie) swap in February.  Would anyone be interested?  Maybe want to co-host with me?

She's a little piglet...but she's MY piglet! She LOVES the treats @ourdoghouse made! #baccookieswap2015 #christmas #badassclub #rescuedogsrock #paisley #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #instadachshund #weeklyfluff #longhaireddachshund

A video posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on Dec 21, 2015 at 4:11pm PST

Now. What have I missed in your life?!



P.S. I've missed you all, so I think their will be giveaway coming soon!

Five on Friday

Happy Friday, everyone!! It has been a busy week and I am looking forward to the weekend so much!

This little lady turns ONE today!!! I can't wait to shower Vivian with gifts at her party on Saturday.

I only joined a gym a week ago and I already feel the need to say something about pool etiquette.  Somehow, I thought it was common knowledge that you're going to get splashed in a pool.  Darned if I didn't watch someone get all riled that they just had their hair done and didn't want it to get wet - all while she stood in water up to her shoulders BEFORE everyone in the pool started exercising.  Um, really?!  And two the two ladies who I watched put on perfume in the changing room before class, please don't.  Just, don't.  Mmmkay?!

I've decided that I am bringing back "Tuesdays at the Table", my weekly recipe link-up.  I loved hosting it and getting to try all those wonderful recipes!  I'm still working on a button.  Stay tuned for the button and more info soon!  I'm already getting excited to visit everyone and try some new recipes.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about getting another tattoo.  I already have two - a Celtic cross on the inside of my left ankle, and a heart on the inside of my right ankle.  Predictably, I really think I want a dachshund on me.  Obviously, I won't have anything inked on me until I find the perfect design, but here are a few of my favorite designs right now.

ICYMI:the knockout punch of SHIELDvsCARTER #SDCC15 #dubsmashwars #DontMakeMePutMyLipstickOn

A video posted by Clark Gregg (@clarkgregg) on Jul 12, 2015 at 5:08pm PDT

Little admission here...I am a total geek.  As in, "wow, I'd really like to make it Comic-Con someday" kind of geek.  As Comic-Con has gone on in San Diego this week, I've been entertained by the Marvel Agents of Shield vs. Agent Carter dub smash battle on Instagram.  If you don't want to scroll through a boat load of Instagram messages, you can see the progression of their battle HERE.

What's on your agenda this weekend?

"Keep Calm", a Birthday Recap!

I've known about my birthday present for a few months now.  But my birthday arriving made it REAL.  I'm going to the UK in October for two weeks!

We're doing a few days in London, then a week in Cornwall, and finally back to London.  As you all might recall - Edinburgh, Scotland is my favorite city in the world, so I'm hoping to find a way to take a train up for a day or so.  I can't wait!!!

My fabulous parents also gifted me a new luggage set and a few pounds to start me saving for the trip!  I LOVE THEM!

It's been almost a decade since I've gotten across the pond, so I'm hoping any of you that live there or have visited recently will give me some ideas of what I need to see or do!

My birthday itself was pretty quiet, which is A-OK with me.  :-)  A family dinner on Friday night to celebrate dad's birthday, lunch with my parents on Saturday for my birthday, cuddle time with the pups, a little crafting and a good book!

It's My Birthday... and a Jamberry Giveaway Winner!!

If you know me in real life, you know that I'm shy.  I HATE being the center of attention and am very go with the flow...  However, my birthday is my day.  My one day to get the few things that I really want.  So I embrace the day! I hope that isn't selfish!

If you are following me on Instagram, you've already seen this - but I'm really enjoying seeing pictures of myself as a little kid lately.  These pictures were my grandmother's and came home with my dad after his trip to Texas last month.

Congratulations to my lucky Jamberry giveaway winner - Jennifer! You all can expect another Jamberry giveaway in the fall, and I'll be having another birthday month giveaway starting in a few days!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I am having extra incentives for Jamberry hostesses.  :-)  If you'd like to host a party, email me or click the link on my Jamberry website!

Five on Friday - Birthday Weekend

It's Friday again.  How did that happen?  Somehow the week has flown by, and I'm looking forward to my birthday weekend! I'm linking up with the lovely April again this week.

Happy Birthday to this guy.  Thank you for telling me every year that I'm your favorite birthday present, for helping me foster a love of animals at an early age, and for bestowing nicknames on me that no one else understands.  :-)  I hope this is a wonderful birthday for you and the start of an amazing year!

 



I'm hoping to get a little sewing time this weekend.  A trip to JoAnn Fabric yielded a few good sized remnants for a really good deal!  I think the dachshund fabric (SO CUTE!!) will turn into no-tie bandanas for the rescue and the lattice print will be a dress for Paisley.

Part of my dad's birthday present is an outing to the movies.  There are a few that I want to see.  As much as I really want to the Minions, I don't think that's exactly on my dad's wish list.  Have you seen either Jurassic World of Terminator Genisys?

Don't look now, but I joined a gym.  Pray for me, people!  It's been a while and I'm a klutz, so I'm hedging my bets and starting with water aerobics.  You know...AFTER I enjoy my birthday weekend!

My Jamberry giveaway ends Friday at midnight EST.  Move quick and get entered!  Another "birthday month" giveaway is coming next week!

What's on your agenda this weekend?

Dear (Fill in the blank)...

You're all OK with a few random notes, right?!  OK!  Let's proceed!



Dear Marketing Directors,
Yes, my birthday is this week.  Yes, I did willingly a sign-up for birthday perks (OK, I remember signing up for most of them, but a few just came out of nowhere!) and appreciate even automated recognition of my birthday.  However, why do you all want me to visit ON MY BIRTHDAY?!  There's no way I'm hitting Cold Stone Creamery, BGood, Panera Bread, Starbucks, and Baskin-Robins within a few days of my birthday!  Can you do me a favor and consider making birthday perks good for two weeks or a month?!

Please and thank you,
The girl who wants her free birthday perks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Comcast,
Somehow, I don't think it's funny that I lose wi-fi if I'm more than 10-15 feet away from the router.  It kind of defeats the purpose of wi-fi, don't ya think?!  Your customer support team suggesting that we upgrade to faster service isn't going to help either.  Just sayin'.

Thanks,
The lady who would like to watch TV and blog at the same time

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Beach-going people,
PLEASE, for all that is holy - STOP going in the water for a few weeks!  Or at least don't be so shocked that there are shark attacks.  Sharks live in. the. ocean.  We're in their territory!  I acknowledge that the sharks are more active this year.  But I'm not the only one that has seen the reports of shark sightings, right?

Sincerely,
Someone who doesn't want more "breaking news" of shark attacks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Puppers,
I think that my insomnia has officially rubbed off on you.  Your desire to go out at 2, 3:30 and 4:30 each morning is cutting into the few hours of sleep that I usually get.  I'll work on my insomnia issues if you'll work on yours.

Woofs,
A very tired dogmom

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Dear Mother Nature,
As us New Englanders say - it is "wicked humid out".  It's a nightmare for asthmatics. I know it's summer, and I'll curtail my complaints about the heat if you'll meet me half-way and scale back the humidity.

Thanks,
Someone who prefers not to wheeze every time I leave air conditioning


Do you have any letters to share?



P.S. Don't forget to enter my Jamberry giveaway.  It ends Friday at midnight.  :-)

Five on Friday - Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!!!  I'm finding that I'm really starting to look forward to the Five on Friday link-up with April. There are so many really great bloggers that linked up that I can go visit!

I love fireworks! Before my brother's deployment, he loved fireworks too.  Unfortunately, he came back from Afghanistan, like many others with PTSD.  This makes fireworks difficult for a lot of our current soldiers and veterans.  If you have a veteran or currently enlisted soldier in your neighborhood, please consider talking to them.  Knowing when you anticipate setting off fireworks won't take away their PTSD, but may give them time to leave or utilize coping mechanisms.

Did you know that the 5th of July is one of the busiest days of the year for shelters?  Fireworks are scary for many pets, which triggers their fight or flight response.  Be sure to keep your furbabies inside and safe while you enjoy the fireworks!

How do we celebrate the 4th of July at work? With flag onesies! #letfreedomring #work #fun #independenceday

A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on Jul 1, 2015 at 11:12am PDT

In case you were wondering...this is what the 4th of July looks like at my office!

If you haven't dropped by my blog this week, you haven't heard about my Jamberry giveaway yet!  You can enter to win two sheets of Jamberry nails of your choice on this post!

I came across this berry popsicle recipe and can't wait to try it!  How festive and yummy looking, right?!


Have a fabulous weekend weekend, everyone!