Dear (Fill in the Blank)...

Sorry, today is going to be a bit random.  Sometimes, we all have to just let out a little steam. ;-)


Dear Costume Companies,
I get that you all want to sell the newest and best costumes; you want to have something that is "you" and cutting edge.  But for the love of God - please stop freaking sexualizing every costume.    In my opinion, you'll sell just as much, if not more with a GOOD costume.  And maybe you'll be part of teaching teenage girls that Halloween doesn't HAVE to be sexy!  Sure, some adult women may want to wear a sexy maid or sexy nurse costume and I don't begrudge them that.

But these are real offering this year.  And I beg you to STOP!  A minion should never be sexy...

With thanks,
Someone who thinks costumes shouldn't mean catching pneumonia

_______________________________________

Dear FitBit,
I think you're great! Even if you are pointing out how many steps I'm not taking and how much I'm not sleeping!  But I've got a tiny complaint.  I've linked you with Facebook.  I know I have friends who use FitBit too!  Why are you not finding them?!  Some of your challenges look pretty interesting...but who wants to compete with themselves?

If any of you use FitBit let me know!  I have mine set to a different email address than I blog with.

Thanks!
A girl who really wants to "out walk" someone

_______________________________________

Dear Politicians,
We are a YEAR away from electing one of you clowns our next President.  Sadly, I'm already referring to you all as clowns....  If one of you all could get your act together so I feel confident you won't f-up the country, that would be super cool.

In the meantime, I'm already getting PAC robocalls which are annoying me to no end.  Stop it!!

Thanks a bunch,
The lady who really wishes we could elect Josiah Bartlet as our next President (I'll be over here watching West Wing again)

_______________________________________

Dear Co-worker,
We work in a small office and it's pretty clear that we all have quirks.  If you could PLEASE stop encouraging certain people's more interesting quirks, as well as stop forcefully shutting your door like a petulant child when people don't have time to talk to you...well, that would be great.

Mucho gusto,
A lady who just wants a few less "what the hell" moments in her day

_______________________________________

Dear Marketing Teams,
I'm happy fall is here.  I am!  The cooling weather, leaves changing color, apple picking, Halloween, return of my favorite TV shows...the list could go on and on!  Now, I get that you all think that pumpkin makes a fun fall flavor.  But if you could all STOP making everything pumpkin flavored, I would really appreciate it!  It's not a competition, really!

Can I suggest alternative flavors?  Maybe apple, caramel or just refocusing your existing products with fall packaging?!

With autumnal appreciation,
Someone who very much dislikes pumpkin flavored products

_______________________________________

Have anything you want to get off your chest?!

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!

Five on Friday

Happy Friday!!!  With the heat and humidity, it has been a bit of a long week.  I can't wait to relax...  I had so much fun visiting everyone last week, that I'm linking up with April again this week.

I'm starting my list with a brag.  I am so proud of Kristin for making her dream of starting her own photography business a reality.  Kristin is not only my cousin, but one of my best friends and we work together!  (Yep, lots of quality time for us!)  She is immensely talented and can't wait to see her business grow.  You can follow her blog HERE, Instagram HERE or on Facebook HERE.

Fireworks in the towns surrounding me start tonight.  I love living in the greater Boston area and being surrounded by history & patriotism!  Everything culminates on the 4th with an amazing show courtesy of the Boston Pops, usually some celebrity guests, lots and lots of people crowding on the Hatch Shell...and of course, the fireworks!

Image courtesy of Boston Magazine

My birthday month is looming....July 11th, if your curious! I like to share the birthday love, so I have a few giveaways scheduled through July.  :-)  The first one starts on July 1st!

Image via Pinterest (can't find an origin, sorry!)

I am contemplating bringing back "Tuesdays at the Table", my weekly recipe link-up.  I love cooking, baking, bbq'ing... and trying recipes of all sorts.  Everyone always had something yummy and new to contribute.  What do you all think?  YAY or NAY?

If it comes back...a new button will go with it.  :-)

I'm ending my list with a combination of two of my favorite things - dachshunds and minions.  Enjoy!!

Memorial Day

I hope that you all are enjoying this beautiful long weekend and that it's full of family, friends and fun!

My heart and my thanks go to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so we can live in a country that allows us the freedom to be anything we want to be & express who we really are.

Happy Flag Day

By and large, Flag Day is one of those "holidays" that people either don't know about...or ignore.

However, my elementary school made a huge deal about it.  We sang flag songs, took a school picture in front of the flagpole, made little flags and learned the history of flag day.

All these years later - my elementary friends and I still wish each other a happy Flag Day (and Army birthday) on Facebook.  It's still a precious memory that only a select group of us share.  :-)

Happy Mother's Day

I'm wishing all my human moms, fur mom's, aunts that act as surrogate moms and grandmas a VERY Happy Mother's Day!  I hope you all get spoiled by your respective kids.  :-)

Wordless Wednesday - Weinerbunnies

It's bad lighting..but Beckett willingly modeled his bunny ears!

Paisley was a little unsure of them...

 

 

I hope the Easter weenie...um, bunny was good to everyone!



 

I posted pictures to Facebook and got feedback that I'm mean for making them wear sweaters, a snugglie, etc....in this case bunny ears.  Sorry, but I'm not sorry!  Being my furbaby means you get good means, homemade treats, your own pillows (OK, I just let them steal mine), health insurance and endless love.  All I ask in return is a few embarrassing pictures a year.  Sounds fair to me! :-)

The Chipmunk Christmas Song & I Challenge You To Find The UGLY!

Welcome to December!  My month o' Christmas music has made its return.  Hopefully I don't annoy the tinsel out of you...  :-)



I'm starting with a childhood favorite! Who doesn't love the Chipmunk Christmas song?!

I know that you all have gorgeous holiday displays!  Pretty lights, a perfect tree, and of course, nothing that could even come close to being called "tacky".  Right?!

Well, I've seen my fair share of tacky holiday displays lately and I'm challenging you to find me the UGLY!!!  Start snapping pictures of the eleven million singing Santa's on your neighbors lawn, the light displays that can be seen from space, the house two blocks away that has a flashing Santa and a house strung up with only red lights...or anything that seems horrifically ugly, distasteful or tacky!

Send me your ugly pictures by Sunday, December 16th and I'll post them all on Monday the 17th.  Then EVERYONE can vote for the ugliest holiday display for the rest of the week.  A prize (exactly what is yet to be determined) will be awarded to the submitter of the worst holiday display!

Tuesdays At The Table - Turkey Enchilada Casserole

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend, and scored some super Black Friday deals!!

Here is my favorite recipe for leftover turkey (or chicken).  It's an easy casserole with a yummy Mexican twist.  :-)

Turkey Enchilada Casserole1 1/2 to 2 cups of cooked turkey, diced
1 package flour tortillas
1 jar (16 oz) salsa verde
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
3 tablespoons (approximately) vegetable oil

Mix diced turkey and about 3/4 (12 oz) of the salsa verde in a bowl and set aside.

Heat tortillas in the oil, one at a time for about 10 seconds. Drain on paper towels.

In casserole dish, place a layer of tortillas. Top with ½ of turkey mixture and ½ of black beans. Place another layer of tortillas topped with turkey mixture and beans. Top with tortillas. Place the last 4 oz of salsa verde on top of tortillas. Top casserole with cheese.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream and guacamole (optional).

What's cooking in your kitchen?

A Christmas song a day comes back on December 1st!  If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Christmas Card... Take Two

Here's the Shutterfly version of my Christmas card. I loooove it! {Dear Shutterfly, My feelings are still a little hurt that you severed a multi-year relationship. And at the holidays of all times... :-)}

It's not too late to get on my Christmas card list!! You know you want to see what kind of cuteness is printed on the inside.  Heeheehee!

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

 

Christmas Card List

I'm biting the bullet and realizing that for the first time in four years, Shutterfly isn't going to help subsidize my holiday cards. (Bummer!!!)  Thank goodness an awesome friend passing along a coupon code she wasn't going to use!  You're the best, Jess!
 
It's time to start my mailing list!  Want to be on it?!  You know you do!




Make sure you hit "submit"! :-)

Christmas Cards...

Around this time, I usually announce that I'm working with Shutterfly on a giveaway.  Unfortunately, I haven't heard from them yet this year!  After working with them the past three years - I'm pretty bummed not to have been contacted by them.

While it's likely that I'll use them anyway (Quite frankly, they're still pretty awesome!), I got a Groupon for 40 Zazzle cards.  Here's what I chose:

What do you think?
(Hey Shutterfly, I have my heart set on some Yappy Howlidays cards...so contact me.  MMkay?)

Halloween Costumes - The Good, The Bad and The WTF

Halloween is next week - which for a lot of people means trick-or-treating with the kids, perhaps a party or two and maybe a theme night at a local bar.

I don't know about you...but I think that Halloween costumers fall into a few categories.

The Good: Where some really creative people show their talents and their sense of humor to their friends and neighbors.

via

Fergie as Honey Boo Boo

 

via

Gather some friends for Game of Thrones.

 

via

I love this owl costume for a little kid!

The Bad:  Perhaps you had good intentions...but just couldn't pull off the costume.

via

I'm guessing that she's trying her own version of Lady Gaga's meat dress.  Quite unsuccessfully.

 

 

via

I have no words. 

 

via

Potty training gone WAY wrong.

 

The WTF:  Pretty self-explanatory.  I don't know WHAT they were thinking, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to ask.  (Note: I apologize if you're offended by any of these costumes.)

via

Um...NO!

 

via

Best case scenario - this causes some parents to have "the talk" with kids earlier than scheduled.

 

via

How does a parent think this is even slightly appropriate?!?!

What's the best/worst costume you've seen in recent years?