Preppy Pugs

Christmas Wreaths

2009-12-18T12:25:00.003-05:00

This year I made two wreaths. One for me and one for a friend. Wreaths are really easy to make, and it's so nice to be able to personalize them. Since I'm stuck on the beachy theme, I had to do something with starfish.

Christmas Things

2009-12-01T23:27:00.005-05:00

We all had a wonderful Thanksgiving here. The food was fabulous and the company was even better. So now we're on to the next holiday, Christmas. While reading some of my favorite blogs I stumbled across these great ideas for making beachy Christmas ornaments.

You can buy the empty clear glass ornament balls at Michael's craft store, then all you need to do is fill them up with sand and sea shells. How easy and cute is that! To get the full story and all the details you can visit the blog The Stories of A to Z, where I found the top photo.

(Top photo from Tales from an oc cottage, bottom photo from Completely Costal.)

These are also super cute, glitter starfish Christmas ornaments. All you need is white finger starfish, glue, glitter, and ribbon. Another 15 minute easy craft that would make a great gift for someone.

While you're making these great Christmas Ornaments I recommend listening to Chris Tomlin's new Christmas CD, "Glory in the Highest". I just picked it up today and I can't stop listening to it. It is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit while reminding you what Christmas is really all about.

Making Of The Brine

2009-11-24T17:24:00.003-05:00

Less than 48 hours till Turkey Day! So that means it's time to start making the turkey brine.

I'll let the brine chill over night in the fridge so it will be nice and cold for the turkey tomorrow night. Mmmm I can taste the moist delicious turkey already.

Turkey Day

2009-11-19T23:07:00.009-05:00

Thanksgiving is now less than a week away. It's time to start prepping for the big day. Each year I make the turkey and have used the same recipe every time. The turkey always comes out perfectly moist and delicious. I usually brine the turkey in a 5 gallon bucket, you can buy a new/never used one at Lowe's or Home Depot. Then I just store the bucket in the fridge overnight to keep chilled. Or if you don't have the room in your fridge, I have also brined the turkey in a medium size cooler. With the ice in the brine and the cooler lid kept tight, the turkey will stay at a safe cold temperature over night. Since the brine needs to be completely chilled before soaking the turkey in it, I usually prepare the brine 2 days before Thanksgiving. Then the night before Thanksgiving day all I need to do is clean the turkey and soak it over night in the brine. It couldn't get any easier. Follow the directions exactly as the recipe states for cooking the turkey. Yes the recipe is correct for cooking the turkey at 500 degrees for 30 minutes. This gives the turkey that fabulous golden color that is picture perfect. This high temperature may cause a lot of smoke from the fat drippings. Adding watering into the bottom of the pan may help reduce the smoke. After you decrease the oven temperature to 350 degrees, place tin foil (AKA *turkey triangle) over the turkey breast, and place the temperature probe into the turkey, you can sit back and relax. Don't touch the oven door till you hear that thermometer alarm. I encourage you to view this video found at the Food Network website for more information about this recipe, specifically on roasting the turkey and using the *turkey triangle.

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Good Eats Roast Turkey

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Ingredients

1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey

For the brine:

1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon chicken stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water

For the aromatics:

1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage
Canola oil

2 to 3 days before roasting:

Begin thawing the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38 degrees F.

Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.

Early on the day or the night before you'd like to eat:

Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Remove the bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard the brine.

Place the bird on roasting rack inside a half sheet pan and pat dry with paper towels.

Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add steeped aromatics to the turkey's cavity along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skin liberally with canola oil.

Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F for 30 minutes. Make a * turkey foil triangle * and place it over the turkey breast then insert a probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Set the thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees F. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.

Very Spicy Chili

2009-11-10T16:27:00.003-05:00

I found a new recipe for chili from the blog I'm Just Beachy and Publix. This chili is quick and easy to make with a pretty good kick if you like things spicy. Here is the recipe with the changes I made.

Warm You Up Chili

Ingredients:

1 onion (chopped); I used 1 tsp of onion powder instead since I don't like the texture of onions

1 lb ground beef

3 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin (my addition)

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed tomato soup; although I used the condensed soup this time, I think next time I will just use a can of tomato sauce

1 (14.5-ounce) can Rotel (whatever kind you like, I used hot) (undrained)

2 small cans diced green chiles (undrained); I only added 1 can

1 (16-ounce) can chili beans in mild sauce (undrained); I added a can of corn instead since I don't like these beans

1 (15-ounce) can black beans (drained)

1 bottle of beer (any kind); I used Blue Moon, only about 3/4 of the bottle.

Preheat large saucepan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Place beef, chili powder, pepper, and onion or powder in pan. Cook 4–5 minutes, stirring to crumble meat, or until meat is brown and no pink remains. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce heat to low; simmer 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, to blend flavors.

Serve with shredded cheese, crackers, and sour cream for toppings.

Enjoy!

Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk

2009-11-01T09:06:00.003-05:00

While we did not participate in the 3-Day 60 mile walk to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation, the fire departments of Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach were out to cheer them on. We built a pink ribbon out of balloons were many stopped to have their picture taken, and a cold water mister to help keep the walkers cool.

The firemen wore specially made pink t-shirts as their part of their uniform for 6 days to show their support.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T21:11:00.000-04:00

Alaska

2009-09-22T12:23:00.005-04:00

Last month we gathered up the family and took a trip to Seattle, WA and a cruise to Alaska.

We took a train ride through the mountains...

Took a helicopter tour of Mendenhall Glacier...

Took a ride with the sled dogs of Alaska...

Ate too much...

And enjoyed all the beautiful scenery!

I'm Not Dead!

2009-07-25T09:28:00.003-04:00

I've just been busy with other things. Earlier this month I finished my 22 week residency nursing program. I am a new nurse now out working in the ICU on my own, and I'm loving it. I did have some time for a sewing project. Our dogs had the most pitiful dog beds and the ones in the stores were expensive and not so cute. So I decided I would make my own, with the help of various tutorials on the internet.

It's hard to tell, but the fabric has star fish on it. How cute is that!

Fried Apples

2009-05-14T19:45:00.004-04:00

I had a craving for Fried Apples this evening. If you're from the South and have been to a Cracker Barrel restaurant, you know what I'm talking about. Mmmmm. With the help of my friends on Facebook and the vast information on the internet I was able to make them myself. Very tasty! I can't wait to add them to my steel cut oatmeal in the morning.

Here is the recipe I used:

2 1/2 cups apple juice
4 large golden delicious apples, unpeeled and cut into wedges
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
4 tablespoons sugar
In a large skillet, combine the apple juice and sliced apples. Heat on medium until apples are fork tender, turning often to enable even cooking. Be careful not to overcook apples. Remove apples from juice with slotted spoon and place in large bowl.

In another bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir with wire whisk until well blended. Pour hot apple juice into dry mixture. Whisk vigorously until lumps are gone. Pour this mixture back into the skillet and heat on medium heat, whisking constantly, until bubbly and thick.
Remove from heat and pour over apples in bowl. Stir until apples are evenly coated.

Flea Prevention

2009-05-13T15:37:00.002-04:00

The dreaded flea season for Florida and other states will shortly be here. Even though this story states that over-the-counter flea prevention is okay to use, I strongly disagree. Having worked in an emergency veterinary hospital I have seen countless reactions to these over-the-counter flea products. From mild hypersalivation to dangerous seizures. I urge everyone to purchase their pets flea control products from their veterinarian. Not just because I work in the industry, but because it's safer for your pets. I wish everyone a happy, safe, and bug free summer!

Kibble Fountain

2009-05-08T08:35:00.003-04:00

Our dogs love it when the dog food bin gets empty. That always means soon there will be a kibble fountain for them to grab from. Well at least for Winston to grab from, the others pick up the stray kibbles that land on the floor.

Funny Things Around Town

2009-04-22T18:54:00.004-04:00

Here we have the mac daddy of scooters in the geriatric world. It has an all weather cushion seat with a canopy to protect him from the sun.

Complete with a basket in the front to hold various items including a plastic rooster to lead the way.

Just when you thought your car needed to be cleaned, think again. We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw this car on the road. Half of the debris looked like food just bought from the grocery store, while the other half just looked like garbage. How can anyone drive around in a car full of trash?! A car full of hot Florida trash! Gross!

The FURminator

2009-04-14T22:04:00.003-04:00

So the other day we went to our local pet store, Dog Lovers, to pick up some food and a brush for the Pugs. We went up to the counter with a $5.99 dog brush and walked out with a $49.99 dog brush! When we went up to the counter the checkout lady insisted that we try the FURminator if we're looking to remove excess hair from our Pugs. We brought along Zoe for the car ride, so we tried out the FURminator at the store. It seemed to do an okay job, so we bought it not knowing how much it was. We got in the car and started to drive home. Looking at the recipt we noticed that the brush was $49.99!! What!?!? We were appalled at the price and just couldn't believe that we spent that much money on a stinkin' dog brush. When we got home we tried the FURminator out. Let me just say, it was worth every penny we spent. It really does the job of removing excess hair and helps with shedding (if you use it almost everyday). I have noticed considerably less dog hair on the floor since we started using the FURminator. We give it two paws up.

Virtual Model

2009-04-09T16:34:00.003-04:00

Lands' End has this great virtual model online that you can configure to your personal shape and size. There's even an option for the shape of your breasts, if you can believe that. Luckily they don't have an option for the shape of your belly. :-) After you put in all your dimensions and pick out the outfit the virtual tool will even suggest the best size for you. Although I've never purchased a swimsuit from Lands' End, this one is pretty cute. Right now their swimwear is 25% off plus free shipping in case anyone is interested.

Easter Kicked Up A Notch!

2009-04-05T17:34:00.002-04:00

Just when you've thought you'd seen it all... something new pops up. Over in Europe and Canada McDonalds serves a Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry! What could be yummier! Oh the creamy goodness!

Loving Starfish

2009-03-27T18:53:00.007-04:00

I'm on a starfish kick lately. When I redecorated our living room I added starfish for a beachy theme. Since then I have been adding to my collection.

My most recent and favorite purchase has been a starfish necklace from Brighton, thank you to my mother-in-law for the gift card. There are really cute earrings to go with the necklace as well. I did not purchase them though because of my sensitive ears. Brighton said there was a trace of nickel in the earring so I was afraid they would irritate my ears. As I sit at home now, I am thinking maybe I would get them anyway and just paint clear nail polish on the backs of them. Hmmmm. I might have to run out and get them tomorrow.

Doing Well

2009-03-26T16:45:00.002-04:00

Well I am happy to report that I am adjusting well to my overnight shifts at work. My only issue is trying to figure out the best way to get sleep the day of my first night shift of the week. So far what seems to be working best is getting up early the day of my night shift, going to workout, then coming home to eat breakfast and going back to bed for a nap. I laid down for about four hours yesterday before going in to work, I think I might have slept for two of them. That seemed to give me enough energy to get through the evening. Thank you everyone for all you tips and support.

One Minute Twenty-Five Seconds-Done!

2009-03-24T19:20:00.002-04:00

I'm not even sure if Winston is chewing his food...

I Won!

2009-03-24T19:10:00.003-04:00

A fellow blogger, Grosgrain Lane, was giving away this car magnet, and I won! I rarely win anything. I can't wait to get it. As you can see by the photo below, my other magnet needs to be retired.

Hanky Panky

2009-03-21T10:53:00.003-04:00

I've never tried the Hanky Panky brand of underwear, but I hear they are very comfortable. If you'd like to try them out for free, a fellow blogger is giving a few pairs away. Head on over to Tales of a Northern Belle to enter the contest.

The Night Shift

2009-03-18T21:41:00.002-04:00

When I was looking for a job as a new nurse I knew there would be some sacrifices to make. One of them being working nights. I've never worked a full night shift before. The latest I've ever worked was till about 3am. I don't think I'll have any trouble staying awake, my worry is getting enough sleep the next day to go back to work that night. So to prepare myself I have purchased a few items I think will help me.

This is a herbal supplement that claims to reduce stress hormones to support the body's relaxation response.

We have French doors and two windows in our bedroom. That makes for a lot of light during the daytime hours. I've though about getting black out shades/curtains, but then what do you do with them during the day? So I thought I'd try wearing a sleeping mask. I ordered this one online and it came in the mail today. I am anxiously awaiting to try it.

If anyone has worked nights and has any tips they would like to share with me, please do. I'll take any advise I can get.

We're Still Alive

2009-03-15T20:11:00.004-04:00

I can't believe it's been almost 3 weeks since my last post. We've been a busy Pug family. Most recently I am trying to keep my new Orchid plant alive. It's been only 2 days since I brought it home, so far so good. I re-potted the Orchid outside and Zoe thought she'd check it out.

We did a mini-photo shoot of the Pugs outside. They seem to photograph so much better in sun light.

French Fry

2009-02-25T19:49:00.002-05:00

Oliver went to the vet the other weekend. On his way there I stopped at Burger King for lunch. Here is a photo of him eating his first french fry. At first he didn't know what to do with it and spit it out. After another attempt he learned it was pretty tasty.

Rogaine For Pugs?

2009-02-19T20:12:00.001-05:00

This is so gross! This is the pile of hair after sweeping our house. The sad part about this is that this amount of hair accumulated over 3-4 days. How do my dogs still have any hair on their bodies?!

Peanut Butter Bacon Sandwich??!!

2009-02-07T18:00:00.003-05:00

I saw a post on the blog "One Tree Past The Fence" for a peanut butter and bacon sandwich, and thought to myself, yeck! Maybe it's good, but I'm not willing to try it to find out.

Manatee Swim

2009-02-07T15:11:00.004-05:00

Luckily my friend's camera did not get waterlogged as mine did during our manatee swim. It was a VERY early ride out to Homosassa Springs, FL to swim with the manatees. We had to be at Captain Mike's at 5:30 am, which meant leaving our house at 4 am. As I am entering the water the sun is just starting to rise. The earlier you're out in the water and the colder it is, there is more of a chance to swim with multiple manatees. So we were not totally crazy for getting up early on this chilly morning.

If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend swimming with manatees. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget!

I hope to have have more photos to post later. The disposable camera is being developed as I type this. I was unable to look through the viewfinder when taking the photos, so hopefully some of them turned out okay.

Not So Waterproof Camera

2009-02-05T08:58:00.002-05:00

There may not be any new stories for the next week or so. Husband and I went to swim with the manatees yesterday. It was the best experience ever!! Unfortunately the waterproof camera we had got waterlogged. So, we need to send it off to be fixed or replaced. Who knows how long that will take. We did get to take pictures with a disposable camera and a friend we went with took pictures with her camera. I will post those amazing photos with the manatees when I get them.

If you see this... it should worry you!

2009-01-30T20:16:00.005-05:00

So, as your driving down the road, if you look over at the car next to you and see this in the window, it should worry you. I'm not quite sure if he is an escapee, or just out for the weekend.

Michael

Perplexed Oliver

2009-01-29T21:02:00.004-05:00

Poor Oliver is trying to figure out how to get one specific toy out of the bin. Sadly, he never figured out how.

When Pugs Attact Part 2

2009-01-29T13:08:00.004-05:00

We have a new dog in the neighborhood, a 7 month old Great Dane name Caroline. At first she was shy, but now runs over to see Oliver (the Bulldog). I think Oliver has a new girlfriend. Winston on the other hand (black Pug) wants nothing to do with Caroline. Watch and see how a 15 lb. Pug chases away a Great Dane. It really is too funny. Once again, no Pugs or other dogs were harmed in the making of this video.

Dog Day At The Beach

2009-01-28T16:27:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was the perfect day to take all the dogs out to Honeymoon Island. It wasn't too warm so we were able to bring Oliver too.

I think Oliver was the only one who enjoyed going in the water. Only up to his knees though.

Zoe was happy watching all the action on her sandy beach towel.

Chicken Pot Pie

2009-01-26T18:34:00.004-05:00

I am a big fan of chicken pot pie. Except for all the fat & calories that come with this wonderful dish. I figured if I could make it at home I would be able to control what goes in it. So here was my attempt. I got the recipe from NMB's blog Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S. It wasn't an exact recipe, more of a put in what you like recipe. So here's what I did...

I boiled a white chicken breast in enough chicken broth to cover it up. For flavor I added 1/4 white onion, a few shakes of poultry seasoning, black pepper, and oregano. Once the chicken was fully cooked (about 10 min) I removed the chicken from the broth. Since I don't like to eat onions I strained the broth to remove them. I placed the broth back in the pot. To that I added 1/2 cup of chopped potatoes & 1/2 cup chopped carrots. I needed more broth to cover up the vegetables, so I added more (I used a quart of chicken broth total). I cooked the vegetables till they were almost tender and then added 1/2 cup of frozen peas & 1/2 cup of frozen corn. I then shredded the chicken and added that too. In a cup I added about 5-6 oz. of evaporated milk (GRITS says this is the secret to the recipe) and 2 tbs. of corn starch. I slowly added the milk mixture the the pot till it was thickened to my liking. I added a bit more black pepper and poultry seasoning to taste. At this point I guess you could add the mixture to a casserole dish and cover with a pie crust or croissant rolls and bake in the oven. I decided to make the croissant rolls separate so that I could warm up the chicken pot pie mixture tomorrow and make fresh rolls again.

Thank you GRITS for this recipe. It was exactly what I was looking for!

Seriously!

2009-01-26T08:58:00.005-05:00

So I have this lotion and this is the caution on the back. "Use only as directed. Excessive use or prolonged exposure may cause irritation to skin." The directions say nothing about washing the lotion off after applying it. So... most likely you will have prolonged exposure. Don't think I'll be using this lotion. In the trash it goes. Plus, can you really trust a lotion that is blue?

This lotion was not purchased, nor is it sold anywhere. It is a promotional item from a drug company that is distributed to medical facilities. You think they would be a little more careful with the ingredients as to not cause irritation.

Funny Oliver

2009-01-22T19:29:00.006-05:00

No, we are not really giving Oliver away. My husband thought this would be a funny photo to take.

Poor Oliver has taken a liking to the Pugs' bed. Here he is fighting to stay away. I'm not really sure why he just doesn't lay down and take a nap. I guess that's just Oliver for you. A silly Bulldog.

Florida is Freezing Over

2009-01-22T10:33:00.004-05:00

Brrr... it got so cold last night that we have a frost on the ground this morning. I believe the temperature got as low as 21 degrees. That's freezing for us Florida people.

We're Back...

2009-01-18T21:21:00.007-05:00

From our Western Caribbean cruise.

Checking out our life vest during the mandatory safety/lifeboat drill onboard. See my "cheesy" smile?!

Our Polaris buggy tour through a Cozumel jungle.

The cruise was great. All the food you could eat and lots of things to see and do. What we did not see though was sun!

The winds were strong and the boat was a rockin'. Here is a video of the pool water splashing with each back and forth rocking of the boat.

When Pugs Attack

2009-01-05T21:41:00.004-05:00

I thought I was going to get a video of me asking Zoe if she was hungry to see her head tilt back and forth. Instead I got Nina jumping on Zoe to start a fight. Bad Pugs!

(No Pugs were harmed in the making of this video.)

Silly Oliver

2009-01-05T11:03:00.002-05:00

Who Stole Whose Bed?

2008-12-31T09:07:00.005-05:00

Winston's Addiction

2008-12-30T15:52:00.006-05:00

Hello, my name is Winston and I have an addiction...

I compulsively seek out paper towels to eat. I have no control over this disorder. I think I may need counseling.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-27T09:27:00.004-05:00

We brought Zoe over to the parents house for the Christmas festivities. While we were opening presents she found the perfect spot under the tree.

It was a wonderful Christmas for all this year. Family was together for a big day of eating too much food then laying around to recover for another round of too much food. One of the gifts I got this Christmas was an Altec Lansin g dock/speaker to play music from my iPhone. I love it.

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas!

PediPaws

2008-12-22T16:37:00.003-05:00

After seeing the commercials on t.v. I wondered, "does this thing really work?" Two out of our four dogs do not like getting their nails trimmed. They've gotten better over the years with all the treats they get during the n dremel ail trims, but still it can be a struggle. So while at Target I found PediPaws, a dremel made for nail filing. It comes with a cap to catch the nail filings, although I find it easier to use without the cap. It also has a safety feature that will slow down or stop the dremel if you're pressing to hard on the nail.

Zoe gives the PediPaws two paws up!

New Shoes

2008-12-20T19:45:00.004-05:00

I have been in need for new walking shoes and also new nursing shoes. They are Nike Air Zoom Vomero +3. I found these shoes in the Fit2Run store at our local mall. They have you run on a tread mill while video taping it, then play the video back to watch how you run or walk. This gives you information on what kind of shoe you ned for your running/walking style.

(Photo from Fit2Run website.)

Hopefully these shoes will help on my long 12+ hour days as a new nurse.

Pinning Day

2008-12-20T19:26:00.004-05:00

A tradition in the school of nursing is the "Pinning" ceremony. At this special ceremony given for the graduating nursing students, family and friends, the students get to dedicate their nursing pin. Near the end of the ceremony they take a pledge which reaches back to Florence Nightengale who distinguished herself during the Crimean War nursing sick and wounded British soldiers. Because of her selfless duty during the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale became known as the "lady with the lamp." As a tribute to Florence's dedication, the lamp icon became symbolic of nursing. The lamp will always shine brightly as a symbol of the care and devotion the nurse administers to the sick and injured in the practice of Nursing. The Florence Nightingale Pledge:

"I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly to faithfully practice my profession of nursing. I will do all in my power to make and maintain the highest standards and practices of my profession.

I will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping in the practice of my calling. I will assist the physician in his work and will devote myself to the welfare of my patients, my family, and my community.

I will endeavor to fulfill my rights and privileges as a good citizen and take my share of responsibility in promoting the health and welfare of the community.

I will constantly endeavor to increase my knowledge and skills in nursing and to use them wisely. I will zealously seek to nurse those who are ill wherever they may be and whenever they are in need.

I will be active in assisting others in safeguarding and promoting the health and happiness of mankind."

The nursing graduates honor the dedication of Nurse Nightingale and symbolically plan to carry the ideals for which she stood in the Candle lighting portion of the pinning ceremony. The tradition of Candle lighting and Pledge recognizes her ideals.

Starfish Christmas Wreath

2008-12-06T20:13:00.006-05:00

I have one more week of clinicals in the ER until I graduate! My nursing preceptor has been awesome and to thank her I have made this starfish Christmas wreath for her. I got the idea from another blog, Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S. and from the Coastal Living website. I like the wreath so much that I think I need to make myself one.

Thanksgiving at the firehouse

2008-12-03T22:22:00.002-05:00

Michael still - Last post for the night. April may hurt me for hijacking her blog. If no one hears from me again, and I turn up missing, please name her as the number one suspect. Anyway, so, I had to work at the fire department on thanksgiving, and there must have been about 2 dozen cooking related calls that the fire departments in my area responded to. This is just proof that people who microwave their meals all year long should not try and cook Thanksgiving dinner.

Michael

Oliver

2008-12-03T22:09:00.003-05:00

Still Michael here... I know that this is the "Preppy Pugs" blog, but, our boy Oliver deserves a special note. Tonight, Oliver sunk to a new low. He always puts his toy up on the couch so that we will throw it, and he can bring it back (kind of like fetch, I guess.) Well tonight I guess I wasn't playing with him enough, he actually fell asleep with his head on the couch, very sad. Just felt I should share.

Michael

Why you should be careful who you give stuff too

2008-12-03T21:44:00.003-05:00

So, this is actually Michael - April's Husband. I'm at home tonight while April is working hard doing her clinical hours for school. One of our firefighters in my department gave a fire department sweatshirt to a local person that is "residentially challenged." The firefighter thought he was doing something nice and keeping this guy warm. WELL . . . as you can tell, you our friend ended up getting into some trouble with the local law. Unfortunately he was wearing our department sweatshirt... so, he is off to the clink. Wearing our sweatshirt. So, the moral of the story, if you don't want your shirt to end up on a criminal in jail, be careful what you give away.

This blogging this is kind of fun. I might have to do this more often.

MICHAEL

Oreo Truffles

2008-11-12T21:45:00.002-05:00

Just when you think you'll be going on a diet, this recipe shows up!

Oreo Truffles

bakerella.blogspot.com

1 package oreo cookies (divided… use cookie including the cream center)
1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)
white chocolate bark

1. Finely crush 7 cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziploc bag and crush into a fine consistency. Reserve for later.
2. Crush remaining cookies and stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.
3. Roll the mixture into 1" balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.
4. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry. You can sprinkle the tops with the 7 crushed cookies for decoration. (I usually eat mine before they make it to this stage.)
5. Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!

Makes about 36 truffles.

Notes: I used a small cookie cutter to push the mixture through for the heart shaped truffles. Also, it helps to freeze the uncoated balls for a few minutes to keep the mixture from starting to fall apart in the melted chocolate. If this becomes a problem, dip them in the chocolate, let dry and then dip again. They are also good dipped in regular milk chocolate bark. And for an extra twist, use the mint oreo sandwich cookies.

Three Pepper Beef Stir Fry

2008-11-03T18:49:00.006-05:00

I usually do chicken stir fry at home, but tonight I wanted to try beef. So off to Publix I went & purchased some top round steak, a red pepper, and a green pepper. I used this recipe below & it turned out fabulous! I would caution however to cut back on the ground black pepper. It was a little to peppery for my tastes. I also left out the ginger and onions, I'm not a big ginger or onion fan.

Three Pepper Beef
Cookinglight.com
Yield
4 servings (serving size: about 1 3/4 cups)

Ingredients
2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, divided
1 teaspoon sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound flank steak, trimmed and thinly sliced across the grain
1/4 cup low-salt beef broth (I added another 1/4 cup, my sauce was too thick)
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 1/4 cups cubed red bell pepper
1 1/4 cups cubed yellow bell pepper
1 1/4 cups cubed green bell pepper
Preparation
Combine 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, salt, and flank steak in a medium bowl; toss to coat. Set aside.

Combine 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, broth, soy sauce, and black pepper, stirring with a whisk until sugar dissolves; set aside.

Heat oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the green onions, ginger, and garlic; stir-fry 10 seconds. Add beef mixture; stir-fry 3 minutes or until done. Remove the beef mixture from pan; cover and keep warm. Add peas and bell peppers to pan; stir-fry 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add beef and broth mixture to pan; cook 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly.

Firefighters Support Breast Cancer

2008-11-01T12:56:00.005-04:00

There is a 3-day walk to support breast cancer that went through Wonderful Husbands city yesterday. One of the firemen made a huge pink ribbon made out of balloons that attracted many people to stop by and take pictures.

Then later on in the evening they all went out to hand out candy to the local kids.

Bat o' Lanterns

2008-10-19T16:53:00.006-04:00

These little bat pumpkins are so cute... you can find this craft idea at the website Familyfun.com.

Pug Pumpkin

2008-10-19T09:13:00.006-04:00

A few years ago I carved a craft pumpkin with this Pug template. It turned out so cute and was a sure hit with all the neighborhood kids. I'm trying to figure out how to post this template so it is downloadable. I posted it through photo bucket. Let me know if you're having trouble.

Pug Treats

2008-10-04T18:08:00.004-04:00

How cute is this shirt! I found it at zazzle.com.

They have all kinds of cute Halloween pug stuff.

Not Enough Room

2008-10-04T14:05:00.002-04:00

Help my books are consuming me and everything around them.

Still Alive

2008-10-04T09:55:00.003-04:00

We're all still alive here... not much has happened this past week. Thank goodness. All the dogs are doing wonderful, no gum eating incidents this week. I have a big paper due for nursing school this coming up week. So I've been spending a lot of time doing that.

Has anyone tried the pumpkin bagel with pumpkin cream cheese at Einstein's Bagel?! Mmm so good. Except for the fact that the cream cheese cost $1.50! And the bagel only $0.99! What's up with that. I can buy a tub of cream cheese for that price. So I found a great recipe for pumpkin cream cheese on the bog Pinch My Salt. I have not tried it yet, but by looking at the recipe it sounds pretty darn good. Here's the recipe:

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Spread

4 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. In a small bowl, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, and syrup til creamy.
2. Add pumpkin, spices and vanilla and beat til smooth.
3. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
4. Enjoy!

Winston & Nina Update

2008-09-25T15:57:00.003-04:00

Both Winston & Nina are home tonight. Neither of them had any serious side effects from the gum, thank the Lord! The both did have elevated liver enzymes, meaning that enough of the gum did get into their system to affect the liver. I was surprised about this because we made Winston vomit 15-20 minutes after he ate the gum, and we did the same to Nina in about 40 minutes. Xylitol is some dangerous stuff with dogs. We are very happy to have them home this evening. Thank you everyone for your good thoughts & prayers.

Not So Good For Dogs

2008-09-24T14:31:00.003-04:00

Our home is quiet today, with only two dogs. This morning our Pugs Winston & Nina got into some Orbit gum, which is very toxic to dogs. I gave Winston hydrogen peroxide to make him vomit, which he did several times. Winston is usually the culprit when it comes to getting into things he shouldn't. I wasn't sure if Nina got into any of it, but she was walking around the house with a piece of the box in her mouth. So this morning we made a trip to the doggie ER to make sure they would be okay. You can visit the ASPCA website for an article on the toxicity of Xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in gum & candy along with other foods.

Cardiac Rhythms

2008-09-22T21:08:00.003-04:00

This week I'm studying cardiac rhythms, cardiac surgical procedures along with all those cardiac drugs. Oh my aching head! Our big test is next Monday... so I have a lot of studying to do till then. No baking or surfing the web (too much that is) for me this week.

Waiting

2008-09-19T20:52:00.001-04:00

Sad little faces... wondering why I have a book in my lap instead of them.

Water Rescue

2008-09-19T18:21:00.003-04:00

Being a fireman on the beach means there's a good chance you'll need to save someone in the water. Earlier in the week Wonderful Husband and his crew spent the afternoon training for water rescue.

Friends

2008-09-19T18:16:00.002-04:00

Winston is very much attached to people, as most Pugs are. When we are on the couch he MUST be laying on us or at least have his chin on some part of us. Well since I was up and about making dinner tonight Winston was unable to settle down with me. So he choose to use Oliver's rolled up towel for a pillow, and in return Oliver used Winston as his pillow.

Cute Overload

2008-09-17T11:13:00.003-04:00

I was watching Martha Stewart this morning and they mentioned the blog Cute Overload. You really need to check it out if you like cute animal photos. There is even one of a pug with a pacifier in the mouth, must have stole it from the baby, (http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/2008/09/operation-pacif.html). The site is sure to put a smile on your face today.

Milk Alternative

2008-09-13T09:50:00.005-04:00

I've never been a big fan of drinking milk. It's okay in cereal, but other than that I'm not one to want a tall glass of milk. So on my search for looking for a milk alternative I tried soy milk. I never could really get use to the taste of it, with or without the vanilla. Recently I tried this almond milk. I purchased the vanilla flavor first, it was good but a little too sweet for me. So the next time I purchased the original flavor. It was just right. I does taste like almonds, so you'd have to like almonds to drink this. I personally think it's a better alternative to milk than soy. It give cereal a nice nutty flavor and in protein shakes for breakfast you can't really tell it's almond milk in there.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

2008-09-04T17:53:00.004-04:00

Someone out there has to make these cupcakes & let me know how they taste.... they look so good. I found the recipe on the blog Confections of a Foodie Bride.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

1 1/8 cup (9 oz) frozen Pink Lemonade Concentrate, thawed* 

White cake mix (yes, the boxed stuff) 

3 egg whites

2 Tbsp vegetable oil 

Non-stick spray 

1 recipe Lemon Buttercream Icing (recipe follows)

* For a less tart cupcake (and these babies do pack a punch), try reducing the amount of pink lemonade. 3/8 cup water and 3/4 cup pink lemonade will cut the tartness.

In a stand mixer, add the cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, and the pink lemonade concentrate. Mix on low for about 30 seconds and then increase to medium speed for 90 seconds (the batter will still be a bit lumpy; take care not to overmix so you don’t end up with dry cupcakes).
Spray each cupcake liner with the non-stick spray and spoon the batter into a prepared muffin pan (fill the cups between 2/3 and 3/4 full). Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick registers “done” in the center cupcake. Remove the pan from the oven and cook 5 minutes. Remove the cupcakes and cool completely on a baking rack.
Once the cupcakes have cooled, make the icing and ice the cupcakes.  Lemon Buttercream Icing 3 cups + 3 Tbsp confectioner’s sugar 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature 1/8 tsp salt 2 Tbsp lemon juice Red food color (to color icing and sugar, optional) 1/4 cup granulated sugar (optional)
Add the butter, confectioner’s sugar, salt, lemon juice, and food coloring (if using) to the stand mixer and mix on low using the paddle attachment until combined. Turn the speed to med-high until the icing is fluffy and uniformly pink. Add the icing to a pastry bag fitted with a 2D tip and ice the cupcakes.
Optional - Add the sugar and a couple drops of the food coloring to a food processor. Process until the sugar turns pink. Spread the sugar onto a plate and let dry for 15 minutes. Sprinkle onto freshly-iced cupcakes.

Source: Adapted from Wilton
Originally uploaded by Confections of a Foodie Bride.

No More Fun

2008-08-29T21:51:00.005-04:00

This Monday was the start of my final semester of nursing. So far I've been studying end of life care, how pain works and the drugs used to relieve pain, intracranial pressure & tomorrow I will tackle spinal cord problems.

My brain is feeling the pain already. At least now I know what drugs work best with stress headaches. It's going to be a busy and quick semester. Our final exam is November 10th, with four tests between now and then, a multitude of reports that are due & several competency test to pass as well. Oh and I almost forgot, somehow I need to find time to study the past three semesters worth of information to pass the NCLEX-RN. So if I do not blog as much as I have been during the summer, this is why.

Oliver's New Lamby

2008-08-25T10:55:00.003-04:00

Here is a video of Oliver and his favorite toy Lamby. The video is not the best quality, but you can still see just how obsessed he is. He will sit for hours and just suck on his Lamby as if he was nursing. If you look closely you can see his paws working too.

New Toys

2008-08-22T21:08:00.006-04:00

Oliver gets a new "lamby" to chew on ...

And the Pugs get a little monkey to chew on.

Baby Shower Gifts

2008-08-22T20:56:00.005-04:00

I have a baby shower to attend this weekend. Here are some of the items I've been working on. The mother & father to be have a French Bulldog. So I thought it would be perfect to apply French Bulldog appliques to onesies. I also made matching burp clothes and bibs. My summer hobby of sewing has been fun and creative. School starts back up on Monday, so I'll have to pack up the sewing machine and dust off my nursing books. I won't have time to do both.

The colors for the baby's room are going to be green and purple with butterflies. The mom to be says that purple is the new pink.

Who Loves Ice Cream?!

2008-08-18T09:36:00.006-04:00

I found this fabulous recipe at Emiline's blog Sugar Plum. It seems like just the right size for portion control when you're craving something cold and sweat. Here is the recipe:

Mini Butterfinger Ice Cream Cakes (Photo & Recipe by Emiline)

Ingredients:
8 Peanut Butter-Cream Filled Oreo Cookies, finely ground
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened
4 mini Butterfingers, coarsely chopped
1 heaping teaspoon of creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped salted peanuts
1 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, melted
1 heaping teaspoon of caramel topping

Directions:
Combine the Oreo cookie crumbs and melted butter, in a small mixing bowl, and stir until well combined. Press into the bottom of 6 muffin cups; freeze for 10 minutes.

In a small mixing bowl, stir together ice cream and Butterfinger until well combined. Roughly swirl the peanut butter into the ice cream; divide into muffin cups, and smooth the surface.

Freeze for 15 minutes. Evenly top with peanuts, then drizzle chocolate and caramel over the tops. Freeze for 1 hour, or until ready to serve.

Yield: 6 mini ice cream cakes

Why I Do Rescue

2008-08-12T08:28:00.006-04:00

Here is a video of just a few of the Pugs we have helped rescue over the years. I am thankful everyday that I have the opportunity to help these precious angels.

Molly's New Family

2008-08-11T20:58:00.004-04:00

Meet Molly's new family. Bella on the left and Baxter on the right. They all sleep with the momma at night.

Bella and Molly playing in the backyard.

Baxter and Molly resting on the couch.

Looks like Molly and Bella are having a good time together.

Too Funny For Words

2008-08-08T08:55:00.004-04:00

I'm a Pug! Woop - Morphing REMIX

I'm a Pug! Woop - Morphing Pug

Winston's New Vest

2008-08-07T08:11:00.003-04:00

Well Winston's mast cell tumor is gone, but about 5 days after the surgery he developed a seroma. Nothing really to worry about because it is just a pocket of clear serous fluid that can form after surgery. So we tried warm compressing to help bring down the swelling, then we tried the compression wrap you see above. Nothing worked, it actually got bigger. So last night we went back to the hospital for a recheck. The doctor decided it would be best to insert a needle into the pocket of fluid and make sure it wasn't infected. The fluid was clear and that was a good sign. He drained the rest of the fluid and put another compression wrap on Winston. Hopefully this will keep the fluid from building back up.

Molly Gets A Home

2008-08-04T09:40:00.004-04:00

My sweet Molly Ann found her forever home yesterday. Her new mommy brought her other two dogs, Bella & Baxter to meet her. They all got along well & Molly enjoyed playing with Baxter. Her new mommy has a blog, click here, that was started just for her. We will be checking frequently to see how Molly is doing.

When Molly left it was a bittersweet goodbye. I am going to miss her terribly, on the other hand I am so happy to see her have a wonderful home. I wish I could have kept her, but the more I keep the less I can foster. We all know there are so many other dogs out there that also need a second chance. So with tears in my eyes, I let her go. She will always have a special place in my heart.

A New Toy

2008-08-01T08:36:00.004-04:00

We have a small pug sized ball for the dogs to play with. We don't take it out very often because the one who usually plays with it is Oliver. He gets obsessed with it and doesn't let it go. Since we had company we thought we'd bring it out...

M getting ready to throw the ball, notice he is holding Oliver back...

The chase is on...

Toby gets the ball first...

Then Gizmo grabs it...

Toby watching eagerly to see if Gizmo will let him chew on it.

The Dogs Have Taken Over

2008-07-30T21:42:00.003-04:00

There is no room on the couch for the humans any more...

Gizmo and Molly looking pretty for the camera.

Molly found Oliver's big bone...
and guess who wants it back?!

Blog Award

2008-07-28T10:59:00.003-04:00

I was given this award by Dozer and Cooper over at The Life And Times Of Dozer and Cooper. Here are the rules for being given an award:

Add a link to the person who awarded it to me.
Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
Add links to those blogs on my blog.
Leave a message for my nominees on their blogs.

So I give this award to:
1) A day in the life of our pugs. (http://mypugsblog.blogspot.com)
2) Pug Possessed. (http://pugpossessed.blogspot.com/)
3) Clover's Adventures. (http://cloversadventures.blogspot.com/)
4) Wild Alaskan Mountain Pug. (http://wildalaskanmountainpug.blogspot.com/)
5) The Miss Adventures of Pug & Bugg. (http://pugandbugg.blogspot.com/)
6) Pugsley, the lovely lady pug. (http://pugsleypug.blogspot.com/)
7) Outside the lines. (http://flowermoundstudio.blogspot.com/)

Thank you to all of the about blogs who provide me with daily entertainment. I love reading about the life of your pugs, and some of the photos are priceless! Keep up the good blogging!

Nothing New

2008-07-27T14:49:00.002-04:00

(Molly is studying too for the NXLEX, by osmosis. )

There's nothing new to report today... all is well at the preppy pug household. I worked 12 hrs yesterday at the veterinary hospital and today I am recuperating. In between naps with the dogs I am starting to restudy info from my previous nursing semesters. This fall will be my last semester and then I'll be taking the NCLEX. Which is basically a test from the state to determine that I have learned enough to safely practice as a nurse. The test is taken on a computer with random questions. The questions you get depend on how you answered the previous questions. You can get as little as 75 questions or as many as 265! Two years of nursing knowledge crammed into one big test. A bit intimidating if you ask me. Well it's back to studying for me...

Camp Zoe Is Up And Running

2008-07-25T17:17:00.004-04:00

Toby and Gizmo are back visiting with us. They say hello to their mom and dad in Iraq!

Winston Has Sad Tail

2008-07-25T17:13:00.003-04:00

Winston is home and doing okay, resting mostly. The poor guy has sad tail though. Those that have pugs know that when a pug's tail is not curled, something is wrong. Hopefully it's just because he's on pain medication that's making him drowsy.

Winston Is Home

2008-07-25T12:33:00.003-04:00

Winston hopefully had a restful night at the hospital. He is now home this morning getting some extra TLC. This morning I also had to take Molly in to get her spay sutures removed. She is doing wonderfully & will hopefully be getting a forever home soon.

Winston Update...

2008-07-24T18:21:00.003-04:00

I got a call from the doctor, Winston went into surgery around 5pm and they thought it would be best if he stayed the night for some intravenous drugs. I really wanted him to come home tonight, but I guess it would be good for him to get some good drugs to keep him comfortable through the night. Sigh, I miss my Winston.

So Proud Of Myself

2008-07-24T18:12:00.003-04:00

I am not a huge seafood fan. Sad I know since I live in Florida. On occasions I do like to eat a good grouper sandwich or some stone crabs when I get the craving. I have never been able to cook fish myself. I tried a few times & the product was far from edible. On our trip to Longboat key with friends this past 4th of July, my friend J made the best grouper sandwiches. So of course I watched and took notes. So tonight I figured I'd give it a try. I got my grouper, my Old Bay Blackened seasoning and a cast iron pan. For once in my life I made grouper that I actually enjoyed eating. The house got a little smokey, but otherwise dinner was great.

Winston's Little Friend

2008-07-24T10:23:00.005-04:00

Winston is a breeder of mast cell tumors. This one under his arm pit will be the 4th one. So it's off to surgery today to remove his little unwanted friend. Hopefully he will be able to come home tonight. He doesn't do well when left in strange places, he tends to howl like a monkey. To thank the surgery team taking care of him today I made them a big bowl of fresh fruit salad with a fruit dip. The fruit dip is the best, if you haven't tried it you must. It's really easy to make. All you need is:
1-2 packages of cream cheese
1 large jar of Marshmallow Fluff
dash of cinnamon
Mix well, chill & serve. I promise you there will not be any of this dip left if you make it.
I also made Chocolate Chip Banana Bread... mmmm so good. I found the recipe on Jennifer's blog, Use Real Butter. I made a loaf for the surgery team & with some left over batter I made me a few muffins. They are hard to resist, I've already had two this morning. Here is the recipe:

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups smashed, very ripe bananas
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup mini chocolate chips (I usually put in 1 1/2 cups)

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Mix in the bananas. Combine dry ingredients and mix into batter alternately with the sour cream. Add nuts and chips. Mix well. Pour into two greased loaf pans (8×4 inch), or one bundt pan, or 12 bundtlettes (or anything you want, really) and bake for 45 minutes or until top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the center. (Not wet and gloppy, but moist crumbs are okay). Dusting the pan with flour may be advisable for the bundtlettes.

Nina Gets A New Dress

2008-07-23T09:40:00.003-04:00

Doesn't she look beautiful! Nina won this dress from Debbie over at Pug Possessed. Debbie has a shop on Etsy and makes the cutest clothes for pugs (and other dogs too). This month she is donating a part of the proceeds to Pug Rescue of Florida to help them pay for Molly's care. Debbie is a wonderful lady to offer to do this. Each month she picks a different rescue group to donate to. So if you're looking for clothes for your fur kids please visit her site and help support her desire to help others.

I'm Not Finished Yet

2008-07-22T00:10:00.004-04:00

Five days of cage rest is way to much for this pug. She has got energy bottled up and does not seem to be running out yet.

Game On

2008-07-21T10:25:00.004-04:00

Molly is getting some free time out of her kennel this morning. And of course Oliver was waiting to get his toy back...

In the end, Oliver won. Doesn't he look proud?!

As Molly looks on in defeat. I think Molly was just happy to get out of her kennel for some play time.

Finders Keepers Losers Weepers

2008-07-18T23:05:00.004-04:00

Look who found his Busy Buddy?! Waiting patiently does pay off. When I took Molly out of her kennel this evening to go outside, I did not close the door behind her. Lurking in the background was Oliver... and when we came back inside he and his buddy were reunited.

Doesn't he look happy!

Another thing went missing this evening... can you see it?

After returning home from dinner tonight I noticed the F7 key on my MacBook was missing. Then on the bathroom floor, what do I find? The missing key. Unfortunately being all chewed up, it won't fit back on the keyboard. So I guess I have to look into finding a replacement key.

Keeping Molly Company

2008-07-18T08:24:00.003-04:00

Ahhh, isn't this sweet. Oliver is keeping Molly company. No actually Oliver has learned that what he thinks is HIS Busy Buddy is in Molly's cage. Like I said he'll sit forever just staring at something he wants and can't get at.

Here is a photo of our Nina Bean. I call her Nina Bean because after she recovered from all her surgeries when we first got her she would run around the house like a little jumping bean. Now that she is 5 years old, she has mellowed out a bit. In the morning she enjoys basking in the sun.

Keeping Molly Busy

2008-07-17T21:32:00.005-04:00

Miss Molly Ann is recovering well from her surgery. The hardest part of her recovery is keeping her activity down. She is a ball of energy that just wants to run & play.

To keep her occupied while she is on cage rest we are filling this "Busy Buddy" with peanut butter and dog food. The Busy Buddy comes apart into two halves. Then you can place the treats inside & close it. There are two small holes on either end that allow food to fall out when tipped in the right direction. Hours of entertainment for any dog.

We let Oliver play with the Busy Buddy too. For some reason his toys always end up underneath the t.v. stand. We pull them out for him, but then minutes later he puts them back under. He will spend half an hour just staring at his toy, wishing it would roll back out to him. Silly Oliver.

Another Surgery For Molly

2008-07-15T09:38:00.004-04:00

Molly is getting spayed today... it was so hard for me to drop her off this morning. We've only had her a short time, but she has surely found a place in our hearts.

It is now 7pm and Molly is home sleeping off her anesthesia. She did wonderful, no complications. She even had an umbilical hernia fixed.

St. Pete Beach Fire Dept

2008-07-13T20:34:00.004-04:00

Here is a video my husband put together for the fire dept. he works for. Some memories of the past years...

Photo Of The Day

2008-07-13T20:20:00.003-04:00

We were driving down the road and this little red VW Beetle caught our eye. Not because of the color, but because of the red person in the passengers side. Yes folks, this lady was driving down the road with a Spider Man dummy in her car. With a sun visor on to top things off. I would have loved to stop and ask this lady her reasoning for this.

Strawberry Cupcakes

2008-07-12T09:21:00.004-04:00

I saw this recipe on the blog Genesis of a Cook. I think it is a must try recipe, it sounds so yummy.

For the Cupcakes

1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup strawberry sauce
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs

For the Strawberry Sauce

2 cups of fresh strawberries, stem removed
Sugar to taste

For Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
3 1/2 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 cup of strawberry sauce

1. For the Strawberry Sauce, macerate strawberries with about 1-2 tbs sugar for 15 minutes. Put strawberries in a small saucepan and heat under medium heat with lid on. Cook strawberries for approximately 15 minutes till strawberries cook down and become soft and saucy. Adjust sweetness with sugar until you get the desired sweetness. Using a hand blender, puree until you get the desired smoothness or chunkiness. Cool before using in recipe.

2. For the cupcakes, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grab a large bowl and beat the butter and the sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Measure out milk and strawberry sauce together.

3. Add about a fourth of the flour to the butter mixture and beat to combine. Add about one third the milk mixture and beat until combined. Repeat, alternating flour and milk and ending with the flour mixture. Scoop into cupcake papers about 3/4 full. Bake for 20-22 minutes.

4. For Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting, bring cheese and butter to room temperature. Sift powdered sugar into a bowl. Beat butter and cheese at medium speed until creamy. Add half of the sugar, beat until combined. Add strawberry sauce until you achieve the right color and flavor but making sure not to add too much or the frosting will be too soft. Gradually add any remaining sugar until you get to the consistency and sweetness you like.

Funny Photo Of The Day

2008-07-09T14:59:00.004-04:00

I was at Border's book store today & saw this on the shelf. Who would be brave enough to purchase this in the store? Not I!

Back From Vacation

2008-07-06T09:51:00.006-04:00

It was a wonderful week away to relax. First M & I went to Orlando. M had a conference to attend & we got to stay at the Omni at Champions Gate a golf resort 10 miles West of Disney World. Neither of us golf, but we took full advantage of the pool.

Many hours were spent on the lazy river.

And one night we did the tourist thing and went to play mini golf. Good thing I played there and not at Champions Gate, I'm no golf pro. I also hit the many outlet stores in Orlando while we were there. Love the outlet prices!

After Orlando, on Wednesday I headed to Longboat Key for more sun and relaxation on the beach. My gracious friend J and her family go there every year for a week and invite me to come along. We had the best time. We were there until the 4th of July. We sat on the beach, drank wine and watched the sun set. Then once it was dark enough, the fireworks began.

For dinner we had a fabulous BBQ. My friend J made this wonderful Orzo Pasta Salad. You must try it, everyone is sure to love it.

Orzo Salad
Giadia De Laurentis

4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups orzo
1 (15oz.) can garbanzo beans, drained & rinsed
1 1/2 cups red and yellow teardrop tomatoes or grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
About 3/4 cup Red Wine Vinaigrette, recipe follows
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Pour the broth into a heavy saucepan. Cover the pan and bring to a boil over high heat.
Stir in the orzo. Cover partially and cook until the orzo is tender but still firm to the bite.
Stirring frequently, about 7 minutes. Drain the orzo through a strainer. Transfer the orzo
to a large wide bowl and toss until the orzo cools slightly. Set aside to cool completely.

Toss the orzo with the beans, tomatoes, onion, basil, mint, and enough vinaigrette to coat.
Season the salad to taste with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.

Red Wine Vinaigrette:
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a blender. With the machine running,
gradually blend in the oil. Season the vinaigrette to taste, with more salt and pepper if desired.

Another fabulous side dish made was Black Bean & Corn Salsa. A specific recipe was not followed, but here were the ingredients used:

1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 can corn, drained
1 red onion chopped
cilantro
lime juice
1 fresh chopped tomato
salt & pepper
olive oil
I think a shake of Old Bay seasoning was also added

We used this salsa for our tortilla chips, fish tacos and I even saw someone use it as relish on their hot dog. Either way, it was so flavorful and delish. I really don't like raw onions, but I enjoyed this dish.

A Day In The Life Of Molly

2008-06-27T15:32:00.003-04:00

Our pugs around here love cardboard boxes from Costco. We put pillows in them & they think it's the best bed ever.

Molly chewing on Zoe...

Molly chewing on Oliver...

I don't think Oliver is winning this one...

Molly chewing on a bone...

Seltzer Water

2008-06-27T14:47:00.004-04:00

This is my new favorite replacement for soda. No calories, no fat & no sugar. Soda can add so many empty calories to you daily diet. I try to only have soda once maybe twice a week. I found this seltzer at Sweetbay Supermarket. Another flavor I have tried and really like is cranberry lime.

Preppy Pugs

Christmas Wreaths

Christmas Things

Making Of The Brine

Turkey Day

Recipe courtesy Alton BrownIngredients

For the brine:

For the aromatics:

Very Spicy Chili

Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk

Happy Halloween!

Alaska

I'm Not Dead!

Fried Apples

Flea Prevention

Kibble Fountain

Funny Things Around Town

The FURminator

Virtual Model

Easter Kicked Up A Notch!

Loving Starfish

Doing Well

One Minute Twenty-Five Seconds-Done!

I Won!

Hanky Panky

The Night Shift

We're Still Alive

French Fry

Rogaine For Pugs?

Peanut Butter Bacon Sandwich??!!

Manatee Swim

Not So Waterproof Camera

If you see this... it should worry you!

Perplexed Oliver

When Pugs Attact Part 2

Dog Day At The Beach

Chicken Pot Pie

Seriously!

Funny Oliver

Florida is Freezing Over

We're Back...

When Pugs Attack

Silly Oliver

Who Stole Whose Bed?

Winston's Addiction

Merry Christmas

PediPaws

New Shoes

Pinning Day

Starfish Christmas Wreath

Thanksgiving at the firehouse

Oliver

Why you should be careful who you give stuff too

Oreo Truffles

Three Pepper Beef Stir Fry

Firefighters Support Breast Cancer

Bat o' Lanterns

Pug Pumpkin

Pug Treats

Not Enough Room

Still Alive

Winston & Nina Update

Not So Good For Dogs

Cardiac Rhythms

Waiting

Water Rescue

Friends

Cute Overload

Milk Alternative

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

No More Fun

Oliver's New Lamby

New Toys

Baby Shower Gifts

Who Loves Ice Cream?!

Why I Do Rescue

Molly's New Family

Too Funny For Words

Winston's New Vest

Molly Gets A Home

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Ingredients