Schnoodle vs. Schnauzer

First of all, thanks to everyone who's put their two cents in concerning my puppy-shopping escapades! I appreciate the feedback :)

Schnoodle. We went to a breeders house last night to meet one! Aaand she was REALLY adorable, not gonna lie. She was just as fluffy and adorable as the one pictured in my last post, only smokey black and white. BUT she's a 'toy', NOT a mini...meaning that she'll only be 8 lbs full grown! That might sound fun to some of you, but that's a bit smaller than what I am in the market for. That information didn't stop me from thinking she was the sweetest, cutest little fluffball EVER.

And Cory? Poor Cory...he was lamenting my sugary-puppy-lovie-ness, complete with ridiculous cooing baby voice, when a different little black puppy poked his head around the corner. This puppy was NOT a Schnoodle. Now, Cory has been REALLY good at keeping his opinion to himself about what kind of dog I should get (him and my father seem to consider 'true dogs' large breeds ONLY...and last time I checked, I'm not in a position to purchase an 80 pound canine...so...) - but, his face lit up when he saw this little guy.

Spunky, bowlegged, and sharp - this jet black puppy stole my heart immediately.

I set the shivering Schnoodle down and never looked back.

For the record, there are NO pictures on Google that do justice to how flippin' cute this little guy is!! Apparently the major flaw with Schnauzers is that they're not very photogenic. I am willing to look over this, however, as I often feel I share that flaw.

Here's the closest thing to a good picture I could find on the internet. Don't you worry, there will shortly be MANY images of my new puppy dressed in a ridiculously cute (AND 'manly', per Cory) puppy sweater.

I put a deposit down & am picking up the newest Schroeder on Saturday!

Yay!! Now... Names... Suggestions, anyone?

Our picks: Charlie, Daschle (Dash for short), Dr. Feel Good (thank you, Brooke, for this phenomenal name choice - 'Doc' for short), Scooter, Ace, Skipper, Scout, Baxter.

Let me know what you think!!

P.S. I DID research this breed before going to the breeder's house. I read a lot about Schnauzers as I was studying up on the progenitors of the Schnoodle :) Apparently Schnauzers have a lot of the same great qualities as Poodles - obedient, intelligent, friendly, and loyal! Only they're feisty. And let's be honest - to be a Schroeder, one must be feisty. So Schnauzer it is.

Now entering the race...

I give you....

THE MINI-SCHNOODLE !

SCHNOODLES = Schnauzer + Poodle. Highly intelligent. Active, but not HYPER-active. People-loving. Friendly. Not yappy. Hypoallergenic. Cute as a button. Mild exercise requirements. Easily trained.

Plus, along with all the other awesome qualities listed above,

just saying the name of this breed makes you smile :)

...good omen? I think so.

We're EXPECTING!

...a PUPPY, that is!!!

Haha - I just LoVe seeing post titles like that and getting all excited,
so sorry if I scared anyone :) ...cory...

Anyone who knows my mother is probably thinking that there is no way in Hades she'd allow a dog into her life/home - which has been true for several years. I, however, have found the Achilles heel to her 'I hate pets' rule: kill every rescue animal you take on. (Remember Cricket? *tear).

There are some things that need to be handled prior to actually purchasing said puppy,

but I want your opinions on what kind I should get!!

I've already narrowed my options down to to the following:

(enjoy these ridiculously cute photos coutesy of my Google Images search)

1. Miniature English Bulldog: This adorable breed weighs only 20lbs full grown (about a third of a normal-sized bulldog!). They're playful, but enjoy sleeping & hanging out on the couch - a plus, considering that's what Cory & I enjoy doing, too. CON: They cost a pretty penny! These designer dogs range from $2000-4000! YiKes...

2. Daschund: These cute puppies come in short, wiry, or long hair varieties. Smart, energetic, and tenacious, these little guys have no idea they're not pitbulls :). Everyone in the house seems to be on-board with this breed...I like the dapple coloring best! Shout out to Birdie - the little daschund on Apple Ave :)

(dapple = grey coat with dark spots).

3. Toy Poodle: Now, I know what you're thinking...that poodles are fru-fru dogs for old ladies, right? Well that's just not true!! (I don't care WHAT you say, Dad!!) According to what I've read, poodles are one of the highest ranked breeds in intelligence and trainability. Meaning? You'll spend way less time cleaning poodle puppy poop (alliteration!) off your carpet than other breeds. You also don't HAVE to give them the silly spun-cotton/'fro haircut that seems to be popular among the elderly poodle-owners of the world. Hypoallergenic (like all the breeds listed here - well, not the bulldog :\), loyal, and pretty stinkin' cute - I like the idea of a little black fluffball being my friend!

4. Yorkshire Terrier: This is the breed that mom & I looked at last Saturday. They're SO cute! They tend to be a bit yappy, and a little ankle-biter-ish, but definitely adorable. I like that they have the spunky terrier attitude, and their size is perfect for what I'm in the market for. CONS: Cory has vowed to hate my dog forever if I get a Yorkie :(

Apparently, he has no room in his heart for a "silly, chick-dog".

Maybe he just hasn't seen the picture listed below.

I mean, honestly...

Who could hate that face?!


Alright! Now that you have all the options in front of you, let me know what you think!!

P.S. I would like to send love to spellcheck for making me laugh just now. Pitbull apparently needs to be changed to spit ball, and daschund to Desmond.

Maybe that's what I'll name my little doxie - aw..Des. Cute.

Thanksgiving in January

I gave a lesson in Relief Society on Sunday about prayer, and a portion of it focused on the importance of having and expressing gratitude. I have so much to be thankful for, so I thought I'd post a short list of what I've been grateful for lately!

1. Medicine! I've had a cold/sinus infection-thing for the last few days that has made me absolutely miserable. Fever, congestion, cough - you name it. I can't begin to tell you how thankful for Tylenol I am. NyQuil. Sudafed. How did people handle being sick back before OTC drugs?! Not to mention the blessed Ammoxicillin that my doctor prescribed to knock this thing out before it gets worse. I am thankful for medicine.

2. Cory. (haha I'm sure he'll appreciate seeing his name in such a masculine shade of purple...)I'm so thankful that I have him for lots of reasons. Being sick has made me appreciate him taking care of me - bringing me lunch at work, asking me if I need a blessing, making me dinner, etc... He just cares. And he's just the best. I'm thankful for Cory.

3. Weather! I live in Southern California. 'Nuff said.

4. Knowledge. I've had so many opportunities to learn in my life - through the Gospel and scriptures, going to cosmetology school, going to college, and now finishing my education through Ashford U... Lots of people don't have the support and encouragement required to pursue education the way I've been able to. I'm so thankful that I've been blessed with the parents I have, the employment I have, and the opportunities I've had that have all given me knowledge.

5. My calling. I was reeeeaaaalllly ready to be released from FHE coordinator :)

6. My family! I love my sisters and parents. My mom & I spent last Saturday at the mall looking at puppies & trying on waaaay too many clothes at the Gap. My last conversation with Brooke via Facebook provided me the opportunity to consider how much postage would be required to send $20 in quarters to Provo. Kristina & I share this happy blog (which she made & designed all by herself. good job.). Nikki and her girls crack me up ("Do you know what I did today, Calee? I peed in the bushes." - haha!). My dad & Cory watch SportsCenter, sing along to classic rock whenever a Ford truck commercial comes on, and make fun of me for enjoying the Food Network a liiiiittle too much. I'm lucky to have them. Issues and all.

There are lots of other things I'm thankful for, too - including what I'm going to blog about next (haha! I'm literally planning my next blog AS I'm sitting here blogging. wow.)

Anyways. It seems like the cool thing to do in the blogging world is to make a list of something, then to "tag" people to make their own lists of the same thing. So I tag my sisters to name some things they're thankful for. AND Melody Franz (although her name isn't Franz anymore...and I cannot remember for the life of me what it is right now...sorry! :)). I'm tagging Melody because she's hilarious - sooo basically I'm trying to force her into blogging more so I can be entertained.

On second thought, I tag anyone who reads this post. Ever.

I'm excited to read your posts! Ready? Go!

NiGHTMaReS...

Alright, friends - I've got a problem & am open to any and all suggestions:

I feel a little bit like a kindergartner admitting that I have constant nightmares, but it's true! Help me out here.

I know that having an occasional bad dream is totally normal, right? Maybe once a month? Well, I searched it on the Internet, and there is no way in HECK that the frequency with which I am experiencing unpleasant dreams is normal. How often am I having bad dreams? Almost every night. How long has this been going on? Longer than I care to remember. Months.

I did a mental recall of the ones that have plagued me lately to see if there were recurring factors - you know, anything similar that might tell me what's causing these bad dreams. I mean, if I can determine what's giving me the dreams, then I can get rid of that trigger, right?? It seems to me that my dreams are all over the place...ranging from people getting hacked up with chain saws (don't ask WHY I'm dreaming about that...I've never even seen an R-rated movie for crying out loud!!), to people turning into bears and trying to eat me, to some other incredibly disturbing things that I won't go into detail about. I have no idea where these things are coming from.

I've tried reading my scriptures before going to sleep, praying for good dreams, etc... Does anyone else have any ideas on how to stop these crazy things?! I wake up feeling not only completely disturbed, but also drained and groggy :(

Send me your bedtime rituals that give you happy and sweet dreams :) I'm down to try just about anything at this point...

No Subject

My heart hurts.

It was kind of a gross day. I'm tired and cranky and confused about my life. I think I'm going to try to stop planning so much, because every time I find a plan that I feel comfortable with and even happy about, something crazy happens to ruin it.

I've found that a good method of dealing with that is denial. I just pretend like that was what I had planned all along, go with it. Which is fine until days like today, when it all hits me. Then I feel really, wholly and deeply tired. Emotional exhaustion is a strange experience. You would expect it to be really intense. I find it numbing.

Nikki was on American Idol tonight and it was awesome. Brooke writes weird, weird stuff on her blog and I don't really get it. Calee drew me a really nice picture down there.

Love them.

Random. But still good.

Lumpy

Love it.

For Kristina

Lots of Love & Luck from your awesome sister in Esconghetto.

p.s. - the top left is a wishbone...

G for GMAT. And Gross.

I'm taking the GMAT on Saturday and I'm officially feeling the stress of it. I've been trying to study as much as I can the last week or so (yes, I'm very aware that a week is not a long period of time) and now that it's a grand 30 hours away - I'm feeling a smidge nervous.

The last time I took it, I seriously had a mental breakdown on the math section. The GMAT is computer adaptive, so the better you're doing the harder the questions get. So in my weird little mindset, I was doing everything I possibly could to get the right answer on every single one. Which is fine, unless you're spending way too long doing that. I didn't even read the last 16 questions - just straight guessed. And still didn't finish 3 of them.

For real?

I went out into the hallway during my 'break' and bawled and then got a hold of myself for the verbal.

Anyway - I'm hoping to not repeat that experience this time. Saturday morning, here I come.

Who knows, if I do well enough - maybe Oxford?


...

Haha. :)

We'll see.

Oh, boys.

I only have one thing to say to you.



If you liked it, then you should've put a ring on it.


This one.


For real.

Hahaha

The Happ's

My life has been very surreal lately. That's the only word I can come up with for it.

(Interjection: I'm listening to my new favorite band and most recent iTunes purchase, The Script from jolly old England. You should check them out. Thanks Jethro.)

I quit my job at BYU - which I loved, by the way. The people were incredible and it was really such a sweet job. Press box and Tucanos at football games, courtside seats at basketball games, constantly writing about cool things going on in the department, A-lot sticker (haha)... seriously it was a good job. The monetary benefits weren't quite as great, but everything else was awesome.

It got to a point where I just needed a change in a big way, and thanks to a good family-friend I found a job at Complete Restoration, a restoration company in Orem. I'm helping my new best friend, Jerry Pennock, with a few of his businesses he is trying to get going, working with biz development, marketing, sales - okay basically everything that has to do with a start-up. It has been an incredible experience so far and I am so excited to be learning about how new businesses start and survive.

My roommate, Ashley is planning her wedding right now, and honestly Steph isn't that far behind her! Kristen and Ri will be off on their crazy adventures fairly soon, so I'm at the point where I'm really trying to figure out what I'm doing next.

Want to know the nice thing? I can do whatever the heck I want. I'm thinking a lot about business school, work, possibly serving a mission... it's awesome. My mind has been going 100 miles an hour lately with everything, but I love it. Sometimes I have to take a break from it all when I start to feel too overwhelmed or inadequate - but I'm excited to really work out where I'm going next. What life holds for me around the corner.

For now, I'm trying to stay focused on the GMAT. A week from today? Planning begins, real decisions will start to be made. Thoughts?

P.s. Boog is in Utah and I am excited about that. Shout out.

...feeling down?

Check out these funny pix of my neices and feel better!!

Taylen is the master of the one-eyeball eye-cross.

Amazing.

Demonstrating the two-eyeball cross....

With an added lip bite

Ryah's just adorable, on the other hand.

Aaand one more for good measure.

Darnit!! My camera battery just died on me - more (and more recent) photos to come!

Um.

SERIOUSLY?

My life right now

Work, Study, Repeat.

Eat somewhere in there.

Maybe some time for a hot man every now and again.

Off to the library...

International Relations

I am not sure how to say all of this, but it would be silly of me to not blog about this last week. It's too good of a story.

In April my awesome boss, Noelle, told me at work that she wanted to set me up with a dishy british doctor. We had a funny conversation about it, and how cool he is, but how it wasn't really possible with the whole me having a serious boyfriend thing.

The subject was readdressed upon my new single-standing. I emailed this random guy back and forth a few times before I realized that he actually lives IN the UK. I thought he was just from England but living here! I felt really stupid. I also thought it was kind of funny, though, and he wrote entertaining emails. What the heck? I kept emailing him.

We took a little break for a month or so - but after things were really over with Jan, we started writing quite a bit more. I got over my anxiety and downloaded Skype, (which was so terrifying to me for some reason - talking online to some random stranger across the ocean?) and as soon as I heard his voice and we actually talked, I was hooked.

We talked just about everyday until I was honestly considering having him come out here. I mean, why not? I'm spending all of this time on a stranger - what's the point if I never even meet him?

He told me no about ten times.


...



I wore him down, though.



Haha! Seriously. Meet Jet. It was so out of nowhere, but really fun.



To be continued? We'll see. Stay tuned.


P.s. This is really random and has nothing to do with Jet, but I was just on facebook with Calee and we saw this ad for a cute baby contest:


I'm sorry, seriously? Finding a picture for a cute baby ad is possibly one of the easiest things ever. Babies = Cute. This baby = terrifying. Why, people? Why? I'm going to have nightmares.

I got a Kindle for Christmas!!

Super legit gift, parents. Nicely done.

For those of you who don't know what a Kindle is: It's basically any book you'd ever want to read. You download books onto it via Whispernet (it's internet from Sprint - no contract [or computer] required :)) from Amazon.com! It holds a couple hundred books at a time, and has the capability to highlight/copy/paste passages of text for quick viewing later! The books are pretty inexpensive and the screen literally looks like the page of book (technology called e-ink or something...)

It's awesome! Ready, set, READ! Woo!