Friday Favorite! May 30, 2008

Since I don’t have anything new or exciting to write about (all it does is rain now!) I thought I would throw out one of my new favorite things.  A co-worker recently introduced this to me on a girls night out and I instantly loved it.  I am currently in love with my Buxom Lip Gloss by Bare Escentuals(www.sephora.com) in Candi.  This is no ordinary lip gloss, it natually creates a fuller looking lip.  When you initially apply it feels like normal lip gloss, but after a few seconds your lips are taken over by these cooling sensation.  It stays on really well and doesn’t feel sticky or heavy.  My mom even tried it and loved it…she’s a chapstick gal. 

 

Super Nanny, HELP! May 29, 2008

Wonderful, sweet, cute little Zoey has not been very cooperative with me the last 12 hours.  Try as I may she refuses to listen to me…naturally, I blame Josh!

It all started yesterday afternoon with a rousing game of tennis ball catch.  We are working with Zoey on giving the ball and I was doing my normal, “NO, Zoey give, NO, give!” Followed by prying the ball out of her mouth.  Every couple of tosses she does drop the ball and I praise her, “Good girl Zoey!”  and get so excited that we’re actually teacher her something.  Well, this particular day she refused it all and had an even tighter clamp on the ball.  Nothing was working, so we ended the play session.  I sulked and Zoey bounced back home as if everything was right as rain.  I even shed a few tears…I know, she just a DOG!  Later that night we did make up and we both went to bed satisfied.

Well, this morning told another tale.  We had our normal morning routine, I come down the stairs and have a good morning Zoey petting session, then get my food ready for work.  The very last thing we do before I leave is go out.  So, I clip on the leash and we walk out the door, “come on Zoey, go pee!”  Nothing…we walk up and down the sidewalk for 5 minutes.  “Come on Zoey, go pee.  Get in the grass, go pee!”  She just stands there and looks at me like I’m the dumbest person she’s ever seen.  Finally I gave up, went in the house, lectured her about listening, she looked at me all sad, and I left.  Now I feel awful, but I can’t let it get me down.  She is just a dog. 

While I have grown up with dogs, this type of ‘behavior’ is very new to me.  If anyone has any advice I welcome all comments and suggestions.  Next stop, obedience training!

8th Grade Promotion May 28, 2008

Last night my favorite step-brother, Garret, was promoted to high school.  For this special occasion I decided to make the trek to Des Moines and watch him walk accross the stage to receive his certificate and Bible.  Not only did he walk the stage with confidence, he was the very FIRST person!

He still has a couple of finals left this week before he is officially promoted, but last night ceremony was quite a milestone for Mr. Garret…he’s now in high school!  He joked last night that if he doesn’t pass his last finals he will have to go to the ‘de-promotion’ ceremony.  Congratulations Garret and good luck with the rest of your finals.

Landscape Project Update May 26, 2008

It’s complete!  Well, 99% complete.  I still need to pick up one more plant to round out the front row.  We thought Saturday would be the perfect day to work on our project, but it turned out to be out of control windy…but we prevailed and finished the project.  I still had difficulty picking out the plants and at one point Josh yelled, “just pick SOMETHING!”  I settled on Pink Elf French Hydrangea on the ends, Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass in back (Josh’s contribution), and Lily of the Valley in front.

Although it’s not much to look at right now, hopefully in a few weeks I’ll have more to show.  In the end, it turned out great and Zoey even gave her seal of approval on a job well done!

            

 

Keeping Up with the Jones’ May 23, 2008

Like every other homeowner in America, the Oswald’s have a small landscaping project to tackle this Memorial Day weekend.  Last fall we hired a very nice college student (and cheap!) majoring in landscape achitecture to tear out our old front bushes and trim to replace with a new brick edging…we decided to take care of the plants.  Well, we’ve been looking at a dirt bed for more than six months now and it’s time to plant.  Easier said than done; Dad made it look so easy back in the day!  I may be the green thumb in our house, but when it comes to plants there are just too many choices.  So, for several weeks I picked Dad’s brain (Thank you Dad!) to find the perfect flowering bush to start our project.  We decided on the Annabelle Hydrangea.  The rest of the plantings are still up in the air.  This afternoon I’m off to Earl May to pick up my Hydrangeas, some dirt, landscape fabric, and the remaining unknown plants.  If anyone has any planting suggestions please pass them on.  We are planting in a shady area that gets a little eastern sun, next to the house…oh, and very little moisture.  Check back and I will post pictures of the finished product with an update on the unknown plants.  Happy Memorial Day!

Countdown: Sex and the City! May 22, 2008

8 Days and Counting!  I can’t begin to explain how excited I am to see the Sex and the City movie.  What a great opportunity for a girls night out to watch a fun movie.  The fab 4 are back in action…YEAH!

American Idol and Nothing Much… May 22, 2008

I’m so excited that David Cook is our new American Idol!!  I have to admit, I had my doubts about the voters (not that I have room to talk since I don’t vote) and was convinced pipsqueak David would win.  America pulled through.  Now that Idol is over, I can focus my attention on the Bachelorette…only one episode in and I’m already hooked!

The little green Honda has a new lease on life!  Yes, at close to 200,000 miles she (probably he since Josh is driving the green machine now) is still going strong.  Fresh from the shop with working break lights, new tires and a fresh exhaust system…she hums like new!  It will be a sad day when the green machine is put to rest.

Miss Zoey’s World May 20, 2008

  A day in the life of ME!  I have it so rough.

                             

Here I sit and wait at the bottom of the stairs for Josh to walk me every morning.  Then, when Jayne comes down for work she scratches my belly.  Mmmm!  I’m always sad when they leave.

                          

This is my favorite spot to lay after Jayne and Josh leave.  I love nap time!  I love looking out the window, watching the school kids walk by, they are always having so much fun.  Wish I could play with them!

After Jayne comes home we play in the park and then I eat dinner.  Jayne’s always busy doing things and I just want to play with her.  Then I wait for Josh to come home.

 

I hate closing my eyes, if I do there’s no telling what I might miss!  This is how I tell Josh I’m ready for bed.  He doesn’t listen very often.   

Trash to Treasure Update May 18, 2008

Most of our “junk” was rescued before the pick up crew came by.  The Nordic Trak was saved by our friends Josh and Kelly…they have a cool new basement.  Don’t worry Mike, the snow blower was not functioning.

I cleaned the garage this afternoon with Zoey…that’s right, we did it all by ourselves because my other half was taking a NAP…and found much more “junk” which will be donated to our local Goodwill.  Yeah, I know, I didn’t plan the garage clean out very well.  I’ll just have my other half dispose of the “junk!”

One Person’s Trash…Another’s Treasure May 17, 2008

There is an air of exitement tonight as Tiffin prepares for it’s annual “Junk Day” Saturday.  For those of you not familiar with a “Junk Day” let me briefly explain.  The city designates one day a year for residents to place their unwanted items (junk) on the curb and city crews will pick up and dispose of these items for you.  At 5pm the Oswald’s placed an old snow blower, car mat, Nordic Trak, miscellaneous flower pots, and an antique accountants adding machine.  The streets around town are bustling with activity as shiny new pick-ups drive slowly arounds scanning the piles of “junk,” some even drive by multiple times.  By 9pm the snow blower, flower pots and adding machine had disappeared from our pile.  Some friends of ours from Coralville even stopped in town to eat at Tiffin’s only restaurant to celebrate “Junk Day.”  (This may or may not be a coincidence!)