Passive Agressive Pooch

Apparently Dixie has been a little cold lately.  I usually have the space heater on in my office when I work from home.  Last Friday, Dixie got a little closer to the heater than usual.

I think its her passive aggressive way of saying "Mom, please turn up the thermostat please".

As someone who also gets cold easily, I understand what Dixie is going through. However, I pay the bills around here, not Dixie.  But to make it up to Dixie, I'm cranking up the electric blanket we both love to lay with tonight!!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I recently watched the Oprah episode where she gives everyone in her audience a few of her favorite things.  While I won't be giving you, dear reader, any fabulous prizes or 7 day cruises, the show did get me thinking about what I wanted for Christmas this year.  Unlike Daulton who gets to shop in the stack of toy catalogs my mom and I collected, I do my shopping on the internet.

Skybar One Wine Chiller & Dispenser

A device that aerates and chills my wine to the appropriate temperature and then dispenses it straight into my glass?  Yes please. This would look great on my kitchen counter and I can see it filled with malbecs and merlots in the winter and rieslings in the spring.

At $399.99, this is probably not going be showing up under the Christmas tree but a girl can still dream.

If you are looking for a wine related gift for me, I am currently obsessed with malbec wines from Argentina and Chile.  (Try The Gaucho Club Malbec, its amazing!)  If you love red wine, you have to try malbec.  Its red deliciousness in a bottle.  Buy a bottle for yourself and one for me!

Frame the Date

I came across this site a few months ago and have been lusting after it ever since.  I would love to have this with my wedding date (4/24/2010) in the black frame.  I like the idea of adding a picture but I think I would love it just as much without the picture, so I can go either way with it.

And, if we have this hanging up in the house there is no reason for anyone to forget our anniversary.

Key to the Perfect Locket by HannaKinsey

This necklace is from my friend Hanna's Etsy shop, HannaKinsey.  I love that it looks like a family heirloom and I would always wonder what it unlocked.  Is it a key to an old trunk filled with treasures or to a safety deposit box filled with money.  Who knows?  But I do know I would spend many hours daydreaming about what the key would unlock.

Kinsey Necklace by HannaKinsey

Another favorite from the HannaKinsey Etsy shop.  Normally, I am not a bird person but this necklace reminds me of Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.  If you haven't read the Hunger Games trilogy (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay) yet you are missing out.  Run, do not walk, to the book store, library, internet, whatever and get your hands on these books and read them immediately (and then call me to discuss).  I promise you its an amazing series and well worth the read.  Its also interesting that it was Hanna who suggested the Hunger Games to me and then created, in my opinion, the perfect representation of those books.  This necklace reminds me of the Mockingjay pin Katniss wears.  Talking about the Hunger Games and looking at this necklace makes me want to read the entire series again. 

Kylie Messenger Bag

Years ago, pre-Matt, I had a major purse problem.  (If you ever saw my mother's shoe collection you would understand that it wasn't my fault.  I inherited these genes!)  I bought new purses constantly and was physically unable to walk away from a cute bag.  And then I signed a 30 year mortgage, met my husband and step-son, and I realized I had to stop buying handbags like they were candy.

I have since gotten rid of a few purses and I haven't bought a new one in years.  I would love to have a bag that would allow me to shop "hands free" since I could wear it messenger style.  There would also be room for all of my stuff, my Nook if I ever get a chance to read for fun again, and whatever else I need to carry.

I am also considering the Beverly bag from the same shop.

Can you tell I have been window shopping on Etsy a lot?

Initials & Wedding Date with Pearl & Wedding Ring Charm

This speaks to my newlywed heart.  I love the simplicity and the personalization.  And if you know anyone else who got married this year, this would be a great gift for them as well.  But if you are only going to buy one, buy one for me!

The Vintage Pearl also has a similar styles.  And I would love to have the dainty drops necklace with Daulton's name and birthstone.

My last Etsy store, I promise.  I am also loving the LapDeskLady's shop and since I love to work from my recliner I am sure I would get great use out of her lap desks.  I also love the customized stationary and address labels. 

iPad

Yes, I admit it.  I want an iPad.  I love the apps and how it fits in my hand.  I love that I could use it for work and for home.  I can see myself handing it to Daulton to watch movies on it during long car rides. 

I don't need the 3G version, wi-fi only would suit me just fine.  But I am going to need the 64GB model.  And maybe an iTunes gift card to buy a few apps and movies for Daulton.

If money were no object, I would buy 2 iPads.  One for me and one for the boys.  I know how we are and we won't want to share.  Having 2 would allow me to take one to work and still leave one at home for the guys to use.

As the holidays approach, its always fun to look through the catalog and internet for the "I would love to have that" items.  Its also a great time to appreciate the things you already have.

For me its a husband who loves and supports me, a step-son who makes me laugh and teaches me patience, parents who love me and have helped shape the person I am today, siblings who taught me to fight for what's important and let the little stuff go, and friends who accept me for who I am.

Sunshine and Puppy Dogs

Sometimes it really is a sunshine and puppy dogs kind of day.

Cousins Weekend 2010

This past weekend the other Rardin cousins and I met at our house for the first Rardin Cousins Weekend.  This was a big deal because this is the first time this many cousins have gotten together without our parents being around.  We've never planned a family function. We only show up for events...we don't plan them.

So we meet at our house and are quickly on our way to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.  To be honest, I wasn't sure if everyone would enjoy themselves.  I wondered if the little kids would have fun and more importantly would the big kids have fun too.  I was so happy when we walked in the door and everyone was ready to explore.

We started with the dinosaurs.  I dare you to find me an adult who does not think dinosaur bones are cool.  While the adults gawked at the T-Rexs, the kids explored the rest of the exhibit.  They found little dinosaur caves, teeth, and eggs.

Next we found the train exhibit and realized that if we wanted to see the rest of the exhibits, we needed to get the boys out of there and move on.  I think they would have stayed there all day if we would have let them.

The Egypt exhibit was not great.  The kids liked to play in the kitchens and with the fake food, but the adults were definitely ready to move on to another exhibit.

I dare you to be around this kid and not pinch his chubby cheeks.  Its impossible.

We hit up a few other exhibits and then it was on to the carousel.  It was a big hit!!

After the museum we headed back to our house for the rest of the evening.  Only one of the kids took a nap on the way home and everyone else was hungry for some hot dogs, venison steaks, and chili.  This was also a great chance for everyone to get outside and play cornhole, football, and get a few rides on the scooter.  Once the sun went down, the party went inside where we laughed, ate, laughed some more, and then played euchre.

During this time, one of the boys found my pink rain boots.  I wore these boots on my wedding day and I still wear them today to walk the dog.  Apparently, this guy does not want to be identified.

On Sunday morning it was time for brunch at my parents' house.  The oldest cousin Jason is a professional chef and had offered to make brunch for us.  My mom and sister acted as his sous chefs and it was the best brunch I have ever had.  I should have worn stretchy pants to brunch because I am pretty sure I would have kept eating except my jeans were too restrictive.

The menu included strata (an egg dish), stuff shells with sausage, peppers, and cheese, and bread pudding with homemade caramel sauce and chocolate.  There was also bloody marys, screwdrivers, and chocolate milk for the kids.

Words do not express how wonderful this weekend was.  It was so much fun to hear new stories and remember the ones we already knew.  For example, our grandparents once had a dog named Chainsaw because Grandpa wanted to buy a $400 chainsaw and Grandma said no.  So, Grandpa got a dog instead and named it Chainsaw since that's what he really wanted.  Or the time when Pumpkin, the pony, took off into the field with my sister on top and all the uncles and Grandpa running after it.

I never realized how similar our personalities are and how our childhood experiences, while at some times were different, are also remarkably the same.  We are all strong, independent and outspoken individuals.  That makes for a very loud and fun weekend.  Its a great feeling to be around people exactly like you and who understand how you feel even though you grew up in different states.

I know this is the first of many Rardin Cousins Weekend pictures.