The Name Game

First of all, did you notice the puppy of the day is a cairn terrier? I think that is a sign today will be a good day.

It must be puppy season. A couple of my friends have either just gotten or will be very soon getting new puppies. So exciting! And isn't it fun to pick out a name for that little furball?

When I knew little Fi was coming my way, I poured over name ideas. I liked Contessa and Lady. I liked Abby and Katy (just kidding! hehe). I looked up where the cairn terrier originated - in the "cairns" (rock formations) of Ireland and Scottland, so I began reseraching Celtic names. I came across Fiona and loved it. It meant "white, fair" or "vine." Translate that to white wine. Kidding!

And so she was named Fiona. Over her 5 years she's been called many other things though. I love how nicknames evolve. From memory, she's been called:

Fi
Fi Fi
Farona (sung to the tune of My Sharona)
Fioni (compliments of my nephew)
Furby
Furbaby
Rat dog (when she is bad)
Ratty
Bean
Little bean
Bear
Scruffy McScrufferton (when she's due for a grooming)

and on, and on.

hmm

I haven't written anything on this blog in well over a week. It's a testament to how fast everything seems to be moving right now. I can't believe it will be May next weekend. What?? I feel like I was just digging my car out of snow. Oh wait. I have a garage. Nevermind.

Moving on. There are so many exciting things coming up in the months ahead. I suppose that's why the time moves so quickly-but I can't wait. But, with all the upcoming events and happenings, I tend to get a little anxious. Scratch that-a lot anxious. Will everything come together? What am I going to wear to ____? What if ___ happens? What's the backup plan? And of course, while all of that anxiety is going on, work inevitably becomes explosive and stressful.

I need to be better at dealing with stress. Running definitely helps, but I wish so much I could just let some things "slide." Some people are so good at taking a "what will be will be" approach. Instead, I take more of a "things will turn out a certain way depending on how much I control them and make them fit in this fantastic schedule I've come up with..." Bleh. When I get stressed like that I end up snapping at people and basically approach every little problem like it's an end of the world type catastrophe.

What's helped, though, is that I have such generous friends (and family-hi katy!). This week a few friends came over and helped me out with what might seem like an easy, mundane task-tying up silverware for the wedding and finishing up some DIY decorations. Simple-yes, but a huge help. They got it done in 2 hours. I would have dragged the project out for weeks.

Weddings can definitely be stressful, with the planning and trying to please people, but Steve and I are really lucky to have such fantastic friends and family to help us out with all different aspects of the wedding. And I think that will make it that much more fun. :-)

Being at the beach won't hurt either.

Freebies!

Taxes are due! But, did you know you can get free coffee at Starbucks today if you bring your own travel mug?? Amazing! Here is a list of other deals...including $10.40 entrees at McCormick and Schmick's!

A Quandry

I am facing quite the dilemma. After a 5 month hiatus, Glee returns this evening. At the same time as LOST. *sigh* What to do...what to do?? (Suggesting staying up until 10 PM and watching the other at that time is not an option. The other will have to wait until tomorrow evening.)

Not too long now.

I don't think I'm your "stereotypical" bride. I'm not concerning myself with the color of chair covers. I don't lie awake at night fantasizing about what we'll name our children. That's not really me. At all. Instead, I think how odd it'll be for a man to have access to my underwear drawer. Or to know exactly how many pair of shoes I have (yikes). I wonder how I'll ever get used to sleeping with a boy every night (get your head out of the gutter, I mean sleeping). I'm not exactly the "sharing the bed" type-just ask my sister. There were many vacations growing up where I opted to sleep on the floor-or once an oversized ottoman-rather than share a bed with my sis.

But, there are a few things about which I get what I'll call "bridal-giddy". One being the dress. Which I am picking up this evening. Yes. I cannot wait! I'm not exactly sure how many days it is til our wedding, but I've been counting down the days til Dress Day. I just made that day up, but I feel brides everywhere can empathize.

I just hope the sleeves aren't too poofy. ;)

O Pioneers!

I really did not like that book when we had to read it in high school. Just hearing the title evokes memories of my cigarette-addicted honors English teacher my junior year. I'd get back a graded paper stinking of smoke. Bleh.



But, I digress. Have you heard about The Pioneer Woman? You can find here here. Her recipes are awesome. But, as I've read more on her blog, her story is pretty awesome, too. It looks like there's even a movie in the works about her life! I promise you'll be hooked once you start reading. I made her carrot cake recipe this weekend-delicious.

Check her out. You'll thank me later.

Happy Easter to my peeps.

While today is certainly a reflective day, I am looking forward to Easter and all the joy it brings-especially with this fantastic weather! And I absolutely love that this diorama won the Washington Post's annual peep diorama contest. Did you notice all the peeps* in that balloon??

*Note, peeps are gross. My sister loves them (sick) and prefers them to be a bit stale. Siiick. I much prefer the Cadbury Egg or the Reece's Peanut Butter Egg as my Easter candy of choice!

Wish this had been a major in college.

I found my dream job. A Honeymoon Tester! You can read about it here. Yes, I would like to travel around to resorts and blog about sunset dinners, curling waves, reading in a hammock and sipping complimentary champagne.

Seriously. No April foolin' here.