My Favorite Quotes

These would have to be my top three favorite quotes of my entire life.

The first is basically saying lipstick and a nice cocktail makes the day better. I will admit that lipstick has made my mood perk up substansially. Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn are my favorite classic actresses. They were the style icons back before Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone become the modern icons.

The last is a no brainer. I love my horses and one day I will have a kingdom where I can have as many horses as I want to. Plus I love my Shakespeare. I think this year I am going to try and get back into seeing shows again. Mt. Baker Theatre always has some show or ballet.

What is your favorite quote?

The Week Ahead

Outside my window... It's a little cloudy today.

I am thinking... That I have 19 days until graduation.

I am thankful for... Everything and everyone around me.

From the kitchen... I am having a toast for breakfast.

I am hearing... My computer keys clicking as I type, MudLynn snoring in her crate, and Netflix playing.

I am watching... Sons of Anarchy.

Always one of my favorite things... To spend time with friends.

I am reading... Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban and my textbooks.

I am making... Orange Chicken in the crockpot. Mmm yum!

I am writing... This blog post.

All the plans I have for this week... I work at St. Paul's every day and nanny. I have the day off nannying so I am going to run errands to Fred Meyer and to Costco. I don't really have a lot planned for the week as I am on a no-spending promise this week. I know I am going to trivia on Wednesday with my friends and then having a movie night after.

MudLynn Update... MudLynn is doing wonderful! She is on Dasaquin and Proin and now on some Omega chews every day to help her stay fit and healthy. She spent the weekend with me house sitting and I can tell that she is happy to be back in her house again.

College Update... I think I'm ready for the end my last quarter at Western. Then, I am going to eventually get a Master in Teaching English lit for 5-12 grade.

Riding Update... With graduation looming in, I haven't had time to go ride. I'm trying to end my quarter really well and then I will have the time to go ride on the weekends again.

5 Facts About Me

Hey guys! I am starting a blogging challenge to help inspire and motivate me to blog more consistently. So here goes nothing!

Fact #1
I can do both: go camp in the woods/ride some horses but then go to full fashionista. I love both lifestyles, I can't live just one. I like being immersed in nature and not caring if my hair is greasy or if my face has dirt on it, but then I also love looking cute and stylish.
Fact #2 
I'm obsessed with Christian Louboutin shoes. There is just something about the red-bottomed soles that just draw me in. (P.S. if anyone knows someone selling a pair that is a 6.5, let me know!). I've been looking at pairs on Poshmark and really REALLY want to buy a pair.

Fact #3
I LOVE THE THEATRE. I love going to see Broadway shows, plays, operas, symphonies, dances, ballets and so much more. I collect the big programs that they sell. I'd like to frame the ones I have and hang them up in my apartment. I need to find a couple that I don't have (La Luna - Sarah Brightman, River Dance, and Lion King).

Fact #4 
My main dream dog is a Doberman Pincher. I fell in love with the breed when I pet sat for one of my
neighbors who had a Doberman who was a show/stud dog. God, he was a gorgeous dog. I like how much of a velcro dog they are. Shows how loyal they are to their owner. I also just honestly felt so safe with him because of their amazing hearing - especially when sleeping in a huge house all by myself. My goal is the adopt as many Dobermans as I can when I have my own house.

Fact #5
I hate beer. I guess that isn't a fascinating fact but hey. I don't like the hoppy taste and aftertaste that you get from beer. I like my ciders a lot. Right now, I am currently loving the Lemon Basil Cider at McKay's Taphouse and Pizzeria when I go to trivia on Wednesday and the Seattle Cider Company's Semi-Sweet Cider when I am at Paws for a Beer on Monday's for trivia. I guess the other fun fact is that I love going to trivia at the local bars, I won one with my friends which got MudLynn a free two-month pass.

My New 8 Habits to a Successful New Year

I spent a long time reflecting on 2017 and have taken up 8 habits that I know will help me in the year to come and make myself more successful. A lot of things happened last year and I want to make myself a better person than I was last year.

1. Eating healthy and consistent.
I have done so well the past two weeks of 2018 by eating consistent and wholesome meals. I pretty much have dinner either ready to be made or already made and just needs to be heated in the microwave. My roommate is so proud of me.

2. Going to the barn more.
I am still kicking myself for not going to the barn and missing out on time with Fiesta so I am trying to go to the barn whenever I can, even if it is just to do chores for Suzy.

3. Putting more money into my savings.
I am trying to get myself to stick to my budget and I am doing very well. I have only shopped for things I need or at places that I have gift cards to. I bought some groceries with a Fred Meyer gift card that I got in a Christmas card from the middle school families at work. It was so sweet of them to do that for me.

4. Not wasting food and eating up my leftovers.
I have two Tupperware of leftovers that I have left to eat. I also made sure I ate my Boundary Bay leftovers. I spent good money on that food, so I must eat up my money.

5. Being more selfish about what I want.
I decided that I am tired of not achieving what I want or what I want to do at night. Lately, I have been staying in more and more during the weeknights and I sleep better each time.

6. Take care of things before they need to be fixed/ paid.
I pretty much wait until the last minute to get things fixed or paid, so now I am making sure I pay my bills ahead of the due date and not on the day it's due.

7. Making more connections within my sport and other passions.
If you didn't know, I am going to co-running my trainers camp with a close friend of mine this summer. She and I are so excited about this challenge and journey. We are hanging out more together and planning. It's so much fun!

8. To photograph moments more.
I want to create an album with all the Fuji film photos I have taken so that I can remember fun moments with all my friends.

My Valentine's Day

My Valentine's Day was pretty great. I spent it watching kiddos perform at school during lunch, got a valentine from one of the teachers and then took my nanny kids to Rukus Room for Duckie Day (basically they just go to a machine with a claw and try to get as many rubber ducks as they can).

I bought my friend's flowers and made cards for them but the cutest thing I did for my roommate was writing little notes on sticky notes and put them on her mirror in the shape of a heart. I know, it's so cheesy, but at least I know what a cheesy thing I would do for a boyfriend next time. I came home to flowers, chocolates and a card from my roommate and then I got a candle and KitKats from Jayme! I love my friends, I am so glad I got to spend the holiday with them. I spoiled myself with a bubble bath with a candle and Safe Haven on my Laptop while I sipped on a Seattle Cider.

We then spent the night dancing/playing Just Dance on the Wii and playing Wii Sports. Then we moved into playing Clue! I was obviously Mrs. Peacock, Haley was Ms. Scarlet, Trev was Colonel Mustard, and Jayme was Ms. White. Games are so much fun with friends, I love my board game collection!

Valentine's Day is so much more than going out with a SO and whatever. When you're single, it's about celebrating your friendships and having fun with your friends. And that is exactly what I did last night with my girls, we toasted our friendships to mimosas in fancy champagne saucers I bought from Marshall's.

Other than that I hope everyone had a wonderful night! 

The Week Ahead

Outside my window... It's finally sunny again! Spring is upon us!

I am thinking... That this winter quarter is my last quarter before I graduate and what I will do next year and where I am going to live.

I am thankful for... Everything and everyone around me.

From the kitchen... I am having a Yoplait yogurt for breakfast, and I am making dinner.

I am hearing... My computer keys clicking as I type and Netflix playing.

I am watching... Nothing.

Always one of my favorite things... To spend time with friends.

I am reading... Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban and my textbooks.

I am making... Shrimp Stir Fry in the crockpot.

I am writing... This blog post.

All the plans I have for this week... I work at St. Paul's now MTW and I now work as a nanny every day of the week except for Monday's, I have the day off nannying. I don't really have a lot planned for the week as I am on a no-spending promise this week. I'm going to trivia at Paws for a Beer in Fairhaven tonight with some friends and Mud gets to come along! I have a dinner on Tuesday with my friends and then I think a friend of me and my roommate is coming to visit this weekend.

MudLynn Update... MudLynn is doing wonderful! She is on Dasaquin and Proin and now on some Omega chews every day to help her stay fit and healthy. We have done so much physical activity lately, it is wonderful. We hiked Teddy Bear Cove, Fragrance Lake and today we went walking with Harper and Lily.

College Update... I am ready to begin my last quarter at Western. Then, I am going to eventually get a Master in Teaching English lit for 5-12 grade.

Riding Update... I haven't ridden since my birthday, so I think I might go ride sometime this week.

Living in Bellingham, WA: A Dog Mom's Struggles

We all know that there are those college towns that are difficult when it comes to finding a place to live that fits all of our needs.

I was lucky that at the end of my year of living in the dorms, I had found an apartment to live in close to campus that allowed my dog. My current apartment is a nice beginner apartment, had all the basics in the apartment but laundry. But laundry was no issues, just a few dollars a month to do what was in my hamper.
Now that I have lived here for about three years, it's time to move on to a better place (one that has landry in the unit). As I am looking at studios, it baffles me that so many landlords do not allow dogs, yet they allow cats. Don't get me wrong, I am not hating on cats but they tend to urinate on everything and scratch up the carpets. Basically dogs and cats are equal when it comes to apartment damages. But that is when landlords can charge pet rent, pet deposits, and other things in order to allow dogs in their apartments.

I think this has come to be because we live in a college town where landlords think college students are kids who party all night, damage properties, and aren't responsible when that is clearly not the case at all. I have met so many college students who are hard working and responsible and also are pet parents. Yes, they do go party sometimes, but they are more responsible with their alcohol intake because they know they have a dog waiting for them at home.

In all honesty, Seattle is way more pet-friendly than Bellingham, but it balances out with Seattle's living expenses (higher rents). It's such a debacle for me when it comes to living right now. I'm checking craigslist every day looking to see if there are new listings, checking every rental company's listings and the housing group on Facebook. I guess I shouldn't worry right now since it is only February and lease signing is usually late March/April. So we will see.