Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, Right?

I'm back and interrupting regularly scheduled programming -- oh wait -- that would mean we have been blogging regularly.  (Jokes. I got 'em.)  Lucky for y'all I'm nursing a weird summer cold and decided to skip the gym since I sat at my desk with a hacking cough all day.  Clearly, the main reason for our scheduled interruption is to introduce you to our new family member and get you up to speed on my ever dwindling last year officially filing taxes as "single".  How is it that we are 5 months away from wedding day?! I need to register!!! 

Ok. Without further adieu I give you Arnold "Arnie" Palmer.  

Matt and I had a lot of discussions about another dog.  How long we should wait, what kind; etc.  Long talks at night.  Sometimes hard talks.  Clearly we can't bring back our beloved Hogan.  But after a lot of discussion and looking around we did decide that when we got another dog we would be adopting another boxer.  We have just had such a wonderful, wonderful experience with the breed.  We did go through Atlanta Boxer Rescue and we were really pleased with their organization and happy to contribute our adoption fee.  Many thanks to Arnie's foster mom -- she was completely amazing.  Note if you are interested in a boxer also check out their facebook page - it gets updated much more often and has lots of great info! 

I'm not going to mention any names...but someone has been a little bit sad about not being an only dog child anymore.  But it's only been a week and we have high hopes for our boys.  Arnie is incredibly sweet and well mannered.  Always a nice contrast to our loving yet sometimes high strung Rocky. 

In case you miss all my instagrams.  Trying to spice up office wear.  Mainly wondering if I could pass for a carnival worker or make it into an office meeting with this one? We have all the colors. 

We had a lovely 4th of July weekend and spent Sunday morning at E's house with babies for champagne and Wimbledon.  Housewife is the ultimate multi-tasker, no? 

Who can resist a baby in a bubble dress with a stuffed animal? 

After a super serious nap 4th of July weekend Matt and I managed to rouse ourselves, shower and get our asses out for dinner.  We had a fabulous dinner at our fave Vin 25 and the weather was just so perfect we walked down to Roswell Provisions for a tiny dessert. 

I've also been working super hard to make a neighborhood friend! The sweet girl down the street also has a pug -- Gizmo and we went on a double date to the food truck alley in Alpharetta last Thursday! 

Sad face because I vacuumed a lot on Saturday.  Apparently someone does not appreciate that since he got scared and had his first accident in the house on my watch.  

Made my first quiche this weekend! I loved it. I had 3 pieces today. 

We ended Sunday with a lot of patio hanging and grilling up some chicken as weekday dinner prep. 

I know that was a lot.  I'll try not to be gone so long. I think I'm finally getting a bit used to my new schedule, am a full-fledged audio book addict, got my last few save the date cards mailed and I've managed to get the house back under control and cleaned up.  July has been a success so far.  

Love you. Mean it! 

the engaged gal

Sunday Musings

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are spending your weekend doing fun stuff with friends and loved ones in the sunshine.  My social calendar has felt a bit out of control for May and June so after powering through a wedding I jumped on the Baby Shower train this weekend to celebrate my amazing and lovely friend Elise who is due in about 7 weeks. I can't wait to hold her sweet girl and I am so sad I didn't snap any pictures of her shower because it was totally Pinterest worthy and beautiful! I tend to give "practical" baby gifts because The Housewife swears that getting diapers/wipes or anything else you use a ton and don't have to buy for a while are a big fave among Moms.  So I grabbed a giant, heavy box of baby wipes to wrap up for my good friend. Who knew we would be here when I met her years ago the day we moved into our dorm in college?! 

prettied up baby wipes. 

I also found this cute little online shop {Made By Girl} and have been drooling over this mint colored print!  Also, owner/blogger Jen Ramos is super cute and has two Boxers that she loves, so I'm obviously a huge fan based on that fact alone. She sells prints, stationary, and accessories -- and her blog is super fun, too.  I am {hopefully} about to hang my curtains in the kitchen that The Housewife so kindly helped me make from some Target panels {post to come} so I am starting to think about my empty and bland entry way where I can probably hang this. I may finally feel like the downstairs is semi-complete if I can tackle that project.  

Made By Girl "Love" print 

After resting a bit post-baby shower on Saturday afternoon I came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to get anything productive done that evening, so I grabbed Hogan and we headed out to The Housewife's house.  She has an amazing screened in porch {minus the place where the screen on the door is split which allowed Hogan to escape} where we sat for the night drinking beer, watching lightning bugs, and catching up with her sister and brother-in-law who were in town visiting.  

Today will be spent cleaning {ugh} and I'll be making a trip over to Dad's for Father's Day celebrations and more coverage on The US Open.  I love that this tournament is always on Father's Day weekend. Dad was always dragging us down to the driving range with him and I have spent so much of my life on a golf course with him and will always be so grateful for all my golf lessons and the fun we have had together playing -- and even our arguments over shots.  It's always been a family sport and outing for all of us, and it couldn't have been easy toting around 3 little girls for his entire life and teaching them all his favorite lessons:  how to wash cars, throw a football, cut grass, play golf, work hard, and take care of your family.

What are your best memories with your Dads? 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~