Our baby...

Our baby isn't so much of a baby any more... Murphy lost his first two teeth this weekend! He won't hold still to let me take a picture and I don't think there is a Puppy Tooth Fairy, nonetheless it is exciting!

Time flies...

If you didn't guess by the sheer lack of blogging activity- things have been very, very busy! I'll be sure to post soon with some actual content and not just stating the obvious. But real quick for a recap of the month since it's almost over...

ADIM is getting great exposure, Murphy is huge, Kyle's growing facial hair because temperatures are falling, our house smells like spiced pumpkin, Michigan football isn't playing so well, I've traveled over 2,000 miles this month, my office looks like a cyclone blew threw and I'm so exited for the holidays!

As I said, I will post soon acknowledging some of the excitement I've encountered!

g'night!

Procrastination

There isn't much that needs to be said about this one... we have all been there before. And some more than others... hilarious!

Murphy's Manic Monday's (...on Tuesday)

This one is short and sweet but with an emphasis on the sweet! Our friends and neighbors the Grant's have five children and no pets. Once we got Murphy it was puppy central around here and Murphy loved, and still loves, ever moment of it. Last week Stephanie brought over their two youngest for lunch and it was the first time that Emma (the baby of the family) got to meet Murph up close and personal...

The hilarious part about this photo is that Emma and Murph are practically the same height!


We all know Murphy loves to give kisses Emma likes to receive them just as much!!

Update the event Photobooth!

While I was day dreaming this morning coming home from a meeting I was thinking of ways to dress up the ever so popular photobooth you see at events. (You're probably thinking that is a really random thought to have!)

Beautiful fabrics and trimmings are popular and the standard photobooth is great- it's creative, it's clean and who doesn't love trying to fit 5 people in them at once?!?! But what about creating custom canvas? How about adding some props?

When I was in Florida a few years back with my girlfriend Laura for the PGA Show we had some time to go to Disney World with another friend of ours Kelly who is lucky enough to work at the "happiest place on earth". This was a picture someone took for us in front of this great backdrop constructed to promote the release of the movie Chronicles of Narnia.



These photobooths/shoots provide perfect cocktail hour entertainment and are meant to be fun and goofy so why not inspire your guests with a themed background and some props to dress up in? You can stick with the event's theme or maybe the bride and grooms favorite vacation spot or the characters to their favorite movie! For an island inspired backdrop take this photo...



Your props could include a snorkle, diving mask, flippers, beach towel, bucket cap and oversize sunglasses. Maybe have a signature cocktail complete with a tiny umbrella to serve at the cocktail hour!

For those movie lovers take this photo of the empire state building (or one like it) and reenact Godzilla or Sleepless in Seattle!


If you have an adventure inspired photo shoot take an aerial shot and use a parachute, some strings attached above the canvas and diving goggles- I bet that would be a great photo montage at the end of the evening- which of your friends do you think would forget to pull the string?!?


And if you are looking for a little something extra to give your guests have your photographer head to the nearest one-hour photo, process the images from the shoot and then pass them out to couples/groups in a fun custom frame at the end of the evening!

Murphy's Manic Monday's

It's that time again folks... it's Murphy's Manic Monday! Since last week I've stepped up and taken oodles of pictures of Murph and his crazy adventures. Aside from watching his belly expand and his legs grow like bean polls, Murphy has reached some pretty significant milestones and given a new meaning to "adventurous."

Within the past two and a half weeks we've only had one accident to pick up (knock on wood Alicia). We've been training Murphy by taking him outside often and rewarding for every "deposit" he leaves behind. For a good week and a half now he has been letting us know when it is time to go- he he! He'll sit by the sliding glass door until we notice him or give us a little bark.

Last week he had just woken up, walked to the door and just sat there. No movement, no whimper, no bark or growl. So I called him over and he just sat in front of me... makes you melt huh!


So I let him outside and took the camera hoping something fun would happen and it did! Apparently we were playing hide-and-go-seek!


After our game he walked to the side of the house in the shade and plopped down again. Now this little guy is no amateur. Since day 1 at his new home he's had a camera in his face and he is beginning to enjoy posing for the camera. But this day he upped the ante! Is there an "America's Top Puppy" show?!?


This weekend was pretty low key so when I was hustling and bustling around the house this morning Murphy was a little taken aback. Normally I do laundry in the evenings when clothes have been worn for the day and I can squeeze in that last pair of jeans. However today I wanted to wash rugs and clothes so I started early. Inspector Murph here, or Agent Snoop as I like to call him, loves to sneak into the closet, grab the socks or shirt and then parade it around the living room like the king of England. To discourage this action we shut the door to the closet and for the most part no problem.

So today, as I was shifting laundry from the dryer to the folding area and the washer to the dryer Murphy got REALLY adventurous and sneaky. He thought he grab something, and he did... all for a used dryer sheet!


And this was for a sock that was left behind!


How did he get in the dryer you ask? Well, he had a little boost but it was all in good fun!! We'll have to wait and see what is in store for Murphy this week but I would guess it would be nothing short of amazing!! I couldn't resist just one last picture of the little guy!!

Inspiration

Ever since I graduated from Michigan I have become a magazine and book junkie! I've always loved to read but with endless pages of textbooks and studying I never had time to read for fun. I can remember walking through Barnes & Noble and Borders for some much needed decompressing and loving every moment in the late afternoons. There is something so exciting about the discovery of a new author or the mystery that lies within the clean ecru pages of a beautifully designed book cover... I can't lie, I pre-judge a book by it's cover- it's horrible.

I would walk past the new release table carefully observing the titles and then proceed to the sale table placed behind, or off to the side, of the new releases. And once I glanced over those books I headed to the fabulous magazine area. When I was a child I remember Highlights magazine and National Geographic for kids. I'm not sure if I ever read an "article" but I made lots of decoupage crafts with cut outs and completed every maze and puzzle!

I love the excitement created by the magazine rack. The glossy cover, bold typeface, beautiful people/things catching your eye as you see hundreds of new issues... it is so overwhelming! I was faced with a major dilemma... do I spend the $4 and get a coffee that I've been craving since 2:00 or do I splurge on $2 more for the new Martha Stewart? Thank you to the fabulous people at B&N, I would buy my coffee and sit in the comfy chairs with a stack of magazines and flip till my hearts content. (Funny thing, when Kyle and I first started dating over 5 and a half years ago, I found out that he used to do the same thing!)

So what's the point of this story? Here it is... now that I "have" time (I use that phrase lightly) I have magazines and books everywhere. I can't tell you how exciting it is to get the mail in the morning and see the new issue of In Style or Everyday Food. What magazines do I subscribe to?
Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, In Style, Shape, Everyday Food, Travel & Leisure and Domino to name a few. My new favorite magazine is Domino. The magazine is interior design based with elements of luxury, thriftiness, utterly ridiculousness luxury and re-purposing junk- I love it!

While sifting through the pages (the first thing I do with a new mag, then I go back and read) I stumbled upon a name that caught my attention and design that I gravitated to- Ochre. I am not a modern girl by any means but if modern design means beautiful lines, yummy fabrics and creative styling then sign me up. Added bonus, they are a British company and my husband's entire family are Brits.

Here are a few of the pieces that blew me away and check out their chic site for some beautiful peices. FYI there are no prices on the site so be sure to put your "savvy" glasses on before wiping the drool from your keyboard!

Devine Recline corner chair and stool


Arctic Pear Chandelier


Snooze sofa with Light Drizzle Chandelier


These pieces are not only aesthetically beautiful but linguistically beautiful as well- who wouldn't love a "snooze" sofa that looked like this?!