Meet Ray. . . . .he will MELT your Heart

maybe you've seen this little guy, named Ray, around the internet.

he is a cutie.

a real, sweet, cutie pie.

and he was recently adopted by a guy named Andrew.

bless you Andrew!

it's easy to hold out for our definition of "perfect" in this world.

whatever that is.

but you didn't. . . .and i bet you will get years of pure joy from your 

sweet little guy.

are you ready to meet Ray?

well, scroll down to see this

C

U

T

I

E

Ray. . . . .

you see, Ray is 9 weeks old and was born completely blind.

from everything i've read, especially because that is all he's known,

he will live a happy, frisky joyful life,

thanks to a kind soul who adopted him.

***note to Andrew, wherever you are.  Thank you.  And be glad you saw him first

because if I had, he would've been mine:)

Happy Friday everyone!

xoxo

Suzanne

P.S.  LOVE the jammies, Ray!

Warm, Cozy and Yummy. . . . . .

brrrrrrrrrrr. . . . . .

it's been just a bit chilly outside, hasn't it?

even down here in south florida,

although nothing like up north.

and frankly, i like this chilly weather.

we don't get much of it you know, so we have to take advantage!

like, pull on a sweater, wear some cute boots, make some hearty

comfort food.

stuff like that.

but i know what a cold winter is like,

really, i do!

so i've put together a few things to warm you up a bit.

i hope:)

to start with, i hope you're all bundled up in a cozy blanket

maybe reading a book by a

roaring fire!

maybe you're on the computer,

doing a little online shopping or looking at all the fashion sites.

gosh, i'd move north just to wear these cute clothes!
or maybe not:)
but i still love the clothes!

don't you just LOVE this button purse and the cute booties?

i do:)

it's a good time to cuddle someone. . . . .

or something you love:)

go ahead, say it. . . . . .awwwwwww!

now, we can't forget something warm to drink.

hot cocoa is always a good choice.

especially hot cocoa with marshmallows.

especially hot cocoa with chocolate chip marshmallow eyes:)

my favorite warm drink happens to be a drink at starbucks.

but my girls figured out how to make it without buying some pricey flavored syrup
and whatever else they use.

the drink i'm talking about is a 

warm caramel apple drink.

and it is soooooo good!

it's super easy.

simply heat up a mug or pan of apple juice.

stir in caramel topping you would use for ice cream, to taste.

garnish with a bit of whipped cream and caramel on top.

y.u.m.m.y!

ok, i don't know if i've mentioned this or not,

but we are trying to eat a bit healthier around here.
trying.

so when i saw this recipe for stuffed peppers without rice on table for two blog,

i knew we had to try it.

last night, jordan made a batch.

and let me tell you,

these are SOOOO good!

light comfort food.
quick and easy.

not bad, huh?

you have got to try these!

Easy Stuffed Peppers

1/2 pound ground beef or turkey

1/2 large sweet onion, diced

1 cup frozen corn

1 Tbs or so taco seasoning

3 large bell peppers, seeded and halved

1 cup shredded cheese (i used two kinds...cheddar jack and pepper jack)

olive oil

~on a large baking sheet, place your pepper halves on them and drizzle olive oil all over them.  Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until the peppers are bubbling up a bit and translucent around the edges.
~While peppers are baking, saute onions in a tsp or so of olive oil until soft.
Add in the ground beef or turkey and cook till browned.
Mix in the taco seasoning.  Stir, then add in the corn.
~Cook for 5 min. more then remove from the heat.
~Place the (cooled) pepper halves in a casserole dish, then spoon the filling into the peppers.
Trust me, it's okay if you stuff them a bit much:)
~Sprinkle cheese on top of the filling, then place it under the broiler till cheese is melted and bubbly.
~Serve immediately.
***Makes 6 pepper halves. . . . .but these are soooooo good and light tasting,
you should plan on doubling the recipe.
I would give ANYTHING to have leftovers for lunch today:)

well, are you getting warm yet?
need more help???
here is one more....
Crockpot Chicken Teriyaki

 1lb chicken, 1c chicken broth, 1/2c terriyaki or soy sauce,

 1/3c brown sugar, 3minced garlic cloves... 

Optional... a can of drained pineapple, peppers

There was no cooking "time",

but if you use a crockpot, it's either on low for 6-8hrs. or high for 3-4 hrs.

(hope i got that right:)

if you like, serve over brown rice and add sesame seeds.

well, i've rambled long enough, right?

let me leave you with a thought for your day. . . . .

happy friday!!!

Suzanne

for mom......a shabby chic dream cottage and soft, cuddly puppies......

hi mom!

yes, YOU:)

it's your big week 

and since i'm not there to do something special with you,

i'm showing you what i WOULD do if i could.

i would give you a shabby chic home makeover.

better yet, i would buy you a sweet

  shabby chic cottage 

and decorate it like this.

WELCOME to your new shabby cottage.........

 complete with a white picket fence covered with beautiful pink roses!

your palettes inside would be either based on WHITES and creams,

or shabby pastels like this.....

here are two ideas for your living room.......

don't you love the pink furniture and the pretty rug?

here, the blue walls are optional.

i just know you like blues:)

let's go to the kitchen area for a cup of tea.....

do you like it?

 did i mention i would paint your piano white 

and add some embellishments like this one?

 makes me want a piano!:)

are you wondering what your bedroom will look like?

well, here you go......

we could do something like this......

of course, your bed would be made:)

or maybe like this.......

actually, this is pretty much my dream bed:)

or maybe you prefer this beauty.......

a shabby bathroom of course, simple white tub, white fluffy towels, with maybe a touch of distressed aqua.......

or maybe we would keep it ALL white.

yes, i think that's what we'll do.

we can't forget the porch.......

one thing would be mandatory.......

an iron daybed for those afternoon naps:)

you need a porch swing, too......

and if you had this sign hanging out front, i guarantee

LOTS of visitors:)

of course, i would make sure there were beautiful flowers in every room......

so, what do you think?

like it?

well......i WISH i could make it all come true.

at least my heart's in the right place:)

but something's missing.

cute cottage......check

shabby chic decor.......check

flowers........check

vintage signs.......check

what could it be?

i know!

something to share it with.

something to 

C

U

D

D

L

E

!

something like one of these cuties.........

the puppy in the center, on top, is looking at you right now.

gazing in your eyes.

can you hear it?

"won't you take me home.........please don't let me be picked last."

go ahead.........say it.

NO WAY!

but listen to me......

don't be swayed by the dogs aunt m had.

she loved them so much........TOO MUCH to raise them right.

you learned what to do and what not to do.

and when you want to go away,

people will BEG to watch a well behaved dog.

see......i should know.

cute little freddy was given everything a dog could want......

and he never lets us forget that.

maui was raised better and people want to take him home all the time.

(and anyway, kathy will watch your pup:)

you wouldn't have to take it out at night.....you could train it to use

puppy pads on your back porch.

see.....i've thought of everything!

and not to make you sad, but i believe things happen for a reason.......

and who would've thought dad would fall in love with 

one of these cuties.

i think it's a sign.

he wants you to have one:)

okay, okay.....i'll stop.

but first i have a confession to make.

after i saw dad with his new buddy,

i was actually planning on getting him one just like her.

i know.......what was i thinking!

oh, you would have been so mad at me!

(heeheehee)

alright, you know i'm just playing with you now.

but i WAS going to get one.

and i STILL WOULD gladly get you one of your own.

just say the word:)

it would make me feel better about living so far away.

okay, have i tried every argument yet?:)

well, i hope you like your shabby little dream cottage:)

i had fun creating it for you.

what else can i do on a day when i am severely sleep deprived.....again:)

XOXOXOX

a truly precious story...

heartbreaking yet heartwarming at the same time.

but first, get the tissues ready.

now i'm sure you've all heard the tragic story

about the navy seals who were shot down recently.

heartbreaking doesn't begin to describe it.

as their bodies are being flown home, 

they are being laid to rest by family and friends.

but one navy seal, Jon Tumilson, 

was laid to rest by a very special friend...

his DOG, "Hawkeye"!

i didn't even need to see the photos before bawling all over the place...

but once i did, it just broke my heart.

at the funeral, Hawkeye, his loyal companion,

would not leave his side.  he laid by the casket throughout the whole service.

like i said...heart breaking yet heart warming.

i adore my dogs and have often said that if anything happened

to me, little Freddy should probably be by my side. 

 

i don't mean to sound morbid but this dog can't function without me.

he won't eat and will run from room to room, 

whimpering and frantically searching if I should happen to be out of sight.

on most days,

he and Maui  are my most loyal friends... and that's fine by me:)

so I thought I'd share some of my favorite dog quotes, starting with a long one

that is WELL WORTH READING!

i hope you like them too:)

XOXOXOXOX

Suzanne

AWWWW...

so if you've read my blog at any time in the past,

you must know that

I LOVE MY DOGS!

it's true...

there are many days when they are my BEST friends.

make what you want of that one but they are just pure affection, loyalty, and FUN!

so you know I was terrified when, while teaching my daughter about 

checking pupil dilation,

I shined the light on my Freddy-Bear and saw that one eye was dilated and did not

constrict when the light hit it.

I knew that was NOT right.

all night long, I could only find BAD news online regarding this. 

mostly a brain tumor.

oh brother...I've heard those words myself, last summer.

now my sweet little guy...my greatest fan in the world?

so we went to the vet the next day.

she knew what I was thinking and brought out her vet-medical book

to show me there was another option.  

after looking at his eye with her instruments, I could also see what she

was referring to. 

he has a little tear (hole) that prevents his eye from 

constricting in sunlight.

  NOT a tumor.

BUT...have you ever had an eye exam and had your eyes dilated?

if you go out in the sun without sunglasses, your eyes just burn until the pupils

can constrict again.

 

so...what to do?

well, the vet said to walk him in the morning/evening hours mainly

(my little fluff ball doesn't like long walks anyway.)

and if we DO go out in the bright sun,

he needs sunglasses.

SUNGLASSES!

you've heard of goggles, right?

well, these are called DOGGLES...

and they are Freddy's new shades.

 

 oh yeah...he is one cool dude!

the first time he wore them, he would walk 2 steps, stop and try to get them off...

walk a few more, stop...

yesterday he wore them for 15 minutes straight so we're getting there.

his favorite way to wear his new shades...

on top of his head, of course.

 

now you know why this post was titled "awwwww":)

if you can stand it, here's one more pic of my guys.

every time I go into my bathroom to shower and get ready to go out...

they wait by my door.

sometimes I take longer than they would like but still they stay put,

sneaking in a little nap but staying close... 

 

just in case they get to come too.

talk about living in hope...

talk about giving me a GUILT trip!!!

GEEZ guys, I can't take you everywhere!

but trust me, I would if I could:)

 

lastly, Freddy does not have a new wig...

but he does have Maui's tail on his head:)

 

 

(sorry...just thought it was time for a "puppy post":)

yes, sometimes they are a pain.

a BIG pain!

but they are always cute...

always a part of the family...

 and they love me even when I'm in a grumpy mood..

and write grumpy blog posts, like yesterday:)

have a good one...