Week Of Thanks~ A Lesson Learned

In honor of Thanksgiving I am doing a week of thanks. Today's topic is a lesson learned. 

When I was younger I was not nearly as into family as I am now. In fact often times I would blow off family gatherings to spend time with friends. A very important lesson I have learned is that family is so important. More than family -life. Life is short and can often times be take for granted. So on this day after Thanksgiving I am giving thanks for my lesson learned- family. 

Week Of Thanks- An Animal I Love

For this week of Thanksgiving I am doing a photo a day challenge giving thanks for many things in my life. Today's topic is an animal you love and are thankful for. 

Welp folks it was bound to happen sooner or later. You all were bound to find out that I am THAT lady. The "I don't have a baby so I take 4000  20,000 photos of my dog" lady. Cesar Milan would have a field day with how we humanize our dog. But, guess what? We don't care. He is amazing! He is our "handsome little man" and "Mama's bubby". 

Crap. Our kids are doomed with nicknames like these as well aren't they...

Swish is a 3 year old 12lb miniature dachshund. He is a brown/red dapple and he is so so so sweet. He knows when I am having a bad day and he greets me at the door every single day when I come home like I am the greatest thing since sliced bread. 

So here it goes folks- lots and lots of pictures of my little buddy. Maybe seeing his royal cuteness will make you smile a little today :) It also may cause you to think that I am insane. 

Partly true indeed.

Also feel free to skip the crazy dog ladies pictures... I had to restrain myself from uploading too many photos...that doesn't mean there aren't still a ton of photos I wanted to share- and even more I left on

I present to you Swish(y) (McSwishy) -aka Buggie, Baby Boy, Handsome Little Man, Boo-Boo...  (Don't judge lol)

At first Swish was an itty bitty little tiny baby...

Everyone collectively say awww

Swish still sleeps like the one on the left to this date!

He was soooo tiny!

 Then Swish came home with us and he got a little bigger.... but not too much..

Swishy in his Papa's recliner.. look how tiny!

Swish with his best bud Mojo!

And he made himself super comfortable in our king sized bed.. 

 Swish spends a lot of time just lying around like he owns the joint!

But he also loves loves loves his walks! Can't you tell by his smile?

 Sometimes All the time I talk to Swish like he is going to answer me... but instead he looks at me like I am a crazy lady...

If I am holding my coffee cup within his reach Swish will sneak a sip and instead of stopping him we take pictures.... So naturally I bought a cup that looks like him...

  There was this one time where we took Swishy to get fixed.. he wasn't too thrilled with that at all and he was even less thrilled that I dress him up in baby onesies.. 

                             Swish loves to spend time in my lap... 

 And he really really really loves laundry of any kind..warm or cold..

 And this one time a bought a lawn ornament that looked just like Swish and my husband was going to ship me off to the looney bin...

And of course there was the incident of Christmas 2012 where I tried to get the perfect Christmas card photo.... 

How Swish looked at me after our little photo shoot... Crazy lady...

But mostly Swishy lays with me and loves me on my worst of days....

So there you have it.. crazy dog lady status for sure... but seriously I am so thankful to be Swishy's Mama. Life sure would be dull without his little butt around to keep it interesting.. and who else would I get to ramble to without judgement or verbal reply??

Week Of Thanks- Clothing That Makes You Feel Wonderful

 This week I am doing a week of what I am thankful for in photos. Today's topic is clothing that makes you feel wonderful. 

There are few outfits that can compete with a woman's wedding dress. This dress stands for so much. It was exactly what I wanted, had a splash of color, and made me feel not only beautiful, but comfortable. 

It also was the dress I was wearing the day I married my best friend. We were married on the beach on Long Beach Island surrounded by our amazing friends and loving family. 

Rob and I on the beach in LBI. 

I had two Maids of Honor, this is me and Laura at my wedding.. not pictured is Sam. Sam gave birth to her beautiful daughter on the day of our wedding.

The other times I felt wonderful in an outfit was on days that I was a part of two special weddings. My best friends asked me to be in both of their weddings. I loved getting dressed up and being a part of both their days. I have been in a lot of weddings and each holds a special spot in my heart, but there is nothing like being in your best friends weddings. 

Me and Sam at her wedding :)

Laura and all her girls :) Her NYE wedding last year!



We love going to weddings because they stand for so much for our friends and family for us to be there and to celebrate with them. So I also love the outfits I wear to each and everyone of their weddings.
Pictured below are pictures from a few weddings we have been to in the last few years for some of our best friends.

Probably one of my favorite photos of Rob and I at our friend Jackie and Josh's wedding. This is  the epitome of us :) 

I couldn't find a photo from Den and Ryan's wedding of just Rob and I, but this wedding was a week long celebration in Mexico and it was amazing. I think we all want to go back and do it again! 

Laura and Rich's Wedding NYE last year! 

Our friends Chris and Kristin at their wedding in Connecticut a few years ago!

Sarah and Will's wedding. Rob made me search for those glasses :)



Don't get me wrong, I love my sweats and Uggs, but if I have to get dressed up my most favorite reason to do so is to celebrate the joining of two people.

What's something you have worn that has made you feel wonderful? 

Week Of Thanks- Food or Drink You Love

This week I am doing a week of giving thanks- today is food or drink you love. 

Most of all I want to give thanks that I have never not had food or drink on the table. My heart breaks for anyone who has ever had to go to be hungry. If you can donate to your local food banks - not only during the holiday season- but year round- try to make an effort. It really does make a difference. 

Since I couldn't choose just one here are three of my favorite things:

This is my favorite lunch- "stuffed sweet potato". I stole the recipe from Biggest Loser. It's my favorite because it not only tastes good, but its healthy. I eat this, or a variation of this, for lunch pretty much every day at work. 

It is a small sweet potato, 3 oz of ground chicken that I browned with all kinds of spices, 2 table spoons of salsa (I like to use mango salsa because I love the sweetness it adds), and 2 table spoons of non fat greek yogurt (its just like sour cream! Give it a try!!) and some scallions on the top. You won't be disappointed!

This is my most favorite wine glass filled with my most favorite wine. Its Cupcake Moscato Di Asti. It's a sweet and bubbly sipping wine. After a long day of work I love to turn the fireplace on and sip a glass of my Moscato- Cheers :) 

And finally I start every day with a cup of coffee, but this is my most favorite because my co worker makes it for us during the summer months. Its iced coffee that he freshly presses overnight. Its so very good :) 

What are your favorite things to eat or drink? What are you giving thanks for this week?