Congrats on getting through the week! It’s FRIDAY!

Honestly, I’m pretty surprised I made it to Friday without pulling all of my hair out. Check out what this week has included:

- Houston heatwave (slash thunderstorms).
- Work overload. <– understatement
- European vacation preparation.
- Reality TV deprivation.
- Enormous lack of sleep.
- Never-ending to-do lists.
- Zero time for workouts.
- Bills.

Sounds pretty unbearable, right?

I did, however, manage to sneak in some fun this week and meet this lovely lady for some tasty wine and snacks. And let me tell you, boy did I need a drink. We went here and truth be told, this place never disappoints. If you live in Houston, GO THERE. Oh, but avoid the ketchup at all costs–they make it in-house and even the waiter told us to steer clear of it. To put it gently, it’s nothing like Heinz. Otherwise, BIG thumbs up on the menu and wine. Delish.

Can you believe it’s almost AUGUST? How are we already in the eighth month of the year?

Hey 2010, SLOW DOWN.

And since I love, love, LOVE the summertime–and this weekend’s going to be 100+ degrees (no, I’m NOT kidding)–I plan on enjoying every last bit of summer outside (with occasional dips in the pool and trips for snow cones) while it lasts.

So what’s on this weekend’s agenda?

- Margaritas + fajitas.
- Loui + dog park.
- Loui + grooming.
- Sun + pool + friends.
- Haircut.
- Dinner and movie date with good gal pal.
- Friend’s engagement brunch.
- Shopping for European vacation.
- Finish current book: Eat, Pray, Love.
- Anything else my little heart desires.

Oh, and I’m seeing Dinner for Schmucks on my gal-pal date because it looks HILARIOUS.

What do you have planned for the weekend?

Whatever you do, I hope it’s FABULOUS. Cheers!

- L

Everyone always says “things come in threes.”

The past week has certainly tested my patience. And it all began last Friday…

#1

I was at the office when I suddenly noticed I had missed four calls from the bf. He left one message. Of course, I frantically listened, wondering what could possibly be so important that he called me four times in a row. Didn’t see this one coming… car accident. Car is totaled. I’m at the corner of ____ and ____.

Come now.

If you know me at all, you know I’m not the kind of gal who remains calm in stressful situations. We’re always taught to remain calm and collected, think things through, try to be as rational as possible and evaluate the situation at hand. Not me. I run around like a crazy woman, grab my purse, cry like a baby, drive like a madwoman (I know, I know) then arrive at the scene. I’m a complete and utter mess. Bf on the other hand is cool, collected, rational and trying to calm ME down. One would think I was actually IN the car accident considering how distraught I was. I really know how to make a situation better.

After bf proceeded to shake my shoulders and snap me back to reality–relentlessly repeating GET A GRIP, LAURIE–I went ahead and cleaned out his totaled car, talked with the tow truck driver, spoke on the phone with the bf’s parents (lucky for them, they were on vacation) and got my you-know-what together so I could actually be helpful.

To make a long story short, car was totaled but bf was fine. Phew.

#2

The best part about #1 was that the VERY NEXT MORNING bf was supposed to move to a new city for dental school. Yep, we had to pack up a U-haul just a few hours after the car was totaled and head out of town. As if him moving away wasn’t already hard enough for me to deal with. Somehow we managed to get to his parents house so he could grab one of their cars for the time being.

The next morning, we woke up bright and early to load the U-haul. After a couple hours of Texas summer heat and kolaches as sustenance, we managed to finish packing up the truck and headed out of town. After arriving at our destination, unloading the U-haul, unpacking boxes and boxes and more boxes, putting things in their place and remembering to breathe somewhere in between… before I knew it, it was Sunday evening.

Time to say goodbye. And I flew home.

#3

After #2 happened, I was pretty sure that was the worst of it and everything would be thumbs up from there. Little did I know I was totally wrong.

Tuesday evening rolled around and I was walking this little guy. We’re about to go back inside after our walk when I suddenly lose hold of him, he sprints out of the complex, under the gate and out into the street. In my pjs and flip-flops, I hurriedly chase after him, slipping on the steps and falling to the ground. Again, if you know me at all–I’m a klutz by nature. This is the part when I explain how much I cried and held my foot and ankle praying I didn’t break it (but totally thinking I had). Luckily Loui came back to me thinking “uh oh, sorry Mom.”

Well folks, I have a torn ligament in my foot and a sprained ankle. And I get to wear this for three weeks.

Yep, THREE.

——–

Moral of the story? Things come in threes.

——–

Well, that and don’t chase after your dog when he runs away. It’s a game and I totally fell for it.
(pun intended)

- L

Boyfriend and I had been looking for a dog for quite some time. We were on the search for a hypoallergenic dog (preferably not a mixed breed) that wasn’t a puppy but wasn’t very old either. We trekked around the city for several months visiting nearly every rescue we could find. But we kept coming up short.

Then last Friday we got a phone call about a 2.5-year-old silver miniature schnauzer named Smokey. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the most ideal timing considering boyfriend was just about to leave town for the weekend. Nonetheless, we returned the call and from the sound of it, he seemed pretty awesome. We requested pics to be e-mailed immediately and upon opening them, I started crying. I know, seems a bit over dramatic (and it probably is) but that’s how much I loved the little man right off the bat. He was perfect. This cute, cuddly, furry fuzzball of a dog was looking for a new home.

I rushed out to the rescue to meet him that afternoon and quickly fell in doggie love. He was precious. This sweet, happy pup seemed absolutely perfect. But could I really make this decision with boyfriend hundreds of miles away? So, I slept on it. Or so I thought… I got home and couldn’t sleep all night. I got up the next morning and hurried over to the rescue once more to see him. After an hour or two of signing paperwork, calling the boyfriend, playing outside and getting licked all over my hands, face and feet, it was done.

HE WAS OURS.

We scheduled Smokey for surgery (which of course, he still isn’t very happy about) and boyfriend–who had returned from his weekend trip–and I picked him up the following evening. He was super groggy from the anesthesia and probably doesn’t even remember his first night at home, but bringing him home was such a great feeling. The past week has most definitely been a learning experience (and a true test of our patience) but we’re all coming along great. Little Smokey (whose name has since changed to Loui) is full of love, life and most of all lots and lots of sweet kisses.

Meet Loui.

- L