Feelin' Sick but Workin' Hard

I have been fighting off the same cold for the last two weeks and unfortunately it just seems to keep getting worse. Linc had a work party last night so my friend Amy and I went out for drinks (which probably wasn't the best idea but so much fun anyway!) and hung out at my house afterwards. She went home around nine o'clock and I must have passed out on the couch because that is where my sweet husband found me at 1am and brought me to bed! After a lazy Saturday morning and another nap, what better way to spend my time then making some new headers! This really is my new favorite activity and I apologize if you are sick of these posts but I have a feeling there will be many more to come unless something else exciting happens! ;)

Courtney's website is up and running after some tweaking,
a new header and cool color scheme. I am so happy she finally
announced her pregnancy and is looking HOT at thirteen weeks!
Love you Court!

Ivy over at Little Woman, Little Home asked me to
create a new logo for her.
This is the first draft but I think it turned out really cute!

And my favorite new design of all is for my mother who,
after five years of planning has finally started her own
wedding and design company!! She has more experience
than most others- not to mention fabulous taste and amazing talent.
The website is still a work in progress but if you or someone you
know is getting married in the Atlanta, Lake Oconee,
or Hilton Head area please let me know and
I will get you her contact information!

Wordless...Thursday?

I meant to post this yesterday but our internet was down so I present my first "Wordless Wednesday" ...one day late! All I am going to say is:

Before and After

Now it's your turn! You write the caption for what Tessa is thinking or saying in these photographs! Can't wait to see what you come up with! Happy Thursday!

Whirly Ball

There is a program at Lincoln's office called Leisure Club where members donate a few dollars from their paycheck each month (which the company then matches) and are then able to enjoy various activities and trips. Last year the big event was when the group traveled to Morocco for a week long vacation for "free"! This past Sunday we did something a little more low key but really fun! The company rented out two Whirly Ball courts and we spent the afternoon playing the game and enjoying an open bar. The way I would describe Whirly Ball (for those who have never heard of it) is bumper car meets lacrosse! There are five players on each teach, each with a bumper car and handle, and a ball is set on the court. The object of the game is to throw the ball into the goal as many times as possible during the thirteen minute time period. Sounds easy, but when you pair it with crazy bumper cars and competitive men things can get a little crazy! There were a few other women at the event but somehow I managed to be the only one on our court every single time. I have a few bruises from when I was rammed into a corner and various other "war wounds" from people getting a little wild but it was such a fun day. Even though I didn't want to go in the beginning I am so glad I did! What a neat activity and a glimpse into all the fun things that the Leisure Club has planned for us in the future!

Feeling Creative

Saturday seems like my most creative day. Maybe it's because we usually don't have a whole lot going on and I tend to put off doing chores and things around the house in favor of playing around on the computer! On that note, here are two new header designs that I came up with tonight.

Here I was trying to do something a little less "fluffy" and pastel.

Back to the pastels- but a little less girly this time!

Obviously these both have my name inside them but if you would like one for your blog or website please feel free to email me! I really enjoy seeing what I can come up with- - playing with fonts and adding new pieces to the designs- - but I would love some feedback from you wonderful followers! Let me know what you guys think!

Hope you are enjoying your Saturday night and doing something fun!

We Are ONE Nation

No matter your color, age, religious views, or political affiliations Tuesday was a very historic day! My school went all out to make sure our kids understood the importance of this Inauguration. They have only ever known one president during their short lives and even though it's not normally something they think about we have been preparing for this day since coming back from vacation. My class made a big bulletin board at the start of the hallway so everyone would know how many days left in our countdown and each day while walking to specials we ripped a day off! The hallways were decorated with the eagle we created as well as pictures from the other second grade classes like the Statue of Liberty, the American Flag, the Liberty Bell, and Uncle Sam. When we arrived at school on Tuesday there were balloons up and down the hallways and the front lobby had miniature parade floats welcoming everyone! There was a huge assembly in the morning where all the grade levels did something special (a group of second graders read a poem about the flag), we said the pledge, and the ROTC from the local high school came to display the flags. There was a teachers vs. students trivia game and the chorus entertained the crowd with some patriotic songs. Everyone ate lunch in the classroom and watched the Inauguration on TV and while our new president was eating his lunch we made an American Symbols book to take home and teach our families about the symbols that are important to the US. It has been a busy jam packed week and I am ready for us to get back on schedule! February is going to be a long month but thankfully we only have 80 more days of school until summer vacation...and there's still Spring Break in there somewhere to look forward to!!

My New Hobby

One of the things I like to do most in my free time is mess around with blog headers and background designs. You might have noticed I changed the look of my blog almost weekly until recently when I finally created a design I didn't mind looking at for a while. But even still I have been making small (probably unnoticeable to you) tweaks to it in order to make it perfect! Different wording on a button, new colors for the header, additional links, etc. I also enjoy making headers for my friends and family and even thought about starting a small side business doing it. For now they have just been "gifts" until I can get more traffic onto the blog, but if you're interested in updating your blog let me know! You can email me at KHamilton626@gmail.com

Here are a few examples of my most recent projects:

Ashley and Graham are counting down
the days til they get to meet baby Evie. I used her
nursery bedding as inspiration for this new header!

Alexis is a great friend from my small group and her blog
got a complete makeover that I was able to finish today!
This is my awesome mommy's blog- all about her adventures
as an empty-nester enjoying her free time at the golf course!

My sister Kristin was married recently and her
blog got a cool new header and color scheme.

This blog belongs to my younger sister Alex
and journals her life as she finishes college
and struggles to stay on the South Beach diet!

My best friend Courtney and her husband
are expecting their first miracle in August!

No, Sharkey doesn't actually have her own blog.
But if she did, this would be her header!

This was one of the many Christmas headers for
our site complete with matching background images.

These were the first headers I ever created.
They only lasted about a week each during the fall season!

You can visit all these blogs by clicking their links over on the right side of the page. They are listed under "Bloggy Buddies" in order of how recently they have been updated. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look- feel free to leave a comment so I know you were here!!

When I Grow Up...

Dear Mrs. Jones,

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told Sarah how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had. Then I found one more in the back room, and several people were fighting over who would get it. Sarah's picture does NOT show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot. From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Smith

This was just too funny not to share!! Happy Friday everyone! =)

A Nice Day For a Walk

Yesterday after school I took the dogs for a walk around my neighborhood despite the near arctic temperatures. They had been lazing about all day in the garage (I hope...) and I figured it would be good for them to stretch out their toes. We were probably an interesting sight to all the people driving by- me bundled up from head to toe in my new coat but eating a fudge pop, one boy dog healing very nicely with a tennis ball in his mouth, and one girl dog running side to side at the end of her leash letting out the most horrendous choking noises as she gagged herself on her new harness. Thank goodness I did not hook them up to the coupler or poor Wes would have been dragged down the street! We headed down to the tennis courts where Westin and I played ball for a few minutes and Tess ran around trying to find even the tiniest hole in the fence to make her escape. She is not very into running unless it is to explore the great unknown or to chase after something she wants to eat and since she's such a skinny little thing she tends to get a little cold. I found this adorable little dog jacket online and was cracking up to myself about having matching outfits. She wears a little fleece coat during the day when we're at work but a girl needs options! Hahaha! I'm only kidding, but it is still really cute! Hope you all are having a great week!

In Other News...

Life around the Hamilton House has been a bit dull lately. I started taking down the Christmas decorations last weekend and now all that is left is the tree. It still smells so good, I hate to see it go! That was a pretty depressing chore to pack everything away but it helped me clean out the closet where we keep everything and get a little more organized. I also got some great stuff from my mom for next year that I am excited to display. I am one of those people who would leave up the decorations all year round, but alas, they are neatly stored away until next year. I am probably going to start decorating in November now since we did not get to enjoy our cozy house for nearly long enough this season!

Last night my mom and I went to see Bride Wars at the new theater near my house. It was really cute, probably not an award winner but still really enjoyable. It actually made me a little sad because it's all about friendships and got me thinking about all my best girlfriends and how they live so far away. I actually got a little emotional because I miss them all so much! I have been very blessed to have girlfriends that have been with me during the most important stages while growing up. I met my oldest friends while I was in middle school and we are going on fourteen years of sticking together through thick and thin! My next set of besties came during college and ended up being my roommates and bridesmaids. All these girls live in various parts of the Southeast and even though I only get to see them on a handful of occasions we always pick right back up where we left off. Thank goodness for email, facebook, and blogging to help us keep in touch! *tear*

And speaking of that "other" news and while on the subject of best friends...really the whole point of this post was to express how happy I am that one of my best girlfriends is pregnant! I am so excited for her and cannot wait to meet this tiny little bundle. She is due at the beginning of August so is just starting to tell people but I wanted to shout it out loud when she called me last week! What is really funny is that the last time I saw her over Thanksgiving I asked if she was pregnant and she probably was only a week or so along and did not even know it yet! I am looking forward to being an "aunt" and watching their family grow! When I told Linc about it he said to not get any ideas!! I can't wait to be a mom someday but certainly don't know if I am ready to give up my Saturday morning sleep-ins! I'll just live vicariously through everyone else for now until ya know...the house is paid off...

Bald Eagle Collage

With the upcoming Inauguration only a few weeks away the school has been a buzz of activity! Decorating hallways, new bulletin boards, and fun additions to the curriculum have taken over our time in the classroom! Recently my kids did a research project about one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States- the Bald Eagle. Each of the second grade classrooms have chosen a symbol to study and then create a hallway display to show what we have learned. I took my kids to the computer lab to type up their Bald Eagle facts and then pasted them on some red, yellow, and blue construction paper to hang up next to our artwork. I used an overhead projector to trace the outline of a flying eagle and for morning work I explained to my kids that I wanted them to rip construction paper and glue it on the outline. After about thirty minutes of checking homework and completing my morning routine I asked the kids to move aside so I could see how much they had completed. With almost no instructions and very little supervision you can see from the picture what they designed! The best part of all is that word got around of their awesome collage and we were asked by the principal to display it in the front hallway of the school! I am so proud of my kids and all their awesome talent! The truth is, we loved it so much that we ended up making a second eagle so we could have one for our hallway and one for the office. We couldn't bare not to have one on our end of the school too! ;)

"Totally Tessa" Thursday

At the time this story begins we were living in Los Gatos, California and already had our male pup Westin for about two months. Missed his story? Click here! I began looking for a friend for him around the end of May when we were thinking about moving back to Georgia to be closer to family. That is how the "princess" came to live with us!

Tessa was born on March 9, 2007 and grew up on a farm in Kentucky (she's the pup with the one single dot on her back). Her father is a semi-famous stud dog nicknamed Levi who has quite an impressive show record. Her mom is a simple lady and preferred country living so that is where they stayed until Tessa was about three months old. At this time the little princess was sent back to her father's farm to join the show world and eventually become breeding stock. Fortunately for us- not so much the breeder- they noticed that Tessa's little tongue liked to hang out of her mouth which was not exactly a desirable quality in the show ring and they put her up for pet adoption. I had been emailing breeders for a while trying to find an older, sturdier puppy to join our family and become Westin's playmate since he was already four months old at the time. I contacted Tessa's human dad and after emailing me a few current photos Linc and I arranged to buy her over the internet without meeting her in person first! Yikes!

At the end of June 2007 Lincoln and I boarded an airplane and flew "home" to Atlanta where we both had grown up for the majority of our lives and where both sets of parents still resided. We had been married a year and had enough of West Coast living. Little Wes slept peacefully in my carry-on as we endured the six hour flight. Around the same time, baby Tessa was loaded into a crate and shipped from Kentucky to Hartsfield Airport all by herself! Our flights arrived within minutes of each other and we met her for the first time in a little gated yard outside the terminal. She was so petite and graceful- the complete opposite of Westin. Picture a ballerina to his line backer! The pups sniffed each other but were both a little freaked out from flying so we loaded them up and headed to our new home. We set up shop in my mother in laws house in Buckhead where we quickly learned a lot about our little country girl.

She is fearless and loves to run. If Tessa gets off her leash you better hope you have your running shoes on to catch her! That girl is FAST! The original owners must not have played with her very much because she doesn't really know what to do with toys. She was bred to hunt- to go underground and flush out critters- and she demonstrates this ability daily. You have to watch your step in the back of our yard because you might turn an ankle from the number of holes she has dug! Tess has had three kills in her life (one lizard, two chipmunks) and you would think she was the queen of the world! I have never seen her so happy, prancing all around and anxious to show me what she had done!

Tessa loves to go for walks and to explore new places. The sweetest thing about her is how cuddly she is. She loves to be carried around like a baby and I joke that I am going to get her a sling so that I can hold her up high and still use my hands! She always wants to know what is going on and needs to be in everyone's business. She goes to bed promptly at dark and if you try to move her when she is tired she will growl at you and make sure you understand what an inconvenience you are! She is a PICKY eater and her weight fluctuates a lot because of this. We call her our "Skinny Mini" as she is half the weight of Westin but just as tall and much lankier! These two make me such a happy pet owner and even though they can get on my nerves, they are the greatest dogs I could ever ask for. Hopefully now some of the newer readers know us a little better and don't think I am a complete cuckoo for posting two days in a row about my dogs!! Thanks for stopping by again and reading about my pups.See you soon!

"All About Westin" Wednesday

It occurred to me the other day that there might be more people reading this blog than say...just me...and maybe I should post about some of the members of the Hamilton family so people get to know us better! I have also been wanting to post more often and what better way than to introduce you to the furry kids that live in our house. Linc and I have two Jack Russell Terriers that came to us at different ages and are worlds apart in personality. Because they are so different and their stories much longer than anyone would actually want to read I have broken it into two days. This first post is all about our "first born son."

After Lincoln and I got married we moved to California and I was there for a few months before coming back east to finish school. We had two cats in sunny CA but they stayed behind to keep Linc company. I was living with my parents but feeling a little lonely. Our anniversary was only a few months away so the search began for the perfect anniversary present. I had always been a dog person and despite living with three little dogs at my current location I wanted one of my very own. I started researching breeds online and reading as much as possible to find the dog that would be the most compatible. I grew up riding horses and had always been around the Jack Russell breed so when their name came up in a quiz I took online I was sold! The hunt began for the perfect JRT. I had always thought I wanted a female but reading more into the breed I chose to look for a male instead because they sounded easier to potty train. After searching the local paper for nearby breeders, my mom and I headed out to meet some puppies.

We arrived in Auburn, Ga early one afternoon to see a litter of four puppies. There was only one female but she was quickly ruled out because of her markings and personality. The brothers were adorable and I fell in love with a little pup we were calling Patches. Out of the three boys one was a little too wild and very mouthy so I stuck with the other two for a while. I knew I should sleep on the decision so I took lots of pictures, emailed them to Linc, and tried to decide which baby, if any, to bring home. A few hours later- after talking to Linc but perhaps against my better judgment- I drove back to the breeder's with my sister to pick up one of the boy babies. Both of the parents were on the property and they seemed like great pets so I knew either one of the boys would make me happy. I was sold on "Patches" but Linc liked the other boy better and after playing with them again for a while I decided on the "other" boy. Because he was 8 weeks old he was just old enough to leave his mom and even though I was supposed to sleep on the decision we went ahead and took him with us!! My sister wrapped the new baby in a scarf and he slept the whole way home!

Because the pup was our first wedding anniversary present Linc and I wanted his name to represent something about our honeymoon or wedding. I ended up calling him Cowboy (he has markings like a cow!) for a few days before we settled on Westin- the name of our hotel! Westin Hamilton was born on February 16, 2007 and came to live with us in mid-April. We stayed at my parents house while I finished my student teaching and he grew up around two Chihuahuas and one grumpy Maltese. He is my best bud and we formed a really strong bond! Poor Lincoln did not get to meet his "son" until May during my college graduation because he lived a thousand miles away! After school was finished we moved back to California and became one big happy family.

My dear, sweet, precious Wesley (did I mention he has about 30 nicknames? Ranging from things like Pig Pig to Man Paws- you have to know him to understand...). Where do I begin? He is the sweetest, snuggliest, and most loving dog I have ever met. From the time he was a baby he was such a good listener and learned most tricks quickly. On the downside he also happens to be completely and totally ball obsessed. Anything round is something he was destined to chase! This can be lots of fun sometimes, but a real hassle others. He never gets tired- even when he is fast asleep if you make noise or move him he will immediately get up and find a ball to give you, because of course you wanted to throw it for him! He is loyal, playful, full of life, and always seems to bring a smile to my face. He is 22 pounds of solid muscle and reminds me of a miniature line backer. The funniest thing about him is even though he seems brave and manly, he is afraid of thunder and loud noises send the poor guy into a nervous, shaking fit. As he approaches his second birthday and second year being our little man dog I am so thankful I went with my gut and brought him home right away! All of his brothers and the sister were adopted soon after he left and are hopefully making other families very happy too! Ok, ok. Enough mush. This last picture is of Westin's dad, can you see the resemblance?


* As a side note- I believe Westin is an extraordinary exception to JRT standards both in personality and temperament. They were bred to be hunting and working dogs and are definitely not the right pet for everyone. For more information please visit this website to read about the breed before bringing one home for yourself! If you know the JRT is the right dog for you and need help in finding the right breeder feel free to contact me! Don't forget about adoption as well!

If you've gotten this far and are new to my blog (or even an avid reader!), stop by and leave a comment to say hello! Thanks for visiting!

Recipe to Share

School starts back up tomorrow and I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and prepare some meals ahead of time since I am always busy and tired on weekday evenings and not really interested in cooking. Linc and I worked side by side this afternoon and made two dishes that should last us through this busy time as we get back into our schedule and routine. I wanted to share one with you that we ate tonight and turned out far better than I expected.

Quick and Easy Beef Stew

• 2 lbs. boneless sirloin steak- cubed
• 3 Tbl flour
• 1 Tbl vegetable oil
• 1 package McCormick Beef Stew Seasoning Mix
• 3 cups water
• 1 bag frozen vegetables for stew

I went to my neighborhood food store that had "beef for stew" already cut up and cubed into one inch pieces. The vegetables were a mix of carrots, corn, lima beans, peas, and green beans.

1. Coat beef with flour.
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.
3. Add sirloin and saute until brown.
4. Drain *
   
5. Add seasoning, water, and vegetables and stir well.
6. Bring to boil.
7. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

I also cooked some rotini pasta to eat alongside. After draining the meat I put everything in a big pot because my skillet wasn't large enough and I was afraid it would not all fit- hence the * next to step number four. It cooked for about 15 minutes and then I poured a serving into a bowl over a bed of pasta. It says it makes 8 servings but this meal was extremely filling and Linc and I only ate half our bowl each. This is a great and easy comfort food for the winter (because I have to believe we are actually going to get some winter weather one of these days)...it is also pretty healthy and makes a ton of leftovers if you are only cooking for two! So- I hope you try this recipe and enjoy this hearty meal! I know we did!

Another New Look

The blog wasn't the only thing that needed a face lift in the Hamilton household over this most recent vacation! This morning my parents and sister Alex came over to help us redo the loft area in our house.

We spent hours prepping, trimming, painting, and redecorating the upstairs area where we watch TV. Originally Linc did not want anything on the walls and we were going to stick with "builder white" but thankfully I was able to change his mind. The only request...something dark! After studying paint samples we decided on a Duron paint color called Portobello for the main room and another similar, but lighter shade called Sands of Time for the hallways.

I thought this made a nice transition color from the loft into our bedroom and the guest room on the other side-- especially since the guest room is beach themed and it looks like the sand is leading into the beautiful clear blue ocean! Hopefully you can see from the picture of the hallway coming out of our room what a nice contrast there is heading out to watch television. The loft is the perfect shade for a media room and helps block out the light to make viewing that much more enjoyable. We certainly would never have gotten this job accomplished- especially in one day- without all our help!! Thanks again guys!

I am so happy we were able to check one thing of my "to-do" list that I intended to finish before heading back to school. Nothing like saving it for the last weekend of vacation! I am hoping tomorrow to sleep in nice and late and then lounge around and relax. Unfortunately I have been sick the entire two week vacation and am not looking forward to going back to school with this cold. Hopefully I can continue to be productive in this new year because the next chore to tackle is taking down the Christmas decorations. I really do hate to see them go though...I think I will leave them up one more weekend...

A Year in Review

2008 has come and gone and I am always amazed how quickly time flies. We spent New Years with my family and enjoyed a delicious meal of steak, swordfish, our famous cheese rolls, green bean casserole, and chocolate fondue for dessert. After hours of sets and runs we toasted with Dick Clark and then headed to bed! Not too wild- but always enjoyable! I am not one for resolutions because let's face it, how often do we really keep them, but I do like looking back and reflecting on all the events of the last year. Here are a few of the most memorable:

• We closed on our house and were all moved in by January '08.
• The pups saw snow for the first time (twice!)
• Kristin and Ryan had their engagement party during the snowstorm that shut down all the flights and they had to drive from Orlando at the last minute!
  
• We celebrated Alex's 21st birthday at Fire of Brazil and I got ridiculously sick from eating too much meat!
• I turned 24 and we had a quiet dinner with family at the Club.
  
• Linc had his quarter life crisis- quit one job, sold his internet company, bought a new car, started a new job. He's been very busy!!
  
• I took a road trip to Statesboro for Candace's graduation.
• My first year of teaching second grade came to a close.
• Lincoln and I celebrated our second anniversary with a romantic weekend at the Sanctuary and vacation in Kiawah.
• The wedding girls took a bachelorette trip to Cape Cod to celebrate with Kristin.
• I went straight from Boston to Rockywald and had a fun week long reunion with my in laws and extended family. This is where Linc and I had gotten engaged four years earlier!
  
• School started again...
• Kristin's bridal shower was hosted at the Club with great turn out.
• In October we went to Hilton Head Island where I was the matron of honor when Kris and Ryan got married!!
• Thanksgiving with the Trottas and then off to the farm for a long weekend.

And that brings us back to Christmas and New Years! 2008 was a pretty great year. Most of you know how poor my memory is and this list helped me reflect on all the great events that occurred during the recent months. Some items I remembered right away and others took a bit of coaxing after looking at calendars and talking to my family!! I am just glad to have them down so I can look back next year and see what has changed. As sad as I am that another year has come to a close, I am hopeful and excited because I know the best is yet to come!

Happy New Year!!

As we say goodbye to 2008 may this new year bring many opportunities your way to explore every joy of life. May your resolutions for the days ahead stay firm, turning all your dreams into reality and all your efforts into great achievements.

Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

xoxo,
The Hamiltons