Meet Ramesses

This is our sweet pup, Ramesses who turned one year old on Jan 1, 2012! He is the sweetest dog I have ever seen in my life. Seriously people, he is just so loving....I really think he doesn't realize he's a dog and not a person, but contrary to his beliefs, he is actually a blue weimaraner.

I guess I had him on my mind because we had to get a puppy sitter for the day (my mom). Weims have severe separation anxiety which has really reared its ugly head lately and is gaining casualties. Over the weekend he somehow moved his cage (after kicking the tray out of the bottom that is normally locked in) and pulled my favorite pair of black riding boots in and had himself a good ol' chew! Luckily he's not always a chewer, he just doesn't know what to do with himself when we leave!

He is also a goofball and loves to roll around on his back and stare at us upside down. Usually he mimics us and how we sit or lay which is quite amusing (we don't lay like this though, for the record).

He really is a sweetie and always has to be touching us (usually in the form of leaning against us). If Dan and I are sitting together, Ramesses feels he needs to be right in the middle of it....all 95 plus pounds of him. I am only guessing at his weight. He hasn't actually been weighed since he hit about 70 pounds but let me just tell you, he is a lump! He likes to give hugs where he puts his face on your shoulder and lays but his body is attached after all and usually makes it where I can't move.

I am currently looking into getting him into some agility classes to give him more obedience and have a way for him to get some energy out. We put him in obedience classes as a puppy and that was really good for him (and us) but I think he would do awesome with more. I will post some updates on how that goes once we figure out all of the details. Are there any other weimaraner lovers out there? What kind of dogs do you have? Are they crazy like mine? :)

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's day!!

Chalkboard Paint + Wine Glasses

 In the very early stages of my Pintersting (is that even a word??) obsession I remember seeing a picture of a chalkboard painted wine glass and I knew they would make great gifts. So I decided to make these as Christmas gifts for some friends!

I picked up a box of 12 wine glasses at Walmart (I think it was around $10 which was a great deal). I did not have any painters tape so I decided to use Duct Tape and it worked pretty well but it left some sticky ickyness after removing the tape. It came off with some hot water and a little scrubbing, but I would still suggest painters tape for those who have it on hand.

I started out with some plastic grocery bags and cut them up so that they fit over the top of the glass. Then I just twisted the bag a little around the stem and used the tape to secure it.

Next I took more tape and started at the bottom of the stem of the glass (creating a crisp line to keep the paint from spreading upward) and then just twirled it around until everything was covered. I also left a longer piece of the tape once everything was covered and folded it over so that it left a "tab" to help me get the tape back off once it was finished....much easier than searching for the start of the tape (like I had to do with the roll I was using)!

I used Rust-Oleum Chalkboard spray paint (found at AC Moore)

I took a box outside and turned the glasses upside down and sprayed them. It took a good two coats (only about 10 minutes in between spraying). I could have waited 24 hours and given them another coat but I was being impatient and it worked out great with just the two.

 

Once they were dry I used some regular chalk (that comes in the box) and rubbed them covering the whole chalked surface. Be really careful on this part and take your time. The chalk can scratch the surface if you press too hard or use a sharp edge and the only way to fix it is to repaint it...booooo.

I found these Chalk Ink pens at Michaels (in a pack of 4) and put one in each persons gift. I like this better than plain pieces of chalk (no scratches) and its MUCH easier to write on the curves of the glass (and prettier). You will need to wet them to remove the ink though. I just took a damp papertowel and wiped it off and its good as new!

The finished product!

I think these are so cute and really functional! Each guest can simply write their name (or a little drawing) so they know which glass is theirs! It would also be fun to have something written on the bottom of one of the glasses at a shower and whoever gets that glass gets a door prize! The possibilites are endless!

I'm partying over at:

   Young House Love

Blog Hop

Its a BLOG HOP!!

Since Google Friend Connect will be going away on Feb 29 for anyone that is not with blogspot I have decided (along with many others) to sign up with Linky Followers!

You can go here to sign up: Linky Followers

Cheri has started a blog hop over on her blog {{ Its So Very Cheri }} for those who use Linky Follower or decide to sign up! Isn't that awesome?!

RULES:

1. You MUST have the Linky Followers tool on your site to participate.

{ you can have both the Linky Followers and GFC on your site byt you must have the LINKY FOLLOWERS to participate in this party hop }

2. You MUST follow the person who has the party on their site as a thank you.

3. Just add your blog button to the LINKY PARTY below.

4. Then grab the BLOG HOP code.

5. Then you follow other bloggers--(as many as you want)

-leave each on of the blogs that you follow a comment letting them know that you are following them and ask them to follow you back.

If you want to add the BLOG HOP to your own site YOU will get lots of new followers--{see rule #2}

I am not able to add the Linky Party to my blog at this time (it makes my side bar disappear..boooo) but head on over to Its So Very Cheri !!

Happy Following!!!

Welcome Wednesday {{A Little Late}}

I have really been enjoying meetings lots of new blogger friends and found a great new linky party that helps you do just that! Check out the Welcome Wednesday blog hop were you can link up, meet new bloggers and learn new things!

Plus every week they will have a featured blogger "spotlight"! It could be you next week!





Better late than never!!

Living Room Inspiration

I am excited about our bookshelves coming together (slowly) and decided since we are holding off on putting everything together I would get a good feel for the room and what I wanted to add or take away by putting it all together in a mood board. We already have some of the items, but for some reason don't want to put any of it out until its all done, is that weird? We have blanets (still in their packaging), frames, a rug, fabric for curtains, wall hangings etc just hanging out for a while until its show time.

Here is a run down of everything so far:

Rug: West Elm

Curtain Fabric: Ikea (still needs to be made- with new sew iron on hemming)

Wall Color: Valspar Cliveden Leather (already painted...YAY!)

Sofa Table: TBA...will probably be a DIY building project

Built-in Bookcases: ALMOST DONE! Big DIY project for us that's still underway

Mirror: Good Will find for $9!

TV Stand: Not sure about this yet...its just a photo stand in (Ikea)

Sofa: Pottery Barn Square Sectional

Here is our living room mood board!

I seriouly can't wait until everything is all there! We basically took everything out of the room when we painted and other than our old couch, loveseat and TV...nothing has retunred yet. Its still a work area so to speak with the tools and such from building the bookcases. We have lots of things that will be displayed on them too and I am Pinterest hunting for different ways to arrange books and such so that it looks balanced, lived in and pretty to look at!

We had some delays on our couch that was originally from West Elm....ehhem, they discontinued it! We didnt find this out until about a week ago...but no worries, we found a replacement. It just wont be here until March 27th (at the latest). I am really hoping it doesn't take that long since we ordered our first couch back in November during a Black Friday sale.

I will definately share the process as we go forward with our living room makeover! I am thinking its about time to tackle those no sew curtains!

Check out jenniferrizzo.com to see other room refresh ideas!