Ellie

So, this is Ellie, the German Shepherd puppy.

Ellie came to live with us on Saturday. "Ellie" is short for Elinor Dashwood. (Our Pomeranian is Emma Woodhouse. Jane Austen fans might recognize something of a pattern here.)

I've been wanting to get back into walking the neighborhood, and Emma (being 11 years old) is more inclined to stay home and lay on the air conditioning vent on the floor. Also, we don't live in the slums or anything, but an 8 pound Pomeranian doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the level of my safety when walking alone in the early morning. She may be known as a vicious rabbit killer in our back yard, but I sincerely doubt she'd scare off an evil assassin.

Even more, I've been wanting the girls to have a dog they can grow and play with. Emma is not much for "playing." She will occasionally drag her stuffed squirrel out and give it a good hard shake, but that's really as far as it goes. She much prefers laying on the couch with T and watching The Walking Dead on Sunday nights. German Shepherds are great family dogs, very protective of "their" kids.

We found a great breeder in the Richmond area a few weeks ago and visited. After meeting the dogs and being sure it wasn't some kind of puppy mill, we decided to bring a puppy into our home. It's exciting and scary at the same time.

Ellie is very friendly and likes playing with the girls. I think she thinks they are puppies like her. Emma has made it very clear that she is the boss and is in no way interested in playing. At all. Ever. Thankyouverymuch. But other than Emma's aversion to play, they co-exist well.

She's clearly made herself at home in Emma's bed with all of Emma's toys. (To be fair, Emma doesn't play with them, she just collects them) Sorry for the iphone shot:

It's been tough readjusting to that "baby" puppy schedule of waking up at 3 and 6 to take her out, and she hates her crate (as in, screams like a dying turkey when we put her in at night), but she's fitting in well otherwise. Hoping that house training goes well. Now, if we could all get rid of this stomach bug and get it out of the house, we'll be golden!

So, nothing homey or foodie or crafty to share today. I've had sick kids, a new puppy, and I wasn't well myself...but I thought it would be fun to share some cute puppy pics today. They are hard to photograph unless they're sleeping because they wiggle so much!

German Shepherd Trivia:
-Most puppies' ears "pop" up some time in the first 6 months or so.
-The most "famous" German Shepherd was Rin Tin Tin, who was found as a puppy in a bombed out kennel during World War I by an American soldier who brought him home. He starred in 27 films, and is credited with keeping Warner Bros. afloat.
-German Shepherds are considered the third most intelligent dog breed, after the Border Collie and the Poodle.
-German Shepherds are part of the working dog group (they are herders)

Your best house training tip for puppies?

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Where to Host a Birthday Party (Tips and Ideas)

Welcome back to my {Budget} Birthday Party Planning 101 series! Last week, we talked about choosing a theme. Today, we're going to look at venues; where to host the party. I hope you'll join me and share your own experiences in the comments section!

Party venues can be a tricky business because when you're planning a party on a budget, renting out the local day spa for 24 of Janey's dearest friends and spending $30 a pop for pedicures just isn't wallet-friendly for most of us. But hosting a spa party at home certainly can be. And sometimes we just have to weigh our time and stress levels versus what we are willing to spend. It's all about being creative!

With the exception of your party theme, make sure you think about your venue first! Sometimes they go hand-in-hand: luau at a pool, bowling at the bowling alley, golfing at the mini-golf place, etc.

ice skating party: source

luau pool party: source

bowling alley birthday: source

 ballet studio party

American Girl Store bistro lunch party

Hosting at home is usually the least expensive way to go. If your child's birthday falls during the warmer months, you can utilize your back yard, particularly if your home is on the small side, like mine. But hosting at home can also be stressful, particularly during the holidays.

1. Is your home too small to accommodate a large group?

Consider hosting a smaller party! A radical statement, I know.

I'm not sure when or how birthday parties evolved into productions with whole families invited and meals and favors and 45 kids present. I've seen many a birthday child (or guest!) have a melt-down because the whole scene was just too chaotic. If you can afford to host a bunch of neighborhood families and your child will be comfortable with a big crowd, or if you have a large family, then go for it. Especially for a 1st birthday...such a milestone!

I used to think that if we didn't have a big party with a cook-out and outdoor pinata (in January?) and lots of kids and games and balloons, then we had failed as parents. But my children are just as content with the 5 to 10 guests than if I had invited 25. Now that the girls are older, moms drop the friends off, and we have a blast for a couple of hours. Very low-key. A small party is okay! Repeat, a small party is okay!

2. If your home is too small to comfortably host a large group (or any group!), look into partying somewhere else:

A close relative's home, a park, bouncy house place, indoor sports facility, playground, dance studio, farm, ice skating rink, bowling alley, art studio, kids' chef academy, favorite restaurant or dessert place, etc.

Yes, many of these spots cost money, but sometimes it is worth the extra cost to save your sanity! With Natalie's December birthday, her ballet studio party and American Girl Store bistro lunch party were a life-saver for me. I didn't have to stress about decorating my home for a holiday and a party. The facilities planned events, food, etc. It was worth it to me to be able to enjoy my girl's birthday as well as the holiday season without turning into a scary mommy.

3. Check out the location before you book a party!

Websites don't always display the best photos. That "petting zoo" may be a three legged goat and some cranky geese. Things may look different in reality, and it may not work as well as you would think for your child or situation.

4. Ask questions

-How much is the deposit? Is it credited to your party total?

-What's their policy on outside decorations? Some venues don't allow them, and some are unable to accommodate the kind or amount of party decor you want to use. Local park pavilions and playgrounds don't often have walls to hang banners or posters on. You'll have to get creative.

-Is there a limit or minimum number of guests?

-Are there any "extras" (invitations, thank you notes, favors)

-Do they provide food or drink? If not, what are you allowed to bring in?

-What kind of activities will be planned?

-How long will you have use of the facility? Is there extra time to set up and clean up?

Once you've made the decision to host at home or book a local hot-spot, you can move forward. Next week, we'll chat about invitations!

Any favorite destinations for kids' parties, or do you love hosting at home?

*You can read from the beginning of the series here.

If you enjoyed this post, or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Making Progress on the Kitchen

Hello there! Hope your weekend was spectacular. I thought I'd start the new week off with a quick update on kitchen mini makeover progress. Things have been so busy around here with work, family, and other commitments that we just haven't put a lot of time into it. But I do have a couple of quick things to share.

You'll notice the empty spot in the ceiling where the ugly tiny fan used to be. It was so old and cruddy. I bought a very basic white builder grade fan from Lowe's to replace it. Unfortunately, we have to have a fan in that spot for circulation, so I wanted white to blend with the ceiling and other fixtures. 

You've already seen the cute light fixture makeover I completed with a piece from Lowe's. And T ripped out an old ceiling vent that went with the old heating system and drywalled over it. You'd never know it was there!

I am not a fan of painting. I don't find it soothing. I don't find it cathartic  I find it a pain in my rear. I am messy, I am sloppy, I am just plain bad at it. Painting ceilings is even worse. So, I asked T if he would paint the kitchen ceiling for me and hang my new light fixtures as a birthday gift (my birthday is this coming Saturday!). He begrudgingly agreed, but only after making sure it wasn't some sort of trick and I wasn't really expecting a new Coach bag or something. He would have rather just bought me a gift. Ceilings aren't his favorite either.

But the difference after just one coat is so fantastic. The old finish was shiny, which in the kitchen made it look greasy, even if it wasn't near the stove. I am loving the nice, flat white finish. We used a basic Glidden Ceiling paint from Wal-Mart and an Ultra Finish Roller Cover , a Cageless Frame, all from Purdy. T noticed a difference in how smoothly the paint adhered using the Purdy roller, and I could see a lot fewer roller marks!

T's other promise involved replacing the awful brassy and white ceiling fan that hangs over one end of our kitchen table. A friend gave me a lovely chandelier to use, and if it's too large, I have a back-up from the ReStore waiting to enter the game. Once I know which one I'll be using, it will get a coat of primer and paint, be rewired to add length, and T will hang it so it's centered over our table.

He's doing one more coat today and then I hope to tape off and prime the walls and trim. Sooo...nothing jaw-droppingly amazing today, but progress is progress! DIY can be hard when the budget is tight and the family is busy. I think that afternoon makeover reveals are the exception and not the rule. Can I get an amen?

Are you fitting any projects into a busy schedule this Spring?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Disclosure: Purdy provided me with the roller, and cage for review, but I was not financially compensated for this post. As always, all opinions are my own!

Highlighted Links (Project Ideas)

Hello, hello! If you're here to link up to Weekend Bloggy Reading, it's open for new links until 10 pm (ET) tonight. Please share your best post of the week with us...crafts, recipes, home decor, book reviews--all kinds of posts are welcome.

On Sundays, I like to share fabulous projects from the link party with my readers. I add many of these Features to my Pinterest page as well as Facebook, so be sure to link back in your post!

Here are a few links from Weekend Bloggy Reading that caught my eye:

~Cabinet Drawer Chalkboards via Crafty Texas Girls

~Mini Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting via Me and My Pink Mixer

~DIY Leather Camera Strap via Cleverly Inspired

Share Your Best Post of the Week!

Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? I just wanted to offer you guys a quick "weekend update." Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Today's the day to link up because I'm busy rounding up more Features for tomorrow! I'd love to know which ones caught your eye.

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, printables, tips and tricks, home decor, DIY, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.

This is just a quick "sneak peek" snapshot of all the awesome projects that have been shared at the party this week. You can click the party link above to check them out and share your own project! I'd love to Feature you in tomorrow's post!

If you haven't linked up yet, hop on over! Be sure to browse some of the amazing projects that have been shared.

If you missed this week's posts at Serenity Now, here are some links for you:

• Three-Cheese Spinach Quiche Recipe
• Choosing a Party Theme (Birthday Party Planning 101)
• Best of DIY
• Garden Sunlight Chart (Garden Planning Tip)

So, what did you have up your sleeve this week? Come by and share it with us here! Be sure to check out some of the other bloggers' work too. Here's the button in case you'd rather use that than a text link back.

<a href=" http://www.serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/ " target="_blank"><img src="http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/Amanda_SerenityNow/Blog%20Party%20Buttons/WeekendBloggyReading.png" border="0" alt="Weekend Bloggy Reading"></a>

More Features coming tomorrow!

* If you are a Pinterest user, Pin from the original source so that each blogger gets credit for his/her work.*

If I've featured you, feel free to snag a button for your blog here.

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link.

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Swiss Cross Kitchen Tiles via A Home in the Making

~DIY Floating Sideboard via Nalle's House

~DIY Fence Window for Pets via The Happy Homebodies

~Crib Spring Photo Display via Decor and the Dog

~And Me? I'd love it if you have a moment to click over. This week featured:

• Three-Cheese Spinach Quiche Recipe
• Choosing a Party Theme (Birthday Party Planning 101)
• Best of DIY
• Garden Sunlight Chart (Garden Planning Tip)

Time to link up your best post of the week!

DIY Garden Sunlight Chart (How to Plan for Your Garden)

Virginia weather leaped from arctic chill to blistering equator this week. Venturing out of the house without a heavy overcoat has been nice except when I have to look at my barren yard. All of the fun new projects popping up around Blogland have me dreaming about fresh flowers and outdoor entertaining. I have visions of hydrangeas, peonies, roses, and marigolds. I don't know that this year's budget will permit a large overhaul of our outdoor living areas, but it is wise to plan ahead. Today, I'm going to share a Gardening Tip with you. Take a peek at my Garden Sunlight Chart.

A few years back, I took a couple of days to chart the sunny/shady areas in the backyard. It was really helpful when choosing a plant to know which areas of my yard were full sun vs. partial shade, etc. I kept it on the counter next to the kitchen sink. It overlooks the back yard, making it easy for me to remember to fill it in.

I made a very rough sketch of the back of my house and the back yard. 

Clearly, it's not to scale. The scribbles that look like clouds are large bushes. I know you're shocked I don't have an art degree.


I assigned different letters/colors to certain areas of the yard and then wrote down what kind of sunlight each area had at different points in the day. 

For example, section D (blue) is full sun most of the day, and was the perfect spot to grow tomatoes. They more than quadrupled in size that year. Section E (red) is mostly shade, and was a terrific spot for my hydrangea bushes. (I also have hydrangea tips on the blog!) 

This might seem really boring, but I am learning that planning is essential to gardening. I wish I'd known that when I planted my daffodil bulbs a few years ago. It looks like someone just came and threw fistfuls of daffodils in my front flower beds. I may not have the resources to grow my dream garden this year, but I can take steps in the right direction.

{What's your favorite thing to plant, come Spring?}



If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

*This post was originally live here on the blog a few years ago, but I thought it would be nice to edit it and bring it back for new readers.