food allergy?

So...it turns out that Bauer has officially had ALL of the symptoms for a food allergy:

• Yeasty ears (since we brought him home from the breeder)
• Eye infection (most recent symptom)
• Anal gland issues
• Itchy skin

So, I was in denial after his doctor mentioned that a food allergy may be the cause of his ear issues after he was neutered, but now that he has an eye infection I am in FULL PANIC MODE.  I made the mistake of looking at the online forums for other labs with food allergies and am now constantly inspecting Bauer for missing clumps of hair...it may be thinning around his eye that is infected...or I may be making that up?  I don't know...but the fact that he had a GIANT TICK ON HIM FULL OF BLOOD four weeks ago does not make me feel any better about any of this.  Needless to say we are taking him to the vet on Saturday morning and I am going to tell them everything and probably have them run every test possible.  

Oh...did I mention just how expensive it is to feed a 100 lb dog who has a food allergy?  VERY...but look at how adorably amazing my little man is?!?!

three monkeys.

It is a well known fact that Chris and I have a problem eating out!  We just loooove food at restaurants (and the beers of course), what can I say?! ;)

So anywho...we decided on Three Monkeys in the Fan for tonight.  The music was sooooo loud, but the food and beers were mighty good!  Chris and I really like to go into the city now to eat out there.  It's fun to be in the Fan too where all of the younger people our age hang out!  We are especially excited for Robby and Sara to move down into the city so we can bring Bauer over and cook out! (Yes, I just invited us over, Sara!)

We were so busy enjoying our dinner at Three Monkeys that we didn't realize how late it was and when we looked at our phones we realized we only had 20 minutes to finish eating and get home for the Office!!!! AHHH So, Chris told the waitress (who was a super cute girl, ugh) that we had an "emergency" come up and could she swipe our card fast so we could leave?

Now, my question to you is this:  True or False she thought one of us had to poop?

My answer: TRUE!!

SO. HUMILIATING.

josephine albertine demeria.

Well, I am finally at a place now where I feel like I can talk about my Grandma without completely breaking down!  She left too soon - that I know for sure.  But, she definitely left her mark and I will never EVER forget her and neither will her children or grandchildren.  My Grandpa has been strong and I am so very proud of him.  I can't imagine losing Chris, so I can't imagine the pain and anguish he is feeling.  He has always been and will remain one of my heroes!

I am sure that Grandma is very proud of her family and thought we all looked wonderful on Thursday and Friday.  It was a hard couple of days, but it is always nice to be with the Demerias.  We are all very close and I am so thankful for that.  The eulogy my Uncle Danny gave was amazing and truly did my Grandma justice.  I love my family and I love my Grandma.  We are truly blessed.  On Grandma's prayer card we decided to use verses from a poem that was just so perfect.  She would always say "I drink from my saucer because my cup has overflowed" because she was so thankful and proud of her family.  So, I think it's fitting for me to leave you with the whole poem.  :)

I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now

But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow

And as I go along life's way

I'm reaping better than I sowed

I'm drinking from my saucer

'Cause my cup has overflowed

Haven't got a lot of riches

and sometimes the going's tough

But I've got loved ones all around me

and that makes me rich enough

I thank God for his blessings,

and the mercies He's bestowed

I'm drinking from my saucer

'Cause my cup has overflowed

I remember times when things went wrong

My faith wore somewhat thin

But all at once the dark clouds broke

and the sun peeped through again

So Lord, help me not to gripe

about the tough rows I have hoed

I'm drinking from my saucer

'Cause my cup has overflowed

If God gives me strength and courage

When the way grows steep and rough

I'll not ask for other blessings

I'm already blessed enough

And may I never be too busy

to help others bear their loads

Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer

'Cause my cup has overflowed...

<3 Josephine Albertine Demeria <3

i miss you.

I'd like to talk about my wonderful, amazing, strong, beautiful grandma, but I just can't.
So, I think I'll take a week off...

I miss and love you, Grandma.

what now?

screw you, oprah.

we didn't win...!

a girl can dream.

Chris and I bought 7 lottery tickets tonight...Oprah says to always imagine things and tell the universe that you want something for it to happen.

So...Universe, God, Muhammad, Buddha, whoever I need to tell:

I. NEED. TO. WIN. THE. LOTTERY.

Ok...so we'll see what happens :)

I also think I will take this opportunity to tell all of the above what my dream jobs are...just in case one of them is reading my blog.

1.  Event Planner (with a focus on weddings of course)
2.  Lifestyle Photographer
3.  Orthodontist (that's right)
4.  Real Estate Agent (residential)
5.  Trophy Wife

Like I said...a girl can dream...

me-owww.

So I don't think I have laughed as hard as I did on Saturday night in a looooong time.  I'm not sure if it was the little bit of tequila that we had, but everything was freaking hysterical and I loved my life! 

I was in Alexandria on Saturday night after meeting the girls in Manassas on Saturday morning to have them get fitted for their dresses.  I swear, I could just sit in a wedding dress shop for hours on end and watch other people try on wedding/bridesmaids dresses.  One of my dream careers would be to own a wedding dress boutique :)  Anywho...after we gave our opinions to the poor bride who was trying on her dress for thirty minutes we decided it was time to go get TONYSSSSSSSSSSSS (Always amazing) and then headed to Alexandria. 

So, I know you are reading this, Sara and I'm SORRY I texted Rob so late about me being in Alexandria :(  I always forget you guys live there!  Next time I will remember...I promise! ;)

Back to Saturday night...we started off the night with baja golds?  I think that's what they are called...it's bud light lime, limeade, tequila, triple sec, and that's it?  I think...I obviously didn't make them, just enjoyed them!  They were pretty sweet, but delicious all the same - thanks Meg!  So after drinking too much at jenna and can's apt we headed to old town which is always fun....where we met three guys.  One from England, one from Russia, and one from France...wtf?  Apparently they were cops and were in DC for a conference.  All I have to say is that the English fellow has been chewing on rocks his entire life and the Russian man had no clue what my engagement ring meant and was annoying as hell.  So what did we do?  Snuck out the back door of the bar of course! (don't worry we paid our tab first) hahahaha it was so fun.  This is us sneaking out the back where I just HAPPENED to find a Christmas store.  Dream job #2 - be Mrs. Claus.

After we snuck out we went to good old Murphys and met a group that absolutely adored us...seriously.  This girl literally asked me every detail about my wedding.  I think she might show up.  OMG I haven't even mentioned the two things that made us laugh aaaaaaaaaaaaaall night!

1.  Jenna's YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW game!  The way you play is this:  One person in the group has to randomly scream YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAWWWWWWWWW and point to someone who then proceeds to respond with their own yehawww!  It turned out that it was only me and Jenna doing it all night (literally just realized this fact as I was typing this...bahahaha).  Her fave way was to do a wind up with her arm and yell "YIP YIP YIP YEEEEEHAAAWWWW" and then I would respond with my gun slinging dance and scream YEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW!! OMG I am laughing now just thinking about it.

2.  MEEEEEOWWWWWWWWWW.  I can't explain this because no one will think it's funny.  Just like no one will probably laugh at #1 either, but I don't care because we thought it was funny and I loved my life this weekend!!

Until next time...

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

I need a tan...

vabeach.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures to go along with this post because A. it was super windy and crazy and B. Chris gave me the camera with no memory card in it...good grief.

Anyways!!  Today was a really fun day and I am sooooo sad that the weekend is already over! :(  Mom came down to Richmond last night and stayed with Em, so I headed over to Em's around seven thirty and we just hung out, drank a couple of beers, and of course talked about everyone we could think of!!  This morning we all got up and headed down to ODU to pick up Greg and headed to Virginia Beach for a day in the sun......or wind and clouds?

Ok, so the weather wasn't GREAT, but we still sat on the beach in our sweatshirts and relaxed.  As long as there is sand between our toes the Robinson's are happy!!!  It was a really great day.  There aren't many days anymore that we get to hang out, especially with Greg :( so it's always fun to spend time with him and just relaxxx.  I know we all needed it.

So, the next time I post I fully expect to have pictures.  I will be SURE I have a memory card next time.

P.S.  New awesome show - "America the Story of Us" on the History channel, Sunday nights!
P.P.S. Who loves my new blog background???  Jealoussssssssssssssssss?

wedding update.

I don't really have anything to say BUT this weekend we found our cake lady and the location for the rehearsal dinner, and we tasted our amazingly delicious food for the reception :)  It was a successful weekend!

Hopefully I'll post soon with pictures...of something!

savethedate.

So Chris and I went to park yesterday because it was gorgeous outside!  I don't know what the name of the park is, but there is a dog park inside of it and when Bauer officially loses his manhood (may 4) we are totally bringing him there!  We sat and watched all the dogs for a little while and I know Bauer would just be in heaven if we took him there.  Maybe Chris and I can make some friends too...hahaha (I'm serious...)  Anyway, we're excited about the dog park :)

While we were at the park we snapped a few pictures of ourselves and below are a couple I love (amazing that I love pictures that I am in, huh?)

So, we were testing the camera in this one and I love this picture because for once I am actually seeing the look I give people all the time mwahahaha

p.s. I promise I really DO have a waist in real life...this is not a flattering picture of my mid-section.  fml.

Chris is laughing in this one!

Ok, last one for today...

HINT:  We got our save-the-date picture out of this little photoshoot.  Check your mail in about two weeks and you'll see it ;)

Another weekend come and gone.  Next weekend is FULL of wedding planning and I'm very exciteddd!!

happy easter to me.

I had today off because for some reason we have Easter as one of our paid holidays, even though Easter is always on a Sunday....?  Whatever, regardless I got to have today off!  It was an AMAZING feeling to ignore the fact that today was a dreaded Monday and just live carefree! :)  I woke up at ::ahem:: 9:45...which is also amazing because Bauer usually never lets us sleep past 7 AM.  I can't tell you the last time I got to sleep that late!  After I woke up and had a giant bowl of cereal I was able to make a couple of calls about our rehearsal dinner and another call to Wachovia about my car loan.  These calls are usually made as I am driving to or from home on my lunch break while trying to juggle paperwork or writing notes in the car!  I then did NOT shower (my favorite thing to not do...I do realize that is kind of gross) but I went and ran some errands where I finally found the cheap little lounge chairs that I have been looking for for a year!  (At KMart no less, and yes, it did smell like old people...)

Bauer was VERY excited for me to be home all day!  He got to play in the hose and lay in the mud/grass all day.  Notice my cheap lounge chair :)  And got a nice first burn today...summer is on the wayyyyyyyyyyy!!!

I realized today that it is imperative that Chris and I strike it rich so I can stay at home everyday :)  But, for now I guess I will have to enjoy these little days every now and then. 

life.

Ok, so my new obsession is the Life series on the Discovery Channel.  If you watched the Planet Earth series about two years ago it is vere similar.  One of the best things about this series is the OPRAH NARRATES IT!!!  I love Oprah.  But, in all seriousness, it is an amazing series that follows different animals around the world and shows plenty of them that you have never seen before!  So, if you have nothing to watch on Sunday nights (I never do) then turn on Life (8 pm & 9 pm).

You can learn more about the show here.

best friends.

I had the BEST weekend!  Lindsay, Megan, Jenna, and Can all came down to Richmond to see me!  Lindsay was the first to arrive around 10:30 and we drove down to Williamsburg to do a little shopping at the outlets then headed back to Richmond to meet the rest of the girls at my house!  Jenna and Candice made a delicious asian chicken salad and then we headed to Belle Isle to do a little exploring...

Of course our girls weekends are never complete without a night out on the town!  We went to Sine first then down to Havana 59 to meet up with Chris and his cousin :)

Thanks for another great weekend girls!!  Already looking forward to the next!

trefoils.

Ok...whoever invented girl scout cookies should probably be shot...

Here I am doing my BEST to stop eating non-stop and have Michelle Obama arms before my wedding and TREFOILS are ruining my life!!!

The culprit...

There is only a little over half a box left, therefore after tomorrow (when I finish the box) I will re-start my "Practice some self control you freak" diet!  I will leave this part of my post with one simple statement:

F YOU GIRL SCOUTS!



I also thought it was about time that Bauer makes his debut on our blog...

HERE I AM, WORLD!!!

birthday surprise.

I have been looking forward to this weekend for a month! Megan & I surprised Candice at her and Jenna's apartment in Alexandria for the day. The St. Patty's Day parade was on Saturday so that was pretty fun...for the hour that we watched. It was sooo slow! But, we had more fun at the bar for a couple of hours. :)

The only thing that I don't like about living in Richmond is being so far away from my best friends. It is always fun to just sit around, drink beer, and talk with them! Already looking forward to the next weekend...

The D.C. Fire Department Bag Pipers. Took this for Chris :)

More bag pipers...this got old FAST. Especially in the bar!

She is a seriously good hula hooper!

Love my friends.

And then my camera died...definitely need to remember to charge it next time!

I did it.

Well...I did it, dammit. I have officially started a blog. I suppose there is no going back now? In all seriousness I did kind of, sort of, want to start a blog. It seems only fair for me to have a blog because I read so many others!

I am well aware that I am not a Kearney yet, but how clever is the name of my blog?!?! Stroke of genius if you ask me...however, it took about ten tries to get an unused URL, so I guess it's not that unique. Whatever, I'm happy with it!

So...I DO have a vision and purpose for my blog. Although it may seem at times that it is to post thousands of pictures of my amazingly adorable dog, it is not. I think this blog will help Chris and me get to know our new home, Richmond! Richmond is such an amazing place and it definitely has a bad reputation to a lot of people living in Northern Virginia. Chris and I enjoy photography and now that the weather is getting nicer we plan to venture out to the hidden and not so hidden gems in Richmond and post pictures so everyone can enjoy...we'll see how this goes :)

So, stay tuned...