Bentley update

Thank you SO much for all of your sweet comments and puppy prayers! Our little Bentley is back home with us now. He was "discharged" this afternoon, and he had quite the "Welcome Home" party when we pulled up in the driveway. ha! There were a TON of excited kids to see him arrive.

He is completely off of his pain medication and seems to be doing well without it but he is taking an antibiotic twice a day for the next 2 weeks. We will take him to his follow-up appointment on Friday to hopefully have the four tubes removed from his neck. The healing process is just going to take some time. He is definitely not himself. He looks so pitiful and depressed :( but I do know that he is glad to be home.

I told Wade tonight that if he was not already spoiled before this all happened, he would be now! I am carrying him around the house, making sure he can see my every move, feeding him, giving him water, you name it, I am doing it! I feel like I am taking care of a sick child. ha! It's ok though! I don't mind a bit! This little guy has been through a LOT over the past four days!

Thanks again for your sweet words! I appreciate it more than you know!

Puppy prayers needed!

**Please view and read the following at your own risk. The pictures are a bit graphic**

This cute little guy is in need of puppy prayers tonight. Bentley is my 4 year old miniature Dachshund whom I LOVE dearly. I've always wanted a "weenie" dog and Wade bought him for me right around Christmas when he was 2 weeks old.

He got out of our backyard yesterday afternoon and was attacked by our friend & neighbors big dog. All of the kids were out there when it happened and saw everything. Needless to say it was devastating for Annah Brooke and really for all of the kids.

These two dogs have been around each other time and time again, and Harley (our neighbors dog) has never shown any aggressiveness towards Bentley or anyone for that matter. Our friends/neighbors feel horrible about the situation. We feel horrible about the situation. It just sucks.

Harley grabbed Bentley up by the back of the neck and slung him around a bit. Wade rushed him to the vet as he was in pretty bad shape and I met him up there.

Luckily, Bentley's injuries are not life threatening and he should make a full recovery, but it will be a slow recovery. The main muscle in his neck was completely ripped into. He is in a state of shock and a lot of pain. Dr. Watson was able to repair the muscle and his chest is clear. Bentley is on pain medicines and will be staying for a few days in the puppy "icu".

Wade went to visit him this morning and we went back this afternoon when I got off of work. He is so pitiful. Wade warned me before I walked in and told me to be prepared. :( Dr. Watson did say that it looks a lot worse than it really is so that was nice to hear.

He has to wear this cone collar thingy so he won't mess with the stitches. He was alert and awake for us, but he just laid there looking completely pitiful and in tons of pain.


They did have to shave part of his back and will probably have several scars. :(


So if you don't mind, please send up a few puppy prayers for my little guy. I would greatly appreciate it! ☺

The BIG double 3

Today is a very special day here at the Smith house. It is My Love's birthday! He is 33, but I like Annah Brooke's take on it better...."So Daddy's turning the BIG double 3." Ha! Yep, 33 it is!
Warning: Mushy gushy stuff ahead. Read at your own risk! ☺

Happy BIG double 3, My Love! I am so blessed to have you as my husband and best friend! And because I can't possibly tell you enough how much I love you and appreciate you, I put together
33 reasons I love YOU (in random order).


33 Reasons I ♥ you!

1. You make the best cup of coffee in the world
2. You are an awesome Daddy
3. You are an extremely hard worker
4. You are a very loving husband
5. You do homework with our kids (this should count as 2 :o)
6. You pray with and for our kids
7. You pray with and for me
8. You coach our kids in sports
9. You make the best SWEET tea ever
10. You still make my heart skip a beat when you walk in the room
11. You like to go garage "sale-ing" with me
12. You like to grill and grill the finest hamburger around
13. You love the beach
14. You work 2 jobs to provide for us
15. You put me and the kids before yourself
16. You get me
17. You listen to me
18. You are sexy
19. You are funny
20. You are smart
21. You take an interest in my crafts/hobbies/projects
22. You even help with my crafts/hobbies/projects
23. You can cook eggs (b/c we all know that I can not)
24. You are thoughtful
25. You like to wash my truck
26. You make me laugh
27. You are very laid back (so sometimes I don't like this about you, ha)
28. You never meet a stranger
29. You have a very big heart
30. You still give me butterflies after 15 years!
31. You eat whatever I cook and are so easy to please
32. You don't fuss at me if I have slacked on laundry or housework
33. You simply love me.

So Happy, happy BIG double 3, My Love. I hope your day is fantabulous! You deserve it!

-Baby Doll ☺

Bedroom make-over...part 2

If you have read my blog for any length of time then you know I LOVE me some apothecary type jars. I have several sets and just can't get enough of them!

I owe it all to the ladies at Shanty 2 Chic! When I saw their DIY apothecary jar tutorial a few months ago, I was in heaven! Who would have thought a candle stick and a jar would make for such an awesome piece of home decor!!!

My 2nd project for Annah Brooke's bedroom make-over was????? You got it! Apothecary jars!

A month or so ago, I was about to throw out a pickle jar when the idea hit me! Save the jars for more apothecary jars! So now my family knows that any type and any size jar is to be saved in this house!!! ha! You never know what momma has up her sleeve!
We finally finished off another jar of pickles last week so I had my two jars to work with. I cleaned the jars well to get the pickle smell out, peeled off the label, and we were ready to go.

I'm sure you all do not need a full blown tutorial so I will just make this quick! :o) I did spray paint the candlesticks and toppers with the aqua paint I used for her lamp. I took the same fabric we are using and ripped out 2 squares to fit the tops. I hot glued the fabric down to the lid and then took the pom pom trim and hot glued it in sections to the fabric.

Right now we are using them for her ribbons and pony tail holders. She loves it and I am hoping this will give her more of an incentive to keep up with her pony tails....okay, probably not. Wishful thinking on my part!

Yay!!! 2 projects completed this weekend! Well, really 3. I just haven't shared the 3rd one yet! :o) I will get to it soon though!

Bedroom make-over--Lamp Lift

Annah Brooke's bedroom make-over has been on my to-do list for a while now. We have gone back and forth on a "theme/color" for her bedroom. She wasn't quite sure what she wanted, but she knew she wanted blue. As much as I have always wanted this child to LOVE pink and I mean really ♥ pink, she doesn't. Don't get me wrong, she likes pink. I think she really likes it a lot, but BLUE is her choice of color.

So now that we've decided on blue, I have been on the hunt for an inexpensive solid "blue" comforter. I finally found a turquoise one at Target. Solid turquoise. Perfect. Just what I've been looking for! I purchased the comforter yesterday so I got busy this morning with the 1st of several projects for her bedroom.

I have had this lamp tucked away in the back of my closet for a while. Just saving it for a rainy day. I knew that once we started on ABS room makeover, I wanted to do her a funky lamp to match her bedding/theme.

What do you think I did to it first? YES, SPRAY PAINT! LOVE me some spray paint. I used Rust-Oleum Aqua spray paint. Gave it a good coat, let it dry, and then distressed the edges with my sanding block.

I got out this fabric that I purchased on sale last summer. I love it, but have not ever done anything with it. ABS wanted zebra print and turquoise in her room, but I talked her into letting me use this fabric. It is colorful and I can pull in so many other colors in her room to go along with her turquoise theme.

I had several ideas swimming through my head for the lamp shade, but I wasn't completely crazy about those ideas. Then it hit me. Ruffles. Hmmm...Wonder if I can make a ruffle shade. I was a little nervous at first because I didn't want to waste/ruin this fabric, but I gave it a shot anyway.

I started stripping my fabric into strips (I used 7 strips total). Literally stripping. I didn't use scissors. I wanted a "raw edge". And sorry, I didn't measure. I just made sure it was enough to go around the shade and then some for "ruffle room".

I sewed a loose stitch down the middle of each strip and started gathering it to make my ruffle.

Once I had my desired ruffle look, I started hot gluing my ruffle onto the shade.

I continued these steps until I had all 7 ruffles made and glued onto the lamp shade.

Closer look. See the raw edges? I love them!

I am so pleased with the outcome. So glad I gave this a go!

Moving on. Now I have to paint her walls, make her curtains and throw pillows, and a few more fun projects for her room! This bedroom make-over will probably be an on-going project for a few weeks. :o) But, at least it has started. ha!

Disclaimer: My "way" is probably not the correct way to make ruffles, but it works for me! :o)

Partying with:

Garage sale finds

I have been wanting a coffee cup rack for a while now, but it has just been one of those things that was not on the top of my shopping priority list. So Saturday when Wade & I were garage saling, guess what I found? Yep, a coffee cup rack...for $.50! SCORE!

It did need a little TLC, but nothing a can of spray paint couldn't take care of. Here lately, I feel like I walk around with spray paint in hand looking for what can be transformed. ha!

And of course, I forgot to take a before picture....so I snapped this shot right after we got started on the mini transformation.And after a good paint job... LOVE my new coffee cup rack.

I also found these wicker balls for $.75 a few weeks ago at a benefit garage sale. I immediately knew that it was yet another mini paint project. The orangey-brown wicker look had to go!

Black spray paint to the rescue!

This is the smaller one sitting on my baker's rack.

It amazes me at what a little paint can do! :o)

Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies

I found this yummy sounding cookie recipe from Jenny at Picky Palate right before Easter. I picked up some of these Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs with all intentions to make the for Easter weekend, but little sticky fingers beat me to it. I went to make them and the chocolate eggs were gone! I guess that is what I get for having chocolate in the cabinets with 3 kids in the house. ha!


Wade and I picked up a few more packs this weekend on the Easter clearance aisle at Wal-mart! A pack of 6 were $3.00 before Easter and we got them for 75% off!!! Yay! Gotta love holiday clearance candy!

So tonight after dinner, I decided to give these cookies a go! I am not sure why I torture myself and make yummy food like this while I am trying to diet...I did eat one and it was DELICIOUS especially if you are a peanut butter person!

Reese's Peanut Butter Egg Cookies

2 sticks softened butter
1 Cup packed brown sugar
1 Cup granulated sugar
3 Tablespoons corn syrup
2 large eggs plus 1 egg white
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

3 Cups chopped Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs (12 eggs total). You can also use regular Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer beat the butter, sugars and corn syrup until well combined….light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined.
• In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add to wet ingredients along with the chopped Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs. Mix only until just combined. Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes until just turning golden around edges. Let cookies cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Eat with tall glass of milk and ENJOY!!!!

4 dozen cookies

HE lives!

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Come and see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:6

(image source)

I hope you all have had a wonderful day celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord. HE lives!!!