Behind the Blog: About Me

In the beginning I didn’t intend to make this blog about me. Mainly it was born after months of people telling me to start it because I was always sharing my crazy animal stories. The Ruff Life was just going to be a place to share the funny, silly and ridiculous things that happen regularly with my furry critters.

But a year in and the blog has evolved. I’m a private person by nature but writing is my creative outlet and sharing details about my life in post format has made it seem like I’m talking to friends rather than an audience of strangers. So I noticed more and more of myself coming out. And I realized I was just fine with it!

As my life changes, so will this blog, but the furbabies are always the stars.  However I have been getting some e-mails with questions directed towards me personally. I’m flattered that you are at all interested but I feel a little awkward doing a whole post about me. So here goes nothing.

I’m currently 27 years old, although I’ve accidently told people more than once that I’m 28. I think it’s because all the wedding planning has me looking forward to this Spring, when I will actually turn 28. My late April birthdate makes me a Taurus. Yes, I can be incredibly stubborn. Ask anyone who knows me. I’ve loved animals since I was little and dreamt of having a house full of critters when I was older. And now that dream has true, although it’s much more work than I imagined!

A lot of people actually don’t know that I am in fact athletically inclined. I played soccer and volleyball throughout my childhood and also did gymnastics for a while but never continued into high school. Let me just say, though, I am not remotely graceful so ballet was never my thing. You can be coordinated in some ways and not in others. If they gave out awards for most daily trips, falls, runs into walls and spills I would be a champion. But I actually did play the sports I played pretty well.

I love cheese. I LOVE cheese. This is why I will never fully be vegan. I’m down with the substitutes most of the time, but I still say yes to the occasional pizza, bowl of mac n cheese or order of cheese fries. I make kick ass homemade buffalo chicken mac n cheese that never fails to please, although I’m otherwise not the best cook. I also love peanut butter. I LOVE peanut butter. When I was little my dad and I would eat it out of the jar with a spoon. I may or may not still do this.  Ahem.

I was a tomboy for a good chunk of my childhood and wore my long hair in a ponytail down my back with a ball cap on top. Over –sized tshirts and hiking boots were all the rage in the 90s. I didn’t even own, nor know how to straighten my hair until my senior year of high school. Ditto for coloring it at all. I now get highlights once every 3 or 4 months. Clearly it’s not a big priority but I do really like my hair. I currently consider myself a part time fashionista. What I mean is that I do love keeping up with the trends and putting together fun outfits for work and weekend outings. I have been known to sacrifice comfort for style many times, mainly in the shoe department because I’m totally a shoe girl. But I do also like my comfy stuff and I will wear things I like regardless of how put together I actually look. It just depends on the day.

I have one sister who is 4 years my junior. When she was born I was anything but the jealous older sibling. I was far too excited about new live baby doll. She and I turned out to have personalities at the opposite ends of the spectrum but we get along really well. Girl is a feisty one so it helps that I’m more laid back. You’ve also seen our parents appear in posts from time to time. I have my dad’s eyes and my mom’s smile. They’re loving and supportive and always there for us and some other happy crap, but are also a really good time! I swear their social life in their 50s is way more hoppin’ than mine.

Starbucks skinny vanilla lattes are a huge guilty pleasure of mine, but I don’t get to have them nearly as much as I’d like. It’s also a little known fact that I have a condition called Interstitial Cystitis, or IC, because it’s a freaking mouthful. Don’t Google it, it sounds far worse than it (usually) is. In short, for reasons unknown, the lining of the bladder deteriorates enough that there are little holes in it. Everything is filtered through the bladder so just about everything that goes through my system irritates the condition (including stress hormones, allergy histamines and food/drinks). It’s a case by case basis for what will cause more irritation or less and it’s just a kind of figure it out as you go situation. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and put on medication that helps but I also have to control what I eat and drink. Unfortunately coffee is one of those things that sets off my condition so I drink it sparingly. Once in a while seems to be okay but even a cup a day would not bode well for me.

I may be a teensy bit obsessed with monograms lately, probably because I’m getting a new one in a few months. I have always liked personalized items though and have given them as gifts for years. If you can monogram it, I want it monogrammed. Or personalized in some way. I love the bracelet my mom got me from Christmas with our wedding date. And you might have noticed me rocking my monogrammed Marley Lilly vests. I also am completely drawn to stripes, especially gray and white or navy and white. Seriously, I will become distracted quickly if I see a gray and white sweater or a navy and white bikini, even out of the corner of my eye. It’s not surprising Chris and I have a gray and white striped bed set on our wedding registry. No flannel sheets though because Chris runs hot. I am a sucker for flannel, especially plaid flannel. It’s probably because it’s soft and warm and I always run cold.  

There are about a million things I left out but I’m getting bored talking about myself. I’m with myself all day everyday so you know how that goes. And I bet you’ve had your fill of learning about me too. So there you have it. I was the star of the show today but we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming next time. I’m off to new adventures with the furbabies and capturing them to share with you.

Happy Friday Eve!

Sleepy Sunday: 2-01-15

I cannot believe it’s been a year since I started this blog. A whole year! So much has happened but it feels like I was just sitting down yesterday to write my first post. Thanks for sticking with me to reach this milestone!

So our weekend was probably not what most would call exciting but I was happy we were able to get some much needed things done and have a little fun too. Friday evening I went to a surprise baby shower which doubled as a girls night out. I’m a total theme gift giver and usually build it around one particular item or color. I’ve heard Sophie the Giraffe is all the rage for cool baby girls so I popped over to Target and scored the very last one they had in stock. I was thinking I could go with an overall jungle animal theme but ended up finding a few more giraffe items that were just too cute (a hat and matching booties, wash cloths and baby shampoo). I added all the goodies to a little basket with a baby jungle animal card and was pretty pleased with it. Thank you Target!

Saturday morning I got up and worked out. I’m not an early morning workout person but I’m good to go by 8:30or 9. I always work out in the evening during the week because I get up at 5AM for work and there is just no way I’m getting up any earlier and I’ve learned my body just doesn’t function well enough to sweat it out before breakfast. I’ve been doing random workouts on YouTube to switch up my routines. I just type in “at home workouts for women” and choose one based on how much time I have. I’ve been doing this for about a month now and I have to say, it’s fun to change it up. Sometimes the dogs try to work out with me but usually they just lay on their beds and yawn because apparently watching someone else work out can be very tiring. But I guess not too tiring to miss Dogs 101 on Animal Planet. We call it “Saturday morning cartoons”.

Saturday afternoon Chris went out to find wedding shoes with his brother and his friend Jake. Since we are going for a more casual vibe the men will not be in suits or jackets and therefore we are also opting for less formal shoes. They came back with a few prospects and after Chris pulled them up online to show me I agreed they had some good options. Way to go boys!

I went grocery shopping and felt like a grumpy slob. Normally I go to an older small Kroger store right down the street because it's so close and it's never crowded. But I needed gas so I headed down to the bigger store and sorely regretted it. Too many people pay no attention to anyone other than themselves. It seemed like every time I tried to go down another aisle someone was blocking it and making no move to get out of the way. I also noticed several women that appeared to be around my age shopping with full makeup, nice clothes and even heels. This is how I go grocery shopping.

The rest of the evening we spent looking at wedding bands online and watching our shows. It’s something we haven’t been in a hurry to buy because we don’t need them until the wedding but now it’s time to get moving in that area. Next weekend we plan to go look at the store where Chris bought my engagement ring.

We had a coupon for Pizza Hut, which is right up the street from us, so we ate stuffed crust pizza while the furbabies snuggled up with us. They get so excited because they know they get couch time on the weekends if they are good boys (which of course they always are….ahem).

The weather reports had been calling for several inches of snow on Sunday but to our dismay it was too warm and ended up raining most of the day. Luckily we got our walk in early so we missed it. There is not much more Ares and Chaos hate than being out in the rain and I have to agree with them on that one.

Chris and I were not so lucky when we ran out to Home Depot. He’s been a busy little bee painting baseboards in our condo because it doesn’t appear the previous owner ever touched them. They were starting to look really icky so he got to work last weekend with supplies we had on hand from my parents’ store B&E Decorating Center. But our towel bar has been broken for a while now and we discussed we could not just buy the one piece we needed so instead we had to buy a new one. I got a Starbucks vanilla latte out of the trip though so it was worth it.

Sunday afternoon Chris painted baseboards and I did spring cleaning in the living room and dining area. I was pleasantly surprised that pulling out all the furniture from the walls didn’t cause a mini dust bowl in our place but I did find something interesting underneath the couch. When I first saw the 2 white pieces on the floor I thought maybe they were plastic or crumbled paper. But upon closer inspection they appeared to be pieces of eggshell. Um, don’t ask me how those got there. I really have not a clue but I didn’t really have time to ponder the mystery because I turned my head for a second to grab my rag and Ares swooped in a scarfed those eggshells right up. Don’t worry they weren’t big pieces and didn’t seem to cause him any issues but what a goofball.

Most of you were probably watching the Superbowl at a friend’s party, a bar or maybe you hosted the party. We were invited to a party too but lost track of time and as we were putting everything back in its place it was almost game time. So we watched the Patriots pull out that win with a game saving interception from our couch in our sparkly clean living room. Ares and Chaos didn’t make it through the game but somehow I managed to stay up past my bedtime to see the end. Did anyone else LOVE the Budweiser commercial with the cute little puppy and his horse buddies?

Have a great week everyone!

Doggie Duds & Kitty Clothes

When I was in kindergarten I remember having this little dress with a black Scottish Terrier on the front, or a scotty dog as I called it. I loved that dress so much. While my taste in clothes in general has changed pretty dramatically since those days (probably for the best), the concept of wearing dogs (and cats) on them has not.

Around the time Ares turned 1 my mom found a shirt at Urban Outfitters she just had to get me. A mint green fitted tee with little Boston Terriers all over it, um yes please. I get comments on it every time I wear it and I just think it’s too much fun.

I try to keep everything fair between the dogs so I found a website with a long sleeved t-shirt that read “Pit Bull Mom”. I ordered the size small but when I got it the fit was just not right. The sleeves a little too short to be full length but not short enough to be ¾ sleeved and the midsection is boxy on my frame. I wear it around the house and to sleep in but not out in public like I had hoped (because it looks like I borrowed it from a toddler).

So I’ve been on a mission for a while to find a Pit Bull shirt as equally adorable as my Boston Terrier tee. Nothing has really caught my attention until recently though. And now I’ve found 2 shirts I really like. Oh the dilemma.

I love everything about this sweatshirt I found on Etsy from the color to the screen print to the fact that the sleeves are rolled up in the picture. The price seems reasonable and I like to support the small business Etsy shop owners.

While that one is more playful, like my Boston Terrier shirt, this other one I’ve been eyeing really makes a statement. Literally. And here’s the best part, they make a dog version in plain colors to match with a zipper and everything.

Can you picture the boys and I all in our matching hoodies going for a walk? Now that would turn some heads. And hopefully make one hell of an impact.

I have a gray screen print boyfriend tank I got a couple summers ago from Target that is really cool. I mean a cat wearing sunglasses, c’mon on. So I represent both species of furbabies in my house. I guess my next quest will be to find something with turtles on it. And not the teenage mutant kind, although I am also completely for rocking anything with those guys on it. But I’d like to cover the bases with something more in line with the turtles I live with.

Chris is also down with wearing dogs on his beloved t-shirts, but in a less cutesy way than me. Another thing that is probably for the best. My sister got Chris one of the most fitting shirts ever for Christmas and it pretty much sums up his general perspective.

It would be hilarious to find a kitty t-shirt that reversed the message for Miss Piper, although I am quite sure she would protest wearing it. She’s very pleased with her own natural beauty. I tend to agree.

As for Little O, he just does his own thing. I’d be tickled to get him a “Like A Boss” shirt. Do they make those for kitties? I guess I’m off to find out.

Guess what day it is? HUMP DAY!

Sleepy Sunday: 1-25-15

I'm 27 years old, a furbaby mama and soon to be married. I've got a busy life and a lot going on, but at the same time, it doesn't seem exciting enough that you all would want to read about the details. I seem to get the most feedback from my Sleepy Sunday posts sharing the details of our weekends. So, here's the latest recap. 

It's always a good start to the weekend when I have a great Friday at work. And it's usually a great Friday at work when I'm wearing plaid flannel, a monogrammed vest and get a latte at lunch. I may or may not be slightly obsessed with flannel, monograms and vanilla lattes. But vanilla lattes are a super treat so it was especially awesome when I found a Starbucks gift card in my wallet. And let's not forget the adorable bracelet I got for Christmas with my wedding date engraved on it. 

Friday nights it's just the furbabies and me. Chris would normally get off work at 11:30 but Fridays are busy for him so it's usually later than that and I'm already in bed when he gets home. I usually try to get in some laundry and cleaning after our daily walk so there will be more time to spend together the next two days. And then I hang on the couch with the muffins. 

Saturday morning I'm always up before Chris. Yesterday I fed everybody and myself and then worked out to start the day with calories burned. Then I got ready to go run errands including meeting with the woman who is making the flower girl dresses for the wedding. I swear I am going to have the cutest flower girls ever walking the aisle. After several other stops and a grocery trip, I made it home to relax a little with some jazzed up cranberry Sprite and watching our favorite shows.

 

This morning I woke up tired. I've always been one of those people that just have the craziest dreams and usually remember them or at least part of them. But I normally sleep pretty well, as far as I know. Last night I just kept waking up for some reason and tossing and turning. So by 7 I just got up and ate some breakfast. I love the whole grain English muffins with a little Sun Butter (sunflower butter) and strawberries. Blackberries on the side just sweetened it all up even more. 

Chris woke up a little while later and we took a family walk with Ares and Chaos. Then we did some cleaning in the back  bedroom, aka the dogs' room, and Little O supervised. 

We headed over to my parents' house with the boys for a visit and practiced their training in the afternoon. When we got back home Chris got to work painting baseboards in the master bathroom (because they were really icky) and I made some chicken Philly fixings. No, I am not eating meat, so I sautéed the onion, green pepper and mushrooms and then tofu for me and chicken for Chris separately. We can each then eat our separate protein with the veggies on whole wheat hoagies with provolone cheese.

I'm off for some evening beers and a movie with Sam Adams Cherry Wheat Ale and The Ugly Truth and the boys on the couch.

Happy Sunday!

Chaos & Controversy

I’ve never been a controversial person. Not even a little bit. On the contrary I usually try to avoid it like the plague. And I’ve been pretty successful in that endeavor for most of my life.

My parents followed the traditional route of love, marriage, babies and have been now happily married for 30 years. Go mom and dad! I had a pretty conventional upbringing in the suburbs of Northern Kentucky just outside Cincinnati and was lucky enough to enjoy not only a comfortable life, but some would call it privileged.

I’m a straight, white female with naturally blonde hair, a fast metabolism and a fairly strong drive to stay fit. I’m not an extremist of any kind, I don’t do witchcraft and I wasn’t a teenage mom or overweight at any point in my life. I’m not hating on any of these things, just making the point that they are topics that get people in this country all fired up.

While my parents will also tell you I’m not your prefect little angel either, I’ve never really done anything too crazy. Unless you count skydiving. Twice. But I’ve never been known to walk on the edge of life. That is, until I got a Pit Bull.

Yea, bringing Chaos into my home is what a lot of people consider the most outrageous thing I’ve ever done. I’m a real nutcase. Call the psych ward, we’ve got another one.

Joking aside, having a Pit Bull suddenly threw me head first into a world of controversy. I was unprepared for the complete and outright hatred we would be on the receiving of. I had no idea how fiercely the protective instinct of a mama bear would take over me. Bringing home Chaos wasn’t just adding another dog to the family to love, his entrance into my life was accompanied by a firestorm of ignorance and cruelty as well as loyalty and passion.

Often when I mention something about one of my dogs or speak about them in passing to a stranger or someone I don’t know very well, the question of what kind of dogs they are arises. It’s been over 2 years since Chaos became my baby and I still internally cringe at this question because I know there’s about a 50/50 chance this conversation just took a nose dive. Some people are immediately confused. I guess they think maybe they heard me wrong when I said Pit Bull. Or they just realized they may be talking to a drug dealer or an insane woman. A common response is, “YOU have a Pit Bull?”. You know, because all Pit Bull owners are thugs, lowlifes and crack dealers. I guess I don’t fit the profile. Some of them start talking out of their ass like they know even a little bit about my dog. And some of them are downright mean. On the other hand, there are a lot of people who smile that smile I’ve come to know very well as Pit Bull rolls off my tongue. It’s a shared smile of appreciation for another fellow animal lover who either has their own Pittie at home or is smart enough to appreciate that a dog is a dog, regardless of what asinine information the media spews.

For those of you who know me, you know I’m usually for peace over war. But I’d walk through fire for anyone I love and Chaos is no exception. I’ve said some things in not only his defense, but for Pit Bulls and other unfairly labeled dogs, that might shock a lot of people to hear come out of my mouth. It’s my nature to try and fly under the radar when it comes to a potentially negative situation, or at least try to remain calm and choose my words carefully. But people cross the line with rapid fire on the Pit Bull issue and I don’t tolerate criticism of my furry little boy very well. Commenting on the way I choose to live my life is one thing but making derogatory remarks about my dog won’t be tolerated. The lioness inside me will come out roaring and I’ll sink the claws in deep to get my point across.

I also have a dog that’s always on America’s sweetheart list. Ares is the epitome of charming, playful, friendly and silly. He’s so happy go lucky he would try to make friends with a crocodile yet not be a bit offended if said crocodile tried to make him lunch. And this is what people expect of him because of his breed. Yes, it’s much less complicated to tell people I have a Boston Terrier. But that Boston Terrier’s brother happens to be on the other end of the spectrum as America’s most hated breed of dog. People expect the opposite of him that they do Ares just because he's a Pit Bull. I don’t care how much controversy having a Pit Bull brings into my life. Easier isn’t always better. I love both my dogs equally, no matter what the rest of the country has to say about it. And for the record, they are both much nicer than I am if you start talking smack.

As for what I tell people who wonder why I would choose to put myself in this position, having a dog half the people I encounter believe is a vicious monster, my answer is pretty simple. The second I saw Chaos’s wrinkled little face and sweet eyes, he had my heart wrapped around his precious paw. And there was no going back.

Happy Thursday dog lovers!