Spring has Sprung!

Usually winter in Wisconsin carries all the way through April and we don't see anything bloom until about May. This winter was different this year; we hardly got any snow at all. In fact last week it was in the 80's! So instead of being cooped up inside still, I got a head start on my spring cleaning and spring picture taking.

Someone at work gave me a bunch of home recipes for making your own cleaning solutions. I figured I would give it a try because it sounded fun and might be better than using the harsh chemical ones you buy at the store. Plus they were pretty cheap to make. I used simple ingredients like borax, castile soap, oranges, lemons, vinegar, etc...

I picked up the squirt bottles at a local grocery store. These were probably the hardest thing to find.

My favorite one that I made was with 3 tbsp of Borax, 1/3 a cup of lemon juice and 2 cups of hot water.

I think part of winter is you get a little lazy and when spring rolls around you awaken and feel fresh. Let me just say I got a little...ok...ALOT lazy this winter. Now before I show you the next picture, just remember don't judge. :) Have you ever watched the episode of "FRIENDS" where Monica the neat freak has this one secret closet that she keeps all her crap in and is super messy? Well that's me.



I think the husband was happy he could finally see the floor again.

You know what else spring brings? Sandals and pedicures! I picked up these two gems at the tanning salon today. I grinned when I read the colors "Navy Shatter" and "It's My Year". I am a Navy brat and you know what...this does seem like a great year so far.

To round of this post, here are a few of my favorite spring shots. Happy spring everyone!!!



All About Me: Charger

Hi my name is Charger and I was born on June 8th 2008. My doggie mom was a yorkshire terrier and my doggie-dad was a poodle. My doggie-mom was very small and I take after her, weighing in at 4.6 lbs. I came from a litter of four (3 boys and one girl) and I was the runt.

My human mama and daddy wanted a dog really badly and they lived in an apartment that only allowed dogs under 25 lbs. Also daddy requested since he had allergies that they get a non-shedding dog. So my mama went to the local shelter and applied for dogs. Here in Wisconsin in this area, small breeds that do not shed are very popular and hard to adopt at the shelter. Because so many people end up applying for these dogs, they pick the owners by drawing names out of a hat.

Months went by and mama and daddy had no luck so mama started searching for breeders on the internet. She stumbled upon a website called domestic sale. It is kind of like a "craigs list" for the area. On the website in the pets section was an ad for me and my litter-mates. The ad said we were an accidental litter and they only wanted 200 dollars for us. After much begging my mama convinced daddy to drive an hour up north to see me. My daddy wanted to make sure that I came from a nice home and not a puppy mill.

When they met me for the first time, their hearts melted. Daddy was the one who picked me up first and he instantly liked me. I of course used my "cute puppy voodoo magic" on him. I also was the only one really awake and eating. Daddy confirmed his decision when I promptly walked over to the puppy pad and took a leak.

I went home with my new mama and daddy that very day. Boy they were not prepared for me at all. They had to stop at Target and pick up a kennel, food, and toys for me. Since they were on a time crunch and my grandma would be watching me my first night (mama and daddy were going to 6 flags the next day) they had to buy me a plastic crate for my very first home.

My bowl was as big as me! I probably only weighed 1 or 2 lbs.

Here is daddy showing me the ropes on my new food and water dish. I am listening to every word.

Our first family picture.

Grandma giving me my first bath.

I was a pretty spoiled puppy. Mama bought me lots of toys and treats. Here are a few of her favorite puppy pictures of me.

My first bed which I destroyed a few months later.

Daddy and I always enjoy napping together

 


Already a ham for the camera

 




An early prediction of my toilet paper adeventures...



Ahh yes. Now this is the life.

Mama teaching me to "Come"


 

After my first grooming

 


My favorite activity. Gettin my tan on.

 



 

My first halloween. I hated this costume.

My first Christmas

 My first major item I destroyed. Vertical blinds.

 

My first birthday. That candle was super scary!!

My mama and daddy have always said I have a unique personality. I love the sound of my own voice, I cry when I don't get my way, I am very independent, and I don't trust strangers. It takes me a long time to warm up to people I don't know. This is probably because when I was not quite one I got cut by the groomers really bad. I had to be put under and have stitches. A week later it got infected and I had to go back to the vet. I want to get to know new people, but it just takes time.

My first boo-boo.

Mama and daddy were sooo mad that they took a clipper to my teeny little leg.

 
Once I get to know you though, I remember you forever and get very excited to see you. Kind of like how I get excited to see my Grams (daddy's step-mom). She happens to be my favorite person. (She feeds me doggie ice cream)

Well that is it for now. I hope you got to learn a little bit more about me. :)

Love, Charger

Running and Cooking

This week has been super busy. I decided for some crazy reason to train for the Cellcom half marathon in Green Bay. I am not much of a runner and I know that training is a big time commitment. Hopefully I will stick to it and blog about it from time to time. To get myself inspired and motivated, I bought some new shoes and bought a nike plus ipod sensor for my shoes. The nike plus ipod is a really neat app that comes on newer iphones (3, 4 and 4s). It keeps track of all of my miles for me. I like it because I can play my music and towards the end of my workout push a button for my power song. My power song is "Blow" by Kesha...just in case you were wondering :)

Here are some pics of me training and the weather outside the gym. I can't wait until the weather is warmer and I can run outside.

I signed up for a membership at the local YMCA's and went to one not far from my house. I almost drove past it because it looked like a lodge!

After working out today I decided to do a little grocery shopping. I read an entry for a Korean sauce on Kristie's blog and decided to give it a whirl. It turned out great! For directions on how to make it, visit her blog at http://www.bunjaskoreanlife.blogspot.com/

My goodies from the Asian section of the store :) The only thing I couldn't find was sesame seeds, so I bought something called sesame sticks and sprinkled them on top of my salad. Charger as you can see was very interested in the food.

Come on Mama just....a....little...closer!

Mama...are you in the kitchen? Am I dreaming?

Gotta have my iphone out to follow the directions. Lord knows I need directions in the cooking world!

Finished product!

Even Charger wanted some! Begging just like Bunja.

That is about all I have been up to this week, running and cooking. Oh yeah and work. I did start some other things to keep me motivated. A running journal and a goal list. Hubby saw my goal list on the fridge and made a study goal one for himself. See...I am already inspiring. ;)

Hope you all are having a great weekend! And wondering what inspires all of you?