Kramer...just Kramer.

David, Kramer, & Heather on January 4, 2015

So, I'm sure you already know, we got a puppy!  I mean, if you are my friend on Facebook or follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you definitely know it (I'm a little a LOT picture crazy!)

Anyway, he joined our household on January 4th, 2015!  He was so young and tiny back then.
 He is now a whopping 14 pounds and a very crazy 5 month old puppy!  He has now finished all of his rounds of puppy shots and recently had surgery so he will never become a father to any puppies of his own.  (He's okay with it, we have talked about it lots, and by the way he wags his tail, I believe he approves!  haha)

It took us a few hours to decide on a name for our puppy and finally came up with...Kramer.  Kramer, like Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld.  My husband has always loved that show, and Kramer is one of my favorite characters from the show, and now that we've had Kramer for a few months now, his name fits his personality perfectly!

Kramer waiting patiently in the hallway
for David to come out of the
bedroom one morning.

Kramer is growing up fast and learning new things daily.  One of my favorite things that we have done with Kramer is never allowing him to come in our bedroom.  He is just the most precious puppy, and patiently (most of the time) waits for us in the hallway in the mornings while we are getting ready. 

I have wanted a puppy for a long time.  After much discussing me begging, and me desperately searching the Facebook Yard Sale sites for free beagle-mixes (because beagle was the only dog David had ever mentioned being open to the idea of getting), I found him and David actually said yes!  He is a great companion for me when David is working late for OCU Sporting Events, and I think secretly, David likes him too!  The only time I slightly wish that we didn't have him is on Pretty Little Liar nights when I am already scared from the show and have to take him outside, in the dark yard, to pee...I mean, can't he just hold it on those nights?  haha...If only it was that easy.  He actually, was fairly easy to potty train.  David and I are very consistent when it came to potty training.  We were both on the same page and as annoying as it was, took him out time after time after time.  Sidebar:  who's idea was it to get a puppy at the coldest, snowiest time of the year?!

Young Kramer laying in his bed with his toys.

Older Kramer laying in bed with his toys.

Side Bar/Rant about Kramer: 

One more bit of information about David and I owning a puppy.  His name is Kramer...just Kramer.  He is not Kramer Hose.  He doesn't have a middle name.  He is just Kramer.  Like Cher is just Cher.  I am NOT his mom and David is NOT his dad.  We our his owners, yes.  He is a part of our household, yes.  But we are NOT his parents.  We are his humans.  He is a part of our house, and I like him a lot...but he will never be considered our child...he is our pet...who has one name...Kramer.  Occasionally, we call him Kramer-dog...But never Kramer Hose and never mom and dad.



Kramer's first tennis match. 
He sat on the bleachers with us and did an excellent job!

A Little Bit About Why I LOVE Influenster

I've talked about Influenster before in past posts, but today I just want to share a little about why I love Influenster!

 

1.  It is a great way to test, review, and share information about new products through receiving VoxBoxes.  I have received a few and have thoroughly enjoyed reviewing all of them on social media and on my blog!

 

2.  Influenster has an AWESOME app that makes reviewing easy for busy lives!

 

You really should check out Influenster!  Let me send you an invite  OR click on my Influenster circle on the Right side of the page!  :)

DIY - Elf People

My inspiration...Pinterest...see the original post here.

I made these for everyone in our office.  It was so easy and really makes fun décor for Christmas time.

 

Materials Needed:

 

Colored Paper

Photo of "elf faces" printed on a colored printer

Glue Stick or tape (I used both)

Scissors

Pencil

 

(I also laminated ours so they would last longer, but it wouldn't be necessary)

 

Directions:

 

1.  Take an up-close photo of the faces you want to use and print them on your colored printer the size you want your elf's head to be!

2.  Cut out your elf face.  (for this it is best to cut out around the face and hair...you can always trim a bit more off later if you wish.)

3.  On your colored paper draw your pieces of elf clothing.  (Use your head cut-out to figure out what size of clothing you need.)

4.  Cut out your clothing.

5.  Use your glue stick or tape to piece together your elf.

6.  Hang your elf somewhere in your home (or in my case our office) to brighten someone's day and spread a little Christmas Cheer!

 

My office hung our elves on the door to our office so everyone
who walked by caught a glimpse of our Christmas spirit!

 

Originally written:  January 2014

 

 

The Hoses: No longer RDs

In May, David and I completed our 6th and final year of being Resident Directors in Brokaw Hall at Oakland City University.

I had lived in the dorms at OCU since Fall 2005 and David had done the same since Fall 2003.  We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in the dorms as regular students, as Resident Assistants, and especially our six years we spent as Resident Directors! 

When we decided to get married, we prayed about the possibility of applying to become RDs.  After much prayer and discussion with each other, we thought the RD job would be something we would enjoy and would be a great job for the two of us, since we loved our current jobs at the time as Resident Assistants.  We applied for the position and to our surprise, we were chosen as RDs of the Freshmen/Underclassmen GIRLS dorm!  I was excited but slightly nervous because we were soon going to be in charge of 60 Freshmen girls as newlyweds.

We got married in June of 2008 and had our first group of girls move in the dorm in August 2008.

David and I had the desire to use our job as a ministry and are so thankful that God helped us do that in our 6 years as RDs.  We learned a lot throughout our time in the dorm and made some friendships that will last a lifetime.


 

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures from every team we worked with as RDs.  These are some of our team pictures though!  We were blessed with some really awesome RAs throughout our 6 years in Brokaw Hall...we are so thankful for these great friends we made along the way.

Influenster: Gillette Venus® Snap with Embrace (Review)

I recently received a complimentary Gillette Venus Snap with Embrace Razor from Influenster for testing purposes.

I cannot say enough good things about this razor...I love it!  It is compact, cute, leaves my legs extremely smooth.  It is great if you forgot to shave that morning OR perfect if you were rushed in the morning (who isn't?!) and shaved so quickly you just missed a few hairs.  Throw it in your purse, work-out, or make-up bag and you will be set for your crazy busy on-the-go life!

I put mine in my purse or car so it is ready any time I need a quick shave!  It is PERFECT for my busy life and I'm sure it would be perfect for yours, too!

Christmas Sweater DIY

Okay, so each year since David and I have been RDs (except for our first year) we have hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.  So. Much. Fun.  We always have a contest for the ugliest sweater, but we-as the Resident Directors never participate...in the voting that is.  We usually dress in ugly Christmas sweaters...David is so funny and such a great sport for the girls in our dorm. 

This year (well, December 2013), I decided I was going to make us cute shirts with our pictures on them...Thanks Pinterest for the idea!



Items Needed: 

• T-shirt
• Felt for elf clothing
• Scissors
• Printable iron-on (one sheet per elf)
• Iron
• Needle and Thread
• Extra embellishments:  Pom Pom Ball for top of hat, fabric paint, bells, etc.

Directions:

Step 1:  Print face photo onto a printable iron-on.
Step 2:  Cut out face and iron it onto a shirt.
Step 3:  Cut clothing for the elves...I used two felt tree skirts.
Step 4:  Sew the elf clothing in place on the shirt.



My Mom did all of the sewing! :)

Shout out to my Daddy for his help! :)

Peeling off the iron-on backing!

David and I at our Christmas Party! 
December 2013

Drink. More. Water.

One of my goals on my last birthday, when I made a huge list of goals (you can read that post here) that I have completely failed miserably at accomplishing (so far!), was to drink more water.  Sounds easy enough, right?!  Well, I guess...if you LIKE WATER.  I have always struggled with drinking more water...until now.  I have found the solution...thanks, Pinterest!

Here it is, the solution you have all been waiting for...

Cucumber, Lemon, Mint Water...DELISH.  I have never really been a fan of cucumber OR lemon water OR really water in general, however the combination of the 4 together tastes so fresh and clean. 

Here's what I do...

Slice a cucumber, slice some lemon, and pluck off some mint leaves.  Add it to your bottle or pitcher, fill with water and viola!  You have a delicious glass of cucumber, lemon, mint water.

*Sidebar:  You want to prepare the water and let it set overnight in the fridge.  You also want to drink it while it is cold.  I learned from experience on this one...don't let it get room temperature...cold is best.