I'm your Huckleberry!

Hi, my name is Cara Beth and I'm an addict. That's right, I'm addicted to dogs. You may think two dogs is not that many but if you only knew the amount of will power that is displayed in our family each and every day that I drive by the Humane Society or C.A.R.E. or every time I see an puppy on the side of the road or every time I see a sign that says "Adoption Day." Sigh... I seriously wish I could adopt them all.

You will recall that we became foster parents this summer. Our very first foster dog, we adopted, which put us in the category of foster flunkies. Well, it took us almost six months to gain enough confidence to try again. This is our second foster dog we are ATTEMPTING to foster. Notice I said ATTEMPT. This is seriously the hardest thing we have ever done. Why? Because we simply want to keep all of them. I mean, why just foster them when you can KEEP them, right? ;)

So meet foster dog number 2 - Huckleberry.

Our first night with Huckleberry was great! He was a perfect angel. He is house broken and so polite. He is a bit shy and may have been mistreated in the past, but that doesn't keep him from being extra lovey. :) He loves to lift his paw and shake like he is doing in the picture above. When he gets excited, he wags his tags and does a little dance. He gets along well with both of our other dogs and cats. We would love for Huckleberry to find a nice loving home and SOON, otherwise it will be harder to say good-bye. We are quickly getting attached to this little guy. Will you bring Huckleberry home with you this Christmas?

click here to see Huckleberry's bio on the C.A.R.E. page.

Birthday Boys!

Tonight we celebrated B's 32nd birthday and our baby Conner's 3rd birthday! I am so thankful for such a wonderful husband. I am truly blessed!

Two and a half years ago when we got Conner, the former owner told us he was born sometime in December. Since we weren't sure exactly when his birthday was, we thought it would be fun to celebrate Conner's birthday on the same day as B's birthday which is also Pearl Harbor day - December 7th. So this weekend we had dinner with friends (stupid me forgot my camera) on Friday night at Catina Laredo. Yum! Tonight, their actual birthdays, we ate a steak dinner (Yes, even Conner had a little bit of steak) and B had a red velvet cake for dessert. I picked up some yummy Christmas treats for the boys in celebration on Conner's third birthday! They were in heaven - steak AND doggie biscuits!I got B a new Arkansas sweatshirt for one of his presents this year.The birthday boys!
I love these guys so much! And I thank God for my wonderful husband everyday! Happy Birthday, B!

Blog Feature: Fresh Entity

Fresh Entity - a fresh new design in 2010 calendars, window decals and stationery!

This 2010 calendar printed on watercolor paper can be used as a desk calendar or a wall calendar. It comes with a silver clip and bow for a cute but simple hanging over a nail. Or it also fits any 5x7 frame for those of you who would enjoy it in your workspace. Each calendar has a unique design and encouragement from Scripture. It would be a great gift to share…especially with coworkers, your child’s teacher, or let’s be honest…anyone! Your calendar will come packaged with clip and bow. Each calendar is $15.00.Please visit www.freshentity.com for other special order items available for those in the area.

I just placed 4 calendar orders and I really really want this window decal, too! :)

Any of these items would make great gifts for Christmas, birthday or a "Just Because" gift. Head on over to www.freshentity.com and order yours today!

Holiday House Tour

This weekend was spent finishing up some Christmas decorations and Christmas shopping! I'm so exhausted! I don't understand how decorating and shopping can be draining and satisfying all at the same time! I have come to the conclusion that four hours is my limit for both. Four hours of decorating or shopping is about all I can take in a day but when you do both in one day that's EIGHT hours of Christmas madness! Last year we were in a tiny condo and kept Christmas pretty simple. Everything was handed down to me from my great grandmother, my grandmother and my mom. I have been very blessed to have their Christmas hand-me-downs. And I am lucky I LOVE all things vintage! Like this handmade ornament (below) handed down from my great grandmother on my mother's side. She was a true artist! She painted Easter eggs in the Springs, made Christmas ornaments in the winter and painted ceramic dolls all year round. I like to think that I have some of her artistic genes in me.

Here is another ornaments hand painted by my "NaNa." She made one of these for everyone in the family one year. It is one of my favorite ornaments. It used to play a little Christmas song but I don't think it works anymore.

I love these old carolers that I got from my grandmother. I remember these would be displayed every year on her mantel with many more. When we cleaned out my grandparents house, we divided up the carolers among the girls in the family. I got six but I really want some more. I found some more at the Crown Shop so I will soon add more to my collection! Can't wait! They remind me of the Charles Dickens movie, "A Christmas Carol."

This banner was rolled up in an old trunk of my grandparents. Isn't it gorgeous!

And of course I had to drag back out the LSU/ARK ornaments that I picked up in New Orleans a couple of years ago. This year LSU hangs a little higher on the tree next to Arkansas. GEAUX TIGERS!

Even my kitchen is decked out in red and green with green whisks and red spatulas. :)

I like to keep my tree simple. I've never been a fan of piling on the ribbon and colored mesh. Although, those trees are super gorgeous, it's just not really my taste. I prefer simple. I fill the tree with my favorite ornaments from years past and maybe a couple of new ones I picked up this past year. I usually do white lights, although I've toyed with going multi colored in keeping with the vintage theme... maybe next year.

Of course, there are stockings. Four for the animals

And two for us, hung on the mantel with my new fleur de lis hangers.

Also, I tried something new this year and hung some ornaments in my dining room window. It just gives the room a little something extra, don't you think?

I had to hang them high enough so the cats won't play with them. :)

That's certainly not all of my decorations but that is just a little taste. I love looking at other people's decorations and getting ideas!

Christmas decorating

Do you have your tree up yet? Ours is up with lights on but no ornaments yet. I have been imagining the perfect time for my husband and I to light a fire and and turn up the Christmas tunes and hang ornaments. So far it hasn't happened yet. By the time we get home from work and light the fire and sit down, we are too exhausted to hang one single ornament. So there our poor little naked tree sits with no ornaments! This weekend we have BIG plans to finish it though as well as hang some lights and garland on our columns outside!

Monday is Buie's birthday so we are going out with friends tonight to celebrate! Can't wait! I'll post pics soon of our tree and of his birthday! :)

In the meantime, here's a little inspiration from the one and only Martha Stewart.

Weekend Review (Part Two): The Wrong Turn

So I totally just realized I never finished summing up our chaotic weekend in Shreveport. Click here for Part One, all about the fabulous wedding!

Sunday started out as a day of relaxing and just enjoying the beautiful weather and shopping with my husband. But when we were pulling back in to the hotel, we definitely made the wrong turn and THIS happened!

This red truck is the other driver. Fortunately no one was badly injured, except for the vehicles and this lamp post that was split in two. Buie's truck just has this big dent over the wheel and we had to buy a new wheel and get the axle and A-frame replaced (whatever that means). So this week, I am without a car. :( Somehow Buie wrecks HIS truck and I am the one without a car? How does THAT happen - someone please explain! Anyway, I am a bum this week hitching rides so if you see me on the side of the road with my thumb in the air, don't hesitate to stop and pick me up! :)

Weekend Review: Thanksgiving!

Did everyone have a great Thanksgiving? I surely hope so! This year it was our turn to go to the Buies house, so away we went! We left Wednesday evening after I had to work all day - Yuck! Me, Buie, and Conner (or 'lil C, as I sometimes refer to him as) loaded up and an hour later, we were there! It was such a little bitty winding country road that I got sick and had to lay down, but it was soo nice for the trip to only take an hour as oppossed to the four hours it takes me to reach MY parents home in Louisiana. I was sad Scooter did not make this trip but we thought it best for him to be boarded since Buie's parents have a small dog, Jill. Scooter hasn't met Jill yet and to be honest, probably never will. Jill is a VERY shy dog, even around Conner. We wouldn't want to overwhelm her too much by bringing Scooter too. So the three of us enjoyed the company of my inlaws, Buie's aunt and uncle and first cousin. It was a small group compared to what I'm used to but we had fun none the less. Buie, me and lil C

The food:

We had a gluten free Honey-Baked ham and Turkey, deviled eggs, pea salad, sweet potatoes, gluten free dressing and gravy, brocoli cheese cassarole, and the list goes on. I was in charge of bringing a gluten free dessert and it was my first time to bake a gluten free poppy seed cake. Sadly, the cake did NOT turn out well, but it's a good thing Mrs. Carole had PLENTY of other treats! And it's probably a good thing there wasn't any gluten free dessert available- I don't need it anyway. I am determined even more now to make a really good gluten free dessert for Christmas! Any suggestions?

And, of course, we took group family pictures! Take a look!

This is me and my husband, my husband's parents and his brother and of course our furry children, Jill and Conner. Jill belongs to my in laws and Conner looks really full from Thanksgiving. :)

Here's the whole gang, well, minus me - Someone had to take the picture! :)

I truly hope you had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends!

More Fall Family Pics

A couple of weeks ago I had the best time shooting Carl and Kim! They are a sweet couple and I also had so much fun with Carl's son and daughter! Take a look at some of my favorites from the day!