5 Question Friday/Fur Baby Friday!

Are you obsessed with your animals like we are??? Come over to Mrs. Monologues and link up with us.

I have a special treat today for Fur Baby Friday link up. I have a picture of the girl that I hardly ever show off, Sadie. We've had Sadie for about 4 years now. She's a pound puppy, and they said she was a husky mix. Not sure what exactly she's mixed with, but they told us either rottweiler or Australian Sheppard. We immediately fell in love with her because her gorgeous baby blue Husky eyes. She came into our home as the little sister to our previous Pom, Roxy. (I will tell you Roxy's story another time) Now she is a big sister to Tilly. A really good big sister too! The only negative thing about this dog is her 300 layers of fur - that's the Husky in her. She sheds like you wouldn't believe - hence, she doesn't get as much inside time as Tilly. Sadie is our very own 70lb lap dog! I wanted to show her off a little bit, because Tilly typically gets the spotlight.

Also, quick note that I am venturing out this weekend to take Tilly to her first Mardi Growl. It should be interesting!

Sadie's sweet puppy face the day we brought her home
Excuse the glare, I took this picture of the picture I have my in office.

Sadie last weekend sunbathing in our backyard

Next, it's 5QF with Mama M over at My Little Life.

1. Where is your favorite vacation spot and why?

Hmm...my favorite vacation spot that I've ever been to (so far) has been Grand Cayman Islands. It was drop dead gorgeous there, plus I got to swim with the dolphins and sting rays there. Mexico is probably a close second.

I love any type of beach vacation and I can't wait for mine this summer!

2. What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

Reality TV hands down 1000%! I am obsessed with The Real Housewives - all of them. I couldn't tell you why this show has sucked me in so much but it has and I can't (and don't want to) stop watching. It can be time consuming because they like to show two seasons at a time so that's two nights a week I spend watching the shows. I have 2 episodes just lingering on my DVR right now and it's about to kill me that I haven't had time to watch them yet.

Oh, and Chick-Fil-A chocolate milkshakes. They are beyond delicious!

3. What is your favorite fashion trend right now? Or, in the past?

My favorite trend right now would either be Toms or the minty-turquoisey-blue/greenish inspired jewelry pieces. I love my Toms, they are the most comfortable shoes. I wish they would make running shoes that feel like that! And I've seen a lot of turquoise/mint color variations with jewelry lately and I'm loving it. I can just imagine those colors on sun kissed skin looking fab.

 

4. What are your spring break plans?

That would have to mean I actually got a spring break. I'm all for doing spring break in the workplace!

If I did, have a spring break getaway it would be running away to a beach for a week. It's been so rainy here this winter and I could definitely use a big dose of Vitamin C from mother nature.

5. What baby names do you hate?

My name is actually Nicole - I just go by Nikki. I HATED having the name Nicole when I was in elementary school. I think every other baby girl born within the 1980's was named Nicole. It felt so common and boring!

I like a good strong unique name. It doesn't have to be too crazy - like the celebrities get sometimes - just something you wouldn't hear everyday. I guess my answer would be I dislike overly common names. (Sorry if you have one of these - but it's ok because I do too!) Like Amanda, Kelly, Lauren, Nicole - I actually just named my circle of friends haha!

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Happy Friday everybody!

Thursday Things to Love

It's been a while since I've done a Thursday Things to Love post, but I also want to spin it as Thankful Thursday for today. I'm going to link up with my good friend Cami over at First Day of My Life for Thankful Thursday.

I couldn't get the button to work - sorry Cami!

1. New workout music -
This is essential in my life right now. I'm trying so hard to be a good girl and stay on the grind with my healthy eating and working out lately. My friend Jody has compiled a huge list of suggestions for me that I still haven't finished going through yet - thanks Jody :) But I did want to share with you some of the new songs that are really helping me get through my workouts these days. If you are like me, and you need upbeat dance type of songs for your workouts then maybe this will help you. I'll be sure to update you when I finish going through Jody's list!

• Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch the Throne album - the whole thing is great!
• Racks - Y.C. I am oddly obsessed with this song
• Dance - Big Sean hands down my favorite right now
• Workout - J.Cole
• Old School Ludacris from Back for the First Time album

2. Beautifully perfect weather lately -

Beautiful Norris Lake

This also helps me get through my workouts when I can change it up and go outside. It's March 1 and today the forecast here is 71. If this keeps up then I will be on the lake by April - bring it!

3. Mardi Growl this weekend -

Mardi Growl is an annual doggy parade in Downtown Knoxville that honors Mardi Gras. This will be Tilly's first time (I will be sure to post pictures), but I did take my old dog, also a Pom Roxy, twice and she loved it. The parade includes dogs dressed up in costumes, and they also have awards for best costumes and vendors set up with goodies, clothes, food. It's fun!

4. The Hunger Games - Just did a post about it this week. I'm in obsession mode. I'm halfway through Catching Fire the 2nd book in the Hunger Games Trilogy right now. I feel like everyone is buzzing with HG talk, so I'm glad that I can finally be included. I can't wait for the movie to come out in a couple of weeks!

5. Girls Nights -

Girls nights are one of the true joys during the work week. I'm having one tonight to drink some margaritas with 2 of my very best ex-coworkers girlfriends! Me and some of the girls that I currently work with are planning a trip to Spirited Art in a couple weeks and I can't wait to see how they transform  my non-artistic abilities into a masterpiece. This is the painting we are going to attempt when we go - I highly doubt mine like end up looking like this...

Listable Life - 5 People You Treasure the Most

I'm linking up today with Moments That Define Life for my first Listable Life. I've seen several of you guys link up with her and I love how she always offers fun, yet thought provoking ideas for the link ups.

Narrowing down 5 people in your life who you treasure the most is not an easy task! These are in no particular order.

1. The obvious answer -My immediate family and Skye - they are my never ending support and encouragement. Without my family - my mom & dad, my aunt and cousin, my grandparents and especially my baby brother - I would be nothing. Without Skye, I would be a different girl than I am today. I am beyond thankful for the blessing of having all of them close to me. It's true that you can't choose your family, and sometimes we all feel that pain. But I did have the opportunity to choose Skye, and I think I did a pretty good job - if I do say so myself.

2. My pups - Technically I guess they aren't people, but to me they are my daughters. Nothing can turn my day around faster than coming home to their furry faces. The love we share with a pet is so special, and I'm blessed to have 2 of the most insane sweetest girls in the world. Check out their cuteness here.

3. My career role models & female trailblazers - past & present - Interesting choice maybe? But it's true. I have been blessed with some of the most amazing bosses that a girl could wish for. My current boss and one ex-sales manager boss I had in particular. They have both become great friends to me, in addition to career mentors. They are both fun, always encouraging, energetic and they don't let their work define them solely. Both are women too, which I think is why I admire and connect with them on a different level. (Hi Brandi - if you're reading this :), yes I'm talking about YOU!) Not to mention, the women who came before us and blazed the trail so that I could have an option to go to college, and foster my career before I got married and had babies. Girl power!

4. The amazingly brave women & men who serve to protect me - This means all branches of military, police officers & firefighters. If you're new to my blog you may not realize that I come from a long line of police & firefighters. There are 4 generations in my family on my dad's side of police officers & firefighters. I grew up defining my papaw & dad as police officers. And now, I'm proud to add Skye into that as well. My baby brother is a firefighter. I have several family members and very close friends who have served in the military. Without the people who volunteer their lives for the cause of freedom and protection, none of us would be able to lives the rich lives that we do. They often make great sacrifices to do their jobs and do them well. They are under-appreciated. I have an insane amount of pride in my family's history with these types of services. Hug a police officer, solider or firefighter today!

5. Great Friends - In Real Life Friends & Blog Friends - Nothing is better for the soul than a girl's night. Which I always try to squeeze one in at least every 2 weeks with all my different sets of girlfriends. A feeling that comes in a close second, is getting a new follower or comment on your blog. It's so nice to be appreciated - in real life and online. Good friends have an amazing way of lifting you up when you're down, and making you laugh until your stomach aches. Good friends are hard to find too - so when you snag one, treasure them with all your heart!

There we go - my first Listable Life link up! Come link up with us and tell me who do you treasure the most in your life??

The Hunger Games

I'm a little slow to jump on The Hunger Games bandwagon. Slowly, but surely I've come around though because I hate being left out! I was ahead of the game with Harry Potter and a little slow to get on board with Twilight. My honey got me The Hunger Games book for Valentine's Day and I started reading it last Thursday. Finished it Saturday. I bought Catching Fire today on my lunch break so I can't wait to read it and see what happens.

About a year ago, I started hearing all the buzz about the books and the fact that they were making a movie for the first book. I read the synopsis of the book and it didn't sound like something I would enjoy so I held off. I saw the trailer for the movie the first time back in November when I saw Breaking Dawn Part 1 in theaters. I was a little intrigued by the look of the movie so I decided that at some point. before the movie came out, I would give in and read the book. It's a very short book - like 347 pages- so even if I hated it, it wouldn't be a huge time loss.

Well I'm one book in and I was surprised by how much I was into it. I loved it and it was an easy read. Suzanne Collins does a great job at creating this futuristic fantasy type of world - similar to JK Rowling with Harry Potter.
This might sound stupid - but one of my encouragements to really get going on reading the book was this post by my sweet friend Vanessa about the Hunger Games nail polish coming out. I got so excited when I saw this, and that was the final push of motivation that I needed to get on board with all the excitement.

Team Peeta! :)

So tell me - are you into the Hunger Games series?

Here's one of the trailers for the movie...in case you haven't seen it.