GIVEAWAY WINNER: Postal Puppy

Thank you to everyone who entered to win the Postal Puppy box of goodies!  The winner, chosen from Rafflecopter, was Olivia The Service Dog!

Congrats to Olivia... the Lapdogs hope you love your new box of goodies!

Deck Dogs

Happy Thorsday / Thankful Thursday / Little Friday!  I didn't realize how behind I was in downloading photos off of my camera until I started going through them yesterday.  oops!  I still owe you an official Belle (formerly Babs) post, but today you get the Lapdogs enjoying the great outdoors... or at least, the back porch!  These photos were taken at the end of April when we got that lovely early Spring weather.

The Lapdogs doing what they do best... being nosey and keeping eight eyes on things!

Lola makes a great container garden spokesmodel, don't ya think?  Now if I could just get her to stop plucking out the tiny sprouts of basil...

When Zeus isn't he's lounging, he's watching for chuckies, birdies, snakies... whatever ies he can find.

Sophie is my sunbathing pooch.  I swear, it could be 100 degrees out there and she'll find the sunniest, warmest spot to lay.  She might be a lighter shade of red by the end of summer if she keeps this up...

Does Tut's big smile indicate his love of the great outdoors back porch?  He's always the first one out the door, with big sister Lola right behind him!

They really love hanging out on the back porch and I have to say, I love spending time out there with them.  We got the patio set up on the deck for the first time in years and I plan to spend some quality time out there this summer!

Scenes From Last Week

Happy Wordless Wednesday!  "Scenes From Last Week," via Instragram (seriously, is it not the coolest?).

Dog Mom Contest

Happy Tuesday everyone!  As we recover from a wonderful long weekend (which involved going racing, a day of racing on TV - and really wishing I was in Charlotte this year, hanging with the dogs, a little yard work, and a great BBQ with wonderful friends on the lake), can I ask you all a small favor?  Zeus and I are in the current "Dog Mom of the Month Photo Contest" sponsored by Dog is Good on Facebook.  Would you please consider a vote for us? (just click that link to be brought to our photo)  Thank you so much in advance!  ***you can vote for each entry, once per day, from May 28 - 31***

Proud to Be an American

From the Lapdog Household to Yours....
Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend. A special thank you to the men and women who serve (and have served) this great nation of ours - and to their families who sacrifice so much. 

And I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me. ~ Lee Greenwood

Happy Friday

Happy Friday.... and happy start to your Memorial Day Weekend!  Is anyone traveling, camping or doing anything particularly fun this weekend?  We have a race tomorrow night and may be heading to a friend's cook-out on Monday.  I'm hoping to get some knitting time in as well, especially I don't have much content for Fiber Arts Friday today. 

In my quest to get my 1,001 WIP's finished, I dug out the Car Seat Blanket (yes, I really did start this in 2006!).  And hey, look... there's my original Zeus needles!  I worked a few rows while sitting out on the deck with the dogs this week when I realized why I stopped working on it before... I started the blanket before I knew that working such a project would be better on circulars than super long straights with heavy tops.  Oy!  But, it's about 3/4 done and I plan to finish it up to gift to an expecting Mama.   

I got some fun shots of my growing container garden on Instagram this week. Unfortunately, when I went out to get those 3 strawberries the next morning, they were gone... I'm not sure if it was one of the dogs or a chipmunk, but something sure did enjoy them!

Friday Fill-In Time...

1. These three words describe my significant other: dedicated, loving, (my) rock!

2. Receiving a hand written note or card via snail mail is a delight!

3. Oh, how I adore puppy breath (it looks like Belle - will be leaving us tomorrow for her forever home... I'll post more about this lovebug next week).

4. Life is a little sweeter if one takes time to be friendly.

5. Inevitably, karma will catch up.

6. My Mom is someone who never ceased to encourage me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing at home after a wonderful lunch with friends today - nothing like good food & good company, tomorrow my plans include Saturday night short track racing and Sunday, I want to bbq and hang out with Matt & the dogs!

We hope everyone has a fantastic long weekend... Sophie & Belle hope you all get in a little nap time as well.

REVIEW: celebraTORI

celebraTORI

Unleashing Your Inner Party Planner to Entertain Friends and Family

by Tori Spelling
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books (April 3, 2012)

Let me start off by saying, I heart Tori Spelling.  She's funny, witty, down to earth and quite crafty.  Truly, she seems like the bff next door... except oh yea, she grew up in mansion!

In Tori's fifth book, celebraTORI, she gives any girl next door all the tips and tricks needed to become the party planning superstar of the neighborhood!   The book starts off with an introduction from Tori detailing just how "a party planner is born" and includes some old family photos (I love the personal touch on everything she does).  She then tells us how "style and budget make friends" - did I mention I heart Tori?  She may have grown up with a family who thought nothing of spending ridiculous amounts of money for a single party or event, but Tori is the creative, DIYer!  She writes, "Spending huge amounts of money on a few hours of fun when you have three kids to put through school and life - it's just not practical.  We can't live frivolously - we need to save.  I like finding less expensive ways to achieve the effect I want."  Amen sister!

celebraTORI is divided into eight main chapters: Essentials, Getting Started, Decor, Flowers, Food and Drink, The Dessert Table, Finishing Touches, and The Parties.  No detail is left untouched, right from creating the guest list and setting the budget through the party activities and favors.  celebraTORI is full of do's and don'ts, Tori's personal favorites, and endless how-to's.  Some of my favorite of the how-to's are:

• Tulle Balls... Fancy up any space with some cardboard and a few yards of tulle fabric.  They'll pretty up an adult party and make any young Princess feel extra special.
• Let Them Eat Cake Martini recipe... A mix of vanilla vodka, pineapple & cranberry juices, agave nectar, half & half and amaretto = yum-o!
• Cupcake Cone... When Tori demonstrated these on the Rachael Ray Show, I was hooked!  They might be meant for the kids, but I want one!  In fact, I just might have to try Tori's Red Velvet Cupcake recipe and make them into Cupcake Cones.

If you're still thinking "a fancy party planning book from a celebrity is not for me," let me just say Tori's crafty and realistic approach comes through all throughout celebraTORI.  She mixes and matches, uses what she already has, makes what she needs and is all about the food being mini and easy.  What other celebrity author would admit "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Lipton onion soup mix, combined with sour cream, is still my favorite dip, hands down."  The photography throughout celebraTORI is fun and inspirational. Tori's family and friends appear throughout the book, adding a personal touch and a look into her life. 

If what you want in a party planning book is all of the ideas - from invitations and menu to activities and favors - for a particular theme party, Tori includes four in celebraTORI: Cowboys and Lace Party,  Do-It-Yourself Spa Brunch, Game Night, and Cocktails in Caftans.  Don't they all sound fun?  Pick up a copy of celebraTORI today and get your party on!   

About the Author: Tori Spelling is an actress whose career spans theater, television, and film. She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of sTORI telling, Mommywood and uncharted terriTORI.  Tori both starred in and executive produced the comedy series So NoTORIous on VH1 and the popular reality series Tori & Dean: Inn Love and Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood on Oxygen. Tori lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Dean McDermott and their three children, Liam, Stella and Hattie (they also have a number of furbabies).  Baby #4 is due in October.  Check out her website & blog here!