The (mis)Adventures of a Girl and her Dog

Moving house.

2010-01-15T17:22:00.004-05:00

It's funny how when you have nothing that HAS to be done, you do nothing at all. Granted I just moved last weekend and there's still shit (I mean beautiful things...) everywhere, I still find the time to take a lovely two hour nap everyday.

Just a quick update today, mostly on Zoey. She had a pretty tough time the first couple of days after we moved in. Austin would leave and Zoey couldn't figure out why she didn't get to leave with him. She would howl at the top of her lungs every time we left her in her crate. Since she loves her crate this was very strange behavior for her. She's settled down and now has a little routine. After we get up, she sits with me for breakfast, then she goes to take a nap.
For a good two hours. The bed might be a little small for her. Funny story, the first night she slept in the bed, she didn't make it all the way and rammed head first into the side of the mattress. Oh, and please ignore the horrible wood paneling.

Then she goes out and surveys her kingdom.

Then she sits and stares at me until Austin gets home.
What a life she leads!

Lemon Yogurt Cake

2010-01-05T17:22:00.004-05:00

Oz and I were watching the Food Network, "arguing" over how to pronounce Ina Garten's name (her name is not Ida!!), when she was making this here yummy cake. It didn't look all that spectacular to me, but most anything that is not chocolate does not appeal to me. Austin asked me to make it. I conceded. Her name is still not Ida!

Lemon Yogurt Cake by INA Garten (a.k.a The Barefoot Contessa)

(The Cake Before)

For the cake:
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
2 tspns. baking powder
1/2 tspn. kosher salt
1 c. plain whole-milk yogurt (I used non-fat and it seemed to work a-ok)
1 1/3 c. sugar, divided
2 extra-large eggs (I used large with no ill effects)
2 tspns. grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
1/2 tspn. pure vanilla extract
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/3 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice

For the glaze:
1 c. confectioners' sugar
2 Tbspns. freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350. Grease an 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-in loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. (I just sprayed the pan with Pam and it worked. And wasn't a PITA to do like Ms. Garten's greasing would've been)

2. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 c. sugar, the eggs, lemon zest and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter, making sure its all incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean. (Is there seriously a "cake tester" you can go buy at the kitchen store?)

3. Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 c. lemon juice (it was 2 1/2 lemons worth of juice) and remaining 1/3 c. sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside.

4. When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan. While the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. Cool.

5. For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice and pour over the cake.

(The Cake After)

And with this post I have officially turned into my mother. Not that that is a bad thing!! Oh and Zoey walked into a glass shower door THAT SHE WATCHED ME CLOSE.

Happy 2010!!

2010-01-02T14:49:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year! 2009 was great and I am hoping 2010 will be even better! I'm going to attempt to update this puppy more often, at least three times a week. It's actually my one of my resolutions. I know y'all dear readers will be so excited to read about my super-fabulous life! It will be a mix of all different kinds of things. I tried to have a book blog, but that one fizzled out faster than this one did. So my book reviews will now be here. I'm also going to follow in my mother's footsteps and blog about any delicious recipes I may make!

If you haven't heard (which is apparently most everyone...) I am moving in with the wonderful BF! I'm excited and can't wait to see what this adventure brings! His house has a big fenced in backyard and Zoey loves having her own personal doggie park! The process of moving is super slow. And I have been reminded why I've stayed in the same apt for the past 2.5 years even though the rent has become friggin ridiculous--MOVING SUCKS!

Sooooo, I know you are asking yourself this very important question right NOW! What are Libby's New Year's Resolutions? Well here they are!:

1. Not buy ANY new clothes this year. I do not need any and I've donated so many this year it actually makes me upset that I have this much unecessary clothing. This includes shoes. (Exception: a new pair of sneakers and if anything should come up that I do not have the necessary clothing for...like hiking Mt. Everest, for example)

2. Train for/Run/Finish the Monument Ave 10k in March. Training starts on the 16th!

3. Update the bloggy-blog three times a week. I know you do not have enough Zoey P. antics in your life!

4. Save more money than I spend. As I have no job right now this one is impossible, but I hope to have some form of income by the end of this month! Perhaps that position at the strip club will come through!!!

Those are the major ones that I wrote down and signed my name to. Austin did the same as did the Zo-dog--her's is to calm down with the anxiety issues! Here are some minor ones.

1. Calm down on the anal-retentive cleaning/organizing. It's not possible to have everything my way when living with someone and I need to let go on the little things. For example: I have left Austin's breakfast dishes out today to see how long it will take him to clean them up. It will not kill me, even though it is driving me bananas...

2. Be nicer. To everyone. Cause we all know sometimes I am too sarcastic for my own good. And apparently that comes off mean. Who knew?

3. Stay in touch with everyone. This should probably be a major one but baby steps! I miss everyone and I want to know what's going on! I don't have as much taking up my time now (like a thesis or an internship that requires a 120mi commute) so I need something to fill my time. Like stalking all my friends! LOVE YOU GUYS!

Ok, that's all! I've cleaned up the blog, gotten rid of unnecessary posts, like I'm trying to get rid of unnecessary things in my life!

There are no Zoey P. antics for now. She's just snoozing like a little angel (who has blue paint on her fur!).

Love,

The Libby.

(Zoey and Austin in our massive snowstorm the weekend before Christmas, 2009)

Yay Another Survey and No Update! Whoop!

2009-07-26T17:58:00.003-04:00

1) Do you like blue cheese? I heart cheese. A lot, and I'm super lactose intolerant. It's not such a hot combo.

2) Have you ever smoked heroin? Ha. Nope.

3) Do you own guns? Do my arms count?

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Cherry

5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Uh...before and during.

6) What do you think of hot dogs? I love hot dogs. They are super gross to think about but yumyum!

7) Favorite Christmas song? All I Want For Christmas Is You.

8) What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Whatever is cold in the fridge.

9) Can you do push ups? Heh, no.

10) Can you do a chin up? Hell will freeze over and pigs will fly before that will happen.

11) What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My claddagh ring. Matches my tat.

12) Favorite hobby? Crafting.

13) Ever been in a car wreck? I'm not sure it counts as a 'wreck.'

14) Do you have A.D.D.? Adult onset ADD

15) What is one thing that you hate about yourself? Hrm...right now? Being 25 and having braces. And how I'm allergic to most everything.

16) Middle name? Rebecca.

17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? My head itches. My legs itch. Damn allergies.

18) Name 3 things you bought yesterday: Nutri grain bars, oreos, cheese!

19) Three things you drink regularly: Water, coke, coffee

20) Current worry? THESIS!

21) Current hate right now? ITCHING!

23) How did you bring in the New Year? With my friend salmonella.

24) Where would you like to go? Most everywhere in Europe!

25) Name three people who will complete this? No one!

26) Do you own slippers? Yeppers.

27) What shirt are you wearing? Black tank top.

28) Do you like sleeping in satin sheets? Wouldn't know.

29) Can you whistle? Yep, both in and out.

30) Favorite color? Pink

31) Would you be a pirate? In a heartbeat!

32) What songs do you sing in the shower? Narwhals.

33) Favorite girl’s name? Bella Anne

34) Favorite boy’s name? Campbell

35) What’s in your pocket? Not a thing.

36) Last thing that made you laugh? Zoey glaring at me.

37) Best bed sheets as a child? LITTLE MERMAID!!!!

38) Worst injury you’ve ever had? I broke my finger playing kickball. Had to have surgery and like 6 weeks of physically therapy.

39) Do you love where you live? It's not too bad.

40) How many tv's do you have in your house? 2

41) Who is your loudest friend? Umm...Stefanie?

42) How many dogs do you have? 1, Ms. Zoey Penelope Girard.

43) Does someone have a crush on you? Um...aren't crushes supposed to be secret? Or what?

45) What is your favorite book? The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares.

47) Favorite Sports Team? NY Giants.

48) What song do you want played at your funeral? Umm...dunno.

49) What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping like a baby

50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? This stupid bed makes my back hurt.

I swear I will really update this thing...some other time

2009-05-04T21:41:00.003-04:00

65 Questions You've Probably Never Been Asked-you know the rules.

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
Hair. I'm really weird about starting at the top and going down...

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Gray

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
Perhaps

4. Do you plan outfits?
Yea, no.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
Freaking out about my stupid thesis proposal. 8 pages have never caused this much stress.

6. Whats the closest thing to you that's red?
A straw in my root beer float from sonic

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
Last night there were babies driving a firetruck and I had on underwear that said keep back 200 feet on the butt...

8. Did you meet anybody new today?
Yes I did. The woman who will be taking four inches out of my maid of honor dress.

9. What are you craving right now?
I'm fully satiated at the present moment.

10. Do you floss?
How many people floss with braces? Seriously?

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
Sauerkraut!

12. Are you emotional?
Indeed

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
Hells no.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Hahaha I bite into it with my back teeth.

15. Do you like your hair?
My bangs look like hell lately but yea, I do like my hair.

16. Do you like yourself?
Generally yes.

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Why not? Would it be free?

18. What are you listening to right now?
An alcoholic whine on Intervention

19. Are your parents strict?
They pretended to be but I'm fairly certain it was all a farce.

20. Would you go sky diving?
Hell NO

21. Do you like cottage cheese?
I love cottage cheese. In fact, I may be craving that now. Stupid questionnaire.

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Does Judy Chicago count? You probably have to be an art history nerd to know who she is.

23. Do you rent movies often?
Big negative.

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
Lots of sparkly things-including my personality!

25. How many countries have you visited?
Italy.

26. Have you made a prank phone call?
Haha yes, like two months ago...

27. Ever been on a train?
In Italy!!!!

28. Brown or white eggs?
Are they not EXACTLY the same except for the color of their shells?

29.Do you have a cell-phone?
Yes. Are there people who do not have one?

30. Do you use chap stick?
I heart cherry chap stick. Esp. ones that expired over two years ago like all mine have.

31. Do you own a gun?
Hahaha no.

32. Can you use chop sticks?
I hate them. They make me feel more dyslexic than usual.

33.Who are you going to be with tonight?
Zoey P. Girard

34. Are you too forgiving?
I used to be. But I learned my lesson.

35. Ever been in love?
Yes but he didn't deserve it.

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
I have no idea? I'm a horrible communicator. Sorry, I love you all though!

37. Ever have cream puffs?
Oh, my mama makes the best cream puffs! Speaking of, mom can you make me some cream puffs?

38. Last time you cried?
? I have no idea...

39. What was the last question you asked?
Something inquisitive and thought provoking I am sure.

40. Favorite time of the year?
The first truly hot days of the year that remind you that winter cannot last forever.

41. Do you have any tattoos?
Two! And I see more in my future.

42. Are you sarcastic?
So much so I have gotten called out on it in class reviews

43. Have you ever under packed?
yea, last time I went home. Luckily I stopped and shopped!

44. Ever walked into a wall?
Um...mostly every day of my life. It's fun to do on first dates...

45. Favorite color?
Pink. Or Green. I'm a DZ through and through : )

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
Haha regularly. But not out of anger.

47. Is your hair curly?
When I sweat, it curls, but when I want it to curl it will not hold a curl to save it's life.

48. What was the last CD you bought?
Jesse McCartney, White Tie Affair and Jim Gaffigan. All at that same time.

49. Do looks matter?
Ok, I'm an art historian. I judge things on art every single day of my life.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
I thought so, but I was wrong-o.

51. Is your phone bill sky high?
I don't know, I don't pay it.

52. Do you like your life right now?
It's a little unstable, because I don't know what's going to happen after December and it's kind of freaking me out.

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
I have to have it on. I don't watch it. I just like to have it on.

54. Can you handle the truth?
Yup, might not like it, but I can handle it.

55. Do you have good vision?
No, and next time I get a chunk of change I'm going to the eye doctor.

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
Hate, no. Dislike, yes.

57. How often do you talk on the phone?
Whenever my mommy calls me.

58. The last person you held hands with?
Wouldn't you like to know?

59. What are you wearing?
Sweater, t-shirt, gym shorts, sweatpants.

60.What is your favorite animal?
Zoey Girard! And cows.

61. Where was your default picture taken?
On FB? At the lake this past summer.

62. Can you hula hoop?
No and I can't figure out why.

63. Do you have a job?
Haha and I work four days a month.

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
A root bear float at sonic.

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
That seems like something I would do...I just don't know if I have...

I'm kind of in love with this guy's work.

2009-04-07T11:08:00.000-04:00

Kehinde Wiley

50 Things You Weren't Asked Until 30 Seconds Ago

2009-04-05T10:38:00.003-04:00

Another FB thing I didn't want to subject everyone toooooo!

1. What color is your toothbrush?
Purple, white and silver

2. Name one person who made you smile today:
My mama!

3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning:
Sleeping

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
Showering!

5. What is your favorite candy bar?
kit kats maybe? no, snickers but I can't have one for another year :(

6. Have you ever been to a strip club?
nope and my hopes of going to one have been dashed!

7. What is the last thing you said aloud?
"love you, bye"

8. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
chocolate

9. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Coffee!

10. Do you like your wallet?
nope, it's not made for american money and it drives me nutty!

11. What was the last thing you ate?
leftover chicken parmesean

12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
a dress that my boobs keep falling out of...

13. The last sporting event you watched?
basketball? not by choice.

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
popcorn flavored popcorn?

15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to?
Josh?

16. Ever go camping?
not lately

17. Do you take vitamins daily?
I try to

18. Do you go to church every Sunday?
nope.  I've got some issues with organized religion...

19. Do you have a tan?
HAHAHA i'm so pale you can see my veins. YUCK!

20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
Only because it doesn't make me sick.

21. Do you drink your soda with a straw?
when I'm at a restaurant. Don't want to get no cooties from the cup (I have serious issues...)

22. What did your last text message say?
"you would want a ninja cat"

23. What are you doing tomorrow?
Probably reading for school.  Yay...

24. WHERE IS 24?!?
on Fox Monday nights

25. Look to your left, what do you see?
my bedroom door

26. What color is your watch?
black strap white face. SO FRIGGIN LOUD.

27. What do you think of when you hear the word Australia?
Long plane ride

28. What is your birthstone?
Diamond

29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
drive thru.  don't want to have to actually work for it or anything...

30. What is your favorite number?
49

31. Who's the last person you talked to on the phone?
Mama!

32. Any plans today?
work, going to school for a hot second, sending out my thesis proposal :/

33. How many states have you lived in?
NY, MA, HI, NY, VA

34. Biggest annoyance right now?
Trying to figure out to do for someone's bachelorette party...

35. Last song listened to?
Bartender by Rehab

36. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Haha nope

37. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
Yea, I barely clean my house.

38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Flip flops or leopard print flats

39. Are you jealous of anyone?
People who know what they want and have jobs they love.

40. Is anyone jealous of you?
Well duh, who wouldn't be? Haha

41. Do you love anyone?
Yeppers- my family and my friends (esp. those who stuck with me through everything)

42. Do any of your friends have children?
No.  We just had a "we aren't having babies" party, too...

43. What do you usually do during the day?
Read, work, gym, eat, drive.  lots of stuff!

44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
Yup

45. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
Maybe 'hey' more than hello

46. What color is your car?
greenish blue

47. Do you like cats?
I would, but I'm allergic to them.  And one attacked my dog and she got all scratched up : (

48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
My dog?

49. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Yes but it wasn't a Six Flags when I went.  I went on my first upside down roller coaster there.

50. How did you get your worst scar?
My brother had something to do with it.  We were spinning around and around and I spun into a wall and cracked my forehead open.  Scar's still there.  Scar gets worse if I'm tired.  It's very strange.  I always forget its there until someone asks me about it.                                                  

From Worthy Style-7 Things I love!

2009-03-26T17:33:00.007-04:00

The award rules are as follows:

List 7 things that you love, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love!

Be sure to tag them and let them know that they have won.

You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sidebar

letting the whole world know...

you are Kreativ!

1. I love my dog! She's me in dog form (if that's possible)- loyal to a fault, a bit over protective of those she loves, and a worry wort. She's also a big lovey!

Absolutely the cutest dog alive.

2. I love cupcakes! I have not planned or even thought about anything for my wedding (I have this strange belief that if you plan something too much its not going to happen...?) except that I am going to have a cupcake cake. It's going to be delicious and have all different flavors of cupcakes! I could eat a cupcake a day. Especially Ukrops cupcakes. Nom nom.

3. I love my car! I spend so much time it I had better love it! It's was brand new when I got it and it's been driven all the way up (to Blue Mountain Lake, NY) and down (to Fort Lauderdale, FL) the east coast. It gets good gas mileage (for an SUV) and it's so easy to drive. It does have a name-Baby Green Brussel Sprout.

Yes, I took a picture of my car...

4. Flip flops! I hate wearing shoes with a passion (even though I love shoes...it's a strange conundrum) so flip flops are great! See, no shoes!

5. The Adirondacks! As much as I bitched about it last summer, the Adirondack Mountains in NY are one of my absolute favorite places in the entire world.

6. My mom! Amazing woman! Granted she can be a little ornery sometimes, but after 30 years with my dad (who I also love!) and having her 26 (almost 27) year old son (who I also love!) living at home, I don't see how you couldn't be. She's my rock and talks me out of my panic attacks and crying fits. I don't know how many times I've called her crying or worrying and she always comes up with a plan to keep me sane. She's the best mama!!

Mom on the right, Aunt Pat on the left, chillaxin in the ADKs.

My brother and I in SC on the way home from FL

My dad is 6'5" and I'm 5'10". Biggest chair EVER! It takes like 6 people to move it...

7. My friends. Way too many to name, you all know who you are! I couldn't have gotten through the last couple of years without you! You're all amazing!

And you thought museums were boring!

2009-03-07T12:16:00.002-05:00

I'm researching for my thesis. This is a story in one of the books:

"According to news reports the Egypt Centre of the University of Wales in Swansea had to cope with a large influx of visitors who came to worship the mummies on exhibit and conduct exorcism rites to free spirits trapped in certain artifacts. It got to the point that the unauthorized activities were interfering with non-exorcising visitors in the museum, and staff could not get their jobs done. Some of the visitors claimed to be possessed by Egyptian deities. One female visitor was convinced she was the mother of a 2,000 year old mummified baby."

Yup.

Zo-zo!!!

2009-02-09T16:42:00.000-05:00

Here's a pic from Al's bridal shower...

2009-02-03T11:00:00.003-05:00

I just put it on my computer...

Blast (s) from the Past

2009-01-28T10:58:00.003-05:00

My bro and I (my mom says 4 and 2) I would later bash my head into a wall and bleed allllllll over this outfit. I still have a big ass scar on my forehead. My brother is so cute in his polo and corduroys!

My mom, me and my bro. My brother's 20th birthday which means I just turned 18, still in high school and he was a sophomore at William and Mary. I was on crutches from some ho who slammed into my knee at a soccer game.

This? EVEN FUNNIER!

2009-01-15T13:46:00.001-05:00

I find this quite funny

2009-01-15T08:46:00.001-05:00

This seems like something someone in my family would do

2009-01-10T19:52:00.002-05:00

Look at the name of the store...

see more pwn and owned pictures

Unneccessary Bar Exit

2008-12-08T13:06:00.000-05:00

BACON!

2008-11-19T10:31:00.001-05:00

I totally forgot about this till my mom said something about it. My cousin Becky introduced us to this bacon bit (!) this summer. Oh har har I am so funny...

My Mama's Blog!

2008-10-02T16:37:00.003-04:00

I'm putting this on here for two reasons:
1. My mama is basically the coolest ever.
2. I keep losing the link, even when I bookmark it. And I'm too lame to actually write it down.

So here it is!

http://nancysrecipes.wordpress.com/

Uncle Jim and other ponderings

2008-10-02T16:16:00.005-04:00

Let me preface this by saying I have the strangest dreams EVER, but I usually think about it for a little bit after I wake up. This one I've been thinking about/been bothered by all day.

I had a dream last night that I had to run through intestines to survive some kind of challenge or race. I'm pretty sure this was in some way about my Uncle Jim who passed away in August of some kind of cancer having to do with his intestines.

When he died we were all up at the Lake (yes, it's the only Lake that matters) and the night he died, the alarm clock in my parents' room went off about three times or so in the middle of the night (I'm sketchy on the details) and then three days after the funeral, the night before we were leaving, my brother and I both woke up in the middle of the night, feeling like we were being watched. We all automatically assumed it was Uncle Jim, just checking in, or playing tricks again like he did when he was alive. It's strange that Uncle Jim is gone. I didn't spend that much time with him, at least since we've moved to VA. His funeral was in good Irish style and I'm pretty sure that's the only way he'd have wanted it. He is very much missed in this family.

I've always been a big believer in dreams and feelings and 'ghosts,' if you will. I saw my great-Grandmother (who I'm not sure I ever actually met) right after we moved to Virginia. I described her to my mom and that's who she thought it was too, just checking to make sure we were alright. I saw a shadow (that's the only way I can explain it) the night/morning my Papa died. I had a dream about my dog, Kona, after she died (like months after she died, I might've even had Zoey at this point) and she talked to me and told me she was o.k. (I don't think I told my mom about that one).

I know this can all be mumbo-jumbo but it's also been comforting to me. Maybe it's just the way my brain reacts to these types of situations.

Needless to say, I often read WAY too much into dreams.

(I will write something less morbid later on.)

The coolest thing EVER

2008-09-27T20:06:00.007-04:00

I've been perusing my cousin's blog instead of doing anything producive, like homework (it IS Saturday night). Anyway, she's an artist and there's lots of cool stuff on there but this these are the coolest things ever!

http://dukebecky.blogspot.com/2008/01/commuter-mittens.html

Granted, the closest I've been to mass transit in years is whatever the subway is called in D.C., I still think they are swell!

Here are some pictures from my summer, which wasn't so swell...

Welcome

2008-09-25T10:03:00.007-04:00

So, I've copied my mother (and about every other person in the world...) and started me a blog. I don't have much to say yet. Soon though, very soon!

Here's the dog face girl in both of her Halloween costumes

Mermaid! Cow!

Heart,
Libby and Zoey