Happy, happy Friday, all! I can’t believe we’re already halfway through August, but here we are, nearly at the end of summer. School starts for me in less than two weeks – back to teaching and learning!

Today, I wanted to share with you a website that I found recently that is full of beautiful pictures and fun inspiration.

Have you ever heard of Kirtsy? It’s a site that just relaunched (beautiful design!) and was founded by some awesome bloggers (most notably Gabrielle of Design Mom, whose site I read daily!). The purpose of the site is to showcase awesome finds around the Internet. Every day, a new slideshow is available on Kirtsy. The slideshow features anything that you can imagine (from the quietness in New York City to my favorite color, yellow). All of the images are selected (or, as Kirtsy likes to call it, “curated”) by one influential blogger each day.

I’m loving the concept of Kirtsy; it’s a bright spot in my day when I visit the site and pour over each day’s slideshow!

NOTE: I wasn’t paid or perk’d to feature Kirtsy; I’m just a fan of the site!

Have a great weekend!

[Image Credit: Whoorl.com]

Hi all! I’m back with another style board from Polyvore featuring ModCloth clothing (click here to see my picks for an elopement!). This time, I’m tackling fashion for a fun summer activity: camping! I hope that you enjoy my selections!

NOTE: I wasn’t paid or perk’d to showcase these picks from ModCloth, or to promote Polyvore; I’m just a crazy fashion lover who had fun putting together a style board!

Oh, the joys of house-training a puppy. To sum up our adventure with trying to potty-train Wyatt the dog, all I can say is this: we had NO IDEA what we were getting into.

We purchased Wyatt the dog from a breeder in rural South Dakota. Upon bringing him home, we quickly learned that while the breeder said that he was “relatively potty-trained,” apparently the key word in that explanation was “relatively.” The pee on my in-laws’ kitchen floor would beg to differ with “relatively.”

Thus began the efforts to house-train Wyatt. We began by sequestering Wyatt in the first floor bathroom of our home when we were gone. We would give him food and water, and we would lay down “potty papers” in the bathroom for him to go on. Why didn’t we put Wyatt the dog in a kennel when we were gone? He was scared of the kennel, and me, being the marshmallow Momma that I was in the early stages of Wyatt’s life, didn’t want him to be scared.

After a few days of that plan, we realized that A) Wyatt always found a way to pee not on the paper, but in the shower, on the floor where there wasn’t paper, etc., and B) that Wyatt was teething. How did we know that Wyatt was teething? He chewed the floorboard molding in our bathroom. In the bathroom of our RENTED apartment. Yup. Paid for that one.

After that plan failed, we began to see the error of our ways. Out when the “potty papers,” and in came the kennel. We were big, bad doggy parents by that point, so we didn’t care if Wyatt was scared. That solved the potty issue while we were at work or out and about in town, but when we were at the apartment and Wyatt was running around and playing, he had no idea how to control his bladder.

So we tried everything. Treats, taking him out every half hour, praise, punishment – you name it, we probably tried it. Before long, Wyatt just ignored our desires to house-train, and would just run upstairs in our apartment (we rented a two-level townhome) to do his business. Soon enough, one of us (either Jordan or I) would notice that he was gone, and, carpet cleaner and paper towel in hand, we would run upstairs to see A) where Wyatt had decided to make his presence known, and B) clean it up to the best of our abilities. We became steam-cleaning and vacuuming experts.

After a year in our townhome, Jordan accepted a job in another city, which meant that I moved back in with my parents for the six months that we had left before our wedding. Wyatt the dog moved with me, and it was finally when we were living with my parents that Wyatt and I got down to business with potty-training. I took him out ALL THE TIME. I’m serious – whenever he would sniff something, we would go outside. Whenever he would run away from me, I would chase him, and we would go outside. With my parents to help praise Wyatt, he was literally bathed in praise. He got treats, he was petted, he was treated like a King whenever he did his business. By this time, he was also one year old, so he was no longer a tiny 3-lb puppy. He was 5 or 6 pounds by now, and he was learning what was allowed and what wasn’t. He caught on so quickly, and the accidents went from one to two per DAY to one per month (or never!) in about two weeks.

Now that Jordan and I are living in a new apartment together as a married couple with Wyatt, we’ve worked hard to ensure that Wyatt still knows that he must do his business outside. We take him out every 2-3 hours now (it’s wonderful – as he’s gotten older, he’s able to control his bladder for quite some time), and he diligently does his business whenever we prompt him to. We’ve made sure to stay consistent (ever since we were living with my parents) to use the phrase “Do Your Business,” coupled with the words “Potty” and “Poop.” We always took him to the same spot in my parents’ yard, and we always take him to the same spot near our complex. We also always ask if he needs to go outside using the same voice inflection and the same question phrasing (“Do You Need to Go Outside?” in an excited voice) every single time.

What I’ve learned about house-training a puppy is that sometimes, it isn’t possible until the dog is ready. And sometimes, you as the doggy parent have to lay down the law. Finally, consistency is the key – consistency in word choice, in the spot in the yard where you take the dog, and in praise. Good luck!

Have you lovelies heard about the ultimate time suck that is Pinterest? It’s so enticing that I stop watching “The Hills” on Netflix in order to pin. You hear that, Internet? I actually STOP WATCHING REALITY TV (my third love, after my husband/family and my dog) in order to get my pin on.

What’s pinning, you ask? Well, let me tell you. Pinterest allows you to keep track of EVERYTHING you love that you find online. Plus, you can categorize your favorite finds according to type. So, say for instance that you find a set of dishes that you love online somewhere. You can create a board (which is what Pinterest calls their organizing feature) named “Kitchen” that you place all of your kitchen-themed loves in. That cute little onesie with a tie that you found on Etsy? Now it won’t get lost in your Etsy favorites; once you pin the photo, a picture of this adorable onesie, plus the link to where it’s for sale on Etsy, is now all housed on Pinterest, most likely on your “My Uterus is Aching” board. :)

Now, maybe I’m the only one obsessed with that onesie (really? no one else is drawn to it like I am? what’s wrong with you people?! heehee), but let’s say that you’re looking for, I don’t know, a new rug. Get thyself to your favorite rug website (where does one shop for rugs? IKEA!), and pin away.

How does one pin things? Pinterest has this handy little “pinning tool,” so whenever you are on a site and you say to yourself, “I love this! I must pin it!,” click the “Pin It” pinning tool, and it will automatically appear on your Pinterest page. Me, I have the “Pin It” tool on the toolbar of my Internet browser, so it’s super handy.

Pinterest also allows you to “follow” people’s pins. Similar to Facebook or Twitter, where you “add XYZ person as a friend” or “follow XYZ person,” you “follow” XYZ person’s pins on Pinterest, which means that their pins (what they find interesting/inspiring) will show up on your homepage, so you get to see what’s inspiring other people, too!

Click yourself over to Pinterest, and request an invite to join. When I requested my invite, I was invited within two days. After you’re in, let me know! I’d love to follow your pins, and I’d love for you to follow me. I’m on Pinterest here.

Already on Pinterest? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to follow you and swap Pinterest love stories.

NOTE: I wasn’t paid or perk’d to mention Pinterest; I’m just a big fan of their site, and I wanted to share the love!

[Image credit: Crafter Minds]

Happy Monday, y’all! I hope you’ve had a wonderful, restful weekend; Jordan and I are still in Seattle, but I wanted to take the opportunity today to introduce you to the space where I showcase my Internet buddies: my blogroll!

After reading this post, pretty please scroll all the way down to the bottom navigation panel of my blog, where on the left side, you will see a column entitled “Links.” This is where I keep my blogroll!

Time to meet my Internet friends:

$2000 Wedding: A website that’s all about embracing the budget that you have, $2000 Wedding was a total gem of a site during my wedding planning days, and remains to this day one of the few wedding blogs that I still frequent daily!

A Practical Wedding: Like $2000 Wedding, this site is all about embracing the style of wedding that you want. From elopements to big, lavish affairs, A Practical Wedding encourages brides of all walks of life (and all sexual orientations – yay for inclusive communities!) to resist the Wedding Industrial Complex and to make authentic decisions when it comes to wedding planning. I still visit this site every day!

Bower Power: I’m a big fan of babies (as made evident by this post), and darling little Will Bower is one of the cutest little boys I’ve ever seen pictures of. Plus, his Momma (Katie) is one heck of a DIYer! I fell in love with the Bower’s first home, and they’ve recently moved into a new home that is full of DIY and remodeling potential!

Dear Baby: Yes, another blog about motherhood, but I also come here for Melissa’s wise, thoughtful reflections on what it means to be the breadwinner for her family, her killer fashion sense (read: vintage!), and, of course, pictures of her cuties, Everly and Arlo.

Dig This Chick: I originally became a fan of this blog because I love finding bloggers who also live in the Midwest. Nici is blogging from Montana, a place that I’ve always wanted to travel to, and she’s an avid gardener and has some serious creativity. Plus, her babes Margot and Ruby are the bee’s knees, too. Love the pictures on Dig This Chick, too!

Enjoying the Small Things: I found Kelle’s blog via a link on Twitter, which connected me to the birth story of her little love, Nella. Nella was born with Down’s Syndrome, and Kelle and her family have committed themselves to enjoying every part of their lives, not despite, but BECAUSE OF, Nella’s disability. As a photographer herself, Kelle’s pictures are astounding, and seeing little moments between big sister Lainey and little Nella warms my heart. A must-read.

Feeding the Soil: If you’re a fan of trying to live your life as authentically as possible (and who isn’t!?), you’ve got to read Sara Cotner’s blog. Sara’s such a mentor and an inspiration for me; I’ve emailed her on multiple occasions for advice, and she’s so willing not only to interact with her readership, but also to give of herself and her time to advise me as I navigate life’s big (and small) decisions. She’s also a Montessori teacher, so for me, a prospective educator, I love reading about education!

Lay Baby Lay: If you know someone who is welcoming a child into their lives soon (or maybe you are?), Lay Baby Lay is a must-read. Featuring style boards for all kinds of nurseries, Joni’s blog is a repository of resources for nurseries with character.

Love & Lace: I’ve been reading Stephanie’s blog since before she and Gary were married. Her DIY vintage-inspired wedding will sweep you off your feet, as will her smart and budget-savvy DIY home projects. She’s a total doll!

Marriage Confessions: A lighthearted look at marriage and parenting. I’m in love with Katie and her little family – the Bean man is so, so adorable, and everything I imagine when I think of toddler boys, and little Gracie is just the cutest little baby with the cutest cheeks! An honest look at the everyday life of a wife and a mom.

Nothing But Bonfires: If you’re looking for a laugh, you must read Nothing But Bonfires. Every time I think of someone whose life I would trade with in a second, I think of Holly. She has lived in so many interesting cities, she has so many awesome life experiences, and she had a wedding that was seriously charming. I LOVE Holly!

Young House Love: Cute dog. Even cuter baby. Plus home improvement projects that are actually doable on my budget? That’s an equation for awesomeness. Love John and Sherry’s personable style of writing, and their taste for decorating is innovative without being disarming. I can’t recommend YHL enough.

That’s my list of Internet friends! Anyone else I should become acquainted with? Leave me links in the comments!

NOTE: I wasn’t paid or perk’d to mention these blogs; I’m just a big fan of their sites, and I wanted to share the love!

Hey all! I have a home-related question for all of you today.

I’m on the hunt for a new mop. Our mop (the Clorox Ready Mop) seems to have been discontinued, as I can’t find the supplies anywhere in our town!

Do you have a mop that you just love? I’ll admit, I have a bias towards anything sustainable/green, so I’m especially curious about those wonderful mops with washable (and therefore reusable) mop pads!

Any recommendations would be wonderful! Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[Image credit: Apartment Therapy]

Hi all! I’m scheduling this post to go live on our first day in Seattle; I hope you’re having a great Thursday!

Here’s an update on my 101 in 1001, as of today:

GOALS ACHIEVED OR IN PROGRESS: SIX MORE GOALS!

Write and mail at least ten handwritten letters. (7/10: 1 to Jessica in March 2010, 3 to Aunts in April 2010, 2 to Jessica and Kristen in June 2011, 1 to Jessica’s parents in July 2011)

Visit 3 states I’ve never been to before. (Check! August 2011: Washington State!)

Learn how to use at least one Adobe design program, and make a project. (Check – July 2011 – Photoshop! Project: Mood Board for a Nursery!)

Get a recycling bin and start recycling! (Check! Purchased a recycling bin at IKEA in July 2011, and have already emptied it twice!)

See the Backstreet Boys in concert…again. (Check – July 15, 2011! It was such a great show; NKOTB is also awesome!)

Find 5 new musicians/bands that I like & add them to my ipod. (4/5: Wakey!Wakey! in September 2010; City and Colour in February 2011; Adele in July 2011; New Kids on the Block in July 2011)

How are you doing with your list of goals?