Meet Me Monday..............

1. Have you ever visited another country?
Not yet but there are a ton of places that I hope my blogging about Travel will lead me to.
I want to go and backpack Europe. I am planning so many things in my mind its crazy. :)
Oh I went to Victoria B.C. One time does that count? I always think as us and Victoria and Vancouver as part of Washington. :) We are so close and I love them all eh'

2. Where is the strangest place you have ever been?
Hands down the underground with my "sister" in Colorado Springs. I thought I was going to die
when we went into this black dungeon of a bar that use to be where people would go and get cremated. And the Goth crowd was around us but these people were my age, I am all into twilight but come on! :)

3. What is your favorite season?
I love all the seasons but I really love the fall, I love the colors the foods, the laying in bed to read, the last of the bon fires, the football games, the leaves changing, my Mom, Hub's,Daddy's, my sister in law's and my "sister" b-day. Craft fairs, hay rides, the boo at the zoo, the fairs, I love them all....Yup I love the fall.

4. What one song will always cheer you up?
The one on practical magic movie with the word's You put the Lime in the coke you nutt! :)
Also LA women by the doors when you drive in to the Valley of LA and for the first time you see all those lights. My Parents did this every time we drove to California. :)

5. What Disney character do you resemble most?
Oh man...... I would have to say Mary Poppins, not just because I dabble in nannying, and all things domestic but when I do those travel review's it seems like I have her bag. I'm pretty entertaining and I have a man that is my equal not all of who I am. Whenever I am sick I still to this day watch that movie over and over and over. I am able to get anyone to love me with a spoonful of sugar.

Say something Saturday.... SweetBrier Patch Review.......

Sweetbrier Patch is what I am going to write about this month. This is my saving grace for my dogs. The way in how they get groomed is so wonderful now. My Dog’s use to get so scared when we would hit a mile or two away from the groomers. Now that Sweetbrier Patch come to our home make both of my fur babies feel so much more at ease. Plus when I am at home writing then they each get some one on one time with me and I think that we all love that.

Linnie became a resident  of Kingston in 1994. Her grandparents built a summer home on Miller Bay in 1942. Back then it was just a summer cabin to visit when they would come from the "big city". There was no road beyond Bay Marine, so they would have to walk past that point. Showing her roots she told me  “My grandfather taught "electricity" at the U of W. My father grew up on Miller Bay and started his own business reparing outboard motors when he was only 12 years old! My aunt was a postmaster.”

“I love Kingston!” Linnie said.  When she moved here in 1994 from Spokane she lived in her grandparent's house on the bay for about a year. Like most people Linnie fell in love with Kingston the first time she drove through it. Something very quaint about it always stuck with her. Linnie and her husband purchased property on South Kingston 13 years ago, Linnie just couldn't imagine a better place to raise her kids. The friendly and supportive community and the willingness to help one another makes this place special.” I really wouldn't change a thing.”

When I asked Linnie if there was anything she would like to see in the community, She said “ I would like to see Kingston offer a dog park at some point in the future. I think there are many dog lovers in our area that would really appreciate a place to take their dogs and socialize.” With that being said I couldn’t agree more. Maybe this is just one more thing our growing community needs to work together on. 

 When she came to the idea to do grooming she had been in between jobs about 3-1/2 years ago and really gave it a lot of thought about what to pursue next.  She happened to be visiting with my friend one evening and we were tossing out different ideas and she said, "Hey, I always thought it would be fun to be a groomer. Especially if you were a mobile groomer". I didn't really think much of it that night but it really stuck with me for a few weeks” This lead her to start doing some research on grooming schools and grooming in our area. With that research she found a few schools on the Seattle side and a couple of mobile groomers around the Kitsap Peninsula. But only a few. This idea started to take off.

When she decided  to make the leap three years ago she never gave it a second thought and to this day has never looked back. “That's kind of how I am about things. Full speed ahead. I knew that is I wanted my business to work that I would have to offer something different. By going mobile this would offer service to your door, less stress on the dogs, and one on one attention in a safe and loving environment” Her  husband Chuck "tagged" along with me and after about a year, we decided to add a second trailer to help meet the demand. Chuck helps out with some of the larger bath dogs. In addition they use only natural and organic products and everything is biodegradable.  You could call us "green groomers".

In asking about her business I asked what the hardest part is and Linnie said that It would have to have been the commuting to Marysville for grooming school 5-6 days a week for 3-1/2 months, during the winter.  That is a lot of time to give when you have a family and we are on the Peninsula. All of us that have done it even one time knows that it takes dedication and that is just how dedicated Linnie was.

 The upside to having her own business is that I get to set my own hours and it works well for taking time off  to spend time with her family. The downside is that there is only one of her, so when she is booked full, she is booked full! I know this because it takes 4-6 weeks to get in with her.  I drag my feet sometimes and it just means that my poor dogs have to wait because I wont go to anyone else. I wait for an opening.

They give to the community as well, by donating gift certificates for local area auctions and have volunteered thier services at some local events. “We groomed the dogs that were in our son's classes at Gordon the past 2 years as our "volunteer" time.” They even have their own discount program for grooming service dogs and dogs of disabled veterans. In the future Linnie said “ I am hoping to work out some details with the Salvation Army and are hoping to start a program where we can groom some dogs for the homeless.”  It made me even more proud and wanting to keep my business with Sweetbrier Patch when she told me “I am a veteran myself, so it means a lot to me go give back where I can”

Linnie gives all the credit to her awesome family that consists of her husband, Chuck, and three sons, Talon, Colin, and Gavin.

In the future they are hoping to open a grooming shop in Kingston within the next 5 years, in addition to being mobile. We also want to offer a pick up and delivery option to the salon as we realize mobile might not work for everyone. I know that those that know and use Sweetbrier Patch hope so too.

Linnie is so passionate about what I do and everyday she get to work with dogs. Who wouldn't love that.

 “ The best thing I have learned from running my own business is that as long as you stay true to yourself, be honest with your clients,  and do your very best everyday then success is sure to follow!”  Linnie is part of our family now. We love all she does to our dogs and if my dogs love her and aren’t afraid of her, but instead run up to her even when they know their getting a bath it means something. Animals just know who to love and trust and those of us that are lucky to get Linnie to groom our dogs know it too, She is a special lady with a great business.

 Linnie would like to take some time to  just have to add “ That if  it weren't for all of those wonderful and patient clients that stuck with me through all of the "bad hair" days with their pups.first hair cuts. I wouldn't be where I'm at today. And for that I am truly grateful. Also for the wonderful pet stores and veterinarians who have recommended our services.”

One last note Sweetbrier Patch serves Kingston, Hansville, Poulsbo, & Bainbridge Island.

Happy Birthday to one of my best friends.

The Friendship that I have with Stephanie is one that started the way any other friendship would start. It was a day that "Hub's" said it was okay to go to a yard sale because it was only a few streets down from where we lived at the time. So we went over introduced ourselves and in an instant we were talking and exchanging numbers to meet up and have dinner together. They had three babies and we were getting close to trying to work on adopting. Here this girl just met me and we tell her we were working on starting a family and she gave me tons of baby items that her two year old twins no longer needed. 

This right here tell's you what an amazing person Steph really is. 

   Over the next few months we became even closer and got to really know one another.

Knowing that our friendship was a once in a life time find.  We are there for each other when we need someone to listen, to laugh with and to give a shoulder when we need to cry. 

My Hub's and her Hub's S went on the Husband play date and pasted with flying colors.

They have become the best of friends as well. 

Yeah for Husband Play dates!!!

 Over the years our families have become family. 

Celebrating daily events, special moments in each others lives.

Even become Auntie and Uncle to their three children.

Making the fact that "Hub's" and I feel a lot better not having 

a baby of our own. ( Yet )

I love the fact that this friendship is one I will have for the rest of my life.

She is my rock and is there whenever I need her. ( I need her alot)

When we needed a place to live they let us stay for free in their back cottage.

 Until we were able to get back on our feet.

 

 I will never be able to pay back the wonderful things they have done for us. 

One thing is for certain we are the lucky ones to have her and S in our lives. 

I  am not the only one that know's that being Steph's friend is a gift.

  She has ton's of friends.  

Each and every one of us know 

    how lucky We really are!     

I LOVE YOU STEPH!!

THANKS FOR LETTING ME BE A PART OF YOUR LIFE!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

                                          

I don't know...........

As I sit here and write this post I am thinking of what I need to do. What is my next move in the jumbled game of life.  I don't know what is my next step what to think of doing. I get up and wake up tired. I go back to sleep and try to feel rested but I can't feel rested no matter what. My mind swims 100 miles a second, trying so hard to decided what my next move is in life. I talk it over with the "Hub's" With the pro's and con's of all of life's little up's and downs.

I am having a bad time with the lap top so I need to make this post quick because I have written this same post 6 times. I will write more tomorrow. Happy Weekend! <3

Wordless Wednesday...................

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday.

 

 

Ingredients

• 3 cups frozen peas, thawed
• 1 head cauliflower, chopped into bite size pieces
• 1/2 cup pitted green olives, chopped
• 1 cup thinly sliced celery
• 1/4 cup ranch dressing
• 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup cashew nuts

Directions

1. Mix the peas, cauliflower, olives, and celery together in a large bowl.
2. Whisk the ranch dressing, yogurt, and garlic powder together in a small bowl. Pour over pea mixture, and stir until ingredients are evenly coated. Sprinkle cashews on top just before serving.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 180 | Total Fat: 10.8g | Cholesterol: 2mg

Meet Me Monday...

1. Are you a neat sleeper or a messy sleeper?

I jump around a lot until I get to the one place that is comfortable enough to fall asleep. Then I don't move the rest of the night.

I must have the top cover taut & tucked in against my feet, or I just can't take it.

for the most part I am a neat tummy sleeper.

2. Fill in the blank. I wish I was more ________________.

Of a free spirit that I use to be. I use to be the fly by the seat of my pants kind of a girl and then I grew up and became a total OCD planning freak show. I write lists and plan vacation down to the very second. I know one thing I made my Mom & Hub's trip so stressful, it wasn't as fun as it could have been if I would have just chilled out a bit. In my family we call it being the camp boss! ( Type A control freak I guess)

          But even with me being a type A We still had an amazing time! 
        I love my husband & Mom so much, this memory was wonderful..... 
                             Only thing that was missing was Dad!

3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?


That going to collage was not something I should have skipped. I should have been told I needed to be in collage because those that have a education can get paid more then someone that didn't,  Because they put in the hard work.

I should have gone to collage, but I decided to go to work and start making money, I thought that I would work there forever but things change and I don't work there now but because of that I am now working on being a paid freelance writer and truly doing something I love!  

 

4. What was the best thing you ever found at a garage sale/flea market?

I am a thrifty person and I love to go to yard sales and flea markets. The best thing I found at a Yard sale was the drapes I have in my living room, the Chair that I sit on everday, and the wonderful vintage fabric that I always seem to find.

Almost the entire living room is from Craigslist and yard sales :) Not to bad huh?

5. If you could have any meal brought to you right now, what would it be?

Hummmmm. Tonight I would love to have my Nana's home made Chicken noodle soup. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I love my Grandma more then she or anyone else will know. She is an amazing wonderful women and she is one of my best friends...I just love her so much. 

                        This is a picture of the new puppy Minnie & My Grandma Agness Minnie