Survived the Holidays

Instead of the whole sorted tale,
I will just leave you with some pictures.

The first snow in our new house. This is probably be my Christmas card next year.

I put up a tree, despite the bah-humbug spirit I was in. Snow Days will get even the grouchiest people in the Holiday spirit.

While Rigel hates the snow, god forbid he get his tiny feet wet; Arlo LOVES the snow! He was running and prancing in it as it came down and just loved the whole day. Thankfully, we have an inside heated area that he can stay when it gets super cold at night. He is very demanding when he wants to come indoors. He lets me know he's ready to come in and get ready for bed. I made him a bed of an old comforter and some of Joe's old uniforms. LOL, I have to put them to use somewhere.

Blog Review of AlliedShirts.com

 I don't think it's any secret that I have been a bad blogger. Life is pretty hectic. But right before Christmas I was contacted by Allied Shirts and asked to do a blog review. I was so excited! Their other brands include BuildASign and I know how many Army wives use and love their products. So I hopped on their website and designed a T-shirt. It was really easy and super quick. I got a short sleeve budget Gildan tee. It's cut really well and super comfy, but as you imagine, I don't have anyone here who can take my pic and Rigel just isn't good with the touch screen on my phone so all of the selfies I took looked kinda deranged and you couldn't see the text I chose. And I LOVE the text!! This has been a theme in my life as of late and I knew I wanted it on my shirt. "The greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." It's from Moulin Rouge. The text is in the smallest type that Allied Shirts had on the custom create screen. I absolutely love my new shirt and I'm stoked that it's basically a one of a kind! That's definitely the appeal of personalization and custom orders in my opinion.

 

AlliedShirts.com

 

Links to their other brands:

 

BuildASign.com - trusted brand by many Army wives for homecoming signs, quality items at very reasonable prices.

 

Printcopia - has custom prints and canvases - you should definitely check them out!!

 

 So I can't end this post without telling you a funny story. Strangely enough, I was shipped the wrong shirt initially. I called their customer service and got ahold of a really nice guy who happened to be from Bentonville and used to work at the Walmart Home Offices as well. It's a small world, isn't it? We had a great chat about NWA and what he used to do at Walmart. He was just a really cool guy. Anyway, the other shirt said something about Sister Mary Eunice and Briar Cliff Manor and "AHS: Asylum". As I explained the t-shirt to the nice man on the phone, we were both obviously confused about the meaning behind it, but hey, it's a custom shirt store, people can put whatever they wish on a t-shirt, that's the awesomeness, right? So I had gotten my correct shirt just before my family came up to visit on Christmas Eve and I had them both laying on the back of a chair when I started to tell my family the funny story. As I held up the shirt, my 22 year old cousin started laughing. He knew immediately what the reference was and got a big kick out of it. Apparently Sister Mary Eunice McKee was a regular character on American Horror Story, a TV show, one I obviously don't watch. He thought is was a GREAT idea for a t-shirt and wanted one of his own!

 

But I think the lesson here is that Allied Shirts is a GREAT company with nice friendly awesome employees with WONDERFUL customer service skills. Both shirts arrived really quick, faster than one would think a custom shirt could be made a shipped, but they warned me that they were quick, and anyone who has ordered from BuildASign.com knows that to be true. I will not keep my shipping mixup from ordering from Allied Shirts in the future so I hope you don't either. I really enjoyed talking to customer service anyway, so maybe that was meant to happen.

 

 

This is the saying that started it all!

 

Inside dog

My mom got Arlo almost 6 years ago as a companion for her GSD who was almost a year old at the time. After loving them for many years, she got sheep on the farm and needed guard dogs, not pets. So she gave Arlo and Max (the GSD) to good homes (me and my brother). While Arlo was supposed to be Joe's dog, he brings me great comfort and I'm fond of the moat of Airedale in my backyard.

But it's so very cold outside and I haven't had an outside dog since I was very young. I felt so bad that Arlo was in the cold snowy elements and Rigel was curled up on a pillow on the couch. He was just fine when he was dry, but when the heavy snows came, Arlo became wet and cold.

 

So I made Arlo a great little bed in my garage and tested it yesterday. Fun fact, Arlo has never been in a house. Inviting him into my kitchen was a challenge. He didn't want to cross the threshold at first, but a treat helped motivate his paws. Let me tell you, Arlo is a big dog, but looks HUGE when standing in my kitchen. I lead him to my garage and put up a baby gate so I didn't have to shut the door. And with very minimal effort, Arlo laid down and made himself at home. He stayed there for a few hours until he was dry. Then we escorted him back outside. And the barking and whining and crying started. I left him there for a little bit so he could do his dog business and then let him back inside. He obviously loves the garage because he went right to the door and wanted in. He stayed there all night. So this morning, when the sun came out, we left Arlo back outside. He ran and jumped and did the dog thing, but when the temperature started to drop again, I let him back inside. He has an old comforter, some old pillows, and some old Army uniforms that, lets face it, will never see the light of day ever again, making him a very nice warm bed. I'm writing this because I let Arlo back outside about 30 minutes ago to do his business before we settled in for the night. And he's been whining ever since. I'm going to have to wrap this up so I can go let him back in the garage for the night. 

My dad says that Airedales aren't wimps; they are coyote killers and Arlo can brave the AR winter. Well, let me tell you, I have a 100lb Airedale that really wants to be an inside dog. 

Okay, I'm going to go let him back in now. Silly pup. Creating such a fuss at my back door.

Yep, he knows that the garage is his. He ran right to the door.

 

Here's to an okay Thanksgiving

I wasn't sure I had a Thanksgiving post in me. But I woke up this morning after spending the evening with my family and realized I do.

I am thankful for my family who love and support me no matter what. I have the best family I can imagine. And if I've learned anything in the last 107 days, its that some people do not have the family they deserve.

I am thankful for Rigel, my sanity. He's the best little pup there is.

I am thankful for my friends who had been there for me lately. Many have stepped up to make sure I'm okay. I will never forget that.

I am thankful for my job, co-workers, manager, and director. I work with such amazing, thoughtful, wonderful folks. I love my job and could not ask for a better group of people to work with every day.

I am thankful for my house. After renting for over a decade of my life, we had the ability to buy my dream house. I feel safe and comfortable there. It will be a great home for years to come.

Lazy Saturday

Well, its not been lazy for me, but Rigel has managed to do nothing all day long. Arlo had his dog house delivered today. Its huge! But so is he, so that's a good thing. Its gotten a bit chilly around these parts so he needs his house.

Beware of Dog

I used to get really angry when Arlo would bark. I was so afraid that the neighbors would complain. Its weird about what I *used* to care about that I just don't anymore.

And I find comfort in his barking. He's the protector of the backyard - a moat of Airedale, if you will. He doesn't bark as much as he used to when he was adjusting to his new digs. But now, if he barks, I just assume he needs to be barking. At a creature, a strange noise, another dog, or some weird guy at the end of my driveway. Its nice to know he's paying attention.

So I'm very sorry if any of my neighbors ever read this. He's a dog. He's just doing his job.

(I do apologize for the Earth-shattering howl though. Sirens hurt his ears.)

Origami Owl Updated and Giveaway!

As you might know, I LOVE giveaways!! And I have been wanting to start another one for a while now but I didn't know what to do. But I have an idea! If you place an order on my website CharmFarm.OrigamiOwl.com between now and July 20th and select "Sara's Special Giveaway Party!" you will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate!! That's right - place any order and select the party tab "Sara's Special Giveaway Party!" and you will be entered to win $25 of FREE Origami Owl products!

If you haven't already, you should head over to Facebook and "like" my page! When I reach 50 likes, I will host a GREAT giveaway!! https://www.facebook.com/CharmFarmOO

Tagged Collection
 

I also want to announce that I have a NEW member of my team! One of the most wonderful people I know joined my team this week. I am SO excited that she took this opportunity to start her direct sales experience with Origami Owl!

This is truly a ground floor company. What would you do with some extra money in your pocket every month?