Why no posts?

I know it's been more than a few days since my last post.  I was busy with a project at work that consisted of data entry for 20+ hours, so to be honest w/you, when I got home, the last thing I felt like doing was anything w/the computer.  So now the project is over (thank goodness), I've updated the Photo of the Day & now attempting a blog post.  Problem is...I don't know that I have much to blog about today...

Vivi's lumps have turned into small scabs which I hope continue to go away this week since we have another show this upcoming weekend!  (Yay!)  Oh & super fun fact about this show...we show LATE!!  I couldn't believe it!  Bulldogs usually ALWAYS show by 9am, but Saturday we're at 1PM and Sunday we're at 1045!!  Woo hoo!  I'm excited because I'm driving each day & now won't have to get up at 4am!!  Yipppee!!

Howie's ears seem to have taken a beating due to the colder weather.  Poor thing, I just cleaned them earlier this week & noticed today they needed to be done again.  He allowed me to put some medication in them today & will continue that for the next couple days hoping to nip any kind of infection in the bud.

Today was my day to sleep in (Thanks Steve!) & Doc got to climb into bed w/me for a few hours this morning!  He's such a cuddler on the couch, one would think he'd be the same in the bed...but he's not.  Instead he just wants to lay wherever he wants to lay & it's now HIS bed & bedding, not yours!  He's funny!

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving & an awesome upcoming week!

Oatmeal baths=miracle worker!

Vivi's lumps got worse all day on Sunday.  Monday night we were hanging out on the couch & I saw that her back was BLEEDING!!  Not sure if it the lumps turned into scabs or if her skin was just so dry it started to crack & bleed?  It wasn't a lot of blood, but still...I felt just awful!  All this from a shampoo!!

I decided to give Vivi an oatmeal bath...one of those packets from Aveeno.  She must have known that the oatmeal bath was for her because she just sat next to the tub while it filled up & had no problem going in!  She just stood there while I poured the oatmeal bath water over her.  I made sure to pat her dry & then put some vitamin E oil on her skin...couldn't hurt, right?

When she woke up Tuesday morning the swelling of the lumps had already gone down!  Oatmeal bath=miracle!!  I even saw more difference when I returned home from work Tuesday night!  I'm going to hold off giving her any other baths this week, but will continue with the vitamin E oil in hopes that it keeps it from drying up again.

Bully Life Lesson #8

Bully Life Lessons

~by bullies, for bullies~

by Vivi

Life Lesson #8

When you find yourself in a tight

situation with no way out...smile!  It will make

you feel better!

Less Wiggly, More Lumpy

Good news is that our practicing paid off last night & Vivi wasn't nearly as wiggly in the ring today as yesterday!  Yay Vivi!  She took 2nd in her class & got to go in for Reserve (which her half-sister Bailey took)!  Vivi did really well today considering the judge had us go around a few times & was very hands on.  We have another show in a few weeks so I'll be sure to continue practicing with her & hope that she is not a wiggle worm both days!!

2nd place today!  Lumps & all!

Bad news is that the shampoo I used on her left her looking lumpy today.  Needless to say, I will NOT be using it again.  I've heard this could happen if it's not rinsed out enough, but we rinsed her really well.  OMG it's soooo bad!  I noticed some lumps last night & gave her some Benedryl.  This morning I had hoped it would have gone down, but instead it got worse!!  I almost didn't show her, but I'm glad I did.  Steve said she looks like a Gremlin who is about to explode into 100 other mini Gremlins...."Don't feed them after midnight! & Never, ever get them wet!"  (Anyone remember that?! haha)

So on top of her many other nicknames, my new one for her is Lumpy.  Poor honey.

Today I'm beat & took a 4 hour nap this afternoon!  Getting up at 430am should only be reserved for a plane ride...but apparently dog shows too in my world!  My wonderful sister-in-law & nephews stopped up to drop us off dinner that they made for us!  Tatertot hotdish & cookies!!  YUMMY!  It was their housewarming present to us...9 years in the making!  LOL  Thanks Dana, Cole & Al!  It was tasty!!

Different show, same wiggle worm

It's totally my fault, I haven't worked on stacking Vivi as often as I should have over the last 3 months since our last show.  She showed me today what practice means that's for sure!!  She stacked fine on the ramp for the judge, which is great, but when we were stacking on the floor...WIGGLE WORM!!

So tonight we've been practicing, not that I'm expecting miracles or anything, but I'm at least hoping for a bit less wiggle worm & a little more Vivi tomorrow!  Wish us luck!

Here are some photos from today...she looks pretty steady in all of these shots anyway!!

We show again tomorrow at 8am...gonna be a very early morning for us!  I'll post photos if we get any!

Wish us luck!

I'm sure you've seen this before

I know I have, but Steve sent this & it turned out to be something I wasn't expecting.  I laughed really hard at this one!

Hope you enjoy!

Make a list & check it twice! Wouldn't one of these be nice?

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I'm sure a lot of us are thinking of the plan of attack for the big sales on Black Friday & the gift lists that we'll be checking off!  I'm sure there will be some people that are just too hard to buy for.  Or someone that you would like to get them something a little more unique or personal.  Well, I just happen to have an idea for some of you! 

I'm guessing many of you who read this blog either enjoy dogs (maybe even bulldogs in particular) or know someone who does.  So with that thought in mind, what about getting that special (bull)dog lover in your life...or better yet...yourself something that is unique & personal?!

Hmmm...something from the talented hands of Betsy perhaps?  I happen to own a few of her items & I just love them!  Betsy is very talented & her items are of the highest quality!  Below are just a few of the items Betsy can do!  (More items can be found here.)  Take a look!  I bet you'll find something for someone on your list (or you!)!

If you have any questions for Betsy or to place an order, please email her & please let her know that Jen sent you!  (I just want her to know that people actually read my blog! hahaha!)
Happy shopping!

Deer in my backyard!

There are days that I want to believe we don't live as far out "in the country" as we do.  I've mentioned before how I've actually seen a horse & carriage come down our street, who am I kidding...that's "the country!"  Anyway, this morning I was proven once again we're not in the city anymore....

There was a deer in my backyard!  I looked it up & it was called a Bulldeer...no lie!  It was amazing to see him, I can't believe I was able to get as close as I did!  I gave him some dog treats (its all I had) & he followed me up the deck stairs!!  He tried to get into the house, but I just told him "no!"  He didn't listen....check him out.....

Looking for the recent Bully Life Lessons?

I've had some of you comment on the Bully Life Lessons I had been updating the Photo of the Day/home page of the site.  Due to popular demand...ok, really because this way I'll have them saved somewhere, I've decided to add them here.  This way you can go back & look at them if interested.  However, because they weren't originally done in here, I have to recreate them.  I have done Lessons 2-5...1 and 6 will require some extra work that I just don't have in me tonight.

**updated...Bully Life Lesson #6 is now here**
**updated...Bully Life Lesson #1 is now here**

Bully Life Lesson #1
Bully Life Lesson #2
Bully Life Lesson #3
Bully Life Lesson #4
Bully Life Lesson #5
Bully Life Lesson #6
Bully Life Lesson #7

I'm sure #8 will be coming sometime this week.

A very productive weekend!

What a beautiful & very warm weekend we had! It was over 60 both days & of course I was thrilled!! While Saturday was spent w/friends during the day & my bullies at night..it was bath night, Sunday was spent mostly outside!


Steve had the unlucky job of cleaning out the gutters & had some help with the yard work he did!

I took advantage of the weather by cleaning the windows (both inside & out), cut bully nails with Steve's help, & then when Steve went to work I cleaned a bit inside & then went to the grocery store.

I, too, had some help putting the groceries away. Thanks guys!

Overall, a very fun & productive weekend! I love it when that happens! Hope all of your weekends were fun &/or productive too!

Ugg...Having Technical Difficulties

I've been trying to update the website w/Bully Life Lesson #7 for over an hour & the hosting site seems to be mad at me for some reason. So as a special blog post, I give you....

Bully Life Lessons

~for bullies, by bullies~

by Vivi

Bully Life Lesson #7

This one is for our mommas...just remember, NOTHING you wear can

possibly look as ridiculous as what you dress us in!

Have a great weekend everybully!

Bully Life Lesson #5

Bully Life Lessons

~for bullies, by bullies~

by Doc

Life Lesson #5

Take time to find your favorite

napping place.

"Perhaps it will be with Daddy."

"Perhaps it will be on your side."

"Perhaps it will be on Grama's blanket."

"Perhaps your tongue will stick out."

"Perhaps you'll nap with friends."

"Finally, perhaps you should stop taking

photos when others

are napping....MOMMA!"

Bully Life Lesson #6

Bully Life Lessons

~by bullies, for bullies~

by Howie

Life Lesson #6

Embrace your good looks!

You cannot help how photogenic

bullies are!

"Sometimes be serious."

"Sometimes be handsome."

"Sometimes be silly."

"Sometimes be cute."

But always be your adorabull self!

Ahhh Disney Memories...

Ok, ok, I KNOW I just got back 6 days ago & while it is super nice out here today, I can't help but remember how last week at this time I was wearing flip flops & now I'm wearing mittens!! Brrr!! Other than my bullies, the only thing that gets me through the winters is my Disney memories!! That's probably why I take a lot of photos!!
Anyway, this walk down (last week's) memory lane got me thinking of what I do to save/earn money for Disney...and I thought I'd share with you. I like to save all the money I earn in the year's garage sales & put that money in a my Disney fund envelope. Sometimes I'll even add to that envelope with any $1 bills that I have in my wallet...that adds up fast! If I sell anything on eBay, I'll put that in the envelope too! However, my favorite way I earn money for Disney is rewards sites!

I found out about rewards sites a few years ago on a Disney forum I frequent. I was very skeptical at first & couldn't believe that these places were legit. I did ask a few members questions like do you really get paid & is this for real?? When I got the answers I was surprised that it WAS for real! Since then I've made over $1500 in real honest to goodness money!! I get paid by Disney Gift Cards, but let's face it...that's still honest to goodness money!!
My favorite site is Sunshine Rewards (SR). I've been doing SR for almost 3 years & it's where I've made the majority of my rewards money. SR is a rewards site where you earn money back if you shop online through their links, doing online surveys & other offers. Every penny counts and it adds up!! SR allows you to cash out for many different kinds of gift cards (Target, Disney, Home Depot, Outback...just to name a few). You can even cash out for a deposit into your PayPal account!

It can be quite addictive, but in the long run, the more time you put into SR the more money you'll get out of it. It can be a little confusing when you are first starting out, but they have their own set of forums that explain how it works & tips & tricks! The forums are a great way to learn more about the site, see the special shopping offers & even the newest merchants!

One of the newer merchants SR has is probably the merchant I've been the most excited about! It's called Mouse Unlimited & it's a travel agency where you can book your Disney trip & EARN MONEY BACK on it if you're a SR member!! How great is that? This is the first travel agency I know of that you can earn money back on your Disney trips & believe me, I've looked!!

The owners of Mouse Unlimited are huge Disney fans & SR members themselves so they know how important Disney trips AND money back in your SR account are! Many SR members have already used Mouse Unlimited to get a quote or book their upcoming trips & the overwhelming response has been that Mouse Unlimited has EXCELLENT customer service!! They also have a blog where they post up-to-date Disney info so they are much more than just a Disney travel agency, they are a Disney resource site too!

Anyway, just thought I'd share some of my money saving tips today & don't forget Sunshine Rewards isn't just Disney Gift Cards...but that's what I'll use it for...it's also a place to make great friends! Afterall, it was the Sunshine friends that I went to Disney with last weekend!