letters

Dear Self,

When people say "good things come to those who wait," they are right. Good things are starting to come. And it will only get better! Speaking of which:

Dear Bestie,

You will be here tomorrow night! Don't worry, I'm stocked up on your favorite boxed wine!

Dear Pulled Pork,

We had so much of you left over from this weekend's party that I don't think I will be able to even look at you for a very long time.

Blogging Buddies: Lola, Annie May, and Camille

I am the doggy mama to two rescue dogs, a 70 lb lab/boxer/who knows mix named Lola J, and a 7 lb chi/min pin/who knows mix named Annie May! Lola J is my "first born" and she came into our lives a couple years ago when my boyfriend and I were perusing Craigslist for a dog. My boyfriend really wanted a boxer or boxer mix, so when I saw Lola listed as "Free" and a "Boxer mix" I thought we'd won the lottery! I went to meet the lady in a parking lot to see the dog. When I met them, she told me the dog's name was "Venom" and that they didn't want her anymore because when they tried to fight her, "she wasn't mean enough." Fantastic. I took Lola to meet Shane and she growled and tried to bite him, and wouldn't let him get near me. Again, fantastic. When Shane got home from work that night, she warmed up to him, and we renamed her Lola J. She slept in the bed, right in between us, and has been doing that every night since. She is the most protective, loyal dog I've ever seen, and also the biggest cuddle bug ever! Annie May, our newest dog, was found abandoned at a gas station this past December (it was 17 degrees that night, I had to bring her home!), and Lola warmed up to her as soon as I brought her inside. Annie May is super timid and does not let anyone "new" touch her. So far, she's only truly comfortable around Shane and I, which makes me sad, because I hate to think what she went through before we got her! Annie May and Lola J are the BEST of friends. They both sleep in the bed, eat together, and at first we kept them in separate crates, but they both flipped when separated so now they even stay in the same crate when we're away! They are also partners in crime. Annie will grab stuff Lola can't get to (since she's so big) and then they will both chew it to pieces (i.e. $50 TV remote, $300 mouth retainer, etc).

My advice would be two sided. I think, if possible, you should adopt a dog from a rescue or pound, because they need home so badly. At the same time though, know that since these dogs are rescues, you have NO idea what all they're issues are, and likely won't find out until something expensive happens. (This might not make sense, so here's an example): Whoever had Annie before us gave her stagnant water to drink, and now she is chock full of worms that are EXPENSIVE to treat. Nobody could've told us that. Also, whoever had Lola before us never treated her when she was sick so now she has a compromised immune system. In the past 2 months she's had bronchitis, pink eye, and some sort of digestive tract issue. My dogs were both "free" but have costed more than $500 in the past 3 months, so be prepared for that!

I LOVE my dogs, and would pay any amount to have them around, there is nothing compared to coming home after a long, bad day and having two little creatures SO pumped to see you :)

* * * * *

Thank you Camille for sharing Lola J & Annie May's stories!

Please go say "hi" to Camille and her family over at her blog, Camille Yanair!

If you would like to write a featured guest post for the Blogging Buddies series, please email us:

windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

Video Blog pt. 2

Untitled from CAPow CAPow on Vimeo.
Part 2 of 3, inspired by the video blogs over at The Curious Pug.
The questions answered in this video:
11. What's your favorite holiday?
12. Have you graduated High School?
13. Have you been out of the Country?
14. Do you speak any other Languages?
15. Do you have any siblings?
16. What's your favorite store?
17. Favorite Restaurant?
18. Do you like school?
19. Favorite YouTubers?
20. Favorite Movie?
If you participate in this video blog questionnaire, please leave a comment with the link, I would love to see your video!

saturday night

 Saturday night M's band played their CD release show with their buddies from Detroit, Meadower.

After the show, it was back to our place to hang out, have some drinks, and the homemade BBQ spread we put together for everyone.

 Homemade Mac & Cheese made using this recipe.

 Pulled Chicken and Pulled Pork, slow cooked for 8 hours in separate crock pots.

 Around 3:30am, the sky started to brighten up.

By 5am, the sun had officially risen and it was definitely time to go to bed.

What did you do this weekend?

This week...

...spent the weekend looking forward to life getting back to normal.
...got up early on my Sunday to go help set up the Etsy booth at Hudson Family Pride Festival.
...had my helping cut short by an unexpected turn of events.
...spent Fathers Day with my family.
...anticipated M returning from tour!
...waited, and waited, and WAITED.
...took my car in for $600 worth of repairs...when it rains, it pours.
...speaking of rain, our kitchen ceiling is moldy & leaky, and our landlord seems to think it's acceptable to make us live with it for 3 weeks and counting.
... my luck seemed to change when I got offered a job at the one company I love most in this world...

suggestions

Lovely things that remind me of summer!

1. Six Pack Frame Cinch

2. Looking For Love

3. Peanut Southern Word Wooden Sign

4. Vintage Eskimo Electric Desk Fan

5. The Sparkler

6. Mr Softee Ice Cream Truck Printed Canvas Pillow

letters

Dear M,
I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, SO glad you're back from tour. I missed you so much. Never do that again! ;)

Dear Delci the Chihuahua,
I know you're happy to be back home. You didn't really enjoy your stay here, you made that quite clear with your constant whining and refusal to eat your own food. I saw you sneaking nibbles from the cats' bowls. Sorry you didn't enjoy your stay, but you're always welcome to come back.

Dear Fireworks,
I'm really looking forward to seeing you this summer. Last 4th of July we missed each other due to weird circumstances. It doesn't feel like summer until we get to spend a night outside together. 

Blogging Buddies: Davey and Tiffany

Davey came into my life in the summer of 2009. My cousin just moved into a new house & her boyfriends mom's dog had just given birth to a litter of puppies. My mom went to go visit & fell in love with them. Later that day, she asked if I wanted to take one home. Well, I wasn't about to say no. Especially since I've always wanted a dog & was never given the chance. Plus, these puppies were beyond cute. When I finally got to see them (they were about 2 months old), I had a hard time picking just one. But then there was an itty bitty black one with a big white chest who had been trampled by all of his brothers & sisters (there were about 7 others). He had been quiet. Not barking like the other puppies. I picked him up from under them and held him. Instant love. I asked my mom, "Can we take him home?" & I found out that my little sister had also wanted him. We didn't take him home right away that day, but in the car on the way home, we discussed names. We settled on Davy Barbossa--a combination of two Pirates of the Caribbean characters--then later we added the 'e' to Davy so it officially became Davey (we decided it looked cooler, I guess). We waited about 3 days to prepare for him then we went to pick him up. It was a sad day for him to leave his siblings & mom. He cried the entire way home, but then he quickly adjusted. He fitted right into our family. I can't imagine life without my little guy even when he's a total pain in the butt at times. :)

Davey's the type of dog who will roll in the dirt/mud then afterward will decide that he's just so excited to see you that he needs to jump on you therefore getting you so dirty that you're in need of a change of clothes and/or shower. But he's so loving & caring & sweet that you really don't care that much. Unless it's one of those nice, designer type shirts which, fortunately, I don't own. He's also the only dog I know who gets confused by tummy rubs. He'd rather you get behind the ears.

If you're getting a dog or more specifically a pit bull, do not leave them alone for longer than 45 minutes in a room with your favorite furniture. Or any furniture. Including carpet. They will destroy it out of boredom & frustration. If you're leaving for that long, invest in a kennel & fill it with a few toys. Very durable toys. They're highly energetic dogs, so they need walks & play time often. & I'm not talking about a little 15 minute walk. I'm talking an hour to two hours. Go for a run with them. Go hiking with them. Play some fetch. Something to waste all that energy they've got bottled up. Also the more you tire them, the less interested they are in your furniture. :) And for all those pit bull haters out there who think they're evil & vicious, at one point they were seen as one of the best dogs ever. Remember Petey from The Little Rascals? A lover of children, a loyal friend & super smart. Blame the owner, not the breed. Blame the owner who takes advantage of the pit bull's hardcore loyalty & strength & uses it to fill his/her greed (ie. dog fighting). It's tough to see a breed that you adore go through so much unnecessary hate. Do your research before taking home a pit bull (or any dog). PLEASE. Make sure you're the right family or person for that dog. :)

* * * * *

Thank you Tiffany for sharing Davey's story with us! 

Please go visit Tiffany over at her blog Nynga + The Bear!

If you would like to write a feature guest post for the Blogging Buddies series, please email us:

windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

jumping in to video blogs

Untitled from CAPow CAPow on Vimeo.

Here is is... my first video blog (complete with embarrassing still frame). I've been inspired watching all of my favorite bloggers posting little video blogs and then I came across this series on The Curious Pug and convinced myself that it was time for me to take the plunge as well. 

So, if you were ever wondering what I talk like, here you go! :)

There are going to be 3 of these. I'll post one a week because they are all kind of long (around 5-6 minutes a piece!)

If you decide to do your own, please leave a link in the comments, I would love to watch!

The questions for this video are:

1. Do you have a middle name?
2. What was your favorite subject in school?
3. What's your favorite drink?
4. favorite song at the moment?
5. What would you name your children?
6. Do you participate in sports?
7. What's your favorite book?
8. What's your favorite color?
9. What's your favorite animal?
10. What's your favorite perfume?

relaxing sunday

 Taking pictures of the horses in the field behind my parents' house.

Sitting outside in the swing with Milo.

Much needed relaxing Sunday afternoon.

giveaway winner and our other june sponsors!

* * * * * * *

Hi, my name is Rhianne and as well as writing and taking photos for my blog For the easily distracted... I also sell my photos in my Etsy shop. In 2009 I brought my first film camera: a holga 135bc and my life changed, now I take at least two film cameras around with me everywhere I go and I love nothing more than sharing how I see the world through my cameras and my prints.

SHOP | BLOG | TWITTER

Hello Windshield Diaries readers! I'm Nova "Rella" and I really really really really really really like blogging. I mostly write about things like jerks on the bus, cats, photography stuff, blogging, cool things I find on the internet, weird conversations I always seem to get roped into, my dog, and tattoos. Oh, and I'm trying to get into editing and proofreading as well...let me know if you can hook me up. I like to find new blogs to read too, so come on by and leave me your url so I can check you out!

BLOG | TWITTER | SHOP | TUMBLR

Hello, I'm Brooke. I come from a long line of crafters, my grandmother was a spinner & weaver, my mom is an avid quilter, and I dabble in everything. Currently, I am a crocheter with far too much yarn and not enough time. On my small section of the blogging community, you can find daily musings, book reviews, crafty tutorials, art journal pages, maybe a random recipe, and lots of pictures. I hope you stop by...

BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Hi there!  My name is Melanie and I am from a beautiful mountain town in British Columbia, Canada.  I am a wife, a mother to a four year old, a former chef and a crafty lady.  I have a blog where I share my adventures in sewing, knitting, cooking and parenting and a little Etsy shop where I sell my handbags and clutches.  I recently started to teach myself pattern making and am finding it super inspiring! So stop on by, have a look and say hello!

SHOP | BLOG | FACEBOOK

We are Beca and Doug, and Tumbleweeds Odd Shop is a little etsy shop for our handcrafted goodness, wooden sunglasses, vintage finds and gypsy treasure. It is a hodgepodge reflection of what we have spent years collecting and what we now spend all our time making! We have a serious obsession with wood, leather and the like and our vintage treasures range from skulls and bullhorns and miniature caravans to little animal figures and tambourines, just to name a few. When we are not working, we like to take our pups to the beach, visit the best zoo on earth and travel far and wide for a good swap meet.

SHOP | BLOG 

Windshield Diaries is currently seeking sponsors for the month of July!

For details on sizes, blog traffic, etc. please visit our Sponsor Info page

Spots are limited, so if you are interested please be sure to email us ASAP

windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

This week..

...said goodbye to M as he and his band embarked on their tour
...brought Miyagi some of his own food at the Animal Hospital to try and get him to eat.
...finally brought him home after a very long 28 hours.
...attended a Pug Parade!
...spent most of Sunday on the couch with Miyagi, reading blogs and watching movies.
...putting together tour report blog posts for severesevere.com
...let the cats sleep on the bed too much. I think they are spoiled now.
...welcomed little Delci for a weekend of dogsitting.
...missed M so much while he was away on tour that sometimes I felt like I couldn't breathe.
...started to get burned out on being home alone.

suggestions

Father's Day picks that remind me of my Dad,

Happy Father's Day Dad! I love you!

1. Bass Bath Soap

2. Mantiques

3. Get Off My Lawn print

4. Vintage Buck and Doe Brass Belt Buckle

5. Vintage Tooled Leather Belt

6. Vintage Kennedy Coin Money Clip

letters

Dear Miyagi,

We are SO happy that you are ok!! You really scared us this past weekend.

Dear Bestie,

Sorry I had to cancel my trip to visit you in Brooklyn. 4th of July weekend will be here before you know it, and we will have SO much fun!

Dear Self,

This week is almost over, back to normal soon!

M's Tour Report, pt. 2

 Arrived in Chicago at my buddy Jeff's sweet pad.

 looking down from the balcony

 Chicago has Free Smells

 Bryan and Nico don't care, they want to eat!

 subway nap

 waiting for the train

sunrise on the lake

Blogging Buddies: Guillermo and Stephanie

Hello, all! Stephanie, here, from Femmena Mala blog! When Crystal asked me to write a post about my little fur baby, I was beyond excited. Because... you know… I’m obsessed with him? He’s adorable, and I don’t mind boasting ;)

Our (no, unfortunately, I cannot claim him as solely mine!) Chihuahua, Guillermo Garcia Gomez, just goes by Guillermo around these parts. He came into our lives January 2, 2010. Yes, I remember the exact date. We got this little guy when he was only six weeks old, and newly weaned from his mama! We got him from a breeder in Bethel, OH, who had a tiny tiny litter of pups. His name comes from Weeds, the HBO series. One of the drug lords that Nancy Botwin has to contend with in season three is called Guillermo Garcia Gomez. How fitting for a Chihuahua. ;)

I don’t have one specific favorite memory of Guillermo, but one of my favorite things that he does happens when we are leaving the apartment for any reason. He gets very anxious when we pick up our keys/put our shoes on, or partake in any leaving activity. He’ll patiently wait to be picked up, and the second we do he starts growling and licking us at the same time. Basically to let us know that he really loves us, but he’s real mad that we’re leaving him here alone. It’s so cute! He gets especially upset when one of us is leaving the other, like when Nick or I have to leave for work in the morning ;)

If any of you are considering getting a Chihuahua, there are a few things you’ve got to keep in mind. Since they are small dogs, they come with a lot more risk than big dogs do. When Guillermo was small (who are we kidding? He’s STILL small…), we were constantly worried about him falling off the bed or the couch because a fall like that can really hurt a Chihuahua. Also, they have very week tracheas. They are prone to breathing problems, and cannot wear collars, much like other small dogs! They can be very feisty, but they’re so cute and loveable.

* * * * *

Thank you, Stephanie for telling us all about little Guillermo!
If you would like to write a featured guest post about your pet for Blogging Buddies, please email us!
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

M's Tour Report, pt. 1

M is out on the road with his band, Severe Severe this week and he is sending me photos and updates to share with you!

 Shirts? Check!

 Receiver Beans? Check! (M has a long standing tradition of making "Grandma's Baked Beans" for his buddies in Columbus)

 ghetto rig fan to Bryan's cage? check! 

 yep....no a/c in this luxury ride.

 ...and STILL wasn't filled up!

 Faith, of Faith and Mark, means business.

Corbu

Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg Brooklyn

M found a little friend in Brooklyn <3

 made it to the treehouse in Columbus!

 Petite Mall rocked it!

 M's traditional "Receiver Beans."

 Jesse and Austin

Beans taste good, Mr Norris wants beans!

The Cooper Bros are awesome dudes! Columbus is the kinda city where you don't wanna leave once you're there.

 Phil gets comfortable

 Nico & Phil want to see someone take the Mucho Macho Challenge

 Not a good idea before a 6 hour drive to Chicago...

kid's polishing his boots?

....to be continued!