#72 DZPII: Bake & decorate a two tiered cake

#72 DZP II: Bake & Decorate a Two-Tiered Cake!

 

 

So for the advance cake decorating class Mom and I are taking, the second class is on two-tiered cakes. The class before was on color flow technique (see puppy above), so we were asked to apply the color flow technique to a two-tiered cake. So I went on google pictures and found this cutie and created a Puppy-Dawg Cake!

 

 

Complete with fondant dog house and bowl. Around the rest of the cake is dog bones, paw prints, dog bowl, and another puppy hiding in the grass.

 

It's a 6 inch cake stacked on a 10 inch cake. We learned how to stack and use/cut dowels for construction.



#52 DZPII: Get my Yorkie Puppy

Words can't describe how excited I am to have a new puppy in my life!

I've been wanting a Yorkie puppy for a while now, and I've looked at several breeder's websites, PennySaver ads, and even came close to taking in one from my cousin, but that didn't work out... but I found my new baby!

Let me introduce Jackson, but Jax for short. He was born in Cario, MO on September 6, 2012. Alex came up with the name from Sons of Anarchy's Jax Teller, but I like it because my Auntie Debbie had a German Shepard when I was a kid, and his name was Jackson Brown... so Jax/Jackson seems like a good fit.

Alex, Ryan & I went out to Sears at the mall to look for a new fridge (#76DZPII), which we saw potentials there, but once Ryan started to get fussy, I suggested to hop into the mall to the pet store. And there he was, jumping around playing with the Papillion he was paired up with, front and center window... simply adorable.

I originally wanted a female Yorkie, but Jax was just so cute. And I have a terrible problem of instantly loving every little animal I see. Needless to say, that's what happened. So I spoke to the sales lady and we were taken to see how Ryan responded to Jax. The boys were a hit, and I started paperwork to take him home.

He's a wild one, but a sweetheart and loves to sit on your lap too. Ryan loves him too, but we need to break Jax of jumping on Ryan and biting his little fingers... Jax is still teething. But Ryan likes to play fetch with him and run around the backyard with Jax too. I love watching the two of them play and how excited Ryan gets when he sees Jax.

It's been a crazy first weekend with Jax getting use to my family, but I'm excited that he's with us. My 3 boys and I! Adding to my happy little family!

#28 DZP: Go Horseback Riding

#28 DZP: Go Horseback Riding

Yes I finally completed this goal: in Cabo San Lucas....

ON THE FREAKIN' BEACH!

While on vacation with the family, one of the shore excursions through the cruise line was to go horseback riding on the beaches of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. So I jumped on this opportunity and the BF and I went early in the morning. It sold out on the first day, so we had the early morning on the 2nd day.

It was beautiful out there, and even though the horse only walked/trot and never ran, it was still beautiful. We also spotted a heard of whales breaching out of the water!

#61 DZP: Adopt a Puppy From a Shelter/Foster Home

Totally forgot about this goal! This last December was filled with puppies!
 

With the very unfortunate loss of Ginger, who wasn't even a year old and was murdered by a hungry pack of coyotes, my parents had a hard time dealing with the fact whether or not to get a new puppy. My Mother (who took the loss the hardest) wasn't ready for a new pup just yet, unlike my Father who needed a replacement to essentially distract himself from finding Ginger that dreadful Sunday morning.

So I went back to the Friends of Orange County's Homeless Pet's website and started to browse. I spotted a litter of mutts coming from the Perris, CA area. There was a little light tan, mini-lab-looking, female named "Kendall".

Kendall

She was going to be moved with her sister "Hillary" (a mini beagle look-alike) to their new foster parent in Tustin, CA on December 1st. After my application went through, I contacted the foster parent and asked if my folks and I could visit Kendall with our dog Kricket (older Boston Terrier, Ginger's older sister).

Hillary

So that night, we jet down to Tustin and met Kendall and Hillary. I suddenly had a change of heart and fell in love with Hillary (the darker one). She was shy and timid at first but very lovable when you picked her up. My Father fell in love with Kendall, because she was more outgoing and wanted to play with everyone! My Mother couldn't help her heart and loved both, and hated the thought of splitting the sisters up... so we adopted BOTH!

So we went through several names, but Malory (the beagle look-alike) and Millie (the lighter one) became their names! Yes, my parents were thankful for the new additions, and I'm sure glad I was able to give these puppies a loving home... even if potty-training is a little bit more difficult with 2 of them!

Then there was Scooter.

Scooter is a mutt one of my coworker's adopted. My grandmother and I kept threatening that we were going to steal Scooter and take him away! Scooter was always around the yard and loved to play with our yard/gaurd dog Saije (older female fat Pitbull). He's a very energetic puppy and can make dog-haters love him!

Unfortunately after a month, my coworker couldn't fully take care of him. Now when I heard this news, I immediately offered to buy the puppy for my grandmother, who has been complaining at this time of wanting her own puppy and being so lonely at her house. I took him home, bathed him, took him to the vet for first shots, got him plenty of toys and made sure my grandmother would be ready for puppy potty-training.

So on December 19th, my Mother and I took the little guy over to her house and surprised her with an early Christmas present! She didn't recognize him at first but still loved that there was a little ball of fuzz running around her house again.

Originally Scooter was named "Chico", then "Diego", I named him "Pigpen" after Charlie Brown's less-than-clean buddy but it was my grandmother in the end that named him Scooter... and I believe it suits him!

So as you can see, 3 new puppies for the family! Maybe one day, once my time has runned up on the DZP, I'll adopt a puppy from the shelter again for myself.

Now to get Puppy DNA tests for all 3...

RIP My Little Man Stitch

Back when I started college and moved out into my first apartment (gawd, like 2002/2003) I came across this little dude at the local Petco. At that same time, Jennifer Lopez (yes, the famous star) had bought a gray chinchilla fur coat. So because of her shopping spree, I bought this young chinchilla... to SAVE him!

It was interesting adjusting to the new critter, and especially since I've never been a chinchilla owner before. But it came pretty easy! I don't know how many hours I went all over the Internet researching. When I took him home he was all set up with his cage, food, bedding, chew blocks, jumping ledges, water dispenser, roll-a-round ball, dust bowl, and of course treaties!

(That's my lil old guy and he's buddy Ginger)

He lived with me at the apartment, and then when I moved to my aunt's house, and then I had to move him to my parents house (because I ended up being somewhat allergic to him lol), where he spent most of his years... in a 3 story cage the size of my tall dresser! I had to make sure had a mansion when I moved him there!

The past couple years, he's lived outside under the patio, enjoying his "old man" years. As he turned more and more gray, time was settling in on him and he wasn't as active as he once was. Yet he still would be very excited for his banana-chip treat (hell ANY treat for that matter, lil piggy), and every time it was "dust-bath time!" 

However, this last weekend's heat wave was a little too much for him. We brought him into the house, but things weren't looking too good for the little man. He wasn't up to eating, drinking, not even moving/bouncing around. My brain knew it was only a matter of time, but my heart wasn't ready to let go. Yesterday I went to work in the morning after saying a hopeful "see you later" to him, but I hope in the last little bit of his time he just went to sleep dreaming of dust baths and rolling around in his ball.

I'm just glad I got to be with him during these last days.

I'll always love you Stitch & I'll always miss you lil man.

Rest in peace Stitchy-Poo.

There's Something About...

Papillons!

Those ears! Those tails! Those little wet noses!!! Adores!!!

(okay, so all puppies in general!)

I've been talking about adopting a dog/puppy from a shelter (no, I wouldn't buy a designer dog) and I'm starting to look from shelters and foster homes. My Mother and I have adopted from the Friends of Orange County's Homeless Pets, where we found Ginger, and I love the way this nonprofit organization works. They have adoptions at some PetSmarts & Petcos too! I'm even considering becoming a Paw Partner! But I always check back to see all the adorable faces that I could adopt, and try to find my "love at first sight" with a friendly four-footer!

Yes I love papillons, but I love practically every dog! I can't step foot in a shelter or foster home without wanting to take home every animal there. I was raised an animal lover and my Auntie Debbie loved her "children": a Boston Terrier and a tan Pug. She also had a German Shepherd too. My Mother has let me have kitties (too many to name off), a Cockatiel bird (my midget bird named Cricket), and I have a chinchilla named Stitch (from Lilo & Stitch), but he lives with my parents... but you can see I love animals.

The next "pet" I would like to be a mother to is a puppy. I've never had a dog to call my own... or rather one to call me his/hers... It's #61 on the DZP, so I have till 2013 to find the love of my life and shower this pup with luxury (yes a Juicy collar will be waiting), affection, and of course: love!

Zebrah Fevah!

... & I got it!

It all started with these shoes:

I have this body pillowcase:

Got this to keep the socks dry:


I want this dress:

And I HAVE to HAVE this:
Yes, it may seem a bit much... or crazy in fact,

but at least I don't have a live zebra chillin' on the back patio! :D

Baby Kitty :)

Gawd isn't that precious!

Booboo needs to hurry up and just get one!!

heeheehee

These Makes Me Smile

Eliminate Cancer for Dogs and Children

Dear Friends,

My Mom’s good friend Donna lost her 5 year old Champion Irish Setter in December to gastric carcinoma. This was a very quick cancer and very difficult to watch for her and her family. This was a one in a billion cancer for such a young dog. Osteocarcinoma is the more common cancer for Irish Setters.
I would like it very much if in her Maverick’s memory you would all take the time to vote as often as possible on this website to help us raise more money to fight cancer. It doesn’t cost you anything but a few minutes and who knows, it may just benefit the dog you own some day.
Thank you so much,
<3 Shannon

Sign up and vote everyday! Do it for all the poor Puppies!!!!

Eliminate Cancer for Dogs and Children

Goals
•Support research to eliminate cancer in dogs and children
•Research osteosarcoma using a variety of approaches

Cancer is the number one disease killer of dogs and children. National dog breed clubs rank osteosarcoma in the top five health concerns. Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that also occurs in children during bone growth. The Canine Health Foundation will use the $50,000 to support osteosarcoma research. First, we will fund a project to identify genetic changes shared in bone tumors and look for the potential risk of disease development. Second, we will fund a project to evaluate of efficiency of a potential drug in treating osteosarcoma.Dogs and people are similar genetically and are exposed to the same environmental factors. Research on cancer in dogs will directly benefit children with osteosarcoma.

Ginger Snap Pup!

Ginger.... Taz.... Brat.... Whatever

Adopted January 18, 2010
Going on six months now, and she's getting so big!

This Memorial Day Weekend when we go up to Big Bear will be her first camping trip!

The Family and I are so excited to see how many sticks, leaves, pine needles, bugs, etc she'll chase, collect, and have stuck in her hair!

She'll be a trip that's for sure!

And she'll have Kricket there too!