Happy birthday girlfriend! This little fashionista is one year old today AND wearing her butterfly outfit. This gorgeous girl is my snuggle partner, lip balm wearing, sassy AF bestie. YES, she loves lip balm - BUT only the expensive one. 
I didn't think I would become an obsessed dog mom in to dog apparel and accessories, BUT after Teddy's first winter and the need for a coat and boots - I was transformed. Grey and Teddy wear summer shoes and winter boots (socks too), as well as sweaters, t-shirts, pajamas and random accessories. You gotta start the little fashionistas out young! My go-to shop is The New York Dog Shop. Grey's Puppia Pinkaholic sweater and Teddy's flamingo shirt (pictured here) are from there. I got the cute cartoon t-shirts at Joom - It takes forever to arrive, but their inexpensive and worth the wait. I purchased Grey's hair bow from Amazon - It came in a variety pack of six. SO CUTE! This is the best part - If you hold up two outfits and ask Teddy which one he wants to wear, he will pick one. Grey just wants to destroy everything! 
If you want your dog to wear boots/shoes, you gotta start when they're a puppy. Both Teddy and Grey started wearing socks as soon as I got them. Then came the boots/shoes. They're both super comfortable walking in shoes - This is beneficial during winter or if you live in the city where the streets tend to be dirty. ALSO, as an avid shoe collector, it's fun to purchase shoes for your dogs. I usually put lined winter boots during the cold season, sporty (waterproof) boots when we go camping and sneakers during the summer months. Combined, Teddy and Grey will so surpase the number of shoes I own! 
Happy Birthday Teddy. You're the love of my life AND a handsome little fella. Loving your "Blue Steal" look. My fur baby is 4 today! This little poodle changed my life - I wake up everyday with a smile, cause his delicious face makes me so happy. 
Meet my new fur baby, Grey. She's a handful and growing so fast. We're celebrating my birthday and managed to capture a few picks of this antsy little one. She lasted five seconds in the Georgetown Cupcake bag - We need to work on her model skills!
Thank you Dior Washington, DC for the beautiful flowers. If you follow me, you know I'm obsessed with Dior. Visiting Dior DC is most of my major excitement during these troubled times. Everyone at the store is super friendly and they make you feel special. Especially my Dior girl Marika. LOVE her!
Teddy is a little dog model. He poses and breaks out the blue steel look on command. Such a cutie. If it looks like Teddy is growling at his annoying little sister here - he is! Teddy is not impressed with the new overly excited fur baby. Thank you husbano for the perfect at-home birthday celebration (of two). It was a Dior birthday with the famed Georgetown cupcakes and bubbly. 
I was challenged to a Bug Out bag competition. I had thirty minutes to gather all of the items I deemed essential if I had to leave my home and go into survival mode. These items should be of the utmost importance. I didn't include self-defense items or proper food, but I think I did a great job for someone who hasn't been preparing for an apocalypse. I hope you appreciate that I included prosecco, coconut water and avocados. AND, there's a color theme! For those of you who aren't familiar with a Bug Out bag - It's a bag (usually a sturdy backpack) containing essential items for survival. It typically has camping gear, non-perishable food, a change of clothes and self-defense items. You can buy pre-prepared Bug Out bags for up to thousands of dollars. Your Bug Out bag needs depend on your level of paranoia! I do think having a Bug Out bag for your pet is smart. Often, emergencies happen and we forget to pack essentials for our pets. My Toy Poodle, Teddy, has an extensive Bug Out bag that we can grab-and-go.. 
I celebrated my 40th birthday yesterday. It seems like forever to some, but time has gone by so fast - especially the good moments. I don't feel old and thanks to botox, I don't look old either! Yesterday was the perfect 40th birthday celebration. Thank you Teddy for enduring another photo shoot. You're a super star poodle model.
I was not aware of most of these 1980 facts, but in all fairness, I was a baby! I'm a little disapointed in the "famous people born". Was hoping for someone with more depth. I suppose Ryan Gosling is ok - Who doesn't love The Notebook?! I can't believe Post-It Notes were invented in 1980 - I love them! I'm one of those old people that refuses to keep notes on my iPhone and sticks pastel-shades of Post-It Notes everywhere.
My little dog model went to doggy daycare for the first time yesterday. I spent my birthday lunch watching him on the daycare webcam. He sat in the corner and closely observed the regulars. I'm sure he was overwhelmed and hope he gets comfortable at daycare in the near future.. By the time we did this birthday photo shoot, he was exhausted.
Thank you Shai for the lovely flowers and Limerick poem. It reads..
This Urban Stem bouquet is called the Limerick - hence the humorous poem!
I purchased my Forty AF t-shirt and Hello 40 socks from Etsy. I frequent this site for celebratory products. The apparel is good quality and inexpensive. There's also a wide variety of items for every occasion.
Urban Stems is my go-to online flower delivery company. Thank you husbano for the Metropolitan bouquet and your kind words. Oh and thank you Teddy - I love that you singed the card by yourself!
My favorite - a Dior box. I LOVE my new kicks. They're a step down from the oversized "dad shoe", but still sporty. These Dior sneakers are super light and super white (wish me luck keeping them that way).
My birthday celebration ended with famous Georgetown Cupcakes - delicious! I could barely eat one, cause they're so sweet. It was great day - Bindass for lunch and cupcakes for dinner.
Here we are dancing to The Git Up. Thank you husbano for the perfect birthday. I plan on celebrating all week and can't wait to see what else you have planned.. 
I couldn't resist decorating my LED winter tree with Fendi Bag Charms. I've been collecting bag bugs for years and there is a special story to go with each one. I'm not gonna share my silly antics - My Fendi bag charm obsession was and is a little ridiculous. These are my Fendi bag charms from Christmas' past - Kooky, Fur Me, Strangee, Karlito, an angry monster with red eyebrows (I don't remember the name), Birgami, Archy and the white fruits bag charm (pineapple). These furry bag charms aren't on trend anymore, but my obsession with these monsters is profound. Oh and my Toy Poodle is captivated by them. He sits and stares at the tree hoping one will fall into his mouth. That's what Teddy does when he wants something - stares at it like he's using the force! He hasn't mastered telekinesis yet, but he's a determined little bear. 
The Getaway in Shenandoah is a 20 acre plot of land with small cabins scattered about. The cabin (Getaway House) is a thoughtfully designed, cozy space, with all the essentials for a relaxing weekend in the woods. I used to go camping with friends often when I was younger and hadn't thought about a mini adventure vacation in well over a decade - And then I saw the Getaway House on Instagram. I gotta say, Instagram is the perfect platform to advertise. If it wasn't for the GH ad, I wouldn't have found this little haven just two hours from DC.
When we pulled into our personal camping space, we were excited about the setup AND we hadn't even seen inside the cabin yet. First step to the best camping trip is to pour a glass of wine or crack open a beer. Then I walked around the small site and took photos (for the blog). When booking your Getaway House, you can include your dog for a small fee. Upon arrival we noticed there was a long leash attached to the picnic table. We attached it to Teddy's harness and let him roam. He's never been without a short leash and kept looking back to make sure it was ok for him to explore - so cute! The leash was just long enough for him to wander the perimeter of the site. This was a nice amenity for our little bear.
The Getaway House is perfect. A little smaller than I expected from online photos, but the innovative design is everything you need for a short getaway. There's a small table with a bench/step along one side and chair at the other. The bench doubles as a step to the elevated queen size bed. This bed was SO comfortable. There's a small kitchen area, with a two burner stove, mini fridge, sink and shelf with provisions and dishes. The provisions are for purchase. Our host was kind and left s'mores for the adults and doggy s'mores for Teddy. There was also dog dishes. I appreciate the amenities for our Teddy Bear. The bathroom is super small, but clean and has everything you need. You gotta squish by the toilet to close the door and get to the shower, but you are camping, so be happy you have a hot shower. On that note, I kinda drained the hot water, but it was replenished in less than an hour. The shower is tiny, but clean (very important) and featured Pharmacopia shampoo, conditioner and body wash. There's a fan in the bathroom and you can open the small window for ventilation.
Our camping space was located on a small hill, so we were looking down in to the woods. The full-sized window located next to the bed and overlooking the woods was mine and Teddy's favorite feature. You can bring down the blinds at night for more privacy, but we opted for no window coverings, so we could see the sun come up. I was hoping Teddy would see an animal, even a squirrel would do, but no luck this time. I read on Instagram that campers had deer outside their window - Which is nice, as long as you're inside!
We only spent one night at the Getaway House and I was bummed that I didn't get lay by the window all day (check-out is at 11:00 am). Next time I "getaway", Imma lay there all afternoon and relax. I was also terrified that I would look out the window at night and someone or thing would be looking back at me. It's beyond dark and a little scary. I refused to hang by the fire in the dark. I was nervous that we wouldn't see our attacker in time - AHS just started and takes place at a murderous camp in the 1980's.
The small area surrounding the cabin is perfect. There's a picnic table, two Muskoka chairs, logs to place your beverage and a firepit and grill grate. There's also a container containing wood and a few startup logs. The wood is for purchase and all provisions will be charged to your credit card sometime later. We started our fire late and didn't give it the attention required to heat up the grill grate. Our hamburgers took forever and weren't very good. Camping 101 and we botched it. The menu will be better next time and I'm definitely going with hotdogs on the grill - They're super easy. We camped in October and it was really cold in the morning. This would be a great time to get the fire going. Next time we're gonna start the fire in the am and relax by the flames during the day. We'll probably retire early and unwind in the cozy bed when it gets dark. There are many things to do in the area, but we just wanna relax. Maybe next time, we'll take a stroll through the outpost, but I'm not the adventurous type, so there will be minimal activity.
Teddy had the best time. This dog is living his best life - always in the car, going on trips and being spoiled the entire time. I pre-made bacon, scrambled eggs and chicken for him. Spoiled! He laid horizontal across the bed and my husband laid diagonal - I had the worst sleep squished between them. AND Teddy didn't wanna get out of the bed in the morning. He's a lazy camper.
We stayed at the Getaway House for one night to see if we'd like it AND we're obsessed. We've already booked more weekends. It's camping in a small, rustic cabin and is the perfect mini vacation. You can sit by the fire and eat at the picnic table or cook inside and enjoy the view. I'm branding this vacation in the wilderness "glamping".
This innovative camping style is brilliant. Just two hours from the city and you're sleeping in a tiny, simple cabin in the woods. It's perfect for people who just want to relax. Too often we (you're also guilty) miss out on amazing experiences, cause we're on our phone or trying to "capture" the moment. I recommend you shut off your phone and place it in the cell phone lockbox. Get out your camera and take photos the "old fashion" way. Embrace the peace and quiet, cause soon you'll be back at work and counting down the days till your next getaway. 
I'm a detox anything and everything fan - Detox tea, juicing, herbal supplements and more recently, my scalp and hair. Admittedly, I've been lazy in the self-care department, but as of late have been implementing changes to better myself inside and out. I finally mustered up the strength and dedicated myself to a daily exercise routine. I HATE IT! People who say exercising feels good confuse me. Albeit, I'm loosing weight and I love that my clothes are ill-fitting. Other than the intense workout at 8:00 am (I feel like I'm being punished), my hair routine is also suffering. I used to scrub my scalp and strands every third day, but I'm sweating and my hair requires a wash every other day - dry shampoo and a sweaty scalp is a cocktail for gross! My hair is supper oily to begin with, but after 10 minutes on the squat machine and 3 rounds of "9 Exercises to get a flatter stomach", all I wanna do is shower and wash my hair. BUT, I'm lazy! Every other day, I give my head a intense scrub and once a week, I detox my scalp - It's the best feeling. I've tried scalp exfoliators and oils, but they often smell strong, like Tea Tree Oil (eew). In fact, most detox haircare products have an overpowering scent.
If I walk my Toy Poodle before I shower day two, I'll sprite a little product on the back of my scalp to give my limp pony tail and loose strands a little texture. Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray is not a detox product, but rather a dry texturizing spray. The scent is fresh and the light product leaves your hair feeling a little aired-out. This stuff is great for volumizing clean hair too. LOVE! For dry shampoo, my go-to brand is IGK. First Class, Direct Flight, Jet Lag and Fresh AF reign supreme in the kingdom of dry shampoo. IGK First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo is my favorite on the IGK shelf. The scent is strong, but nice and I like that it contains charcoal. Activated Charcoal absorbs - you can drink it, brush your teeth with it and apply to your hair and scalp to absorb the excess oil. IGK First Class Dry Shampoo cleanses your hair, absorbs oil and eliminates odor. Spray the product on to your roots (oily areas) and leave for 10 min (to get the cooling, cleansing affect). THEN, turn your head upside down, massage and shake to distribute and remove access product. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo has a super-strong scent, but it dissipates throughout the day. The Activated Charcoal infused shampoo smells like lemons and leaves your hair feeling fresh. This shampoo also has a patented healthy hair molecule (OFPMA) that fights off dirt and and oil, leaving your hair cleaner for a longer period of time. This shampoo stinks, but it works and has landed a permanent spot in my weekly haircare routine. Triple Detox Shampoo is available in 160 ml and a travel-size 60 ml (love that). I suggest you purchase the smaller tube and give it a try..
I'm a HUGE fan of Bumble and Bumble hair products. I've tried almost everything on the roster. This one however fell short of my expectations and gave me a headache! The potent scent of Bb. Scalp Detox is unbearable! You could use this stuff in warfare! And of course, I got the product all over my hands and clothes while trying to capture a pic of the foam. I had to take a shower and quarantine my photo studio until the smell dissipated. Whether or not it works - I can't say from experience. BUT, Bb. Scalp Detox is a 2018 Best of Beauty Allure Award winner. AND, I gave this fizzing, detoxifying foam to my girlfriend and she loved it!? If you can handle the scent or maybe even like it, this may be the perfect scalp detox solution for you. Bumble and Bumble is a premiere haircare brand and I'm confident that everything in the lineup is amazing. Fingers crossed Bumble and Bumble will launch scent-free haircare..
I LOVE this Invisibobble Sprunchie. I have very fine, short hair and I prefer to wear my hair off my face, but my pony tail is pathetic! This black, velvet- like sprunchie (love the name) stays put and makes my up-do appear fuller. I wrap it once and then tuck my hair in and wrap again to create a messy, mini-bun. My hair is black, so the sprunchie blends well. I can't believe this innovative Invisibobble has been sitting in my studio for months (unused). I need to work faster on these reviews. This sprunchie is a must-have! 
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