We put the FUN in Fundraiser!

This Sunday, May 4th is PERROS de MAYO!!! If you have been to this event before I am sure you are just as excited as I am that it is rolling around again! If you have not been then you better get your bootie out for this event! It is a ton 'o fun! Seriously! I am not just saying that because I happen to be a bit biased...it really, REALLY is so fun! Lemme tell you a bit about it - Music, beer, food, dogs! What more do you need? Okay, there is also a rockin' silent auction and a raffle (here's a secret about the raffle - as the day goes on, just holler out your ticket #, you'll get somthing!). If all of this was not enough this event is held at Austin's most fabulous pub - The Ginger Man!!! Like 80+ beers on tap, comfortable, relaxed atmosphere, and an amazing staff.

Oh, and the Music! The line up this year is to die for! Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines (Texas legend of a producer and steel guitar player), Susan Gibson, Graham Wilkinson, Sally Allen, Hilary York (Hilary has played every benefit BDR has ever had at the G-man and we LOVE her for it!), porterdavis, Seela, and special guest Ian Moore.

It's fun all day long and 100% of the money goes to Blue Dog Rescue. So it's even better knowing the fun you are having is supporting a great cause. Did I mention the great beer and yummy food - oh, and Sangria!

So, Sunday May 4th from 1-9 pm. 304 W. 4th in Austin between Lavaca and Guadalupe. Be there or be square!

How do you recycle?

It's Earth Day, How do you recycle? Here's one way that I recycle - I save any and all bottle caps and I get all my friends and family to save 'em too! Then I turn them into these fun and funky dog tags, key rings, whatever you want to use them for. And it's fun! I put saint medals in them (St. Francis for my doggies), initials, pictures of people I love (Tom Selleck!!!), or symbols like hearts and paw prints. Here's what I'm thinking - If you would like to order one go to my web site and order away - then in the buyer notes tell me you saw this on my blog and I will give HALF of the money to Blue Dog Rescue! You get something fun and recycled AND get to help your favorite rescue group - well, my favorite rescue group anyway! :) Happy Earth Day - do something you love!

I feel like a Rock Star!

Okay, so I think it's pretty cool that I work for myself. I get to play with tools and hammer stuff, it's not glamorous but it's cool.

Wouldn't it be great if we could all feel ike a Rock Star the majority of our days? Love what you do and do what you love? Find what inspires you and make it part of your life...

You gotta watch Oprah!!

Okay, tomorrow on Oprah - don't quit reading now just because I started out with "Tomorrow on Oprah"!! Seriously, tomorrow Friday April 4th on Oprah she is doing an expose on puppy mills. Please, if you love me at all, or even just like me, or even if you don't know me - whatever, tell everyone you know to watch this! Let me quickly say, I don't do this, I never do this, try to push my beliefs on other people (well, I do like a healthy debate) - but this is so important. I have dedicated a HUGE part of my life to saving dogs for nearly 10 years now. It is sad and can be depressing and can feel very hopeless at times. That is why I am so excited about this show. Little ole me would never get a gazillion people to listen to me like Oprah does - hell, I don't know if a single sould will read this blog, but people do watch Oprah and like her or not you won't be able to argue with what you will see on her show tomorrow. Educate yourself, share it with your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. When we know better we do better. Let's make sure we know better.

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200804/tows_past_20080404.jhtml?promocode=HP51

By the way, this is a photo of THE most beeeeeUteeful girl in the world. My Seven dog! My husband and I rescued her from the Austin Humane Society 10 years ago when she was just nine weeks old. She is beyond precious to us. She's a mix of maybe some heeler, maybe some dingo, could be some other stuff thrown in. She doesn't have "papers". She's not pedigree. She's not going to ever be in some fancy dog show. But she has given us more than any first place ribbons ever would. She kisses me when I am sad, she makes me laugh, she's a watch dog like crazy, she adores my husband, she's the total boss of the hot sauce - and I sure didn't need papers for any of that.

http://www.perfinder.org/

http://www.bluedogrescue.com/

Help from my sweet Mama!

Every now and then, and especially around the holidays, when I get really swamped my sweet mother will come over and help me work. She like to hammer stuff! So she usually ends up helping me with these bangles. So today she came over to help and hammered out a big ol stack of bangles for me...sometimes I get real big orders and I think 'who do they think I am? China?!?' When in fact it just me...and my sweet mama, my hubby, my friend Marlys, my little brother (when I pay him), and occasionally my dad if I bribe him with beer and pizza!

So, this awesome photo of the bangles we were making today is by local photographer Casey Woods. Super cool, huh? I love it! My friend and 'little sister' haley modeled for me...this is actually her BACK, not her front! I used this photo for a post card and I have gotten some weird looks...maybe most people can't put their hands behind their back this way...lemme try...nope, I can't really do it. But I still love the photo no matter how many funny looks the backwards boobies get! Ha!

Closet Home Body

I have got to leave my house more often! I need the practice. I swear, it took me FOREVER to get out the door this morning! The dogs were not cooperating. They were looking at me like "what are you doing? this is not what we do. we eat, we go in and out about a hundred times, we sleep, we bug you while you try to work, we bark at each leaf that blows by the front yard. but we don't go to 'our rooms' first thing in the morning!" So, between the dogs, tho phone ringing, me forgetting everything - it took like 20 minutes to get out the door. Veruca Jane had to go to the vet for her annual, I had to go to the bank, post office, buy dog food, etc. But I have to tack an extra half hour just to get out the $%&* door! So, if you are ever wondering why I seem like a home body, now you know - it's too much trouble to leave the house! :)