Easter

Easter is next week! That's just insane!

When I was little I used to LOVE Easter! My grandparents live on 500 acres of Easter Egg hunting goodness! AND their eggs were filled with quarters, ladies and gentleman...none of this candy crap that people give out these days! Wonder if I could convince my Daddad to put out some quarter eggs this year?!?

Easter used to also mean that it was almost my birthday! Being an early May baby, that was usually the case! Well not this year! With Easter being on March 30...I still have a ways to go!!

I've been busy making some special Easter baskets for my special boys. Oscar Man, naturally. Aron, Jason, and Jax...and Chris. He may be an adult, but you are never too big for the Easter bunny to bring you goodies =)

Wanna see what I've been up to?

Oscar already got his "Basket..." The Outward Hound Kyjen sling. I had planned on opening it up and filling it with his treats, but Chris and I took him to the Dulles Pet Expo last weekend and didn't want to walk him on a leash because there would be a lot of other dogs there, so I had to bust into it early.

 And here he is in it:

He will be getting a couple of new rawhides, too =)

As for Aron, Jason and Jax....

A good friend of mine's daughter has started her own business sewing different things for around the house. All natural and eco friendly...my favorite. She is an awesome mom, a tattooed mom, a military wife...all my favorite. So I HAD to support her! 

When she posted about these little beauties for sale, I just had to get one for each boy. They are amazingly constructed, super cute, and she made them in fabrics to match each boys room! Camo for Aron, Pirates for Jason, and Motorcycles for Jax!! 

Awesome Easter Bunnies from One-Eyed Jack Cloth! Check her out on etsy!

And Chris...well yeah right, I'm not going to post anything about his! That would ruin the surprise. I CAN tell you that it will be a funny mix of manly things, kid things, and delicious things!

What do you want in YOUR Easter basket?

2012 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly...

Traditionally I have written a "Top 10" post to round out the year. A list with pictures of my family's best moments, vacations, etc to show you all just what we have been up to (2010 and 2011)

Well...I'm going to be perfectly honest. 2012 was rough. And that's an understatement.

I was very reluctant to link up the 2010 and 2011 posts from my old blog...because as I look back on them my "best of" moments were actually not very good at all. Things were very hard for me in Chicago, and I played it all off like life was good and we were a happy little family with our 2 pups and life was just swell.

 The Ugly:
If you have been following me, you know that it was not. My VERY BEST moment of 2012...

Leaving Chicago. This was the single most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. It was the easiest decision I have ever made, but it was not easy to do. Does that even make sense? My marriage was over LONG before I left, but I was scared...terrified even, to leave. It is something that I cannot even begin to describe to you. Maybe one day.
All I know is that I am stronger, smarter, happier and have never felt more alive than I do now. Being HOME with the people who love and care about me has never felt so good.

Aside from leaving my husband and loosing my home, I also left behind and AMAZING job in Chicago. I could not have been any happier than I was in that position. My boss taught me everything I know about Cardiology and gave me the skills that made it possible for me to take the position that I am in now. He and his wife also were so generous to me during my struggle after leaving, and I can never thank them enough for that.


The Bad:
In the midst of picking up the pieces of my life, I lost one of the most influential and important people in it. My Ma. I'm 28 and until August 6th had all four of my grandparents living. I have lost a few friends, but never someone extremely close.

She has been slowly slipping away from us, body and mind, for the last 5-7 years, but that never makes it any easier. I still called her every Sunday and answered her as she repeated the same questions and reminded her of day-to-day details that were sometimes fuzzy to her.

She was the epitome of a Southern lady. Always dressed to the nines. She loved all animals, the Redskins, and her family...especially her grandchildren.

She died on a Tuesday morning at quarter to six. I cried all the way to work, and still do some days. I miss her like crazy. Her funeral was beautiful, just as she would have wanted it.

My Daddad is doing OK. At 85 he really has no physical or mental restrictions and is enjoying things that he has not been able to do for years because so lovingly has been caring for Ma. I've called him and found him to be out metal detecting, gardening, fishing, on skype with his brother or reading a book She died 2 months before their 63rd wedding anniversary. I can only hope to find love like that.

The Good:
Finally...enough of this depressing crap!!
Despite my emotional train wreck, some good things DID happen in 2012! Being in Chicago for the last 4 years, it KILLED me to be away from friends and family. Coming back home meant just that...being HOME.
Two of the very first people I rushed to go see (aside from Mom, Dad, Erin and Hannah!) were of course, Aron and Jason...my dudes, my stinkers, my main men.

Aron and Jason have been through a lot this year as well. Their dad is one of my very best friends, and I'm happy to say that 2012 brought him:
1. A final divorce from their mother (sounds bad, but is a very good thing)
2. A marriage to Gioia (yay!)
3. A beautiful new home
4. The birth of the boy's brother!!

Meet Jackson...he melts me <3

 Just after my grandmother died, I got some new ink...my cousin (well...2nd cousin, once removed) Brian did it. Through some genealogy research, Brian found us on facebook and had been communicating with my aunts, dad, myself etc. He is an accomplished tattoo artist and I am VERY lucky to call him my cousin. He is still working on it, so I do not have a picture...but stay turned for the end result as well as before and after shots, as this is a cover up job!

Oscar has THRIVED since we moved back home. I was initially very worried about him being away from Lyla, since they had been pretty much joined at their cute little doxie hips since they were 6 months old.
Separating them was not ideal, but that is what had to happen, and there was no way in hell that Kurt was going to keep Oscar up there, so that is the compromise that I made.
Since coming to Virginia, he has:
1. Lost a pound (That's a lot for a little dog! And ideal weight  for him!)
2. Learned to safely navigate up and down stairs (He NEVER did stairs before, had to be carried)
3. Continued to ring his jingle bell on the back door to go outside, and even "taught" some of the other dogs to do the same
4. Gotten to sleep in bed with Momma (Never could before, because Lyla could not be trusted

I signed on to be an Independent Creative Partner with Initials Inc. in November. I've already earned some extra money and free product. I like that I have the freedom to work as much or as little as I want to, and hope to continue to do well with this. With a little slice of luck, I can do well enough with this to cut down on my hours at work and be able to go back to school!

That was a hella long post, but its been a hella long year.
Happy New Year!!

Our Christmas List...

So here we are, What I like to call "Christmas Eve Eve"

What is on your list?
Oscar and I have a little imaginary list going on here. We haven't shared it with anyone, so we know we aren't getting any of it, ha ha =)

In all reality, we are SO glad to be home with my family for the first time in 4 years. I am safe, and not in fear for my safety this year. I am not working 80+ hours to try and support an alcoholic husband. I am still battling the migraines, but less than last year! We have a roof over our heads, a warm bed to sleep in, I have a job (and Initials Inc!,) and a car to drive, and a little bit of money in my pocket! Because of these things, I've got EVERYTHING I want for Christmas, and this will the best Christmas I've had in a long time!

Doesn't mean a girl can't wish, right??

So...in no particular order =)

1. Lasik surgery! My contacts are such a pain in the butt, and my glasses are an old Rx, and I can't really wear them except around the house. I'd loooooove to wake up, roll outta bed and be able to SEE!

 

2. A finalized divorce and financial papers!!

3. A REALLY good year with Initials Inc! Complete with tons of parties, sales, and maybe even a few recruits! There is an Initials Inc. conference in Atlanta in July that I would love to go to as well, hoping to make enough selling that I can go!

 4. Headache Ice Pillow from Amazon.com

 

5.  Turquoise or Aqua down comforter. My current one is VERY old, and Lyla chewed a hole in it a while ago. I keep putting packing tape over the whole, but that's pretty lame. I'd love a new one!!

6. Some new scrubs, including jackets. Scrubs get worn out, just like anyone else's "work clothes." So I could use some new tops, pretty good on pants. I've never been into wearing the jackets. I usually just wear long sleeved shirts under the tops. But since Jennifer has been on maternity leave, I've been stealing her black jacket almost every day, and I like it =) Since she will be back in mid-January, I should probably get my own!

 

7. New coat. All of my coats are "Chicago" rated. Totally unnecessary for down here. I really like this Carhartt one. They also have a pretty turquoise one that I saw. Something that will last, but doesn't need to be rated for sub-zero temperatures and 3 feet of snow!

8. Dog food. His stuff is pretty expensive. I love him and it helps keep him slim and trim, so I pay the $40 a bag, but if Ol' Saint Nick wants to help me out, by all means, throw a few bags in the sleigh!

9. Rawhides, Nylabones, Flea and tick meds, and anything else for Momma's boy...I usually would rather not eat lunch and pay for his stuff, so I'll just go ahead and ask for it for Christmas :)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

 

Weiner dogs on Wednesday, Halloween edition!

Happy Halloween from Whem and Osc!!

This is a pic from 2 years ago, the only year I ever successfully had Oscar in a costume. He usually snarls and adamantly refuses!

I look like I got hit with the ugly stick...but I love my little Jager bomb :)

Weiner dogs on Wednesday

My boy loves pumpkin...unfortunately when you are trying to decorate, he wants to eat those too...

(This pic is obviously from last year...I wouldn't torment myself by putting out my "Oscar and Lyla spook here" signs...missin' my girl, but SO happy to have my Osc!)

Ribbon, ribbon, who has some ribbon?

I do! That is for damn sure!

I LOVE ribbon...a little too much. In fact, the other day my mom said if I had any scrap ribbon, I should gather it up and give it to her to take to the preschool.

I looked at her, arched one eyebrow, and growled said "I don't share ribbon."

I'm always on the hunt for projects to use up scrap ribbon. Actually I hate that term, "scrap ribbon." It's just ribbon that got separated from its spool, hasn't found its potential yet...that doesn't make it "scrap." Ugh.
When you loose a small child at the mall, do you call it "scrap?" No? I didn't think so.

Anyway...here are a few ribbon projects I've done in the past that I love:

My Easter topiary centerpiece done with a Styrofoam ball; pink, green and yellow ribbons; a dowel and a flower pot!

Wrapping presents is a PERFECT use for small, extra pieces of ribbon!

Oscar approved Christmas wreaths! Just buy a cheap Styrofoam or grapevine wreath and tie till your fingers hurt! Add a fun ornament or other charm in the middle for a fun touch :) Tutorial here at my old blog!

40 (or 30 or whatever! sucks) craft/gift bucket with lollipops/suckers. I used TONS of said scrap ribbon on this projects! Tutorial here@ the old blog!

So there are Four projects just off the top of my head...what do YOU use ribbon for???

Weiner dogs on Wednesday

On our way to Mid-Atlantic Dachshund Phest...with Sophie (shes a wannabe Doxie at heart!)

Weiner Dogs on Wednesday

So smug at such an early age...Oscar at 4 months old

So what!

So I've recently discovered Shannon, over at Life after I "Dew," at the recommendation of my friend, Kate...and she cracks me up. I know that I usually do Weiner dogs on Wednesdays, but I thought I would switch it up and do "So what Wednesday," along with Shannon today!

So, without further ado.

SO WHAT if...

[I don't get into The Voice, American Idol, Dancing with the stars, Survivor]

[The only reason I get up and go to work every morning is because of my patients, I love them. Well, most of them]

[I have a huge tattoo on my back, its not your back, so get over it]
[I do the bare minimum of laundry required to get me through each week, so the pile keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger. I hate laundry]
[I ate pop tarts for dinner tonight]
[I picked at Jackson's cradle cap the other day, I know you aren't supposed to...but I did, I had to, I couldn't help myself]
[I didn't really like 50 shades of Gray...I think Christian Gray is an asshole and a control freak]
[My biological clock, so to speak, ticks so loud sometimes and sometimes I feel like I could wait another 10 years or so to have a kid!]
[Sometimes I tell my patients that they can't talk during their testing...which is not true, but I just don't want to listen to them]
[I work 4 days a week and it exhausts me, 4 days on my feet, busting my ass...but its still only 4 days...]
[I have more underwear and socks than any human being need...this keeps me from having to do laundry too often (see above)]
[My best friend is a guy, he is married and has 3 kids. We often hang out with the kids, and without his wife, and people love spreading rumors, I find it hilarious]
[I can't wait for snow]
[I'm happiest with a paintbrush, marker, or needle and thread in my hand]
[I'd rather hang out with Oscar than a lot of people I know]
[I don't like sushi, and I'm never going to]
[I'm terrified of the dentist]
[I have a mad crush on our FedEx delivery guy]
Thats it for now. So what!

Weiner dogs on Wednesday

This will be my first Weiner dogs on Wednesday post with out the man himself pictured in it =(
Poor guy...actually he doesn't mind a bit! More play time and less of me-making-him-sit-still-for-the-camera time.

Christmas is coming, people. It's already the middle of September. It seems like it was just February and Oscar and I were moving back home to Virginia! Time to start planning gifts, menus, decorations, cards, and the tree!

Did I mention that Oscar has his own tree? I've never taken a picture of it for some reason, but I will this year. It started because when he was a baby, I bought a little doxie ornament, and then a lady at church bought me a set of four, really cute crocheted dachshund ornaments that Crate and Barrel had out that year, and then a co worker got me one, and then it just went crazy from there. The dog ended up with around 20 ornaments on his first Christmas when he was six months old, so I got him a little tree.

Now, for the last two years we had red dachshund ornaments on the tree as well, and he shared with Lyla, but this year, its back to being just HIS tree, and I will mail all of those ornaments back to Kurt's mom...because I'm a nice person and I know that she will appreciate them since they have Lyla living with them now. Only black or silver dapple doxies this year, on the tree...I promised him ;)

So? What does this have to do with Weiner dogs on Wednesday? I came up with a cute Christmas card idea that I'm pretty sure we will be using this year. (We being Oscar and I...)

The JOY is a card stock overlay that was purchased from a store in Elmhurst, IL, called Creative Cuts and Crafts. It is intended for Iris folding. It comes in a package of 5 with Bazzil (shiny paper) cards and envelopes for around $5-6. I REALLY miss having them around.They had amazing products including iris folding patterns and pre-cut cards, would do custom cut scrapbook pages or cards, and held some awesome classes in their store.

The Dachshund stamp was purchased from Doxie Stamps, they can be found at cowtownstamps.com. I just stamped him on a small piece of white card stock and taped it onto the back of the JOY piece, making sure not to cover any of the 'J' or the 'Y.'

The 'Merry Christmas' stamp is from Hobby Lobby, another store I miss from Chicago. There is one in Fredericksburg, but that's an hour away, I used to have one less than a mile from my office. Dangerous? Yes!  I stamped that on there with silver ink.

I haven't done anything on the inside yet. I may put a picture of the Osc man and myself, or I might print a little greeting or Bible verse off of the computer, haven't decided.

 I have 3 packages of these from Creative cuts and crafts, and I then I have a light box and a craft knife to try and make them myself.

I've gotten 2 Christmas gifts already too. Just because they were on sale, and seemed to be a really good deal.

Has anyone else given any thought to Christmas yet?

Whoa!

Whoa is right...I drooled on myself a little when I saw this picture. I just found this chocolate Whopper cake on pintrest and I cannot WAIT to make it! I know just the right birthday coming up to do it for too!

Speaking of birthdays, am I REALLY turning 28 in 2 weeks? Whoa!

I'm really OK with 28. I know its that much closer to 30, but this year is about new beginnings, and rebuilding myself, and I think that 28 will suit me just fine :)

I got an email asking about Oscar, he is doing well. He regrets to inform you all that he is back to sleeping in a crate most nights. His mean old Momma has decided that trying to share a twin sized bed with a very selfish doxie is just too hard on nights when she has to get up and go to work in the morning!

When we get our own place, I will have a queen bed again, and he will regain his bed time privileges.

Wiener dogs on Wednesday!

I think it's time to bring this back! I had it on www.Rosenberghfam.blogspot.com and although unfortunately my Lyla bug is still in Chicago, Oscar is here to stay and ready to be in the spotlight for some Wednesday blog posts!!

Some of you may be wondering how the little man is doing without his sister, and how he has adjusted to the move and everything, and to that I am happy to report that he is doing great!
1. We are very fortunate to be living with my mom and dad right now, who have 3 Italian greyhounds. While I wouldn't say that Oscar is exactly "friends" with them, I think he likes having them around.

2. He is now on a once a day feeding schedule, since they are...and he really seems to be doing well with that! He has lost some weight and seems to actually EAT his food when it is dinner time, instead of just picking at it.

3. He and I have both been exercising more and walking at night too, since my parents neighborhood was basically built for dog walking...its 1 mile exactly all the way around and has sidewalks and friendly people.

4.  Oh, and the best part...since Lyla was not very trustworthy in the house alone, both dogs were in the crate at night, every night. Lyla had a tendency to pee on our bed, on the couch...pretty much anywhere she pleased, but Oscar never has accidents. So what does that mean? He gets to sleep in my bed with me...every night, this dog is in heaven!

Poor thing looks miserable, doesn't he?

A little about Osc...

Osc is short for Oscar, short for Oscar Mayer.

Osc is a silver double dapple dachshund.

Osc loves plastic bottles, stuffed toys, and one particular toy I've named "squeaky face," it is a fox that he has destroyed everything except the face.

Osc has literally saved my life before. As I mentioned before, I suffer from chronic migraines and I have passed out before, and he has licked my face until I woke up, and barked for someone to come and help.

Osc was brought home to live with us wen he was 11 weeks old.

Osc can ring jingle bells to alert me that he needs to go outside.

Osc is adjusting to living with my parent's 3 Italian Greyhounds pretty well so far, he likes the company, but likes when we retreat back to my room at night and he can be alone!

Here we are, our brand new life...

Hello there, it's me Emily from Rosenberghfam.blogspot.com
It's a little hard to continue a blog called "Rosenbergh Fam," when you are no longer a  "Fam," and once you serve the guy with divorce papers, you won't be a Rosenbergh anymore either right?

I have a ton of new ideas for this blog, and now that I have lived though all of this,I have watched my hard earned money go to "Sams liquor store," over and over and over. I have been lied to so many times that I wonder if I will ever trust a man again? I have been yelled at, I have seen alcohol change the man I loved into a monster and I have been a victim of the abuse of an alcoholic husband, I feel like I can reach out to those who are wondering...what the HELL do I do?!?

I will continue to do crafty posts, thrift store finds, Wiener Dog Wednesdays (I still have one of those...the BEST one a girl could ask for!!) as well as What I wore, and MORE exciting things.

I thank all of you for being supportive, and I hope that this new blogging journey can be as successful as the last one, but ten fold!!!

Please say your prayers for me as I try and drive my car with an 8 foot UHaul trailer behind it through 6 inches of snow today to get back to the OLD DOMINION. Lord how I have missed Virginia!!!!

Lots of love!
Whem (a childhood nickname...since I'm going to live in my childhood home, I found it appropriate) and Osc the wonder dog!!!

Whats a post without a pic???

Osc the wonder dog, Momma's greatest support!