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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Bringing Home Cooper

 Mr. Cooper McGuire
Our introduction to Cooper with his former owner :)

Last Wednesday night, 2-16-11, our neighbor Sara asked me if Mark and I would be interested in having a dog. Being that Mark had mentioned adopting a dog early in the month, I told Sara that we may be interested. I asked her why, and who the dog was...
She told me that her friend had a year and 3 mo. old "Yorki-Poo," which is a popular crossbreed now...a Yorkshire Terrier mixed with a Poodle. She had purchased this pup for her 16 yr. old daughter who wanted him. Now, 1 year later, the pup was no longer getting the attention he needed from her daughter. The mother said that she wasn't really a dog person and this was a gift for her daughter and her daughter's responsibility... We have all heard this story too many times. It is sad when a pup gets a home and then no longer is wanted.

I asked my friend and neighbor, Sara, to send me a picture and to ask her friend if we could meet the pup if Mark gave me the go ahead. Later that night, Mark came home from playing softball with the Broward Seminole Club...he looked exhausted but I needed to ask him because I had told Sarah I would get back to her immediately (Cooper was on the way to the Humane Society if a home could not be found soon...)

So I did what any good housewife would do when I need a loving husband's answer...I made Mark and amazing steak dinner :)
I set the table with all of our new dishes, new silverware, wine glasses, 2 big marinated steaks, a large fresh flower centerpiece that Mark bought me on Valentine's Day...and then I started my "potential pup story." He didn't answer right away...so I waited...and waited...
He later said, "So this dog...its a "Yorki-what?" haha I knew a "foo foo" breed was not up Mark's alley, but I figured if his temperament was good, we may have a home for this pup.  Above is the picture that I was emailed of Cooper to show Mark. I loved his little face from the second I saw him.

Thursday night came around and the Cooper's owner told my neighbor Sara that she would let me have the dog for the weekend to get to know Cooper. This way, we would get more time to decide and basically fall in love with him.
I brought him home that evening, took a little video of him for my friends to see on facebook and weigh-in on, and waited for Mark to come home...
We had plans on this night to watch our wedding video together, so it worked out perfectly when Cooper cuddled up with Mark for our viewing party.

 
Cooper and Mark hitting it off :)

So, after we watched our wedding video and had a few glasses of wine, I could tell that Mark was playing with Cooper and this may be a match!
Lucky for me, Mark likes all-big or small- dogs, but he prefers "a dog with a snout." He jokes and tells me that my mom's dogs, which are Shih Tzu pups, are not real dogs because they don't have a snout and their face is pushed in. RUDE! So Cooper is a "real dog" apparently to Mark, haha. Cooper may be a "designer breed" as he is a "Yorkie-Poo" ...but you would look at this dog and just think he's a terrier mutt :) He gets along with everyone (even kids and other dogs) which is great. He is still exploring and getting used to us and our habits. His previous owner, had a doggy door for him so that he could go in and out whenever - so he is now learning: how to go on walks, walk on a leash, eating lots of food & treats! (I am trying to put a couple of more pounds on him since he is pretty thin right now), and all the sounds in his new home now that he lives in a condo (which has a balcony that we keep open a lot... bringing in sounds of birds and other pups playing downstairs.) Overall, Cooper is a adjusting very well, and we are very happy to have a new addition in our little family. We jokingly call him our son, being that it will be a while until we have kids, which leads to Mark treating him extra special :)
I can't wait to introduce him to our friends and extended family! We love our curly little mess, Cooper McGuire.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Sunday's Sun Trust Jazz Brunch


I didn't take any pictures on Sunday...I think I was too busy eating and people watching :) Anyways, Mark and I met up with our friends, Patrick and Annie for the first Sunday of the month's jazz brunch on riverwalk, which is located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It is something that has been going on for years and years, but is always the one thing I always forget about. I went when I was a lot younger with my parents and our dog, Joey, and I remember loving it. It is nothing spectacular by any means, but when you have beautiful weather year-round - this is the perfect way to spend a relaxing Sunday with friends. There is a catered Brunch I believe that it set up at the Broward Performing Arts Center across the street for those who would like something set up for them... For us, we wanted to bring our own picnic foods and set up blankets and chairs like most. It is something that you should get there early for because it does fill up...
These are just pictures I found online through the wonderful "Google Images" tab so that you can get a mental image of our Sunday's brunch. :) Hope to see you out there on the next 1st Sunday of the month!

People with their umbrella's- watching the jazz bands

more brunch picnics


some take their boats to get there



 (not on a jazz brunch day...not busy as you can tell)





Some of our brunch items.....mimosas is a brunch MUST :)
love our shrimp!
another brunch must! FRUIT
Our fave: Croissants and Nutella :) YUM


So you get the picture....Anytime I can have an excuse to have a brunch, to see friends, to lay in sun along the waterway, and to do it all in my favorite city- Ft. Lauderdale, FL...the Sun Trust Jazz Brunch is a free & fun way to do it! We will be here more often now. The times that it takes place makes it perfect to head over right after church. The bands play from 10am-2pm - and even if you get there later than 10am like we did....you can still sit around and stay as long as you like.
Hopefully you have already been to this, but if not- we recommend it for your next lazy 1st Sunday of the month. :)
Happy Brunching.

Friday, February 4, 2011

National Signing Day 2011

2-2-11
Mark has been awaiting National Signing Day as if he were 5 years old again and counting down the days until Christmas morning...
I don't blame him, though.  It was just funny watching him read and review (on a nightly basis) the potential players coming in and even hoping for the ones he has had the opportunity to meet in the past.
There was no doubt about this year being a turning point for Florida State Football. This signing day was going to be the outcome of all the the hard work put in by FSU Administration, the coaches, the players, FSU Boosters, and even the smaller-nationwide Seminole groups who all put time, money, and energy into seeing that the program attracts young talent. Last year was Coach Jimbo Fisher's first year as head coach, and it was a great kick off to what is just the beginning. He did great with what he had, and now has all eyes on his program. Florida State, as many people my age sometimes do not realize, was a powerhouse. The years I went to FSU was a turning page and regrouping. Learning what we were, and could be again is exciting to me. Even if you are not a huge football fan, the attraction it brings on a national level makes an impact for the University in all areas. It all works hand in hand. 
Back to signing day on Wednesday...
We were invited by a friend of ours to the Seminole Boosters, Inc. event at Hugh's Catering.

Mark, Patrick, and myself

Here we were to watch a live reaction and commentary by Coach Jimbo Fisher and others about the entering class and watching highlights of the previous season's games.
The venue was great! It was the first time I had ever been, and excited because I learned that they even host wine tastings and cooking classes! :)

the entrance (from their website)


One of the rooms inside (from their website)

They had an open bar and amazing food. The mini crab cakes were addicting and hard to stay away from!
For the live broadcasting, the Boosters logged in and watched above on a projection screen.


It was a great night seeing friends of ours and meeting new ones as well.

Mark and Neil

Talking with Patty :)

The evening was a great way to celebrate the efforts of all those involved with the program. At this event alone, the Seminole Boosters (If I heard correctly, do not quote me) raised about 2 million dollars. The revenue for the University and Athletics Program are in integral part of making Florida State University a dominant institution all around. Mark and I enjoyed meeting people that play such an important role on the National and Local level for FSU. We are very excited to become even more active this year with the Seminole Club of Broward County.