Hello loves! 
First things first, if you’re in a reader, please click out! New layout is up, with my content slowly being updated as well!
I hope everyone is having a fabulous long weekend – I’ve been spending mine, after an insanely crazy work month that only guarantees to get crazier over the next two months, lounging in pajamas and watching copious amount of movies. Read: Happy Brittney. I also went and saw the new Transformers movie and loved it! I’m a sucker for action movies and an even bigger sucker for Shia LaBeouf.
However, I wanted to take a second while I cook dinner (can you say I Love You, Mashed Potatoes?) to give a wee little update on myself! Because I’m vain like that and assume you wanted one! 
On Work: Some of you have been so sweet to ask how working from home is going – and I will tell you when it happens, lol! Working for a giant company has a lot of perks, but the process of exchanging desktops for laptops is not one of them, and I only just received it all last week, so I’ll let you know soon!
On Books: Oh, literary love. I finished yet another Diane Chamberlain novel that I enjoyed, Before the Storm, and am diving into three new purchases: The Happiness Project (I love this idea and foresee it on this blog once I am done!), The Midwife’s Confession and A Dog’s Purpose. Squee!
On Bailey: If you follow my Twitter, you know that Face has been slowing down a bit on walks – more so than his normal “OMFGITSHOTHERE” summer slowness, but nothing stand-out as far as injuries. A trip to the vet has determined that our unfortunate joke that “nothing is made right on this dog” has rung true again and the culprit seems to be that his hips, which have never been the proper width for his stature, have caught up to him. He has spent his life shifting his weight just a touch forward to compensate, which means he has ripped front arms and less muscle tone on his hind legs – and more strain on his spine, which is causing some calcification as he ages (ouch!). We’re undergoing a few x-rays in a couple weeks to make sure we’re not missing anything else, but for now we’ll continue his Cosequin DS and non-steroidal pain pills for his aches when needed. My poor little bear.
On Family: Our little abode of two humans is about to grow to three – but no, I’m not preggers (it just appears that way, oops)! Some of you may recall my post about finally meeting my middle cousin, Ashley, last year. After some family drama, I lost touch with her and her two siblings – and thanks to Facebook, after ten years of searching, I relocated her in January 2010 and we met in July 2010. Long story short, she’s now 20 and in need of a change, and she’s moving in with us as a good middle step between childhood and adulthood on July 30th! We’ll help cover living expenses while she attends college here locally, and we’re excited to be able to help!
On Life: With our vacation just a month away, I am looking for a handful of guest bloggers! If you have a clever DIY project, let me know! Or got another great idea? No guarantees, but run it by me! It’s always nice to promote fresh new faces! And Ashley and I may join together to tackle a new blog challenge: baking our way through all of Martha Stewart’s cupcakes – while making them gluten-intolerance friendly! SWEET (literally).
Happy Fourth! How did you spend it?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I said this yesterday, but it’s definitely worth saying again: I LOVE your new layout! So pretty!!!
I’m so sorry about Bailey!
Poor thing!!! I love my fur babies so much, they really are mine and Jen’s children. So I totally understand.
Our fourth was spent eating good food, napping, relaxing and gaming! ^_^
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Brittney Reply:
July 5th, 2011 at 8:40 am
So we totally had the same 4th!
Mmm, lazy goodness, lol. I agree – the pups are our kids, too, so I feel so bad for the little man. It may just be pain management from here on out, alongside supporting his current muscle tone and bones, but we’re going to look into hydrotherapy sessions as well! 
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Love love love the new layout!
Glad to see that you had a relaxing weekend!
So sorry to hear about Bailey
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Brittney Reply:
July 5th, 2011 at 8:45 am
Thanks love! Luckily he’s a trooper and we’ll just make sure he keeps doing things that help – like being lifted in/out of the car, using his pet steps to get on/off the bed and couch, yada mcyada! And thanks for the compliment about the layout!
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Aw, I am so sorry about your poor puppy
Like the new layout as well! Very cute.
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Brittney Reply:
July 7th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Luckily he seems to be chipper on both, so crossed fingers!
and thank you!
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Great layout – I’m glad you told me to click out of the reader or I wouldn’t have seen it! #badblogreader. Yes, that’s a hashtag in the comments section.
Very generous of you to open your home up like that – I hope everything goes smoothly : )
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Brittney Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
LOL I do love how hashtags are taking over… because they’re #awesome.
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Ahhh! I love how your little cutie “helps” you blog. My cat is very helpful in this way too!! ;P
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