August Photo Challenge

Can you believe that August is almost here?!?!  No?  We can't either.  It seems like this year is flying by (well, to me anyways).  As August approaches, Amy and I decided to create our own photo-a-day Instagram challenge.  We both love posting pictures on Instagram and we have both completed (or at least attempted) our fair share of photo challenges, so we thought we would make our own... Two Cents Worth style.  Each day, Amy and I will be selecting our favorite photos.  Then, at the end of the month, we will post a gallery of our favorites here on Two Cents Worth.  You won't know who was selected until the end of the month, so be sure you finish the challenge and you just might get one of your photos displayed here for all of the world to see!  Don't forget to follow Two Cents Worth so that you will remember to check back once it is all completed.

Are you in?  Complete the following steps:

Step 1: Take a screenshot of our challenge and post it on your Instagram account.  Don't forget to include a link to Two Cents Worth so everyone can find out more about the challenge.

Step 2: Take a photo following with your interpretation of theme of the day

Step 3: Post your pictures each day using the hashtag #TCWphotoaday

Step 4: Come back here at the end of the month to view our gallery of favorites

Amy and I will be participating too, so be sure to follow us (I'm @heyitsriss and Amy is @enchantedteacher13) to see what we post each day.

Are you up for the challenge?  Let us know by leaving us a comment.  We can't wait to see all of your awesome photos!

Our Fur Babies: Bella and Luna

As Amy mentioned, we both recently became pet moms.  My husband and I don't have (human) kids yet, so my pups are my babies.

On November 11, 2012, Travis and I decided to bring home an adorable white American bulldog puppy.  We decided to name her Bella.  I had always loved the name Isabella and wanted to save it in case I ever had a daughter.  That is, until one day I mentioned the name and Travis said he really didn't like it.  Instead of letting a cute name go to waste, I decided to name our puppy Bella (which means "beautiful" in Italian... very fitting if I do say so myself).

 

Bella is almost 11 months old now (her birthday is September 7, 2012).  We assume that she was the runt of her litter, as she is only 40 lbs and her vet says she probably won't get any bigger (full grown American bulldogs are about double Bella's size).  She is full of energy.  She loves meeting new people (especially kids).  She loves being chased around the yard (and to chase others... in a friendly way of course).  She can often be found chasing butterflies and baby frogs.  She has a love of squeaky toys, playing fetch, and frequent trips in the car.  She has never met a dog or person that she didn't like.  Bella often gets lonely when she is left by herself, so after some thought, we decided to bring home another puppy.

On July 7th, 2013, we brought home a little Rottweiler puppy, who we named Luna (Bella luna is an Italian phrase meaning "beautiful moon."  If you haven't guessed it yet, I am part Italian).  Luna was born on May 10, 2013 (only 5 days before my birthday), and is now only 11 weeks old.  Just like human sisters, Luna and Bella are both very alike and very different.  While Bella is outgoing, Luna prefers to stay back and observe.  You can usually find her sitting at my feet, watching Bella run around like a dog on Red Bull.  When she doesn't want to do something (like go into her crate at night), Luna rolls over and sweetly begs for a belly rub.  She loves sticks.  I try my best to keep them away from her (or at least keep her from eating them), but she can often be seen carrying sticks (varying from a couple inches to about 2 feet long) around the yard.

The pups are already best friends.  They love wrestling together and playing hide and seek.  They hate beings separated.  They can be very jealous.  If someone pets one of them, the other will run to get her fair share.  They love to cuddle with each other and would gladly snuggle in bed with you if you will let them.

If you can't already tell, I LOVE my fur babies.  I would gladly tell you much more about them, but I will save that for later.  Be sure to come back for more stories about Bella and Luna, as well as other pet related info I find to share with all of you.

Do you have any pets?  If so, tell me about them!  If not, what kind of pet would you like to have?  Either way, I would love to hear from you!

Our Fur Babies: Savannah

Marissa and I both became pet mommies this year and since neither one of us have children, we are basically obsessed with our fur babies. We talk about them CONSTANTLY and love to show them off. After all, they are completely adorable! So I thought I'd begin to introduce you to our little pet pals.

This is my fur baby, Savannah. She is a labradoodle that was born on February 13th, 2013. I brought her home when she was just 10 weeks old and only 18 lbs. Now, she is nearing 6 months old and is just shy of 40 lbs. I can't believe how much she has grown! Savannah is just the sweetest puppy and her tail NEVER stops wagging... even when she visits the vet! She loves greeting her family when they come home, chasing butterflies, lizards, and squirrels in the backyard, eating popsicles (also known as ice cubes), going for long walks, taking long naps, watching the world go by from her window seat, playing catch, racing, and parading her toys around the house to show them off. She hops like a kangaroo when she's excited to play and sleeps like a contortionist, all twisted up, on her back, with her paws in the air. She also gives the best handshakes and the cutest butterfly kisses when you ask her nicely. It has been an absolute joy to watch her grow and discover the world. She makes me laugh all the time and I can't wait to share with you all of the happiness she brings me!

I'm sure that Marissa will introduce her fur babies to you soon! Until then, do you have any pet pals? We'd love to hear about their little quirks and what they do to brighten your day... Don't hold back! We could all use a little dose of cuteness!

Three for Thursday: Power Songs

 

 

Happy Thursday!  Here at Two Cents Worth we have something special for Thursdays.  We call it Three for Thursday, where we post three things that we are loving this week.

This week, I want to share three of my favorite "power songs."  These are songs that I like to listen to when I am feeling down.  Their messages are powerful and say that you are special and strong.

1. "Firework" by Katy Perry

I know, this song has been out for a while, but I still think it is a great song.  I love this song's message that you are beautiful and special.  Times are often tough.  But so are you and you will get through them.

2. "Gold" by Britt Nicole

I love this song's powerful message that you (yes, you!) are worth more than gold.  It is a wonderful reminder that even when we feel worthless, we aren't.  You are beautiful, wonderful, and awesome, so hold your head up!  You rock!

3. "Fire Starter" by Demi Lovato

This is one of my newer favorites.  I absolutely love this song.  It is one of those songs that you sing and it makes you feel stronger and more powerful.  It is one of those songs that even when you aren't tough or super cool, you feel that way.

I could add a few more songs, but this is Three for Thursday, so I'll stop here.

So tell me... what are your power songs?  Is there a specific song that makes you feel more powerful?  If so, leave it in the comments below!

22 Random Facts About Marissa...

In honor of our blog, 2 Cents Worth, opening today, July 22, 2013, I decided that I would share 22 random facts about myself with you.

1. I love my dogs, Bella and Luna, to the point that I am slightly obsessed with them.  If you don't like my dogs, I don't like you.  I talk about them all the time and will find any excuse to show you a picture (or 10) of them.
2. I love two things that start with the letter C: cows and cupcakes.  In fact, I collect them.  You can find several on my desk at work and at my house.  My kitchen is even cow themed.
3. I love social media.  You can find me on twitter (@heyitsriss7) and on Instagram (@heyitsriss7).  I love tweeting my random thoughts, and I take pictures of everything, so my Instagram is full of what I do and where I go. Bella and Luna have their very own Instagram (@BellaAndLuna) because I take so many photos of them.
4. I enjoy writing love letters.  I first fell in love with letter writing while my husband (then fiance) was deployed.  Now, I writing love letters to strangers.
5. Christmas is my favorite holiday.  It is that time of year when everyone is a little nicer and everything is a little more beautiful.  The sounds of Christmas carols.  The smells of Christmas trees, freshly baked cookies, and peppermint.  Christmas brings back many wonderful memories.  My husband even proposed to me on Christmas day!
6. I love crime shows (like CSI:Miami and Criminal Minds) even though I get super paranoid if I watch too many episodes at once.  This, believe it or not, happens more often than you would think.
7. The beach is my favorite place on earth.  From the sand to the bottom of the ocean, I love it all.  I am a certified scuba diver.  While I haven't been able to go for a few years, I am begging my husband to get certified so we can go on lots of adventures together.
8. When it comes to music, I like a little bit of everything.  My favorite is country.  I listen to different things depending on my mood.  I love driving through the country with the windows down, blasting some Taylor Swift.  But sometimes I feel a little nostalgic and break out the ole' *NSYNC or Backstreet Boys.
9. I love baking!  Cupcakes, cookies, brownies... you name it, I love to bake it!  I one day hope to start my own home business baking all-natural dog treats.
10. I am a total bookworm.  I love reading.  I almost always have a book with me (I usually carry them in my big purses)... just in case I ever find a reason to break it out.  Harry Potter is my favorite series.
11. I am a total animal and nature lover.  My husband tells me that I am turning into a hippie.
12. My favorite beverage is sweet tea, but I try to stick to water.  I gave up soda this year.
13. If you like me, bring me peanut butter or chocolate.  If you love me, bring me both.
14. I will never own enough shoes, purses or nail polish.  My husband frequently recommends that I get rid of some.
15. I am the oldest child in my family.  I have a younger sister, Darby.  Now that we are older we are very close.
16. I love sports.  My favorite is football, but I like baseball too.  My favorite teams are the Bulls and the Gators.  My favorite baseball team is the Rays (gotta represent my hometown!)
17. I can't resist a good deal.  I love finding something on sale.  I often post pictures of my finds on Instagram and show my friends (especially my grandmother who taught me how to find them).
18. When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of being a princess.  Today, I still love princesses (my favorite is Cinderella).
19. I love accessories.  I enjoy finding pieces that are unique (like my fishing lure earrings and the survival bracelet that my husband made me).
20. I totally rock out in my car.  I am always practicing just in case I ever happen to audition for American Idol or, more realistically, invited to a karaoke party.  Besides, I love to sing.  While I may not be the best singer in the world, when I'm on my own, I can pretend to be.
21. I have a long bucket list including things like learning to play the ukulele, learning Italian, writing a fiction or poetry book for children, and training a therapy dog.  I have a separate list of all of my ideas for career changes once I hit my mid-life crisis.
22. I love to travel.  I have a long list of places that I would like to visit, here in the United States and abroad.  The farthest I have been from home was when I went on a trip to Italy and Greece when I was a senior in high school.

22 Random Facts About Amy...

1. I’ve seen Taylor Swift in concert 4 times.
2. I named my dog Savannah after a city that I imagine to be beautiful, peaceful, and friendly, although I’ve never actually visited there.
3. I didn’t want to go to college until my senior year of high school. I originally really wanted to be a stay at home mom like my mom, but then I decided I wanted to be a teacher, too…. Probably because I’ve always had a ridiculous love for new school supplies.
4. I wear a size 8 shoe.
5. I am deathly afraid of heights, roller coasters, creepy crawly creatures that slither and/or hop… I also have a completely irrational fear of wasting an awesome outfit on an ordinary day.
6. I L-O-V-E color-coding, labeling, organizing, and list-making.
7. I collect the tags off of Luzianne tea bags in a jar because I like the sayings printed on them.
8. I adore antique keys and speculating about all the doors they once opened.
9. I would love to write a children’s book series one day.
10. Nicholas Sparks is my favorite author. Ever.
11. I dream of living in a white house with lots of windows, hardwood floors, and a wrap-around porch.
12. My mom is my best friend.
13. My favorite number is 13... Many good things have happened to me involving the number 13. My nana was born on the 13th of November. My great-grandmother was born on the 13th of December. My dog was born on the 13th of February of 2013. I once got a job while wearing a pencil skirt that had a sticker for inspector #13 on the  tag during the interview. And just a few days ago, a cashier offered to open a new checkout line for me at register 13 and I got out of the store and into my car just before a thunderstorm hit. …Way to many coincidences for it to not be an awesome number.
14. I own a travel-size thesaurus and I complete crossword puzzles in ink.
15. I own an annual pass for Walt Disney World and I use it frequently.
16. I write love letters to strangers.
17. I curl my hair using a flatiron.
18. My favorite color is turquoise.
19. I love the smell of coffee, but I hate the taste of it. The only thing that I’ve ever ordered at Starbucks is hot chocolate.
20. I still buy actual CDs because I like to look at the pictures and read the lyrics and letters inside of the album art.
21. Christmas is absolutely my favorite holiday. I love sitting in the house with nothing but the Christmas tree lights illuminating the house and I love the joy of tearing into gifts with the whole family sitting on the carpet like little kids. It’s definitely the happiest, most magical holiday.
22. I snort when I laugh REALLY hard… and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

Two Cents

In this section, we will post our comments on life. Each post will be different and will have unsolicited advice, opinions, and humor as all good friends should offer up. If you have something that you'd like us to comment on, shoot us a message! We'd love to hear from you!