Friday Favorites Five vol. 8

After having a holiday on Monday (no work!) this week, this Friday snuck up on me.  I ain't complainin'.

Let's get to these Friday Favorites Five, shall we?

Favorite funny instagram post from a friend: "When you look cute but you're not summer ready"

 

 Favorite "thinking of you" post from a friend:  One of my bestest girlfriends from Texas posted this picture on my facebook.  She knows that bluebonnet season is my favorite time of year back home.

   

Favorite Friday flashback song:  Near the end of the video, there's an awesome choreography with Billy and his Uptown Girl...yea, I may have just caught myself doing the same dance to this song on the radio.  

Favorite picture of proof that my hairstylist is a bigger bad ass than yours: Sara got her pro-card and won the overall fitness model division, and she will represent Australia at a competition in South Africa.  Believe me.  I will never complain about my hair - because she can hurt me with one punch and because she does such a fabulous job!

Favorite funny responses to my Meet the Canines post: 

What is Meet the Canines?  I'm glad you asked.  It's a link-up I'm hosting, and you should totally participate...or if you are a kitty cat kind of girl, you can link up and Meet the Felines on April 16th.

Did I say something about a link up?  Like always, I'm linking up with Amanda for this Friday Favorites.

Happy Weekend!

Meet the Canines Link Up

 

 Hi!  That's me, Dolly, in the picture below on the left side of the photo box, and me, Sally (on the right)...a couple of sisters living in Australia.  Our human mom is Erin, the main brain behind this blog, and she asked us to tell you a little bit about ourselves.  

We were born November 2013.  The human owners at the time claimed that our doggie birth mother was full-blooded Great Dane, and our doggie daddy was 1/2 Great Dane, 1/2 German Shepherd.  We don't know.  There may be some Great Dane and German Shepherd in our mix, but we are pretty sure that we are a mix of other breeds too.  We claim to be 100% mutt and we're happy with that. 

When our human mama and daddy came to look at us as puppies, they couldn't choose between the two of us, and we both went home with them.  We're pretty happy about not being separated, because we were both really nervous and timid at first.  We didn't leave each others' sides.  We're told that Dolly was named in honor of Dolly Parton because she's a strong, lovable woman.  Sally is from the song Mustang Sally, and it sounds like a good sister name to Dolly.

 

Hi, Dolly here.  My favorite things to do are jump on my mom (even though I'm not supposed to jump), eat, get bones, and sit (because it's the only command I know).  I am aware of my short-comings...that is, I'm not the most intelligent beast on the block.  But, I am playful, sweet, and my mama thinks I'm pretty.  My eyes are hazel, but I have a little bit of greyish-blue mixed into one.  Kinda suits me since I'm one mixed-up mutt.

  

 Hi, I'm Sally.  I'm a little bigger and taller than my sister.  I am stronger physically, and I have a more confidant personality too.  I know how to shake hands and sit.  I don't try to break into the house the way Dolly does (by busting open the screen door), but when the door opens, I think that means you must be inviting me in.  My mama thinks I look like a deep thinker because my brow always furrows.  My favorite things to do are to get treats, eat, wrestle, and show Dolly that I'm the boss.

 

We are the best of friends.  We like to go for walks, sun ourselves, nap, sleep, eat, wrestle, and tear up things.  Yes, we have a problem with chewing up things we shouldn't.  Anything with stuffing or that rips easily, we destroy.  Like collars.  We prefer not to wear collars, so we chew them off of each other.  

 Our human mama likes to call us the Destructive Duo.  Pillows have been destroyed. Also, four different blankets, Grand Dad's coat, our human brother's Avengers t-shirt, some random pieces of wood, a broom, and a leather love seat.  We are given bones, rawhides, and chew toys all the time.  They don't last.  They are no match for our chewing prowess.  We don't try to hide from our destructiveness.  We embrace it by, you know, laying smack down in the middle of the destruction.

 

Sometimes, we regret destroying things.  Our human parents are so nice.  They've given us lots of things to sleep on.  We've destroyed all of them.  But, when it's time to lay down, take a nap, and go to sleep, we use what's left.

Sometimes, we get to go inside.  We are so excited that we can't calm down.  We circle and circle around the house - to the kitchen, the dining room, the living rooms - and around again.  We have to be supervised because there are new things to chew inside...like rugs.  And, we like to eat the cats' food and poop.  Yep, we stick our heads inside the litter trays and eat cat poop.  This is usually the time we get kicked out of the house again.  That's okay.  We've got two big yards to run and play in.  We're a happy duo. 

We'd love to meet other canines that are as special and as loved as we are.  Join my mama's link-up, so we can hear about other crazy canines in bloggerland.

 And, if kitties are your thang, Sally and Dolly are letting their kitty brothers and kitty sister join in the fun - tune in next week - linking up April 17th

Enough about them.....

An InLinkz Link-up

Australian vs. American English

I saw Kristen's post on Olya's page about Expat Word Confusion.  You know that I can relate (but opposite).  So, I thought I'd share my contribution to word confusion.

Yank - Australians refer to all Americans as Yanks.  Believe me, when I am directly referred to as a Yank, they are corrected.  Politely.  Because I'm from the South, and we have manners and such.

"The shits" - in Aussie speak, this means to be annoyed, aggravated, or angry at someone.  The first time I heard it this guy was telling me about an argument he was getting into with a co-worker and how he got "the shits".  I was trying to figure out how a person could give you diarrhea just by being annoying.

Rubber = eraser - I can never get used to my 7 year old step-son sitting at the table, doing his homework, and asking me for a rubber.

Coriander - The first time I went to buy cilantro, I walked up to the herbs and didn't see it.  I thought to myself "this stuff labeled coriander sure looks like cilantro, it smells like cilantro, let me taste...yep, tastes like cilantro too."  I figured this out all by my little lonesome.

Root - To root for something in America means to support, to cheer for, to want something good to happen (like for your favorite team to win); In Australia, to root means to f*ck.

Biscuit - in Australia, this is sorta kinda a general term for cookie or cracker; a good ol' fashioned American buttermilk biscuit is one of the most difficult food items to explain to Australians when they have no point of reference. 

Pudding - in Australia, it means cake (again, sorta kinda); American pudding is sorta kinda like a custard - but neither is truly exactly like the other.  Confused, yet?

Dummy = pacifier; in America, it's a nicer way to say idiot.  A parent of a baby asking me to hand her the dummy and pointing at her child in the stroller (pram, in Australian)...because child had dummy/pacifier in mouth...well, I didn't know if she was calling her child an idiot, or what.  But, I'm sure the look on my face showed confusion.

Rubbish bin = Trash Can; After living here six plus years, I get these words jumbled.  Sometimes, I've been known to say trash bin and rubbish can.  People listening to me just need to go with it.

Thongs* = flip flops; you can imagine how this could cause some confusion.
 *No gif attached because silly me googled "thongs gif", and I saw way too many ass pictures to focus on trying again. 

This list could continue on and on and on and on... I still have some word or phrase that I encounter, and I'm like...huh???

Thanks again to Kristen and Olya for this great idea of a post!

Aussie Author Challenge 4.5.6

We had a four day weekend throughout the Easter holidays.  I kinda read a lot.  So, the next two posts of mine are going to be all about books!  If you're not a bookworm like me, you may want to ignore me for a couple of days.

Strange Places by Will Elliott - Written by a young author who is a diagnosed schizophrenic and has been hospitalized several times after psychotic episodes. Part memoir, part diary, Elliott does his best to tell what he remembers of his reality including paranoia, delusions, visions, hallucinations, and suicidal tendencies. The peak inside this madness was raw and fascinating, and there is some interesting insight about treatment and the effects of pharmaceuticals. Thankfully, Elliott received treatment (and continues to).  Although, Elliott never physically harms anyone else, this book shows the very real possibility for a delusional schizophrenic to become violent.  Even though the subject matter was interesting, the book was just alright to me.

On a side note: He has a work of fiction that has won several literary awards; I think I'll avoid it (demonic killer clowns), but if that's your thing, take a look. - The Pilo Family Circus.

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - a YA book about a dreamy teenage artist chasing a mysterious graffiti artist.  She envisions him to be everything she wants in a boy - one who is imaginative, creative, loves art - and is convinced if she can uncover his identity and find him, they will be perfect together.  It sounds a little far-fetched, and it is...but, it's a cute book.  Quick and easy; I read this in a day.  I enjoyed the themes of self-acceptance, chasing dreams, young love, positive relationships with mentors, and weird/different is good.

Frantic by Katherine Howell -  I was roaming around a secondhand bookstore that I frequent, and the owner recommended Katherine Howell to me after she saw that I like crime/mystery/thriller books.  I read the book she recommended and enjoyed it, only to discover that there are eight books so far in a series that features Detective Ella Marconi.  I thought I'd go back to the first to see where it all began.

The author, Howell, is a former ambulance officer, and she threads together crimes and mysteries that follow the lives of the investigators, victims, and paramedics.  Plus, they are based in Sydney or Sydney suburbs, which is an interesting twist to recognize places and locations througout the story.  In this particular book, a paramedic's life spins into panic and desperation after her police officer husband is shot at their home, and their infant baby is kidnapped. 

If there is a lesson to learn from this book, it is spouses should talk and communicate or bad things that are happening could turn into much worse things. 


I read these books as part of the Aussie Author Challenge 2015:

Since moving to Australia, I've discovered bands and music that I love as well as books and authors that I knew nothing about before moving here.  Why not join a challenge that promotes those discoveries?  (Because I'm already in three other challenges, and I host one of them)  I can do it!

I'm diving in to this challenge with the hopes of reaching "Kangaroo" status.  I'm really liking my list, so I'm happy to find yet another the challenge.

KANGAROO
– Read and review 12 titles written by Australian Authors of which at least 4 of those authors are female, at least 4 of those authors are male, and at least 4 of those authors are new to you;
– At least 6 fiction and at least 2 non-fiction, and at least 2 titles first published in 2014 or 2015.

Female authors:
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Frantic by Katherine Howell - Completed 06 April 2015
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (published 2014)
Girl, Defective by Simonne Howell

Male authors:
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (published 2014)
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley (non-fiction) - Completed 10 Feb 2015

Authors new to me:
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - Completed 3 April 2015
Strange Places by Will Elliott (non-fiction) - Completed 2 April 2015
All That I Am by Anna Funder  - Completed 29 March 2015
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher - Completed 11 March 2015
 

Sunday's Seven Snapshots.19

My Monday included a walk in the city passing by St. Mary's Cathedral.

It's always a good time having tea with a friend.

I love this building (walking from Glebe to Central).

I've found a new favorite  - Skittles Orchards.

My guy may kill me for posting this - him painting my toenails - he did a good job!

Go on. Be jealous of my bumblebee socks. 

Went to this quaint little church on Easter Sunday (although services are held in building next door). 

Friday Favorites Five vol. 7

Happy Good Friday!

No work on Friday - woo hoo!  That's a Friday Favorite all on its own.  But, let's take a look at other favorites of mine from this week.

Favorite advice to share with others: (Also, I stumble and fall quite a bit)

Favorite instagram post: Proof that Gwen Stefani may be the most adorable human alive

Favorite article I read commemorating Selena's 20th year since her passing:  Selena's Legacy - As a twenty-something in Texas when she was killed, you could not turn around without knowing about Selena.  What happened to her was so tragic.

Favorite article about female friendships: Sisters Before Misters - I have really come to value strong female friendships in my life.  They're irreplaceable. 

Favorite blog post from Kristen: A letter to books - Any and all lovers of books should read this post.

Have a blessed Easter weekend!

As always...linking up with Amanda for Friday Favorites.

Fur Kids and Families Unite: Link Up Announcement

Recently, I read a post about Eddie at foodboozeandbaggage, and I thought it was all kinds of sweet.  I told Mariah that I was going to plan a link-up of my own (giving her credit, of course).

This is NOT a sponsored post; I just love the stuff from animalhearted.com and thought I'd share

Then, the doubts crept in and my inner voice started talking.  "You've never done a link-up.  Will anyone participate?  Of course, no one will participate you big dumby because you have very few followers.  And speaking of dumb, you won't be able to figure out how to post a link-up.  That involves coding and crap."  My inner voice is not always kind. 

Screw you, inner voice.  I love my fur babies.  I know other bloggers that love their fur kids too.  I'm going to do this.  Or try, at least.

 We are going to link-up and "Meet the Canines" on Thursday, the 9th of April.

We're going to link-up and "Meet the Felines" a week later, Thursday, the 16th of April.

Are you a proud pet parent?  Are your fur babies an extension of your family?  Is your home not complete without the pitter patter of furry feet?  This link-up is for you!  Join me in sharing with others the joys of being a pet parent.

 Let's "Meet the Canines" and "Meet the Felines"!  Tell us anything and everything that you want to share about that special relationship you have with your fur kid(s).  Share pictures, stories, or allow your furry friend to run your blog for a day; however/whatever you want to share.  I encourage you to read about all the others featured in our link-up and enjoy their stories.

(Please participate.  Don't let me be that girl who invites everyone to her party and no one shows up.)