Dog Sweater – …on the B.L.

Blog + Dog, In My Own Words, Lifestyle

Merry Christmas 2019

December 25, 2019December 25, 2019 RaeAnna

201912254786949543684059696 — Santa Beau in the house!!! | Santa Costume | Elf Jammies | Elf Hats |

20191225_1151266518804292489439631 — Opening Stockings

201912253866061409770484564 — My girl and I!

Kelfey (Elf Kelsey) and her fur baby, Doodle!

Merry Christmas!!! It’s my favorite holiday and the anniversary of this blog!!!

I’m home in Illinois to celebrate the holidays with my family. They’re not my biological family, but they’re the family who chose me and who I chose. They are my best friend’s family. Kelsey is more than my best friend, she’s my sister. Her little sister [Jordan] is my little sister. Her big brother is my big brother. Her parents are Mom and Dad. I moved in with them five years ago after college. I didn’t [and they definitely did not] think I would live here for almost three years. Woops! Even after moving to Houston, I still go home for Christmas. This is the fifth Christmas I’ve spent at home – well, technically, the sixth holiday season.

The first Christmas I lived here, I started a tradition, which is still going strong. I bought Kelsey, Jordan, and I matching Christmas pajamas. Every year, I buy us matching Christmas jammies. When we first started, it was just Kelsey, Jordan, and I. Now we each have fur babies of our own.

This year, Kelsey sent me a text about a month and a half ago asking if Beau could be Santa for Christmas. I said, “ABSOLUTELY!!!” I suggested we be elves. I found us elf jammies and hats. Beau has her Santa costume. We had to take pictures because it’s too adorable not to. Anyways, yay Christmas!!!!

If you don’t celebrate, I hope you’re having an amazing day filled with love anyways!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

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Blog + Dog

Beau and Christmas Tree Hunting

December 4, 2019 RaeAnna

On the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree!!! | Beau’s Christmas Sweater | Black Shirt | Jeans | Sparkly Shoes |

201911298969766097102059910 — Posing while Beau is straining to greet passers by. | Beau’s Christmas Sweater | Sherpa Jacket |

The simple joys in life bring me the most happiness. Christmas tree hunting with Beau is one of the best things we do all year.

This was Beau’s third year Christmas tree hunting. She doesn’t contribute anything but cuteness to the adventure. Actually, it’s a total hassle bringing a dog. Trying to find the perfect tree to fit in the home I have and not the massive living room I wish you had and cutting down a tree with a saw while juggling an enthusiastic people greeter on black Friday at a Christmas tree farm is a hand full. Worth it! But a handful.

Last year, we took our Christmas picture at the Christmas tree farm. Beau was cooperative for picture last year. This year… a whole different story. We weren’t planning on taking the Christmas picture… but a nice picture would have been grand. There is ONE picture where she’s looking at the camera. The rest, she’s straining trying to go say ‘hi’ to all the people cooing at her. Suffice to say, we gave up on the family photo this year. *Insert our efforts here.*

THE good one. It was also the first one. | Black Shirt | Jeans | Sparkly Shoes | Beau’s Christmas Sweater | Dylan’s Buffalo Plaid Flannel |

Beau was more comfortable on the tractor this year. She even laid down. A cute little boy, named Leo, gave her a sticker. She didn’t love it, but she managed to keep it on until we got to the car. A five year olds feelings were not hurt on our search.

We’re working on decorating the tree today. It’s been up and decorated with lights since Friday, but we’ve been busy [read as: lazy], so it hasn’t been done yet. My office is decorated, and most of the house is decorated. Just the tree and a few garland strings need to be put up to finish the look!

Now it’s time to start baking because I have fun recipes coming your way for Christmas/winter inspired goodies!!!

Fun Fact: I am allergic to Christmas trees. I can’t touch them because they make me itchy. If they poke me hard enough, which is not hard at all, I break out in cute little pustules. Merry Christmas, I look like I have the plague.

bisous und обьятий,
Beau + RaeAnna

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Blog + Dog

The Struggle

April 10, 2019 RaeAnna

I’m just here. Holding fruit. Being stepped on. By my dog.

Beau and I playing tug-of-war with treats.

Me in my wellies, jammies, and sweater trying to get Beau to pose.

Beau running away in her sweater and hat/leg warmer set.

The struggle is so real.

Have you ever tried to take a picture with a dog?

I think I’m probably a lot dumber than I think I am because I keep trying to take picture with Beau. She’s drop dead cute. You can look at me without triggering your gag reflex. Getting us both cooperate at the same time is a little like trying to put a cloud in a bottle. I firmly believe Beau is the smartest and most beautiful being to ever grace this world, which is why I like sharing her through my weekly Blog + Dog posts. She makes cameos in my other posts and pictures with frequency because the light of my life must shine.

Beau can be as uncooperative as she is smart. The key to taking great pictures is taking a megabajillion. Out of the megabajillion, I usually end up with one-ish great one. The others are hilarious, but not what I had in mind. Every single time I try for a picture, I’m always far more optimistic than realistic. THIS time, it will be perfect. Spoiler alert. It’s not. I can honestly tell you, I have never gotten THE picture originally imagined. I don’t know how photographers do it. They are magicians.

Hilariously, Beau hates having her picture taken or being recorded. I can strategically place my phone to record her or take a picture while looking the other way. The moment she realizes it’s there and looking at her, she stops. She’s like a shy little kid who was born to be an actor but hates being watched. I’m relieved that she is no longer terrified of my camera. When I first bought my Nikon, Beau growled and barked at it the moment it came out of the case. She does not trust it, but she will at least be in the same room with it.

A multitude of strategically placed treats are my go to. I will hide them in my hand, under my leg, in a bowl, between pages, anywhere remotely plausible. Beau loves treats. Every picture with her in it – except the ones where we’re sleeping – I have treats hidden. I am not adverse to bribery, obviously. It works. Kind of well. I get cute pictures. She gets the nom noms. I can post dogtastic pictures for dog-lovers to adore. Win-win-win.

I’m a major perfectionist. I have had to let that go when Beau is in the photoshoot. Otherwise, I would spend hours not getting the picture I had in mind. Dog photos are pretty much an experiment in winging it with treats.

xoxo,
Beau + RaeAnna

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Blog + Dog, Style

Christmas Jammies

December 12, 2018June 23, 2019 RaeAnna

2018121271521338462533314 — Beau and I are lounging by the Christmas tree in our pajammies. Her Fleece Jammies | My Jammies | Truck Throw Pillow | Plaid Throw Pillow

I live in jammies. Since I work from home, there is very little motivation for me to put on clothes or makeup.

I look forward to Christmas jammies all year long. Beau even loves her Christmas jammies. I don’t know about other dogs, but this one loves wearing clothes. I think she knows she look pretty. When the temperature dips below 60°, Beau NEEDS to wear a sweater or something. She’s a Houston dog. She also has really thin, white fur. So the layers are necessary, or she’ll shiver herself skinny.

I saw Beau’s jammies at Target one night for $9.99 and had to buy them. I’m not exaggerating, she loves wearing them. This morning when I grabbed them out of the closet, she did an excited hot lap around the house before sitting down at my feet and sticking her head through the head hole. She even picked up her paws for me. I would take the credit and say she’s well trained (she is), but she just loves wearing clothes. She’s kind of a diva that way. Even though they are around her back legs too, she still loves putting these on. They are fleece and fit her perfectly. They are so warm. She wears them outside and inside.

I’m also obsessed with my onesie. I almost never buy any one-piece items of clothing because I’m so tall. They never fit, and it ends up looking like a frontal and traditional wedgie. I’m in love with Old Navy right now because they have clothes in tall sizes. AND they fit. At 5’10” I can actually wear this waffled onesie comfortably with a little extra room. It also comes in a green stripe, but the buffalo plaid works for Christmas jammies and all year round!

Beau actually wears sweaters all year long inside. It helps her anxiety; it’s like a big hug. We have quite the assortment of puppy clothes because of it. I’m always on the lookout for a cute one to add to her collection. Of course, she doesn’t wear her clothes outside 90% of the year in Houston because it’s too damn hot.

Also the Christmas throw pillows in the background are on clearance! Hurry!!!

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xoxo,
Beau + RaeAnna