Idaho Pizza Company

I'm determined to try a new restaurant at least once a week here!  I tried this place once before but forgot to take pictures, so here are the pics from my latest trip.  I'm a buffet junky, and Idaho Pizza Company has a buffet every day at lunch time, so I will be breaking my own rule and going there a lot!

Can anyone tell me why some of my pictures come out weird sizes and directions?  Anyway, they have a delicious salad bar with lots of fresh veggies and amazing breadsticks!

I'm pretty predictable with my pizza flavors.  Pepperoni on the left and chicken on the right.

My dad got some kind of veggie pizza and then dumped dressing all over it.  I forgot to get pics of his other pizzas.

The best pizza with chicken and bacon on it.  And yummy cinnamon breadsticks for dessert!

What's your favorite kind of pizza?  Do you ever go to a pizza buffet?

I Did Art!

The techs at my new job try to get together once a month for "date night" to bond as a team.  Luckily, I started just in time to go to this month's event at Piggy Pigs Pottery.  I'm not very artistic, so I was a bit nervous.  Thankfully, I think I work with the nicest people ever and they were all very supportive of my lack of creativity LOL

It took me forever to choose what to paint.  I didn't want anything too big, too small, too detailed, something I wouldn't use, etc.  I finally decided on a vase because that was one thing I noticed I don't own when I moved.

It's supposed to be dark teal and dark purple.  I'm hoping that after they put the glaze on and whatever else they do, it will get way darker.

Believe it or not, this took me quite a while to paint.  I was also proud of myself for the black line between the colors! :)

Have you ever been to one of the paint your own pottery pieces places?  Did you like it?  What did you make?

We Tried Out Texas Roadhouse Tonight!

My dad and I have always enjoyed going out to dinner.  He said he wanted steak tonight.  I looked up a bunch of places on Yelp, but in the end we ended up going to Texas Roadhouse.  I really don't use Yelp for chains.  You know what you're going to get at a chain LOL

We've only been there once before.  I forgot they start you off with delicious bread with cinnamon butter stuff.  I was so excited that I dumped my butter over in the basket ugh

I ordered a bbq half chicken, rice, and salad for dinner.  My dad got a steak special with rice and a baked potato.

The salad came with the best ranch dressing!

My plate looks so empty!  But there was so much chicken that I brought half home.

They forgot my dad's rice at first so he had an empty plate also. LOL

The waiters and waitresses danced twice while we were there.  My apologies for the poor video!

We both really enjoyed our dinners.  But since we just moved to a new city in a new state, I want to try every restaurant before I start going back to ones I've already been to.  Do you like going to the same restaurant over and over or trying new ones all the time?

The New House in Meridian!

So for now, I am living with my dad.  My very hopeful plan is to save up enough money to buy my own house in the Spring/Summer.  But without further ado, here are the pics from when we moved in.  Still a work in progress!  I will have to take more photos without all of the boxes everywhere!

This is the kitchen, pantry, new fridge we bought, and lots of cabinet space.  There are still boxes all over the counter (oops)

This shows the dining room and the 3-sided fireplace, one of the main things my dad bought the house for.

My bedroom.  I now have red blinds up, a tv on the dresser, stuffed animals all over the window seat, and more lol

This is the spare bedroom/the dog's bedroom for now.  We need to get a bed in there before my mom comes to visit next month!

This is the guest bathroom / my bathroom.  It now has a weird shower curtain and no boxes on the counter

This is my dad's humongous master bedroom.  It has soooo much room in it!

The master bathroom, with dual sinks, a separate toilet, and a huge walk-in closet.

The annoying laundry room.  First the dryer wouldn't work, now the washer won't work.  Who needs to do laundry anyway???

The backyard with real grass for Hunter.  He has had so much fun running and rolling around in green grass.  Too bad the lawn is going to die for the winter soon.

I think we've actually made a lot of progress on setting up the house since I took these pics about a week ago.  Moving into a new house is fun, but it's a lot of work!  I am definitely never moving out of state again.  Have you ever moved out of state before?

I Moved to Meridian, ID

Wow, it's been over a year since I updated my blog.  In the last year, I left my job, and starting working at an animal hospital.  It was the best job ever!  I found my calling in life.

But since last summer, I had been seriously contemplating moving to Idaho.  Then in late May of this year, my dad had what could have easily been a fatal car accident.  He was on his way back from buying a house in Idaho when he rolled his truck about 10 times in the middle of the night, crawled into the backseat, and waited hours for it to get light and for someone to see him.  He broke both of his leg bones on one side, and his collar bone and shoulder blade on the other side.

My dad was in a nursing home type place recovering for about 3 months.  Once he got out, he started planning to move.  I wondered about moving with him, but wasn't definite.  Then my aunt sent a text saying he had to move soon, it was going to be a very wet winter, etc.  At that point, I decided to move with him, and we had about a month to pack, hire a moving company, etc.  I submitted a resume to an awesome animal hospital in Idaho, gave notice at my work, and worked through lots of panicking!

On October 19th, we took off in 2 cars with my awesome uncle and cousin along to help us.

3 geckos packed into my backseat.

My trunk kept getting fuller and fuller.

My dad's truck bed was pretty full also.

The geckos on the desk in the hotel.

The spoiled dog on the bed in the hotel.

We got to Idaho on October 20th.  I'll post pictures of the new house next! :)

My "Real" Job - Working with Special Needs People

I always talk about my hobbies, friends, pets, side jobs, family, and almost everything on this blog.  But, I rarely talk about my day job.  I only work part time, but it is such an amazing place!

I work in the home office of a woman who runs programs for special needs kids and adults.  Our most recent program was a camp to learn how to ride a two-wheeled bike.  This was back in June, but when I made a photo collage of it, I realized I should tell more people about what I do!

We also have programs all year such as baseball, basketball, football, cheerleading, yoga, and more!

Football

Baseball

A few times a year, we also do dances, which are more for all ages instead of just for kids.  These dances are a fun time for families to come out, have a meal, participate in tons of games and activities, and to meet other families!  They are always so much fun!

Our Valentine's Day Dance, 2014

I think if I didn't work for my boss, I would definitely want to volunteer for her.  Our programs include so many people and provide them with opportunities they might not have otherwise.  I love all of the people and families that I have met in the last few years.

Do you volunteer anywhere?  Are there special needs programs like these in your city?

Taking my Pet Sitting to the Next Level

Over the last few months, my friends and family have been encouraging me to pursue pet sitting as a more serious supplement to my income, and not just something I do super casually.  In the last week, I feel like I have taken the next step!

 

Muppet and Cooper 

A few days ago, I created a facebook page.  I think this will be a good tool for me to post pictures of client's dogs.  Then if they want to see pictures of their pets while they are away, they can just go on my facebook page instead of having to ask me for pictures.  Click here to go to my facebook page.  I would love it if you liked it!

Annabelle and Keelie, from different litters but around the same age

Last night, I ordered business cards.  A few people had been urging me to, but I didn't know who I would give them to.  Then when I got home yesterday, I ran into an acquaintance who was walking her dog.  When I told her I dog sit, she asked for my card.  That was all it took to get me inside and looking for business cards.

Sissy and Zuma, my only cat clients so far (they both have doggie siblings)

This is my first time having business cards so I am really excited.  Have you ever owned business cards before?  Were you as excited as I am?

Mollie and Rusty

Ted and Willow

Sailor and Mocha

Mia and Harvey

Coco and Crystal

Mochi, the dog I am watching now.