I can't believe it's that time of year again. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas morning, I find myself scrambling between wrapping my last curl around my curling wand, asking my mother to take pictures of my OOTD, and quickly uploading a quick holiday OOTD. This year, I'm thinking ahead a little and writing out the outfit descriptions beforehand.

I'm especially thankful for my rest this year. I've been so busy at school this year, as you can tell by the lack of blog posts. I have plenty of recipes to post between now and Christmas, so that will fix that problem. Now you have plenty to look forward to! Vegan blondies, greek tex-mex, and more awaits you. I've already tasted these things and from experience, I can attest that they are in fact delicious. I don't know what it is about being home for holidays that makes me want to bake like Betty Crocker, especially since I have fully-equipped apartment with a stove and all now at school. That just means more recipes for you guys!

However, the highlight of being home, besides my friends and family, is my dog. Jackie is  y trusty steed, my loyal buddy: 

This picture really shows all of the "love weight" that she's acquired over the two years.

Here's my OOTD:

Dress: Forever 21

Scarf: Mall Kiosk

Tights: Forever 21

Socks: Forever 21

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Christmas DAY might have passed, but I think it's still time to spread the cheer before we dive headfirst into NYE or even Valentines Day. Technically, the Christmas season has just begun in the church. I'm not only still dreaming of my outfits and the great food I have on Christmas, but I'm still excited about my gifts. It's good to be thankful for the gifts you received. That's why I made up this tag (my first tag)! It's called the "Thanks-A-Bunch" tag, and here are the rules:

Hre are my top three favorite gifts I received on Christmas morning:

2. My Husband Pillow

I am SO thankful for this pillow! I hate leaning over my computer and ruining my posture, so this is a comfy and fashionable way to save my back. It adds to my new zen vibe in my room. I can just imagine lounging in this, with a few candles going, my lamp, and my space heater warming up the place.  I'll use it to lounge and go on my computer. I hate doing work at my desk.

3. Sentimental Gifts

Sometimes the cheapest gifts are the ones that make the best impressions. This framed picture of Jackie, this calendar with pictures of my parents and I, and my mother and I's matching bracelets will keep them with me while I'm at school and in Greece this spring break. I love these gifts because they're so thoughtful. I'll use them to fill my dorm with my loving family. 

Now for YOUR TURN! I tag:

1. YOU

2. Jacquie of My Confessions

3. Wendy of A Day In The Life On The Farm

4. Paige of Paige by Paige

5. Sharon of Paleo Fondue 

6. Cassie of Packages, Boxes, and Bags 

7. Yadira of The Two Riveras

8. Jessica of Beyoutiful Beauty

9. Jessica of Stumbling Along Through Life

10. Hannah of By Hannah Joy

11. Ana of Figuring Out My Ever After

12. Alayna of The Girl Who Does Everything

13. Alana of Adventure Spices

14. Richa of Let's Doll Up

15. Laura from Cook, Wine, and Thinker  www.cookwineandthinker.com

It's your turn ladies! Can't wait to see your posts. Comment your post or tweet me @n_vergak. I hope you all had a wonderful year, and have high hopes for 2015.

We knew it would be a perfect fit. She was "Spot" at the shelter but I didn't want her to be so basic, pfft. We have a 2-year old, 46 pound dalmatian-lab (maybe pit bull) mix in our house to love forever. She's actually next to me on my bed right now. We sleep together, I love the company. 

So, I thought I would share some tips and tricks on dog training and such with my experience with Jackie so far.

First of all, we just use a basic leash. It looks like this:

picture from petco.com

We picked this up at Wal-Mart. We also got a large sized harness, but that's only for when we go on runs. The reason for the harness is that I don't pull her neck too much, especially since she's just a puller.

The main reasons we take dogs for walks are for them to do their business, right? The most important part of training a dog to respond to new commands is to make sure that everyone in the house is on the same page. My advice would be to establish two different types of walks: leisurely and "business walks". If you want to go on a romantic stroll with your pooch, pick up the leash and say, "wanna go for a walk?" That way, the dog associates the word "walk" with taking their time.

The second type of walk is business. Don't say anything, just put your dog on the leash. When you reach a grassy area, a good phrase that works is "find your spot." I think that breeders and shelters use this, because Jackie knew right away to find her spot and mark her territory. It's also a great idea to bring some treats along! The science of the whole deal is that the dog has thirty seconds to make an association. Give your playful pup a treat right after they finish. Then, they'll be distracted while you pick up their pile. For some reason, Jackie always runs away from her business like she's ashamed of it. Girl, it's natural!

If your dog is a puller, when the dog starts running away, say "heal". This is the command for the dog to slow down. If the dog doesn't, and you feel tension on the rope, say "no". After a while, your dog will learn to heal. If your friend stops when you say heal, make sure to reward them with a tasty treat!