scruffy, messy & dirty...

First before I go into today's post I just want to take a moment & remember all those who died in the September 11th tragedy - those lives will be missed & remembered forever....the BF is a firefighter so I have HUGE respect for the NYFD We shall never forget
We shall keep this day,
We shall keep the events and the tears
In our minds, our memory and our hearts
and take them with us as we carry on. 

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 SO last 9/11 it was a Sunday & my mom & I were doing some thrifting in Lake Forest. After looking around for awhile my mom decided to go into this random home store - she never really went in this store before so it was a little weird but nonetheless I told her I was going to go look for Dolce's Halloween costume at PetSmart....(more on that in OCT)  so as I'm walking up to PetSmart I stop in my tracts....it was dog adoption day....I HATE adoption days, not because I don't agree with adopting because I do 100%....but because its SO hard for me to see all the homeless animals with their sweet little faces just looking for someone to love them... 

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 now at this time we already had 4 rescue cats & 1 rescue dog...that was a lot of animals already in our little beach house & i knew my moms view on having more animals...it was a NO WAY -------> trust me I tried daily to get a little dog for myself...but despite knowing it was dog adoption day I still went to the store...i told myself don't look Kelly! don't look Kelly! just walk inside... Clearly that didn't happen....there sitting in the group of wild dogs all barking & jumping around was one little very scruffy dirty looking dog just sitting there nicely...not barking, not jumping around - just chilling.....it was love at first site.... I went right up to the cage & started petting him...he was such a doll. Of course I started asking the lady questions about him - she told me he was 4 years old & his name was Scruffy ----> duh he was all kinds of messy...he had been dropped off by his owner weeks ago with his twin sister....i guess his owner had bad back problems & couldn't take care of him & his twin sister anymore. She told me his sister had already been adopted & they weren't able to keep them together....that of course broke my heart...he was separated from his twin sister after growing up with her & now he's in a new place living with all these dogs...my heart ached for him. i wanted him.  So I'm sitting there holding him & hes just sitting in my arms...he was so calm. As I'm holding him different scenarios are going through my head with ways to convince my mom to let me have him...i knew it was not going to happen.  So as I'm already getting upset & giving the sweet dog back to the lady, I look over & see my mom coming towards me...usually she gives me the wave & a look that means "COME ON, lets go" but this time she didn't..... I waved my hands 'no don't come over here you'll be sad,' but she gave me a look like no i want too....& at that moment I thought maybe, this time she's going to let me get a dog.... so she comes over & I show her Scruffy....first words out of her mouth were 'how much & is he neutered?'...He was $200 to adopt & he was fixed...perfect!....then my mom says 'well you can get him but it's going to be a lot of work kelly'....of course I'm nodding yes yes i know & squirming with excitement as to hearing the words 'you can get him'....& then she asks 'what about the bf' -- since I plan on spending the rest of my life with my boyfriend I had to factor him into the situation because he would be our dog together eventually when we're married.... So I called the bf....he's a little different than me...he thinks before he does anything, me on the other hand - a lot of the time, I just do it....He suggested that I go home & think about it for the night & how it might cause problems with my 2 cats, Dolce in particular.  You guys have heard me mention Dolce a few times on the blog but I have never gotten into the dirty details of my beloved cat....just a few facts - Dolce was my very first pet I owned myself...ya know what I mean - not a family pet. my pet. she has been through EVERYTHING with me...she has traveled EVERYWHERE with me...all the hard times & the days I hated life...& everything awful I went through in college Dolce was always there....we share a VERY special connection & she has always been like a real person to me & anyone who meets her...So we have a very very special & close bond. She's my girl....& then I have another cat pumpkin....but she's a sweetheart so I wasn't too worried about her. So the bf was worried about how it would affect them, & he was right to consider that - i knew pumpkin would be totally fine with it because she's just a sweet soul but Dolce on the other hand, well she likes me alllllllll to herself so I knew that it could be an issue. 

The infamous DOLCE

Sooo we asked the lady if we could put him on hold for about an hour while my mom & I go have lunch & discuss everything....she said of course, so we went across the street to Corner Bakery to talk about it... I was shaking & felt nervous....I knew I wanted him but I also knew Dolce was not going to be happy about it...we talked about it from a money aspect & then discussed if I had the time to take care of my own dog...of course my mom would help because we already had Lucy but still it meant more money & more time if another animal was going to be added to the family...& then we had to think about how all the animals in general would be affected by the new addition....the lady had already told us Scruffy got along well with other animals & he was a lover not a fighter.... 

the original gang

 So after much back & forth, back & forth at lunch, I still wasn't sure what to do...so we walked back over to the adoptions & asked to see Scruffy again & walk him around the store a little bit to get more of a feel...of course he peed in the store...but he was just sooooo calm & chill...it just felt right... We found out his birthday was the exact same day as my moms ex boyfriend Phil who was the love of her life when she was in her 20s, who died a few years back of drugs....it was a sign. We both felt it was Phil telling us to get Scruffy. We had mentioned to the lady our concern with getting Scruffy & how the other animals would react. She told us if after a week it didn't work out, she would be here again the next week & I could bring him back - that made me feel a little better - but of course that's not something I wanted to do. So I did something I really didn't think was going to happen & I RESCUED Scruffy....what made it even more special was that I rescued him on September 11th....I felt like in a way I was giving back to everyone who had fought during that time by saving & rescuing a life.  Sooo you might have guessed that Scruffy is my baby MAXX...yes of course I changed his name...he's named after Max on TMZ...the hot surfer dude because to me, my Maxx was little surfer dude...  

 This was taken right after I adopted him & put him in the car....you can't really tell from this picture but he was REALLY scruffy, messy & just dirty...he needed a hair cut asap...so of course we made him an appointment to get all nice and groomed.... and I had them cut a little fo-hawk as well....so meet the new & improved no longer scruffy - So clearly, Maxx was not taken back to the adoption lady. He has been nothing but a GIFT from God...I feel blessed to have him. We couldn't have asked for a better dog. It was like he was apart of our family from the very beginning. He just fit RIGHT in. Lucy loved him instantly & they have become the best of friends...the other cats took very well to him too & like I thought pumpkin loves him...Dolce on the other hand, well she didn't take it too well & they def had their fair share of fights -----> more Dolce fighting with Maxx....he just wants to be friends but Dolce is not having it...she has hissed & has hit him & he cries like a little baby but he never fights back - he def knows whose boss & stays away from Dolce...& as time has gone on she has gotten a little better...I just have to make sure to give her individual attention because she was the first.  

Maxx & Lucy

 My mom & I truly believe that day September 11, 2011 we were meant to go thrifting down in Lake Forest. She was meant to go look at that home store. I was suppose to walk over to PetSmart......if she never went into that random home store I never would've walked over to PetSmart & never would've seen Maxx. To say we're obsessed would be an understatement...we are so in love with Maxx I couldn't even express to you in words how much he has changed our lives

 This past year with Maxx has been the best one yet...I don't even know how I lived my life without him & hes sweet little face...he's a complete mamas boy & to be honest a little wimpy...however if you heard his bark you wouldn't think that....so of course I got him a few tees to wear when I first got him...yes I'm that girl who dresses her dog - you should see Lucy's closet 

 

Maxx's very first walk with Lucy


 & we even got to celebrate Maxx's 5th birthday about a month after we got him

Maxx loves his Aunty

 Maxx's first Halloween!!!

Maxx's first Christmas & Christmas Tree Hunting

 Maxx's first time at the beach!

 So just like his mommy when we took Maxx to the beach for the first time he LOVED it...he had SO much fun running in the sand & running up to the water...you know what else he likes? The Mall...NO JOKE..he loves the mall...when I take him with me he is literally smiling & wagging his tail the whole time...my mom & I like to call him a mall rat because he always looks like he out looking for trouble, barking at the other dogs at the mall...he seriously loves it though.   

 Christmas time at the beach with my baby   & now just a little collage of Maxx from the past year with us.... 

  So maybe this September 11 do something for someone else & rescue an animal...there are SO many homeless animals in need of homes - please, PLEASE before you adopt - think & rescue...DON'T BREED - I can't stress this enough - you can find 100% breeds that need to be rescued too....we do not need any more animals, there are already too many homeless ones as it is, so do yourself a favor & save a life. I promise you it will be the BEST decision of your life....Maxx & all of our animals are GIFTS from God & we are SO lucky to have them - RESCUE!

  I hope you enjoyed hearing about how Maxx came to be apart of the family - & coming up September 14-16 is National Adoption Weekend - so do yourself a favor - SAVE A LIFE & RESCUE!   Don't forget to enter to win $40 Gift Card to Victora Secret HERE  

 Scentsy Giveaway HERE 

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free panties!

helllllllo lovers! okay so I'm a little chipper this Monday morning - its because I have a super cool girl for you to meet & even better she's giving away something pretty rad...but first I want you to meet The Messy Girl of the Month - she's funny, fabulous & writes a wonderful blog based around life, having fun & money...something we all deal with daily....one of my favorite things about her blog are the monthly goals she sets for herself....not only  does she set goals for herself personally, but also financial goals as well as blog goals. She dabbles a little bit in everything, not to mention her blog design is adorable! She has a really cool personality & it shows in her fun posts! I  asked her some silly questions too...so without further ado meet -

Hello everyone. My name is Lauren but those nearest and dearest call me L Bee. I started L Bee and the Money Tree as a way to hold myself accountable to my budget/finances but it turned into a passion for presenting personal finance for women in a fun, quirky, non-condescending way. I'm excited to be sponsoring "Messy.Dirty.Hair" this month as I have an obsession with all things girly-yet-unpretentious. I get so jealous and often long to be a fashion/lifestyle blogger, and Kelly is one of the best!

I am a quarter of a century old, and I hail from the South. After spending two years in New York City, my boyfriend and I moved to Atlanta with our dog Murray and we are in the middle of the most epic quarter-life change ever, but we love it! My experience in both the big city and the rural south colors my writing and I wouldn't change it for anything. I make my living as a professional writer and dabble in theater here and there. I enjoy decent wine (read-the ten dollar bottle, not the five), J. Crew, turning conversation into songs, off-beat humor and biographies. I also enjoy snuggles with my pup and the color pink, pretty much the two safest gift choices….ever.

1.) If you could have any super power what would it be & why?

I'd have a super-bladder. Then people would want to go on road trips with me more and I could sleep as late as I wanted without it waking me up :). I've often been teased about my squirrel sized bladder!

2.) What is something we don't know about you that we should?

I have held pretty much every job imaginable: fast-food employee, gymnastics instructor, professional organizer, performer, music/dance instructor, bar manager, even some time working on wall street--you name it, I've done it. I like to think this eclectic employment history lends itself to being accessible to all readers. Everyone can come from any economic background or point of view and relate to L Bee and the Money Tree because I have been there. It also makes for some great, crazy stories at dinner parties.

3.) It’s your last day on earth, what do you do?

During the day-I spend all of my money on something ridiculous, doing the things I want to do while holding loved ones close. At night (since there is no sleeping since it's the last day on earth) I party like it's 1999. You guys didn't know me in sixth grade, but when we thought the world was going to end at the dawn of a new millennium me and my dog, Jingles, partied hard.

sooo Lauren so graciously is offering you guys a chance to win a $40 Giftcard to one of my absolute favorite places - VICTORIAS SECRET!! seriously is she not the coolest?! its safe to say I'm SUPER jeal that I can't enter this giveaway!

So you know what to do & if you're new around here I highly suggest being logged into your email, facebook, twitter, pinterest accounts - it will make your life SO much easier....& I will be checking everything so let's be honest ok?...GOOD LUCK girls!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also I wrote a post yesterday about Blogging & Bloggers - I think any new bloggers would really enjoy it - you can check it out HERE

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blog cliques

anddd its Sunday yet again....today I'm off at the beach getting a tan while we still have sun, but i am SO ready for the weather to COOL down....so today I'm linking up with Neely & Ashley for Social Sunday! Since last week they ended the linkup with an end of summer theme, this week we're starting fresh & re-introducing ourselves & our blogs. I thought since I've gotten quite a few new followers since the start of Social Sunday back in June I figured it'd be a good way for those of you who are new around the mess to get to know me a little better...PLUS it just so turns out this is my 200th post since I started blogging in February....so let's get social!  

1. What is the name of your blog and how did you come up with it??
Well clearly the name of my blog is Messy.Dirty.Hair ....I came up with the name originally because my mom would always say to me "why is your hair always so messy"...& then I realized I go days w/o washing it - dirty...so the name came about...however Messy.Dirty.Hair has turned into more of a lifestyle than just a blog name...read all about my embrace the mess story HERE



My 1st Logo!



2. What do you love the most about blogging??
I love being able to release my creative juices & have fun with my blog & fashion. I also love meeting new people & reading about how others live their lives all over the world. Plus the friendships that I have made w/ some bloggers has really been fun...& blogging even helped me reconnect with a few old friends like her & her who started blogs around the same time.

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3. What are your 2 favorite posts you've written?
Hmmmm probably my day to night post about how to change your outfit from day time to night time with just a few quick changes - you can read that HERE & the very first #TheMessyProject post - i love these girls & they really went above & beyond for the launch of #TheMessyProject...& the launch was just perfect....you can read that post HERE

4. What is something you'd want to tell someone just starting out in blog world?
It's a lot like high school with cliques...so be ready for that....& having a successful blog is A LOT harder than you could possibly EVER imagine.




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5. Biggest blogging learning experience you've had?
That people will be nice to you & give you & your blog attention just to get your business & then once you've given them business its like you & your blog never existed. Make sure you find the real people out there in blogging. Not just the ones only looking out for themselves.

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6. Give us 3 blogs we NEED to be following that you love. 
besides mine..hehe....well --- I'm going to break the rules a little & give you 6 blogs you NEED to be following - i know, I'm such a rebel....check out my loves HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE.....& oh yeah HERE & HERE...if you have yet to really know these girls, you're missing out...big time!

 

 and there's one more thing I want to add about blogging & the blog world for anyone who may be new to everything - don't be scared to reach out to other bloggers for help - whether it be for personal blog help, having them write a guest post or participate in a giveaway. Don't be scared.  I can't tell you the amount of emails I have gotten from bloggers who were nervous to ask me for a favor because they thought my "big" blog wouldn't care about their little blog...newsflash people - the "big" time bloggers are just NORMAL people like you & me...they are NOT celebrities...even though a few really like to believe that they actually are...they're not....so don't let them intimate you....remember they once were too, a small little blog , so don't let these "big" time bloggers make you feel any less....you're just as fabulous!....& remember bloggers are your community - not your competition. See you guys tomorrow for a freaking AAAMAZING giveaway from The Messy Girl of the Month...this is probably the best giveaway I've had yet...besides my Moroccan Oil Hair Products package which will be back once I reach 1,000 followers....this lovely lady won the giveaway last time & has since become obsessed with the Moroccan Hair Oil Products...you know you want to try 'em too...spread the word - join the mess....interested in being next months Messy Girl? Check out the info HERE 

    

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whats that smell?

hello loves & happy Friday.....so the other night it happened.....the bf & I were watching TV...TMZ to be exact & they were doing a story on the one & only....honey boo boo....the bf goes to me - what? who is this? clearly he has never been introduced to the horror of honey boo boo & it just so happened the show was on too...so i said - do you want to see the show, its pretty bad...he nodded yes....so i turned on TLC...it was the episode where honey boo boo/Alana.....yes she has a real name - did you know it was Alana? well she had entered an all natural pageant....no makeup, none of that usual beauty pageant stuff....

so i look over at the bf curious as to his thoughts on this show & honey boo boo in general....he was in disbelief...his mouth was open in shock...still staring at the TV he was able to utter - how did these people even get found? Then he continued to watch the show while giving his best 'red neck' impression shouting "we're gonna boom boom shoot"....so yeah its safe to say we will not be adding here comes honey boo boo to the rotation...but i do enjoy the bf & his 'red neck' voice.....

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ok soooo.....have you heard of the product Scentsy? Well today I have a giveaway for you from Erin over at Scentsy...

I was new to this whole scentsy business & asked Erin to write up a little blurb about the product in case your new to it too!

Scentsy began with a simple idea — a safe, wickless alternative to scented candles — and quickly grew into one of the most successful direct selling companies in the world. This wickless concept is simply decorative ceramic warmers designed to melt scented wax with the heat of a light bulb instead of a traditional wick and flame. There are over 80 scents - a scent for everyone! - and many warmer designs/sizes to decorate your home or office space.

Plumage Plug-in Warmer

Erin began selling Scentsy in May 2011 & was thrilled to earn an all-expenses paid trip for two to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in June 2012. She is currently working to earn the next trip (Oahu, Hawaii) for her honeymoon next summer! It all began with a small idea about being a reliable source for buying the products her family loved has sparked into a dream bigger than Erin ever imagined - paying for her dream wedding June 2013, being out of debt, and being able to give back to the organizations she is passionate about.

Mollie the Monkey (Scentsy Buddy)

Today Erin will be giving a $25 gift certificate to her website. You can use that for a plug-in & scent bar or to apply towards the purchase of a large warmer...the choice is yours!

Pumpkin Premium Mid-Size Warmer & Champion Premium Full-Size Warmer

So you know what to do - & if you're new around here I highly suggest being logged into your gmail, facebook, twitter accounts - it will make your life SO much easier! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*this is not a sponsored post

 

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whore bag

hello loves! thank you so much for all your sweet comments regarding the blog change....I'm so glad you all love it....& how amazing is Raven from yesterdays post? I seriously cannot get enough of that girl!  so as I'm writing this post I'm sitting here at my desk shaking my head because of what my mother approved of - for me to walk outta the house in...so I put on this dress that i got about 5 years ago...its still in perfect condition & still fits me...however I usually wear it in the winter with tights & boots, but since the weather is still over 90 degrees & a lot of my other dresses are dirty I figured I'd just wear this one...so I showed my mom the dress because I felt like it was too short...i ask her & her words are "nooooo not at all"...okay awesome I'm good to go... so as I'm walking up to Starbucks i catch my reflection in the glass door & i am instantly horrified....what the f was I wearing & why the hell did my mom think this dress wasn't short?! its wayyy too short...& you know that feeling when you feel like everyone is looking at you? well that's how I felt walking into Starbucks...i felt like my legs were exposed for everyone to see...& don't bother bending over today, even a little bit because then I will be 'mooning' everyone...so thanks mom for making me feel like a whore bag in this super short dress... OK moving on...so I've got some pictures today from my photo shoot after I got my hair done...& I have on 2 new items from my fall wardrobe this season...my shoes especially I am so excited to show you...i def broke the bank when I bought them...but I couldn't resist... 

 Blouse: Free People :: Jeans: Willam Rast :: Boots: Sam Eldeman  Pretty simple yet chic outfit - skinnys tucked into the boots ( don't try to tuck in boot cut jeans, it will not happen or look good no matter how hard you try) a sheer blouse, rolled up a bit on the sleeves added a nice pop of color with the dark red polkadots & some short booties with fringe to add some flare....low key jewelry, low key hair...less is always more. this is my perfect fall outfit...           

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OMG what?!

helllllo lovers! i hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend! I didn't do much but go to the beach & the farmers market....it was perfect & relaxing....oh & I got the next item for #TheMessyProject round 3!!! ok so moving on...so you have no idea how excited i am about today's post....one of my favorite bloggers is here today & i am sure you all know her & her sassy self! I love this girl & her blog...she keeps me laughing daily, so I am so happy she made a guest appearance on Messy.Dirty.Hair.......
Enjoy your next read.....


Oh hey messy.dirty.hair readers! I am so happy to be here today, as we all love us some Kelly. I'm Raven and I blog over at Don't Quote The Raven.

I am a mother of two, wife of one and lover of changing up the ol' doo. Since Kelly likes to promote "messydirtyhair," I thought what better topic to discuss here than just that?



And the age old question....



Do blondes really have more fun?



I feel I can answer this because I have had my hair every single color from A to Z (except ginger. No no no ginger for me.) No joke, my hairdresser tells me every time how she is amazed I still have hair left on my head.



Exhibit A:





And I haven't just switched from black to blonde and back once. No, I've done it upwards of ten times, at least. A girl can just never make up her mind, can she?



Anyway. Back to the question at hand. Blonde versus Brunette.



Which hair color got me laid most often?



Yeah ok, not going to answer that. But I will tell you this: my husband prefers brunettes, but he prefers me as a blonde. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing, but hey, I'll take it. (He also hates tattoos on women, and I have seven. Take that!)



Also, I know there is that stereotype out there that "blondes are dumb," but that's complete bull. I mean, just look at Pamela Anderson.



Ok fine, maybe not the best example but you get my drift.



What I'm basically trying to say is when it comes to which is sexier? I feel it's all in how you wear it. Granted, an ogre with bleach blonde hair isn't going to turn many heads no matter how confident she feels (hey, just being honest, don't hate the player...and you know the rest) attitude IS what is all boils down to.



So tell me...which do you think is better? Blonde? Brunette? A sassy attitude?



(Notice I left redheads out of the mix. Sorry, but I just can't go there. That is what hair dye is for people!)

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change is good

happy labor day loves! I'm sure you're looking around & noticing something has changed here around the mess....well, i have been wanting a more simple, chic look for awhile now....so I enlisted in the very talented Aubry of The Kinch Life....we chatted, shared ideas & here it is...I am SO in love with it..it's exactly what I was picturing.....thank you so much Aubry!

Well I am off to the beach today...i'll be soaking up the sun with my toes in the sand....hope you all enjoy your day!.....& be sure to check back tomorrow for a very special guest post from one of my favorite bloggers!

enter HERE

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