Remember Sugar? She’s been to a few Birkdale Village adoption events in the past. Sugar came to Project HALO from a puppy mill bust in Denver about a year ago. She is really sweet (just like her name) and loves belly rubs.

Patches is Sugar’s sister. She loves playing with toys and she loves the camera.

Peanut is just silly. He’s a very active dog and could be a perfect dog for all of you training for 5K races this spring.

And for the good news of the day, Brandy is not available because she is ADOPTED.

Meet Joy. She is a great dog with a really kind face. I even had a hard time not giving her treats.

All of these dogs along with some others can be found on the Project HALO website. Feel free to fill out an application if you would like to volunteer at an event or even foster.

Meet Calvin. He’s a senior dog with lots of spunk.

Here’s Hazel. She’s the first Chinese Crescent-Pug mix I have ever met or photographed. She is warm to the touch and loves to near you.

 You might remember this dog from some of the Birkdale Village adoption events. Rufus is the best. He loves toys that squeak and lots of head rubs. He’s a lover for sure!

Try and say no to that little face. Cletus, another Chinese Crescent-Pug mix, is all personality and LOVES to cuddle like it is no one’s business.

Cassidy was adopted out last night to a really cute family. Congrats!

Dutchess is another one you might have seen before as well. She is actually the sister of Rufus. She’s a medium sized lab mix, very mellow and great with kids too!

If you are interested in adopting any of these available dogs, please contact Project HALO.

Another adoption event and also a microchip clinic will take place this Saturday January 23rd at Birkdale Village in Huntersville, NC from 11:30am-2:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Did I mention that his Christmas sweater was almost as cute as him? Nothing makes my holiday brighter more than to see a dog in a forever home. Thank you to everyone who has adopted a furry friend this past year.

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” ~ Roger Caras

Today I thought I would share pictures I didn’t take. They are two of my favorite pictures for many reason. The first one is from my husband’s childhood. He loves to make people laugh and I really think it started when he was a kid. Most of the pictures I have seen are of him not smiling, but making faces. (See example below and notice the goofy kid in the back of the lineup with glasses.)

This was taken on the first day of school. That’s my sister-in-law all the way to the left. I’m sure she’ll love me for posting this.  

Did you smile? I hope so, because my Friday Fave is all about having fun. Regardless of the situtation, smiling and having fun are great things to remember we can all do and they are free. Remember that life happens when we are too busy out there making plans – so why not enjoy life as it happens? And if you happen to be on the other side of a camera, grin, giggle or even make that silly face – these are the times to make memories – what are yours going to be when you look back in years from now?

This last picture was taken on our wedding day. We celebrated our big day in St. Lucia at Sandals. I can’t begin to express the emotions that ran through our heads on that day, but I will say that we remembered to just enjoy the day. After some formal shots, my husband asked for his own picture.

To this day, it is one of his many favorite moments from our wedding day and it makes me laugh every time I see it. He’s silly and I am thankful that he helps me stop taking life so seriously. So get out this weekend and do something different, something fun or even something new, but remember to have fun. Have a great weekend everyone!

p.s. If you are in Huntersville, NC this weekend, stop by Birkdale Village for a Project HALO adoption event. There are still lots of wonderful pups that are looking for forever homes.

A few weeks ago, I helped out at a Project HALO adoption event at Birkdale Village. The day started out cloudy with a few showers on the way. I got to the event to find out they were short staffed so after snapping pictures, I jumped at the opportunity to hold a leash and find my new friend a home. I asked the normal questions; how old is the pup? What is his name? And where did he come from? But this time, the last question was the one that took the longest and with reason.

Nacho was turned over to a Greenville, SC shelter and was set to be put down on a Monday. HALO sent information to have him released, and so his new sentence moved to Wednesday. HALO didn’t hear back until that Friday that Nacho was ready to be picked up – escaping death three times. HALO thought it would only be fitting to rename the dog, Chance.

Chance was different to me. Not only his coloring, but his attitude. Being only eight months, he was more of a dog than a puppy. He was calm. He sat to be petted or given attention. He loved his ears rubbed or just to be walked on a leash. He was polite and he reminded me of my friend’s dog named Katie. The lightbulb went off. I walked Chance over to meet my buddy and it was love at first site. They both fell in love and so adoption process began.

A week later and Chance not only has a new home, but a sister who could be his twin. Chance is a Catahoula or leopard dog. He loves his new dog bed, long walks with his new family and kids. He is my Friday Fave because who doesn’t love a happy ending. I am so proud to have been a part of the process of placing a dog into a loving home with a owner who takes chances all the time. This Chance happens to be my favorite.

Hope everyone has a super weekend and if it’s a long one for you, have a great extra day off. Happy Friday!

The before picture – where everyone is smiling and thinking - it’s a piece of cake!

The average time to complete the maze is 27 minutes. Let’s just say it look us many more minutes and maybe an hour or two to get out.

So we walked. And walk. And then walked some more.

And we looked at the map when we got lost. Which happened a lot.

We made it out with lots of laughs, a little sweat (understatement) and a thirst for some good sweet tea.

Thanks to our buddies that helped us with directions out the maze and also snapping a pictures of our crew. Needless to say, we had a blast and a corn maze is my new favorite thing to do on a fall weekend with friends. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Tish Mackay Photography will be at Birkdale Village in Huntersville, NC this Saturday at 11:30am until 2pm with Project HALO. If you are looking for a new fuzzy best friend, this is the place to be. Hope to see you there!

The best news from the day, one pup named Charlie, found a new home.

Here are a few other pictures from the event. Don’t forget to head over to Birkdale Village in Huntersville this weekend for another adoption event from 11:30am-1:30pm near the Starbucks.

Here’s Darla – or Dar Dar – she’s such a pretty girl with the cutest spots on her legs.

Here’s Vinnie – or Mini Vinnie! He’s such a sweet boy.

More dogs and also some adoption stories coming soon!

Her little mouth is so a-dor-able!

I swear she is smiling in the one above – she is such a happy dog.

Just try and say no to that face – I double dog dare you.