My rain boots were put to good use today! 
That would be dog park sludge.
I had a great time splashing around in muddy puddles. I may have been trying to prove to Ryan that my investment in my new rain boots was a very wise decision. Now I can play in the dirt without worry! Money well spent.
We headed to the dog park with our friend Ross and his adorable chocolate lab Kona. (Puppy lovers can check out baby Kona pictures here.)
Boys in the front. Girls in the back.
It was still rainy outside, and I spent most of the time underneath a hot pink towel.
The dreary weather didn’t stop Sadie and Kona from having a great time. 
Both dogs enjoyed romping in the lake.
Several rounds of fetch made these two ladies awfully happy.
We worked up quite an appetite at the dog park and headed home to change before driving to Houston’s, one of our favorite restaurants in Winter Park.
We shared grilled artichokes as an appetizer.
So good! Houston’s was actually the place where I learned how to properly eat an artichoke. Definitely a worthwhile thing to learn!
As my entree I ordered a seared tuna salad with avocado and mango.
It was delicious (and looks oddly miniscule in the above picture for some reason).
I ate every bite, but still had room for my favorite dessert in the whole world.
Ross, Ryan and I shared Houston’s hot fudge sundae and all raved about it. I think you know how this ended.
After dinner, we headed home to hang out with Sadie and Kona and catch up some more while watching one too many episodes of the Jersey Shore on DVR. Don’t judge… Ross is in his final year of law school and likes it! It’s not only for brain dead people, I swear. 😀
Around 10 p.m. Ryan turned to me and said, “I’m in the mood for a treat.”
Coincidentally I was in the mood to bake, so I baked up a batch of oatmeal cookies for the three of us.
I totally made up the recipe and was so please with how the cookies turned out. They were honestly the best cookies I’ve ever made from a recipe I created. I am planning to save the recipe to post as a guest post on a friend’s blog, but I’ll be sure to send you guys a link to the post when it’s up!
Now I’m off to hang with the guys and our dogs before gettin’ in bed.
Hope you’re enjoying the weekend!
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That dessert looks GREAT!
And I can’t wait for the cookie recipe!
Have a great evening! 🙂
oooo this makes me want a cookie. good thing you had those rain boots, because that is a very muddy day at the dog park!
Okay, I guess I need to find a Houstons so I can try that dessert! Looks so good every time you get it.
I have Hunter rainboots too (same color!), and trust me, you will NOT regret buying them 🙂 I don’t know if you’d need these in Florida, but I even got some fleece inserts to put in so I can wear them in the winter (in the snow!).
I totally get trying to justify your rain boots purchase. I wear mine EVERY chance I get–including playing in the snow!
And oatmeal cookies are the best. Period. I usually stick some chocolate chips in mine, but even by themselves they satisfy my
raginglittle sweet tooth. 🙂Looks like your having a fun weekend! I live in washington…So I KNOWWW I’d be using my money well;)
I love just making up cookie recipes as I go along – sometimes they are the best I’ve ever made!
Ross is adorable (as are your boots)!
he’s single & ready to mingle! 😀
good to know… I bet he is a little too young for me! Where does he go to Law School?
I live in Miami 😉
UF :o) he graduates this spring.
Sadie and Kona are both adorable!!!!!
Can’t wait to see the cookie recipe! =D
Sadie and Kona are too cute!! Ahh I can’t wait to go to the dog park 🙂 I bring home my new puppy on Jan. 3. I’ve been waiting to take her home since she was born on Nov. 12. It’s torture! Only 2 more weeks though!
Those cookies look delicious! Perfect size, right?
oh my gosh my dogs would die of happiness…they love swimming and all things muddy!
have you seem this commercial? the puppy is sooo cute, is it the same breed as your dog? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-slLox7qqs0
SO JEALOUS! We use to have Houstons around here, and then they left 🙁
I just checked out the puppy link; so so cute!!! 😀
Those cookies look delicious- can’t wait for the recipe! 🙂
I totally need to get some boots like that!
I have those same boots! They are the best, I’m a FL girl too and wear them every chance I get. And I’m in law school too…and I definitely have jersey shore set on my tivo, ha!
Hunter rain boots, definitely a good investment! We have a Houston’s over here in GA as well; always see it, and by the looks of the food, might just have to try it!
FYI tell your friend that the people on Jersey Shore are what we call Bennies. They aren’t from the Jersey Shore, but invade it. Mostly they are from Staten Island and Long Island New York. And not everyone from Jersey talks like the Real Housewives either. It depends on where in the state you live.
Happy baking. I’m doing that this week. Sixteen family members invading the house on Christmas Eve. Ever been to three grocery stores trying to find everything you need and bargain hunt at the same time? Crazy.
Julie, Ross is adorable! Is he single? ; )
he is! do you live in florida??? 😉
No, I’m a New York girl, too bad! If he’s ever in NY tell him to look me up haha!
I was going to ask the same thing haha! He is cute, too bad florida is so far away 🙂
i’m from FL! miami though 🙁
LOVE Hobby Lobby and LOVE Burlesque!!
I agree with the other ladies…Ross is so cute!
I know this post is old, but I was wondering where I could find the recipe to these oatmeal cookies. I didn’t see it under “snacks” thank you!
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