Life at a "Swell's" pace

I am actually really glad it's Friday-Friday night here. Earlier today I wrote a post on combating allergies and I will be posting it tomorrow; So look for that. We have had a time with allergies putting a damper on things this week and we are glad to finally be getting some relief. Not sure if it's the rain that took some of them out of the air the last two days, or if it's just that they ran their course with us. Of course, it always seems like I post this on Saturday, if you're east coast, but actually it's 10:00 p.m. here on the west coast. Here's to night owl bloggers?! The Bean and I are sitting here at the table, listening to Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits on vinyl. I forgot how wonderful the songs The Sound of Silence, The Boxer, and of course, Mrs. Robinson and a few others really are. Paul Simon and Arthur Garfunkel are one of kind and will always remain one of my absolute favorite artists. As far as the rest of the happenings for the week, here they are.

1. This basket.

Finally a picnic basket worth taking places. We have had the worst picnic basket for so long that I hated even taking it anywhere. It was made out the flimsiest wicker that is loosely woven together and it was slowly falling apart. I found this one in an antique shop in Springfield, Oregon, when The Bean was on a hunt for some vintage Star Wars. It is an original Hawkeye basket from Burlington Basket Company, probably circa 1970s. Similar to this one if you are on a search for one. Not sure if I want to leave it the yellow color, or paint it. I almost like the yellow, but we'll see how it grows on us before we make any rash decisions. I can't wait to take this basket full of yum yums on our road trips.

2. These wedding souvenirs.

As we are still working on being more minimal I opened a box this week and discovered some wedding items from my brother's wedding (boutonniere and bubbles), and the bouquet I caught at my sister's wedding. It was great to reminisce and remember how fun each wedding was. Side note: Both of these weddings took place in the summer heat of Arkansas and what all three of us remembered the most from both of them was sweating like crazy. Good ole' Arkansas summers!

3. This truck.

I would say this truck driver definitely has his priorities in the right order. I love seeing things like this on the back of cars, or on trailers. It's a nice reminder to appreciate the little things in life.

4. This tree.

This is actually one of three Hawthorn trees that sit right in front of the house we live in. They are beautiful this time of year and they really bring the entire street into a different light when they bloom. My father-in-law always reminds us how he wants to chop them down. Unfathomable! I hope he does it after we are gone because we enjoy them a lot.

5. These boxes.

Yogi Surprise is always a nice surprise. The Lifestyle Box and the Jewelry Box really are a pleasure to get in the mail each month. The Lifestyle Box for this month contains a lot of great items that are perfect for mother's day. Loving, absolutely loving he mandala coloring cards. The Bean and I are going to have some fun with these this weekend, for sure! We love to color! The jewelry box contained a wrap bracelet and a tassel necklace that are perfect colors for spring. I can't help but mention the Cocomels though. To die for! Sign up for Yogi Surprise here.

1. Lifestyle Box:

• Scented "Be Happy" with Eco Sleeve ($24):Therapy balm that refreshes and energizes you.

• Lilac & Willow Soy Candle, Smudge ($14): Cleanse the energies in any room.

• Mindful Mandala Cards ($20): Reflect and center oneself.

• Nutrawbar Whole Fig ($3): 3 Organic ingredients, without additives.

• Joco Botanical Yogi Chakra Body Bar ($7): 100% all-natural soap that will open you sacral chakra.

• Tree Fig Greetings ($9): Show how much you care with these greeting cards.

• Yogi Surprise Sequence Card: Creative Devine Mother.

2. Jewelry Box:

• Creative Boho Mala ($65): Vibrant hues for the month of May.

• Creative Wrap Bracelet ($32): Encouraging you to think pink this month.

• Cocomels ($1.49): Something to savor with coconut milk caramel candy

Have a great weekend!

Happy Friday. I hope your week has been productive and worthwhile. I've been in recover-mode since last Wednesday and I'm slowly coming back to life, so-to-speak. I witnessed something that has given me a form of PTSD and I'm mentally trying to come back to my own. You can read about this here. As for this week, we had some fun things here and there, and started planning our San Fransico trip in August. I wasn't sure if I still wanted to take the trip after what happened, but I feel, and The Mr. feels it will do a lot of good in the healing process. Of course, August is a ways off, but every bit of positive thoughts right now are helping. The Mr. has been such a rock this week and I can't praise him enough for how well he has been there for me 100%. So here are the things that made this week wonderful.

1. These tulips.

Not to be confused with these tulips, or these, but The Mr. brightened my week by bringing home some of the most beautiful tulips. He paired it with one of my favorite treats of chocolate-covered coffee beans from the local coffee bar.

2. This golf trip.

The Mr. and The Bean took to the golf course to smack a few balls around this week. I opted to stay in the golf cart and enjoy the blanket I was bundled in. With the rain and the wind, it was quite chilly.

3. This march.

We participated in the March for Science in Corvallis this past weekend. It was a great way for us to ride our bikes and help get the message out to he current administration that science is real.

4. This walk.

The Mr., The Bean, and I really do enjoy our walks and our smaller dog, Hardy, has been coming along with us lately. Unfortunately, the older dog, Baz (he is 16!), he can't seem to keep up like he used to, so we have been leaving him at home when we go. He loves it though because he gets to stay inside near the fireplace while we walk. When we go away from our own neighborhood, say to downtown Eugene, to walk, we take both dogs and do a light stroll instead of a fast-paced walk.

5. And these.

Might Nest this week sent some Stasher silicone snack bags and my add on this month was the Glad Rags overnight cotton pad. I am pretty excited about both of them and can't wait to have The Mr. give the Stasher bag a try in his lunch box. You can sign up for Might Nest here.

One last note:

This bike.

The Bean finally got a bike upgrade that he's been wanting. He went with a Raleigh Talus in black and red and he is loving it! Paul's Bicycle Way of Life in Eugene, Oregon, put it together for us. We ordered on the Raleigh site and they ship it to the nearest bike dealership that deals in Raleigh and they assemble it for free. The Bean test rode it around the parking lot before we loaded it up and took it home.

As far as the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) mentioned above, this is something that can't be controlled from happening, or be ignored. If you or someone you know is suffering from PTSD, allow them to talk, and be there for them when they need someone. Someone with PTSD needs to talk and be given the chance to be heard, and know that they are loved. The most crucial time is when they actually open up and want to speak, but most of the time a PTSD sufferer will remain silent and slowly be processing in their own head. The worst part of having PTSD is being so hard on ourselves. PTSD is something in this country that gets overlooked and a lot of people tell the person it is all in their head, but the time to heal that mental thought needs to happen. Don't ignore, criticize, or belittle a person suffering from post-traumatic stress. You will only hinder the healing process. Remember, the emotional toll of a traumatic event can cause all sorts of emotions to come out. Don't be afraid to address each emotion individually. And most of all, don't be ashamed in having PTSD. It is very common and just know, you aren't alone, and you are going to be okay.

Here are a some articles that helped me and hey may help further your recovery too:

• Be mindful of what's important.

• Addressing traumatic stress directly.

• Identifying Post-Traumatic Stress.

Have a great weekend!