Five Simple Things (July 4)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These shoes.

Because everyone needs a pair of Chuck Taylors at least once in their life. Of course, with our house it's many times in our life, but nothing is better than a new pair. I look forward to Skylar wearing these out. And if you don't know who Chuck Taylor is, are you really a Converse fan?

2. This Necessaire.

I am loving this brand and every time it comes as a gift in the mail I am excited. I am loving the soap bars lately, too.

3. These items.

Kiwi Eco Box came this week and I am loving the candle and the scent sachet. This start of summer scents always boost my mental health. Hopefully, this summer will be better than the last. Get on the mailing list for this box here, and snag the next month's shipment.

4. These cookies.

Homemade chocolate chocolate chip cookies are the best. I have an entire blog post on chocolate chip cookies. This weekend is the time to make some, so snap to it!

5. This moment.

We made the shift today from Hardy's bowl to know Eleven's bowl. We try to hand-me-down pet things as we need to. We save a few things that go into the "pet box," but some things go onto the next in line. Poor Eleven has been just as heartbroken and depressed as we have been over Hardy. He was just a spark of happiness in our house. We all are feeling the loss.

One last thing:

I've been working on a recipe book for Skylar. I don't cook a lot, and honestly, I really hate it, but I have created some recipes over the years that are mine, and I want Skylar to have a keepsake that he can use later on and remember happy times together in the kitchen. I have been making little side notes for him, too, so that he can have a lot of good things from me. This will be a work in progress, but he will really enjoy it when I do finish it and gift it to him. I don't remember where I picked this one up, but Amazon has some great options. I recommend getting a hard-backed book, because of the wear and tear it might go through when used a lot.

Positive affirmations this week:

Stay on task with your mental health. If you start to see a dip in how you feel, reevaluate what took place shortly before that dip. Think back to maybe it being something that has compounded through the last few days or weeks. If you see a pattern that is affecting how you feel, try to regain some positivity to help you through it. Definitely cut ties with toxicity if that is the case, and remember you are the captain of your life. Here are some quick things to do to help you get back to center from the image below. But always remember, no matter how many things you do that will help you stay on a positive climb out of mental health issues, some days just hit hard, and that's okay. Push through and love yourself through it, and tomorrow we try again. There is no shame in struggling. Never beat yourself up. Always allow yourself to feel how you feel. You're going to be okay.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

End of June 2025 (1 Second Every Day)

 

1 Second Everyday App

Five Simple Things (June 27)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This sunset.

West coast sunsets are always a positive view at the end of a long day. This one was one I needed to see after Tuesday. Sometimes people try to steal so much of what makes you human, but mother nature always reminds me that it's going to be okay at the end of the day.

2. This box.

Birchbox came this week and my favorite items in this box are the Balance Me BHA Exfoliating Toner and the Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Power Cream sample.

3. This moment.

A moment of not paying attention almost became something worse. Skylar turned the wrong burner on and ended up burning a cutting board that was on top of the stove. We were able to keep it from being worse, but he was sure upset. Accidents happen, but it was a good moment to remind him that he needs to always pay attention to what he is doing and never let his guard down when cooking or heating something.

4. This kitty.

Always watching...

5. These flowers.

This week's flowers to brighten our house.

One last thing:

These were a gift for someone for their birthday, but ended up getting eaten in our house. No regrets.

Albanese Gummy Bears

HU Dark Chocolate Cashew Buter 

Positive affirmations this week:

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Goodbye, Mr. Farts

 AKA: Hardy (April 2006 - June 2025)
Safe travels, buddy. Until we meet again...

We said goodbye to Hardy (AKA Mr. Farts) this week, and it was hard as hell. We have lost pets that we loved over the past 20 years, but this one hit differently. Hardy was so loving, kind, loyal, and smart; he was so smart. I don't think there was a time when he wasn't just all about us. He loved riding in the school bus, and he loved being wherever we were. All of our pets have had cool personalities, but we all had a different connection to Hardy in different ways. He knew that he could eat snacks with Jeff, popcorn, peanuts, chips, and crackers, without consequence. Jeff was his go-to for sneaking snacks. With Skylar, he knew that he could go for walks or runs whenever he wanted: walking down to the river with Skylar, drinking water in the canal, or running the many trails around the city. He would also know that he could go to Skylar to go outside in the backyard. With me, Hardy knew that where I was would be quiet. When I worked on my computer, he knew that he could relax without being disturbed and know that he was safe and loved. He started slowing down as he got older, but his jumping up high when it was time to go outside stays with all three of us. He was such a high-energy Miniature Pinscher, and he is the main reason why Baz lived as long as he did. Hardy kept everyone active. He was fine the day before, then not the day after. He stayed active up until the day it was time to say goodbye. His doggy soul was tired; at 19 years old, he was just tired.

The day before we spent time with him as much as we could. We laid with him outside in the grass, put on his outfits and his favorite things he loved to wear. We all loved on him and let the other pets say goodbye to him. Hardy was loving all of it. He looks so handsome in his surfing goggles.

Skylar created a train with Hardy's name on it in his memory.

We gave him one last ride in the school bus. We always joked that Hardy was either a bus driver, or a truck driver in a past life, because he loved being in the school bus so much. We are so grateful that we were able to take our long distance trip across the United States in 2024. Hardy had a great time on that trip and got to see parts of the country that not even we had seen. I will treasure those memories the most. Him looking over the edge of the Grand Canyon is one of my favorite moments with him. He was such a good boy!

His toy reindeer will not be passed down to Eleven.

His original collar and lease from Safe Haven Humane Society when we adopted him in 2011. We kept all of his records from that day and everything we needed for him to come home with us. I went into Safe Haven Humane Society to donate some items and saw this tiny black and brown doggie with a cone on his neck sitting the corner of a fenced in area. He was so lonely and kept whining for me to pay attention to him. I had no plans on bringing another dog home, but something told me to give him a chance. I was still recovering from being mauled by a neighbor's dog on my left hand and arm, as well as my legs, so I was not wanting another dog at all. I honestly was kind of shunning all dogs, but my own at the time, which was Baz. But that day, it was meant to be. Hardy was my emotional support through much of my recovery. Baz was there, but Hardy and I seemed to bond on the need of love and affection. And he not only gave me that, but gave me that in a way that I will never forget. Animals have taught me the most about love and acceptance. From my cats, Milo, Meia, and Eleven, to the dogs we've had in our family. Even the dogs and cats I had growing up. If there weren't animals on the planet with us I don't think I would have made it through some of the hardest times in my life.

Goodbye, Mr. Farts. We will see you again.