Life at a "Swell's" pace

July Fourth

We kept it lowkey this year with the fireworks and just bought a box of poppers/snappers, and sparklers. It was an early night of doing stuff and we were in bed by 10:00 p.m. because of a busy day the following day. It was still a lot of fun! I found this bulk box of snappers at Costco and Skylar paid a lot of them across the road to hear the cars driving over them through the night. Our secret "weapon."🎇

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.