Life at a "Swell's" pace

Five Simple Things (January 24)

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This kitty.

Always my morning wake up call.

2. These boxes.

Mighty Nest and Birchbox came this week. Reusable sponges are a plus in our house, so this month's item was a good one. With Birchbox I loved the Lavanila deodorant and the Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil. The deodorant smells great, and the bath and shower oil smells amazing! I have been wearing it as perfume this week, because it smells so incredible. I will definitely be ordering a larger bottle of it.

3. This doggy.

Everyone had gone to bed already and I was still up getting things around for work the next day. Hardy normally goes upstairs with Skylar, but this night he wanted to spend time with me. He is getting older and with every animal we have had, when they get old they get more clingy to me. I let him hang out with me and I loved on him a lot that night. We adopted Hardy when he was four years old. We found him huddled in a corner at the local animal shelter when we went in to donate some items. He had a cone on his head and looked beat up. We were told that someone had thrown him and his brother from their car on Interstate 5. I asked if he was up for adoption and they told us yes, but with some previsions. We brought Baz the next day to see if they got along and they did. More than we expected. That was 2011. If you did the math, that's 19 years. He has been with us longer than any other pet that we have had. Meia was 18, and Baz was 16. It's going to be incredibly hard when his time comes. We are keeping him as healthy and loved as much as we can. The sweater he is wearing was Baz's sweater, but I used old baby diaper pins to take it in so it fit him. He loves wearing it. He loves us so much, and we love him as much right back!

4. This bread.

This week I made cranberry bread with the leftover cranberries from Thanksgiving. I thawed them out and tossed them in sugar. I followed a mix of this recipe and this recipe to make my own version. It was easy to bring together and it tasted wonderful. I will definitely be making this one again soon.

5. These items.

Kiwi Eco Box also came this week. It seems this was the week that all my subscription boxes arrived together. I love the Kojac facial sponge. I have extremely sensitive skin and these are great for my face when I wash it. They are really gentle and don't hurt my skin. Right now, I am dealing with some redness and dry patches. These sponges are so gentle that it doesn't make it worse. Everything that comes with this box is eco-friendly and nothing is plastic, which is a definite plus. The company is woman owned and the women are Ukrainian. I feel so good that I am giving to a good cause, and to other women, as well as doing my part to not add to the plastic waste in the environment.

One last thing:

These cute Sardine Pens are now in the shop.

They come in a box that looks like an open can of sardines. Sardines Tinned Fish Pens all have black ink and look like fish as you hold them and write with them. They are the cutest thing. They are priced at $13 and are a lot cheaper in the shop than other gift shops. They would be the perfect addition to a gift bag, or just buy them for yourself and set them on your desk. Set of 3 pens per box.

You can check out the rest of the Five Simple Things shop here.

Positive affirmations this week:

A good way to help you stay on track with your positive changes, weight loss, mental health, or even just reminding yourself that you are loved is to make a symbol that is close to you and place it around important areas around your home, or office. You can even place them in your car, or your wallet. The more you have around the better you can keep your reminders up to stay focused and on task. The image below is an example, but you can make any image that is important to you, or one that you like. With the new year just starting, and not pushing yourself to feel obligated with resolutions, this is a good way to stay on task without the pressure. Start with one, and see how it goes.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (January 17)

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These earrings.

...and the other great items that are in the shop right now. Valentine's Day is coming up. Grab something cool from Five Simple Things. We will pack it nice for you to be able to gift right away.♥

2. This pie.

We bought this pie from Midway Farms in Corvallis, Oregon. We love stopping into the farm every once in awhile in the summer months, but this was the first time we stopped during the winter season. We are so glad that we did, too. This pie was $22 and was caramel apple favor, and it was delicious!

3. This stationary.

One of my first memories of girly-type things was a jean purse my parents gave me one Christmas, along with some Hello Kitty makeup, Hello Kitty wallet, Tinkerbell lip gloss, and a coin purse. I had lipstick, some pencils, and all my favorite things inside the purse. We had gone to a football game and stopped at a Taco Bell to eat dinner. I was young, maybe eight, or nine, and I was tired. I carried my purse into the restaurant thinking I was a big girl and had a purse of my own. I was proud of that purse and everything that was in it. It made me feel special. When we finished eating I accidentally left the purse sitting in the bench we sat at. There were about six other people with me that night, and no one noticed that I left it behind. I finally remembered when we got home and I couldn't find my special purse. My parents called back to the Taco Bell, which was several cities away from where we lived and the workers looked, but it wasn't found. I was so sad that night, and I still remember it to this day. I miss it and all the items that were inside. I think one of the reasons I am drawn to items like the Strawberry Milk Stationary set above is because of that purse. I am always chasing the feeling I had when I first got that purse. It was a huge moment in my life for me, especially as a child. I will forever be buying items to bring back the feeling that little me had at that time.

4. This drink.

My new favorite. It's low calorie, organic, and comes in this mango clementine flavor, as well as strawberry lemonade, dragon fruit, blackberry lemonade, and Georgia peach. The same company, Roar, makes fruit snacks, too. They have been my go-to for a sweet treat lately.

5. These moons.

Looking up into the sky has never been more interesting this year. We already saw the Wolf Moon this week and we are looking forward to seeing the Snow Moon in February. Here is a way to follow all the moon phases over the next 12 months.

One last thing:

Currently, there is a massive wildfire burning in California. On January 7, reports indicated that the fires were the most devastating in California's history, with over 8,000 structures burned as of January 17. A lot of misinformation suggests that fire crews and engines are not doing their job or are unable to do their job because California won't let them in. As someone who has been part of a firefighting scene for over 20 years, it is disgusting how quickly people throw first responders under the bus. The West Coast does not deserve the treatment it is getting due to disagreements. The man currently in charge of bringing the country together is pushing everyone apart with his words and rhetoric about how "he" thinks things should operate. It is disheartening to know that many people are agreeing with the words of a man who hasn't lifted a finger to help anyone but himself his entire life. Sadly, those who are commenting the most on what they "think" is happening here are people who have never been to the West Coast.

The Eaton and Palisades fires, which began on January 7, 2025, have now killed 27 people as of today. Arson is suspected, but the dry conditions and wind have been the biggest factor in why they have spread so fast. Fire crews are doing everything they can to at least get ahead of the blaze, but with residents, fire crews, and volunteers all using water, it is putting a serious strain on the water getting to the right places; the pumps are overwhelmed by the demand. Regardless of politics, people need to come together more and understand how everything has happened and is running right now. Fire crews from across the nation, and even Mexico, have come to help with California's deadly wildfires. These fires are urban interface fires and will result in a lot of homes and businesses being destroyed. The west coast is, sadly, very familiar with wildfires and how bad they can get in a matter of less than 20 minutes, but this fire is different. It is a wildfire that no one could have been prepared for because of how quickly it spread is a short amount of time. With Climate Change becoming more noticeable, we are going to have a lot more issues as Global Warming takes hold. Climate Change deniers are the biggest hurt to these changes. We either adapt or we will have more of these issues in the future. It's scary to think that people aren't willing to help each other, as humans are pack and social animals, it's shocking to think that some aren't willing to step up and at least not make comments on situations they aren't knowledgeable of. Times like this are a reminder of how bad social media has made our world. When other states experience what we are all too familiar with, our hearts go out to them immediately, and we don't speculate on who isn't doing what to help, or comment on them in a damaging way. I wish people had more care for others than for a man who doesn't have a clue about how wildfires are contained and the approach needed to put them out. He is creating so much division among American citizens who are just trying to survive and do the right thing. If he is "your guy," please rethink how his words and actions are affecting your neighbors. Even neighbors who live 3,000 miles away.

Ways you can actually help:

LA STRONG – Support Wildfire Relief Efforts

How to Help Los Angeles Fire Victims Right Now

Keep California and everyone impacted by these fires in your thoughts this week and the months to come. It's going to be an uphill battle for a lot of them, as well as the community. Supporting the Palisades community through recovery and renewal.

Positive affirmations this week:

90 days can change your life. Don't brag about it, don't post it online, don't tell anyone. Just do the work and get yourself back. This work could be anything. Getting your finances in order, getting your exercise goals back on track, or even getting into therapy. There's so many things you can do in a 90 day period to make a positive impact on your life. You are the one to decide what you focus on, but give it 90 days.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (January 10)

Hello.

Here are five things things this week.

1. This park.

We took a walk through Avery Park in Corvallis, Oregon, this week. There was a small cargo train derailment near the park, so we watched some of the cleanup efforts, as well. We have always loved this old coal engine that's setup in the park for people to climb on. It was once the backdrop of our holiday cards one year when Skylar was four and we still had Baz with us. This picture with Skylar and Hardy are perfect to go with the one of him and Baz all those years ago.

2. This art.

I bought this painting from a Twitter friend. She used spray paints and was feeling down about how it turned out, so I bought it. I love the Scream movies, and this painting is so quirky that it's perfect for what I want to use it for, which is a library, or possibly a studio later. The Ghost Host on Twitter is a cool person to follow, too, if you're into horror and Scream.

3. This game.

My sister and I used to play Skee-Ball at an arcade in Hot Springs, Arkansas. My dad would take us to the Hot Springs Mall and give us about $5 and let us play games. The place was called Aladdin's Castle and to this day I have great memories of doing that. My dad tried hard to connect on our level, and I think he did a good job taking us to different places when we were growing up. I think back on that time period and my dad was younger than I am now, and had two girls. We would go to play games at Aladdin's Castle and have corndogs at Corn Dog 7. I found this mini desktop Skee-Ball game. I ended up sending it to my sister in hopes that it would bring back those old memories for her, too.

4. This day.

It was a weird morning-type of week this week. No wind, not mist, just fog and flat. We are still in the winter months here, so it's to be expected. But, with the wind not blowing even a little, it made these flags look eerie. Which, I do love.

5. These papers.

Skylar made us all, including the animals, honorary members of his railroad company, Deer Pacific. We feel special.

One last thing:

I bought this 12 Days of Beauty from Whole Foods and I waited until December 25 and kept opening until January 5. Those are the 12 days of Christmas. I loved everything in the different advent windows. I couldn't pick a favorite, because they were all great!