Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

We have a yummy cupcake shop in Toledo called Cake In A Cup. I picked up a few and they were so good!!

Luna lives such a charmed life. There are times when I wish I could sleep and run around and have fun all day. But someone has to pay the bills.

My mom and I are a part of a CSA and we picked up our first bag of locally grown vegetables. Everything looked great and I can't wait to see what else pops up over the summer months.

Learning to Breathe, Pt. 5

Temperatures are finally getting warmer. Flowers are beginning to bloom. Trees are starting to bud. Summer is on its way.

One of the reasons I wanted to focus on learning to breathe this year is because I often feel distracted. I want to be doing something else besides what I am doing. I think it comes from the monotony that is life - working, cleaning, being a responsible adult. Sometimes there isn't a lot of extra room to just be.

In the recent weeks of nice weather, Luna and I have gone to the park to walk the trails. It is a time to get away from life's noise and enjoy the early signs of Spring. Although going for walks isn't always exciting, it is a short time break - a time out. I can breathe in the fresh air and be without expectation. Not only are these walks good for my health, but they are good for my soul.

And Luna can release some excess energy. As your can tell from the video below, she gets a little excited when she goes to the park.

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

Last week was the Glass City Marathon. It is such a fun environment. My mom and I picked up our packets last Saturday. My brother and sister-in-law weren't able to come this year. which was a little bit of a downer.

This year, the 5k participants received medals for completing the race. It was a nice little bonus this year even though I only walked. :)

It is not uncommon for me to wake up and see Luna with her head on a pillow and body all covered up. She is like a little person. It cracks me up!

My precious Brynley! Before my mom and I went up for Easter, my sis-in-law was teaching her how to say my name to see if she would come up with a nickname. Of course, my niece is the smartest kid out there and can say my name with no nickname!

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

I don't think my kitchen has ever been this clean before. The backsplash was reflecting on the countertop like glass. I was pretty impressed with myself. It also made me not want to do anything in my kitchen for several days.

My mom and I have tickets to the Pop Series at the Toledo Symphony. Last Saturday, they showed The Wizard of Oz and the orchestra played the music. They did an amazing job!

I was under the impression that it was spring, but we have had cold and snow several days this week. Luna is so ready for warmer weather...and so am I!

I have been on the hunt for a table or something to go in my entryway. I finally found something! I really like it, but it took me a few days to get used to something being there instead of it only being in my head. Now I am looking for a mirror to go above it and some cute decorations for the top. More to come...

Another little girl will be joining our family in June and I couldn't be more thrilled! I LOVE being an aunt and I am already getting a head start on spoiling this little one.

Learning to Breathe, Pt. 3

Raise your hand if you have been a bad blogger? ✋

I don't even have a good excuse, except that other things became a little more important. But I have missed this little blog of mine. I may not get a ton of readers and I am completely fine with that. This is my place share my thoughts.

This whole "learning to breathe" thing has been a little more difficult for me because I have to be intentional about it. If I am not, then things don't change. One of the hardest things is dealing with the everyday hum drum of life. Sometimes it isn't interesting and I feel like I am plodding through, living day to day trying to get things done.

This week I had to make a really hard decision, but the end result would have a direct effect on my opportunity to breathe. I have been wanting another dog for a while, months actually. And it so happens that a friend was thinking about giving up her dog. I thought this was a great way for us both to benefit. Well, her dog has been here for almost a week, it just isn't going to work. He has jumped over my fence twice just to explore. That is a huge concern for me because I don't want him to get lost or hurt or worse. I also had to think about the financial impact it would have - additional vet costs, food costs, training costs, etc.

While I thought my dog Luna was adjusting well to having another dog in the house, I am starting to see a few chinks in her armor. She is getting angrier when they are playing and I think she misses her downtime. Her little tummy seems to be upset and I am wondering if it is stress.

On Tuesday, when I realized that this was probably not going to be the best situation for the dog or for me, I just broke down. He is a sweet dog and I feel awful for not wanting him. This was definitely one of those big-girl decisions that was horrible to make. I still feel really bad about the whole situation, but I am confident in the decision I made. I didn't want to disappoint my friend. As much as I love dogs, at this point, it doesn't make sense for me to have another one. Luna is content being in an one-dog-only household and I am content with that as well.

This was a defining moment for me to have to think about what was best for me, not just right now, but in the future.  This opportunity gave me time to reevaluate what I wanted because what I want and what is best do not always go hand-in-hand.

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

We had some significant snowfall this week, so it was my first time shoveling my driveway. I even got to experience it twice! :)

I will try to get more veggies into my diet, but I am not very good about it. I do like putting them in my sandwiches - spinach, carrots and cucumber.

With the snow came frigid temps. This is a sign that I desperately need new windows. Ice was creeping up my bedroom windows.

These two....Luna really wanted Libby to get up and play, but Libby just wasn't having it.

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

This candle smells so good! Everything about it reminds me of fall. I have been burning it since the end of August.

My mom and I went away this week. I always feel so bad about leaving Luna.

Our getaway was in West Virginia, Wild and Wonderful!

The Greenbrier Resort! This was our destination. I will be posting more later, but this hotel is amazing.

The views at the pool are unbelievable! The leaves on the trees were already starting to change. I could stay here forever.

On the way home, we stopped in Columbus for dinner at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Grill. It was pretty good, but the Buckeye Pie was so yummy!

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

I finally found my coffee pot! I was so happy to see it. I made my first cup of coffee with my own coffee pot...in the living room. Someday it will be in the kitchen. I just don't know when that someday is at the moment.

One of Brynley's socks was left in my car when they came to Pennsylvania a few weeks ago. We are celebrating her birthday on Monday and I can't wait to see her again and give her back her sock.

Libby spent the night last night, so I brought her bed over. While we were doing some running around, she decided that she would take advantage of it being in the backseat. Not a bad way to travel.

Not to be out done, but this little girl was sitting pretty before getting up for the day. I can't tell if she looks tired or was mad at me for taking a picture.

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

When I got home last Sunday night, a package was waiting for me. Inside was a cheeseboard from Cambria for my countertop purchase. It is really nice and heavy!

Countertops have been installed!!!! More on that on Monday.

This little lady had a rough Tuesday. In the morning I looked at her and her head was shaking. So off to the vet we went. They didn't see anything wrong with her during a physical exam. Tuesday night, the tremoring was really bad. I was able to get a video of it so I can show the vet this coming Tuesday for her regular exam. It was a scary time for her and me.

My cousin has really been into essential oils. My mom started taking these a few weeks ago, so I started on Friday. I am hoping to drop some weight, as well as gain some energy.

I was eagerly waiting for this package to come. Berres Brothers was featured on the Food Network and they are located about 45 minutes from my brother. Since I was hoping my kitchen would be done this week, I ordered some coffee to celebrate. I still have to find my coffee pot and my kitchen isn't done.

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

My mom lives on the corner of of a busy street and her neighborhood. Saturday night, there was an accident right  at the intersection. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but there was quite a bit of excitement in a normally quiet neighborhood.

I have been craving hot tea when I am not in a place to have it. This week, I was at my mom's so I was able to make myself some really yummy tea. It is a beautiful red color.

The drywall process began this week. A post will be coming soon!

Luna loves chewing on water bottles. She takes the top and wrapper off and chews on the bottle. I caught her sleeping with a bottle in her bed.

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

These are so good!!! I highly recommend trying them out.

Are you watching the World Cup? I grew up in a soccer household, so I definitely had to watch the U.S. team. I believe that we will win!!

Kitchen started its transformation this week. It is an interesting process. More to come soon!

Luna turned 2 this week. My little girl is growing up. The top left picture is right after I got her. She was so tiny!! She is definitely my little buddy.

So to celebrate, she got a Bow Wow Sundae at Mr. Freeze! It comes with 2 Milkbones. Not a bad celebration for a dog.

An Evening Walk

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Temps in the upper 70s. The sun was shining. With such a harsh winter, it seems like warm weather will never get here. To celebrate, Luna and I went for a walk at Wildwood Park.

Luna has not mastered walking on the leash. And I am not much help. She has a tendency to pull. Then she chokes because I am not walking fast enough. Since my house is within walking distance of my mom's house, I want to be able to walk with Luna to my mom's without making a fool of myself. Well see about that, though.

Once I put Luna's harness on, she knew she was going somewhere. She stayed pretty close to me for a few hours in the afternoon.

After my 4 'o clock meeting, Luna and I headed to the park. I have been going to this park since I was a little girl. My dad has taken tons of pictures there. Someday, I am going to have one enlarged and put on canvas. I just haven't chosen which one yet.

Anywho...Wildwood has a lot of beautiful scenery. Although right now it is quite brown. But there was some green poking through.

Most of the trails are in wooded areas. It feels like you are in a different world as soon as the trails begin. It is very quiet and serene.

One of the greatest things at Wildwood is the Manor House. It is a huge house that a family built in the 1920s or 30s. I can't imagine living in a house like this. After the family moved out of the house, it was abandoned and squatters lived in it. Pretty nice place to live in for free!

There are many trails to choose from, but the one I chose goes by a creek. It is the trail that is most familiar to me.

Luna was exhausted at the end of the walk, which means she fell asleep early. That always makes the night a little smoother.

It was nice to be outside for a little bit and enjoy the fresh air. Hopefully this will be the first of many trips to the park this summer.

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

Be still my heart! Oh, how I love this little girl! Her face brightens my day and I got to see her last weekend.

My brother's dog, Ellie. She is slowly adjusting to having a little one in the house, but she does need some extra special attention every once in a while. She looks pretty comfy laying against my yarn.

Luna's shoe fetish continues. She looks completely uncomfortable, but she had my shoe so close.

I love Bath and Body Works candles. They smell so good, but don't last nearly long enough. Bigger jars are in order. By the way, hold on to the spent jars. Once all the wax is cleared out, they make great craft items.

Movie night with my mom! This was a great movie. I bought the book, but haven't read it yet. I am definitely looking forward to jumping into it. It is hard to believe what this small group of men saved in terms of art. Unreal!