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.

Reflections on Love

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

This picture is actually a few weeks old. My mom and I drove up to Ikea so I could pick out a desk for my craft room/home office. I knew exactly what I wanted to see just had to navigate through the wandering crowds. I am pretty happy with how it looks. If I ever get my craft room in shape, I will share it.

When I was in NYC a few weeks ago, we had Thai food. I had been craving it ever since. It is so yummy! I was able to satisfy my craving with my favorite Pad See Ew.

I have been in the mood to make cookies for a while, but since I have so many frozen from Christmas I didn't feel it too necessary. I finally caved and made these to-die-for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. This will not and forever be my go to recipe. I also froze the cookie dough so I could have some self control.

This week we found out if my brother and sis-in-law were having a girl or a boy. I chose the blue nail polish, but I was wrong. It is another GIRL! I couldn't be more happy!

Since my mom and I couldn't be at the reveal, I got us cupcakes to celebrate. I think I need to get cupcakes to celebrate more things....like finishing a load of laundry or going to the grocery store. These need to be celebrated too!

Learning to Breathe, Pt. 2

It is hard to believe it is February already, but it also feels like the holidays happened lightyears ago. Sometimes it seems like life moves so quickly that it is hard to take time to breathe.

As I write this, it is snowing and not expected to stop until tomorrow. It would be super easy to say that I am going to enjoy this time and snuggle under a blanket and watch movies, but I have stuff to get done at home. I could easily justify my snuggly movie watching as taking time to breathe. But my house is a wreck and it is hard to "breathe" when I have laundry piled up, dishes to wash and snow to shovel.

Balancing my home responsibilities and my need to breathe is going to be difficult. Unfortunately, that is a struggle that will never go away. So that now becomes my bite-size focus for this month.

I can focus on where I am at the moment by taking care of what God has entrusted to me. I have been truly blessed by the home I have, but how I can take time to breathe when I am not doing my best at taking care of it.

Today, I will learn the balance of what I want to do with what I need to do. Because I can tell you now, cleaning is not what I want to do! :)

Reflections on Love

Reflections On Renew