Posts from the ‘Personal’ Category

Around Here: January 2017

Happy January!  We are finally getting back into the swing of things after being away for the Holidays, getting the Holiday decorations put away, and getting back to our ‘normal’ routine.  January is already flying by too quickly!

-continuing to work steadily on my long-term photography project — an image at a time — I am getting so close to finally finishing!

-picked my word for the year!  (Doug also picked his word for 2017: productive).

-reflected upon the last year and wrote my goals for 2017.

-making homemade dinners with Doug, while trying new recipes and old favorite recipes, too.

-enjoying date nights together!

-we are enjoying our new gym, and we are finally feeling back to how we felt before the Holidays!

-finishing and ordering the photo books I made capturing 2008 to the present.  It will be so nice to have many memories in book form.

-finished the third season of The Americans; and began the fourth season of The Americans — a really good series.

-started The Crown, and so far it is pretty good.

-saw Manchester by the Sea, which we enjoyed.

-we can’t wait to see this movie!

-enjoying many snuggles with our fur girl, Victory, who is doing well!

-getting rest and making more time for reading; I enjoyed this book somewhat recently, The Universe Has Your Back.

-listening to podcasts!

-achieveing 10,000 steps most days via my new Fitbit!

-continuing to make incremental progress on our ever-growing to do list!  We are making progress — Doug has been really productive and true to his word for the year!

Happy Wednesday!

2017 Happiness Jar

Beginning in 2014, I decided to make and keep a happiness jar throughout 2014, inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert, where I first learned about the happiness jar concept.  In 2015, I kept a larger happiness jar, which I filled up during 2015.  In 2016, I used an even larger jar, which I also filled up.

This year, I used a similar sized jar as last year, shown below.  At the beginning of January this year, I began to write down at least one happy/grateful sentiment/moment at the end of each day and placed it in my new jar.  It is an easy practice and it truly helps cultivate more gratitude and create a way to remember snippets from each day.  There is always SOMETHING to put in the jar — even on the most awful days.  It is relatively easy and it only takes a few minutes, if that, each day.  I am also still using my wish ball!

It is also fun at the beginning of each year to pour out the contents of the previous year’s happiness jar and read through and reflect upon the happiest/grateful moments from the previous year.  I highly recommend this practice!

Happy Tuesday!

2017 Word of the Year: Relax

“The time to relax is when you don’t have the time for it.” — Sidney Harris

Happy New Year, which is in full swing!  Many people write new year resolutions.  I concurrently write down my goals for the year, which I recently finished, while also reflecting upon last year, but I have found it more helpful to have a word, an intention, to focus on throughout the year.

This year, after reflection, I decided the word relax would be my word for 2017.  Last year I chose the word present; in 2015 I chose flow; in 2014 I chose trust; and in 2013 I chose the word create.

Relax defined: re·lax rəˈlaks/ verb 1. make or become less tense or anxious.

I decided that I want to have a more relaxed year than last year, which was quite intense, in many ways.  So Doug and I are making a concerted effort to enjoy each day and incorporate as much relaxation and fun as possible this year, while also trying new things.  As a result of our efforts, we hope for a fun and relaxed year!

Are you considering selecting a word for yourself (or letting one find you)?  There is no right or wrong.  The main thing to remember is that this is your word.

And what do you do with this one little word?  You live with it.  You invite it into your life.  You let it speak to you.  You might even follow where it leads.  There are so many possibilities.

Happy New Year!

Happy Pawlidays!!

“Dogs are treasures, and these treasures enhance the Holiday season.” -Unkown

Happy Pawlidays!  Thank you so much for a wonderful year!  I am very grateful to you blog readers and subscribers!  Thank you so very much for reading and following the blog — it means so much to me.

Below is the front and back of our Pawliday card along with our matching envelopes using custom stamps and little seals of our beautiful little Victory!  (You can view our previous Pawliday cards here, here, here, and here).  Sending our Pawliday card is one of my favorite parts of the Holiday season!  This is my way of sharing our Pawliday card with all of our blog friends!  Thank you for reading this blog for however long or short you have been visiting!  I truly enjoy creating content for the blog to share with all of you.  We hope that you have a wonderful Holiday!

We are traveling over the Holidays and taking a brief break from the blog to enjoy some down time.  I will return to the blog in January 2017.  Meanwhile, if you are in a blog-reading mood, you are warmly invited to visit the archives — the links are shown below.

Dog Related posts

Dog Rescue posts

‘Dog-Centric’ Artists Interviews

For Artists posts

Photography posts

Personal posts

Victory Related posts

Happy Pawlidays!

Around Here: December

Happy December!  I am not sure how it is already the end of the year and Christmas is only a couple of days away!

-continuing to work steadily on my long-term photography project — an image at a time.

-we took a trip to Newark, Delaware.

-our house is all decorated for Christmas and we love sitting by our little Christmas tree along with our candles!

-we took our little Victory to visit Santa for a third time this month!  Thankfully, Victory is very cooperative!

-having fun making and decorating eggnog sugar cookies!

-enjoying date nights together!

-we joined a new gym this month, as it was time for a change!

-started the third season of The Americans.

-finished the first season of Doctor Foster.

-we plan to see Manchester by the Sea this weekend.

-trying to get plenty of rest during this busy time of year.

-listening to podcasts!

-continuing to make incremental progress on our ever-growing to do list!

Wishing you a wonderful Pawliday!

Around Here: November

Happy November!  I am not sure how it is already the end of November and the close of 2016 is soon upon us.  Below are some items that have occurred around here in November!

-continuing to work steadily on my long-term photography project — an image at a time.

-we took a trip to Dewey Beach with Victory!  (A few short iPhone videos from our trip are shown below.)

-enjoyed our last visit to the Eastern Shore for crabs and fish this year.

-enjoying date nights together!

-burning fall candles in our home!

-making crock pot dinners together — which are mostly prepared by Doug!

-Victory had a urinary tract infection (UTI) this month, which was treated with antibiotics and she is now UTI free!

-getting ready for Thanksgiving!

-finished and ordered our Pawliday card, custom stamp, and seals!

-getting ready to decorate for Christmas around the house!  We ordered our live tree from Maine online that is going to be delivered later this week!

-Victory recently received her Christmas sweater to wear when she goes to visit Santa again next month!

-currently reading Love Worrier.

-finished the second season of The Americans.

-listening to a myriad of fun podcasts!

-continuing to make incremental progress on our ever-growing to do list!

Happy Tuesday and wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Around Here: October

Happy October!  It is officially feels like fall, our favorite season, with cooler temperatures and the beautiful foliage.  Below are some items that have occurred around here in October!

-continuing to work steadily on my long-term photography project — an image at a time.

-we celebrated Victory’s birthday!

-we celebrated our wedding anniversary!

-we took another trip to the Eastern Shore for crabs and shrimp with Victory!

-we took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch!

-enjoying evening walks together with Victory in her Hound About, especially since it is cooler outside!

-enjoying date nights together!

-opening the windows and letting the fresh, crisp air into our home!

-burning fall candles in our home!

-Victory had her annual exam at the vet, and all went well.  She will likely get a healthy dental early next year to make sure her teeth are ok and to be sure nothing is festering.

-getting ready for Halloween and pumpkin carving!  Victory has her costume and her candy to help pass out on Halloween!

-finishing up working on this year’s Pawliday card!

-currently reading Unsubscribe, a good read!

-finished the third season of Transparent!

-started the first season of Westworld.

-listening to a myriad of fun podcasts!

-still using my Fitbit and I’m hitting 10,000 steps per day most days.

-continuing to make incremental progress on our ever-growing to do list!

Happy Thursday!

Eight Years In

Dear Doug,

Happy eight-year anniversary!  I simply cannot believe another year has passed again.  I am not sure where the time goes.  So much has happened during this season.  It has been a season of great change for us, and I am fortunate to be on this path with you.  Much of this year has not been an easy; however, you have been right there with me, every step of the way, living in the present along with seeing where this path takes us.  I could not ask for a more supportive and loving  partner.  You are my best friend and my rock.  You are one of the kindest people I have ever met, who never fails to make me laugh.  Because of you, I am extremely fortunate to know true unconditional love and support.  This has been a really special month for us in so many ways.

I am so grateful and lucky to have you as my husband — you are my greatest gift.  Happy eight years!  Here’s to many, many more years together!

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”  —Lao Tzu