Posts from the ‘Personal’ Category

Inspirational Quotes!

I  love quotes.  I collect these quotable magnets that adorn the side of my refrigerator.  (My quotable magnets are currently packed until we move to our new house!)  I got quote #11, my first quotable magnet, shown below, right before leaving for law school.  It was fitting at the time.  I had it displayed on my little dorm refrigerator.  Below are a few of my favorite quotes that I hope that you find inspiring!

Happy Fourth of July!

 

1. “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

2. “The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment.” ~Pema Chodron

 

3. “If you think you can do a thing or think that you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” ~Henry Ford

 

4. “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” ~Aristotle

 

5. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” ~Helen Keller

 

6. “I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.” ~Diane Arbus

 

7.  “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” ~Mother Teresa

 

8. “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” ~Abraham Lincoln

 

9. “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” ~Buddha

 

10. “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” ~John Lennon

 

11. “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” ~Winston Churchill

 

12. “A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.” ~Charles Darwin

 

13. “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow.  Let reality be reality.  Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” ~Lao Tau

 

14. “True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist.” ~Albert Einstein

 

15. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

 

16. “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” ~Dalai Lama

 

17. “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
~Charles Dickens

 

18. “Love recognizes no barriers.  It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” ~Maya Angelou

 

19. “Keep love in your heart.  A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” ~Oscar Wilde

 

20. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~Mahatma Ghandi

 

In other news, Biscuit is improving with each day; his drain has been removed and his cone if off — we all are pleased!  Despite everything, Biscuit is still smiling.  I love his smile and he is an inspiration.  Most of all, I love holding Biscuit in my arms — what a wonderful gift.

The Importance of a Snow Cone Machine!

This past Friday evening we drove to Annapolis to pick up our little Biscuit from the hospital.  Biscuit was in the ICU for a total of 5 days (4 nights).  We did not know that they had an ICU for animals as this was our first experience leaving Biscuit, our first dog, at the hospital.  Biscuit had never spent the night without at least one of us being with him.  It was a major adjustment for us not to have him at home with us.  It was an exhausting week last week, but we are thankful that Biscuit is now home — and so is Biscuit!  We were nervous to take him home because we wanted to make sure we could handle taking care of him.  Now I have an inkling of what it might feel like for first-time new moms who bring their human baby home for the first time — feeling a bit unsure, overwhelmed, and tired.

The surgeon at Biscuit’s discharge appointment, on Friday, told us that it was very important for Biscuit to drink liquids to stay hydrated especially due to Biscuit’s kidney disease.  Biscuit was not drinking or eating at the hospital, which the surgeon told us is not too out of the ordinary as Biscuit was grumpy being in the hospital.  (Biscuit was receiving continuous IV fluids at the hospital.)  Doug and I were nervous that Biscuit would not drink at home due to his cone which we cannot remove even for a short period because of Biscuit’s drain, which thankfully gets removed this week.  (We also hope that the cone comes off this week!  Next week, Biscuit’s stitches are coming out!)  Most of all, we wanted to prevent Biscuit from going back to the hospital as he was not a happy camper staying at the hospital — and we cannot blame him for feeling that way.

So, on Saturday morning, Doug had an ingenious idea to try making Biscuit snow cones (with no flavoring, of course!).  To our surprise, it worked!  Doug was so happy that he called the hospital back and let them know his idea concerning the snow cone worked!  Biscuit had about 10 snow cones (hand fed) over the weekend and he has been peeing like a champ outside!  We were so happy to see him getting liquids down!  (Doug also purchased a back up snow cone maker this weekend in case the first one breaks as the snow cone machine is inexpensive!)  Doug and I have enjoyed a few snow cones ourselves using a few of these syrups!  A few photographs of the snow cone machine and snow cone are shown below!

After mastering the liquids, the next hurdle was eating.  We tried many different things and finally on Sunday night, Biscuit ate 3 small chicken breasts (hand fed)!  It will take some time, per the surgeon, to get Biscuit back on his prescription diet (for his kidneys) along with his normal medications.  At least we are making some progress in a positive way.

After mastering eating and drinking — next came the elimination — the poop!  I know that it gross to think about poop, but we got our first poops yesterday out of Biscuit, and they were a #3 and #4 on the Bristol Stool Scale!

Biscuit has even taken a few steps around the house and he is maneuvering pretty well all considering what he has been through with the surgery and hospitalization.  His balance is still off due to the removal of his ear canal on his left side, which regulates his balance, but the surgeon said that this should resolve and Biscuit will learn to compensate, with time.  Things should also improve when Biscuit’s cone is removed.  We hope with each day, Biscuit keeps improving!  Biscuit still loves sleeping by his fan!  We love having him home and enjoy his smile — through everything Biscuit is still smiling!  Biscuit is resilient and we are thankful that he is so strong.

Thank you everyone for your continued good wishes for little Biscuit!

Having Faith

It has been a really long and exhausting week for us.  I am thankful that the Universe did not allow Doug to travel overseas for work this week as scheduled.  The unexpected storms on the east coast fortuitously cancelled his flight overseas.  I am grateful that my parents were able to come visit during this week.   They brought their dog, Nick, with them and he actually warmed up to me a bit!  He is super attached to my Dad.  Each time my Dad left to go somewhere, Nick would just sit and stare at the front door for his Daddy to return!  However, a few times, he hopped up and sat with me!  I even gave him an oatmeal bath and he was a good boy!

Each day Biscuit gets a little brighter.  Thank you for the thoughtful e-mails and prayers.  We bring our little Biscuit home later today from the hospital where he has been since Monday.  This is all a new experience for us as Biscuit is our first dog for both of us and we have never gone through an experience like this before.  We have been able to visit him the past two nights and he ate some Chick-Fil-A soft-serve ice cream last night!  We hope that he will be more comfortable at home with us in familiar surroundings, although it will take time to heal.  He, unfortunately, has to wear a cone due to his recent surgery for several more days.  After a past surgery, Biscuit hated wearing his cone!  In addition to wearing a cone, Biscuit also has a drain in him from the surgery, which will be removed sometime next week.  The following week after that, the stitches will be removed (along with the cone).

We are really happy Biscuit made it through surgery and Doug and I will do everything in our power to help nurse him through the healing process one day at a time.  Each day with Biscuit is a gift.  I have been practicing faith during this time.  The hardest part of faith, for me, is the waiting, the letting go, and the knowing that all will be well but that it is not up to me to determine the outcome, the when’s, where’s, and how’s.

“Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.”  ~Voltaire

Finding Inspiration

I like to have inspiration in my life.  However, sometimes, I do not always feel inspired.  Therefore, I must wait.

I read an article explaining how inspiration and/or flashes of genius are actually rooted in science.   Because of this, we can create a system and life that allows ourselves to have better ideas more often.

The article stated everything you have read, tasted, viewed, experienced and learned over the years is stored in your brain as unrelated connections.  A section of your brain called the superior anterior temporal gyrus (right side, just behind your ear) helps connect the dots and puts them together into a cohesive idea.

However, if you are stressed all the time or have created a crazy and busy schedule with little to no down time, your brain has a harder time looking for those dots because it is so focused on what you have going on.  When your body can relax, your creativity can shine as your creativity is really your brain connecting the dots and presenting solutions.

This is why many people get their best ideas in the shower.  They are completely disconnected — no phones, no email, no computers — which allows the brain to get to work.

As a result, if you want better ideas, set the intention to regularly do something out of your norm.   Read better books and read them more often.  Go to museums.  Watch well-made films.  Go to a comedy show.  Go for a walk.  Go for a swim.  Learn to cook.  Take up knitting.

You can do it alone or make it a date with your spouse, kids, or friends.  The trick is to get out of your usual routine and allow yourself to have fun and relax.

Making time to take care of yourself is better for yourself in the long run.   I am working on simply being.

Biscuit — A Fighter

Biscuit made it through his surgery this morning.  We are anxious to visit our little Biscuit tomorrow (we are not permitted to visit him today).  We are so grateful that he made it through this surgery.  Each day with our little Biscuit is truly a gift.

 

Update: Biscuit

We took Biscuit to the new house this past weekend!  We now have drywall!  Things seem to be coming together quite well.  Biscuit was quite happy as we perused the new house!  A few photographs of Biscuit are shown below!  The builder is still anticipating our house to be completed in mid to late August!

In other news, after recently meeting with the surgeon, pending blood work results, Biscuit will be having surgery, a total ear ablation, tomorrow, Tuesday.  His chest x-rays were clear this morning; and after speaking with the surgeon, the ear ablation surgery is in Biscuit’s best interest.  Biscuit is currently in the hospital on IV fluids in preparation for tomorrow’s surgery.  Please hold Biscuit in your thoughts and prayers during this time.

Product Review – moo.com

Product Review:  I have been really happy with the products I have ordered from Moo.  I have ordered many items, including business cards and stickers, from Moo.  Some recent custom stickers from Moo are shown below, which I am using for my custom packaging for my completed print orders and client correspondence!  You can view custom stamps and stickers that I had made here!  I really enjoy creating custom cards!  These details really add a nice custom touch.

If there are others who are really happy with certain vendors for paper/packaging products, please let me know!

Happy Wednesday!