Saturday, June 30, 2018

Other Bloggers Inspire Me. Especially This One...


I read an interesting blog post today that addressed Working versus Producing. It's written by the fabulous Susie who is the author and owner of Not Your Average Mom. Like us, she lives in Connecticut. I've been reading her blog for a couple of years now. One of these days, I'd like to connect with her. I adore her candid nature and realism.

Friday, June 29, 2018

Something Really Incredible Happened Today


Earlier this month, I mentioned that an old school friend was going to be in our neck of the woods along with her son and bestie. They are spending a few days at the beach about 40 minutes south of us. When I learned of this, I suggested they come over for dinner. I wasn't sure that would happen because of the commute and their plans. There's a lot to see in the area where they are staying. But, about a week after I mentioned it, I received a message. They were going to include us in their vacation plans!

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Just. A. Reminder.


Being a mother doesn't mean being related to someone by blood or someone that is human. It means loving someone unconditionally. With all of your whole heart. Your whole life.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

I Hope For The Best. But, I'm Also Prepared For The Worst


From an early age, I learned to hope for the best, but to be prepared for the worst. In other words, I tend to be hyper-sensitive and hyper-intuitive. I attribute this to a couple of minor TBI's in my lifetime along with experiences that no one should have to go through. Often times, when something is out of the ordinary, I take notice. I focus on that. I plan out every possible scenario. Then, I stress about how I'm going to handle each and every outcome. As of late, I've been honing in on several situations with various possible outcomes.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

If Our Kids Could Speak In Human Tongue, They'd Have A Few Things To Share...


Several times a day one or all of our kids will look at me inquisitively. Heads tilted. Ears perched. There's a reason for this. As a Work at Home Dog Mom, I don't get out much. I'm home alone during the day. My weirdness and unique personality tend to surface after I've had my first cup of coffee.

Monday, June 25, 2018

It's Okay To Have Expectations


I heard back from an old friend today. And, when I say "old" I'm referring to both her age and how many years we've been friends. I know she won't mind me publishing that bit of information. I've lost count how many times she's referred to herself as "an old biddy" who is set in her ways. It's kind of a standing joke between the two of us.

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Happy 4 Year Gotcha Day To Our Sweet Lil' Sophie



Four years ago, we took a day trip to visit and deliver biscuit love to an incredible woman who does SO much for animals in need. Prior to leaving, Lisa held this little cutie and gave me THAT LOOK. Long story short, our family got a bit bigger that day.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

This Photo Summarizes Our Bodacious Dog Mom Life


My workload for this weekend is rather heavy. Deskwork. DIY Dog Mom Projects. Baking homemade dog treats. Painting and putting the final touches on a DIY Doggy Bed for Sophie's 4 Year Gotcha Day tomorrow. Housework. And attempting to tackle the stuff on my lengthy To-Do List. It was one of those mornings where I had so much work to do, I didn't know where to start.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Take Me Out To The Ball Game...


Last week, Lisa and I went out on 2 dates. Dinner. Errands. We had a blast. This is kind of a new thing. Putting aside a few hours during the week to go out. Just us. That was supposed to happen today after Lisa got home and mowed the lawns. But, things didn't exactly go as planned. It's all my fault and I'm more than happy to take the blame.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

The Frame For Another DIY Doggy Bed Is Done!


When our kids celebrate their Gotcha Days, we make them a gift of their choice. Sophie's 4 Year Gotcha Day is coming up in 2 days. Earlier this month, she said, "Mommy, I want a doggy bed for the DIY Dog Mom Project Workshop." As of now, there isn't one in there. I've been dragging the kitchen doggy bed to the workshop when I'm in there.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Puppies! Puppies! Puppies!


In late April, a friend of ours reached out to place a custom order. It was a gift for her husband. This year, they're celebrating their 10 year wedding anniversary. They've got a lot to celebrate. Just recently, her husband was declared cancer free.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

When You Haven't Seen Someone In Over 30 Years...


When I got up this morning, I had no idea that I'd receive a Facebook message that would have me jumping up from my office chair. Hootin' and hollering. Getting a bit emotional. Sitting on the edge of my chair. Bursting at the seams. But, I did. It happened.

Monday, June 18, 2018

The Fear Of Success Is A Real Thing


A few months ago, Lisa and I watched season 1 of Queer Eye on Netflix. I'll admit, a few episodes had me diving into our box of Kleenex in the living room. Lisa remembers watching the original Queer Eye For The Straight Guy that aired back in 2003. I don't. I had heard of it, but never took the time to watch it.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

On Finding That Balance Between Work And Play


I spent a few hours working yesterday, but the majority of the time, I focused on and enjoyed a backyard cookout and evening fire with some of our favorite humans. We all had a blast. A couple of our guests invited us to a barbecue today. I wanted to go. But, I was sitting on 6 custom orders that I needed to finish for pick up and deliveries this coming week. I told Lisa to go. Enjoy. She did.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

I Learned A Few Things During Our Cookout This Evening


We invited a few of our neighbor friends over for a backyard cookout and fire this evening. The fare was simple.  Grilled boneless chicken breast tenders with 3 different marinades. Italian pasta salad. Homestyle potato salad. Brocolli salad. Fruit salad. Marinated kielbasa antipasto salad. Cornbread. Chips and dip. Dessert. The food was scrumptious. The adult beverages were refreshing. We had lots of laughs. Great conversation. I don't think any of us wanted the evening to end.

Friday, June 15, 2018

Two Date Nights In A Week. What?!?!


I have a confession to make. As a Work at Home Dog Mom, I very seldom leave the house. During our Monday through Friday schedule, Lisa runs a few errands throughout the week because I'm still working when she gets home. On the weekends, we're both catching up on stuff we didn't get done during the week. The majority of that resides within our home or the yard.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

If The Shoe Fits, Wear It...


At least once a week, I decorate my personal Facebook wall with a photo accompanied by a brazen paragraph or two. Or three. Or four. These posts culminate from emails, private messages, stuff I see on social media, situations I witness, personal experience, etc. While these candid posts are not planned and have no rhyme or reason, there are two things that remain a solid foundation for all.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

One Day At A Time...


Most evenings after I tuck Lisa and the kids in, I'll glance over the DIY Dog Mom Projects that I've worked on or skim a few blog columns that are almost ready to publish. Or, sometimes both. I think about the work I got done throughout the day and evening. At this point, I become my own worst enemy.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

I Added Birdhouses To Our Upcoming DIY Dog Mom Projects List


A couple of years after we moved here, during the late Spring, Lisa and I strolled through one of our favorite indoor/outdoor flea markets. While inside, one particular vendor caught our attention. He was an elderly gentleman. In a wheelchair. Putting the final touches on his rustic handcrafted birdhouses. He had several shelves filled with his creations. Lisa and I purchased a birdhouse.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Thank You For The Visit, Patti! You Made Our Day!


Early this afternoon, I received a Facebook message from our dear friend, Patti. She was in town and wanted to stop by quickly before heading home. This was a big deal. We haven't seen Patti in months.

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Insanity Is Doing The Same Thing Over And Over Again And Expecting Different Results


I lost it the other day. I went off on a friend of many, many years. Whether we remain friends from this point on is undetermined. At this point, I couldn't care less. Sure, I'd be a bit heartbroken and question why she allowed this issue to be the demise of our friendship. But, more epically ridiculous sh*t has happened in my life so why stop now.

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Because Sometimes, A Free Weekend Is All You Need


Last Saturday and Sunday, I gave Lisa a free weekend.  Over the past few months, our weekends have been extremely busy. We've assisted others with renovations, planned and hosted a graduation party, attended the graduation, tackled Our Big Bodacious Painting Project, tended to yard work, did some pet and house sitting, and got a lot of stuff done on our To-Do List. Between everything, there have been Sunday evenings when we didn't sit down to exhale until an hour before Lisa and the kids went to bed.

Friday, June 8, 2018

This Is One Of My Favorite Moments During The Day


One of the constant struggles that Lisa and I have always had involves the moment she gets home from work. My first instinct is to offer her a snack and convince her to relax a bit. Exhale. However, Lisa's mode is to empty her lunch bag, get out of her work clothes, to check Our Big Bodacious Dry Erase Bulletin Board, and tackle small chores around the house that I wasn't able to get to.

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Our Big Bodacious Dry Erase Bulletin Board


I have vivid memories, as a kid and teen, of our kitchen counters decorated with notes. It was always the counter on the left side of the sink. By the giant microwave. My mother was famous for scribbling reminders and such on PostIt Notes and other scraps of paper. At the end of the day, she'd rewrite and reorganize the notes. In 2011, when I resided with her temporarily to assist her, nothing had changed.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Sophie Has Already Requested Her 4 Year Gotcha Day Gift


To date, we have quite a few doggy beds available for our kids in addition to any furniture they can jump on like our bed, kitchen chairs, sofa, decorative chair, etc. We have a jumbo doggy bed in the kitchen. A DIY doggy bed in the bedroom. The DIY nappy nook and doggy platform bed in the living room. And, the DIY indoor dog house in the home office.

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

I Need To Spend More Time In The Kitchen. And, Make An Apron.


In 2016, I published a few blog columns about how we drastically reduced our monthly expenses. You can read about that here and here. We've made a few adjustments since, but the foundation of each area is the same. We're still utilizing what we already have, taking advantage of sales and online coupons, embracing DIY projects, etc. 

Monday, June 4, 2018

My Version Of Paying For A Strangers Coffee


Most days on the way home from work, Lisa stops for a Dunkin Donuts iced coffee. Last week, when she pulled up to the window, she was informed that her coffee had been paid for by the person ahead of her. Without a second thought, Lisa paid for the coffee order of the person behind her. When Lisa told me what happened, her face lit up.

Sunday, June 3, 2018

I Officially Have A DIY Dog Mom Project Workshop


Aside from our home office getting a total transformation during Our Big Bodacious Painting Project, the other room to get a massive makeover was our old bedroom. It's no longer a bedroom. It's now my DIY Dog Mom Project Room and I am loving it!

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Random Thoughts And A Free Weekend


Lisa has never been one to engage in deep conversation for any length of time. Most of the time, she's emotionally even-keeled and if something is bothering her, it's difficult to drag it out. There are exceptions but for the most part, she's always reminded me a little of Steven Wright. These qualities of hers are one thing we don't have in common. I adore deep conversations, I'm expressive and animated.

Friday, June 1, 2018

I No Longer Dread Spending Large Quantities Of Time In Our Home Office


We have rearranged our home office at least a half dozen times since we moved here in July of 2012. My desk has been up against several walls, facing out towards the living room and kitty-cornered. At one time, we switched our bedroom with the home office. A year later, we switched it back. A couple of years after that, we added a rocking love seat so our home office was more of a combination second living room, home office. Earlier this year, we got rid of the love seat.