Monthly Archives: June 2012

Out with the old

Leave a reply

I’ve mentioned a couple of times how I’ve been trying to organize our house. Well we’re finally making it happen 2 years after moving into this house.

I can be a bit of a hoarder. I say that jokingly, because it’s not like I have piles of useless stuff around our house, but I do hate throwing things out. Especially things that are in condition and could be useful, but we just don’t use them. I hate thinking that I got rid of something that I may have use for at some point.

But I’ve been working on it because frankly I got tired of our spare bedroom being a storage room. As I was clearing things out, I thought there were several things that would be worth selling, but I don’t like dealing with shipping on eBay or waiting around for someone from Craigslist. So I decided to have a yard sale. I didn’t have a ton to get rid of myself, so I invited a bunch of friends and family to join in.

We’re going to have it this Saturday and I’m actually looking forward to it. My soon-to-be-sister-in-law and I spent the day making signs and getting prepared. It may be 100-degrees this weekend, but it’ll be nice hanging out with some friends and clearing out the house. I’m already enjoying a less cluttered house.

So if you’re going to be around Saturday morning, you should come hang out. Send me a message and I’ll get you the address.

My dog drives me nuts

1 Reply

It’s true. Ask anybody and they’ll tell you the same thing. I love her, but she makes me a little crazy.

Our puppy Rylie just turned 2 about a week ago. We got her from the SPCA when she was just a few months old. She’s a lab-mix, but as far as her energy level, she’s all lab.

dog sleeping quiet relaxedThe funny thing is, this is what Jarrod and I live with pretty much all the time. But the moment someone else comes over, this dog goes berserk! And it drives me insane! To put it simply, she embarrasses me. I hate looking like we have such and ill-behaved dog, when in all actually, she does a good job most of the time. But those times that she frustrates me tends to put a damper on the other times.

Another issue that we’ve had with her is walking on a leash. We have to take some responsibility with this one because we haven’t been good about walking her on one in the past and making sure that she got used to it. So now that she’s much bigger, I have been unable to walk her by myself because if she starts pulling, she’ll probably beat me in the tug-of-war match.

I’ve had several friends over the past year or so tell me about the Gentle Leader collar and how much of a difference it made for them. I kept meaning to look into it, but never actually sat dow and did it. But a couple of weeks ago, Jarrod and I decided that we needed to take more initiative with the leash-walking and with training Rylie. So we bought the collar and gave it a go.

walking dog gentle leaderWe’ve only used it a handful of times, but oh my! what a difference it has made! The first time or two was a little difficult because Rylie did not like having a strap over her snout. She kept pawing at it and dragging her face through the grass. (I told you, she’s crazy.) But  now that she’s gotten used to it, I’ve seen such a difference in her walking. She doesn’t pull; she stays by our sides; she doesn’t freak out when we pass other people or dogs.

I think this collar is going to make a big difference for us and she continues to get acclimated to it. I’m looking forward to being able to walk her more often and enjoy being with her without worrying that she’s going to pull my arm out of the socket.

She really is a sweet dog and I hope that as she gets a little older, she calms down (dramatically!) and becomes that great companion-type dog that I know she can be. And maybe one of these days she’ll learn to greet people in a non-insane kind of way. A girl can dream…

Getting back in shape… or trying to

2 Replies

I’ve been telling myself that I’ll start exercising for a while now, but I’m pretty bad at actually buckling down and doing it. But I’ve been on this getting-healthier kick recently so I’ve been trying to put together some balanced meals with more fresh vegetables, making homemade smoothies in the morning, and of course, wanting to get in better shape.

My main goal is probably just increasing my endurance. I’d like to be able to stay active longer without running out of steam. But especially since it’s been so hot this week, I figured going for a run was probably not the best option for me. But I love hanging out at the pool, so I thought I’d try swimming some laps.

Holy moly, I realized how freakishly out of shape I am today. I swam probably the equivalent of one lap and could hardly breathe. So I separated a few more laps with some time laying out in the sun. Not much, but hey it’s a start. But now I’m walking around a little funny because I’m so sore. Going to try to keep it up though. Plus, it means more sun time!

When I grow up…

1 Reply

Yesterday marked 6 weeks since my surgery. I guess that means my recovery period is officially over. My doctor told me 4-6 weeks for recovery, but I honestly felt that I was back in the swing of things at the 4 week mark. I’ve been enjoying prolonging it. I’ve already redone the laundry room, completely made over my guest bath, and finally put together the wall frame project I kept planning on doing.

I haven’t intentionally been avoiding getting a job (…although I have enjoyed it). I’ve actually been looking for several weeks now. I started looking before I was even ready to go back to work, but I haven’t found anything yet. I’ve submitted some resumes, but I either haven’t gotten the position or haven’t heard anything yet.

I’ve had a hard time looking for jobs because I honestly feel like I don’t know what I want to do. I see so many people around me who are doing what they want to be doing and really love their job, and I realize that I don’t have that thing out there that really drives me. I don’t want a job that just pays the bills. I want something I really love. Something that really fulfills me. I feel like a little kid who doesn’t know what they want to be when they grow up.

*On a side-note, it does remind me of a great scene from FRIENDS. (I fully believe that in every situation in life, there is a FRIENDS reference that goes along with it.)
 Chandler: Hey, you guys in the living room all know what you want to do. You know, you have goals. You have dreams. I don’t have a dream. 
 Ross: Ah, the lesser known ‘I Don’t Have a Dream’ speech.

I love to write. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. But saying you want to be an author is kind of like saying that you want to be a rockstar. You have to be 100% committed to it. You have to accept the fact that you might not make it (…and probably more than likely won’t). And you still have to have a day job.

I know I haven’t been committed to it. I have the perfect opportunity right now since I’m not working, but I haven’t buckled down and done it. Honestly, I think there’s a part of me that’s afraid I won’t be any good at it, and once I realize that, I’ll have nothing left. That’s something that I’m going to have to come to terms with sooner or later.

For now… I’ll keep looking and hoping that I’ll find something that fits me. But until then, I’ll keep enjoying my time in the sun.

relaxing sun tanning unemployed

So many things to do and say
But I can’t seem to find my way
But I wanna know how
I know I’m meant for something else
But first I gotta find myself
But I don’t know how

Oh, why do I reach for the stars
When I don’t have wings to carry me that far?

I gotta have roots before branches
To know who I am before I know who I wanna be
And faith to take chances
To live like I see a place in this world for me

“Roots Before Branches” by Room For Two

To the men in my life

Leave a reply

I’m glad that there are days in our calendar that are set aside specifically for some of the most important people in our lives. I know that so many people see Father’s Day (and particularly Mother’s Day) as days that have been overly commercialized to get you to buy flowers or cards… or grill accessories. But I like the fact that we’re reminded of how much these people do in our lives. Not that every day we shouldn’t be appreciative, but it’s nice to have a day where that’s the sole purpose of it.

In a girl’s life, there aren’t much things that make as big of an impact as their relationship with their father. My dad is such an amazing man. (Wow, literally just started tearing up as I’m writing this.) He has always been a perfect example of what a husband and a father and a man should be.

He’s always taken care of my mom and sisters and me and put our well-being and happiness first. My dad was always there for every dance recital and important life event. He gave me and my sisters something to strive after as we looked for a husband.

He’s sacrificed so much for us over the course of our lives and it humbles me to think about how much he’s given up, especially as I’ve dealt with my Crohn’s issues. He’s always so strong and positive.

I’m also so blessed to have a new father-figure in my life after my marriage. I am so glad that Jarrod had a dad who taught him well and showed him how a woman is supposed to be treated. I feel I have a special relationship with Jarrod’s dad; I think we understand each other, and I don’t feel that way about a lot of people. And he’s always the first to step forward if I need anything.

Having raised three boys, he’s very different from my dad who’s lived in a house full of girls for the past 30 years. I’m happy to be the first daughter in his life and really can’t wait to see him with a bunch of granddaughters some day!

I can’t express the joy I have in finding a guy like Jarrod, who as I said was taught by a great man and lives up to the standards set by my own dad. I also look forward to seeing him as a father in the future. I can’t think of anyone better to raise my kids with me.

I love you all! Thank you for being the best fathers a girl could ask for!

1, 2, 3…