GOALS FOR 2016

 Sweater: Ross (similar), Tee: F21 (similar), Jeggings: Old Navy, Boots: F21 (similar)

I usually take a bit of issue with New Year's Resolutions. You've heard it all: they set you up for failure, unrealistic expectations, yada yada. But I do see the desire to make changes at the beginning of the year. It just feels like a new beginning. The possibilities seem so much more wide open than they did just the day before. Plus, with the holidays just ending, you suddenly have the huge weight lifted off that single-handedly makes everything seem easier and life feel fresher. But, I still prefer to call my aspirations around this time of year "goals" and I like to make them with the intention of making a long-term change over the coming year, rather than trying to dump everything in exchange for all new habits, etc. starting in 3... 2... 1... NOW! Like that's gonna work. Plus, calling them goals just makes them sound more attainable to me. Semantics.

So, here they are. My goals for 2016:

1. Continuing on with basically the same goal I've had for the past two years: Think more positively. Focus on the good. Be grateful. Be content. Like I've said before, this is a lifelong goal, and it's something that I really have been working on for the past two years. Each year I feel like I'm improving, so onwards and upwards.

2. Finish decluttering our entire house KonMari style. (So far I've done my clothes, shoes and jewelry. So... still a little ways to go ;)

3. Sort out my intentions for this blog. If I'm going to keep at it, I want to really go for it. Try to make something of it rather than just treading water. But... if I'm not going to/be able to really push to make something here, then I need to reexamine what I'm doing. The time and energy and stress behind keeping this thing going.... well, I'm just not sure it's worth it just for the sake of doing it. 

So, that's it. Short and totally doable list. Right??? If you have any thoughts, opinions, suggestions or advice, it is most welcome :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.....

^^ Last week, but that's about how Adelaide looks today if you just add a snotty nose and watery eyes ^^

You get the gist, yeah? Today is my birthday! 31! In all honesty, I'm feeling pretty indifferent about the whole thing. Too busy trying to keep busy (so I don't dwell on just how lonely it's feeling around here without Bowser) to get excited. Plus, Adelaide is sick. My birthday is jinxed. 

I'm just going to go ahead a stop here, because as I sit here trying to think of what else I might want to write I'm only coming up with sad, pitiful and negative things. So, not even gonna go there.

**UPDATED**

I've just been reflecting on this post. I debated deleting it and just starting from scratch, but I'm not going to do that. What I am going to do is say that this is going to be the last time I am going to post in this grief-filled haze. (On one hand, I hope you guys don't understand how incredibly horrible I am feeling over the passing of Bowser, but on the other hand, I hope you do understand, because I don't want a bunch of people shaking their heads as they read this thinking "he was just a dog". Because that's just not even the truth.) Anyway, I am resolving here and now to pull myself out of this funk. Not to stop missing him, because that's just going to take time, but to stop wallowing. So I'm sorry, and I'm done. I wonder if 31 is officially too old to be a big ol' baby?

TO MY VERY BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD

We had to say goodbye to Bowser on Wednesday night. He turned 12 on Christmas day... very old in French Bulldog years. I won't go into the details surrounding that night, but I will say that I am so grateful to our buddy, because I think he knew. He knew that I was doubting myself and our decision to say goodbye to him the following afternoon. We had made our decision and scheduled the appointment, but I was sick with worry that it was the wrong decision and very unsure as to whether I would be ready to go through with it. In the end, he made the decision to go, taking that burden off of me. And that was very much his way. He was always there for me. Making my life better and my life easier and asking for very little in return. He came into my life when my world was a very dark, lonely and confusing place after tragically losing someone I loved a few months prior, and he brightened my world up again and gave me the love, courage and will I so desperately needed.

Bowser, you were the best cuddler, best fetcher, best big brother and the smartest and most loyal dog I've ever had the privilege of knowing. You comforted me when I was sad and kept me company when I was lonely. I am so grateful that Adelaide got to know you and that I was able to play a part in giving you what I hope was a happy and fulfilled life. You were my very best friend in the world and I will miss you always. We love you Mr. Pickle ;)

      

   

I'm sorry if this is bringing anyone down, but I want to say thank you for letting me share and allowing me this catharsis. And I also want to say thank you to everyone who ever gave him a nice rub, played fetch, read about him on my blog and generally showed him love (and I know there are a lot of you). There was no dog more deserving than him. 

THE BEST OF 2015

The start of the new year is all about reflecting and planning, right? Thinking about all of the glorious things the past year held and the glorious things you hope for in the months to come. Today I thought I would share with you some of my favorite posts, outfits and photos from 2015 and coming soon will be the requisite new year's goals/resolutions/whatever-you-like-to-call-'em post.

Let's start things off with some of my favorite outfits of 2015: 

      

^^ Posts here and here ^^

   

^^ Posts here and here ^^

   

^^ Posts here and here ^^

Now for a couple of "Mom moments"....

^^ I talked about when I finally came to "get" Mother's Day here ^^

^^  and shared Adelaide's birth story here ^^

A couple of hard moments....

   

^^ I learned a hard mom lesson here and suffered the loss of one of my favorite, albeit not particularly "special" gray tee shirts (last seen here) after spilling ridiculously delicious candied sweet potato juice on it at Thanksgiving. Who knew candied sweet potato goodness stained?? ^^

^^ My favorite "Nikki & Jordan" post is here ^^

And finally, for Adelaide related favorites:

   

^^ Some of my favorite photos of Adelaide are here, here and... ^^

^^ here ^^

^^ And a few of my favorite Adelaide posts are here... ^^

^^ here... ^^

^^ and here ^^

Are there any particular things from 2015 stand out for you?

CHRISTMAS RECAP

Hellooooooo everyone, and hello 2016! I hope everyone had an absolutely lovely holiday. I quite enjoyed my week off from blogging. While I do appreciate the fact that I have time for blogging, there is definitely something to be said for taking an item, any item, off of the agenda for a few days.

Today I thought I would just share a few photos from our Christmas. A few because number one, who wants to be bored with a million photos of other people opening gifts (even if one of those people just happens to be the cutest chickadee in the world) and number two, because I only have a few :) 

I also have a video to share, and I promise I edited it waaaaay down, because again, watching other people opening presents isn't exactly the most riveting footage ever. If you're interested in watching just under 5 minutes of our Christmas festivities, check it out on my YouTube Channel!