Obscure Holiday Friday - National Puppy Day

http://instagram.com/nationalpuppyday

That link will provide you with a significant amount of cuteness.  Far more than you'd need in a single day.

I've decided that my Friday tradition will be to touch on the obscure holidays that most people don't know about.  Some of them are a little weird but the ones today aren't that strange.  Today is also Memory Day, Single Parents Day, and Common Courtesy Day.  While all of those are nice, Puppy Day was the clear winner to focus on.

This is my little one when she was a puppy.

I am a huge advocate for adopting.  I know that some families need specific dogs because of allergies and obviously that's a very valid concern and reason to buy a dog from a breeder.  Don't get me wrong, breeders are very important to furthering dog breeds and it is everyone's prerogative to get their puppy where they want.  There are just SO MANY dogs that need adopting.  Petfinder.com alone is filled with hundreds of thousands of animals that need homes and there are so many others that aren't even listed. 

She fell asleep on my lap when we took her home.  She was so tiny!

My little one came from Georgia.  Her mother was a stray and was caught in a cage that was set up as a trap by animal control.  She had her litter of 6 puppies in there and they were there for 2 days before the trap was checked.  Luckily, they were all very healthy and were put up for adoption.  I think it was destiny that this puppy and I found each other.  We put in our adoption application less than 24 hours after the listing went up and got first pick of the litter.

Trouble from day one

I know people say this about their kids, but I really can't imagine my life without her!  She is a real nut and puts a smile on my face every day.

So, go get a puppy!  They are hard work but worth every last second if you train them correctly.  And I promise that no one will ever be happier to see you than your dog will.

Do you have a dog?  Did you adopt?
What is the funniest thing your dog has done?

The start of something wonderful!

Spring.  Oh my goodness.

It's here!!  I was beginning to think it would never arrive.  So I really like to consider myself someone that looks on the bright side but even I was getting preeetty sick of winter.  This just makes me think of all the things that I want to do outside.

This includes

 Hiking

Beachin It

Camping

and Baseball!!

Once it hits 60 up here in chilly MA I don't want to spend a single day inside.  In the meantime, I'm going to fill the cold void with fresh flowers, and bright colors.  

What are you most excited about for the warm weather?  

Are there any spring/summer traditions that you have?

Daydreaming

So I feel like lately when I'm sitting in my cube at work, I've been daydreaming.  Thinking that there's got to be something more than cube life.  Maybe that's why I started this blog.  I don't mean that I started it to someday make money and be able to work outside of an office.  It's more of an outlet.  Maybe if I daydream here then it will be easier to put that away and focus at work.  So get ready for me to daydream here :)

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all really be what we wanted when we grew up?  For as long as I can remember, all I've ever wanted to do is ride horses.  My dreams were of owning my own, riding every day of the week, and being in the Olympics.  Obviously the Olympics is not something that's going to happen because the amount of money that you need to compete at that level is crazy.  Instead of going into a career with horses, I decided that making money in another career and owning horses on the side was my best bet.  Somewhere along the way, riding became too expensive and I stopped taking lessons and I can't even begin to describe how much I miss it.  My plan is to start riding again this summer.  I truly feel like it's a part of me and I don't feel right without it.

In the meantime I'm going to keep working and saving so that someday I can wake up to this!

What did you want to be when you were little?
Are you working in your dream job?

Walking slightly faster than normal

I'm actually excited to go for my run today!  I've been doing the Couch to 5K program because every time I've run in the past I end up with injuries like shin splints or plantar faciitis.  I'm starting week 7 and so far so good.  I've actually been struggling with plantar faciitis for more than 18 months and between the foam rolling, stretching and the night splint I wear to bed I'm almost completely pain free. Everyone with that pesky heel pain should get a foam roller.  They're only $20 and are worth every single penny

My nemesis and best friend all in one 

My hope is to do a 5K with my friend in April. She JUST had a baby so this may be my only time to keep up with her because I am absolutely the slowest runner in all the land.  My sisters and mom love to share stories of trying to teach me to move my legs faster or hoping the first baseman dropped the ball so I would have an opportunity to get on base in little league. I'm pretty sure people walk faster than I run and I'm fine with that.


For now I'm perfectly happy with running at my own pace and being injury free.  I'm just going to grab my dog, go for a run and enjoy the fact that winter is almost over!

Have a fantastic day!

Family Time

I just started this blog and I've already started slacking on my posts.  Sorry!  We've had some family things going on and that is why I haven't posted.  My three sisters and I spent about 16 hours at the hospital on Thursday while my mom was having surgery.  We found out a few months ago that she had breast cancer and this is the first step to make sure that the doctors get rid of it. 

 

Don't tell my mom I posted this :)

 

There were a couple of issues throughout the day.  One of the surgeons had an emergency in the morning and so the surgery was pushed off a few hours.  This made my mom very nervous and it caused her to have some heart issues which made the doctors think the surgery may have to be postponed.  Luckily everything worked out and at 2 AM she finally made it into a room was happy the first part was all over.

I have a VERY close family.  I have 3 sisters who were in high school when I was born and so at this point they all have families and kids and I have nieces and nephews running around everywhere.  I feel so lucky to have them and my mom is like my best friend.  I talk to her every day and can tell her anything.  Not everyone has that sort a relationship with their parents and so I never ever take that for granted.  

Well I'm off to the hospital to visit her.  Enjoy the beautiful weather!  Spring is almost here :) 

Make sure you have your sunglasses!

Mexican Food, I love you.

I really LOVE Mexican food. To be perfectly honest, if I had to choose one kind of food to eat forever, it would be Mexican for sure.  I especially love eating it with a friend you haven't seen in a long time.  Today starts my journey to be a better friend.

I always feel like I need to ask everyone around me if it's ok to order fajitas.  They take up so much room! It's like - oh I need 4 plates to eat my one meal so you better move yours over.  No.  I can't be that rude.  So I ask, and everyone always looks at me funny like when you ask someone if you can use the bathroom.  Of course you can.

I got enchiladas instead.  whoops!

The other great thing about Mexican food is that inspires me to get up at 5:45 in the morning and work out so that I can eat more Mexican food.

This little face in the morning also helps me get out of bed.

Get outside and enjoy the heatwave today!  It's going to get cold and snowing again before it turns warm for good.  Hopefully March turns into a lamb sooner rather than later.  I can't even express my excitement for warmer weather.

Icebreaker

Yikes!  This feels like one of those times where you're with a bunch of people you don't know and you're supposed to say your name and and adjective with the same letter.  Too bad there's always so many M names and I'm usually at the end so I end up with something weird like musical (I can't play an instrument to save my life) or medieval.. what?

My Fella

  Well I don't know that I can pick one adjective to describe myself or this blog.  This isn't really a fashion or fitness or food or how to/diy blog.  It's just sort of me, living a normal life, dealing with normal things, trying to get by and be happy.  I'd say happy consists of a mix of family, friends, my dog, food, working out, getting outside, some other variables, and binge watching TV shows like House of Cards and Friday Night Lights (Tim Riggins <3)

I really do torture this poor little thing

I feel like this blog should be sort of a - you're not alone - type thing.  I deal with loans and rent and rosacea and family things trying to keep up a good exercise schedule and trying to eat healthy and just normal, every day stuff.  This is a place to work through all of that together. Sometimes I'll have tips for you and sometimes it may be the other way around.
My favorite blogs that I read are ones that make me feel like I'm visiting a friend, so here's to making new friends!

I do love friends!

My mom on her 70th Birthday

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