Fell off the face of the earth

I didn't really but I noticed I have made a post since mid April, yikes!  Good job I don't get paid for this or I would definitely not be making any money :)

Where am I on my happiness, soul searching journey?  Hmm, it seems I have come to a fork in the road and I am stuck yet desperately looking for a clearing or clear path. I have some things I need to let go of as they are out of my control but I just can't move past it. I am worried about someone whom I love very much and the change I see in them worries me.  It is clouding the clear path that I was on and I can't move the clouds away. Tension and stress has built back up as my schedule has changed, I find myself wanting to escape again.

Hoping to clear the clouds away by learning mindfulness techniques but am finding it hard to pay attention to the lesson. . .don't know why but I find it funny that I can't focus on the lessons. *sigh*

The chocolate wonder aka Harlow is now six months old and 50 lbs of solid puppy. She vibrates when she sees water and is happiest when off leash and running through the water, sand and down the trails of the island. I try to take her 3-4 times a week to just her run and be free. We still walk each morning and I have found that on the odd day where we've missed the morning walk (rain) I don't feel as balanced as when we do.

made it to the end of the island

a relaxing break in the water

The weather is finally warming up and I have baskets and window boxes all done on the deck.  My Clematis has exploded this year, full of big white flowers and bushy. We had to buy a new gazebo as they discontinued the canvas top for my old one.  Decided to buy one a bit smaller and glad I did as now my back door opens completely. The front garden is looking nice with lots of green and some pops of colour with large hanging baskets of white Lobelia and in the garden some bright pink Impatiens among my different variations of Hostas. 

Next up is to repaint the eating area, taking it back to taupe from red and I need to purge the junk room aka the spare bedroom. Maybe purging will help me get back on track. :)

Feeling Good

Harlow and I are continuing to walk daily, most days twice and I am still averaging 6 km a day. Some days our afternoon walks are 6+ (mornings just over 1 km). I am starting to feel the results in the posterior region of my pants :) they are feeling baggier.  Now if only that would transfer to other areas....

I think I have found decided on a 'style' for my bedroom finally.  It has just been a square room painted light taupe with taupe carpet, pretty boring. I mean not even a picture on the wall! I have decided to try for a 'cottage chic' look. Replaced the little mini blinds with white faux wood ones, have flowy white sheers on the window as well.  An old wood occasional table was brought upstairs and I am using it as a night stand with a vanilla candle, wood saying, picture of Harlow and a pretty wood sign about following your dreams. I bought a wood shelf with metal edging and vintage looking wall hooks. My bed is covered with a white thin quilt, orange cushions (will be adding) and a thin throw quilt in a pale turquoise and moss green. I had a 1/2 gallon mason jar that I put fairy lights in and created a bedside light, at night when lit it kind of reminds of fireflies in a jar.  Went to a local antique place and found another jar (how lucky) the same and put the other string of lights in there.  I am in love with the look! Looking for a white metal or a wrought iron headboard and an old dresser I can paint white next.  Found the perfect headboard on kijiji but someone beat me to it :( I am going back to the antique place tomorrow as they have an occasional table very close to the one I have now and a bunch of old wood ladders--may grab one and see how and where I will use it.

 

          

fireflies in a jar

Next on my list is the spare bedroom/catchall room.  It needs a serious overhaul and purge, it's not used and you can tell.  I would love to just put shelves on the wall and get rid of the bookcase that presently houses the modem, router, odds and ends etc.  Not quite sure how I want to do it though. Definitely need to clean it out first and start from scratch, keep the futon as the mattress is navy blue and I just put different duvet covers on for a different look as walls are painted taupe. Off to Pinterest I go for some ideas. Feeling the need to do some decorating/changes.

Talked to the boy last night and he has told me his move out date is April 29.  Soon he will be home and we will both be readjusting to sharing a space together.....must admit there will be some fireworks over the summer as we are both stubborn, lol.

National Puppy Day was yesterday but I didn't blog so here is a picture of Harlow yesterday to celebrate.  Sorry couldn't do a post without mentioning or showing her off <3

Harlow @ 16 weeks old

March Madness

March has arrived, well a week into the month actually but it is here. My parents left yesterday for 3 weeks in Jamaica and my brother leaves next week for a week in Mexico. I will be at home, a 'staycation' or whatever you want to call it. I say it is a week off work, but not of sleeping in and lounging about as I had that crazy moment and got a puppy :)

My plans for the break will be to do some decorating of my bedroom (probably won't get done) but most important I want to reorganize and do some major purging in my spare bedroom, it has become another catchall. We will see how much, if any I get accomplished due to that previously mentioned crazy moment when I got a puppy. So far they are predicting nice weather which means long daily walks with the little miss and some off leash play time as well.

I am also in this decade with the purchase of a smart tv yesterday, got a good deal and now have two televisions in my living room!  I have big old DHLP Panasonic and the huge surrounding entertainment centre that needs to be moved.  Hopefully my brother will come tomorrow and we can get that done.  Can't wait for the emptiness that will create in that room with the flat thin tv sitting on the stand. I also put new blinds up in my bedroom, nice white wood look ones and with the white sheers there is a bit of an airy feel to my window. I look a strand of fairy lights and put them in a big tall mason jar creating a nice light on the side table. A new coverlet set in white has been ordered and I am thinking of some new pillows but am not sure if I want to go soft colours or bright and bold. Next on the list is to find a dresser, either a used one I can paint white (read cheap) or maybe order one from IKEA (I suck at DIY).  Feeling the itch to do some updating and changes.

Little miss Harlow is now 14 weeks old and weighing in at 21 lbs. She is doing well in her puppy classes and loves going for our long walks. There have been great days and days where I wonder what I got myself into and why I gave up my quiet do what I want life. Then she looks at me and snuggles in and I am quickly reminded why I did this.