Tag: dogmom

My Holiday Cinema

The holidays bring so many wonderful things! From the yummy food, to the family traditions, to the presents and getting dressed up in your favorite outfits. All those things are great, but no one ever talks about the pressures the holidays can bring for you to make everyone happy around you including yourself.

I’m not completely blaming the stress I feel on this holiday season, however, I think it is definitely a factor. I have suddenly felt myself being pulled a million different directions and it’s hard to know which way is the right one. I mean is there even a “right” one?

What if I make a decision and it doesn’t make me or anyone involved happy? Then we are all screwed and the holidays are ruined for everyone (I’m being a little over dramatic here :)), but seriously! I am really struggling with making decisions lately, no matter if it’s as simple as where to eat dinner, it has been really hard for me. I am feeling like any decision I have been faced with lately could change my life in some dramatic way. I am putting so much stress on myself to do the “right” thing for me and everyone around me.

After putting all of this stress and pressure on myself, today I find myself asking why. Why are the holidays causing me to feel this way, they are suppose to bring people together and create happy memories. It’s because I am doing it to myself. I am not taking the time to just enjoy and live my life. I am overthinking every move I make and to be happy you can’t do that. You have to go with the flow and let life, good or bad, just happen.

So this holiday season, I am going to take the time to “stop and smell the roses” as they say. I am going to enjoy every moment of this short cinema we call life.

Happy days with my favorite boy 🙂

Wrong Turn.

Yesterday was a long, hard day. Every time I do the 13 hour drive, it gets more difficult and tiring it seems like. Especially when it’s just Mason, my 2-year-old plott hound, and I.

Don’t get me wrong Mason is the best travel buddy in the world.

"Mom, are we there yet?!"
“Mom, are we there yet?!”

But we both get more restless as the hours drag on. When we are making the drive between KY and FL, we usually stop about 4-6 times. Stopping with a dog is tricky when traveling, especially when it is just you and your pup.

Usually when we stop, it is because I have to use the bathroom (I have a smaller bladder than Mason does 🙂 haha).  So I always crack the windows and run, literally, inside to use the bathroom first. When I am running back to the car, I can always see Mason wagging his tail waiting for his turn to get to stretch his legs.

Walking a dog around a rest area or gas station is never fun. Most of the time it isn’t the cleanest and, especially at gas stations, there is minimal green space for the pups to sniff around. After getting frustrated with the lack of grass area for Mason at gas stations on our last trip from KY to FL in August, I decided this time we were going to stop at more rest areas.

I found this to be a strategy to be a success! Mason much more enjoyed stopping at the rest areas, which we tested out in each state we drove through (FL, GA, TN and KY). They each had plenty of territory for Mason to explore and I wasn’t constantly pulling him away from trash or food that he shouldn’t be getting into. Another one of my favorite advantages of rest areas over gas stations is that they have designated doggie areas with poop bags included! Trust me, these few key factors during our stops helped make our long journey much more enjoyable for both Mason and I!

After the long day of traveling, we finally arrived safely in KY yesterday evening. Both VERY happy to be out of the car and home with the family for Thanksgiving.

travelbuddy2

Dog Mom Hack #3: The first turn might not always be the right one. Take time to explore the best/most comfortable options for both you and your pup when traveling together! 

Leave a comment sharing any tips you have for travel with your dog! 🙂