With summer in full swing, Mason and I are all about enjoying the outdoors and going on adventures. Memorial Day weekend began our journey…. Mason and I headed to Brevard, NC to go hiking and enjoy the mountains. It’s hard to describe in words how special Brevard really is, so I am going to do my best to take you on a snap shot of our amazing trip ….
Day One: We let the boys meet for the first time! Maverick and Mason were best friends immediately and played and played chasing each other around the pond.
They are the cutest!
We then went to Winter Greens Falls. This hike is pretty easy (about 3 miles) and is one of our favorites because it seems to be the least crowded of all the waterfalls in DuPont Forest.
Day Two: We completed our standard hikes to Triple Falls and High Falls. Over the past four years, these two hikes have became VERY popular and more and more crowded. They have also roped off areas so you cannot get as close to the falls anymore 🙁 . However, if you haven’t been to Brevard, these are definitely a must see.
Day Three: Our last day in Brevard, we drove through Pisgah National Forest up to Balsam Knob for a hike and picnic. This hike is pretty easy and also makes for some great photo opportunities! It was so nice to just relax and take in the views.
This trip was nothing short of perfect. I hope you all get the chance to experience this beauty one day. Brevard, NC is truly a magically place.
Dog Mom Tip #11: Never be afraid of a new adventure… life is too short.
I had planned to write about another topic this week, but after today’s events, I thought this story was worth sharing…
As you all might have gathered by now Mason and I don’t live alone. We live with one of my best friends, her daughter and their dog Fiona (12 pound dachshund). So we definitely have a “full house” to say the least.
Full House
I am fortunate enough to only work 5 minutes from our apartment so I go home every day for lunch and to walk the dogs. Usually, this is a very standard procedure. I walk in, leash up the dogs, we go on our 10 minute walk on the nature trail, they get their treats and I go back to work (most days eating my sandwich in the car). But today this was not the case…
It started out like any normal lunch break, but today the pups and I decided to walk to the dog park instead of our normal route (BIG mistake). We turned the corner to go to the dog park and I see there are two yorkies playing in there. So I am like no big deal. We go to turn around and walk the other way, and there is another guy with his pitbull/boxer. This would not have been a problem with just Mason. However, with two dogs, this presented major issues. Mason was trying to get to the two yorkies in the dog park and was pulling me to run along the fence with them. Then (of course) Fiona took off in the opposite direction and then proceeded to slip her collar and run…
At this point, full on panic mode begins. I pull Mason from the yorkies and we immediately take off sprinting after Fiona (she is MUCH faster than us by the way). Luckily, I see she is headed straight for our apartment as Mason and I struggle to catch up to her. Be time we make it to the apartment, she is already sitting in front of our door step like nothing happened.
This was a very scary moment for me. A million different scenarios crossed my mind as Mason and I were chasing after Fiona. She could have gotten hit by a car or ran away or who knows what! And what makes this situation even scarier, is that my roommate does not have Fiona micro chipped nor does she have a dog tag with her contact information on it. So if Fiona would have ran away, there would have been no way to get her back home.
Home sweet home
Dog Mom Tip #10: Be responsible. Make sure your pup is micro chipped and always wears their dog tag with your information. You never know what can happen or what is lurking around the next corner…
Do you ever have those nights where you just can’t turn your mind off? I know I definitely do. However, the real question is, do our pups have those kind of nights too?
Can’t sleep..?
I started thinking about this because last night Mason just kept tossing and turning. He was up on my bed then moved to his bed and then moved to the floor then back to my bed. I mean every time I woke up to go to the restroom he was awake. So what is keeping Mason up at night?
I really wish I could read his mind and he could tell me what is making his wheels turn. Is he having nightmares or is something wrong? It’s not fair that I get to talk to Mason about all of my problems, but he can’t talk to me. Everyone, including dogs, needs to be able to express their emotions and even talk about their bad dreams.
Maybe I will start telling Mason bedtime stories to help him sleep better and clear his mind of the thoughts keeping him up at night. Does anyone else tell their dog bedtime stories or am I just crazy?
sweet dreams ♥
Dog Mom Tip #9: Night time can be scary for everyone, even your pup, so make sure you hold them tight when they need you.
Not falling back into old habits is hard. We work diligently to break these habits and make positive changes, but then are often faced with temptations lurking around us. I think everyone struggles with not giving into those temptations sometimes, or at least it makes feel better to think that because I definitely do.
The struggle is real
Over the past few weeks, I have been struggling with the temptation to not fall back into the world wind of a relationship I had been involved in over the past three years. This person was someone who I cared deeply about, and of course always will, but our relationship just did not work. We tried and tried, I honestly have never tried so hard at something in my life. But I wasn’t happy in Florida (among other factors) and he didn’t want to leave.
We had reconnected again and I started to have the “what ifs” swirling around in my head. I started coming up with excuses of why the relationship hadn’t worked before, and how we could make it work now. I tried to convince myself again that I could be happy. But deep down, I know this isn’t true and I could not let myself get sucked back in.
I honestly couldn’t believe I stayed strong, didn’t give in and stayed in control of shaping my own life. It was hard. But at the end of the day, I know this addiction of the past had to stay in the past. There is so much to look forward to and I knew this was not the life that would make me happy.
Finding happiness is easier said than done, but I am now more confident than ever that I am on the right path to find it.
The fight is always worth it for the kisses
Dog Mom Tip #8/UPDATE:Mason has still been struggling with his leash aggression. However, it seems like he does better when I immediately try to take his thoughts away from the other pup. I will sweet talk him and focus his attention on ANYTHING but the dog he is trying to stalk. Still looking for any tips and tricks you guys might suggest ♥
The first time I heard the phrase “leash aggression” was about a year ago as I was walking Mason at the park on a sunny day in St. Pete. Mason was eager to go say hi to another dog and the owner stated he did not think that was a good idea because his dog was “leash aggressive”. This owner then explained to me what leash aggression was, and it dawned on me in that moment, that Mason was leash aggressive too!!
Anytime we are walking and Mason sees another dog being walked on a leash too, he immediately lays down. Once he lays down, he will stalk the other dog not moving or taking his eye off them. Once the dog gets close, he then lunges trying to gain access to the other pup. What is crazy is this only happens sometimes, he doesn’t do this to every single dog that is on a leash when we are on a walk.
It is stressful experiencing this anticipation and anxiety that the leash aggression “could” happen, but it is even more stressful when it actually does happen. Mostly because I am afraid if the dog is too close, the dogs could start to fight each other or hurt one another. This horrific nightmare I envisioned became a reality this past Monday…
On the hunt…
I was walking Mason and Fiona (my roommates’ 12lb dachshund) at our apartment complex earlier this week. We had already went to the dog park and were walking along a side walk between two of the apartment buildings headed home. All of a sudden, Mason lays down and I see a young women walking towards us with a stroller and her Yorkie. My anxiety immediately kicked in and I pulled Mason’s leash as tight as it would go, holding on with all of my might.
As the young lady and her pup get closer, I can see the Yorkie straining to get to Mason as he is laying watching her in the grass. Before I could even get a word out of my mouth, the lady lets her Yorkie walk right up to Mason’s face and he lunges at her trying to play and had accidentally scrapped or bit her nose and mouth. The poor pup was bleeding everywhere and I was in utter shock.
I was almost speechless. The only words I could get out were “I am so sorry” and “I promise he was just trying to play and has never done this before”. The young lady asked for my information as she rushed her pup home to examine her injuries. I literally run home with the two dogs and am panicking. Not knowing what to do, I grab the little doggie first-aid kit I have and sprint back over to the Yorkie’s apartment. I knock on their door and offer my help and apologizes again. Luckily, the young lady said the bleeding had already stopped and her pup seemed fine.
This was a VERY scary experience to say the least. I honestly wish I could end this post with a solution to leash aggression, but I have yet to find one. However, over this next week, I am going to try a few different strategies I have been reading about and will share the results with you all in next weeks post.
If anyone has any suggestions or tips, PLEASE do not hesitate to share them with me!
Dog Mom Tip #7: Always stay on your toes, you never know what obstacle is lurking around the corner.
This one is going to get a little personal, and it is hard for me to admit this, but I have always been scared of being alone. I am the type of person who has always liked being in a relationship and having someone to share my secrets and desires with. But that obviously hasn’t worked out for me yet lol
Everything is always great in the beginning of relationships, you see the fireworks and feel the butterflies. However, they never seem to last… for me at least. Something always seems to be discovered that ends up being a deal breaker or the feeling just simply fades away. I am to the point where I am questioning if I even know what real “love” is. I have been involved in a few different relationships where I thought the guy was the “one” and then it just ended in heart break. So how do you really know someone is the “one”?
I am so ready to find the answer to that question, but I honestly don’t even know where to begin. Everyone always says you will just know when you find the right person, but I honestly haven’t found that to be true. I think I worry and question things too much maybe? I know you can’t rush falling in love and the timing has to be right. But maybe I need to just go with the flow and trust my heart… which is obviously easier said than done.
Luckily, I do have one true love who fills these voids I long for from a relationship and partner… My Mason. I know he will always love me unconditionally and I can do no wrong in his big brown eyes. One day I can only hope I will find a partner who looks at me the same way as Mason does.
Dog Mom Hack #6: Never stop searching for the kind of pure love you receive from your pup… I promise it does exist ♥
Last night I started thinking about Mason and how my actions/decision have affected him… Like what does he really think about everything? Does he think us leaving Florida and his home there was the right decision?
This really stumped me and started to bother me as I looked deep into Mason’s eyes questioning his thoughts. He truly means the world to me and I just really wish I could know what he thinks about everything that has happened over the past few months. I wish he could tell me, but he can’t.
Mason does wear his emotions on his sleeve though. That sounds so weird typing it, but it’s true! You can tell by the look on his face and in his eye if he is happy, sad or mad.
I know he loved Florida and his home there, but I hope he also could see/feel how unhappy I truly was there. I hope he understands I wasn’t trying to be selfish or hurt him intentionally, I just had to make myself happy and make the best decision for us.
Does that make me a bad dog mom? I can only hope my decisions have made him as happy as they have me.
Mind readers
Dog Mom Hack #5: Knowing how your dog feels isn’t easy… so take the time to connect with them emotionally and to learn how they express their feelings.
A lot of things have happened since the last time I wrote… I actually made decisions!! Can you believe it?! Mason and I have moved, I started a new job and basically started a new chapter. I had been so “stuck” for the past three years that I forgot what is was like to do things for myself. To make decisions on my own and to ultimately have my own life again.
I hate to admit it, but it was really hard to get unstuck. There were days where I just wanted to give up and run back to Florida and continue to go through the motions. But I refused to let myself and choose to be stronger than fear itself.
I think the days that it has been the hardest, is when the cold succumbs us. Those are the days I miss mine and Mason’s walks to the park or on the beach. I miss laying in the grass and feeling the warmth of the sunshine on my skin. I haven’t found something to replace this missing desire that I have had to feel the warmth again.
Maybe I need to find a hobby for Mason and me? Something to satisfy us the same way our walks in Florida did. Maybe somewhere to hike to or somewhere we can find peace and tranquility.
Even though we are still missing this feeling of warmth, being in Kentucky closer to home, is worth every decision/sacrifice/heartache I have went through to be here. And the only way I have made it through this process is by following my heart.
Now who said it was cold here?!
If anyone lives in Louisville, KY, I would love for you to share some ideas for activities for Mason and I 🙂
Dog Mom Hack #4: Your mood and attitude affects your dogs (even when you don’t think it does). So always smile, even on the bad days. If not for yourself, for your dog 🙂
I am at a major cross road in my life and have been thinking a lot about what direction I want it to go in. And, what scares me the most, is that I really don’t know. I don’t know what I want my next job to be, where I want to live or even who I want to be. This obviously opposes a problem that I have been desperately searching for a solution to.
How do I figure out what direction my life should go in? I think I am having such a hard time figuring out the answer to this question because for the past 3 years I haven’t been living for myself. I had taken jobs, moved my entire life and been “living” to please someone else. Let me tell you from first hand experience, living for anyone but yourself is not living at all. So now that I am finally free to be and live life for myself, it’s like I don’t really know where to start.
It hasn’t been easy to start this new chapter and I have to accept that there are going to be bad days. But something that is really helping me to begin to build my new map is doing one thing a day for just me. Whether it is walking Mason, going for a hike, working out or writing, it is something that truly brings pure joy to my day. My goal is to continue doing things for myself that truly make me happy with hopes that will lead me in the direction my life is suppose to go.
Happiness is not always easy, but by taking these small steps, I know one day I will find my place on the map.
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.
This trip was nothing short of perfect. I hope you all get the chance to experience this beauty one day. Brevard, NC is truly a magically place.
