Remmy - The Story Of A New Year's Rescue + #MyPostMonday The Week's Best Original Content

 It was Saturday morning, the day after New Year's Day and Evee, my loyal border-collie, and I headed out on an errand. My sister and her family got Covid over the Christmas holiday and I wanted to leave her a care package at the door. I left the package at the door and was so glad that I'd brought Evee with me because I was itching to go out and try some new trails by their house in Holladay. We set out and found the Mount Olympus Trailhead about 3 miles away. 

Still recovering from a sprained ankle that I got over the Thanksgiving holiday, I was rather dismayed at how the trail started out with steps that were really high and uneven. I wasn't sure how far we were going to be able to go, since I hadn't thought that far ahead, thus hadn't put on my ankle brace or brought any hiking poles. But I wanted to give it a try and told myself I'd be really careful!

Sure enough, the climb was hard---even Evee was struggling a bit since she is just starting to get a hint of the dreaded hip dysplasia that older dogs tend to get. After all, she just turned 12 in December. 

We got as far as where the stairs ended and where the trail turned into a steep upward angle with no stairs, just slippery dirt. I knew that I'd better not risk going any further. So we went to look out over the valley and enjoy the view.

That's when off to my left, I saw a medium-sized dog standing by a huge boulder. "Oh my gosh, I think that's the dog that was on the flyer at the start pf the trail."   The flyer said that Remmy, a rescue dog, had disappeared on New Year's Eve when the fireworks started going off. It also said to not approach her because she would be frightened and would run! 

I looked at her and she looked so frightened and lost, as if she had no trust for anyone. But the look in her eyes said that she wanted to trust someone and she might be willing to trust us, if we did exactly the right thing. I honestly didn't know what the right thing was, since she was a "runner". The only thing we could do at this point was to get down those stairs and give the number on the flyer a call.

 

10 Of The Funniest Memes of 2020 + #MyPostMonday Featuring The Week's Best Original Content

 This is the last Monday in 2020! I can't believe we're this close to being DONE! Most of us are saying don't let the door hit you, 2020, on the way out! We want to move on to bigger and brighter things. I'm certainly all in for that. Please make it so, and not worse!

I have to say that one of the things that helped me get through this year were the funny memes, videos, and comments shared on social media throughout this year. I don't know if I would have been quite as optimistic or healthy if funny people everywhere didn't share their thoughts about quarantine, home schooling, or just life in general. I've listed 10 my favorite funny memes for this year.*

1.  I find this one funny because I've done this. I turn my head too quickly and I'm disabled for a week!

2. I find this funny because there were a lot of memes like this where the most hilarious "tips" were given and the contributor then had the hilarious audacity to ask for a follow for more of  the same! And truth be told, it was a brilliant way to get more follows and likes!

3.  This used to be the go-to strategy for robbers. I guess not anymore!

4. This is funny because it's like it literally happens that way for me! Lol!

5.  This is such a joke! Don't they know that is what cookie sleeves are for? 1 sleeve equals 1 serving!

Keeping Fit While Working At Home - Looking Back 11 Years

Next week my blog will hit its 11th year. I started waaaay back in January of 2000,  and I remember how when I first started I was sitting a whole lot more than I was used to. I think my husband was also aware of it, because he also works full-time from home and he realizes that if one isn't careful, you can end up losing your physical health before you know it. A few pounds gained here, some flexibility lost there, a cholesterol check edging ever higher, etc. So he sent me a link with an article about how sitting too long can really wreck your health.

And sure enough as I spent more time blogging and less time walking around and doing things, I could tell the difference.  My body didn't respond to my exercise routines like before.  I seemed to be losing some muscle tone.  I was a dancer (middle-eastern, zumba, modern and ballet), biker, yoga lover, hiker, disc golfer, skier, and the reason is because I have always exercised and made time to do so.  I loved pushing my body to just the right amount of fatigue to where I know I've been challenged, but not so that it takes days on end to recover. But I felt like I was in danger of losing some (or a lot) of that, as I continued to make staying on the computer more of a priority. 

 

 

This is a partnered post! With our first Border Collie, Daisy. July, 2007

Some Books I've Loved This Year + #MyPostMonday Featuring The Week's Best Original Content

 This year I'm batting about the same, if I can describe it that way. Last year, according to my Amazon Prime Reading Insights, I read 18 books. This year I'm halfway through my 18th read. Will I complete 19 before the new year? Only time will tell! Here are 3 of my favorites this year. All of them I read on my kindle and all were from Amazon. 

Before I start, I need to let you know I have a favorite genre of book that I love to read. That genre would be historical fiction. I love historical fiction in that I feel that I am actually learning something while being immersed in a good story. Most good historical fiction authors do extensive research about the time period they are writing about, so that they can give a quite accurate view of what life was like within the time and events surrounding their story. I love it. The only thing in historical fiction I'm tired of reading about is Nazi Germany World War II. I've read so many books during that particular time and place that when I see another Nazi Germany WWII book, I generally bypass it for another choice. Whether that is fair or not, I'm not sure. There are probably great books still needing to be written about that period of time. But I feel like I want to broaden my knowledge in different places and times as well.

1. Along The Broken Bay by Flora J. Solomon 

Setting: WWII Pacific Island Occupation of Manila, Philippines

The story follows Gina, a military wife based in Manila, waiting for her husband as he fulfills his duties as an American Reserves officer during WWII. The island turns from being the "safest place in the Orient"  to being occupied by the Japanese and the citizens there being terrorized. Gina and her friends have to make hard and fast decisions about how they will navigate these new hostile circumstances. Only the most cunning and brave will survive. 

I loved the book because first of all, it gives a rendering of something other than WWII Nazi Germany! It gives one a good sense about how things were before the occupation in Manila (actually very Americanized and quite glamorous), how things were upon initial occupation, and how things descended into an unrecognizable state once occupation was complete. It felt authentic and at the same time, the plot was exciting and heart wrenching at the same time.  It shows how courageous the residents of Manila and the entire island of Luzon were and it made me imagine myself as a player in that dangerous arena. 

Quote: "Be very careful. Hate strips the vitality out of one's life. It consumes energy that can be channeled elsewhere."

  2. Lessons From A Hard Teacher by Marnie Spencer

Setting: Suburban Utah

This is an autobiography encompassing a period of about 6 years about an LDS woman who had the storybook life that she never knew she had, until she got an extremely aggressive form of cancer. But rather than take a bleak outlook on her life and try to live out what time was left to her, she decides to fight hard not just to live, but to live the best life she possibly can---loving, laughing, serving and being. She shares some incredible insights she learns on this journey. 

I loved the book because it shows the role that faith in a higher power has and the power and love it can render to those who dare surrender their own wants and the need to be in control at all times. I learned that investing in joy is not only for this life, but in the life to come. I learned to be grateful for little things. I learned that humor can take us a long way and that taking oneself too seriously is a real impediment to personal development. 

Quote: "With new insight, I saw that even in my own heart, there were dark corners I had never examined. I found myself struggling to accept my diagnosis, thinking. 'But I haven't done anything that would cause me to get cancer'. I realized that this kind of reasoning could only come from a prideful heart. Without being conscious of it, I had been wrongly judging people who had problems like cancer, assuming that they must have done something to deserve it. I know now that I was wrong."

3. Life by Lu Yao (Translated by Chloe Estop)

Setting: Rural Mainland China

This book was fascinating to me because it captures what life was like in rural village life in the northern Shaanxi Province. It is written by a man who lived a similar life and who eventually became one of China's most published and awarded authors, although he didn't live to see it translated into English. The story focuses on a young man who wants to better himself and who makes hard decisions in order to propel him towards his goals. Some of those decisions affect his life forever. 

At first it was hard to accustom myself to the different names in the story. They were all similar yet slightly different and very foreign. Once I did, however, the story moved smoothly and showed how peasant life in China can be just as complicated as some of our own 1st World problems. Everything is relative and when immersed in the story, it is possible for you to feel as involved in these people's lives as much as anything in your own. Very well written and the translation over to English was wonderful and the nuances and descriptive passages were as if they had been written in our own language. Highly recommend! 

Quote: Happiness! You young people don't realize, but when I pick the fruit from my trees and give it to the children, my heart is so....happy! ....You're too young to understand, but when I plant a tree, I think about how when I die, later generations will pick fruit from that tree, and they'll say, 'This is one of the trees that old Deshun planted.' "

These are just 3 of the 18 books I read last year. I loved more than that. Maybe I will share a few more next week! Thanks for letting me share!

Today is "My Post Monday!", a curation of my picks of the week's best original content. It's all about posts from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain!  I  open up with a post of my own and then follow it up with a linky of the week's top original blog posts! It's all about what the writer thinks, believes, and knows--in other words, they are active, writing blogs. If I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share it with you here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag!  I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize(Affiliate links welcome)

The Once-A-Year 40% Off Everything At Cents Of Style!

What's better than a 25% off sale? A 30% Sale? A 35% off sale? And the answer is....a 40% off everything sale! Starting at midnight, 12/11/20, for 24 hours only, Cents of Style is lowering the price of all merchandise. Use the code HOLIDAY40 and stock up on all your favorites. I know I have my cart ready to go! Also, free shipping over $35!

Here are some of the things I've got in my cart. Search the names below on their site or click the link and it will pop right up!

Maria Drawstring Pants! The perfect lounging pant and trendy as well! Soft and comfy. Reg. $29.95, $15.00 with Code HOLIDAY40

 

Rosalie Thermal Tops! Newly restocked, in 10 colors! Reg. $19.95, now 40% off with code HOLIDAY40

 Ashton Pintuck Ponte Pants! These jeggings are so cute with the detailed pintuck thighs and stretchy magnificence! Reg. $34.95, now 40% off with code HOLIDAY40

Cecil Winter Pattern Socks, One Size. I bought a few of these because with the 40% discount they are just under $5.00/pair! These would be great gifts or stocking stuffers! I love the furry top! Use Code HOLIDAY40

Tig Pullover Sweater, Best Seller, Small-Medium, Medium-Large. Available in 8 colors. I own two of these and I love the buttery soft feel of them! In the pic below, I belted and layered it for the cold. Reg. $42.95 and discounted 40% with code HOLIDAY40!

I hope that you get to take advantage of this awesome sale! Shop the site and find just the right fashion treat for you or someone you love!

 

White Christmas Friends & Followers $50 PayPal Giveaway

Welcome to the White Christmas $50 PayPal Giveaway! This year has been crazy and I'm not minimizing  it for anyone. I saw the wild fires, I saw the riots, I saw the lost loved ones, I saw the businesses going under, I saw the separation of people from their loved ones, I saw the crazy things happening in the election. Throw in an earthquake for us here in Utah and I'm just done. Am I missing anything? I know I am. Please tell me something that happened to you during 2020 that was just out there. 

For me, in addition to all the craziness, it was my year of injuries. I never really believed the saying "It happens in 3's." But that is exactly what happened. Starting in January of 2020, I injured my knee at work and was unable to work for 2 weeks. Next, it happened again at work with the same knee just buckling under me and putting me at even more risk for another injury. And finally, 22 days ago, another injury---this time with my ankle! It was such a doozie. I thought for sure this would be the one to send me into surgery. But lo and behold, I'm walking and doing better. I'm even wearing boots to church! Without the ankle brace! So happy! I'm definitely going to put behind me those days of taking an injury-free body for granted. I'm going to be so much more mindful of how I place my feet, where I'm walking and be more intentional in my movement. I hope to put injuries behind me in 2021.

I'm thankful for the coming end of this year and honestly that is the reason I'm feeling rather happy and giddy and would love to share my euphoria with you in the form of a giveaway. 

Philosophies Gained Through Twin Watching + #MyPostMonday Featuring The Week's Best Original Content

 "There they go, they're at it again....", I say to myself, as I try to intervene before too much damage is done. The two pre-teen boys in our classroom start to tussle violently, one of them receiving a solid punch in the face and withdraws, whimpering and defeated. He lays his head on his desk for an hour.

It happens so often that I can count on an incident every day with them. The difference with these two fighting and any other similar fight between non-related boys, is that with these two, everything seems to be forgotten within hours. 

The next thing I see is that they are laughing together at some private joke they have between themselves, that no one else will ever understand because it's the language of identical twins!

When one of them leaves the room for any prolonged amount of time and the remaining one doesn't know where the other one went, he becomes agitated and tries to leave the room to search for his brother. 

When one of them isn't able to get prizes from a rewards program because of his own negligence, the other one will step in and give his own prize to his left-out brother.

These boys haven't come from an abundant lifestyle, from what I can gather. They split time between their parents because of divorce, they don't have a lot in the way of clothing or extra "stuff". And of course they are in our classroom because of  some kind of learning disability. But they seem happier than most of the other kids, and their peals of laughter, mostly at inappropriate times, gladdens my heart for them. 

It has been really interesting and an education for me to be able to observe these 6th graders for as many hours as I do each day, in such close proximity. But despite the total closeness and kindred spirit type of bonding they enjoy, they do have definite differences. Some of them quite striking. 

They look so much alike that I'm sure early on the parents decided to let one of them have long hair while the other one wears his hair close to the head. It really helps to quickly identify them at school. Without that helpful hack, it would have been near impossible at the first of the year to tell them apart. 

I have learned to tell them apart and have noted a couple of significant differences! I have learned that one of them (Twin A) is more able to talk and be social with grown-ups. I like to talk to him because he is so interested in things and seems to have a genuine thirst for new information. At the same time he is more spontaneous than his brother. One day, I had about 10 of the students outside during a nice fall day for about 20 minutes. It was going just great....until Twin A suddenly pulled another boys pants down. The thing is, the other kid wasn't wearing any underwear! It was not cool at all! The rest of the day was spent sorting out what everyone did and didn't see, who might have been traumatized and would anyone be suspended? An incident like that requires a whole lotta paperwork. Yet. This is the one who, when given a reward like a bag of chips or candy, will go without so he can give it to his brother, after a fight in which he was trounced by said brother. 

Athia Skincare Anti-Aging Eye Roll-On Review

I'm excited to promote a company located really close to where I live. I love local companies that are less than 5 years old this one falls into that category! Athia is a skincare company that uses multi-peptide blends in their products that work synergistically to stimulate collagen production and protect skin from aging. These peptides replenish, smooth and plump the skin. I'm all about that! Whether you are an active gym girl who gets dehydrated skin because of working out, or a girl who is concerned about losing nutrients in her skin due to anti-aging, Athia may be for you!

 Right now you can get 50% off any product at Athia! It's the biggest sale of the year! Use code BlackFriday50

 

Why Athia

After an intense workout, your skin loses water due to evaporation, leaving it dehydrated and your pores are open. This leaves them exposed to harmful bacteria and pollutant buildup that cause breakouts and unhealthy skin. This can increase surface lines as well as dead skin cell buildup, which clogs your pores.  

 The Solution

Athia products are specially formulated to target the potential skin issues from high levels of activity. Athia products use highly concentrated amounts of antioxidants, electrolytes, amino acids, vitamins and essential minerals to cleanse, moisturize, detoxify and brighten. Additionally, our probiotic technology is masterfully formulated to provide healthier skin by fighting free radicals and other harmful bacteria, while replenishing the skin's essential good bacteria.

 Problem - Wrinkles and Loss of Collagen 

Loss of collagen is the primary cause of wrinkles. Alarmingly, we lose 1.5% of collagen in our skin each year after the age of 20. This can be aggravated by intense exercise. Athia stimulates the production of collagen and elastin through the use of peptides, retinol and plant extracts which help to restore lost collagen and smooth out tone and texture 

 Problem - Dryness

When you exercise, your skin loses water due to evaporation, leaving it dehydrated. Dehydration leaves your skin looking and feeling depleted and dry. Hyaluronic Acid is the gold standard in skin hydration. Not all hyaluronioc acids are created equal and that's why Athia uses a high molecular weight and high concentration that penetrates deep within the skin

 Guarantee  

If you're not satisfied with our product within 30 days, then neither are we and we'll refund you.

 My Experience

I ordered the Energizing Eye Renewal in a roll-on bottle. This product is so cooling and soothing! It glides onto the under eye area easily and doesn't leave any tell tale sign of application. It instantly absorbs into my skin. It is small enough to carry in a small make-up bag or purse to use when needed, as a pick-me-up! It has lightened up the under eye shadow so that it isn't as much of a problem as it used to be! The eyes are really all of my face that is representing me in public! I say that since most of my face is covered up with a mask at work and out in public that it is really important to have my eyes in as good condition as possible. I highly recommend this product.

I just recently ordered the Anti-Aging Eye Cream and the Daily Facial Cleanser. I'm really excited to try both of these products and I'll let you know how I like these as well. So far, I'm really liking this company and its commitment to the best skincare for active women of all ages and skin types!

Photo credit: @athiaskin

Gorgeous Jewelry From Agape Studio Makes Sense As A Great #GiftIdea

 I've always loved simple and comfortable jewelry for everyday! I love these 'Timeo' earrings that I purchased from Agape Studio the other day. They are a new company, just 13 months old, based in Paris! What a beautiful city to launch a jewelry company! I'm sure that they are there to check out all the amazing art there and are being influenced in an amazing way. 

Close-up view. I added the stud

 Here is a bit about their philosophy--

Change A Room From Functional To Restorative With Wall Art + 25% #DiscountCode To PhotoWall

 

“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.”

I really can say that I enjoy my job. Especially after the periods of time I've spent not being able to work because of...you know....Covid. Then I like to return home. I like the feeling of being able to come back and leave the work day behind.  I can forget about what stress and craziness happened. I can rest up and go back the next day with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Home is so important. It's important to make it your sanctuary, however that looks to you. 

 For a long time the upstairs bedroom had been bothering me. It was a rather nondescript room. It has an adjoining bathroom--nothing fancy--a shower, sink, window and toilet. The bedroom also has a walk-out patio with a sliding glass door overlooking the rest of the neighborhood, houses with similar floor plans, just different colors of paint outside to express their rustic appeal. So the view isn't too exciting, especially right now after the leaves have all fallen, but it does let in the fresh air during the spring and summer, which is actually really nice!

Winter Blahs

 

The white walls in the room seemed so utilitarian, stark and plain. Yet, this is the place I go to regain my equilibrium after a crazy day at work. I love my job, but I need a place to go unwind before I begin the 2nd phase of my day, which includes interacting with my husband and my father, who very much remind me at times of the 6th - 8th grade boys I work with, with the amount of attention they crave! But I love them, so I don't mind one bit (OK, maybe just a little bit!).

Many thanks to PhotoWall for the collaboration opportunity and product received for review purposes

 

Another problem with the room at one point was that the 2 full-length sliding glass doors let in the light from the street, along with the neighbors' porch lights when I was trying to sleep and it created a real problem. I finally got some nice blue, full-length, light-blocking curtains, which have helped so much!! But they serve a very functional purpose and therefore, aren't the most decorative things in the world.

Even though I have plenty of furniture, dressers, bed, stools, etc. I felt like my room wasn't pulled together like I wanted. The overall color theme of the room is blue. I have the blue bedspread, and the blue curtains. So what to do....

I thought about the possibility of wallpaper, but nothing really wowed me. And then I found Photowall, a Swedish wallpaper company with a vast selection of Wall Murals, Photo Wallpaper and Canvas Prints. I looked through their selections and I loved how they show the wall art the way it might look in an actual room. They have several room scenes for every wallpaper, mural and print. It really gives a great sense of the overall effect the wall would have in your own home.

Since I was trying to pull together a room which already had some
blue accessories, I decided to stay with the current color scheme and find something that would pick up the blue and possibly pull the whole thing together. 

Another thing that I noticed on the PhotoWall site was that they have 18 different themes that one might be interested in. Within those themes are 6 - 15 sub themes. I found several amazing and fun themes that I almost decided on, but steered myself away because I wanted to stick with my color and the theme I chose. 

For instance, under the Religious Theme I found these amazing wings titled, "Watch Over Me". How fun would it be to be able to pose for a blog photo in between those amazing wings? 

 

 Since I love to get out and hike in the mountains and sometimes even end up at alpine lakes, I decided to choose a nature theme, with water and/or mountains. Here are some murals I seriously looked at before I made my final selection. 

Watercolor Mountains

Western Sketchbook

 

Pale Mountain Silhouettes

 

 

 I finally made my decision based on how I felt when I saw this mural.  I felt absolute peace and calm.

It was like I hit the jack pot when I found "The Fisherman". It has such a serene feel to it. I was in love. I was willing to take the risk of it being "over the top". But frankly, I didn't see how I could lose on this design.

I was a little nervous about how I'd pull this off. I actually had a professional come in and do it for me and he did a great job. I might not have though, if I had found this how-to video beforehand and actually saw how easy it is to do yourself. You just need the right tools, which are very easy to find. 

Sneak peak of my wall in the mirror

 

Now that it is finished, I feel like I've got a house on the lake, with my window looking straight out on the water, the mountains in the background. I think I got the vibe I was looking for. 

Room With A View!

 

The Fisherman

 

Next project - restore the antique dresser

I've got a 25% discount code for you, if you decide to go the route I did, and brighten/calm your space with the feeling you get when you see the perfect design. One mural really can change the mood in a room. Use agalneeds25 at checkout through December 20th! I'd love to see what wallpaper, mural, or canvas print you choose! Message me @ info@agalneeds.com or message me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook!

My peaceful space

 

Linking up today with Shelbee On The Edge!