Reminders

Happy Thanksgiving – 2020

| The Bee Life

It’s the eve of Thanksgiving, and I know this year looks different for many of us… no family gatherings, no road trips to visit extended family, no house hopping from one turkey dinner to the next. And it’s especially easy in the solitude, to be reminded of the things we should be doing — the things we aren’t doing. But I’m here to say, we can’t focus on that!

Instead we need to hug the people we can. And count our blessings, big or small this year — be thankful for our health, and the health of our friends and family. A super easy way to do this, is take out a piece of paper and write (or type) them down.

photo by: Michelle Loufman Photography

Here are a few things B and I are thankful for this year:

  1. Time we’ve been able to spend with family, specifically pool days & July 4th
  2. Having jobs and ones that we are able to work from home
  3. Good music and Yahtzee
  4. Another year with our Moz
  5. The time we’ve been able to see friends this year
  6. Curbside pick-up
  7. Our Jackson Hole trip
  8. Rain on Me – Lady Gaga
  9. Getting to know our neighbors more this year
  10. A husband who likes to grocery shop!

Ok, your turn! Even just taking a moment before dinner, and sharing a few things you’re especially thankful for, or telling someone via the phone or text this year — share a little extra gratitude and soak in the good that we’ve been able to find this year ♥️.





Still prepping for the big day? See how we’re getting ready for a quiet Thanksgiving Dinner for Two!

Weekend Recap – Break from Reality

| The Bee Life

I’ve been a bit stressed out lately, and but came up pretty suddenly this past week. As we were driving away from the city late Friday night, I could start to feel some relief. But it wasn’t until about midway through Saturday when I could feel my tense body finally start to relax and the neck pain that had been lingering for the last 2-days was finally gone – that’s when I realized, I really needed this weekend away from reality with my little family.
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Initially the weekend was supposed to be a girls trip with an afternoon at the spa, but some things came up so B was stuck with me heading to one of our favorite spots, the cabin.  The cabin is literally in the middle of no where, there is no wifi, although there is TV, but it’s largely you, nature and just a break from the real world.  Even on weekends when you’re home with no plans, you always find something to do – clean the house, laundry, yard work – or you think you should be doing something besides nothing.  But that’s not how it is at the cabin, sleeping in is ok, watching Shark Tank marathons and day drinking is also totally acceptable.
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We also ventured to our favorite spot near the cabin, Southern Tier Brewery Co. – and yes they had our favorite seasonal beverages on tap, Pumking and Warlock.  The weather was perfect and we even brought Moz along this time! Usually we leave her behind at the cabin, but after a walk around the property at the cabin, she had plenty of exercise and just hung with us at the brewery.  We also grabbed some yummy eats at STBC – our go-to the pretzels and then split the BLT this time, which was so good! They never disappoint from a brews, food or atmosphere perspective. It was the perfect breakup in the day.
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The leisurely mornings might be my favorite – taking Moz out around the property for her morning routine, and then drinking coffee before B whips up a tasty breakfast is always so relaxing because we’re never usually in any rush for anything. And by the time breakfast is done and cleaned up, it’s about time to take Moz for a longer walk so she can take in all the fresh smells of nature, chase chipmunks and watch frogs jump into the pound.  Friday night after we got there a huge storm rolled in and we fell asleep to the rain pounding on the roof of the cabin, it was so relaxing and so perfect.
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As we were driving back to reality, I was reflective on the fact that we all need to take a little extra time for ourselves, an intentional break from the day to day, from the stresses of the work week and everything else. It was also a good reminder of making the most out of changed plans and still taking time away. Even if it’s a simple getaway for a night or two, it’s refreshing for the soul and it helps us stay sane.

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Valentine’s Day – 2018

| The Bee Life

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

The somewhat controversial, holiday that has been called many things – a Hallmark holiday, only for people who have a sig-o, a day to buy overpriced flowers,  yada yada.  But, I love, love!
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This year I decided to show a little extra love to B each and every day of February instead of just the holiday. It’s been fun planning out each day with a new surprise, I wanted to do it for 28-straight days because it’s far too easy for us all to just focus on spoiling our loved ones on this one, single, day — thinking we are in the clear until the next anniversary or holiday.   Some days have been more extravagant than others, and some are simply a text with a memory or a handwritten love note (my fave!)

So regardless of your feelings on the day, I want to send a little piece of my love and well wishes especially to those reading right now. And I hope that you can share a little bit of extra love today, whether it’s smiling at a stranger, buying someone’s coffee, taking out the trash for your boo, giving a compliment to a coworker or calling someone you haven’t seen in awhile.

Don’t forget to share love, today but most importantly… always.

Photography by: Timothy Logan Photography

Fitness Friday 05.17

| The Bee Life

Happy Friday!  I just wanted to share a quick check-in on my fitness progress this far. Since the beginning of February I’ve been religious with my workout routine, sticking to my 3-days of bootcamp and enjoying every minute of it, well almost every minute of it. It’s hard to think that it’s been almost 4-full months meaning the big day is now only 6-months away.

Since results have been a bit slower, than I was hoping, I’ve started to work to get a few more workout sessions in, including Wednesday doubles. But like clockwork, as soon as I’m getting into a rhythm and groove, it’s going to be thrown off with a trip or a weekend full of parties and places to be.  This is when we are challenged the most, are we going to maintain and stick with our habits that we’ve worked so hard to build? Or are we going to slowly fall off that ladder and fall back into old, easy ways?
Fitness Friday 05.17_the bee lifeAnd this is when we’re reminded, that in order to maintain this healthy lifestyle, to continue to feel good and be healthy – we need to push through the obstacles that face us. We need to wake up early, we need to eat better, we need to pick up that heavier weight, and we need to push ourselves a little harder each workout.  There is not finish line or point when it stops, it might just change.

I’ve gotten to the point where I am tired of the excuses and I’m ready to continually kickass every day so that I have no more excuses.

Happy Lifting!

 

Wednesday Reminders – 10%

| The Bee Life

There have been a lot of opinions swirling around our world lately.  No matter where we turn; social media, the news, talk around the office or with friends, there is so much negativity with all these opinions. Oh, and did I mention social media?

Here is the thing; I am all for sharing opinions because I am not afraid to voice mine 90% of the time – but it’s that 10% when I don’t that matters the most. Why? Because that 10% of the time I do it out of respect and out of hope for a greater good – I know my opinion doesn’t always matter – I know it doesn’t always help – and I am fine with letting other’s voice theirs without hearing mine.

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So instead of soaking it all in, I work to push negativity out – I don’t read it, I don’t watch it, I don’t encourage it and I don’t combat it. I think it’s great everyone lately feels so empowered to share their opinion, but I don’t always think it’s great the way a lot of people are doing it. There seems to be a lack of understanding or acceptance (because they won’t listen) for those who don’t share the same opinions – in this world we cannot exist without peace and tolerance.  I chose when I need to voice my opinions whether they be big or small, political or impolite, important or not, but I think that is because in the grand scheme of things, of life I’m more focused on peace, happiness and being content than being right.

Image Source & More Inspiration

Wednesday Reminders – Love

| The Bee Life

It’s been awhile since I’ve had a Wednesday Reminders post – and with the slew of negativity that has been filling our lives from the media, this election, the results, the violence, all of it just hate and negativity. We need to share and focus more on the love and positives.

I am a firm believer that if you see it, you’ll believe it.  So let’s show Love. wednesday-reminders-love-the-bee-lifeThe more we focus on the negative and hate – the more evident it will be.  If we share and show our love more the rest will be minimized. Not because we are ignoring it, but because we are rising above it, we cannot let hate win – on any level.

So if you’re feeling particularly upset, down, or hopeless today – look for the love, share the love and do in love.

Wednesday Reminders – Friends

| The Bee Life

One of the hardest parts of starting my new job, one-month in to the date, is not spending the entire day with my best friends. Yes, that’s right, one of the things I am most grateful for from my previous job (besides all of the experience) is the friendships I made. I truly think that was the greater purpose of me working there for the years that I did and starting when I did.
Wednesday Reminders - Friends - the bee lifeIf it weren’t for the amazing people I met,  life would be very different, my career would be very different.  Dramatic? No. These people have inspired me to dream bigger, work harder and fight for what I want.  They’ve also helped me laugh when I did not want to laugh, to take the lunch break to walk and gossip instead of stewing at my desk over an email. Sneak away for impromptu drinks “after work”, doggy play dates and team lunches.  They were my sounding board for life and professionally encouraging me to ask hard questions, dig deeper of myself and want more.

I was so hesitant to leave my job because I loved so many of the people I had gotten to know over three years and spent all my days with.  But I knew I had to make a change for me, and that they would still be up the street (literally).  I was also partially afraid that I would never see some of them again, other people I was close with have moved on or got new jobs and it just wasn’t the same. But since I left, not a whole lot has changed, lunch walks and coffee dates still happen, team lunches and happy hours, group texts and bitmoji’s and now even some snapchat fun.

We help inspire each other, learn and grow from each other, build each other up and laugh at each other, cry with each other and even borrow sneakers.  We help each other to try not to take life so seriously, give the hard truths when it’s needed and just listen to each other.

I have realized (especially) lately how lucky I am to have so many strong fierce women around me, (you all know who you are!) thank you!

XO

Wednesday Reminders – Time

| The Bee Life

Do you ever have those moments where you read or see something and it’s the exact message or reminder you needed? You read it and say, yes, almost like the universe is trying to tell you something? I had one of those moments the other day, I wanted to share the little piece of genius with all of you. Not to mention the author is one of my favorites.Wednesday Reminders - the bee life
Read it one more time.

Soak in the words, soak in the meaning.

Any opportunity or part of life is ours to take, we make what we want of it, we make it as good as we want, while having the strength and the courage to take risk, to go outside of the box, to ask questions, not being afraid to make mistakes, to learn and take time to grow. It’s a part of life that I feel is often overlooked.

I was thankful for the reminder, because it reminded me that what I am doing currently in my life is OK, it’s good, it’s needed, and that not everyone has the will or the way to do it.

 

Wednesday Reminders – Birthdays

| The Bee Life

Happy birthday, to me!

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The day has come, the day I love-hate.  I love it because, well I just love birthday’s plus I have an excuse to eat cake (I’m probably sounding like a broken record). It’s also a fun excuse to get a little more expensive dinner, order an extra dirty martini (or a few) and throw on some heels. But I hate it because I keep getting older, I definitely have the case of the Peter Pan syndrome.

As I am getting older, I am realizing that some things won’t change by themselves, I’m really hoping I find some of my inner strength and motivation back this year that I’ve lost. It’s continuous work, and recognizing goals and working towards them is the first step.

So for this year I hope to get back on the path of the best me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Oh and have a hell of a great time doing it. 

Cheers!