You are my moon and my stars

This month marks 18 years since Rich and I met each other. 18 years! It's crazy. 

I always get sentimental this time of year, because that August in 2002 changed my entire life. 

So when oNecklace contacted me for another collaboration I knew right away that I wanted to find a piece of jewelry that would celebrate our relationship. 

Big Bear and Little Bear

Today is our youngest - and biggest - baby's first birthday. 

Happy Birthday, Petey! 🎉🎉

As with many of our dogs, he wasn't exactly planned, at least not on my part. But I did get an inkling that a new member to our family was on his way when I received this picture last September:

Petey is in Rich's arms at 4 weeks old

Some summer pics!

Today is the third day in a row that feels (I don't even want to say it out loud, so I'll just whisper it: fall-ish), so I finished watching Little Fires Everywhere on Amazon (just as good as the book, I highly recommend!), and now I've been sorting through my photos. Summer came late this year, it basically only arrived 2 months ago, but every hot day has been precious. It's not over yet, but we've definitely entered the stage of late summer: the nights are getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and the light has changed. The stark yellow and blue of high summer have given way to a softer, warmer, golden glow. Many mornings are now overcast, the ground wet with dew, and I've started putting on a sweater with my morning coffee.

It doesn't matter - I love the changing of the seasons, even though it's bittersweet when the majority of summer has passed.     

But it also leads to reflection, and today I'm gonna share a few photos with you of our summer so far!

Being in my 40s - first impressions

I'm now in my 8th month of being in my 40s. I didn't expect it, but there has been such a tremendous shift between my 30s and now being 40, that I need to write about it. 

Before I go into what my 40s have been like for me thus far (both much better, but also worse than I anticipated), let's recap my 30s. 

Read this if you think you're missing out

I haven't been to the beach this summer. 

I haven't been on a boat.

I haven't been tubing/water skiing/jet skiing. (TBH I haven't done the latter two ever, and it becomes more evident with every year that I probably never will.)

I haven't had ice cream in a cone. 

I haven't taken a single road trip pic for the 'gram, because we haven't been on a road trip.

We haven't been on any "adventures".

I haven't written an entire album. (But I'm very glad Taylor Swift did; I'm not dissing you girl, I'm in awe and very happy you did!)