Life Plus Dogs

In 2012, I fostered Maya for the Valencia County shelter, for an adoption event. She got adopted, but returned… and I took her back rather than letting her go back to the shelter.

She never left. She wasn’t an easy dog, but she taught me a lot. About being stubborn, about dog behavior, she broke several pairs of my glasses, was the reason for countless stitches for beings in this house… but we loved her anyway.

Today, we had to say goodbye… because 16 is a really big age for a dog her size. It’s really difficult to watch a senior dog’s body fail them while their spirit and mind are strong, but letting them go peacefully is one of the last kind things we can do for them.

Rest easy, Maya. You were the goodest girl you knew how to be until the very end.

Some people come into this world, and they truly make it a better place. Dolly Parton was a stellar example of shining your light to make things less dark for others. She did so much good throughout her life, with little to no fanfare. Secretly, I hoped she woule live forever. The world feels a little darker knowing she isn’t here anymore. 😭

We went on our annual beach trip earlier this month, and stayed at the most perfect, adorable casita. The girls loved having a yard to run around in, and it was the perfect walking distance from everything.

It was a bittersweet trip without Bitty, but we still had fun. I’m still making my way through all the pics and videos, but Fe wore the GoPro paddleboarding and the videos are hilarious (I will try to post soon).

I know we don’t post that often here anymore. I’ll try to be better about it. If you’re still here, thank you 🫶🏻✨

Happy 4th of July 🫶🏻 We hope everyone is safe from the sky booms and wildfires.

2025 was… rough. We had the highest highs and the lowest lows.

We got to visit Paris, Boston, and NYC. We saw the Eiffel Tower, Fenway Park, and Yaankee Stadium. We had so many good times, and so much fun. We visited some of our favorite people, we made so many memories.

We also suffered through some of the heaviest losses. We had to say goodbye before anyone was ready, and we’re ending the year wihout Bitty. That part still doesn’t even seem real. I still don’t know how it’s possible that she isn’t here.

My stress levels have been off the charts, which means my health has been in the gutters… it’s funny (not) how those go hand in hand.

But you know… we still our jobs. I still get to WFH. Fe, Harpy, Bo, Maya, and Bentley are doing well. We have a home, we have a lot more than some people…

So even though this year was filled with more tears than smiles, we’ve got so much to be grateful for.

Here’s hoping 2026 can be a little kinder to us all.

Merry Christmas 🎄

If you’re not feeling festive this holiday season, it’s ok. You’re not alone. If the holidays are hard for you, you’re not alone in that either.

Wherever you are today, whatever you’re doing, I hope our judgy little reindeer brings you some small bit of joy.

10 years passed by in the blink of an eye. It feels like just yesterday I brought Bitty home to ‘foster’, and it wasn’t long before she informed me that I was her person and she was staying here.

10 years wasn’t enough, but no amount of time would have been. We always knew loving Bitty had a time limit, that’s a fact you learn to face really early on when you choose to love a dog who has a bad heart. You never know how long you have, and so you just kind of do your best to appreciate every day.

Bitty appreciated all her days. She made the most of her time here, she bossed everyone she could find to boss, she ate as much Taco Bell lettuce as we’d let her, she had backpack adventures, she went to the beach to live our her beach babe dreams…

And now she’s gone and my lap feels empty and my heart has this giant hole in it.

Thank you to everyone who loved Bitty with us. She was a once in a lifetime kind of character. 🫶🏻😭

Probably won’t make it anywhere to see the fall colors this year, so here are some of my faves from years past.

New Mexico has some gorgeous spots to catch the leaves. Our faves are Aspen Vista in Santa Fe, and 4th of July Canyon east of Albuquerque.