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Tag Archives: Hendrix


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Fur Ball II

This weekend I volunteered at an event for my personal favorite organization: the Humane Society.  It’s not that I don’t love people, people are the best! (Except for when they’re the worst.)  But I love animals.  I always have.  Since I can remember, I have always wanted to have lots of pets.  I plastered my closet (aka secret fort) when I was a kid in bunny, kitty and puppy photos that I’d haphazardly torn from old calendars.  I had guinea pigs, hamsters, cats, and even a bunny or two when I was still a young resident of my parents house and forbidden to get a dog until I “had my own place”.  So in college, my roommates and I adopted a cat who we named Holden Catfield (I’m a huge Catcher in the Rye fan, obviously) and loved him dearly as our little furry son.  Then when Brandon and I bought a house, before we even moved in, we rescued a dog.  Hendrix.  Needless to say he was an amazing dog and we loved him more than words, but he was only here to brighten our lives for a short while and now he’s running around doggy heaven, probably humping angels.  And then, two months later, we rescued Mac, who has quickly filled the empty space that was left.  And I’m steadily working on Brandon to adopt another one, but he’s taking his sweet old time with that one.   All this to say, I am a huge supporter of animal shelters and rescuing animals, and there are so many that need loving homes.  And if I can give a few hours of my life to help that cause, you can bet I will.  Which brings me to this year’s annual Fur Ball Gala.

I mean, look at these faces…

Zeppelin, Stefan and Womp Womp.  Gahhh. I love them all.  Stefan was *this close* to coming home with me that night.  I’m telling you, one more cocktail and he was mine.

Speaking of cocktails, how cute are these??

These pretty little numbers were in the VIP reception (which our job was to guard and make sure everyone who entered was legit and had a VIP pass).  Each one was named something adorable (sorry I don’t remember, something about Clifford the Big Red Dog and Blues Clues?), ether way, they were not only pretty, but tasted delightful.  What? I had to make sure they were good enough for the guests…

Many thanks to my sweet friend Megan who came along to help out this year, I couldn’t have turned away the riff-raff without you <3

It was a wonderful event and I’m sure they raised some much-needed funds to support their amazing organization.  So many awesome items were donated for the silent auction and the staff really did a tremendous job.

I would encourage all of you to check out your local Humane Societies (or other animal rescues) and see what you can do to help!  Even just a few rolls of paper towels or peanut butter jars for treats are GREATLY appreciated if you don’t have the time to volunteer, and these small contributions do more than you know.

And just because, here’s a cute picture of Mac.

And in case you’re wondering, I am one of those dorks that has a magnet on my car with something about how I rescued my best friend.  You can stop rolling your eyes now.


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Thin-Skinned

Thank you guys so much for all your sweet words about our little Hendrix, it really does mean a lot to me.  Even though it’s been a year and I still miss him immensely, I know that we gave him a great home for the time he was here.  And I know I’ll see him again some day, because all dogs go to heaven, duh.

Also I think you’ve all given me quite a lot of backing for when I ask/tell Brandon we’re going to add to our canine family.  Bravo to you all.

Now to take a dramatic turn in topics, I wanted to blog about something that’s been really bothering me lately.  I’m sure some of you are well aware of this fact, but for those of you who aren’t, you should know that I am sensitive.  Not like, I need 234 SPF to go in the sun (which I do), or have to wear 24k gold so my skin doesn’t fall off (but that’s also true), but like, cry in fetal position under my bed for 3 hours if you say something mean about me sensitive.  I try really hard to come across confident and sure of myself, and sometimes I actually am…. But then the 8 year old bullied, chubby, taller than all the boys in her class, bookworm Jess starts to whisper in my ear, and I’m a shattered mess of insecurity.

When someone doesn’t like me it cripples me.  Why?  What did I do?  What could I have done differently?  Is it how I look?  Is it they way I talk?  I don’t know why it bothers me so much, but it just does.  It’s the same as the anxiety I’ve dealt with for most of my life.  People say “just stop worrying!”  or “just say who cares!”, but the truth is, you just can’t.  Maybe it’s because of the way my brother treated me when I was younger.  Maybe it’s when I changed schools in 6th grade, and was picked on until I went home crying every day for months.  Both eventually got better, and I hope someday this will too.  But in the meantime, I am so envious of people who can let things roll off their backs and keep their head up without a flinch.  How they do it is a mystery to me, and sometimes I wonder if they’re just really good at hiding it.  Because even in my 4″ heels, I think I’ll always walk a little smaller.

As I had these thoughts running through my mind last night, I turned to something that always helps when I’m feeling frustrated.  It reminds me of my Grandma, who was one of the most fiercely strong and I-am-who-I-am women I’ve ever known, and it spoke to me.  Like, really spoke to me.  I realized that a lot of it is just about control, and sometimes you just have to accept things as they are: “Accepting hardships as the path to peace.”  It suddenly made things a little easier to swallow when I looked at it in that light.

I’m pretty confident in the fact that this will always be a crack in my armor of glass.  I know that it’s just part of who I am, and maybe it’s part of what makes me a good friend.  But I hope that eventually I’ll be able to be one of those people who keeps their head up, even when people are hoping to see you fall.


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A Few Things Friday

Hey kids, happy Friday! Surprisingly I managed to post 3 times this week, so either I’ve been drinking entirely too much coffee, or I’m just feeling a little more inspired to write down my random thoughts.  Either way, I think we can safely say it’s a win for everyone.  I kid, I kid.

So as per ushe’, let’s get things going with AFTF.

1.  FIRST OF ALL… It’s my biff’s birthday!!  And if you know us, you know that for some reason after a few cocktails, we tend to start every sentence with a slurry “FIRST OF ALL…” like we’re about to reveal something earth-shattering, but instead tackle some other ridiculous issue like a reality tv character that we can’t stand or how much we love Tim Gunn.  But I digress.  So happiest of birthdays to my true lady love and partner in crime.  I love you and I’m truly thankful everyday that we are best frans <3

2.  As I mentioned via my daily journal, aka instagram, I am increasingly obsessed with polkadots lately.  I mean ob.sessed.  I see- I want.  I think people are starting to wonder if I’ve joined some sort of whimsical cult.  My latest piece to the collection comes in the form of the most ahhhhdorable dress from Zara, and I got it on sale (holler) so that makes it ok.  But now I promise not to buy anything else polka-dotted for at LEAST a month.  Or  a week…. no.  A month.

Or maybe I should get some polka dot shoes?  Ugh.  Halp.

3.  This is more of a somber note… but it’s been almost a year since we lost our little puppster Hendrix to bone cancer.  I’ve been thinking about him a lot lately and have had a few teary nights, just reminiscing about what a great dog he was and how sad it is that we only got to spend such a short time with him.  Mac came along just when we needed him and helped us heal better than anything else in the world could have.  I honestly cannot imagine my life without a dog in it, and that’s why I think we should get another one.  I KNOW.  Two dogs is a lot.  Twice the food… twice the vet bills… twice the fur… but it’s also twice the cuteness and twice the unfaltering love and puppy kisses.  So we’ll see if it actually happens, but I think Mr. Mac needs a friend and hopefully I can convince the husband to see things my way.  But don’t worry, I’m really good at that.

I need a friend, Mom…

Anyone else have two dogs?  Thoughts?  Too much to handle or easier than I think?

Enjoy your weekends, loves! xo

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