Things I’m Loving Friday #586

Hey guys. How are you? Really, I’d like to know. I’m doing okay all things considered and had some decent days sprinkled into some more challenging days. (Wednesday was a bit of a beast, as it marked one week since Pepper’s passing.) I’m doing my best to embrace things that bring me joy right now — family sleepovers, meeting friends for walks with Comet, decorating for Easter, reading, eating ice cream for dinner — and felt pulled to sit down and share my usual Friday blog post this morning. During normal weeks these posts encourage me to look for the little joys in everyday life but during heavier times, they’re honestly a bit of a lifeline for me to share more about the good and the challenging-but-good I’m noticing around me.

I hope you all have a wonderful, sunshiny weekend. I will never run out of “thank yous” to say to all of you for showing up for me in the most encouraging and supportive ways. Thank you, a million times over, for caring for our family and our Pep-Pep so much.

Things I’m Loving Friday

• The Vet and Veterinary Staff Who Cared for Pepper

After Pepper’s attack, my friend Molly did not drive us to Pepper’s normal vet but to the closest vet because we knew the most immediate care for Pepper was paramount. The veterinary team’s response to Pepper that day is something I will never forget. They were swift and immediately responsive and so deeply empathetic when she passed. I am sure they see horrific things regularly and deal with the passing of beloved dogs all the time, but the way they made me feel left me feeling like Pepper was a one in a million dog. They all cried with me when she died.

The vet also offered to make three Pepper pawprints for our family when I broke down telling her about our three boys who absolutely adored Pepper. I had no idea these pawprints would be so meaningful to the boys. They clung to the idea of these pawprints and when we picked them up the day after she died, everyone in the vet’s office cried again. And so did we. They included a little glass vial of Pepper’s fur in with her pawprints that just about destroyed me. I am so grateful for the people who give so much of themselves in professions that deeply impact others.

• Finding Sadie/Dog Grief Notes

On Wednesday, exactly one week after Pepper’s death, I was struggling with “at this time last week x, y, z” thoughts that were rather miserable. “At this time last week the boys were saying goodbye to Pepper before school and had no idea that would be the last time…” “At this time last week I was leashing Pepper up for her last walk…” Ya know, highly unproductive, incredibly painful thoughts that just make everything feel worse? Yeah, those.

Anyway, as I was working my way through those thoughts and also struggling with feeling the temptation to “dumb down my grief” because it feels so massive following the loss of a pet, I remembered feeling a similar way after Sadie died. I listened to podcasts and read about pet grief years ago and thankfully took some notes I found in my phone from 2022 that were very helpful for me to re-read. My third note in particular, the one about the temptation to compare our grief to seemingly larger grief, hit me like a ton of bricks and felt like a gentle reminder from myself that it’s okay to be devastated by the loss of a dog. It’s okay to feel really freaking sad about losing an animal who was so ingrained in your everyday life. It’s okay to cry when you call out to your dog to come lick your yogurt container because it was something you did daily for 3+ years. It’s okay, its okay, it’s okay.

Also, this quote one of you sent me instantly made me sob because yes, yes, yes:

I will never, ever be okay with how Pepper died but she is so deserving of all of my tears and all of my grief.

• Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

I may have formed an odd attachment to this book because it truly helped buoy our boys through the first few days after Pepper’s passing. Chase said it’s one of the best books we’ve ever read aloud together and both big kids really loved the way the book incorporated various puzzles into the story. It made the book feel like such a fun, interactive read and we’ll absolutely be reading the additional books in this imaginative series.

From Amazon: When Kyle Keeley learns that the world’s most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town’s new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, he’s determined to be there! But the tricky part isn’t getting into the library—it’s getting out. Because when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must catch every clue and solve every puzzle to find the hidden escape route.

• Nathan Evans Pandora Station

Who knew sea shanty/pop-folk music would be what carries me through heavier times but my gosh, I adore Nathan Evans and the whole Nathan Evans station on Pandora. It’s very catchy and just upbeat enough not to depress me but also not too upbeat that it annoys me. I absolutely adore Nathan Evans’ voice so, so much. We actually discovered him through our boys’ children’s music station (we ALL love the song “Wellerman” if you and your kids want to listen) and when we realized he makes music that’s not just for kids, Ryan and I began streaming his music regularly and enjoying it more and more.

• Love Story (FX/Hulu)

Early last week (pre-Pepper) Ryan was in California for work and I often use his work travel evenings to watch a show I know he’d have no interest in watching with me. Enter: Love Story! Talk about an immediately intriguing show. I’m only four episodes in but as someone not at all well-versed on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s relationship, it’s been especially interesting to watch. (And, yes, I very much realize I should be watching through a skeptical lens as to its overall accuracy.) The show has been a decent escape show for me right now as I’ve enjoyed streaming it during my workouts and find myself looking forward to the next episode.

• Around the Internet

Food: 

• Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (A friend made these for us last week and they were unreal.)
• Pasta alla Vodka (Our neighbor made dinner for our family and we ate every last bite.)

Flashback Blog Posts: 

• Corned Beef Potato Leek Soup (Just in case you have any corned beef leftover from St. Patrick’s Day)
• Day Trips from Charlotte (For anyone local staying close by for spring break)

Weekend Sales: 

• 35% off Geometry with code PBFINGERS: My discount code is bumped up from 15% to 35% through Sunday for Mother’s Day shopping if you’ve had your eye on Geometry’s kitchen towels (the best!), butter blankets, or anything else o their site.
• 25% off FRAME: The brand behind my beloved splurge-worthy jeans! I semi-freaked out when I bought my first pair of FRAME bubble jeans, but they’ve been my most-worn jeans by far… and I loved them enough to get the bubble crop jeans in two colors which I wear even more than the full-length, especially in the spring/summer. You may see the full-length on me here and here + the crop length in the pic with Chase here. (I sized down to a 26 in these. They have plenty of room in the hips and booty but do not gap in the waist. Hooray!)
• 50% off Old Navy: I ordered another 2 packs of our favorite soccer socks for the boys (they are easier for kids to pull on themselves but still stay in place), this fishing tee for Chase, and a few things for spring break –> this matching gauze set, these jelly mules (so fun and only $12.49), these rope thong sandals that look like the $$$ version, this mini dress in “tall” for added length, and this swing dress
• 20% off $125+ from RŌZ: This is the clinically-backed clean haircare company that makes some of my favorites hair products. I’ve thought all shampoo and conditioner was created equal until I tried their Foundation Shampoo + Conditioner (I just ordered their refill bundle which gets 2 full refills from one pouch). I also swear by their root-lift spray for volume before I blow-dry my hair and my scalp + hair has never felt cleaner than after I use their scalp scrub.
• $64 off Bose Wireless Speaker: I have been so impressed with my Bose headphones and thought this price was fantastic on this speaker. And I love the lilac color if you need a Mother’s Day gift idea. (I think code WELCOME15 may save an additional $15 for first-time customers.)

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Please tell me about a bright spot in your week! I’d truly love to know.