Inspiration for the Next Three Years

Three years from now I will about to graduation from college. Hopefully. So I thought it would be fun to put together a little collage of photos representing what I would like the next three years encompass.  I hope that I experience happiness, hard work, good food, many books, love, great friends, lots of coffee, and some unforgettable adventures. Normally I would just make a list of all my goals but I wanted to switch things up a bit so here we go.

Going into college I had of exceptions of what it would be like, most of those have been shattered now. This is not a bad thing. College is not easy and it is certainly not like the movies, but I do know this one of the best times of my life and I want to take advantage of every second. Ready or not. 

Things No One Tells You About Owning a Dog

As of this week I have officially been a dog owner for one year. I simultaneously feel like I brought Maci home yesterday and there was never a time before her being in my life. Being a dog mom has been one of the best experiences of my life (yes there is a magnet on my car that says "my child has four paws), but certainly not the easiest. The fact that I am a college student only makes things harder, Maci makes it all worth it though. She loves me unconditionally and  gives me support without ever knowing it. I have always had dogs growing but it is a totally different game when they are your own dog. I am so thankful for the attitude my parents taught me about having a pet, they are more than just pets they are family. So here are a few of the many things I have learned this past year of being a dog mom.

• How much money your actually going to spend. Vet visits, medicines, toys, treats, and food. It adds up very quickly. 

• The amount of love you feel every time you look at them. 

• How many times a day they make you smile. It’s countless.

• All of the things they are going to tear up. You think you are ready you really do, but you are never completely ready for all the destruction a puppy brings. Shoes, books, walls, floors, furniture, remotes, phone chargers, pens, literally you name they may chew it up. Here I would like to say thank you to my parents house for taking the worst of it.

• How overwhelmed you feel when you first bring them home. You are very excited but also so scared. You don’t know what you have gotten yourself into, all you know is theres no going back. They are in a new place and scared too. Give it time you are both still learning. 

• Half the time your boyfriend (or girlfriend) won’t know whether you are taking to them or the dog.

• Whenever you aren’t with them you are always, thinking, worrying, or wondering about them.

• 6 am wake up calls. Yeah, get used to them. When you gotta go you gotta go fast. 

• It’s okay to be upset with them when they do something wrong. Just remember they don’t speak english. Patiences will save you a lot of grief. 

• You say things like “no don’t eat that” or “thats not your poop” way too often.

• The only way your dog sees the world world outside your home is through you. Let them see as much of it as possible.

• Buy the puppy training! Yes it is expensive, but it is so worth it. You and your dog will grow closer together. Not to mention the things your dog will learn could be life saving.

• The size of your heart will grow exponentially.

Some Photos of Life That I Would Like to Remember

These are a few that have happened (relatively) recently that I would like to remember

For a week, A WHOLE WEEK, the wifi at my apartment has been gone. A place where two nineteen year old girls who are both college students and love Netflix live has not had internet for a week. Needless to say this week has been a struggle. But, there has been some upsides to not having internet, there are I promise. We have been playing Wii, listening to music, having real conversations, sitting on our roof, drinking tons of coffee, leaving the apartment to study, and hanging out in our Christmas pj's. By no means do I want to keep living without wifi, because I do not please bring back my Netflix and social media and my ability to do homework while laying in bed, but the world did not end without it. In fact it has been a nice break from constantly being on my phone or watching one too many episodes of NCIS (or maybe seven too many). Without the internet our apartment has been super clean this week.

I went to Disney there will be a post about this, I promise. Hopefully by next Christmas.

Maci has really picked up on her dental hygiene 

First week back at school grocery shopping. The second week was about 1/8 of this.

New coat, warm shoes, and a cute dog.

First real snow and my sweet girls.

My roommate painted the mural for me in our living room which is the coolest.

Why Instagram is not Always a Good Thing + My Favorite Instagramers

Let me start off by saying, I love Instagram. I really do. I love seeing photos, happy photos from the best parts of peoples lives, but often I think people forget that is what Instagram is; a snap shot into the best moments of someones life. Life is not always as perfect as Instagram makes it out to be. That smiling couple probably had a fight about dishes or underwear left on the floor, the model-like mom with her children probably had a break down over whether she is raising them to be good human beings, the independent person that works for themselves probably stays up all night sometimes to meet a deadline. Not to mention the picture you are seeing is probably one of twenty-someting others like it. Sometimes the dishes have not been done in three days, and lets not even talk about laundry. Sometimes I stay in my pajamas all day and have Captain Crunch for more than one meal. Comparing yourself to other people on Instagram is not going to do anything for you accept bring you down. Comparison truly is the thief of joy. Especially when the people you are comparing yourself to have just as many struggles as you do, you just simply don't know theirs.

But guys I really do love Instagram so here are a few of my favorite:

@haileydevine

Hailey Devine and her little family are the cutest. Her and her husband, Brad, are videographers who like to travel. You can find their youtube channel, here, and her blog, here.

@heynataliejean

You can find her blog, here. 

@taza

Oddly enough this family and Instagram is the reason I started blogging. It is a little bit creepy how long I have been reading their blog, here. I just love her honest outlook on life. 

@apsynovard

Aspyn and her husband, Parker, are the cutest. They both make youtube videos and vlog. Parkers Instagram can be found, here. Their youtube channels are here and here. Aspyn's blog is here.

@thedogist

So I had this crazy idea when I got my own dog I would stop be obessed with other people's dogs. Yeah that didn't happen. Every time the dogist posts my heart melts a little bit.