Blog and Dog – Page 4 – …on the B.L.

Beau and Christmas Tree Hunting

December 4, 2019 RaeAnna

On the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree!!! | Beau’s Christmas Sweater | Black Shirt | Jeans | Sparkly Shoes |

201911298969766097102059910 — Posing while Beau is straining to greet passers by. | Beau’s Christmas Sweater | Sherpa Jacket |

The simple joys in life bring me the most happiness. Christmas tree hunting with Beau is one of the best things we do all year.

This was Beau’s third year Christmas tree hunting. She doesn’t contribute anything but cuteness to the adventure. Actually, it’s a total hassle bringing a dog. Trying to find the perfect tree to fit in the home I have and not the massive living room I wish you had and cutting down a tree with a saw while juggling an enthusiastic people greeter on black Friday at a Christmas tree farm is a hand full. Worth it! But a handful.

Last year, we took our Christmas picture at the Christmas tree farm. Beau was cooperative for picture last year. This year… a whole different story. We weren’t planning on taking the Christmas picture… but a nice picture would have been grand. There is ONE picture where she’s looking at the camera. The rest, she’s straining trying to go say ‘hi’ to all the people cooing at her. Suffice to say, we gave up on the family photo this year. *Insert our efforts here.*

THE good one. It was also the first one. | Black Shirt | Jeans | Sparkly Shoes | Beau’s Christmas Sweater | Dylan’s Buffalo Plaid Flannel |

Beau was more comfortable on the tractor this year. She even laid down. A cute little boy, named Leo, gave her a sticker. She didn’t love it, but she managed to keep it on until we got to the car. A five year olds feelings were not hurt on our search.

We’re working on decorating the tree today. It’s been up and decorated with lights since Friday, but we’ve been busy [read as: lazy], so it hasn’t been done yet. My office is decorated, and most of the house is decorated. Just the tree and a few garland strings need to be put up to finish the look!

Now it’s time to start baking because I have fun recipes coming your way for Christmas/winter inspired goodies!!!

Fun Fact: I am allergic to Christmas trees. I can’t touch them because they make me itchy. If they poke me hard enough, which is not hard at all, I break out in cute little pustules. Merry Christmas, I look like I have the plague.

bisous und обьятий,
Beau + RaeAnna

Shop the Post
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3841981″]

I Bought A Chair

November 20, 2019November 20, 2019 RaeAnna

201911203443323906814685493 — Beau is thoroughly enjoying our [her] new chair.

201911201015724790395426420 — **She’s so photogenic when she’s comfy and hogging the chair…** | Chair | Ottoman | Sweater | Red Blanket | Sherpa Blanket | Blue Sequin Pillow | Green Pillow | Christmas Mug | Vase | Decorative Present | Fairy Lights | Ornaments

I work from home. When we moved into our bigger apartment, I knew I needed an office because it’s hard to motivate yourself to work when your office is your bed. We moved into a three bedroom apartment, and I monopolized the smallest of the three bedrooms for my office because I liked the bay window. At the time, my bookshelves took up one wall; otherwise, it was empty.

The first thing I bought was a desk so I didn’t have to sit on the ground. The criteria: no drawers. Drawers are distracting junk collectors. Next, was a big calendar white board for me to plan my non-existent social life and all my work projects.

My office is my favorite room in the house. I spend more time in my office than I spend literally anywhere else. I wake up, take the dog out, make a pot of tea, and start reading in my office for an hour before I start working. There are days, like today, I spend more than fifteen hours working in my office. It needs to be homey, comfy, and a reflection of me from the look, to the smell, to the feel, to the comfort. I want to walk in and be happy. My office isn’t perfect yet, but it’s damn close. There are a few more things on my list to make my office perfect. The biggest and most expensive purchase was the latest.

201911204089357884700159955 — **Beau’s only sharing because she wants to look like a good dog for posterity…** | Chair | Ottoman | Sweater | Red Blanket | Sherpa Blanket | Blue Sequin Pillow | Green Pillow | Christmas Mug | Vase | Decorative Present | Fairy Lights | Ornaments

I have had a papasan since my 22 birthday. I love it, but it’s not conducive to work or reading with a 60 pound Beau in my lap. I’ve been wanting an oversized armchair for awhile, but they’re not cheap, and I had a very specific thing in mind. I had been eyeing an oversized chair recently that wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was as close as I’m likely to get on my budget. Two weeks ago, we bought it.

I bought the chair for me, but Beau has monopolized it. The moment it was set up in my office, Beau started dogging it up. She has a memory foam dog bed next to my desk. Now as I type away at my desk, she stares at me from my chair. She loves it so much, she hangs out in it while she’s home alone. I like to think it’s a testament to how cozy and me-like my office is. It’s probably just the chair. We can easily sit side by side in it or curled up together.

I didn’t think my office could get any better, but I guess it can. The chair has made me very happy and even more productive. Maybe more importantly, it has made Beau’s life happier. She has less anxiety when we leave her home alone, and she’s as happy as happy can be curled up while I work.

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

Shop the Post
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3809809″]

Blog + Dog

Cheating on Beau

October 23, 2019October 23, 2019 RaeAnna

Loving on my nephew, Frank! | Puppy Pumpkin Costume | Sweater | Jeans | Scarf

I love traveling with Beau, but sometimes she has to stay home.

So I cheat on her.

I can’t help it.

I NEED my puppy loves; I’m an addict.

I will cheat on Beau even if she’s at home and I’m right outside the door. If there’s a dog in my vicinity, I want to pet it and love it and hug it and kiss it until it tires of me or the owner calls the cops. Dogs bring me joy, and I pretend I bring them joy.

Luckily, most of the people in my life have dogs. My parents didn’t have a dog for two and a half years, but they just caved and rescued Barneveld Wout Bose von Rekemeyer. I named him; you’re welcome. He’s a cutie. I got my dog cuddles with him.

My brother has the cutest pupper!!! Frank. Frank is in the pictures. My brother and sister-in-law just moved to Chicago with their dog and cat. I’m lucky and got to spend last Sunday with them. I spent the entire time chatting but also giving Frank all the cuddles. I made my brother take a picture of us because Frank has a pumpkin costume. We’re obviously related.

I’m currently at my surrogate parents’ house in the Chicago area. I lived with them for three years before moving to Houston. As I write this, I’m cheating on Beau with Dexter and Anna. Dexter is a 150 lb. Great Dane. Anna is a 20 lb. mutt. My lap is full. I am happy; even though Beau is far away from me for a few more days.

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna & Dexter & Anna & Frank & Barney

Shop the Post
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3770331″]

Blog + Dog

Calm Office

October 2, 2019September 30, 2019 RaeAnna

Beau was confused by the flowers. | Mug | Coaster | Vase | Pens

I’m a writer.

I’m a neat freak.

I don’t like working outside of my home.

This trifecta means my office is my safe place. I love my office. There are a few things I would change. Like a bigger, comfier chair. Or adding a funky lamp. If I’m not binge watching TV or cooking, I’m in my office.

I like my home to be as comfortable and cozy as it is light and airy. For me it’s a combination of dark and bright, heavy and light, fluffy and stark, cute and functional. Everything serves a purpose. Sometimes that purpose is bringing a smile to my face. I don’t want my office to just be comfortable for me; it has to be a place Beau enjoys being. Wherever I am, she also is.

I have a desk away from the wall but far from being in the middle. A papasan is nestled into a bay window. I used to have Beau’s Serta dog bed in the bay window, but she refused to sleep in it there. I like to keep the floor as open as possible so Beau can run in and out and play with her toys on the floor while I work without me getting in her way or vice versa. I ended up moving her dog bed next to my chair, up against the bookshelves because she could touch me and see out the window at the same time.

The other day, my friend brought me flowers. I put them in my office because I love how much life they bring to the room. She gave me the best compliment: It’s so calm. Ugh. Yes. That’s my aesthetic. Calm. Probably not. Between my high energy and Beau’s energy, calm is not the immediate aesthetic of my home, but when I walk into my office, I do feel calm. Beau doesn’t, but it is truly our safe space.

bisous und обьятий,
Beau and RaeAnna

Shop the Post
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3745014″]

Blog + Dog

Leaving Beau At Home

September 25, 2019September 24, 2019 RaeAnna

There really is only one thing I hate about traveling. It’s leaving without Beau. I take her with me as much as I possibly can, but sometimes I just can’t. When I’m going somewhere she can’t be or I’m flying, Beau can’t come with and has to stay at home with her dad, who she loves. I travel so much, so Beau knows the signs.

She starts to whine and pace and crawl in my suitcase. Whoops that rhymes.

Beau loves to come with me on my travels. I don’t think she really cares where we’re going or why, but she does like to be with me. When she doesn’t get to come, she has perfected the sad puppy eyes. She’s good at them. It absolutely breaks my heart in two. One piece stays with her, and the other piece stays with me. If we were eight, we would have the best friend heart necklaces, but we’re not.

I spend as much time with her before I leave, but it really doesn’t get easier. The moment I close the door behind me to leave, she starts howling. It is so sad.

This past month has been crazy busy with travels. None of which she could accompany me. Luckily, I’m home for a little while before I’m off again. So Beau and I are getting tons of cuddles in. She is not hesitating to use her sad eyes on me to get extra treats.

Shop the Post
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3737679″]

Blog + Dog

Couch Potatoes

September 11, 2019 RaeAnna

I’m getting a pep talk about how I CAN get all the stuff done I need to do.

She just wants the treats in my hand… | Pajama Top | Pajama Bottom | Mug | Beau’s Bandana |

I’m a writer. Sometimes, I have a really hard time writing when I’m not inspired… I’m probably not alone in that predicament, which is why I am very happy to have a couch and my dog.

Luckily for me, I have an almost-comfortable couch and a very cozy dog. Not to mention more subscriptions to streaming services than is probably responsible, a ton of movies on Vudu, and loads of DVDs. Also more books on my reading shelves than I can read in four months. Actually, as I write this, I’m sitting on the couch with Beau under my arm watching The Man in the High Castle on Amazon Prime. (I highly suggest it; it’s based off the book of the same name by Philip K. Dick.)

I promise. It’s not what you think it is… I dropped a treat in my lap.

Being a couch potato really works for us. Beau is particularly good at it. She takes up well over half of the couch at all times no matter how many people are wanting to sit on it with her. I like to refer to Beau as an oobleck – a non-Newtonian fluid; it’s a liquid until pressure is applied, and then it’s a solid. Beau starts in one position. She spreads out into another position; before, she solidifies and refuses to take up less space no matter how much pressure is applied.

We’re very happy as couch potatoes. It works for us. Some days we get stuff done on the couch. Other days, we really don’t.

Today, Beau and I have sat on the couch all day. It’s intermittently storming, and Beau is a little stressed about it. I feel like I haven’t done much, but I did. I wrote this boring blog post. I did the dishes. What took up most of my afternoon was mending clothes. I had a HUGE pile of clothes that needed to have zippers fixed, seams taken in, snaps put on, buttons reattached, straps tightened, etc. I’m actually quite handy with a needle and thread. I spent four hours doing all the mending that needed to be done and that had built up over an embarrassing amount of time. The upside, I have clothes back! And I did it all without leaving the couch! I can chalk this day up to a success.

bisous und обьятий,
Beau and RaeAnna

Shop the Post
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3722459″]