connect

In an increasingly digital world where it often feels like we're actually not connecting, adding to the challenges like financial restraints, demanding work schedules and conflicting educational objectives can often make it difficult to find the time and energy to continue developing our personal relationships.

Time to connect is very important to me.  Although around this time of year, sometimes that slight feeling of panic washes over me as I wonder if I've planned, booked or scheduled enough travel activities for the summer, amazingly enough, owning a dog has helped us by circumstance, to slow down and disconnect from crazy schedules instead of each other.  More than I had ever imagined, having a dog as part of our family has given us so many beautiful moments together.

Here are 5 ways our dog has given us opportunities to slow down and connect (although owning a dog is not required to do any of these):

1)  Observing the little creatures around us.  So often our dog would run to the door and bark at a squirrel or a bird that is in our backyard.  Although we all get a good laugh to see our dog become overprotective of our family against any critter outside, often it has made us actually stop and look outside and see what is really just at our doorstep...right under our noses.

2)  Going for a walk.  Although we may not be very diligent (especially in snow or rain weather) with our daily walks, we try to highlight it's importance to our daily routine.  We strive to incorporate  physical activity in our daily lives, even if it's just for 10 minutes, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This brief time gives us a little break, a reprieve from our daily schedule to just collect our thoughts at the end of the day.

3)  Running free.  When we visit our local leash-free dog park, it's amazing the things we discover in our neighbourhood on our way there. Running free without care at the park is just enough to invigorate us and when we breathe that fresh air, the oxygen clears our minds, de-stresses us so we can be open to listen and converse with each other, without anxiety or pent up emotions (and gets our creative juices flowing).

4) Learning new tricks.  I often say the best way to learn is to teach.  It forces you to see from another person's perspective (or in this case, a little animal) what facts are important to know, how to communicate those facts, and patience with teaching and explanation.  Having a dog has given us compassion, not just for our pup who is behaving more and more like a well-mannered dog, but for us as humans, learning to behave and treat each other with kindness and respect.  We all have our own story.

5)  Unconditional love.  No matter what kind of day we've had, our pup is there by our side.  No matter how long we've been out doing our own activities without our dog, whenever we get home, our pup is there patiently waiting without judgement or anger...just waiting to give all the kisses and attention in the world, because we're family.  We can all learn from this pup.

As we plan for the summer season that will arrive in just a few short months, this time, I'm less inclined to worry too much about scheduling activities. We'll still have plenty of summer memories visiting friends and family, cottage activities and BBQ's...and now we'll also have memories of spending lazy days with our pup, just observing the little things around us...and enjoying our quiet moments together.

april showers

We promised our daughter that we'd get a family dog.  Now that our March Break travels and Easter family gatherings are now behind us, and warm weather and budding flowers are ahead of us, we've re-ignited the search to find the right dog to join our family.

I'd often hear dog owners warn me about how puppies are just like babies.  Waking up in the middle of the night.  Potty training.  How travel and extra curricular activities are limited because of the dog's schedule.  To be honest, this has been our biggest deterrent.  But with our daughter's big brown eyes and perfectly curled pout, we have succumbed to her wishes and are edging much closer to getting a new four-pawed member of the family.

As I start browsing for dog necessities (dog beds, crates etc), I start to recollect the time when I was preparing for our two beautiful children.  Researching for all the "gear" to add to our baby shower gift registry.  However, when our babies were born, I soon realized that all the baby "stuff" doesn't really prepare you for journey that follows.

During my pregnancy, we'd also often wonder what our children would be like.  Would they have the eyes of Mom or the nose of Dad? Would they be athletic or academic?  Would they be happy and kind or obnoxious little bullies?  It is one of the many curiosities of being a parent....we'd look for little clues sometimes as signs of reassurance that our kids inherited our positive traits. That they'd be a reflection of the good in us, not the bad.

Now that we're in anticipation for a new dog, I finding myself now wondering the same thing again.  If a dog barks and runs like a maniac at the park, is that a reflection of the owner or is it a reflection of the individual personality (and breed) of the dog?  Would the dog adopt some of our personalities, or would it's carefree nature force us to be more playful? Will we then, become a reflection of our dog?

I guess time will tell, much like raising children.  When someone says they see "a lot of me" in my kids, although some of it may ring true, deep down I think it's the other way around.  With their determination, enthusiasm and charisma, I think my children have made me become more outgoing, more accepting, more loving (although maybe not as patient?)...and I have become a reflection of them.

We'll continue to research and plan as much as we can to prepare for our new furry arrival.  Then we'll  let nature take it's course and welcome our dog with open arms, and I'm positive our children will shower their "baby" dog with everlasting joy and love.

And with his/her loyal, unconditional love and happy-go-lucky-tail-wagging nature, I hope that our puppy too, will be a reflection of our family.

Baby Shower Cupcakes

I like making these simple cupcakes for baby showers.  It's not overwhelmingly sweet, and you don't need to be an expert to decorate them.  It fits most themes and is non-gender specific.


INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees 
• Line a muffin pan with paper liners.
• Cream the sugar and butter together.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. 
• Add the baking powder, then add the flour until the well mixed.
• Slowly stir in the milk until the batter is smooth. 
• Soon approximately 1/3 of a cup of batter into each of the muffin liners. 
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. (done when it springs back).
• Completely cool before frosting.

For the Buttercream Frosting & "Baby" icing design


INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup butter 
• 1/2 cup shortening (I use Crisco)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• Cocoa powder (for the eyes and mouth)
• Mint Lifesavers

DIRECTIONS:

• Cream the butter and shortening until light and fluffy. 
• Add salt, vanilla, confectioners' sugar and milk. 
• Beat well.
• Reserve 1 cup of frosting, and add cocoa powder until the frosting is chocolate in colour.
• Lightly frost the cupcakes

• Using a piping bag (or a zip lock bag with cutting a small corner of the bag), place the chocolate frosting and add the semi circles for sleeping eyes and a smile.

• Add the lifesaver as the baby soother.

Enjoy!