The husband prefers to work at the dining room table in the middle of all the “action”, as I like to call it. And even though I love to see our beautiful table free of clutter, I try to look past his piles of notebooks and scripts because I know that’s where he gets his best work done. I, on the other hand, need my own space, separate from the rest of the house so when I’m done, I can leave that space and also leave work behind.
This book set on the dining room table, atop one of the husband’s neat piles, open to this page for a couple of days awaiting a curious reader. But instead, a curious lens came by and snapped some photos. All the while not realizing how much it had made me think every time I passed it.
I love this chapter title. It’s so true about life really. I’ve written here before of the panic/anxiety/depression I dealt with for so many years of my past. And when it popped its ugly head up again at the end 2009 for completely different issues, I forced my husband to allow change to happen in our lives …and we moved into the house that we are living in now. The house that has brought so much positivity and so much light to both of our lives, we can only look around quietly and smile. Change opens the doors to new life and new possibility …and sometimes it’s all you need. In 2009 when I was so overwhelmed with sadness at the thought that I may never get to conceive and have a baby …when that was all my life was about, we simply moved all of our belongings to a new atmosphere and somehow that was all I needed to realize I was so much more than “infertile”.
It has taken time but I look around our home filled with love and I look out our windows and see nature waving back at me and it just makes me so grateful for the life I have now, the life we’ve created together. It sounds so sappy but it brings tears to my eyes.
Our adventure has begun …and it gets better every day.
* I found this cornflower blue vase on a recent thrifting spree. I think I paid $1.35 for it.
* Doesn’t this orchid look like it wants to bite anything that gets in its way? Feed me Seymour!
* The weather has been absolutely anti-winter-like in LA lately and the dogs are lovin’ it up.
* My sweetest little niece, Delilah, in all her polka-dotted glory & neon chucks, picking out individual rocks and delivering them to me in our front yard …each of which I threw back into the yard when she wasn’t looking …my mother, on the other hand, would have saved each one of them. It’s sweet but she’s 1 Mom. She’ll never remember 😉
* You know I love a good LA sunset …this is from our backyard …that’s a big palm in the middle.
* The husband …playing games on our 3d TV.
* Bebop Pugman is acting like a tough guy here but really, he’s the sweetest dog I’ve ever known. At the moment, he’s got a horrible skin rash completely surrounding his entire Pug face, head, & upper back, is shaved bald in spots and is a bloody mess. He’s okay and being such a trooper even though I’m sure he’s so itchy he wants to scratch his entire head off. This shot was taken just before the rash. I’ll spare you the zombie pug photos, they’re too sad for words.
* And finally, I love that my husband was still overly excited about one of his Valentine’s Day gifts …even though it came a day late.
A day in the life …just grateful today really.
Katie
Being able to just appreciate life and enjoy it sounds so simple, but it usually isnt. Glad youre in a place where you can do that and be grateful for all of it 🙂
Anna Saccone
I really loved this post! It was like a reality show through pictures…haha I’m really sad aren’t I? 🙂 Your house is so stunning, makes me jealous everytime! xoxo
Elisabeth
Lovely pics!! I´ve the same blanket where Bebop is laying! funny ´cause 8000 km (5000 miles) separate us.
Nice place yours…
Love,
Elisabeth
HappySheep
Oh no. My pug had those symptoms too a couple of years back. It turned out to be mange. It was very hard to manage and treat but he’s mange-free now. I still loved him even with all the bald spots and rashes. Bebop still looks dashing and I’m sure he’ll conquer his skin problems in the future.
Nadine
Lovely post. <3
Anonymous
This was a really sweet post. I admire you for being so candid…you are beautiful and it seems like you and your husband have a great life.
Bromeliad
What a lovely post and a good reminder to stop and appreciate what we have.
(btw, looks like Bebop was already feeling the rash coming on … or he was smelling something really bad? or is that his natural facial expression.P)
Higgenbottom
sweet post! and i agree with you. too many people are afraid of change – which is inevitable for everyone. but what’s constant and what won’t make you afraid of change, is knowing who you are and what your God-given gifts are.
poor bebop! do you guys know why he has a rash? crazy sounding as it is, my mom’s dog has allergies. after a quick google search, i discovered her dog food is the problem. quick fix with some new (and slightly more expensive) kibble, and the dog’s fur is restored, and no more scratching/crying!
Craftmaker
Your house is beautiful. Seeing what you’ve done with it this past year is really inspiring.
It’s good to take a moment and be grateful for what we have, it make us realize how much we worked for it and how far we already accomplished.
Amanda Blair
I love this post because it’s so very true. You have to take the time to appreciate what you have and all the amazing things in your life, we all do.
I am obsessed with frenchies and want one SO bad! I love seeing your little man..he is so cute.
Also, you really make me want to be married. You and the hubs seem so-in-love and happy 🙂
*amanda*
I love this post, Maeg.
So many things hit home. Everything you said about panic/anxiety/depression…and it “popping up its ugly head again”…yeah, why does it do that? Just appear? So many people I know have spoke about feeling some sort of sadness since Summer 2010 ended, and I’ve been in that state for the past few months. During winter usually…but I’m so ready to be done with it…so ready to WRiNG its ugly head.
I’m glad you’re at where you’re at. This post gives me hope that I might get there too. 🙂
May your beauty continue…
Alicia
you’re amazing. thanks for sharing such a thoughtful post. makes me appreciate all the little things.
Anonymous
You are lucky that your hubby wants to be “out in the open” (dining room)…….so many husbands keep themselves hidden in their “man caves”, don’t want to be close to their loved ones, and are constantly on their computers. Also, the secret to “the good life” is in your (today’s) photos…….Have a beautiful day everyday.
Mishy
hi there Meagan –
completely unrelated to this post (but your family is adorable), i would like to extend a challenge to you. that’s right, a challenge! i would love to see you pretend you work in a corporate environment, let’s say a law firm, and for a week, dress how you would for that job. doesn’t this sound fun?! i think it would be super fun! ok, fun for me maybe cause then perhaps i could get some new ideas from a creative person.
brandi milne
Good for you, doll. xoxoxoxo.
Pretty Little World
This is a wonderful post, with lovely pictures! Mostly I love that B. did the same thing – camped out at our dining room table with books and papers strewn everywhere. At least until I yelled that I wasn’t sure what we’d spent all the money on a new office for if he was just going to sit in the middle of the house 🙂
Lia
I love this post Maegan, it really speaks volumes about you as a person. I too have struggled with anxiety/panic/depression with agoraphobia in 2000, and I didn’t leave my house for 8 months it was so bad. As debilitating as it can be, we grow stronger because of it. I still struggle with panic and all that, but I know now how to better manage it, and I know I’m a better, wiser and stronger person because of all that I have overcome. I still have goosebumps from reading this post! <3
xxooxoxo
Lia
Marisa
Awww best wishes to Bebop…poor little guy 🙁 Love your home though and once again so jealous of the weather!
Bloggers Abode
Uhgg! I’m so bored and dying for something new right now! I re-juiced my wish board this past weekend and hope it helps brings the change I crave. And PS- Exit Through The Gift Shop was a rad film. It got nominated this year too!!!
Xoxoxo
annawithlove
very fab photos !! love the book shot!
annawithlove.com
Annie
I’m going through the same anxiety/depression at the moment and although I am getting better it does come up once in awhile.
loving the bookshot!
Behind the Lashes
Maegan thank you for this post in making me look around for a second to realize all the beauty and love that surrounds me. My father passed away on Sunday and I’ve been stricken with grief all week. Thank you for letting me look past it today.
xoxo
Rachel C.
Maegan, I am so proud of you for realizing that one area of your life does not define who you are, that you are more than the sum of your parts. I just want to encourage you not to lose hope, but to look for people to pour love out onto, to relax and savor each simple thing. For what it’s worth I’ve know so many women who thought they couldn’t and focused on loving people who really needed it, and when they weren’t looking their hearts desire found them. My mother was 40 when I was born, and the nurse, a large warm black woman, told her “honey, this child came so easy you aught to have eight more!”
Hang on to your sense of peace and joy, you’re a rare and precious Jewel.
Inés Cruz
Hi Maegan!
Had to visit you after your comment at my blog (thanks, btw).
I have a dog just like your french bulldog, same colour and everything. They’re awesome, arenn’t they? it’s name is Indi.
Kisses
http://www.chezagnes.blogspot.com
Anonymous
This post completely relates to my life right now. My boyfriend & I are in the process of deciding whether to move to another state. We’ve been in the slumps lately, and I always thought so, but now I’m sure after reading this post that we will be so much happier. You brought happiness into my life today. Thank you!
Drollgirl
Wheee! You put things into perspective so well in this post! Enjoy the good, as there is plenty of it! I need to remember that! 🙂
Mara
Hi hope your little pug gets better! My roommate has a pug who recently went through the same thing! It’s no fun, but it will get better 🙂
Emily
What a lovely post! It’s obvious just how happy you are–and it’s wonderful that changing your surroundings has changed your life so significantly.
Infertility is a heartbreaker, that’s for sure. For me, it has taken a while to sift through all the feelings and hurt I feel from not being able to have children. It’s lovely to see you come through it on the other side. It looks lovely over there! 😉
Anonymous
u have the cutest kid!
XOXO,
http://outfitidentifier.com/
Diana Mieczan
What a beautiful post and wonderful photos…I love taking a step back sometimes and enjoy everything around me:) You have such a cute little kiddo:) Aww
Kisses
Ps: I’m hosting an adorable shoes GIVEAWAY today! Just in time for spring!
TERI REES WANG
Being happy with what you have
…and who you have, sets us all into a better bliss.
Cheers!..to needing a little less.
Natalya's Closet
Great photos Maegan! I would love to know what kind of camera you use! My email is NatalyasCloset@gmail.com XOXO, http://www.NatalyasCloset.com
J
Our Yorkie had skin problems that just would not stop until we switched him to raw food. Nature’s Variety.
Kat
So I came on here to be completely off topic… but I saw the word Banksy… and flipped! I adore banksy so so so much. When I was in the Air Force I had a Banksy on my computer desktop (to remind me there was cool stuff outside the military gates) and no one had heard of him.. Luckily for me, I’m now out and my roomie and I have photos of his work around our apartment.
That documentary is fabulous btw… in case you haven’t seen it yet.
Anyways, the off-topic thing I came on here to say… I was browsing tights on etsy (I don’t wear pants, so I obviously wear a LOT of tights) and I stumbled upon:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66960550/80s-rhinestone-tiger-pantyhose
which reminded me of those pantyhose you bought at a gas station or something around Halloween… or am I losing it and that’s all in my head?
Jess
this post touched me very much. i am 24
and battling through depression, right now more than ever. at a recent trip to the doctor i was told that i may have some issues with my ovaries and a possible problem having children. nothing could have broken my heart even more.
i just want to thank you for your blog, it gives me something to enjoy.
phelanie
beautiful pictures and words 🙂
Gwen
I really need you to teach me some photography tricks. You are rocking the photos!!! Poor Bebop. I’m glad he’s doing okay but that’s got to just suck for him. At least both pups look adorable and are enjoying the weather. 🙂
jen
One of my girlfriends from high school has a blog you may want to check out http://www.aninfertileblonde.com
Loved this post today. thx!
Monique
I feel like I’ve been reading your blog for a long time and have gone through all of those issues with you. I’m so glad you are content and have found your happy place. You deserve it!
Miss Cellaneous
I have 2 pugs and one of them seems to be displaying the beginning symptoms you describe Bepop Pugman having! I clean his wrinkly face every day yet he still itches it on everything and constantly scratches at it. Only in his face region. Would you mind saying what it was that Bepop Pugman was diagnosed with so I know what to look out for? Thanks so much!