Month: September 2023

My husband and I have always had pets. In the past, we have boarded our pets when we traveled. In recent years, we have found that we prefer to take our pets with us.

This means that in addition to planning for ourselves, we must also plan for them. We have learned a lot through trial and error. Things that should have been obvious, we learned the hard way.

In this article, I have put together some information that I hope you will find useful. Our travels involve driving and no air travel, so the following does not apply to air travel.

Pet Necessities

We try to pack light when we travel. We have a pet bag just like people with children have diaper bags. Here’s what goes inside:

• Rugs to use as pet beds rather than bringing the usual plush cushions.
• Silicone collapsible bowls for food and water. They are easy to clean, take up very little space and add almost no weight.
• Pet seat belts, both for their safety and ours. They hook right into your seat belt latch, and then you attach the other end to their harness. With pet seat belts we are never concerned about them leaving the vehicle before we have their leashes on and are ready for them. It also alleviates the worry of injury if we must stop suddenly.
• Stock on waste bags. You can never have enough of them. Even though your pet or pets are with you, they will still be stressed, which typically means more waste to collect and dispose of.
• Reflective leashes for evening walks. Just as with runners, wearing bright reflective gear makes our pets more easily seen.
• Medication for car sickness or agitation when riding. Your vet may give your pet travel medication, just like with humans.
• Up-to-date documentation for pet vaccinations.
• Identification tag on the collar. For our pets, the tag notes our last name on one side and our phone number on the other side. Should our pet(s) get lost, those who find them can always reach us.

Plan for Bathroom Breaks

When you plan for bathroom breaks, you need to be strategic. The places you plan to stop must have grassy areas for pets to do their business. Not every gas stop will have a place for your pets to relieve themselves.

If you travel along interstates or highways, many times you will find a rest area that has nothing but a place to park and lots of grass. It’s not great for us, but it works great for our pets. We do get to stretch our legs while they relieve themselves.

Do not leave your pets in a hot vehicle even for a few minutes. We know what happens to children. It’s worse for pets because they have fur coats.

Bathroom breaks are also a good time for them to be offered a drink of water. Those collapsible pet dishes come in very handy for a quick drink.

Pet Friendly Accommodation

There are many hotels that accept pets. There is usually an additional pet fee that must be paid, and they typically restrict you to two pets. The last hotel we stayed in with our pets had no carpet, and our room was on the ground floor with a grassy area right outside our door. It was perfect.

Once we know the route to our destination, it is as simple as Googling for pet friendly hotels near that location. When we make our reservations, we are certain to ask if we can have a room on the lower level with easy grass access. If you don’t ask, you cannot count on getting a suitable location.

If you use a service like AirBnB, you can filter your search for pet friendly places. Again, we have found that most will require an additional deposit and limit the number of pets.

If you are RV travelers, then you will want to scope out those RV parks where you plan to stay and check the pet regulations. Some have off-leash areas where pets can play.

Many do not allow you to erect temporary fenced-in pens as many RVers like to do. Most require you to keep your pets on a leash. I have even seen places where they want you to walk your pets outside of the RV areas.

If you are boondocking, then everything is dependent on that location: Walmart parking lot versus grassy knoll.

Bathroom Accidents

If for some reason your pet does have an accident inside your accommodation, we find that OxiClean works great for cleaning up. We always have plenty of this around at home so we take some with us just in case it is needed. We have never had to use it, but we want to be prepared.

Emergency Vet

If you plan to take your pets with you when you travel, then it will be important to know where the nearest emergency vet is located. Anything can happen. Remember to take all the necessary documentation with you.

It is not enough to show their rabies tag or provide the phone number of your vet, especially if it is after hours and your vet is probably closed. We put together a folder just for our pets with all of their documentation so we are prepared for any possible situation.

Our stress level has decreased considerably since we decided to take our dogs with us when we travel. We don’t have to worry about how they are doing, and we are all much happier to be together. With a little extra planning, we can all enjoy our vacation.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you travel on vacation with your pets? What things do you always pack when travelling with your pets? Please share your tips below!

Let’s look at the following few examples.

Julia

Julia just knew that when she met the right man, things would click in her life. Loneliness would be a thing of the past, and she’d finally have a chance at happiness at age 62. Her experience with men so far was miserable. Her first husband cheated on her and ended the marriage.

Julia dated a few men after that, who just weren’t interesting. But, in the depths of her heart, she desired true love and consistently told herself she wouldn’t be happy until she found a great relationship of trust, love, and fun.

Time kept ticking away, where she spent days upon days being unhappy and moody over being alone. She watched friends her age celebrate their anniversaries and even went to a few weddings. Why was she still alone and her heart’s desire not met?

Bill

Bill really wanted a job that tapped into his creativity. He was stuck in a well-paying job that he hated. It was scary to look outside of this safe job to seek a new one and try to sell himself to other employers in an interview. He stayed stuck and unhappy, complaining everyday with coworkers about the lousy job.

Lisa

Lisa’s daughter hadn’t responded to her text or calls for over a year. It seems that she had moved on in life without her mom. This caused endless anxiety and pain for Lisa, robbing her days of happiness. If only her daughter would reach out.

Can you find yourself in the above examples?

Take Part in Being Happy

The title of this article is a quote I found in a small book called Life is Beautiful by J. Gleason. At first glance I thought, “Well, of course I take part in my own happiness, it’s my happiness after all, right?”

But as I thought it over, I got a glimpse of the wisdom of this statement. Are we passively waiting for happiness to come through other people, waiting for dreams to automatically fall in place, or for events to happen for us to be happy? Are we “waiting for our ship to come in?”

Delayed Happiness

I remember years ago talking to my husband about how when certain events would happen, we would be happier. This included life events like his pay raise, paying off our bills, getting pregnant, then looked ahead to when our kids started school, how life would get better when they graduated, when they moved out… the list was always a delayed happiness for something in the future.

Time was wasted where I could have created and taken part in my own day to day joy and happiness. I didn’t realize I was putting my happiness in the hands of someone else or in the off chance something good would happen. I just didn’t know how to find my own happiness within. Chances are you don’t either.

What Can You Do About It?

Here’s a few simple steps to “take part in your own happiness” without relying on others to supply it.

Don’t Look for Happiness to Others

When you find yourself looking to other people to make you happy, take time to pause and rethink. Today, I’m in the happiest relationships of my life. My husband is warm and compassionate, loving and kind. He is not responsible for my happiness though. I am.

Try to ease up on your friends, your husband, and others to fill voids within. Think good thoughts, guide your day, and practice enjoying life all on your own without others’ input.

Find Inner Calm Inside Yourself

What about when life goes wrong, and things look sad, bad, or scary? Find a quiet place to slowly make your way to inner calm and a slightly happier state. This thing called LIFE is full of twists and turns. We are going to experience the good with the bad, the scary and the exhilarating.

I fully believe we have the ability within us to navigate them. When we press forward, we can take part in turning events and things around, sometimes into profound happiness.

Redefine Happiness

Does it have to be a 9 or 10 out of 10? Is being “just ok” enough? In the past I think I’ve been spoiled. I wanted everything to be perfect. When it was, then I was happy. Well, that’s a bit crazy and self-defeating, isn’t it? Life can be happy at a 3, 4, or 5, can’t it? Yes, I’m here to say. Live in your normal happy range and begin to draw your attention to how good it is to live right there.

Perfection orliving every day at a 10 on the happiness scale doesn’t exist. Enjoy life’s moments by moving up the scale, through doing simple steps. (Excerpt from Crazy Simple Steps to Feeling Happier)

Living the Good Life

Some people who experience clinical depression or anxiety are faced with the question, “Why can’t I be happy even when life is going great?” My son is one of these people. He is highly successful and from the outside looking in, he is living the good life. He is bothered by his subconscious mind that sabotages even his best efforts to live a consistently happy life.

In an article by Arlin Cunic called, Why Can’t I Be Happy Even When Life Is Going Great? she states it like this:

People with conditions like depression or anxiety may find difficulty in feeling positive emotions no matter how successful their lives become; this is because these conditions can cause brain chemistry imbalances which make it difficult to experience joy.

…find ways to work through those feelings to learn how to accept and appreciate the good in life.

If it seems overwhelmingly difficult to be happy in the simple things, or anxiety and depression are robbing you of this, please seek help with a professional coach or a counselor. Life is short. Let’s find a way to take part in everyday happiness.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you overcome the need for others to make you happy? How did you do it? What keys can you share with us to help us live at a 3, 4, or 5 on the happiness scale?

Labor Day weekend is here and that means fall is on the way. Here are the latest items we’ve spotted our favorite Real Housewives using or recommending to help you transition your makeup and beauty game into fall. Whether you need more coverage, moisture (for your hair or skin) or updated makeup colors, we’ve picked the best of the bunch. Because just like your wardrobe, cold air calls for updates to keep you looking fresh faced like your fave Reality TV it girls.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

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Click the Collage Images to Shop

Info credit: @jennalyonsnyc // Erin Lichy on LTK // Sai De Silva’s Concealer // Lisa Barlow’s Lipstick // Kandi Burruss Setting Spray // Rachel Fuda’s Perfume and Hair Oil // Erin Lichy’s Nail Polish // Rachel Fuda’s Face Mask //

Originally posted at: Real Housewives Fall Makeup Finds

Originally posted at: Shannon Beador’s Yellow Draped Confessional Dress