Losing a furbaby

FURBABY: 

A beloved pet, can also be fur-less (think reptiles and birds).
Typically used as a term of endearment towards an animal. 

A friend of mine recently lost her furbaby Snickers, she was a majestic and sassy 17-year old apple head Chihuahua, an absolute queen. It hit me pretty hard too because Snickers was a part of my life as well for about 7 years. I got to know her inside and out and she even let me into her very secluded circle of love and trust, the day she smothered me in kisses is a day I'll never forget! I knew what the owner and Snickers had been through together - their bond was stronger than anyone could imagine. They lived for each other and you could tell. They were #bondinggoals

^ RIP PIPPER 1998 - 2016

I'm writing today because I live pretty far away from her. I wanted to comfort her more than anything, to mourn with her, to hug her before she could collapse and cry, and I couldn't. Thankfully she did have support with her.

But what do you do when someone you love loses their furbaby?

It's really simple actually. To be frank, there is absolutely nothing you can do to console that person. Their heart is broken, a part of their soul is furever gone, they've lost someone who meant more then them than words could describe. So there's nothing you can do to really help resolve the heart break, because it's one of those things only time can heal; but you can make the healing process easier on them.

I've learned a few thing after the loss of this furbaby and my own. I worked hand-and-hand with animals most my life and have experienced countless loses, all of which are forever in my heart.

So here is what I think you can do, based on my experiences:

BE THERE
She called me almost immediately after it had happened, I was in shock and clearly so was she. In this moment I learned that my role to play here was the rock. What that person needs is someone to talk to. After she filled me in on what happened, I just stayed on the phone with her. My job wasn't to say anything. It really wasn't the time to say anything. She just needed someone to be there with her.

PROVIDE SUPPORT
After the loss my job now was to make sure she was always aware someone was there for her and thinking about her and her furbaby. I sent her virtual hugs, tagged her in funny things on facebook, and gave her non-invasive responses to her upset messages. It still wasn't the time for me to try and console her. She just needed little moments to breathe and that's what I was providing her with. Just a 2 second time out.

REMINISCE
This will be harder, there is a 99% chance that this will evoke tears. I remember whenever I lost a furbaby the best thing anyone could do for me was tell me funny stories about that pet, or tell me how spoiled they were or the time when... in snickers case one of my favourite moments is anytime I had a freezee, slushie or popsicle she'd be all over me, obsessed with the fruity icy slush!

SEND THEM ALL YOUR PICTURES
If you have pictures of the pet, then send them to them! All they have now are the memories, make sure they have as many of them as possible. The more pictures they have to look at, the better.

"Everybody is born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody and being nice, right?" The four-year-old continued, "Well, animals already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long." 

- Unknown

Is there is something someone has done to help ease your pain? Comment below, I'd love to know!

SUNDAY FUNDAY #4

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE!
I had yet another very successful weekend, bought myself a new bedframe and built it myself, and I got a lot of content built for the next coming weeks! I apologize for not posting this past week as I was really busy but I promise I will try my best to make sure it doesn't happen again!

^ photography tip: When photographing an ice-cream cone, always remember to have your thumb facing the lens or else your hand ends up looking really whack.

The ice-cream flavour is Raspberry Thunder. Raspberry ripple with white chocolate and it's my all-time favourite.

Each SUNDAY FUNDAY list is 10 items long. The content will change but the categories will remain the same.

INSPIRATIONAL |  My time is money and I'm not going to sit back and waste it. MarieTV is something I've been watching for years. Marie keeps me so motivated and inspired to be my very best and most successful self. Check out this video of her interview with the amazing Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray Love) it has had me on such a high for a really long time now. Note to self: I still need to read Big Magic.

ANIMAL |   Common victims of tragedy, these animals are often killed for trophies and "exotic" cures.

FOOD |  Come springtime I'm always trying to find recipies that match the season and the beautiful weather. I came across this receipt for Cilantro-Lime Cucumber Salad and I am just blown away! So fresh tasting, it really tastes like a crisp spring morning.

TUTORIAL | Because who doesn't want to know how to cut a strawberry to look like a rose!

FASHION |  I'll totally be rocking a Monokini this summer.

BEAUTY |  Once a week I love to give my entire face and body a deep and thorough exfoliation. I got Frank's coffee scrub because of the hype and was happily surprised that the hype was indeed justified. It feels like it would be really rough but it makes my skin feel like silk, helps reduce the redness to my skin and doesn't dry my skin out at all! This is my holy grail exfoliate and I will keep repurchasing.

MUSIC |  Halsey has such a lovely voice, like a raspy Ellie Goulding but a million times more interesting. Check out this amazing remix of one of my favourite songs of hers, Colors.

BLOG POST | I love SMEG fridges too but why is this so intense? and why do I love it so much?

ANIME |  So I just finished Natsuyuki Rendezvous. Let me tell youm that was a very unique one. It's a shorter series but the ending is amazing because the stroy really comes full circle and in my opinion the story neds really well. It only comes dubbed and is available on Crunchyroll.

DIY |  I loved making friendship bracelets growing up and I will braid anytime I get the chance. I cam across this simple Macrame Bracelet it it's very simple and can definitely fit in with my style. I will be making a white one. Shouldn't cost me more than $1!

SUNDAY FUNDAY #3

Good morning everyone!
Even after a night of hanging out with friends I still got my ass out of bed, made breakfast for myself and bae and got to the grocery store and back all before 10! Looks like another beautiful day with lots to do, I'm going to go outside and take all kinds of new pictures today.

Each SUNDAY FUNDAY list is 10 items long. The content will change but the categories will remain the same.

^ dragonfruit is the feature in my morning smoothie today

INSPIRATIONAL |  Really loving this artist lately.

ANIMAL |   Airedales are my favourites, and yes - I'm biased. I have an airedale, Higgins (11). I love them mostly because they were the #1 choice for dogs of War. Airedales were War Heroes, but so were many other dogs. Read a brief article about it here.

FOOD |   My first time making pizza I went for something I usually order. I'm really happy with how this Chicken Alfredo Pizza turned out, you could even Gordan Ramsay it and crack an egg on top!

TUTORIAL |  I have a couple of friends (one in particular) who do a lot of cardistry and magic. I've always been amazed by it and figured I'd learn to do at least one card trick of my own to impress them next time I see them. It's 5 minutes, worth the learn!

FASHION |  I will be ordering one of these puppies soon. Proceeds go to charity.

BEAUTY |  If you have dark thick brows like me then you want a product that really works. For far too long I used pencils, powders and palette gels. I have this weird little bald patch at the front of my eyebrow from waxing the entire fronts off when I was 13. Never grew back, so here I am.  The cult favourite is Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade. So after a long internal debate I got it, and I'm never going back. It takes practice but your brows will be super fleek after and it seriously lasts forever. Again, cruelty free.

MUSIC |  This song has been on repeat recently. Birdy - Keeping Your Head Up. Her song Wild Horses is also pretty amazing!

BLOG POST |  Not so much a blog post as one of my favourite bloogers. Taylor Abbott of Gray Aestheticis one of my biggest inspirations and she's such a genuinely sweet person!

ANIME |  Another classic for you guys - DeathNote. It's about a book, a book that whoever's name is written in it, will die. Sounds eerie right? Well it is. Demons, blood, etc. It's a golden choice. Comes in subbed and dubbed.
For those of you looking for something a little less well known try Elfen Lied. Very dark, very messed up, very addicting. Comes subbed.

DIY |  I will be making one of these Pressed Flower Phone Cases.