Meet Our New Puppy!

I’d like you to meet ‘Stache Dash Barkley The Magnificent. 

Or just ‘Stache for short.

This little lady is the newest addition to the Bear family, and we love her like CRAZY.

The Bear and I have been talking about getting a dog for some time now. We had made some tentative plans to find one for our 1 year anniversary. We’ve both wanted a dog of our own forever, and now that we found each other.. we just couldn’t wait!

If you know anything about us, you know we like being outside. Bear is an avid runner and we are REALLY into hiking. Plus, with Bear finding plenty of work as a graphic designer he spends a lot of time at home.  We figured a dog would make an excellent addition to our lives.

After looking at listings for many adorable puppies online, (Petfinder and PetHarbor… in case you’re looking for a critter of your own) we decided we needed to try to see a few in person. I pulled some strings and bribed some friends to get of my normal Sunday Brunch shift at FarmShop, and we made plans to embark on the Search for ‘Stache.

We spent Sunday morning driving to a few shelters in West LA and even to a pet adoption fair. We weren’t able to find any young dogs at these places, and we knew we wanted a puppy. We also definitely wanted to rescue a dog, so one of the nice women working at the shelter suggested we go to the Westside German Shepherd Rescue.   They were having an event downtown, so we jumped in our car and headed that way.

After some waiting and filling out some paper work, we were introduced to one BIG shepherd and Chow mix. Though he was a big lovable mutt, he was no puppy.

At this point they introduced us to “Lexus” the little pup sitting behind the counter with the girls working at the shelter. One of those women had been fostering Lexus, who had just been dropped off at the rescue the day before.  A 7 month old German Shepherd mix. But she’s just a little lady. Smaller than the average Shepherd, with shorter hair, and the BIGGEST ears that I’ve ever seen.

and I love them. 

So, we snuck off to a little room to get acquainted with this adorable and cheery little rugrat. We quickly warmed up to one another, and soon were playing fetch and she was snuggling up to be petted and give kisses.

The Bear’s were smitten…. she  had to come home with us 🙂

It’s day two with our new family member.

 And we could not be happier with our wonderful little munchkin.

There have been many treats given and many walks taken.

We’ve played fetch and snuggled on the couch.

She’s gotten used to her crate, and got lots of practice reviewing “sit” and “stay.”

Mostly, we’ve spent the last 30+ hours smothering her with love and reminding her how happy we that she’s here. This little lady will never want for anything again… and will always have a loving home with these bears.

Her name doesn’t lie… she really is Magificent. 

We are the Secret ‘Stache Society.

JOIN OUR TEAM.
Here at the SSS, we try our best to uphold the rules of the ‘Stache.

We make a conscious effort to be a perpetually positive force in the universe. And we think it’s a lot easier to do so when you’re rocking an incredible Mustache. Get your own and join our team.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SecretStacheSociety

$5 is donated to Operation Smile for Each New ‘Stachemate.

We have decided to make the world better.

We could certainly use your help.

The ‘Stache Supports: Finding the Fun.

Find the Fun. The Secret ‘Stache Society – The Masters of Merriment.

Organizing my Thoughts.

Keeping track of my erratic thought process is difficult. To say the least.

If I was a child in 2012, I’m almost certain I’d be classified as having some sort of attention deficit disorder. But then again, wouldn’t we all?

There is so much out there to distract us! So many things to look at. People to talk to. Interfaces to log onto. And random information to learn.

I’m instagramming and hash-tagging every experience. Tweeting to friends, liking their posts. Listening to podcasts. Reading articles. Watching  some TED talks.

There is an unlimited amount of information right at our fingertips. And it’s AWESOME.

But dangerous.

Because I’ve always been one to get distracted. I start a project and think of another before I even finish. I get impatient with my progress, and then frustrated when it hasn’t been completed. Despite the fact that I’ve already moved onto the next one.

For the same little Suzi that used to take HOURS to finish her elementary school homework (we’re talking basic addition and multiplication); she  still has a hard time keeping….

(leave to change the laundry)

focus.

Writing this little log of our adventures is meant to be a way to reel those thoughts in. Get them down on paper or pixels. So, I can use these crazy ramblings to find my focus. And sometimes just to remind myself how lucky I am.

Just recently coming off the Kroll Show and getting pack to the Vampire Life, I have a lot more time on my hands. Though my evenings are spent handing out delicious Tapas, I have most days free to write and be creative.

This is what I’ve always wanted. But, the problem with this new found free time is that it’s hard to stay organized or feel a push to get things done in a timely manner. There are no time restraints to the plans I have, which makes it much harder to get around to doing them.

But, the reality is that I have things I’m passionate about. And good ideas I want to put into action. So, I’ve got to start somewhere. But where?

The Secret ‘Stache Society or The Adventures of Big Bear and Little Bear?

And how to I even begin to execute my ideas on each? I ponder these questions.

I am once again daunted by the prospect and hop over to Good to get some inspiration.

There goes the next 2 hours.

Though I’ve watched my fair share of cat videos, most of my web wanderings have more of a motive.

I click to be inspired. I click to learn. I am trying to better myself. And among my many other tactics, I’m going to try to use the internet to help. I’m on it all the time anyway, so it can’t hurt… right?

Yesterday, I found 2 little bits of information that stuck with me.

New Lessons learned. Thanks to the internet. So, I thought that I should share.. because why else would you be reading this if not to LEARN something.

Lesson #1 courtesy of Ben Bransetter and the Thought Catalogue

(bookmark this site… great articles by brilliant people.)

30 Things You Should Do Right Now

Though many of these points were brilliant, one seemed to fit the conundrum I’ve been facing…

25. Write something every day. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bitch-fest against your roommate or the philosophical ponderings brought on by an episode of Breaking Bad. Write a review of everything you encounter: sandwiches, intersections, elevator music. Realize that no matter your stature, about 1% of what you write will ever be seen by anyone but you.

Ben is right. Getting pen to paper is half the struggle. It’s easy to find things daunting. But it’s a cheap way to rationalize laziness. It’s easy to back out.  Not everything you write will be brilliant, and it’s very likely that MOST of what I right won’t be. But unless you actually try it, unless you actually pick up the Ticonderoga #2… how will you know?

The 2nd Lesson for today comes from the witty and wonderful Amy Poehler. 

Ask Amy is the new Smart Girls series that allows young girls to write in life questions to be answered by Mrs. Poehler herself. Every answer is poignant, heartfelt, and thoughtful. 

I freaking love Amy Poehler.

In this video, the Awesome Amy recalls a quote from one of her favorite writers, Anne Lamott.

And the story goes like this:

“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”

This simple quote… BIRD BY BIRD,  really struck a cord with me.

Sure I have grand plans. Sure I want to live a life that really makes a difference.

I want to do great things. And be a great force in the universe.

I want a lot of things. So, I need to DO a lot of things.

But the magnitude of that mission doesn’t need to scare me. It should excited me. Inspire me. And rather than feeling the pressure of figuring it all out RIGHT NOW.. I think I’m going to take a breath.

Take a beat.

and then take it bird by bird.

Hoot and Toot. New Characters in the Adventures of Big Bear and Little Bear

A little poem from a little bear.

Bear and I are working on a children’s book surrounding our alter egos.. Big bear and Little bear.

We’ve decided that  the story of big bear and little bear shall be told in poetry. (as all my favorite childhood books were)

So, yesterday I thought I’d get in some practice, and I surprised bear with a little poem.

Here you have it. It’s a little rough and a little silly.

But it’s still pretty cute.

A poem to big bear from little bear: 

I am just a little bear.

 Not swift or fierce or strong.

But I consider myself an adventurer.

And I always bring my bear along.

There are so many places I want to see.

So many mountains I want to climb.

Stories I want to write together.

And poems I’ll need to rhyme.

But I only need one thing of course,

And I think that he’d agree.

That all the things in life come second,

To the love of that bear and me.

 

Were just two bears. Sticking together.

Exploring this world we’re in.

And when you reach the last chapter of our story,

You won’t believe where we’ve been.

For the story of big bear and little bear,

Is not one you’ve heard before.

But it’s a story you’ll want to read again and again.

And even then, maybe once more.

I hope you believe me when I say this,

I hope you know that it’s true.

Because I love this bear with all my heart.

And all my other parts too.

Love the bear with all my parts.