Villlhelllm: How do You even Spell It?
If the house could talk: the Deck Got Its First Stain!
Ah, the joys of homeownership! There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of crossing tasks off your to-do list, especially when it involves a long-awaited project like staining your deck. And guess what? We finally did it! The first coat of stain is officially on, and oh boy!
Picture this: a sunny day, brushes and cans of stain at the ready, and two enthusiastic DIY warriors ready to take on the deck staining challenge. Our resident comedian, Kat, couldn’t resist cracking a joke about “testing” the stain on just one of the posts. Little did we know that her jest would quickly turn into a paintbrush frenzy as we found ourselves staining all of the posts. A decision fuelled by more enthusiasm than perhaps practicality!
As we reveled in our productive frenzy, Mother Nature seemed to have a mischievous streak. A couple of hours later, dark clouds gathered, and lo and behold, heavy rain started pouring down. Our once-pristine deck was left to the mercy of the elements. All we could do was retreat indoors, cross our fingers, and go to bed with a silent prayer that the morning would reveal a miraculously stain-resistant deck.
In the midst of the stain-soaked chaos, the tall one, Damian, attempted to conjure up a series of impressive excuses to dodge the staining duty. Damian’s creativity was indeed noteworthy. But our very own voice of reason, Kat, came to the rescue with a dose of wisdom. She reminded Damian that while good weather is essential for staining, a little bit of downtime is just as important. After all, even Rome wasn’t built in a day!
So, as we continue this chapter of our deck staining saga, we’re left with unfinished business and a deck that’s still half-stained. But fear not! Today is another day, and we’re determined to conquer the deck staining challenge with renewed vigor.
Stay tuned, dear Villlhelllmians, for the next installment of the Deck Staining Chronicles. Who knows what hilarities and misadventures await us as we navigate the world of DIY with a splash of humor and a bucket-load of determination!
Fruit Flies, Beware!
Are you tired of those pesky little fruit flies invading your kitchen? We’ve all tried the classic apple cider vinegar trap, but let’s face it, it’s not foolproof. It takes ages and only works for a short period.
But fear not! We’ve discovered a new weapon in the fight against fruit flies – the Butterwort Pinguicula. This carnivorous plant is highly effective in controlling fruit flies. Its sticky leaves secrete a substance that traps and digests insects. It’s like a scene straight out of a superhero movie!
So, we sent our very own plant researcher and Facebook Marketplace guru on a mission to find a Butterwort plant. And boy, did it work! Within hours, those pesky little pests met their match. It was like a fruit fly massacre. Take that, fruit flies! We won’t let you take over our kitchens any longer!
And while we’re on the subject of nature, have you seen the Netflix show “The Biggest Little Farm”? It’s all about creating an ecosystem and living in harmony with nature. So maybe instead of fighting nature, we should work with her. Just a thought.
Why Is Self-reflection Important In Relationships?
Have you ever paused and thought about who you are and how you show up in your relationships? Who you are at work, with your friends and family and also, who are you with your significant other? Are you the same person and do you have the same integrity and accountability in all of your relationships?
My answer is no, we do not put all of our relationships on the same level and our response to them is never the same. We decide (because yes, it is our own decision) to treat people as good or as poorly as we’ve always known from our previous interactions and depending on the state of the relationship, the moment and its triggers.
I invite you to self reflect on the following:
Personal Growth: Self-reflection allows us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Self-awareness is crucial for personal growth and development, which in turn positively impacts relationships. When we understand our own triggers, insecurities, and patterns, we can work on improving ourselves, leading to healthier interactions and relationships.
Communication: Self-reflection helps us to become more aware of our communication style, tendencies to interrupt, misunderstandings, or any other communication barriers. By recognizing these patterns, we can learn to express ourselves more clearly and listen actively, leading to better communication with our partner.
Empathy: Self-reflection fosters empathy—the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. When you’re in touch with your own emotions and experiences, you become better equipped to relate to and empathize with your partner’s feelings, experiences, and perspectives. This helps in resolving conflicts and building a stronger emotional connection.
Conflict Resolution: Inevitably, conflicts arise in any relationship. Self-reflection helps us examine our role in conflicts and consider our own contributions to disagreements. By acknowledging our own mistakes or misunderstandings, we can approach conflict resolution with a more open and constructive mindset, leading to quicker resolution and reduced tension.
Reduced Projection: Self-reflection reduces projection by allowing us to differentiate between our own emotions and those of our partner. This prevents unnecessary misunderstandings and allows for more accurate perception of our partner’s feelings and intentions.
Enhanced Intimacy: Intimacy requires vulnerability and openness. Self-reflection encourages us to become more comfortable with our vulnerabilities and emotions, making it easier to share and connect with our partners on a deeper level.
Conflict Prevention: By reflecting on past experiences and triggers, we can identify potential sources of conflict before they escalate. This awareness allows us to address issues early on, preventing minor concerns from turning into major problems.
Now, when self-reflection becomes confusing or too heavy. If you have a solution oriented mind, like I do, there is always options. Call a friend and ask them to listen to what you are thinking, a real friend will let you know if you are pushing it too far. In case a friend is not an option, many benefit providers are offering counceling or helpline services, which are usually covered by your benefits and are available through phone or chat when necessary.
All this to say that even if we get caught into the business of our daily lives, we shouldn’t be forgetting about self-reflecting and checking-in. Every emotion or state of mind is valid and has been triggered by an event that we’ve seen or gone through previously. The way we respond to it is entirely in our hands and shouldn’t be taken lightly because as you know “the axes forget, but the trees remember”. Self-reflecting will also help us with not taking our beloved for granted and will remind us that if we have someone by our side or in our circle, we have chosen to invest our time and energy in them and therefore, they do not deserve to be taken for granted.
Being pregnant is a constant turmoil of self-reflection not only because it’s a state that is new to me, but also because everyone is always very keen in sharing what they know about it and how they did it for themselves, though they do it with lots of care, the stories they share are not always the most positive ones. And let’s be clear, life isn’t just a walk on the beach, but for a first pregnancy my approach is very “pragmatic”: do what you need to do to keep yourself and your baby growing, healthy and happy. I self-reflect, I do, I do it a lot, sometimes I even overthink it because I feel unheard or misunderstood, with a body that keeps changing daily but I am doing my best to push through the remaining last 18 weeks. And as my friends Giulia and Marine reminded me today – do not take any moment in your life for granted, we are lucky to be healthy and living precious times bearing life.
Woof, Woof! 🐾
Bonjour, les amis Villlhelllmians! It’s your favorite French bulldogs, Boujee and Dapper, reporting in with some pawsitively exciting news. Life has been treating us like the royalty we are, and we couldn’t be happier to share our adventures with you.
First things first, let’s talk about last week – oh là là, what a treat it was! The week kicked off with a fantastic surprise – Monday was a holiday, and our humans decided to take a break from their busy schedules to hang out with us. Imagine that! It’s like a dream come true when they’re not tapping away on those clicky keyboards.
But wait, there’s more! On Tuesday, something extra special happened. It was none other than our charming Boujee’s birthday! Woof-tastic celebrations were in order, and boy, were we spoiled. Our humans the dads, Damian and Kat, the wizard in the kitchen, conjured up a delicious cake made with the finest natural ingredients. Let’s just say, our taste buds did a happy dance.
Boujee, being the lucky pup she is, was in for a true surprise. The house was bedazzled with balloons and cheerful “Happy Birthday” signs just for her! Talk about feeling like the belle of the ball. And guess what? A pink tutu and a crown were waiting, just for her. While she might have decided that being a queen was too much work, the thoughtfulness behind it all made her heart – and butt – flutter with joy.
Now, here’s where things get even more amusing. Our dashing Dapper, ever the fashion-forward pooch, decided to seize the moment. With Boujee’s blessing, he donned the pink tutu and paired it with a stylish pink bow. What a sight to behold! With a twirl here and a strut there, he proudly joined the birthday bash, making Boujee feel like the luckiest birthday girl ever.
So, dear readers, as we wrap up this pawsitively perfect week in our doggy diaries, we want to remind you that it’s the little moments that make life truly special. Whether it’s a holiday, a birthday, or simply a cozy cuddle session on the couch, cherish every wag and every bark. Life is good, and with a bit of love, a touch of mischief, and a whole lot of treats, it’s nothing short of paw-some! À la prochaine! ❤️
Thank you to our dear Vilhelmians for following our adventures! Hit like and subscribe for more! Get ready for a wild ride! Hit that subscribe button to join our awesome Substack community! Vilheeeeeelm!