Damian & Katerina = How To [vil-helm] #90

Alyce Celebrates Her First Halloween. I explored the world of Halloween with my family, trying on two costumes and visiting our neighbors. Finding a Good Work-Life Balance. Prioritizing family and work is a challenge I'm working to overcome. I recently had to choose between a crucial meeting and spending Halloween with Alyce. Boujee's Halloween Adventures. As a sumptuous witch, I enjoyed the spooky night with my family, while Dapper dressed up as a skunk and received plenty of love and pats. We're now excited about our upcoming birthday celebrations.

Tiny Tales from Alyce's Weekly Wonders

Hello, spooky friends! It’s me, Alyce, reporting back after my very first Halloween! Let me tell you, this was a whole new world of fun, costumes, pumpkins, and candy (okay, I didn’t actually eat the candy, but I was still excited!).

The festivities began on Wednesday evening when Mom and Dad took me to Pumpkins After Dark in Milton. They kept telling me I’d see thousands of pumpkins, about 10,000 in fact, all carved up with spooky faces! There was music and eerie sounds all around. But...guess what? I ended up sleeping through the entire thing, snuggled up in my stroller. From what I heard later, it was very cool, though, so maybe next year I'll keep my eyes open!

Back at home, Mom and Dad decorated our house with... propane tanks? Sounds strange, but my dad gave them feet and hats, making them look like funny little creatures! I think they did this last year too, but I was still cozy in Mom’s belly then. Everyone who walked by stopped to look, Dad is a Halloween genius!

Now, let’s talk about the big day! Halloween morning, my nanny Tay Tay arrived in the spookiest T-shirt ever, with a light-up ghost necklace that I loved! She brought me a new friend – a squish mallow that smells like grapes! Plus, she brought treats for Mom and Dad, which was so thoughtful!

I got to try on not just one, but TWO costumes that Mom picked out. Earlier in the week, I was Pebbles from The Flintstones, complete with my little ponytail up top. On Halloween night, though, I transformed into a bat! Mom went all out as a vampire, Dad was a mysterious werwolf, and let’s not forget Boujee and Dapper! Dapper looked adorable as a skunk (for anyone who knows how much he loves them!), and Boujee was the sassiest witch ever.

We all went out trick-or-treating to meet the neighbors, and it was so fun! Susan and John made me my very own Halloween bag filled with goodies – a black cat toy, a new squish mallow, and even some treats! I felt so special with all that love from our neighbors. After making the rounds, we came back to wait for other trick-or-treaters. I was so ready to see all the kids in their costumes, but not as many came by as we’d hoped. We had lights, music, and so many treats ready for them – chocolate bars, chips, you name it! Oh well…maybe next year will be busier.

Now, with Halloween behind us, Mom keeps chatting about Christmas decorations. She wants to deck out the whole house, and I think Dad’s going to go crazy! And apparently, there’s someone called the Elf on the Shelf? Hmm…sounds like there are more surprises waiting just around the corner.

Until next time, stay cozy and spooky! 👻

Love,
Alyce

Balancing Act: Focusing on What Matters Most

Lately, I’ve been a bit “Mom” about work. Things have been hectic, and I’ve been trying to keep my focus on family and friends. Finding a good work-life balance has always been tough for me. There’s always something urgent happening at work, whether it’s a technical problem or another issue that needs my attention. But sometimes, we need to step back and think about what’s really important.

For the past few months, I’ve been working hard to finalize a big contract. This effort has meant many late nights and a lot of stress as I aimed for a deal that could really change how we do things. The pressure increased as I prepared for a big meeting last Friday, where I needed the last two signatures to seal the deal.

The turning point came when I recognized how important this task was. This was going to be a big meeting—get it right, and we could move forward; miss the mark, and we’d face delays and more rework. I dedicated days to perfecting my presentation, making over 50 revisions along the way! It felt like a huge challenge, pushing me to stay dedicated and focused.

Then came Thursday, a key moment in my journey. Just before five o'clock, I found out about a last-minute meeting to go over my presentation for the next day. At the same time, I was also getting ready to celebrate Alyce's first Halloween, which made me want to be fully present for that special occasion.

Katerina reminded me that we needed to leave for our neighbors’ house before dark, and that moment helped me refocus. I had a choice: attend the meeting and risk being late for Halloween, or prioritize my family. It wasn’t easy, but I decided to skip the meeting and sent over my presentation link instead. I promised to check for any feedback later that night.

This choice was my way of saying that family comes first, even in the middle of work chaos. Celebrating Halloween with Alyce was a powerful reminder that while work is important, it shouldn’t take away from the special moments that bring us joy.

As we go forward, let’s take a moment to focus on what’s right. Celebrate your achievements, enjoy the little victories, and cherish the moments that make life meaningful. Life is a journey, and we all need to find ways to balance our work and our loved ones.

Here’s to finding that balance and enjoying both our professional successes and the family moments that fill our hearts with happiness.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!

Woof Woof! 🐾

Oh là là, les amis! Halloween! Our grand night of frissons, fright, and family fun! Well, Alyce has probably already spilled le thé, but let us, take you through it!

To start, moi, Boujee, the sumptuous*witch! I know, I know, it’s shocking to imagine such beauty tangled up in the supernatural, but I wore that hat with style, a touch of élégance that only a Frenchie like me could pull off. Alyce gave me a look of pure admiration... or maybe it was confusion, but who’s counting?

And then, there was Dapper… mon dieu! Our beloved Dapper, dressed as… a skunk. Yes, you heard that right! Our dear Dapper, who loves everyone and everything with a level of enthusiasm that borders on obsession, went as a creature who—let’s be honest—doesn’t always get the love returned! He pranced around, blissfully unaware of the irony, his little skunk tail swishing back and forth like he was some kind of supermodel. But thank goodness for small mercies—he didn’t come with le parfum of a real skunk! I mean, our petit prince in black and white may be adorable, but we’ll pass on the eau de skunk, merci!

And when it came to the treats, well… let’s just say Kat and Dad made it très, très clear that chocolate and Frenchies don’t mix. We’re all about the love and pats instead! No chocolate needed, but we were lavished with cuddles and gros bisous from everyone who came by, and honestly, we think we got the better deal! Alyce’s nanny and the neighbors adored her spooky little look, and we were right there to soak up the family love. No one was left behind, and we strutted down the streets like the French Bulldogs of Hamilton!

Now that Halloween is but a souvenir, I, Boujee, am shifting my magnifique attention to… Dapper’s upcoming 4th birthday at the end of the month. And let me tell you, it’s hard finding the perfect gift for a pup who still thinks chewing on shoes is an art form. A chewable Eiffel Tower, perhaps? Or maybe a new beret so he can fully embrace his French flair? Ah, decisions, decisions! Luckily, I know Kat has a full fête planned for him, complete with gifts that will be très, très bon.

And as we turn our little Frenchie heads to the horizon, we can practically hear the jingles of Christmas! I’ve already been dropping subtle hints to Kat and Dad. (A new bed, a festive collar, maybe a baguette toy for my refined palette!)

Until next time, darlings, may your days be filled with treats (just not chocolate!), cozy naps, and maybe a little je ne sais quoi.

À bientôt! 🐾