Reminiscing...

The best of the best... well in my opinion.

This week I am going to tell you my favorite post, out of all of them.


So to be completely honest my favorite blog so far has been the vlog, I know you might think I chose that cause it was easy and the last one we just did but I honestly found that one to be my favorite. The reason why is it's my favorite because, surprisingly, it was really easy to make and it was also a lot of fun. I literally got to spend most of my day at the beach, and I could say it was for homework, so it was a win all around. It has also been the only video-blog I have done all school year, and it has been the most fun and exciting blog by far. It has been an interesting and stressful year so far, graduation is just around the corner and it still doesn't feel real, so it will be interesting to see how everybody reacts, nerves, excitement, fear... who knows.

Reflecting:

Looking back at all of my blogs that I have done throughout the whole year I am quite proud of myself. Every single one I put effort and time into so I could succeed at the task that was given, and I am happy that I can look back and be proud of myself for doing them the way I did. So I can safely say that I am very happy with how my blog turned out.

So this is the last assignment (with the exceptions of exams) for all of high school, which is extremely exciting but also surreal. Hope to see you all on the next side!

Sandy Beaches ft. Bailey

Trip to the Beach

The Final Month

It is finally here!!!
G R A D U A T I O N ! ! !

Class of 2017

June 14th, 2017 at 6:30pm. Hope you know everyone has this on their mind!
Although to be honest I think its more of June 9th when we actually get out of school, finished all of our exams.
I have mixed feelings about this whole thing. One side of me is feeling excited to get out of school but then the other side is saying, you're not going to get these days again where you are sitting in class laughing so hard for no reason.. 😂. I am really going to miss everyone that's for sure, well some more than others😉 lol.

Reminiscing over the stupidest things, but those are the best! There will be some jokes that I will carry with me for years and will still laugh about in 10 years. The naps were pretty good too😌

In my opinion Grade 12 has been the best year of high school for me. Nothing but laughs and being able to call yourself a "Senior", feels pretty good. I feel like I have accomplish so much in the past 4 years and it exciting to know that there is still more, 'when one door closes another opens'. So after this month a new chapter of my life will start and there is no stopping it.
I am going to miss you guys, and our stupid chats in class!😂

All we have to do is one more month and it's all over!

Analyzing...

This week we were tasked with analyzing a blog that is similar to our own. I chose to do a wedding photography blog.

Kevin Mullins Photography:

So when you first enter Kevin's blog on the front page he has a list of his wedding with the most recent at the top, which makes sense and is convenient. I think his site is very well planned out.
His Tabs:
"Home" 
He has a small video you can watch about his photography and also a short something about him, which is nice to have because people like to know who will be interacting and capturing those precious moments with them on their special day.
"Noir"
"A note about Black and White Wedding Photography... and a little bit of color too." This basically explains why he does mostly back and white and what he looks for when he shoots.
"Behind the Lens"
Which talks about his personal favorite shots and why he loves them.
"Way Back When"
"A random look back into my wedding photography archives" which I though was an interesting thing to have, so props to him for that.
"Diary"
"Diary of a wedding photographer... what else goes on in my business" "this section of my website is set aside for the monthly posts that I produce talking about the day to day activity that goes on inside my wedding photography business." I think this section is pretty nice because a lot of people are interested in that kind of things.

All in all I really like his site, it's a well put together site for photography.
There is something different about what he does though, he is a documentary wedding photographer, which is basically shooting all candid shots.

http://www.kevinmullinsphotography.co.uk/wedding-photography-blog/

10 Things All Dog Owners Will Understand

So this will be a blog about "10 Things All Dog Owners Will Understand" however, I just want to update you on my eldest, Pepsi.

It is pretty much a 50-50 with dogs. You either get a dog that sheds like there is no tomorrow, or you get a dog that needs a hair cut every 2 weeks. 

So Pepsi is one of those dogs that just always need a hair cut, and he actually just got one. I personally think Pepsi looks cuter with long hair than trimmed but maybe thats just me. He must get so hot when his hair is long from the heat here in the Cayman Islands.

Before

Before 

After

After

After

Anyway here are 10 things that all dog owners will get.

1. The cost of walks, grooming, boarding, and vet visits. You're not going to be stingy about taking care of them, and the people who run these businesses totally know that.

2. Weekend mornings when you want to sleep in and they have other ideas. "Wake up, sleepyhead! It's time to pee and play!"

3. Drool in the spot on the sofa where you were about to sit. Or, oops, you did sit.

4. Fur all over the house. And the car. And everything you own. You didn't think he was supposed to shed that much, but your black dress now had a thin layer of white over it.

5. Stolen food. It was just on the table — or in your hand — but now it is not. Guess you weren't the only one who wanted a bagel.

6. Their refusal to go out in the rain. As if you were psyched about it.

7. Wet dog smell after he comes in from the rain. Also, paw prints on your floor and the potential of being sprayed when they shake themselves off.

8. Those sad eyes when you leave. Sure, go ahead without them. No worries. They're just your best friend.

9. Their alpha-dog reaction when the doorbell rings. The guy just wants to deliver your crispy noodles and dumplings, but first, you have to apologize for all the barking.

10. Their confusion about their size. Oh, you thought there was a weight limit to being a lapdog? They strongly disagrees.

12 Things Humans Do That Annoy Dogs

Okay so normally we complain about those little things our dogs (if you have a dog) do that just get on our nerves so much. However, do you ever wonder what we do that annoy our dogs? Up until now I honestly haven't given much thought, I always tend to complain about them and those pesky little things that they do that are just so, so annoying. Anyway, here is a list of 12 things that we humans do that annoy our dogs.



#1. Staring!
To a dog, stares often translate to challenge. Just watch your dog when he spots a squirrel—her level of fixation isn’t friendly interest. The last thing you should do is stare too long at a dog. Though you’ll probably have no problem with your own dog (note they still likely won’t love it), with others it might be interpreted as a challenge. Instead, ask people to look into your dog’s eyes for only a few seconds then break off. And never stare into the eyes of a dog who seems worried, edgy or aggressive! 


#2. Hugs
Your dog probably won’t mind regular hugs from you. But many dogs get annoyed at tight hugging, especially from strangers or children. Unlike primates, canines have no history of grasping each other to show affection. In fact, when a dog puts its paws or body onto another dog, it is usually an attempt at domination or control. So unless your dog eagerly enjoys being hugged, tell friends and family to opt for gentle petting instead.

#3. Yelling
Yelling is interpreted by your dog as angry barking, which to her means trouble. As a training technique, it works poorly to shut down bad behaviours and only serves to scare, confuse or agitate. Instead of yelling, stay calm and think tone. A deep tone to your voice means, “Hey, I’d like your attention,” while a lighthearted tone means “Good job!” or “Let’s play.” By adjusting vocal tone instead of volume, you’ll get your dog’s attention without annoying or scaring her. 


#4. Teasing
Children can be especially guilty of teasing a dog. Barking back at them behind a fence, pulling on tails or ears, or even chasing after or wrestling with an unwilling dog are certainly annoying and can make dogs shy, insecure or even aggressive. Moving a dog’s dish while he eats, playing keep-away without ever letting the dog have the toy, or even endless laser pointer sessions can drive a dog bonkers, so lay off the teasing and be sure to reward your dog quickly after he performs a behavior correctly.

#5. Too Much Alone Time
Dogs are social animals and you and your family members comprise your dog’s pack. Dogs left alone in a home or yard for ten or more hours each day can develop a myriad of behavioural and psychological issues, including separation anxiety, excessive barking or digging, destructive behaviour, or escaping. They can even lose house training skills and in the process trash your home.
Your dog is a member of your family and, as such, needs to spend time with you. If you work during the day and no one else can be home, ask a friend or neighbor to stop by once each day to take her for a walk. If that’s not possible, be sure to spend quality time with her when you return. A walk, a round of fetch—whatever makes her happy. When you are home, let your dog be around you. Interaction with others is critical to your dog’s wellbeing, so, however you do it, get her some company. 

#6. Crowded Dog Parks
Crowded Dog Parks Many dogs get annoyed or defensive when thrown into a park filled with too many strange dogs. Think about suddenly being thrown into an elevator with twenty clowns and you’ll get the idea. 
The same goes for doggie daycares. If your dog is sociable, she should get along with six or seven other dogs provided the space is large enough and the dogs well mannered. But increase the numbers or reduce the space and you’ll almost certainly see stress like pinned back ears, low tail carriage, yawning, avoidance, and even the occasional fight.
Is your dog sociable and physically capable of dealing with roughhousing? If so, try a park or daycare with a reasonable number of dogs (about one dog per 150 square feet). If she’s shy, opt instead for socializing her with a few dogs she knows or dogs who are gentle and laidback.  Avoid parks or daycare with high densities of frenzied dogs.

#7. Interrupted Sleep

I was dreaming, dude! Even the nicest dogs hate to be awakened suddenly. Older dogs especially, who tend to sleep more deeply, and those whose impaired hearing might not allow them to hear someone’s approach can get scared by the sudden presence of a person touching them. 

Let your dog wake up naturally, without touching them or sneaking up. Children especially should be taught not to disturb a dog while he sleeps. You wouldn’t like being shocked out of a good dream. Why would your dog? If you do need to wake your dog, do so slowly, quietly, and gently.

#8. Strange Dogs

I was dreaming, dude! Even the nicest dogs hate to be awakened suddenly. Older dogs especially, who tend to sleep more deeply, and those whose impaired hearing might not allow them to hear someone’s approach can get scared by the sudden presence of a person touching them. 

Let your dog wake up naturally, without touching them or sneaking up. Children especially should be taught not to disturb a dog while he sleeps. You wouldn’t like being shocked out of a good dream. Why would your dog? If you do need to wake your dog, do so slowly, quietly, and gently.

#9. Changes to Routine
Stick to the script. Dogs depend on routine. Feeding and elimination schedules, walks, playtime—your dog engrains these into her brain and expects them to happen each day without much variation. If you randomly change her dinner time, take her out later than usual, or even leave or arrive unpredictably, it can stress your dog and result in behavioural problems. As best as you can, stick to the same times, the same diet, the same ritual play activity—whatever is working. On days off, try not to sleep in too late. And, even if you’re tired, take her for that walk each morning before you go to work.

#10. Tight Leash
One aim of every dog trainer is a loose-leash walk, which shows that the dog is paying attention and focused. But most dogs today seem to drag their people down the street, the leash stretched tight behind them. This means that not only is the dog not paying attention, but also has constant tension on his collar or harness, which can lead to health problems. Though the dog technically creates the tension, it nevertheless annoys her.
Teach loose leash walking by changing the direction and speed of your training walks often and unpredictably. As soon as your dog seems to lose focus, do an about-face and walk the other way, keeping the leash as loose as possible. Slow to a crawl, speed up, circle left or right— whatever she isn’t expecting. When she responds to these position and speed changes, reward her with a tidbit that can be eaten on the move, with her beside you. You’ll soon have a focused, happy dog at the end of a loose leash. 

#11. Inconsistency 
Make up your mind already. You often invite your Golden Retriever to jump up on you when you get home from work. But when your mother comes over to visit, you chastise the dog for doing the exact same thing to her. This discrepancy confuses dogs, who can’t figure out what you want them to do. To avoid this, decide exactly on what you do and don’t want your dog to do, then stick to it. If jumping is not allowed, then the behaviour should never be tolerated. If begging is undesirable, never offer food from your plate. Be as consistent as possible with the rules.

#12. Inadvertently Aggressive Greetings
Are you greeting or attacking? Most people do not know how to properly greet a dog. They crouch, stare, stretch their hand out, and talk in bizarre baby talk. This is a threatening way to greet a dog. First, the person’s crouch mimics a predator’s pre-attack posture. The stare is the second threat, only to be topped by the outstretched hand reaching into their space, begging for a nip. Not only is this an annoying way to greet a dog, it’s possibly dangerous.
The best way to greet a strange dog is not at all. Instead, greet the person with the dog. While doing so, the dog will sniff you and interpret that his person seems to be at ease with you. If the dog seems at ease and his person says it’s okay, you can then casually reach down and give the dog a quick pet on the head. That’s it.

I Miss Him

So Barkley was my dog who was labradoodle, he passed in 2013. He was one of the best dogs we have ever had or I have ever had. My mom says the best dog we ever had was Calvin, but I was a bit too young to remember him, I can remember a little about him but not too much. Anyway I do remember Barkley very well, he was just amazing, I miss him so much.
Okay so Pepsi, my smallest but oldest dog right now, was brought into the family when we had Barkley for 4 years. There was this one time when Pepsi decided that he was bigger and tougher than all other dogs. So he picked a fight with this dog down the road who was twice the size of him. However, Barkley intervened and literally saved Pepsi. I don't know what it was in Barkley that made him say, 'my stupid brother is in trouble and I need to finish what he started', but it was amazing.
Ever since he passed Pepsi hasn't really been the same but is still okay.
Barkley was caring, protective, loving, gentle, and just an overall amazing dog. His life was very difficult though because he was basically allergic to himself. He was allergic to the air surrounding him, his own skin irritated him, any type of food, and the list goes on. So for his whole life he was on antibiotics, which just made his skin go crazy, sometimes he scratched in one place so much that he started to bleed. Despite feeling this way he still had so much love to give, and was so loyal.



These are just a few pictures of Pepsi recently..
:) Enjoy guys!

My Weekend

So I took a trip to Miami for the weekend, but it wasn't a shopping trip or whatever. I was basically a tag along, a cuddle buddy for my mom. So a family friend was going away for the weekend because she needed to get some things and she invited my mom to go along with her. So my mom says yes and asks her if she can bring me, which I was fine with because who is gunna say no to going to Miami? However, when I asked why she brought me along, she said that she needed someone to "cuddle with". I was brought along to be used as a pillow basically, but I'm still okay with it.
So anyway, even though the weekend was lots of fun, I'm sure I missed a lot of work in school... because it seems if you even miss one hour you miss a whole week. Maybe that's just me, that is just how it feels. So I'm not really excited to find out what I missed, oh well. Guess I'll have to suck it up and get on with it. It is graduating year so that is one big up side to everything!
Also while I was away I missed my animals sooo much!! They are basically my children, and anyone with kids will deny that dogs are like children but I think they are. So I missed them a lot.

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend too, oh and one more thing. I am hopefully getting my drivers license this week! So stay off the road guys. ;)

 

 

Three Weeks

So for the past three weeks my cousin has been visiting from Canada which has been awesome. I never really get a chance to spend time with family because we live on a small island that is a unicorn ride away from anything else, My point is that I don't get to send as much time as I want to with extended family but the past three weeks has been awesome.
I don't think I have gotten so much sun in my life than I have in the past three weeks but I love it. I actually have a tan, which I have tried so hard to get but I never had time or I didn't have someone to go with or something else thats an excuse. Anyway, I finally went to the beach with Marcus (my cousin) way more than I have ever gone in a year, so it was amazing. I think the best part about going to the beach though, was going with Marcus because he is definitely fun to hang with, which I'm going to miss. Sadly he is leaving tomorrow so I have to say my 'good bye's or 'see ya soon's in the morning.
To me personally family is one of the most important things in your life, even if you're not a huge fan of some. If you've got the family, treasure them! Don't take them for granted, know the worth of what you have when you have it, not when it's too late.
Here are a few pictures from 'his vacation':

I also did a wedding a couple weeks ago, here are some edits:

You basically just got caught up on what has been going on so far. Oh, we just had exams which was lots of fun and totally not stressful whatsoever, ha... ha.
Even though I was completely stressed and killing myself over studying, I still did better than what I thought on all of my exams, so that was really nice.
So as of right now there isn't much to complain about, everyone is relatively healthy and alive, I can't really ask for much more.
Now that everything is settling down about I'm getting super excited to get my driver license in two weeks. I used to ask what all the fuss was about, getting your drivers license, but now I know. Sometimes it's really annoying because it feels like you're waiting forever!
Anyway, hope you enjoyed. :)