Sunny Days With E.

{Today’s Cartoon} I normally don’t post cartoons on Thursdays, but today is a special exception for a couple different reasons. It goes along well with the best friend series I’m doing right now because one year ago today, I had to say goodbye to the best dog I’ve ever known. I still think about her and miss her so much everyday, especially after moving, knowing she would’ve loved our huge yard and the warmer weather. Saying goodbye to her was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and even though the hurt isn’t as strong as it was this time last year, I’m at peace knowing I made the right decision and that she’s in her prime waiting for me to join her again over the rainbow bridge one day.

So, in memory of my lovebug, Spätze aka E’s dog, Birdee, I’m adding no. 4 to the cartoon series “How to Make Memories with your Best Friend.” There’s nothing like curling up with a warm blanket and sharing a good book and a cup of tea on a rainy day with your best friend...and that was one of my favorite things to do with that sweet girl. 💜

Happy Thursday, folks! Here’s to getting one day closer to the weekend!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} No. 3 in the series “How to Make Memories with your Best Friend.” Both my best friends live in completely different states than me...I’m in Oklahoma, while one is in Missouri and the other is in Indiana, so much of our friendships rely heavily on phone dates, Skype, Facetime and snail mail. And when we do get the chance to get together, we make sure to make the most out of our visits, even if they’re spent sitting in our pajamas in the living room with a cup of coffee or tea, talking, laughing or playing games.

Anyway, the other day, I got to chat with my best friend in Indiana for a good 2+ hour phone call and it was so wonderful catching up and talking like no time had passed. We get to see each other in October and it will have almost been a year since we saw each other last. The countdown is real, y’all!

So, here’s to a wonderful Wednesday and phone calls with the best! 💜

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Cartoon #2 of the “How to Make Memories with your Best Friend” series. This one also has a specific story to it...my husband and son planned for my best friend and me to get a pedicure together for Mother’s Day this year, something she and I rarely do. I was able to cash it in during her visit a couple weekends ago and we had the best time chatting and just being together. I love every minute my little guy is around, but this particular time without him allowed me to be present and in the moment with her—something I don’t always get to do anymore because I always have one eye and one half of my brain on my toddler. Thankful for another special moment to store in my memory bank. 💜

Anyway, here’s to it finally being Friday with the weekend right around the corner! Great job surviving the work week, everyone! 😊

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} I think by the end of today, I’ll have mastered taking a nap standing up...pass me all the coffee. 😴😴☕️☕️

Anyone else relate??

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} I’m starting a new series today and it’s inspired by the wonderful weekend we had with our very favorite of all our favorite couples! It’s called, “How to Make Memories with your Best Friend.”

One thing my best friend and I are passionate about is clean eating and cooking (to the best of our abilities when life doesn’t get too much in the way). This weekend, for the first time, we got to cook a full meal together from start to finish and made vegan ravioli from scratch! It was a lot of fun and I was so happy we finally got to share our mutual joy together: cooking clean, healthy meals for our families and ourselves.

So, for the first of this new series, here she and I are, cooking and making a mess...also known as: making a memory. 💜

Happy Wednesday, everyone! 😊

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Good morning, good morning! I’m feeling refreshed and ready to tackle a new week this morning after having such a wonderful weekend with my best friend and her husband! They traveled down from Saint Louis to spend a couple days with us, and like most of our visits, this one was filled with games, laughter, cooking, good conversation and new adventures/experiences. Quality friendships are such an absolute blessing and I’m so very thankful to have had her in my life for the last 10 years!

I hope everyone has a hot cup of coffee in hand and is ready to show this Monday who’s boss! Happy start-of-the-week, all!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} We’re halfway there! Happy hump day! 🎉

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} There’s no such thing as too many cupcakes!

Happy Monday, all!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Another oldie, but goody...a little band humor for all you musicians out there. 😂

Did you know E used to appear in cartoon strip form?? This one is 12 years old! 😱

Happy Friday, everyone! 😊

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Oh my gosh, I don’t even know how old this cartoon is, but now that I’m a mom, it makes me chuckle. I drew this as a reflection of my childhood home when my siblings and I were all younger, with two cats and three dogs running around the house.

I only have 1 dog, 1 kid, 1 husband, 1 house, and 1 yard to take care of, and I STILL feel like I’m losing my mind most days! 😂 Add a couple more kids and animals to the mix—ha! Yeah right! How do people do it?? 🤪

Happy Wednesday, y’all!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} And you’ll survive this Monday, too! Happy beginning of the week, y’all!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Yesterday, I found out some sad news from a dear friend. She had to say goodbye to her lovebug of almost 14 years, Mister Duece.

It’s always so hard to make that decision and even if you know it’s coming, it doesn’t temper the sting of goodbye one bit. I think our furbabies should be allowed to outlive us because they’re so much better than human beings could ever hope to be.

I hope my dear friend is able to find some sort of peace through all of this and know that she loved that sweet boy better than anyone else could have. 💜

Hold all your lovebugs extra tight today, everyone. 💜

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Good morning! I thought I’d share a real oldie cartoon today...this one is 10 years old! I started drawing E back in 2004 and it’s hard for me to imagine I’ve been drawing her and her pup, Birdee, for 14 years now. 😱

Anyway, I hope this oldie but goody puts a smile on your face as it does mine! Have a wonderful middle-of-the-week-we’re-almost-to-Friday Day!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} We’re finally home from our awesome annual vacation to Minnesota! We had such a wonderful trip, but let me tell you, getting through a 25 hour round trip road trip with an 18 month old without anyone dying takes skill. We managed and I think I worried about it more than the amount of trouble it actually ended up being, which says a lot about our little guy and how lucky we were he was so agreeable the majority of the time.

We made lots of new memories, as always, most of which revolved around our son, but how special is that to be able to continue the tradition my husband’s family started back in the 1920s?? Our little guy caught his first fish and got to really enjoy swimming in the lake this year (last year it was FREEZING the whole two weeks—hat-and-glove-wearing freezing).

Anyway, I hope you all have a great start to your week! We start ours out at a little shop called “The Artisan” where we get to make art and have fun using the creative parts of our noggins with some kiddos, and then it’s back home to harvest a bunch tomatoes from our garden so we can get those babies canned!

Have a wonderful Monday, y’all!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Our differences are some the best things about us and our country. Our differences should be embraced, respected and celebrated!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Get outta here, worries!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Day 5 of E’s Guide to Loving Each Other

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Day 4 of E’s Guide to Loving Each Other

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Happy 4th of July, Sunny Days with E fans! Be safe and have a great time celebrating!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Day 3 of E’s Guide to Loving Each Other

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Day 2 of E’s Guide to Loving Each Other

TGIF! 😊

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} We’re leaving for our annual two week vacation to Minnesota in a couple days, which means things are crazy hectic around here with packing and making sure we get everything together. We’re super excited about this year because our little guy will be able to participate more in a lot of our favorite traditions and activities now that he’s a teeny bit older/bigger.

Anyway, the next couple weeks are going to feature a repeat series and a couple repeat cartoons. I thought about drawing new ones and having them scheduled to post ahead of time, but seeing as it never hurts to have a reminder or two to love those around us a little extra (especially when times are so divisive, scary and unpredictable), I thought I’d bring back one of my favorite E series, “E’s Guide to Loving Each Other.”

Here’s to spreading more love than hate! Happy hump day, all! 😊

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} I thought with all the craziness and heartbreak happening in our world, particularly our country, right now that this was a good one to resurface. But don’t just love your neighbor. Love your fellow man. Love all of human kind. 💜

Happy Monday, folks! 😊

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Good morning, good morning! It’s beautiful outside so far down here in Oklahoma, no humidity—yet—and nice cool temperatures and sunshine!

Anyway, Wednesday I shared our newest exciting vacation countdown, so today I’d like to share a fun memory from the cruise we took this past January. This wonderful gal was celebrating her 40th birthday and one thing she had always wanted to do was swim with the manatees, so for her birthday, she and her family did just that! I can’t even begin to describe the happiness on her face when we all met back up after our excursions. She was so crazy giddy the rest of the day and I’ll never forget that big smile she had across her face!

We hope you all have the best Friday and are able to enjoy some beautiful weather (if you’re having it and fingers crossed you are)!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} So, about a month ago, we got a text from a good friend in Indiana inviting us to go another trip with them. This past December, we were invited to ring in the new year and celebrate her 40th birthday on a cruise ship and we had the absolute best time! This time around, we’re traveling to an all inclusive resort on Palm Island in Grenadines in May 2019. We’re beyond excited, but mostly because we found a couple that is a blast to go on vacation with. It’s so fun to make memories in everyday life with special people, but it’s even better when you get to share new experiences and go on adventures with them too.

Anyway, here’s to an awesome rest of the week and a closer countdown to Friday!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Good morning, everyone! It’s going to be a pretty eventful couple of days for all of us this weekend because the baby of the family is getting married! I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that she’s old enough to be doing something like this, but we’re all very excited for her and her soon-to-be husband! This also means I better get on top of that matron of honor speech... 😬

Happy Friday, all!

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Ever have a favorite slide or playground equipment you loved playing on as a kid? E’s is the red slide!

Happy Wednesday, all! 😊

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**

{Today’s Cartoon} Good morning, all! I thought I’d share one of my favorite memories with you today. :) As a kid, during the spring and summertime, I used to help my great grandma hang the wash on her clothesline. I remember when we’d be playing out in her yard, that I’d run over to the clothesline and wrap myself in the sheets and breathe in the fresh crisp smell her clothes always had. I’m hoping we’ll be able to have a clothesline in our yard sometime, too, soon! I’m so thrilled beautiful weather is finally here and sticking around!

Happy, happy Wednesday! 😊

**Don’t forget to share with someone in need of a smile**