So now I am going to give you a lesson on my favorite activity: napping. I’m appalled at the lack of variety in human sleep cycles. You desperately need to be taught you to do it right. Feel free to take notes.

Find the sun. This is a basic cat rule. Windows are a wonderful thing.

Don’t be afraid of heights. In the example above, I’ve settled down for a nap on the ledge of the wall overlooking my living room on the lower level.  This photo reinforces another rule: any time something looks comfortable, settle down on it immediately.  With practice, you should look like you’re on the brink of sleep within 10 seconds of an object leaving your owner’s hands.

Blend in with your surroundings. Channel your inner wilderness cat for this one. Your predators (i.e. owners) will have a harder time finding you and therefore forcing you to wake up. I’ve found that my white face can be a hinderance, so I try to hide it.

Try to look extra adorable while sleeping. Again, this will lower your chances of being forced awake.

When you need attention, sprawl out in the middle of a frequented walkway. If you look extra pathetic you might get a treat.

Try out everything. You never know what will create the perfect bed.

Things that begin horribly (like being picked up–I hate it!) could actually end up being extremely comfortable. Don’t eliminate anything.  Remember, comfort is a cat’s #1 priority.

Even if a spot is not particularly comfortable, stay there. This is your dignity we’re talking about.

Snuggle up. This is especially wonderful if your snuggling partner is full of catnip.

Never sleep on a hard surface. Find a place where your owners have left soft fabric. Bonus points if you have light fur and nap on dark clothing.

New furniture needs to be tested. You are the chosen one.

Love always (or as long as you’ll pet me),
Leonardo

I’ve hardly picked up my camera at all this year, so here are the few self-portraits I’ve taken as we approach warmer weather.

You might have noticed my blog has been pretty thin the last few months. To tell you the truth, my camera hasn’t gotten much action. I’m thankful I have Instagram to have fun with photos in a more light-hearted manner. It’s a nice supplement since I haven’t been best buddies with my DSLR lately.

The three box photos were all taken on the same day. He couldn’t decide which box he loved the most (and there was even a another smaller box further complicating his decision). Second-to-last photos are Leonardo on top of the dryer, which he somehow only recently discovered. No idea what took him so long! And the last photo was taken while we were hiding out during a tornado warning.

I promise my next post will be not Leonardo-centric!

3 October: Faded

4 October: Down

5 October: Brown
I bought that bag for the trip we took to Vegas!

6 October: Creation

7 October: Purity

9 October: Hair

13 October: Problem
I can’t recall why I decided to take this picture for the day’s prompt…

14 October: Fantasy

16 October: Smart
Hiking in Las Vegas (more of that here). Smart footwear!

17 October: Give Up
This happened twice! You can see the rest of my Vegas photos at my Travel tag.

20 October: Wish
The Rangers were in the World Series! But yet again they were #2.

21 October: Mask
I had this mask after for a skit I did for a class. Creepy, isn’t it?

22 October: Forgetful
I memorize kanji well enough for quizzes, but after that I just can’t hold onto it.

23 October: Insanity
You know things that you really shouldn’t like but still do? These grocery store cookies are horrible, but I somehow can’t help but love them.

24 October: Vacation
Back from Las Vegas but still behind on laundry.

28 October: Progress
Our house is a constant work in progress. These branches in the vase are a new addition!

29 October: Fashion

30 October: Stamp

My niece Daphne playing with a roly-poly.

Alena playing with my old dollhouse.

Daphne could kill someone with this look!

I hope you remember my beautiful nephew Lennon. This is his perfect little family!

The whole group!

I brought in the crocheting project I’ve been working on, but as soon as the girls saw, they insisted I teach them. They gave up pretty easily, though, and instead enlisted me in making them these cute headbands (Alena had a necklace instead–I didn’t get a picture). Avery was posing (“like I’m graduating!”) with the Nancy Drew books I gave her for Christmas.

I’m not really sure if Joseph is up to this whole uncle business. I mean, come on. Stealing bottles from the baby? Not cool.

The next day we met Joseph’s family in The Woodlands for lunch.

After we ate, we spend a couple hours wandering Hubbell & Hudson, where Joseph and I bought some of our favorites from Italy–the tea we drank a lot but haven’t been able to find back here, Hits cookies, and speck (proscuitto).

His parents let me borrow him for some photos, which really were not difficult to get. Besides being gorgeous, he is extremely well-tempered! The best baby ever, truly.

Alena asked for a picture with her baby brother!

29 August: Mirror

30 August: Close
It actually was not a close game at all. Every time I have seen the Rangers they have been truly awful.

31 August: Art
My friend Asma is a beautiful work of art~ :)

2 September: Library

4 September: Note
Found this in my wallet!

8 September: Falling
I completely fall into every new project I take on, especially when it comes to embroidery.

9 September: Favorite
There is no denying it. Leonardo will always chose me over anyone else.

13 September: Reality
There’s no repairing my skin’s years of sun damage. I’ve thankfully now learned the importance of SPF 85.

15 September: Dull

17 September: “An unexamined life is not worth living.”

19 September: Missing

26 September: Circle

30 September: Sensitive
Leonardo is pretty calm, as long as you don’t even think about touching his tail.

I fell into the Instagram trap immediately after getting an iPhone a few months ago. For those who don’t know, Instagram is an iPhone-only photo community.  It’s fun and simple and mainly consists of photos of cats.

Photos featuring myself, Joseph, a few family members (niece, sister, & my sister-in-law and her boyfriend), and my lovely friend Asma.

This was our second Christmas in Texas but the first time we put up the Christmas tree. I was afraid the little five-footer would look silly in our (typically Texan) oversized living room, but I really liked it! And it was so, so easy to put up that I’m going to be sticking with this little tree in the future.

I decorated in the same way I did last year but added the tree and a couple other little decorations I picked up along the way. I also knit Christmas stockings for Joseph and myself, but you’ll have to wait until next year to see them!

Joseph is such a good gift-giver, especially when it comes to jewelry! He gave me this double-stranded pearl bracelet for Christmas

He also gave me this amazing owl bookend! I’ve been owl-obsessed for a few years now, and this is the first time Joseph has given me anything having to do with owls. Normally he just scoffs at what I pick out, so I was shocked. And this bookend is SO cute and also so funny to me.

A couple days after Christmas we drove to Joseph’s grandparents house to meet that side of his family. Serious Scrabble-ing ensued.

We wanted to keep the Creepy Couple Picture tradition going, but we didn’t quite top last year’s. And no, Lerin is not pregnant–that was a balloon hidden under her apron.

Though Lerin’s edit was pretty great.

Joseph’s dad and step-mom gave me this beautiful jewelry tree! I have always wanted one, and this brushed nickel is perfect!

And Joseph’s mom & co. gave us a set of personalized embossers! I’ve always wanted some of these too!