I’m having a real WTF moment realizing it’s Wednesday. Yesterday, we had to make the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to our beloved horse, Simply. For 9 years, my days were shaped around him… checking on him, caring for him, just being with him. Simply, was literally our way of life. And now… there’s this quiet space where that rhythm used to live. Grief does something strange to time. The world keeps moving as if nothing changed, but for you… everything feels slowed down, like you’re walking through it in a different reality. So today, there is no artwork to share, no, "what's the focus" for the week. Just a question and a poem: How do you grieve? For me… I’ve learned to feel it. All of it. The waves, the heaviness, the moments that catch you off guard. I didn’t always do that. When Eric passed, I tried to be “strong.” I pushed it down, held it together… and it only delayed the healing. It wasn’t until I let myself actually feel the things I didn’t want to feel that something began to shift. Somewhere in that process, I found my way back to creating from passion instead of performance. Writing. Designing. Letting the emotion move through something instead of getting stuck inside me. It became a release. A quiet place to put the pain… and somehow turn it into something meaningful. Today, I want to share something I wrote in honor of our sweet boy… whose name couldn’t have been more fitting: Simply Worth the Wait You carried more than riders, and jumped more than hurdles, You carried our joy & sorrows through life’s tightest circles, a quiet reminder the journey is Simply worth the wait. They spoke in low numbers, said chances were small, But you answered by staying, outlasting it all, a living reminder that faith is Simply worth the wait. Through love and through prayer, through each fragile day, You gave us more time than they said you would stay, a miracle reminder that hope is Simply worth the wait. When Loss tried to find us and pull us apart,

Some days you wake up ready to conquer the world… and some days life walks in like, “Yeah… we’re gonna need a softer plan today.” 💛 If your focus feels off, scattered, or just plain hard… it might not be a discipline problem. Sometimes… it’s because your heart is holding something bigger. Right now, mine is. Our sweet Simply is nearing the end of his journey… and my mind keeps drifting back to him. And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: 👉 You can still show up AND feel it all. This morning I gave myself two 20-minute pockets of focus… and honestly? That felt like a win. Not because everything is getting done… but because I showed up in the middle of the grief I’m carrying. So if today feels heavy, try this instead: 👉 The Gentle Focus Method Pick ONE thing. Set a timer (10–20 minutes). Give it your attention… and nothing else. Then pause. If your mind drifts back to what’s on your heart… don’t fight it. Give it a moment. Let it breathe. Then come back. Because focus isn’t about shutting life out… it’s about learning how to move with it. ✨ So tell me… what’s your one 10-20 minute thing today?

I had to count these results three times… they were that close 😳 I hope you’ve been having as much fun with the Paws & Whiskers Showdown as I have 🐾 Tomorrow I’ll be announcing: 🏆 The overall winner 🎁 AND drawing for the $100 Whimsykel Gift Card + your favorite dog & cat design But first… we need this final push 👀 Are you Team Dog or Team Cat? Dapper Dan or Golden Retriever 👉 Drop your vote below (This one decides it all…)

We are officially in the "Semi-finals" 🐾 for the Paws & Whiskers Showdown And when I say it’s close… I mean "one vote" close. Three of the last matchups were decided by a single vote. ONE. VOTE. So yes… this is your sign that your vote actually matters 👀 Today decides: One cat advances. One dog advances. Semifinal matchups: Dapper Dan vs Tuxedo Golden Retriever vs German Shepherd 👉 Comment your winners below Want in on the giveaway + unlock the 20% showdown discount? Join here: https://www.whimsykel.com/pages/paws-whiskers-showdown Every vote increases your chances of winning: • your favorite dog design • your favorite cat design • $100 Whimsykel gift card Bonus entry: Reply to any email with your favorite design We’re down to the final few 🐾

DAY 3 – QUARTERFINALS POST We’re into the Quarterfinals The competition just got tighter… and the matchups have been very close. Today’s matchups: Tuxedo Cat vs Sour Puss Calico Cat vs Dapper Dan Black Lab vs Golden Retriever German Shepherd vs Golden Doodle Comment your favorites below Want in on the giveaway + unlock the 20% showdown discount? Join here: https://www.whimsykel.com/pages/paws-whiskers-showdown Every vote increases your chances of winning: • your favorite dog design • your favorite cat design • $100 Whimsykel gift card Bonus entry: Reply to any Paws & Whiskers email with your favorite design We’re getting close to the finals!