on this seventh day of the month, i am thankful for:
+++ a good nights sleep last night, thank you nightmares for packing up and heading out - would love it if you would do the same tonight. thanks in advance if you do.
+++ the work day being over
+++ the work day being over
+++ the work day being over
+++ cold reisling, after the work day being over
+++ red mango
+++
that she loves swimming, i love to watch her swim.
+++
this art piece that was made for me and the gratitude behind it. i am working on another project with jenny, and i can't wait for it to reach the person it is inspired by.
+++ to get to do more party planning this month to celebrate peeps i love
+++ my favorite blanket. it has kept me company through so many rough days. i feel a bit like linus (minus the sucking my thumb part), but i am ok with that.
+++ the fact that the weekend is now only two more days away
happy thursday peeps, one more day. one more day. we can do this. i think...not totally convinced quite yet.
sidenotes:
+++ pretty much love this couch, ever since i saw it in her studio. if anyone needs a christmas present hint for me, here you go. it is only $2000 but the shipping is free. i know, awesome deal right? talk amongst yourselves because i really only need one, and if you all rush out and order one for me, i am not sure where i will put them;)
+++ i could not agree more, especially after the work day being over
+++ here are some pretty cool, free, ideas for a diy carnival
+++ next time i am in portland, i would totally check this place out
+++ heard about for the makers today for the first time, very intrigued
+++ might have to check one of these out next year
on day six of this month, i am thankful for:
+++ re-elections
+++ tickle wars
+++ nightmares not coming every night like they used to. i am reminded of how grateful i am for that when they come back with an awful vengence like they did last night.
+++ homemade gluten free pumpkin muffins and an awesome necklace as a surprise gift
+++ another team member signing up for the 5k - go team!
+++ encouraging text messages
+++ a message from a friend that says "you seriously might have a window into my heart. you always know exactly what i need and when i need it." being reminded that i help to make days better for my friends.
+++ peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
+++ fun mail waiting in the mailbox
wednesday, i am pretty excited about you. half way there my friend. thanks in advance for bringing the weekend one day closer.
sidenotes:
+++ ali edwards did a great summary of the kiwi crates with holiday themes if you need a fun gift/project for kiddos
+++ loved this story
+++ wish i had been invited to this circus party
on this fifth day of the month, i am thankful for:
+++ all of my family and friends being safe and sound at days end, thinking of our friend who unexpectedly lost her dad today
can't be more thankful for anything else than that today. hug them. kiss them. love them. be thankful you can.
sidenotes:
+++ if you need a great little present for under $10, click here
+++ i saw this picture (http://pinterest.com/pin/85849936618208780/) on mamalode's facebook page with their words "moms. every. single. day"
+++
new holiday cards out from kate endle
+++ drooling over jessica swift's iphone and glass classes
+++ how awesome would it be to get one of these in the mail?
+++ i could totally relate to this i am enough post
+++ identified with so many things in this post for many different reasons, i really hope you will take the time to read it
+++ love this idea of framing wallpaper as art. brilliant.
on the second half of 3.5 and day four of this month, i am thankful for:
+++ an extra hour of sleep. not so thankful quite yet for it getting dark so early
+++ being reminded of how fun "hungry, hungry hippo" is to play
+++
catching up with my friend kimberly on all of the latest and greatest, long overdue and just in time
+++ being inspired at one of my favorite stores, getting new ideas for some special things to make for thanksgiving and christmas
+++
phone call from my friend josh, knowing that even though we don't talk everyday like we used to, he is still one of my very best friends. ever. knowing that no matter how far apart we live, or how often we do or we don't talk on the phone, that will never change.
+++ time with malena and our friend sasha at our favorite coffee shop this morning, enjoying our usual banana bread and cinnamon roll
+++ malena asking me if i would play trains with her, playing together in the kids nook for 30 minutes with our friend thomas the train
+++
seeing malena enjoying the big pack of crayons just like i did when i was kid. both of us crafting it up at the same time working on our own projects. i love our time in our craft room.
+++
modern family
+++ laughing with my mom.
+++ my sore legs carrying m for another long run today
+++ swedish fish
+++ holding hands with malena, i know the day will come before i know it when she won't hold my hand anymore. i am going to enjoy it while it lasts. every single time.
+++ finding this book to write in and one day give to malena. i came across it yesterday in a store and it stopped me in my tracks. i opened the cover and the first page says "my child, if as a baby you were sometimes comforted by my loving care, and if your heart perserves the memory of those moments, i hope you will place your trust in this advice, which is prompted by my love for you, and that it will help make you happy." (advice to my daughter - marie jan antoine nicolas de caritat). the entire book has prompts for me to write to malena, things like "about my mother", "the three words that best describe my childhood are", "my hope is that when you think of home as an adult you feel", "my friends who adore you", "a lesson i learned that you will have to learn for yourself", "places i hope i take you to", "the career i wish i had", "a cause that is dear to my heart", "i show my gratitude by", "i am grateful to you for", "mistakes i've made looking for happiness", "what i hope you remember most about your first home". i can't wait to get started. although just reading through the book, without my words even in it yet, made me tear up. pretty sure this will be a kleenex type of project.
+++ fall leaves falling from the trees, and being below my feet when i run. i will so miss their company on my runs when the time comes from them to go on their way.
+++ taking malena to see the horses in a pasture by our house, and as i started to move the car to head for home hearing her say "see you next time horsies, i hope you have a really good day today." man, i love that little girl.
+++ laying next to malena while she drifted off to sleep
sasha's cards are on their way to her, here is what one of them looks like:
happy monday everyone, another week starts. i can't wait to see all of the things that i will get to be thankful for this week.
sidenotes:
+++ felt much the same way that she did last week when i tucked malena in while sandy tore up the east coast.
+++ very inspired after watching the video in this post...the dream of an etsy shop is getting louder and louder.
as i write this post, the day isn't done yet. hence, the 3.5 - there is still more day to come so there will undoubtedly be more to be thankful for.
so far on day three of this month, i am thankful for:
+++
sleeping in.
+++ local artists that were selling their crafts at a bazaar i went to early this morning. i am aiming to buy (in addition to ones i plan to make myself) as many local and handmade presents for christmas this year as possible. here are a couple of artists that i got some presents from and am pretty happy about it: blue maven handcrafted jewelry, block talk by kim, forest green, lisa boyce jewelry, semilla designs
+++ walking around in the fall leaves with malena
+++
celebrating our friend alexis's 3rd birthday and getting to see some of my favorite parents ever (hi karen and vince, xo)
+++
my friend michelle going through the hassle of getting me my own gluten free pizza and cupcakes so that i could eat the same food as everyone else. she is awesome, as was the yummy food she got me.
+++ another driver and i both stopping just in time for a deer to safely cross the road in front of us and carry on his way into the woods
+++ my two legs that carried me for 3.11 miles today. i had set a goal for myself with my training for the 5k to be running 3 miles by the end of october. i missed that goal by only three days, not too shabby. i have all of november to get used to running 3+ miles before the 5k rolls around on 12/9. super proud of myself. when i unexpectly got some open time in my day today, my first thought was that i would use the time to go for a run. i am apparently serious about this running goal.
+++
laughing with barrett
+++ barrett and malena having fun working on her kiwi crate projects for this month. we had a ton of fun with the kaleidoscope and shadow puppets that she made. love getting that green box in the mail each month.
+++
all of my friends and family affected by sandy that are doing ok and are safe.
+++ the red cross and all they do to help those affected by natural disasters.
+++ finding a great christmas gift at a little gift shop that i have drove by a million times but never had (made) the time to stop. made the time today. it was worth it.
drum roll...the winner of the card giveaway is sasha, random number wizard said #5 was the lucky number. lucky for you! the cards will be on their way this week. woohoo! thanks to everyone who left comments, it was so fun to read them;)
happy sunday peeps, the last day of the weekend. embrace it.
friday, i am pretty much in love with you. thanks for finally showing up. better late than never.
on day two of this month, i am thankful for:
+++ getting to see malena and getting a big hug and kiss before i went to work today. since today was my day off, i was going in to the office a little bit later than normal so i got to see her. i love the rare mornings when i get to see her before i leave. and yes, i know that the words "since today was my day off, i was going in to the office a little bit later" is a complete and total contradiction. day off = no work, it isn't day off = work. trust me, i know.
+++ it not raining when i had to go out into the field on a construction project. thank you rain gods for cutting me a little break. i am still drying out from getting soaked on tuesday when the skies opened and dumped (and i mean dumped - thank you seattle weather) when i was on the same site.
+++ it raining when malena and i were going into the store tonight. i got to hold her which i don't do that often anymore since she is "a big girl and not a baby anymore", she held the umbrella, and said "don't worry mommy, we won't get wet because i am going to hold the umbrella so i make sure we both stay dry." loved the rain at that moment.
+++ nice comments on my blog post from yesterday (hi erin, what a fun surprise to see a comment from you, hope you are doing good;))
+++ a date night with malena: shopping + umbrella time in the rain + dinner out at "chicken robin" + playing video games while we were waiting for our table to be called (the girl loves games where she can drive fast - i am worried about what life holds for us in about 15 years;)) + multiple games of tic-tac-toe (she always says she wins, regardless of where the x's and o's fall) while we were waiting for our food + lots of laughter + tons of hugs + playing a new strawberry shortcake memory game + picking one candy out of her halloween pumpkin, her picking dots, immediately realizing she hates (as made clear when she walked directly to the garbage) dots and choosing her chocolate from auntie megan instead + listening to music + opening fun mail (thanks mema and papa hanson, aunt megan, and "special friend"). a jam packed girls date night with just the two of us. very fun.
+++ my talented photo-taking sister and her friend tanya. we are going to combine my writing and their photos to submit our mom's party to mingle magazine. keep your fingers crossed for us. if they pick us, i might seriously combust with excitement. seriously.
+++ my friend kimberly tracking me down while i stepped out to get a baked potato for lunch (yes, as you can tell from the fact i was thankful for a baked potato yesterday, i had the same lunch two days in a row) because she knew that was the five minutes of the day when i wouldn't actually be working and she could say hi. awesome.
+++ my job. even when working on my day off (like i normally do), i really like my job and lucky for me i really like most (you know i would be lying if i said "all") of the people i get to work with. makes going in on my days off a little bit easier. not easy. but easier.
+++
my assistant who works her you-know-what off for me everyday. could not do it without her. could use her to keep my personal life organized as well;)
reminder - if you want a shot at the card giveaway, leave a comment on the blog post from yesterday (or if you get these updates via email click over to the post) and leave a comment) by 5pm saturday.
here is a sneak peek of just one piece of one of the cards.
just in case you aren't sure what type of card you might get from me, here is one of the cards that michelle got from the last card giveaway. cute right? thanks. i thought so too;)
happy saturday peeps, make the most of it. i plan to. xo.
hello, november.
you will bring a lot of good things. birthdays. parties. thanksgiving. time with family and friends. i am ready for you.
this november i am going to really take the time to slow down and be thankful each day for all of the good things in my life. as i saw on a blog today, a quote by amy tangerine..."today i am very grateful for all that i have and for all that i don't."
today i am thankful for:
+++ baked potatoes with my favorite toppings
+++ mike n ikes
+++ funny text messages
+++ awesome date night with one of my most favorite girls
+++ great food, cold reisling
+++ malena asking me to lay down with her until she falls asleep
+++ my favorite fleece pants and sweatshirt
i think that it is time for another card giveaway. can you guess the theme? yep, being thankful. you know the deal. 5 handmade cards, 5 envelopes, 5 stamps.
leave a comment on this post (or click over to the blog and leave a comment) by 5pm on saturday. i will use the random number wizard to pull the lucky winner.
happy friday all, the weekend is almost here. finally. it has taken a really long time to get here.
enjoy it.
