I’m thankful today

Happy Monday and more importantly, Happy Fall to each and every one of you. I wasn’t exactly hating on Summer as I know many have been doing lately, because I have far more Summer clothes than Fall and Winter, but I always welcome a little bit cooler weather, just the same.

I wore 2 pair of jeans I haven’t touched in months over the weekend. And 2 light sweaters even. (for the record)

I realized just the other day that I have gotten away from the thankful posts I used to do every week. It’s not that I haven’t been thankful, it’s just I haven’t felt it as important to be reminded of all that I’m thankful for. Today I want to be reminded of it.

+ Over the weekend, I had the chance to go watch my 4 nieces and nephews so my sister and husband could go out to dinner. Yes, I’m an awesome sister and an even more awesome Aunt for doing this. kidding

It was fun though. We played Jenga. Played with the blocks. I held the baby for 45 minutes as she squirmed in my arms restlessly. And finally put her down to sleep with the thought she would scream and cry and fight it, only to stretch out, turn her head and fall right to sleep.

who knew the reason why she was squirming was because she wanted to lie down to sleep?? I could just hear her sighing in relief when I finally put her down. If she could, I’m sure she would have said ‘its about time!’

We eventually popped in a movie (that I laughed at more than them…Emperor’s New Groove…seriously so funny), and relaxed on the couch. It was a good night.

+ Last week, I had some good hair, and you know when you have good hair, you have to document it. This was day 2 of my flat iron curls and I couldn’t have been more happy knowing I could walk right out the door without brushing my hair that day. Nice soft waves for the win…I also hadn’t slept that night, so little effort was key.

Ironically, I went to Walmart that morning for a prescription with no makeup on, but came back to put makeup on to go to Target. Isn’t that how it is? Target just raises the bar with presentability, don’t you agree?

+ The food my mom and I (more mom than I ) have been cooking has been really delicious. This reminds me that I need to reeeeally start working out again…starting today.

+ You know you have a great friend when you text ‘you near?’ and she responds back one minute later ‘for you, always!’. It truly warms my heart.

+ And another friend who texts that she’s praying for me. And another who texts hoping I’m well.

Its this love and support that I can’t get over and am so grateful for. Knowing they’re thinking of me through their days, means so much.

+ I just have to say my parents are beyond amazing. We’re all still adjusting, yet their love toward me is completely unconditional, its humbling.

I hope you had a nice weekend, filled with rain (except Colorado, of course…) and blankets and warm steaming mugs of deliciousness, like me. And hopefully you got better sleep than me too, because seriously, being unable to fall asleep until 4am isn’t exactly the way I like to do things.

Happy last week of September!

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You’re a good friend when

Guys! GUYS!! I’ve been absent for some time, I know.. I probably should say ‘guy GUY!’..kidding.

Things have been crazy, and hectic and insert every non topic specific line that will stay vague because I’m just not up for delving into things just yet, BUT I had one of those weekends, and I had to come back to life.

You know the ones I’m talking about. The ones that have cool things happen, where things go your way and you’re left giggling like a little girl even though you’re fighting to control yourself in front of complete strangers but continue to giggle any way… yeah, those! And I actually had one! And I actually giggled..a lot.

Saturday I had a yard sale. Yes, another one! But this time I actually used my brain and instead of troubling friends to use their front lawns, I decided to use the apartment complex’s front lawn that sits right up against the main street. Why didn’t I think of this sooner, I will never know. I set up all the things I wanted to sell and in my mind, it was a lot. In the mind of passer-bys it apparently didn’t look that ‘big’. Regardless, my goal was to get rid of as much as I possibly could, and it worked! Furniture, kitchen things, tables, chairs, you name it, I really wanted to sell it.

It was such a great success. I rewarded myself with a nap, ice cream, a movie and a cheeseburger from Sonic. Something I never do, but the craving for red meat was more than I could bare and Sonic is the only decent burger joint here.

Sunday I made my way to church and what do I see? But a beautiful dresser in someone’s yard with a for sale sign. My first thought was ‘its gorgeous’. Second thought was for my friend who’s been looking for a dresser for her daughter. Hoping she was at church for me to tell her, I looked around but she wasn’t there. Afterward, I was determined to be the great friend and stop at the house to take pictures of the dresser, and when I did, the older couple came out to talk to me.

The nicest couple I’ve ever met. He explained he restored the dresser himself and from there we struck up a conversation. Within a few minutes of us talking, he says ‘come with me, I want to show you something.’ and proceeds to walk toward his garage. As we’re walking they ask if I was the one that had the yard sale, and little did I know they had stopped to browse through my things.

He opens his door to all of his current projects. Gorgeous pieces he’s restoring and my jaw drops. I can tell he’s proud of his work, and rightly so. They thrift, search yard sales and go antiquing in hopes of finding new projects for him to do and sell them.

Minutes later his wife says, ‘come inside, I have to show you what I’ve done!’ and they usher me into their home. Their home that has me in awe. Gorgeous, clean, and 100% my style. This couple in their 60’s has the same taste I have and I connect with them immediately. They give me a tour of their home, pointing out all the pieces he had restored and as we enter their sitting room, I express my love over their coffee table. A short time later, I get their numbers for my friend, and headed home.

From there I have a battle of conscience. I pull up my friend’s name to text her, but can’t bring myself to do it. What if she ACTUALLY wants the dresser?! then I couldn’t get it. But I don’t need the dresser right now. Back and forth. I call my mom, and my mom is the perfect enabler, and I call the couple up to tell them I’ll buy it. His first words were, ‘I thought this was supposed to be for your friend?!’…yes, I’m horrible. I want it for myself.


I return to their house and as we talk, he leads me to his garage again and tells me to follow him to the back. Once I get there, he points down at a coffee table and says, ‘do you want it? Its yours if you do, I’ll give it to you.’

I’m floored. Its almost identical to theirs, and I’m speechless. for free??!

I had sold my coffee table in the yard sale and hadn’t planned on getting a replacement, so this was an amazing blessing.

We load both up in our cars, they follow me to my apt. and help unload it inside, and I couldn’t stop giggling I was so excited. He thanks me for giving him more space in his garage now for his other projects and I can’t stop thanking him for his generosity.

They have my number now with the next item I want, and I’m so excited.

My friend still has no idea, and well, I don’t want to rub salt in a potentially open wound, so I’ll keep this little dresser adventure from her, but guys, I can’t even tell you how thrilled I am to have these pieces. And how thankful I am to this couple who so generously gave their time to me yesterday.

It was a great weekend that kept getting better throughout the day, and it reminded me how grateful I am to my Savior for everything. For the ups and downs, the rough roads I’m on right now and the little joys that I find while on them.

How was your weekend? What’s one thing that had you giggling in joy and thankful for?

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31 things I’m thankful for …well almost

Last day. This is the very last day I will ever be 31. Can I say it goes by fast? That the years fly by and I hardly know what age I am and often have to stop and think? And a lot of the times, I have to think of how old my siblings are and subtract backwards to figure out my age.

Its true. We’re all 2 years apart. (this is the year of the “evens”)

I’ve wished this month away, which is rare because this is “my” month. I normally love, enjoy and bask in the month of July, but this year, it has been a very tough one for me. One I’ve wished would zoom through so I can get into August because that would mean time is actually moving along and not at a complete standstill as its felt. I swear I’ve endured 2 months worth of time in this one, not even finished, month, its felt that long for me.

I’ll admit, my 30’s have not been anything like what I thought they’d be. So so different and the constant adjustments that have been made and still being made are always throwing me for a loop and keeping me on my toes where half the time I feel like I’m just getting back up only to fall back down again.

One thing I’ve found as I go through the years is its so tiring focusing on the negative. And being constantly negative. Pointing this out. That out. This is wrong. That is wrong. It’s a work in progress, but focusing on the positive, even if its miniscule and spinning a crappy moment or thought around to good, has been my goal the past year and more so the past few months.

Instead of focusing on the fact the chicken juices leaked all over the fridge and I have to spend time cleaning it; I do it quickly and focus on the fact my fridge is now squeaky clean and darn, I never would have cleaned it if it hadn’t been for the chicken.

So, even though this month has been a rough one for me, there have been so many great things going on. Things I still don’t see yet, things God is doing that I know will blow my mind when they happen, things that will have everything come together for His good.

I’m getting nudges to make changes. Nudges that are going to put me way out of my pride and comfort zone. That are both humbling and relieving. They frustrate me and have me feeling lost at times, but all I do (as best I can) is focus on Him nudging me. Because I know He doesn’t steer me wrong. ever.

I have such generous friends and family in my life and they’re a huge part of why I’m thankful for my last day at 31.

1. My parents. The things they’re so willing to do for me, and offer me, and extend to me. 1,000 thanks will never be enough.
2. Casey who sent me the perfect birthday gift of Dunkin coffee and a mug.
3. My friend who took me out to lunch yesterday for my birthday and made me feel special.
4. The unconditional love and support from G-man.
5. $3 flower arrangements from Trader Joe’s.
6. The ability to have real, honest conversations with this girl and this girl...and never to forget this girl.
7. Knowing I have friends so eager to see me, and offer to help make the trip happen. that’s all you, Myrtle.8. G-man sending me unexpected encouraging texts at just the right moment, when it would seem otherwise impossible.
9. The support of friends on Saturday and the fun that came of it.
10. New recipes even if they don’t turn out like the pictures.
11. God blessing me with the ever growing talent and passion of photography.
12. Making others cry…in a good way.
13. Bible studies with friends
14. My sister’s kind heart
15. My new schedule each day
16. Working out consistently
17. You. For all of you few who’ve stuck around with me and my blog these days.
18. Finding out I have perfect color vision. Eyes aren’t quite failing me like I thought

..and you know what? I’m gonna stop there. Not because I can’t think of 31 things, because I could just ramble off the most random of stuff, but because some things are meant to stay quiet behind the screen.
just woke up but enjoying my Dunkin’.

On this last day, I will eat lots of cookies and prepare myself for staying up until 3:02am to ring in the new year.
that or set my alarm for 3:02…we’ll see what happens.


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I went back for seconds

Happy Friday! I can’t believe its Friday already.

Given that my car was stuck on the coast for repair, I had to go back to get it. I think it planned for it to break down over there. Just so I could return and enjoy myself. I must say, before anything more that God is unbelievably good. The total cost of the repairs were $5,000 and I only paid $18.31. I wouldn’t have paid anything had it not broke down on an empty tank. So all I had to pay for was the $18 in gas they put in.

Amazing.

I feel so blessed. He even said, 'I don’t know how much you paid for that extended warranty, but it definitely paid off right here.’ Oh how right he was. In the past 2 months, its needed $7,000 total worth of repairs and it was all covered under warranty.

I didn’t want to make the trip alone, so I called out to my dear friend to make a day trip with me. This was no small feat as she has 4 kids, but she got the clear to go, and off we went. We picked up my car, and headed to Natural Café in San Luis Obispo for lunch. If you’re ever in the area, on Higuera is this café. Its so good! hippy-ish, but the food is delicious and fresh!

I had to take her to Bali’s frozen yogurt, where we loaded up on the treats and sat in the little pavilion, people watching. Completely relaxing, with a slight breeze and cool temps. Eventually, we made our way to Pismo Beach to walk around and enjoy the sea air. It was chillier there, as it always is, but we sat down on a bench and watched the ocean and time pass. No rush. No agenda. Just us and the beach and a breeze.


She caught me in the act {of shooting}.

It’s a tradition for just about everyone who loves clam chowder, that they have to stop at Splash Café in Pismo. If you ever go, you must get yourself in that line and order you some clam chowder! Its delicious. Hands down the best clam chowder around….just don’t look up the calories, and enjoy it for what it is. And of course, get the loaf of bread with it. Might as well, right?

We finally had to call it a day and made our long way back home. It was a great girls road trip. Spontaneous and free. 2 things we are not normally. But its always good to be what you’re not, even for just a day.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends. Until next week!

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Finding the happies

This weekend has been one of those weekends. Where good happened but so much frustration was mixed in. Rather than go on about the frustration, I’m going to focus on the happies throughout the week, because when 7 days goes up against 2 days, the 7 days will always win out.

- Tuesday, I was at my desk when a bunch of school kids, maybe 2nd grade, walked by our big office windows, and they started waving. I happily waved back and one girl said, ‘she’s pretty.’ and the other girls all started chiming in, ‘yes, she is pretty.’ and I just have to say, that made my day. They had no idea I could hear them.

- I scored 4 free lunches last week, and that will always make this girl exceedingly happy.

- Having my friend come over for a girl’s night in was such a pleasure. While waiting, it prompted “Philosophical Emily” to come out and say the following.

I haven’t always felt that way. For a long time when I was younger, it really would upset me, but it struck me while waiting for her (and having the extra time to do my dishes because she was running behind) that its useless getting worked up over it all. I would hope in the future any kidless friends would extend me the same courtesy.

- Since I’m on the topic of tweets, I inadvertently sent one out that was completely innocent however the moment I reread it a few minutes later, I saw it in a whole new light.. and it got its fair share of concerned and relieved replies…

- I finally got to see Les Miserables this weekend and I’m happy to say that it will probable the only time I’ll ever watch it. It was good, but once is more than plenty.

- I went to Costco and next thing I knew my (though I have bought small amounts) 16 months of no official cheese buying has been broken. In a very very big way. Those are all Costco sized, mind you. I have good intentions with all of them, for instance, I did make Broccoli and Cheese soup from Peas and Crayons’s blog. And it was good, friends.


- I signed up for The Typing Web and if you want to have fun typing as fast as your fingers can go and be timed while doing it, sign up! Maybe this is my geek side, but I have so much fun testing out how fast and accurate I can type on this website. They have every level and text imaginable. And they say you can get a certificate but I’m having too much fun, I haven’t gone for it yet. I want to get even faster before I get it.

- 2 things became obvious from Thursday’s post. 1) I am 100% in the minority on number 2 on the list.. thank you for pointing that out… and 2) a lot of us struggle with flossing!! I now have a 2nd accountability partner since then, and its been fun getting her texts of flossing. If you want, you’re more than welcome to join the flossing anonymous texting group (FATG). We do not judge you for the last floss you’ve done.

I feel the weekend downers getting washed away as I think of all these happies. (and yes, I realize ‘happies’ is not a word).

What good things can you see from your week or weekend that overshadow the crappies that wanted to drag you down?

--crappies and happies… I don’t know what’s gotten into me.

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The night I almost died

Have you ever had those moments where you’re doing something normal, something routine and in the blink of an eye your normal and routine almost change for the rest of your life? Where you narrowly escape an accident?

That was me on my way to Los Angeles last Friday. Every event leading up was completely normal. I left home a little later then I intended. Stopped at the outlet mall to exchange a handbag, went to a Subway for dinner but their toaster was broken, so I drove to another Subway a mile down the road and got my sub. {it has to be toasted}

Got back on the freeway, its completely dark at this point, and eat my sub. Drop a piece of lettuce in my lap.. completely normal. Fish it out, ball up my wrapper and toss it on the floor on the passenger side. I called my mom up (don’t worry, I have a bluetooth) and we chatted for a few minutes about nothing.

And then I just drove. I didn’t feel like messing with music, I didn’t know the stations in the area I was driving through any way, so I left it off and stared straight ahead in silence as I drove 75mph in the fast lane.

I see something odd in the median way up ahead. I can’t quite make it out, its so dark, but I see what looks like the outline of a person. I couldn’t quite understand if what I was seeing was right, but as I got closer and closer, I saw a movement and realized it was in fact a person, dressed in all black.

Not just one person but 4. And they were starting to move very fast.

Reaction time is funny. I’m sure it was a fraction of a second from the time I gasped, realizing what they were doing, to the time I slammed on my brakes and laid on my horn, but it happened as if it were a movie, in slow motion.

The first 3 run as fast as their legs could take them across my lane and into the other two as they sprint across the freeway. But the 4th. The 4th didn’t clear the wall as fast as they did, and as I’m still slamming on my brakes to keep from killing the first 3, the 4th realizes he won’t make it, and jumps back behind the yellow line just in time coming within inches of my front bumper as I fly past him.

I can still see him jumping back from my SUV. Just as if the camera was on his feet, jumping behind the yellow line, its that clear to me just how close he came to getting killed… to killing me. After I passed, he took off running across the freeway to catch up with the other 3. I’m sure they thought it was the thrill of a lifetime. Running in dark clothes, on a dark night, in front of a bunch of speeding cars who are none the wiser.

But they put my life at risk. For a stupid thrill. My life!

What if I hadn’t given up texting while driving, and decided to text at that moment?
What if I was still eating my sub and that lettuce dropped in my lap and I went looking for it at that moment?
What if I was still talking to my mom distracted, or decided to search for a radio station at that moment?

The first 3 would have been dead instantly. I wouldn’t have slammed on my brakes and I wouldn’t have given them enough time to get out of the way of my speeding car, and most likely I would be dead because of the impact and no doubt losing control of the car after that.

I know I can play the ‘what if’ game all day long, but I’ve never in my wildest imagination (and its pretty wild the things I conjure up), think 4 stupid teenage boys would dare run in front of me at night, going 75mph.

I’m so eternally grateful, I had 100% of my attention on my driving and nothing else. God certainly, without a doubt, had His hand in that night and for my safety. It took about a mile before I began thinking normally and called the cops to report the boys. I doubted they’d hover where they did it, but I called any way in case they dared to do it again to other cars.

That night could have ended so differently for me.

If you’re driving, really think hard about those distractions. The text, phone call, food, music, and think if they’re really worth the risk. I hope no one else is stupid enough to risk running in front of you, but before Friday, I never thought it was a possibility.

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Raindrops on roses

Hello there. <—said like Julie Andrews. The song popped into my head as I waited for Windows Live Writer to load (best blogging program eveeeeer!) so it had to be incorporated into the post, though it has no relevance whatsoever.

My weekend was a mix of so many things. I almost got into a very bad car accident… and it would have been my fault.. never something you want to be your fault. Pulling out in front of car I didn’t see coming, while putting on my sunglasses (which kept me from looking left since I thought I was clear) left them blaring their horn at me and my heart beating a mile a minute.

I heard that horn repeated in my head for the next 30 minutes, it shook me that bad. I’m so thankful I escaped the wreck, and thankful that even though they were screaming at me, that they were paying attention when I wasn’t.

After, I raced to the clothing store to return a torn sweater, but forgot the receipt. urgh! Then raced to a day spa to have me some stuff done.

{TMI..maybe?}

IF you get waxed, which do you prefer? Hard wax? Or soft wax w/strips?

I’m a hard wax girl. It works best on me, more gentle too. I called to make the appointment and I asked the girl 5 times if the esthetician used hard wax. First she said no, then changed it to yes every time. I stressed I didn’t want to come up there (35 minutes away) if she used strips. The girl assured me, she used hard wax. OK.

I walked into the room and the first thing I asked was if she used hard wax. Nope! I wasn’t happy, and the esthetician got to hear it. Long story short, she claimed she was very good at what she did, so I let her do her way. It was fine, but once was enough.

After her, I went to another girl to get my eyelashes tinted. First time ever getting it done and the only reason I did it was because going to Mexico next week, I don’t want to bother with mascara if I’ll be in the water and this would take care of it. Well, it stung..not just a baby sting, but full on, what the heck is happening, sting.. for 10 minutes straight. Apparently this isn’t normal (as my esthetician SIL told me) nor is it normal to have so much smudging below my eyes.

Goth Emily, anyone?
The girl did a sloppy job. Once I got home, I cleaned it all up and they look fine now…but once is enough. Then! I mentioned I need a hair stylist and she referred me to their one and only stylist in the salon. I talked to her and I’ve never had a more awkward conversation where the person didn’t listen to a word I said. I said no red or golden, she said red and golden. I said I want color that’s a rich chocolate and she said she’ll color it in the middle of red and golden.. and this went on for over 5 minutes. All I saw was oil and water.

My weekend had several good points too, lest you think I’m griping about it all. A lot revolves around breakfast food. I’ve been eating a lot of breakfast foods. Exploding omelet with way too many ingredients, is the way to go.

I also have to give a big huge thank you to Angie {and her husband} Phil for helping me with my first Vimeo upload. They held my hand, walking me through how to compress it and upload it to Vimeo, Thursday night. For pretty much 4 hours they helped me by answering all my questions, looking up tutorials, getting out their PC (since they’re Mac peeps) and being more than patient as I got it all worked out. They’re the sweetest ever.

I’m counting down the days to Mexico! 5 more days!!! Woot!

Happy Monday, my fellow friends!

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To my one and only

Love, 

I already miss you terribly. This past week of having you around was simply wonderful. Every little thing we did and didn't do was heavenly and you were the absolute sweetest. When you suggested Tuesday night for us to get pizza from our favorite place, and declared it to be the "one and only night we'd eat junk"..deep down I knew it wouldn't be true but laughed and said for us to go for it. And then Chinese happened, pub food followed and a 2nd night of pizza rounded out the week...but not before squeezing in chicken fingers that looked deep fried, because we had to, right?

I still replay you telling me I'm an amazing driver, an amazing cook and an amazing couch friend, over and over in my head. I love all three of your random compliments. The driver one surprised me a bit, and I admit, I almost snorted but you were genuine and it made me misty eyed, if I'm honest. You always tell me you love my cooking, but the couch friend… I loved hearing that most, since its when we talk most; sitting facing each other, sharing whatever we feel like sharing at that moment. I love those times together, watching movies, talking, trading off 5 minute foot massages or even sitting with our computers on our laps with the occasional glance and wink. You too are my amazing couch friend.

>>The song I said always makes me think of us and feel it was written for us, just came on and its only fitting as I write this to you<<

I'm so glad I was finally able to tell you about the flowers you bought me months ago. It wasn't easy telling you the the flowers you spent a lot of money on, were already 90% dead upon arrival, with metal rods holding each one up, not to mention having plastic greenery as "filler"... You had such great and loving intentions and the florist scammed you. It makes me so sad and upset thinking about it. I didn't want to hurt your feelings, but I'm so glad you know now! ...and where to buy from for the future. *wink wink*

Thank you for always offering to give my apartment a good scrub down before taking you to the airport, just so I can come home to a spotless place. It means the world to me that you would scrub my bathrooms down willingly, and it was great walking into a very clean home, albeit a quiet one.

Each day with each visit, I love you more and more. I look forward to the day we won't have long spaces between our times together, but I'm realistic, I know they'll keep happening, especially with your impending deployments. Its the nature of the beast but I'll always be here for you when you get home, no matter where 'home' will be, you can count on that, because I'm pretty totally completely in love with you and I'm not going anywhere.

xoxo,
yours

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A thankful me - 45

Monday is here for all to cheer, let’s get a little excited, everyone! This time next Monday, we’ll be celebrating Christmas Eve and that alone has me happy today.

I had such a wonderful weekend with my family. I made an impromptu trip to see them, and as always, I’m so glad I did. I got to eat delicious food cooked by my mom (best cook I know) and went on a little Auntie/niece lunch date with my sister’s oldest daughter, and everything about it was perfect.

It’s always nice when they still like you afterward. Maybe its just me being kid-less and all, but I get a little nervous that I won’t have anything to talk about with them (them being kids) and that my ‘I have no kids’ personality will come out when they do something that is totally kid that would normally totally creep me out.

I’m happy to report that the conversation flowed the whole time..she’s my sister’s kid, they’re very good talkers, and her dunking her whole hand in her water to grab her lemon wedge so she can squeeze it, didn’t phase me at all. In fact, I just sat back and watched and handed her a napkin silently after she was done.

I feel that’s what an Auntie is all about. Letting them do those things that Mom and Dad would get on them for. I hope to do more Auntie dates with my nieces and nephews. Maybe turn it into a little tradition when I’m there visiting. And since I have no imagination when it comes to doing things with kids, maybe I’ll keep with going to Panera Bread first..

Followed by a hot cocoa (with caramel) at Starbucks.

She seemed to love it.

Makes me so grateful I’m in a position to see all of them and spend time with my family. I love them all and can’t imagine not having them around.

If you have nieces and nephews, do you go out with them one on one?
- when I pop kids out, I think this is something I definitely want to do with them. Mommy dates. In the meantime, I’ll stick with Auntie dates.

How did your weekend turn out?

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A thankful me - 44

Monday already! This weekend went by at all sorts of different speeds. Thankfully I didn’t have any repeats of last weekend with getting a flat tire, but it was still crazy. Jam packed busy.

Saturday, I was on my way to do a jewelry party, and I followed my directions to her house just fine until I pulled up to a gated community. She didn’t tell me it was a gated community and I truly didn’t think that’s where she lived, so I texted her…

Yes, all gated communities are hater communities… you didn’t know!?

She bought me a Santa hat (my first Santa hat ever), so I wore it the entire night feeling oh so festive.

Have you ever taken a personality test? Like a really extensive one? G-man and I were to take one years ago and while I was cleaning out the big dresser that’s in my dining room…{you’d have to see it, it totally works in there, promise}, I came across his! I honestly don’t even know if I did mine, but boy, let me tell you, his results are spot on to how he is. I couldn’t believe it!

I called him up and read his results to him and the whole time he would say, yep! that’s exactly how I am. Yeah, I do that probably a little too much…

This almost made me want to see if I really took mine or not, almost. I’m not sure I want to know the truths about me. Voluntary ignorance is bliss.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Its been awhile since I’ve said what I’m thankful for throughout the week so I feel its high time its picked back up.

- indoor plumbing.. I don’t think I’ll ever take this for granted. Especially in the winter months. And especially ever since my friend who was born and raised in East Germany shared stories of how their toilet was on the landing of the outside stairs for all neighbors to use in their complex. And how inside their apartment, it was so cold, ice would cover her interior bedroom walls…and that they had no running hot water. Her mom would heat it on the stove, and fill the tub up in the kitchen for a bath and my friend would go first, then her husband and the mom would go last, once a week.

I’m blessed with my gas fireplace, electricity, central heat and hot water within seconds.

- extra pillows on my bed. Saturday night, on a whim, I grabbed a pillow and shoved it between my legs to sleep. All night long I slept with that thing firmly in place, and all night long my hips, knees, and ankles had never felt so good. They didn’t hurt once, like they have been…and I feel incredibly old for a) needing a pillow between my legs to not be in pain and b) the sheer fact I’m even bringing it up as a topic of conversation.

- my lia sophia business. It’s going really well and I’m so thankful for it. It’s a little overwhelming with juggling it and my FT job but I’m always so grateful when another person wants me to do their party. Its so fun and I love it!

- and not to mention they’re sending me and G-man on an all expenses paid trip to Riviera Maya Mexico in a few months!!! We’re so flipping excited! They’re sending us here and everything about it is going to be amazing.

I surprised G-man with the news when I was in Hawaii and he was blown away. I worked hard to earn that trip for 2, and its going to make us being there all the sweeter. I cannot WAIT to get pampered!

How did your weekend turn out? Are you finished Christmas shopping or still have a ways to go?

I bought a couple more things over the weekend (that may or may not have included things for myself..) but I’m 50% done..I think.

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A thankful me - 42

Happy Monday everyone. Did your daylight savings workout alright for you? I happened to wake up at 6:30 but forced myself back to sleep until 8. I hear its pretty tough with little kids not getting them to sleep, but I heard a parent say awhile back that a few weeks before daylight savings happens, they begin to have their kids go to bed a few minutes early every night to get them adjusted to the hour change, so when the full hour jump happens, they’re already adapted to it.

Has anyone done this before? I’ve tucked it away for the ‘some day’ but wonder if anyone’s done this to see if it worked for them.

Over the weekend I went to get a pedicure to right the horrible one I got a few weeks ago. While I was there, I mentioned to my new manicurist that I needed the gels taken off my nails because they were catching on everything. She looked at them and couldn’t believe how bad they were! Conversation ensued about them and who did them and she insisted she give me a free gel polish so I could have a good experience with them.

At first I wasn’t going to do it. It wasn’t my intention going in, but after I got a healthy push from a friend to take advantage of the free polish, I went ahead. But not before the manicurist saw the absolutely horrible pedi I had and not before talking to the manicurist who did it. Who became extremely defensive.

I didn’t know she’d tell her how bad of a job she did! Now I’m kind of hesitant to go to that salon on the chance I run into her.

This one did a lot better job, but all in all, I’m not sure I'll be going back to that salon again.

This week I’m thankful for:
- a delicious home cooked meal cooked by someone other than myself.
3 carnitas, rice, beans, 1 tamale and peach cobbler ala mode… my belly was happy! ((clearly I was starving))

- a free manicure. I honestly can’t complain about any of it when its free. It was very generous of her to fix it.

- soft waves all thanks to my flat iron. 7 more days until my cut and color!!

- knowing God’s healing my friend’s little girl. She might be able to eat for the first time today since the surgery, so HUGE prayers needed that she’s able to successfully eat!
- my health. I complain about my neck, my hips, my knees, my feet, but as a whole, I’m pretty healthy and I thank God for that blessing.
- my brother running a 5k on his birthday, Saturday and finishing second in his age group, all while not even trying on a bum knee. Pretty proud of that!

I put this up for debate on IG and had the opinions split down the middle, so friends, I need your honest opinion. I made this to give away for a drawing for a few ladies and need to know if its lame, cheesy, okay, worth giving or well, whatever else you may think it is.

I’m not “crafty” at all. I would like to stress that, so this is me being ‘creative’. Its cinnamon scented pinecones and I threaded the ribbon through (obviously) and made the bow at the end.

If you’re not feeling it, what other ideas do you have for it? If I got rid of the bow, what should I do? I don’t want to leave the ribbon twirling around the only thing on there. I do have more ribbon if you have different ideas with that. I don’t want to spend more money on this since my intention was to keep it under $5 (which I’ve done so far) unless of course you say its obvious its an “under $5 gift”… and if that’s the case.. just say “I’m sure it smells nice” to spare me.

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A big huge thankful me - 41

Hidee ho, Ranger Joe (name that tv show)

I’m sitting here picking away at my gel nail polish. pick pick picking. They’re driving me nuts! I’ve been lazy and won’t make an appointment at the salon to have them take it off for me for a measly $5, so instead I choose to have them snag on everything they come in contact with. Anyone else like that?

This past weekend has been one big ball of Captain Insane-o! From Friday morning to well after 11pm Sunday night, I was zipping here there everywhere and this girl is a big haggard.

I had many great parts to my weekend. Met w/some lovely ladies in the morning, followed by having lunch with a good friend with shopping immediately after. There’s nothing better than having someone trust you with picking their outfit choices. And there’s nothing worse than going shopping and not being able to buy anything…or I should say, not buying the 2 things you absolutely die for, because they happen to be the 2 most expensive things.

You can bet I’m keeping an eye on them in my virtual cart online, waiting for them to go on a 75% off sale… it could happen!

What are the 2 things, you may ask? Red corduroy pants and an emerald green silk top that I’m positively in love with! The pants are just a hair too short and I can’t decide if I’m ok with that, but they fit everywhere perfectly and I haven’t found a pair of pants that fit perfectly in months!
{side note: did you know Ann Taylor offers customers wine, Saturday nights?!}

For the rest of the weekend, the only sad thing about it was that I didn’t get to play with my new baby. My sweet and glorious beauty that arrived Friday. Things were too incredibly hectic, that I only got to touch it for 10 minutes after getting home Friday and it breaks my heart.

Please, I’d like you all to officially meet Montague

He goes by Monti and Gue as well and answers, “as you wish” when I ask him to do something for me. He’s remarkable and you wanna know the best part!??? I told G-man I was going to buy him because he went on an amazing sale, and G-man said he’d buy it for an early Christmas present!!

I nearly leapt out of my skin, I was so elated!! My very owe 5D Mark III. I’ve wanted this camera for so so very long and I can’t wait to learn it. I feel so blessed that my sugar daddy love would do this for me. It truthfully was the last thing I was expecting.

So now I have 2 cameras. But I would love nothing more than to sell my first camera to a blogger who is wanting to start out with their first DSLR. My original camera is a Canon Rebel T1i and it comes with the 18-55 kit lens, plus the battery charger, cables, and manuals (that were bought in addition to the camera). It’s a wonderful camera to learn from. Super easy to use and as you’ve seen in my past posts, it takes beautiful pictures.

I’m asking $400 for it w/$5 shipping and I’ll send it insured to anyone in the US. :) It could be your’s or someone special’s Christmas present, as it was for me almost 3 years ago. If you’re interested or know anyone who is, email me: amazinggrape81{at}gmail{dot}com


How were your weekends, friends?? Pin It Now!

A thankful me - 40

Weekend, where’d you go!? You were there and then *poof* you were gone! so so quickly.

The weekend was a pretty great one. Lots of craziness ensued. Lots of cheering and pumping of arms in the air. Anyone else celebrate when they clean their showers? How about toilets? Vacuum? I did them all on Saturday. You know those kinds of days… where you forego all sense of hygiene beyond teeth brushing because all you’re going to do is break into a sweat with cleaning? It’s a good thing I didn’t have to face anyone. I even waited to take the trash out after 10 because let’s be real…no one needed to see this mess that was me.

I’m happy to report I showered Sunday morning.. you’re welcome.

Sunday was probably my favorite day in a very long time. So many great and wonderful things happened yesterday! That I’ll probably share with you at the end of this week. Life changing..mind blowing…epic happenings over here. The world as I know it will be changed forever.

I did a pretty great thing Saturday that had me standing in my closet for a long time admiring my work. I re-organized everything. I wanted to see how much room I’d save by stacking my clothes and turns out, I save 5ft of space by doing it this way! 5ft!!
 
And this reveals to you just how much I don’t have color in my closet.. I’m a darks kind of gal.

It cost me zero dollars to do this. I’ve always been into the black hangers that the stores give for free when I’ve bought clothes over the years, so I’ve collected quite a few of them. Enough to have 95% of my wardrobe hung with black hangers, which in turn lets me stack them.

I was pretty excited.

What will I do with that extra 5ft you may ask? Not a darn thing. I have this thing where every time I reach in my closet to organize or straighten, I end up finding 4-5 more pieces to get rid of, which dwindles my clothes even more because I rarely replace them. Which is just what I did this time. 5 tops I never or should never wear again are in a bag ready to be donated, along with a pair of shoes.

Makes me thankful for all that I have and the ability to give things away and still have enough.
This whole weekend I’m thankful for! Having a 20 year old say she thought I was 24 was a sprinkling of sugar on top an already wonderful weekend.

I’m thankful for surprises and great friends. For other’s generosity and not having to drive my car for 2 days straight. Truly thankful for that one. And lots of laughter. Gosh, its so good to laugh.

How was your weekend, friends?

Random question of the day: Does anyone else lose copious amounts of hair daily??  I leave a hair road trail everywhere I go, it drives me crazy.

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A thankful me - 39

It’s back to the grind for me today…and you, I figure. I had the best 3 1/2 days off! If ever there were days that needed to creep by and actually did, it was my 3 1/2 days off, and it was wonderful.

A trip wouldn’t be without stories, and this trip didn’t disappoint. I went to Las Vegas in case I didn’t mention it at any point, and I left Thursday afternoon. Leaving work early had me all sorts of excited as I headed to the airport. Walking toward the security check, I saw that I would be the only one there.

No lines, no wait..just a bunch of bored TSA agent’s standing around. I almost took a picture.

After sitting in what I thought was my terminal for 1 1/2 hours waiting for my flight, I decided to really look at the monitor that showed me I was in fact in the wrong area, not to mention floor. Thankfully I was still so early, it didn’t effect me in any way and it wouldn’t have mattered if it did because my flight got delayed thanks to the crazy thunder storms and flash floods that were going on in Vegas.

30 minutes later they announced we had literally 30 minutes to board and take off in order to make “the window” to land in Vegas, so we all needed to be quick and go straight to our assigned seats. Everyone sprang into action. Passengers sat down, moved out of the way, buckled up and were quickly filling up the plane. And then…the drunks came on board.

5 grown women who decided to start their Vegas vacation early got drunk at the airport and decided to take 5 other passenger’s assigned seats, so they could sit together on the plane. When the 5 other women came on board to claim those seats, the yelling drunk women weren’t wanting to give them up and told them to find other seats. Precious minutes are ticking by as the long line of passengers waiting to take their seats are growing impatient in the aisle.

After many passengers began yelling and screaming at the drunks, the 1st attendant finally forced the drunk women to take their original separate seats (much to their loud whining), and move out of the aisle so everyone could sit in order for us to leave. We barely made it out..and there may have been laughter when the flight attendant announced that they won’t be serving any alcohol to any passenger they believe to be intoxicated.

It was a good thing we got into Vegas when we did because the floods and hail came! It might be hard to tell but that is a river of water flowing quickly down my friend’s street that same night.

The hail came down harder than I’ve ever heard it. If I knew how to put the video from my phone on here to show you, I would. It was pretty crazy!

My schedule stayed pretty busy the entire trip but it was one of those great busies that I enjoyed.

I’m so thankful I got to go. That work let me have it off. That I got to hangout with some beautiful fun women and eat fatty foods and load up on McDonald’s coffee with my 9 creams.

I’m so thankful I got to see a sweet friend I haven’t seen in 13 years and hold her precious 8 week old baby that fell asleep in my arms, and having my oldest be… I mean oldest “friend” lend me her car to drive around Vegas on my own.

I’m glad I’m home now. Back in the swing of things. To the normal and every day. Going on these short little weekend trips, help make these normal every day days better. A rejuvenation of sorts.

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A thankful me - 38

Hi there friends! Happy Columbus Day to all of you who actually get the day off. Happy Monday to all us suckers who have get to work it! kidding kidding

How we don’t have the day off to pay homage to the man that discovered America is beyond me! He discovered the country for pete sake! I think I’m going to take up a petition.

So the weekend. Let’s talk about that. It was in the 70’s!!!! This was monumental. For the first time since April or May, I didn’t have to turn my a/c on when I got home from work Friday. It was glorious. And then Saturday night was the first night I woke up to pull my covers up (and my a/c was off too), then in the morning I actually took a warm shower. First time in MONTHS I’ve taken a warm shower. All previous showers have been cold, its been that hot!

I’m really excited for this.

I got a mani/pedi over the weekend. First time I got gel nail polish on my fingers. Its just like shalack, but gel and I think I like it. I went with a neutral color because I’m all about subtle. Its supposed to stay on for up to 3 weeks.


My pedi….well, I’ll be honest and say it’s the worst polish job I’ve ever had. Like ever. I’m embarrassed for anyone to actually look down. Thankfully I wear closed toed shoes to work so they can’t see them, but the next time I go to that salon (because I really like the salon) I’ll be booking my appointment with another person.

I also did something else this weekend that warrants a mention. …I pet a dog. yes yes, I did. But I should mention it’s a puppy, which totally is the only reason. Though, I guess (just because it was in my face) I did pet the older dog. They were very well behaved. I’ll give them that.

I also stuck my flats in the freezer… what? You don’t!?

The claim is, if you keep them in for at least 24 hours, it will get rid of the smell…or the sweet and pleasant odor that you leeched all over them… whatever you want to call it. I did it for a good 48 hours because my sweet and pleasant odor was on there real good and needed to be abolished. I have yet to wear them, though I did give them a good sniff and they still have a hint of “me”, so we’ll see when I wear them next how well it really worked.

{this picture reminded me to put the bacon out to thaw! baaaacon!!!}

And then (no and then) I saw a very beeeeautiful sunset. Where I snapped picture after picture while driving down the road, until I could stop and take a proper iPhone picture. It rivaled my Hawaiian sunsets.. but they still win out.

The rest of the weekend was filled with Costco samples, Kohl’s (where I didn’t buy a thing), great food (where I didn’t cook a thing), sweet and adorable old ladies, jewelry and my parents 39th wedding anniversary.  (Happy official Anniversary Mom and Dad!)

And that is what I’m most thankful for this week.

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A thankful me - 37

Hi hi hi everyone!! It’s October and you  know what that means, right!? if you know, fill me in…

My weekend was insane-o.  I slept… listened to Michael Buble… took out the trash…twice! and had to wash the dishes! I’m not sure I’ll fully recover. In all actuality, I did do all those things but Saturday was a bit exhausting (as I yawns just typing that out).

I was at my friend’s house at 6:30am to do a sunrise shoot of them harvesting the raisins from their vineyard and afterward, I stayed to watch the baby while she went back out to work. My word, it was tough work. I was tired just watching them! Ok, I was tired in general from being up so early and then watching what had to have been the easiest baby on the planet. After carting him around in the Radio Flyer {note to self: invest in Radio Flyer for future} for a good 45 minutes, we went back inside and within 15 minutes, he came over to me on the couch. I pulled him up and 5 minutes later we both were passed out.

At some point, I jerked awake not sure where I was or what the heck was on me. Good thing I don’t flail my arms or anything since clearly he was still sleeping on me, but it certainly had my heart racing. Sleeping babies on me aren’t exactly an every day occurrence over here.

Good thing he’s their 4th, because as I was standing up to take him to his crib, I managed to kick the loudest toy possible across their hardwood floor, while the 3 year old came in slamming the back door. Kid didn’t flinch once.

Here’s a glimpse of that morning..
This happens to be one of my favorites.

This past week, I have more than enough to be thankful for:
- Monday a co worker brought me chocolate and not 4 hours later another co worker brought me Starbucks, and a third co worker offered to buy me lunch. All for no apparent reason. I admit, I was a little more than suspicious.

- later on in the week that 3rd co worker surprised me with lunch…but not before accidentally giving me his tongue burrito instead of my carne asada burrito. Yes, actual tongue! I made sure he removed the offensive burrito off my desk himself…all while thanking him of course.

- potluck Friday commenced and the food was in abundance, and my cookies were eaten
- getting some nice accolades at work
- seeing the sunrise
- marking the 5th anniversary of our first date 

I realize most of my thankfulness revolves around food this week but my belly has been quite happy. How was your weekend? Did you catch the sunrise?

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