Thankful Thursday

Today, is the last Thursday of the year. It is the very last time in 2010 that I will have to let all of you know how thankful I am for the small things in my life. So why don't we just take our time with it?

A bilities
B ooks
C ookies, candies, and chocolate
D ance music ("I'ma tell you one tiiiiiiime!")
E vening sunsets
F ootball
G irl nights
H ot toddies
I ce cream
J elly
K lea
M orning sunrise
N apkins
O pportunities
P aychecks
Q uiet time
R omantic comedies
S isters
T aylor Lautner
U mbrellas
V odka
W alks
X anax and other pills like it
Y oga
Z oo trips

That's it - from A to Z. These are the things that kept me relatively sane throughout 2010. Which was, admittedly, a very tough year.

Giving Thanks and Such

Sometimes, when you think it's all ready to come to an end you have to go back to where it all began. Today I want to give thanks for:

• six degrees of separation
• friends who insist that you come out among the living simply because they need to be out among the living
• having people who will celebrate the day of my birth again and again until I say stop
• side hustles
• pizza, beer, rum, and Wii
• cash as presents
• surprise flower deliveries.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand, Scene!

Whew!

On Sunday, I was headed to my Mom's in the thick of our first real winter snow when I watched this minivan breeze off the ramp and lose control. The vehicle hit another vehicle in oncoming traffic and then went head on into the median. I didn't stop driving. I did call 911. I told my mom about it when I got to her house and we both shook our heads.Where could this person be headed to that they wouldn't risk missing a green light?

Tuesday night after cheer practice, April came home to tell me that one of the boys in her class was in an accident. The accident happened on Sunday. She wanted to know if I'd heard about it because it was by my house. The boy and his sister are fine; their mother died. I cried. I lament the fact that I these children are now homeless orphans. How often do we hear of tragedy and overlook it because it doesn't affect us directly? This incident humbled me again.

Yesterday, I received the most beautiful bouquet of flowers. I've never been one to put much stock in gifts but I loved the feeling of being remembered by someone! Anyone! I had almost forgotten what it feels like to get flowers. This brought all those bubbly feelings back to the surface.

I need you all to know that I did not stay true to my New Year's Resolutions to lose 50 pounds or work my MLM business. But I did manage to meet my MLM minimums every quarter without fail. Tips to all MLMers out there. Leaving catalogs in hair/nail salons, dentist offices, and spas really does work. Just be smarter than me and remember to update your business cards when you change your information. *gives wink*

Michael Vick wants a dog.

BAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHA!

He says that it will help people see that he really is a good guy. Now. I love Michael Vick. And I was all about letting him back in the NFL. I was serious when I said that dogs are not people and that there are rapists, drug users, and wife beaters among the ranks of the overpaid. But there is no way in hell I condone giving him another dog. That's like letting a pedophile run an at-home daycare.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm thankful for all of the simple things.

• my inner Betty Crocker
• my inner Susie Homemaker
• nesting
• Free stuff online!
• my mad skills
• flannel 'jama pants
• solid foods
• the 10 pounds I lost because I couldn't eat solid foods for a week.
• my mad skillz

Check it!

And theeennnn!!!

So Much AppleSauce! That's 12 quarts right there. We commence canning this evening.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I want to go back to something that I lost several weeks back - Thankful Thursday.

Today, I am thankful...

• for thoughtfulness - yesterday, I received a package of small gifts from a customer. Actually, it was from his daughter. The package was completely unexpected and I was so touched by the whole thing that I got misty-eyed and trembly-chinned.
• for friends - mine are pretty awesome.
• for dreams fulfilled - I'm inspired by all of the people around me who continue to persevere and strive for the things they really want. It keeps me on the right track.
• for homemade breads and muffins - there's really nothing better than the satisfying taste of a home-made baked good.
• for vegetarian cookbooks - I can feel the changes in my body already.
• for long walks with the pup - she loves the quality time and it is bringing up closer.
• for Michael's - sure they get approximately 20% of my net pay but I'd rather have this addiction than some other more dangerous ones.

Well, that's all for today. Wait until you see some of the stuff I'm making! And if you craft, check out the Barnat breast cancer yarns at Michael's, it's for a great cause.

Thankful Thursday - A Selfish Rendition

image via

Today, I'm thankful for one thing: Me.

• I have a good head on my shoulders


• I have a strong resolve


• I have impeccable problem solving abilities


• I picked awfully wonderful friends


• I taught myself to not say everything I feel


• I have managed to be someone that even I can rely on


• I am honest with myself and others


• I never fear tomorrow


• I stay focused toward my goals


• I believe in my dreams


• I know that I can do anything


• I trust naively


• I love openly


• I have a bubbly personality


• I have already decided and committed to succeeding

That's right. Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Giving Thanks

There are some things in life that we just let pass us by without proper acknowledgement. It's funny that when you read this list, you may say to yourself, "Why is she thanking him/her/it/them? They didn't do anything special". But the truth of the matter is that they have done something special by doing just one small thing right and they deserve to be recognized for it. Because, believe me, if they did something wrong, you would aaaaalllllllll know it before they were out of ear shot.

1. To the cleaning crew at work - thank you for scraping off that dried, bloody booger that was on the wall in stall 4. I don't know who put it there and I hate them just as much as you do. Yes, I wish their toothbrush had been here for you to use also.

2. Nice people at the Drive-Thru window - on a day like yesterday where my air conditioner was being a 1st class cow, I was not in the mood to deal with anything including my greasy face, my sweaty skin, or my frizzy hair. All I really wanted was to bring my body temp down about 10 degrees. That's where the BK drive-thru guy comes in. He handed me my large-sized Dr. P and my large-sized Cherry Icee without comment or judgement. He even kept silent when I squealed in delight. For a brief second, he was my hero.

3. My paycheck - I'm always ready to tell it off when it's acting a jack or mysteriously short, but I never take the time to thank it for being enough to supply all of my needs and most of my wants.

4. The Deleted Folder in my Outlook - This folder will never know how many times a day it has saved me from the brink of insanity or kept me from having to bop someone upside their skull to bring things to their recollection. Instead, I just pull up that email from February 8, 2009 and offer you a rock-solid refesher.

5. Baked Goods - I love them in every form and on days like today I'm going to devour them.

6. Sports that aren't Baseball - you all rock. All of you. Yeah, even you lacrosse. There's something about the physical contact that gets me. Those baseball jocks are a bunch of pansies. Whining about outs and balls and bad calls. How about I take this ball and kick it towards your face?!? Huh!?! Yeah... that's what I thought.

7. MMA Fighters - Y'all aren't pretty but it's not really pretty that I'm after. I love the knowledge that my man could kick your man's ass. Puuurrrrrrrrrr!

8. Nail Techs - You don't talk much and you are always trying to upsell me on some solar polish but DAMN if you don't do brilliant work. I <3 you, for real though.

9. My Boobs - Sometimes, you weigh my shoulders down and make me feel like I'm carrying a watermelon, but I love you. We've been together so long that I kinda can't imagine life without you.

10. To All of the Relationships that Didn't Work Out - You were all bitches for treating me the way you did but you all taught me something too. Once, I learned that I was too forgiving. Another time I learned that it's ok to have bounderies. One of you taught me that in my deepest core I am NOT a Gold Digger and wouldn't allow someone to buy my dignity. Most recently, you taught me not to allow my mother to get involved. At the time we were together, I'm sure I hated you; I hate some of you still. But I learned from you, so, thanks for that.

Kisses --

J-Bird

Thankful Thursday

I wasn't in the mood to be thankful last week. I'm not really in the mood to be thankful today either. Just know that I'm faking this harder than a GILF. Yeah, I went there... GILF. Think about it. They don't really wanna be there. They're all old and crunchy. Except for Betty White, of course. She's just a little dusty.*



But all-in-all, I'm making this list of things that I'm thankful for.



Wanna read it? Here't goes.

• time - I know this sounds silly but knowing that I can never get it back makes each moment so precious


• vacation time - I won't get to spend mine doing anything except sleeping, drooling, writhing in pain and riding in a car for 8 hours each way, but hey! I'm getting paid to do it. Right? Eh...


• pay checks - God knows I need mine and don't know what I would do without a regular one


• menstrual cycles - it's a little reminder from Jesus that I'm not pregnant


• Excedrin PMS - it keeps me from cuttin' a bitch.


• candles - *deep breaths*


• nosey neighbors - if I ever really am in trouble, I know that they'll be able to correctly identify the perpetrator.


• fuckin' Emo, long-hair-dyeing, fake-blood-making, skinny-jean-wearing, off-key-singing, no-talent-having, sommabitches that move back in with your downstairs neighbor - because you are an exercise in patience.

*If you had to click on the link to get the joke then the joke's on you because that is the best skit of this season! If, like me, you clicked on the link because you will use any excuse to relive that moment, well then... you're alright.

Thankful Thursday

For some reason, I find myself in the mood to give the bird to a majority of the world. It's ok though because when all else fails I can find my center during a thankful Thursday. I live for this day simply because it forces me to slow down and find joy and peace in everyday situations. So, here it is.

This week, I'm thankful:

• for my sanity


• that people still stand up against what's wrong


• that I have an opportunity to build a real financial future in lieu of spending the rest of my days working for someone else


• that yesterday is over (it was a bitch!)


• that Happy Hour is tomorrow


• for dress sales


• that I met my annual minimums in my Gold Canyon business


• that I get to keep selling The World's Finest candles


• that the love of my life is out there somewhere waiting for the day when he can put up with my craziness and listen to me snore

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday

I've been MIA on the blogging front lately and that's because I've been living life so much that I have yet to take the time to really process it all. This past weekend was insane. Saturday alone, I visited with 4 different friends. Between working my business and putting in massive amounts of quality time, the only other thing I can think to do is sleep. That doesn't mean that I don't have TONS of stories to share; it means that I haven't had time to put them all on paper.

With all that being said, I want to make sure that it doesn't come off as griping. I'm not griping. I guess the only thing I have to be sad about is that I don't keep in touch with people better. Now, that I'm reconnecting with all of my friends, I wish that we had stayed closer all this time.

And above all else, I feel truly thankful this week for everything. So many great memories are being formed and so much fun stuff is happening that it's making me wonder if this city is where I really belong after all.

All that aside, this week, I found myself being thankful for:

1. sunny days - I always took them for granted until we only had 4 of them in May


2. rain - it makes for warm food and good conversation


3. $10 pizzas - I don't care who you are, that's a good deal


4. bad decisions - they make for great stories


5. the teenagers that serve my popcorn at the movie theatre - our local theatre just went completely self-serve but the prices are still outrageously absurd. I wondered aloud why I had to pour my own Slushee and then pay $5 for the privilege


6. people that talk with their hands - I will never think of mac 'n' cheese the same way again


7. football movies


8. "It's raining nuts!" - Dora the Explorer -- BAHAHAHAHAHAA!


9. gas points - they equal cheap gas which equals more travel which equals more fun times


10. Brinner - it's breakfast for dinner


11. having more than one mom - I felt like the Kleenex commercial. I was sick last night and when I got tired of one mom I just sat with another. It was the ultimate cure.

Thankful Thursday - A Belated Post

Good Grief! I let a whole Thursday go by and managed to not be thankful. I would feel ashamed but I haven't had time to feel much of anything except for tired. But that's because I have so many absolutely wonderful friends whom have been allowing me to selfishly encroach on their lives.

So, today, we're going to keep it short and sweet. I'm thankful for:

• having so many friends


• friends that are willing to re-connect


• having the money to pay all of my bills (even if that's the last thing I want to do with it)


• feeling so blessed


• knowing that even if all of my friends are getting married or having babies, I'm still getting drunk and am 200% ok with that

Happy Friday, Y'all!

Thankful Thursday - A Mother's Day Edition

Mother's Day is just around the corner and even though I don't have a gift for my Mom yet, you can be sure it will rock the house. I was going to write her a poem, but in the last 3 years she's received a Coach bag, a Pandora bracelet, Aldo shoes, and a diamond ring with the word "Mom" in it. I don't think I can get away with handmade presents now.

So, in honor of her Royal Highness, I am dedicating this Thankful Thursday post to her. Not because I'm a procrastinator but because she deserves to know how much I love her. And there's nothing better than putting it in writing so she can show all her friends.

I Am Thankful for My Mom Because:

• Our relationship has progressed as I have grown


• I can talk to her about anything (almost)


• She's usually right


• She knows when to give advice and when to just be a sounding board


• She won't judge me if I make the wrong decision


• She maximizes "gloat time" to 180 minutes


• She is forever stylish


• She taught me to chase my dreams


• She has supported my whims


• She won't wear champagne to my wedding (hint, hint)


• I can look at her and have hope for my future physique


• My kids will have an awesome Grandma


• My kids won't be ugly


• When all I said and done, I know she'll still be there tomorrow

I Love You, Mom. T----H----I----S----M----U----C----H!!

Thankful Thursdays

I've been spending a lot of time lately reconnecting with the people in my life and I tell you what, it couldn't be any better. I love how some things never change like good friends, great food, and hearty laughs over bottles of Pellegrino.

So today, I'm thankful for:

• trust - some people don't know how important it is but its a great feeling to know that someone feels comfortable putting their trust in you


• second chances - we all want them, we all need them, we don't all get them


• people not like me - I can't even think of what that would be like


• snuggling - it's right up there with chocolate


• unconditional love


• Prom season - it makes me want to buy a dress just to go to dinner

What are you thankful for?

Do It For The Children - A Different Kind of Thankful Thursday

Today is Thursday but it is also Earth Day (whoot!) and so I'm gonna shake it up a bit. Are you ready? Here it goes...

• warm spring breezes
• cartwheels done in the grass
• sun-kissed skin
• the way my toes feel in the sand
• the sound of birds singing in the morning
• children playing outside
• leaves on trees
• swimming in the ocean

It's time for us to take bigger steps towards sustainability. Most of my favorite things will go away if we don't take care of Mother Earth. Can you imagine a world where you'd have to take your child to the zoo to see a squirrel or a raccoon? No? Well, it could happen.

A quick and easy way to help the cause is to click here. It will take you to a page where all you have to do is click. One click and they will plant a tree in your honor. Now, how's that for easy?

(Pictures courtesy of www.noaa.gov - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Thankful Thursdays

Hey, ya'll!!

This is me posting from the past *eerie ghost music*

Today, I am thankful:

• that today is thelast day of meetings
• tomorrow I get to be back in the office telling you all of my great meeting stories
• that you all miss me tons and tons and are anxiously waiting for me to return :-)

It's the little things that make me happy.

See you tomorrow!!

Thankful Thursdays

Thursdays are the days that I tell the blogosphere what it is that I’m thankful for. I don’t want to give that up just yet so I put together this list.

• My new shoes. You can find them on this post but today is the first day I’ve worn them. There was an inner struggle about whether or not I should take them back to the store. I won.


• Boys with deep voices. He totally made my ten minutes yesterday.


• Dog groomers. The poodle has an appointment, thank God.


• Home-made pizza. All the taste, half the fat, one-third the cost.


• Faith. You never know if you have it until you are tested.

Thankful Thursdays

Today, I am thankful for:

• the time spent with my brothers


• the solo time I got to spend with Ethan


• plane tickets and passports


• "Name that Tune". I rocked at it when I was young and I rock at it now


• memories


• hugs and whispered "I love yous"


• happy tears


• sunshine


• spring days


• puppy hugs


• and chicken on Sundays

and I ain't foolin'!

Happy April Fool's Day!!

Simple Pleasures

I started off this day a complete wreck. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. From the snow on my car to the lost iron to the hour in traffic to the scratched up car door, I had an all-around, terrible, horrible, no good, very bad morning.

But I came to my blog and I read Cup of Jo and today she's all about simple pleasures. Seeing those wonderful pictures gave me the soothing touch I needed. And so, here are my simple pleasures.

Reading by a window, snuggling under blankets, and playing with the pups.

What are yours?

Thankful Thursday

Alright Peeps! It's time to be Thankful on this magnificent day!!

Firstly, I'm thankful that my vacation is over. Getting back to work never felt so good.

And then...

• my new shirts from Buckle.


• my shiatsu massager -- OMG, it is that good.


• and, all of you for allowing me to exercise both, my inner gossip and my inner voyeur.

Thankful Thursday

Today is Thursday and I desperately need to tell you all of the things that I am thankful for:

• having a dad and brothers. The run-in with the trainer was slightly embarrassing, a bit comical and very reassuring.
• spinach -- because we've been eating out all week and you know what happens to your digestive tract when you make that mistake.
• family fun time. Including board games, ice skating sessions, and window shopping at the mall.
• my parents relationship with me and each other.
• Noodle's diagnosis. It's pnuemonia but we caught it early and she'll be ok.
• my brother, Ethan. He always makes me feel like I'm number one to him. And my ego really needs that reassurance.
• passports. I'm really excited that I might get to use mine soon.
• my parents understanding.
• the awesome family photos we've taken these last few days.
• having my dad's ears, my mom's temperment and my own sense of adventure.
• the good night's sleep I got last night. It was very much needed.
• the smell of sausage and pancakes coming from the kitchen. This is going to be a good day. =)
  

Thankful Thursday

Today is the day for which I give thanks for all the things that I usually take for granted. And so, I am thankful for:

• fitting comfortably into my jeans again.
• my ridiculous sense of humor (my favorite joke is "Interrupting Cow")
• that spring has sprung in Ohio
• that it is almost time for spring training and football will soon be on t.v. again
• EH4. We were just matched today and (SAPPY ALERT) I really really like him already. *fingers crossed*
• vacation days
• my mom's frenchy-english dialect "His is ... how do you say? Good to look at. And very outdoors-y ... yes??" hahahahaha!!!!