Cape Henlopen State Park

In Delaware, after stuffing our faces with turkey, pie, and, yes, stuffing, we all headed to nearby Cape Henlopen State Park to take a post-turkey trot on the beach. I'm pretty sure I was waddling instead of walking. 

The weather was unbelievable-- sixty degrees and sunny. Our jackets were mainly just there to block the wind billowing in off the water. It was a perfect, pleasant day. After all, it's not often that the entire family can be together, just strolling and talking and having a good time. Here's a few of my favorite images from our walk on the beach

Cape Henlopen State Park

15099 Cape Henlopen Dr

Lewes, DE 19958

Our Thanksgiving

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has already come and gone-- even the leftovers of which we had plenty. Thankfully, we still have the rest of the holiday season to look forward to. I've already started decorating and shamelessly listening to Christmas carols; so our house smells like holly and cinnamon while Bing Crosby croons in the background. 
This year for Thanksgiving, Mark and I traveled to Lewes, Delaware to celebrate the holiday with his family there. His aunt and uncle-- who hosted and fed 27 people as if it were nothing-- live there near the beach. His aunt put on quite the spread for everyone, including the best-tasting turkey you've ever tasted. The bird sat in a herb filled brine for 24 hours and then went into the oven at four am. Now that is some Thanksgiving dedication. But it resulted in an amazing, moist turkey breast that I'm pretty sure was the best I've ever tasted. 

Mashed potatoes, sweet potato souffle, apple sauce, cooked carrots, slaw, cranberries-- everything you could imagine was piled high on our plates. I ate way more calories than any one person needs in one day, much less one meal. And I don't regret a single bite. Although, I have to admit, the gym has been exacting some post-Thanksgiving torture. 
How was your Thanksgiving holiday this year? 

Four Weeks of Gratitude // Week Three

Thanksgiving is only a week away! Can you believe it? I personally can't wait for some time off to visit with family and, of course, stuff my face without remorse or shame. 
This November, I made it a mission to share one thing for which I'm grateful every week. I figured: surely I can manage that right? Well, life got in the way as it always does, and I missed last week's installment. I had written a lovely post about family and sisters... only to accidentally delete the thing. Ugh. So, if you'll bear with me, I'm going to combine week two and three into one post. Rules shmules, right?
This week, I'm thankful for two rather different things: my sister and my pup.

When I was a little girl, I used to love watching my sister apply her makeup. She would occasionally walk into my room with her makeup bag and sit on the floor, and I felt so special that she wanted to "hang out" in my room. I had a little girl room-- all plastic horses and fluffy pillows-- and she was a teenager, way too cool. She would rove through the bag, plastic compact cases clicking against each other as she searched for a specific tool or item. Foundation, concealer, blush. But my favorite was always the eye makeup. One eye closed, lips slightly parted, she would expertly apply layers of silver and blue. Watching her from my perch on the bed, I would think "Is there any way I'll ever be that pretty?" 
While I don't sit and stare at her in wonderment like I used to, there are times when I stop and think "Wow, I'm glad she's my sister." (Don't worry, there are times I want to thump her on the head too. And I'm sure the feeling is mutual. It's a sister thing.) She's simultaneously the toughest and the tenderest person I know. I've seen her pull over to help a wounded animal on the roadside, and I've seen her hackles raise in defense of those she loves. She's brave enough to stand up for what she knows is right and brave enough to admit when she's wrong. One thing I've always been sure about? That my sister loves me and is there for me. And that's something to be very thankful for. 

This week, I've also been thankful for our little pitbull pup Solo. He's stinky and mildly destructive but I'm so thankful that he's part of our little family. No matter how rough the work day has been, when you open the front door to find fifty pounds of wiggly-happy-to-see-you-ness, you can't help but feel better. I've learned so much about the pitbull breeds since welcoming Solo into our home. This little pup has taught me a lot about love and patience, but also another very important lesson: to not judge until you get to know someone. 
The little things I'm thankful for this week: - husbands who encourage you to meet your personal goals  - an empty squat rack at the gym - library cards because free books! - blueberry muffins in the morning #oopsdiet - the ginkgo tree across the road, whose bright leaves turn our room to gold - coffee because it's coffee
If you missed the first installment, you can find it here. What have you been thankful for this month? 

Four Weeks of Gratitude // Week One

Can you believe it's already November? I'm not sure where 2015 went, but went it has. 
November has always been one of my favorite months because it contains my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. Turkey Day is my all-time favorite holiday for many reasons: amazing recipes, family dinners, chilly weather, holiday time. I'm definitely a home-body, so the holiday that reminds us to stop and celebrate all things home is of course my favorite. In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, I decided to start a mini series centered around gratitude. Each week, I'll share one big thing and several little things for which I'm thankful. I think it's so important to stop and count my blessings, to realize that I have so very much in my life. 

This week, I'll start with the one person for whom I'm thankful every single day of my life: my husband Mark. 
Mark is my rock and adds so much happiness to my life everyday. He has always supported my goals and ambitions. He has taught me to stick up for myself, to realize that I'm strong, and to never be afraid to expect the best. At the same time, he's taught me so much about patience, kindness, and lending a helping hand.  He's a strong, hardworking man but also has a very gentle spirit. I'm so grateful to have found a partner in this life who can simultaneously accept me for who I am and challenge me to be better. 

One of my favorite things about my husband: working out with him every day. We started going to the gym together right after we got married. I have to say, it's my favorite part of the day. We typically do the same workout-- and we don't always even talk while doing it. But it's a great way to be together and blow off steam after the long workday. Hearing him say "good job" or "you did great baby" sometimes feels like the biggest compliment anyone could give. 
The little things I'm thankful for this week: - meeting my husband for lunch on Tuesday - my Friday morning Starbucks run #treatyoself - checking everything off my to-do list  - finally finishing our kitchen remodel  - friends (and sisters!) who are willing to listen -sketching logo ideas for my husband's personal training business What are you thankful for this week? Feel free to join in on the series.  Share your thoughts or post link in comments.