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. 

Gratitude // Spring Plantings

This week, I've been thankful for grubby fingers and spring plantlings. 

For yummy berry-banana-spinach-and-chia concoctions for breakfast. 

For snoozey pups who snore and bark during their naps. 

For reminders of freedom's high cost, tucked right behind shopping centers. 

For evening walks done right.

It's funny how when you begin to count your blessings, the little things

suddenly amount to so much, becoming weighty and significant in your arms.

What have you been grateful for lately? 

{Count Your Blessings}

Some times, being young, newly wed, and a graduate student is just hard. You start juggling so many things, you start to panic-wonder how you're going to make ends meet. On the days I find myself feeling frazzled and flustered, I usually realize--through mid-fluster, when I've been committed to that state of mind for long enough its become annoying, to myself and everyone around me--that I never paused that day to be quiet, meditate, count my blessings, and be thankful for life. While it may seem like a simple act that doesn't accomplish much...stepping aside and expressing thankfulness does wonders for my attitude. If nothing else, gratitude motivates me to take on my day, to shoulder through, and to bear life's burdens with a little more grace.

This week, I'm thankful for: 

Hot summer afternoons that combine sweet tea, fireflies, front porches, and family. 

Summers that provide me opportunities to paint. 

Spots of bright color on rainy days, and our neighbor's mad gardening skills. 

Sleepy mornings with this snuggle pup. 

Evening walks and yellow houses. 

Painted brick and a sturdy roof over my head. 

What are you thankful for today? 

Making Us Happy 6.10

Today I paused to count my blessings. 

Here's what I found: 

 Green forests and shaded paths that make running easier.

The garden's first herbs. Basil is always an over-achiever...gotta be first.

Pups that enjoy mid-morning snoozes any time of the day. 

Fresh coats of white paint that make a bigger impact than you expect.

The white canopies sheltering surprising talent at the Frederick Art Festival. 

Vivid pink blooms right by the front door.

Blue summer skies. 

Has summer vacation started for you yet? 

What are some of your favorite blessings? 

Making Us Happy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making us happy this week:

• The beautiful blooms around Frederick. For me, its an eternal debate: Which do you like better, spring or fall?
• German-Greek crossover food. You can order a bratwurst with tzatziki sauce--who doesn't enjoy that combo?
• Sleepy cuddly pups, who like to bang their tails against every loud surface before snoozing on my feet.
• Our new chandelier in the dining room. Doesn't it remind you of a bird cage?
• Little mini blueberry bushes, trying to grow. Here's hoping it survives puppy-antics. 

{Gratitude} The Little Things in Life

This week, my gratitude theme seems to be "the little things," items or events that, in and of themselves, seem insignificant but, really, carry so much weight in the form of smiles and happiness. 

The photos top to bottom: 

• A strong, dark brew on a rainy morning
• Finding a grocery with better produce, only one exit up. You never know what you'll find if you just explore a little further than you're used to.
• The way the early grey light fills our house
• These new shelves my hubby helped me make and paint
• One sip of handcrafted goodness from Brewer's Alley, worth every penny
• That smile. It makes my world. 

What are you grateful for today?