Gratitude Catch-up! Day's 8, 9, 10 & 11

Yeah, the days just keep getting away from me!  Between work (Open Enrollment, woo hoo!!), and taking on a new adventure (Thirty-one consultant, baby!!), it's been busy.  Good busy though!!

I have been trying to remember to express and enjoy my gratitude.  So here's a catch up from the past few days.

Day 8 - Sleep

Sleeping Maxie

Maxie is our rescue dog.  The poor thing has such anxiety issues that sometimes he really only finds peace when he is relaxing or sleeping on his huge doggie bed.  I am very thankful for this loving, protective doggie...even with all his craziness.

Day 9 - Holidays

The Most Thankful of Holidays

I am grateful for Thanksgiving!! Not necessarily because I love to eat, or that my birthday is close by, but it really is my favorite holiday.

Day 10 - Kindness

Gratitude for kindness!

Yes, it's a Cream Filled Devil's Food Cake, but I can't get there here in Colorado.  It was amazing of my mom to mail me these two big boxes when I really needed both kindness and chocolate.  I'm thankful for my Mom because she knows exactly when Mom is needed most.

Day 11 - Friendship

Friendship!

Maybe it's not the most appropriate pictures to show friendship...but it was sure nice to share that pile with friends.  I am incredibly grateful for the friends in my life.  They offer support, strength, guidance and love - and they want nothing in return except for support, strength, guidance and love.

Everyday is not going to be sunshine and roses, but taking time to stop and be grateful goes a long way.  My blessings are plentiful...and I don't take them for granted.

Cheers!

Gratitude Challenge - Day 6 & 7

I'm going to be honest...I'm struggling a little with gratitude today! Not that I'm not grateful, I know the blessings that are around me.  I'm just not feeling creatively grateful today.

Memories

Day 6 - Memories
I am grateful for all of the fabulous times we have had together as a family.

Innovation - Nope!

Day 7 - Innovation
Well, I just could not connect grateful with innovation. So...I'm being innovative and breaking out of the cycle. I'm grateful for Alpacas. Yes, Alpacas.

Cheers!

Mother's Day Challenge - Day 14

Two weeks down!  Nice.  It's been a good two weeks - busy, but good.  Today was a great Saturday, and the family is really making the most of this long holiday weekend.  Please remember as you and your family enjoy this weekend, we celebrate our freedom thanks to the brave men and women who have fought and died to preserve it.  Thank you!!

We started our day with a trip to the Denver Zoo to see the new Elephant Passage.  The Mayor was particularly excited because he has been waiting to see Mimi & Dolly's (the Zoo's veteran elephant inhabitants) new home ever since they moved them a few months ago.   It did not disappoint, and the new Asian Tropics display is absolutely beautiful.  We are looking forward to enjoying it much more in the future.

Groucho, one of Denver Zoo's newest elephant friends.

After the zoo, we headed to C's favorite burger place and enjoyed a quick lunch, followed by a quick trip to the mall to get my engagement ring checked out and cleaned (gotta do that every so often!).  While we were at the mall I decided it was time for a little "me" adventure.  I say adventure, because it wasn't necessarily "me" time, but it was something for me.  Well, I did a little impromptu jean shopping.  Normally, that would be a great big - ARGH!  This however, was different...and not so bad.

Since I was not planning to purchase jeans today, I didn't have time to psych myself out, talk myself down and do that whole negative talk thing that most women do when it's time for jeans.  But here's the thing, I have been wanting a pair of "skinny" jeans.  Walking past the Levi's story was all the inspiration I needed - and in I went.  The tall, thin, tattooed sales associate (Lauren) was amazing and really made it super easy.  She gave me a measure with this random torturous looking device that she wrapped around me, after groping me to find my hip bone.  Whatever the measuring device did - I have no clue - but she came up with the style of skinny's that I should try.  She then started bringing me pairs and within 15-20 minutes I was hooked.  Happily, I now have a new pair of jeans that I feel really good about. Yeah!!  Oh, and also left with a chambray shirt that was on my summer wardrobe to-do list.

We finished out the day with some fun time with friends at Casa Bonita - a Denver institution which I had never had the opportunity to visit.  If you've never heard of Casa Bonita, give it a quick Google, or check out the South Park Episode (not kid friendly, FYI).

Casa Bonita from the famed South Park Episode.

All in all it was a great day, and I could not be more excited to have a new pair of jeans without the stress of buying them.

Previous posts on My Mother's Day Challenge:

My Mother's Day Challenge

Day 1 - Pick out a new Lipstick!

Day 2 - Give hydration a chance

Day 3 - Take a walk

Day 4 - Mid-week movie night

Day 5 - Properly washing your face 

Day 6 - Head to bed early 

Day 7 - Designate a Chore

Day 8 - Alone Time

Day 9 - A total bust! 
Day 10 - Crafting on a Tuesday

Day 11 - A Good Read  

Day 12 - Healing and Recovery Break

Day 13 - Much Needed Rest

Girls' Weekend, a Wedding and Coming Home

The joy of a girls' weekend!  Don't you love how I say that like I do it all the time?

This past weekend I got to enjoy a fun girls' weekend courtesy of my bosses wedding in California.  It would have been so much fun to have brought my hubby, but hey, living on a budget these days made going solo the least expensive option.  So, off I went to Cali with a great friend and co-worker, KK.

I decided early on that I wanted to document the wedding...photos, tweets, fb statuses...just some fun!  However, early on in the weekend I realized that I really wasn't picture worthy most of the time, and assume KK felt the same (after all, who wants their pic taken after traveling, working out, etc.?)  Welcome to the trip documented in beverages!  Normal, no.  Fun, absolutely.  After all, who has an opportunity when you don't have to drive and you can be a little indulgent?

Cheers at the Airport

Yeah, we finally arrived!

It was super fun, and I've already told KK that I'm going to turn them into a coffee table book for her birthday!

Mimosa's for Breakfast

 

Hydration over golf (OK, a driving range!)

The purpose of the whole weekend though was The Wedding.  This wedding did not disappoint!  It was one of those events that was filled with so much love, gratitude and happiness.  I'm so honored to have gotten to share the special day with my boss and his beautiful new wife.

The Wedding was so great.  It was a traditional Chinese menu that included some foods I had eaten before, some I had not, some I thought were amazing...well, and some that were not up my alley.
I tried everything - ok, almost everything - a darn mushroom allergy, and not wanting an evening full of hives made me miss out on the soup course.  Holy Peking duck...love, love, love...it was about the best I have ever had.  And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the cake (love my cake!!).  It was amazing and I probably could have eaten an entire tier on my own.

After lots of dancing, not enough sleep and not being able to find that just-right breakfast at LAX, I was home.  I love to travel, but there is nothing better than coming back home.

Being without my men for those few days made homecoming even better...ahhh, the hugs from a 5-year old. After lots more hugs, some dinner prepared by hubby and a few more hugs, into my bed I climbed - and curled up with my own pillow.

Dorothy was right, there really is no place like home!

|| ugg = eek \\ ahhh

Let's start off right with this blog post by making two things clear:

1.  I'm not going to begin to try to explain what the title of this blog means.  Not only would I be completely unsuccessful at it, but I'm not 100% sure it would even translate properly.
2.  If you are easily offended and/or don't care for profanity - please use your back button now and return from whence you came.

|| ugg: 

The following is a list of things that I'm completely over!

• Whining - not just from 5-year olds, but from adults who should know better.  Please people, buck up, deal with it.  More importantly, listen to yourself...you should really be ashamed.
• Women who make the rest of us look bad - ladies, it's 2012...far time we stopped being our own worst enemies.  There is nothing more frustrating when I can sit back and with complete certainty, look at another women and think, "Why yes, that would be why men think women are fucking wack-a-doodles!"So thank you, thank you tons for making things so much harder than they have to be.
• People lost in their own self importance - well aww, shucks, I am really sorry that your 8-hour work day has sucked the life out of you.  It must be exhausting being responsible for your actions and the life you've chosen.

Now that I've gotten that off my mind I can move on.  I don't know about other people, but I am one of those people who can only get things off my mind by getting them out of my mind.  There...done!

= eek:

 Here's a little complete randomness:

Taxidermy

• I've discovered something new in the past few weeks and just had to share.  Taxidermy animals are absolutely hysterical.  Well, maybe not all of them, but the one's The Bloggess speaks of are (amongst other things she writes about).  If you are not already a fan of The Bloggess, then please click the link below and check her out (you can thank me later!).  Oh, and check out Juanita the Weasel, you will love her as much as I do.  

http://thebloggess.com/

 Internet Article Comments 

• I don't think it's a stretch to say that most people are using the expansive www. as the source for their news and article reading pleasures.  Along with all the articles spreading the news, there is a whole other source of unfiltered (most of the time!) entertainment at the bottom of most articles...The Comments!  Word to the wise, if you are not skimming the comments you are surely missing out.  Bottom line, it's the first place I have found where the educated, the spell-check-challenged, people with a low profile (anonymous asses) and narcissistic attention seekers all live together in harmony.  Ok, maybe not harmony...but they're all in one place; and it's like a train-wreck.  You just can't stop reading.  You just can't get past that some total fuck-nut not only learned how to work their compter...but found their way to the comments section of an article on the Huffington Post.

Pinterest 

• In the past few days there has been a ton of conversation about Pinterest, the online pinboard, wish list maker.  A lot of the conversation is about a bunch of hoo-haa-stereotypical-women crap, whatever!  Reality is though, I'm hooked.  Yes, it's a big, ridiculous time suck; but beyond that it has spurred some creativity within me that I've been trying to find for a while.  It's well worth a quick peek.  In the meantime, here are two of my Pinterest inspired bouts of creativity.

Lots of Lego Birthday Party ideas!  Made these Lego Men pops.

Crafting?  Yes, made this great Valentine's day wreath.

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And a few more things:

• I completely enjoyed this total curse fest my family got into on Facebook.  Random, yes!  Funny, completely!  Want to enjoy this emotional Facebook outlet?  Just have a random family member start a status with the word FUCK, then have the rest of the sarcastic asses in the family comment back.  Yes, this really did happen.
• I nearly had a complete panic attack when I realized that as I was having a little fun with my family - the words "Jenn commented on a status...Happy Fucking Valentines Day" appeared somewhere on my boss' News feed.  Oops.
• This Sunday is Oscar Sunday.  It's like a holiday for me and something I look forward to every year.  Hopefully, it will be a blog inspiring night.

And that Ladies and Gentlemen is about as true a rant as you get.

I Bid Thee Adieu

It's time to say good bye to 2011, but not before a little reflection on the things that I truly am thankful for from this year that has past.  A few weeks ago I sat down to write my family's annual Holiday letter that accompanies our Christmas card.  This is by far one of my favorite things to do each year as it gives me time to really think about what went on for the past 356 days.  So every year I usually feel the same sentiments..."wow, this year has flown by," "here we are writing about another year," "it was a fun, loving, exciting...fill in the blank kind of year!"  This year was however different than the last few; and it may sound strange, but I honestly feel like I am leaving 2011 a lot different than how I entered it.

This past year was hard! We felt the effects of the economy and watched people we care about feel them too.  There was unemployment and all the emotions that go along with that.  We said goodbye to the friend who The Mayor was named after...and stood with my family to say goodbye to my step-brother Joe.  I walked away (sadly) from a friendship I thought would be there forever; and watched a lot of hard work fade away. But, even though it was rougher than most I have found things to be truly thankful for.  Good, bad, indifferent...this is that list...the list of things I AM thankful for.

The health of my family!  How cliche, I know.  Everyone is always saying they are thankful for the good health of their friends and family - but you know what, I really am.  I am thankful that my husband has had another great year of sticking to an amazing (and envied!) fitness routine.  I absolutely love that my son has a dad that is fit, active and a man to look up to.  And as for my health...a few ups and downs...a hospital visit or two...an upcoming round (another!) of physical therapy; but it's good.  You are not going to find me complaining...just going with the flow.  Oh, and The Mayor (my son for those of you who've not heard the reference) he is healthy, happy, thriving...and hopefully growing out of his lactose intolerance.  That's a lot of health to be thankful for.  I never take it for granted.

I am thankful for my family - the whole family - and there's lots of them.  I have parents, a step-parent and a father-in-law (who makes me think I won the in-law lottery sometimes); a brother, step-brothers and brothers-in-law; sisters, step-sisters, and a sister-in-law; aunts, uncles and cousins; nieces and nephews and blah, blah, blah.  I am thankful for them, but let's be honest...they can all be a little certifiable from time to time (find me a person who's not!).  But in the end, they are MY family.  One of the things about this year is that I have seen some of the relationships change - but some of them have changed for the better, and that is also something to be thankful for.

My friends are the Bomb!  Ok, I don't quite understand that statement.  And frankly, it sounds kind of immature.  But I have these amazing friends who make life so much better and a statement like that just seems to fit.  I could never ask for more than them.  So in the spirit of my friends, I am thankful for chats on the phone, chats over text messages, chats over IM and especially the chats in person.  Thank you for the meals shared, the tears comforted and for hiding the weapons when you see Jersey coming on full force. I feel truly blessed and sleep better at night knowing they will never post a bad photo of me on facebook.

Did I mention wine?  And good food?  Or, my Cookbooks and magazine-torn-out-recipes?  I know it might sound ridiculous to be thankful for those things...but they keep me sane.  I want to cook, and eat and drink good wine (and sometimes not-so-good wine if the company is right) - and I want to talk about and write about cooking, good food and wine.  I have found a happiness in a hobby this year that I want to continue and get better at it in 2012.  Cheers to that.

I am thankful for my hubby.  This year was a rough one for us - needless to say, the strength of our marriage has been tested.  We had ups and downs and round and rounds - and for the past six months we've even been living in separate states.  It would be easy to say that I am thankful for him because it's much easier than doing the day-to-day alone...but it's so much more than that.  I probably don't tell him enough how thankful I am, or how he saved me.  Not saved me in a literal "life-saving" way, but saved me from following a path in life that would never have proved to be what I needed - or wanted.  We started out on a journey a long time ago, and through that journey he's driven me nuts, made me laugh, made me cry and has even brought out the very worst in me.  But he's also brought out the best in me - and for that I love him and am thankful that I have him in my life, on my team and by my side.

My son has made me more thankful for my mom!  For that and a million other reasons I am thankful for that amazing little face that greets me every morning and hugs me a zillion times every night.  I love being his mom!  But I love that he has given me this new and fascinating appreciation for my own mom.  Being a mom is hard, and tiring, and confusing, and frustrating...but it's full of hope and dreams, too.  No matter how tired I am, frustrated or sad...mom has found this way of putting it all in perspective for me this past year.  The weird thing is that I can't even put my finger on what it is that she does that helps so much.

I am really looking forward to 2012.  Who knows what it will hold, or where it will take me.  It's a new year and a new start - and with that clean slate I'm going to work on treasuring all the little things in life that I truly am thankful for.  Happy New Year!!