Gratitude Day # 6

What would I do without...

1. Pedicures. I am thankful for pedicures. I think feet are gross - especially when they are gross feet! So, I love getting a pedicure. It feels so great to have my feet and legs massaged and to get my toes painted... I love having pretty toes. I think I'll go get one today :)

2. A Giant Purse. You all knew this one would come up! I have a sickness - I'm a purse-a-holic. No such thing?! The wallpaper on my computer and cell phone are both purses. I used to have well over 30, now I only have 5... but long for more! Ugh! They have to be big purses though - I have to put a lot of stuff in them - especially because I'm in school and working and live far away - there are lots of things I have to keep in my purse! Now I really need a new one!

3. My nephew! He is leaving for AZ tonight for several days and I haven't seen him in just over two weeks, so I had to make the ultimate sacrifice today and wake up freakishly early to see him before he skips town. I got to his house just after 6:30 this morning and got to wake him up, get him dressed for the day, and give him some breakfast. It was a nice morning and I enjoyed spending time with him - he is especially cuddly in the mornings! I love that little boy!

Gratitude Day # 5

Today I am thankful for...

1. My cell phone. Yes, some call it my Crackberry... but I love it! If I lost it, I'm pretty sure I would go crazy! I wouldn't know anyones phone numbers. How would I get ahold of people!? Plus, I am slightly addicted to texting! It's easier to get a quick question answered. I know that some people text at inappropriate times (I am occasionally guilty) but it keeps me in touch.

2. Holidays. I love the holidays! I love spending time with family and friends! I think this time of year people are different. I know that I try harder to think of others first and make sure that the people I love and care about are taken care of and have everything they need and want in life. I think people in general, are trying to be better this time of year. I think that may be the holiday feeling that we get.

3. T. Go ahead and laugh and make cheesy remarks about being thankful for him - but I am thankful for him for lots of reasons! I'm thankful for the way he makes me feel. I'm thankful for the wonderful things he says to me. I'm thankful for the way he looks at me and the way he sees me. I'm thankful that he likes my family and that they like him! Most of all, I'm thankful for the person he makes me want to be!

Gratitude Day # 4

I am thankful for...

1. My job! Thankful I have one first and foremost, but I am thankful for my job because I love it. I have met some amazing people through work! I have made some great friends through my office, through the providers I work with, and through different divisions I work with. It is nice to be able to enjoy work because of the people I work with. Not only that, but I love my clients! I am so grateful to work with some amazing 'kids'. I have been truly blessed by their love as well. I had a client pass away almost two years ago, and after the funeral I received a very nice thank you card from her family - thanking me for everything I had done for them. In reality, I hadn't done much for them and felt like they had truly blessed my life as they are some of the most unconditionally loving people I have ever met.

2. My Education. Yes, I am in the middle of furthering my education, but how lucky am I to be able to do this?! So lucky! I am truly blessed to be able to go to school and get a great education so that I am able to provide for a family in the future - and also so that I can be a good example to my own children. I want my children (assuming I have some) to know that an education is important! You never know when you will need it!

3. Motion Sensors in Public Bathrooms. I know this is odd, especially because my first two were so important. This is important too! Most of you know I loathe public bathrooms! Can't stand them and try not to use them! However, with modern technology, I can go to the bathroom and not have to touch anything with my hands! It really is a miracle! No flushing because the toilets flush on their own! No touching sink handles because the water turns on by itself! No touching a soap dispenser squirter because it squirts itself! No touching the paper towel dispenser because they dispense with the wave of a hand! Now, if only the doors would open on their own....

Gratitude Day #3

Three more things I'm grateful for!

1. Bobby Pins & Elastics. Random, yes. Important - Insanely so!!! My hair is at that length where it just does what it wants - it's not too long, not too short - but not exactly easy to control at times! Hence the bobby pins and elastics! My bangs are annoying right now, so they are bobby pinned back! And by 3 p.m. I'm sick of my hair and want to pull it all out - so I pull out a trusty elastic and pull it into a ponytail! Instant fix really! The woman who figured out she could pull her hair back into a ponytail - is my hero! (I realize men have had long hair and may have figured out the ponytail long ago - however, I refuse to admit a man may have in fact invented the ponytail - they should keep their hair short!)

2. Peds. I love peds! They saved me on the mission and continue to amaze me now! I can't stand wearing nylons! Ugh! They are hideous, uncomfortable, and hot!!! Luckily, on my mission I discovered Peds (little nylon footies) and was allowed to wear those on the mission! What a lifesaver! It seriously made my life easier - okay, it made my legs and feet less hot! Nobody wants to wear nylons in 100 degree weather! I love them now too because while I have soem cute shoes - they're not very cute with socks - and trouser socks are kind of similar to nylons only better... Peds are just wonderful! I have them in black, white, and tan... lucky me!

3. Email! I am a horrible letter writer! You'd think that having been on a mission I'd be a better letter writer - however, it's quite the opposite. I'm an emailing fool! I love having a little Sis on a mission - and I send her emails weekly! If we didn't have email, I would be stuck writing a letter each week and I just can't do that. I would forget!!!

Gratitude Day #2

Right - So I had planned on doing this all week and we see how well I did. In my defense, I don't typically get online Friday through Sunday because I'm at home and have other things to do. However, that is no excuse for my lack of gratitude. I'll be posting 3 or 4 today - just to catch up. Sorry! And I can't promise I can finish this week out with the gratitudes... I'm leaving for St. George tomorrow! Sorry!

1. My Mom. I'm super thankful for my mom. She is so understanding, wise, and an awesome example. She doesn't read my blog (I doubt she knows I have one) so i can brag about her - She is one of the smartest people I know! I truly value her opinion and hope one day I can be like her! She encourages me to pursue my dreams. Keeps me grounded when I need it. And is supportive in everything I do. It means the world to me that she likes T so much!!!

2. Hector. Yes, my good 'ole car! Hector is a great companion! He is reliable and has a great sounding stereo - which is really important because I commute! I would DIE without my stereo. Hector keeps me warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and provides a nice way to get around town. He doesn't even mind when I leave things in the trunk that I really don't need (hence the stroller that has been in there for over a month - oops!)

3. MUSIC! Expect this to be on any and every blog where I talk about things I love, am thankful for, or would die without! I love music! It can help me define my mood, amplify my mood, change my mood. It helps me relax, and can put to words emotions and thoughts that I can't even begin to describe! My current playlist really can tell you a million things about me and my life at that moment! I love music!

Gratitude Day #1

It is now one week until Thanksgiving and I figure now is an appropriate time to just mention a few things I am thankful for - every day until Thanksgiving.

1. I'm grateful for chapstick. As odd as it sounds, I can't live without chapstick! Of course I have my favorite kinds but almost any chapstick will do. I don't do well with chapped lips so I have lots of chapstick around. It's a necessity!

2. I'm grateful for amazing friends! I love spending time with the girls! Whether we go shopping, get our toes done, catch a movie, a bite to eat, or attend card class - it's always a great time! I have some of the greatest girl friends alive! I love them all!!!

3. Pellet Ice! Strange? Maybe - but I love pellet ice! Since I gave up soda last year, I haven't had much pellet ice until last week! Half of my family was sick and my mom got some pellet ice to help calm the flu inflicted masses! I was SO excited! I can tell you where pellet ice is found almost all around the valley! I love having pellet ice in my water! It makes me so happy!

Hungry???

I had such a cool opportunity last week - that I wanted to share it with you! I went to the Utah Valley University 6th Annual Hunger Banquet last Thursday with my mom and my little sister Sh. I didn't know much about it other than it was a charity event to give money to the food bank in Utah County - so I was excited to attend.

When we arrived we were each given a number and an assigned place at a table with colored paper placemats. Mine was red, Mom and Sh's were a Cream color. We noticed there was one place setting at the table that was really nice! It had a nice cloth napkin, an entire set of silverware, a cloth napkin, glasses to drink from and a pitcher of water and a pitcher of lemonade and even a brownie. As people were sat at our table we said hello to them and made some small talk (my mom knew a couple of them since they were students in one of her classes) while we waited for the program to start. When it started the event coordinator told us that the placemats were color coded by our new assigned Socio Economic Status. My Red placemat indicated that I was a working class individual (it was quite fitting since I pretty much looked homeless that day - I wasn't going to see T so I didn't bother looking nice for class - oops!) My mom and sister were middle-class and luckily, there was no Snoody snood at our table (I had to play the role you know). We were excused to get our dinners. My sister and mother had pizza and soda. I had half a cup of plain white rice and half a cup of plain black beans.... thank goodness for Pepper.

What an experience it was! I sat there watching people interact at our table, and eating my beans and rice. Lucky for me, I spent a year and a half eating beans and rice for lunch and dinner so I didn't mind it. However, two of the other people at our table refused to eat the beans and rice and were angry that their $7.00 ticket paid for only that. My mom and sister both offered me some of their pizza but I wanted to enjoy the entire experience. There was a mother and her son at our table as well. The son was assigned rice and beans with me, and the mother got pizza. I watched her promptly give him the pizza and eat the rice and beans herself. I started to wonder how often that happens and remembered my mission and how the people there did things like that all the time! Missionaries, husbands and kids ate first. If there was anything left, the mother would eat. It made me really appreciate my mother even more!

By the time I left that evening, my pockets were empty (I gave all the money I had) and so was my stomach (beans and rice aren't very filling) - but my heart was full! I was so happy to have had that opportunity! I remember being poor when I was younger - but we were never beans and rice poor! I hope to make this a tradition and attend every year. It is that time of year when the food bank is emptying quicker than it is filling! I don't want people to be hungry! It's not a fun feeling!

12 days and counting

Whew! What can I say about life right now other than the fact that I am in a blissful state - and have been for the past 12 days... (if stuff like this grosses you out - don't read... I'm sure it'll be mushy - that's for you Les) I briefly mentioned in my last blog about going on a date with T... I think this would be the time to elaborate seeing as how one date has become 12 amazing days!

T and I met through a friend in July for business purposes. I thought he was cute but figured I wasn't his type... I was meeting him to hire his services (no thinking dirty!) so obviously I was in need of help! We had a nice meeting and I decided that I wanted to work with him (there may have been alterior motives there) and we soon set up an "official" meeting. After a couple of months worth of work junk and hanging out with our friend, he finally started to text me. At first it was business texting and then it became friendly texting.

Now, I'm not the "hinting" type but I have to say that I was giving some serious hints that I wanted him to ask me out... of course I wasn't going to ask him out - I'm too shy! ;) So, eventually he asked me out - and I was really shocked but excited! Our first date was great - It was really relaxed and chill. We went to Starbucks (I highly recommend the hot chocolate) and then watched some DVD's at his house and had dinner. The entire time we talked about anything and everything but the fact that we were actually on a date... we're both pretty shy I guess! The next day we spent it texting one another and finally talking about the "date" and decided to go out again... Since then we have been spending as much time together as possible!

We have spent hours upon hours talking and getting to know each other better. He is an amazing guy! He is so polite, smart, funny (he even gets my odd humor), and respectful! In fact, he didn't kiss me for a few days, so finally after one DVD had been watched I couldn't wait any longer - the anxiety was killing me - He asked what we should do next and I told him he should pick out another DVD for us to watch - but that he should probably kiss me first. He was totally shocked but kissed me and I completely melted. It was soft and gentle... magical I'd have to say. *sigh*

I know it's been only 12 days and that's really quick for many people - that's quick for me! But, in our defense - we have known each other since July... and I can't say much more other than it just feels right! I haven't felt this way.... ever!

Update!

I haven't blogged in what seems like an eternity and I have so much to say and don't necessarily know what to say or how to say it!

In any case - Halloween was great! Baby A was the cutest bear I've ever seen. Plus, Toodles (my dog) was a bumble bee! Oh man, and boy was he the cutest bumble bee ever! Baby A trick or treated at my office the day before Halloween and enjoyed himself. He loves getting candy! Trunk or Treat was so much fun too! My primary kids came and I'm pretty sure I gave each of them 3 cavities worth of candy! :) What can I say I love them!

On the 1st it was my parents 28th anniversary - Yay for them! I think I should probably throw them a party for their 30th anniversary.... or is that even a big one? They aren't really party people anyway!

Also on the 1st was my friend M's baby shower! She is so stinking cute! I was happy to be a part of the shower - hopefully she gets some use out of the pedi gift certificate - it was partly for her hubby J too... now he doesn't have to paint her toe nails! Besides, who wants to be naked from the waist down giving birth without cute toes?! :)

And - on the 1st I went on a date with T, a guy I've known for a couple of months. It was really chill and really fun! I had a good time and we hung out last night too... I think tomorrow we will probably spend some time together too. He is probably the nicest guy I've ever met! It's a nice change of pace that's for sure!

Otherwise, nothing much has happened... Oh, I did find a purse that I am in love with... her name is julianne! (I didn't name her - she came named) And she is totally out of my price range. My financial planner said that I could not buy her... Somebody has to keep a non-biased eye on my finances because I obviously think I should be able to buy her! She cost as much as a long vacation... I can't really justify that can I???

I will try and be better at blogging... it's always nicer when I actually have something to say!!!