Grateful Wednesday

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not, but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

1. Family

I know you probably think - isn't that a given, but honestly I don't know how I will be able to make my grateful list every week without family always being number 1. - maybe I will pick a certain family member each week - ah ha yes, perfect - so this week (this is a hard decision), but I know exactly who: my husband. His positiveness, honesty, courage, and most importantly his love are what makes me most grateful for him. Trying to avoid all the mushiness in between - he is truly an amazing person. - Thank you, God for sending him. I couldn't have even dreamt him up.  

2. Friends

College friends, work friends wherever they have come from - friends are wonderful. They make you laugh and they help me get through my days.

3. Trying new things

Today I did the readings at mass and as nervous as I was I truly loved it - I felt even more apart of the mass than before. So here's to trying new things and being grateful of the people that lead you to trying new things!

4. Blogging

I have realized that this has become more of a journal but eh what are you going to do about? yeah...journal it will be...grateful for blogging so that I can get my thoughts/feelings/NEEDS down on "paper"

5. Work

I have to be grateful for work today because it has allowed me meet some of the most caring people, find the cutest little church, and shop...hellllooo SHOPPING... alright, alright enough of that already.

Weekend Recap

"Family"

Our (READ: Hayden's) New Toy

Might I add that there is definitely no complaining about the New Toy in our house!

This helps with our summer list:

1. Backyard Party (we've got the grill - check!) 

AND we have added another item to our summer list:  

7. MUST find blueberry farm

You learn something new everyday...

More than just a saying - it's the truth.

Yesterday I realized just how much I love what I do - yeah no job is ever perfect - but it's as perfect as you can get for me. When growing up I wasn't one of those people who knew exactly what they wanted to do with their life -

quite frankly there were three dream jobs I remember having

(I'm sure my mom would say there were more):

a mom (I assume as a child that was my answer the majority of the time - I was quite the baby doll girl)

a teacher (I blame this all on my family full of teachers yet I sure hope this comes true one day)

a pediatrician (yep, I was too scared of biology in college so that didn't work out so well)
So here I am in corporate (where I never even dreamed I would be) but it has been the perfect fit for where I am in life and what I love.

Note: trying to save while working in the fashion industry is next to impossible

Therefore I shall share my NEED list (just so I can dream on paper)

a. burberry love

b. TB (these have been on my list for way too long!)

c. Cute little vacay dress to make me feel like I am going somewhere this wkd :)

d. something to wear to my dear cousin's engagement party

e. I most definitely NEED one of these

f. if you could just make all of this appear in my closet that would work too!

One last thing to share today...

Weekend Recap

"Fishing"

Dear Friends

Sunset

Love

Happy Monday!

Backyard Paradise (wanna be)

Yes, I know it is only Wednesday but I am busy dreaming about the weekend - we are planning to have friends over and enjoy our firepit  and go on a few other adventures. Anywho of course since we are having company my mind wonders to all the backyard beauties we could add (read: NEED!). west elm why must you torture me with sale emails and amazing backyard details:

NEED: umbrella, lights, accessories - you might as well throw in the view while you're at it...

DIY mood lighting:

OR

(gotta have options - every girl loves options!)

ooooo dessert:

(recipe included!)

Let's just start small on this one - umbrella, lighting, dessert, firepit...we can expand the NEEDS when we plan to check the outdoor dinner party off our summer list!

Happy Wednesday!!

 



Inspiring thanksgiving.

Today is a day devoted to inspiration and thanksgiving - so thank you to Pope Benedict for the inspiring quote:

"After the reference to setting out, Jesus continues: bear fruit, fruit that abides. What fruit does he expect from us? What is this fruit that abides? Now, the fruit of the vine is the grape, and it is from the grape that wine is made. Let us reflect for a moment on this image. For good grapes to ripen, sun is needed, but so too is rain, day and night. For noble wine to mature, the grapes need t...o be pressed, patience is needed while the juice ferments, watchful care is needed to assist the processes of maturation. Noble wine is marked not only by sweetness, but by rich and subtle flavours, the manifold aroma that develops during the processes of maturation and fermentation. Is this not already an image of human life? We need both sun and rain, festivity and adversity, times of purification and testing, as well as times of joyful journeying with the Gospel. In hindsight we can thank God for both: for the challenges and the joys, for the dark times and the glad times. In both, we can recognize the constant presence of his love, which unfailingly supports and sustains us." - Pope Benedict XVI

And I think this calls for a glass of wine this evening in honour of all of "the challenges and joys, for dark times and glad times" and most importantly to always be grateful for "his love"!

Memories!

So I realize it has almost been a year... wow ...lets just say a lot has been going on - we can get back to those points later - instead let's jump straight into the important things in life our summer list "read: MEMORIES"  (yes, very much like this one) Nonetheless, it is a work in progress - but hey at least we have started!

1. Host a backyard party with outdoor lights - lighting is KEY (we just added a swing yippee - see below)
2. Go on a spontaneous trip - "read: somewhat spontaneous" (let us at least plan a little bit!)
3. A drive in movie
4. Kayaking (we have been talking about kayaking for months so we must cross this off our list this summer)
5. A hike that ends with a pretty view and/or some sort of waterfall
6. Plan a trip to Europe (my husband doesn't know that I am sneaking this one in there - yet anyway!)

(Please excuse the fence - and yes I know our view isn't spectacular but you should have seen what we were working with! - and might I add I LOVE it!)