thankful

I'm baaaaack!!!

Yep, I'm a pretty horrible blogger.  I've so wanted to get into the habit of blogging at least weekly - I love following the blogs that I do, and feel like the ladies I follow have such an amazing record of their lives!  Hopefully, I'll get better.  But if not, I'm not going to sweat it!

After a great Thanksgiving holiday with my family yesterday and a week off of work, I've had a lot of time to reflect on the things that have happened this year.  While this year has certainly had it's challenges - I certainly have a LOT to be thankful for. In no particular order, here's my list of thirteen things I'm thankful for (I love alliteration!)...

1. My sweet and generous husband: Honestly, I am so lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life!

2. My health: As I get older (almost 32 - ew!), I've learned that health CANNOT be taken for granted and I am truly thankful for a healthy body and mind.

3. Cheese: yum!

4. Our 'new' place: Okay, it's not new, but we rearranged the furniture and I can't tell you how much I love our place now.  Small changes DO make a difference.

5. My family: They rock!

6. My friends: I've been so lucky to find friends who are supportive, caring, fun, and genuine.  Love all you ladies!

7. My firsties: Man, do they tire me out everyday, but their smiling faces make it all worth it!

8. Chicago: It's such a great city, and we are lucky to live here.  (This is a reminder to start taking better advantage of it!)

9. Pizza: Many hungry and lazy nights have been saved by some D'Ags or Lou's.  Chicago pizza is the bomb.  (Yes, I just said the bomb, and No, I don't think it's 1999 - ha!)

10. Barre Bee Fit: It might seem silly to be thankful for a fitness studio, but I have to credit BBF with getting me into a real fitness routine.  I'm challenged at every class and I have BBF to thank for feeling so great!  Not to mention, I feel more confident with my body now at 31 then I ever have - that pretty much rocks.  (Thanks Nikki for introducing me!)

11. Wine: It's actually surprising that it took me to number 11 to think of wine - ha!  There is nothing better than sipping a glass of cabernet or chardonnay after a long day.  Light some candles and add in a meal homemade by the hubs and that's pretty much the perfect night.  (Yes, my life is boring and No, it doesn't bother me at all!)

12. Healthy Food: Without going into a rant here, I feel blessed and thankful that we have access to good quality food.  Many families around the country can't easily get organic and local produce in their area.  Here's to hoping that changes, and changes soon!

13. Knowledge: This may sound like a funny one, but I have learned SO much in my life, and I continue to learn new things that have a strong impact my life every single day.  Thanks to all those who are willing share what they know with the world AND for the good old world wide web.

So there it is!  13 things I'm thankful for in 30 seconds or less!  Alright, forget the last part, but hopefully this didn't get too long.  Let's hope I'll be back soon. ;)

All the small things

While this isn't exactly what I had in mind when I started this post, it's always fun to find a way to bring a little early 2000's pop punk into the mix!  btw - the video is hilarious - gotta love all the references to cheesy 90's music. :)


What brought to this post, though, was not a Blink 182 song (as funny as the video may be), but was a recent appreciation for the small accomplishments in my life.  By small, I mean the fact that I still worked out after I showed up at the gym today, ready to take a class, only to discover that the room was completely jam packed and there was no way I could get in on the "cardio sculpt" action.  It may not sound like much, but that little setback would have normally sent me home in the past (sad, sad, I know, and a little embarrassing to admit).  Rather than let it nix my plans for sweatin' it up today, I decided to jump on the treadmill for a run with some interval training. It took some convincing on my end ("Self, you're already here at the gym.  Don't give up just because you can't take the class.  Plus, you'll be really embarrassed if you walk out the door right now!"), but WOO HOO, I did it!  I did 3.5 miles and then took some time to do a little stretching afterwards.

Getting my stretch on

On my way home, I thought about how good it felt to face a small challenge and not let it stand in my way.  In the short drive back to my neighborhood, I reflected on the many small things that I've been able to accomplish in the last couple of weeks, and it felt good!  Taking this time to reflect on the positives in my life is something I have certainly struggled with in the past, but I've taken a more proactive approach to it lately.  Sometimes this Type A personality of mine gets in the way of slowing down and appreciating things in life, but I've learned that if I make a concerted effort to stop and reflect, I can always find those little victories and small accomplishments.

source

Now I'm heading off to get ready for a fabulous girls weekend with some great friends!  While I'm not sure I'll be able to convince myself to step away to hit up the gym this weekend, with these amazing ladies, there will certainly be plenty of small things to appreciate!