Fabulous Weekend, not at the Fabulous Fox

I spent the last part of my weekend (Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon) in St. Louis with a few good (and old) friends. Catching up with my best friend from high school over shopping, good food and drinks, combined with the Bodies!...Exhibit with an old college friend, equals a great weekend. It was great to step out of Fulton and just spend a relaxing 24 hours with friends.

Caramel Apple Spice

Today, I am thankful for the local neighborhood Starbucks being 30 minutes away. Well, not really. But I am thankful for Starbucks. I was going stir crazy in my house, and with Andrew not having an apartment I can run away to anymore, I ran to Columbia. Yes, it took me an extra hour to get to someplace I could study, work and have good coffee, BUT there's nothing like sitting yourself down someplace where you have to work and cranking papers out!

Or, that's what I'm hoping for. As you can see, doing homework is really working for me right now...(but in my defense, I did just write one of three pages on a question. So ya know, I'm on the right track...ish)

The Joys of the beginning of December!

So, this month has been interesting so far--and it's only 8 days old! Tomorrow, is the big 2-4 for me, and I was blessed to have spent last weekend with some of my favorites in Springfield (including homemade red velvet cake from Andrew's mom!). We made the trek down to Branson to see the Christmas lights in SDC for my first time, and enjoyed a good dinner at the restaurant and ran into two of my FAVORITE BOYS EVER! :) Truly THE MOST polite young boys I've ever met, the girls used to tease me that I was a cradle robber for being in love with them (but they're so cute and polite, I couldn't help it). It's always nice to walk into someplace and see peoples faces light up when they realize you're there.

I wrapped up the weekend with some of my favorites, working towards a great next year and making me love what I do even more. Yes, Sunday was a long day, but I was so proud of my girls, and I know they are preparing to be able to handle whatever is thrown at them in January.

However, with the blessed and great weekend I had, something had to go wrong on Monday. And it did. Above and beyond what anyone would expect.

Because of that, my thing I am thankful for is that I have a great family and a warm home to come to. I'm so happy and grateful that my parents and my boyfriend get along so great, and that he was not only welcomed into our home with open arms, but it was just expected that this would be where he would move to. I'm thankful Andrew (and vicariously, his parents) is wise enough to have renters insurance, and that his coverage is so great that the past few days has not been a hassle (other than the minimal amount required). You always hear about the people who lose their house to fire/flood, but you never think it would be you (or someone close to you). But after the past few days, I truly am thankful for what I have and for the attitude and disposition of my boyfriend. It's only things lost, and they can be replaced, and with that being his attitude, it's a lot easier to believe it...

The End...?

November 30

I am extremely proud of myself for making it all the way through November. Even though I wasn't able to actually post every single day (some I forgot to get on my blog, others I just ran out of time) I did actually think almost each day of something to post. I'm proud of myself because in the six years I've done this, I'm almost sure this is the first year I've made it all the way to the end. Partially because I get so swamped in school, work, life, etc that I just brush it aside. I started this blog as I was getting ready to graduate and move back home. Mainly so I could hopefully have happy things to think about as I moved to an area I really didn't (and still don't, at times) want to live in. I started it with two posts: one, about happiness in it's many forms (and the inspiration/by the inspirer for many things in my life), and the second with the guidelines. Nearly six months later and I hadn't posted a damn thing. It's not like I forgot about it, the bookmark is on my toolbar that I see every time I open an Internet window. But for all that I try to be happy and peppy, it's different when you have to sit down and think of specific things to be thankful for--especially during the transition of moving and adjusting. It's not that they don't exist, but it becomes one more thing I felt like I had to do. And so life, school, work, etc became more important than reminding myself of things to be thankful in my life.

So today, this last day in November, I am thankful that I'm finally adjusting, growing up, and able to complete my very first November Diane Challenge.

Cheers

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes...

November 29

Today (and it actually is today!) I am more than words thankful for my health. In doing a mini-research paper (with the prompt of being the parent of a child with disabilities) and going to my dentist appointment (no cavities!) I am more than usual aware of my good health. I'm sure in the future it will detoriate some, and I'm not perfect now, but I have good health. I don't have to go to a doctor or hospital every month, and I'm alive and well. I'm also thankful that I am able to have such great health insurance. There's the possibility that it will change in the next few years (once I really hit old balls status and get kicked off my parents), but for now, I've got great coverage. And that's not something everyone can say...and for that, I'm grateful!

The Sound of Silence

November 28

Today I am so thankful for the quietness of a library (although I didn't visit one today) and the quiet of an apartment. My house has a resident neighborhood drummer. And boy, is he a consistent practicer! And because of that, I'm thankful for when it's quiet... :)

Uno, Dos, Tres...

November 25

Since today is Thanksgiving and all, I'll be thankful for my family. Even though they drive me up the freakin' wall most of the time (and ESPECIALLY around the holidays), I am still very thankful that they're here. That I'm surrounded by people who love me, and who will always support me. I know I'm a lucky girl, and for that I'm grateful.

November 26

CHRISTMAS DECORATING! :) It's easily one of my favorite times of the year. Not necessarily Christmas and opening gifts (although, I do love that too), but decorating for Christmas (and shopping for decorations) is one of my favorite things! This year, Andrew grabbed the extra tree from his parents place early this year, so it has been sitting in the apartment waiting for me. I'm proud to say that I waited until the day after Thanksgiving to put it and the stockings up. This year, my new ornaments went up (blue and silver), so that the tree wouldn't be full of just obviously my ornaments, and Andrew added new LED lights (so high tech!). It's just so beautiful! :) --see facebook for the photo--

November 27

This one may be too much information and/or a little gross to some, but I ran out of razors and since I'm basically unemployed, I've been too cheap to go buy new ones. BUT this morning in my shower I had finally given in and bought some (well, before my morning shower, not while I was IN the shower), and so today, I'm thankful for the ability to have money to buy razors so I can shave my legs. You know that silky soft feeling of having shaved after it's been waaaay too long? That's the great feeling I've had on my legs all day today. It's wonderful! :)