Dinner Last Night: Thanksgiving Edition!

How was your Thanksgiving (if you celebrate)? Mine was delightful.
I’ve really enjoyed just spending time with my family, the four of us cooking and eating together. Less stress than traveling around.

We had a most delicious brined turkey, our usual asparagus, biscuits, and stuffing. But Maria and I contributed dishes too! I made my favorite green beans and a to-die-for twice baked potato casserole (Paula Deen is a genius). Maria made glazed carrots.
And yes, we had some wine. From a box. We’re on a budget.

It was a great day! I love the holidays.

And now I get to enjoy a little mini-vacation, 4 days work free! I have to work today, but I took Monday and Tuesday off.
I just need some time away, to relax, sleep in. I’m actually going ziplining on Sunday!
Should make for an interesting long weekend.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful everyday for so many things, but today is the day we share those feelings.

I am obviously thankful, and always will be, for my family, my friends, my boyfriend. They all go under one category of people I love, people who shape my life, people who are there for me and teach me and help me grow. I am thankful to have a job, even if it’s not the dream or I don’t make a lot of money, because I have some and I can pay my bills. I have a roof over my head.

But there are silly things, too. And here we go…

I am thankful for…

Music and movies and TV shows. My iPhone. Cameras and film and SD cards. Books, the authors who write them, the libraries, book stores, Amazon, Kindle. Chicken wings, queso dip, tacos and burritos. Michaels and craft supplies and anxious hands that want to learn. Imagination and ideas that zoom through my head and ache to be let out. Blogging, bloggers, people who share their lives good and bad, who inspire from simply being themselves. Lana Del Rey. Mark Duplass. Misfits. Wine. Flavored coffee creamers. 

And so on and so forth…

Enjoy the holiday!

Holiday Hangover

It’s Friday! Most people I know have the day off and are celebrating a long weekend with family and friends and nothing but free time. Not only do I work all day today, but I also have to work tomorrow, too. Bummer. (I’ll deal with it, though, because I have 3 day weekends ahead for both Christmas and New Year’s!) Thanksgiving was really nice. Growing up, it was always a big ordeal, with everyone getting together and hopping between my mom’s family and my dad’s. These last couple years have been super low-key, and we’ve been doing dinner at home, just the 4 of us. I always enjoy seeing the whole gang, but it’s so nice to have a quiet dinner with my mom, dad, and sister.
We usually aren’t in the same place at the same time.

Another fun part of eating at home is that my sister and I made our own dishes. Maria made sweet glazed carrots and I made a mashed potato casserole. Everything was so tasty! It was worth all the waiting for the bird!

Also, Brad came over and we saw The Muppets! I had been waiting forever to see this. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
(I totally cried. But I’ve cried at the last few movies I’ve watched…I’ve cried at the last few everythings I’ve watched…)

This One Simple Thing…

 

I don’t know about you, but I definitely see a heart in this sky. This was taken last year.

There are so many things to be thankful for in life, and it’s customary to really take the time to recognize these things when Thanksgiving rolls around. I did some thinking, and realized there is one thing I am truly thankful for, but it pretty much covers every base. And that, my friends, is LOVE. Lately, I am so aware of the importance of this one simple and often uncontrollable thing.

To be clear, I’m not just referring to the romantic, sweep you off your feet type of love, but every single aspect of love.
The supportive and unconditional love of my family.
The acceptance of who I am I receive from my friends (which is requited, by the way).
The companionship and comfort of a beloved pet.
And, of course, the butterflies and heart swells I get from my amazing boyfriend.

It has come to my attention that watching or reading about or experiencing love in anyway has been enough to move me to the happiest tears. What is life without love? And, luckily, I have it in all forms of my life. I am truly blessed and, therefore, truly thankful for the amazing people in my life who give me love and whom I can give love back.

There are plenty of other things I am thankful for…but this one thing has trumped them all.

A Successful Holiday

Thanksgiving was, as expected, very delicious. I’ll admit, I had a bit of Sunday syndrome because I didn’t have a long holiday ahead like other people I know…but it was still enjoyable, relaxing, and a very long day (and I can’t complain about two separate dinners).

{This was the first snowfall of the season. I’m not gonna lie, I’m not looking forward to what’s to come. But it made for some neat season-change photos}

Aside from eating dinner, my family all gathered around a VCR to watch the only video we have documenting our childhood (1992 – Maria was 3, I was 5). It was embarrassing, sad, and hysterical all the same. I love being around family.

Thanksgiving

It’s that time of the year again. Though the most wonderful time is right ahead, Thanksgiving is the best kick-off to the holidays. I try and show my thankfulness for the people in my life as frequently as possible, but it’s very easy to forget. So, here it is, my thanks to all of the people in my life.

My friends

To all of you guys…you choose your friends. You choose who you want to spend your time with. You pick the people who have similar interests, the people who you can laugh with and cry with and get into trouble with. I must say that I am lucky to have you all in my life. I’m not the simplest person. I’m a little crazy. But you all know that and you’ve looked beyond it to continue to be my friend. I am here for you, you’re here for me, and you all remind me to have fun no matter what I’m doing.

Brad

As mentioned above, I’m not the easiest person to be around. I get moody and grumpy and sometimes way too depressed for my own good. But you’ve stood by me through it all, supported me no matter what, and have continued to be a beacon of optimism for me. I’m thankful that you came into my life, and that everything finally aligned so that we made sense. I’m at home and at peace when I am with you. 
My Family

Obviously, I wouldn’t be here or be who I am today without these people. I am so happy that I’ve had understanding and supportive parents who have allowed me to grow and be the way I want to be. I am so happy that I had a sister who, despite being 2 years younger than me, is basically my best friend. Every single member of my family has been kind and helpful. We fight but then we can make up and have fun and everything is right in the world again. But I will always be thankful for the fact that you’ve let me grow and change by being a complete moron and still loving me for it anyways.

(Mom, I can’t wait until we can start taking new pictures together again!!!)

Also thankful for: Cameras, books and magazines, learning new things, beautiful sunsets, thrift stores and clearance racks, freedom, food, Netflix, music, laughter, and the sheer fact that I am alive.

Giving Thanks.

{PaperTissue … What else?}

I got my first FULL paycheck today and it reminded me of how thankful I am for the job that I have. It was an insanely busy day, I’m assuming everyone is preparing for Christmas shopping come Black Friday. But I am finally actually making money. In less than a week, I will finally actually have my own insurance. And I didn’t have to do more than email a resume for this. I work hard and carefully everyday so that I can continue to do this and make money and have this schedule.

Since it’s Thanksgiving, I find it appropriate to say how thankful I am for the job and also, my friends, my family, my health, and my experiences. I have always had a tendency to fall into slumps and funks thinking my life should be so much more than it is.

But then I remember how many people have stood by my side and accepted me for who I really am (which I can honestly say isn’t always the easiest person to get along with). I remember that I’ve actually gone out of the country and experienced something on my own unlike many people I know. My family has accepted all my faults and dealt with all of my moods and episodes and done nothing but help me. They’ve supported all of the phases I’ve gone through. They continue to this day. And I still wake up every morning (even when I worry like the hypochondriac I am every night that I might not) and get to experience yet another day.

To everyone important in my life…you know who you all are – I love you so much. Thanks for being you and for letting me be me.