It is so easy to get caught in the day to day and forget everything that is wonderful around you. WE try to count our blessings every day but life can get in the way and sometimes we can just get down on ourselves. I know for me, 2015 has not turned out 100% the way I had thought but I am trying more than ever to truly count my blessings. Get ready for some deep giving thanks.

Husband.

This year has thrown is quite a few curveballs, but through it all he has been so supportive and continues to work hard. When I throw out crazy ideas like an Etsy shop, he says go for it! When I ask him to follow me to the park to take pictures, he does it. I am so glad I have someone who's there for me no matter what and loves me even when I make up my own Lily Belle rap songs. 

Lily. 

Because of course. How can you not love her? She's always a fluffy, purring machine that gives me smiles. Her attitude is like no other cat I've known and I absolutely love it. 

Family.

The holidays are still sometimes hard but getting to doesn't it with my family that's still here makes it a little easier. And whether it gets crazy or messy, at the end of the day we are all still family. 

Healthcare.

And the husband who works hard for our insurance. Without either of those things we might be struggling more than usual and might have had to think twice before I got care. I am hoping 2016 brings me even better health. 

Good friends. 

As you get older, friendships take a lot more care and time. It's big things, little things but the ones that have been there this year are the ones that I will always be thankful for. And the ones that I got to share in all the special moments of their lives this year makes me even more thankful for all the beauties in my life. 

FanDuel

For providing us with a little bit extra nest egg to hopefully get into a house of our own soon. And boo to all the new rules. 

This blog. 

It provides me with an outlet to write and connect. It provides with occasional extra money and the possibility of growth. 

What are you thankful for this year?

The Thankful Project| Something You Take for Granted

I actually had another post in mind for this but am currently experiencing a life without electric. Currently, there is no electricity in my apartment. I am not sure why but that is neither here nor there. In just this one hour I have realized this is truly something we all take for granted.

Without electricity, the temperature in my apartment has started to dip to a cool 62. Those that know me, know that is borderline freezing. I am bundled up to keep in the warmth. Many people in other worlds live like this day after day. And there are many homeless people that fight the freezing temperatures every night. I take the fact that I get to have constant heat and be warm for granted.

Without electricity, my super fancy iPhone is going to lose charge quickly and I will not be able to charge it. Electricity provides us with the convenience to carry our cell phones with us day after day and have the world at our finger tips. Or any smart phone or cell phone you have in your possession. I take that I have the privilege and means necessary to have an iPhone for granted.

Without electricity, the food choices for my lunch are limited to bread and some sort of lunch meat. I am used to hot lunches of soup and small Smart Ones meals. Again, many people in other worlds would love to have my bread and meat. And a hot meal to them is even more than what Christmas means to us. They do not have refrigerators or microwaves. They rely on whatever they can find for the day or cook over a fire. I take for granted that I can have hot meals in minutes and multiple times a day if I wanted.

Without electricity, I can not write this blog post on a computer. The nice Mac I have sitting on the desk is fueled by said electric. If you remember I whined and had a complaining post about my dear laptop biting the dust. When in reality, I still had this beauty in front of me that my husband so graciously allows me to use. I take for granted being able to turn on a computer to write out my thoughts, connect and share with so many people.

Without electricity, there are no lights in the bathroom. I will shower and use the bathroom with a small flashlight to get ready for work. I have complained about the vent noise that goes along with out bathroom light. Many people use a bathroom in the woods or an outhouse or in less than sanitary conditions. I take for granted that my bathroom is a working bathroom, proper shower and toilet and allows me the light day after day.

And in lieu of my post earlier in the week, without electricity I would never know what a superhero was. I wouldn't have a TV to watch or movies to play. I wouldn't be able to research them online and obsess. I wouldn't have cable that lets me watch Agents of Shield every Tuesday. I take for granted my use of television and the ability to enjoy the entertainment offered by them.

We are all given this gift of electricity and we all take it for granted some days. Just remember to be thankful next week when we all sit down with our families to a hot meal, cooked in the oven and are watching Thanksgiving parades and football games in the warmth of our homes.

The Thankful Project| A Blessing

Admittedly I am behind and skipped about a bunch of days but I figured I would jump back in today.

The biggest blessing in my life is this kitty. I know I joke and laugh about being a crazy cat lady but there's a reason. 

It was the end of November in 2009 when I was working a terrible part time job, still trying to find a full time job after I had graduated in May. I lived by myself, didn't really do much due to the limited funds I had coming in and was kind of down in the dumps. Then one night I got a call from my sister asking if I wanted a cat, deep down I was screaming, "yes!" But knew I couldn't afford the extra expenses or have the time for her. I was then gifted this blessing by my sister.

I am so glad I was wrong and decided to get her because even if I knew it or not, I needed her. She made me excited to come home, let me chat with her and cuddle with her. Made me feel less alone.

Does that make me crazy? No. Anyone with a pet knows that special place they hold and just exactly how it feels when they want to snuggle with you and no matter what happens, they love you.

The Thankful Project

As it's November (or Movember) it is time for Thanksgiving. The month where we really reflect and give thanks for everything in our lifes.

I will go more into detail later on, but this month of thanks could not have come at a better time. Yup, I know it comes Novemeber every year. But this time, I am really drudging in my work and need to focus on the bigger picture at some points.

I am so thankful I found "The Thankful Project" from Kenzie at Chasing Happy.

As I am clearly behind a few days, I will catch you up....

Day 1: A Person

I think it goes without saying, this guy.  

My handsome husband.  He is my rock, my life and I do not know how I would have survived the past 5 years without him. And I know the next years of our lifetime together will be nothing more than thrilling. Always an adventure with us.

Day 2: A role you've played

Daughter. 

I will always be thankful I got to play the role of daughter to my mom for the short years she was here with us. It was a role I always reveled in. I had the normal teenage moments and gave attitude. But I always gave my mom the best and treated her as my hero. I worked hard so she wouldn't have to. And that role is something I will always look back on with a smile. A role I hope to pass on to my own daughter(s) one day.

Day 3: A place.

Harmony. 

 The place that made me who I am. The county girl who was always itching to do bigger things. But also allowed me to always appreciate the simpler things in life. Here is where I learned the value of family, technology was optional and comparisons didn't exist. Everyone lived their version of what country life and was content.

Day 4: An experience

 Traveling abroad with my friends. 

I was given the opportunity of my high school career to take a trip to Spain with some of my closest. It was a trip I always love to look back on and am glad I was able to experience. It gave me a taste of a culture outside of our own and also allowed me to be thankful for our culture here. And it was my first trip with friends that I was able to experience It was also the last time I traveled in a world before 9/11.

Day 5: Talent I have

I have the knack to be creative. And I think that is a talent of it's own. I love to craft and am always curious to see if I can tackle something I see in a store. It also allowed me to really make my wedding my own, because I was able to design our programs, menus and other small details.

A few of my creations.

Think about this.

Here's something I'm thinking about today and came across this picture and knew it was destined for me to rant about..so get ready.

Today or one day, you have probably complained about your day or some sort of event in your life. 

I know I have and I will probably still will. But when I complain and say these things, on another level I know it's not the end of the world. I know that many people have it worse than me. 

That's what makes me thankful and grateful for everything wonderful I do have in my life. It might not be the best or what I have planned but all in all it's not too shabby. I have a nice little abode to call home. I have a closet full of clothes that I don't even know how to organize (my fiance can attest to this 

I am well educated and intelligent...even if I do hate those monthly student loan bills in the mail. And I know one day I will use all those smarts. Let's just hope it's sooner rather than later shall we. I have the greatest friends, family and love of my life that a gal could ever for. 

Yes, I do miss my mom everyday and still have 'this isn't fair' moments. But she wouldn't want me to hate the world or blame it on the world. She would want me to still look around and appreciate all I do have in my life. She would want me to know that if I don't like something, don't complain about it, change it. And as always, I will always be grateful for the 22 years I did get to have with her and the awesome relationship we did have. Many girls don't even get those great 22 years.

So just stop and think when you have the 'why me' moments and you think you have it the worst in all the land. Because you don't and there are beauties in your everyday life. 

That's my peace for the day 

So thankful for all of you

God gave me all of you...fiance, family, friends, even Lily(I'm such a cat lady) for all my up and downs and I am so thankful today and everyday you are all a part of my life. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is the day to eat lots of turkey and potatoes and become stuffed! Also, the day to be with family and friends. But most importantly it is a day to remember to give thanks an be thankful for what you have in your life.

Many people forget to look around and count their blessings every once in awhile. I am one of those people sometimes that gets too caught up in the wishes and the dreams. And who can blame any of us with this crummy economy.

The many unthankfuls people focus on: Loss of job, no job, working at a crappy job, money issues and the list goes on and on. 

And here are is everything people should be thankful for : Their breath they take every morning when they wake up, the people that are there for them during all those rough times encountered in the economy, the fact that you do have a job to go to everyday

What I am thankful for everyday

-My family for their support

-Boyfriend. I love you.

-I have the greatest friends

-Lily-she keeps me company on lonely days and she's super cute.

-That I have a job at all. Might not be my dream but I'll get there someday

-The roof over my head (for now)

-As with every holiday, the absence of my mom tugs at my heart but even though she isn't here I can still say I am thankful for the 22 wonderful years I had with her and the amazing relationship we had.

So please take a moment if only today and count your blessings and truly be thankful for everything that you have around you. Oh and enjoy all the wonderful feasts you will be chowing down on!

-God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?"-