31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 4

Oct 4th: The Ability to Run

Running is where I get most of my exercise from. It's a way to stay in shape and escape my sometimes stressful world. At times, it's hard to get motivated to run, but I'm always happy once I'm done and feel good about getting the run in. And although I've felt some aches and pains in the past year and half, I am still able to run. I definitely take that ability for granted. For some people, running is simply not physically possible.

And - I can't have a "thankful" post about running and not mention my running partner. He not only makes running more fun, but pushes me past what I think my limits are and keeps me going when I'm ready to give up on a hard day. Thanks Jake!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 3

October 3rd: Morning breaks

I love being able to step away from my desk for a few minutes and take a little walk, usually with Derrick. We spend this time getting a little exercise and talk about anything and everything. It's just a nice way to recharge and helps me get through the rest of my morning.

Starbucks to the Rescue

Starbucks jump starts hundreds of thousands of people each day with their beverages, but starting November 1st, they'll go on a mission to jump start the US economy as well.

Read their "Create Jobs for the USA" initiative here.

Pretty unique idea and loving the wristband!

31 Days To Be Thankful - Day 2

Oct 2nd: Means of Communication

It's hard to imagine life without a text message, phone call, instant message, or email. Although every once in a while, it's nice to be disconnected from technology, sometimes there is nothing better than receiving a text message that reads of an old inside joke with an even older friend that you can't help but smile at.

October - 31 Days To Be Thankful

In looking back over the past 9 months, my blogging activity has been pretty low, averaging about one post a week. Now, I don't want to ever force a post, but I would like to up the ante on my blogging a little. So, I decided that my goal for this month is to blog at least once a day. I knew the likelihood of completing this goal would be contingent on coming up with some sort of topic or theme, or else I'd be setting myself up for failure - tortured by a white screen and blinking cursor daily. So, I decided on the theme of thankfulness. Sometimes it's easier to focus on what's missing or to complain about all that is wrong in your life, rather than think about all that you have been blessed with. In an effort to focus more on the positives (and blogging daily), I'll be posting a "What I'm Thankful For" entry each day this month.

Oct 1st: Family. It seems obvious and cliche, but I have been so blessed in this area of my life. I went home this past weekend to get our family pictures taken, and although I grumbled a little and was not thrilled to be having that taken, I am so thankful I have a family to take a picture with.

Growing up, I thought family was just a given and everything that I experienced was something everyone experienced. Everyone has dinner as a family every night. Everyone gets asked how their school day was and what homework they have. I didn't even think it was possible to not have anyone to come home to or not wanting to go home because of what one would come home to. It wasn't until I was much older, branching out of my Catholic School bubbled world, and having my eyes opened by hearing stories of others' experiences that I began to realize just how lucky I am.

My parents have always put my sister and I in front of themselves. They have always been there and I know will continue to be there till the very end. My sister has always taken an interest in me. She embraced her role as the big sister and always watched out for me when we were younger. And now that we are grown adults, she has become my ultimate confidant and one of my closest friends. 8 years ago we welcomed my brother-in-law into our family. On the lighter side, he entertains me with his jokes, his inappropriate commentary while we watch TV, and his notorious laugh. And on a more serious note, he is a true family man and makes taking care of his family his number one priority. And then of course the two little ones. My nieces have brought more joy to my life than I ever could've imagined. They have the ability to turn my mood 180 degrees, with something as simple as a smile.

Family is truly a blessing and I'm so thankful of the support system my family has provided me.

What's That?

Last week, 'Lil and I went to the "Body Worlds Vital" exhibit at the Science Center. I'd been wanting to go for sometime and was thrilled when I saw a Groupon for it (2 tix for the price of 1) so I snagged one and took 'Lil as my date.

I wasn't sure how into it she'd be, but upon entering the first room of the exhibit, she was already asking, "what's that?" and "what does this do?" and "oh my gosh, look at this!"

I am not an expert in Science and never took an Anatomy class, so what little knowledge I do know of the human body, her questions kept me on my toes. Sometimes I was able to answer, sometimes I'd have to respond with a, "well, let's read what it says..." And then sometimes I wasn't able to answer at all. Of course, we had to go when a group of med students was there, so I was a little self-conscious when answering her questions and can only assume my juvenile-sounding responses were highly entertaining for them. But, no one laughed at me (to my face anyway) and 2 of them even chimed in with some answers when we were looking at the same display, relieving me from coming up with the answer.

When we got to the display of the reproductive organs, 'Lil shared some fun facts with me about what she's learning in her child development class this semester and I was able to put in a plug about the ill effects of drinking and smoking when we saw the "smoker's lungs" and liver displays. (side note - while looking at a liver with serious damage from alcohol abuse, I stepped on my box for a minute with an alcohol speech....and when I looked up, I saw a guy who worked for Miller on the other side of the case, sporting his Miller work polo on :) )

Although being put on the spot isn't always fun, I was more than okay with her inquisitive little self, because it showed me she was really interested in what we were seeing. I marked that outing down as an educational, fun-filled success.

Darker = $$

It's no secret I spend a lot to get my hair done....probably way more than I should. Although spending that much on my hair is tough to swallow, I've continued this somewhat lavish habit for years. After signing off on another expensive trip to the salon this past week, my pangs of guilt somewhat subsided when I thought about how much less I'm spending now than I used to on my hair.

When I was still dying my hair blond, I would have to go about every six weeks. (the alternative was having my dark roots showing - a lot. ugh, bad look.) So, I swiped my card between 8 or 9 times a year, at a pretty penny at that.

In comparison, Wednesday marked my third time THIS year of going to the salon. (and most likely my last time dying my hair for the year)

Now, at the risk of being harshly judged, I'll let you in on what I roughly calculated my savings to be on hair care from my blond days to now:

$750

Holy s#%t.

It definitely pays to be a brunette.