I am thankful for many things, and almost all of them stem from the person I am most thankful for in my life:
He is my everything – my best friend, my biggest supporter, my comic relief, and the best partner I could ever ask for. I will always stand by this guy – no matter how many late nights at work or socks left around the house or refusing to buy me a new car until I am forced to Flinstone the one I have.
Happy Thanksgiving all!!
This post was inspired by Little Miss Momma and Mommas Like Me.
I’m weird because:
I need three pillows to sleep – one under my head, one under my knees and one on my stomach.
I love coconut flavored slushies but hate the taste and texture of actual coconut.
I could take a million pictures of myself and not like a single one.
I melt every time Jackson holds my finger with his hand.
I change my hair all the time – short, red, black, brown, but I never like it as much as long and blonde. Yet it keeps happening.
I hate spending money on servicing my car or house but I don’t care how much it costs to get my hair done – so worth it.
I can go through labor without totally losing it, but the thought of going to the dentist makes me start sweating immediately.
I make dozens of lists per week and still get angry when I can’t cross off every single item on them.
I steal my son’s snacks.
I eat chips and frosting together – often.
I hate working out, but I force myself to do it.
I’m a bad friend because:
I will return e-mails and texts days later.
I interrupt people – not because I don’t listen, but I get so excited about conversations!
I’m picky about where we hang out.
I’m a good friend because:
I will never leave a friend behind.
I am always down to go out and I never judge the crazy things we do when girls’ nights are happening.
I get really invested in what my friends are doing and hope they succeed.
I’m excited for:
Jackson’s first holiday season.
Family to visit for the holidays.
Our vacation to Palm Springs in January.
The future with my family.
Ah… Christmas is right around the corner. Yes, I know that Thanksgiving hasn’t happened yet, but I can’t stop thinking about Christmas and how fun it will be with the baby! He already has 6 gifts in the basement from us, and I have no doubt there will be more. I think I am going to let him “practice” opening gifts so he knows how to tear the wrapping paper :)
Linking up with Miss Mommy:
In the meantime, here is my Christmas wishlist (hint, hint family):
10. Bolle Y6 OTG Goggles – for my new love of snowboarding
9. Sephora Gift Card – who can’t use more makeup?
8. Nikon Tripod & 55-200mm lense
7. Adobe Photoshop Elements – to edit all my photos
6. Diamond Earrings – does it really even need an explanation?
5. Kate Spade Sunglasses
4. Enzo Angiolini 'Saylem' Riding Boot
3. Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
2. Apple iPad
1. Citizens of Humanity Kelly Bootcut Jeans
There you have it – Definitely won’t get all of these amazing things, but that’s why it’s called a wish list right?!
Thankfully, I have a great life. I have an amazing family and husband who I cherish more than I can ever express. I am so blessed and lucky, but I often let petty worries get in the way of joy. I worry about my weight and how my body looks and if my muffin top is showing. I worry about getting the laundry done and the house vacuumed and making my own baby food. I worry if I am a good enough mother or wife. I get frustrated easily instead of being patient. I have road rage. I dislike people who act ignorant. I complain about silly little things instead of laughing at them – like spilling food all over the floor or forgetting to defrost the chicken for dinner (again).
This week I am going to focus on letting those little worries go and enjoying my life and all the things I am thankful for. I am reconnecting with a few friends I haven’t seen in a while. I am taking the plunge to let the daycare staff at my gym watch JB while I work out this morning (I am TERRIFIED for some crazy reason). I am not tackling the turkey this year and letting Brothers BBQ give us a delicious smoked one instead.
I am going to be kissing these two men more than usual this week:
Sometimes I cannot believe that I was ever 8 years old! When I think back to my outlook on life then I laugh out loud!
Back when everything was so simple – friends were just friends, calories didn’t exist, and boys were smelly and weird.
Today I am so over myself that these pictures make me feel better. I went to the dentist this morning to get a filling re-done and it was so not fun. I hate the dentist more than any other doctor and usually I get laughing gas when I go because it causes me great anxiety. They didn’t give it to me today because it was so quick. I also hate the whole day after I get dental work done because my head hurts, I can’t eat anything and I am just a mean hungry lady.
Whatever, I’m looking forward to a good weekend and some delicious sushi tonight!
I am so excited for Thanksgiving! It’s only a little more than a week away and I sat down today to start planning the menu. I’m hosting at my house this year and am very excited to share Jackson’s first holiday season with those big blue eyes of his.
Normally, I would link-up with Miss Mommy, but she is on vacay this week! I’m too excited to wait a week :)
Here’s what I’ve got planned so far:
1. Deviled Eggs – I usually wing this recipe because I’ve made them countless times, but am thinking I may take a cue from Paula Deen.
2. Brie en Croute – I love any dish that has oozy cheese.
3. Artichoke and Spinach Dip – another holiday staple of mine. I use Knorr Vegetable Dip and take it from there. I deviate a little and use extra cream cheese and white cheddar cheese. Sometimes I like to make it spicy as well!
4. Turkey – I am thinking about trying to make a recipe from Southern Living for a sweet-and-spicy glazed turkey. Wish me luck because it will be the first year that I roast a turkey. I am not looking forward to sticking my hands in any sort of cavity and the word giblets makes me gag, but I will do it for my family.
5. Scalloped Sweet Potatoes – via Bobby Flay. Yum!
6. Green Bean Casserole – I have made this recipe for a few years now from Claire Robinson and I am in love. It never disappoints and the use of fresh green beans instead of canned adds such a great crunch.
7. Mac-n-Cheese Bake with Broccoli – Recipe found here. I am adding the broccoli on my own volition to get more veggies in my tummy!
8. Roasted Cauliflower – Recipe via Stephanie Izard. I make this once every other week or so and I can’t get enough.
9. Brownie Ganache Bites – Recipe is from my Southern Living Cookbook. I can’t find it online, so I will post it separately after I make them (assuming they are yummy). I will most likely add a little cinnamon and spice to the recipe to give it a holiday kick.
10. Mulled Red Wine Sangria – via Bobby Flay
Don’t worry guys – my mother-in-law is taking care of the soup, salad, bread, various apps, stuffing, and pumpkin pie so we will still have all the staples!
What are you making for Thanksgiving?
I had one of those moments today – the ones where you feel like you are living a lifetime of moments and all these thoughts are flashing through your head even though in reality it’s only been about 5 seconds.
I have this beast dog Kesler. He hates people and other dogs. He lives for his family and will do anything to protect and watch over us. A few years ago we had to invest in a shock collar system for both of our dogs because they were jumping our fence and we were worried the small one would get run over and the big one would kill something.
So far, it’s worked pretty well. Until today. I let the out when I returned home from the store and returned to putting away groceries. I heard them barking, which is normal when they see another dog and usually I just call them in so they shut up. When I went outside, Kesler was in the “no zone” with the shock collar going crazy. He could have cared less that he was getting shocked at the highest level. And as I’m inching toward him to usher him in the house, he goes and jumps the fence. Bastard. Then the little one decides he should jump too.
They go after the dog, and here’s where that moment happened. As he was lunging for this poor innocent animal I was waiting for my dog to kill the other one. And then we would have had to put him down. His owner probably would have beat me up, with good reasoning. Then she would have sued us for killing the dog. We would have been stoned out of the neighborhood and probably would have felt immense amounts of guilt the rest of our lives.
Fortunately, my dog decided he just wanted to show this other dog who the boss was and then sniff his ass. I jumped the fence (yes, we have a gate, but it was SO fast!) and grabbed that asshole dog of ours and promptly marched him inside. Jackson was in the house the whole time and I had to grab him to bring him out and track down Tanner – also known as the runner. I was pretty sure he would die today as well, but thankfully this woman stuck around so my dog could love her dog.
Now we have to let the big dog out on a leash. Like we live in apartments or something. What a hassle, but much better than the alternative.
Man I wish we had a 6-foot fence and this stupid HOA would allow it. Also, though I didn’t hit my dogs I am pretty sure I used more expletives in a five-minute span than I have this entire year. I was so pissed that I scared the baby.
The dogs will be hanging in the basement today until I can get a grip and I lose the urge to drop-kick them.
They look so peaceful here:
