Day 333: November 28, 2011

Today I am thankful for places I can walk to.

One of my favorite parts of city living is that I can walk almost everywhere I need to go. Work, the grocery store, library, Doctor's Offices, coffee shops, restaurants...you name it. It's such a pleasant way to arrive places. 

Day 332: November 27, 2011

Today I am thankful for low humidity.

Everyday is a good hair day in a dry climate! 

No frizz, no weird curls at the hairline, no blow drier required. 

It's the small things in life...

Day 331: November 26, 2011

Today I'm thankful for books I Can't. Stop. Reading.

I am making major progress towards my reading goals this year...actually I surpassed my original resolution to read twelve books this year, and have revised it to read twenty-five. Big deal people.

In those twenty-five, there have been some lackluster choices (can't win them all) and there have been some books that I want to carry around night and day, reading and reading and reading. I want to read them at work (but, I don't) and I get little sleep until they're over...but them I'm sad that they're over. Those are the best!

Day 330: November 25, 2011

Today I'm thankful for leftovers. 

What? You say you're one of those people that doesn't like leftovers? Even Thanksgiving leftovers?
If you can resist a fresh turkey sandwich layered with stuffing, cranberries, and mashed potatoes, I no longer feel like I know you. I'm not even sure that we can be friends. It's that serious.

Thanksgiving leftovers fall into the category of foods that taste better the next day. Usually my Black Friday starts with pie for breakfast, includes absolutely no shopping, has some turkey sandwiches thrown in the mix, and usually involves potato pancakes and definitely more pie.

Day 329: November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. For me, it's less about the food than it is about the traditions, the family, and appreciating the good stuff in life.
The food does not go unnoticed; the "good stuff" happens to include a little pumpkin pie, stuffing, and cranberry.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for gratitude.

I've learned quite a bit from this little blog of mine over the last almost eleven months, mostly that giving thanks is something that should be done every day of the year instead of just on Thanksgiving.

I'm totally thankful for this amazing Thanksgiving etsy find as well.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

— William Arthur Ward

Day 328: November 23, 2011

Today I am thankful for jeans. 

I sometimes wonder (yes, it’s true), “what would my wardrobe be like if jeans were never invented?”

I know for sure that there would be a lot more ironing in my life. And that in itself would diminish my quality of life significantly. 

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that they’re my favorite piece of clothing. Big statement!

Day 327: November 27, 2011

Today I'm thankful for In-N-Out.

It may still have a week's worth of sodium and, but it's the best fast food out there. So tasty!

Day 326: November 21, 2011

Today I'm thankful for compliments from my husband.

Compliments in general are great, but for some reason it always means more coming from someone I know really well because they're so unnecessary. 

My Hubby knows me inside and out; he loves me and all of my imperfections. I know this.

I do not need to hear him say that he likes my shirt or that he thinks I look beautiful. I don't even need for him to say "I love you"... I know these things. I feel them in his touch, in his gaze, and just in his presence. 

But he does say these things. And sometimes it catches me off guard and reminds me why we chose each other.

Tonight he asked me, "Do you know one of the things that I love about you? It's not something that I would have looked for in a wife, but it makes me really happy that you're so homey. I love that you love baking and you're really good at decorating, and you throw an amazing party."
An example of a compliment you only get from the person who knows you best.

He really knows how to make my heart go pitter patter <3

Day 325: November 20, 2011

Today I am thankful for jewelry that you can wear everyday.

I am the laziest when it comes to changing my jewelry. It just doesn't happen more than once a week.
I have a few things that I love and wear like they're going out of style. Except they never will, because I  gravitate towards jewelry so plain that it can't possibly go out of style.
Boring but great.

Day 324: November 19, 2011

I wasn't a happy girl when The Hubs was in China. It was a very long three weeks.
But he did a lot of eating there. A LOT. So much that I thought that's all he did in China. And when he came back, he brought with him an appreciation for Hot Pot. He's been vying to get me to try it since he returned. I was happy to oblige.
I think of Hot Pot as the Chinese version of fondue, but different.
Tonight we ventured out to the Outer Sunset with one of our buds for San Francisco's best Hot Pot.
Yum, yum, yum.

Today I'm grateful for my husband's adventurous palate.

He will almost always try something once. Raw quail eggs? Sure. Pig Intestines? Why not.
Sometimes I'm not sure how I feel about what he is eating, but it has definitely made me a more daring eater...and usually when I try something new I'm a happy customer.

I do not have a weak stomach, but there were definitely a couple times this evening that I had to cover my eyes. Okay, I actually only covered one eye and squinted the other, because I had to watch!
I could have done without him ordering pig blood. Eww. Gross. Yuck.

Day 323: November 18, 2011

Today I'm thankful for mascara. 

If you know me well, you already know this. 

Day 322: November 17, 2011

Slow down
Calm down
Don't worry
Don't hurry
Trust the process

-Alexandra Stoddard

I'm thankful for this today.
True words.

Day 321: November 16, 2011

Today I am thankful for soup.

We threw everything *but the kitchen sink* in a pot and made an amazingly delicious pot of soup for dinner tonight. Butternut squash, onion, broccoli, cabbage, and bok choy= fantastic and creamy when blended. 

 And it looks like fall in a crock. Awesome.

Day 320: November 15, 2011

Sometimes the best made plans are just not as good as the plans that were never made.

I usually like having a plan.

I wouldn't say that I am a rigid planner, but I definitely always have some sort of plan. I'm not a huge surprise person; I find comfort in knowing what to expect...at least to a certain extent.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the list wonderful little things that have happened in my life. Yes, some of them were all part of my grand plan, but a great majority happened a little bit more organically.

The "wrench" moment, that bit of time when the plan is suddenly thrown off completely, is not my favorite part of life. Not comfortable. But then the dust settles and I settle into whatever is becoming the new "plan".

Today I am thankful for the unplanned.

I had a good, long talk with my MIL a couple weeks ago that really got me thinking about this. Sometimes I think the cute little lamb of life is dressed up in the wolves' pajamas. Sometimes it seems as if nothing is going as planned. Sometimes it feels like it's not going to work out. But then it does.

Everything always works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's probably not the end.

Day 319: November 14, 2011

Today I am thankful for eggs.

It's incredible and edible.
Especially incredible and edible when mixed with buttered toast.

Day 318: November 13 2011

Today I am thankful for traditions.

My Mother-In-Law used to be big on traditions, especially at the holidays. She would do something and proclaim that it was a tradition, even when it was the first time. I suppose they were traditions in the making! I remember The Hubs and I looking up what exactly constitutes a tradition...we found out a tradition is only a tradition when it has happened three times. I now find myself craving traditions more and more and thinking about what will become The Rose Family's traditions.

This weekend was spent in Santa Barbara. It was the Fujii/Rose Third Annual November trip to S.B., so now is officially a tradition!
The weekend mini-vacations all started when we ventured down to take the Fujii's engagement pictures (before Steph was even a Fujii!)
The weekend is always filled with lots of good food and fun. Most of the weekend is planned around our meals, but the last two we have also incorporated marathons into the mix.
This weekend, the girls flew solo, but otherwise it was no different: delicious food with stops at two favorites Holdren's and Tupelo Junction. And we even found a new love in Los Olivos that will surely be incorporated into the weekend from here on out.
You can read about our adventures soon here!

Day 317: November 12, 2011

Today I am thankful for thirteen point one miles
...

Because it feels a whole lot better that twenty-six point two.

One year ago, I was doing the Santa Barbara Marathon. Today I did the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.
I will tell you this with certainty: a half marathon is less than half as hard. Way less than half as hard.
It felt like a walk in the park in comparison; I was able to enjoy the scenery and my body did not ache at every junction when I crossed the finish line.

As I passed each mile marker, I could clearly remember what I was thinking last year at that same point and how drastically different I was feeling with thirteen less miles down.

Verdict: No more marathons for me. Half is just right :)

Day 316: November 11, 2011

Today I am thankful for dates with all the same number.

That's probably not the best description. Maybe I should say I'm thankful for 11.11.11. 

I've always loved things like that. Novel, little bits that make the days seem extra special. 

And, it is pretty special...it's not happening again for another thousand years!

Day 315: November 10, 2011

Today I am thankful for the sky. 

Especially tonight. 

As I was walking home from work, I was taken aback by the amazing sky. Perfectly crisp, navy blue, a few bright stars, and holy moly (!) that moon. Picture perfect. Actually, make that beyond picture perfect because a dark sky is hard to capture in a photo.

Day 314: November 9, 2011

Today I am thankful for down.

I've been heavily utilizing my down jacket already...and winter hasn't even started!
And there really is nothing better than a down comforter and pillows. Oh, the fluff.
It's a good thing I'm not allergic!

Day 313: November 8, 2011

Today I am thankful for all things wishbone.

Have I told you how completely into November I am this year? I am simply smitten with the season and am looking forward to Thanksgiving immensely.
I love thanksgiving, but am not so sure about Thanksgiving decorations in general. Turkeys, cornucopias...meh.
Enter my fantastic golden wishbone.
It's gigantic. It's useless. It's a vision.
My friend asked if I had tried breaking it yet...boys.

Day 312: November 7, 2011

Today I am thankful for Etsy.

I find myself perusing the site more and more lately.
There are some seriously creative people out there...why didn't I get any of those artsy genes?
Seriously though, I l.o.v.e. the site.

Day 311: November 6, 2011

Today I am thankful for the extra hour of sleep.

Even if it's a weekend and I could have slept in anyway, it's lovely to have a twenty-five hour day once a year.
I am also surprised to say that I am embracing the dark evenings. I usually go into light evening withdrawal at this time of year, but for some reason I have been more content than usual to hunker down a little in the evenings with a good book and a cup of tea. The cold weather is practically shouting at me to climb under the down covers and relax. A-okay with me.  

Day 310: November 5, 2011

Today I'm thankful for thanks posts.

I don't know if I've noticed it before and just don't remember or if I'm just hyper-aware of thanks this year, but I am loving all the expressions of gratitude so far in November. It's been so fun reading other people's daily thanks on facebook in honor of Thanksgiving month!
If you aren't already doing it, join the movement and post what you're thankful for each day!
I think you'll like it...and I'm kind of an expert on this. I have 310 days of experience. 

Day 309: November 4, 2011

Today I am thankful for the gas station on California Street that blasts opera music.

It makes for a very stimulating pumping.

Day 308: November 3, 2011

Today I am thankful for a clean house. 

Right now I do not have one. I desperately want one.
Maybe someday I will be thankful for my maid.

Day 307: November 2, 2011

Today I am thankful for copper.

I'm quite convinced that there is no greater metal.

Day 306: November 1, 2011

The first day of November marks the beginning of my favorite time of year.
I start to embrace the holiday feel, my baking is out of control, and I feel downright jolly.

The day also makes me want to scream, "Hey, time! Slow down!" because I don't want the season to pass by as quickly as it always does...I want to savor each moment between now and New Year's day.

This year I am on a mission to enjoy every moment and take it slow.
I remember a time when Christmas shopping was more fun than stressful and there was plenty of time in the week to decorate Christmas cookies and make homemade stockings.
I'm not sure when life got so busy, but even if it's only for a couple months, I'm slooooowwwwiinnnggg dooooowwwnnnn.

Today I am thankful for the First of November. 

Holidays, here I come.

Day 305: October 31, 2011

Today I'm thankful for head gear. 

I don't know why, but for some reason I'm infatuated with putting headbands on Zoe. 

Feeling batty

She, on the other hand, is not so thrilled with my obsession with dress up.

I couldn't resist a set of sparkly Halloween bats...I might have a problem.

Day 304: October 30, 2011

Today I am thankful for sunsets.

Oh my. This sunset was incredible. The slightly hazy sky provided for a stunning array of colors and the perfectly wispy clouds...no other word for it but "perfection". 

Nature really does it right.