January 30, 2012: San Pellegrino

Today I am thankful for San Pellegrino Aranciata.

We bought a Costco sized case a while ago and I have been sipping my way through...yum. 

It is slightly reminiscent of the Orangina I enjoyed as a kid, but so much better! I am also very fond of the covered can since I heard a very startling account of what is often found scurrying over soda cans in factories. 

January 23, 2012: Family Photos

I don't remember when my little family became just that: a family. 

It seems logical that it would have happened when The Hubby and I tied the knot, but I'm pretty sure it happened before that. I do remember thinking to myself that I wasn't sure if we were "official" because it was just the two of us and we didn't yet share a last name. But then I listened to my beating heart, the heart that usually knows much more than my logical brain. And my heart told me that even though we were just two (and one orange kitty), if we felt like family, that's what we were. 

I also remember being excited when I became a Rose because we could send out Christmas cards from "The Roses" because our matching name finally confirmed that we were indeed a family. 

I have decided to boycott sending Christmas Cards (too much to do, too little time) but I still love the idea of sending out a yearly greeting, so we are sending out New Year's Cards. 

Lucky us, an uber-talented friend agreed to take photos for us...and I LOVE them!

Today I am thankful for family photos.

They capture just where we are right now, in the first month of 2012. I love that in many, many years we will be able to look back at great photos (that don't have me dressed up in a white dress...cause we definitely have A LOT of those!) and remember. 

We'll remember our crazy, ball-obsessed pup and how she rolled in stinky mud in the middle of the photos. 

It will remind us of our little apartment in The Haight with the view of the graffiti wall... 

My daily walks through the Golden Gate Park ferns...

 and two of our favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco.

© Coeur de La Photography

January 15, 2012: Ice Cream Maker

Today I am thankful for our Ice Cream Maker. 

Technically, I suppose it isn't ours so much as Nick's since it was his Christmas present...but boy do I enjoy that thing.
We whipped up our first batch for New Year's Eve and definitely felt like we had some kinks to work out for our next batch. We started simple with a pretty yummy Coffee recipe that left a little to be desired in the texture department.
I'm happy to report that batch numero dos was a success!
We have a plethora of Meyer Lemons on hand, so I couldn't wait to use some up when I discovered the Meyer Lemon-Olive Oil Ice Cream Recipe.

I think I might be addicted to making my own frozen treats! Maybe I should switch to sorbets...easier on the thighs :)
I'm already dreaming up ideas for our next batch...thoughts anyone?

January 4, 2011: Paying It Forward

Today I am thankful to have been the recipient of a "Pay it Forward" moment.

I'm not one hundred percent sure that it's what it was, but I'm sure that it is what it will become.

There was a long line for train tickets, there was a man who cut in front of me in line (when I finally got to the front! Argh.)

And then I was pulled aside by a MUNI man. He handed me a ticket, charged and ready to go, and ushered me through the gate with only a "Happy New Year!" as an explanation. 

I left with a perma-grin and a renewed appreciation of humanity.

The best two dollars I ever saved, I can't wait to pass it on!

Day 365: December 31, 2011!

Writing this post is quite anticlimactic since New Year's Eve has come and gone. But I wanted it to be good, I wanted to think a lot and reflect a lot and write an epic post and I didn't have the time or energy to do my last post justice.
The sunset distracted me.

 I fully enjoyed a relaxing, relatively technology-free end to 2011. So I'm writing now. 

But seriously...this sunset? Ridiculous.

Today I'm thankful for a rocking end to the year.

It may not have involved a lot of excitement and fanfare but it was chock-full of friends, champagne, good food (hello crab...I heart you), and boardgames.

Today I am thankful for a new year. 

The start of a new year always inspires me to reflect upon the departing year and gives me hope for the arriving one. A new year is a fresh start.
2011 taught me many lessons.
Some of the lessons I was not so keen on being taught, but I soaked up the teachings as best I could and made some serious lemonade out of the lemons that were passed my way. And the fantastic thing is: there were no bad days. I have 365 posts as proof! But I'm still ready to move right on and welcome 2012.
2012 will surely involve many dance parties. Probably mostly in the kitchen.

Today I'm thankful for my good health, good family (including furry), good friends, and good food.

Because is there anything more important in life?

365 Days of Gratitude is not ending with the New Year like I had originally intended. I will not be writing daily posts unless I'm uber thankful, but I will be continuing to give thanks for the big and small things in my life.
And there are a lot of big and small things...so maybe I will post everyday.

Love him.