30 Days of Thanks: Day 2- An Animal

I'm pretty sure you know which animal I'm choosing for today's post. It's Loki. (It's kind of his blog too, it would just be mean not to include him in the list.)

There's something about those big brown eyes and that wiggly butt that just makes me smile. Like all the time. I love coming home to such excitement- all because I came home, I haven't really even done anything. It's hard to remember a time when we didn't have him. It's been four-and-a-half years since we adopted him.

If you have a pet, or have ever considered one, you know that they're a lot of work. But totally worth it. There's more to it than vet visits and bags of food. There's the companionship, and that unconditional love and acceptance that only a pet can provide. He doesn't care if I've had a long day at work, or if I'm struggling with an assignment for school. He doesn't care if the bed is made or if the floors have been vaccuumed. He only cares if his bowl gets filled at dinner time and if his belly gets rubbed and if I scratch behind his ears.

He's easy, and reminds me that at the end of the day it really doesn't matter all that much if the bed is made and the floors have been vaccuumed. It matters that we spend quality time with the people we love and who make us feel loved in return.

He's my favorite furry partner in crime- assuming that crime consists mostly of afternoon naps on the weekend.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 1- A Person

Take chances, take a lot of them. Because honestly, no matter where end up and with whom, it always ends up just the way it should be. Your mistakes make you who you are. You learn and grow with each choice you make. Everything is worth it. Say how you feel, always. Be you and be OK with it.
~Unknown

The first thing on the list to be thankful for is a person. I'm actually cheating a little bit on this one, and I'm picking two people.

These are my parents. If you've met them, you know how great they are. This is the two of them dancing at our wedding. They're preparing to celebrate 37 years of marriage at the end of this month. That's pretty amazing. Their commitment to each other, and the way they approach their marriage as a partnership is inspiring.

They raised me to always believe in myself and to trust my instincts. They listened to me and taught me that what I have to say is important. They came to ballet recitals, high school choir performances, musicals, singing competitions and plays, and they still have the videos to prove it. Really, my husband has seen them- including the kindergarten Easter program where I was a lamb. Yup. Furry white hat with black felt ears.

They taught me to respect myself and other people and to treat them the way I want to be treated in return. They always told me and showed me how much they love me and made sure I knew that I was important. They make home a wonderful place to be. Their encouragement and support has meant more to me than I can really say. I wouldn't be where I am or who I am today without them.

For that, I am grateful.

30 Days of Thanks

Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of travelling.~Margaret B. Runbeck

How easy it is to forget all the little things, and not so little things, that make life unique and special. It's far too simple to take things for granted. Even as one of the 99% in this country, there's very little for us to complain about. We're all exceptionally lucky and should take some time to remember that.

I'm not always great about it, but I try. So for the rest of this month, I'm participating in something that my friend Lindsay is doing on her blog. I've added a new button on the right side of the screen for it. For the 30 days of November, I'll be posting about something that I'm thankful for. Now I'm a little bit behind, so I've got some catching up to do. That just means you get to hear more from me than you're used to, which can't be all bad right? Right. I thought so.

So what's involved in this 30 days of Thanks? There's a list- which I like. You're not surprised by that. I'm pretty sure the big guy laughs out loud when he hears me say that. Ask him about the Gantt chart I made while wedding planning- well, on second thought, maybe don't. So here's the list that I'll be working through for the rest of this month:

1. a person
2. an animal
3. a cozy place in your home
4. a favorite snack
5. a place
6. a pair of shoes
7. a scent
8. a restaurant
9. a blog
10. a time of day
11. a tradition
12. a gadget
13. something old
14. something new
15. a recipe
16. an experience
17. a store
18. a saying/quote/scripture
19. a favorite piece of clothing
20. a keepsake
21. a disappointment or fear
22. a book
23. a feeling
24. a photograph
25. a luxury
26. a charity
27. a song
28. a gift
29. something in your home
30. the thing you're most thankful for

I'll be adding pictures along the way. I need the practice with my camera. Not for anything in particular, but just for fun. So here's to the next 30 days, and to having the opportunity to be thankful.

Our 3rd Wedding Anniversary

The best thing to hold on to in life is each other.

~Audrey Hepburn

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!

Here's to three wonderful years being married to each other. I'm a very lucky girl. Occasionally I say that jokingly, but I hope everyone knows how much I actually mean it. I have the luxury, and I truly believe that it iss a luxury, of going home every day to a wonderful man.

He's my partner, my cheering section, my reality check, my reminder to laugh about the little things, my shoulder to lean on, my access to high shelves. He's my best friend. I can't imagine where I would be and what I would be doing without him as a part of my life.

I love you.

I'd marry you all over again.

September 11, 2001

The internet is filled today with thoughts about that day and the people who lost their lives, and the survivors who lost friends and family members. I consider myself to be incredibly blessed that everyone I love was safe that day. I know how easy it can be to take that safety for granted.

I think there were many of us who, up until that day, took a lot for granted. Our safety was certainly one thing, but our freedom was another. We are so lucky to live where we do and to have the choices and options that we do. To live, to learn, to worship, to love the way we choose is not a God-given right elsewhere in the world. It's far more unique than any of us want to believe it is.

There's so much that we have to celebrate, and a day like today helps us remember that. It's hard to think of September 11th and celebration in the same sentence. It almost feels insensitive or disrespectful. But we have to celebrate life. We have to. We have to celebrate opportunity. We have to celebrate everything that makes this country and its people great- the things that make us different and the things that bring us together.

Today is a difficult day for many people, for many reasons. Today, I am grateful. I am grateful for my husband and my parents. I am grateful for our family and our friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to make choices. I am grateful to live in a place that allows me to have those freedoms and more. And most importantly, I am grateful that there are people who fight to protect those freedoms and the people that I love.

So today, take some time to be thankful for all that you have, and make sure you tell someone that you love them.

Tis the Season

Well hello there cold and flu season. How nice of you to stop by. Right before we go on vacation.
Jerkface.

Half-Full Glass

It always seems impossible until it's done.

Well, it's not totally done. Last week final papers and exams were finished and turned in. As of this morning the final grades have all been submitted.

I'm officially half-way through my MBA program.

You're probably wondering what this all means. Me too. For starters it means three weeks without classes. Three weeks without homework. Three weeks to enjoy spending time with the Big Guy in the evenings instead of running away to hide in something to study after dinner. It means reading things that have nothing to do with activity based costing, lag time, or management structures. It's more likely than I'm really comfortable admitting that what I'm reading now involves teenage paranormal romances. You can't get much further away from activity based costing than that. It might even mean more blogging. (I missed you guys!)

More importantly, it means that I'm 50% closer to achieving this major goal I set for myself. It means that my family and friends have already supported me through the toughest part of this journey. I can't promise that there will be that many more Friday nights that I show up to things than there were in this past year, but I'm optimistic. I'm halfway there.

So the glass is half-full. As in half full of knowledge. Knowledge and awesome. Assuming of course that awesome can be defined as a unique combination of wine, chocolate and Skype chats with some pretty amazing people.

Yeah, I didn't make it this far on my own. I couldn't have. The program has a strong emphasis on team work and having the right people is extremely important. I might be biased, but  I think I had the best teammates. This past year would not have been the same with any other group, and I will forever be grateful that I had them to rely on, laugh with, keep me in check and on track.

So now it's time to prep for the next half of the program. I'm not sure what exactly it will bring. A new team, new professors, new classes, new challenges, and this time next year- a new degree.

It's a lot. I'm not going to kid myself that it's going to be a walk in the park. I know that's not true. But I've done it before. I know how to manage my time, and more importantly my expectations. I can only do so much, and those things will be what's really important. So maybe the dishes sit in the sink overnight and the laundry gets pushed to next week. I'd rather be spending quality time with the Big Guy and Loki anyway. The dishes won't go anywhere and we can always buy more socks.

Because I Have Too Much Free Time

Somewhere between the statistics homework, the corporate governance scandal research, and general obsession that is studying for me these days, I had a chance to visit my parents. The purpose of this visit you ask? Well, aside from a much needed reminder that there is life outside of textbooks, and that they're the most supportive people ever, my mom wanted some help picking out paint colors.

You see, my parents have lived in their house for over 5 years now and have yet to paint a single room. I could barely go 5 minutes before putting up paint chips to see what I liked best to change my space. I'm teasing because I care, Mom.

I loved it. I loved everything about it. From pushing my mom outside of her beige comfort zone (into greige if you were wondering), to seeing how the promise of new colors can make everything look new again, to being able to capture the right personality for the space so that it reflects the people who live there and welcomes their guests.

None of this really ties in with the title of this post yet, but I'm thinking that a few of you have guessed where this is going. Probably because I've told you. I'm the type of person that has to say something out loud, preferably several times to several people, before it can become real. So here's me saying it again:

I'm starting my own design firm.

I get goosebumps looking at that logo. I really do. Right now it's just some squares and a little text (Edwardian Script and Book Antiqua in case you were wondering. Which I doubt you actually were. See why I should be doing this?), but soon it's going to be bigger than that. Yup, a desk in the guest room. Whoa. I know crazy fast, right?

Honestly though, I'm nervous and excited. Currently I exist in Indiana as a sole proprietorship, but will be filing the official paperwork to become a corporation soon. This could be the best $40 I've ever spent!

In the meantime, I will be making some plans. No, none of them involve leaving my job. I like my job, and I like the people I work with. It's hard to give that up for some text in boxes, or even for a desk in the guest room. But I will be looking to get some more things to put in my portfolio. So if you're looking for some design help, let me know! Maybe you're like my mom and need help picking out paint colors. Maybe you've painted, but you're not sure how to style the room, or need help with a space plan for art or furniture. Maybe you really like my logo and want one of your own. Maybe you need some help with some graphics for a presentation.

I'd love to help!

The Mini Marathon

I just finished my first half marathon; it was the Indianapolis Mini Marathon in downtown Indianapolis. I was fortunate to finish alive, let alone with a decent score. I came in at 2 hours and 38 minutes and 40 something seconds. I was shooting for 2 hours and 30 minutes, but at least I was close.

A great friend trained me and helped get me into as good of shape as I really expected over the last few months. Without Michael it would never have been possible.

The one thing that really helped me get through it all was my play list. I know you are not supposed to use an IPod or other music device during a half marathon, but I did, so sue me. For the first six miles, every time a song came on, it reminded me of a story and a friend. Thank you all for inspiring me.

Stand Tall The Dirty Heads – Michael, thank you for helping me stand tall. It was part of the mix I did on the 10 k. Your leadership and guidance was the main reason I survived.

All My Life K Ci and Joe Joe – It was our first dance, so it always makes me think of my Wifey, you have been so sweet even though you are going through so much with your degree. Thank you for being there for me after all my runs. So many more songs remind me of you but that would make this even more boring…

I’m Coming Home Murder By Death – The song is about coming home, and my brother introduced it to me. Thanks to my family for supporting me even though me running a half marathon was not always completely plausible.

Yeah Usher – After our exciting ride to Hilton Head it would be tough to forget Tim, thank you for coming up and joining me. All the tips and newsletters helped put me at ease. Thanks. I will even include your lovely wife. I am so glad you could make it out Courtney.

Smash the Offspring – Best song to take you back to highschool. Danny took me to my first real show. Thanks for the cigars.

Iron Man Black Sabbath – It was probably my third real CD ever purchased. Bought it with Steve when we went up to Canada in 8th grade. Thanks for keeping it light even though I’ve been stressing.

Time of Your Life Greenday – Thanks for all the fond memories of Where it’s @. Bryce you have always been such a great friend. Glad we could grab a few drinks over the holiday.

Party Hard Andrew WK – Thanks to Nick for getting me pumped up. One of the best roommates a man can ask for. Wonder twin’s powers activate!

Deliverance Bubba Sparxxx – for the Schultz family who introduced it to me. Thank you for what you are doing for our country. I am proud to consider you part of my family.

Country Grammar Nelly & Living on a Prayer Bon Jovi – all my boys from Freshman year at IU. It has been a while, but we will always be boys.

Jesus Walks & Never Let me Down Kanye West – Thank you God for all the blessings you have bestowed on me. I am humbled.

Lastly I would like to thank my new favorite podcast, Filmspotting. You can find them at Filmspotting.net. They provided much of the entertainment that kept me going through the early runs. Thanks guys.

There were more times than I can count where I wanted to give up, but it always seemed like something came on the IPod that got me excited and gave me that extra push. It is always cool to me how things like that work out..

Fairy Tale Friday

Have you seen the pictures? Of course you have. I'm talking about the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. AMAZEBALLS!

I thought about getting up super early to watch, but just couldn't do it. I give a lot of credit to everyone like my mom who did. I've got it recorded though so I can watch it later. :-)

Not everyone does, but I love the pomp and circumstance of a formal wedding. I love the ceremonial air that comes with the celebration of two people making such a profound commitment to each other. I think it's a serious thing, one not to be taken lightly, and as such deserves special attention. Now I don't know that I would have wanted the attention of the entire world watching me on my wedding day. I have to say, Kate handled it with so much grace and poise. Exactly how a princess should carry herself.

Love this picture of Kate and her sister, Philippa. So sweet.

And the dress. Swoon. It was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. I've seen a few places say that it looks like she's channeling Grace Kelly on her wedding day, and I agree. Kate's is definitely a more modern and accessible take on the look. Both are timeless, elegant, and so much what I picture a princess's wedding dress to be. I'm not one who pictures a lot of sparkle or bling for something like this. Instead I think of things are very traditional, like lots of lace and impeccable craftsmanship and attention to detail.

What a beautiful bride! I can only imagine what it must feel like to actually be a princess. Probably a lot more work and responsibility than most of realize, or would even want in real life. But on a day like today, it's awfully fun to get caught up in the fairy tale.