November 30th, 2009

Best of ’09 and BEST GIFT GUIDE EVER…

Two things you should check out, pronto:

If you’re not reading the lovely, inspirational Gwen Bell, you really, really should be.  She’s one of the internet women I admire most, and is always full of great ideas, inspiration and general feel-goodery.  Her latest challenge is the Best Of ’09 Blog Challenge, with a prompt for reflecting on 2009 for every day.  I’m definitely going to be participating, and you should,

Continue reading >>

November 30th, 2009

Wanna Piece of me? Or: MEET-UP IN CHICAGO!

So, I am THRILLED to announce that I will be meeting up with some Chicago-area bloggers (ALL ARE WELCOME!) in December.  Andrew and I will be visiting his family in Illinois, and plan to spend some time in Chicago.  Since I know that many of you lovelies reside there, I thought a meet-up sounded like a lot of fun!

The details:

We are meeting on

Continue reading >>

November 30th, 2009

On dining out…

I really love going out to dinner.  Andrew and I switch off nights for cooking dinner, and usually at least once a week, we find ourselves out at a restaurant.  And seriously, I love it.  Nothing is better after a longggg day than sitting down elsewhere, having someone else cook and clean and bring me an endless stream of Diet Coke.

But here’s the deal: I think that many people

Continue reading >>

November 29th, 2009

School Days Timelines: Third Grade

*I’m blogging through my school years: Preschool one & two, kindergarten, first grade and second grade can be found by clicking on each of them.*

Thinking about third grade makes me smile to this day.  To a little kid, it had all the markings of a great school year.  My mom and I used to go Back To School shopping every summer, and I remember laying out my clothes for

Continue reading >>

November 28th, 2009

Current mantras

All you can expect of yourself is your best at any given moment. Sometimes, even though it hurts in the moment, it’s a gift when certain people aren’t part of your life any longer. There’s no prize for Having All Your Laundry Done or Cleanest House or Perfect Anything. You’re never too old to just want to hug your dad or sit on your mom’s lap. Living anyone else’s

Continue reading >>

November 27th, 2009

Lazy Friday

I wish I had something exciting and substantial to post for y’all today, but, I will be a busy bee for most of my Friday.  I will definitely NOT be Black Friday shopping, because, well…I just don’t do it.  I don’t do crowds, or people who beat each other to get the last Dyson Animal (though, if I was in the market for one, I cannot promise that I wouldn’t

Continue reading >>

November 25th, 2009

THANKFUL.

Every year, I try and sit down to write a list of the things I am most thankful for.

My gratitude this year goes beyond being just appreciative. It is, at times, overwhelming relief.

2009 has been a year of close calls.  It started in February, when I was given a pink slip and told that I might not have a job next year.  In April, I found out that

Continue reading >>

November 24th, 2009

Thankful, part 4

I am sure that some of you are so tired of me and my gosh darn CHEERINESS and THANKFULNESS, and I am so sorry that you are bored, but also that you have a cold, shriveled little heart that cannot tolerate the gratitude I feel for life this year.  I am kidding about that cold heart part, but seriously.

I just feel like I have a lot to be grateful

Continue reading >>

November 24th, 2009

Neurosis in three acts

ACT ONE

I am in Raley’s, desperately trying to get a coffee and some cash before heading out to meet Gina for a craft fair.  The woman in front of me is purchasing a latte and trying to get $100 cash back using her ATM card.  She gets to the part when she enters her PIN and it doesn’t work.  The woman explains to the barista that she

Continue reading >>

November 23rd, 2009

The one where I ask, “Am I doing it wrong?”

Sometimes, I look around at my little life, and I wonder…hmmmm.  Is this what it should be?  Is this what I want it to be?  Is this all it could be?  And the truth is, I don’t know.  I’m lucky enough to be surrounded (in real life, and online) by people doing all sorts of different things.  I love the richness of experience and beliefs I see all around me

Continue reading >>

my life : then

my life : labels