Wrigley pup

Anyone who knows me knows that I love my dog...in fact obsessed may be a better word.  :)  He is a mix of what we think is black lab/mastiff and he is a big boy!  We adopted him from the Humane Society when he was about 2 months old and have had him for a little over 3 years now.  He is, to say the least, mine and Richie's baby.  Wrigley is the perfect blend of playful and lazy and loves to snuggle up in bed (all 100 pounds of him!)  He really has such a personality for a dog- one of his favorite things to do is sneak socks from the laundry room. He will stuff them in his mouth and try to make it past us to the stairs without being seen. I could go on and on, but I will simply say that I am so thankful for my dog, Wrigley!!

a thankful heart

Wow, I cannot believe I have done a year's worth of thankful posts already. As cheesy as it may sound, it was a great journey!  Some of the days it was incredibly difficult to come up with something that I was thankful for (that I hadn't already written about) and I would just sit and reflect back on the day until something popped into my head.  Those moments were very cool because it made me realize all of the little things in life that I have to be thankful for...and all of those little things certainly do add up!  Other days, I was bursting at the seams to blog and I had to force myself not to ramble on and on, even though I probably could have written pages.  Through this year I have realized that I am very thankful for God's presence in my life, family, friends, and all of the small "mundane" things that we have to appreciate in order to make us happier people.  I could honestly probably blog for another 365 days about totally new things I am thankful for because I have learned to look for and find the joy in all things.  As my final blog post, I have to say that I am thankful for the fact that this blog did exactly what I wanted it to do.  I set out to better myself and find happiness in all areas of my life, and that's exactly what happened.  I am thankful for my thankful heart!

perfect weekend

This past weekend, I did Race for the Cure with the team Michelle's Angels to support breast cancer research. I taught Michelle's oldest child and currently am teaching her youngest and I am so inspired by her faith throughout her battle with breast cancer. She is such an amazing woman, and I was so glad I was able to do the race with her family and friends! We had a great time, even in the drizzly weather and then my mom and I met Richie for a late breakfast once we made in back to Alpharetta. After a long nap :), I got ready for the Zac Brown concert! We went with a group of friends and had so much fun!
The next morning, we went to church and brunch with my family for Mothers Day and then had Richie's family over that evening for dinner! It was a very eventful weekend, but lots of fun! I am thankful for "perfect" weekends with family and friends!

Hilton Head

This past weekend we went to Hilton Head with 4 other couples for a long weekend.  We did a little relaxing, a little beach time, a little bike riding, a little swimming, and had a lot of fun!  I am so thankful for the chance to get away and go to Hilton Head (one of my favorite places!) and for our wonderful friends that we went with!  Such a great weekend!

Bryn

Bryn and I met our freshmen year in college when we both pledged Phi Mu.  Throughout our freshmen year, we became closer and by sophomore year, I knew she would be one of my lifelong friends.  Bryn and I lived together for a year in college and a year outside of college and she has always been my own personal Ken Paves (haha) and taught me everything I know about make-up and hair!  I can always be myself around B and tell her exactly what I am thinking and I love that we have that type of relationship.  We have SO much fun when we are together (I was so ecstatic when I found out she was going to move to Atlanta for her internship and then stay after graduation!) and it definitely makes it more fun that our husbands are best friends too!  Our anniversaries are even only a week apart, so we are all going to Mexico this summer to celebrate! So fun!  I am so thankful for my friendship with Bryn and look forward to many more memories!

Robbie

I have a pretty great big brother.  I am the first to admit that sometimes we drive each other crazy (and definitely did when we were little), but as we have gotten older he has become one of my very best friends.  It certainly helps that I adore his wife and he and Richie are little buddies because we do so much with them!  People always tell me how lucky I am because Robbie and I are really good friends, to the point that we hang out with the same group of people! 
Growing up, sometimes he was my tormenter (never too badly though!), sometimes my protector, but always he's been my big brother.  I am so thankful to have him as that- and as my friend!

Steph

Stephanie and I met our junior year at Auburn when she transferred from South Alabama and affiliated with Phi Mu.  We instantly clicked and soon became inseparable!  Stephanie and I have so many wonderful memories together from college (such as me introducing her to her husband Justin!!) and post-college and I can't imagine not having her in my life.  She has always been such a voice of reason for me- either giving me her own advice or "Sex in the City" show therapy in college! :) I am so thankful for her friendship!

An oldie but a goodie :)

Blogger App

I just found an App for Blogger, so I can blog from my phone (without having to pull up the website). Figures I would find it when my "thankful year" is almost up, but I am very thankful for the convenience it will provide for the next couple of days/weeks!

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Dinner Club

I am in a Dinner Club with a group of friends (different than my recipe club that I've posted about before!). We meet once a month and take turns hosting it in pairs. Its the perfect excuse to get together with the girls over dinner and wine! So fun! We had it on Sunday and had make-your-own salads with fresh veggies and grilled chicken and shrimp. So yum! I'm hosting next month with two other girls so we have to start brainstorming what we will make! Any ideas??

I am thankful for my Dinner Club and my wonderful friends that I am in it with!

orange jeans

Ok I try really hard not to be materialistic and write about clothes or items of that nature on here too often, but.... I found a pair of orange skinny jean capris this weekend! And before you think I'm too crazy, yes- bright jeans ARE in style! :) As an Auburn alum that is married to a Tennessee alum, these are possibly one of the best purchases I have made. They are sooooo adorable for spring and summer and they will be even cuter come football season (esp paired with the adorable navy and white striped top I got to go with them! War Eagle!)
I am thankful for my cute orange jeans!

weekends

I am thankful for weekends, plain and simple. They gone you a chance to regroup after a busy week, spend some time with friends and maybe family, and then be ready for the next week ahead! Thank goodness for our weekends!

Patience is a virtue..

...and one that I am continually working on as I am sure we all are! I am thankful for my patience, especially as we near the end of the school year!

slip n slide

I was a very much a big kid at our Field Day this year and I am not afraid to admit it! We had a giant inflatable slip n slide for the kids and my thought was...why do they get to have all the fun?? :) A couple of the other teachers and I went down it a few times- such a blast and our kids thought it was the coolest thing ever! I am thankful for slip n slides and being able to act like a kid!

Tervis Tumblers

So silly, but I am thankful for my Tervis Tumblers! I am a water fiend during the day so I alway have one of the big ones that comes with a lid and straw- love it! If you don't have any, I strongly recommend them!

front porch time

One of my favorite things about my house is my little front porch. We have two wicker rocking chairs out there and Richie and I love to sit out there. On Saturday and Sunday mornings we will take coffee outside and sit while we talk or Richie reads the paper on his iPad and I read. When it's nice out, we'll take a beer or glass of wine out there and sit outside right before the sun goes down and just talk about our day. It's one of my favorite places because that's one of my favorite thins to do- just relax with my sweet hubby. I am thankful for my cozy front porch!

Church

I am thankful for church on Sunday mornings. I love how it starts your week off on the right foot with everything put in the proper perspective. Now I just need to keep working on keeping that perspective all week!

Chick-Fil-A

I love everything about Chick-Fil-A. I love their: customer service, Christian values as an organization, waffle fries, spicy chicken sandwiches, salads, chicken biscuits, lemonade, the fact that they will make you a grilled chicken bagel in the morning if you ask. They are pretty much the best fast food ever! I am thankful for delicious Chick-Fil-A and hope I never have to move to one of those crazy states that doesn't have them!

sweet school parents

I had the sweetest parent in my class bring me a homemade lunch today. How thoughtful is that?? I am thankful for sweet school parents!

Field trip

Due to funding shortages, my grade hasn't gone on an actual field trip in quite some time. We have some great people come to the school to do things, but all kids need the experience of going on a real field trip! Well, first grade finally got our field trip! We went to the Teaching Museum to see a fabulous storyteller and then had a picnic in the Roswell Square. Such a fun day! I am thankful for fun field trips!

music

I am by no means a music expert, but I do love music! I have since I was about three and would stand on the counter and belt out some Reba! My taste in music is extremely eclectic, with my favorites ranging from The Beatles to Britney Spears and that's what I love about it! It can evoke every emotion in me and bring back such memories- good, bad, hilarious, even trivial ones. Hearing a certain song can take you right back to childhood, high school, college, etc and make you feel like you are right there again. Likewise, if I'm in a great mood or a horrible mood all I want to do is get in my car, roll the windows down, and sing as loud as I kind- although the song choice would of course change depending on the mood! ;) I am thankful for music and the effect it has on me. This world would be a very boring place without it!