Day 21

Day 20: Today I am thankful for Food/Cooking.

              I love food! I love all kinds of food and trying new food. Which is a big growth from about 10 years ago. All I would eat was mac-n-cheese and PB&J. Now I love veggies, and fish! Although my Dad always tells the story of how he used to put me in my high chair ( which clipped to the side of the table) and feed me broccoli and holindays sauce until I was covered! Still my favorite way to eat broccoli. One of my first memories is having my favorite childhood dinner with Tommer, pork chops with mac-n-cheese and creamed corn. I used to only eat Kraft mac-n-cheese now I have switched to Annie's cheddar buns.
            Now not only do I love food I am completely fascinated by cooking. I could being the kitchen an cook all day just for fun. I have recently discovered  so many food recipes and food blogs! I never knew cooking could be so creative. I have tried some, but the possibilities are endless. One of the things that got me into cooking was baking. Baking makes my heart sing! Baked goods are one of the first things I remember "cooking" on my own. I love to bake all kinds of things  savory or sweet and share them with everyone! I have recently made empanadas, mini pot pies and chocolate chip cookies lately. I am a total experimental chef. for instance today I am trying to make my own teriyaki sauce. (recipe at bottom) I did a bit of research in to what the ingredients needed were and I using things in my cupboards that can be substituted so I don't have to spend to much money. So its really going to be an experiment. I am always open to new recipes and exchanging ideas so please share with me your favorite things to cook. 

Teriyaki sauce:
Soy sauce
ground ginger
Garlic
Dark Karo syrup
Apple Cyder vinegar
Lemon Juice
brown sugar
pure cane sugar

combine in small sauce pan to boil, reduce heat and let simmer until thick. Remove from pan and serve.

Day 20

Day 19: Today I am thankful for honesty and openness 

                  It is human nature to be insecure. It makes it very easy to hide yourself or try to make yourself in to something else. Being open to honestly share  your self with others is one of the hardest, but most fulfilling experiences of a persons life. It has helped me to build or rebuild relationships with family, friends and the most amazing man. Honesty fosters trust communication and is the foundation to life. In order to grow you must be honest with yourself. It all seems to come back to honesty.

day 19

Day 18: Today I am thankful for being a woman.

Yesterday my mother in law Mary got married. I was one of the bridesmaids. The three older boys walked her down the aisle and Daniel was the officiant. If there is one thing weddings do its bring out the little girl in every woman. On that day I felt more beautiful and more love than I ever had  before in my life. I hope that Mary had the same great experience.

We spent most of the day Friday in the hall decorating! We folded napkins, set up tables, hung lights, and turned the hall into a glittering winter wonderland. It was beautiful and and a lot of fun. Then Mary, Bev and I went to get our nails done and shop or under the dress... Ooo la la! Back to the hall for practice and dinner. When Mary saw the hall she was awe struck, it was better than she imagined. The next day we all woke up early and Mary's day started with getting her and Bev's hair done. She had half up cascading curls with little sparkles in it. Next we went out to her house to start the make up process, last minute hair touch ups and the big moment of putting the dress on. Which was amazing and fit her perfectly. Then show time!  There wasn't a dry eye there. She and Tom even could hardly make it threw their vows. Such a sweet ceremony, finishing with a great party!


Being a bride is one of the most feminine moments of a woman's life, but there is more to being a woman than primping and decorating. There is passion, strength, softness, courage, and fierce protectiveness. A loving heart and a creative mind. There is a complete beauty in a woman no words could describe. I mean we frickin grow and carry a human in our bodies or almost a year, come on. I know I am not alone here.

I would say I have grown way more accepting and loving of my feminine qualities and just the fact that I am a woman who is beautiful in all aspects. I must admit being with Adam and learning to believe and trust that he loves me and thinks I am the greats thing since sliced bread has really helped me to see it. And for me one of the things that makes me feel the most feminine is when my man cant keep his hands to himself or I catch him checkin me out. I love being a woman and I can't wait to establish exactly what that means to me.

Day 18

Day 17: Today I am thankful for meeting new people (friends)

               On Wednesday I got to meet Hanna Beckley. After hearing how wonderful she was and watching a small child weep at the fact that she had gone away to college (UCSC) and no longer worked here I expected if Donnie Darko and and Storm from X-Men had a love child it would be Hanna...I was not disappointed. She is so sweet and genuine. The cutest 18 year old ever and HI-larious! She is back "on call" for holiday hours, and I am hoping to to get to work with her more. I have made more female friends at this job than I have ever had...in my entire life to be honest. Like with Melanee. We have become friends fast and I totally adore her. She and I laugh so much. Crafting and backing and being wives are not only the most important things to us but what we really love doing. She is so naturally beautiful and kind its refreshing me meet one more woman who uses her brain and cares about making a good life for her family. It doesn't hurt that Ro comes along with Mel and that I am really getting 2 friends! I do not think this is a coincidence and I am really enjoying it.

              Dave is another really just awesome human being. Adam and I really get along and relate with Dave. We have some great conversations and he even came over to our house for thanksgiving. He is extremely witty. He has more nicknames than anyone I know, and is wickedly sarcastic. I have never met anyone with as fierce a beard as my Grandpa until Dave ( then I met Brett a regular customer who is more like a part of the OTP family)

               Again not a coincidence so many great people have become a part of one place and intern become friends. In the past I feel like I have been less open and unable to understand or relate to people. I guess this is what finding your self is about I am very grateful to have learned how to accept and love myself more to be more comfortable forming lasting relationships.

Day 17

Day 16: Today I am thankful for Celebrations.

               As humans we celebrate a lot of life's events. Birthdays, anniversaries, accomplishments, deaths even have a celebration of the persons life occasionally. I love celebrations, any excuse to throw a party. I love to entertain and cook. I love the decorating, the prepping and the primping. Usually celebrating is a great excuse to get dressed up. Sometimes even a reason to make a whole day about someone you love. If your my Sister then its a reason to make a whole month about celebrating someone. Gotta love the birthday month! Either way it's all very exciting. One of the biggest and  unfortunately one of the most commercialized things we celebrate is the holidays. I love the holiday season for lots of reasons Halloween with its candy and costume parties, Thanksgiving for the amazing food and football, and Christmas for its trees and giving spirit. Most of all I love that holidays is also one of the biggest "excuses" for families of all shapes, sizes, colors, beliefs to come together with love in their hearts. For our families the holidays are about getting together, eating delicious food, and sharing some love over a nice glass of wine or your favorite beer. To me this is as good as it gets. We have our traditions and we are starting some new ones. But most of all we always remember it's not about the gifts or the decorations or how much money was spent on the food, in any celebration it's about coming together and enjoying other human beings! Warm wishes and hugs with kisses for everyone this season and many more to come!

Day 16

Day 16: Today I am thankful for smiling


               Smiling physically feels like it changes how I feel. Its one of my favorite things (looks wise) about myself; and is my best accessory. A smile can change a persons day, mood or just cheer them up a little. A smile is how we greet each other, and is the sign that we are friendly and open to new people. When I got my braces off I remember people telling me "you parents paid a lot for that beautiful smile, make sure you use it as often as you can."  Adam says he has loved my smile from the first moment he saw it. His is what I look forward to most at the end of any day, and the first thing I see every morning. My favorite things about smiles is they transcend gender, social status, and nations. Share a smile with a stranger!

Day 15

Day 14: Today I am thankful for my Job.


              Today I got to work a double. I am very tired but so happy to just have the hours. Many people are out of work right now, we know that all to well. I have worked a few jobs in my time and this is by far the most fun.  I have never worked at a place where I love so many of the people that I worked with. We started working at OTP to earn some extra cash and it has become a great job and what is getting Adam and I through right now. It is really kinda fun to work with Adam. I wasn't sure what would happen, I mean we are great together, but working is a whole other story! Honestly I love it. Its so easy and we get to spend time together. Pretty cool. OTP is a different kind of place to work, its like one big family. We are fitting in very well and it feels great. Tuesday is our Christmas party and I am so excited. I am bringing mini chicken pot pies ( kinda nervous) and I expect that other people will bring some deliciousness as well! (they better, hahaha) Melanne is making dessert...YAY!  We are very thankful for the money, but more than that we are thankful for the good times and love! Here's to many years together my friends, and experiencing la vita molto bene!

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Day 14

Day 14: Today I am thankful for  conversation.


              Anyone who knows me knows that I am a chatter box. Always have been. I am not sure why but I guess I just have a lot to say. Makes since why I am married to a listener. ( heee heee married! For 6 months already!!) I very much enjoy banter. Adam and I banter very well. As quite as he can be, he can razz with the best of em. Some times he pops off, drops my jaw and gives me the sweetest little "whaaaat" grin that all I can do is laughingly say back "youuuuu" We just communicate very well, with and with out words. We needn't say much when working together. We love to sit and talk and pretty much analyze every aspect of life together, at length. When out with out friends we are able to be at opposite sides of the room, and it seems that at the exact same moment we look up and smile at each other.
       One of my favorite things is to just sit and " chew the fat" with another human being. to connect and be able to share your self, even about the smallest things. Or things that I think I am crazy for thinking or feeling, then finding out that they feel the same way. My favorite is a group of people that can sit and chop it up. You can learn a lot about someone just by talking to them. Most of the time even the people that you think you may not like, you find things you have in common. Just by spending a little time with them and being open. Something that I am finding more and more easy, sometimes...

Day 13

Day 13: Today I am thankful for mornings.

              Mornings haven't always been my favorite time of day. I was always a "night owl" as a kid. I don't often get to wake up before the sun right now. Working nights has put the kibosh on that for most mornings. The feeling of the morning air is so crisp and refreshing. There is something so mind clearing about popping out of bed, grabbing a cup of coffee and spending the first hour of your summer morning watering, tending and enjoying the garden. Watching the sun as it begins to illuminate the yard is amazing.

    Most of the time I am a happy, peppy person in the morning. This has not always been the case, in fact only recently has this transformation come about. I can think of a few things in my life over the last few years that have changed my morning routine in the most wonderful way! My adorable and cuddly morning boys. I love waking up and seeing my love next to me, most of the time already awake. Then I look to the floor on my side of the bed, and my little baby dog is there, sometimes already awake sometimes I have to coax him out of his hole. Then we all lay in bed for a few minutes and cuddle. Its by far my most favorite time of day! Maybe I am growing up or just realizing the majesty of the world waking up.