30 days of thanks....

Now that I am getting back in my blogging groove, I have spent some time visiting other blogs and I noticed quite a few people sharing 30 days of thanks.  I have to play some catch up but love the idea of thinking about things I am thankful for and sharing them with you!

So in this first post I will share 13 things I am thankful (one for each of the first 13 days of November) for so that I can catch up with everyone else!

1. I am thankful for my friends and family.  I have a very solid support system and value all of their love and support.  My friends are my family and my family are my friends. :-)

2. I am thankful that I love my job.  Of course, there are days that I would rather stay in bed and days that I come home totally drained from a long day with my students.  But, I can honestly say, I wouldn't pick any other career for myself.  I love teaching, I am a good teacher, and I love that fact that my job is ever changing.

3. I am thankful for cozy blankets.  I am always cold and bundled up so a nice, warm, SOFT blanket is very important to me.

4. I am thankful for mascara.  It totally sounds lame but mascara is a face changer for me.  I like make-up but don't really take the time to put much on unless I am going somewhere special.  However, mascara is always something I make sure to put on before I leave the house.  I have very long eyelashes that are blonde so a thin coat of mascara opens up my eyes and shows off my eyelashes.

Not my eyelashes but very long and pretty!

5. I am thankful for music.  Music can fit my mood and bring back memories.  I listen to music whenever I can and have a very unique taste in music.  I have everything from hip-hop and country to classic rock and show tunes.  There is a song for every feeling!  I have started playing more music for my students and find that it brings a different more positive energy to our classroom.

6. I am thankful for college football.  I love spending Saturday cheering on my favorite teams and watching the players and coaches do what they love most.  There is a difference between college and professional football.  There is a love that the kids playing in college have for the game that is somehow overshadowed by fortune and fame in the NFL.  Don't get me wrong I love watching NFL football as well but it is very different than college.

7. I am thankful potatoes.  I love potatoes...baked, fried, mashed...you name it, I like it.

8. I am thankful for Sex and the City - the movies and the TV series.  As I have gotten older I have been able to identify with Miranda, Carrie, Charlotte, and Samantha.  Through the seasons, these ladies married and started families but remained best friends.  I see a similarity with my girlfriends.  I enjoy the fact that regardless of what happens in their lives, their friendships remain strong and important.  There is nothing like spending time with my girls.

9.  I am thankful for artwork.  As I look around my condo I see beautiful photographs and paintings and think about how plain and boring it would be without them.

10.  I am thankful for DVR.  I am not always home to watch some of my favorite shows and it is nice to know what my DVR will record when I am not there.  When I had TiVo I called it Phillip...I have yet to name my DVR - I am thinking that David would be a good choice.  That way I can say, "Oh I don't have to worry, David will record that show for me." haha

11.  I am thankful I enjoy cooking.  Cooking makes my life easier and helps me relax at the end of the day.

12.  I am thankful to live close to Lake Tahoe.  LT is one of my favorite places and it is only 3 hours away.  I just wish I could visit more often.

13.  I am thankful for French Poodle salad dressing.  This salad dressing is only available in Carmel and is VERY tasty.  I look forward to finding new foods that I can dress with French Poodle.  If you haven't tried it before and you are visiting Carmel I suggest you pick up a bottle or 6!

Simply amazing.

Almost halfway through the month and SO many things I am thankful for.

Now Playing...Take a back road by Rodney Atkins

 

Oh November how I've missed you.

I cannot believe it is already November.  There is all this build up to Thanksgiving and the month seems to roll by slower than a slug!  I do love how the air turns crisp and the nights are long.  I adore cuddling up with my snuggle buddy, watching movies, and drinking lots of tea. I am excited to enjoy some of my favorite things about November...

Warm cozy blankets.

A nice hot fire.

Playing in the rain.

Cute and fashionable rain boots.

Little tea cups that make me feel like a princess at high tea.

Trees in transition.

Umbrellas used to accessorize an outfit.

 

Homemade pumpkin break.

This month always makes me happy.  I delight in unpacking my favorite sweaters and scarves.  The holiday season begins and exciting events with friends and family occupy my free time.   I spend a lot of time baking and entertaining.  What a wonderful time of year...

Now playing Gone baby, don't be gone by Erykah Badu

What do you love about November?

 

 

It's been too long... What I'm Loving Wednesday

Sorry it's been a while Jamie!

Friends, Family, and Followers,

It has been so long since I sat down and took some time to write.  There are a million reasons why I haven't blogged in a while but the long and the short of it is that I have dealing with an old computer and a jam packed calendar.  I have missed blogging and the time it allowed me to reflect on my life and things I love most.

There is no better way to get back in the swing of things than to write about what I am LOVING today....

If you did not know, I am a big football fan.  I enjoy attending games and tailgating with family and friends.  This season, I have seen my Fresno State Bulldogs lose to Cal at Candlestick Park and attended a few Raider games with my lovely friend Cristina.  The Coach, Cristina's boyfriend, has a few tickets to each game and I am always happy to go.  Cristina and I tailgate - AKA sit on the trunk of my car, drink cheap beer, and eat appetizers.  Last game we met up with some friends....

Unfortunately, the game did not turn out the way we wanted but there is always next Sunday.  RAIDERS!!!

Though Halloween is not my favorite holiday, as a teacher I have to put on a happy face and embrace the chaos all in the name of the children.  This year, one of the parents at the school offered to make me a costume!  She said, "Ms. Graham, I would love to make you a costume.  I see you as a fairy.  Very girly and very pink."  HAHA!  She hit the nail on the head... I am very girly and I LOVE pink.  The Phantom of the Opera and a fairy in training...I was missing my wings. 

Mr. Burbank & me

Next, I LOVE that Modern Family is back on TV.  I think this is one of the best shows on TV and if you haven't watched you should start NOW.  Love, love, love....

As the weather is turning cold and the nights are growing longer I am beginning to revisit my love affair with tea and all things related.  Tea pots.....tea cups....and nightly tea time.  I remember when I was growing up my parents would have tea almost every night.  My dad would fix my mom a cup of Good Earth and they would enjoy their tea as they drifted off to sleep in front of the TV.  I guess having tea and those little sugar cookies just reminds me of simpler times.  Just tonight, I spoke with my mom and aunt to see if either of them had any tea cups that they could send my way.  I am pleased to report that I will have an abundance of little tea cups and saucers to bring home and call my own.  I know it is dorky but I am very excited.  I am fairly certain that Miss V will be excited too.  I will make sure to have them for our sleepover next week.  :-)

It is time for me to get to bed but I am happy to be back.  I am happy to share my comings and goings with my family, followers, and friends.

Now playing Baby I Love You by Aretha Franklin

 

Oh The Places You'll Go.... Lake Merritt

As my last day as a 27 year old came to a close I decided to have a little me time.  I put on my favorite hoodie, sunglasses, and my best playlist and took a walk.  Lake Merritt is where I ended up and using a little iPhone magic I captured a beautiful sunset.... Enjoy.

I have not blogged in a while and keep reminding myself how much I enjoy taking the time to share the things I do, people I love, and places I go.  It is my new years promise (new year because it will be the beginning of a new year for me tomorrow - happy birthday to me!) to take a little more time to share the things I love the most...

Now playing Get by with a little help from my friends by Joe Cocker

Fireworks, friends, family, and food....A perfect 4th of July Weekend!

Last weekend I spent with family and friends.  The 4th of July has always marked the beginning of summer for me.  The air is hot, the BBQ's are fired up, and most of my time is spent outdoors enjoying the warm summer weather.  When I was younger, I would spend a few weeks of the summer at Lake Tahoe but now I spend the majority of my summer teaching summer school and so my weekends are the only time I get to spend in summer mode.

I spent Saturday with my boyfriend, Mike, running errands.  We found ourselves on the other side of the bay and stopped by to say hello to the Grinde's who were in party preparation mode!  After an afternoon out and about we returned home and cooled off just watching movies. 

Sunday Mike and I made the trek back to the other side of the bay to spend the afternoon BBQing with lots of friends.  It was blazing hot so we all retreated to the "man-cave" for some Wii playing and beer drinking.  It is always so nice for all of us to get together and hang out.  Everyone has busy schedules these days so it can be hard to find the time.

Mike & me

Tina & the Coach

Mikey & Ryland

Missy & Bella

After a lovely day with friends in San Mateo we came home and relaxed.  On the 4th of July I went to my sisters and had a great time!  There was a bike parade....

Followed by lots and lots of fireworks....

All and all a very successful holiday weekend.  I always enjoy spending time with those I love.  I hope that the beginning of your summer was just as fabulous as mine.

Now playing It's a Great Day to be Alive by Travis Tritt