Sick

A little over a week into one of my resolutions and i'm already falling flat... i've been sick so please don't hold a lack of posts against me... also getting ready for my road trip! I think there will be more pictures than words posted over the next 10 days.

Vitamin C

I woke up with a cold but luckily the Vitamin C I've been taken has kept it from being much worse...

The Beauty Bar

This weekend was bittersweet for me. One of my best friend's is moving to Arizona in a few days. Luckily i'm helping her move out there so we will be taking a road trip together starting next weekend. But this Saturday, "the band" went out for one last night of dancing together. We went to the Beauty Bar in NYC. At first the bar seemed like it was going to be a complete bust. Too many people in too tiny of a space. Then they opened the dance floor and that's where the magic happened. We shook our boots to a great mix of the 80's and had a blast! There was an epic moment during Madonna's "Like A Prayer" and it took everything within me not to shed tears because I knew this would be the last time we would all be together like this for awhile. It was a night i'll cherish close to my heart. I also spent time in the city on Sunday - went to church, ate at Eataly... it was soothing to the soul... this whole weekend was. Here's praying for a good week pre-road trip!

Double Thankfulness

I'm doubling up today because it's been two days of heartfelt camaraderie here at work. Last night we had a goodbye celebration for a co-worker. She's the kind of person who you notice when you walk into a room. Not because she's beautiful & stylish (because she is) but because she's always super nice and always has a smile on her face. Her energy is contagious! It was nice to celebrate her and enjoy some other co-workers who I now consider friends outside of the office environment. Then today I had the pleasure of transcribing for one of our creative guys. He lost his hearing a few years ago and I find him an inspiration. He's battled his way through and is amazing at his job (and also another really sweet person). I'm often asked to transcribe for him because of my speedy typing skills and for some people they may feel put out but for me I enjoy it. I feel like God gives me this responsibility which I also consider a privilege. It centers me on a spiritual level at work which most of the time never happens here. For all the times I want to pull my hair out from 9-5 these are the moments that get me through...

Some of my great co-workers!

Playing Catch

Last night I worked a snooozetastic college basketball game at the IZOD center. There was MAYBE 500 people in attendance out of an arena that fits 25,000. The highlight of my night came at the end when 3 little kids & their grandfather began playing catch on the concourse right near me. At one point one of the kids overthrew the ball and I ended up playing with them for a bit. It was so fun & so cute! Definitely put a smile on my face and something I was thankful for!

Reality TV

I didn't have a chance to post yesterday so this morning is Tuesday's thankful thought. Yes, Reality TV. How lame does that sound?! I'll tell you why though. As much as i'm a sucker for bad Reality TV like "Keeping Up With The Kardashian's" that's not what i'm talking about. I'm talking about the reality shows that somehow bring about positive change and encouragement. "The Biggest Loser" started another new season last night. Watching people who are close to me (and even myself) struggle with weight and the health problems associated with it is hard. To see others step in front of millions of television viewers and be pushed to their limit in order to save their life is inspirational. It's also refreshing to see that even if you weigh 500lbs surgery doesn't have to be the only option. You are in control of your own health - nobody but you puts the food in your mouth. I've been lucky enough to have my own home grown inspiration that has helped me want to learn about nutrition and the more I know the more healthier choices I make. If "The Biggest Loser" can help save 1 life and inspire the lives of others then I'm thankful for it.

Sleep

I go through stretches of insomnia every so often and these last few days have been one of those times. Laying in bed almost in tears because, even though you are utterly and completely exhausted, you can't fall asleep is agonizing. Near painful. Today i'm thankful for the nights when I can sleep. When I'm not staring at a clock watching the hours slip away before I have to work. When I'm not a walking, cranky zombie. When i'm not growing my waistline each extra hour i'm awake (see fact below)

Sleep in. “Studies show people who get less than 6 hours of sleep eat up to 300 calories more during the day because a lack of sleep triggers the production of the hunger hormone, grehlin,” says Marjorie Nolan, RD, CND, CPT and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Each extra hour of sleep could save you 100 calories. So don’t set your alarm on Saturday, and if you snooze, you lose.

Dear Mr. Sandman - please, please bring me a dream tonight...

my thoughts exactly

My Crew

Today marked the end of another football season at NMS. For 3 seasons I have had the privilege of working with an incredible group of people who are not just co-workers but friends... "family"... They have my back both in work & out of work (and vice versa). I'm incredibly thankful for them! Here's a group of us freezing at the end of last season.... today we definitely ended on a more "tropical" note...

Welcome 2011

According to my archives I've had this blog for 4 years now. In those 4 years I have yet to be a consistent blogger. I also never finished a journal either. There are parts of me that miss the days of Xanga (and the blogging crew that came along with it). But alas, as technology surpasses itself on a daily basis, new blogs do to. My resolution for 2011 is to use this old, dusty blog and keep a daily record of things i'm grateful for. With that said - it's January 1st so let's start out with what i'm thankful for today...

Showers! No, not the kind that fall from the sky. I'm talking about the kind that cleanse the body of dirt, grime, & even the occasional emotions. Sometimes there's nothing better than a hot shower at the end of the day. It's also something that gets taken for granted. We don't think twice about how blessed we actually are to have access to a bath, hot water, CLEAN WATER. There are plenty of people in this county and around the globe that don't get to enjoy that type of luxury. When the hot water heater breaks and it takes a day or two to repair that's a First World problem that we shouldn't even complain about (except for how much it actually costs to fix). So next time you jump in the shower take a few minutes and enjoy the blessing it actually is to be able to take one. I think it's a great way to start off my gratitude blog too for 2011... washing away 2010 to usher in the New Year...