A little sun, a LOT of happiness

We had a little sunshine, a warm(er) temperature, and NO RAIN today!!! I am grateful. It is amazing how a little sun can impact the way you feel. 

Other than weather, there have been many moments today where I have felt thankful. Here are just a few...

-Heartfelt words from friends...they mean more than you know

-New recipes

-Coworkers that I adore!

-Carpool conversations

-tears of joy

-diet coke (I know it's bad...but I love it!)

-a bouquet of birthday flowers

-candles

-fresh fruit

-kids singing

-thank you cards

-coffee travel mugs

I hope you are having a day that brings you bliss!

xo M

Tuesday Is All About M

As it was mentioned in the previous post, our M's birthday was Monday. So we celebrate. Not just the day. We celebrate the week because this is one special girl and only celebrating one day would seem insufficient. This wonderful woman was born to a very special family, a family who has loved her, cared for her and who is proud of her. Being one of those family members, I can promise you this girl is amazing and always has been (are you confused yet...the connections through family are all a bit....well, confusing). In return, M has been an incredible daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, wife and friend. I consider myself lucky to be her cousin, but more importantly, her friend. We grew up together, shared like sisters (maybe even fought too. Who knows), were classmates, spent 3 years as roommates and have continued our friendship through our jobs and marriages - and we still enjoy each other. M is what some might call a "true blue friend". Never wavering in her beliefs or expectations. Never hurting others. Always being there for her family and friends. Always up for an adventure shopping, crafting or traveling. So during this week of M's birth, we are wholly grateful for one of the most beautiful people we have ever known. Happy birthday week M. We love you and are looking forward to many more years of friendship. Let our journeys continue...

Peace,
B

M's Monday

Today is one our dearest friends birthday!  And it just seems appropriate to use today to express how grateful I am, we are for her endless friendship.  M is one of those people that is never faltering in her kindness, loyalty and compassion to all in her life.  I can spend endless hours with her laughing, chatting, confiding in one another, crafting or watching our favorite movies and tv shows.  I am lucky enough to not only call her one of my truest best friends, but now I can call her family.  She recently married my husbands brother and we are officially sisters!  I could not have asked for a more perfect person to become my sister and I am so grateful to be able to share my life with her as a friend and now a sister.  I look forward to all to come in the future.

So, today M, I am grateful for you and everything you are!

K
xoxo

Worth a thousand words...

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves today... 

Photo

Photo

Photo

Spring Break Wednesday

Today I am thankful for the art of reading and the time to do so, which spring break affords me so wonderfully! I love to read everything I can get my hand on: magazines, newspapers, books and blogs, oh, blogs! The following is a list of my latest favorites...

Magazines
Mother Earth News
Sunset
Edible Portland

Newspapers
The Oregonian, I wait for Tuesday's Food Day to come out every week!
Willamette Week

Books...a list of my most recent reads
The Merde series (one of my girlfriends and I are reading our way through this three part series, we are on part two. They call him the anti-Mayle, which I think is wildly funny and so true, being a girl who has read each and every book by Peter Mayle and loved them all!)
Growing a Farmer
Householder's Guide to the Universe
Any and all River Cottage cookbooks!
The new Homemade Living series, I have the Chickens book and the Preserving book... can't wait to get the Home Dairy and Bee Keeping!


Blogs
SouleMama... my absolute favorite. My loving husband gifted me her two books for Christmas last year! I can't wait for her next book, which she wrote with her husband; it comes out this summer!
Small Measure
Posie Gets Cozy
Angry Chicken

Ahhh, reading! Earlier this week I was watching an old episode of Martha Stewart, taking a break from reading to do some heavy t.v. watching, and Fred Armisen from Portlandia was on... anyway, Martha shared a fun fact: Portland is the most literary city in the nation. More books are purchased and read in Portland than any other city in the country! (how they know how many books are read in the city, I just don't know) And as one of the wonderful women on this blog recently reminded us, we are oh so lucky to share our city with the fabulous Powell's (the store in which I could most possibly keep in business with my obsession passionate love for books!)

Happy Reading!
A

Visits & Cake Pops

Yesterday, three of the PG77 girls traveled to see me and my little gals. They came for the whole day and I was reminded again how grateful, truly grateful I am to have friends like these. You can't get more blessed in life than to have friends who know you inside and out, love you fully and without reservation, and love your little ones just as much. My girls are blessed by our friendship and I feel truly loved. That being said, some were missing and we missed you! However, it looks like one of you had the opportunity to try some new things-Go M!
Today I am grateful for:
Friends who ask questions and care about the answers
Pictures
Go-with-the-flow attitudes
Picnic baskets
paleo food
wedding talk
good conversation
starbucks cake pops
unexpected presents
strong women

friends who are like sisters

Love you girls and grateful for the history of knowing you, the stories of knowing you, and considering you family!
xoxo,
CB

Trying New Things

Today I took a leap...
I love to be in a routine. I love to stay in my comfort zone. I love to play it safe.
For me, I realize at times I can be my own obstacle. My mind and body can get in the way of what I want to accomplish or try.
Today was different. After years of talking about joining a ballet class I finally took a step in the right direction. I didn't exactly join a ballet class but I did push myself to go to a Barre 3 class, a mix of yoga, pilates, and ballet. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I felt intimidated to attend a class. 
Let me start by saying, it was  HARD! I think of myself as athletic, and even though I am not as in shape as I would like, I have never done something quite this challenging. This experience was one that caused me to go deep mentally and physically and push through even when it was uncomfortable. The end result, a renewed sense of confidence and pride in my self.  I was impressed with how far I could push my body, and how powerful my mind was when it was difficult. But, I feel most proud about the fact that I put myself out there and tried something new.

Another adventure I took on today was cooking. I know it seems small to most, but to me this is my Everest. The kitchen is where I feel the least comfortable. My friends are fabulous cooks and they encourage me, but I finally pushed myself to try. I turned on a little Michael Buble, googled a recipe using items around the house, and went to work. I was missing ingredients so most of my cooking was improv. Listening to the vegetables simmer was music to my ears. I prepped, read the recipe, added to the pot, reread the recipe, stirred, reread again, and so on. At the end of it I had created a turkey and vegetable soup! To be honest, I would rank it "moderate" on flavor, but that didn't matter. I MADE IT! 
So, today turned out to be an exciting adventure. I am proud of myself and I hope this will inspire me to continue trying new things, even when I have no clue what I am doing. 
Here are a few more things I am grateful for:
-My husband who always believes in me
-ranunculus in bloom
-ikea
-strawberries
-an organized closet
-friends who truly care and who I truly care about
-Spring
-having stamps handy
-solitutde
-company
-peace within
-trying new things


I hope everyone is having a terrific Tuesday. May you never let yourself get in the way of your aspirations, hopes and dreams (no matter how big or small).
xo M

meaningful monday

what Im grateful for today...

the smell of cookies in the oven
a half an hour here or there to sit down and read
our favorite tv shows
being able to ask your neighbor to borrow butter
helping a great friend plan her wedding
new construction
google
looking forward to a road trip to see a friend
needing to use sun glasses
chap stick
a good spatula
discussing floor and tile samples
being able to call my mom and talk about anything and her just listening
the employees at apple
my fish
pajamas after a long day
pearls :)
good take out food that makes your day better
mail
people you can always count on for anything
waking up and realizing you have more time to sleep
expo
but most of all... my husband!


K
xo

Harry Potter

There's nothing like a good Harry Potter marathon on a rainy Sunday afternoon. We have watched them grow from the little innocent kids who knew nothing about the world of magic in The Sorcerers Stone, to the powerful witch and wizards they are in The Deathly Hallows. We've experienced the tri wizard tournament, professor Umbridge taking over Hogwarts and Voldemort's infamous rise to power. We've been introduced to the heart throb Cedric Diggory, the bizarre mad eye Moody and countless other characters essential to making Harry Potter the ever loved series it is. Throughout the years the Harry Potter series has become dear to all hearts in one way or another. We all have our favorite characters and our favorite books. On this rainy Sunday I am grateful for Harry Potter 1-7.

I am also grateful for

The marauders map
Professor Lupin
The invisibility cloak
Dumbledore's Army
Hermione's beaded handbag
Dobby
Hagrid's cabin
Dumbledor's pensive
Butter beer
Reeta Skeeter
Hedwig
Serius Black

What is your favorite Harry Potter book, character or adventure?

K
xo

Rows of Books

Growing up in Salem, all you hear about is this magical bookstore in Portland that takes up a whole city block! It has every book you would ever want! I remember thinking, 'Riiiight, a bookstore to fulfill my every need? I don't know about this....'

This magical place I speak of is, of course, the infamous Powell's Books.  And let me tell you, it is everything it's cracked up to be.  I often go there with no purpose and just walk the book shelves, stopping to investigate covers that catch my eye...basically window shopping at a bookstore.  It is a way for me to relax and explore.  

It was my first full day of Spring Break and all I wanted to do was get lost in Powell's...and so I did.  I flipped through cookbooks, read chapters from girly novels and debated if I should buy the $18 sequel to 'The Hunger Games' :)  I find myself gravitating towards the books/sections that will offer me something that I need in my life at the moment...today i apparently needed delicious food and tween futuristic love affairs. Go figure.

 I left empty handed (my student budget is better suited for the free public library, which I am very thankful for!) but I felt so relaxed and content afterwards.  

So today I am thankful for the largest new and used bookstore in the world - and that's a real fact! Incredible!
Sara

Spring Break!

I know I talk about the stress of being in school and how there are times I want to scream.  However, there is nothing sweeter about being a student than the holiday breaks!! It's a luxury you don't get in the working world...unless you're a teacher like most of the lucky ladies on this blog :)
*I am thankful that my Spring break started today after my last final at 1pm!  Hooray!
*I am thankful for some time off to spend with Joe, friends, family, myself
*I am thankful for teen novels - recently read 'The Hunger Games' and it was just what the doctor ordered
*I am thankful for 'The Hunger Games' being a trilogy

Hopefully everyone is enjoying a very wonderful start to our (rainy) Spring! And Happy St.Patrick's Day!
xoxoxoxoxox!
Sara

simplicity

each time i open up our blog i can't believe how quickly the week has gone by. sometimes i feel as though the days won't end, until i get home and begin relaxing and then it goes by too quickly. someone once told me that wishing for the weekend is like wishing for your life to go by. these days the weekends come and i have barely had time to catch my breath. i don't know if it's because i'm older and life just zips past or if it's that my life has become so routine that rarely does something new happen. don't get me wrong. i love the simplicity of life when nothing significant happens. as the saying goes: "no news is good news". i'm not sure why i thought of this, but it just seems like a routine sort of day and i suppose i am grateful for that. although i am looking forward to the weekend (already?!), i do cherish the evenings when i come home from a touch yet quick paced job, relax, watch a show, climb into bed and read a good book. how much better could it get?!

today's list of other little delights...
- light nights, is spring here yet?!
- salads
- the husband cooking me dinner right now
- a drink after a long day
- my job
- ncis...i know, kind of lame
- royal pains...it's a new fave 
- march madness...ok not really, but it keeps the men occupied
- spontaneous dinner dates with friends

i hope your life is full of rich conversations, happy thoughts, simplicity and little treasures. cheers and peace to each,
b

You've Got Mail

"I turn on my computer. I wait patiently as it connects. I go online. My breath catches in my chest until I hear 3 little words, "You've Got Mail". I hear nothing, not a sound on the streets of New York. Just the beat of my own heart. I have mail...from you." (You've Got Mail)

Those who know me well, know that if I was left on a deserted island, this single movie might just be the one survival item I need. Many quotes from You've Got Mail bring me joy, peace, and a sense of predictability that is so comforting. One quote in particular made me think of this new adventure into blogging.

"The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings."

(YGM)

Isn't this so true. I find that blogging has given me this exact feeling. Today I am grateful for all those little nothings that mean more to me than so many somethings.

-Favorite movies

-bouquets of sharpened pencils

-coffee shops

-"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

-Anne of Green Gables

-Anne of Avonlea

-friendship

-Daisies, aren't they the friendliest flower?

-Honey

-Story Telling

-F-O-X (as in Joe Fox)

-typewriters

-Cranberries, "All My Life"

-The Fall

-Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan

-love

-Being with "the one single person who fills my world with joy". 

I hope you are finding joy in your world today!

xo M

The Latest List...

Rain (it is my favorite weather... even after a winter of rain, I still love it!)
Glee
A car ride to work without any commercials and all the "good" songs that you wanted to hear on the radio
Where's Waldo... started a new collection and oh, they are just as fun as they used to be
The excitement of taking a bread making class!
"Thankful Thursday" a new word work I started with my kids at school. They all write one thing they are thankful for on a poster. It is so fun to see what kinds of great things they think up!
Homemade tomato soup in the freezer from the summer, such a treat on a wet day
The fun of talking to all the ladies at lunch
Dinner with David
Friday night date night
Lifetime movies (you know you love those!)
Spring Break!!!
Finally finding the perfect mug for my morning coffee
Oatmeal in the crock pot (it's my latest love, waking up to the smell of warm oatmeal... a true treat!)

Randomness on a Tuesday...

For starters...one of the lovely ladies devoted to this blog recently shared with us that we have officially gone global! I would say that is definitely something to be grateful for. We are thrilled to see the many countries that have visited our site...on purpose or by accident, we are still excited! Thanks to all of our readers/our moms out there who are( hopefully) enjoying our blog, as much as we are!

Second, how could you not be grateful for these beauties?!

I've felt a change in the air, the nights are brighter longer and the wind isn't so chilly...spring is just around the corner!









Next, I am grateful for this breakfast my husband cooked me on Sunday...

Last, but not least, I am grateful for this, even though it was gray and rainy in Portland...

Tomorrow brings more rain (likely), more work, and more early mornings...but at least we have fresh smells thanks to the rain, coffee in the mornings and the joy of being able to be part of someone else's life to look forward to. May you find the little things that give you pleasure today...

With gratitude,
B

Monday, and how beautiful!

I am grateful for so many things today, here are just a few...

White clouds in the blue sky
The sun shinning on my face through my car window
Pine Sol
Sugar free Red Bull
Make shift dinners that turn out wonderful
Frozen berries
hulu+
The new Geico commercial
My husband dancing like the grandpa in the new Geico commercial
Songs that make me want to dance in my car
How it feels to win a door prize
Doing something out of the ordinary
mimosas
My mom
Costco
The flee market

I hope everyone has a wonderful week full of little things to be grateful for
K
xoxo

Isn't it Ironic...

This week was a very rough week at school.  Not only did we see patients for the first time, which was overwhelming/stressful but there was a lot of emotional drama happening.  All in all there were mounds of tension and stress.  Yikes. I was really starting to hate it and wanted to give up.  Oh, and did I mention that Joe was gone this week in Texas?   All this girl needed was a hug.

A while back, I had volunteered to help in the interview process for the new applicants for our dental hygiene program.  The interviews were today and after the week's events I was not looking forward to it.  However, as soon as I saw the nervous, excited faces of the applicants it all came rushing back to me.  I quickly remembered how bad I wanted to get into the program and that I would have done just about anything to get in.  I couldn't even imagine the thought of not being accepted - I wanted it so much.

Fast forward to today again - as I was driving home from a long week of school and having just finished trying to answer all the questions of the eager new applicants, it dawned on me how fortunate I am.  I had gotten exactly what I wanted.  The things that matter the most to me tend to cause the best and the worst of stress...getting through the bad stress makes it mean even more.  So while this week wasn't my favorite of weeks, I survived and learned a few things along the way...


*I can lean on my classmates for support and encouragement
*I always need to practice having humility and grace 
*Simply saying "I'm sorry" can mean a lot to someone
*Simply saying "I'm sorry" can speak volumes
*I should never believe that I am anything less than my best

My MOST thankful thing of the week:  the huge hug that will be landing tonight at PDX.  I may never let go.

Hugs to you all :)
Sara

We are all inventors...

I came across a great quote that I wanted to share.

"We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities."

                                                           -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here are some things I am grateful for:

-Dreams/Goals

-A cold glass of water

-A yellow school bus

-lip gloss

-rain, yes rain :) It brings all the beautiful 

 greenery in the Spring

-converse 

-chipotle sauce

-stickers

-sticker collections (you know you had one!)

-dogs

-opportunities

-faith

-friendships

I hope you are enjoying your "voyage of discovery".

Happy Thursday!

xo M

Momi

Yep, that's me seven days a week! I am most of all grateful for the health of my girls. But today, some other Momi-themed blessings:
tickle session in the middle of a tantrum
kissing a boo-boo
sippy cups
Harper blowing me kisses
trying new foods
a whole 15 minutes of silence
Snow White
Pearson's arts and crafts on my kitchen door
And a random "I love you" whispered in my ear this morning.

There are a lot of hard moments as a mom, moments I want to absolutely rip my hair out, but there are these moments above and it makes all the hard ones melt away...

xoxo,
CB