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