Today I’m grateful for my mom! I’m grateful for her for countless reasons but here are some off the top of my head. I’m grateful for my mom because…

• She always helps me with recipes. I NEVER make a meal without calling her for advice “it says to add potatoes. I didn’t even buy potatoes. Can I use lentils instead..?”
• We text each other every day, talk on the phone all the time and have breakfast together as often as possible
• Growing up she made sure we took exciting field trips all of the time. She has inspired me to love learning in so many ways. I keep thinking of how she would get season passes to Sea World and we would go to feed the dolphins and have a picnic lunch
• She has taught me real love is worth waiting for and when you find it, enjoy every moment of it! She and Dave are on their honeymoon everyday
• She has taught me attitude is everything. Whenever people say I have a good attitude I can’t help saying “you should meet my mom, she REALLY has a good attitude”!
• Every day I aspire to be caring, happy, loving and thoughtful. Just like my mom
• She has taught me no matter what happens, you can get through it with (a good attitude and) the support of family and friends
• We both love to travel. Travel, travel, travel!
• She gave Kari and I Christmas ornaments every year, for when we grew up and had our own trees. When I decorate my tree I think of all of our fun times together. -Which makes Christmas so much more Christmasy!
• She loves to laugh and never fails to make me laugh!
• She carries on my Grandma’s “joyful, learn-all-you-can, enjoy great foods, travel and love every minute of life” spirit

Wishing you a day of great zeal and enthusiasm!  Two of my mom’s favorite things

1. Having dessert
2. A clean bill of health so squeaky my nurse took a picture of my chart.  I’d like to thank my diet of dessert …and bacon
3. Speaking with authority and achieving results
4. Studying at home with chocolate and wine as study aids.  I’ve officially taken 108 tests for work
5. Having weekends off to enjoy with friends
6. Having weekdays off to enjoy fewer crowds
7. A note of appreciation
8. Little girls wearing tiaras and little boys dressed as superheros
9. Hearing the ice cream truck!
10. Learning something you thought you fully understood already  “I keep working because I learn something new all the time”. -Clint Eastwood

Wishing you many opportunities to enjoy the sweetness of life today

• Clothes that make you feel confident
• Improv comedy. Right now I’m addicted to the Australian show “Thank God You’re Here”, check it out on YouTube under “TGYH”
• Ohio springtime, meaning winter jacket in the morning and a tank top by the afternoon (seriously!)
• A last minute dinner date
• Finally remembering where I hid my Easter basket from myself.. oh yeah! In the dryer! There you are 1lb solid Malley’s chocolate bunny
• 17 year cicada year is here! I’ve been waiting for this for.. well, you know
• Driving through rush hour to feel the pulse of the city
• This video of an 88 year old dancing Grandma (contains one quiet swear word)
• Guardians of all kinds
• Sharing new ideas

Wishing you a tomorrow even better than today

Letting go

Stepping outside of your comfort zone

Free things

Live music in tiny venues

Reaching out to friend

Hearing people from out of state try to say “Cuyahoga”

German food, schnitzel anyone?

Refocusing on what’s really important

Maple bacon doughnuts (Hurrah for Acme now making these!)

Sticking to the plan

 

Wishing you a truly joyful day..

Like the opening scene of Mary Tyler Moore when she throws her hat into the air.

yeah, that kind. Yippie!!!!

1. Early mornings
2. The magical mist of fog that covered the valley
3. The tree outside my house is in full bloom!
4. Shared memories of amazing time
5. Dressing to the nines.. what does that mean anyway? :)
6. Tossing coins for luck
7. Unexpected visitors
8. Family
9. Being the one to listen during a conversation
10. Springtime babies: Baby animals, baby people, so many new beginnings!
11. Falling asleep to a rainstorm

Wishing every drop of rain to be a wish that comes true for you

“When a problem comes along you must whip it.  Before the cream sets out too long you must whip it..” -Devo

•  Custom made playlists, just for you
• The present I found on my doorstep this morning – thank you neighborhood kitty. I left out some tuna for you so no more presents now okay? A thank you note would suffice
• Corinthians 13. I recently heard it used to describe the love of a mother for her baby and it fit so perfectly
• Opening a new savings account with something special in mind
• Taking the long way home with the windows down and music loud
• Community pride
• Jumping in with both feet, even if the water is really really cold :)
• How LOUD the trains by my house sound before the leaves come in
• Spring cleaning of every kind
• Daffodils, my favorite flower, in full bloom

Wishing you joy, joy,joy, joy …and peace that passes all understanding

• Saying what needs to be said
• Getting immediate positive results
• French cuisine.  The specialized tools, the patience required, the complex flavors.. Yum!!
• Giving yourself time
• Spare keys
• Feeling loved for the person you are right now
• Being a “regular” somewhere and ordering “the usual”
• Farmers Markets
• Tax returns
• Je ne sais quoi.  French for “I don’t know what”. When things have an intangible quality that makes them distinctive or attractive

Wishing you the boldness to ask for your wildest dreams and the Universe immediately answering “sure, would you like to Biggie-Size that”?

1. Daring to live your wildest dreams
2. Mardi Gras colors spirit and festivities -hence today’s French title.  It’s a popular Mardi Gras slogan
3. Borrowing someones favorite book (ask your librarian for suggestions, they have wonderful ones!)
4. Meeting my mom for a much needed brunch date
5. Fresh flowers, they bring such a wonderful feeling of spring!
6. Romantic gestures. Door holding, the perfect hug, just-because gifts, waking up to your favorite breakfast.. I could go on :D
7. The many varieties of bacon. Applewood, Hickory smoked, Canadian, Turkey.. I could go on :D
8. Planning unplanned time
9. Shopping locally
10. Successfully leading a team through tough times. “All for one and one for all”!

Wishing you gluttonous amounts of happiness, a feast for the heart!

• Making time for a decent breakfast in the morning
• Pre date butterflies (I’ve heard these can happen after marriage too, yippie!)
• Learning in a classroom setting
• Great parking spots opening just for you
• Pandora radio introducing great new music
• Creating a new affirmation
• Giving a well timed complement
• Haggling over prices at the Westside Market. Sending lots of blessings for the market to return soon!
• Kids say the darndest things: 7 year old girl at my store [matter of factly] “Justin Beiber smokes green” Mom: “What?!” Little girl “I don’t know.. something green”
• Learning to trust

Wishing you as many blessings today as stars in the sky and snowflakes on the ground

1. Writing this list from my brand-new Universe given red couch (thank you Universe)!
2. Asking the Universe to throw in a free TV and getting the perfect one (wow, you’re good..)!
3. Making dinner reservations. There’s something so nice about arriving to a place saved just for you
4. Finding someone who shares your passions
5. Exploring new places
   
6. Communal cooking where everyone contributes
7. Knowing when things deserve effort and when they should come naturally
8. Looking forward to Akron Aero’s games in a few months
9. Songs that make everyone sing along “Don’t stop believing!”
10. Finding a gorgeous red gift bag outside of Blue Door Cafe and knowing instantly it was a RaoC bag! Inside was a suet feeder :D It’s now being enjoyed on my patio by a blue jay who refuses to share.  THANK YOU Random Act of Kindness person <3
    

Wishing you great abilities to “take the first step in faith.  You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”. -Martin Luther King Jr  (Happy Birthday Dr King!)