Friday, September 30, 2011

Another Day of Catch Up

Day 18 - September 29, 2011

1. I am thankful that I only had to stuff envelopes for four hours today.

2. I am thankful that we have the right to vote - and I exercised it in an advanced poll today. My first Ontario provincial election.

3. I am thankful for the first full evening I've had alone with my husband in almost two weeks!

4. I am thankful for Grey's Anatomy. 

5. I am thankful for the person I worked with today. It was so nice to meet a fellow Calgarian and talk about home for a few hours!

Day 17 - September 28, 2011

1. I am thankful for the time Mark and I spent with our friends, the Dymonds, last night and today.

2. I am thankful for the yummy fruit tray in our fridge.

3. I am thankful that I got to go to my fitness class again tonight. 

4. I am thankful for my very flexible (sometimes non-existent) job.

5. I am thankful for Modern Family. One word - hilarious!

Day 16 - September 27, 2011
1. I am thankful that my husband cleaned the bathrooms while I was in Calgary.

2. I am thankful that my husband cleaned the baseboards while I was in Calgary.

3. I am thankful that my husband vacuumed while I was in Calgary.

4. I am thankful that my husband went grocery shopping while I was in Calgary.

5. I am thankful that my husband did the yard work while I was in Calgary.

Day 15 - September 26, 2011
 
1. I am thankful that my flight back to Toronto was only delayed by about 45 minutes.

2. I am thankful that my husband was waiting for me at the airport. 

3. I am thankful for the 407 - a wonderful toll road that allows us to get around the GTA without having to deal with crazy traffic.

4. I am thankful for being back in my own bed.

5. I am thankful for the hilarious BBC show 'Come Fly With Me' - something fun to watch on my flight.

Day 14 - September 25, 2011

Today marks the one year anniversary of my Mom's passing. Today I will be thankful for one thing - being Suzanne Pallay's daughter. She was the most amazing Mom and I miss her every single day.

Day 13 - September 24, 2011

1. I am so thankful for the time I got to spend today with the Vander Werfs. They all bring a smile to my face and remind me that friends can be family.

2. I am thankful for the yummy lunch that Tara bought for me.

3. I am thankful that my Dad has the Vander Werf kids in his life. He is always at his happiest when spending time with Oliver and Simon.

4. I am thankful for the nice long phone call I had with Mark today.

5. I am thankful for still being able to wear flip flops in September. My feet are claustrophobic and like the freedom!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Thankful in Calgary

Okay, this post is a big catch up! I've been in Calgary since Saturday, and haven't had time to blog. So - here's a week's worth of thankfulness...

Day 12 - September 23, 2011

1. I am thankful for the time Dad, Tara and I spent with our dear friend Loraine today. It was so nice to see her again!

2. I am thankful for the awesome boots I bought today. 25% off plus only 5% tax (instead of 13% in Ontario).

3. I am thankful for the beautiful summer weather we had today, despite the calendar showing the start of autumn.

4. I am thankful that the dinner I cooked for Dad and Tara tasted okay!

5. I am thankful for the beautiful blue Alberta sky - it just doesn't look the same in Ontario.

Day 11 - September 22, 2011

1. I am thankful for my amazing friend Shareen and her three beautiful kids. I had so much fun hanging out with them. I love being a "yellow haired" auntie.

2. I am thankful for the yummy Vietnamese food we had for dinner. It was nice to not cook :)

3. I am thankful for getting to shop with my best shopping sidekick - Tara.

4. I am thankful that Air Canada didn't strike and my hubby was able to get home from Brussels okay. Can't wait to taste the chocolates he got for me!

5. I am thankful for a quiet night with Dad, spent watching X Factor and wondering why people with no talent feel the need to embarrass themselves in front of millions of people.

Day 10 - September 21, 2011

1. I am thankful for my super fantastic hair dresser and friend, Donna. Seriously, she's so good that I travel across the country for a cut and highlight!

2. I am thankful for the time I spent with my university friends tonight. Five strong ladies helping each other through some pretty crappy stuff.

3. I am thankful that my Dad still lives in the house I grew up in. It's so nice to visit and walk down memory lane.

4. I am thankful for rent a wreck. While my rental car wasn't the prettiest, it got me where I needed to go, on the cheap.

5. I am thankful when a restaurant has healthy but delicious things on their menu.

Day 9 - September 20, 2011

1. I am very thankful to be in Calgary with my Dad today. Today would have been Mom and Dad's 37th Anniversary.

2. I am thankful that Mom's headstone (and sod) has finally been placed at the cemetery.

3. I am thankful for Peter's Drive In. Yummy lunch.

4. I am thankful for contact lenses. I went to the eye doctor today. Man, am I blind!

5. I am thankful that my Dad is a fast shopper. He needed new winter clothes. 30 minutes at the Bay and we were done.

Day 8 - September 19, 2011

1. I am thankful that I had no cavities at my dental appointment today.

2. I am thankful that Dad drove me to the dentist, so I wouldn't have to parallel park. I so can't parallel park!

3. I am thankful for the time I spent with my friend Kim today. I'm so excited that she's going to be a Mommy soon!

4. I am thankful for cheesecake. Now, if only it was calorie-free.

5. I am thankful for thinking to pack lots of layers. It's cold here in the morning!

Day 7 - September 18, 2011

1. I am thankful for McInnis and Holloway funeral homes. Today I attended the opening of the plaque and tree area in Fish Creek park where my Mom will be forever memorialized. Beautiful.

2. I am thankful for mashed potatoes. They are definitely a good comfort food.

3. I am thankful that Mark made it to Europe safe and sound.

4. I am thankful for my husband's obsession with aeroplan points. Can you say cheap flights to Calgary?

5. I am thankful for traveling to a destination with only a two hour time change.

Day 6 - September 17, 2011

1. Today I am thankful that I am going to Calgary for 9 days!

2. I am thankful for seat back television/movies on airplanes.

3. I am thankful for my noise cancelling headphones. Heaven!

4. I am thankful for flights that leave and arrive on time.

5. I am thankful for getting to see my Dad and sister again :)

Friday, September 16, 2011

Catch Up

Day 5 - September 16, 2011

1. I am thankful for my tiny little ipod that fits inside my headphone case. 

2. Along the same lines, I am thankful for my cool suitcase that I got as a wedding gift. Packing is much more fun when you have a pretty (and big) suitcase.

3. I am thankful for all the Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy emails I get. I haven't bought anything full price in forever!

4. I am thankful for awful, but addictive, reality shows. It's nice to know that I'm not the craziest person in the world.

5. I am very thankful for my true friends and family. Weddings and funerals bring out the best and worst in people. I have learned so much in the past year!

Day 4 - September 15, 2011

1. I am thankful for my ultra cool washer and dryer. They almost make doing laundry fun... almost.

2. I am thankful for the arrival of cooler weather here in Ontario. I love waking up to single digits!

3. I am thankful for my car (little blue), who has stood by me for 7.5 years without a problem to speak of. I hope I can get another 7.5 years out of him.

4. I am (often times) thankful that I have no sense of smell. 

5. I am thankful for the ability to download free ebooks off the library website. I love my ereader!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Day 3 - September 14, 2011

1. I am thankful for the country that I live in. The best country in the world!

2. I am thankful for coffee with french vanilla flavoured coffee cream.

3. I am thankful that I finally learned to cook. It's nice to have dinner ready when Mark gets home from work. How very housewifey of me.

4. I am thankful for all the happy memories I have of my amazing childhood.

5. I am thankful for the travel I have done since meeting Mark. In just two and a half years, we've been to the UK three times, as well as Europe and Australia. I have been bitten by the travel bug!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Day 2 - September 13, 2011

1. I am thankful for my husband pumping my gas! It's just a little thing he does for me, that I really appreciate.

2. I am thankful for the invention of PVR. I love being able to pause, fast forward and rewind live TV.

3. I am thankful for my good health.

4. I am thankful for Google, especially since losing my Mom. I know it sounds weird, but I used to call her to ask things like how to get a stain out or how long to bake chicken for. Now I Google it. 

5. I am thankful for flat rate North American long distance. It allows me to talk to my family every day, without breaking the bank!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Time for a Challenge

Over the past few months I've been spending a lot of time thinking. Thinking about everything that has gone on in my life this year - trying to get a better understanding of who I am and what I am meant to learn from it all. I know, sounds like fun, doesn't it? Ha. Well, I've decided that I'm spending too much time looking back and focusing on the difficult things, instead of being appreciative of and grateful for all the wonderful things in my life. The one year anniversary of my Mom's passing is approaching quickly, and in her memory I want to try out something new... I'm challenging myself to write down five things a day that I am thankful for. I'll be posting my entries here. I won't always be able to post every day, but I'll catch up on missed days at least once per week. My Mom was a hugely positive and grateful person and I feel it's my duty to carry this legacy on.

So, here goes nothing...

Day 1 - September 12, 2011

1. I am thankful for being born into the family that I was. I had the most amazing Mother, and still am fortunate to have to best Dad and sister.

The Best!
2. I am thankful for my husband. For his patience, kindness, humour and for loving me just as I am.

Happy Day!
3. I am thankful for chocolate.

4. I am thankful for books and all the people who are brave enough to write them.

5. I am thankful for all the little people in my life who bring me such joy and laughter (especially Lois, Rebecca, Matthew, Emily, Oliver, Simon and little Eleanor).

Oliver and Simon

Miss Eleanor Jane

Lois, Matthew and Rebecca

Emily