Day Three: November Gratitude Challenge

 

Today I Am Thankful For:

The right to vote

My handsome husband

A warm pace to sleep on cold nights

Day Two: November Gratitude Challenge

 Today I Am Thankful For:

Dinner in the crockpot

Puppy sneezes

November

Currently... November 2020

 Happy Birthday to Me!  Ok.. it was yesterday.  But I am all for celebrating beyond just one day! 

October was some kind of a month.  We had a new pup with some tummy issues that caused several sleepless nights at the beginning of the month.  He's all straightened out now and seems to have put on a little bit of weight - although he's still a lightweight little thing.  

The Man of the House had to be tested for Covid after a potential exposure at work.  Thankfully, his test was negative.  But it gave me a couple of anxious days until he was able to get in to be tested. 

And the month ended with a tropical storm sweeping through.  Not exactly a common occurrence here in western North Carolina!  Last Wednesday night Zeta brought us heavy rains and tropical-storm-force winds.  A lot of roads were flooded and many people lost power.  We were blessed to keep power throughout and had no damage.

Here's hoping that November is a little more quiet and relaxed.

Working On:  It's time to get ready for the big holiday season!  I'm trying to finish up some new gift sets for my Etsy shop and get them listed.  I'm pretty excited about what's coming.

Reading: Beheld by TaraShea Nesbit and  All You Need Is Less by Madeleine Somerville.  The grandkid and I have been reading Fablehaven by Brandon Mull.  Next, we'll read either Dr. Doolittle or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.  I'm secretly rooting for the second one - it was a favorite of mine when I was a kid and introduced me to the world of Judy Blume.

Celebrating: November is always a busy month around here.  It kicks off with my birthday on the first.  We celebrate our wedding anniversary on the 21st.  And of course, there's Thanksgiving.  This year we also have two puppy birthdays - Ziggy's is the 4th and Max's is the 9th.  (Yes, apparently I am one of those kinds of people now)

Loving:  This Autumn has been just lovely.  We had beautiful fall colors (as we usually do) and the weather has mostly been glorious!  (except for the recent storm)  

Wanting/Needing:   I need some recommendations for a good devotional/Bible study book.  I enjoy the YouVersion Bible app for my daily quiet time, but I would like to do something a little different for the Christmas season, or the beginning of next year.

Dreaming About:  The upcoming holiday season and moving on to a new year.  2020 has been a tough year for all of us and I'm praying that 2021 finds all of us feeling more optimistic and being kinder to one another. 

November Goals:

• Complete November Gratitude Challenge
• Schedule one "self-care" day per week
• Increase water intake
• Finish most Christmas shopping by December 1st
• Create December blogging schedule
• Create December graphics for blog
• Create gift set listings for Etsy shop
• Schedule Before Black Friday sale for the shop

What does your November look like?  Do you have any goals for the month?

Day One: November Gratitude Challenge

 

Today I Am Thankful for:

Another birthday

Fresh fruit

My cute grandson

Sunday Inspiration: Happy Birthday to Me!

 

November Gratitude Challenge

 November is right around the corner.  The month when those of us in the US celebrate thanksgiving.  If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you've probably picked up on the fact that I am big on gratitude and being thankful for the little things.  Not just for one holiday in November, but every single day of the year.

That's why I've decided to cultivate a mindset of gratitude for thirty days by doing a November Gratitude Challenge.  I would love to have each of you join in!

 

It's easy - just name at least three things that you are thankful for each day.  You can post them on your blog, or your social media.  You could even take pictures of them and post them on your Instagram feed if that's your thing.  The only rule is that they have to be three new things each day.  No repeats.  No skipped days. 

Just come back here each day and post a link to your list (or tell us what your three things are) in the comments.

Are you up for the challenge?

Thankful Thursday: October 29, 2020

 

I An Thankful For:

Bright Autumn days

Time to read

Sleep

Pretty nail polish

The pup sleeping on the Male Offspring's shoulder

A day spent taking care of me

Playing math games with  the grandkid

Pretty new eye shadow palette

Talking with the Male Offspring

Feeling pretty 

Early voting

Hearing an owl

Brief rain showers

Dessert smoothie

Flu shots

Costume planning

A sweet treat

Misty rain

The grandkid's laughter

I Did What I Could

Since my birthday is Sunday - today seemed like a good time to review my 15 before 51 list from last year.  The whole Covid-19 thing put quite a damper on my plans.  Despite being mostly in isolation for 7 of the last 12 months, I did manage to mark a few items off the list. 

1. Reach my goal weight:  I did a whole lot of stress eating especially in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic and I'm afraid my weight tipped in the wrong direction as a result  Boo!!
   
2. Get into an exercise routine.  I would like to blame this one on the pandemic, but it's no fault but my own.
3. Attend a crochet group
4. Learn how to make Key Lime pie (one of my favorite desserts) from scratch  I did find a simple recipe for Key Lime pie on Pinterest.  It was easy to make and the result was a creamy, delicious pie.  I would like to keep working on this skill until I get to a point where I can make the perfect Key Lime pie.  But I'm not disappointed by my efforts so far. 
5.  Read these 5 classic novels
•  The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
• Watership Down
• The Secret Garden 
• The Count of Monte Cristo
• The Picture of Dorian Gray
6. Attend a play
7. Take a class I did a few online learning webinars from the local community colleges Small Business Center.  And I was gifted a year to MasterClass, which I forgot about until recently - but now I have access to many learning opportunities through that membership. 
8. Road trip!   We managed a couple of road trips before Coronamaggedon shut everything down in March.  In November, The Man of the House and I drove to Cleveland for a football game.  And in February we made the trip to Memphis for a weekend.
9. Eat meatless meals one day per week It hasn't been every single week, but most weeks I tried to plan at least one meatless meal.  One of my favorites is a vegetarian taco salad made with a seasoned mix of black, kidney, and pinto beans.
10. Start a sketchbook.  I'm not singing from the rooftops about this accomplishment, but I did start a few little sketches and doodlings in a sketchbook this year.  
11. Go on a spontaneous weekend away with the Man of the House.  It wasn't exactly "spontaneous", since going anywhere takes a bit of consideration and planning these days - but we did rent a cottage at the lake and got away for a long weekend back in July. 
12. Get a family photo with the kids and grandkid
13. Go to a movie by myself
14. Donate blood at least 3 times this year
15. Crochet something for charity

Sunday Inspiration: Our Thoughts

 

Thankful Thursday: October 22, 2020

 

I Am Thankful For:

Good appointments at the Vet

Sleepy little boy

The ability to easily wash laundry

Etsy orders upon orders

Learning new crochet skills

Starry skies

School days

So many hats!

Socially distanced lunch outside with my dad

Puppies snuggled up together

Silly bee wing headband

Afternoons with the grandkid

"Not a cloud in the sky" kind of day

Decongestants

Lazy college football watching afternoons

Cute little tiger hats

The Male Offspring fixing dinner

Going to bed at a reasonable time

Sunday Inspiration: Remember

 

Thankful Thursday: October 15, 2020

 

I Am Thankful For:

Warm Autumn afternoons

October sunshine

Walking through fallen leaves

Clean laundry

A lap full of puppies

New books to read

Rainy day sunsets

Quiet Sunday Mornings

Lamentations 3: 22-23

The fly that gave us all a good laugh

Relaxed birthday dinners

Banana pudding

A quiet house

Morning coffee

My beautiful daughter

French toast and strawberries

Time with my family

Sunday Inspiration: Agree to Disagree