30 days of Thankfulness

Many of you participated in the 30 days of Thankful-ness on Facebook.  For those of you that didn't, I thought I would recap my thankfulness.  What a treasure to remind myself of the things I am thankful for on a daily basis.

Day 1 -  Today I am thankful for life.  It is so precious and not guaranteed.  I am especially thankful for new life and the miracle of life.

Day 2 - Today  I am thankful for my job.  In a time when so many people are out of work, I am thankful to not only have a job, but a career....and one that I enjoy.

Day 3 - Today I am thankful for music.  Gospel, Country, Top 40.....Nothing can change my mood faster than the right song.  Thank you to all you musicans out there for following your dreams.

Day 4 - Today I am thankful for modern medicine which is making it possible for me to function.  And for my bestie who set up a mini pharmacy for me when I told her I wasn't feeling well :)

Day 5 - Today I am thankful for a restful day off.  I have caught a cold and I am thankful for this day to do nothing and rest.

Day 6 - Today I am thankful fr a wonderful worship service.  God new exactly what I needed today.

Day 7 - I am thankful today for all my bloggy friends.  You inspire me daily with your creativeness, your triumphs, and your everyday life lessons.

Day 8 -  My heart has been captured by 4 little ones....Alexandra, Madelyn, Preston, and Aubrey.  I am so honored to be your "aunt Cha Cha".  Today I am thankful for these little treasures.  Its funny, but I don't remember life without them.

Day 9 - My favorite local restaurant is celebrating 40 years in business today.  I am thankful for them.  Thanks Fatboys for all the wonderful memories...past, present, and future.

Day 10 - Today I am thankful for dinner places that deliver.  After a long day, its nice to have someone else worry about dinner :)

Day 11 - Today I am thankful for all veterans around the world.  They ensure our continued freedoms.  Both my grandfathers have passed but they were both veterans.  Thank you doesn' seem enough but ill say it anyways.  THANK YOU!!!

Day 12 - Today I am thankful for great friends & fellowship.  Both of which I will have tonight at the Chandlers annual Thankgiving dinner.

Day 13 - Today I am thankful for surprises.  Surprised Alexandra & Coen with an afternoon of bowling and we are having a blast!

Day 14 - Today I am thankful for the patience of my customers.  Everyone has an "off" day and it turns out I had one last week.  My customers patience in correcting the error was amazing.

Day 15 - Today I am thankful for the time I get each Tuesday and Wednesday night to hang out with Preston (& sometimes the girls).  He is almost 2.  I just can't believe how fast it has gone!

Day 16 - Today I am thankful for a roommate that works close to home.  Can't remember if I turned off my flat iron this a.m. #dontwannaburndownthehouse

Day 17 - Today I am thanful for Good.  The phrase "I don't know, let me google it," comes out of my mouth at least once a day. #constantlylearning

Day 18 - Today  I am thankful for Disney.  Added more family memories today thanks to Disney.  PS Happy 83rd Birthday Mickey!!

Day 19 - Today I am thankful for Alexandra Pasquarello who arrived 6 years ago today.  Happy Birthday Yaya!  I love you bunches!!

Day 20 - Today I am thankful for pink, pearls, and tea time....All things girl!!  Continuing Alexandra's weekend of surprises!!

Day 21 - Today I am thankful for the mailman, UPS man, & Fedex man.  They are beginning to deliver the Christmas presents I ordered :)

Day 22 - Uh oh, some how I missed a day.  Oopps :(

Day 23 - Today I am thankful for "mini breaks".  These next 4 days off are exactly what I need to recharge my batteries.

Day 24 - Today I am thankful for so much....family, friends, health, and so much more.

Day 25 - Today I am thankful for black Friday sales.  I am hoping to get a few Christmas gifts and save some money at the same time.  #wishmeluck

Day 26 - Today I am thankful for #4Rivers and a great time with a great friend :) (Ashley Wilder)

Day 27 - Today I am thankful to be part of a church that isn't afraid to get RADICAL.  So proud of my FBC family.

Day 28 - Today I am thankful for my Aunt Jane and the wonderful package I got from her today :)

Day 29 - Today I am thankful for hot cocoa.  Nothing better than hot cocoa & my back porch on a cool (cold to this Floridian....its 58) evening.

Day 30 - Today I am thankful for my life.  There have been ups & downs but I'm excited to see what the Lord has in the future.

Well folks, there you have it.  30 days of thankfulness.  It was wonderful to remind myself of all the many blessings in my life.  I have so much more to be thankful for than even this list shows.

What are you thankful for?
 
What are you thankful for?

Girls Night In

I am so incredible blessed to have such a wonderful group of girlfriends in my life.  This past weekend, we all got together and had an old-fashioned, slumber party. 

We all had matching pj's.

We did our hair.

We did our nails.

We did our faces.

There was even a run to Walgreens (in our matching PJ's) for more snack foods and hair dye!

Fun in Walgreens

We ate junk food that we normally deprive ourselves of....Cheetos, Twizzlers, cookies, and Pizza.

So Yummy!!!

Yummy Pizza AND it supports Breast Cancer research

Yummy snacks on the table.

Our party planner extraordinnaire, Danielle, even made each of us a new pillow case monogrammed with our initial.  A super special keepsake!

Even with the "blip"(around 2am), it was one of the best nights I've had in a while.  I have been friends with most of these ladies for years and years.  We have grown up from teenagers to grown women with careers and husbands (some).  Through it all, we remain friends.

Takara Pate, Michelle DeCarlo, Crystal Cedeno, Brandy Garrett, Marissa Sackrider, Ashley Wilder, and Danielle Daku, thanks for the memories!!!

note: Michelle is missing from this photo b/c she had to come late :(

I love you girls!

PS A special thank you to Takara Pate for hosting the event!

Monarch of the Seas

Every year, my bestie and I try to plan a weekend cruise.  We usually go around the end of September or beginning of October. 

My bestie, Danielle

This year we went October 14-17 and this year Ashley Wilder joined us.

Me, Danielle, Ashley



Night out on the Boat



It was such a blast!  It was beyond that.  I was one of the most fun trips I've ever been on.

I cannot wait to plan the next one.

Maybe you'll come with us next year!  Wouldn't that be fun?

One Click

Visiting Orphans  -  GO. BE. LOVE.

Your vote can make a difference!

If everyone on our email list would be willing to vote - Visiting Orphans could be awarded a $50K grant. In order for this to happen - you don't have to donate, you don't even have to register (although if you do, you get more votes), you just have to vote. It'll only take a moment but it can have eternal impact: http://www.givingoflife.com/browse/visiting_orphans/

There are millions of orphans in this world... ALL over the world. We are only in 13 countries. Can you imagine the lives of orphans we can touch if we could reach more countries? With your vote, we can do this! If you register you get 3 votes to use right away...

Please vote for Visiting Orphans today on the Giving of Life website!

The voting will end on Friday, November 4 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Thank you so much!!!

Visiting Orphans is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation; Tax ID # 20-3179796









www.visitingorphans.org

Inspired

That is how I feel lately!  I have become lazy.  I have become so wrapped up in my daily routine that I have lost my creative spirit. 

Well, that is going to change......as of RIGHT NOW!

A project at work has reignited the fire I used to have for creating things and being creative.

In addition, I have been inspired daily by several of the blogs I follow.  Their ideas are just amazing.  They keep me coming back for more.  I hope to once day be even half as creative as they are.

Anyways, just thought I would let you know that I am ON FIRE!! RE-IGNITED!! INSPIRED!!

And I am so glad you are along on this journey with me!

Happy Birthday to Me!

On Friday, September 23rd, I celebrated a birthday. 

How old am I you might ask? 

Haven't you ever heard that it is rude to ask a woman her age? 

You haven't? 

Oh, in that case, I just turned.........28.  Wow!  Where has the time gone.

My birthday this year was such a wonderful celebration!  It started with a blast from the past.....BOWLING.  We hit up our local bowling alley, AMF Lanes on 192. The Pasquarello kids had.a.blast!  And so did I!

The girls and I bowling (check out their crossed legs, lol)

The Pink Lady bowling

Go Mo!!!!  Get that strike.

A couple of days later it was my actual birthday.  I woke up to a new purse from my Bestie, Danielle.  It matched my outfit for the day, so that was an added bonus.  All day I was greeted with "Happy Birthdays" and well wishes.  I received flowers from Laura Draper (a sales rep at work) and the largest cookie cake I've ever seen from another sales rep, Marvin.  (my camera ate the picture of the flowers, but below is a picture of the cake).

Throughout the day, the birthday well wishes never stopped via Facebook, Twitter, email, and text message.

That evening, we all got together for our weekly Friday Family dinner.  I walked in and the place was decorated all in Orlando Magic theme!  If you didn't know, they are my FAVS!!! 

Thanks Guys for the birthday wishes! :)

Yummy cupcakes (but they did turn all our mouths blue)

Alexandra and I

The Bestie and Me

I am so blessed and so thankful for the wonderful people in my life.  The path hasn't always been easy, but I can honestly say that the "bad eggs" have been removed from my life.  Those that are left, please know that I love you. I value your place in my life. 

Thank you for a wonderful birthday!

Tapping in to my creative side

Are you a creative person?  Prior to beginning this blogging experience, I would have said NO to this question.  However, as I am reading through lots of other blogs, I am learning to become more thrifty and yes, even more crafty and creative. 

I now have a list of projects I want to try thanks to several new bloggy "friends".

Have you tried any of these? 

Do you have any more creative projects for me to try?

If you like the ideas below, be sure to give them love!
NOTE:  Quite a few of these came from Kim over at A Girl And A Glue Gun, or AGAAGG, for short.  Check out her blog, she has TONS of crafty ideas!

"Because I love you" Frame

source

Looking for a cute way to display family photos?  How about a family tree?

source

Recycled T-Shirts
#1

source

#2

source

Rolled Fabric Flowers

source

Tissue Paper Pom Poms

source

The tissue pom poms I have actually done for Aubrey Lemon's birthday party.  **Thanks Tiffany for introducing me to these.  I love them!!

These are just a few of the crafts that I am anxious to try for myself.  Do you have any DIY projects that you can share with me?  I am hoping my list keeps growing and I keep learning!

Graduation Celebration

Well, folks, I did!  I have completed my MBA!  I doubled up on classes (mostly because I'm impatient) and finished my degree in 13 months.  I am almost at a loss now as to what to do next.  The good thing is that I trust God.  He will show me what is next.  In fact, I'm counting on it!

I had a dinner to celebrate my graduation!  Thank you to all the family and friends that were able to make it.  Those that couldn't make it were greatly missed!




Best Friends/Family a girl could ask for!



Madelyn May & I

BTW, if you haven't been to Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney lately, check it out.  We dined at Paradiso 37 and it was fantastic!

Many Thanks!!!

Well folks, it has been about one month since I began blogging on a regular basis.  I just want to say thank you to each of you who are reading my blog, those who have commented, and those who are sharing my blog with others.  Keep the comments coming!  Keep sharing my blog with others!  Keep me smiling!

I have met some wonderful people through other blogs and I hope the same thing happens with my own blog.  If you aren't following me, please take the time to do so.

Keep the comments coming!  They truly make my day!

                      

Love you all!

Bestie's

Do you have a person in your life who is your best friend?  Or Bestie, as I call mine :)  Someone you can tell everything too?

Is it your sister?
A Roommate?
A Friend from church?

Mine is actually all of the above.  Who is she exactly?  Well, let me see if I can paint you a picture.

My bestie.....

• is sweet, kind, loving, fun, and ALWAYS the life of the party/event (when she shows up....lol).
• is loud!  (So is the rest of her family).
• has the kind of spirit that just draws people to her.
• loves throwing "themed" parties.  If you haven't attended one, you are missing out.
• has my back no matter what!
• loves Elvis, Fergie (from BEP), and You Tube. 
• would lay down her life for her nieces/nephew.
• never sits still. 
• laughs at EVERYTHING.  Seriously!  And she makes those around her laugh about it too.  It's infectious.
• has been through a lot and still always comes out on top.
• listens to me when I just need to vent.
• challenges me to become the best version of myself possible.
• is always ready for the next adventure, whatever it may be........Tony Danza, Skydiving, exploring Colorado, Cruises, Rachel Ray, NYC, numerous beach trips, and Parasailing, just to name a few of our adventures.

God put her friendship in my life at a time when I truly needed it.  I don't know what I would have done over the last 8 years without her.

So, Danielle Daku, thank you so much for your continued friendship.  I can hardly wait to see what we get ourselves in to next!

BESTIES - 4th of July 2011

" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."

- Arabian Proverb

Know Any Good Books??

If you know me, you know that I am an avid reader.  I love to curl up with a good book.  Below are some books that are on my list to purchase. 

RECENTLY READ:

The Help (Kathryn Stockett)


The Bride Quartet (Nora Roberts)


Reshaping It All (Candace Cameron Bure)


The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (done)
The Girl who Played with Fire (1/2 done)
The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Next (up next)
All by Stieg Larsson

UP NEXT TO READ:


Adoption Books


101 Tees: Restyle*Refashion*Revamp by Cathie Filian (found at AGAAGG)



The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

Have you read any good books lately?  Have any recommendations?  Let me know.  I'm always on the hunt for a new book.