What I'm Loving Wednesday!

It's the first What I'm Loving Wednesday of 2018! Here's to many more posts from me this year. I'm looking for blogging motivation. :)

I'm loving...

My new One Year Bible that folks gave to me for Christmas. It has sections that you can color in- I love to color (I will never grow out of it). :)

I'm loving...

That I completed my 365 thankful challenge last year. Every day in 2017 I wrote down something I was thankful for (or something of significance that happened that day). I look forward to reading through these soon.

I'm loving...

That I'm slowly working through my 40 by 40 list. Five months to go- I need to step it up! I can finally cross another item off my list though. Number 18- try sushi (non seafood kind since I don't eat seafood). I can't say I'm now a sushi lover. Or ever liker. Maybe if I was starving to death and sushi was the only option would I ever eat it again. I wasn't a fan of the cold rice. And this sushi had avocado in it (I can't stand avocado). Oh well. I at least tried it!

I'm loving...

That even though I was sick in bed on New Year's Eve, I still stayed awake until midnight to ring in the new year (it was looking iffy for a while, about 9:30 I started to doze off). I celebrated with a glass of sparkling grape juice. 

I'm loving...

My Best Nine Instagram posts from 2017. I like that they will tell you your top nine photos of the year- it's fun to look back and see which pictures people liked the most. :) If you don't follow me already- my handle on Instagram is Averyfan! :) That's also my handle on Twitter. :)

I'm loving...

After Christmas sales. I got these items for about $3 each. The Norman Rockwell book was normally $27. I need to get a table so I can work on the Star Wars puzzle. :)

What are YOU loving today??

XOXO!

Thankful Thursday

I know I haven't posted lately, it has been a rough few weeks. As you all know, Texas got hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. I wasn't up for posting last week as I had friends and family dealing with the aftermath of the storms. I'm thankful that everyone I know personally is safe. My heart breaks for those who lost loved ones. My sister's apartment in Houston had over four feet of water in it and she lost a lot of her belongings. Thankfully some photos were salvageable but she lost all of her furniture and clothes and a few other personal items that meant a lot to her. Thankfully she and my niece are safe though- material things can be replaced. She continues to remain positive through all of it. A few people messaged me on Twitter asking how they could help her out. Right now she's waiting on FEMA to go through, but if you are interested in sending her a gift card, please comment with your email and I will be in touch. Right now my thoughts are with everyone in the path of Hurricane Irma, especially my Florida friends and family. Praying for safety for everyone. 

You can see how high the water was in my sister's apartment

I decided today to try and focus on things I'm thankful for right now (no matter how small it might seem).

I'm thankful...

That I get to go out to lunch with my friends. Sometimes it's a much needed break in my day. And of course, I love hugs, so getting hugs is nice too. :) 

My friend Eve hadn't been to Whataburger in months and was dying to go, so of course, I made the sacrifice and went with her. :)

Celebrating the birth of my friend Bob at Norma's Cafe

I'm thankful...

That I got a promotion at work. It's been a rough few months at my office so this was a nice way to wrap up some of the madness. I feel very blessed.

I'm thankful...

For all the generous and loving people who made (and are still making) donations to victims of Hurricane Harvey. My church took donations last week and I went by one day to help sort the donations. This was what we collected in one day- it was amazing. 

I'm thankful...

That I still have one month of baseball left (sadly, Rangers fans only have one month left because I don't see the playoffs in our future this season, BUT now that I've said that, watch them make the playoffs and show me up (I would be okay with that). Lol. Even if they don't, I've had fun this season at the Ballpark- I might not like the outcome of all of the games, but I still have fun regardless. I do love going to baseball games with my friends. :)

Chilling with my homegirl Monica in my company suite at the Ballpark

The Rangers gave out a bobblehead of a now former player (talk about awkward). BUT my friends and I think it looks like my friend Larry, so we all have Larry bobbleheads now). :) 

Celebrating Misti's birthday!

Always good to see my friend Andrew at a game

Love getting hugs from my sweet friend Corina. She always has a smile on her face, no matter what is going on. She's an inspiration to me! :)

I'm thankful...

For time off work to just relax. I had myself a six day weekend, as I was off work from last Friday until yesterday. I cleaned my apartment (and organized my craft closet- which took a whole day to complete). I also finished a scrapbook (we won't say how long I've been working on it), and I read two books. It was nice just to have time for myself. It's also nice to have a clean apartment. :)

A before and after picture of my craft closet

This was a "during" picture. Yeah, it was pretty bad. It looked like a craft store threw up in my study. Lol.

What are YOU thankful for today?

XOXO!

Thankful Thursday

It's been a rough week for several reasons, I felt I needed this post as a reminder to always try and find a reason to be thankful.

I'm thankful...

For the opportunity to say goodbye. On Monday I had to say goodbye to a woman who was my "adopted grandmother" for over 25 years. I just happened to be in Austin when I got the news she didn't have much time left (she lived in Austin). I was able to go by and let her know how much I loved her. Although she couldn't talk, she did open her eyes when I started talking to her. She passed away just a few hours after I took this picture. Love you Meem. I'm glad you are no longer in pain. I promise to take care of the family for you. 

I'm thankful...

That my Pop (my "adopted grandpa") is so strong. Before I left their house on Monday, I asked for a picture with him. He said only if I smiled. Despite the fact we were going through a lot of sadness, I love this picture. He looks so happy.

I'm thankful...

For my job. It's been a rough week at my office-we saw a lot of changes in my department, but I'm glad to have a job and for my coworkers. And I enjoy the time we get to have away from the office.

I'm thankful...

For my BFF Mandy. I was dealing with some upsetting news while I was in Austin and she was there for support and to give hugs. It was just what I needed.

I'm thankful...

That I got to see some other dear friends while I was in Austin. I traveled to Austin on Sunday to see a concert with my bestie Zach. I was able to see a few other people in the short time I was in town. Austin friends: next time I visit I promise to be there longer so I can see more of y'all.

Thank you Zach for the ticket to see Brian Wilson. I had so much fun!

I'm thankful...

That I got to spend a few days with this cutie last week. My neighbor (who hasn't moved yet- YAY) was out of town so I got to Holly-sit. 

I'm thankful...

For those of you out there who read my blog (whether I know you or not). Thank you. Thank you for taking time to read whatever I post, whether it's something silly, serious, or just random. So much love to y'all.

XOXO!

I Choose to Be Thankful

It seems lately (especially over the past few days) social media and the news has been full of hate, ugliness, name-calling, and just plain rudeness. It's so easy to get caught up in that and lash out at your hurt, anger, and disappointment. Instead of doing that, I choose to focus on positive things right now. If other people want to vent, that is their right and I will let them, but for me, focusing on things that make me happy is helping me get through these tough times right now. I know the world is full of awful things, but right now I want to focus on what is good, not evil. So today I give you things I'm thankful for (no matter how big or small they may seem to you). Please feel free to comment on things you are thankful for as well! It's time to be thankful for what we have instead of upset over what we don't.

I'm thankful for...

My friends. I love that my friends make time to see me, whether it's for a sporting event, movie night, lunch, dinner, or just meeting up to say "hi". I couldn't ask for better people to be in my life.

Recent meet-ups with friends

My church family. I've been a member almost a year (I've been attending for 18 months). My Sunday School class is wonderful and I'm excited to get involved with different church activities. The ladies in my Sunday School class recently did a Secret Sister exchange and a few weeks ago I was in charge of the decorations for my class' "trunk" for our annual Trunk or Treat event (act surprised that I picked a baseball theme).

Some ladies from my Sunday School class

My pastor

My wonderful Sunday School class!

Text from friends just to say hi. Sometimes I'm having a rough day and I'll get a text from a friend that just says they were thinking about me.

Baby snuggles. Snuggles from a baby always seem to make a bad day better, don't they? My friend's son came up to the office to visit her this week, and she let me steal some snuggles. It was just what I needed! I hope by the time he's grown, we've left the world in better shape for him.

Thanks to my friend for permission to use her son's picture on my blog! :)

Norma's Cafe. Hey- when you find good food, you have to be thankful, right? I've built a friendship with Norma's Cafe through social media and recently I was asked to be part of their National Chicken Fried Steak Day tour. I got to spend the day with awesome people and we basically traveled around the area eating chicken fried steak all day. I got to meet actor Burton Gilliam (best known for the movie Blazing Saddles), as well as Ed Murph, the owner of Norma's Cafe. And it's always good to see Bill Ziegler, director of operations. It was a great day. I made a new friend (who is a fellow blogger) and it turns out we live in the same apartment complex- small world!

My new car! I mentioned a few weeks ago I was in a wreck. Unfortunately my car was totaled, but that means I got a new car (I'm trying to look on the bright side of things). From the outside it looks a lot like my old car (I love Mazda), but it's a lot fancier inside. I now have Bluetooth and a back-up camera. It's the little things that make me happy. :)

I've named it Silver 2.0

My awesome salesman 

My niece made me this angel when she was five (she's now 18). It's been in every car I've own since then- I call it my guardian angel

Early Christmas gifts. A friend of mine told me last week that my Christmas gift from him was a ticket to the Billy Joel concert in San Antonio next month. I'm SUPER excited! **squeal**

Having the movie theater practically to myself. I guess when you go see a bad "B" horror movie, there aren't a lot of people. But who cares, it's still fun. And I love the recliner seats!

For the record, this was taken before the previews started. I keep my phone put up during a movie

This reminder whenever I'm feeling anxious and stressed.

Dr Pepper. A friend gave me a case of pure sugar cane Dr Pepper. I will not confirm how much of this is already gone. :)

That in 2 weeks, I'll be home with my family for Thanksgiving. I haven't been "home" since August. I'm looking forward to much needed family time!

Tell me, what are YOU thankful for?

XOXO!