Gratitude

Today I'm feeling blue. Down in the dumps, under the weather. This morning I thought I was coming down with something, and after watching shows in bed all morning and feeling sorry for myself, I realize that I'm simply just hitting that point in winter where I'm over it. This weekend was so beautiful, and I think the return to winter temperatures is hitting me poorly. J has been kind to me and has sympathized rather than calling me out on sitting around like a bump on a log for the last two days.

My friend H did a Gratitude Challenge a few months ago, and I promised myself I would do it as well, but of course never got around to it. Today is the day, because I need an attitude adjustment.  How do you participate? Simply write down five things you are grateful for each day – and appreciate the positive things going on in your life rather than focusing on the negative (which we find MUCH easier to do, but isn’t exactly doing much good for any of us).

So, here goes.

1. This year I made the extremely difficult decision to go back to school to become a teacher. It hasn't been easy living off of student loans and credit lines, but the support of my family and J has been overwhelming. They have been there for me every step of the way, and for the first time (in my life, maybe) I can say that I am truly happy. I love being at school, I love teaching, I love volunteering. Their support has made this possible and I am so grateful for them.

2. Last night J and I went for a long walk before bed. We have been so unhealthy and un-active recently, and have both resolved to eat better and try to get in shape. I love where we live, and late at night on a cold January evening, we had a lovely walk. It was a little mini-date. I am so thankful for J, and the things we do together, and our ability to make goals and slowly try to achieve them.

3. One of my girlfriends is getting married, and we're going to Vegas in May for her bachelorette party. No, I'm not thankful that I'm going to Vegas -- I'm thankful, so beyond grateful for the friends that I have, who are all giving their time and money to experience this with her, and with all of us. I have the most beautiful, determined, successful, kind-hearted friends, and that we're 26 and still planning vacations together and making sacrifices to be there for each other is the most wonderful thing of all. They complete me and they encourage and inspire me.

4. I love teaching. I love it, love it, love it. I'm not in teachers college yet, but am teaching two evenings a week at a tutoring centre, and I've never loved a job as much as this one. This job has shown me that there's a reason I'm back in school, and that I'm headed towards a satisfying and inspiring career. I am so incredibly lucky to have been given this opportunity, and it will likely assist me in becoming a teacher in the end.

5. J and I have finally settled into our home. Our home, that we own, that we love, and will not leave for years. We love it so much, and it is so comforting to wake up each day in a place that I love so much. This happened for us so much sooner than I expected it to and I am so beyond grateful that I get to wake up beside my best friend each day, in our beautiful home, loving wholeheartedly where I am and who I'm sharing it with.

Just writing those five little paragraphs has lifted me out of my funk. It's amazing how something so little can inspire you to be so much more positive. I'm ready to face my day, and my week, and start being grateful for the opportunities I have instead of grouching about the mornings.

The day I spent my life savings on wrapping paper

It is really, really hard to get into the Christmas spirit when you're living in limbo. I'm usually playing Christmas carols (*NSYNC and the Biebs, namely) by November 1, with an apple cinnamon candle lit and my Baby Jesus manger already on display. However, this year, living in J's old frat house apartment until we get possession at the end of the month, it's been hard to muster any particular festive cheer. Other than this potpourri (which I admit, I am way too excited about using), I hadn't bought anything else Christmas-y.


I am convinced this will be the best $12 purchase of my life

But today I forced it! I've been feeling mopey, J is away in Montreal on a boys' weekend, and I'm desparately trying to avoid studying for my midterm next week, so all of these things led me to the mall to try and start Christmas present shopping. Ambitiously, I thought there was the potential that I could get it all done in one afternoon. I accomplished zero percent of this goal. I like the local mall about as much as I'm enjoying J's apartment (and am so, so relieved that we did not end up buying a home in this city), and there was significantly less selection than I'd expected. Also, apparently 25 is the new 60 and I tuckered myself out after a half hour and needed to rest on a bench for about ten minutes. All of those reasons resulted in a fairly short mall trip and no success in the present department.

I did however, find absolutely everything I wanted in the present wrapping department. This year I wanted to go for a vintage look with our presents, and wrap or bag everything in craft paper and twine, with Christmas stamps and handwritten names (An idea I stole from Enjoying the Small Things, which I absolutely adore). I initially thought that this was going to be a cheaper, more traditional way of gifting, however after spending an entire hour in the craft store (twice the amount of time I was in the entire mall, I might add), it ended up costing as much as a really fantastic present would itself. But I was so excited that I'd found everything that I got it all anyway. So people are going to have to be grateful with slightly less expensive but fantastically wrapped presents this year.


I'll be destroying the receipt for this purchase before J comes home

Martha Stewart vintage name tags and sparkly red wooden letters that I couldn't resist -- they were on clearance!

Stamps to use on the craft paper. I went a little overboard on these ones but my defence remains that they are reusable for years to come

Red and beige coloured twine to wrap around the presents

I figured that since we are now domestic, J and I should probably send Christmas cards these year. Expect to be seeing these in the mail soon, friends

 I also treated myself to my seasonal Bath and Body Works candles, picturing them in the new house matching fabulously with all the colour themes and decor that I have planned quite elaborately in my head.


 Sidenote: the candle on the right is called "Spiced Apple Toddy," and up until this very moment I thought that a toddy was just a name for them bitches and hoez that rappers sing about. Google tells me it is in fact a "mixed drink served hot." It's very good that I know this now

Anyway, speaking of decorating my future house, I also picked up some paint swatches today too. Let me tell you, it is practically impossible to pick paint colours for a house you do not yet live in. Especially when you have only been inside said (perfect, amazing, love it so much) house two times, ever. But J and I both agree that we'd like to get painting done that first weekend, before we get all our furniture set up and various things hung on the walls. So we've been discussing colours for what feels like our entire relationship, and okay, I know every girl thinks she wants a guy who participates and who has an opinion on the various things she suggests, but these girls are wrong. J has so many opinions and while none of them have led to a Massive Meltdown Moment, trust me: you want someone who lets you decorate exactly as you please. I have a vision and I don't like when my visions are vetoed.


From left to right: dusty rose for the main floor power room, navy for the upstairs guest bathroom, plum (second from the bottom) in our ensuite bathroom, and a smorgasbord of greys that we cannot agree on for our bedroom and the living room(dark for our room, light downstairs)

I also bought new food and water bowls for the puskerses, which was not a particularly exciting purchase but I feel like including it anyways. They will match the cupboards in our new kitchen, so there is some method to my madness.


When I get better at blogging, there won't be lamp/phone/floor cameos in every picture. Also I have a Blackberry, so once I get a camera that isn't terrible/access to the photoshop genius that is Instagram, that will probably help too

Very excited about his fancy new dishes

In other news, apparently Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez broke up today, and my fragile teenybopper heart is devastated. Schoolwork tonight will likely be accompanied by the "Under the Mistletoe" album playing in the background.


Say it ain't so!

And yes, candy cane ice cream will be eaten while this is happening.