30 Days of Thanks!

This list went quicker than I thought, after I stopped taking it so seriously. I spent a few hours typing it a while back, had a few pages, and was only to #5! Not to mention I was in tears already…

Needless to say, I’m a pretty thankful little lady. We put up a “Tree of Thanks” in the corner of the dining room, and attached leaves to it with things we’re thankful for written on each one. It was a great project to do and I still stand there and read the ones Mo wrote. They’re adorable.

So, here’s my summarized list of what I am thankful for, this month.

Enjoy!

1. My son. Every day he teaches me to handle life with more kindness, patience, understanding, curiosity, love, positivity, and laughter. He provides the most challenging yet rewarding job I’ve ever had and fills my heart with more pride, joy and love than I’ve ever known.

2. His father. He works hard for our family, loves me unconditionally, keeps it spicy and is the best father I’ve seen. He’s my best friend and growing old with him is pretty much my idea of a life well spent…

3. My brother. He’s saved my life, taught my priceless life lessons and loved me like the mother and father I never had. I’m thankful for our ability to resolve our past issues so that we can move forward and enjoy a life together, now that we live close to each other again!

4. His wife. My sister in law is the kindest, most giving, selfless person I’ve met. She’s beyond generous and takes care of my brother and his children incredibly. She’s a saint. Truly.

5. Their kids. I love my three nephews like they’re my own. I’m amazed, constantly, at how much they love me, my son and “Uncle Mo”. Mo and I are both estranged from some of our family so I’m thankful that Moses can still experience cousins and that closeness, while we work out other issues.

6. My Nana. She’s one tough old broad. She’s taught me how to grab life by the balls and lead it where I want it to go. That being a lady, doesn’t mean taking peoples shit and that a woman can run a house, just as well as a man, single or not!

7. My Father In Law’s upcoming move to the Valley. My father in law, through all the ups and downs, has always been there for me. Always texts me to see how I am, says goodnight and good morning, and calls often, just to say hi. He’s moving out here soon to be closer to us and I’m SO thankful that Moses will have him here to grow up with.

8. My Mother In Law is one of the most giving people I know. She’d give you the shirt off her back, if you needed it, and often does. Cute ones too. She’s shared her home, closet and son with me and I’m eternally grateful.

9. Life’s imperfections. I’ve had one Hell of a life. It’s made me one strong beezy. I’m uber grateful for the rollercoaster responsible for maintaining my thick skin.

10. As I go to type this. Moses says, “Doggy!” I’m thankful for my dog. That she fights negative Pitbull stereotypes every single day. She was in my pocket when I got hit by a car and will forever be my road dog. She farts, snores, snorts and smells bad, on the reg, but she’s mine, and I love her.

11. Our AZ friends. We thought you forgot about us, when we moved back to CA. Then, you showed Mo that you missed him and he brought us back. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you! Thank you all for being amazing friends, putting up with our sporadic social tendencies and just bein’ cool! lol

12. You Pierson sisters, Christin and Char. You beezy’s are my closest friends. Every football Sunday is a blast, I love our kitchen time together, I love that our boys get along, I love that our kids love to play together and look forward to growing old with you broads and staying fuckin’ fabulous while we do it! xo

13. My job. I don’t do much. It’s nice. But I enjoy the social aspects of being a bartender/model/promotional lady, and getting to dress up, like I’m going out, but getting paid to chat and mix drinks. It’s great! I make my part of the bills and get to be home when my kid is awake. Best job, ever.

14. My love works with special need students. He loves his job, loves making a difference and cares about the kids. He works at a huge school out in Mesa and with in a year will be in charge of his own class room. I’m so proud of him…

15. My car. My last car, I ruined. I like to trash nice things. Well, the shitty 15 year old “bro-ho” still living in me, likes to trash nice things. I got a Range Rover and promptly took it out into the snow, rain and mud, then out here in the 120 degree heat, just in time for monsoon season. A few puddles deep enough to cover my hood in water coupled with some dried up seals and my apocalypse survival vehicle, died. I now have a grocery getter, that is MUCH newer, and will cost less than half as much to repair while getting twice as good gas mileage. Win.

16. My man got a Harley from his Dad as a gift for graduating college. I love it. I love riding on it, I love how much there is to do within the biker culture out here, without being a complete rat, and I love the potential for photo-shoots, long rides, and sexy times. HEY oh! lol

17. My closet. My stuff n tings. I love stuffs. Mo buys me clothes like I’m Paris Hilton. He asked, “What do you want for Christmas?” I said, “A sewing machine.” He said, “I’ll get you more clothes. Because I like you to look good, you like to look good, and you look good. Clothes it is.” Uuuummm, okay. But who’s complaining? Girls got steeze. Thanks, babe.

18. My makeup. My hot girl disguise tools. Another thing Boo loves to buy me. I’ve never had such a selection in my life and I’m SO grateful. I can remember when I didn’t know how to use it, wear it, or buy it and had like, my makeup bag full and that was it. I’ve got drawers on bags on cases. I’m lucky. Once again, thanks babe.

19. Scottsdale. I live in “The most livable city.” The weather is beautiful. Too hot, for some, that you know, enjoy breathing air that doesn’t singe the lungs 3 months out of the year. But, no, not me. I enjoy the blow torch summers, loosing the skin on my butt to my leather seats, burning my hands just to maintain control of my motor vehicle, and the best part? Flip flops too weak to take the heat of the asphalt turning to little rubber griddles, frying your piggies with each step. But then there’s times like this, where we can go to the Zoo, late November and wear shorts, tshirts and sandals. I can sit on my front porch, every morning of the year, and enjoy my coffee in nice weather. Win.

20. Um, Dutch Brothers Coffee. You’re better than Starbucks. You’re cheaper, more caffeinated and your staff is friendlier. Thank you.

21. My blog. I love my little creation. I’m thankful for the outlet that allows me to share my creativity and cooking and life with the world.

22. “Two Buck Chuck”. Yep, I said it. I’m thankful for cheap wine. Any Mama can tell you, she’s got something for the tough days. A bath, a run, a cigarette, kick boxing, meditation, curling, wine, whatever it may be. Mine, mine’s the cheap wine from Trader Joes. It use to be $1.99 a bottle, thus earning it’s name, but it’s gone up a dollar and I’m okay with that. Delicious, potent, cheap. Thank you, Trader Joes.

23. Ebay. I get a lot of makeup off Ebay. I get a lot of clothes, shoes, accessories off Ebay. I just had to take a moment to thank Ebay’s ability to find anything I want or need, for cheaper than I found it somewhere else. I mean, hey, where else can I score 30 pairs of false eye lashes for a dollar?

24. Our pool at our apartment complex. It’s beautiful. It’s child friendly, well laid out, and perfect for getting my tan on, well into the winter. Thank you, pool and sunshine!

25. This shouldn’t be so low on the list, but life, itself. Like I mentioned before, my dog and I got hit by a car back in 2009 and the scariest moment for me, was waking up on the street, alive. I realized right then that life could have been snatched, just that fast. I was in a bad mood, I was cold and I was walking to the store to buy cigarettes. I would have died unhappy. Although I now forget time to time, it taught me to be more in the moment and grateful for everything, everywhere. I could use a big reminder of this sometimes, unfortunately. Maybe this is what I need to kick start the positive thinking, full force.

26. My artistic abilities. I’m so thankful that I can see something I like, and recreate it. I have made gifts for people that have made them cry, good tears, lol. That’s such a fulfilling feeling. I can’t wait to teach my son that making something for somebody always trumps a last minute gift.

27. Food. I’m thankful, not just for food in general, but for healthy, nutritious food. When I met this boy of mine, he ate like a typical college student. A well cooked meal was a chicken breast you managed not to burn and a box of Rice-a-Roni. He had no concept of healthy eating and thought that a good workout would kill the bad stuff. I’m thankful for his willingness to embark on a journey of finding a better way of eating and has such an interest in being a healthy eater. It’s so much easier to make life changes when the other half in your life is completely on the same page!

28. Some of my most treasured possessions are the gifts I’ve received from my Boo. For mothers day, he had all my favorite pictures of the family printed out and put into an album I had previously bought but didn’t know what to do with. He always leaves me notes when I get home from work and he’s been here but left. He buys me movies, when he’s out running errands, because he knows I don’t have a particular one. He always brings home something special from the store or spends a little extra on a bottle of wine with a cool name or bottle. He picks me flowers when he’s out and about. Anything he’s given me, I’m thankful for.

29. My basic needs being fulfilled, every day. I know it seems a little vague, but ever since we started watching the Walking Dead, we’re starting to talk more about doomsday prepping (NOT for zombies, but an economic crisis) and how one day, novelties like hot water and microwaves, will be no more. I’m thankful for my creature comforts, while I’ve still got em.

30. The internet. Sounds stupid, but hear me out. We live in a time where any information we want, is at our finger tips. Want to learn how to feed 100 people for $50? Build a bomb? Find out where Lake Titicaca really is? Just hop on the Google-nets. I love it. I’m an ever changing, information absorbing little sponge. I love to learn. Take a week, pick a subject you don’t know much about. Learn about it. Never stop learning. I love it.

 

So that’s my list. It started out with the intent of being in some sort of order, but let’s be real here, I’m thankful for all of these things, and much more, all at once, some equally and some more than others. If you read this far, congratulations, you win!

Happy Holidays, and I hope this makes you take a little time out of your day to count your blessings!