Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

I am grateful for television.
I am grateful for baths.
I am grateful for wine
      ....and my bed.

That is all...

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

 

I am quickly losing track of time.  I cannot remember what day it is with no school or camp schedule to keep me in line.  The days are seamless, bleeding into one another.

But you know what?  I'll take that over getting up early, packing lunches, and carpools, any day.

Which leads me to this week's gratitude...

• I am grateful for the lovely breakfast I had with Heather and Meghan (and two new friends, Hannah and (another) Heather), yesterday morning.  It's always nice to see my girls.
• I am grateful for the selfish Sunday I had - swimming, sunning, and working out -  after a totally chaotic week.
• I am grateful that the huge zit which lived and breathed on my chin for over a week is finally taking it's last breaths. 
• I am grateful that I will have a new design for this blog soon.
  
• I am grateful that my trip to Chicago is in little over a week.  Are you ready to PARTAY ladies!

What are you grateful for?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

Summer is here.  What's not to be grateful for, right?

• I am grateful for successfully motivating myself to write. It has been empowering (so far).
• I am grateful for gorgeous green mountains against blue, non-polluted skies.
• I am grateful that my kids are relaxed and stress-free.
• I am grateful for watching them play and laugh in the pouring rain.
• I am grateful for Jamie Lee Curtis.

That last one is curious, I know.  But hear me out.
I've always loved Jamie Lee Curtis.
Not for her role in the Activia commercials, not for her movie roles, but for her contributions as a writer.

She has published some amazing children's books, written for Salon.com and is currently a contributor at HuffPost. For someone who grew up in Hollywood, with celebrity parents, Jamie Lee Curtis has a strong sense of right and wrong. Her feet are firmly planted into the ground. She is sensitive, attentive, and eager to share her parenting mistakes and insights with the rest of us.  I always enjoy, and learn, from her pieces.

I came across her most recent essay today and thought it was a "must share".   For those of us who didn't have the benefit of seeing what she did first hand, we can take her experience and find a way to make it our own.

Here is the link to her essay, Pay Attention,  in today's Huffington Post (for which I am grateful).

What are you grateful for this week?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

It's June Gloom here on Los Angeles' westside.  I'm wrapped in a sweater, gazing at grey skies, waiting for the first rain drop to fall.  This is the one time of the year where it is NOT better to live by the beach.  While the rest of you thaw in the heat of the new summer sun, we ocean neighbors chatter our teeth, socked in by cool, damp, blankets of fog until late afternoon. 

We may get to neener, neener the rest of the year, but in May and June, you have it all over us. 

You may gloat now.

But it's Monday, so enough complaining, let's get to the gratitude.

• I am grateful that my son and his friends had a fantastic time at his birthday party.
• I am grateful that no bones or furniture were harmed during the production of said birthday party.
• I am grateful that both of my kids are occupied until 5pm today. 

 

Yes, the boy with the wild expression and the equally wild hair... my son.

What are you grateful for today?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

Here we are again, another week another budget cut reason to be grateful. 

• I am grateful that Peanut is back to her energetic self and that all of her blood tests came back negative.
• I am grateful that summer is near because I am as sick of doing homework as my kids are.
• I am grateful that my son's turning 9 this week and hoping that I survive his first sleepover party.
• I am grateful for summer fruits, late sunsets, and chardonnay (sometimes I skip the merlot).
• I am grateful for being part of a public school where the parents make things happen even when the people who are supposed to (Schwarzenegger, LAUSD and UTLA) DON'T.

What are you grateful for this week?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

It's Monday.  Give Me the Grateful Life Monday.

Except I am frustrated today.  With myself and my kids.
But in light of finding things to be grateful for (because isn't that what this is all about, finding gratitude even when you're not quite feeling it?), I am going to find a way to turn my angst into appreciation.

Here goes:

• Even though my kids are both locked in their rooms because of yet another fight about chores and homework (and in the case of my son an all-out scream fest), I am grateful that they are home, safe, and healthy.
• Instead of beating myself up over battling yet another round of writer's block, I am going to focus on how grateful I am for having the time to pursue something I love and TRY to take the pressure off so I can enjoy it.
  
• Despite spending a significant part of my days distracted by and tending to my insatiably active puppy, I am still grateful for having her around 'cause she's so cute, an amazing guard dog, and I just couldn't imagine not having her around.  (Most of the time.)
  
• I am grateful for the BBQ with friends last night and for watching a video of our kids in pre-school when my son's hair was neat and clean and so were the words that came out of his mouth.
  
• I am grateful for having friends who are do-ers (Elisa, Susan and Jennifer - The Lemonade Initiative ladies) and motivate me to get out of my head and out of my house to fight injustices like the drastic LAUSD budget cuts.
  
• I am grateful last night's earthquake was not the big one. 

Wow.  See what happened?  I went from forcing myself to feel grateful to actually feeling grateful.   If you "act" you will "be".  I honestly feel better.  Pretty cool.


What are you grateful for this week?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.  I hope you had a restful day.  I spent much of mine in a car on the 405 Fwy in search of discounted outdoor furniture advertised on Craig's List.  But we found some pretty nice pieces so I'm cool with it.

I am grateful for a few things today...

I am grateful for spending a quiet weekend with both my husband and my kids because it's been a while.
I am grateful that my husband will NOT be traveling for at least another two weeks.
I am grateful for my daughter who, in my opinion, and in the opinion of others, is growing up to be a really lovely girl.
I am grateful that my kids are both healthy and in school and my days are my own again.
I am grateful for the Mother's Day card my (almost) 9 year old son gave me.  It will definitely go in the memory box.  (See below):

 

What are you grateful for this week????

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

 

After a hectic few weeks where my life went a bit off-kilter with hubby's surgery, a lingering flu, and my child's failing grades, etc, I am glad to say that my daily routine is back in full swing.  To think, I had been lamenting that routine!  The old adage is definitely true, you don't realize how much you appreciate something until that something is gone.

Heretofore my grateful post:

• I am grateful my hubby has only a week or two left in his brace (I need his strong arms and I need my squishy pillow back!)
• I am grateful for a fun weekend with my family in Utah where we celebrated my dad's 75th birthday.
• I am grateful my husband will stop traveling so much after next week - his absence has made me appreciate him more  and I would like to have him around for a while. (But maybe not too long or the appreciation thing might backfire).   ;)
  
• I am grateful my kids are old enough that traveling on a plane with them was actually a pleasure.
• I am grateful to have the energy to start exercising again. (It makes my family grateful too - trust me.)

What are you grateful for this week?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

 

The last two weeks have sucked the big one for a myriad of reasons, some huge and significant, some small and merely bothersome.  But the thing about life is that each new day, each new week, is an opportunity for improvement.   At least that's how I'm choosing to look at it right now.

So let's focus on some gratitude!

• I am grateful for a new week: one where I won't be wasting away in bed.
• I am grateful each day my daughter peforms better in school.
• I am grateful for the giggle I just had when my daughter fell in the pool fully clothed (while playing fetch with my dog).
• I am grateful for the beautiful flowers blooming in my yard.
  
• I am grateful for gouda cheese.

What are you grateful for this week?  Please share.

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

I feel like I was just here.
Oh yeah, that was Friday.
Well, considering how little I've been posting lately,  I WAS JUST HERE.

But it's Monday and I don't want to forget to show my weekly gratitude hence I start the week with some bad karma.

1. I am grateful for selling some of our furniture on Craig's list so we can afford a bit of new.
2. I am grateful for the burst of color from the budding flowers in my yard.
3. I am grateful for spending some time (albeit brief) with just my family this weekend.  Sometimes I forget we make a pretty good team.
4. I am grateful for being one of a few people in the room when a spontaneous jam session broke out with John Mayer and some friends.  That was definitely the coolest thing that's happened to me in a long time.
5. And, of course, I am grateful FOR MEETING JOHN MAYER THIS WEEKEND CAUSE HE TOTALLY ROCKS AND IS SO COOL AND PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME AND LAUGHED AT MY WEAK JOKES.  (If you ever want to feel like a gushing young teen again, take a picture with a rock star, that'll do it.)

What are you grateful about this week?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

Hello blogger sisters (and brother(s)). It is Monday. A rainy Monday here in S. Cal. I hope you all had a nice weekend.

I went into a bit of a spontaneous cleaning frenzy - ripping apart my fridge, pantry, and bathroom drawers. I even arranged fresh flowers around the house. I take pleasure in looking at the fruits of my labor, even if no one else around here noticed!

Damn, why don't they notice?!

Anyway, to the gratitude...

1. I am grateful for living in such a close community. Our small town lost three people in three separate accidental deaths this past week (2 fathers and a teenage son). My heart aches for all the loved ones left behind but it makes me feel good knowing they've got a support system to help them through.
2. I am grateful for my family even if they don't notice the clean fridge or organized drawers. (see #1).
   
3. I am grateful for my new writing workshop which simultaneously elates me and scares the shit out of me.
4. I am grateful for Facebook reuniting me with old friends and allowing me to see my high school years from a different, less tortured, perspective.
5. I am grateful for being able to get up early every morning to exercise. It has made a world of difference in so many ways.

What are you grateful for today?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

Here we are again, Monday.

Feeling the tedium today. I'm fuzzy, unmotivated, meandering on this road we call life.

But I have a lot of shit to accomplish so I better get with it! Hopefully this will help keep me moving forward.

1. I am grateful for spending quality time with good friends this weekend.
2. I am grateful for the laughter we shared which left me breathless way beyond my comfort zone.
3. I am grateful for having writer friends who share their Academy screeners.
   
4. I am grateful for not feeling like Kate Winslet's character did in Revolutionary Road.
5. I am grateful for remembering my adolescence like it was yesterday; it helps me feel compassion when my teenage daughter has her mood swings. (I knew the misery would come in handy one day!)

What are you grateful for today?

Give Me the Grateful Life - Monday

 

And here we are again, another week, another mountain of mundanity reason to be grateful!
(Mundanity really is a word - I looked it up.)

I'm feeling a bit of the "what the hell happened to my weekend" blues, so I'm gonna dig right in in an attempt to gain perspective and improve my mood.

1. I am grateful that my husband came back from his business trips, even if only for a few days, so he could take on some of the carpooling because he's nice to have around.  ;)
2. I am grateful for the groomer who gave our dogs a much needed bath.
3. I am grateful for the rain.
4. I am grateful for my iPod and exercise bike - they are incredible stress relievers.
5. And, oh yes, I am grateful for PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA! YAAAAAAAAY!

Okay, that did help my mood.  This gratitude stuff works!

What are you grateful for this week?  There's gotta be something...

*photo courtesy of Google Images

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

 

I am under the wire but according to my PST watch, I am SAFE!

Hello readers, Happy Monday to you.

I'm pretty wrecked from the day and have to get up way early tomorrow so I'm going to get right down to the gratitude business.

1. I am grateful for SCHOOL.  That's right, today was my son's first day back after a three week vacation.  Hallelujah.  I do believe there is someone up there looking out for me after all.
2. I am grateful that the kennel cough my dog caught when we boarded her this vacation (first time ever boarding any of our dogs!), seems to be mild and slightly improving.  And that she learned early on to hack it up outside.
3. I am grateful for having time to read my cookbooks this weekend and plan some actual homemade meals for a change.
4. I am grateful that my hubby is coming home from yet another business trip tomorrow - now HE can get up at 6am to walk the dogs.
5. I am grateful for the gorgeous weather Southern Cal is having and that I can, at least for a few days, feel the breeze while I sleep.
   

Please tell me what you are grateful for this week.

**Oh, and also, before you go, I know this is not P.C. for a gratitude post, but I need HELP.  Can someone please give me advice on how to instill manners in my way-too-cool-for-school son.  I am seriously embarrassed when we run into people we know and he refuses to say a proper hello (or goodbye).  Short of smacking the snarky little sucker, WHAT DO I DO?  Nothing I've tried to this point has worked.

Edit:  Thank you for your suggestions.  I combined some with ideas of my own and things have definitely improved.  And just so you know, I was kidding about the smacking.  Merlotmom can be a bit snarky herself.

Thanks.

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

 

Today's post will be short and sweet because I am on deadline and seriously behind due to spending every free minute of my weekend reading contest entries.

So, here goes the gratitude:

1. I am grateful for the opportunity to give a lucky winner the HP Giveaway loot and hopefully make some people's Christmas a happy one.
2. After reading all the entries, I am especially grateful for my family's health and my husband's hard work which is keeping food in our fridge and a roof over our heads.
3. I am grateful for the rain.
4. I am grateful vacation is coming.

What are you grateful for today?

HP Giveaway winner will be announced at 12pm PST.  Be there!  Winner must contact me by Tuesday if they want to receive the packages before Xmas.   Good luck!

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

Hello everyone.
Yes, it is Monday.
The end of a weekend...
  the beginning of a loooong week.
(At least that's how I'm feeling this morning.)
So let's find something to be grateful about shall we?
  Or I (and possibly you) might just not make it.

1. I am grateful for my sweet husband who busted his ass this weekend (and drove my friends crazy) to make a beautiful birthday celebration for me.
2. I am grateful he bugged my friends instead of me.
3. I am grateful for having so many fantastic friends.
4. I am grateful for having the wisdom of my age (most of the time) but not the appearance of it.
5. I am grateful for Southern California where the mountains and the beach are my gym year-round.

What are you grateful for this Monday?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

Welcome to Monday.
I hope everyone had amazing times with their family and friends this Thanksgiving.

I don't know about any of you but having had that small break from monotony, I am now TOTALLY looking forward to Xmas vacation.

But, since that's a few weeks away,  I'll show my gratitude for the blessings at hand:

1. I am grateful for not having to spend any time in my car yesterday.  (After Saturday's drive, I'd had enough.)
2. I am grateful that Merlotdad had the car cleaned so it no longer smells like fast food and dogs.
3. I am grateful for the GORGEOUS weather we are having in Southern CA.  (Some say it's too warm, I'm not one of them.  I enjoy smelling the roses in December.)
   
4. I am grateful to be back home where I can decide at the last minute whether to walk in the mountains or on the beach.
5. I am grateful for putting my aging old IBook to rest... and getting a new MacBook.  Awesome!

What are you grateful for this Monday?

Give Me The Grateful Life - (Tuesday??)

Okay, so I'm a day late, but hopefully not a dollar short...
I blame it on being out of town, on being out of my usual routine...

But no more excuses, let's get to today's GRATITUDE...This is the week for gratitude, is it not???

1. I am grateful that we made it to Park City unharmed and without harming anyone else.  (Details in a post to come.)
2. I am grateful there's no snow because I have too much work to go skiing.
3. I will be extra grateful the day I get paid for said work.
4. I am grateful for being with family in this absolutely gorgeous location.
5. I am grateful for blue skies, clean air, and mild temperatures.  
6. And, of course, I am grateful for being a part of this amazing, in-the-spirit-of-holiday-giving contest.

Please check this post for details.

What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving week??

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

Welcome to a new week readers...
Let's begin with a deep yoga breath and some thanks, shall we?

1. I am grateful that my house and those of my friends were safe from the fires.  (And deeply sorry for those whose weren't.)
   
2. I am grateful for, and hoping to see again soon, a clear, blue sky.
3. I am grateful to have had the morning free to work on my class assignment.
4. I am grateful for libraries where I can get away from my house and dogs to work on said assignment without distraction.
5. I am grateful for meeting such nice women last night at the LA Mom Bloggers launch and to SV Moms Blog for hosting it.  
6. Oh yes, and I am grateful for Spanx - those things are da bomb!
   

What are you grateful for today?

Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday

It is Monday, again.
Can someone tell me where my weekend went?
I blinked and POOF it was gone.
Lately, I feel like this every day.
How do I stop this hamster wheel I'm on and B-R-E-A-T-H-E?

  Being grateful is a start.  Additional suggestions are MORE THAN welcome:

1. I am grateful that I am FINALLY feeling better.
2. I am grateful that now that I am finally feeling better, I can resume my morning walks.
3. I am grateful (and optimistic) that now that I can resume my morning walks, my anxiety level will drop back to it's "normal" levels.
4. I am grateful for my dog trainer and E-collar.
5. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE UCLA WRITING WORKSHOP THAT BEGINS TOMORROW!  YAY!

What are you grateful for this Monday?


P.S. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest.  Later on today, I will post a poll where you will choose the three eye-concealers I will sample.  Help me, help you (and me, of course) look beautiful.