Thankful November: Day Twenty Five

Today I'm thankful for music!  I've always been into music since I was a kid and I know I always will be.  Music shapes my soul and I'm so glad I have a partner who loves music also, actually more than I do.  Today we went to The Depot at First Avenue to pick up these tickets to a concert both of us are extremely excited to see.  Now we just have to wait until February.

Thankful November: Day Twenty Four

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Today I'm thankful for my family, both immediate and extended family. It was hard to wait to until the 24th to say I'm thankful for my family as I wanted to be thankful for them on Day One of Thankful November but I thought it was appropriate to save them until today since I was with them all day today.  No family is perfect but I wouldn't change what I currently have for anything.  I love you Mom, Dad, Jamie and the rest of you, extended family.

Thankful November: Day Twenty Three

Today I'm thankful for dark chocolate.  Sometimes I just want it and sometimes I need it.  It's a perfect treat that makes me feel better and just a small amount tides me over...usually.

Thankful November: Day Twenty Two

I hate milk.  I stopped drinking it when I was eight years old.  Because of this issue, I can't eat cereal, traditionally at least.  Until now.  Even though it's been almost 27 years since I stopped drinking milk, I am thankful today that I've discovered soy milk.  I was definitely scared of trying new beverages that resemble milk so I've been reluctant over the years but finally sucked it up and tried it.  And it tastes good.  Good enough for me to be able to have cereal now!

Thankful November: Day Twenty One

Today I'm thankful for friends.  My friends have come and gone through the years from kindergarten to now but some have stayed with me for double-digit years.  You've all impacted me, whether it was good or bad, which ultimately has shaped my life.  Mass love to you all.

If you are not in a picture below, of course that doesn't mean I don't value your friendship!

Thankful November: Day Twenty

Today I am thankful for vacations.  I don't know anyone who doesn't welcome a break from the everyday grind.  It doesn't matter if you travel somewhere far, by plane or car or just have a staycation, I love them all.

Here's a city that M and I went to in 2006.  I love this city and would love to go back.  There's a very big hint in the picture if you can see it.  Click on the picture to enlarge.  What city are we in?

 

Thankful November: Day Nineteen

Today I'm thankful for the snow.  It's the first snowfall of the year and I'm even more thankful that it happened on a Saturday.  

AWOLNATION

On Thursday, November 10th, M and I went to the Varsity Theater to see a concert.  I don't think we've been to a concert since September and I can't remember the last concert we'd been to at the Varsity.  They had remodeled the place awhile back but they had remodeled even more since we'd last been there.  The place looks more modern in a sense but I feel like they've wrecked some things.  The lighting was terrible and the sound was not the best, which was not the band's fault and I'm unsure if it was the sound guy or the actual system.  I will be going to another concert there tonight so we'll see if it was an isolated incident or not.

Anyways, we saw AWOLNATION.  You may have heard of them, or not.  I guess you would describe them as Indie Pop.  They have been become quite popular in the past couple of months.  We discovered the band last March and have definitely been a staple of our everyday music.  We have a longer history of this band and if you reach way back into the music past to 2006, the singer and the bassist used to be a part of a band called Under the Influence of Giants, which we had seen live one time but are a band no longer.

Twin Atlantic and Middle Class Rut opened up for them, both bands that we have music from but we missed Twin Atlantic and caught about half of the MCR show.  I was not impressed with them but again, it might be the sound of the theater.

AWOLNATION only has one album which I think they played all of it or most of it so the show was short and sweet.  I would definitely go see them again.

Here is a video of their hit song, "Sail", which was featured on the TV show House.  Check it out and let me know what you think!  And because I'm so impressed with this band, I've included more videos of my favorite song by them.  

  

Thankful November: Day Eighteen

Today I am thankful that scarves are popular again for this fall/winter season.  I love wearing scarves as part of my outfit, even with short-sleeved shirts.  Here are the scarves I have and I want to collect more.  I think I'll ask for an infinity scarf for Christmas.

Thankful November: Day Seventeen

It's green....and stucco....and old and needs a lot of work, but....it's where I live.  Today I'm thankful for the house I have lived in for the past 4.5 years. It's not the warmest in the winter or the coolest in the summer but I'm thankful to have shelter. It was built in 1900 with an upstairs addition at least 50 years later.  Michael's parents bought this house in the 50's I believe and he bought it from them in 1997.  I'm also thankful for the big yard we have and nature and wildlife that encompass it.

  

Groveland Tap

Last Wednesday we brought my Grandpa out for dinner at Groveland Tap in the Merriam Park/Highland Park area of St. Paul.  None of us had been there before but they have a pretty impressive beer selection which excited Michael.  It's just a neighborhood bar/grill and we sat in the corner right by the big window so we could see all the action going on around us.  I had the tempeh sandwich which was pretty good and I would order again if I went there and the guys had burgers.  If you love beer, I would definitely check this place out.

Thankful November: Day Sixteen

Today I'm thankful for being an auntie to both Keith and Colton and a Godmother to Keith.  With plans of never having kids of my own, Keith and Colton are as close as I'll get and are very important to me.  Keith is at an age where he's fun to interact with and Colton is just super cute to watch.  I love both of them very much!

Thankful November: Day Fifteen

Today I'm thankful that I'm still only seeing leaves and not snow.  That said, I am still VERY thankful of the changing of the seasons here in the state of Minnesota.  There's just some seasons that I prefer more than others. :)

November Birchbox

Last week I received my November Birchbox.  I really liked getting the Zoya nail polish and the eucalyptus lotion.  I used the face mask already and it made my face pretty soft but getting two paper coasters?  C'mon.

Thankful November: Day Fourteen

Today I'm thankful for yummy, fall treats, like a pumpkin smoothie.

Thankful November: Day Thirteen

Today I'm thankful that I don't ever have to eat what is in that can.  I saw this at the grocery store yesterday.  What the?

Thankful November: Day Twelve

I'm thankful today for hearing of news that a kidney donor has been found for my aunt, Pat.  The process started in the summer and I submitted health information about myself to become a donor for her as I knew I was the matching blood type but never even thought that I am not blood related to her as she is my aunt by marriage, which reduced my chance of being a prime candidate like a sibling-like match.  Fortunately, there is a match within the family and once her kidney functions drop below a certain level, the transplant will happen.

I know I'm supposed to show a picture of what I'm thankful for but I didn't want to show a picture of my aunt just in case she would like her privacy.  Instead I settled for a picture of a kidney bean.

A kidney bean.  

Thankful November: Day Eleven

Today I'm thankful for my senses, all five of them.  I would be so different if I was missing any one of these.

I made these cards for M back in September and presented him with a present for each:

Feel: Massage
Smell: Candle
Sight: Went on a picnic at Mounds Park
Sound: Lindsey Buckingham concert
Taste: Went out to Jax Cafe for dinner

Bonus: Today is Veteran's Day and I'm thankful for the military men and women.

Thankful November: Day Ten

I received a call from the Memorial Blood Center yesterday stating that I'm eligible to donate again and that they need my blood type.  I donate blood almost as often as I'm eligible, which is every 56 days.  Today I'm thankful I can help out humans in need with this random act of kindness.

Sushi/Shopping/Sister/Slacker/Solo

Last Friday my sister and I went out for a fabulous sushi dinner at Akita.  It had been many months since I had sushi and I was not disappointed.  After sushi, we went shopping in the Woodbury area and would continue shopping for the next 4+ hours.  We found some awesome jewelry and NY & Co for 70% off, free undies at Victoria's Secret as well a free $10 there but we really did our best saving at JC Penney.  I had a free $15 coupon, a free $10 coupon and then we had lots of spend $25 get $10 off coupons.  I bought a couple of Christmas presents already and got a few pieces of much-needed work clothes.  We went to Gordman's (I love that store) and the finished at Kohl's where I had a free $10 to spend.

Since Michael went up to his cabin for the deer hunting opener, I was sleeping solo on Friday and Saturday night.  When I woke up on Saturday, I laid in bed for awhile and got up and went to the computer for awhile and then went back in bed.....until 4:30 pm.  I was soooooo lazy.  I didn't even sleep when I was in bed.  I just laid there, thinking.  I finally mustered enough energy to go to the grocery store, only to get back and watch two movies, Something Borrowed and Black Swan, then Saturday Night Live and then go to bed.  

I woke up somewhat early and started to make a slow cooker recipe, curried lentil soup and I also made some pumpkin peanut butter oatmeal bars.  Michael came home shortly after noon and we watched football all day.  It was a complete lazy weekend and I didn't get much accomplished but sometimes you need times like this.  Normally I love my alone time but I really missed my honeybear and was glad to see him come home early on Sunday.  

Thankful November: Day Nine

Today I'm thankful for books, both paper and electronic.  I love that I can read to learn and gain knowledge as well as escape from reality.

Thankful November: Day Eight

Today I'm thankful for makeup.  Makeup allows me to be a girly-girl.  Makeup allows me to hide my imperfections and skin when it's no-so-great.  Makeup allows me to have a day or night look.  Makeup allows me to be dramatic even when my personality isn't or be subtle when my personality is fierce and can be ever-changing with my mood.

Some fabulous goodies I received in the mail today:

Thankful November: Day Seven

Today I'm thankful for my car.  It's a 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R that I have had since December 2002 and while it truly is a piece of sh*t,  I'm thankful it gets me to work on most days.  I haven't had a car payment for almost 4 years so that I'm also thankful for. My car is running extremely rough right now so I know my Killer Bee won't be holding on for too much longer as my make and model has a history of many documented issues, yet Nissan doesn't seem to deal with them. I guess I don't sound like I'm that thankful anymore, do I?  Let's just leave it as I'm thankful for transportation.  

Thankful November: Day Six

Today I'm thankful for what what I had for dinner on Friday night...sushi.  Laugh if you think it's funny but for those that enjoy it, it is one of the best things in this world.  I know some ladies that know exactly what I'm talking about!

Thankful November: Day Five

Today I'm thankful for my job.  I'm not only thankful to be employed in this terrible economy, but thankful because I like my job.  Today is my four year anniversary at my current employer.  I was laid off from the residential mortgage industry in October 2007 after working in residential mortgage for 5 years.  I was offered a job in the commercial mortgage industry in November 2007 and I accepted immediately because the economy was starting to tank (one month before the official start of the recession) and today I'm still there.

Part of my cube at work

Thankful November: Day Four

Today I'm thankful for sunsets.  Whether it's a gorgeous sunset on Lake Mille Lacs in Isle, MN or a tropical one in Fort Myers, Florida, I love the ability to see a sunset on this planet.

Thankful November: Day Three

Today I'm thankful for my cats, Fuzzer and Powder. I like them more than some people I know.  Seriously, I don't know what I would do without them.  I love my fuzzy babies.

Thankful November: Day Two

I am thankful for butterflies.  They are beautiful, delicate creatures and I light up every time I see one.

Thankful November: Day One

I saw on someone else's blog that they posting a picture each day during November to show what they are thankful for.  I would link back to the original blog but I'm not sure where I saw it.

Being today is 11/1/11 and today is our 7th anniversary,  I'm very thankful to have Michael in my life.  He is my partner in life which includes comedian, best friend, lover and so many other things.  Thank you Michael for all the times we've had with each other over the years.  I love you.

Michael with his other love, White Castle