diverse palette.

I am finding it strange, the variety of things or people that I am thankful for. But I guess that shows a little diversity in my life and heart, and I’ll take that as a good sign. I hope. So continuing this week..

Monday, November 14: I am thankful for Gossip Girl. This show is my ultimate guilty pleasure, and brings me more joy than I should openly admit currently. But, what can I say, it’s a nice to escape my lackluster life for an hour each week, and peak into the world of the Upper East Side’s most fabulous elite. And did I almost forget to mention the hunks? Oh, the ridiculously good looking studs that grace the screen of this show make it worth watching week after week, regardless of the often over-dramatic, juvenile story lines.

Tuesday, November 15: I was elated and so thankful today to receive an e-mail from a student telling me that her class was cancelled for the week so she had some free afternoons she’d like to utilize at my tutoring and mentoring program. Most college kids would utilize these afternoons curled up in bed in their sweat pants napping, but not this girl. I like to think this is a good indication of her enjoyment and dedication to my program, and for that I am beyond thankful.

Wednesday, November 16: I am thankful for the joy of cooking placed upon my roommate and I. Truly, I have enjoyed trying new recipes and indulging in delicious homemade treats with her each week. Wednesday’s dinner was this delicious pan of homemade chicken fried recipe..

Thursday, November 17: I am thankful for a boss who I cannot only look up to as a professional, but who I also consider a friend. What a joy it is to share an office and time with her each week.

xoxo-K

weekend wrap-up.

I have been out of town for a few days at an AmeriCorps conference, so I apologize, yet again for my complete negligence. It’s almost been a week since my last post, and I’ve had a lot of things to be thankful for over the past few days. So, let’s get right down to it…

Wednesday, November 9: I am thankful for this little bit of Indian Summer that appeared in Western Pennsylvania this month. Fall is beautiful, especially with a sunshine backdrop. Check out this fab photo I snapped on campus…

Thursday, November 10: I am thankful for the group of 14 other Pennsylvania Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA’s that I met up with on Thursday at a conference retreat. These selfless people are always there via text messages or our F-book group to inspire the rest of us to surge on, or to simply lend a listening ear whenever a glitch occurs in one of our programs. It was great to spend some time with these like-minded individuals, and to share many laughs with them too.

Friday, November 11: I am thankful for my sister, Kelly. Though, I’ve always hated to admit it, I have always looked up and aspired to be just like her. She’s been a fabulous role model, and I’ve always been proud to be her little sissy. Her sarcasm and whit often cuts you like a knife, but it is also one of the reasons we all love her. Can’t imagine where I would be without her.

Saturday, November 12: A little less heartfelt, but important to me nonetheless, I am thankful for my first Starbucks red cup of the season. Loved receiving my caramel latte in this cup on Saturday, and with each sip, I felt as though I was drinking in a little more Christmas cheer.

Sunday, November 13: My family and I celebrated my Great-Grandma’s 100^th birthday on Sunday. She actually turns the BIG 1-0-0 on Friday, but we celebrated with a party at her assisted-living home a bit early. Therefore, I am thankful for my Great Grandma Dabbs and her daughter, my Grandma Livingston. I can only hope and pray that I receive some of their wonderful genes. My Great Grandma has been blessed with a long life, and a sharp, comedic personality. And my Grandma Livingston is healthy, kind, and the rock of the Livingston family. Love them both. Here is a photo snapped at the party of my Grandma and I..

xoxo—K

photo-filled weekend.

I enjoyed a weekend filled with bliss with some of my very favorite people, and for that I am extremely thankful. And, I am still floating a long even as the week progresses, thanks to such a great weekend. Nothing better than that. So without further ado, my thankful list..

Saturday, November 5: I am thankful for my positively fabulous friends. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, there is nothing more wonderful or special than an old friend. And on Saturday, I was so thankful to have spent my entire Friday night, and even early morning hours of Saturday with old friends doing one of my favorite things—eating. And eat we did, as you can see here..

The whole night I just kept thinking how true it was that, “In the end, you always go back to the people who were there in the beginning.” Love my friends.

Sunday, November 6: I am thankful for the two tickets my grandfather gave me to attend the Steelers vs. Ravens game. Though it was an upsetting ending, I am thankful for the opportunity to see it live, experience the contagious Steeler Nation energy, and for my time spent with my absolute oldest friend.

Monday, November 7: How could I not be thankful for this sunshine? Thank you daylight savings for at least brightening up my traffic-filled Monday morning commute.

Tuesday, November 7: I am thankful that a student volunteer of mine blogged about how much she enjoyed her experience in my program. I am so proud of all of the students who are committing themselves to my tutoring program, but my heart especially swells whenever I hear how much they are enjoying it. 

xoxo-K

infinite.

Happy Friday!

I feel as though this week flew, mainly because I have been pretty busy which I love. I’ve been feeling very nostalgic as of late, which is why I thought I’d share this “blast from the past” today.

November 4: I am thankful for this experience…

This photo was taken in Venice, Italy in October of 2009, just a little over two years ago. We were vacationing in Italy for the week of our fall break while studying abroad in London. These people were my family for those three and a half months abroad.  My experience would not have been half as amazing without them by my side. This night in particular is one I will never forget, and most outsiders will never understand. It was ours. And this photo only reminds me of one thing, a quote from Perks of Being a Wallflower...

“..and in that moment, I swear we were infinite.” —Stephen Chbosky

xoxo-K

giving thanks.

“It is good to be just plain happy. It’s a little better to know that you are happy; but to understand that you’re happy, and to know why and how and still be happy—to be happy in the being and the knowing—well, that is beyond happiness, that is bliss.” –Henry Miller

That Miller quote really stopped me in my tracks today. It is basically the whole basis and reasoning as to why I started this little blog spot of mine. I’ve always been a generally happy person. God has blessed me with such fabulous people and life experiences to really have no excuse to be anything but happy. But this idea of bliss, well that’s what has really had me thinking these last few months. To be honest, it has become one of my favorite words. And the idea of working each day to achieve it has been a task I am willing to fight to achieve. This quote, well, it sums it up just perfectly in my opinion. Because, while we may all have a reason or two to be happy (I hope), I think that recognizing and being conscious of how, where, why, and who that happiness comes from, that is the goodness that can send you right into a blissful state.

Ok, just thought I’d share. To be honest, I couldn’t resist sharing. But anyways, since it is November, shocking I know, I thought I’d change things up a little bit on here. While I am not a big fan of Halloween, hello, I stayed home and baked all weekend, I am a big fan of Thanksgiving. Not simply because mashed potatoes and stuffing are two of my top 5 favorite foods, but also because I adore the idea of giving thanks for all of the various things we are grateful for. My darling older sister kept a “Thankful Journal” for numerous years, where each day she wrote down one thing she was grateful for that day. I admired her for it then, and even now, this idea of a blog also somewhat stemmed from her years of thankful journaling. And while I jokingly tell most people that though I love my sister, I’ve spent most of my life hopscotching around her footsteps rather than following in them, this time, just for this month, I’d like to walk in them for a while. Worth trying once, right?

So anyways, in the spirit of Kelly and Thanksgiving, I would like to just write out one thing each day that I am thankful for in the month of November. As always, I will need to recap a bit, seeing as it is already November 3!...

Tuesday, November 1: I was so thankful that a new student volunteer of mine actually asked me to stay LONGER than our tutoring time. She was so dedicated to helping a high school student with his work that she just could not leave until he had succeeded. This gesture totally warmed my heart.

Wednesday, November 2: Not quite as inspirational, but I am thankful for my DVR. Seriously, I don’t know what my evenings would look like if I didn’t have that wonderful invention to fill my time.

Thursday, November 3: So extremely grateful for my family and friends. My parents could not be more supportive people, and one of my best friends sent a very sweet e-mail my way. They are all so fabulous and I am thankful for each of them every single day.

xoxo--K