365 Days of Gratitude

July 14, 2012: Movies

2012-07-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Today I'm thankful for movies.

Specifically movies that bring me back. You know, waaaay back.

I'm spending the night kicking back, churning some strawberry sour cream ice cream, and watching a movie that I might literally be able to recite every line of. Sleepless in Seattle.

This movie has the same power that Celine Dion songs possess to take me right back to the nineties in a nanosecond.

I couldn't be happier right now. "Horses, horses, horses, horses..."

June 13, 2012: Shopping Local

2012-06-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those days that confirms that my neighborhood is the best.

So good in fact that it brought be out of my blogging shell.

The long Summer days are begging me to stay outside for as long as possible in the evenings, so I headed out post-work to soak up the 'hood.

I ended up also making some investments in the local economy.

My first stop was the Farmer's Market for the sweet strawberries of Summer and some bright red flowers. Second stop: Buyer's Best Friend, our newest Haight Street neighbor, where I sampled to my heart's content and picked up a delightful array of locally made and green goodies.

Today I'm thankful for local shopping.

If I could I would use only what I could buy in my neighborhood, grown in my garden, and carry home in my arms. Luckily this place has some fab goods because I plow through my strawberry patch's berries quicker than would sustain me!

April 30, 2012: Words of Wisdom

2012-04-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

I have always struggled with the "everything happens for a reason" philosophy. Because really, does it?

I have uttered those words on occasion, like when I can't find a parking spot and when I find one it just happens to be in front of my favorite coffee shop. See, I was meant to have a latte! "Everything happens for a reason!"

But normally, I feel like that's just a way to make a less-than-awesome situation make sense.

Today a fellow blogger spoke some words that rang true.

"Everything happens, it just does."

So today I am thankful for words of wisdom.

April 18, 2012: April

2012-04-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for April.

It's practically San Francisco's Summer. Every year around this time, I start spending a lot of time in our backyard weeding, planting, and sun-soaking. And this year is no different.

Every evening after work I head downstairs to revel in the lengthening days and the sunshine, and I nourish my green thumb. It's not all that green yet, but I'm working on it, one little plant at a time.

April 9, 2012: New Additions

2012-04-09T16:47:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend living it up in my old stomping grounds: Chico! Love that little town!

Okay, so maybe I wasn't exactly "living it up" Chico style, but I sure did enjoy myself.

I got some much needed cuddle time in with my first Nephew and Godson Trenton. He is the cutest!

Easily the best looking member of the Rose family so far.

Today I am thankful for new additions to the family.

Meeting for the first time! Auntie Em gets to feed him first!

I can't wait to see him again and cuddle that snuggly little body of his!

Looking kind of cozy with Uncle Nick

Babies are such a nice way to start people...

April 2, 2012: Clean Bathrooms

2012-04-02T21:24:00.000-07:00

Today I'm thankful for clean bathrooms.

Some people might judge a restaurant by it's food, it's decor, etc.

I judge a restaurant by its bathroom.

Dirty bathrooms are gross.

I feel like a bathroom that is well-tended and clean and smells nice speaks volumes about what the kitchen must look like. This might be totally untrue as it isn't based on any first-hand knowledge, but it makes sense to me.

And dirty bathrooms are gross.

March 26, 2012: Whole Milk

2012-03-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

Today I'm thankful for whole milk.

I used to me a strictly non-fat girl. Lattes, in my cereal, etc.

I'm totally a convert.

I read a study that non-fat milk contained more of the "bad stuff" in milk. I don't remember the details, but it kind of stuck, so I started buying whole milk. Oh boy. I must say, I drink less milk overall because I would never pour myself a big glass of full-fat milk, but when I do use it, it's gooood. Everything is so creamy!

March 19, 2012: Breakfast in Bed

2012-03-19T17:43:00.001-07:00

Today I'm thankful for breakfast in bed.

I used to think it was weird to eat in bed. Now I totally get it.

The Hubs has been working, working, working non-stop for the better part of the last two weeks, night and day. But he still thought it would be wise to drag himself out of bed early on Saturday morning, go to the market in the gale force winds, and whip up a yummy breakfast for me in bed. All before I woke up.

I'm the luckiest.

March 12, 2012: Kindle Case

2012-03-12T21:33:00.000-07:00

I got a Kindle for Christmas, literally moments after I proclaimed that I wasn't the Kindle "type".

I still prefer the paper book and only read my Kindle when I can't get the book I want from the library fast enough. And I still don't think I'm the Kindle type. Whatever that means. Which is why today I am not thankful for my Kindle.

But...

I am thankful for its case.

Cute, no?

And it's totally awesome for disguising embarrassing tween books like Twilight that I may or may not be reading.

March 5, 2012: Introspection

2012-03-05T17:51:00.000-08:00

My lovely friend Caroline at Coeur de La posted this. It reminds me of one of the online surveys that were really popular when MySpace first started...but not as cheesy.

Today I'm thankful for introspection.

Sometimes it's fun to think about what makes your own clock tick.

If I was a month, I’d be November.

If I was a day of the week, I’d be Sunday.

If I was a time of day, I’d be dusk.

If I was a planet, I’d be Earth.

If I was a sea animal, I’d be a breeching whale. 
If I was a direction, I'd be West.

If I was a piece of furniture, I'd be a tufted velvet arm chair.

If I was a liquid, I’d be fresh-squeezed lime juice.

If I was a gemstone, I’d be a diamond. 'Cause that's how I roll. 

If I was a tree, I’d be an olive tree.
If I was a tool, I’d be carpenter's ruler.

If I was a flower, I’d be a ranunculus.

If I was a type of weather, I’d be a crisp Fall day.

If I was a musical instrument, I’d be a classical guitar.

If I was a color, I’d be a creamy white.
If I was an emotion, I’d be contentment.

If I was a fruit, I’d be grapefruit.

If I was a sound, I’d be laughter.

If I was an element, I’d be earth.

If I was a car, I’d be a hybrid.
If I was a food I would be blue cheese with honeycomb.

If I was a place, I’d be a beach in Thailand.

If I was a material, I'd be cheese cloth.

If I was a taste, I'd be sweet and salty.

If I was a scent, I’d be lemongrass.

February 29, 2012: Leap Year

2012-02-29T08:40:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for Leap Year.

I don't know why, I suppose it's the novelty.

I wonder how many women will propose to their significant others today? Or how many babies will be born? It would be both fun and annoying to have a Leap Year birthday!

February 18 2012: Sloppy Seconds

2012-02-18T22:50:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for the "sloppy seconds" man on Market Street.

I do not know his name, so I call him that.

I have never spoken to him, but he speaks to everyone.

We do not agree on much, but I look forward to seeing him none the less.

No trip to Union Square is complete for me if I do not hear the "sloppy seconds" man preaching ~~nonsense~~ the good word.

He chants "Sex between a married virgin man and a virgin woman only. NO SLOPPY SECONDS!" repeatedly. I always look for him sitting on the corner and am strangely disappointed when he's missing. This time, I had Nick snap a picture. Apparently he wasn't very discreet. Busted.

February 12, 2012: Cookbooks

2012-02-12T19:47:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for cookbooks.

I'm not sure if I'll ever have enough. I found a fun cookbook filled with San Francisco restaurant favorites today and I have spent the last hour flipping through the pages, getting inspired.

I'm really feeling the cornmeal...polenta, biscotti, poundcake. Drool.

February 8, 2012: Rain Drops at Nght

2012-02-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for raindrops at night.

A couple nights ago there was an unexpected rain storm that snuck up on the city just as I crawled into bed. The sounds of the rain on the roof and windows as I was snuggled up with a book was just perfection. The only thing better was waking up throughout the night to the sounds of the rain shower continuing.

Love that!

January 30, 2012: San Pellegrino

2012-01-30T19:03:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for San Pellegrino Aranciata.

We bought a Costco sized case a while ago and I have been sipping my way through...yum.

It is slightly reminiscent of the Orangina I enjoyed as a kid, but so much better! I am also very fond of the covered can since I heard a very startling account of what is often found scurrying over soda cans in factories.

January 23, 2012: Family Photos

2012-01-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

I don't remember when my little family became just that: a family.

It seems logical that it would have happened when The Hubby and I tied the knot, but I'm pretty sure it happened before that. I do remember thinking to myself that I wasn't sure if we were "official" because it was just the two of us and we didn't yet share a last name. But then I listened to my beating heart, the heart that usually knows much more than my logical brain. And my heart told me that even though we were just two (and one orange kitty), if we felt like family, that's what we were.

I also remember being excited when I became a Rose because we could send out Christmas cards from "The Roses" because our matching name finally confirmed that we were indeed a family.

I have decided to boycott sending Christmas Cards (too much to do, too little time) but I still love the idea of sending out a yearly greeting, so we are sending out New Year's Cards.

Lucky us, an uber-talented friend agreed to take photos for us...and I LOVE them!

Today I am thankful for family photos.

They capture just where we are right now, in the first month of 2012. I love that in many, many years we will be able to look back at great photos (that don't have me dressed up in a white dress...cause we definitely have A LOT of those!) and remember.

We'll remember our crazy, ball-obsessed pup and how she rolled in stinky mud in the middle of the photos.

It will remind us of our little apartment in The Haight with the view of the graffiti wall...

My daily walks through the Golden Gate Park ferns...

and two of our favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco.

January 15, 2012: Ice Cream Maker

2012-01-15T21:29:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for our Ice Cream Maker.

Technically, I suppose it isn't ours so much as Nick's since it was his Christmas present...but boy do I enjoy that thing.
We whipped up our first batch for New Year's Eve and definitely felt like we had some kinks to work out for our next batch. We started simple with a pretty yummy Coffee recipe that left a little to be desired in the texture department.
I'm happy to report that batch numero dos was a success!
We have a plethora of Meyer Lemons on hand, so I couldn't wait to use some up when I discovered the Meyer Lemon-Olive Oil Ice Cream Recipe.

I think I might be addicted to making my own frozen treats! Maybe I should switch to sorbets...easier on the thighs :)
I'm already dreaming up ideas for our next batch...thoughts anyone?

January 4, 2011: Paying It Forward

2012-01-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful to have been the recipient of a "Pay it Forward" moment.

I'm not one hundred percent sure that it's what it was, but I'm sure that it is what it will become.

There was a long line for train tickets, there was a man who cut in front of me in line (when I finally got to the front! Argh.)

And then I was pulled aside by a MUNI man. He handed me a ticket, charged and ready to go, and ushered me through the gate with only a "Happy New Year!" as an explanation.

I left with a perma-grin and a renewed appreciation of humanity.

The best two dollars I ever saved, I can't wait to pass it on!

Day 365: December 31, 2011!

2012-01-04T19:50:00.000-08:00

Writing this post is quite anticlimactic since New Year's Eve has come and gone. But I wanted it to be good, I wanted to think a lot and reflect a lot and write an epic post and I didn't have the time or energy to do my last post justice.
The sunset distracted me.

I fully enjoyed a relaxing, relatively technology-free end to 2011. So I'm writing now.

But seriously...this sunset? Ridiculous.

Today I'm thankful for a rocking end to the year.

It may not have involved a lot of excitement and fanfare but it was chock-full of friends, champagne, good food (hello crab...I heart you), and boardgames.

Today I am thankful for a new year.

The start of a new year always inspires me to reflect upon the departing year and gives me hope for the arriving one. A new year is a fresh start.
2011 taught me many lessons.
Some of the lessons I was not so keen on being taught, but I soaked up the teachings as best I could and made some serious lemonade out of the lemons that were passed my way. And the fantastic thing is: there were no bad days. I have 365 posts as proof! But I'm still ready to move right on and welcome 2012.
2012 will surely involve many dance parties. Probably mostly in the kitchen.

Today I'm thankful for my good health, good family (including furry), good friends, and good food.

Because is there anything more important in life?

365 Days of Gratitude is not ending with the New Year like I had originally intended. I will not be writing daily posts unless I'm uber thankful, but I will be continuing to give thanks for the big and small things in my life.
And there are a lot of big and small things...so maybe I will post everyday.

Love him.

Day 364: December 30, 2011

2011-12-31T20:19:00.001-08:00

Today I'm thankful for organic sugar.

I have a major clumping problem with my sugar, but I have recently discovered that when I have organic sugar: no clumps! I don't get it, but I like it.

Day 363: December 29, 2011

2011-12-31T20:19:00.000-08:00

Today I'm thankful for my brand spanking new Cookbook Stand.

Most of my cookbooks are covered in cocoa powder and pages are stuck together with caramel. It's a testament to how loved and used they are, but I think it's time I start giving them the protection they deserve :)
My new cookbook stand protects the pages with a thin sheet of glass and props the book up for easy viewing. Love it!

Day 363/362: December 28, 2011

2011-12-30T22:19:00.000-08:00

It was today that I realized that I made a mistake somewhere along the way.
I am on Day 363 with three more days in the year, and last time I checked there were not 366 days in this year. Oops.
It's a good thing I'm not a perfectionist, because if I was I would scroll through every single date trying to find the spot where I went wrong. And I might not find it on the first try, so then I might do it again. And if I was a perfectionist, when I found it I might go through and change every post since then to make it right.
Thank God I'm not.
I only scrolled through every post one and a half times before realizing that it would take me hours to change all the titles, so I made a deal with myself to not find the culprit of a post at all so that way I won't have to change it.
I'm only kind of twitching right now.

Today I'm thankful for mistakes.

Mistakes remind me that I am not perfect, no one is. When I am reminded of this, it makes it a whole lot easier to live. Really live. Live without worrying about what might happen if I make a mistake and things don't go perfectly.

Day 362: December 27, 2011

2011-12-30T09:14:00.001-08:00

Today I am thankful for humidity.

We returned from our Christmas adventures to our humble, humid home. And the first thing I noticed (okay, after I noticed all the dust bunnies) was that I could breathe again. I usually prefer the nice dry Tahoe air, but for some reason this trip was rough on me. I woke up with a scratchy throat, feeling like I had hung out in a smoky bar the night before. And my nasal passages were parched.
I will try to remember this and be grateful when I am blow drying my frizzy hair for sixty-two minutes tomorrow morning because the humidity in the bathroom is that of a rain forest.

Day 361: December 26, 2011

2011-12-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for Ice Skating.

Specifically when done on a lake.

There is no snow in Tahoe. But it is very, very cold. I'm okay with that.

We decided to go for a twilight skate this afternoon, and it was pretty fantastic. Ice skating brings back memories of skating on the pond by my house, practicing my best spins with my friend Mira.
This time I practiced with my mom.

If you've never skated on a lake or pond, you're missing out.
It's one part terrifying and one part awesome. Every now and then the ice makes a fantastic cracking sound like it's going to open up and swallow you whole. That always initiates the "would there be a worse way to die than to be trapped under ice?"
No.
But the awesome part is this.

Day 360: December 25, 2011

2011-12-27T00:22:00.000-08:00

Today I'm thankful for technology-free days...and Christmas.

I almost left the Christmas part out because I feel it's redundant. Clearly I'm thankful for Christmas because it's all I've been talking/blogging about since Thanksgiving. But, but, but it's my favorite time of year!
This Christmas was blissfully unplugged (which is why I am writing this on December twenty-sixth) and it was wonderful.
The day was spent with family and dogs, doing a lot of nothing but being. And I'm pretty darn thankful for that.
And, I just couldn't let a holiday go by without dressing up my dog in some form of holiday attire, so I'm also thankful for the doggie Santa hat. It made it's rounds this year!
Happy Holidays from the Rose/Haskell Pooches!

"Mom, why do you always make me wear hats on holidays?"

Some were less excited about the hat than others. Two remain pictureless...