The Happy Thirty: Fall Edition - Day Eleven

Whew! What a marathon day. It was rainy and the kids were wacko ... parents in every corner of our building too for open house. But I survived and I am still alive ... and for that I am grateful. A dinner of a chipotle burrito bowl, guacamole, chicken AND steak made today perfect. There's nothing like comfort food for when you're stressed, right?

The Happy Thirty: Fall Edition - Day Seven, Eight, Nine & Ten

So I have been super busy the past couple of days ... however I have LOTS to be thankful for.

I am thankful for my second to last grad class on Thursday for EDUC 514. Next Thursday, I will have four more classes between me and the LAST year of graduate school. This program has been flying by - and I have matured so much as a leader in my school. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to study educational leadership (for FREE) and to be another step closer to being a M. Ed. holder.

On Friday, I was thankful for a fun happy hour with two coworkers that I think very highly of. It was so nice to relax over beers and appetizers, giggling and laughing like little school girls over boys, workplace drama and our dreams for the future. Also - I am SUPER thankful for my kindergarten students. Although they are a tough group to teach - due to their age and all - it totally made my day to see their smiling faces and see their faces light up each time I entered the classroom.

On Saturday, I slept in until 12 noon (after falling asleep around ten o'clock the night before) - holy need for ZzzZZzz's! I woke up feeling refreshed and quickly dressed to go to brunch with an old friend from high school. It was so nice to catch up with Jenny and chat about our lives. We dined on delicious meals in a cozy little spot ... and did lots of clothes shopping afterwards, steadily chatting about our hopes, dreams and fears for the future.

I then met up with one of my best friends, Erica, for an evening of spontaneous fun! We made an impromptu visit to a psychic and then traveled down to a friend's house for a bonfire. At the bonfire, we nibbled on pizza, toasted marshmallows and drank some bud. We listened to an awesome spotify play list of 90s songs and played cards against humanity. It was a perfect Saturday evening with great people.

Today - Sunday - I slept in until around noon again. Then I decided to hike Sugarloaf Mountain with my momma and sister. We had so much fun hiking the mountain and breathing in the fresh air. After our midday hike, we enjoyed a yummy steak dinner this evening with asparagus and mashed potatoes.

I had a fantastic weekend and I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life. Here's to a four day work week - and many more days of happiness!

The Happy Thirty: Fall Edition - Day Six

Is it possible to hit rock bottom, but keep falling? That may be the simplest explanation of work currently. But on a positive note, my day ended in the company of old friends. 

Some of my high school buddies and I met up for dinner around 6:30pm, and did not leave the restaurant until 9:30. 

We laughed and giggled. We gossiped about fellow SV alum and shared news about our life's happenings. We discussed politics and faith and race ... and ISIS ... and Ebola ... and old cartoons (Doug, Rugrats, Rocko's Modern Life...) and anything else in between. 

And although we all did not see eye to eye on every single topic, and although we all come from different walks of life ... the conversation was good and it warmed my soul.

It's a tough thing to do ... to grow an old friend. Someone who knew you before you were the you that you are now. Someone who has seen you at your very best and your very worst, and continued to love you through it all anyway. And I feel lucky to have four friends <with whom I see maybe once every three or four months> be exactly that ... an old friend. 

And although today was yet another terrible, no good day ... I am grateful for the people God has placed in my life. I am fortunate to know some wonderful people. Wonderful, bright, funny, intelligent people. Who can make me laugh and feel whole at the end of the day, even if it will be months before we pick up where we left off again. 

The Happy Thirty: Fall Edition - Day Five

Work is SO stressful. Sometimes I forget how to enjoy my job and have fun ... because teaching these days is all about test, test, test, accountability, evaluation, data, data, data. But a two mile run this evening and curling up on my couch made for the perfect ending to a crazy day.

Here's to a better day tomorrow :)

The Happy Thirty: Fall Edition - Day Four

What made me happy today? 

Falling asleep in my warm comfy bed around 10 o'clock last night.
Sleeping with the windows open ... the air in my room crisp and chilly.
Waking up feeling well rested.
Food in my fridge - already prepared on Sunday evening.
Iced coffee in a mug from my kitchen sorry Starbucks].
Students who make me giggle.
A job [although stressful] that I love.
Ending the day with comfort food, on my couch in my cozy apartment.
Remembering that I am worth something. And that I have a lot to give.

Although I am exhausted, there was good in today. And for that, I am grateful.

The Happy Thirty: Fall Edition - Day Three

"There comes a point where you realize who always loved you for you. Who was always there for you when you needed it and never left you hanging! Those are people that you need in your life because they proved to you that they need you in theirs." 

I have had a productively, positive Sunday ... yet I am feeling kind of down. While searching through facebook for Lord only knows what, I accidentally stumbled across posts from 2009 and 2010. The posts were so overwhelmingly positive ... quotes about life, love, happiness and positivity. Several people, who I still think fondly of today, responded to the posts acknowledging the positivity and acknowledging my positive energy. Some of the comments and posts from others brought tears to my eyes today. It reminded me of a place I once found myself in. It reminded me of the wonderful people I have in my life. It reminded me of the love and warmth that is still surrounding me to this very day. It was right on time. It was something I needed. In an unexpected twist of events, there was a reason I stumbled across those old posts this evening. 

The quote above was used in one of the posts I once wrote. This quote brought a smile to my face tonight. I am beyond grateful for the friends in my life. I have made several new friends and lost countless others. But there are a few who have remained in my life throughout the years. Throughout my ups and downs. Who have loved me at my best and my worst. Who have laughed with me and cried with me. Who encourage me to be my best self and inspire me to be even greater. These girls may not know how important they are in my life ... and they may not know that I consider them the truest of girlfriends (which are rare and hard to find). But these girls ARE my true friends. And I want to state today that thoughts of them are what make me happy today.

Alison Kurtz. Kathryn Keenan. Michelle Harris. Anne Lee. Erica Johnson. I do not know where I would be without you girls in my life. Thank you for always loving me for me. Thank you for always being there when need it. I need you in my life. And I hope that you continue to need me in yours. 

The Happy Thirty: Fall Edition - Day One & Two

I was browsing through photographs on facebook last night, and realized there is such a natural beauty that illuminates from me in photos when I am truly happy. My eyes sing a song of happiness and my smile lures the onlooker deep into my soul. I was so incredibly happy and vibrant during the month of July ... and in honor of a new month ... my favorite month ... I think it's time to begin "The Happy 30" again.

So what is currently bringing happiness to my life?

Day One: Yesterday I spent the evening with Alison. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Honey Pig Korean BBQ in Baltimore, and it was fantastic! This restaurant is a place I will definitely return to in the near future. I enjoyed spending time with her and reconnecting. We had lots of laughs and giggles together and I literally enjoyed every moment in her company. My heart smiled from the inside out as I drifted off to sleep last night in her guest bedroom. It was the perfect ending to a stressful week ... and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to spend some time with her.

Day Two: This morning I woke up and drove five minutes down the road to visit my best friend Kat. We traveled to Starbucks for breakfast and enjoyed a pumpkin spice latte. It was so incredibly delicious and is my fourth or fifth latte of the season. We perused through Target looking for a new pair of jeans for Kitty and a leather jacket. Her engagement photos will be taken soon, and she needed a new outfit to rock for the pictures. We left Target to browse the racks of Old Navy, TJ Maxx and the Columbia Mall. The day was perfect - gorgeous fall weather and quality time with the one person I consider my soul mate. I am forever grateful for every moment spent in the company of Kat. She is an amazing friend and we never have a dull moment together.

This evening I am attending a fright fest of sorts with several friends. I look forward to screams, chills and giggles as we trek through the dark woods. Work has been so stressful lately ... so I think it's extremely important that I find reasons to smile each day and take a moment to count my blessings at the end of the day. Life is so good to me ... I just sometimes fail to recognize that. Here's to 30 days of Happiness and finding the good in every situation.

Happy October!