thank you thursday

Today I am especially thankful because I am on my way to Turtle Rock Farms in Red Rock, Oklahoma to attend the very first Oklahoma Sustainable Design certificate course! 

My bags are packed and I'm ready to check out my room in the farmhouse...

and get settled in before class, which is from 9-5. I'm not sure if I will have cell phone reception or internet access, but I packed plenty of notebooks and my camera to I can record everything and share it with y'all! I also packed a few books and I'm definitely looking forward to those nice, quiet, relaxing evenings after class! I haven't been in the country for a while and I'm so used to all the noises of the city... this will definitely be a nice break from the hustle and bustle.

I hope that you all have a beautiful weekend... I will catch up on all of your blogs when I return to civilization :)

thank you thursday (day 65)

 

This week I am especially thankful for...

...fans. I love summer, but this 100+ stuff every single day makes me appreciate the cool breeze of a spinning fan.


...little spiral notebooks. Especially the kind that are small enough to comfortably fit in a zippered purse pocket. You just never know when a brilliant idea will strike, so I'm grateful for a convenient place to jot it down!

...cinnamon. Just a pinch added to my coffee every morning almost makes it taste like I'm sipping Starbucks.


...reusable water containers. Recycled plastic bottles of water is definitely good, but what's even better (and cheaper) is to buy a plastic reusable container and fill it up with water from a water fountain. I do this several times while I'm at work every day :)

I am most especially thankful for Turtle Rock Farms because I just found out via email that they have availability for me to stay there Aug 4-7 for the Permaculture Design Course. I am grateful for quite a few reasons.

First, according to Google maps, Turtle Rock Farm is approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes north of my house.  That's not including traffic. So I really didn't want to have to drive more than 3 hours round trip each day.

Second, I have a feeling this is going to be an amazing experience. I'm not sure which house I will be staying in, but both houses on the farm have a common kitchen and living room area and a shared bathroom. I'm a little nervous about living with people I don't know for 4 days, but also excited about what I will learn from them.

Also, they grow organic fruits/veggies, harvest rainwater, compost, raise chickens and alpacas, and have an inspiring environmental policy. If you would like to check out some pictures or read more about it, you can click here.


What are you thankful for this week?


For past editions of thank you thursday, click here


Day 65 - A picture of you and your best friend

Katie and I in Colorado

thank you thursday (day 58)

 




My favorite time of the week again!

This week I am thankful for...

...giving myself a day off. Yesterday I didn't go to work. I didn't watch TV. I didn't play on the computer. It was just one of those days, like Amber put it, where I needed my brain to be non-stimulated. I finished all of  my homework for the week early in the day and spent the rest of my time focusing on my breathing, stretching, and just sitting quietly. Which is not easy for me to do. I'm always doing 2 or 3 things at once. But my brain just said STOP! so I did. and I'm grateful for my quiet reflective day.

...reaching a decision about my fall semester classes. I had considered changing my emphasis from multimedia to print media, but yesterday I realized that wasn't what I truly wanted to do. So I switched around my schedule and I'm excited about the classes I chose! It's amazing how much happiness listening to that little feeling inside of you can bring :)


I am taking:
Modern Humanities
Photoshop II
Dreamweaver/Web Page Design I
Creative Writing: Poetry
Illustrator/Computer Drawing


I dropped:
American Government
Intro to Graphic Design
Advertising Layout


...books. I think I might have a slight obsession and lately it's been a little out of control but I can't help myself! Here's the books I've bought and checked out from the library this week...

from top to bottom

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

The Sunday List of Dreams by Kris Radish

A Soft Place to Land by Susan Rebecca White

Balancing Acts by Zoe Fishman

The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

Tales from the Yoga Studio by Rain Mitchell

The Urban Homestead by Kelly Coyne & Erik Knutzen

The Next Eco Warriors by Emily Hunter

The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty

Tomorrow's Garden by Stephen Orr

Sustainable by Aaris Sherin

...learning how to french braid my own hair! I have been french braiding other people's hair since I was little, but only recently with a little practice have I learned how to do my own... and my secret is that I have to close my eyes while I'm doing it! If my eyes are open, it just doesn't work.

...eco-tips. One of my favorite blogs, Inspiration Earth, Melinda shares some pretty wonderful eco-tips. Her last eco tips post, which can be read by clicking here, inspired me to take a trip to my local health food store last Sunday. Using baking soda, sea salt, peppermint essential oil and water, I made my own toothpaste! After reading her post about toothpaste, I can assure you I will never buy mine from the grocery store ever again! I also made my own deodorant (which passed the test of doing yoga in a hot room with no air conditioning for an hour last night) and detergent to use in the dishwasher. I even washed my hair with baking soda instead of shampoo and used apple cider vinegar instead of conditioner... the result? Extremely soft clean hair! It was cheap and gives me satisfaction knowing that I'm doing a little something for the environment and my own well being. 

...the return policy at Verizon Wireless. I've been complaining about my old outdated almost 2 year old Motorola Droid phone for a while. After careful consideration, I ordered the brand new 4G Samsung Charge. It came in the mail last Thursday and I shipped it back out to Verizon today. The notification light didn't work, the ring volume didn't work, it wouldn't let me play 95% of  my 1,025 songs, and the battery would die before noon. I've long been a fan of android phones, but I think the time has some for me to try out the iPhone. 


What are you thankful for this week?

To see past thank you posts, click here.


Day 58 - A picture of your favorite animal.

I've been fascinated with Orcas for as long as I can remember. My mom even 'adopted' a whale for me after they were in Free Willy and became really popular. She still reminds me at least once a year about her dream of me becoming a marine biologist. I went to Sea World (I know, I know... it's wrong to keep all those animals in a park, but I really really wanted to see them up close!) last year and the first stop was the Orca show... and I cried. Seriously sobbed uncontrollably. I had never been so happy to see something so beautiful in my whole life.

thank you! thank you! thursday (day 51)

 

Today I am thankful for...

the air conditioning in my office building, which makes it hard to type with frozen fingers, but keeps me cool as I walk out to my scorching car.


avacados. They're amazing and I love spreading them on things like whole wheat pita chips and crackers.

my english class for assigning a lot of great short stories and poems that really get the wheels in my head turning.


the heat of summer for giving me a great excuse not to wear makeup (and therefore spend less time getting ready in the morning)... it'll just melt anyway, right? 

Miranda who inspired me by recently chopping off all her processed hair so she could start fresh and be nice to her hair. I probably won't stop dying my hair, but I haven't been dying it as often. And I haven't been blow drying it or using my flat iron.

only having 3 more weeks of class as of Sunday... I think I can make it!


water with cucumbers. oh so refreshing!

And last, but definitely not least.... Thank you to the amazing people of Sustainable OKC who took the time to read my essay and select me as 1 of 8 people to receive a scholarship which pays for 1/2 of the tuition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I will be attending the Permaculture Design course one weekend August-November and receiving a certificate once I finish. $400 is still a bit of a stretch but I $800 would have been out of the question, so because of this scholarship I get to pursue something that will be incredibly beneficial to me personally and professionally. I am so incredibly thankful for this exciting opportunity! I can't stop jumping up and down :)

What are you thankful for today?

Need more reasons to be thankful? Click here for past thank you posts!

Day 51 - A picture of your dream car.

I've wanted a VW Bus for as long as I can remember. I once met a guy outside a 7-11 who had one (painted with peace signs and flowers!) and he let me see the inside, which he had recently updated. This one is slightly smaller, but it's electric :)

thank you thursday (day 44)

 
Today I am thankful for....


...almond milk... so yummy in my honey bunches of oats cereal!

...the fan that is blowing on me as I type... I'm over the 100+ degree weather.

you... for reading my blog and leaving me lovely comments that make me smile :)


...my new Keep It Local card! I am now eligible for savings at locally owned businesses throughout the metro area... I took advantage of Monday night BOGO pizzas at The Wedge... mmmmm.

...moments like this when all the animals in my house as peaceful and sleeping like little angels :)


...my dog Frankie waking me up really really early... I may not want to get out of my comfy memory foam bed, but once I open the backdoor to let him outside and I see the sun rising, it's so worth it!


...the news that my mom's horse, Star, is feeling better today. Yesterday the poor baby couldn't even stand. The vet told my mom that he twisted something internally and her options were surgery (which he might not live through because he's pretty old) or euthanizing him. Luckily, my smart mom said she didn't want to do either yet. They gave him some meds and today he was eating and hanging out with the mares :)


...some spare time to start three new small paintings. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do next, but I'm sure I'll figure something out!

Want to see even more thank yous? Click here!

Day 44 - A picture of someone you’re told you look like.

When my hair was longer (as it is in the picture below) I seriously had people telling me all the time that I looked like 'that lawyer who wears pink'. Now that my hair is shorter, I don't get it quite as much, but I did have someone tell me I looked like her last week. 

around December 2008

thank you thursday (day 37)

It's time for my favorite post of the week :)

I feel that dedicating one day to acknowledging all the beautiful things in life that I am thankful for has really increased my awareness and overall happiness. I haven't been dwelling on the negative (well, only Tuesday mornings, which are like my Monday, when I don't want to go to work) and I've been letting my thoughts wander deeper and deeper to get a better understanding of myself. I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track.  So here's what I'm thankful for this week...


I'm thankful for my kindle... which allows me to get books with the click of a button. I broke down and bought Passion by Lauren Kate Tuesday night and I finished it last night... it was sooo good!


I'm also thankful for my library card, which I use to reserve all the expensive kindle books that I can't afford. I just picked up 3 books yesterday that I had requested....  Swim Back to Me by Ann Packer, The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen and My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares).


I'm thankful for the cutest little old woman that I met in may favorite library, located in Waupun, WI, who stopped me as I was checking out my books and handed me Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen and said that I simply must read it. (I did... and it is delightful! a perfect spin on real life and fantasy and so so fun to read!)


I'm incredibly thankful for whole living magazine. I look forward to trying to find it at Half Price Books each month so much, that I broke down and subscribed to it yesterday. I love it too much to risk not being able to find it!


I'm also thankful for Sustainable OKC. They recently announced a Permaculture Design Course that begins in August and is one weekend a month for 4 months. It covers techniques and application of ideas of permaculture design and sustainable living. I died when I read about it and I knew I just had to be a part of it. However, it's $750. Slightly out of my budget. BUT Sustainable OKC is offering a limited amount of scholarships where you only have to pay 1/2. The deadline is June 30th, but I already sent my application in and my fingers are crossed. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to apply.


I'm thankful for my sunglasses... the sun is super bright. (and hot... it's going to be a looong summer in OKC)


I'm thankful for those first few moments of every day when its quiet. I like to focus on my breathing and smell the coffee brewing. 


I'm thankful for the toads who live in my flower garden. I love to watch them hop and eat bugs in the evening.


I'm thankful for an A on my very first US History test! I'll be even more thankful if I get A's on the other 4 tests this semester!



Day 37 - A picture of the people you spend most of your time with

um.... this may be slightly pathetic, but I don't spend the majority of my time with people. I spend it with animals :) The whole time I read last night, all 4 of these little fur babies laid in bed with me...

Zoe and Franklin lounging on the couch

Elizabeth Taylor lounging on the counter

Monty lounging in the sun

thank you thursday (day 30)

Today, I am thankful for lists. Because I would simply die without them!


I am thankful for vegetables because they're healthy and they actually force me to cook (and don't tell anyone, but as long as I'm listening to music and drinking wine... I kind of enjoy it!)


I am thankful for the little bunny who seems to live in my front yard (much safer than the backyard where my ferocious beasts roam!)... I share my berries with her and she encourages me to be very still and just observe her little bunny nose!


I am thankful for my lovely little blog, as it gives me a release and let's me vent and share my thoughts, ideas, and art. although I'm feeling its needing a little makeover... maybe when summer semester ends...


I am thankful for the basketball hoop in my driveway. I've been practicing and I can make 3 point shots, and I'm much better at making shots off the backboard. It's almost kind of like mediation for me... I concentrate on trying to make the shots and tune out my rambling inside voice! But I also do a little cheer jump every time I make it... a little self-cheering never hurt anyone :)


I'm thankful for the sun rising in the sky behind me... even though by noon its really really hot and makes anywhere outside feel like an oven... its better than snow (I keep telling myself this!)


I'm thankful for generosity. Specifically,  my darling Amber... who came over last week with her handsome little man, Jackson. She let us use her fancy camera to take some pics of my paintings. I'm reminded constantly how lucky I am to have her as a friend and I especially love hearing her insurance stories now that I'm not in that industry anymore :)


I'm thankful for old friends. My friend Carin also came over last weekend. She went to OU for photography so she took a bunch of pics and then edited them for me. I used to hang out with her about 7 years ago almost every single day... we worked together, lived a few blocks away from each other,  went out together back in my crazier days. It was almost like being taken back in time when I was a lot different... more carefree, less stressed, more hopeful, and definitely more naive :) But it was refreshing and I enjoyed introducing her to Amber and Amber to her... it was a great day with wine, photos, and Italian food! I only wish I would have taken pictures!


I'm also thankful I have a job, even though I often despise it, because I know many people don't... and with that, I'm off to work :)


What are you thankful for today?

Day 30 - A picture of yourself

thank you thursday (day 23)

Day 23 - A picture of something you wish you could change 

Where do I start?


I wish I could change...

war - what is it good for? absolutely nothing.
little kids growing up too fast - stay little with no responsibilities as long as possible!
donald trumps awful hair - how does he get it to stay like that?! Probably aerosol can hairspray!
self image -does plastic surgery really make you happier?
textbook prices - ugh. why do I have to pay so much when you pay me so little when I return it?
cruelty to animals - most of the time I like animals more than people, treat them with respect.
bullying - that kid you're picking on is going to end up being your rich boss someday.
calories in german chocolate cake - why are there so many?!
politics - they all lie & abuse their power... and not for the greater good of the country.
equality - do men really need to earn more than women? It's 2011. 
side salads in restaurants - iceburg lettuce is nasty.... romaine or spinach are sooo much better
horror movies - don't look back while running, you're going to fall! Run from the noise!
people coming to my door to preach to me - I don't come to your house and try to influence the way you believe so I don't appreciate you doing it to me, especially when I'm in pj's.
corporate bullshit - it's not what you know, it's who you know and how much ass you kiss.
racism - under the skin, we're all the same. treat others the way you want to be treated.
food packaging - do we really need everything wrapped in plastic? 
Gas-guzzling vehicles - unnecessary.
dishes - they should wash themselves, then put themselves away :)
mean rude people - just be nice. please.


But most of all....

I would like to change the distance between the states so that I could see my friends and family without having to drive 14 hours. or at least change the way we travel so that I could blink and twitch my nose (or something simple and cheap, not like $400 plane tickets) and be there :) I miss them.

thank you friday... better late than never (day 17)

When I walked through the doors of Madison Area Technical College almost 11 years ago, I was a wide-eyed, naive, hopeful, preoccupied, scared, uncertain, and curious 18 year old. Madison, Wisconsin is by no means a 'big city' but compared to the rural little town where I grew up, whose population sign read 4,333, it was a a big city with endless possibilities. 


Needless to say, I obviously didn't stay enrolled very long. I stopped going to classes by  my 2nd month of fall semester 2000. I just wasn't ready and didn't know where I was going.


Fast forward >> 10 years, 8 months later...


I got home from work yesterday afternoon and checked the mail. I then stopped by to check on my blackberries... there was one that was ripe and it was delicious! I didn't even hesitate, I just popped it in my mouth and savored the sweetness. 


I unlocked my front door, greeted my puppies and then let them outside. I sat down and flipped through the envelopes in my hand... junk mail for jeremy, junk mail for me, insurance bill for jeremy, letter from OCCC (my college). I figured it was just a bill or something about summer semester starting next Monday and I opened it.


Inside,I found a letter from the president of the college congratulating me on my 4.0 this semester and informing me that I made the president's honor roll. Despite how cheesy this sounds, I had the biggest grin on my face and I even jumped up and down a little, which I tend to do when I'm excited.


So for this weeks thank you post, I would like to thank myself for realizing I was ready to go back to school and put in hours of reading, studying, class time, and writing essays in order to accomplish not only finishing my first full semester of college, but doing so with a perfect gpa.

Better 'late' than never, right? Everyone says that if you don't go to college right after high school that you never will... but I disagree. I think it's more important to go when you're ready and when you know what you want to do. Otherwise it's a waste of people's time and money. So I may not fit into the 'normal' expectations, but you know, I really dislike people telling me what to do, when & how to do it. I'd rather march to the beat of my own drum... and I do :)


Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently 

Oklahoma City Community College

thank you thursday

Happy Thursday!
I'm going to start my thankful list off today with a little eye candy...

I am incredibly thankful for whoever the person responsible for casting Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries is....

I think I'm borderline obsessed.... not only is he beautiful (eyes, bone structure and lips... oh my!), he's also a philanthropist. Check out his non-profit, IS Foundation, which aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures.

Thank you, Miranda, for coming to Oklahoma to visit me... I had so much fun and I miss you! Although I do love that when I hear country music I now think of you :) Hopefully I'll be able to visit you and Cleo soon!

I'm also very thankful that Miranda taught me how to sew... In addition to my curtains, I also made a pillow out of some beautiful striped fabric I found at Jo Ann Fabrics.

Thank you whoever wrote this on the bathroom stall at Jo Ann Fabrics...

It's refreshing to see something other than the usual negativity that it usually found on the walls of public restrooms.

I'm also thankful for whoever created these grape beaded wine charms, and I'm thankful for my friend Jill for purchasing them for her wedding party.... they helped Miranda and I know whose glass was whose all weekend. Plus they're just very pretty :)

Lat but not least, thank you all my beautiful blog friends for being patient with me through my last few weeks of hectic school final madness... I know I've been slacking on commenting on all your wonderful blogs but I promise I have been reading them on my phone! and thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings :) I'm almost to 50 followers (1more to go!) and I'm very thankful for that as well.

Now I'm off to another hectic day... work, then straight to math from there, then I have 2 hours to finish my travel poster final project before going to photoshop tonight. It makes me tired just thinking about it so I better go make some more coffee :)

I hope you all have a beautiful day full of inspiration and love...