LADDventure

Thankful Thursday - Raindrops and Reading

I woke up to gray skies and a dark bedroom later than usual.  For the first time since I was an infant, I am able to allow my body to go to sleep when it's tired and wake up when it's not, and I am discovering that my body naturally wakes up with the sun after about 8 or 9 hours of sleep.  I realize every day how thankful I am to get real good sleep for the first time ever, and I am soaking it up.  I know it won't always be like this.  Brian Williams was just talking about how we are a sleep deprived nation last night on the news, and I realize just how sleep deprived I have been these last few years.

Here are some other things I'm thankful for as the smell of rain floats in through the window and the gentle raindrops puddle in the pool:

The fact that our version of a cold snap here in the Phoenix area was 5 days in a row with lows around 20.  People of the Midwest, you don't have to live like that!  -2?  For a high?  Who wants to come visit?

The reinstatement of a regular date night, where we take turns planning, share a bottle of wine, and discover great food in little hidden neighborhood spots.

Phone calls on the road from my brothers and this hilarious blog post from my sister that reminded me just how much I adore that crew.

Books that I'm loving lately:

• The Young House Love DIY book that just arrived in my favorite kind of smiling box, full of ideas and inspiration. 
• The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.  I opened it up and immediately found 2 yummy recipes to add to the menu for next week.
• The Book Thief - man!  This sucker is deep and profoundly written and full of so much meaning.

Have a good Thursday.  Take a nap maybe.

Thankful Thursday - New Year

Given my motto for 2013 - being intentional about life, a Thankful Thursday is fitting.  It's about taking a minute to purposely reflect on what I'm thankful for, and give myself some instant perspective.  How's that for intentional?  So today, here's what I'm loving:

A growing,loud,wonderfully weird family to have spent the holidays with, and new traditions that made it easier for so much more time with them - less rushing, more lingering, puppy kisses and laughing.

Kissing this guy at midnight on New Years for the 16th time

Great friends to celebrate with, who understand that pizza and pajamas are the best way to ring in

     the New Year sometimes

Learning the secret to making a great old-fashioned

Chilly, frosty nights in Arizona.  Winter is something to be enjoyed around here, preferrably

     with slippers and red wine,  heat lamps and layers while it lasts.

Thankful Thursday - Home for the Holidays

I know it's a day late, but I've been staying up way too late laughing with siblings, so you'll have to take it on a lazy Friday morning instead.  Here's what I'm thankful for as I've been back in Wisconsin for an early Christmas celebration with my family.

1.  Scarves, sweaters, boots and 12 whole days to wear cute, layered, winter outfits
2.  Another Packer win on a snowy memorable Sunday night with my dad
3.  Christmas shopping with my mom
4.  Time with this lady witnessing history and catching up
5.  Lenci's italian beef bombers, Infusino's pizza, and Wilson's coffee
6.  Dinner with my sister and sister-in-laws - all 4 of us in the same place at the same time
7.  My Grandma and her generous, hilarious self
8.  Giggly nieces who are all hopped up on goofball, and a bonus tiny, snuggly, grunty one for her
     first Christmas
9.  Mr. Ladd joining me in Wisconsin tomorrow.  I miss his face.
10.  Dinner and Christmas tea at David and Emily's cozy apartment
11.  Lunch with my mom's best friend Trish, who is family and one of my favorite people to talk to
12.  Lot's of extra time for new traditions, honest conversations, and belly laughing as a family

Join me, @ladderica in sharing your hometown holiday cheer with the hashtag #homefortheholidays on instagram and twitter this month.

Thankful Thursday - #thankfulliving

It's November!  The days are sunny and warm here in the desert, but once the sun goes down the nights are chilly.  I even had to put on socks last night as we snuggled up in jeans and long sleeves with every candle in the house lit to start watching Walking Dead after handing out trick-or-treat candy.  We are two episodes in, and I already get the craze and agree wholeheartedly by the way.

November is the month of thanks and gratitude, but it's also the kickoff of the busy holiday season and things can get hectic.   I've said it before and I'll say it again, living thankfully means paying attention to your life and choosing to enjoy it.  A few days ago, I connected with a fellow blogger living in Scotland through my blog!  Man, I love the internet.  She is doing a link up for this month that fits right in with my Thankful Thursday posts. Every day this month,  join us in an instagram challenge.  Take a picture of something you're thankful for that day and tag it #thankfulliving   It's a good excuse to spend a whole month being thankful and cultivating that habit.

So hello November!  We welcome you with your cool weather, cozy nights, and family time.  Bring on the turkey, the mustaches, and the early Christmas shopping!


Things I'm thankful for on this first Thursday of November:

• Dark fall nails painted in Revlon's Hot for Chocolate 
• A night in the driveway handing out candy with our neighbors
• Houseguests 2 weeks from today! My brothers and the band will be here for some shows in the Phoenix area!  I am crazy excited because I haven't seen them play in forever, and this will be Ben's first visit since we moved.  I intend on being a groupie all weekend.  More gushing proud big sister posts coming soon I am sure.
• A much lower electricity bill for the next few months as our poor air conditioner gets a well earned break
• A husband who makes me want to be the best version of myself

 Today I'm linking up over at Living a Listful{l} Life and Lovely Little Whimsy

Thankful Thursday

At this moment, totally grateful for...

• Waking up to open windows on a chilly morning and burrowing deeper under the quilt 

 

• Finding these two beasts in their favorite morning spot, sunning themselves 

 

• Cold bare feet on the kitchen floor while drinking hot coffee 

 

• Wine and YouTube with Mr. Ladd last night, looking up random funny videos and crying laughing together 

 

• Ideas flowing for the children's book

Thankful Thursday

 

I've been a bit whiny and more than a bit cranky about missing fall weather lately.  I am grumbling around the house about the absence of orange leaves and scarves.  When I'm being a brat, I know it's time for a Thankful Thursday post; a chance to take an honest look at everything, big and small, that I have to be grateful for:

• Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash - There is only one left in my fridge currently, and they are always sold out at the store.  I've been rationing.
• Anne Lamott - I'm reading her book, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life currently, and everything she writes is something I need to read.
• New experiences - I'm realizing I've had a lot of them this year, including my first spin class last night rendering me only able to sit in soft chairs today.
• Mico - He grabs a toy every time it looks like you may have a minute.  He is always at the ready, which teaches me a lot about being prepared and willing to play.
• Buddy - This dude snuggles like it's his job.
• Apple cinnamon Glade plug-ins - Fall is present in my outlets.
• Getting to spend so much time with the hubs - Although we get in each other's way occasionally, it is really nice to be able to eat lunch together and have little mini conversations throughout the day.  
• A full weekend coming up - dinner with friends, a craft date, football, and a baby shower

Thankful Thursday

Here's what I'm thankful for right this minute while I'm back in Wisconsin for a bit...





A safe, half empty flight to Milwaukee that got in early and was only half full.  We had a seat between us and lots of room to stretch out, and it felt like an absolute miracle compared to the last time I was on a plane.

The pilot announcing that the current temperature in Milwaukee was 72 degrees.  (Happy smile with eyes closed)

Sleeping in our first cute house in our old bedroom, since my sister and her beautiful family now rent from us.  Lots of memories in this little bungalow, and I love that it's still in the family.

All 4 of us walking Anahi to school this morning, seeing her kindergarten classroom, at the elementary school I went to.

A Harvest Latte at Wilson's and an apple fritter at Larsen's for breakfast.  West Racine Bliss.

Snuggles and bedtime stories

Thankful Thursday

 

1.  Another birthday celebrated together with this guy

2.  Lots of big changes this year, including the incredible opportunity I have been given to pursue a new dream of writing full time.  It is not at all lost on me how lucky I am to spend much of my day doing something I love, often in pajamas.

3.  Friends who still welcome me to come get my teach on by volunteering at school

4.  Some lifetime memories made this month on this big city trip and this crazy ride

5.  Talking to many of my family this week and being grateful for so much to go home to 

Thankful Thursday - Mother-in-Law Edition

A picture that I'm sure she's going to love me for, from a family trip to Seattle a few years back.  One of my faves of Mr. Ladd and his mama.

My mother-in-law is coming into town tonight for just a long weekend.  For most this may not induce gratefulness, but my mother-in-law is actually quite lovely!  She is hands down one of the sweetest, most supportive people I have ever met.  She also happens to be one of my favorite people to go antiquing with and have what we call "kitchen talk," which entails standing around the kitchen, usually after she makes a strong pot of coffee, and gossiping.

Not to mention, she is one of the few people who are as crazy about and entertained by our dogs as we are.  These are the kinds of things that occur when Grandma and Grandpa are around at Christmas.

It also usually means a full house as Jeremiah's brother and our niece will stay over a couple of nights too when she's here.  I do love a good house guest or 3!  So, while taking a quick break from making guest beds and vacuuming, here are the things I am thankful for right this minute besides a house full of family:

1.  Coconut iced latte - My new drink of choice, until pumpkin spice latte season of course.
2.  Not having to set up a classroom right now with poorly working A.C. (Sorry teacher friends, I'll
    bring you lunch next week)
3.  Febreze - it really is a lovely finishing touch when cleaning up
4.  Sidekick pups who faithfully lay on the nearest area rug holding stuffed alligators in their mouths,
     ready to play at a moment's notice
5.  1 more week until BlogHer '12 and Newsies in NYC!
6.  Mr. Ladd, who works so hard even with a bad cold :-(
7.  New opportunities to work on my children's book...more details soon

Hope you're having a fabulous Thursday.  Weekend's almost here!

Thankful Thursday

Things I am thankful for right this moment...

-Pink peonies and rhubarb to remind me of home

-Freckled cheeks and shoulders after the pool and italian greyhounds yesterday with one of my favorite people to talk to

-A husband who is a master pool chemist and thoughtful Jimmy John's delivery man

-White pajama pants with a tiny anchor print that I plan to stay in until lunch with my pal

-2 loyal beasts who love to sleep in as much as I do

-Encouragement in unexpected places from unexpected faces