Thursday Thoughts

Love Where You Live

I took this picture the other day on my way to work, beautiful isn't it?  I often dream of living somewhere where it's warm year round and where palm trees grow but I have to say I am pretty lucky to live where I do.  Sunriver has really hot, short summers and really cold, snowy and long winters.  If we had a longer summer it would be perfect, the winters are just too long.  The thing is, people actually choose to come here and vacation during summer and winter because of how beautiful it is and because if you can think of an outdoor activity to do it can be done here.

It's pictures like this one that makes be stop and think, "I should love where I live" and I do.  I just need to be reminded every now and again!

Do you love where you live?

Thursday Thoughts

With Thanksgiving right around the corner it has me thinking about being thankful and being filled with gratitude.  It's so easy to get caught up in the daily stresses of life and I forget to stop and just be present and think about how fortunate I am.  I am blessed with a really amazing family and equally amazing friends and all things considered I have a pretty blessed life.  So, this is me putting my hectic life on pause and thinking about all the blessings in my life!

Thursday Thoughts

This is a special time of year for me because it's the time of year when I get together with my Mom her sisters, cousins and a few close friends.  We rent a house somewhere and spend an extended weekend shopping, watching movies, playing games, doing puzzles and of course eating really yummy food and we also usually enjoy a cocktail or two!

My aunts are more like sisters to me since my Mom is the oldest and I am somewhat close in age with most of them.  I feel so blessed to have extended family that I am so close with.  Not only are they family but I like to think of them as my best friends too!  I know not everyone has that so it really makes me treasure them even more.

I am sure this weekend we will make more memories to cherish and as usual it will be really hard to leave and say goodbye.  Can't wait!!

Thursday Thoughts on Friday ~ Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

I hope everyone has some really fun things planned for Halloween this year since it's on a Friday!  We are keeping it low key since we have older kids and only one left at home.  So we are just going to cuddle up, watch scary movies & grab some yummy snacks.

However you end up celebrating I hope you have a great time with family & friends!  

P.S.

For some reason Halloween brings out my creative side!  I had so much fun creating this pic using PicMonkey.  PicMonkey is a really fun photo editing site and it's FREE!  That being said, because I edit a lot of photos for my blog I use the Royal version of PicMonkey but that's only $33.00 a year and totally worth it.

What photo editing site do you use, let me know in the comment section below...

Thursday Thoughts

I love October!  Seeing all the leaves change color, Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea & lusting after the latest fall fashions!

By this time I usually have the house decorated up inside and out with Fall & Halloween themes but I seem to be dragging my feet this year, not sure why.  My goal is to have it all up by this weekend, although I will probably only decorate in a Fall theme this year.  Now that my kids are older (one has already left the nest) I really don't see the need to bring all the Halloween stuff out.  Do you decorate your house in Fall or Halloween themes this time of year?  I would love to hear what October & Halloween means to you & how you decorate your house so leave me a comment below..

Thursday Thoughts-Autumn Bliss

One of the many things I love about where I live is that I get to witness the change of seasons and Fall is one of my favorites!

When I think of Fall I immediately think of comfy sweaters, flannels, pretty scarves and fun boots!  Fall is also the time of year I bring out my crock pot and make yummy crock pot dinners and of course I cannot forget my favorite Fall cocktail...Pumpkin Pie Martini!  Yes, the Pumpkin Pie Martini is as good (maybe better) as it sounds so stay tuned to my blog this month for the recipe!

I would love to hear what you love most about Fall so leave me a comment below...

Thursday Thoughts

My thoughts this Thursday are all about Santa Barbara!  I am leaving on Saturday for a conference and I am beyond excited.  Even though it's for work it will be so nice to get away and be in the sun & sand for a few days.  Being in the sand and near the ocean always feeds my soul, I love it!  Someday, in the distant future, I will make a permanent home on a beach somewhere.  But, for now I will take my time on a beach however I can get it!  While I'm in Santa Barbara I plan to "Breathe it all in and Love it all out" and feed my mind, body & soul!

Happy Thursday!  

Thursday Thoughts-Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary

20 years ago I married my best friend.  I am super blessed and thankful that I have such an amazing man!  I am not going to lie and say it's been 20 years of pure bliss, we have had our good & bad times but thankfully, there has been way more good than bad and we have had pretty amazing life so far!

So, after 20 years of marriage I feel like I am in the position to give a little advice to those of you who are getting married or maybe going through a rough patch in your marriage or relationship.  First, the key to a any great relationship is to not have expectations.  If you have expectations of any kind your just setting your relationship up for failure.  Second, (and I can't say this enough) COMPROMISE!  You have to be willing to make compromises...all the time.  Third, make sure you marry your best friend!  When you establish a relationship based on friendship first it sets the foundation on which to build a long lasting relationship.

So, there you have it!  May you all be as blessed as I have been...

Thursday Thoughts-"I've got the POWER!"

So long doom & gloom, you have no power over me!  I have never really been one that stays in a funk for very long.  For one thing, I have too much going on in my life to sit around and feel sorry for myself, for another I have way too many people that rely on me.  

So, I am back & I have a new focus.  I decided I needed to set some new goals for myself and my family and rearrange my priorities.  With life being so hectic it's easy to forget the things that really matter and that it's really important to stop and take some time for yourself.  For me, some time for myself was what I was in desperate need of.  Even though I really wanted to escape by myself for an entire weekend I decided that, that was not really an option so I did the next best thing and took a personal day off work.  I finally able to get caught up on a few things that I had been putting off which in turn allowed me to FINALLY have a full day on Sunday to just RELAX.  I realized that I had not felt relaxed or that I have not allowed myself to relax in the past 3 months (no wonder I was feeling full of doom & gloom).  I have been living on adrenaline and no sleep for so long that I think my body and mind finally just had enough!

My advice...if you do anything this week, make YOU a priority, everything else will fall into place!

Thursday Thoughts-Doom & Gloom

Do you ever get in one of those moods where you just feel like nothing in your life is going right and you kinda just want to runaway?  Yeah, me too. :(  I want so bad to be & feel grateful for all the blessings in my life but I just can't seem to shake this feeling of doom & gloom.  

I really do have a lot to be grateful for, good health, husband, kids, family & friends, pets and a roof over my head.  You know the usual stuff.  I also love writing my blog & doing all the fun things that it entails.

I'm just in a weird funk and I am trying desperately to get out of it.  It also doesn't help that I am a "suffer in silence" type".

We are hosting a little gathering at our house this weekend for a friends birthday so I am hoping that will help pull me out of my self-inflicted black hole.  Do you ever get in a funk & find it hard to pull yourself out?  What do you do to help yourself?  I would be open for any suggestions!

Thursday Thoughts

Amen.  I love this quote because it's so true!  I am such a planner, I kind of have to be since I have A LOT going on but I stress way too much about the things that I've planned for.  So really, what's the point of the plan?  

Sometimes it's just better when you don't have a plan and you let things happen organically.  Besides, when you have a plan then you also have expectations.  Sometimes those expectations are unrealistic and when  things don't go as planned and things don't live up to your expectations you end up feeling let down.  

So, next time try to just breathe, trust, let go and see what happens!

Thursday Thoughts

Do you love your pets as much as I do?  

My family and I like to think we have the most amazing pets on the planet.  I have to say, Kosmo, our Chocolate Lab thinks I'm pretty amazing too.  I'm pretty sure his world revolves around me and I'm pretty sure that I LOVE it!  My husband is actually jealous because Kosmo follows me where ever I go, he's my little shadow.  He greets me first thing in the morning by laying on my chest and giving me a morning kiss and then after him and his sister go out in the morning you will find him laying at my feet while I get ready for work.  Kosmo is the most loving, loyal and seriously hilarious dog I know.  I can only hope to be half as fantastic as he seems to think I am!

Do you have a pet(s) that think your the most wonderful thing ever?  Leave me a comment below...

Thursday Thoughts

Sometimes you just need a good laugh, am I right?  Life has still been a little crazy lately and I feel myself craving some fun and laughter.  After all, laughter is the best medicine!  I am talking the laugh so hard you cry kind of laughter.  I think I will start with a good comedy for movie night tomorrow and then maybe plan a girls weekend for the not so distant future.  Sometimes you have to create moments where there could be an opportunity for fun & laughter.  A day should be filled with those kind of moments!

Thursday Thoughts

My life has been so crazy busy that I feel like I haven't even had time to think.  What I really need is a vacation!  I know, who doesn't!  But seriously, sometimes life just gets in the way and we forget that we need to take care of ourselves.  I have definitely become a victim of this.  I really do feel like I just want to sit and be quiet and hear nothing.  I think it would be good for me, myself and I.

How do you make sure you are taking care of yourself?  I would love to hear how you do it and I am open to any suggestions so let me know in the comment section below...

Thursday Thoughts-Independence Day

Happy 4th of  July!

What does 4th of July mean to you?  How are you spending this Independence Day weekend?  I would love to hear how you and your family spend the holiday.  Do you have a tradition?  Leave me a comment below about your plans for the weekend and I will reply back!    

**Thursday Thoughts on Friday**

Life has been a little crazy this week so my "Thursday Thoughts" post is happening on Friday instead!

It's been a tough week in general but for some reason I found it to be inspiring.  I have never been one of those people that expects things to just happen.  I have always been a believer in making things happen for myself!  When things don't go my way I find it inspires me to make changes.  Change is good and it's also necessary as far as I'm concerned.

I am hoping today's post will INSPIRE you!  Are you having a bad week and find yourself ready for a change?  Or, maybe your having a great week and you just need that little push to make that change you have been pondering.  Either way, make today that day!  Don't wait for something to happen, go out and MAKE it happen.  What are you going to make happen?

Happy Friday...

Thursday Thoughts

I don't know about you but my girlfriends are very important to me.  Like, "can't live without" kind of important.  I have to say that I have been very blessed in the friendship department.  I have had the same best friend for over 30 years (omg, I just really aged myself!) and several other best friends that I have had for a few decades and more still that I have had for several years.  I rely on my girlfriends for anything and everything and they do the same with me.  We have been through everything together, life, death, divorce, you name it.  If I go too long without seeing my girls I seriously start to have withdrawals.  Thankfully my husband knows how important my girlfriends are to me and is totally understanding when I say I need a "girls night" or a "girls weekend"  

With that being said, I am officially in "girlfriend withdrawals" at the moment which is what inspired me to write this post about friendship for my "Thursday Thoughts".  I've been really stressed out waiting to move in to our new place and even though my husband has been great sometimes the only thing that helps is a night with my girls!

Are your friendships as important to you as mine are to me?  Do you have withdrawals too?  Please tell me I am not alone by leaving a comment below.  Also, what do you & your girlfriends like do when you get together for a girls night?

Thursday Thoughts

I cannot believe it's already Thursday again and time for Thursday Thoughts!  

I live in beautiful Central Oregon and in case you haven't heard we have had a terrible (human-caused) fire in the area where I live called the Two Bulls fire, it's 6 days old and now about 55% contained and those evacuated have been able to return to their homes (YAY!!)  Thinking about this fire and the people that had to be evacuated from their homes and the poor animals that surely lost their lives has put things in perspective for me.  I have been feeling a little sorry for myself (& my husband & pets) since we are STILL(day 22) living in our motor home while we are waiting for our new place to be finished and the old tenant to move out.  I am so grateful that we did not have the stress of being evacuated and the worry that we might not have a home to come back to.  Funny how a catastrophe puts everything into perspective!

The quote from Karen Salmansohn for my Thursday Thoughts this week seems very fitting.  I LOVE this quote!

I also wanted to share a pic that has gone viral (just in case you have been hiding under a rock) of Michael Wolber & April Hartley on their wedding day here in Central Oregon.  Their wedding day was almost ruined by the fire and they almost didn't get married but the firefighters told them if they made it quick that they could exchange their vows.  So they did...

How awesome is that?  I always say..."Something good comes out of something bad."

Thursday Thoughts

This week I am a little stressed out so of course my Thursday Thoughts post has to be about stress.  We have been living in our motorhome for 2 weeks now while we wait for our new place that is getting new carpet and tile.  I think I am officially at my "Done" point.  Not only are we living in the motorhome we also have our 2 dogs, 1 Chocolate Lab & 1 Silver Pit Bull (click here to see my post about my dogs) living with us.  Like any good dog owner that loves their dogs like their children (lol) they sleep with us.  While this was fine when we had our California King bed it's not so fine in a Queen.  By the way, they don't just sleep with us, they like to sleep under the covers with us.  Yes, I know we created monsters!  Not to mention the simple fact of living in a small cramped space and constantly on the hunt for items that I "swore" I packed in the motorhome!  Needless to say, I am not sleeping much, my body hurts from not sleeping in my normal, comfortable bed and every little thing is starting to annoy me (my poor husband).  Thank goodness my father in law is graciously letting our 2 cats stay with him, God knows what a menagerie that would have been!

I thought for sure our dogs would be stressed out going from a huge fenced in back yard to run around in to a yard a quarter of the size and not as much freedom and a huge house that they had the run of.  Boy was I wrong!  They are as happy as they have ever been.  I have decided that they must think we are on an extended camping trip and since they love to go camping it all kinda makes sense.  I am constantly amazed by dogs, they are so carefree, resilient and forgiving.  My new mantra is going to be "Live like a Dog".  Or at least it will be my mantra until we can move into the new house...

Thursday Thoughts

I realize I posted about Maya Angelou yesterday but I could not pass up the opportunity to share more of her for my "Thursday Thoughts" post.  I would say she accomplished her mission and then some!  Maya Angelou was a phenomenal spirit that was full of compassion & wisdom.  She was a stellar humanitarian and was extremely philanthropic and we should all strive to have similar aspirations!  Just think what our world would be like if we had a few more people like Maya Angelou...