Texas Lou

Good morning and happy Thankful Monday!

I’ve noticed that now that it’s November, the month of Thanksgiving, a bunch of my friends are posting what they are thankful for each day on Facebook as they’ve done in past years.  I think this is a great idea and I wonder if any of them will take a look at their happiness and gratitude levels now and then again at the end of the month to see if there has been any improvement.  I definitely feel like I’ve seen a difference in the few months that I’ve been writing these thankful posts.

So without further delay, here’s what I’m thankful for today:

1.  I’m thankful for a week of getting to catch up with good friends.  Last week, I joined Kristen for dinner and got to see Meredith who I haven’t run into in months!  I also finally got to meet Kristen’s boyfriend and we all had a great night enjoying homemade carnitas and pumpkin creme brulee which I got to torch myself!  Kristen is quite the chef and she even sent me home with fresh baked banana bread and a spaghetti squash!  Friday, I was lucky enough to meet Cara and baby Zachary for lunch.  I hadn’t seen either of them since Zachary was born over 4 months ago so it was so nice to catch up and get to hold that sweet baby!  Then Saturday morning, we joined Robert and Crystal for breakfast at The Nook where lots of laughs were had!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I have amazing people in my life.
2. I’m thankful for a strong body and mind that allowed me to run the Shelter For Help in Emergency 5K for the third time Saturday morning.  This race supports a great cause and Ben and I ran it together.  It wasn’t my best time but I felt like it was a good race and I didn’t feel the desire to walk once despite the steep hills on the course.  Check out our results here!  My awesome husband got 26th place out of 271 people!
3. I’m thankful that my good friend Lauren had her baby girl Annabelle on Halloween night and very happy to hear that both Lauren and Annabelle are doing well!  Lauren told me she was expecting her first baby on April Fool’s Day so of course I thought she was playing a joke on me!  I’m so excited for Lauren and JR to welcome their baby girl…they are going to be amazing parents!
4. I’m thankful for a wonderfully close family.  Even though I didn’t get to join them, this past weekend, my mom’s side of the family had a mini-reunion since my Great Aunt Pat (AKA Mary F***ing Poppins) was in town.  My mom was able to drive up for the weekend and visit with everyone and it makes me so happy that she has family around.
5. I’m thankful for having a fixed heater now that its getting colder.  Out heater was broken last week, and even though it cost a pretty penny to fix, it was still cheaper than fixing our air conditioning units that are still in need of repair.  I have always said I’d rather be hot than cold!  I guess that’s the Texan in me!  I’m really grateful for my husband for getting the heater fixed so fast!
6. BONUS:  Lastly, I still can’t mention details, but as I said last week, I’m very thankful for something that isn’t quite official yet.  It has to do with our condo and if it goes through, it could save us alot of money.  But of course I don’t want to jinx it so I’ll keep my mouth shut for now.  🙂

Happy Monday and happy November!  Stay warm and remember to give thanks!

I love dark beers, particularly porters and stouts, however in the summer, its usually just too damn hot to imbibe in them.  If I happen to catch myself out on a relatively cool summer night or come across a rare dark brew that I have been dying to try, I’ll drink it, but I usually stick to lighter beers when the weather’s hot.

I’m not a huge fan of winter as I’ve written before, mostly because I loathe the dark, short days and can’t stand the cold weather.  However, one great thing the cold weather ushers in is my taste for darker beers which also seem to be more widely available in the winter months.

One of my favorite breweries, Terrapin Beer Company, out of Athens, Georgia was recently featured in an episode of one of my favorite shows, The Walking Dead (also filmed in Georgia) and makes one of my favorite dark beers, the seasonal Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout.  My guess is that Moo-Hoo takes its name from the chocolaty milk beverage called Yoo-hoo due to its smooth, creamy texture and chocolate flavor that comes from the use of cocoa nibs, cocoa shells, and lactose in the brewing process.  In my opinion, Moo-Hoo is a thousand times better than Yoo-hoo ever was, but I am a bit biased seeing as I’ve become quite the beer snob.

Terrapin makes some really amazing beers including Pumpkin Fest, Hopsecutioner IPA, and a number of rare Side Project beers like the Liquid Bliss I wrote about last year.  In addition, they have some of the most creative and entertaining artwork bringing their labels alive!

Terrapin Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout

I recently picked up a 4 pack of Moo-Hoo at the weekly free beer tasting we go to at Market Street Wine Shop.  I’m really looking forward to enjoying this thick, dark beer now that the days are getting colder.  If you are a fan of beer in just the tiniest amount, I highly recommend checking this brew out while its in season!

Good morning and happy Thankful Monday!

Today, I am thankful for the following:

1. I am thankful for a wonderful week with friends!  Tuesday, I met some of the VGT girls at Brixx for dinner and catching up.  Thursday, I made this crock-pot chicken taco soup recipe and we had all of Ben’s family over for a fun family dinner.  Friday night, Sarah, Amy, and I had a lovely girls night just chatting and relaxing.  Then, Saturday night, I went to Carolyn’s Halloween party where I laughed all night long at the outrageous costumes everyone had!  It was a week filled with lots of the people I love.
2. I am thankful for my cats.  They have been catching mice left and right.  I’m guessing we’ve been seeing more mice because it’s been getting colder and they are looking for a warm place to spend the winter.  I’m thankful my cats are taking care of them before I have to deal with them.  And I’m also very thankful for Ben since he is the one who takes care of disposing of the dead mice the cats have caught.
3. I am thankful for free movies and date nights.  Wednesday, Ben and I got tickets to a free advanced screening of the move About Time which was really good and we prefaced the movie with dinner at a new Thai restaurant, Bangkok ’99 that had really great food and wonderful service.  I love date nights with my husband, especially when they involve free movies!
4. I’m grateful for a restful weekend.  I took two naps and spent a ton of time bundled up on the couch watching American Horror Story, my current Netflix obsession.  It was the perfect activity for a cold fall weekend.
5. Lastly, I’m excited for something very special that I can’t reveal on the blog yet as its a surprise.  But I can say that it makes me very happy and I count my blessings for it every day!

Have a great week!

7 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be the Happiest Person on Earth, an article on Lifehack, explains exactly why I write my Thankful Monday blog posts every week.  The first item on their list, “Practice gratitude once a week.” says that “Expressing gratitude, or counting your blessings, does not just make you happy—it also improves your health.”  I wholeheartedly agree and have noticed a big difference in my health and happiness since I started practicing my gratitude weekly.

I also agree with every other item on their list, particularly number 2 “Make friends and invest in your relationships.” and number 4 “Take care of your body.”  I used to exercise because I wanted to look thin and feel good physically, but these days, my motivation to exercise is driven more by my desire to feel happy and mentally healthy.  I also used to be extremely introverted and didn’t have too much desire to put the work into relationships, but now I realize how wonderful they are despite the hard work that goes into maintaining them.

I’d definitely read the article…its a quick read but its full of wonderful advice!

Good morning and happy Thankful Monday!

Today, I am thankful for the following:

1. I’m thankful for my health!  I have lost 19 pounds in the last 9 weeks and I feel really great!  I so grateful for the self determination and hard work that has taken me this far!
2. I’m thankful for my good friends and family!  Friday night, Sarah and I watched Hocus Pocus together to get into the Halloween spirit, Saturday evening, Lindsey and Greg had us over for a cook-out where we enjoyed delicious ribs and chili by the fire as their kiddos entertained us, Sunday morning, we picked Fuji and Granny Smith apples with Ben’s parents at Carter Mountain Orchard, and Sunday night, we watched The Walking Dead and enjoyed festive snacks at Robin and Craig’s house!  What a wonderful weekend filled with wonderful people!
3. I’m thankful for a nice long phone date with my cousin Megan!  We hadn’t had a good chat since we saw each other in Seattle back in July so it was nice to catch up!
4. I’m thankful for my husband.  I love Ben so much.  He keeps me warm when I’m cold, he reaches things for me that I’m not tall enough to reach, he brings me back down to reality when I’m overreacting or being immature, he takes care of the dirty work for me, and most importantly, he loves me for me.  I’m so happy, lucky, and grateful to be able to share my life with him.
5. Lastly, I’m thankful for my kitties that bring me smiles, love, and cuddles every day.  I can’t imagine life without them.

Have a happy Monday!

Good morning and welcome to my weekly Thankful Monday blog post!

Today, I’m thankful for the following:

1. I’m thankful for life!  Life is a gift and an amazing one!  I’m thankful for my life and all of the lives around me and every single day, hour, minute, and second that these lives encompass!
2. I’m thankful for the chance to celebrate my friend Dana’s marriage to her new husband Evan.  They hosted a small party on Saturday to celebrate and I got to meet and talk to so many wonderful and interesting people.  I’m wishing Dana and Evan a lifetime of love and happiness!
3. Although it gets old and I don’t like it, I am grateful for all of the rain we had last week and this weekend.  Its good to know that our area is very healthy this year when it comes to rainfall and water levels.
4. I’m thankful that I married into a fun and loving family.  Last night we had dinner with my sister-in-law, brother-in-law, mother-in-law, and father-in-law and the meal was filled with great conversation and delicious food. I’m so lucky to love and enjoy the people in my family, both by marriage and by blood!
5. Again, I’m thankful for life!  I just can’t say it enough!

Have a wonderful week!

Good morning and happy thankful Monday!

Here’s what I’m thankful for today:

1. I’m thankful to be back home with my husband and kitties after a week away in Reston for training.  I missed them alot and being away from them always makes my heart grow fonder! <3
2. I’m thankful to my work for giving me the opportunity to attend a really informative and well-done Learning Tree course last week on web development.  I learned so much and got to check out Reston, an area I had never been to.  My hotel and training center were in Reston Town Center, a really cool place if you ever have the opportunity to check it out.  The whole experience was wonderful and I’m really grateful to my work for paying for the trip and giving me the opportunity to learn!
3. I’m thankful that I got to see my yaya Cris last week.  She lives in Northern Virginia and since I was there for training, we hung out Thursday night and went to Mister Days with some of her friends.  I had a great time and was soooo happy I got to catch up with her!
4. I’m thankful for date days/nights with my husband!  Yesterday, we went to see Gravity with free movie tickets I had and then we had lunch together at one of our favorite places, Sticks Kebob Shop.  The movie was really good but caused me alot of anxiety…if you see it, you’ll know what I mean!
5. Lastly, I’m thankful for a healthier me.  In the past 7 weeks, I’ve worked really hard and lost 14.5 pounds!  I’m at my lowest and healthiest weight since 2007 and I am motivated and excited to lose more!

Have a great week!

Good morning and welcome to my weekly Thankful Monday post.

Here’s what I’m thankful for today:

1. I’m very grateful that my work is sending me to a 4-day training course covering ASP.NET, web application development, JQuery Mobile, and many other tools and technologies.  Since I have no formal training in web development (everything I know, I taught myself or learned from coworkers), I think this class is going to greatly benefit me!  Thanks to my job for the wonderful opportunity!
2. I’m thankful for good friends!  Over the past week, I was able to spend a lot of time with great friends.  Last Wednesday, I went to the free beer tasting at Market Street Wine Shop with Sarah and my friend Marian who I hadn’t seen in months.  Then Marian, her daughter Katie, and I checked out the new Livery Stable for dinner.  I also got to spend a wonderful evening drinking wine, eating Lindsey’s homemade chili, enjoying music, and watching the sunset at Carter Mountain Orchard‘s Sunset Series.  It was great to hang out with Sarah, Ian, Lindsey, Greg, and their family!  Then Saturday, we got to hang out with my friend Becky and her family at the race we participated in.  To top it all off, we had lunch with Robert and Crystal at Olive Garden on Saturday!  What a wonderful week filled with great friends!
3. I’m thankful that a lot of important people in my life have made it through surgeries safely lately.  My dad and some friends have had recent surgeries and though they are still recovering, I’m very grateful they made it through risky medical procedures and are on the mend.
4. I’m thankful for the opportunity to help raise money for a little girl in need.  Saturday, Ben and I ran the Benefit 5K for Shiloh Thompson.  It was a really fun race with great prizes and they had a skydiver show at the end of the race where we got to watch 3 skydivers jump from a plane and land in the neighborhood where the race took place.  Ben even won 4th place in the race and 1st place in his age group!  Most importantly, it was great to help a little girl in need and her family!
5. Lastly, I’m thankful for a close family.  My brother got to go to Houston for his birthday this weekend and even though I wasn’t there to help him celebrate, I’m very happy that the rest of my family was there to help him enjoy his birthday weekend!

Have a wonderful week!

Good morning and welcome to my weekly Thankful Monday blog post!

Here’s what I’m thankful for today:

1. I’m thankful that I got to watch the Houston Texans game on TV here even if they did lose against the Baltimore Ravens.  Very rarely do they show the Texans games here but since they were playing a team that is based not too far from where I live, the game was shown on CBS.
2. I’m thankful for winning the Big Greasy Office Pool last week!  I’ve played the last two years and never won, but last week, I had the most accurate NFL picks for the week and won a $30 McGrady’s Gift Certificate, a Wild Wolf Brewery Prize Pack, a Gift Pack from Century Link, a $30 University Dive & Hobby Center Gift Card, and 4 passes to the Virginia Chili Brews n’ Brews Festival in Waynesboro!  Sarah, Ben, and I went to the Chili Cookoff/Festival on Saturday and even though it rained, we had a blast and tasted some interesting chili!
3. I’m thankful that my husband is so handy and seems to have fixed our TV!  With everything that we’ve had break in the past couple of months, it’s nice that there is something that seems to have been an easy fix (fingers crossed it is actually fixed and will stay that way)!
4. I’m thankful for the opportunity to start mentoring at Computers 4 Kids again.  I’ve mentored two students in the past and had taken a break during wedding planning and house searching but now I am ready for student number 3!
5. Lastly, I’m thankful for the cooler weather.  Although I’m not crazy about the shorter days and it getting dark earlier, I am loving the cooler weather, especially with two broken AC units!

Have a great week!

I read this article that someone posted on Facebook and it really rang true with me in a smart and witty way.  At the very least, I’m posting it here so I can refer back to it in the future.

http://www.waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/why-generation-y-yuppies-are-unhappy.html