A kiddo breaks it down for us...

‎ 
5-yr-old to his dad at Starbucks: "Dad, time is hardest thing in the world, right? 
And money too, right?" Way to hit the nail on the head, kid.  
  
{A friend's Facebook status tonight.}

Thankful Thursday: Catching Up

Yep, I missed last Thankful Thursday. For good reason! I was in San Francisco, wandering the hills, lost in my thoughts.

Without further ado:

-Burritos
-Spending money on experiences rather than things
-Things I was stressed out about working themselves out
-When a new haircut starts growing out and I get more comfortable with it
-Early to bed, early to rise
-My happy plant family (which reminds me, it's time to do some repotting!)
-Being outside during magic hour (dusk)
-90s music
-Craving salad and fruit
-The ready availability of (good) Acai in San Diego
-The wonderful way a good book ignites my imagination
-The feeling of sinking into home after a trip away
-Planning a trip to Italy next spring with my oldest younger brother
-The ability to take pictures anywhere I am with my phone
-New tattoos that heal very quickly
-And tattoos that you have to keep secret because of their placement
-Being so used to regular exercise that missing more than a day or two sends alarm bells ringing through my body

How about you, darlings?

My Cup Runneth Over: My Teatime Tattoo

I'm so excited about my latest tattoo, you guys.
(Isn't my grandma's quilt pretty too, especially in the soft morning light?)



I told Micah I wanted a teapot pouring tea into an overflowing teacup.
I had very few stipulations, other than I wanted the teacup to look like the set my mom gave me awhile back.



Then I got the idea to add the words 'My cup runneth over' -one of my favorite quotes
 that reminds me to be grateful for my overflowing life.



Getting my shin tattooed was not bad at all. I know a lot of people don't like getting tattooed over bone,
but bone doesn't bother me nearly as much as getting close to (or into) the ditches (elbow, armpit, knee, side.)



The colors came out absolutely brilliantly! (What else would I expect from Micah- he's a color genius!)
I love what he did with the multicolored steam, and how he used the reds around the teacup to make it look white
(there's no color between the blue lines!)



How Alice-In-Wonderland is that whimsical teapot?? He created the fanciful  'font' for the lettering from scratch.
And the tea has Micah's signature Japanese-style graceful flair.

I'm in love!

(These images have not been enhanced- except the last one- Micah may have used an Instagram filter for it.
The colors really are that bright!)

(You can find Micah Caudle at Flying Panther Tattoo in San Diego.)

*Please do not use my photos without my permission, and make sure to credit my artist and link back to my blog. Thanks!

But What of That?

{Quote found here, from this blog. Image by yours truly.}

Thankful Saturday: I Look at the Good Thing

I've been soooo busy lately with work I haven't made time for my little blog! Don't feel abandoned, little bloggie friend. I'll be back. For now, how about a Gratitude List? If this space must be sustained on Thankful Thursday posts alone, well, there are worse things that could happen, right? :)

~Thankful for the video you see above. What a simple, amazing inspiration!!!!

 ~My PLP (Platonic Life Partner- my best friend of 16 years.) So very blessed to have her in my life.

~My wifey. Another blessing. Can't wait for her to teach me how to fly! (She's leaving to attend Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida very soon)

~The fact that I will soon have the opportunity to learn to fly. I have it in my blood (my Grandpa, who died when I was twelve, was a pilot and a flight instructor. I grew up in airplanes. My mom and dad both have their pilot's licenses (taught by Gramps), as does my cousin.) I've always wanted to learn, but have been waiting for an instructor I feel Gpa would approve of.

~Pandora. It's SO fabulous to just enjoy whatever kind of music I'm in the mood for, whenever I want, without having to put together a playlist or buy every song on iTunes.

~Getting regular energy sessions from my dear old friend Gabriel. He's so wonderful to be sharing his talents with the world. Every session gives me new insight, and leaves me feeling empowered, free, and full of love.

~Reconnecting with someone in my past who I never thought I would talk to again. Reconnecting with a vengeance, you might say. It's like 13 years have not even passed. Happy to have him back in my life! I didn't even know how much I missed our conversations.

~My piano. It carries so many memories for me. And I know the day will come very soon that I will fix it up and find a wonderful teacher to help me regain my skills and confidence.

~My entire team at my restaurant. Every single one of them wants to be there, and wants to do a great job, and it shows! I'm beyond grateful for my work family. They make my job so much easier and more fun. And my two assistant managers are a dream.

~My San Francisco trip coming up in five days! I get to see some of my favorite people, in my favorite city, and have some quality time with myself as well!

~My family. Gosh, I am grateful for them EVERY DAY. Dad, and his humility and 'adult humor.' Mom, and her entertaining texts and freeflowing love. Rachelle, and her passion for politics and her family. Andrea, and her wisdom beyond her years and ability to crack me up with her wit. Brad, and his goofy nature and seeing my younger self in him. Nick, and his analytical intelligence and gentle teaching abilities. Jeff, and his generous nature and kablargery. Pete, and his quiet support and sensitive introversion. Jacob, and his sense of humor and sarcasm.

'Everything is a present'! Go forth, and have a wonderful day. Because you can!

The Mayonnaise Jar

 

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, 
when 24 hours in a day is not enough, 
remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.   He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.  He then asked the students again
If the jar was full...   They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, and as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life..
The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions –things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --  the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.  The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness:
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter.  Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.  'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

:)

{story source unknown}
{image source}

Thankful Friday: Over the Hump

Phew! That full moon yesterday was a DOOZY for me! I have felt out of sorts all week long
and it all culminated in a day of complete misery- physically, emotionally, and mentally.
I spent more time sleeping than I have in a loooong time yesterday. Must have needed that!
I awoke today feeling new again.

Grateful for:
-Sitting in the sunshine for hours, reading, sipping wine, and enjoying at my favorite French cafe
-Realizing how much I was settling (and for how long) and knowing I'm good enough
 to not do that anymore- to expect more
-My trip to Italy with my oldest younger brother next spring!
-My addiction to Acai
-The healing power of sleep
-The ability to take pictures anywhere I am with my phone
-Seeing the finish line with my new engine for my car
-The fact that I have been here before (in this current state of independent loneliness
with the opportunity for courage and shaping my day to day life) and that I will get through it, because I did last time
-Having a PLP who is there for me through my highs and lows
-Getting lost in a good book
-Waking up to fresh air and sun
-Having an amazing family to miss
-Solo vacation looming- less than two weeks away!
-Hearing birds singing
-Learning to swim by being over my head
-When people tell me I'm good at what I do
-Reminding myself how far I've come

How about you?