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I just had to share this quote I saw on Sara's blog, One Long Road. I love it so much, and it is so true.

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Grateful Day 9: I

Check out Lindsey's original post here

Ok, so you probably think I'm pretty shallow with some of the things I've come up with so far that I am thankful for, but it's hard coming up with something every day that coordinates with the next letter in the alphabet! I don't see any of you trying it!

I have been pondering today's gratitude ALL DAY! "I" is a hard one! To prevent this struggle going forward, every time I think of something I'm thankful for, I'm writing it in my calendar on the day I need to post on that letter. Yes, I'm a bit lame.

Anywho, I was just about to post asking you all what I should do for "I" when it came to me! Flipping through my computer screens trying to get to my tunes for some inspiration, I realized...

I'M THANKFUL FOR ITUNES!!!!

via we heart it

It's perfect! Without this lovely little application on my Mac, I'd be stuck with Winamp, still! Wow, I've come a long way, and so has my music taste. And it is all documented in iTunes. Plus the shopping! Oh the shopping! Without leaving my chair, I can download the next Kenny Chesney album on my wish list, or something new that I have never heard of, or a great song that one of you recommended.

I can sort my music, download cover art, create all kinds of playlists, and now there is Genius! The new iTunes feature that customizes playlists based on your listening trends. It's fantastic!

So, I've reached a new level of shallowness... today I am grateful for my iTunes, and I'm enjoying every minute of it!

FMM: My fav candles

{Click image to visit Amber's blog}

Welcome to another Friend-Making Monday, courtesy of aefilkins. I absolutely love this week's topic... I almost got involved in a very dangerous shopping spree...

What are your favorite candles/scents?

First things first, I'm a Yankee Candle girl. Yeah, I'll burn other candles, but I rarely buy them for myself or even others as gifts. I think Yankee Candles make the best gift for the person you don't know what to get, or for any grab. I even realized that men like them (as long as they are not girly, floral scents)!

This scent has been the theme in our house since we moved in. My mom got us an entire gift set of this scent with the housewarmer jar, votive holders, votive candles and tea candles. We're still burning it!

I bought this scent for my mother last Christmas, and I love it! I want to go candle shopping so bad and buy some nice fall/winter/holiday scents! Yeah, can't though. No moola... and we still have a ton of candles to burn that we received as housewarming gifts.

I don't know how you could not like this scent! It's just so clean and fresh and neutral.

I haven't bought this scent as a candle, but I did buy it as a car freshener, and I loved it! My car smelt like a tropical beach tiki bar every time I got in! I might buy it for the house next summer.

Sorry Amber, but I love vanilla scents. They are so warm and comforting, and this one kind of smells like fresh-baked cookies. Yum!

This is probably the first Yankee Candle scent I fell for, it's so pretty. Unfortunately, there will be no burning this in the house; Jed HATES anything floral.

Some other scents I really dig...

This soy multi-purpose candle/lotion/massage oil I got from my cousin for Christmas. They are so strong (perfect for the bathroom), and they burn forever because they are soy! Never used them as massage oil, but I would rub some into my moisture-deprived hands.

I also really love the jasmine linen spray from Bath & Body Works. I love spraying it on my pillow before bed to lull me into a peaceful slumber.

Ok, back to adding candles to my Christmas list! LOL

{Candle images via www.yankeecandle.com}

This is my Winter Song

Via weheartit

This is my winter song to you 

The storm is coming soon 

It rolls in from the sea  

My voice, a beacon in the night 

My words will be your light 

To carry you to me  

Is love alive? 

Is love alive? 

Is love...  

They say that things just cannot grow 

Beneath the winter snow 

Or so I have been told  

They say we're buried far 

Just like a distant star 

I simply cannot hold  

Is love alive? 

Is love alive? 

Is love alive?  

This is my winter song 

December never felt so wrong 

'Cause you're not where you belong 

Inside my arms...  

I still believe in summer days 

The seasons always change 

And life will find a way  

I'll be your harvester of light 

And send it out tonight 

So we can start again  

Is love alive? 

Is love alive? 

Is love alive?  

This is my winter song 

December never felt so wrong 

'Cause you're not where you belong 

Inside my arms  

This is my winter song to you 

The storm is coming soon 

It rolls in from the sea  

My love, a beacon in the night 

My words will be your light 

To carry you to me  

Is love alive?

~ Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson {love these two ladies}

I am just loving this song, found here and here.

Grateful Day 8: H

{Click the image to check in on Lindsey's blog.}

I am ever so grateful for my health.

{Click image for source.}

Health is something many of us take for granted until we lose it. It's one of those you-don't-know-what-you-have-until-it's-gone things. Unfortunately I am reminded how very precious health is quite a bit. My dad hasn't had really good health for years. Grandparents get sick and never recover. Family and friends battle with cancer. I suppose the silver lining to this dark cloud is that I become grateful for my health.

Still, I think I take it for granted, and I renew my vow every day to live healthier -- that's all we can do when we fail right? I try to eat well. I try to exercise. I try to meditate and relax for a healthy mind and soul.

This week, I have a get-back-to-exercise plan. It is free class week at the Yoga and pilates studio where I took Zumba over the summer, and I am going to take advantage of it. Monday through Thursday, I selected a class that interested me, and I'm going to try my best to go. I'll be taking Zumba Monday and Thursday, beginner pilates mat on Tuesday, and Yoga on Wednesday. After this week, I'm looking to get back into regular Yoga and long walks with Morris.

As far as eating, I'm going to use an online tool to plan out meals for the week and help create my grocery shopping list. Should be interesting.

And, I'm devoted to fostering healthier relationships and a healthier soul.

Do you take your health for granted? What are you doing to protect it?

Grateful Day 7: G

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Today I am grateful for my grandmother.

My grandmother, aunt and mother

My grandmother is my last living grandparent, and she is so dear to my heart. I'm especially worried about her now because she is sick, and they are not sure why. She is going through a slew of tests.

Nana blowing out the candles on her 75th birthday, surrounded by grandchildren & great-grandchildren.

My grandmother had seven children -- two sets of twins -- she has more grandchildren than I can count, and now a myriad of great-grandchildren too. And she knows every single one: what they're doing in school, what their hobbies are, what sports they play, how old they are, when their birthdays are. She never fails to send a card with what little cash she can spare. My grandmother worked hard. Not only did she raise seven children, but she loved my difficult grandfather, and she worked hours and hours for years and years as a waitress. She loved it.

I remember being younger and visiting my grandmother. She always had cookies in the cookie jar for me. I loved visiting her because she was so interested in ME. She would ask about school and my dancing, and she would remember all my friends that she met. I also loved visiting her because she had cable TV, and I could watch Nickelodeon (we didn't have cable in my house growing up, and my parents still don't have cable).

Nana at my sister's college graduation, May 2009

My grandmother never missed a dance recital or a graduation. Even now, I love sitting down and talking to her. She's very real; she's seen it all. She was not at all shocked that I moved in with my boyfriend, whereas other grandmothers I know would fall dead on the spot. She loves Jed. Although, I think she's still looking for more great-grandchildren when the time comes. = )

There are things I can talk about with my nana that I don't know if I could even talk about with my mom. She's just so wonderful.

Wow

When you make average great,

your dreams can become a reality.

~ Suze Orman

on Tuesday's Oprah Show