Bubbles!

Today I thankful for sparkling water.

I distinctly remember as a kid being disgusted by sparkling water. It had the grossest bitter taste to me, and I never understood how people could drink it without majorly sweetening itup with some OJ.

I don't know if you could call it an acquired taste, or if this is some weird phase I'm going through, but lately, it is the most refreshing, delicious treat I can think of to have a glass of sparkling water with a squeeze of lime.

Cheers!

Whoops...

I feel first that I should clear something up. About a month ago, I posted something about babies. not only was it not exactly what I was feeling, it was very vague and maybe misleading.

Of course I'm thankful for babies! I don't need any reminding of that. But during this troubling time of trying to make our own babies, it's difficult to remember the fun of the process. I have a hard time feeling empowered by knowing my body, and treasuring the short time that it's just the two of us. Once I get pregnant, those days are numbered! But I certainly don't need to remember to be thankful for babies; just the process leading up to the baby!

Also, have no fear: nothing happened. As I've mentioned to a few people already, it's a cruel, cruel trick of nature to find out you're not pregnant during what is already such an emotional period (no pun intended...) of life. How is any woman supposed to handle that with a level head?!

I have since come to my level-headed senses, and am trying to enjoy everyday without thinking about babies so much. I really should cherish this time that it's just me and DH, well-rested with a bit of free time. It could all go away soon...

Anyway, today I'm thankful for something totally unrelated.

Many years ago when I was young and foolish, I made a new friend at church. I had no idea how much this boy would impact my life at the time, and not in the way you're thinking. While I never dated him, he was a good friend through everything, and we shared many memories together. This friend is Kevin Cracknell.

Kevin is someone I've always known I can rely on. As life has taken us in different directions, I often find myself thinking back to how much fun we had, how I could talk to him about anything, and how he was there for me through everything. So while we may not talk as often as we should anymore (or ever...), I want him to know he still holds a special place in my heart.

Kevin literally changed my life the day he introduced me to DH, and while I certainly never say it enough (how do you thank someone for that?!), I'm truly blessed to know Kevin!

Red red wine

Hubby and I got into wine tasting as one of the first few things we started doing together. It was fun to learn about grape varietals, growing conditions, and the "proper" way to taste wine. It was also fun to make fun of all the pretentious and snobby people we met, too?

On a beautiful summer day, I love sitting around in the sunshine and sipping a yummy rosé. While seemingly outdated and long-forgotten with the days of white zin, rosés are making a fantastic comeback and should seriously be considered as contenders these days. Our favorite is a Testarossa Novitiate Rosé, a blend from Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties. We've even been able to find a few Oregon rosés that match its dry, yet flavorful tongue. The only downside to rosés is that they are so light and delicious that we tend to finish them too quickly!

But since moving to Oregon, I've discovered how much I love a yummy red wine. With the number of cold days we get around here, red wine is such a comfort and warms my heart. We cook so many comfort-food meals that pair so well with red wine. And we've even found a ton of affordable (read, less than $10) wines that are quite enjoyable!

Now I'm off to my current cheap favorite, Cupcake Red Velvet!

A blog about blogging...

Tonight I'm reminded how thankful I am for social networking and blogs. It's such a fun way to keep up with what people are doing and get a small glimpse into their lives. Now, I'll be the first to admit that there are a few "friends" (read, acquaintances) with whom this is my ONLY communication. And while DH may call it insincere, it really doesn't mean that I don't care about these people. If I didn't care, wouldn't I just delete them?

To focus, though, I'm mostly thankful for blogs. It's fun to feel like you're part of something, whether reading or writing. I've learned so many cool skills from creative blogs, and haven even able to try delicious new recipes. A lot of our homemade Christmas ideas were inspired by blogs. I also love the stories my friends tell on their own blogs.

Now if only I could keep up with blog as much as they keep up with their own...