Countdown to Christmas: 26 days!

It's the last day of November, which means Christmas month officially starts tomorrow!

One of my favorite things about winter is snowboarding. I don't usually get to go as much as I'd like but when I do go, it's awesome (I meant to do this post a couple days ago because I went with my family to Winterpark on Saturday, and we had a blast). Now, being from southern California, I don't really like cold weather, but something about being in the mountains when it's cold and snowing just feels right.

Happy winter!

Coutndown to Christmas: 29 days

I really enjoyed doing my little Thanksgiving segment, so I think I'm going to try another until Christmas (might not be everyday though: finals, traveling...you get my drift). I'm thinking about just posting fun Holiday/winter/seasonal things each day while the countdown rolls on.

Today? CHRISTMAS MUSIC. It's finally that day of the year where it is acceptable to play Christmas music without people getting annoyed or shooting you weird looks (well, they still might get annoyed, but they aren't allowed to say anything about it starting the day after Thanksgiving). You only get about one month out of every year to listen to it so you gotta enjoy it while it lasts!

My mom and I made 7 CD's worth of Christmas music for the holidays and I have too many favorites to list. But side note: I love classical choral Christmas music. I think it's so beautiful and I grew up singing it and listening to it so I really appreciate it. Moving on though...

Probably my favorite Christmas song ever is "Christmas Time is Here" by Vince Guaraldi Trio, you know, from A Charlie Brown Christmas. It's so beautiful and just the epitome of the Holidays to me (plus this movie is just the greatest). Enjoy.

I am thankful: 15

Today is Thanksgiving, and I have so many things to be thankful for. Most importantly today, the people I love. I am thankful everyday for my family and friends who support me and travel with me through this crazy life. It's important to stop and acknowledge everything there is to be thankful for, and I have so much.

So, dearest loved ones, I leave you with this Thanksgiving message:

[Happy Thanksgiving]

I am thankful: 14

Today, on this Thanksgiving eve, I am thankful for music. So much music. Life is better with music. It gets me through good times, bad times, hard times, fun times. It jogs memories and creates memories. I'm thankful for music that moves my soul or speaks to me on the deepest level. For music that makes me want to dance or sing at the top of my lungs. The music that inspires me to write or the music that makes me want to share with everyone I know. I'm thankful that it has been such a passion in my life since an early age and that I can appreciate all different kinds.

Life would be nothing without it.

[Because these kids are incredible and SO inspiring with their passion for music]

I am thankful: 13

Today I am thankful for my freedoms. For the fact that I can say what I want, dress how I want, love who I choose, express myself the way I like, and be who I choose to be. I am thankful that I live in a place where I have the opportunity to study at the collegiate level, speak my mind, vote, and have a voice in society. I am free to be who I am and do what I want and make my own decisions. These freedoms are too often taken for granted, but I appreciate them and am thankful everyday that I have these rights.

I am thankful: 12

Today I am thankful for Brianna Swain. I miss her very much every day. I am thankful that she was a part of my life, and I a part of hers. She has taught me so much about life, in ways she'll never know. She taught me to be grateful and to have no regrets. To live life to the fullest, cherish my relationships, and to appreciate time and memories with people you care about. I'm thankful for the relationship we had, even with the ups and downs.

I miss you.

I am thankful: 11

Today I am thankful for YOU, readers. It makes me so happy to know that people take the time to look at my blog and keep up with it. I appreciate YOU, for making me feel special and for supporting me with something I love and am passionate about. You'll never know how much it means.

xoxo

I am thankful: 10

Today I am thankful for my babies. I know it's cliche and whatever, but I just love my animals so freakin' much. Whenever I come home I feel so welcome by them, like they just missed me so much. I love when my dog goes crazy and starts running around the house with excitement, and when my cats start following me around, tripping me and trying to sneak into my bedroom. I love when they unsuccessfully try to wake me up in the morning and when they fail, wait for me outside my door until I emerge. I love that Mooney sits on my dogs head and when Weasley won't ever stop meowing (ok, I don't really like that but I still like him). I just feel loved by them which makes me happy.

[Cheyanne - so much personality]

[Mr. Weasley - mouth open and running, as usual]

[Mooney - cuddling and being precious]

I am thankful: 8 & 9

(Since I didn't get a chance to do a post yesterday, I have double the thankfulness for today)

Today I am thankful for the end of rhetoric tests and Thanksgiving break. It's been a long week but it has finally come to an end and I couldn't be more happy to finally have a week off. Harry Potter and sleep, HERE I COME!

I am thankful: 7

Today I am thankful for the little things that make me laugh, smile, or just get through the day. Silly youtube videos, a comment that is 10x funnier than it should be, discovering a new favorite song, or a random text from a dear old friend. These are the things that make the hard times a little more bearable and make a difference in my day.

I am thankful: 6

Today I am thankful for my fish, Babyyy who passed away today. She was a great pet and friend to me. She was strong and made it through an 8 hour car ride home from Kansas in a water bottle in my cup holder. This little fish brought me joy when I was lonely and she endured a lot. I will miss her, but I'm thankful I got to have her as my pet for 2 and a half years.

I am thankful: 5

Today I am thankful for having things to look forward to. Right now, in this very moment, I have a lot of positive and happy things ahead of me. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1) premiers on Thursday night at midnight, followed by Thanksgiving break beginning on Friday. After that there's only 2 weeks left in the semester, including finals, and then winter break which includes snowboarding and Christmas in California with my family. Such happy things in the near future make it easier to get through this next week of Rhetoric tests.

I am thankful: 4

Today I am thankful for my little ninos. They have brought so much happiness and laughter into my life and it has been such a joy being able to watch them during the past two summers, and be the person they look forward to spending the day with. They have inspired me to be creative and taught me that love is unconditional. Even when I'm having a rough day, they still love me for the little things, and I love them too. They are so special to me.

[Andrew & Connor]

I am thankful: 3

Today I am thankful for my education. I love being a college student and having the opportunity to go to school and study what I love. The experiences I've had in college have taught me so much about myself: most of all, have no regrets. It's been a crazy, non-traditional, wild ride for me so far, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

[Made by...ME!]

I am thankful: 2

Today I am thankful for my friends. The people who are always there for me, make me laugh, love me, and stick with me through the good and bad. I love you.

[Lindsey, Cory, Jill]

[Ryan]

[Erin & Taylor]

[Katie]

[Krista, Alyssa, Brittany]

[Amburli & Larissa]

(This list is not exhaustive, so to those friends not pictured: I love you, too. Know that.)

I am thankful

For the rest of November I am going to post something I am thankful for every single day. I realize I should have started this at the beginning of the month, but better late than never, right?

Today I am thankful for my family. They support me through so much and without them I wouldn't be the person I am today. They inspire me, love me, and are always there for me. I truly appreciate them more and more everyday. Even though I (sadly) don't have pictures of all my family members, I love them dearly.

[Sister, Dad, Mom, Brother, Me]

[Silly Family]

[Cousin's Sara and Chad]

[Aunt Glenna]

[Uncles Paul and Prescott]

VOLCANIC ASH (and the LA Derby Dolls)

My sister is "Fresh Meat" for the LA Derby Dolls! She is a hardcore roller derby chick and I'm so proud/impressed/excited for her! Her first Baby Doll Brawl is coming up on November 14th and here is the awesome promo for the event (she's the blondie named "Volcanic Ash"). I've got a pretty rad sister.

Update from a busy girl.

So many, many things happening around me, I don't even know where to begin! All I know is that in this moment, I'm very content.

1. I just got home last night from a weekend in Lawrence, KS where I was able to catch up with a few of my old friends/roommates. It was a much needed visit because it had been so long, so it was really nice!

2. The election was last week which is always a stressful time for me. I get really into it and invest a lot of my time, energy, and emotions into politics. My faith in the humanity of Colorado citizens was almost shaken, but thankfully they (by an extremely slim and discomforting margin) did not disappoint. And as a side note, I find it hilarious that the Republican party thinks they sent out this huge message...they may have taken the house (which happens EVERY TIME the opposite party is in the white house so no surprise OR giant win there) but they didn't take the senate thanks to their tea-party candidates. So thanks for being so extreme, it helps the democratic party a bunch :)

3. Today was an absolutely perfect day. Weather-wise anyway. It was just perfectly Fall. Warm but breezy, leaves everywhere. It was amazing. I wish I could have bottled it because it was just so peaceful and pretty and perfect (wish I had a picture of it). Tomorrow, however, it's supposed to snow which I am not looking forward to much. Time to get my freeze on.

4. Thanksgiving break is right around the corner and I can't wait for it. At KU we had a Fall break AND a thanksgiving break. I must say, it's a lot harder to wait just a couple more weeks for a few days off than it seems. I'm really looking forward to it.

I leave you with a quote:
"I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe - I believe what I believe is right." -George W. Bush

Good night.