Friday, August 31, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 31

Today I'm thankful for...

Peanut butter!

I promised something a little lighter after yesterday's semi-philosophical entry! I absolutely love peanut butter! I don't know what it is about it that makes me love it so much, but I can (and, um, have) eat it by the spoon full. It's a good thing that it has a lot of calories and fat or else I would probably go through an entire jar in a day with total disregard to a serving size!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 30

Today I'm thankful for...

Life!

This topic originally came to mind after my step great grandmother passed away earlier this month at the age of 92, but it's also appropriate after the topsy-turvy, busy week that I've had. Life is funny. You never quite know what you're going to face each day, and sometimes things don't always go how you expect or want them to, but in the end, God has a purpose. Everyone's life means something, and they're in their current situations for some reason, even if they can't necessarily see it at the moment. Sometimes things just flat out suck, and that's okay. Sometimes life's not fair, and that's okay. It's what you do with the good moments in life that really count and make you appreciate everything you have.

Now, let me try to think of something shallow for tomorrow. ;)

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 29

Today I'm thankful for...

Popcorn!

Popcorn is a great snack food, especially if you're trying to lose weight. It smells good (um, unless you burn it...that smell lingers for weeks), you get a lot in a serving, and you can play around with different spices to make it taste better. The only problem I have with popcorn is that if it's expired, it catches on fire and then the fire department has to come to your place of employment to check on the alarm. Not that I've ever had that happen or anything...

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 28

Today I'm thankful for...

Songpop!

I only heard about Songpop recently, so I don't know how old it is, but I'm already addicted to it (even though I don't get to play it as much as I did when I was on my staycation). Songpop is a social music trivia game where you play against friends or strangers and try to guess five songs' artists or titles in different categories. You take turns choosing genres, so I could choose Christian/Gospel for my round, and then my opponent could choose British New Wave for her turn. If you accumulate more points during a round, you win three coins; if you lose, you only get one coin. The coins can be used to buy new genres. It may sound silly, but it combines my competitive nature with my love for guessing music!

Monday, August 27, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 27

Today I'm thankful for....

Shirts!

Evidently, yesterday, along with being Women's Equality Day, was also Go Topless Day. For some reason, I think that was created by those who oppose W.E.D., but I may be wrong. Anyway, I'm extremely thankful for shirts because who knows what kind of nonsense we'd be seeing if people went topless? The only person that I think should've celebrated yesterday was David Beckham (shirt off!), but you're welcomed to respectfully disagree...

Sunday, August 26, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 26

Today I'm thankful for...

Women's equality!

Today is Women's Equality Day, so I thought it was appropriate to celebrate our equality. Even though we still have a ways to go with some things, like equal pay between men and women, we have made a lot of strides. Think about how even just 100ish years ago (I'm not a history major ha ha), women couldn't even vote, wear pants, etc. I can't imagine not having some of the rights that I take for granted! There are also other places in the world where women are considered lesser citizens and can't even go places without a male escort. I wouldn't like having those restrictions at all, and I'm extremely grateful that I live in a country that is working towards equality for women!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 25

Today I'm thankful for...

Goodwill!

Today was National Secondhand Wardrobe Day, so I thought it was appropriate to dedicate today's entry to Goodwill. It's one of my favorite stores. I know the idea of secondhand clothes gross some people out, and that's fine by me because it means I have less competition at thrift stores! Personally, I get sick of clothes pretty quickly and like to have quantity over quality, so Goodwill is a great solution for me, especially with the half off days, 99 cent tags, and student ID discounts. I can often find brand new stuff at Goodwill, so why wouldn't I shop there? Of course, I don't buy all of my clothes there. I have limits on underclothes and bathing suits. But, my spaghetti costume from last Halloween was from there, so let's see what I can find for this Halloween!

Friday, August 24, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 24

Today I'm thankful for...

Razors!

It's been a long day, and I'm exhausted, so this one will be short. Razors are great because they allow me to wear shorts and dresses in warm months without anyone thinking I'm a crunchy hippie who never shaves. I'm not sure what a crunchy hippie is, but that seems like the kind of person who wouldn't use razors...

Thursday, August 23, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 23

Today I'm thankful for...

Twitter!

Every year, we have in-service at work the week before classes start. It's supposed to be required attendance for all faculty and staff members, but sometimes there are sessions that are not as relevant to my job as they are to professors...or department heads...or people who deal with money and so on. I get slightly antsy if I'm forced to be in one spot for too long, so these non-relevant sessions are sometimes hard for me to sit through. Thankfully, this year, I discovered that a couple of my co-workers can help alleviate some of my antsy ways by entertaining me on Twitter. If you're not a Twitter-er, then you're missing out on entertainment, news, and information that you may not see immediately on other sources. I'm a little late to the game, but I like Twitter almost more than the book of faces. Almost.

Want to follow me on Twitter? Click here for my personal account and here for my professional account!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 22

Today I'm thankful for...

Kindness!

Today is "Be An Angel Day," and while I'm not exactly sure what that means, I think that being kind is probably a hallmark of being an angel. Kindness goes a long way. If you're having a long day and are really stressed out, then you know better than anyone that someone's words and attitude can either make or break you at that point. So, my challenge for all of you today is to practice kindness. Allow me to indulge in my cheesy side for a moment, but you never know the effect your words and kindness can have on people, so build them up!

And if I'm unkind to you today, you can throw a book at me...

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 21

Today I'm thankful for...

Cupcakes!

Even though I just spent a week writing about food, I thought I'd devote another post to food since yesterday was cupcake day. Cupcakes are one of the best desserts ever. They come in their own little wrapper, and they have icing. I'm an icing fanatic, so any food that has it is worth its own entry on the blog!

Monday, August 20, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 20

Today I'm thankful for...

Fazoli's!

This is the last restaurant on my list, and it's the one I'm least in love with. I used to really like them. They were relatively inexpensive, and the unlimited breadsticks made my carb-loving self happy. But, the last couple of times I've gone in there, I've noticed that they don't give out the breadsticks so freely anymore, and it costs close to $20 for Will and I to eat there. I still love their food, but I have to love it less often than I want to.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 19

Today I'm thankful for...

Cori's Dog House!

I'm sure the name gives it away, but this is a restaurant that's all about hot dogs! I believe this one is also a local restaurant. Now, I know some people think hot dogs are disgusting, and if you really think about what's in them, they are. However, Cori's offers veggie dogs and turkey dogs, so you can at least get something that you know is meat-ish or veggie-ish. Cori's has 30-something different kinds of hot dogs based on different regions. You can get a card where an employee will initial it every time you try a different hot dog, and when you finish, you get a free hot dog, a free t-shirt, and your picture on the wall of fame. My brother and I have cards, but we've only gotten about 6 different ones. We've got a long way to go before we get to the wall of fame...

Saturday, August 18, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 18

Today I'm thankful for...

Painturo's!

Painturo's is another local restaurant. It has a location in the town I live in and one a couple of blocks from where I work, so theoretically, I could have it for lunch and dinner every night. They have Italian(ish) food like pizza, pasta, and calzones. Plus, they have a lunch club where you can earn a free meal with every 10 you buy. I've only earned it once, but I'm willing to keep trying!

Friday, August 17, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 17

Today I'm thankful for...

El Ok Corral!

So if you're outside of the Middle TN area, you've probably never heard of this restaurant, but chances are, you have your own local version. El Ok Corral is a local Mexican restaurant that has good, affordable food, and the servers are some of the nicest people I've encountered in any restaurant. I may be a little biased towards them since I've celebrated a couple of birthdays there, but if you're looking for something besides Los Compadres or Cinco de Mayo, check them out!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 16

Today I'm thankful for...

Which Wich!

I love Which Wich. Not only does it have a ridiculous name, but it's like Subway on steroids. I have a hard time ordering at Subway sometimes ("uhhh, spinach and uhhh tomato and uhh mustard), so when I go to Which Wich and get to use the little bag instead of having to be all awkward with someone. Plus, they always have avocado...real avocado too, not guacamole like the S place. I think I need to go there tomorrow. I can be healthy-ish there, right?

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 15

Today I'm thankful for...

Chick Fil A!

Okay, my disclaimer to this post is that I've had it planned since January. I didn't know that it would become the most polarizing restaurant on the planet Earth when I decided to feature it this week. But, I like their food, and I like my food and my politics separate, and I am a Christian, and that's all for my disclaimer, and I used the word 'and' too much here...ha. Also, since my feed posting thingy for social networks seems to have stopped working days ago, who knows if anyone will ever even see this? ;-p

Chick Fil A is the cleanest fast food restaurant I've ever been to. I've never worried about getting food poisoning from it or questioned the hygiene of its employees. Plus, their food is delicious, and the employees are super polite. When the town I worked in opened a location, it was packed, and none of the employees were rude or frazzled. Sometimes I know that the requests I make aren't really "their pleasure," but I'll keep their secret safe...

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 14

Today I'm thankful for...

Jimbo's!

Since I'm on the path to trying to lose weight (see my other blog for the grisly details), I've decided to devote the next few days to restaurants. That logic may not make sense to anyone, but it makes perfect sense in my left-handed brain...

So, the first restaurant on the list is Jimbo's! Jimbo's is a little local restaurant that is a little bit 50s diner inspired with the music and decor. They serve hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches, and you can get a lot of different toppings on them, like green peppers and mushrooms. They also have milkshakes. Huge, delicious milkshakes. Please excuse me while I drool a little bit...

Monday, August 13, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 13

Today I'm thankful for...

Being left-handed!

Just in case you didn't know, today is Left Handers Day! As a lefty, I feel like I'm often backwards in a right-handed world, so I'm glad I have a day devoted to me (and other lefties)! For all of you who would like to get me a left-handed present, here's a site to explore: https://www.leftyslefthanded.com/default.asp. For other lefties, here's an entire website for our special day: http://www.lefthandersday.com/index.html. Go us!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 12

Today I'm thankful for...

Kool-Aid!

I love Kool-Aid! It's cheap, easy to make, and you can control how sweet you want it to be. Also, does anyone remember collecting Kool-Aid points to get prizes? We've got 2 sets of Kool-Aid mugs, plus who knows what else from those points. Oh yeah!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 11

Today I'm thankful for...

Reading Rainbow!

To continue the nostalgic TV show love, I have to mention Reading Rainbow. I always loved that it was centered around books. I guess that should've been my first clue that I was going to grow up and do something book related. It was a great show, but you don't have to take my word for it...

A little bonus video...

Friday, August 10, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 10

Today I'm thankful for...

Sesame Street!

I think this parody from Cookie Monster:



and this parody from Grover:



say why I'm thankful better than I ever could. Sesame Street is so much funnier when you're an adult...

Thursday, August 9, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 9

Today I'm thankful for...

Sunglasses!

For a while, instead of using sunglasses, I chose to try to use the sun visor in my car and sit up really tall instead of using sunglasses to, you know, block the sun. I don't know why I was stubborn like that. Maybe I had terrible sunglasses that didn't really work that well. Or maybe I thought it was cooler to try to damage my eyes and impair my vision whenever I drove. Whatever the reason, I don't do that anymore, and my eyes thank me for it!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 8

Today I'm thankful for...

Keurig coffeemakers!

I never thought I would love the Keurig as much as I do, but it's amazing! It's a single cup coffee maker, and you can also make different kinds of teas with it. Plus, you don't have to buy the little K-cups; there is a filter you can put in it to use your own coffee, tea, etc. Since I've had a Keurig, I don't even know how to make a pot of coffee anymore. I guess it's true what they say about book sense and common sense...

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 7

Today I'm thankful for...

Finishing grad school!

I've been in grad school since January 2009. Since then, I have earned a Master of Arts in Education, and upon making at least a C in both of my summer classes, I will earn a Master of Science in Information Science. I've almost always loved school, but over 3.5 years of grad school, some of which overlapped, is a little much. I'm ready to have a break from school. I always thought about pursuing a doctorate degree, but now I'm not so sure! I can't wait to have more free time this fall and to not have to schedule my life around classes!

Monday, August 6, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 6

Today I'm thankful for...

Potatoes!

I love potatoes- baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, hash browns, french fries, tater tots, whatever. I know they're not the best vegetable for you, but they just taste so much better than veggies like green peas (BLECH). Plus, even I know how to cook a potato, and that's worth celebrating!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 5

Today I'm thankful for...

Tax free shopping!

It's tax-free weekend here in Tennessee, and even though the stores are ridiculous and crazy, I still love this weekend. There are a lot of restrictions on what's included in this sale, but two of my favorite things, clothes and (most) office supplies are included, so that makes me a happy girl. I feel like I get to stretch my money (or birthday gift cards!) just a little bit further, and who doesn't like getting more for their money?

Saturday, August 4, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 4

Today I'm thankful for...

Catching up with friends!

Last night I went to dinner at a friend's house and got to catch up with people that I don't get to see often enough. Life gets in the way of getting together sometimes, but when you get to catch up with each other, it's fabulous, especially when you discover a mutual hatred of crickets! =)

Friday, August 3, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 3

Today I'm thankful for...

Watermelon!

Today is National Watermelon Day (the timing of this day makes much more sense to me than Lasagna Day being in July...). I LOVE watermelon! It's my favorite fruit. I don't know if I love it so much because it represents summer or because it's delicious, but I could probably eat it every day and be okay with that. Of course, the effects of eating a fruit that primarily consists of water would get old after a while, but it's the price I have to pay...

Thursday, August 2, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 2

Today I'm thankful for...

Passing comps!

I just have to dedicate an entire day to being thankful for this! I don't think I ever really explained what comps are or why I've talked about them so much. I'm in graduate school to earn my Masters in Information Science (the new and fancy version of library science). As part of the fulfillment of my degree requirements, I had to take a comprehensive exam (comps). The exam consisted of five essay questions, and I had to pick three to answer. We weren't told anything about the questions in advance; previous questions were posted on the website for us to get an idea of the types of questions there could be, but the actual questions and topics were unknown to us. So, the idea of having five questions over just about anything in the field of information science was a little nerve-wracking! Luckily, they told us that only one person had ever failed and you had to try pretty hard to fail. I'm competitive, but that's one contest I was glad to lose! So, with a passing score and at least a C in my last two classes, I'll be DONE! I'm sure I'll be thankful for that soon... ;)

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

What I'm thankful for: August 1

Today I'm thankful for...

Opinions!

There's been a lot of hubbub lately concerning people's thoughts on a popular chicken restaurant and its thoughts on gay marriage. I have friends on both sides of the issue and they all insist that they're correct, everyone else is wrong, and whoever disagrees hates kittens and sunshine.

Here's the thing: no one really cares.

I don't mean to be flippant or rude, but honestly, how much more of this back and forth can we take? It's gone beyond civil discourse and into hateful territory. Everyone who has an opinion feels strongly about it, and nothing that the "other side" says can make them change their mind, and that's okay. We were given free will for a reason, and it's okay to express your own opinions in a respectful way. I may not agree with you, but I don't have to. It's called an opinion for a reason. I know what I believe about this and a lot of other controversial issues, and I know that if I argue with someone with opposite opinions, I'm not doing anything to further my cause or help sway them. This may seem apathetic, but it's just been on my mind a lot lately. I will gladly express my opinions, if asked, but I'm not going to try to force people to agree with me. I think I have the right opinion/viewpoint, so what does it matter if some random person on Facebook that I don't even really know disagrees with me? Exactly.

I didn't mean for this to become a mini-rant, but I'm tired of having other people's opinions, both those that conflict and those that agree with mine, shoved in my face. I'm not going to argue dissenters, and I'm not going to rally behind those I agree with; I'm okay being a little passive here and standing up for things that I truly want to influence people about, like their salvation (Jesus juke...lol). So, you have your opinion, and I'll have mine, and as long as we both agree to disagree, we'll be fine.