"Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?" -- Mary Oliver
The last day of 2010...another year has come and gone. I know that I recently reflected on this past year, and man it's been good. Of course, daily challenges and stresses are there, but life is what you make of it. This is the time of year that people start making New Year's Resolutions. Lose weight, save more money, exercise more, travel more, work less, play more, spend more time with family. sound familiar? This year, instead of making resolutions, I am thinking what I want to do with my "one wild and precious life." Some days I add things to my mental "bucket list," if you will. Other days I think how I can strive to be a better person, how I can best live my life, and how I can best treat and love those around me. I want to create more memories, take more pictures (thanks to Brian, I can take some AWESOME pics!), savor quiet times, embrace change...
Happy New Year! Here's to a great 2011!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!
I wanted to write a little note wishing my mom and dad a happy 35th wedding anniversary! Love you both!
The week of Christmas is off to a running start. We'll be heading south to Illinois to spend Christmas with Brian's family. It will be nice to relax a bit for a couple of days, hanging out, sipping drinks, cuddling babies, playing games, watching movies and just plain enjoying each other's company. Then the following weekend we are planning on celebrating the holidays with my family. It's so hard to figure out how to "split" holidays and decide when to go where, especially when you throw in my job which includes working weekends and holidays. But when I think about not being able to spend Christmas with my family, I realize...how lucky am I? I get to celebrate with several families! We get to extend the holidays more than one day! This season isn't just about one day...it's about being with family whenever you are able and remembering the true reason for the season we celebrate. (I realize that is a bit cliche...but true, no?)
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!
The week of Christmas is off to a running start. We'll be heading south to Illinois to spend Christmas with Brian's family. It will be nice to relax a bit for a couple of days, hanging out, sipping drinks, cuddling babies, playing games, watching movies and just plain enjoying each other's company. Then the following weekend we are planning on celebrating the holidays with my family. It's so hard to figure out how to "split" holidays and decide when to go where, especially when you throw in my job which includes working weekends and holidays. But when I think about not being able to spend Christmas with my family, I realize...how lucky am I? I get to celebrate with several families! We get to extend the holidays more than one day! This season isn't just about one day...it's about being with family whenever you are able and remembering the true reason for the season we celebrate. (I realize that is a bit cliche...but true, no?)
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Reflecting on 2010
As 2010 is coming to an end, I sit and think about all that has happened...wow. What a year! I've worked hard, played a little, traveled some, spent time with family and friends, accomplished goals, set new goals....
Here's a rundown:
Brian and I got engaged!! (probably my most favorite thing this year!)
I was able to complete a goal of mine with one of my friends, Anne. We trained this spring and were able to complete two races this summer! Yay for us!
I got to spend lots of time with family!
Here's a rundown:
Brian and I got engaged!! (probably my most favorite thing this year!)
The happy couple
Bling!
I was able to complete a goal of mine with one of my friends, Anne. We trained this spring and were able to complete two races this summer! Yay for us!
Anne and Amy at the AquaFest run in June.
Aunt Amy with Lauren, Brooklynn and Drew. Love them! (Looks like Lauren LOVES Linus the kitty!)
My sisters and me
Grandma Ruth turned 100!
Brian and I were able to go 4 wheeling again. This is starting to be an annual thing.
Aunt Amy with Celia and Wally
One of Brian's shipmates from the Navy got married in upstate NY and we were able to go. It was great to meet some of his old friends.
We even got to stop and take in Niagara Falls. Amazing!!!
Looking at all the pictures that I took, we really have been able to enjoy ourselves. We really have so much to be thankful for and are amazingly blessed with each other, good friends and families that we love. We have now owned our house for a year and are starting to make plans for what we would like to do with it in the future.
Speaking of the future...here are some things that we are looking forward to in 2011:
OUR WEDDING!!!! July is going to sneak up on us! It's going to be great to be married to each other and celebrate with so many family and friends.
Brian finishing school. He's been working so hard and it will be a huge accomplishment for him.
I like reflecting. I also like looking forward to the future. So many possibilities! Speaking of the future...here are some things that we are looking forward to in 2011:
OUR WEDDING!!!! July is going to sneak up on us! It's going to be great to be married to each other and celebrate with so many family and friends.
Brian finishing school. He's been working so hard and it will be a huge accomplishment for him.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thankful, oh SO thankful!
"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thanksgiving is a time to ponder and give thanks for things in your life. As I do this, I am overwhelmed with how very much I have to be thankful for. I am having a hard time putting into words all that brings me joy and gratitude.
As a nurse, we work holidays. This year, one of my holidays is Thanksgiving. As it is hard to be away from my family while they are all gathered together for great food, company and holiday cheer, I think about my patients. They are here because they are sick and can't be with their families either. When I think of this, I am thankful for my job. I am thankful for my health and my family and friends' health. I am thankful that even though I have to work during the main family meal, I get to go home after my shift and spend time with family and friends. My patients have to stay at the hospital. They don't get to go home today.
Each and every day there is something to be thankful for. Give Thanks!
"Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast."
William Shakespeare
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thanksgiving is a time to ponder and give thanks for things in your life. As I do this, I am overwhelmed with how very much I have to be thankful for. I am having a hard time putting into words all that brings me joy and gratitude.
As a nurse, we work holidays. This year, one of my holidays is Thanksgiving. As it is hard to be away from my family while they are all gathered together for great food, company and holiday cheer, I think about my patients. They are here because they are sick and can't be with their families either. When I think of this, I am thankful for my job. I am thankful for my health and my family and friends' health. I am thankful that even though I have to work during the main family meal, I get to go home after my shift and spend time with family and friends. My patients have to stay at the hospital. They don't get to go home today.
Each and every day there is something to be thankful for. Give Thanks!
"Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast."
William Shakespeare
Thursday, October 21, 2010
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
Things I am loving today:
I think I'll go look at our pictures some more. :)
- having dinner with friends we haven't seen in much too long.
- our engagement pictures! Love them! Our photographer (and my friend) captured our personalities and our love.
- another day off. What to do today. Clean. (boring), have lunch with Brian :), get my eyes checked finally. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to end up with some spectacles...we'll have to see what style I end up with. Thankfully Mom is coming with me to help me pick out some frames so I don't have to trust the people at the store to make sure I still look like me.
- My new tea in my new mug! Yum!
I think I'll go look at our pictures some more. :)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Old Ones
So, blogger was being difficult and I needed to change up my login stuff and whatever...I don't really understand it all. At any rate, I have been unable to login to my old blog...so, I started a new one and copied all my old posts into this one post. Here's the oldies:
Monday, October 4, 2010
“May the love hidden deep inside your heart find the love waiting in your dreams. May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain you find in your yesterdays.”
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Albert Einstein
“Hope is the most exciting thing in life and if you honestly believe that love is out there, it will come. And even if it doesn't come straight away there is still that chance all through your life that it will.”
“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise” Oscar Wilde
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 6:02 PM 0 comments
I got called ma'am today at the grocery store. Why does that make me feel so old?
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 5:11 PM 0 comments
Thursday, September 30, 2010
treasuring autumn
I love fall! I love everything about it. I'm a Wisconsin girl. A wearing nubby sweaters while still wearing flip flops kind of girl. A let's go to the orchard and pumpkin patch kind of girl...and I don't even have any kids! I love when the trees start changing color and the familiar drives turn into "ohh, look at those hills" and "Wow, check out that red!" I love walking outside and taking a big deep breath of that crisp autumn air that has "that smell."And the apples! Oh the apples! There's nothing quite like a honeycrisp apple fresh from the orchard! yum! (or the grocery store...cause we all know they are still that good!)
So, right now these are a few of my favorite things. Of course there are always new things, but right now, this is what I'm loving!
I love...
the start of football season
apples
cozy autumn scents filling the house
baking just because it smells good
crisp mornings
warm afternoons
my favorite jeans
perfect bonfire weather
a gigantic orange harvest moon
simmering homemade soup on the stove
mums
curling up under a cozy blanket to read a book
crunchy leaves
oh yeah...a great new recipe! Caryn, Lauren and I baked them this afternoon...yum!
Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze (recipe follows)
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Grease baking sheets.
COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.
GLAZE:
COMBINE 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.Cooks Note: For a variation add 1/2 cup chocolate chips or nuts to the recipe.Estimated Times: Preparation - 10 minutes; Cooking - 18 minutes; Cooling Time - 2 minutes cooling.
There are so many things to love about each change of season! I'm enjoying this one before the snow flies!
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 6:02 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Thirties.
I was having a conversation with my sister the other day about ages and what I like about being in my thrities. (Yikes! Did I just say that?) I like that I've learned that my mom was usually right about things. I love that I can revert back to child-like curiosity and wonder to appreciate little things like a good hug, singing my heart out in the car to a good tune on the radio, a great bowl of mac & cheese, digging your toes into the sand at the beach, swining REALLY high on a swing...I've learned that just because you are a "grown-up" doesn't mean that you have to act boring or stuffy like you once thought grown-ups were supposed to act. You can still have fun! In fact, a lot of fun! It's a time when you know yourself, you continue learning things about yourself and you learn that it's ok to be you.
I've learned that love, truth, and faith are real, but so is mortality, dishonesty and heartache. I think that makes me real.
I love that I can smile and laugh for no reason other than I like to do it and it makes me feel good. I like that simplicity can be just as fun if not more fun than extravagant. I've learned that I'd rather be wise than rich.
I've learned that you cannot change your past, but you can do things to write your future. I've learned that life is what you make it. Embrace change. It's ok to feel blessed. I've learned that wrinkles are earned! The ones that I have around my eyes and my laugh lines around my mouth mean that I laugh and smile. Even though they are proof that I am no longer in my twenties, that's ok.
I'm lovin my thirties...My youth? Love the memories and totally looking forward what life has in store for me!
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. -Dr. Seuss
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 8:50 AM 0 comments
Friday, September 17, 2010
Drink up...
Brian's professor once told him his daily tips for the start of a healthy life.
Eight glasses of water.
6 hours of sleep for males.
7 for females.
8 for fools.
A glass of Ovaltine.
Not terrible advice. True for everyone? Who knows. However, I do know that Ovaltine is pretty tasty! I haven't had it for so long, but recently bought a can of the chocholaty powder and have been having a glass almost everyday for the past couple of weeks. Is it because someone told me that I should? No. Is it because it is chuck full of vitamins? That helps, but no. Is it because I get a serving of milk when I drink it? Again, that helps, but no. I just like the stuff! Every once in a while you have to do something just because you like it. Not because someone said you should, not because it's good for you, or because it's expected of you. I know a glass of Ovatine seems like a small thing, but it's something that I do for me and not for anybody else.
Cheers!
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 7:20 AM 0 comments
Monday, September 13, 2010
Use those arms!
Take your two arms, wrap them around each other. There. A hug. What a great thing! Makes a bad day at work seem not so bad. Makes some bad news a little more bearable..or at least you know that you're not alone. I love hugs! I came home from a not-so-great day at work tired and not in a very good mood. I was greeted with a hug when I got home. It's amazing how something so simple can make things seem better. I'm sure that Brian had no idea how his hug made me feel or how much I needed it. Again...I love hugs!Give someone a hug today! You never know how much they might need it!
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 7:52 AM 0 comments
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Ever had a day where you didn't really want to do anything? Just a lay around, read a book, drink some coffee, enjoy the sunshine kind of day? That's been my whole week! Yes, I've had to go to work, but on my days off, I had these plans to organize things, clean things, spruce the place up a bit. Did any of that get done? nope. not yet! But I did finish a good book, drank some great coffee, and sat on my swing outside enjoying the September sunshine. The dirt will still be there tomorrow.
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 10:06 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The beginning
A blank slate. There can be so many things to fill this space with.Some call me an optimist. I guess that I am. I usually have a smile on my face and love when I am able to put a smile on someone else's. It's not that my life is perfect and everything always goes my way, becasue it doesn't. I have just opted to choose how I react to things. I can't always change the circumstances of something, but I can choose my reaction to it. Don't get me wrong, there are days that this is hard. It's these days that the little things help me to see good each day.Some things that always bring a smile to my face:The smell of clean laundry, sitting around a campfire, hanging out on the lake, a freshly mowed lawn, bows in little girls' hair, hugs and kisses, the affection of a pet, painted toenails, clean sheets, doing something spontaneous, a great sunrise or sunset, my family and my fiance Brian.
Monday, October 4, 2010
“May the love hidden deep inside your heart find the love waiting in your dreams. May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain you find in your yesterdays.”
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Albert Einstein
“Hope is the most exciting thing in life and if you honestly believe that love is out there, it will come. And even if it doesn't come straight away there is still that chance all through your life that it will.”
“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise” Oscar Wilde
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 6:02 PM 0 comments
I got called ma'am today at the grocery store. Why does that make me feel so old?
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 5:11 PM 0 comments
Thursday, September 30, 2010
treasuring autumn
I love fall! I love everything about it. I'm a Wisconsin girl. A wearing nubby sweaters while still wearing flip flops kind of girl. A let's go to the orchard and pumpkin patch kind of girl...and I don't even have any kids! I love when the trees start changing color and the familiar drives turn into "ohh, look at those hills" and "Wow, check out that red!" I love walking outside and taking a big deep breath of that crisp autumn air that has "that smell."And the apples! Oh the apples! There's nothing quite like a honeycrisp apple fresh from the orchard! yum! (or the grocery store...cause we all know they are still that good!)
So, right now these are a few of my favorite things. Of course there are always new things, but right now, this is what I'm loving!
I love...
the start of football season
apples
cozy autumn scents filling the house
baking just because it smells good
crisp mornings
warm afternoons
my favorite jeans
perfect bonfire weather
a gigantic orange harvest moon
simmering homemade soup on the stove
mums
curling up under a cozy blanket to read a book
crunchy leaves
oh yeah...a great new recipe! Caryn, Lauren and I baked them this afternoon...yum!
Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze (recipe follows)
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Grease baking sheets.
COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.
GLAZE:
COMBINE 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.Cooks Note: For a variation add 1/2 cup chocolate chips or nuts to the recipe.Estimated Times: Preparation - 10 minutes; Cooking - 18 minutes; Cooling Time - 2 minutes cooling.
There are so many things to love about each change of season! I'm enjoying this one before the snow flies!
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 6:02 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Thirties.
I was having a conversation with my sister the other day about ages and what I like about being in my thrities. (Yikes! Did I just say that?) I like that I've learned that my mom was usually right about things. I love that I can revert back to child-like curiosity and wonder to appreciate little things like a good hug, singing my heart out in the car to a good tune on the radio, a great bowl of mac & cheese, digging your toes into the sand at the beach, swining REALLY high on a swing...I've learned that just because you are a "grown-up" doesn't mean that you have to act boring or stuffy like you once thought grown-ups were supposed to act. You can still have fun! In fact, a lot of fun! It's a time when you know yourself, you continue learning things about yourself and you learn that it's ok to be you.
I've learned that love, truth, and faith are real, but so is mortality, dishonesty and heartache. I think that makes me real.
I love that I can smile and laugh for no reason other than I like to do it and it makes me feel good. I like that simplicity can be just as fun if not more fun than extravagant. I've learned that I'd rather be wise than rich.
I've learned that you cannot change your past, but you can do things to write your future. I've learned that life is what you make it. Embrace change. It's ok to feel blessed. I've learned that wrinkles are earned! The ones that I have around my eyes and my laugh lines around my mouth mean that I laugh and smile. Even though they are proof that I am no longer in my twenties, that's ok.
I'm lovin my thirties...My youth? Love the memories and totally looking forward what life has in store for me!
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. -Dr. Seuss
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 8:50 AM 0 comments
Friday, September 17, 2010
Drink up...
Brian's professor once told him his daily tips for the start of a healthy life.
Eight glasses of water.
6 hours of sleep for males.
7 for females.
8 for fools.
A glass of Ovaltine.
Not terrible advice. True for everyone? Who knows. However, I do know that Ovaltine is pretty tasty! I haven't had it for so long, but recently bought a can of the chocholaty powder and have been having a glass almost everyday for the past couple of weeks. Is it because someone told me that I should? No. Is it because it is chuck full of vitamins? That helps, but no. Is it because I get a serving of milk when I drink it? Again, that helps, but no. I just like the stuff! Every once in a while you have to do something just because you like it. Not because someone said you should, not because it's good for you, or because it's expected of you. I know a glass of Ovatine seems like a small thing, but it's something that I do for me and not for anybody else.
Cheers!
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 7:20 AM 0 comments
Monday, September 13, 2010
Use those arms!
Take your two arms, wrap them around each other. There. A hug. What a great thing! Makes a bad day at work seem not so bad. Makes some bad news a little more bearable..or at least you know that you're not alone. I love hugs! I came home from a not-so-great day at work tired and not in a very good mood. I was greeted with a hug when I got home. It's amazing how something so simple can make things seem better. I'm sure that Brian had no idea how his hug made me feel or how much I needed it. Again...I love hugs!Give someone a hug today! You never know how much they might need it!
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 7:52 AM 0 comments
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Ever had a day where you didn't really want to do anything? Just a lay around, read a book, drink some coffee, enjoy the sunshine kind of day? That's been my whole week! Yes, I've had to go to work, but on my days off, I had these plans to organize things, clean things, spruce the place up a bit. Did any of that get done? nope. not yet! But I did finish a good book, drank some great coffee, and sat on my swing outside enjoying the September sunshine. The dirt will still be there tomorrow.
Posted by amyshappythoughts at 10:06 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The beginning
A blank slate. There can be so many things to fill this space with.Some call me an optimist. I guess that I am. I usually have a smile on my face and love when I am able to put a smile on someone else's. It's not that my life is perfect and everything always goes my way, becasue it doesn't. I have just opted to choose how I react to things. I can't always change the circumstances of something, but I can choose my reaction to it. Don't get me wrong, there are days that this is hard. It's these days that the little things help me to see good each day.Some things that always bring a smile to my face:The smell of clean laundry, sitting around a campfire, hanging out on the lake, a freshly mowed lawn, bows in little girls' hair, hugs and kisses, the affection of a pet, painted toenails, clean sheets, doing something spontaneous, a great sunrise or sunset, my family and my fiance Brian.
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