Happy November!

The first day of this month, I started thinking about Thanksgiving Day. Being a devout follower of the Weight Watchers method of living and eating, the points values of all sorts of different foods came to mind, of course. And I began to think of Thanksgivings past, with family crowded around a large table, going one by one around it, and saying something we are thankful for before we begin the face stuffing! It dawned on me that I have a great app for my iPhone, called a gratitude journal, which I have been neglecting to use. It looks like a piece of notebook paper and at the top of each page it starts "Today I am grateful for..." Once you type in a few things you are grateful for it spouts a quote out for you. On November 1st, my quote was:
"Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties." ~Erich Fromm
Which in itself is not an earth shattering, show stopping quote...there have been better. But what caught my attention most about it was that the background had dandelions in it. I just got a dandelion tattooed on my foot! I took this as a sign that I must get back on track for appreciating every little thing in my life...things I usually take for granted. So I made it a point to start in the month of November, using my Gratitude Journal daily, and being openly thankful for things everyday this month, and not JUST on Thanksgiving Day. I started using my status updates on Facebook as a way to share my appreciation with others, and encourage them to do the same. It's catching on I think! Not only is it helping me to feel better each day by recognizing all of the amazing blessing in my life...but I am pumped to have encouraged many of my friends and family to do the same! It feels good knowing that those I love most are counting their blessings right along side of me! I encourage YOU to take on this challenge as well! And trust me, as the month moves on...it will seem like a challenge, but one well worth the effort, I assure you!

Today is my family reunion! I'm going to have to cut this one short to finish getting ready and head out, but it makes me be thankful for my 35 weekly allowance points for Weight Watchers! My family has always been mostly overweight, and Weight Watchers has helped many of us to overcome what history has shown happens in my family, on both Mom & Dad's side. Which is you usually gain and gain and gain weight over a lifetime...never to lose it...always complimented by health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer etc. It's days like today that bring to light the realization of how this happens! EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY IS SUCH A GOOD COOK! The food is always so amazing! Not just on Thanksgiving Day, but EVERY DAY! If you are lucky enough to have tasted a meal made by the hands of a Nation or a Halloran then you know what I'm talking about! Weight Watchers has also taught me that if you make foods using the lighter versions of each of the ingredients...the meals taste just as amazing, but are way better for you! The problem is getting people to eat the 'light' version once you have told them it is 'light.' The trick? Don't tell them. The will never be able to tell the difference! LOL They underestimate my sneakiness!!

Well, I'm off to finish getting ready! My best friend from college lives close by and hopefully her & her beautiful baby girl are going to come join my family for a few fun hours this afternoon! I'm taking the camera...I know you will all be waiting with bated breath for pictures!! (bated breath...first time I've ever been able to use that in context! high five self! LOL)

Song of the Day: The All-Americal Rejects GIVES YOU HELL
Nike Inspiration: Why do I run? ... Why do I breathe?
Today I love: Weight Watchers weekly allowance points (and the fact that this is the 2nd day in a row for me to blog!)