What I’m appreciating today…

• physical and mental health…mine, Handy Hubby’s, my kids’…sometimes I feel like I take that for granted
• my testosterone-filled lil’ family…I always wanted boys and, boy, did I ever get them
• such a supportive husband…kudos to all the guys out there that let their women express themselves through home decor
• a place to call home
• homemade birthday cards from my lil’ guy…here’s the most recent one from my birthday earlier this week…

{isn’t it funny that he put “Dana” on it as opposed to “Mama”?!}

{I translated for you.  Notice the teal arrow…he made me a compass so I never get lost.}

• anyone who has ever read my blog
• good cameras that take great pictures
• white spray paint
• books
• all the inspiration I get from nature
• a financially stable {albeit painstakingly uncreative} part-time job
• Handy Hubby’s career
• my age…I’m older than I think I am
• the ability to just be present
• good sleep
• interior design blogs/websites that fuel a wildfire inside me
• a reliable computer
• vehicles that are paid off
• mortgage refinancing
• fun co-workers who make my painstakingly uncreative job bearable
• extended family near and far
• possibilities…of our house, this blog, future endeavors
• chocolate in any form
• me time
• the fun, family-oriented neighborhood that we live in
• a woman who makes my Dad happy and feeds my boys whatever they want
• organic products
• rain
• IBC cream soda on the rocks
• a good smelling candle
• rediscovering my love of writing
• the BYW {Blogging Your Way} e-course I recently finished up
• Layne’s love of reading and writing
• Everett’s love of flirting…watch out, he’s gonna be a lady-killer
• a clean kitchen
• the gene I inherited from my Dad that allows me to eat whatever I want without gaining an ounce…hey, it was attached to the adolescent severe acne gene so I had that to deal with
• people who are easy to be around
• my college girlfriends
• my Handy Hubby…I may have mentioned him already but, really, this guy deserves some more words…he encourages me to try new things, he doesn’t always tell me no when I tell him my ideas, he’s such a hands-on Dada, he’s lived gluten-free for the last 8 months {that’s not easy to do!}, talking to him always makes me feel better, he can operate a tool or two, and I’ve been told I should change his blog name from “Handy Hubby” to “Hunky Hubby”
• the one day per week that I get Layne to take a nap the same time as Everett…heaven on earth
• a big unfinished basement that hides all our DIY messes
• Etsy
• toys that don’t make noise
• the day I took my kids to the library and overheard some teenage boy refer to me as a “MILF”
• the ease of potty-training Everett…I guess I paid my dues with Layne
• neighbors who are excellent cooks and invite me over for dinner
• spirituality
• movies that take me to magical places
• …and all the readers who entered to win H*T’s first ever giveaway {hopefully, more to come!}

AND THE TILEShowroom WINNER IS…

…ERIN PEARCE!! who is thankful for her three-year-old son’s speech and occupational therapists.  What a wonderful thing to be thankful for.  {Erin, be on the lookout for an email from me and TILEShowroom!  Your $100 coupon code will be emailed to you after the holiday break.}

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!  Now, go eat some turkey.

FYI – The TILEShowroom winner was picked at random via Random.org.

images:  all by Dana Miller for House*Tweaking