Thanksgiving Week Grateful Posts

Nov 23 - I am grateful that I got to see Side Show and to see my very talented best friend/sister, Jordanna James, in her Broadway debut!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Side Show was absolutely fantastic! I loved the story, the characters, the costumes. I was jumping out of my seat in excitement to see Jordanna on that stage. It's a dream come true!

My mom was crying the whole time. I kept it together. But when Jake sang You Should Be Loved....it broke my heart and I was sobbing! I love his voice. What a talent!

From beginning to end, this show has your attention. Breathtaking.

Jordanna, I am beyond proud of you! You are living your dream! I cannot find the words to tell you how proud I am! I love you!

Nov 24 - I am grateful for my wonderful trip over the weekend!! What a great Christmas gift!!! Not only did I get to see Jordanna in her Broadway debut in Side Show, but also got to see my grandma, my aunt Bessie and Carol!!

And my last stop....I finally met the beautiful new member of our family, Zoey!! I finally got my Zoey picture! 

Thank you mom and dad for this wonderful gift! I love you so much! 

Nov 27 - I am grateful for my family and my friends. They are my world. You all support me when I need it and always send love my way. I strive to show you all the same love and support. I miss all those who I cannot see often. You are always in my heart and in my prayers. I am also grateful for my guy. I cannot put into words how much he means to me.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

"Keep Moving Forward"

Adventure: SIDE SHOW!!!!!

As my Christmas gift this year, my parents brought me to NYC to go see Side Show which my best friend, Jordanna James, is performing as her Broadway debut!!!

Jordanna got me a poster for the show and had the entire cast sign it!!

Jordanna and Josh.  Josh is also in the show and I've known him from when they were both in Radio City's Christmas Spectacular together as elves (Yes they are little people).  They play the Littlest Cossack Man and the Littlest Cossack Woman in Side Show.

On my way to my gate at the airport they had lights that lit up along with music.

My dad gave me a pass to the United Club at the airport.

They had complimentary drinks and snacks.  I had a glass of red wine and an apple!

The morning after I arrived, my parents and I met my grandmother and my great aunt Bessie for breakfast at Georgie's Diner.  They have a vegan menu.  I had a southwestern tofu scramble.  It was delicious!

In the car on the way to Side Show!!  So excited!!

St. James theatre where Side Show is playing!!

JORDANNA!!!

Jordanna and Josh as the Littlest Cossack people with other characters from the play.

HER NAME IN LIGHTS!!

My parents and I on the train.

After the show we went to a Turkish restaurant.  Me and Jordanna!

Jordanna and I in her dressing room!

I LOVED Side Show!!  It was breathtaking.  All I'll say is that everyone needs to see the show!

I am so proud of Jordanna.  This is her dream and she has made it a reality.  She inspires me to keep moving forward and go after my dreams.  I am so happy for her and am so grateful that I was able to see her up on that stage!  She is my sister and love her.

I got to meet my new cousin, Zoey!!!  She's so adorable!  I held her for almost two hours!  I even got to feed her.  

My mom, Zoey and I

Thank you mom and dad for this wonderful gift.  I am beyond grateful and so happy that I got to see Jordanna live her dream.  Incredible!

"Keep Moving Forward"

Motivational Video: The Greatness Within

I watched this video and was so inspired.

I believe that you get back what you put out into the universe.  That's a great message.  You can't expect for what you want to just happen.  You have to work hard for it and put it out into the universe to help manifest it. 

I love the message in this video about how you are not what you want.  You are who you are already.  The things that you are passionate about or that come into your head are no accident.  They are there for a reason.  Be who you are.  Do what makes you happy.  And let everything fall into place.

The Greatness Within

"Keep Moving Forward"

Quick Snack on the Go

Over the weekend, I traveled to Connecticut as my Christmas gift from my parents to see my best friend in her Broadway debut of Side Show!!  When I got to the airport for my flight home, I just wanted a snack.  I wasn't very hungry since it was still in the afternoon.

I stopped at the store there and picked up Teddy Grahams, which were mixed flavors of chocolatey chip and chocolate, and Bark Thins: Chocolate Mint.

I love Teddy Grahams, but I don't buy them often.  I think the last time I even had them was years ago.  I never tried Bark Thins before.  They are delicious!  I love chocolate and mint.  It took me a couple days to actually finish both since there's a lot in a bag.  But they're good and I don't like keeping foods like this in my home since I'll sit and eat them.

What do you eat on the go when you're in a bind?

"Keep Moving Forward"

Exercise: Back Exercises to Reduce Pain

In my life, so far, I have mostly had active jobs.  I've worked in food and usually was standing for eight hour shifts.  It never bothered me.  My feet may be sore by the end of the day, but that was about it.  Now I'm doing a data entry job where I sit for nearly eight hours.  It's killing my back.  So I found some exercises I'm going to start doing daily starting tomorrow.

I found these through Pinterest where it linked to The 8 Minute Better Back Workout.

Bridge Pose

Butterfly Pose

Cat-Cow Variation

Cobra Leg Lift

Extended Leg Pose

I hope these improve my back pain dramatically.  I'll do these along with a regular workout: yoga, PiYo, kickboxing, etc. 

It's important to take care of yourself.  Listen to your body.  Do what is necessary to keep it healthy.

What can you do for yourself this week?

"Keep Moving Forward"

Grateful Posts

Nov 16 - I am grateful for getting a wonderful haircut from Monica at Twisted Scissors. Now I have a new salon but the same stylist from my old salon.

Nov 20 - I am grateful for time with my guy. Tonight's the last night of November we're able to hang out until December. Holiday season is here!!

Nov 22 - I am grateful that I get to see my grandma and Aunt Bessie this morning and Carol this afternoon. And most importantly why I'm here....to see Jordanna James on Broadway!!!!!!!!!!

 — feeling excited.

"Keep Moving Forward"

Exercise: Resting When Feeling Sick

This week I was feeling like I was catching a cold.  I decided to take CVS Flu Relief, which is a generic version of Boiron Oscillococcinum.  You take one of the small containers of pellets (they taste like sugar) two to four times a day when you first start feeling symptoms.  It'll either go away or you'll have a very mild cold.

No colds for me!!

I took the flu relief and then rested.  I did a lot of art and watched movies.  I ate soup and drank tea.  I got a lot of sleep.  I feel loads better!

Normally I would attempt to work out in some way.  Do yoga, a mix of exercises (push-ups, crunches, jumping jacks, squats) or go for a walk.   However, this weekend I'm going on a two day trip to see my best friend, Jordanna, in her Broadway debut in a show called Side Show.  I will also be seeing my grandma, Jordanna's mom (who's like my second mother), and my new baby cousin Zoey!  I don't want to be sick and not enjoy it.  So I rested and took care of myself.

"Keep Moving Forward"

Food: Peppermint Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows

I went shopping at Whole Foods the other day.  I only had about four things on my list.  I walked out with a couple more!  They were advertising WestSoy Chocolate Peppermint Stick soy milk and Dandies marshmallows.  Both are vegan.

You're able to drink the soy milk cold, but it's DELICIOUS as hot chocolate!  Especially if you had Dandies marshmallows.

I've never tried the marshmallows before.  They are fantastic!  I like them even better than dairy marshmallows!!  I think summer will bring vegan s'mores!!

This drink is wonderful.  Especially on a cold night.  It's already below 25 degrees in Chicago (the other day, below 15!).  So I've been thinking about warm drinks and soup.  

I recommend everyone to give this a try!

"Keep Moving Forward"

Motivational Pictures: Words of Wisdom

I came across some motivational words of wisdom on Pinterest.  I knew I had to share these instead of a video this week.  These inspired me.  I hope they do the same for you.

This one I think is extremely important.  People tend to focus on the negative including negative people.  If a person in your life or something in your life makes you unhappy and is toxic for you...let it go.  Focus on the positive in your life and making those grow.

I've done that in my life.  I've let go of friends who I thought were unhealthy for me and quit a job that I felt like I was drowning in.  I focused on improving the relationships that I wanted to keep in my life and to keep moving towards what makes me happy.

I hope you all can do the same.  Be happy.

"Keep Moving Forward"

Fun: Painting with My Guy

During the summer, I finally convinced my guy to paint with me as an at home date.  I've been telling him that we should go to the pottery place nearby where you can paint pottery.  I've been there before and it's a lot of fun.  He doesn't seem interested though.  I did convince him to put paint to paper though!  I gave him options.  I have paint, colored pencils, oil pastels, and some other options that he was able to choose from.

I bought this keys hook from Michael's Craft Store.  I finally got around to painting it.  I'm excited to hang it by my door.

This is the start to my guy's painting.

I painted this background.  I put it to the side and still haven't figured out what I want to do with it.

My guy mixing paint.

Paints!

My guy so serious.

He enjoyed painting this ship.  He didn't add a background, but for free-handing it, that's really good.

I painted an alligator my mom sent me one year.  She got one for my guy to paint too, but he hasn't painted it yet.

It was a fun date.  I'm going to try to get him to paint again.

"Keep Moving Forward"