Reminder: Be Grateful

I don't know where I've been or how I missed this but Crow and Canary decided back in January to make this a year of gratitude--so up my alley! During the last week of every month this year Carina will be giving away two boxes of thank you cards from two different designers as part of her "gratitude campaign." The goal is to remind you to be grateful--not just for the obvious things but for the every day things. I love a good thank you card and of course a sign of gratitude so I wanted to pass this along. March's giveaway is still up and you have until April 2nd to enter.

Day 26: Z

Today I am grateful for sleep--a good rest. After a belly of food this afternoon, I'm sure I'll be enjoying a tryptophan induced nap. Nothing better than a turkey day snooze fest right? I'd like to find one person out there that doesn't truly appreciate a great night's sleep. There is nothing that refreshes quite like it.



Today is the final day of 26 days of Gratitude. Thank you all for reading and playing along. I hope this little project inspired you to look for the abundance around you and to examine all the little (and big) things in life to be thankful for.

Happy, happy Thanksgiving!

photo from here

Day 25: Y

I'm grateful for you. Yep, you! Right there...the one reading this. I'm so glad you've dropped by to read my little blog and I appreciate all the wonderful feedback, comments and inspiration readers have provided. Thank you for making A GreatFull Day a pleasure to work on!


{ Jared Chapmen }

Day 24: X

I'm grateful for hugs and kisses. Not just the romantic kind but the big bear hugs from friends. And the sweet ginger kisses from the kiddos I know. Slobbery kisses from puppies. And the comforting hugs in times of need. Who isn't grateful for these human connections at some point in their life?


{ weheartit }



{ David Delisio }



{ e.jayne }



{ cclayphoto }

Day 22: V

I'm grateful for vacations. For a day or two to escape the daily routine and breathe. I'm grateful for trips that take you miles away and vacations where you don't leave your home. I've been lucky to do some pretty fun traveling and hope to do even more. Some of my favorite trips have been to New York City, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, the seashore of Santa Rosa, FL and Disney World. What is your favorite vacation you've taken?

Day 21: U

Those of you who've read the blog a while know that my love of umbrellas is nothing new. They provide temporary shelter from storms and shade from the sun. I'm grateful for such a simple invention that not only offers a bit of protection but is pretty cute too. Playing in the rain can be fun, who hasn't been appreciative for an umbrella on a super stormy day. Cute umbrellas on a rainy day always give me a bit of cheer too!




Irene Suchocki
Simply Hue
Fred Baby

Day 20: T

I am grateful today for time. Each day, hour, minute, second is a gift that we are not owed but granted. Each moment is fleeting and we are not guaranteed anything but this present moment. Right now. Now! I'm so thankful for the time I've been granted. I'm grateful for each and every breath that God's given me. My hope is to truly keep this thought close to my heart and to remember this gratitude each day.


photo found here

Day 19: S

You can ask anyone who knows me well, I'm always singing (or humming). Not necessary singing well, just singing. I remember in high school a friend of mine saying "you can't be sad when you are singing." It is kind of true. I'm grateful for all the songs that put a smile on my face, the songs that make my heart happy, the songs that make we get up and dance, and the songs that help me cheer up when I'm down.



Here are some of my favorite (not necessarily new) songs at the moment:

• Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
• Today by Joshua Radin
• Fade Into You by Mazzy Star
• If The Stars Were Mine by Melody Gardot
• You and I by Ingrid Michaelson
• Manhattan by Kate Voegele
• Diamonds on the Inside by Ben Harper
• Let It Be Me by Ray LaMontagne
• Delicate by Damien Rice
• Closer by Kings of Leon
• Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath

What are some of your faves? I could use some new tunes in my playlist.

Lovely print from ThePaperTray

Day 18: R

Who isn't grateful for rest? Not just sleep, but a restful state of mind...a little mental vacation. I appreciate the moments that give a sense of calm and peace. For me those times often come on the beach gazing at the ocean, while cuddling with my hubby or when laying in my hammock. What is your favorite way to rest?



Photos from shes-jack, welcome ghosts, and Jade M Sheldon

Day 17: Q

I'm appreciative for quiet times. Times when no words are needed and you can be grateful for the stillness. I'm one for "background noise" and 100% quiet is kind of rare for me but sometimes it is so necessary. When I do enjoy those times, I relish them and am grateful for the quiet moments.



Photos from Anna Inghardt and Anna Aden

Day 15: O

When I was a mere 4 months old I took my first trip to the beach. Since then I can't remember a time when the beach hasn't been the place I feel most at home (even sometimes more than my own home). I love the ocean. Listening to the waves crash against the shore and gazing into the endless horizon is something I could do for hours. One of my dreams is to live on an ocean front property so that I can experience this joy each day.




Photos from Irene Suchocki

Day 14: N

Today I am grateful for my neighbors. I feel the good people that live near me help keep our neighborhood safe, desirable, quaint and homey. It doesn't hurt that I live in the same neighborhood as my parents and one of my cousins. That may not work for some people but when you get along with your family as much as I do, they make great neighbors too.



Do you get along with your neighbors?

{ lovely print from swallowfield }

Day 13: M

This may be one of the superficial gratitude days but I'm grateful for magazines. I'm a huge fan of these printed periodicals. Each month I look forward to curling up with my favorites and getting inspired. My magazines gets looked at over and over. Pages are marked, torn out and saved. Lately I'm even more grateful that some of my faves are still around with the magazine industry seemingly struggling and having had lost lots of greats in the last year (I miss you so Blueprint).



Some of my favorite magazines are Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, Country Living, Coastal Living, and InStyle. What are your must reads each month?

photo found here

Day 12: L

I'm grateful for love today. For being loved by family and friends. For having family and friends to love. For feeling the blog love. And for having a loving God.




Photos from Pen and Paper, Max Wanger, The Love Shop, Simple Effulgence

Day 11: K

Today I'm grateful for kitchen, especially my kitchen. There's a reason people say the kitchen is the heart of a home. When we moved into our first house last year the kitchen helped sell us on the home and since then I've been baking and cooking up treats there. I'm so grateful to have a place to prepare meals and to have good foods to eat each day. So many around the world aren't so lucky...



Instead of featuring beautiful kitchen photos today (I figured I do that enough) I thought I'd post a couple facts about Heifer International who is trying to help those who hunger.

Heifer International:

• focuses on building sustainable communities across the globe.
• teaches impoverished groups around the world how to protect and rejuvenate their land, water and other natural resources.
• gives hungry communities animals and tools to feed their members and keep them from going hungry again.
• teaches recipients animal welfare guidelines.
  
• hopes to end world hunger.
• accepts donations to further their mission.
• offers gift cards so you can donate in someone's name (a perfect gift this upcoming holiday season)
• can be found here if you want more info.
  

I really support this charity and hope that spreading the word will help them grow and flourish. One day I hope that I'll get to contribute to them and help those who hunger across the globe.

photos from Hiefer International

Day 10: J

If you read my (very much a work in progress) "about me" page you know that I am a Christian. So for every gratitude list I ever make, Jesus will always be my first pick for "J." Every day and each grace is a gift from Him. My blog and the inspiration behind it comes from my goal to live my life for Him.

Day 9: I

I didn't forget about my new family the other day...they get their own special post too! When I married my husband I luckily inherited another great family. I feel grateful and lucky to have in-laws that I not only get along with but love! In so many cases this is not the norm...who hasn't heard horror stories of in-laws that seem just terrible. I'm grateful that the man I love comes from such a great family!



These are my beautiful nieces and nephews.

Day 8: H

I've lived in the same town my entire life and until I was 21 lived in the same home with my parents. Luckily, I love where I live and aside from the college days of wanting to try something different and go far away, I've never wished to be anywhere else. The hubby and I bought our first home last year and it is so wonderful be making our house a home. I'm grateful to have grown up in a community that I love. I'm even more grateful that my parents created such a perfect home for me and my sister. And I am every so grateful to be doing the same with my hubby. There's no place like home!


{ Erin Jane Shop }



{ Sunny Champagne }



{ Dazey Chic }



{ Tutti Studio }



{ vol. 25 }