Italian Shaved Ice

Today's Beautiful Thing is Italian shaved Ice layered with vanilla ice cream in a tall cup on a hot California Saturday! The hubby got a combo of wild cherry & strawberry, and I got a combo of strawberry & pina colada. Yum!

Weekend

Today's Beautiful Thing is the weekend. After a long workweek, two days off is most welcome! (Too bad I can't spend those days in the photo above. LOL!) I hope you all enjoy your weekend.

Friends

Today's Beautiful Thing is seeing a dear friend who I haven't seen in a whole year! Last time I saw Robin was March 2006! The beautiful thing about true friendship, though, is that it never seems like you've been apart that long.

A little kiss

Today's Beautiful Thing is the creamy, milk-chocolatey goodness of a little Hershey's Kiss. My boss keeps a jar of them on her desk for those 3 PM sweet tooth cravings.

Cuppa Joe

Today's Beautiful Thing is a warm cup of my favorite Hazelnut Cappuccino. Believe it or not, my husband found it at the 99 Cent Store! One package makes 3 large cups. So, 35 cents per cup vs. $3.50 a cup I'd have paid at Starbucks. Happy me!

Catalog shopping

Today's Beautiful Thing is getting just what I'd hoped for from a catalog. This tank top fits well and will work very nicely with my work wardrobe. Isn't that great? :)

Oranges fresh from the tree

Today's Beautiful Thing is the juicy sweetness of a fresh orange from our backyard tree. Yummmm...

meet me for lunch

Today's Beautiful Thing is the simple pleasure of meeting Michele for lunch. We both had salads, but being good Italian girls, we shared a bruchetta appetizer thing. Oh, and we shared an apple pie thing. You've all heard that when both you and your friend eat the same thing the calories don't count right? :0)

Oh, and I am a dweeb. I had my camera with me, but I didn't take our picture. D'oh! Old one posted above. The only one I have besides the group shot from the Komen walk.

Oh happy day!

Clare!

Today's Beautiful Thing is waking up to a nice little note from Clare on yesterday's post. Her Blogger icon is the one you see above. Clare's Blog, Three Beautiful Things, was the inspiration for my little blog.

Here's what her profile says, "I live in a draughty but much-loved first-floor flat. I believe that happiness is found mostly in small things." What's not to like, right?

I'm totally tickled that Clare popped by to say hi. In fact, I simply must tell Katy, because if she hadn't blogged about it first, I never would have thought to do this.

Thanks again Katy!
Cheers Clare!

A positive Attitude

Today's Beautiful Thing is the positive attitude displayed by John and Elizabeth Edwards at their press conference today. I don't know many people who are able to get the worst news of their lives and remain so optimistic. I admire them so much. My prayers are with the family and with all cancer survivors tonight and always. Hugs to my Michele as well.

Elizabeth Edwards

Today's Beautiful Thing is Elizabeth Edwards. I've known she was special since the first time I saw her in 2003--primary season for the 2004 election. John Edwards is going to make an announcement about his wife's health tomorrow and I'm praying that it's good news.

Peace and Quiet & 2 months

Today's Beautiful Thing is peace and quiet. At work today the IT guys worked in the Server Room almost the entire day. My desk is right across from the Server Room, so it made for a very noisy day, very difficult to get any work done. I was grumpy and had a headache that would not go away. Then I came home to my little house. The hubby was surfing the net, Lulu greeted me at the door, and it was so quiet. Sigh.

On a side note: Today is the two month Anniversary of the day we had to put Atticus to sleep--and the two month anniversary of the blog as well. I'm glad I started doing this blog because it forces me to remember something good happens every day. Posting Kilroy's "photos" on March 18th reminded me (not that I'd forgotten) that Kilroy was just like Atticus--always eager to make friends, one big loverboy. I'm thinking of changing the dedication of the blog so that all my beloved pets' names are in the dedication. I'll mull it over for a while.

Frozen Food

Today's Beautiful Thing is frozen food. I don't know why, but I've been sleepy all day and the thought of cooking an entire meal was beyond me. Well, frozen crispy breaded tilapia fillets and fries to the rescue. Of course, I'd bought it for Friday (it's lent) but I still have a box of shrimp and there's more fries. :)

Kilroy

Today's Beautiful Thing is my Akita Kilroy who passed away 4 years ago today. He was our big white angel, our sweet boy, our magic dog. There will never be another dog like him and we are so blessed that he chose to be with us. I don't have any pictures of him scanned to my computer, but I do have a couple of pictures of dogs who look like him. They will have to do for now. I love you Kilroy and I will never forget you.

Samurai Shiro "Kilroy"
March 17, 1993-
March 18, 2003
Rest in Peace

St. Paddy's Day!

Today's Beautiful Thing is St. Patrick's Day. I was raised by my mom's side of the family, but my dad's side is Irish. My mom always told me it was my holiday, so I grew up with very warm feelings for St Patrick. I hope you have your green on! Here's a link to my favorite Irish Song, Black Velvet Band. And here's a link to my favorite local Irish band, the Fenians. Irish pub songs are really fun.

Movie Nght

Today's Beautiful Thing is going out to dinner and a movie with our nephews. We saw the comedy Wild Hogs and we all had a great time tonight. :)

A friendly call

Today's Beautiful Thing is a simple phone call. I sent an e-mail to someone today and she called me back, rather than replying. She said she appreciated my e-mail, it made her happy and she wanted to thank me by phone because it was more personal. That was really nice.

The Witch

Today's Beautiful Thing is the photo above. I've been plotting my next manuscript and I found this photo. She's perfect. I'm calling her "the witch who shall remain nameless" for now. You see, I like characters a lot. I'm attempting to plot a novel FIRST before getting to know my characters. This is a first for me. I'm not giving any of them names until the initial plot is done. Anyway, I think she's cool. The artist ia Ericka Baque. I love her website.

Synchronicity

Today's Beautiful Thing is synchronicity. I was promoted a few months ago, but they've been trying to fill my position all this time, so I've never actually started my new job. Today I found out that not only has a the perfect person applied for the job, but my friend (who also applied for the position) is being offered another position in my department that will work out just fine for her. A happy ending all the way around!

Security

Today's Beautiful Thing is our new Norton Internet Security pack. It took all night to install (sheesh!) but it's done now and I already feel safer! Ok, so I'm being sarcastic, but we got a good deal on it and at least I know how the install goes so Tuesday night it will go faster on the other computer. :)

Great Music!

Today's Beautiful Thing is the music of Kathy Valentine. I loved her when she was a member of the Go-Gos. In Jr. High I had a Kathy Valentine 'do! I just found her website and her new CD and I can't wait to get it. Plus, isn't she just adorable?!

Sleep- Post #50!

Today's beautiful Thing is going to bed early on a Saturday night. Nothing beats the healing power of sleep. And who doesn't like sleeping in on Sunday morning? :)

Awwww!

Today's Beautiful Thing is this unusual pair of friends, Billy and Kiko. This is the sweetest thing I've ever seen!

Me Time

Today's Beautiful Thing is me time. Being an only child, I enjoy being home alone sometimes. Tonight my hubby is working late and I have the house all to myself for four hours. I'm doing some writing. Yay!

Despair

Today's Beautiful Thing is the Despair website. I guess it sounds kind of odd to choose Despair as my something beautiful, but it makes me laugh and that's a good thing. Plus, they had their annual one day sale today. That's a good thing too. :) I can't wait to get my stuff.

Grace Ann

Today's Beautiful Thing is my friend Lori's new baby Grace Ann. She was born on Sunday, Feb. 25th at 1:09 in the afternoon- 5 weeks early, but doing great. She weighed 5 lbs 14 oz and was 18 3/4 inches long. What a sweet little pink and pretty baby girl. Blessings to Lori, James & big brother Nick. Smooches!

A sleepy bully girl

Today's Beautiful Thing is a sleeping Bulldog. Lulu looks so peaceful when she's asleep and she makes the cutest snores, snorts and sighs.

Thin Mints!

Today's beautiful Thing is Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies. My husband bought a box of them from our next door neighbors. As soon as they deliver them, they are going in the freezer. Yum! Here's something fun, a quiz.

Icon

Today's Beautiful Thing is the Icon line of hair products. With this dry weather, my already insanely dry hair needs all the help it can get. Thank you Icon Free, Drench: you ain't so bad yourself and Bright: you are the goddess of the line.

No, the photo above is not me. Hopefully with the continued use of Icon products, I can be as frizz-free as this pretty lass. I've got the curls and color already covered. :)

Love

Today's Beautiful thing is this short video. I cried as I watched it. Cuddle your four-legged loved ones a little closer tonight. I'll always remember the love my pets have given me.

A purring cat

Today's Beautiful Thing is the purring cat who is sitting in my lap. (In the photo he's not in my lap, but on a messy table--but this is him.) Sleep soundly kitty.