Home

Today's Beautiful Thing is home. What does the word mean to me? It's security, shelter, it's the one place in the world where I belong. Today was a very long day at work. Coming home to my little gray house and my loving little family was a priceless thing. True joy.

convenience food

Today's Beautiful Thing is crispy shrimp tempura with sweet & sour sauce from the freezer. I baked up 8 huge prawns in the oven to go along with some leftover risotto, a piece of steak (the hubby's), and fresh steamed veggies. Dinner was fast and very tasty!

Mr. Right

Today's Beautiful Thing is coming home from work and finding the hubby waiting for me. He took today off and did a lot of nice things for me while I was working. I'm so lucky to have found my Mr. Right--especially since he's Mr Left Wing. :)

accomplishments

Today's Beautiful Thing is getting all those little errands taken care of. We bought some under-the-bed clothing organizers, new workout clothes and other stuff. I just finished renewing my license and car registration by mail and I'm doing the laundry. I love crossing things off my list.

Fun with friends

Today's Beautiful Thing is the simplicity of a spontanious BBQ lunch with friends. We even took Lulu with us. She enjoyed playing with our friends' new puppy.

Strawberries!

Today's Beautiful Thing is the Strawberry Festival, a local festival which takes place every Memorial Day weekend. It's always nice to attend this little fair, eat strawberry desserts and listen to live music under some big shady trees.

Marriage

Today's Beautiful Thing is a good marriage. The hubby and I went to the store tonight and had a simple dinner out. We talked and really enjoyed each other's company. I love nights like that. I'm a lucky wife.

Doing good

Today's Beautiful Thing is doing a good deed. While out walking Lulu, a happy spaniel-type dog came running up to us. We took her home and let Lulu and Gypsy Rose (that was her name) play in the yard while we waited for her mom and dad to come and get her. They were most grateful to have her back. The dog park has been closed for a couple of weeks and Lulu enjoyed having a friend over to play with. Gypsy Rose just lives down the street. We can always visit.

Woman's Best Friend

Today's Beautiful Thing is the love of a dog. I wasn't feeling well today, so I went home early. Lulu was so happy to see me. She made me feel better.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Today's Beautiful Thing is my supervisor's kindness. We finished balancing the bank book today--which she called, "just like your own checkbook but HUGE"--hence the photo above. :) She told me I did a really good job on it. I don't know if she said it because I really did (I actually think I did) or just to boost a newbie's confidence, but her words sure made me feel good.

Diet Treat

Today's Beautiful Thing is Hostess 100 calorie snack packs. My favorite is the yellow cake with chocolate frosting 3-pack. I find them very satisfying at work around 3 PM when I get my sweet cravings.

family time & Four Months

Today's Beautiful Thing is spending time with family. The hubby and I went with his parents to see his uncle's house, which has now been renovated and is up for sale. The drive is long (but pretty) and we chatted all the way there and home. The house looks great and someone's already made an offer on it. Yay!

Today is also the 4 month anniversary of the day we lost Atticus. I still think about him nearly every single day. He's been gone now twice as long as we had him, but the pain is still fresh most days. I miss you so much boy, and I will always try to find something beautiful in every single day just as you always did. Rest in peace baby boy.

Bargains!

Today's Beautiful thing is a great bargain! I bought two skirts, two sleevless shells and two of the longer halter tops with rouching today, all buy one get one for 99 cents. For $99, I got 6 articles of clothing. The skirts are for work, the shells and halter tops for home. I needed some cool summer tops. Yay!

More learning

Today's Beautiful Thing is Learning (again). I am learning some more new stuff at work, the Company Bank Book. A lot of is is busy work: entering all the transactions and then reconciling them when the bank statements come, but I love it. There's just something incredibly satisfying about finding each item on the spreadsheet and crossing it out.

You go girl!

Today's Beautiful Thing is a strong woman who knows how to turn a phrase. Nothing is more powerful than the written word. Rock on sister.

Give her chocolate

Today's Beautiful Thing is chocolate. I had a Hershey's kiss and it calmed my nerves. Ahhh, the food of the Gods. :)

Simple

Today's Beautiful Thing is friends. Friends are wonderful, pure and simple.

Fond Farewell

Today's Beautiful Thing is a little sitcom called The King of Queens. We don't watch much TV, but this show always made us smile. I wish the actors well in their future endeavors.

Mom

Today's Beautiful Thing is my mom. We had lunch together and saw the movie Georgia Rule and had a lovely day. It was perfect. I love my mommy and I'm the luckiest girl in the world. :) (Pictured: me, Mom, my cousin)

Appreciation

Today's Beautiful Thing is being able to look back on my life and be glad for where I am today. I decorated a cake this afternoon, which I used to do for a living. I like doing creative things and it was a fulfilling job, but the politics and working conditions were deplorable. I appreciate my current job and the people I work with so very much at this very moment.

helpfulness

Today's Beautiful Thing is a group of lovely ladies who have been helping me solve a minor problem in the plotting of my WIP. Thank you!

Today is also my father in law's birthday! Happy Birthday Mike! And many, many more...

Catalina

Today's Beautiful Thing is Santa Catalina Island off the coast of Long Beach, CA. It's one of my all time favorite getaway places. It's on fire right now and I'm praying it will be ok. I treasure the memories of the few times I've visited.

mmmm!

Today's Beautiful Thing is the smell of cake baking. Mmmmm....

patience

Today's Beautiful Thing is the patience of a very kind soul who is helping me learn something I'm not-so-good at. Thanks J.

Leftovers

Today's Beautiful thing is leftover spaghetti sauce. Why does it always taste better after a few nights of reheating? Yummm....

Joy

Today's beautiful Thing is the joy I get from writing. As I sit here trying to think of rhyming words for a magick spell, I realize this project is making me so happy. I love writing and I love *Earth, my heroine. (Earth's not her name, but it's what I'm calling her for now.)

*Earth's photo above was painted by the artist Ericka Baque. Please note her website information below:

Yummy!

Today's Beautiful Thing is finding a yummy new place to eat fresh, healthy, and seriously tasty food! What's the name of this fabulous place? The Whole Enchilada. The lettuce shrimp tacos proved to be the perfect Cinco de Mayo lunch. We will definitely be back! If you live in So CA, check them out!

pretty!

Today's Beautiful Thing is my pretty new watch. It's an Eco-Drive watch, which means I will not have to buy batteries for it--ever. I have a lot of electricity in my body and I kill all my watch batteries. No more!

my thoughtful husband

Today's Beautiful Thing is my thoughtful husband. He went to the store and picked up some of my favorite coffee mix just because he knows I like it. Thank you honey.

Research

Today's Beautiful Thing is the joy of research. I am having a blast reading and scouring the internet for information on my protagonist, a Witch. The study of Wicca is very intersting. I've even found some of the chapters on visulaizing and meditation to be just the thing I've needed the last couple of weeks. Funny how things come to you when you need them.

learning!

Today's Beautiful Thing is learning. One of my supervisors gave me an overview of what I'll be doing in my new job. I can't wait. I'm both interested and excited to finally be learning something new. I really think I'm going to like it.