Done!

Today's Beautiful Thing is getting all my work done. I thought I was going to have to work on Saturday, but not now. Yay!

Health

Today's Beautiful Thing is something I often take for granted--my health. I took my mom to the doctor today and I saw people walking with walkers, waiting to see the doctor, bandaged and bruised, etc. and I realized how truly lucky I am to be healthy and to have health insurance. The saying "without your health you have nothing" is absolutely true.

Help! I need somebody...

Today's Beautiful Thing is being able to help my mom when she needs it. I feel so lucky that she lives close to me and I can help her from time to time.

In the cool, cool, cool of the evening...

Today's Beautiful Thing is a cool night with a nice breeze after a long, hot summer day. Ahhh...

Rolling with the Punches

Today's Beautiful Thing is our little Ace. Hubby told me that he learned a lot from him lately--and he's right. His allergies have been terrible, so he had to wear an e-collar (AKA the cone) so he wouldn't scratch his face and make it worse. The funny thing is, he didn't let it get him down. He was as perky and playful as he always was, collar or not. We should all try to be a bit more like Ace.

Blooms

Today's Beautiful Thing is our front yard garden! We visited a local nursery and bought two flats of flowers and then we went home and planted them all. Our garden is so colorful and it's going to look even better in a couple or weeks when it fills in.

Date Night

Today's Beautiful Thing is date night. Hubby and I have been together nearly 25 years, but I still love going to our favorite antique stores, lunch out, movies and pizza. All those simple things we did when we were dating. :)

Yummy!

Today's Beautiful Thing is the best turkey sandwich from a new sandwich shop by my work. I'm glad it's so close so I can go there whenever I want. Mmmmm...

Peace

Today's Beautiful Thing is everything happening for a reason. I wish my friends peace and healing now. Finally <3

I'm Walkin'

Today's Beautiful Thing is taking our nightly walk. We took a few nights off and it was so good to get back to it. :)

Hooray for Hair

Today's Beautiful Thing is the Kenra shampoo, conditioner & leave in conditioner my friend T gave me for my birthday. The products smell heavenly and my hair feels lighter and softer already, even though it's still damp. Hooray!

Simplicity

Today's Beautiful Thing is a simple BBQ. I bought a package of prime rib (30% off!) for hubby and I had a couple of chicken breasts. I decided to BBQ at the last minute. I hadn't marinated either of them, simply sprinkled the beef with salt & pepper and then the beef & chicken with Creole & mesquite seasonings (from Fresh & Easy) and threw them on the grill. The prime rib was thick, so it took almost the same amount of time for both meats. Hubby couldn't believe how juicy it was! I'll definitely be doing this again. :)

Facelift

Today's Beautiful Thing is giving our kitchen a facelift. With some fresh paint on the walls and cabinets, new knobs and drawer pulls, the room looks fresh and clean, updated, yet nostalgic. It's amazing what some small details can do. Yeah!

(Picture to come. Sorry!)

Family Dinner

Today's Beautiful Thing is a small family dinner to celebrate my birthday. Just me, hubby, Mom, and my aunt. It was nice. :)

Caring

Today's Beautiful Thing is a husband who truly cares. I wasn't feeling well at all tonight and he really took good care of me. Love my man. :)

Thoughtfulness

Today's Beautiful Thing is all the people who did thoughtful things for me today. I received some nice gifts, phone calls, e-mails, and even a very cool birthday cake. It's nice to know that people care. Thanks everyone.

Family & Friends

Today's Beautiful Thing is having special people in my life. My cousin Sheri and my friend Charity both have birthdays today. Happy Happy!

4 Pages!

Today's Beautiful Thing is finding out that the 2 pages that I wrote longhand were actually 4 manuscript pages once I transcribed them. Woo hoo! Makes me feel like I can do anything. :)

2 Pages

Today's Beautiful Thing is writing two good pages and completing the scene I started a couple of weeks ago. I feel very accomplished and writerly. :)

Bargain Shopping

Today's Beautiful Thing is getting exactly what we were looking for at a rock-bottom price. No sale, no coupon, no clearance table, mind you, this was the regular price. Would you believe we bought a mini blind for the window on the kitchen door for $2.97? Me neither if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes. Oh, happy day! :)

Long Dinner

Today's Beautiful Thing is dinner out with Mom that included a nearly 3 hour long conversation. Love it.

Naptime

Today's Beautiful Thing is a nice nap after a long day at work. We got up around 8:30 and grabbed a bite to eat. I love my childfree life. :)

Tug o' War

Today's Beautiful Thing is watching our pups play tug o' war with an empty pudding cup. Lulu was on the couch with it in her mouth and Ace was on the floor with all 4 paws planted firmly, putting is weight into it, trying to pull it away from her. She weighs twice as much as he does, but he finally managed to get it from her. I have to wonder if she let go on purpose so he'd fly backwards. I wouldn't put it past her. Lulu's pretty smart. :)

Delicious and Healthful

Today's Beautiful Thing is a really superior chicken salad. Hubby took me out for our favorite fiesta Cabo salad tonight. Grilled, marinated spicy chicken breast, crispy Romaine, fresh tomatoes, shredded carrot, cucumber, avocado, feta cheese and a sprinkling of chili powder. He gets the chipotle ranch and I use the tomato basil and salsa. Mmmm!

Bonus Beautiful Thing: I'm smiling because I got "delicious and healthful" off one of our antique Coke signs. Imagine advertising it like that? :)

Tag Team Squared

Today's Beautiful Thing is my cousin Kari and her hubby Rob who are celebrating their 2 year anniversary. They got married in on 07/07/07 in Las Vegas (where else?) which was a lucky day for them indeed.

Bonus Beautiful Thing: K & R are in the process of getting certified to adopt two "lucky" children. I think adoption is the coolest thing ever and I'm so proud of them. :)

Employment

Today's Beautiful Thing is being employed. It may be difficult to go back to work after a three day weekend, but at least I have a job to go back to--a job that paid me to take Friday off. A job that also pays me to take a vacation. I'm very lucky.

Tag Team

Today's Beautiful Thing is teamwork. The hubby and I are doing some painting and it's so much easier doing it together. Yay! Speaking of teamwork, my cousin Kristin & her hubby Joe are celebrating their one year anniversary today. Happy Happy!

Let Freedom Ring

Today's beautiful Thing is the pride I feel to live in a country where Barack Obama is our president. America is far from being equal for all, but we sure have come a long way.

Community

Today's Beautiful Thing is a good old-fashioned community event. Our city celebrates the 4th of July on the 3rd every year (don't ask) and today was no exception. We ate pizza & tacos and drank root beer floats, watched local bands and topped it off with the community chorus singing patriotic songs and a fireworks show. It was such a nice night. :)

Longtime Friends

Today's Beautiful Thing is having a heart-to-heart talk with an old friend. In the past few years we've sort of gone our separate ways. Part of the reason why was a misunderstanding and we seem to have cleared that up. I'm glad.

Old Friends

Today's Beautiful Thing is finding old friends on the internet. I found a friend from elementary school today. A boy who was always nice to a shy, chubby, awkward little girl. The coolest thing was, he was happy to "see" me too. :)