the most wonderful time of the year!

Tonight is my last gratitude post.  Wow...what a great 30 days and how blessed I am to have so much to be thankful for!

So...that means that tomorrow is the first day I will officially be celebrating the season.  Let me just say that I LOVE December...caroling, decorations, lit trees, happy-birthday-to-me, movies in matching jammies, and red everywhere just to name a few.

December babies are the BEST!

Today I am thankful that:
30) Christmas is right around the corner.

How fast this year has flown by and I cannot believe that in 2.5 weeks I will be headed back to celebrate another holiday at home.  (Thanksgiving post coming soon, fyi.)

My roommate and I are totally embracing the decorations - Dallas is more "done up" than anywhere I have ever been.  Even before Thanksgiving (and pretty darn close to Halloween) they had trains at the mall, songs on the radio, and window displays OUT.

We did a little shopping spree at World Market and dodged the crowds at Michael's (beware of the glitter), got some Pinterest inspiration and have lit our Christmas-tree scented candle while we bust out the fake garland, red placemats, and snowflakes.

I am thankful for roommate's boyfriend who came over and did this beautiful light job on a Saturday! 

I cannot wait for the holiday parties to commence, to go for a sunset run in my neighborhood to explore lights, and to get gifts for all of my faves.

Of course, more than any of the "30 thanks" I have posted all month long, I am of course thankful for:  the REAL reason for the season.  

Happy Birthday, baby Jesus! 

100th post!

Today (also coincidentally the date of my one hundredth time to write on here!) I am thankful for:

29) this blog.

What a joy it is to reflect and to use my love of words and writing to create something that I can share with family and friends.  Thanks to all of you who read these emails/posts/check in on me via the internet.

I LOVE writing and cannot tell you how therapeutic it is to post.  I am so thankful for my single-hood, which I have wholeheartedly embraced through this creative outlet, and all of the amazing blogs out there I drool over each week/steal ideas from regularly.

Can't wait to see what other things T*S*T has in store for me.

frozen, with salt.

Today I am thankful for:

28) Margarita Monday

It's a magical hour between 6:30 and 7:30 where the girls get together for a beer/frozen adult beverage.  A time when we can catch up on our weekends, swap boy-stories, giggle until our stomachs hurt, and let go of the weekly stress that has already piled up after only one day back at work.  The drinks are $2 happy hour price, the salty chips and salsa are an easy, free dinner option (and on permanent refill) and time seems to stand still.  Who can say no to any event that costs less than $5?

I am so thankful that my roommate and her college pals Sarah, Ashley, and Ellen drug me along to this weekly ritual back when we first moved.  Sometimes I start daydreaming about it when I am driving to work on a particularly cranky Monday morning.  And on a cold November night (where you leave work and it's already dark) it feels like 4th of July weekend - for just a little while.

P.S. it's never too cold to drink a frozen beverage with a salted rim.

Bakerella

Today I am thankful for a safe drive back to Dallas, the sweet feeling that in three weeks I will have another incredible family holiday, exciting December parties to look forward to, and (this is real!) heading back to work.

Tonight I am especially thankful for:

27) mini cupcakes, dress up parties, and MOSTLY...my "cousins."

Had a playdate tonight with two of my favorite three girly girls and we had a blast. How can you have the Sunday blues when you are surrounded by sprinkles, Beiber Christmas music, and blonde cuddle bugs?

"it's like we are having our own cooking show, Ana!"

How about a giggly four year old who whispers "I love you more, Ana." into your ear at bedtime? Pretty special.

So glad Miss Libby and I have the exact same kind of sweet tooth. Red velvet for life. And what a dedicated decorator she was! So helpful to her eager little sister.

Oh! And of course we missed Dylan...who was showcasing her beautiful voice at a choir concert. Don't worry....there were more than a few leftover cupcakes we saved for "big sis."

I love how openly these good friends (who I tell everyone are my family) have taken me in. How readily they include me in everything and how easy and pleasant they all are to be around. They are a huge reason I came back to Dallas over and over when deciding where to move and I am so blessed!

The Lucky 7

My life would be so different without my cousins. There are 7 grandchildren in our family and it has been so fun growing up together. We have only gotten closer the older we get.

What used to be cousin sleepovers, fractured fairy tales with Paw Paw on fishing trips, family boat rides and picking crabmeat side by side has transformed into group texts, football game weekends, Facebook posts and a hopeful cousins-only ski trip one day!

I love RL's humor, Michelle's sweet artistic gift and spirit (shes the fourth Casanova sister) and the adventures of Jojo the drummer.

Here's a gem from Thanksgiving back in the 90s.

Crafting away!

Today I am thankful for:

25) knitting.

The not-so littles

My very first Thanksgiving tribute post was for my dear sister Kathleen and today I want to roll my other two favorite people into the same entry today.  

Today I am thankful for: 

23) my sister Laura

and

24) my brother Christopher

When we were kids Kathleen and I were so much taller than the two younger children in the family and my mom used to refer to us as the "BIGS" and "LITTLES."  It's a little bit silly now to think back on those nicknames as my brother (the baby of the family) has outgrown us all - and outgrew some of us way back when. :)  But I think I will always think of us as 2+2=4 - at least when I remember growing up.  There's something really special about our foursome and the sacred traditions we hold dear.  Back in Kidnation (what we called our upstairs quarters) the magic began with movie watching on pillow pallets, holiday traditions, jam sessions in the playroom, and sharing bathrooms/closets/computers/you name it.  

It is really hard to be home together without our Kikster, but I have had a lovely time with my two younger siblings today.  They got in yesterday and it has been non-stop.  There were moments full of  puns, times when we broke out into musical songs and laughed at each other's jokes.  Today Laura and I nearly survived an "emergency" trip to the store for a gallon of milk and couldn't stop laughing/crying at the sheer chaos!  

Side note: Today my mom mentioned watching one of our favorite holiday movies together (Hint: Tim Allen in the 90s) and my sister Laura and I both shouted "NO!" in unison - feeling that it was sheer sacrilege without our fourth counterpart.  Kathleen, I have to say that we are EVEN more excited about seeing your face at Christmas than the food we will enjoy tomorrow (which by the way we are pretty excited about.)  

But I just want to send out some gratitude for my Lulu and Topher.  I cannot believe how much they have grown and even though there are times where they make me feel SO OLD, I am so blessed to be a part of their lives and to have them in mine.  They enrich my world each day - be it group-texting during the week, a phone call from out of town, or a shoulder to lean on during tough days.  

What would I do without Laura's constant banter, her love of couch-time under pillows and blankets?  Who else in our family would wear their pajamas all day with me and not feel guilty for a second?

Laura gives such wise advice and shows so much patience with everyone in our home.  

She also might be the only other Casanova who talks ALMOST as fast as I do. :)

Christopher, who else can recite all of Talladega Nights without needing to stop?

How do you know so much about EVERYTHING?  

Even though you are turning into a bro, I love how you aren't too embarrassed to hug your sister.  

Who can I count on each time I come home to burn me a new CD of amazing jams? 

Thank you for siblings, big families, brothers, sisters.  

I am so thankful that we are just as close NOW as we were back in our Kidnation days. 

"I'll have one cranberry limeade...."

Today I am thankful for:

22) Sonic happy hour

Discounted large beverages during the afternoon slump, keeps me out of trouble, and prevents "hangry" moments (where you feel hungry and angry simultaneously)...

What's not to love?

h.o.m.e.

Today I am thankful for: 

21) my parents.


It has been nearly 10 years since I graduated from high school.  I have NEVER lived close enough to my family to "drive" home and what a treat it is.  My new school also gave us the entire week off for Thanksgiving and let me tell you - I'm never going back to my old holiday schedule.  

After a week on the couch throwing up, my mom and dad treated me to a steak dinner, baked potatoes, champagne, and homemade pie.  To say that it was the best food I have eaten in a long time is definitely an understatement.  

I got in after a long morning on the road and had such a pleasant time hanging out with my mom before everyone else gets into town.  We giggled our way through the grocery store, swapped knitting patterns on the couch, and even got to Facetime with my baby godson, Everett.  (He is getting SO big and we got to see his teeth and watch him crawl - thank you, iPhone!)


When my dad got home we poured through all of the food magazines I brought with me (have I mentioned I am OBSESSED with Bon Appetit?) and got to work on a lemon chess pie (the recipe is from Billy Reid, this southern men's clothing designer who my dad loves, so of course, he had to bake with a bowtie on!).

I take after my father VERY MUCH and when we are together we often get a little bit silly.  It was sort of like a cheesy cooking show. :)   

We made ate a delicious dinner, made several toasts, watched bad TV, and talked about how excited we are for Christmas and New Year's with the whole family.  


My parents are simply incredible people.  They have created such a wonderful home for us in this new-ish city, are amazing entertainers, prove constantly to be great role models and listeners, and I can not even put into words how cool it is to be a Casanova.  

So thankful for them this holiday season, and to be living closer to them, which is a dream come true.  

friendsgiving

Tonight we gave the pilgrims and indians a run for their money with our own version of a truly bountiful feast.

My friend Josh had his buddies over for our very own "Friendsgiving." Each guest brought a dish to share and cans to donate for families in the Dallas area.  What a great idea!

The pumpkin/maple cream cheese cupcakes were awesome (thanks, Ina Garten!), I rocked the second-grade-style feather headband, and the host had to nearly kick us out the door at the end of the night.

I am so thankful for:

20) new buddies here in Dallas.

I have only been here for 4 months and I already feel so good about the quality of people I have met and been able to spend time with so far.  As the holiday party invites start to go out and the social calendars fill up, I am so excited to get back here, after Thanksgiving with my family, to make more memories.

Being single has been pretty easy here.  My roommate and her boyfriend have been such a blessing introducing me to their circle.  What a compliment to hear them tell me at dinner last night, "Ana, we don't worry about your social life at all.  You are so outgoing and get along great with everyone.  We love to introduce you to our friends and see you do your thing."

I am also quite proud of how well I have done at setting out on my own.  I have joined volunteer groups, social organizations, made plans with new people I meet at certain events, reached out to some old contacts from high school, and feel like there are even already a few people's numbers in my cell phone that I can call when I have a long day or need someone to listen.  Disclaimer: I think there's something about the friendly Texan atmosphere that makes it less intimidating to stick out your right hand and spit out your first name with a smile.  

Cheers to potluck dinners, movie nights, ranch weekends, happy hours, bible study burger nights, and football Saturdays!  And thanks to the fabulous Waggoner house men for a delightful Sunday night.

wahoo wa!

Today I am thankful for:

19) the University of Virginia.

At the sake of sounding snobby and severely biased, I'll keep it short.  Let's just say I was very lucky to have amazing parents who paid for me to go far away (and come home often) to study at an incredible institute.  I am blessed to have met so many amazing people there, and still feel quite proud when people ask me where I went to college.  I just about lose it when I see someone who has a V+sabre bumper sticker and love to sing the Good Ole' Song right over the tune of Auld Lang Syne during the holidays. :)

I don't think there's any other time of year I miss it more than during the Fall.

Can you tell why?

It's kind of crazy to think that I am old enough to be having my 5 year reunion back in Charlottesville this summer.  Time sure does fly.

WAHOOWA, WAHOOWA

UNI-V, VIR-GIN-I-A

HOO-RAH-RAY, HOO-RAH-RAY

RAY! RAY! U-V-A!

a roof over my head

Having spent the entire last two days inside ONLY, it seems fitting to thank God for a roof over my head, a place to live, a comfy couch, and a quite cute (if I do say so myself) apartment here in the D.

Today I am thankful for:
18) my apartment.

I have lived ALL over the place in all kinds of places after I left home for college (bunk beds with Devon, the TINY house full of teachers, a sorority house with 38 other DGs, downtown in Savannah, a co-ed dorm with a crazy food-hoarding freshman roommate, extra bedroom in a little piso during my summer in Spain) and I have to say this one is quite nice.  I went without several modern conveniences in my last little place in GA (no AC, no microwave, no toaster, no washer/dryer) to save money and am so thankful each morning when I can throw my pants in the dryer to de-wrinkle while I heat myself some water for a cup of tea or coffee.  You don't realize how good you have it until you don't have it at all, I think.

But seriously, there are so many people who don't have a place to stay warm in the winter, to sleep when they are sick, to spend time with loved ones....the list goes on and on.  And while the little things are nice, THAT is what I am so thankful for.

This apartment makes me feel like a real grown up.   

While it was so fun to live alone (you learn SO much about youself) I love EVEN MORE having a pal to come home to and to "nest" with.  We have done a great job (and a lot of giggling and screaming!) hanging our own artwork (who needs men!?!?!) and picking out some items to match our taste.

I love how it is looking and am so excited for more visitors to come!

I found this video that I did on my computer the first week or two that there were no longer boxes in view.  I wanted to show it to my family so they could see my new digs....and realized that I never posted it.  Typical.  So why not add it to my post?

Here's the first virtual tour of our sweet little place. ;)

clear eyes...

full hearts...

can't lose.

Today I am thankful for:

17) Friday Night Lights on DVD.

Riggins, QB2, the Taylors and every single one of my favorites in Dillon, TX kept me company on the couch all day.

What an amazing show.  What an incredible story.

Just finished season 5.....

Tummy bug

Can't believe how ill I feel right now and how quickly it came on. It takes one day of feeling sick to remind you that on a daily basis we take for granted getting up and functioning normally 24/7.

I can't keep any food down and have cuddled with the trash can for most of the afternoon. I can't believe I thought I could teach today. Ugh.

Today I am thankful for:

16) Popsicles, my lucky blanket, saltine crackers, ginger ale and plain pasta noodles. But mostly Popsicles.

The roommate brought these gems home from the store (did I mention we were home sick together like true roommates?) and I totally turned a corner. So cool, so delicious, settles the tummy. Who knew? I have been eating them two at a time. ;)

Being sick reminds me not only to be thankful for good health, but also broke me down today and reminded me that the little things make a big difference.

ring ring

Tonight I got to talk to one of my girls who I had been playing phone tag with for a few weeks/months now.  Honestly, I can't even remember the last time we talked.

She was in the car driving, I was headed out the door to bible study and we only got about 17 minutes on the phone and had so much to share.  Instead of swapping stories, we made each other giggle about silly moments we had when we were roommates, talked about the next time we are 'just going to have to take off work and fly out to visit' one another, and at the end of the chat I found myself out of breath and grinning from ear to ear.

Do you have any of those friends who you can talk to for hours on end?  But also the kind who if you haven't talked to in forever it doesn't matter?  I love me some Tyler-time.

So today, I am thankful for:

15) phone calls from far away friends.

My buddies live all over this crazy country and I am so thankful that all of them call to check up and chat with me all of the time.  I am often bad about returning missed calls (or go to bed embarassingly early and miss them while I sleep?) but they love me anyways.  There is something special about the voice of a girlfriend - be it a silly message, a needy heart to heart, or a late-night drama dial.  When I see those names and numbers pop up on my phone, there aren't quite words to describe it.

elmo, spaghetti, and red wine

I am off to bed but have to do a shout out to my teaching partner who made my Monday night.

Today I am thankful for:

14)  girl time.

I went over to the Adler abode for dinner with J and Miss Fin tonight.  Jessa is the teacher who I share all of my students with and at school, we are quite attached at the hip, some say.

It was so fun to cook, catch up NOT in the hallway while our students run around us, and to hang out with the cutest gals I've met so far in Dallas.

"FinFin" (19 months) kept us highly entertained with her spaghetti slurping, bath time antics, trying on my jewelry and her silly little self in front of her favorite cartoons on the couch while we chopped, stirred, and chatted.  I loved seeing Jessa's place, hearing about her and Tony's plans to remodel it it over and over, and cooking dinner with a new friend.  You know it's been a good night when you have laughed, almost cried, and your jaw dropped a few times.  :)  There's nothing quite like time spent with a gal pal over a glass of wine while swapping war stories about the dating world, teaching tales and ideas about life in general.

Ooh! and her crafty Christmas decorations made me wanna get started on sprucing up my own place!

I heart ya, Mrs. A.

happy girl

This weekend, I am thankful for:

11) lazy Sundays

12) a fridge full of groceries.

TEN DAYS UNTIL TURKEY!

ZBB

Do you like your chicken fried?
Cold beer on a Friday night?

Last night I got to see one of my favorite groups in concert.

What an awesome show.

If you aren't familiar with the Zac Brown Band, you are missing out. These fun guys have the catchiest of songs, sing amazing harmonies and play beautiful music. My little brother got me hooked a while back...
I can't decide which ZBB song is my favorite but lets just say I was pretty pumped when this one came on:

They donate tons of money to local charities and also did a great Veterans tribute with "America the Beautiful" at the end of the night.

The arena was packed and at the start of the show we found out that it was the biggest crowd they had ever played for. AWESOME! We also got a surprise visit on stage from Randy Travis....a true country legend.

I am finding myself loving country music more and more.... Not sure why but I can't get enough of the lyrics and it's so darn easy to sing along to in the car. ;)

Special thanks to my BFF Jeff who got us awesome tickets online!

Proud to be an American

Today I am thankful for:

11) veterans.

I am keeping my friends, great uncles, and complete strangers in my thoughts and prayers as I thank my lucky stars that I live somewhere safe. I am thankful for those who have shown bravery, given their lives and time away from their families to let me be an American.



Today I was nearly brought to tears during our morning activity. We had a teacher come share with our class that her friend has just left for an Air Force deployment where he will miss his 30th birthday, all of the holidays, and live in isolation to do his job.

Our class now has a special pen pal and we spent the morning asking him questions and sharing stories through letter we will send back and forth with him all year.


I loved how real this activity was and was proud of how seriously these seven and eight year olds took it.

God Bless the USA. ;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

kids say the darndest things. :)

Today I am thankful for:

10) quotable classroom moments.

Children just have the sweetest spirits and say the silliest and most innocent things sometimes.  It's often what gets me through a long day at work - looking over and eavesdropping on their conversations at lunch about their playdates, who watched TV the night before with mom and dad, and what crazy things their families do. 

A few moments from this week:

"I celebrate Harmonica.....not Christmas."  - a first grade girl explaining her holiday traditions to her friends at recess (Harmonica = Hanukkah)

ME: What kind of restaurants are there? (introducing a creative writing prompt)
"Well, there's fast food, chinese food, italian food, and slow food."  - Jack
ME: What is slow food?
"Oh...you know.   Where you go to a restaurant with a white table cloth and there is a nice fancy waiter and you have to sit and wait for the food.  It comes out slow."  -Jack
ME: "Like a steak house?  Or a fancy restaurant?"
"Yes.  You know....you have FAST food and then there's SLOW food." -Jack

"Wow.  I have never had a real LIVE orange." -Kalli when she realized we were having citrus for snack today

I LOVE MY CLASS!

lex+jonathan

Today I am thankful for:

9) pictures.

Because they allow me to relive the glory days of college/high school, remember moments with my family, and take me straight back to an awesome weekend or night out with friends in about 5 seconds.

like this gem from the D.C. wedding-weekend-to-remember :)

Needless to say, we had a great time.  I was SOAKING up the early-November fall foliage, couldn't believe how long it had been since I had seen some of my favorite people, and was so warm and fuzzy inside for the beautiful couple.  Wow, how time flies!  Can you believe we are grown ups?

secret confession: I am stealing these pictures off of the internet so I guess I am also thankful for social media websites? 

In honor of the LOVEly state of VA, where I would move in a heartbeat for that fall foliage, let me just tell you all of the things I am reliving via photo (in no particular order)...

1) Sil-sleepovers.  Fall-Roll style.  Spooning in sweatpants required.   

2) Singing again with the girls. (see Saturdays post...) 

3) all of the little details I remember Lexi mentioning leading up to her big day that I got to see in action!  (mini sparkling cider bottles, crossword puzzles about the wedding party, chalkboard painted wine bottles to denote table numbers...)

4) leaves, leaves, leaves,...did I mention LEAVES? 

5) Don Witman on the dance floor and hamming it up down the aisle at the rehearsal - some of the best father of the bride moments ever.  

6) JPAS.  Maid of Honor Extraordinaire and Task Manager.    

7) my favorite duos --- my excellent chauffeurs/tour guides the Skwheelers, the visitors from Chicagoland, Benna, and precious CStroud/Lucas.

9) Lovely Sunday brunch in Vienna. 

10) Of COURSE - quality JOLAS time. :)   

GOD BLESS THE HAPPY COUPLE! So lucky to be part of JG and Lexi's big day. 

...to say we were sad when it was over is an UNDERSTATEMENT.  

my dance floor buddy Kyle. :)