Sharing Thanks

A journal half homemade by my daughter Liz Sometimes the best gifts are those that come from the heart. This year my husband's family decided to do a homemade gift swap at our after Christmas party. I enjoyed watching my daughters and husband figuring out what they could make and bring for this gift exchange. It was fun to watch everyone around the kitchen table making their homemade gifts for the party! I've been busy enjoying the holidays, seeing close friends and family. I have so many reasons to be thankful, its difficult to pick just 4 for this post! I am thankful for all the gifts I have received this holiday. We are a family that is a tapestry of religions. Our best holiday is when we are all together celebrating! I loved hearing all of the voices at my Christmas Eve Party belting out  "Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah!" and "The 12 Days of Christmas" I was thankful to do a bit of reorganizing before the holiday party and found Holiday songbooks I had m...

I am a dog lover! Seeing this short compilation of cute dog vines made me smile. If you enjoy this please share a smile with someone. I am always thankful for a chuckle or a smile. I loved the dog whose best friend is a hairless cat! Here is what I am thankful for today. I am thankful for safe travels that brought my two girls home from college. Thank you Mega Bus, whose bus from Pittsburgh was almost an hour early. Thanks to Jet Blue. They wisely cancelled the flight from Chicago on Saturday. They rescheduled Liz for a flight home on Sunday. I recently watched Loved Actually which opens and closes with families and friends reuniting at airports. There is a special magic when you reunite with loved ones. Thanks to Dr. Cornell who did my Mom's hip surgery. The nursing staff at the Hospital for Special Surgeries is phenomenal. My mom is happy to get a new hip and is on the road to recover. Thanks to the nice folks my dad and I met yesterday while waiting for my Mom to be out ...

I am thankful for seeing this Piano Guys playful video of  "Angels We Have Heard on High." These vibrant  classical musicians are using their talents to inspire young musicians. There is also something magical about the inside of a piano! One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the music it has inspired! As a kid a loved going caroling. Singing outside with a group of family friends warmed my soul. This week seems all about music to me so here are my musical thanks! Thanks to my violin piano student Irina! She actually introduced me to the Piano Guys a few months ago. She is a 9th grader and loves watching the classical music videos they make. I am thankful that Piano Guys is creating excitement for classical music to a new generation! I am thankful for the South Shore Symphony Orchestra. We are performing the Nutcracker with the Leggs Ltd. Dance ballet company this weekend. I love immersing myself in the music of the Nutcracker for two weeks. This community event i...

Frozen Yogurt break at the new CUPS in the Walt Whitman Mall HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARING THANKS!  Sharing thanks is 2 years old this weekend. The best way to help celebrate is share something your thankful for in the comments! Here is what I was thankful for this weekend. I am thankful to everyone who reads, follows, and shares thanks on my blog. I still get a thrill when someone posts a positive comment on the blog. I can't believe that sharing thanks has reached over 18,000 page views in 2 years. I am thankful to sites that help new bloggers find their voice and expand their readership! Thanks SITS girls, Bloggy moms, and Blogelina. I'm still learning from you.  I am thankful for my friend Stella, who often shares what she is thankful for on the blog. We had fun doing a mall walk and discovering this cool new frozen yogurt shop at the Walt Whitman Mall. We enjoyed sitting on the cool purple and green couches. I felt like a teenager. I had to try the pumpkin cheesecake ...

A good reminder that it is always a good idea to Stop and Smile! I love learning to appreciate the little things in life. Everyday I walk my dog around the neighborhood and it  amazes me how when I really pay attention I notice new things to appreciate. I must have passed this stop sign hundreds of times. Today I noticed this smile attached to it. I do not recommend doing graffiti on traffic signs. I'm sure its considered a crime. However, this sign got me thinking that it's always a good idea to stop and smile! I recommend doing a gratitude walk. Walk in a familiar place and stop and notice the beauty, people, sounds, smells that you are thankful for! It will help you focus on what resonates with you. Here is what I was thankful for on my gratitude walk. I am thankful to see this stop sign, which literally made me stop and smile, and take a picture with my camera! Day 2 of my Gratitude simple Joy Photo challenge. I love watching the fall breezes kicking up the color...

November is a wonderful month to start a gratitude practice. An easy way to focus on simple joys is to take pictures! Commit to taking a picture once a day of something that your grateful for the next 10 days. It could be something you thought was beautiful, something that made you smile, somebody who made you laugh, someone who helped you. Take a picture of anything that your grateful for with your camera or smart phone. Take the Sharing Thanks 10 Days Simple Joys Gratitude Challenge Step 1  Take a picture of something that your grateful for! Step 2 Email your picture to sharingthanks@gmail.com jpeg format.                                  or Tweet your picture @sharingthanks #simplejoysphotos Step 3 In your email or tweet list the date and what you were grateful for:     example: November 4,  This field of flowers...

Pittsburgh Duck at night at Point Park. I was thankful to get to see the Pittsburgh duck before it swam away on my recent trip to this fun city. My older daughter is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh and we went to visit her during parents weekend. We were lucky to be able to stay at the Grand Wyndham hotel across the street from Point Park. I was amazed how many families and people came to see the duck. We had stayed here in the Spring and the park was empty. Here is what I was thankful for in Pittsburgh. I am thankful for the artist, Florentijn Hofman, for creating this floating art installation. Hofman says, "The friendly, floating, four-story-high Rubber Duck has healing properties!" The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust brought the duck to Pittsburgh to kick off the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts. It is estimated that over 1 million people have gone to see the duck in Pittsburgh. I am grateful for installation artists whose work inspires us to experienc...

Golden leaves of Autumn. Photo taken at Planting Fields in Oyster Bay I love taking walks in nature this time of year! I was thankful to visit Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay yesterday.  I enjoyed a walk around the grounds and breathing in the autumn beauty. Here is what I was thankful for: I was thankful for the quiet sounds of nature. Breathing in the fresh scent of pine needles that are scattered on the paths in the park! I was thankful to see the dahlia garden in full bloom. Dazzling reds, yellows, oranges, and pink! I was thankful to stumble upon a film set at the Coe mansion. Got some wisdom on working in the film industry from a crew member. "Just do it and find a way to make your movie." I was thankful to hear from my daughter Liz. She was so excited to get an A on her math midterm! She has had a tough first semester so I was so happy that her hard work is starting to bloom! I invite you to share something that your thankful for this autumn. I love ...

Smiling Rocks found on Caumsett Beach I love taking walks in nature and finding unexpected surprises. I went for a walk with my good friend Stella at Caumsett State Park and was surprised to find these smiling rocks on the beach. They look like they were left by creative kids with a black crayon! There simple designs made me smile. Smiles are contagious. I just started a new pinterest board dedicated to smiles. It is hard not to smile when someone smiles at you! Smiling is an easy way to spread happiness. You can view my new Pinterest board at Smiles . Here is what made me smile today! I am thankful for a beautiful October Day! Enjoyed walking on a 68 degree, sunny October Day. I enjoyed finding a beautiful small red leaf on the sidewalk! I am thankful to the Banfield Vet center at the PetSmart at Huntington Station. They took good care of Oreo and gave her all her shots for this year!I am thankful to my Mom who came with me to the vet with Oreo. Oreo loves my mom. It was nice ...

My daughter took a video production class in London this summer. She enjoying making videos as well as acting and singing in her classmates videos. Felicia Garcia made this video which features 4 young women with inspiring advice. I love hearing my daughter's beautiful singing voice which opens the clip. Here is what I was thankful for today! I am thankful that my bad cholesterol numbers went down and the lipitor I am taking is working. Went for my annual physical today. Now I need to schedule a mammogram, pap-smear, and colonoscopy. I am trying to take better care of my health. I am thankful that my daughter Liz is becoming more independent.  I am thankful to be playing the beautiful Symphonic Dances by Leonard Bernstein. This music featured in West Side Story is breathtaking. I think Somewhere, is one of my favorite songs! It's a rainy day here today, I was thankful to walk the dog while it was only a light drizzle.  Please share the video. I love this message of G...

I enjoyed seeing this video on the Huffington Post's Good News this morning. When we are helping each other we inspire others to lend a helping hand. I was in Chicago helping my daughter move apartments. She is a college freshman and had a difficult first room mate experience.I am not going to focus on her negative room mate experience, instead I want to thank all the people who helped her move into new apartment with new suite mates. Thanks to the staff at the Residence Center at Columbia College who found a good alternative housing for my daughter. They listened to my daughter's concerns, reassured her, encouraged her, and found an alternate placement quickly. Thanks to her RA Nick, who helped us move these huge boxes to her new building. We all looked like keystone cops, with these boxes on dollies moving through the streets of Chicago. Thanks to some kind strangers who stopped to help us get the boxes back on the dollies when they fell off.  Thanks to my friend Stell...

Baskets of apple's at Jo Jo Apple's in Point Lookout I am here to report that their is kindness in the big city of Chicago! I have so many reasons to be thankful today. It is easy to write this blog post because my gratitude is over flowing today. Thank you to Gene!!! Gene found my daughter's wallet in a cab. He contacted my daughter's podiatrist in Chicago since it had a local phone number to report finding her wallet. The podiatrist called me to give me his contact info. Gene took the time to bring the wallet to my daughter at her apartment at Columbia College. He wanted to make sure Liz got the wallet because there was over $100 in the wallet along with her bank card. This random act of kindness will never be forgotten. I am grateful for all of the rebuilding that has been done at Long Beach. I went for a stroll on the new boardwalk yesterday. It was wonderful to see the people out enjoying the sunshine, a sparkling calm ocean, and this new beautiful wide boar...

Go Pitt Band! It's been a very busy weekend. My daughter Becky is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh. We love to go see a home game at Heinz stadium every fall. This year I have become an empty nester. My younger daughter is freshman at Columbia College in Chicago. So I enjoyed spending 2 days with my daughter in Pittsburgh and 2 days with my daughter in Chicago. Here is what I was thankful for. I am thankful for the safe travel provided to me by planes, trains and automobiles! My husband loves traveling by train! We started our journey by car to drive to my parents who hosted my dog Oreo for a few days. We took the train to NYC and then Amtrak to Pittsburgh. We even got to go through the famous "Horseshoe Curve". If your a true train enthusiast you know about this engineering marvel that allows trains to go around mountains. We got to Pittsburgh, and walked and caught the 61 Bus to our hotel. Our hotel was near the University of Pittsburgh so we walked to get...

Seeing this video today gave me a smile. Yes Beluga Whale's do boogie. Music soothes all of our souls! Here is what I was thankful for today! Thanks to the postal worker who helped me tape up a box to send a care package out to my daughter in college. Thanks for a beautiful sunny day. I enjoyed walking Oreo around the neighborhood seeing some fall floral color. I am thankful to offer a helping hand to family friends, after they got into a car accident last night. Luckily no one was injured. I was happy to provide a ride. Thanks to my cousin Barbara who sent my daughter a graduation present in the mail. She will be thrilled to get something special in the mail! What made you smile today? If you want to share what your thankful for you can write your thanks in the comments! Tweet your thanks with hashtag #sharingthanks or @sharingthanks. 

  Love apples picked fresh from the trees! Happy September everyone! I love stopping at this farm on 9H in the Hudson valley when I am coming home from my parents Adirondack country house. It is apple season! Do you have a favorite? Mine is Granny Smiths! I love the green apple taste with that extra zing of tartness. I love making apple pie this time of year. I have been busy getting my daughter's off to college. I thought this would be a good time to reflect on the summer of 2013 and share what I was most thankful for this summer. I was thankful to see my daughters Becky and Liz get closer this summer! Becky was Liz's biggest fan at her improv show at the UCBEast comedy club. Liz had a great time taking the improv class at the United Citizens Brigade where she learned the art of long form improv. Every show is a different show. If you are looking for a great place to see improv, they have many shows at a reasonable price at UCBChelsea and UCBEast! I was thankful for all...

I was thankful to see this video. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Call someone up and tell them all the reasons you are thankful for them. I guarantee you will both feel happier!

My dad, taking us for a boat ride on Loon Lake! I realized I have been blogging a lot about being by the water. I guess that makes sense since I am an Aquarius. Loon Lake in the Adirondacks is one of my favorite places to boat, swim, kayak, and jump off the dock to feel like I'm 11 again. My daughter Becky wanted to spend sometime upstate since she missed our July 4th outing. I enjoyed another girls only road trip up to the Adirondacks. Here is what I was thankful for! Thanks to my parents who watched my dog Oreo for us while we were in Chicago. Oreo liked the freedom of running around their 1 acre mowed yard at the country house. I am sure my parents cats, Beauty and Mittens were happy to see Oreo go home! Thanks to my parents for taking us out to the Stony Creek Inn for some music and Mexican food. One of the great things about living in the Adirondacks is all the great free live music that you can see. We enjoyed listening to a great blues band the John Heely Band. It is ...

My daughter Becky on a Seadog Speedboat ride in Chicago I have been posting photos to help you stay cool! I recently had a wonderful time visiting Chicago with my 2 daughters! We loved our Seadog speedboat ride on Lake Michigan! I love this picture of Becky with her hair flying in the breeze! Here is what I was thankful for! I was thankful to take a road trip with my two daughters to Chicago! We had fun spending five days together. We lunched in western Pennsylvania and spent our first night near Cedar Creek Park on the Ohio shoreline! It was pouring buckets of rain, but we enjoyed a lake view at a nice restaurant by the lake. I was thankful to get tickets to a show at Second City . We enjoyed the improv comedy show. My daughter Liz had the thrill of being asked where she worked! She said she was unemployed! We had a good laugh, when we told her she could have said she is a college student! We heard a funny joke that we keep telling to remind us of the trip. What did the big tom...

Love this short video to spread the ripples of kindness. View and be inspired by these kids!

Waiting for the fireworks at Schroon lake.  I love being able to take vacation over the summer. Our family is so lucky to have a retreat in the Adirondack's. Over 20 years ago my parents bought a house in the country nestled in the Adirondacks next to a small stream. My kids have always loved visiting Grannie and Papa Ron in the country house. We were fortunate to be able to spend July 4th weekend upstate. Here is what I was thankful for! I was thankful for the patriotic upstate Adirondack spirit. You can see fireworks every night for a week in the country. All the small towns have July 4th celebrations, chicken barbecues, small parades. It was fun to see so many people at Schroon Lake dressed in red, white and blue! I was thankful to get parking at Schroon Lake. We were so lucky to get a good spot for an easy walk to the beach. I enjoyed getting there an hour early sitting by the lake, listening to "God Bless America" being sung by a local chorus. I loved watching...

The blue carpet at Jones Beach State Park, Parking Field 6 We are having a heat wave this week in New York. I am thankful for all the different ways I tried to stay cool today. Hope you are drinking lots of water, and using sunscreen! Here is what I was thankful for today! I took a morning walk at Jones Beach with my good friend Susan today. We walked the blue carpet down to the beach and cooled off walking next to the ocean. Love walking along the shore and getting my feet wet. Everyone is happy at the beach. It's fun to see kids jumping the waves and building sand forts and castles! I am thankful for my good friends the Gera's! It was fun meeting them for lunch today at On the Border and catching up with each other. We enjoyed watching our waiter make guacamole at our table! It was fresh and delicious. The air conditioning was blasting and I loved sipping my peach iced tea.  Thankful for some relaxing summer time! After lunch I spent some lazy couch time with my new ...

Whitehouse Down Movie Trailer, I'm a big Channing Tatum fan! One of the things I love about going to the movies is seeing my Hollywood Heartthrobs. I remember growing up and those first crushes. I was a big Robert Redford fan! For me it was not just about looks my favorite actors could also act. My favorite movies were "The Sting," "Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid" and the most romantic movie, "The Way We Were" Robert Redford will by Gatsby to me although I though Leonardo DiCaprio did Gatsby proud as well, "Old Sport!" I would love to hear about the Hollywood hunks that you were thankful for growing up. Here is what I was thankful for! Sharing thanks for seeing Channing Tatum stay alive in a movie! The last two films I saw Channing in, his characters died way to early. I was thankful to see him stay alive in Whitehouse Down ! Sharing thanks for seeing Whitehouse Down with my daughter Liz and our good friend Bika! We all enjoy...

The movie trailer for "The Heat" starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy! I love going to the movies with my daughters in the summer. I love the new midnight showings that they have that start at 10:00pm. It is always better to see a comedy in a crowded movie theater. Hearing everyone laughing makes me get to that wonderful endorphin releasing belly laugh! Here is what I was thankful for! Thankful to see "The Heat" with my daughter Liz. This is the funniest movie I have seen all summer! The comic chemistry between Bullock and McCarthy is hysterical. I definetly smell a sequel in the making. It was fun to see Jane Curtain in a cameo role as a "Southie" I do not want to give away too much of the movie, so you can enjoy the surprise of some of the crazy comedy in the movie. Congratulations to director Paul Feig for teaming up Sandra and Melissa as a one of the great cop buddy teams of all time! I am thankful to the amazing captioning SONY glas...

Swans swam by as we listened to live music at a dock bar on the Nautical Mile It's summer and that means time for small road trips with our good friends the Gera's! Taking a small road trip can make you feel like you have had a small vacation although you have only enjoyed a few hours in a novel place nearby. Long Island is also stronger than the storm Sandy! It is amazing to see the Nautical Mile in Freeport thriving. Some new restaurants include small beach bars with some sand, patio chairs and even palm trees. Love the dolphins statue and looking at the water. Here is what I was thankful for! Discovering new places with our friends. My daughter's friend Monesha has celiac disease so we were happy to discover Mr. Miceli's in Rockville Centre before we headed over to the Nautical Mile. The gluten free pasta was delicious! Thankful that Mo, Kavita, and Liz enjoyed playing a new mini-golf course right on the Nautical Mile! Who can resist a good game of miniature g...

Liz on her graduation day from W.T Clarke High School Most of the time I share thanks about the little small joys of life. Today I'm going to share thanks for a milestone! Sunday was a beautiful sunny breezy day to graduate on the football field. It was a joyful day as I watched my daughter Liz walk up to receive her high school diploma. The moment was special for her, in the distance I saw her wipe away a tear as she walked back to her seat on the football field. Congratulations to all the graduates of the class of 2013! You are our future and have the power to change and shape our world for goodness. Here is what I was thankful for on Sunday! Thanks to all the teachers and therapists who have helped Liz over the years! Liz is deaf and uses a cochlear implant to hear. She received her implant at age 4 from Dr. Parisier who started the amazing Children's Hearing Institude! I also owe thanks to Dr. Roland from the NYU coclear implant center who did a revision after she had...

   "Written Love" written and directed by Liz Davidson! Purple flower pot at Planting Fields! I love the color purple! When I visited Planting Fields Arboretum recently I was drawn to this beautiful purple tye-dye bloom. I really enjoy taking pictures and zooming in on something that takes my breath away. Here is what I was thankful for! Thanks to my good friend Susan who took me out to lunch for my birthday! My birthday was in February and I enjoyed being treated this week and catching up with my friend. We had a lovely lunch at Nick's Pizza in Rockville Centre. Nick's Pizza has amazing home made pasta. Yum. I should have been Italian. Thanks to Jello!and twitter. I was playing the #FML twitter game, yes it stands for fun my life . I tweeted that my daughter was going to London and I wished that I could take her to Tuscany, Italy. My tweet won a fun package. I won a $20 gift card to Amazon.com and a voucher for a free package of Jello! I had fun dre...

Garden Angel at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay I hope everyone had a wonderful father's day! We enjoyed a quiet fathers day by making my husband a nice breakfast. My daughter enjoyed giving him a personalized t-shirt of a fun picture of the four of us that was recently taken at a photo booth at a wedding! We are trying to take more pictures of our family of four. Here is what I am mindful and thankful for! I am thankful my daughter Becky arrived safely in London. Even though she is 21 and very grown up this was her first international trip flying solo. She even managed taking the Tube to get to her study abroad program at the University of Richmond in Kensington. I guess blogging runs in the family, as she started a blog to chronicle her London experience! I am thankful for reading these father daughter letters over the weekend. Enjoy this inspiring link: Letters from Dad I am thankful for my dad! He has always been there for me. He taught me the value of work and...

Roses at Planting Fields Arboretum Tuesday morning I had a lovely time visiting Planting Fields Arboretum with my Mom. We enjoyed discovering some of the beautiful gardens that had reached full bloom. It was a beautiful sunny day and we enjoyed exploring the grounds and greenhouses together. Here is what I was thankful for: I am thankful to share such a beautiful  morning walk with my Mom. My mom is an avid gardener and loves planting flowers and tending her garden. I was thankful to all the volunteers at Planting Fields who enjoy tending the beautiful gardens and greenhouses there. We enjoyed seeing huge old trees and fields of green. I was thankful to take so many beautiful pictures of flowers, orchids,cactus, and ferns in the greenhouse. I will enjoy sharing some of these photos on sharing thanks in the next few weeks. I am thankful to be able to sleep in today. It was a rainy day and it felt good to be able to sneak back under the covers and relax.  I invite you...

New Boardwalk at Jones Beach It was a beautiful sunny weekend on Long Island this weekend. If you live on Long Island one of the best beaches to go to is Jones Beach State Park. Hurricane Sandy destroyed the boardwalk, and some of the roads on Ocean Parkway. Growing up on Long Island I have many fond memories of Jones Beach. As a kid my mom used to take us to Jones Beach everyday over the summer. I remember the craft Tee-Pee, swimming in the salt water pool, the pitch and putt golf course, the playgrounds, shuffleboard, paddle tennis, and listening to music in the band shell. It is a wonderful place to go at night with your family to have some reasonable fun. I think it costs $2 to play shuffle board. Here is what I am thankful for after my recent trip to Jones Beach. Thanks to the people who rebuilt the boardwalk. I enjoyed seeing the flags flying! The beach was crowded and the boardwalk was filled with families with strollers, seniors enjoying a stroll, and college kids! Thank...

Love this tea loving doll at my favorite Adirondack Coffee Shop! Sarah's Place  So many reasons to be thankful today! It's a rainy day which make it a great day to have a nice hot cup of coffee or a relaxing cup of tea. I drink coffee in the morning and then enjoy tea the rest of the day. I love ending my day with a relaxing cup of tea before bedtime. It is a simple pleasure. Here is what I am thankful for today!  Congratulations to Liz on her last official day of High School. I'm so happy she will be starting a new chapter in her life. She is looking forward to attending Columbia College Chicago in the fall to study film making. Her movie "Sweet?" is featured in the popular post section of the blog! View to celebrate with her today! Thankful to Dunkin Donuts this morning. I walked into the store and ordered my french vanilla iced coffee. Decided to try a new summer donut called key lime. I love key lime pie and thought I would try it. They rang up my sale a...

Horses at Caumsett State Park It is a top ten day out today. Blue sky, 70s, light breeze, a day you just have to get outside. One of my favorite places to visit on Long Island is Caumsett State Park on north shore of Long Island, north of Huntington Village. The drive to get to the park gives you a beautiful view of the Long Island Sound. The park is home to the Old Marshal Field Mansion which has breathtaking views of the sound. There is even a hiking trail to a small beach. Here is what I was thankful for today. Thankful for being able to meet my friend Stella on Friday to walk at Caumsett Park. We saw these beautiful horses at the stables there. Enjoyed the three mile walk. I'm trying to get flex my healthy habits by taking daily walks. Walking is always more fun when you walk and talk with a good friend. Thanks to my mom for treating me and Becky to lunch today at Chadwick's in Rockville Centre. The food was delicious. I enjoyed having a healthy salmon dish. I've...

This video brightened my day. Enjoy the cat love. The video proves that cats dream, and can be very loving and protective. I was thankful to see this and wanted to share it to spread some joy and love.

  "Now You See Me" Trailer I love the summer because there are so many great movies to see. Is there any better way to beat the summer heat by sitting in a cool movie theater watching a film about magic! I love going to a matinee with my daughters who love film, and are pursuing careers in the film industry. Here is what I was thankful for. Thankful to go the matinee with Becky, Liz and Monesha to see "Now You See Me" We all got swept away with the magic and the great plot twists. Thankful to the girls pine over Dave Franco in the movie. The film has a wonderful cast. I love Mark Ruffalo myself. Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, and Michael Caine are all terrific. We loved the magic fight scene! Enjoyed meeting my friend Liz in Huntington for some shopping and lunch. We love getting together and sharing our triumphs and bumps in the road. We had a good laugh, enjoyed a glass of wine and a delicious Italian lunch. I have been try...

Liz with her art work at the East Meadow District Art Show I love art and creative people. Everything we create was designed by an artist or an inventor who developed the skills to think outside of the box! Art lets us express our emotions and puts us in touch with our visual side! We need art teachers. Here is what I was thankful for today. Thanks to the art teachers who have helped hone my daughter's creative talent. Their kindness and patience is to be applauded. Thanks for feeding my daughter's creative spirit and soul! Thanks to my mom, who was an art and photography teacher. She fed my creative spirit and encouraged me to continue with my love of music. I love taking pictures for this blog. It helps me appreciate and capture a small moment of beauty. Thanks to my friend Stella! We had a lovely walk at Caumsett State Park and had fun walking by the scenic stables there. Thanks to twitter and NY Interns! My daughter Becky attended a screening of the new movie Inter...

The perfect Memorial Day Ride to kick of the start of summer! We had a very busy Memorial Day weekend! It was a true American weekend as we were in Philadelphia's historic district to celebrate my nephew's wedding! Just steps from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell! So many moments to be thankful for! Congratulations to Nick and Jess who got married Saturday, May 25th. We enjoyed celebrating with the newlyweds, by dancing the night away at their wedding reception. The Downton Club reception had a beautiful view of the city of Philadelphia. I love couples who are madly in love. It was a wonderful family gathering. We also enjoyed making goofy pictures at the Photo Booth at the wedding. I was thankful to spend some time celebrating and dancing with my family. I love my family and now that my girls are young woman I treasure the time we all get to spend together! I was thankful to go the Magic Gardens on Sunday on South Street. The Magic Gardens is a huge art projec...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Me and my great friends saw Kinky Boots! I am truly blessed to have wonderful girl friends! I have known Margaret and Stella since I moved to Rockville Centre in the third grade. We love to celebrate our birthday's together. We wished Stella a happy birthday by seeing "Kinky Boots" on Broadway. It is a fun show with beautiful music and a wonderful message, "To accept people for who they are!" Here is what I am thankful for. It is hard to be thankful amidst the natural disasters we are seeing. What stands out in troubled times, is the humanity that comes through by the outpouring of help and kindness. My heart goes out to Moore, Oklahoma. I texted Redcross to 90999 to donate $10 to help. It's easy to do. I was thankful to be able to help in some small way. I am thankful for my childhood friends Margaret and Stella. These women have stood by me through thick and thin. I am fortunate to call them my friends. Old frien...

Thankful to see this rendition of David Bowie's Space Oddity by Chris Hadfield on the International Space Station. I came across this on my Twitter account and enjoyed watching so much I wanted to share it with you. I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day filled with love and appreciation. Here is what I thankful for yesterday. Thanks to my daughter's creativity. I got 2 home made cards from my daughter's yesterday. Whats cool about this is Becky is 21, and Liz is 18. Gifts from the heart always make me smile. Becky drew a picture and is taking me out to lunch. Liz painted me a picture with a heartfelt note. Saw a beautiful crescent moon last night as we were driving home from my mother-in-laws last night. That glimmer of light is always so breathtakingly beautiful. Thanks to my sister-in-law Laurie who made a delicious turkey dinner with all of the trimmings for Mother's Day! Thanks to all my wonderful friends who are also moms who set me beautiful message...

  Loved watching this cute short history of Mother's Day. Wishing everyone a a beautiful gratitude filled Mother's Day! Here is what I was thankful for today. To celebrate I invite you to share a piece of wisdom your mom has given you that you treasure! My mom taught me to "Say Yes!" to adventures and accepting invitations to do something new. Here is what I was thankful for today! Thanks to my sister-in-law Ginny who made reservations at Puglia on Hester St. in Little Italy to have an early mothers day celebration. We all enjoyed waving and singing the "Wave your napkin" song! Thanks to my good friend Segal who sent me a beautiful Thank you friendship card. It cheered me up. We all have rough patches in life and this card really brightened my day. Thanks to Mom for her unconditional love and all the wonderful things she has taught me to appreciate. Like creativity, nature, and playing cards!  I am thankful for a walk in the...