Sharing Thanks

Oreo with her frisbee My Oreo dog could be a circus dog! I'm still working on teaching her to catch a frisbee. My sharing thanks are dedicated to enjoying some family fun! My grandmother Harriet used to love the circus, and her dream was to be one of the glamorous girls that ride the elephants. We took my parents for their birthdays to see the latest Ringling Barnum and Baily "Dragons" circus last night. Here are my thanks for today. 1) Thanks to the box office ticket man who sold us great seats for the circus. My daughter is hearing impaired and they gave us some seats with a wall behind us which helps her hear less background noise. He also gave us an aisle seat which made it easier for my mom who has had a knee replacement sit more comfortably. 2) Thanks to the joy I had watching cats perform! I mean real domesticated adorable cats. I have seen many dog acts and this was the first time I ever saw cats perform and they were great! 3) Thanks for the "Dragon&

New Sharing Thanks Button designed by Liz Davidson I've only been blogging for a few months and have read that it is important to have a button so people can use it to link to your site. I want to thank my fellow mom bloggers for providing instruction on how to make a button. I hope I did it correctly. I'm so thankful for my daughter Liz who made the pretty design for me. It is another beautiful day hear. This gorgeous weather just puts a smile on your face! Here is what I was thankful for today. 1) I am thankful for sharing a nice walk with my Mom. We took Oreo to Hempstead Lakestate Park for a walk around the reservoir. The water was glistening and we even saw a pair of swans. Such a beautiful day to get outside and enjoy nature and great conversation. 2) I am thankful for the beautiful button my daughter Liz made for me. She enjoys reading my blog and it has helped her look for small moments of joy. She got a kick out of our cat hanging out in the daffodils and quickl

Reflecting Pond at the Hick's Spring Flower Show, March 2012 I have been blogging for about 4 months now sharing what I am thankful for. I thought it would be a good time to reflect how focusing on appreciation has changed me. Today when I was getting my favorite iced coffee at Dunkin Donuts, a gentleman saw me coming and waited to hold the door for me. One of the things that I have noticed is the kindness of strangers. More people give me a friendly smile and hello, and many doors are opened for me. I am not sure whether I just notice and am grateful for the kindnesses or if I am sending out a vibe that strangers pickup on. It is really heartwarming to focus on these random acts of kindnesses. Being grateful has helped me look at the potential for good everyday. It has helped me solve problems and cope with life's adversities with strength and calm. Writing and taking pictures for the blog has energized me creatively. I love finding beauty in nature and capturing cool image

Blue Orchids and a Garden Fairy at the annual Hick's Flower Show, March 2012 Ahhh Spring. Spring is a great time for new beginnings. Sometimes trying something new brings its own magic. Loved seeing this garden fairy at the flower show with the incredible blue orchids. It has been in the 70s here on Long Island. This March has come in like a lamb! Trying to start some spring cleaning at home. Here are my thanks for yesterday. 1) Thanks for Liz's new personal trainer Grace. Liz started working out yesterday and had a great first session. The best part is, she started exercising and is committing to getting in better shape. Grace gave Liz a good workout and today Liz is looking forward to going back. 2) Thanks for the beautiful yellow forsythia that is starting to bloom in my backyard. I love the pretty yellow flowers. There are lots of forsythia dressing up the parkways and its fun to see them all in bloom. 3) Thanks for the joy of reading. I was able to go the library a

Wild yellow violet at Norman Levy Preserve, March 19, 2012 There is no better joy than finding something that you thought was lost! My daughter Liz misplaced her wallet with her drivers license a few weeks ago. She has been hobbling around with a sprained right ankle so she has not been able to drive. We have both been searching the house, the car trying to find it to no avail. I even visited the motor vehicle website to see how much it would cost to replace it. So I'm going to start off my thanks for yesterday with this: 1) Was helping my daughter organize her room and voila, we found her wallet under a binder on her desk. I was so happy that we found her wallet with her drivers license and library card! This made both of our days! 2) I loved finding the yellow violet among the purple wildflowers during my walk at the Norman Levy Preserve. I enjoyed taking a picture of this pretty flower. Being different makes you stand out and this can be beautiful. We should all be proud o

Unexpected frog on a leaf at the flower show at Hick's I always get a kick out of seeing something unexpected. A small surprise brings small joys. I'm sharing thanks for the little surprises that brought me joy over the weekend. 1) Thanks for the flower show at Hick's. While I was walking around enjoying the show I overheard someone say,"Look there is a frog hidden in the leaf." I peaked in a tropical leaf plant and sure enough a small frog was camouflaging itself in the plant. Do you remember reading Highlights as a kid and looking for the hidden items in the picture! Seeing this frog was so cool. 2) Thanks for the beautiful sunny spring weather we are having on Long Island. I got outside and went for a walk at Norman Levy Preserve. Yesterday I was lucky to see a Blue Heron off the dock at the Park. The Blue Heron is such a majestic looking crane. It was low tide and it was fishing. 3) Thanks to Grace, my daughter Liz's new personal trainer. Liz got

Shamrock's from Hick's Nurseries on Long Island Wishing everyone a happy St. Patick's Day. I took this picture when I went to see the flower show at Hick's today. So many beautiful displays I enjoyed being among all the pretty flowers. I'll be sharing pictures from my visit all week. The flower show ends on Sunday so if you are looking for a fun free thing to do, go to Hick's and enjoy! Here are my thanks for yesterday and today! 1) Sharing thanks for lucky shamrock's. I bought one of these pretty plants for my husband to bring to my mother-in-law at rehab today in honor of St. Patrick's day. 2) Sharing thanks for getting together for a late dinner with good friends. I enjoyed having fun with the Gera's last night. When we are together crazy things happen and we all laughed ourselves silly after having dinner at Panera. 3) I am thankful to have a movie afternoon with my daughter Liz. We went to see, "21 Jump Street" with Jonah Hill

Tree Spring Blossoms, March 16, 2012 Spring's new blossoms inspired me to try something new. Actually my good friend Stella encouraged me to go to a dance class with her. It is invigorating to dive in and try to learn something totally different. We have been busy celebrating birthdays this week. So I want to wish Brian, Virginia, Chelsea and my Mom and Dad a Happy Birthday this week. Here are my thanks for yesterday. 1) Thanks to my friend Stella who invited me to go to a belly dancing class last night. We were the only two people in the class with our instructor at a Dance Studio in Commack. 2) Thanks to our belly dancing instructor who was patient in teaching us some moves. She made the class fun by giving us finger cymbals and some scarfs to dance around with. The music was hypnotic and joyful and I got lost twirling around with the scarf and clanging the finger cymbals. 3) Thanks for the joy of sharing this new experience with a good friend. We laughed and giggled so

Backyard Daffodil, March 14, 2012 It was a beautiful bright sunny day on Long Island yesterday. So many flowers blooming. So many reasons to be thankful. 1) Thanks for the beautiful daffodil that bloomed in my backyard. 2) Thanks for a nice afternoon at the dog run. Oreo had fun playing with two adorable chihuahuas Brooklyn and Hugo! The dog run was crowded, everyone was out enjoying the beautiful day. 3) Thanks to my husband, who brought in a daffodil from our garden to grace our table. I love the fragrance of daffodils. 4) Thanks to my friend Stella, she is always trying to plan something fun for us to do. I'm going to try a bellydancing class tonight. I invite you to share something that brought you joy!

Crocuses from the Music School's Garden, March 13, 2012 Seventy degrees feels wonderful! When I walk around the neighborhood, the daffodils are starting to bloom. Ahhhh, Spring, the season of rebirth and new beginnings. So many reasons to be thankful. 1) Thanks for the joy of seeing the daffodils in my yard starting to bloom today. I love daffodils, they remind me of my father-in-law who loved gardening. 2) Thanks to my music students. I always enjoy playing music with them and celebrating their improvements. Thanks to Ritchie who brought music he downloaded off the internet of tracks to his favorite video games. The music even had some third position, which helped him get more comfortable to hit the high notes on the violin. 3) Thanks to my good friends who called me yesterday to see how I was doing. My daughter was a victim of cyberbullying and is having a tough time getting over the hurt. Bullying in all its forms must be stopped. Another bully victim Katy is asking ever

A Gift from Kavita, March, 2012 Thanks to everybody who is reading and following my blog. I hope this little blog helps you appreciate small joys and brings some positive energy in to your life. This practice of focusing on what is good in my life has helped me have a more positive perspective and has enabled me to look at each new day as a gift. It has also helped me find solutions to daily problems with a calm attitude. Here are my thanks for weekend events. 1) I am thankful for my friendship with Kavita. She gave me a very special present on Saturday, the beautiful plaque that says, "In all Things Give Thanks!" It made me feel wonderful! I am inspired to be known for Gratitude! 2) I am thankful to my sister-in-law Laurie. She planned a beautiful party at the rehab center so we could all celebrate Grandma's 85th birthday. The cornbeef and cabbage she made were delicious! It was wonderful to see everyone together. 3) I am thankful for the beautiful Spring weather

Spring flowers, March 2012 My daughter Becky is home for Spring Break so we wanted to plan a family fun night in NYC before she goes back to college. We got home after midnight so my thanks are a little late. Spring seems close by. This weekend we will Spring forward. I will miss the extra hour of sleep and love the longer sunlight in the afternoon. 1) Thanks for being able to spend some quality family time together. We met my husband in the city and had a nice dinner together! 2) Thanks for the great seats we got for "Anything Goes." I got a special rate from TheaterMania.com and we had 3rd row Mezzanine seats. 3) Thanks to the amazing performances by the cast of the show. Sutton Foster was fantastic. A soaring voice, wonderful wit, she is truly a remarkable talent. It was fun seeing Joel Grey as Moonface. The tap dancing was phenomenal. 4) Thanks for letting us share this moment together. It was wonderful seeing my families beaming faces watching the show. A speci

Is there anything better than an expressive dog by your side? Today was a top ten day! Spring made an early visit and the sun felt glorious! Today I am sharing thanks for great movie moments. I took many film classes in college and my daughter Becky is a film major at college. She has been home for Spring break this week. I love to go to the movies! Here are my thanks for today! 1) I am thankful to be able to go see, "The Artist" with my daughter Becky tonight. Every year I make an effort to see the Oscar best picture nominees. This best picture winner did not disappoint. The acting and the camera work was amazing. 2) I am thankful that Becky and I had a great film discussion after the movie. She has seen many of the same film classics that I learned about when I was in college. We discussed how some scenes in "The Artist" reminded us of some breakfast scene shots of Citizen Kane. The plot of the movie was similar to "A Star is Born." 3) I am thank

Sunset from a car ride, March 6, 2012 I am a mom to two teens and I spend a lot of time driving. Just call me the mom taxi. I recommend volunteering to shuttle teens to their destinations because it gives you some quality time to have some good conversation. When you drive them with their friends they relax, forget you are driving and you learn more about what is going on in their lives. Here are my thanks for today. 1) I am thankful to be able to give my daughter Becky and her friends a ride to the teen coffee hangout, "Witches Brew." Becky goes to school far away so I miss seeing her when she is away and I also miss seeing her close high school friends. It was nice to be able to see and hear about their college adventures. 2) I am thankful for my minivan. I love the way the suns rays warm me up during a nice day when I am driving. 3) I am thankful for my seatwarmers in the car. The seatwarmers work before the heat is ready in the car and they do a fantastic job in m

Adirondack Window February, 2012 Love the view from this Adirondack window at my parents country house. One of my favorite things to do is watching the birds flutter back and forth to the bird feeder. They are so colorful and its nice to get such a close view of them. I love my mom's cute homey sentiment! It was a cool sunny day here, and I spent most of the day at home. Here are my thanks for today. 1) I am thankful for the delicious banana I ate today. I have been trying to eat a little healthier! I need to eat more fruits and vegetables. So I am happy that I made a good snack choice today. 2) I am thankful to enjoy dinner with both of my daughters! It is so nice to have Becky home from college. There is something magical about taking the time to have a nice dinner together. 3) Thanks to my good friends Stella and Liz. Enjoyed catching up with both of them on the phone today. They always make me laugh. We can really count on each other! 4) I am thankful for having my fa

Times Square, March 2012 I love the energy of NYC. I have been lucky to be able to spend the past few weekends to go into NYC and enjoy being in the city! I used to live in an apartment behind the Palace theater in my 20s. Very few reputable people can say that Times Square is their old neighborhood. I was working in advertising and going to graduate school when I lived there. Here are my thanks for the weekend 1) Thanks to Liz and Kavita who came into NYC with me. We got half-price tickets to an off-broadway play Newsical. The show was really funny and had some wonderful comedic actors in it. I had a synchronicity happen on Saturday night. During intermission of the show I got a text from my brother Tom who lives in NJ of a picture of my old apartment on 47th St. Turned out Tom and his wife Ginny were in the city also at the Palace theater seeing, "Priscilla Queen of the Desert." Tom and Ginny met us afterward and treated us to a late dinner! Thanks Tom and Ginny for gen

Spring faux flowers at Michael's Looking at these flowers cheered me up on this gray rainy day today. Happy birthday to Dr. Seuss today. I loved reading his books to my daughters when they were young and learning how to read. My personal favorite is "Go, Dog, Go." You may have guessed this from all the pictures I post on my blog of my dog Oreo! Here are my thanks today! 1) Thanks to my daughter's hard working and kind guidance counselor Mr. Palmer. He met with us today to figure out Liz's schedule for her senior year and offered advice on how to start the college planning process. 2) Thanks to my good friend Stella who has been checking in with me all week. She is such a caring fun friend and I always enjoy hearing from her. 3) Thanks to Sejal and Monesha! It was so much fun hanging out at the mall and Panera tonight. We always have lots of laughs when we get together. 4) Thanks to my good friend Liz. We had a nice heart to heart talk over the phone toda

Liz's new haircut with side bangs. March 1, 2012 It's a brand new month, a great time to make a small change. Sometimes doing something different and new can lift your spirits. I'm dedicating my thanks for small positive changes. I invite you to share a small change you made that you are thankful for in the comments. 1) I am thankful my daughter Liz enjoyed getting a new hair style today. Seeing her smiling face with her new hairdo made my day brighter. Thanks to the hairstylist Jim at J. Thomas Salon in Levittown. He gave her a great haircut! 2) I am thankful for my new rule of turning off our Wifi at 11:00pm. It is great for everyone in our household to get a good night's sleep. The internet is great and we need to manage the time we spend on it wisely. We all need to get out there and enjoy real life: nature, getting together with friends, and having face to face conversations. 3) I am thankful for my new 600 count sheets and luxury comforter. I've reall

Rays of Light on Hudson River, February 29, 2012 There is nothing prettier than leaping rays of light on an ice flowing river! Today is leap day in this leap year. I have always been a true believer for "Taking a Leap of Faith." I am dedicating my thanks to this theme today. I invite you to share something that helped you take a leap forward in your life in the comments. I love and am thankful for all of the great comments I get on the blog! 1) I was thankful for all the fun frog pictures I saw today because of leap day. The google frogs, the bing frog! When I see a frog I think of my good friend Liz who enjoyed collecting frogs in middle school. Today is your day Liz! I also wish Liz good luck in her leap to find a new fantastic job! 2) I am thankful to my husband and my daughter Liz who are taking a leap to try in improve their relationship by writing notes to each other in a journal. 3) A big welcome to my 11th follower who took a leap and joined the sharing thanks

Frisbee Anyone? February 28 I've learned a lot from my puppy Oreo. One thing puppies are always up for is playing! It is fun to watch the shear joy of a puppy fetching a small toy. I have been trying to get back in to the routine of sharing my thanks at the end of the day. Routines are helpful and we all need to be flexible to find time for play. It is these playful moments in life that can provide small bursts of joy and smiles! 1) Thanks to Oreo for playing frisbee fetch with me today. Oreo chases the frisbee and can play this game for a while. Always fun to see her tail wagging! 2) Thanks for another beautiful sunset. Beautiful oranges and purples in the sky against the bare trees. Even a Walmart parking lot can provide some beauty. 3) Thanks for a wonderful home cooked meal. I made my mom's recipe for macaroni and cheese. Made it a little healthier with Smart Pasta from Ronzoni. I enjoy cooking and tonight the white cream sauce I made came out amazing! 4) Thanks f

Tea Party, February 2012 I was visiting a cafe over the Winter break and loved this whimsical dolly sitting in the teapot! I love celebrating. I'm sharing thanks for gifts I received for my 21st Anniversary. 1) Thanks to my husband Spencer who bought me some new pillows! When you are married 21 years many things you own are also 21 years old! It was nice to rest my head on a comfy pillow! 2) Thanks for my cute Anniversary card with the 2 dogs riding motorcycles. If you read my blog you know that I am a dog lover. 3) Thanks to my parents who sent us a lovely card and a check which we spent on some new sheets and a comforter. I bought 600 count sheets. If you treat yourself to one luxury in life I recommend soft sheets. They are a little more expensive. I like to shop at Home Goods where you can get high quality sheet sets for an affordable price. 4) Thanks to my daughters Liz and Becky who both managed to text me on my anniversary. It's a brave new world out there. I

Spring Snowman I saw this at Planting Fields in Oyster Bay and thought it was a great symbol of the mild winter we are having this year on Long Island. I did a lot of celebrating this weekend so it is easy to share what I am thankful for! 1) Thanks for a romantic date night out with my husband, Spencer. We are married 21 years, and it was fun to meet him in NYC after work and dine at one of our old favorite restaurants, Cafe 123. After dinner we enjoyed seeing the glitzy Priscilla Queen of the Desert! A spectacle featuring a lot of great music from the 80s. Our wedding song was a Madonna song, "Crazy for You." 2) Thanks to a stranger whose body language helped me avoid a parking lot car accident. I was backing out of a space and the person directly behind me backed out at the same time. I was lucky to stop in time and avoid a small fender bender. 3) I am so thankful for my good college friends! My friend Ellen treated us to a NYC reunion on Saturday night. Staying in

Crocus blooming, February, 2012 Yesterday felt like Spring! I enjoy all the seasons and there is something very special about Spring. It is the season of rebirth and new beginnings. Today I am sharing thanks for springlike weather. 1) I was thankful to see many crocuses blooming while I took Oreo for her daily walks. I love the first colors of Spring. Vibrant yellows and purples. 2) I am thankful for Trader Joes for bringing the joy of fresh flowers to my table at an affordable price. I bought a small bunch of daffodils for $1.50 and they are brightening up my dinner table. They bloomed yesterday. So fragrant. 3) I am thankful to my sister-in-law Laurie, who is a very caring daughter to her mom! Enjoyed seeing Grandma sitting up in a chair yesterday. She is working hard to get some mobility back. Thanks to the PT staff at the rehab center who are helping her. 4) Thanks to Pat, at CAPS who took the time to call me back and gave me some good advice on how to help my daughter mo

Adirondack Rock Sculpture, February 2012 I love these rock sculptures. They are simple and beautiful. Sometimes it is the little things that can brighten your day. Here are the things I was thankful for yesterday. I fell asleep before I got a chance to post. 1) Thanks for a beautiful sunny day. It was a nice day to be outside and feel the warm sun on your face. 2) I got joy from seeing a crocus on my lawn in bloom. A true sign of spring. 3) Enjoyed a movie, "This Means War" starring Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon. The best romantic action comedy I have seen in a long time. Who can resist Chris Pines awesome blue eyes. Great fun date night movie! 4) I am not a big TV viewer and I love the show Parenthood. I enjoyed watching an episode from my dvr. I love that they have a special needs son and show the hard work and the realities of mainstreaming. This show is poignant and well written. I invite you to share something that brightened your day.

Gore Mountain, February 2012 Just got back from visiting friends in the Adirondacks. I've been out of touch with my blog since I had a wireless computer free vacation. My cell phone does not work upstate, which was kind of refreshing. So many wonderful moments to be thankful for. I was thankful to spend some time with some of my college friends and their families. Here are my thanks for the past two days. 1) Thanks to the snow making team at Gore Mountain. I had an opportunity to go skiing on Sunday and the conditions were excellent. The folks at Gore had 80% of the mountain open with wonderfully groomed trails. I was surprised since it has been a warm winter and the Adirondacks have gotten very little snow this year. Thanks to Dora and Keith who helped Annalise love skiing. I had fun skiing and sharing some of my favorite Gore trails with my friends. 2) Thanks to, "The Schmooze" a local musical duo who sang at the Tannery Pub apres ski. We enjoyed listening to som

Feathers from Michaels, February, 2012 I enjoy exploring my creative side at Michaels. They have so many different cool craft items. I saw these fun pastel feathers and enjoyed taking some pictures of them. Tonight was my concert. The South Shore Symphony performed with Piano soloist Jeffrey Biegel at the Madison theater and received a standing ovation before intermission. My thanks have a musical theme tonight. Music touches our emotions and promotes harmony in the world. Our orchestra has many talented players who span many ages from 14 year olds to 70 year olds. When we get together we are just all musicians trying to inspire audiences playing a varied classical repertoire. 1) Thanks for the wonderful musicianship of my fellow orchestra mates. Copland's Appalachian Spring was so colorful and vibrant tonight. Thanks to Molloy College for building a beautiful concert hall with amazing acoustics. 2) Thanks for the amazing artistry of Jeffrey Biegel. He brought down the house

Fishing Pier at Jones Beach State Park, February 16, 2012 Encouraging words can be very helpful, especially on a day that has its challenges. There are many ways to encourage someone. I am always thankful when people offer encouragement and support! Here are my thanks for today. 1) Thanks to my good friend Liz, who is thinking of becoming a contributor to this blog. She is an amazing creative person, and always encourages my artistic side. Had a nice conversation with her today. 2) Thanks to Mor from CAPS Bully Helpline who sent me a kind reply to the email in regard to information about my daughter's Facebook hacking. She offered assistance and advice on how to be safe online. It is important to address bullying. Evil thrives when good people do nothing. 3) Thanks to my parents who support my love of music and are my biggest fans in life. 4) Thanks to my friend Laura, who I met through my daughter Liz. Laura and I used to help run a support group for parents of hearing i

Love Sprite from Michaels, February 15, 2012 I am always thankful for the power of love. Love should be celebrated everyday not just on Valentine's day. It is loving moments that mean the most in life. Quality loving relationships are the keys to a happy life. Here are some loving moments that I was thankful for today. 1) I am thankful for getting to spend time with my daughter Liz today. She gave me a genuine hug, which are rare for teenagers. We enjoy watching our kids learn and grow, and as they do, we miss those hugs from the toddler days. 2) I am thankful for my mom! Had a nice heart to heart talk with her on the phone today. 3) I am thankful for my friend Sejal. Enjoyed having dinner with her tonight to catch up with her. So happy she is enjoying her new job. So nice to see her daughter Kavita, who was so enthusiastic to see me. She gave me a great hug hello today. 4) Thanks to my dog Oreo, who gives me a ton of unconditional love. We had a beautiful evening walk a

This movie was made by my daughter over the summer at a film making workshop for high school students at five towns college. My daughter, wrote and directed the movie. In honor of Valentines day I have posted "Written Love", a romantic movie by my daughter Liz. This short 2 minute movie is lovely teenage romance story. Watch it and it will make you smile. If you like the movie feel free to share it! Wishing everyone a lot of love on this Valentine's Day. Here is what I was thankful for today. 1) Thankful for my new Adele19 cd from my husband Spencer. We both love music and this year we exchanged cd's for valentines day. 2) Thankful for the day nurse at my mother-in-law's rehab place. She is a very warm and caring person with a beautiful smile that can light up a room. So happy my mother-in-law is getting physical therapy to get some of her mobility back. 3) I am thankful for both of my daughters, who I love dearly. I wish them lots of love and laughter i

Purple Tulips from Michaels, February 12, 2012 It was a bright cold sunny winter day today. I can see the daffodil leaves sprouting from our garden, they are almost 4 inches tall already. I try to enjoy every season, and I look forward to Spring, with the daylight lasting a little longer everyday. I was able to get outside walking my puppy Oreo today.Thought these purple flowers at Michaels seem to be celebrating spring. Here are my thanks for today. 1) I want to thank the person driving the black mercedes car today who let me in the left lane. So nice when someone gives you the friendly wave so I could get in the turning lane to go on the parkway. It was a nice surprise during rush hour. 2) I am thankful that my daughter Liz's efforts in English earned her a 90 this quarter. So proud of her. 3) I am thankful my daughter Becky texted me she was ok after a recieved a message from her college that one of the buildings had a bomb threat. Her college has a great emergency comm

Things We Forget: #809: attitudes are contagious. are yours worth ca... Today I am sharing a link from one of my favorite blogs that I follow. This artist leaves post-it notes in different places. I love the sentiments and the idea of finding something inspiring in an unexpected place. Attitudes are contagious! Help me spread an attitude of gratitude by sharing what you are thankful for in the comments. Here are my thanks for today. Oreo in her new Family's Favorite Relative T-shirt 1) I am thankful for one of the cute gifts that Spencer got me for my birthday. He knows how much I have been enjoying the new puppy. Oreo did not chew the end of my couch, and I am waiting to get a new couch until after the puppy is better trained. I know sometimes this blog is filled with brutal honesty. 2) I was thankful for a good nights sleep. So nice to sleep in a little today. 3) Thanks and Happy Birthday to my friend Bika! Liz and enjoyed celebrating Bika's birthday a few days earl

Birthday flowers from my husband, February 11, 2012 I'm lucky to be still enjoying celebrating my birthday thanks to good friends and family. Got in late last night from a celebration with my good friends Stella and Margaret. We have a tradition of having a girls night out for our birthdays. We grew up together and know each other since we are 10 years old. I count myself lucky to have friends from childhood. We know each other inside and out. We share a rich history together of many cups of tea and adventures. Here are my thanks for today. 1) Thanks to my husband Spencer for bringing me home flowers on my birthday. He had a roller hockey game and his team won! Give thanks bag from St. Judes Hospital, February 11, 2012 2) Thanks to my dear friend Stella, who gave me this beautiful bag for my birthday. It is a perfect gift for me, and its even better knowing that a donation was made to St. Judes Children's Hospital. Stella has been very supportive of my blog! It was a pe

Homemade card from my daughter Liz, February 9, 2012 Today is my birthday! So many reasons to be thankful for today. I always feel like my birthday gives me a fresh start to dream about my new year and its possibilities. It's hard to just list four things I am thankful for! Here goes: 1) Thanks to my 2 fantastic daughters! My daughter Becky called me to wish me a happy birthday from college. It was great talking to her and hearing about her plans for the upcoming weekend. My daughter Liz and I got to enjoy a late lunch after her school at California Pizza Kitchen. She made me a beautiful homemade card and CPK treated me to a free dessert. 2) Thanks to Kavita, who found this incredible birthday mug for me. I am a violinist and I absolutely love this! 3) Thanks to everyone who called, texted, facebooked me and wished me a happy birthday. It is wonderful to feel special for the day! 4) Thanks for a beautiful sunny winter day and a starry night. The moon is so bright. I had

Fishing Pier at Jones Beach State Park, February 7, 2012 Sharing my thanks for yesterday. I fell asleep before I had a chance to blog about what I was thankful for. Amidst the difficulties there are always small moments of joy in everyday. Here were mine from yesterday. 1) I am thankful for my 8th follower to the blog. Welcome! I am also thankful for Anonymous who shared what she or he was thankful for. There is power in writing down what you are thankful for and reflecting on it. Thanks so much for sharing. 2) I was thankful to see a light dusting of snow last night. All the trees were glistening in the moonlight after the small snowfall. I love when it snows how quiet it gets. 3) I am thankful for good friends. Thanks to my friend Sejal who texted me late last night with some information on a rehab center we both visited last year. It may be a good place for my mother-in-law's rehab. She also texted me at 11:59 because she wanted to be the first person to wish me a happy

Liz and Oreo on our Scenic Drive, February 7, 2012 Had a busy day yesterday and fell asleep before I had a chance to blog about what I was thankful for. It's amazing how a scenic drive can soothe your soul. We live 15 minutes away from Jones Beach and Ocean Parkway is a beautiful drive while the sun is setting. 1) Thanks for being able to share a sunset by the water with Liz and Oreo. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Sunset over the bay off of Ocean Parkway, February 7, 2012 2) Thanks to my friend Stella who came over for a cup of tea and brought her adorable dog Trixie to play with Oreo. 3) Thanks to Ellyn who made time available to help my daughter process the hurt she was feeling from her facebook hack. 4) I was so thankful to hear Liz tell me that she said, "I love you" to her dad. I'm happy that they are on the road to having a better relationship. If you are reading my blog please share something that you are thankful for in the comm

Heart Daisy from Michaels I am thankful for this sunny Monday February Day. Last night the temperature dropped quickly and my check air tire pressure light went on. I did pull over to see if I had a flat and luckily it was just the temperature that caused the change in air pressure. I am not great at figuring out how to fill the tires to get the right air pressure. I am always happy when auto savvy people are there to lend a helping hand. Here are my thanks for today. 1) Thanks to the attendant at the Getty gas station I go to. He saw me struggling with the air machine and came over to lend a helping hand. So nice to drive away and see the air pressure light go off. 2) Thanks for a beautiful drive to Jones Beach. Love to look at the bay while I am driving. My daughter Liz loves to take this drive, especially when the sun is setting on a nice day. 3) Thanks to my orchestra. After a stressful day it was great to play Appalachian Spring and let the music soothe my soul. This piec

Wall of album covers at TGIF's, February 5, 2012 Had a nice lunch at TGIF's with my daughter Liz today. They had an entire wall decorated with old album covers. I thought this would be a great decorating idea! When I was looking at the wall I realized I owned a lot of the covers they had: The Sting with Scot Joplin's Rags, Carly Simon's Hotcakes, Herb Albert, Tom Jones. Just got home from a small Superbowl party at my sister-in-laws. Here are my thanks for today. 1) Congratulations to the New York Giants on their Superbowl win tonight. It was an exciting fun game to watch, both teams played their hearts out. 2) It was fun watching the Superbowl with my husband and his family. We loved seeing Madonna put on a great halftime show. Love her message of World Peace and the "Like a Prayer" finale. 3) Enjoyed spending some time with my daughter Liz this afternoon. We had a nice lunch at TGIF's. Thanks to my coupon organizer I was able to use a $5.00 off c

Purple Glitter Lamp at Singa's Pizza, February 4,2012 I got home late last night so decided to post my thanks for yesterday this morning. I had a full day and got a chance to spend time with a variety of friends and family. There is nothing like getting together over a cup of tea with a good friend. I have been enjoying taking pictures, and capturing small shots of beauty in unlikely places. I have always been hypnotized by lava lamps so this purple lava lamp caught my attention at Singa's Pizza. Singa's pizza is a place my friend Sejal recommended and we enjoy meeting for lunch there, before shopping at Patel brothers, a cool Indian grocery store in Hicksville. Here is what I was thankful for yesterday. 1) I was the receiver of random act of kindness! My friend Sejal and I were having lunch at Singa's pizza yesterday. I enjoyed hearing about her first full week of work. When we went to pay the check, the cashier said that somebody paid our bill for us! What a wonde

Sunset in February in Target Parking Lot Do you ever feel like you are at the right place at the right time to offer a stranger some information that is helpful and comforting. I had this experience today while I was visiting my mother-in-law in the hospital. I am the type of person who loves to strike up conversations with people that cross my path. I was in the parking garage taking the elevator down and a gentleman who was from out of state needed assistance finding the lobby. He seemed shaken up, he was going to visit his brother who was having emergency bypass surgery. I was thankful that I could show him how to get to the hospital lobby and told him about my Dad's bypass surgery that was done at this hospital successfully almost 7 years ago. The man was so appreciative for a kind ear and help. Here are my thanks for today which was filled with a little serendipity. 1) So thankful for my daughter Becky who brightened my mother-in-law's day with a phone call. My mother

Spring flowers at Michaels The groundhogs had mixed reports about how far away Spring is. I get a kick out of groundhog day, and the joy people get from watching a groundhog come out to see if it sees it shadow! Groundhog Day the movie is one of my favorite comedy films.It feels like it has been Spring this week already. Had fun taking a few pictures while my daughter and I were shopping for some fun craft supplies at Michaels. I do get a lot of joy capturing small snapshots of beauty. It feeds my creative spirit. Here are my thanks for today. 1) Thanks to Sara from Mommafindings.com and Lisa from Momma Says who took the time to check out my blog today. I enjoy reading other Mom Blogs and Mommafindings.com started a series on blogging that was very helpful to me. Part of the joy of starting something new is learning from kind mentors. 2) Thanks to Pinterest.com! I have been enjoying pinning great pictures and links that I find on the web. Tonight I cooked a cheesy zucchini cass

Saw some cool shadows walking Oreo today It was over 60 degrees again today. I enjoyed walking my puppy in the beautiful sunshine. I love taking pictures for my blog, it is so much fun to caption some of the moments that bring me joy during the day. If you are new to the blog please join in the fun of sharing thanks by posting what you are thankful for in the comments. Here are some of things I was thankful for today. 1) Thankful for my daughter Becky who is working hard in college. Got a letter in the mail from her university congratulating her for making the dean's list last semester. I took a picture of the certificate and picture texted it to her! So proud of her pursuing dreams as a film major. 2) Thankful to Dr. Zarat who was able to check my daughter Liz's ankle. Her sprain is getting better. Dr. Zarat was very kind in explaining to my daughter that even though she is still in pain she is getting better. 3) Thankful for seeing a beautiful sunset tonight in the

Daffodils at Trader Joes, January 2012 I know we are still in the throes of winter, and it is nice to get a taste of spring. The days are getting a little longer and I saw some green sprouts of daffodils starting to grow in our backyard. My father-in-law loved daffodils and they were one of his favorite flowers. Here are my thanks for today. 1) Thankful for a 60 degree sunny day in January. I enjoyed getting outside and walking Oreo. 2) Thanks to the kindness of strangers, many people held the door for me today. These small pleasantries really do put a smile on my face. 3) I was thankful that my daughter Liz was able to go to school for part of the day. So proud of the work she is doing in her English class. 4) Thanks to my violin student Ritchie. We have been enjoying learning some Irish fiddle music together. It is great to be able to work doing something I love. I just added my blog to a new network. Follow this blog

Crocuses at Trader Joes, January 2012 Sometimes life gets overwhelming and last night I must admit I had difficulty focusing on the positive. I got a good nights sleep and now I am ready to think about the good things that happened yesterday and share my thanks a day late. 1) I have been enjoying seeing spring flowers featured at the local supermarkets. I took this picture at Trader Joes, one of my favorite places to shop. One thing I love about Trader Joes is that they have gourmet food and down to earth prices. Another good thing, is they have a tasting table and let you sample some of the products. It's always fun to try something new! 2) I am thankful to be playing music. I am a violinist with the South Shore Symphony and we did a benefit concert to help raise money for the Rockville Centre Community Fund. The community fund helps neighbors who are struggling financially get back on there feet. We played Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring. It was the best I have heard

Snapped this cute giftcard at Red Robin today. I really enjoy taking pictures of gratitude for the blog. I saw this cute bulletin board thank you when I was having lunch with my daughter today at Red Robin. It was a sunny winter warm day today on Long Island. Here are my thank yous for today. 1) Enjoyed getting to sleep late today. I got up at 11:00 am, so nice to relax and unwind. 2) Thanks to North Shore Hospital for taking good care of my mother-in-law. Enjoyed seeing her today. The tower room she is in has an incredible view of the golf course. I'm happy that she has such a pretty view out the window. 3) Sometimes you get a brief moment of joy from just seeing something with a cuteness rating of 10. Saw an adorable toddler wearing sequins Ugg type boots dancing down the sidewalk. 4) Thanks for Pinterest! I have been enjoying making bulletin boards and looking at the incredible recipes people pin up. I recommend joining, it is a lot of fun.

Its been a busy week and I still am going to make time for my thanks for today. 1) Thanks to Aaron Copland. It is joyous to rehearse his music for our upcoming concert with the South Shore Symphony. 2) Thanks to Karina, Liz's math tutor. Liz worked hard with her to prepare for the geometry midterm. It was nice to hear Liz say that the midterm was not to bad today. So happy she is done with midterms. 3) Thanks to Mr. Palmer who was nice to send me some information on organizations that help protect kids from being cyberbullied. 4) Thanks for a beautiful starry sky tonight. It is cool to see shadows at night.

Liz daydreaming with Oreo, January 26, 2012 I woke up early this morning, around 6:15 am. I got to see the sunrise this morning. Pretty colors with a few small clouds. The rain moved in later in the day. We were relaxing at home today having fun playing with our puppy Oreo. One of my favorite websites that I visit is Positivelypositive.com. It has many great contributors that provide daily inspiration. Here are my thanks for today. 1) Sharing thanks welcomes it 5th follower, Jennifer Pastiloff who is a wonderful featured writer for Positivelypositive.com and is also a yoga instructor. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and becoming a follower. Jennifer is very inspiring and I love reading her posts on Positively Positive. 2) Thankful for my violin student Alvin. Alvin is a sweet boy who is working very hard to learn playing the violin. It is a joy to work with, he tries so hard! 3) Thankful for my dad, who called me this morning to chat. It's always great talking to him!

Valentines decorations at Michaels, January 2012 I love days where a story unfolds naturally. I was visiting my mother-in-law in the hospital tonight, getting a snack with my sister-in-law and my husband in the cafeteria when a lady walked by me and said I know you. She figured out that we had met at a hair salon a few weeks back. We had been having a friendly chat while my daughter was getting highlights and she was waiting for a haircut. She lamented that she got a bad haircut and that I paid too much for my daughters highlights that day and that we both would probably not go back to the place. She happened to be a executive nursing administrator at the hospital. She kindly asked if everything was ok. When we told her about my mother-in-law staying the hospital she offered to look in on her. It makes you feel so special when someone is taking extra care of someone you love in the hospital. Here are my thanks for today. 1) Thanks to the staff at North Shore Hospital and this kind