TToT – A Stunning Debut
OK, maybe this isn’t exactly stunning, but it’s a pretty darn good list of things to be thankful for. What is stunning is the fact that this week I am doing TToT for the very first time as one of the co-hosts of this most awesome hop! Huzzah and cheers!
This is where you hoot and holler and cheer a lot.
OK, let’s get down to business…this has been a great week.
First, without a doubt, I am most thankful to be joining this awesome group of bloggers who are the TToT hosts. When Lizzi asked me about signing on, I was absolutely flattered. This has been one of the greatest things in my little blog’s life – the positive spin it has put on my thinking, especially in those darker weeks, the great people, laughter, and sense of community that has come from linking up with the TToT are gifts I never could have imagined when I started typing away.
And that reminds me to say thanks in particular to Dyanne because it was on her blog that I first saw the TToT link-up and joined in.
Speaking of my little blog getting started…my 250th post came and went without fanfare this week. I realized several days ago that it was approaching and then it slipped quietly by. (Wheee!)
The biggest item of thankful in the week is Kidzilla’s continued improvement in the behavior department in school. Since Christmas break, she’s been doing really well. I mean really well. Then out of the blue, one day this week we had two really bad days in a row. We are still trying to figure out the antecedents, triggers, rhyme or reason for it. We had a very long talk about behavior and yes, tossed in some social incentive, and…today Zilla’s daily report was absolutely OUTSTANDING. Huge and thunderous applause to our little Zilla for her great turnaround. We are so proud of her and so thankful that she was able to get her behavior under control. This is a huge step for her!
I am very thankful this week for naps. Several naps. I don’t usually get to take a nap because of that whole have to go to work every day during naptime thing. But this week we had mostly half days for midterms and I took full advantage of my extra hours at home to clean and de-clutter nap extensively.
However, I am also happy to report that my fifteen minute cleaning and de-cluttering spurts have continued despite my extensive napping. AND…wait for it…the Fab Hub did some de-cluttering, too! Here is where I describe how this has been a source of contention for the entire two-week period of my new clean and de-clutter project. During that period, polite and gentle prodding on my part yielded willing participation on the Fab Hub’s part. Everyone got along swimmingly and all parties were happy to participate in the project. Some even whistled and sang while they worked.
Or.
WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE DOING ANY FIFTEEN MINUTES OF CLEANING? EVERY SINGLE DAY WHO DOES FIFTEEN MINUTES OF CLEANING? ME! EVERY SINGLE DAY WHO DOES NO MINUTES OF CLEANING? EVERY OTHER PERSON IN THIS WHOLE HOUSE! I AM TRYING TO HELP THIS FAMILY OF MESSY PEOPLE BE UN-MESSY AND LIVE BETTER LIVES AND YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL THWARTING MY EFFORTS AND UNDERMINING MY DE-CLUTTERING! AND PEOPLE ASK ME WHY I’M CRABBY ALL THE TIME…ARGH!
So while I’m not thankful that I may or may not have sounded like that while on a rampage about the de-cluttering, I am thankful that the Fab Hub hasn’t thrown me out on my tuchus to find a new place to scream at people live. On a similar note, I am certainly beginning to understand why my Mother’s face looked like it did on occasion and sounds like that came out of her when they did because other people in the world did not willingly and cheerfully participate in the cleaning and de-cluttering projects that she set in motion. I totally get it now.
My new Food Network Magazine showed up in the mailbox today. It is a fun day when that arrives. Zilla and I do a little happy dance and then flip through the whole thing together from cover to cover, picking out recipes and looking at great pics of food. While we definitely did the happy dance, we postponed the reading part for tomorrow since it was already late when the Fab Hub brought in the mail. We were too tired for much menu planning tonight. But aside from that, our little Food Network Magazine nights have been great mother/daughter time for us. We talk about all sorts of things while we flip through the book together. Love.
Recently, I have been the blushing recipient of not one but TWO Sunshine awards – thank you to Lizzi and Sarah for them. I am doubly grateful for the double dose of sunshine and appreciation. And so this probably counts as two items, right? I think so. And I am also very thankful that they still love me even though I have yet to actually do my part of the award process and write my posts. I am working on them. Really.
What a great surprise to see Super Sister this afternoon and enjoy a visit and a chat – in the chiropractor’s office, of all places! It was quite fun. And then we saw her at the Farmers’ Market again a while later. It takes three point five minutes to get from my house to hers and we go to the chiropractor’s waiting room and the Farmers’ Market for a visit. Go figure.
Finally, thanks to the Fab Hub for his tech-man help tonight. I was stupid about Lizzi’s html so he fixed it. Well, there was nothing to fix. He just showed me why I was confused. And even better, the Fab Hub is responsible for my lovely new header. If you haven’t seen it yet, go look up top. Nice, huh? I kind of miss my old header photo…it was really cool. We both really loved that shot of the one lonely little red leaf in the green tree. But this one…well, this one really fits the blog right now.
OK, friends, I am certain that is at least ten for my TToT co-host debut. You know what to do…share your moments of thankfulness for the week and leave some comment love. Or, better yet, join us and link ’em up below! Happy Weekend!
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Lisa, welcome, welcome, welcome! I’m so happy to have you join me as one of the new co-hosts at the wonder we all know as the Ten Things of Thankful! I know we will enjoy it!
Congratulations on the Sunshine Awards. I’ll look forward to reading the post(s) and this serves as a reminder that I need to do my own! So thank you!
Happy to hear that Zilla is working hard and doing her best!
I have to totally agree with you that naps are the best and the greatest! Happy to hear you got to get a few in this week!
Welcome again and I look forward to the journey!
Look at us, Sandy – new co-hosts and Sunshine award winners together! Woot! I’m shooting to get mine finished over the weekend so they go up early net week.
This was a great week all around. The only really bad part is a terrible headache that I can not shake – I’ve had it all week and it’s awful. I will be very thankful when that is gone.
Lisa, welcome to the TTOT hostini group! Hey, you’re so right, we should never knock a good power nap. It really helps us function!! And I’m grateful to have any help with cleaning at all…it’s a blessing when there’s a robot or something that can get it done. Thanks for sharing with us this week!
Thanks, Michelle. I am still amazed at how I could be so offended by a nap as a kid…they are awesome and I will take one whenever I can get one now. 🙂
What a great week you had! How wonderful that everything is falling into place.
I so get your cleaning rant. Growing up, when my mom was cleaning, everyone in the house had to be cleaning. That was the RULE. Evidently not everyone was brought up with that, and it still kills me a little inside when I am cleaning and a certain someone is warming the couch.
Heh – yes, you’re so right. My mom had rules about cleaning and chores and I swear they did sink in…but in all truth my ADHD symptoms sometimes (a lot of times) get the best of me and I don’t follow through well. But that is all part of my improved focus plan for the year! And truly, we live in the house that ADHD built so as Kidzilla gets older and life gets busier, it gets more difficult to keep things in check. So this month it’s fifteen minutes a day, minimum. Little do they know job charts are next!
*HOOTS*
*HOLLERS*
*CHEERS*
Also, I see one banner, one text-code-box and a perfect link-up, so YAY!
I’m so, SO happy that you’re debuting as our Tenth co-host this week. And you have a lovely list to complement it (and not just cos I got to be a part of it).
I do wish you weren’t the only one cleaning though! If I lived nearer, I’d suggest a cleaning party!
Your new header is GORGEOUS. Congrats very much for getting it looking so pretty around here 😀
Yes, it finally worked – the code was fine, but Word Press was not understanding what it wanted when I switched from text to visual tab. It’s all good now!
Well, the Kidzilla is cleaning her room this weekend – she told me – and the Fab Hub did help out in the office the other day. I’m hoping they will continue. Just have to get them to see that fifteen minutes is no big deal and they’ll be done before they know it.
That header is fantastic – the Fab Hub made it from a picture taken on one of our Thoreau-ing trips to our hiking mountain. It’s one of my favorites.
Awwh bless Zilla for electing to clean her room. She’s learning from ya! Good for her 😀
Well, here’s hoping!
Congratulations–what an honour! You are loved and valued and there is good reason why! xox jean
Well, thanks, Jean. Yes, it seems that way! 🙂
Yay and so happy that you are now co-hosting. Sounds like a great week and always a good one here too when my crazies are well behaved and don’t act up either. And I know the feeling of being the only one to do the cleaning and such, but also feel very lucky indeed when my husband actually takes the vacuum for a spin or takes even the garbage out! Seriously glad you had a wonderful week and here is to a great weekend now, too 🙂
Janine, that’s so funny – it’s a great week when the crazies aren’t acting up! I have to be honest – the Fab Hub is my hero in the vacuuming department. He does the vacuuming and garbage duty for me, so that’s a pretty good deal.
Well, a belated congrats on the 250 posts…that is certainly something to celebrate!
And as far as Zillas behavior and having a couple bad days…sometimes they just happen. This is easy for me to say, I realize, not being in the thick of things…but kids (like all adults) sometimes just have attitude/behavior issues. I know that doesn’t make it easier at the moment it’s happening…just saying it’s one of those little nuggets I try to remember. Glad it sounds like things turned around quickly though!
Have a fabulous week-end! 🙂
Thanks, Kris. Yeah, I was so excited that it was coming…and then I missed it. :/
You’re right about the behavior – everybody has bad days. We are just so super-conscious of it with her because it’s such a big deal. But we are definitely happy that instead of a downward spiral, she was able to turn it around. That is definitely a thankful moment here!
Happy weekend!
🙂
First of all, YAY you! TToT host! Such a great thing!
Secondly, I absolutely love your capital letter rant; thank you so much for making me feel like I am not the only one who just falls of the deep end into self-pity rants sometimes. And I’m totally on your side. Light a fire under Fab Hub’s butt!
Also, loving your little magazine tradition with KZ. We get Cook’s Illustrated around here, and I get that same thrill. Just came yesterday, too. I think I’ll try to get Maggie interested. She’s all into waffles these days but I think that’s mainly because our waffle iron makes a clown, lion, elephant, and circus tent.
Your chiro and FM encounters remind me of my life in Asheville where those were two of my regular outings. We still do FM around here during the season, but we’ll have to wait for more moolah to flow in for the chiro. I LOVED my chiro in Asheville. She was my therapist too. I mean, not really. But really.
And of course I still love you. But I want you to do it!
Wow, my computer hates me – it completely ate my reply!
The rants – yes, I do crazy screaming Mamma pretty well. But I do have to give the Hub credit – I haven’t touched a vacuum cleaner or a bag of garbage since we got married. He’s way good about that stuff. Just not so much at noticing the day-to-day stuff that needs to be taken care of.
We have a heart-shaped waffle iron – but animals? Wow.
We are so lucky in the chiropractor department. It helps keep my RA and osteoarthritis in check and it happens to be covered by insurance, save a co-pay. That’s incredibly helpful.
Working on the Sunshine post – promise! Trying to get finished so it can go up early in the week.
Did not mean to diss the Fab Hub. You tell him. I get irritated with The Dude, too, but I try to remember he pays all the bills and does all garbage/recycling/compost duties. I so hate those jobs.
Oh, yeah. I am grateful for any job he does that I hate!
Oh, and I forgot to say I noticed your new header right away, and it looks great!
Totally the Fab Hub – isn’t he smart? He made it from a photo of a place I particularly liked on a hike we did in the fall. Lovely spot. I think I used the whole photo on my Thoreau-ing post a while back.
congrats and welcome to the best-little-blog-hop-in-the-blogosphere!
I suspect you will find yourself totally at home among the talented, gracious and supportive hostinae who make up Lizzi’s crew. Lizzi has very good instincts in this regard and there is so much of her in the TToT that there is not a chance in the universe that you won’t be glad of your decision to join us on this voyage.
…. damn, I thought I could turn the corner on a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ thing and even though I was comfortable with who I was going to put up as the Keira character … my efforts to set myself up as Jack totally faltered and I lost the whole construct! lol
(no, despite what Christine may say about how I tend to go off on tangents in Comments…) I really look forward to 2014 and the New TToT!
I have to tell you, Clark, that I felt right at home with the TToT gang from my very first posts! It IS the best-little-blog-hop-in-the-blogosphere and I’m so happy to be participating on a whole new level!
Sorry you lost the wind in your pirate sails…that could’ve been a splendid segue!
The new header IS lovely but I almost missed ya because I was looking for the leaf! Love that Zilla is picking up a better behavior vibe at school… sounds like she’s working really hard… and its paying off big! I love that kid … great stories bout her… congrats on the hostini spot… you will be a fab addition I am sure! and if not Zilla can always fill in… HA! … do you actually cook from that mag? I haven’t gotten it but was wondering if the recipes would be very doable?
Thanks, Zoe. See? That’s what I was afraid of – I’m so used to my little red leaf! But then I was all “oh, Lisa, don’t be an idiot – it’s not like you have a huge web presence and a following – nobody will even notice.” 🙂
Thanks for your sweet words about Zilla. And yes, I’m sure she could fill in for me on the TToT roster! That kid has quite a sense of humor already!
We do, actually, cook from the Food Network mag. Many recipes are totally doable. Some are fussier than others, but many are designed for busy home cooks and are very accessible. I think they have a little something for everyone. I have found a lot of my favorite Soups of the Week there!
So glad you’re one of the co-hosts! Congrats!
..and before I got all the way through this, I kept thinking “did she change her header?” I like it! Nice!
Aww.. I’m so jealous you live that close to your sister! But that’s pretty awesome to bump into her twice in one day!
And I have to tell you…I keep seeing your black kitty (I think you probably have a post about him somewhere and I was on my way to visit your ‘about the kitties’ page/posts the other day and got distracted. I was probably at work and had to actually get back to actual work. hmph! *shakes my head*) But, I have to say I am such a sucker for black kitties…our best kitty in the whole world was a black kitty named Jackson. We loved him dearly! So, anyway, just wanted to tell you warms my heart each time I see a picture of your black kitty.
Love your lovely list!
Thanks, Kari!
I have plenty of stuff on here about our THREE black kitties – just go to the tag cloud and click on “Rotten Cats” or put that in the search bar and you’ll find lots of fun things! They make an appearance on the blog pretty often – although it’s been a while, I have to admit. They are quite hysterical – which is how they end up on here a lot.
First, thank you oodles for the shout-out! I’m so glad we found each other all those months ago, and that you are now a co-host of TToT! You were the perfect choice.
The next time I try to pick up the clutter that EVERYONE BUT ME has left all over the house, I am just going to read your speech. It says it all. And yes, it all DOES explain our mothers, doesn’t it?
Your new header is bee-u-tiful! Did you take the picture? Wherever that is, I want to go there!
I hope you and your sister get to visit at the bank or gynecologist’s office next week….
Me, too! 🙂 And thanks – that is way sweet of you.
The header picture was taken by either me or the Fab Hub. He’s claiming it but it was probably actually me – I found/find those steps particularly inspiring.
[…] I did with Christine a little earlier…and as I was about to with our new Hostettes, Sandy and Lisa.. alas I must wait until another time, after I have covered my head with the blanket of obscurity […]
Congrats on being a cohost and big congrats on 250 posts! Lucky you to have a husband who can help figure out the techie stuff!
Thanks, Kate. And yes, he’s pretty handy to have around!
I love your new header, and I’m delighted you’ve joined the ranks of our famous (infamous?) co-hosts! 🙂 I was so pleased to read that Zilla was about to work on correcting her own behavior issues. That’s something we all need to learn as children and adults – how to get back on track when things go wrong. I smiled at the visual I had of the two of you reading the food mag together and planning meals with new recipes. You are right, it’s about the time shared, the thoughts exchanged, and the love that permeates all. Yay to hubby for helping with the html, techie things can be sooo frustrating!! Sweet list – great week!
Thanks, Josie – the Fab Hub is the designer on that header so I’ll tell him you loved it. I’m thrilled to be co-hosting with this grand bunch of people – famous OR infamous! I just replied to Bianca and noted that we’re all happy Zilla is learning this life skill of getting back on track early. It will be huge down the road. Glad to give you a smile – reading the mag with Zilla makes me smile, too! 🙂
Naps are a beautiful thing. I enjoyed reading your amusing list & glad Zilla is doing better.
Thanks, Bianca. Naps are indeed a beautiful thing. And we are all glad Zilla is making positive strides at home and school! She’s a great kid and we’re so proud that she’s learning to adjust herself. Huge life skill that will serve her well later.
It is so nice to hear someone else can be a screeching harpy, wait, I’m not calling you a screeching harpy. Hmmm… Today I basically had the same conversation with my husband who also has the nerve to tell me “how” to do what he ISN’T doing.
I am glad you’re a co-host 🙂
Yeah, it’s OK to say screeching harpy…if the shoe fits, right? Glad to know that the conversations between husbands and wives are pretty much standard all over the place.
I’m glad I’m a co-host, too! 🙂
I’m so behind on blog reading, but I’m so glad I got to this one today – your list of thankfuls always puts a smile on my face.
Especially the one about your screaming at everyone who isn’t cleaning. That is totally me. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one here.
I’m so glad when you visit here!
Yeah, you’re not the only one by a long shot – so many others said it happens in their houses, too!
Well, this is huge and thrilling news! A real, live co-host! Good for you.
I will try to get it together and join you this weekend.
That would be awesome! It’s really such fun and the good-vibe benefits are absolutely amazing! I think you’ll love it!
Hi, congrats for receiving the awards and I love Food Network. I like checking out their magazine too from time to time online. 😉 Thanks for sharing and co-hosting on TToT.
Hi, Mary! And thanks. 🙂