50 Things I am Thankful For
For several years, one of my favorite food bloggers, Erin at Well Plated wrote an annual post that listed 100 things she was thankful for and published it on Thanksgiving. I always found the list inspiring, and a wonderful reminder to be grateful for the large and small things in life. It is a tradition I would like to start for myself, so in no particular order, here are 50 things I am thankful for this year:
1. My amazing, supportive, funny, and kind husband Zach, who makes me laugh every day, who always knows how to fix any computer problem I bring to him, and who I cannot imagine walking through life without.
2. My mom and dad, for everything, always.
3. Huba and Crookshanks, our two crazy cats.
4. My job in a field I love, that always keeps me on my toes and leads me to learn something new every day.
5. Coworkers that make work fun.
6. The brand new pillows we bought at Bed Bath & Beyond the other day.
7. That time I saw icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland.
8. That time I got to stand on the site of the earliest confirmed Viking community in North America (also in Newfoundland).
9. Our lovely house and big (for the neighborhood) backyard.
10. My extended family, those near and far, in-laws and blood relations.
11. Hallmark Christmas movies (yes, I am aware how ridiculous they are).
12. The ability to read, and my love of books.
13. Unlimited access to free books through the local library.
14. Snowstorms.
15. Leggings. Sweatpants. PJ pants. Basically any pants that fit into this category.
16. Air conditioning on gross hot, humid days.
17. Flannel sheets in the winter.
18. Pumpkin spice lattes (especially homemade versions like this one, which are a fraction of the price).
19. The homemade BBQ chicken pizza that Zach and I have perfected.
20. St. Lawrence University, which provided me with an amazing undergraduate education, lifelong friends, and even future family members.
20. My two graduate programs at Syracuse University, which provided me with an unforgettable graduate education, invaluable mentors, and lifelong friends.
21. Art museums… and all other museums, too.
22. The internet.
23. Friends who make me laugh so hard my throat hurts the next day.
24. Reading in the backyard.
25. Breakfast for dinner.
26. BBQ potato chips.
27. Cats Photoshopped into famous paintings.
28. That time we went hiking in the Rocky Mountains.
29. Rainy days that are the perfect excuse to stay in bed all day reading a book.
30. Creators who share a vast number of free resources on the internet.
31. Living in beautiful Central New York.
32. My health and the health of my loved ones.
33. The resources to travel and explore new places.
34. All the people that came before me who fought for equal rights, and all the people who continue to fight every day, no matter how exhausting it is.
35. Vaccines and every other type of life saving medical advancement.
36. Blogs that I have been inspired by for years, including Cup of Jo, Sally’s Baking Addiction, A Cozy Kitchen, Gimme Some Oven, Iowa Girl Eats, and Dessert For Two.
37. The ability and resources to work on home renovation projects (and Zach’s expertise that makes them come out looking good).
38. Grocery stores that (nearly) always have everything in them I could ever need.
39. Christmas decorations, Christmas crafts, Christmas movies, and Christmas baking projects.
40. That time I saw Stonehenge.
41. Artists that help me see and experience the world in new and different ways.
42. Giant chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven.
43. Modern plumbing.
44. Long weekends.
45. Take out for dinner after a long, chaotic day of work.
46. Sending and receiving postcards in the mail.
47. Eating s’mores around a campfire.
48. The @syracusehistory Instagram account, which continuously teaches me something new about where I live, and always portrays Syracuse in a positive light.
49. A well-made margarita.
50. Spending the holidays with family and loved ones.