tgif (in color)
Happy TGIF everyone!
I'm so glad I've committed to posting this every week. It really makes me slow way down and think about how very lucky I am.
A couple of weeks ago I did a giveaway from Compendium Inc.'s Live Inspired* line. I can't tell you how much I love their stuff.
If you follow the blog, you'll know that every year since I was a little kid, my family has spent time in Port Aransas, Texas. I'm sure you've seen the pictures (like the "Don't get wet! set). One of our traditions is to eat at The Crazy Cajun. It's the kind of place where they throw your boiled shrimp and crab right on the table. A few years ago I noticed this funky little pink store next door to "The Cajun" called The Gratitude Shop. Last month I finally ventured in. I was looking at jewelry when Ellen started yelling across the tiny store, "Mom, wait untill you see this!"
I came out with bags of Live Inspired* cards and books for myself and for giveaways. It was love at first sight.
Here are a couple of pictures from outside (Ellen with the owner) and inside The Gratitude Shop!
For this TGIF, the giveaway is one of my favorite books from Compendium - the Happily Grateful book!
All you have to do to win is leave a comment answering the following questions before Monday:
Who/what are you trusting today?
Who/what are you grateful for today?
Who/what is inspiring you today?
Here's mine:
Today I'm trusting myself and my intuition.
I'm grateful for Ellen and Charlie. Yesterday Ellen and I closed all of the blinds, turned off the lights, and watched the fifth Harry Potter movie. We spent most of the time under the blanket giggling and hiding. When we were done we practiced our spells.
During tuck-in last night, Charlie looked at me and said, "Sometimes when you're not looking, I look at you and sneak some of your pretty." It made me cry.
Right now I'm inspired by the idea of nesting. July and August are dedicated to my house. I'm especially inspired by colorful paint chips and decorative pulls from Anthropologie. This is my little collection. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them, but I'm sure it will come to me.
Happy TGIF! Can't wait to read your comments!
07.10.2009
Reader Comments (73)
God and my body (that it knows what it is doing even though I don't)
Who/what are you grateful for today?
My husband and many 'second' chances
Who/what is inspiring you today?
Mothers
grateful: a fresh start
inspiring: the woman standing outside the gratitude shop in the picture with ellen! is that the owner? i'm captivated.
Trusting - that my body has been behaving and my upcoming mammogram will be clear
Grateful - I am grateful for every single blessing in my life - and that's every day, not just today. For today I'm grateful (for one thing) that the sun is shining
Inspiring - Reading what is inspiring others, browsing through etsy/twitter/blogs to see what other people have been doing, thinking, creating. Being in touch with what moves me.
I am trusting myself today. Trusting my heart.
I am grateful for my friend Vanessa for helping me talk myself off a mental cliff earlier this week. Nothing serious...I was just having a freak out moment.
I am inspired by a dear friend who fills my heart with love to the point I could burst from the excitement.
I'm trusting in the journey, that I am moving in the right direction creatively.
I'm grateful for my sister, Christy and her powerful insights.
I am inspired by my amazing internet friends.
I am trusting that all the projects I'm juggling will get done, all in the right time.
I am grateful for blackberry tea, and a weekend of fun & rest ahead with my husband and some dear friends.
I am inspired by the lovely blogs I read, and by two new CDs I just bought (Hem, a folk band, and Taylor Swift).
Happy TGIF!
I'm grateful for my friends.
I am inspired by my truly amazing sons.
I am grateful for my family and friends who believe in me even when I don't believe in myself.
I am inspired by the incredible people around me who are willing to be honest, authentic, and vulnerable.
Grateful - For a new friend who makes me laugh so loud we everyone in the restaurant looks at us.
Inspired - To get back into a healthier eating and exercise routine--it's been one week, and already I feel like I have so much more energy!!
Trusting: that the year will work out the way it should even though all my plans for it seem to be going awry.
Grateful: for a few days off work to straighten out my head and my heart ready for the next steps.
Inspired: by the storm brewing outside. Just waiting for this thunder to break and wash everything clean..
my inner strength as i approach week 33 of this pregnancy (which has been a bit stressful)
Who/what are you grateful for today?
my dear friend who listens, offers sisterly advice, and truly hears where i am coming
Who/what is inspiring you today?
my 3 yr old son - who radiates curiosity and joy
I am grateful being able to keep my energy focused on me so that I could love myself first & show myself respect.
I am inspired by myself! I am very proud of me this week and I am my own inspiration to continue the work of my soul's journey.
I am grateful for having the whole summer off to enjoy (teacher) with my sons.
I am inspired by everything around me today. Off to read something fun.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Who/what are you grateful for today? I am grateful for my family and my home. I am blessed to have both.
Who/what is inspiring you today? My newborn and his first photos are inspiring me. I am putting together his baby book and loving the process.
I am grateful that I am in good health.
I am inspired by the power of prayers.
They say there are no coincidences in life. I've suffered from PTSD from crushing childhood & adult trauma. Only now, at 53, am I able to examine the feelings. I told my husband yesterday that I am at the point where I need to address my guilt and shame. While surfing this morning, I came across your FANTASTIC web site.
THANK YOU for your courage in bearing your soul for all to see.
I've subscribed to your RSS feed so I won't forget to read your new blog entries.
Myself, my husband and my therapist
Who/what are you grateful for today?
Brand new dish towels. All seems right when I have new dish towels.
Who/what is inspiring you today?
Real Simple magazine
Thanks for a chance to win!
Today I am grateful for small miracles arriving at exactly the right time.
Today I'm inspired by a great response to some new jewelry designs. It makes me want to create even more!
I'm grateful for friends who love me photo gift books which seem to delight the recipients and warm their hearts with happy memories of many wonderful days spent together.
I'm grateful for a clean corner in my house and a tiny girl who slept late so I go clean it.
I'm inspired by my little guy who is incredulously delighted by things like playing with trains outside in the backyard with footie jams. :)
Today, I am grateful for Daniel, my husband and best friend and confidante and anchor, who is always a solid rock I can rely on, who loves me no matter what, who cherishes who I am even when I simply can't feel the love for myself.
Right now, I am being inspired by ordinariness, the need to keep track of everyday life, to preserve these normal moments that are mine.
Who/what are you grateful for today? I am grateful for amazing friends, a wonderful and supportive husband, my beautiful puppy, my inspiriting mentors, loving what I do, journals, a cool glass of iced tea, a wonderful book to curl up with, and taking the time to reflect and dig deep into gratitude and spirituality.
Thank you for creating this site, it is a perfect place to be grateful!
Wishing you a joyful weekend! Blessings, Elizabeth
Grateful: for LIVE helpful, efficient customer service reps
Inspired: by the beautiful flowers I picked at my CSA farm
Have a great weekend!
Justin
I am grateful for all of the amazing women in my life who love freely and uplift just by being.
I am inspired by people who consciously spread joy.
I am SO very grateful that I am able to fly to Albuquerque NM to visit my sons and grandson so very often and spend such quality time with them, sharing stories, laughing, watching Jaxon play with all the new toys I went over board and bought for this first birthday and just loving each other.
I am inspired by my young one year old grandson, who is experiencing the world for the first time and I want to be there for all the birthdays, graduations, his wedding... Jaxon inspires me to be a better person, a more caring person, a more loving person, a more accepting person and a most worthy person to be this young child's grandmother.
I am grateful for the unconditional love of my friends & family from afar.
I am inspired by Ode Magazine (http://www.odemagazine.com) and all of the inspiring optimistic stories they cover.
I am so grateful that the running toilet FINALLY (three months later) got fixed.
I am inspired by funny things my children say.
I am grateful for friends who offer a kind word of encouragement when the road ahead seems very long.
I am inspired by those who are inspired through my writing.
Who/what are you trusting today?
I am trusting myself and that is tough to do -- I am trust that I can make good choices for myself and my health and that I can live a long full and active life
Who/what are you grateful for today?
I am grateful for my friend Sarah who is an inspiration to me - she answers my silly questions, cheers me on when I don't feel like I can accomplish anything and she sets a fantastic example for the person I want to be.
Who/what is inspiring you today?
Getting back on my bike and riding - feeling the wind in my hair and the power in my legs.
I am grateful for extra vacation time to spend with my daughter.
I am inspired by sunny days.
i am grateful for new mercies every morning.
i am inspired by all the wonderful people in "blog world" who share their ideas and gifts of creativity, so that i can create at home. love it! love it! love it!
I am trusting in God
Who/what are you grateful for today?
The weekend!! It's been one crazy week
Who/what is inspiring you today?
The song "By your Side" by tenth avenue north
Who/what are you trusting today?
My history. I am trusting that it will take me into the future, just by its virtue.
Who/what are you grateful for today?
I am grateful for a hobby. It took me years to find one that I could enjoy & I have fallen head over heels with scrapbooking.
Who/what is inspiring you today?
I am being inspired by my house. Doing a bit of nesting myself and wanting to clean out the clutter.
i am trusting myself to be as good as friend to my friends as they are to me
i am grateful for the people in my life who know i need a hug, even when i don't know it
i am inspired by the beauty of the world around me (especially my 2 new lambs- the cutest things ever!!!)
wishing all a peaceful and joyous weekend
Today, I am grateful for that someone who still gives me butterflies.
Today, I am inspired by the inherent possibility of every single moment.
Thank you, Brené for the loving and thoughtful challenge that refuses to let me walk through today with blind eyes and quiet heart.
I am grateful for my girlfriend that I just visited for a week ... she provided much needed comfort, laughs, inspiration and a shoulder to lean upon.
I am inspired by this video and song: http://dancingmermaid.com/blog/2009/07/06/exactly/
I am grateful that I have a fulfilling career where I can learn as much as I teach.
I am inspired by young children. I absolutely love what your son said to you.
I'm grateful for our lovely neighbour, Ben, and his family. They invited the kids for a swim in their pool. It was a wonderful half hour. The kids really enjoyed their time. And our neighbours enjoyed the squeals and giggles of children having fun splashing and playing "colours" and "Marco Polo".
I'm inspired by the arrival of summer! The light and shadow will definitely improve my photo experiments.
Today I'm trusting the ground beneath my feet.
I'm grateful for two days "off" and for getting somewhere close to being caught up at work. Closer than I've been in a while
I'm inspired by all the beauty around me and by my trip to see my sister next week!
I am grateful for my healthy body and mind..I like who I am
I am inspired by your post today Brene, with the trinkets and collection of things..just really felt good looking at the shop and I too love the "live-inspired" books and cards..they are so wonderful
Today I'm trusting my body---listening to what it wants and needs and following its lead.
Today I'm grateful for my husband and the true partner he is in parenting our three little boys (especially when my body says I need a nap asap!).
Today I'm inspired by packing up old files...I know that sounds weird, but it is inspiring me, to finally let go of some old roles/jobs/careers and box up the best of them and make room for new adventures.
Thanks, Brene!
I am grateful for the strength of all of you who put your real selves out there. Your courage lent me the strength I needed to stay connected and reconnect to my creative spirit,
and for Nancy, who lets me borrow her faith
I am inspired by Jennifer's (9yo dd) innate creativity,
and kellyrae's blog and book (again)
Today, I am trusting God to give me the rest of the energy I need to de-clutter ALL of the closets.
Who/what are you grateful for today?
I am grateful for all the fresh home-grown produce filling my fridge!
Who/what is inspiring you today?
I am inspired by all the beautiful flowers I saw today each time I stepped out onto the patio. They make great subjects to sketch in color.
Karen
The pulls - you can have them mounted to the wall, either arranged to hang things on, or as a decorative cluster. Hardware stores have a double ended screw for a job like this.
HTH
I am grateful that I have a job today.
I am inspired by all the blogs I read and see all the creativity of everyone and all the wonderful handmade things people make.
I am grateful that I have laughter in my life.
I am inspired by others who love what they do.
I am grateful that I am visiting my daughter and son-in-law who live out of state.
I am inspired by my son who has overcome great obstacles in his life.
Today I am grateful for a couple of excellent days of yoga practice. I was where I needed to be- and I'm so glad that I was. I've felt pushed and stretched and challenged, all in good ways.
Today I am inspired by the people I'm responsible for teaching, and from whom I learn something every single day. They make my life a richer place.