Appreciated

I showed up this morning to work to find a thank you card from a staff.  It really touched me.  It made it all worthwhile to know that someone appreciates that I take the time to teach and mentor rather than just dictate the right answers.  It made it all worthwhile to know that someone appreciates how flexible I am about when we work and how we work.  That there's more to life than just this job and that it's important to be flexible so that we can all have the outside-of-work things that are important to us - friends, family, religion, downtime, etc.

Such a simple gesture to renew my spirits and remind me why exactly I do my job the way I do it.

Grateful

I'm back!  It's been a crazy couple weeks trying to get through my 9/15 busy season deadline but I made it and this marks my first full weekend off in a while.  And even though I'm sick with some crazy infection/inflammation thing, I'm still having a fantastic weekend thus far and just want to reflect on the things that I'm grateful for this weekend.

- My new Martha Stewart "french oven" (enameled cast iron casserole pot) from Macy's.  It's not Le Creuset but it'll do for now.  One day I'll splurge for the real deal but for now I will remain the bargain shopper because closeout prices rock.

- New shoes!  I just keep finding super cute ones on sale/clearance and I just can't resist.  The latest craze is BRIGHT colors - pink, blue, green - I'm sold!  And boots for fall because at some point I do realize I'll have to pack away the flip flops for at least a couple months.

- A new electric griddle because pancakes are just so much more perfect when made on a griddle.  (Also on sale at Macy's!)

- New stainless steel pots and pans to replace the nasty nonstick ones we currently have.  Yay Brother for agreeing we needed new pots and pans!  (On sale at JCPenney's!)

- New bright and colorful shirts!  I know it's about to be fall and the fashion police would say I should start wearing more fall/darker colors but I don't care.  I need the hot pinks and yellows in my wardrobe to brighten up my day.  

- Spending time just pampering myself and creating a spa day at home.  Mmmm smooth skin that glows!

- Relaxing with Zoey.  I love my dog.

- About to watch The Blind Side.

- Hanging out with friends tonight to watch UT Football!!!

- And lastly, the most important: my family, friends, and Josh who have been so supportive during busy season and taking care of me now when I'm sick.

(No pictures this post.  I'm sick, give me a break.)