I only live 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis, but I don't make it there too often.  However, when I do I'm always amazed by the beauty of the old buildings, framed by the arch, and the delicious restaurants nestled amongst them.  A birthday breakfast with a dear friend was the perfect start to the day.  Especially since today marks one month that I have been doing this project, and she is the one that introduced it to me and has been doing it alongside me.  When I started the project, I was originally only going to do it for a month (I didn't tell you that, Laura).  I thought a year would be too hard.  And some days have been difficult.  But after seeing how far I've come in one month, and how much I enjoy this, I've got to keep going.  Eleven more months...I got this.

So what am I grateful for today?  Friends that challenge us to be better people, coffee with chilled cream, and goat cheese.  Seriously, goat cheese is delicious on everything.  Especially on a crepe.  With tomato jam.

I am feeling so grateful to have the chance to have a simple and fun evening with a dear friend.  Life often gets in the way of being able to spend as much time with some people as what I would like, but when it comes down to it, I have some pretty great friends.  They are the kind of friends that I can both laugh and cry with (sometimes at the same time), and that I can count on for some kindness and tough love when I'm having a pity party for myself.  The kind of friends that will tell me that I need to just stop eating and start running instead of buying the next size up in jeans.  The kind of friends that hard times bring us closer instead of further apart; and I can honestly say we have been through the worst of times and best of times together.  So I'll take any chance I get to talk, laugh, and play with them.

And in case anyone wants to know, I rock at arcade basketball and Big Buck Hunter.

A great day off should be full of productivity, creativity, play, and relaxation.  Today was all those things (until it came time for that second load of laundry).  The best part was definitely my urban adventure in downtown Kirkwood with LJ.  I'm grateful for all the diverse neighborhoods in St. Louis with local restaurants and cute little shops.  Thanks to our adventure, I now have unicycle earrings and root beer cotton candy in my possession!

All of my friends know that I rave about my Vita-mix.  But it really is the greatest piece of equipment in my kitchen.  It makes it so easy to mix up a delicious and nutritious smoothie for breakfast.  I'm very grateful that I received this 10 years ago, and it's still with me!

First "real" food that I've cooked in nearly a week!  Roasted broccoli with garlic and olive oil...because who isn't grateful for garlic?  I mean, seriously, it makes almost anything you cook tastier!  And Isabelle still gives me kisses, so there you have it.

I conquered the strep throat and made it back to work today, making it out of my apartment for the longest time in 4 days.  I was rewarded with this beautiful sunset...one of the best I've seen in a while.  The sky was on fire with beautiful colors, changing from minute to minute.  I'm grateful for the beauty of our atmosphere.

I'm so grateful for laptop computers and cell phones to keep in contact with the outside world when you are quarantined to your 800 square foot apartment.  I'm about ready to go stir crazy, but at least I've been able to keep up with everything that's going on with work and friends.

I'm a day late on this post....better a day late than never!  I'm grateful for rest and the body's ability to repair itself.  I hate being sick and confined to a couch and bed for days on end, but sometimes it's necessary.

Today I'm in survival mode, and when I'm sick these are my ultimate survival items.  I always crave a strawberry shake when I'm sick.  Not chocolate, not vanilla....has to be strawberry.  I'm weird like that. So I'm grateful I was able to make it out to the doctor today and pick up some meds, as well as my survival strawberry shake.  Here's to kicking this thing, and feeling better tomorrow!

I do not have a green thumb.  I forget to water my plants, I don't know whether they need sun or shade, and I don't how big a planter they need.  Most my plants die within a few months.  This one is the exception.  I call it the Grandpa plant, because I kept it from my Grandpa's funeral four years ago.  Although I don't need a plant to keep my Grandpa's memory alive, it helps to to have a visual in my apartment reminding me every day of his kind heart, love, and wisdom.  I forget to water it all the time, and it's traveled many miles with me, but it is still going strong.  And it reminds me that some things never die, like the memory of a loved one.

Isabelle looked so content this chilly morning, snuggled in a blanket while I was getting ready for work so I couldn't resist taking a few pictures.  Especially since I've been feeling praticularly grateful for a dog's love lately.  Recently, a friend lost her dear dog and it makes me realize that we never know how long a pet will be in our lives.  We must enjoy them while they are here, no matter how fleeting the time may be.  My first dog, Chloe, was only with me for a short four months, but she will always have a special place in my heart.  Chloe taught me the joy that having a dog can bring and brought me a peace and calm when everything else in my life was chaotic.  Dogs give unconditional love and companionship, and for that I will always be grateful.

The sky was so awesome this morning!  So grateful that I got up in time this morning to run with a great friend and view the beautiful clouds in the early sky of the day.  There are many reasons to run...and I fully believe that one of them is to view all earth's beauty and know that we are a small part of something big and wonderful.

I'm feeling grateful that healthy food doesn't have to suck.  Some olive oil, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper makes these brussel sprouts rock!  Getting back to eating healthy foods is important to me....and I'm looking forward to trying new recipes and revisiting delicious old ones.

I am so grateful to have found a favorite toy.  In the search, there were toys that were too big, too loud, too hard, and just simply not perfect.  Bobo comes to bed with me at night and sleeps by me in my pen during the day to keep me company.  - Isabelle

I love to read.  Like, really love to read.  Little known fact: I hold a record at Lincoln Elementary School for reading the most books ever.  My name's up on a fancy plaque in the hallway for all to rejoice in my inner bookworm.  I'm grateful for books...they take me to another world, especially memoirs where I get to witness the triumphs, successes, and inspirations of others.

After being away from home and on the road for a week, I'm feeling grateful for familiarity.  Don't get me wrong, I love vacations and exploring new places.  But there's just something about coming home and seeing the same old streets, the same old people, and doing the same old things.  I like the comfort of a routine; it keeps me grounded in this crazy, hectic world!

I've spent a lot of time in the car the last week.  36 hours, but who's counting?  And as the passenger, I spent a lot of time gazing out the side mirror.  And it reminded me, you're never going to see what's in front of you if you keep looking back at the past.  The past has been written and can not be changed.  The future is not certain, and that is scary...but does not mean we can't look to it with the promise and hope of something awesome lying ahead.  So today I'm grateful to gain this perspective and hope to keep it in mind everyday.

Another fun stop on our way back to St. Louis!  Again I'm feeling grateful for the fun stops that make a road trip exciting.  Fresh pecan rolls and some local Chattanooga beer made today a little more interesting.

Today, I'm grateful for beer.  Everyone who knows me knows that I love craft beer, and local microbreweries.  So, I had to track one down in Orlando, and found the Orlando Brewing Company, one of the only all organic breweries in the country.  The beer was delicious, and the tap room was warm and inviting.  I wish I could take a keg of the Chocolate Mint Girl Stout home with me!

I've done marathons for time.  I've done marathons for a challenge (I'm looking at you, Double Chubb).    I've even done a marathon for free (thanks Fleet Feet and Nike!).  But this is the first marathon I've done for pure fun and joy.  I had no idea or care about finishing time.  My goal was to enjoy the scenery, take some fun pictures, laugh, and have a magical time.

The first half was all of the above.  I took some hilarious pictures.  I laughed and had a huge smile on my face.  I was the crazy girl singing loudly to her Pandora.  The second half I was slapped in the face with the reality that I was in fact doing a marathon and not out for a 5 mile run in the park.  With a major sunburn developing and the balls of my feet on fire, I was dehydrated, nauseous, and just plain miserable.  However, at mile 22, I looked back and saw the very back of the pack.  And, I realized that no matter how undertrained I was, I didn't come this far to finish last.  Or not at all.  Ignoring the fire under my feet, I kicked it into gear and took off into what felt like a fast tempo pace for the next mile, putting a nice cushion between me and the very back.  Around mile 24, a fellow woman runner came up alongside me and told me how I had inspired her to do the same at that mile 22.  She also didn't realize how far back we were.  This was one of the highlights of my race, and made me realize how we may inspire people everyday without even knowing it, in small ways or big ways.

But what I am most grateful for today is all the Facebook likes, comments, posts, and texts I received yesterday and this morning.  I felt like I had many people running with me.  So, thank you...I am lucky to have such inspiring, kind, and supportive people in my life.

Running shoes and mickey mouse ears...essentials for running the Disney marathon.  I'm feeling grateful that the marathon I'm least trained for will be probably have the most entertaining course.  I'm looking forward to seeing the parks, taking pictures, and finishing my tenth marathon!

Today I'm grateful for unexpected pleasures...during our travels today, we just happened to stop at a Chickfila that was having a 1 year birthday party.  Free cupcakes!  Free chicken sandwiches!  Free cow hats!  (Okay, those are probably always free.)  Either way, my mom and I had a nice little break from the road.

Let's just say that when you are in a car for 8 hours, you're pretty much grateful for anything that gets you out of the car.  Even a Wendy's frosty.  Which was pretty darn delicious.

Today I'm grateful to be eating my favorite soup with my favorite mom at my favorite cafe bakery!  Followed, of course, by some of the best gooey butter cake ever.

Yep, that's right...I still have my Christmas tree up.  I realize that I'm totally breaking the rules by leaving my tree up this far into January, but for me, Christmas is more than just December 25.  I didn't spend Christmas Day with family, opening presents and eating a big homemade dinner.  I partied Christmas Eve and watched movies and ate Chinese food on Christmas Day.  Sure, I did some typical things: I sent Christmas cards, went to church, hosted an awesome party, attended a few awesome parties, watched Elf, did Secret Santa at work, went ice skating, and put up Christmas decorations.  But this holiday season is different on many levels.


You see, 2 years ago, right before Christmas, my world as I knew it was shattered. I had to learn how to live life on my own, and because my family is long distance, I had some great friends to help me through it.  They took me in as though I was their own family.  So this is the first year that I have really taken the holiday back and made it my own.  For the first time, I have a place to call my own.  I picked out my tree and all its decorations, and it screams Katrina.  I sent out Christmas cards that announced to the world that it's just Isabelle and me.  The holiday season started Thanksgiving when I finally went home to face my family and hometown as a single woman, and it continues until my Mom visits.  And I just might leave it up past that.  Because I can. And because its blue LED glow represents that I am stronger and braver than I ever thought I could be.

Baby, it's cold outside!  It's only the coldest temperatures here in 20 years, no big deal.  I'm feeling grateful for my Drymax trail socks that kept my feet dry during my shoveling (hey, it's the small things).  Now if only someone would come plow my alley and move the car that's blocking my exit, so I could actually go somewhere.

It's a winter wonderland!  I'm grateful that I have no where to be today and a warm apartment, so I can enjoy this snow day from the comfort of my home.

Smiley Cookies

How can it not be a great day at work when this is the first thing you see upon arrival?  And yes, they tasted as yummy as they look.  I work with such caring and fun people!

I love the way icicles grab the sunlight!  These were hanging on my porch...and more to come I'm sure.

First Snowfall of the Year

First snowfall of 2014!  Although I don't appreciate the snowy roads and all the mess it brings, I have to appreciate how beautiful a snowfall is.

I just had to start off the year with a picture of Isabelle.  I'm so thankful for her being there to keep me company and snuggle with me.  She seems to know when I need some extra attention.  I didn't realize how much joy and companionship a dog could bring into my life until I had my first dog, Chloe, and now Isabelle.  I just love how she snuggles under the blankets by my feet!

The start of something big.

January 1, 2014, I woke up hungover and full of regrets...the same way I've started off the new year so many times.  As I wallowed in self pity and wondered where my life was going, a good friend introduced me to the 365 project, where you take one photo each day for a year.  It's an attempt to look around and see the world in a different light, and realize all I have to be grateful for.  It's my goal to become a better photographer, to see all the little things around me that I didn't realize I had, and to be happy with who I am and where my life is.  This is the year that I am myself with no apologies!