Finding Happiness in the Darkest Times

Happy Monday my lovelies.

Hope your weekend was perfect, filled with laughter, people to talk to, spontaneous dates or trips, or just a great book that invited you into a new unknown world. My weekend was anything but good. Yet, I don't want to vent. I have vented too much over the past three days and I am exhausted. Instead, I want to look forward to the next three days that will hopefully be merry and bright...even yes, with Thanksgiving around the corner.

I am trying really hard to find happiness these days. Thanksgiving will NOT happen this year. We had plans to go see family and they got shattered into million little pieces due to my favorite person being called into work every single day this week. Even on Thanksgiving, and yes even over the weekend {again}. I cannot, and will not, extend my gratitude to those greedy business people wanting to make a killer profit on an American holiday, cherished for many many decades celebrating life, nature, food, and the gift of family. Thanksgiving is the time to be thankful for technically one thing {yet, we no longer live in the 1700s} so we have become grateful for many things. This year, tons of people are thankful for early shopping hours. Thank you for being thankful {insert major sarcasm here}. Anyhow, so, while this holiday isn't happening this year I am trying to find happiness elsewhere.

1) Monday being a nice day {at least it doesn't rain today, hopefully}

2) Tuesday will be movie day...so going to see Mockingjay, Part 1

3) Wednesday we are going to watch a Christmas Tree Lighting - the first thing we do in this town

 {it better not let us down}

Also, I am planning a trip back to Southern California. It'll be just for a few days but it  will be enough to recharge. My soul and mind need replenishing. I need friends in my life. I need the possibility of calling my girls for brunch, or a quick drink or just coffee. I don't have that here. At all. I feel I fail at making friends or just meeting people, let alone in a new environment. So knowing I get to see two of my besties and hopefully a third one while I am going to SoCal makes my heart jump a little. 

See? I am focusing on the happy parts...

...Monday here I come!

xoxo

image via here and here

Pre-Thanksgiving Fun

{via}

I don't know about you but I love holidays when everyone gets together and eats.
Maybe it's just me who never experienced the feel of living and being part of a big family.
Maybe it's just me wanting to be part of a big family.
It's what it is.
I love the holidays.
Even the messy and loud moments.

This year it's a little different.

Traditions are thrown off (and that's fine too) and new moments are being created.

Who knows what next year will bring. 

So, now, I'm trying to find some pre-Thanksgiving fun that will get me into the spirit.
Ever since I started going gluten free I never realized that heck, the holidays will be a horrible thing.

My beloved stuffing won't be that beloved anymore.
Or maybe it will.

So, now, I'm going crazy.
Gluten free stuffing, gluten free flour, gluten free this and gluten free that.
Doesn't sound that difficult...but it's also not that easy.

AND...it's going to be pricier.
I'm in hell. Sorry.

So yeah, that's my fun.
At least I finished all my midterms and all papers.
I only have to write two papers for finals, and survive three final exams in December.
I think I can do this. I am not giving up.
I just can't and won't.

My pre-Thanksgiving fun will just be a piece of cake...

...but first...let me have a gluten free beer and enjoy it before I go nuts over GF recipes.

Are you looking forward to Thanksgiving?
Are you even celebrating?

Black Friday Craziness?

I am and I will have a fantastic time.

xoxo

Week{end} Update...

Well, I have been slacking off a little lately...so I thought I'd update you not only on one weekend but possibly also two. And probably show you that I'm still around, still care, still read but hardly find time to comment. So....be prepared for some picture overload.

So here it goes...

Thanksgiving weekend first:

This is not me in this photo...I had to tug someone in and pretend the pillows were a blanket. That is what I was told. Her new and probably favorite word is "pretend"...so we pretended to be asleep and use pillows as a blanket and all that...it was the cutest!

Ignore the wrinkles...but I wanted to share my Thanksgiving dress with ya! :) I love it a lot.

And Thanksgiving, or any other holiday needs to have something "weird" going on...look at the following photo...

And yes, that'll be me...with my new girlfriend... ;) No idea who stood behind me...but the dog loved me and this photo was captured right after she tried to kiss/lick me a billionth time.

 

I love Candy Canes...I just do...and photos that I took at 1 or 2 in the morning...while shopping!

And yes, I went to Black Friday Shopping...but as stated earlier...I wasn't going to get crazy and go all over...we did not stay in line, or fight for whatever. It was a chill morning. Loved it. We didn't even wanna buy anything just see how crazy it all was...and we were lucky, it was not crazy at all. Yay. 

And now this weekend....or this past week so to speak...all via my Instagram.

First Advent...I just love the Christmas season!

Hope you had a fantastic weekend.
It was so gloomy here in southern California it was just perfect!

Three more weeks...I can do this!

xoxo

P.s. Yes, linking up with the lovely ladies of the Weekend Update LinkUp.

Time for...

Pumpkin pie, of course!!!
And maybe a glass of wine.
I know, weird combo but I so feel like it.

Life's happening these days...
...and of course, I'm trying to work on my eating habits so I'm ready for Thursday!

Hope your week is great!!!

xoxo