.:Summer Vacation 2012:.

i have been trying to think on how i want to recap our vacation in Seattle and Vancouver last month, but i decided the best way to do that is through pictures!!!! you guys don't want to read a novel on how awesome it was, you'd rather see it, right???

SEATTLE:.

lovely link ride in Seattle after being up since 3:30 a.m.....

visiting Pike Place Market made the long day of traveling worth it! 

we HAD to wait in line to get coffee at the very 1st Starbucks....

Vancouver:.

we drove across the border to Vancouver.....in a mini-van.....

Canadian money is WAY prettier than US

our home for the week

Stanley Park:.
from Redwoods to walking along the bay, the sites were breathtaking. we decided to rent bikes and explore....

Whistler:.

although we had to pile in the mini-van for a 2 1/2 hour drive to Whistler, it was the highlight of the vacation for all of us. while i could have done without the gondola rides and being suspended higher than comfortable, the views were completely worth it! 

home of the 2010 Winter Olympics. 

my oldest (yet little) brother.

party's here!

unbelievable, right?

wishing my feet were on the ground at this point.

another highlight for me was having the BEST mocha at a small shop called JJ Bean. we found it in the corner of the farmer's market on Granville Island. i had to make a special pitstop to get another one before we left!

this picture isn't great quality, but this was at dinner our last night in Vancouver. we haven't gone on vacation as a family for a few years and this was a first having all of us bring our significant other. honestly, i couldn't have imagined a better time! 

another highlight: this was mine and drew's first time going on vacation together. between catching flights, navigating in a new city and spending a lot of money traveling with someone, especially a significant other, can be nerve-wrecking. again, i couldn't have imagined a better vacation with him. we made so many new memories and inside jokes; he is the best traveling buddy, ever! i am really hoping we can afford to start traveling more soon! 

i am sure some of you may be wondering how the magnificent Inaugural Lululemon Seawheeze 1/2 marathon went, but unfortunately, you will have to wait for the next post. i have more pictures and stories to capture my last 1/2 marathon! i truly promise it won't take me long to get that post up, but until next time....

always striving for more, 

dee b.

.:we often take for granted, the things that most deserve our gratitude:.

back to the grind after a refreshing 4-day weekend...

it's monday morning (grrr) after thanksgiving and i'm sitting in my cubicle thinking about how many things i have to be greatful for. do you find it easy to just go through the motions of 'thanksgiving' with all the traveling, food and family? what happens to your gratitude after all the events die down and you're not 'forced' to think about it?

i have many things to be grateful for and most of them are simple and basic...

1. FAMILY--this seems to be the default answer for everyone when asked what they're thankful for....

we're supportive, dysfunctional and FULL of love! let's be honest, there are times when everyone else turns their back on you and all you have is family....old pic, but a good one, love you guys!

i don't remember the last time almost all of the cousins were together! we have moved, got married, graduated, moved again basically grew up and forged our own paths, but getting together never changes. it's time filled with making fun of each other, eating too much food and catching up on all we have done since we last saw each other.

2. FRIENDS--also, another default, but who are we without friends and those memories that we make with them? friends add character to our live, they help create our personalities, they enrich our lives in ways that family cannot. i have always said that i don't have one best friend that i get to see on a regular basis, but i have a lot of close friends and i am thankful for each and every one of them and the fullfillment they bring to my life.

  

3.MY HEALTH-- this may be debatable after 5 knee surgeries and a bout of shingles when i was a sophomore in college...

on a serious note, i am able to run, do yoga and workout (almost) as often as i'd like and i haven't had any serious diagnosis with my health, i will call that win!

4. my two guys....

guy 1.....

   

guy 2....
                             
seriously, these two can brighten any day. i'm happy to see them at the end of the day and bummed when i have to say goodbye.

5. my degree! after many late nights and exhausting mornings filled with school work and last minute studying, i never thought i'd reach this point with B.A. after my name, no more homework and where my opportunities are endless. my opportunities have led me into a cubicle. but i know that this degree is great head start to my career. speaking of my cubicle, it leads me to my next blessing (in disguise).....

6. my job....i know i make jokes out of being trapped in a cubicle, but there was a point when i was jobless and concerned about where my next rent check was going to come from. i may not be rolling in money, but my bills are paid and i am able to stay financially independent, which is VERY important to me. i was also able to celebrate good news regarding my job....i received FULL-TIME status at my job!!! yaay!!! this means a couple key things:. benefits (insurance, paid-time off, vacation) and more money (and salary pay may i add). although i am extremely grateful for this opportunity to happen very quickly after starting, it is a bittersweet feeling. sweet because it is what i worked for and puts me one step closer to going back to school and bitter because it means i should only get more comfortable in my cube....

like i've said before, i'm poor and i'm anxious to get a move on with my life plan, but i'm happier than what i ever thought possible and i have many things to be thankful each and every day!

what do you have to be thankful for? anything that you've neglected lately that needs a little appreciation?

appreciate everything that you have because if you don't, someone else will...

always striving for more,
dee b.