After a successful '30 Days of Thanksgiving,' I thought to myself last night, that perhaps I should have planned a little better. At the beginning of the month, I reminded myself to not mention the big stuff right away.. to save some of the good stuff for the end of the month as well. Well, now I'm thinking to myself how lucky I have to be, because there was so much more I wanted to announce that I was thankful for. As well as statuses on Facebook, I made a word document of my month of things I am thankful for. I felt like it might be a good idea to reference on the days that I need to. I've heard of people making note of certain, wonderful things in your life when you're feeling down, to pick you back up, but why not for no reason. It feels amazing, I promise. Try it. Well done, to my fellow Facebook friends who also followed through with the month. How great do you feel? I am right there with you.

I have to say, that November was a wonderful month. As it usually is, for most people, but up until the last couple years, I have not been a big fan of Fall. Given that by the time November rolls around, it's not really Fall anymore, but I hated the anticipation of Winter. Not Christmas, winter. I think that because I live in an entirely different part of the US now, that I am enjoying it more. We have had hardly any snow at all here in Colorado and when we get snow over night, it's gone by noon the next day. The days are bright with sunshine and it's been amazing here. It's supposed to be about 65 this weekend. 65 degrees in November in Wisconsin? I don't think so. As fine as I am without the snow, I am crossing my fingers for a white Christmas. Life usually works out the way it's supposed to, so I'm not so worried about it. In my last post, I mentioned how we didn't yet have Christmas decorations and how I was going crazy wanting to decorate. A girlfriend from work informed me that her parents have been trying to get rid of their many fake Christmas trees, so I jumped right on that! We should have a tree within the next couple weeks! Hooray for generous people. 

Speaking of generous people, who else has noticed the 'Pay It Forward' trend that's going on? I can't get enough of it. A girl that I used to work with, back in Wisconsin, sent me this video and it just warms my insides. 

People are so amazing. 
The other night, I got home from work, grabbed our mail, and noticed an envelope from Joel's Grandma. Nancy wrote, "Grandpa and I have had so many opportunities to do some random acts of kindness, especially at Christmas. Knowing that doing this is sometimes even more important to the giver than the receiver, I am challenging you to give it away." So this year for Christmas, she wants us to make a '$10 Act of Kindness Donation' to a stranger. Whether it be, putting that $10 to a stranger's groceries, gas, parking meter, etc. Because we can't be there to share on Christmas morning, she wants us to call or email, tell her what we decided to do and how we felt afterwards. My first thought, "Why are there not more people like this in the world?" I know exactly how this made me feel, being the receiver one time in the drive-thru at Starbucks, when the person in front of me paid for my coffee. I love friendly strangers.

For being away from our families for the first time, we had the best Thanksgiving we could have had. We killed time in the morning, waiting for our giant turkey, by exploring the bike route in our backyard, realizing when we returned that we had biked about six miles. Good exercise before that crazy, filling meal, if you ask me. Joel made his first, 21 pound turkey and it was pretty tasty. Yes, the two of us had a 21 pound turkey. We laughed in the check out line at the grocery store, asking the clerk if he thought it would be enough to fill the two of us. We froze a bunch, saved some for leftovers, and a little over a week later, the leftovers are gone. Also, thank you to whoever invented Pinterest-- I made some awesome food and drinks thanks to you. I am thankful for you, even though I lose hours and days to the website you created. 

The day after Thanksgiving, we went to Estes Park with delicious hot apple cider in our thermos, in hopes to get our picture with Santa. Unfortunately we were too late, but the parade was pretty cool. Although I have never been a big fan of parades, it was fun to feel the holiday cheer and get more excited for Christmas.

As you may have read, Joel has been asked to run the open mic at Grimm Brother's Brew House, every Wednesday night, close to our house. He has been getting his name out there, sharing his talent and making the contacts he needs to make in order to get his music to where it was back home, out here. I am so happy for him and he is just as excited. This morning, he will be playing at the Toys For Tots event in Golden for a few hours and then at the wine bar down town Loveland tonight. We're getting there, friends! 

As for now, I am starving and out of creamer, so a Starbucks run is a must. Perhaps I've have to 'Pay It Forward' in the Drive-thru. 

Happy Saturday, loves! I'm so pumped it's December! 

....minus the Brrrrr, it's 62 and sunny!