Thanksgiving 2012

I know this is a few days late (which is kind of my style I guess) but I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Sometimes with the daily wonders (and struggles of life) we forget about the simple things, like how many people out there we love and are loved by, and how many blessings we have in our lives (especially the ones we forget to count).

This year, we had an extra special Thanksgiving because we had TWO Thanksgivings (two dinners with two families!). Matt drove up the Sunnyvale on Wednesday and we had Thanksgiving with my family for the first time together. He met a lot of my extended family for the first time, and I am thankful he is such a trooper. I mean 35 family members (half of whom may or may not speak English) can be a lot to handle. Plus he had a lot of Chinese food (but also the traditional turkey, honey baked ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, etc). Everyone loved him, and in true Thanksgiving fashion, he bonded with some of my uncles over football. He really is the best guy. On Friday, I spent a few hours at work (because for some terrible reason, Wall Street decided that the market had to be open on Black Friday, even though you really can't get a discount on stocks), and then we drove up to Reno for second Thanksgiving. Matt's mom is such a trooper because she pretty much cooked Thanksgiving dinner twice (they also celebrated Turkey day on actual Thanksgiving). Since Matt and his brother Brandon (plus me and Brandon's wife Caitlin) couldn't be there on Thursday night, his family decided to redo it again on Friday night. Let me just tell you, the amount of food I consumed the past few days has been pretty obnoxious. But you know what? That's not even that important. It was awesome just being able to eat and laugh and play games. My family played Scattergories and Matt's family chose to play mafia.

I wish Thanksgiving didn't only happen once a year because it really makes you put your life on time out for a second to think about what you are grateful for. And I have so much in my life to be grateful for. So here's my Thankfulness Project list (a little late, but worth the wait):

1. My amazing boyfriend of four and a half years (OMG) who has always been my strongest supporter, my best friend, and the love of my life. This sounds corny, but I don't think I'd be as nice or as patient or as accepting of a person without you in my life. You help me become a better person every day, and I love you for that.
2. My loving family who has always loved me despite my faults (which include but are not limited to my non-stop personality, my quick temper, and my constant need for attention). Thanks for loving me unconditionally and helping me through all the challenges I face.
3. My second family (the Evans) who have welcomed me into their home and their hearts. They really are the best people, and have raised the best son and brother, and my love for them continues to grow every day.
4. The best friends a girl could ever ask for. You guys know who you are and I just want you to know that I couldn't get through a single day without you. Thanks for listening to me whine and going along with my crazy ideas, but more importantly, thanks for always making me laugh and feel loved.
5. Starbucks red cups, because they are the first sign that Christmas is here (and you all know how much I love Christmas).
6. The Giants for winning the World Series. Because everyone needs a reminder that we can do anything if we have a strong support system. Actually, thanks for proving to all the haters that 2010 wasn't a fluke.
7. The city of San Francisco because there is no place I would rather be. You are beautiful and delightful and eclectic and vibrant, and I can't wait to call you home some day.
8. Wreck-It Ralph because it is the greatest movie ever. I've seen it twice already. Clearly I just cannot get enough of it. Plus it's been such a great bonding experience!
9. Having everything I need. I don't ever have to worry about whether or not I'll have dinner, or heat, or how I'm going to pay my bills. Sometimes we take life for granted, so it's nice to remember that no matter how rough my day is, it wasn't really that bad.
10. My faith in God. Sometimes I forget that he is always on my side, and it's nice to know that he never forgets about me.

I hope you and your family had a lovely Thanksgiving. Just take a few seconds to think about what you are thankful for (and if you want to share, we can definitely revamp the Thankfulness Project). Here are some previous lists if you want to check them.

10 Reasons I'm Not A Very Good Blogger

So as you may (or most likely may not) have noticed, I haven't blogged in a very long time. So instead of diving right into a blog post about something completely random, I decided to put up a list...of why I am not a very good blogger...as inspiration to become a better blogger (fingers crossed).

Here's why I am not a very good blogger:

1. Our last blog post is from July...and I didn't even write it. Matt wrote it. My last post was from June. It has been like 5 months. WOW. MAJOR LIFE EVENTS HAVE HAPPENED...without any word on our blog. Going backwards in time (from today)...
• The Lakers got a new head coach -- who is NOT Phil Jackson. Prove yoself D'Antoni.
• Halloween happened!! I was a peacock for Halloween (Matt revisited the Mad Hatter).
• The Giants won the World Series.
• The Taylor Swift CD came out.
• Matt started his final year (aka thesis year) and lives on coffee and anxiety and big dreams.
• One of my oldest friends, Andrew, got married (in the most fabulous and fancy wedding I've ever been to).
• One of Matt's oldest friends, Meaghan, got married. Sweetest wedding ever (see Love is Sweet picture below).
• Matt's sister Abby STARTED COLLEGE. When we started dating, she had just finished up her last year of middle school. Talk about feeling old.
• I turned 24 **insert anxiety attack here**. Don't worry, we played slosh ball (in honor of how mature and grown-up I am).
• My dad opened his new restaurant, Royal Garden, in Cerritos.
2. I rarely talk about anything other than Matt and me. I don't blog about cooking, or shopping, or DIY projects (even though I enjoy all of those things). So really, the only reason to read this blog is to figure out what in the heck Matt and I are up to. 
3. Our pictures are never edited and they never look like they could be published in a magazine. Blogs of the world, tell me how you do it.
4. In connection with that, I'm not a very good photographer. I'm just NEVER ready when something funny or cool or crazy or brilliant happens. Seriously. By the time I whip out my phone, the moment is gone.
5. We are not world travelers, so we have no world wide trekking to blog about. Italy, Brazil, Zimbabwe...we're coming for you someday. 
6. I rarely talk about my feelings, except in moments of severe weakness (and being in a long distance relationship...man I have a lot feelings). I mean really, isn't a blog supposed to be an emotional outlet? Well if it is, I don't use it.
7. We have 9 followers (yes 9 WHOLE followers). 
8. Our blog layout is kind of boring, it really could use an update.
9. Remember those lists we start (our summer list, which launched the blog, or the 7x7 best things to eat in SF list??)....well we never quite get to the end of them. It's not like we proactively give up or anything, they just never really get to the end. But our next list (whatever it shall be) will get finished!
10. The more time that passes, the more thought I feel like needs to go into my next big post...which ultimately gives me a little bit of anxiety (and by a little, I mean a lot). That's honestly probably the biggest reason why I don't blog well, because each day that goes by without a blog post, makes me feel like the next blog post had better be super cool. So here's to hoping my next blog post isn't 6 months from now. Special shoutout to my friend Caroline over at A Foodie's Fun, who reminded me I still have a blog, and who gets equally as much anxiety as I do about not blogging and getting back into blogging shape. Anyways, like I said, here's to opening I'll blog again...sometime this week. Wish me luck.

In the meantime, enjoy the plethora of pictures that's coming at you.