Top 5 Things I’m Thankful For in 2011

I returned home after a long but fun-filled day and began my usual Sunday night routine - check e-mail, some mindless scrolling on Facebook, fulfill some orders for Princessories and then a quick look ahead at the upcoming week on my calendar…

WAIT!  What is that big pink circle around Monday, November 21?

Is it here already?!?!

IT’S MY SITS DAY!

If you haven’t found yourself here by way of The SITS Girls site, let me tell you a little bit about it (and if you are here via SITS – welcome and thank you for your support!!)  The SITS Girls are a group of 10,000 women bloggers dedicated to supporting one another by leaving comments on each other’s blogs.  It is one of the first things you hear about when becoming a blogger.  If you scroll down a little bit, you’ll see the SITS Girls button on this site.  To get my turn as Featured Blogger after only a year of blogging is thrilling to me!  Check out the site today to see my bio and a few of my favorite posts.

For my Feature Day, I wanted to write about something deeply personal but I tend to get super lengthy and would rather not have you fall asleep on the keyboard, so I’ll keep it light since this may be your first visit to Playing Mom.  It’s Thanksgiving Week, so it only seems appropriate to share with you (in no particular order) the Top 5 Things I’m Thankful For in 2011:

5. Weight Watchers.  When you get to the point where you leave the house in sweats every day because you don’t feel like buying clothes in yet another size (and you think it looks good because people will think you just left the gym) it’s good to know there’s somewhere you can go to regain control.  My excellent eating habits included skipping meals, eating the kids’ leftovers before getting started on my own dinner, forgetting to drink water and grabbing whatever was in reach when I felt hungry.  I joined the day before Halloween for good reason.  I couldn’t say with certainty that I wouldn’t finish off a plastic orange pumpkin full of candy in less than a week.  I’m happy to report that I’m down 9.2 pounds in 3 weeks.

4. My calendar.  It is my brain spilled out on paper, color-coded for special occasions.  Without it, I would do something idiotic like forget my SITS Day was coming until 10pm the night before.  (Oops – maybe I should keep it in the car?)

3. Friends and Family.  There’s nothing quite like spending time with friends, even more so after having kids.  Maybe it’s just that I talk to a 1-year-old all day and when I do “work” it’s at home, but spending quality time alone with my close friends feels like a breath of fresh air.  I love the freedom of going out and being someone other than Mommy for a few hours.  I never get tired of adventures and catch-up conversations and sharing issues and news good and bad with someone I trust.  It is important and necessary and wonderful to love and connect with friends.

My husband Cory and my kids Ryan and Alexa are the funniest, cutest and most amazing people that I know.  Each year their stock goes up.  I could not be luckier or more proud of them.  Cory and I have been together for almost 15 years and married for 8 1/2.  He is still my very best friend who has seen me not only at my best, but also in my darkest days and has always showered me with unwavering love and support.  I knew with 100% certainty when we were dating that he would make a wonderful Daddy one day.  He has delivered to infinity and beyond.  We come from two close-knit families that seamlessly merged into one and I thank my lucky stars every day for being surrounded by such supportive and loving people.

2. Naps and Iced Coffee.  These two go hand in hand - let’s start with naps.  These magical, fleeting moments of slumber are a sure addiction.  It’s no coincidence that my maiden name loosely rhymes with “Napperman” and my current last name with “Sleeperman”.  I am a night owl, staying up until the wee hours of the morning until my own clock smacks me in the face and snarkily reminds me that I have children to attend to.  So, like a Kindergartner, I take my mandatory daily resting time so I don’t become Miss Crankypants.

Onto iced coffee.  I like to say that each day is a new beginning, an opportunity to change and grow and see the world through a fresh lens.  But that lens is blurry, cracked and dismal without caffeine.  Thank you, Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks.  Whichever one is closer and has a drive-thru window.

1. It was a toss-up between Phillies baseball, frozen chocolate-covered bananas, Zoloft, children’s television shows, my iPhone, good health, 80′s music, sushi, Words With Friends, the cold side of the pillow, massages, summertime, my frittata maker, Facebook and Bobbi Brown concealer but I think I’m gonna toss that aside and go with YOU.  Although I started this blog with the intent of it being an online family diary of sorts, I am thankful that all of you have taken this journey with me and supported me through e-mails, suggestions, comments and the sharing of your own experiences.  I know I like to intertwine humor and sarcasm in my writing, but I honestly couldn’t have imagined such a wonderful support system.  Blogging = free therapy.  I’m even thankful for the negative comments, it helps me to see a different point of view or learn something new about myself and my own reactions to criticism.

So, that’s my short list.  I’d love to know what YOU’RE thankful for this year…

Thanks for stopping by to help celebrate my SITS Day!

Dani