So, As I Was Saying

Well how the heck are you, lovelies? 

I bet you're all taller, wiser, and have some amazing stories to tell me since we last caught up with each other. Me? Oh, you know, just decided to take a five month break from blogging, which included me forgetting to pay my domain renewal, resulting in the complete and utter shut down of this little blog. 

Wow, did I blow it, you guys. 

But instead of this post being a sob fest apology to you about how I should have been a better blogger to you all, I'll simply say this: You rock my socks. Thank you for all the sweet messages asking if I was okay or saying you missed my little posts. Seriously guys, you're the best.

So here's the real reason I haven't been shinning my happy little face around here lately:

Life drew me back in! 

I simply decided there were more important and fulfilling things going on in my life that had nothing to do with making sure I had 3-5 posts ready to be published each week. I got into blogging because my life was in a rut (unhappy with my job and where I lived) so I escaped to this happy little place filled with gorgeous people like you (that's right, you!) who had similar interests and creative explosions coming out of their little minds. I've met a ton of stinking amazing people through this blog and wouldn't change the last two years of blogging for a single second. However, with my new job at Gus & Ruby Letterpress (I.am.the.luckiest.duck.) and starting my new life in beautiful Portsmouth with my husband, I have found my priorities have changed. Things like walking to work (and stopping to watch my favorite family of ducks play in the pond), discovering new treasures in town, and taking day trips to my farm to smush my face in my pup's face, have become the highlights of my days now. That being said, I have been feeling incredibly guilty for not keeping this blog updated and have missed your friendly faces each day.

Goodness, Laura, wrap it up here.

So here's what I propose: 

I'll blog whenever I want. 

Simple. One week I may not post and another week you may see several posts. Who knows? Kinda exciting, no? Doesn't take much to excite me these days. So, I'm back. You didn't actually think my very last post was going to be about some yummy Game Four fajitas I made, did you? No siree. I promise I'll let you know if I decide to leave this little place for good.

Let's move on.
(how was that for an awkward transition?)

The "Thanks" jar is back! I never had much love for the month of November until I started this tradition three years ago, thanks to that lovely duo from Young House Love. The concept is simple: Write a note of "thanks" each day for the month of November and read them all at the end of the month. Some of the repeats each year have been:

"Thankful for the best pup in the world, Lilly"
"Thankful my wife's butt looks good in yoga pants" (that's right.)
"Thankful my wife can cook"

See? We don't ask for much.
This year (spoil alert, Dave!), the first couple of notes have been all about our friends and family down in NJ/NY who are still affected by Hurricane Sandy. The "Thanks" jar has been a fun little way of documenting each year and all that we're thankful for as we go through some big transitions in our lives.

I sure am.
Do it! Extra points if you make your notes sparkly.

So, now that we're friends again, what have you been up to? How was your summer? Your fall? Ready for the holiday season to start in three weeks? I know some of you have already listened to your favorite Christmas song already. 

Fess up.