In honor of the 4th of July, I thought I’d list some of the things I’m grateful for and celebrating by using the word:
F I R E C R A C K E R
No actual firecrackers will be launched by me today. That was my past life.
F is for Freedom. Words cannot express my gratitude toward the men and women who have served our country in the past, present and future; who have fought to defend our country and our freedoms. Thank you for doing what you do; for giving your lives in service to others, to our country, to your fellow Americans. Freedom, and having it, is at the core and root of life as we know it and I encourage everyone to take a step back from the red, white, and blue food today and give gratitude for our freedom and remember those who fight for it.
I is for Ice Cream. Vegan Vanilla Avocado Banana “Ice Cream”
R is for Respect. Have some. For yourself, others, the planet, and for things greater than you. Give respect and you shall receive it.
E is for Everything in Moderation. Including Desserts. What is the point of working out, of making healthy lifestyle choices overall, if you can’t have items you really enjoy, every now and then, in moderation.
Whether it’s buying a few new dishes, a fluffy camera strap, or a Fudgy Nutella Brownie with Cream Cheese Frosting, I think living life with a moderate attitude is a beautiful thing.
C is for Caring. Please care about yourself. Care about others. Care about a cause. Care about the world around you, care about children, the environment, the state of the world, the state of your messy kitchen, just care about something. Apathy is so unappealing.
R is for Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate
The easiest thing to make. All of 1 minute and hardly any dishes. Bonus.A is for Always Living with a sense of gratitude, purpose, compassion, and kindness.
Give a big hug and kiss to your loved ones and always show and tell them how much they mean to you.
Picture from the Taste of Adams Avenue last weekend. We had so much fun!
C is for Cheesy Taco Casserole
Scott was really grateful for this meal.
K is for Ketchup & Mustard Lover’s Protein & Veggie Mash
A healthy dose of ketchup & mustard and make beans, taters, and veggies come alive in a one-pot, 20 minute, complete meal. I am always grateful for condiments, sauces, dips, and dressings.
E is for Everything Will Work Out. And in 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year you probably won’t remember what you were even stressing about, fighting with your friend/partner/spouse about, worried about, or had your undies in a bundle about. You won’t even likely remember what you’re upset about or what you’re worried about. Everything will be fine.
R is for reminding you about my Sticky Giveaway and to enter because it ends on Tuesday.
So there you have it: F I R E C R A C K E R
From my previous few posts, most of you seem to have pesky mosquitoes and bugs to deal with. So sorry for the slap and swatfest.
And I am glad my Console Yourself treats looked good to you!
Questions:
1. What are you doing to celebrate the 4ht of July? or Canada Day Weekend? Or if neither, how has your weekend been?
I’ve been really, insanely busy. And have been doing lots of work. Like hard, physical work, manual labor. Wasn’t planning on a worker bee kind of weekend but it has turned out that way.
We may go out to fireworks, or we may just watch them from our balconies because we can see at least 4 shows without leaving home. <– Which sounds great to me, actually.
We watched them from our balcony last year. No crowds, no parking hassles, no crabby and overstimulated kids (other people’s!) to deal with.
Mine is always an angel. Kidding. But I do think we’ll probably just watch the fireworks from home.
2. Pick a letter and tell me something about that letter that you’re grateful for or celebrating.
I am also going to pick the letter R
R is for Really Good weather. That always makes me happy!
And this red plant + blue vase = nature got festive today
Last reminder for the Sticky Giveaway. Winner announced Tuesday.
Happy 4th of July!
What a creative way to celebrate the holiday! I love your F, I think it’s sometimes necessary to remind ourselves how we got to be watching fireworks and BBQing this weekend. I think my favorite is C. I couldn’t agree more that apathy is unappealing, and I’m so proud to have strong convictions about which I care and for which I advocate!
This weekends plans included fireworks, an awesome vegan cupcake, and mountain biking (lots of buggies, though, ew!).
And my letter today is B. To remind myself to breathe, then think clearly. And also for boyfriend, to whom I am eternally grateful for putting up with me these past couple weeks, which have been a bit rough!
We had some fireworks at our family BBQ today — but here in MN you “can’t” have any fireworks that leave the ground — I’m not sure if they had that rule when you lived here but it is pretty lame! Plus our city basically has no money and didn’t budget for fireworks, so we couldn’t watch any from home. If I didn’t have to work tomorrow we’d go out to St. Paul to watch the big display, but I’m too tired!
Sorry I just realized that entire comment was super whiney. I’m just tired!
not whiney at all!
and no, they never had that rule when I lived there. that’s lame!
Averie this is an awesome post! I love it, and I love your creativity! I also love your attitude – I know things may be At Level Eleven right now, but your positive attitude will keep you sane :)
F… for Family. my family of Jason and Basil (dachshund!). and my family of my parents, siblings, extended… and my family of friends, in real life and the ones here on the ‘net (including you!). I am thankful for them all!
thanks hon for your support, as always!
xo
This is great! R is for relaxing because we all could use a little relaxing time now and then! Happy July fourth!
Yes!!! I love this “fun with words” type of post – very nice work, averie!
My dad’s fave expression: everything in moderation. Have heard that since childhood.
I need to repeat “everything will work out” – keep the faith, right?
Hope you can watch the fireworks from your place. I could see our city’s display right from my windows on canada day! Way better than fighting crowds!
Enjoy your evening!
thanks for this wonderful and unique way to pay tribute to the holiday!! i especially enjoy the ‘ice cream’ and ‘always living’ ones! :)
for today i’ll say C for ‘Cherish the good times and fond memories.’ i’m not able to be with some of my family today but i can always think back of the great times we’ve shared and know that plenty more are in the future! i hope you and yours are having an awesome fourth!!
This is a beautiful post. Couldn’t agree with everything you said any more! I had “R” chosen to quote and say “amen!” to, but as I kept reading I realized I just wanted to say that to all of them ;) yes – everything will be fine! might not seem that way now, but it will be :) that’s the beauty of life. it goes on!
as for how we celebrated? well, we’re not big celebrators here, haha. No holidays are ever a huge event so it was kinda just like an extra day off that we were able to enjoy by running a 5k (…or, watching a 5k in my mom’s case) followed by some horseback riding, finally coming inside to the cool air conditioning, and grilling :)
glad you liked this one
especially R for Respect :)
so fun:):):) I pick F for Family since i am so happy that i got to come home for a week and hang out with my family that i haven’t seen since december!!
And definitely watch the fireworks form your balcony!! Its much nicer when you don’t have to deal with the mob of people leaving at the end!!
Oh I love this! Such a great idea. I’ll go with E for enjoying.
Beautifully said Averie!
I choose the letter H for Happiness… I am so grateful for feeling happy! Being happy, and surroundong myself with happy people and happiness! Get rid of the negative and poisonous people I say!
I am going to say G for grateful. grateful to have ‘met’ such wonderful friends such as yourself through our blogging!
Great Post – My letter is I – I am SO grateful for the INTERNET! Since I just moved overseas, it’s keeping me connected via Skype with my family and helping to create a new hobby – Blogging :-)
YES INTERNET! Key to my life. Connects me, keeps me in touch, keeps me productive. And when I travel, totally key!
Great post! Those desserts look soooooo yummy!!!!! Happy Fourth! :-) xox
LOVE this: “E is for Everything Will Work Out. And in 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year you probably won’t remember what you were even stressing about, fighting with your friend/partner/spouse about, worried about, or had your undies in a bundle about. You won’t even likely remember what you’re upset about or what you’re worried about. Everything will be fine.”
‘Undies in a bundle,’ haha. It’s too true and always valuable to remember in keeping perspective on whatever “crisis” du jour in which you find yourself. Keep tellin’ it like it is. Happy 4th of July!
Keep tellin’ it like it is. = I will!
L is for loved ones. I have 3 that I see daily and they’re worth celebrating :)
Love it! Happy Fourth of July!!!