Thankful: Tiger Eyes

I'm thankful for the wonderful group of girls that I got to know over my two years as a Tiger Eye. These ladies had a huge hand in shaping who I am today and they were an incredibly solid foundation and support system for me while I was in college.

Here are my flags from my freshman year. The leadership and positive attitude of our captain taught me how to handle difficult situations with grace. The "Fantastic 4" was also born from this group. I got into too much trouble but had some of the best times in my college career with these girls.

 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the dance team girls from my sophomore year. The older girls on the team were such powerful role models for me and helped me realize the importance of having a strong female support system. I had so much fun on my year on the dance team and I was almost constantly laughing until I cried the whole season.

I couldn't imagine my life without the experienced I had and the friends I made while on Tiger Eyes. We've all grown up now and moved onto bigger and better things (I've gotten several wedding invitations and birth announcements from former Tiger Eyes) but we share a special bond with each other and with all former and future Tiger Eyes members, which I will be thankful for for the rest of my life.

Please excuse the poor quality of these photos. They were lifted from Facebook.

This is one of my favorite picture. I love these two ladies to the moon and back!

Fantastic 4 demonstrating our super powers. Don't Ask.

This picture makes me laugh SO hard!

Thankful: Kindle

E-book and e-readers are a technology that I am completely on board with. I absolutely love my Kindle and am so thankful to it and Amazon for rekindling (pun intended) my love for reading. It is so much easier (and cheaper) for me to read and buy books now. I think I'm Kindle's number one fan!

Thankful: Education

 I am thankful that I had the opportunity to receive a quality education. It is something It is something that I have taken for granted and something that I complain about often. However, I see and meet people who do not have the resources available to pursue higher education and I count my lucky stars.

Thankful: Reggie

You all knew it was coming. I love my sweet puggle! 

I'm thankful for this little booger. He may annoy the mess out of me and I may even be tempted to drop kick him at times (I probably shouldn't admit to that. I love animals and would never hurt one), but I don't know what I'd do without him. Reggie came to me at a time when I really needed something soft and snuggly to love. It's such a comforting feeling to know that this little guy is waiting for me when I get home everyday and that I'm the highlight of his life. I love him dearly and am so thankful that we were able to save each other.

Thankful: My home town

I am exceedingly blessed to have been raised in Auburn. It's a ridiculously safe community that is in its own little bubble in the state of Alabama. Having the university there make Auburn a hub for cultural diversity and provides many opportunities and entertainment that a small town in East Alabama would not otherwise have.

There's just something magical about Auburn. I love it and it will always be my home.

Thankful: My love of cooking

I am thankful for my love of cooking and food. I grew up in a home where we only ate out once a month, if that, and both of my parents are excellent cooks who made sure I got in the kitchen at a young age. I love trying new recipes and being inspired by new tastes and smells. For me, food is not just an essential need. It's a way of life. I'm not a very creative person but I like to think I can work a little magic in the kitchen and making a successful dish is one of the most satisfying experiences.

I love food. 

I love cheese.

I love to cook. 

I love to cook with cheese. 

The end.

P.S. I'm a little obsessed with my Kitchen Aid (pictured above). Her name is Buttercream. She's pretty ballin'

Thankful

I'm copying one of my bloggy friends a listing something I'm thankful for every day in November until Thanksgiving because I really have so much to be thankful for! In true Alex fashion though, I'm starting a day late. Oops. Some of these will be silly, while others will be super cheese but true. I hope you enjoy!

November 1: Family
I have come to realize more and more as I get older that I'm incredibly fortunate to be apart of loving and solid family. It's something that I use to take for granted but now I hold my family near and dear to my heart. I love them more than just about anything and could not imagine any part of my life without every single one of them in it.

I was fortunate enough to spend some quality time with my immediate family and a few of my cousins, my aunt, and my grandparents this weekend. We ate ourselves silly, we laughed until we cried, and we reveled in lounging around the house. It was rejuvenating and so very special. This picture is from my graduation from Auburn. It's so special to me because my Nana and Granddaddy met each other at Auburn and started the wonderful Smith family. Also, my Nana had major surgery last week and I wanted to give a special shout out to this lovely lady!

November 2: The beauty of nature
I Drove down the back roads on the way home this weekend and was continually impressed by how beautiful rural Alabama is. I'm thankful to be surround by such breathtaking beauty. I especially notice nature in the fall when the leaves are turning and it's not raining or hurricaning every other day. This is a picture of the fall foliage by the river in Tuscaloosa. Beautiful.