On Thanksgiving, I try to focus on what I have to be grateful for. I know that I’m very lucky, and at least once I year I want to actively remind myself about not taking things for granted.

I am thankful for…

1. My loving, wonderful, uberamazing, fanfskingtastic husband
2. Being related to a rockin’ family
3. Tea time
4. An electric kettle in my kitchen
5. An electric water heater (and sanitizer???) in my office
6. Wearing lolita fashion
7. Having the budget to purchase lolita garments from Japanese companies
8. EOS mint lip balm in the weird round containers
9. Numerous sushi restaurants (some of them quite good) in walking distance
10. Living in the city
11. Smith’s rosebud salve
12. Steven Smith Teamaker’s wonderful selections
13. Saving money by buying from the second-hand market for lolita clothing
14. Owning two ball-jointed dolls…one of which is my “dream doll”
15. Argo Tea (mmm, Earl Grey Vanilla Crème ♥)
16. Giant stuffed shark
17. Moon jellyfish
18. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic…and watching it online
19. Vintage cook books
20. Bright and varied colours of my My Little Pony collection
21. Availability of pink electronics…and owning several of them
22. Hello Kitty appliances
23. A positive balance in my bank account
24. Student loan debt that seems at least possible to pay off before I’m 65
25. Having earned a bachelor’s degree
26. Working a steady job in a friendly environment
27. Gainful employment for my husband that he excels at and enjoys
28. Spending time with my grandparents
29. A yarn shop near a red line station
30. A yarn shop near a brown line station
31. Wooden (specifically birch) knitting needles
32. Finally understanding a proper purl stitch, even after years of doing it wrong
33. Acceptance into graduate school
34. Impending graduation from graduate school
35. Economic recovery, even though more would be better
36. Living in a generally safe neighborhood
37. The upcoming extended-family Christmas party
38. DESSERT AND SUGAR
39. Milk tea–bonus if tapioca is involved
40. A contact lens prescription that hasn’t changed significantly in the past 2 years
41. Knowing there is food in the pantry and money to replenish it
42. Little sisters that I have and those that I’ve accumulated
43. Going to see the Moscow ballet in December
44. Christkindlmarket traditions with my best friend
45. Looking forward to nearly 20 years of being best friends with the same wonderful person
46. Tea mugs with Rilakkuma on them
47. A few English china tea cups in my collection
48. Tying a ribbon into a bow
49. Not ever having broken a bone despite doing stupid things
50. Being lucky enough to avoid requiring major surgery
51. Attending the inauguration in 2009
52. Graduating from high school…despite recurring nightmares about being sent back
53. Sitting next to a coworker who sometimes brings me a strawberry cream puff at 7:00 AM
54. Knowing that my two bunny bags were presents from my parents
55. Slippers shaped like Pikachu
56. Relatively few cavities considering the quantities of sugars I’ve historically consumed
57. Public transportation (even when there are crazies on the train)
58. Pens with pink ink
59. A good recipe for crumpets
60. No major family disasters in 2010, which I would like to see as a continuing trend
61. A loving, silly, generous, fun-loving, cheerful, hardworking, and strong mother
62. A focused, accomplished, guiding, caring, and encouraging father
63. Being close enough to my brother that we’re nearly telepathic
64. The chance that maybe I can enroll in a recreational ballet class in 2011
65. Crème Puff’s successful recovery from surgery
66. Getting 45 lbs. of bluegrass hay delivered to my front door (so convenient!)
67. Having a cupcake fairy on my desk at work
68. Decent typing ability, a result of the computer courses I hated so much
69. Jellied cranberry sauce in a can, particularly when it’s on sale
70. Obtaining the financial assistance to attend university
71. Having a phone that allows text messaging
72. Library books from other branches delivered to the branch around the corner
73. A decent DVD selection from the library
74. Seeing my great aunt during the holidays
75. Twinkling Christmas lights on every tree downtown
76. The promise of snow and potential for sledding or snowball fights
77. Working heat in my apartment, unlike last winter
78. Not having to worry about basic necessities or even little luxuries
79. Lacking allergies to nail polish
80. Being part of a welcoming local lolita fashion community
81. Attending meetups and spending time with friends
82. Picnics in the park during warmer weather
83. Playgrounds with swing sets tall enough that I can still swing
84. Having so many wonderful, reliable, and caring friends
85. The conveniences of living in a modern era
86. Lolita fashion companies that make the clothing I always wanted to wear
87. Attending concerts
88. Enjoying evenings at home with my husband while he plays guitar
89. Being able to go on dates once in a while
90. The occasional day off together ♥
91. Pain au chocolat and strong tea on weekend mornings
92. Bows ontop of bows ontop of more bows (I’m looking at you, Angelic Pretty~)
93. Healing completely from the accident a few years ago
94. Cheerful text messages from friends conveniently during the most stressful times at work
95. Being pink and fluffy most of the time
96. Old books with worn covers and gold-edged pages
97. My Little Pony toys with magnet feet
98. Always having someone to turn to
99. Hope for the future
100. Not having credit card debt
101. Being lucky enough to be loved by so many wonderful people just for being me ♥

I hope everyone who is celebrating the holiday has a lovely Thanksgiving, spending it with people you love~