As we come to another Thanksgiving… it makes me want to share what I am grateful for this 2011 Holiday Season. This year has been an interesting ride, and it’s not over yet. I want to THANK YOU for being a part of my life. I am so overly grateful for the awareness that I am still growing, still learning and that Thank Goodness – I am not done evolving!

5 people I am ESPECIALLY grateful for this Thanksgiving:

1. My husband. Hands down. We have been through SO MUCH since reconnecting in 2008. He is my partner. In the good times, and the not so good. I am absolutely 100% SO MUCH MYSELF with him. I am the best me with him, and I am the worst me with him (and yet he still loves me). I could not IMAGINE being where I am today without his love and support. I am hopeful that this next year, our family will grow, and we will continue to grow stronger as a couple.
2. My Auntie. She is the person I go to when I don’t think anyone else understands. Of shared faith and family, I feel so grateful she is just a phone call away.
3. Laura Hall - A fellow coach, she “saw” me during one of my 3 day coach training weekends, in a way that made me feel so vulnerable yet SO relieved, a fellow ‘Searcher’, she helps me become a better me. I think it still hasn’t hit me that I’m NOT letting go of this one… I honestly think she is going to seriously help change my life.
4. ChaChanna Simpson – Another coach & for a time, my accountability partner. I am SO grateful for the gentle push that I received from her to help me do all I needed to become certified. I wouldn’t have gotten it done as quickly if it weren’t for her.
5. Kyra Dosch-Klemer – Not in my WILDEST DREAMS could I have imagined my idea for a website, a support system for Significant Others in the Restaurant Industry to be as beautiful and as functional as Married to a Chef has become. She continues to add to it, to make it even better. I am SO grateful for the masterpiece she has created.

4 events this year, that I am grateful for this Thanksgiving:

1. As of July 8th, I am officially a CERTIFIED life coach! It was a lot of intensive work but TOTALLY worth it.  It comes pretty darn lose to the dream I had when I was 6 years old. Being able to help other people ‘feel heard’. It’s truly an amazing feeling.  *BONUS: Beginning my practice with paying clients!!!
2. Launching Married to a Chef, ON 5pm on Valentines Day, with a kick off article in The Washington Post.  Simply Amazing.
3. That we moved to a bigger, much brighter place this year,an awesome kitchen, our own office, full size laundry, and a spare bedroom so we can comfortably have more family/friends visit us.  I also discovered that while I am not one for the suburbs while living in DC (boring), I do like having the space to move around.
4. Being able to celebrate my husbands 40th birthday with his cousin (who also turned 40) , at their place in Pennsylvania. Great friends and family. It was a wonderful day.

3 things I am looking forward to:

1. I am SO excited!!! This year we will NOT be traveling this Christmas! Peters family is traveling to US this year! Oh my goodness… Christmas with BOTH our families together! It’s a dream come true!
2. The weekend of January 20-22, Peter and I are making our way to NYC for the weekend, to meet up with the NYC Significant Others for Married to a Chef, we’re going to dinner with Peters family Friday nite and I’m trying to coordinate brunch on Sunday with my family! We’re staying in this cool cool hotel in Midtown Manhattan. I LOVE the city and I am giddy like a school girl to be up there a few days!
3. I have NO idea how long it’s going to take, but I am looking forward to the day that I look down and see  a positive result on a pregnancy test. I feel SO ready to be a mom. My biological clock alarm is ringing very loudly in my ear, and I am SO excited for that day when I scream, call Peter and tell him ‘We did it!”

2 goals I intend to be grateful for achieving:

1. Reconnecting with my physical health again. Losing weight by eating more healthfully and finding a new way to exercise (thinking Zumba, belly dancing, Burlesque).
2. Have few goals for Married to a Chef/Coaching – running my first group coaching session, creating a 30 day program (30 Days of Dares/Note to Self project), begin to plan a Married to a Chef US Tour (I want to visit other areas of the country to coordinate other halves together) *hopefully at some point next year I’ll grow my clientele enough so I can change my 9-5 status, at least go part time, so I can work on my OWN dreams.

1 thing I have not been able to get off my mind:

1. Moving to Charleston,SC. I have NO idea EXACTLY when the stars are going to align and we’ll be ready to pack our bags but I am SO SO ready for a fresh start. A planned change. I want the slower pace, the weather, and the southern charm that I’ve missed so much.

Wherever you are, whomever your celebrating with, find one moment and SAVOR IT. Thanksgiving Day 2011 will soon be a distant memory, how do you want to remember it?

Much love,

Kerilyn

Hiety Ho my lovelies!!

How are you? Wednesday! The sun is out and is sparkling on the Potomac River this morning! So pretty!

Well… last nite I did a video to share with you but I look really tired on it.. HUGE bags under my eyes.. so I decided against it. I’ve been working late.. and then staying up late farting around (like watching Season Finale of Greys Anatomy and Hells Kitchen) … so I am just looking a little tired.. I’m working on a Furniture bid for a potentially 1000 station job which I HOPE we win!!! Fingers crossed. I really think winning this would be the answer to my needing a challenge in my job. With that said.. I’ve been working hard on this. Yawn. And.. adding to the working late I didn’t get to exercise Monday and Tuesday so I just feel off. It’s amazing how Icky I feel when I don’t exercise. It’s become a routine every day for almost a year.. and I really miss it when I don’t do it.

And Thursday I fly off into the Wild Blue Yonder to touch down in Charleston, SC for the Memorial Weekend. Going to visit with my best friend Michelle and I am SO DANG EXCITED!!! I need a few days out of dodge.. new scenery.. new food/experiences (going to try a yoga class with her) little pampering with a facial and maybe.. just maybe.. another tattoo for each of us. I am antsy to go!!!

Random FYI: I still have not had any coffee since ending my cleanse. It’s kinda blowing my mind. It’s not like I don’t LOVE the taste of coffee! I do.. I just don’t feel the need to have some. Interesting. I see a cup of coffee in my future with Michelle though.. it’s what we do! Yippity Skippity!

Okay… Nothing really exciting is going on.. so I’m going to do a 3 things 2 things and bid you adieu.

3 things that make me happy:

1. I’ve never really been a Fish Person.. but I’ve really taken to eating Salmon lately… it tastes so yummy. Peter made me this amazing salad yesterday. Salmon, Asparagus, Strawberries.. Can I say YUM!!!!
2. The smell of Aveda Hand Relief Lotion.. it’s a really nice smell to wake me up here at my desk.. Ahh.
3. Ladybugs. I love ladybugs. I really dont’ like bugs crawling on me.. but I make an exception for a Ladybug.

2 things that I look forward to today:

1. Exercising finally! If it’s nice outside like it looks like it is.. I’m runnin outside!
2. Catching up with my friend Kim tonite.

2 long term things I look forward to:

1. Trying on my Wedding Dress for the first time (Doesn’t come in till August – unfortunately/FORTUNATELY it’s going to need some serious alterations cause It’ll have to be taken in 3/4 sizes. Oh well. That’s a blessing!
2. HOT weather! It hasnt’ been hot yet this year and I LOVE the HOT vs. the cold.

1 person I am going to appreciate:

My best friends. Kyra.. you are awesome that you have gratiously taken on doing the invites for the wedding. I am so grateful!!! Thank You. Matthew.. I love that you’re starting to “get it” with respect to Being a GREAT SUCCESS!!!.. I can see it/hear it before my eyes and it makes me very proud! Now GO AFTER IT!!!! Find other Diamonds like yourself!!! Michelle.. Sigh.. am SO excited to drop into your life for a few days for solace and needed comfort. (and hopefully lots of laughter) and Kristine.. for being one step ahead of me with most things in my life.. If it weren’t for you.. SO many things wouldn’t have happened. Naomi… (Moment of Silence) . I am so grateful for all of you. Thank You for making me who I am today. I love who I am.  Kristy – Thank you for being my partner in most things here in the area. Thank you for letting me lean on you when I need some deep exploration into myself. I am so grateful you and I are on the same page.  Auntie.. for being my Spiritual ”Nurse” .. who.. in moments of my own doubt and indecision.. give me the “medicine” to get me back on track. I am so grateful I can call you anytime and you make me feel loved Every Moment. I am so glad we decided to come here at this time together.

I could go on and on with my friends……  this would be a VERY long Posting. Ha!

Oh well. I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully I’ll have pics to post to you during the weekend if not After.
Much Love,
Kerilyn