Here’s a Ridiculously Long List of Everything I Am Thankful for This Year

Thanksgiving is Thursday, and I've been thinking about how lucky I am. I've had more than my fair share of hard times in the past year, but I look at my life and my family and friends and feel so overwhelmed. I'm thankful for so many things. Here's my list, in no particular order...

• My Daughter: Of course she's #1 on my list. This kid is my WORLD.
• My Husband: He is my best friend, and he should be considered as a candidate for sainthood for putting up with me and my neuroses.
• My Family: These people make life worth living. My family is always there for me, and I will always be there for my family. I love them all so much.
• My Friends: My friends are just like my family, but they don't get as mad when I cuss.
• My Awesome Job: I get paid to talk and listen to music all day. Me job is waaaay cooler than yours, unless you're like a Godiva Chocolate taste tester or something--in which case, holler if y'all ever have any job openings...
• My Doctors: I've had some rough stuff happen to me this past year. I'll spare you the nitty-gritty, but I do need to say that I am so, so thankful for the doctors who helped me get through it all. Much love to Women's Health Specialists of Birmingham and the C Paul Perry Pelvic Pain Center. Y'all saved my life--literally.
• Almond Roca
• Alabama Football
• Minnie (our Black Lab): Minnie, I love you--even that time you got into the Diaper Genie and I had to clean it up. You gave me PTSD, but I still adore you, you 90-pound, perma-shedding, spoiled cuddlebug.
• Greg Thomas: Greg is my co-worker, but he's my boss, too. He's so much fun to work with and has been so understanding and supportive when my medical drama caused things to GET REAL. Most people hate their bosses, but mine is rad. I'm so happy we get to work together!
• Mad Men: Not only is Mad Men the greatest show on TV, it also affords me the opportunity to gawk at Jon Hamm, John Slattery, and Christina Hendricks every week.
• Mr. Clean Magic Erasers: Thanks to these space-age sponges I can (and do) CLEAN ALL THE THINGS!
• Central Heating/Cooling: Can you imagine living in a house without air conditioning in say, last August? HELL ON EARTH. No thank you. Air Conditioning is probably the apex of mankind's achievements.
• Flu Shots: I've gotten one every year since 2010. When was the last time I had the flu? 2010.
• Idris Elba: Thank you, Lord, for creating this fine specimen of a man.
• Fajitas from Los Tarascos
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
• American Horror Story: It's the craziest show on TV, and it's so much fun to watch. Thank you, Ryan Murphy, for creating a show so full of awesome and cray cray. Love you!
• Jessica Lange: She is so bad, y'all. Permanent life crush on Jessica Lange.
• Rite-Aid: I use my Wellness Rewards Card all the time and have amassed so many rewards points that I get 20% OFF THE ENTIRE STORE. 20% off makeup, shampoo, diapers, dental floss--it's MAGIC.
• Caffeine
• Tuscaloosa PARA: Nothing makes Dolly as happy as a trip to the park. Lucky us--we have so many great parks to visit. Thanks, PARA, for giving us plenty of clean, safe, and fun places to play.
• CHI Flat Irons
• My Flawless Complexion/Skin: I need to write a post about my super-simple skin care regimen. Look for that tomorrow... Anyway, my skin is like RADIANT all the time, and I love it. I don't even have to wear makeup most days, and I am so thankful for/proud of that.
• Sweet Tea
• My DVR: I am spoiled. How did I ever watch TV before my digital BFF made it into my life? It's one of the greatest inventions of all time.
• Disposable Diapers: I cringe at the thought of using cloth diapers. Pampers, y'all are my lifeline.
• Sprout (TV Channel): Dear Sprout, you help keep me sane. When my toddler gets crazy, nothing calms her down like The Goodnight Show with Nina and Star. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.
• My Smartphone: I'm still rocking the Galaxy S3. LOVE. IT. It's so rad that I have a little computer that goes wherever I do-- not to mention a camera, a video recorder, a game system, a music player, and my connection to the world.
• Law & Order: SVU Marathons
• Our dishwasher: Hand-washing dishes is for the birds.
• Baumhower's: Gooey Fries and Lemon Pepper Wings FOR LIFE
• Hyland's Teething Tablets: Dolly's cutting molars now, so these things are more valuable than gold.
• Sushi
• Tuscaloosa: It's such a great place to live! The people here are awesome, and we're home to the greatest college football team of all time. Where else can you go to a game at Bryant-Denny, take a stroll on the RiverWalk, see a concert at the Amphitheater, eat dinner and go shopping downtown, and live among the kindest, coolest neighbors? Nowhere but T-Town, y'all.
• Pie: superior dessert, people. Pie > cake. Always. Unless we're talking about something like kidney pie--in which case, GROSS, eat the cake.
• Naps
• Netflix
• EOS Lip Balm
• ModCloth
• Pecans
• Investigation Discovery: I could watch this channel all day every day.
• Everything I am going to eat Thursday/Friday: Thanksgiving food is the greatest. My in-laws make a smoked turkey every year that is dy-no-miiiiite. My step-mom makes creole dressing that is so good that, upon taking a bite, you hear a boy's choir sing Handel's "Messiah" off in the distance. My Granny's Cream Cheese Pumpkin roll is ridiculous, and my Mom makes the greatest sweet potato casserole this side of the Mason-Dixon. Do they even eat sweet potatoes up north? I bet not, but I digress. Thanksgiving is the greatest food holiday.
• Everything I forgot: There are so many blessings in my life. I mean it. I am profoundly thankful for them all--from the air I breathe to the food I eat to the house in which I live. Life is good, and I am so thankful.