gratitude: day 20.

i'm grateful for rain in los angeles.

the sky is usually hazy with smog

but after it rains in LA,

the hills are so green and the sky is so clear.

it's gorg.

it rained last night and it POURED today.

love it.

gratitude: day 14

i'm grateful for the book of mormon.

i made a goal to read it from

start to finish between now

and the end of the year.

so far, so good.

i feel peace when i read it.

and i'm reminded again and again

that jesus is the christ.

the book of mormon is true.

learn more about the book of mormon {here}.

gratitude: day 13

i'm grateful for music.

sometimes i sing.

sometimes i'm sung to.

i love it all.

i sing praises to God.

i sing along to the radio.

it all makes me pretty happy.

what kind of music do you love?

gratitude: day 12

i'm grateful for creative friends.

i have friends that blog.

friends that don't.

friends that sew.

friends that decorate interiors.

friends that write

friends that sing.

each of them have worked hard

to hone their skills.

it's very inspiring

and i'm grateful.

gratitude: day 11.

i'm grateful for couples in happy, healthy relationships.

sure, i'm not currently half of such a relationship...

but i'm still grateful.

i'm grateful for the small acts of kindness

the warm looks

the kind words

the displays of affection

really, i am.

seeing people happy in relationships

gives me hope for the future.

my future.

sure it's not always rainbows and roses

i get that.

but it's something to be grateful for.

and i am.

gratitude: day 10

i'm grateful for my body.

i don't always take the best care of it.

i don't let my body sleep enough.

i feed it too many bad things and not enough good things.

i often criticize it for being a bit on the chubby side.

but through it all, my body takes me from point A to point B and back again.

it allows me to dispense hugs and high fives.

my body is a miracle.

gratitude: day 9

i'm grateful for the business of beauty.

as a hairstylist, i'm in the business of making people feel beautiful. it's so rewarding to be able to take time everyday to make someone feel just a little bit better about themselves.

as a cosmetology educator, i have the opportunity to share my passion for people and my love for the beauty industry with students who are new to the business. it's so rewarding to see it "click" with a student, which in turn fires them up to go out into the world and make their mark. it's very inspiring.

i'm grateful for all the wonderful people i meet in the various aspects of the industry. in the school, on set or in the salon, i'm constantly exposed to so many different types of people from all walks of life. it definitely gives me the opportunity to learn something new from someone new, every single day.

gratitude: day 8

i'm grateful for the technology that allows to review general conference talks throughout the year. i've gotten into the habit of listening to a conference talk every day and it seems like i always catch something new that i didn't hear or learn listening the first time.

i'm grateful for the technology that allows me to keep in touch with my family. my 3 year old nephew knows how to call me via skype on his own. it's amazing and endearing and i'm so grateful. it's nice to know that even though we're far apart from each other, my family is only a phone call or video chat away.

i'm grateful for the technology that allows me to participate in family history work. i'm new to the genealogy game but i can't image how daunting a task it was before family records were searchable online. i'm grateful it's MUCH easier now and i'm excited to learn more about my family lineage.

gratitude: day 7

via

i'm grateful for the opportunity and motivation to always be improving myself.

sometimes the motivation comes from friends or family.

sometimes from relationships. wherever it comes from, i'm grateful for it.

i'm grateful for the sense of accomplishment that comes from a job well done.

a love of hard work seems to be a learned behavior.

i'm lucky to have parents that taught the value of work at an early age.

i'm grateful that each day is a new opportunity to be the best i can be. some days don't end so well, so it's always nice to know that tomorrow is another day

and a new chance to do and be good.

gratitude: day 6

i'm grateful for people that are kind.

i'm grateful for people that are patient.

i'm grateful for people that are generous.

gratitude: day 5

is it weird to be grateful for beyonce? cause i am. i recently stumbled upon her documentary "beyonce: year of 4" and, in a word, i'm obsessed.

3 reasons why i'm grateful for bk:

she shows that when you combine talent with hard work,

amazing things can happen.

she encourages people to reach for the stars

and not accept anything less than EVERYTHING the world has to offer.

she's a strong willed, independent woman.

sure, she's got a man...but she was her own woman first.

"i don't need people to think for me.

i've never been that way

and i don't ever want to be that way."

you go, beyonce. you go.

gratitude: day 4

i'm grateful for friends that want to hang out on the weekends. seems silly, i know. but a girl can only stay at home alone so many friday nights before it starts to affect her self esteem. seriously.

i'm grateful for my roommates. we're each so different but they love and accept me just the way i am. they make me laugh...like everyday. it's the best.

i'm grateful for hugs. sometimes, i hug too much but i rarely hug too little. hugging makes me happy. the best is when people hug me without having to be asked. have you hugged a friend today?

gratitude: day 3

santa barbara. may 2011.

i'm grateful for california sunshine. when the sun is shining, you can't help but feel like everything's gonna be alright.

i'm grateful for all the amazing friends i have made in the 6 years i've been in california. people so amazing that we've become more than just friends; we're a family.

i'm grateful for the opportunities i've had in california: personally, professionally and spiritually. being down here on my own has been an interesting and awesome experience. i wouldn't trade the experiences i've had while here for anything. in fact, i look forward to many more wonderful experiences!

gratitude: day 2

photography by DQP. september 2011.

i'm grateful to FINALLY have found my calling in life.

i'm grateful for mentors that love me and push me to do better.

i'm grateful for the Paul Mitchell culture and the encouragement to be nice (or else!).

gratitude: day 1

m+d. los angeles. december 2009.

i'm grateful for a Heavenly Father that knows me, loves me and is mindful of me.

i'm grateful for the most loving and supportive parents a girl could ask for.

i'm grateful for each of my five siblings. we're all so different, but the older i get, the more i appreciate those differences.

thankful in all things.

the church released this video last year and it delights me as much now as it did when it first came out. there's something about listening to people express gratitude that is so inspiring.

"let us be grateful for what we are and for the circumstances God has given us for our personal journey through mortality...when we understand that God offers us opportunities for blessings and blesses us through our own adversities and the adversities of others, we can understand why He has commanded us again and again to 'thank the Lord in all things.'" - dallin h. oaks

it's the time before the most wonderful time of year. a time for gratitude. i'm committing to take time every day this month to list something i am grateful for. some will be serious, some will be silly...they'll all be true. get excited.

i'm grateful for lobster.

after a DEE-lightful thanksgiving dinner at miss hatch's,

the fam loaded up the boat for a little lobster fishing.

sure, most people were mapping out their black friday routes.

we went lobster fishing. no big deal.

it was hard work and we didn't catch anything.

but we had a BLAST!

cap'n wasn't too happy but all in all

it was a most fabulous adventure!

aw, nuts!

are these the cutest

place cards ever ever EVERRRRR?!

someday, i'm gonna have a

grown up event...complete with place cards!

happy almost thanksgiving!

thanksgiving practice.

i'm grateful for hostesses that are

cool, calm and collected (hee!) while cooking

practice thanksgiving dinner!

i'm grateful for friends that fake pray.

i'm grateful for post-dinner sing alongs.

what are you grateful for?