1,300 Things To Be Thankful For -- Larissa Cook (The Quiet Life of Violet)

See previous weeks HERE.

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Hello, Quiet Life readers! I am so excited to be able to be a part of Violet's 1,300 things by sharing with you my very own 25 things that I am thankful for. And so me, in a nutshell: 23, wife, puppy mama, desperate housewife, reality TV fanatic, wine enthusiast, tea fiend, impatient, optimistic, and spontaneous. I like my husband, my family, my friends, my dog (not to be confused with my husband's dog), and sometimes other drivers. I have road rage, I let cuss words slip, I sleep too much, I exorcise too little, and sometimes I can be a little messy. I prefer interiors over fashion, dogs over cats (although I do own one), and sweets over real food. I travel the world with my husband, a lot, and someday soon we'll be bringing some babies back with us.

Find me here:

Blog: LaLaLovely

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176. Twenty three years of traditions, as in from birth till now. As in every year on my birthday, my mother takes a picture of me in front of her tulip garden. I've got 23 of these bad boys just waiting to be framed and put on display for the whole world to see my cuteness......and then my awkward no-longer-a-child-not-yet-a-teen (Is that a Britney Spears song?) moments.

177. First years of marriage and celebrating a year of first holidays, birthdays, and little monuments together.

178. Smells that produce fond memories. Like how Victoria's Secret "Sexy Little Things" reminds me of my wedding.

179. Waking up every morning and going to bed every night to my best friend, the love of my life, my soul mate...

180. Going to sleep in freshly washed and crisp sheets. The way the bedding smells like clean laundry and not a week's worth of sleep.

181. When my mom goes grocery shopping and buys extra avocados for Evan and me.

182. The first time you get to drive with the car windows down in the spring.

183. Licking the beaters after beating cake, brownie, cookie mix/dough. (And mashed potatoes! My personal favorite.)

184. Little brothers who let you dress them up in dresses and high heels and proudly tote them around. Who then turn into big little brothers who "don't know you" and pretend the dressing up part never, ever, ever happened.

185. Storms that make the power go out so you have to light a million candles, and then curl up and watch the pretty show, and then you find yourself oh so thankful that you have a roof and a safe place to live.

186. New body products. For example: razors and noticing how badly dull your last one was, tooth brushes all stiff and germ free, bobby pins and hair ties that aren't all stretched out and that actually hold your hair in place.

187. Waking up on your own without an alarm, but maybe a little kiss on the cheek. That's an a-ok alarm.

188. Wearing clothes right out of the dryer so warm and clean.

189. Seeing little kids act ridiculously funny (parents might call this embarrassing) in public and Evan saying to me, "Is that your five-year-old self?"

190. Avery, the sweetest five-year-old I know. She's the closest thing I have to a niece. She was the flower girl at my wedding and she is just a doll. I've baby sat her numerous times since she was just a newborn baby and we've spent hours dancing around her house to Katy Perry, watching hours upon hours of the worst children's shows I've ever witnessed, and cuddling. Adore her.

191. Waiting for Evan to come home and just knowing when the sound of a car driving down our street is his.

192. When Evan kisses my forehead or the top of my head in public.

193. Fireplaces. Especially the real wood ones that smell like outdoors and camping and good books and naps.

194. Birthdays and realizing you've been given another year to enjoy life.

195. Going to third world countries like the Philippines and Ethiopia has made me so incredibly thankful for the most simplest and taken-for-granted things. Things like hearing, daily showers, protein, running water, drinkable water, toothbrushes, towels, toilet paper.......

196. The exact moment in a relationship when you realize you are completely comfortable in complete silence.

197. The nights when Evan sings me to sleep.

198. Having a "spot" with someone. The place where Evan proposed to me, that's our spot. It was our spot long before that, but now it's so much our spot that we practically own that little piece of land.

199. Having the most gorgeous wedding ring that represents what Evan and I have, and that reminds me of the best day of my entire life.

200. Having a husband who likes to cook, likes to try new food, loves food as much as I do, and will even do the dishes after all my experiments. (True love.)