Things I'm grateful for a daily thread:

1. Morning conversations over tea/coffee with my mom ( @Dawnlantero) about everything and nothing.

2. An unexpected discount.

3. Outdoor dinners with my family and fiancé, even with the loud metallic buzz of cicadas in the background.

4. @WarbyParker's at-home try on, which, pro-tip: makes for a great instagram stories poll.

5. Extended family nearby who let us use their pool on a 90 degree day.

6. Brunch food take-out from my favorite restaurants.

7. John Lewis and his powerful, lasting legacy.

8. Ending each day snuggling with @TPlapinger and watching "Central Park" or "Trying" on @AppleTV.

9. Making wedding Pinterest boards with my mom and sisters.

10. Morning greetings from our two sweet doggos.

11. Getting an offer to work at the law firm I've really enjoyed working at all summer.

12. A slow Saturday wake up listening to @onbeing and playing solitaire on my phone.

13. Saying “yes to the dress!”

14. A week off with no work or school.

15. A change of scenery.

16. The person who first came up with the idea for watermelon feta salad.

17. Playing emoji golf ( or instead of keeping score) on an empty golf course on a beautiful August day.

18. Takeout from my favorite tapas restaurant, including a Spotify playlist of the music they play in the restaurant.

19. A full four months in the same place as my favorite person: planning our wedding, watching movies, playing golf, and just being goofy. Love you, Thomas (@TPlapinger). See you in a month and a half.

20. My cozy school apartment just waiting for me to come back.

21. Seeing my law school friends, even if it’s through masks.

22. A quick morning @yogawithadriene before school.

23. Walking around the reservoir & lighting a candle at the grotto at this beautiful place I go to school.

24. Finding the perfect wake up song.

(Walking on Sunshine, if you’re curious)

25. Using the @MarcoPoloApp with my long-distance friends to keep in touch.

26. Queer Eye, a show that helps restore my faith in humanity every time I watch it. Thanks @jvn, @bobbyberk, @Karamo, @antoni and @tanfrance

27. Waking up before my alarm & starting the day with a meditation

28. @ThisAmerLife

29. A few breaths of maskless fresh air while walking to class early in the morning and no one is around.

30. Getting to sleep in 30 minutes since my classes are online the rest of the week.

31. A morning walk around my neighborhood on a beautiful sunny August day.

32. Sending a quick note of gratitude to someone who's bettered my life.

33. Getting mail!

34. Waking up early for a little baking.

35. Going to bed with wet hair wrapped in a t-shirt & waking up with it looking pretty good.

36. Falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

37. Being the first one in a classroom.

38. Finding ways to connect with friends & acquaintances in these distant times.

39. Being one year out from marrying my favorite person.

40. Ceiling fans — they may not be the most attractive things, but waking up with a light breeze is pure luxury.

I’m a big fan.

41. My new house plant & herbs.

42. That I was alive to watch the growth of Chadwick Boseman's career.

43. It’s September!

44. Cinnamon apple zucchini muffins from @veggiesmadegr8. Seriously they’re soooo good!

45. @erinruberry's "In Better News" newsletter which wakes me up with a moment of joy & an impulse to do good.

46. Getting to “sleep in” to 7:30 on Fridays because I don’t have morning class.

47. A/C off, windows open weather.

48. Watching @CBSSunday every Sunday morning with a cup of tea and @TPlapinger.

49. The ability to easily take classes from home via Zoom & not feel guilty about it.

50. Watching the rain from my balcony with a cup of tea & cozy slippers.

51. @TheCut podcast (especially this week's rom-com episode).

52. The ability to set Alexa to tell me to "Go kick today's butt." as part of my alarm. Makes me smile every morning.

53. Time to breathe fresh cool morning air, sit in stillness, and watch the night turn into day.

54. My little parsley plant that was in shock when I repotted it, but is now thriving.

55. My incredibly supportive friends & family, who always seem to know exactly what I need.

56. Actually getting 8 hours of sleep.

57. Watching @MarcoPoloApp videos from my best friends first thing in the morning.

58. Finding support in unexpected places.

59. Zoom trivia with friends across the country: @darth_hart @justitude @ajs0889 @sarale78 @caitlinjharvey @Ted @allisonmdreyer

60. Chai with a little agave and coconut milk to start the day off right

61. Being alive at the same time that RBG was on the Supreme Court. She is/was/forever will be my idol. Rest In Peace and Power.

62. Waking up with the motivation to keep fighting the good fight.

63. Having an outlet for my fear, grief, and anger.

64. Access to a car that gets me to and from anywhere I need to be safely and comfortably.

65. My bed. Which I really didn’t want to leave this morning.

66. Washing my face with perfect temperature water.

67. An evening out with good friends that felt *almost* normal.

68. Finding scallion pancakes in South Bend.

69. A quick picnic lunch with family

70. Living in a country where we can criticize the government free from fear of retribution.

71. Freedom of the press.

72. Sleep Sounds on Alexa, the waterfall sound puts me right to sleep

73. Seeing my fiancé for the first time in over a month!!!

74. Limoncello LaCroix

75. Friends willing to get up early on a Saturday to help you move.

76. Season 6 of @SchittsCreek on @netflix!

77. A warm, soft sweater on a chilly day.

78. Coming home to dinner cooking!

79. Homemade banana mango smoothies

80. Watching a civil debate with a strong woman who holds her ground & calls a lie a lie.

81. @abexlumberg @ayanaeliza's easy to listen to, dare I say optimistic, climate podcast "How to Save a Planet." https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet

82. Making & then sharing a delicious dinner with my fiancé.

83. Soft, comfy, throw-on dresses—what I lovingly refer to as “play dresses” like this one from @OldNavy.

84. The few moments I can collect my thoughts when I am the first one in the classroom.

85. @Costco

86. Messages of support from friends, family, & even strangers

87. Dirty Chai lattes

88. Cozy fisherman sweaters in the fall

89. Lazy mornings in bed.

90. Midwestern fall farmers markets full of pumpkins, apple cider, and homemade baked goods.

91. A $2 cup of coffee.

92. Finding small moments of joy.

93. The smell of freshly baking pizza

94. Fall flowers, like these ones on my table that make me smile every morning.

95. The baby panda at the @NationalZoo

96. A glass of red wine at the end of the week.

97. Fire-pits

98. Starbucks “Medicine Ball” drink & good imitations of it

I’m not sick, I just love the mix of citrus, mint, and honey.

99. fuzzy socks

100. Moments of light and laughter in these hard times.

101. The ability to treat myself to a @Starbucks chai and pumpkin muffin for no particular reason.

102. Fridays with no class.

103. Waking up without an alarm.

104. Fancy cocktails, homemade apple crisp, & a blazing fire.

105. Walking to class when it is light outside.

106. Living in a democracy. #VoteResponsibly

107. Poll workers, ballot counters, and members of the press who've stayed up through the night rationally talking the country through the results and what we're still waiting on.

108. Professors who really care about their students & understand the special challenges of this semester.

109. My law school friends who’ve kept me sane the last 2.5 years. (Shout out @MaryGunther, @RachelEPalermo, @nicolesbarba, @gresko_shelly, @kittycatb88, & all the ones not on Twitter)

110. Day four of gorgeous, unseasonably warm weather.

111. @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris and renewed hope for a United America.

112. Making it to the last week of classes.

113. Crunchy, colorful leaves

114. Thunderstorms

115. Instrumental Christmas Music, especially Charlie Brown Christmas, to get me into the spirit just a little while I study.

116. Coffee & a warm croissant in the morning

117. The ability to order @CharmCityMead “Retire By The Fire”online!

118. My fireplace on a cold night.

119. My new aloe plant that looks a little like an upside down octopus.

120. The weird, wonderful mystery that is Mother Nature.

121. Warm blankets

122. Breweries that ship

123. A @Costco gas station five minutes from my house

124. Free COVID testing from @NotreDame to just give me a little security

125. Lake Michigan sunsets

126. No more 8 am classes

127. Home-cooked food that I didn’t have to make

128. A ten-week winter break for some real R&R

129. Family, friends, health, & security. I have so much to be thankful for even in this strange year. #HappyThanksgiving

130. Thanksgiving leftovers

131. Christmas decorations

132. A strange, small, sweet Thanksgiving with my wonderful family & fiancé

133. Last week in South Bend!

134. Coffee that’s the perfect temperature with a little almondmilk eggnog in it

135. Pine tree scented candles

136. Listening to Christmas music while cooking, cleaning & packing.

137. Seeing holiday lights on lots of houses.

138. Moving into a new apartment in Chicago with my fiancé

139. Watching the city wake up while sipping a cup of tea and reading an interesting book.

140. Finding Christmas decorations I forgot about

141. Watching dogs at the dog park out our window.

142. Trader Joe’s

143. Living nearby my parents & siblings

144. Honestly, social media—as one of my only social outlets in this crazy year, it’s really nice to have platforms to connect on.

145. My cute mini-Christmas cards that arrived yesterday.

146. Our new fireplace that keeps us toasty and feeling festive.

147. Having a real Christmas tree!

148. The distinct pleasure of decorating a Christmas tree, while pausing to discuss certain ornaments and reminisce.

149. Re-starting a hobby I love.

150. Fun holiday wrapping paper

151. Buying the last carton of peppermint ice cream

152. Holiday party zooms & creative friends & family who find ways to still make it fun— definitely not the same, but still nice to be able to see people’s faces & laugh together.

153. The apple corer-peeler my mom got me for Christmas

154. Catching the earlier ferry!

155. The darkest day of the year & knowing things will get brighter from here on out.

156. Airing of grievances with @justitude, @caitlinjharvey, @Ted, @sarale78, @darth_hart & @ajs0889. I can’t tell you how therapeutic it is.

157. All of the wonderful Christmas eve’s I’ve been blessed to have and even this strange one that has shown me how good I’ve had it every year prior. Merry Christmas Eve!

158. Christmas Spirit (and negative Covid tests)

159. Waking up without an alarm

160. A bowl of fresh berries, a slice of toast, and a homemade eggnog latte

161. Clear weather on a day we’re traveling

162. Waking up in my own bed

163. My wonderful mother in her 60th birthday!!!

164. The last day of 2020.

165. Being walking distance from a good bagel place ( @brobagel).

166. Soft sheets

167. Looking out the window and seeing a blanket of newly fallen snow.

168. Waking up to the smell of good coffee

169. Good sports movies that just give you that bit of joy & hope

170. Democracy—fragile, imperfect, collaborative, democracy.

171. @chefjoseandres

172. Having a network of people to reach out to with questions on any topic under the sun.

173. Having someone nearby who’s handy.

174. Sunday mornings with @CBSSunday.

175. Outshine lemon fruit bars—best popsicles on the planet.

176. The @onbeing podcast led by @kristatippett’s well-researched, curious, and kind interviews.