Man it's been a busy week. I may not have written my weekly ten this week but I've done a tonne of stuff - I'll outline this week I finally write my next weekly ten. It's been on my mental to do list all week but I haven't got around to it! Couple all my productivity with Willow's birthday and of course that pesky little full time job and the week has flown...absolutely flown. Never too busy to be grateful though.

So very grateful for all the family and friends who joined us for Willow's birthday. She was super spoiled and just loved all the attention. Our little social butterfly. She's one. Can.Not.Believe.It!

As I said last week, I have amazing friends who I'm always grateful for. Our cake smash cake was made by one and I wouldn't have been able to get all this food on the table last Sunday if it wasn't for another. I love these two like crazy and I'm so grateful to call them my best friends. Thanks girls. Willow and Leah are lucky to have amazing Aunties like you.

Speaking of helpers...

Grateful that this isn't her usual disposition, and that we have such a happy wee one year old at home who's way too close to walking. I've enjoyed her starting later as she's just such a monster, but I'm afraid it won't last much longer at all... :/

So very grateful for my stubborness this week. I have many traditions that I begun with Leah and that I also wanted to do with Willow. I'm not only happy that I've kept them up for Leah but have also started them again now for Willow.  This is Willow's first birthday letter along with Leah's last 3 (soon to be 4).

And always, always grateful for being able to eat pig. Pulled pork in the slow cooker for dinner tonight and I'm dreaming of it already...om nom nom nom

What are you grateful for this week? xox

Grateful Fridays

What a week. We've been full blast with party preparations and although I'm looking forward to the weekend it's going to be a busy one. I already have a a page full long list of things that I need to do beginning this afternoon as soon as I leave work this afternoon.

First and foremost, I'm grateful to have my wonderful husband back in the country. We didn't have a horrible week without him like I thought we might, but it's just nice to have his presence back in the house. We missed him. We love you dadda <3

I'm grateful for being able to zip back home and get photo day outfits when I forget them. Thank goodness for working 5 minutes from home now! Also grateful for the cutest girls in the whole wide world.

Feeling very grateful for amazing friends who are helping me out with the birthday party this weekend. I have one friend making a cake for a cake smash that I need to photograph and another coming to stay on Saturday night to help out with decoration, food prep and general shinanegans. I remember you ladies were also the ones who stepped up and ran the kitchen for me last year at Leah's birthday when I was as huge as a whale in my heavily pregnant state. You know who you are and you are just amaze sauce.

Grateful for raisins and their attention keeping capabilities. We had no tears and focus on the task at hand the whole hour we were at the restaurant. Success!

Grateful for helpful big sisters.

And lastly and most recently, I'm grateful for a hairdresser that can make me my hair look this good.

What are you grateful for this week? xox

Grateful Fridays

I've read a few times that being grateful for the little things in life can help you become more mindful of you're surroundings and helps to ground yourself and make you more happy. I definitely like that last one, so thought I'd give it a nudge on the blog.

I'm grateful for people with minds that make things like this. Clever cookies.

I'm grateful for a plethora of people who messaged me and sent kind words after sharing this post earlier in the week.

Biggest grateful smiles for the dog that always wiggles his bum in happy appreciation when I come home, day after day after day. Love you Jake <3

And just looking at that photo super, super grateful for selfies. What a good lookin' pair we are.

As always, I'm grateful as all hell for a husband that makes me toasted sandwiches on Thursdays (a weird day on which I never feel like cooking), a big girl that wants a cuddle mid-dinner and a little girl who's so cheeky and naughty it's hard not to laugh at her on a constant basis. I'm a lucky lady.

What are you grateful for this week?

xx

Things I'm Loving

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

I missed last week so this might be a big one...

Loving that I decided to keep going with Leah photos....like I could stop! You can see a weekly collage on the 52 to Two tab on your top right.

I LOVE my courier lady. Not only did she bring me three gorgeous items from Punk Baby but also the long awaited (it only took 20 days... mummy was impatient) shutterfly book of Leah's first year - all the way from America.

I love the book so much. It was one thing to see it on the screen once I'd finished it and flick through the pages digitally, but to have the physical copy is amazing. Mummy had a wee tear in her eye the first time she looked through it, all 111 pages of it!

Also loving that the holidays have meant that I'm able to start my new 'Year Two' book. Here's one of the first pages.

I love my eldest niece that turned 16 (yes, 16!!!) last week. She's become a beautiful and intelligent  young lady who I know is going to make us all proud. <3

I love walks in the gardens with my favourite people, sushi and beautiful cherry blossom trees with a beautiful model.

I'm loving the holidays and getting plenty of blogging and 101 challenging out of the way.

The holidays give me time to spend with one of my best and oldest friends which I love. Not sure she was too happy with a munchkin stealing her purse though... especially since said munchkin was not strong enough to really carry it...

I love Kiwiyo. Granted... my pottle had a small amount of youghurt and a HUGE amount of lollies (which is an expensive was to buy lollies) but I think the idea is very clever. You should check one out. Nom nom!

And last, but certainly not least. I love this photo of the two dearest people to me and the genuine smile on my gorgeous husbands face. <3

Being Thankful

I started this off as a list a little while back, thinking that I would add to it as I go but it never really got off the ground. I started writing it as a little repetitive poem yesterday and knocked out 100 things easy peasy...at least, I think it's a hundred, lost count a few times LOL.

Enjoy xox

100 things I am grateful for...

I’m grateful that I had two loving parents who did everything they could for their kids and that I had a wonderful childhood. I’m grateful that they spent time with me and that they had ‘making memories’ as one of their priorities when I was little. I’m grateful that when I lashed out as a teenager dad came and spoke to me, many times, no matter how shitty I was. I’m grateful that I was loved as a child and that I had no doubt of that fact. I’m grateful for two wonderful siblings who always make me laugh, shared smiles and shared loves. I’m grateful for loving grandparents who spent time with their grandchildren and always made you feel special. I’m grateful for an extended family who help out during those tough times - I know we’ve had a few. 

I’m grateful that I met the most incredible man in the world and that he became my soulmate. I’m grateful that he wanted to marry me. I’m grateful that he puts up with all of my BS and that we hardly ever fight. I’m grateful that he helps out around the house and  joins me in all my silliness. I’m grateful appreciating him for and being appreciated. With Damien, most of all, I’m grateful that we balance each other. I’m grateful that he thought buying our house was a good idea and that we were in a position to do so, so early in our lives. 

I’m grateful for a healthy pregnancy (and the new bed we bought during it!) and a beautiful daughter. I’m grateful for a fairly straight forward birth and hope for a couple more too! I’m grateful for Leah’s cute little nose and her beautiful green eyes. Her joyful laugh and her chubby little legs. I’m grateful for her sunny disposition and am a little scared for any future babies that might not be as sunny. I’m grateful for how clever Leah is as well as how beautiful she is. I’m grateful for cute little dance moves and so many amazing milestones (including the ones to come).

I’m grateful for the time we got to spend with Vince and that Damien let me get another puppy. I’m grateful for blue collared puppies who were allowed to come home with us and his good natured temperament. I’m grateful for happy rottweiler tails. I’m grateful for happy doggies who love their family more than anything. I’m grateful for Shakespeare and the happiness he’s brought me.I’m grateful for all the loving animals that have been a part of my life. 

I’m grateful for real friends that stick around (up to 17 years in one case!) and who put up with my inability to talk on the phone well. I’m grateful for their listening ears and their supportive shoulders. I’m grateful for the time I get to spend with them and all the fun we share. I’m grateful for all the positive people in my life and I’m grateful for the new people I meet.  I’m grateful for everyone I’ve met, they’ve all shaped me in some way.

I’m grateful for the opportunities that I’ve been given. I’m grateful for inspiring teachers who led me along a career path I’m proud of. I’m grateful for being given my first teaching job and for the wonderful children I taught at that school. I’m grateful for career advancements and hope for another one in the near future. I’m grateful that my job inspires others. I’m grateful for the people that I have met through my career and how they inspire me. I’m grateful that my career has improved my love of technology and that my love of technology has improved my career. 

I’m grateful for books with wonderful stories. I’m grateful for sunny days, New Zealand and beautiful beaches. I’m grateful for cameras, stunning photos and learning new hobbies. I’m grateful for learning. I’m grateful for apple mac and I’m grateful for Kindle! I’m grateful for warm fuzzies and hugs. I’m grateful for smiles and positivity, being present and play. I’m grateful for the amount of happiness I have. I’m grateful for video games and blogging (and probably facebook too!). I’m grateful for music, instruments and emotion filled lyrics. I’m grateful for happy endings and interesting journeys. I’m grateful for all things beautiful. I’m grateful for Coke Zero and raspberry twizlers. I’m grateful for knee high socks. I’m grateful for stationary and pretty colours felt tip pens. I’m grateful for a sweet tooth and baked goodies.

But most of all. I’m grateful that I’m happy. I’m grateful that I have love. I’m grateful that I can be grateful for so many amazing things in my life. Thank you to everyone and everything that is a part of it <3