This month I am grateful for sweet birthday celebrations with my beloved, a new year (well, the western one anyway), Jillian Michaels, Body Pump and Body Combat, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, work on the Into the Mists encyclopaedia, the beauty of the huge golden full moon sailing across the sky and peeking out from behind the occasional drift of clouds, and a trip west to visit Mum and Dad and my sister and her adorable little family…
With thanks… Friday January 1… Jillian day 47… New Year’s blessings…
Happy New Year! It’s strange… Technically it’s no different today than yesterday – Chinese New Year is far more meaningful, being celebrated on the spring new moon – and yet there is still the energy of stepping through a doorway, of releasing the year that has gone and welcoming the grand potential and promise of a new one, of being grateful for love deepened and dreams lived and friendships made and goals achieved and lessons learned and wisdom gained… and even the less-than-stellar moments of dreams frustrated and loss felt and pain suffered. It’s all part of the magic and wonder and adventure of life…
Today I am grateful for the year that’s gone, and excited about the year to come…
I’m glad I did an awesome workout, Jillian’s Killer Arms and Back, so I could start the year as I mean to continue – red-faced and sweat-drenched and struggling to push harder and achieve more, and feeling alive and in my body, and grateful for its strength and health and magical ability to move me through life…
I’m happy that I did a small amount of work on my Mists Encyclopaedia…
And I’m grateful for precious time to spend with my beloved…
With thanks… Saturday January 2… Jillian day 48…
Tonight I am grateful to my sweet husbee for a wonderful day together…
I’m happy that I got up early to work out before it got too hot – Jillian’s lower body workout, which is fun/painful/tough/love/hate/etc.
I’m happy that we walked up to Newtown together hand in hand, to see Star Wars again 🙂 And it was so sweet when we got out, and Juz giggled and hugged me and said he was so grateful that I love it almost as much as him.
I’m grateful for a cute lunch date at our old favourite cafe, then a wander home, sticking to the shady side of the road cos it was so hot. (Sooo grateful I worked out early in the morning! And that I hit 11.5K steps for the day…)
I’m grateful for a chilled out afternoon, drinking tea, watching the Vampire Diaries and laughing a lot…
And I’m grateful for a beautiful night – birthday eve ritual, with an adorable card, a naughty (but nice) cake and adorable presents. I’m very spoiled, and very grateful for another magical year with my beloved…
With thanks… Sunday January 3… Jillian day 49…
Today I am grateful for a beautiful day with my beloved, who spoiled me so much for my birthday…
I’m glad I got up early to work out, a double Jillian one, before we headed out on our adventure.
I’m happy we finally made it to Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, which was so pretty, and peaceful, and I’m even grateful for the grey skies and cooler day. There were so many butterflies, so many gorgeous flowers and immense trees and twisting little paths leading into alcoves or to statues. (For more details, here’s a blog that outlines the size and scope and just what is planted in this labour-of-love green space). I loved the quote she’s written on the remembrance stone too: And we shall walk and talk in gardens all misty and wet with rain, and we shall never never grow so old again… (From Van Morrison’s Sweet Thing…)
I’m grateful for a lovely lunch with Juz in Milsons Point – and feeling like carefree tourists in our own city…
We had an interesting afternoon adventure, caught in a sudden rainstorm, laughing as we tried to escape the puddles and the spray from passing cars in the city, on our way to see James Bond.
I’m grateful for a wonderful night with Juz and a friend, yummy dinner, laughter and great conversation, and walking home in the cool dark under a clear sky, and hitting 20,000 steps for the day 🙂 (And although we didn’t make it home as planned before dinner, to get a little glam, I was happy that the flowers in my hair made it through the day and night with me…)
And I’m grateful for all the amazing, touching birthday wishes by phone, email and Facebook, a long chat with Mum and Dad, and the birth of a brand new year…
I’m not sure if I’ll ever catch up on the week just gone (January 4-8), and I want to get back to work on the Into the Mists encyclopaedia, so…
I am grateful for awesome Jillian Michaels workouts, alternating upper and lower body ones each day…
I’m grateful that I had a few days off from the magazines so I could work at home on my stuff…
I’m glad, of a sort, that I got heaps done when I was at the magazines – it’s still pretty stressy, but I’m hoping once this massive project is done things will calm down a little (while also recognising that I’ve been saying that for two years and it never does seem to calm down…).
I am grateful for a beautiful message from a friend, and for her kindness and support and generosity in so many ways…
I’m grateful for a long chat with my sister…
And I’m grateful for all the time Juz and I managed to snatch together…
With thanks… Saturday January 9… Dark Moon Blessings…
Wishing everyone blessings of the dark moon – may you feel nurtured and inspired as you go within, and may your days be full of magic xx
Today I am grateful for a day with my beloved, chilling out, watching some Vampire Diaries, going to a cute little cafe for lunch…
I’m grateful for a long phone call with a friend, and an awesome birthday surprise at the post office…
I’m grateful for another sweet birthday gift arriving…
I’m grateful to my writer friends for exciting plans for the coming year, and glad I could spend time working on my part of our soon-to-be-launched website today…
I’m happy Juz and I could go and visit my aunt and uncle, and drink tea and catch up…
And I’m grateful for a lovely night at home together…
With thanks… Sunday January 10… Jillian day 56… New Moon Blessings…
Wishing everyone much love and magic on this new moon day. Tap in to the new energies and all the potential swirling around us today, for new growth and new ideas and new dreams. Make a wish for this magical month to come, and dive in and make it come true. Lots of love and bright blessings xx
Today I am grateful for a beautiful day with Juz.
I’m glad I did an awesome double Pump workout, and upped the weights on a couple of tracks – I’ll be sore tomorrow, hooray!
I’m happy that I got heaps of work done, although I procrastinated a lot, and ended up staying up stupidly late to get it done. Not doing so well with my “get more sleep” resolution 🙂 It’s a work in progress I guess! xx
With thanks… Monday January 11… Jillian KS day 1…
Tonight I am grateful for the beauty of the world around me, and the magic to be found, even in the middle of the city…
I’m not ecstatic that I had to work late at the magazines – but it meant I got to watch the sun setting as I made my way home, so, silver linings (or in this case golden) and all…
I’m happy that I forced myself out of bed at 6am to work out, when I would have given anything to sleep a bit longer. I’ve started another eight weeks of my Jillian hybrid… Although now the word hybrid makes me think of the Vampire Diaries 🙂
Not so glad that I had a pesky migraine either, it’s been a pesky week for them, but tomorrow will be better!
I’m sad that David Bowie died, but grateful for the music and art and sheer Bowie-ness he left us with 🙂
And I’m grateful for precious time with Juz when I finally made it home…
With thanks… Tuesday January 12… Jillian KS day 2…
Today I’m glad that I got up early and got in an awesome workout before work – Pauline Nordin’s lower body level three, which really hurt, in a good way 🙂
I’m grateful that I managed to race out of the office for a minute to go to Rebel and use my birthday voucher – I finally lashed out and got a non-cheapie yoga mat… now I just need to decide which side I like better 🙂 Thanks Sweet One!
I’m glad I got lots done at the magazines, and that I stayed late again – cos it means I can take my day off tomorrow 🙂
And I’m grateful for precious time with Juz when I finally got home…
With thanks… Wednesday January 13… Jillian KS day 3…
Today I’m glad that I started the day with a walk – I had to go to the post office to pick up a parcel. It was a new one, and much further than I thought, which meant lots of steps 🙂 I’m glad I went early though – it was already stupidly hot!
And I’m grateful for the package – a cute little R2-D2 tea cup to match my teapot, and one of my favourite journals, and a matching diary 🙂 And a BB-8 mug is on its way… A birthday present from the Diggers :-)I’m glad I did a double Jillian workout when I got home – Killer Arms and Back, level one then level three as well. Sixty five minutes of hell, which was super tough but super awesome – my shoulders are fiery right now, adding to my lower body doms from yesterday. Hooray!
It’s been a tricky day, with the power going on and off for hours at a time, and trying to wash clothes and pack and get sorted, and a stupid migraine, but I’m grateful that I didn’t have to be in the office 🙂
And I’m grateful for a sweet night in with Juz, early Cute Night, some vampires and a couple of bikkies, and just being happy to be home together…
With thanks… Catch-up…
I’m grateful for a way-too-short but heart-filled week visiting Mum and Dad and my sister and her sweet family…
Thursday January 14…
It all began with a 4am wake-up call to make the stupidly early flight to Perth, which kicked off a full day in transit. But I’m grateful for time on the plane to keep working, and an empty seat next to me to spread out all my print outs and coloured pens, and glad I had a nut bar cos there were pesky tomatoes in my meal…
I’m grateful to a sweet friend for picking me up in Perth and driving me four hours south, then hanging out with us all for a while. I love that we live on opposite sides of the world, but still manage to see each other every year or so. It was particularly short and sweet this time, but still precious…
I’m grateful for… feeling… I felt sad when we approached Busselton, and thought of all my grandparents who are no longer with us… And it was… strange… as we turned into the gravel road through the trees to my childhood home. For some reason everything felt as though it had more weight this time… it’s been so long since I actually lived there, but it still holds a place in my heart…
I’m grateful for cups of tea with Mum and Dad, my friend and my two nieces, just hanging out together, no plans, no schedule, just being, while we waited for my sister to finish work…
I’m grateful for time spent with Dad, walking the dog and chatting endlessly, for the beautiful waxing moon overhead, and the sweetness of nature and its clean, crisp air.
And I’m grateful for time with my sister and her family, then a lovely dinner with Mum and Dad, before I finally passed out…
Friday January 15…
I’m grateful for a beautiful early morning walk along the bush paths I followed as a kid – I crossed the bridge I used to sit under and write poetry, and smiled at all the butterflies, and was happy to run into my sister as I headed home, then missed the turn-off on the way back and ended up walking much further than I’d planned, which was nice. So much of the town is so different, and so much is just the same…
I’m grateful for a fun day with my sister and my nieces, visiting the bookshop (still so cool to see my books on the shelf – especially the Mists Trilogy, which sits next to the Hunger Games series), hanging out at the surf shop, going to the new cafe to share sundaes for lunch…
I’m glad I squeezed in a little bit of work when I got home, that my pesky head wasn’t too bad, and that I survived the horrible heat…
And I’m grateful for a beautiful night at my sister’s place…
Saturday January 16…
Today I’m grateful that I got up early and did a double Jillian cardio workout, followed by some Jillian yoga on my awesome new mat…
I’m grateful that I could just hang out at home all day, drinking tea with Dad before we walked the dog, doing a tiny bit of work while Dad went bike riding, admiring the beauty of the sky and the scent of the bush, and being so happy when I spotted a rabbit…
And I’m grateful for a cruisy night at home with Mum and Dad, and another call to Juz…
Sunday January 17…
Today I’m grateful for a day chilling out with Mum and Dad, drinking tea, doing a bit of work when they had to clean the chalet, and just catching up…
I’m happy that I did an hour of Bob Harper’s Yoga for the Warrior, then a big power walk to get my steps up – and grateful for the clear air and the adorable kangaroo family I saw…
Monday January 18…
Today I’m grateful for time with Mum and my sister and her family, despite the crazy storms that left them ankle deep in water at the lowest point of the caravan park 🙁 It was still beautiful though, and awesome to spend time together…
I’m grateful for a drive through memory lane with Mum on the way home, past the old farmhouse we lived in when I was a baby (it looks way different now!), and through Witchcliffe, which is now making good use of its name, with little witchies everywhere 🙂
I’m grateful for more kangaroos on my afternoon walk, the sun coming out briefly between rain storms, and the amazing scent of the bush after a downpour…
And I’m grateful for a lovely dinner with some dear friends…
Tuesday January 19…
Today I’m grateful for a cuppa and a catch-up with Mum and a sweet friend – a Brasil trip reunion of sorts!
I’m glad I got in a walk – it’s so pretty around here…
And I’m grateful for time with my sister and nieces, and an awesome family dinner…
Wednesday January 20…
Today I’m grateful for my trip home, short though it was, and for all the time I got to spend with Mum and Dad and my sister and her family, just hanging out together. (And sorry that I didn’t get to catch up with lots of friends I would have loved to see – next time I’ll hopefully have more time…)
I’m grateful to Dad, for driving me back to Perth, and for four extra hours to spend together. And although it was hard to leave, and sad, I’m grateful we had so much time together…
I’m grateful for a good flight home, and an extra seat to spread out my printouts and work…
And I’m grateful to be home with Juz, who stayed up extra late so we could catch up a bit too 🙂
Thursday January 21…
And then, back to work with me for a day of stress and chaos…
But I’m glad I got up super early, despite so little sleep, to squeeze in an awesome Jillian upper body workout before I had to leave – it was very cool to be lifting weights again 🙂
I’m grateful that I left an umbrella in my desk, since after a crazily sunshiny day, there was a crazy storm by the time I left work. Not that it helped much!
And although I had to work late, I’m grateful for time with Juz when I made it home…
Friday January 22…
Ah, another day of stress and chaos at the magazines. I’m hoping things will settle down a little in a week or two!
I’m glad I got up early and worked out – Jillian’s lower body workout 🙂
And I’m grateful that I didn’t stay too late – it will all be waiting for me on Monday morning, and I was eager to get home to Juz for our Friday night Cute Night 🙂
Saturday January 23…
Today I’m grateful for a day with Juz…
I’m glad I worked out early, cos it’s always harder to want to do it later 🙂 It was an awesome double Pump workout – and I’m feeling it already!
I’m grateful for an afternoon catch up with my aunt and uncle…
And I’m grateful for a sweet night in and some Vampire Diaries…
With thanks… Sunday January 24… Full moon blessings…
Wishing everyone a magical full moon, and much love, joy and inspiration as the golden light shines down on us. Bright blessings to you at this enchanted time xx
Today I am grateful for time with my beloved… and impressed with his skills – I bought two new cabinet-y things for my office (trying to get it under control!), which had to be put together, and Juz made way more sense of all the weird pieces, pictures and “instructions” 🙂
I’m happy that I did an awesome Pauline Nordin lower body workout, followed by 45 minutes of yoga, early so it wasn’t hanging over my head all day 🙂
I’m grateful that I did a teensy bit of work before a surprise visitor…
And I’m grateful for a beautiful night in, and for the beauty of the huge golden full moon sailing across the sky and peeking out from behind the occasional drift of clouds…
With thanks… Monday January 25… Jillian day 15…
Today I’m happy that I got up early and worked out – Jillian’s awesome Killer Arms and Back, level three. I love that she’s been kicking my butt, and the rest of me, for more than three years. And I’m excited (and, I must admit, a little bit nervous) that a couple of my friends and I are going to do her BodyShred program again 🙂
I’m glad I got heaps done at the magazines, although I’m getting a bit over the late nights…
And I’m grateful for a teensy bit of time with Juz when I got home, and that I got a bit more work done on the book edits…
With thanks… Tuesday January 26… Jillian day 16…
Today I’m grateful for a day with Juz…
I’m glad I got up early to work out – an awesome hour of BodyCombat…
I’m happy that I got some more tidying and sorting done in my office 🙂
I’m not so grateful for the migraine that hovered all day – although it made me feel okay about not working on the book…
I’m grateful for a Vampire Diaries marathon – and grateful to Juz for watching it with me 🙂
And although I didn’t make my curfew, it wasn’t too bad 🙂
With thanks… Wednesday January 27… Jillian day 17…
Today I am grateful for the beauty of the gardens around our apartment, which lifted my heart after a horrible day at work…
I’m grateful for a royalty cheque for ebook sales – they forgot to send them for a while, so it’s added up nicely. It couldn’t have come on a better day, when I had seriously been considering a change of day job – first time I’ve cried in the bathroom at work – not that I’ll be supporting myself through my books alone just yet!
I’m grateful that I got up early and did an awesome double BodyPump workout – it always makes me feel a bit stronger emotionally if I’m feeling stronger physically.
I’m glad I survived the informal meeting with our CEO and two other editors – it was a little nerve wracking though!
I’m grateful to Juz for sweet little texts to cheer me up throughout the day…
And grateful for a few hours together to shake off the stress of the day and just chill out…
With thanks… Thursday January 28… Jillian day 18…
Today I’m grateful for an awesome Jillian workout…
I’m glad I got heaps of work done at the magazines, even though the day was just as frustrating as yesterday, and it’s supposed to be my day off. I hate to wish time away, but man I can’t wait for this particular two weeks to be done!
Not so grateful for a monster two-day migraine…
But I’m grateful for the prettiness of the gardens around our apartment, which always make me smile, even when the say has sucked…
And I’m grateful for a bit of time with Juz…
With thanks… Friday January 29… Jillian day 19…
Today I’m glad I got up early and did a cool Pauline Nordin workout. It was kinda fun, but for those who think it’s easy for me to get up early every day and work out, it also hurt, and felt pretty uncomfortable, and I was hot and sweaty, and would have much rathered be in bed – but I want to be strong and fit and healthy, and I like the way I feel afterwards – more energy, stronger mentally, all that good stuff – and so I drag myself out of bed and do it before I can think too much about it 🙂
I’m grateful to a sweet friend, who came down to my office and gave me a red apple to cheer me up (cos he knows I wouldn’t have wanted chocolate… although after a week like this one, who knows!)…
I’m grateful for a slight deadline reprieve…
I’m grateful that I managed to leave the office on time, for the first time in forever, and that I got off the bus in Newtown to check then mail then walk home… Only to discover that I’d left my wallet at work. Sigh. This week has been a little sucky in a lot of ways!
But I’m grateful to Juz for a cute treat night – and for coming back into the city with me to grab my wallet. It was so lovely, seeing the city at night, walking hand in hand in the cooler night-time streets. Of course I would have much preferred not to have to leave home, but I always try to see something good in any situation, and I’m grateful to Juz for coming with me and making it a mini adventure 🙂 )…
And I’m grateful for pots of tea and a couple of Tim Tams (it being treat night and all) when we got home, and another episode of Vampire Diaries 🙂
With thanks… Saturday January 30… Jillian day 20…
Today I’m grateful for a little sleep in…
I’m grateful that I did some work on my trilogy edits/research…
I’m unsurprised that I fell asleep on the couch for half an hour…
I’m glad I finally got my shit together and did P90X3 Yoga just before dinner…
And I’m grateful for a lovely night with Juz…
With thanks… Catch-up…
Argh, trying to catch up again. It’s been another week of craziness at the magazines, working late, and on my days off – I can’t wait for it to calm down again, cos trying to do my own work late into the night and before work is making me crazy tired and on the verge of slightly grumpy… Can’t wait for the weekend 🙂
With thanks… Sunday January 31… Jillian day 21…
Today I’m glad that I got up early and worked out straight away, so I didn’t have to spend the rest of the day trying to talk myself into doing it 🙂 And it was Body Combat, so it was kinda fun, and I did a couple of tracks twice so I could really feel it in my shoulders…
I’m grateful for time with Juz, and lunch at our favourite little cafe, and pots of soy chai tea, and dreaming and scheming and being so glad for a bit of time together to unwind…
And I’m happy that I got a few hours of editing work done on my project, although staying up til 1am to do it probably wasn’t the smartest idea I’ve ever had 🙂
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