14 Things I'm Thankful For

Finally back for a 14 Things Friday post!! Blogging has been a bit low on my priority list lately...unfortunately. I'm still trying to keep up with reading other blogs but haven't had much time in my own space here.

It's Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend here so I wanted to share 14 things I'm thankful for - some of these are pretty random or inconsequential but this is what I came up with! We have been trying to share 3 good things or 3 things we are grateful for each day at the supper table and I have to say that it really does shift your perspective! There are some days when I have a hard time coming up with things but it helps me to focus on the positive, and the same for the kids.

1) My health. My family's health. We are so blessed to have healthy children and healthy parents.
2) Fall colours. Seriously, this is the most beautiful time of year to live in Nova Scotia and I plan to soak it all up this weekend.
3) Coffee. Because it makes me a better person ;)
4) Living close to family. Well, not all my family - but to have both of our parents here and all of our daughter's grandparents - WE. ARE. SPOILED. and I am so grateful.
5) Books - because they bring me so much joy and endless hours of entertainment AND my children love them too. Talking about books with others too has brought me some wonderful friendships!
6) Music - it always has the ability to lift my mood.
7) Friends - we have a few fun things lined up with friends this weekend and there's just nothing better. I have some really close friends nearby whom I value deeply but I also have a few online friendships that are just as special!
8) Canada - no country is perfect but I love mine.
9) Work - the ability to afford our lifestyle while also working only part-time and having special time with my children is something that is making my life better the last year.
10) Yoga and the joy it brings
11) Laughter - the best medicine and I LOVE my daughters' giggles :)
12) Chocolate
13) Leggings - the most comfortable thing to wear :)
14) My bed, especially at the end of a long week like this one :)

Tuesday thoughts (aka word vomit)

I came across this post on Facebook last night that really put some things into perspective for me. Isn't that the way sometimes with those viral posts? I've been feeling pretty tired the last week. Lucy has had a cold for a couple of weeks, and both girls have been waking up at ungodly hours leaving me with very little morning alone time to recharge my batteries. It's been getting darker, and chillier outside. I've been neglecting housework and meal prep and staying up too late reading. I spent the last week burning the candle on both ends. I mentioned last week that I was simultaneously wanting a weekend away with Brian and a weekend alone in my house to clean. But the truth of it is, when I'm away from the girls, I miss them a lot too and I do want to be with them.

The post I read last night was a gentle reminder that it's OK to feel like motherhood is hard sometimes. Because it is. No one would say that it is easy. It's a transition to a level of selflessness that was not required of me before I had kids. With two kids, my time for myself is spread even thinner. When I look at how much our girls have grown though, I try to remember that these busy days of messy floors, board books on repeat and towers out of blocks are fleeting.

At yoga class last night, I yawned through the entire session. Exercise can have this effect on the body anyway, and I've learned to accept it, but when I came home, I felt invigorated, rested, and rejuvenated. The simple act of letting all of my thoughts and worries slip away for 90 minutes has profoundly affected my ability to cope with the busyness of life, and I think I am forever a yoga convert. I missed the class last week and I honestly believe it is one of the reasons why I felt so overwhelmed all week long.

So today I am gently reminding myself to rest if I need to. To take a few minutes to check in with myself and take some deep breaths. I am grateful to be finished The Husband's Secret (more on that next week!) so that I can sleep peacefully tonight & not stay up reading way past my bedtime ;)

I'm definitely experiencing # 2 this morning.

Anyway, that's what is on my mind today. :)

Friday Favourites - Thanksgiving weekend!!

It's Thanksgiving in Canada this weekend and I can't wait!! It is definitely one of my favourite holidays and even moreso this year because my parents live here now :) We are having turkey dinner on Saturday night and we'll stay the night at my parents so that Brian and I can actually visit a bit with other adults instead of cuddling our clingy toddler and breaking up kid fights. lol. We are looking forward to it :)

I am thankful for so much in my life this year and I usually reflect on it at Thanksgiving. I'm so abundantly thankful for our health again this year. I am thankful that Brian and I both have meaningful and lucrative employment although mine ends in early 2016. I am BEYOND thankful for my parents, in-laws and my family who are endlessly supportive and happily immersed in our girls' lives. I am thankful for sticky fingers and our messy house and girly giggles and sunshine and fall weather and running and podcasts. I am thankful for great books, wonderful music, healthy and nourishing food, and for friendship and for yoga. Most of all, I am thankful for this crazy time in our life, because I know I will miss these moments someday in the future.

Here are some of my favourites for this week!!! Linking up with Amanda from Meet at the Barre (one of my favourite bloggers, coincidentally) :)

Favourite Song:

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I think I've mentioned before that I love The Arkells and this one is probably my favourite by them.

Favourite  Reads: I'll talk about this more in Show us Your Books next week, but I really liked Where'd You Go Bernadette and I'm about halfway through Carry On right now and loving that too. I have A Thousand Nights from the library to get to sometime in the next little bit too!!

Favourite Photos of the girls:

Favourite Recipe:

This crack slaw which tastes like the inside of egg rolls and is low carb (or you can put it in rice paper  too :)) I actually love it in lettuce wraps!! I add as many veggies as I can to it too.

Favourite LOLs:

Favourite Links from Around the web:

I am loving Hannah from So Obsessed With's series "Return to Green Gables" and I especially loved this post.

I love Cup of Jo and this post resonated with me because we are still torn on this decision too.

A fun test about Classic Children's Books via Sarah at Life As Always.

24 Moments from Pride & Prejudice that will make your heart melt.

This post about anxiety from two perspectives is important to share.

This sorting hat quiz. <3 I'm a Hufflepuff...same answer I got on Pottermore, haha.

Happy Friday everyone and Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Canadians :) XO

Friday Favourites :)

So I actually saw someone wearing this shirt yesterday in the local grocery store:

Seriously?!?

The worst part? Brian thought it was HILARIOUS. I think it is awful! I mean, at a very basic level, sure, it's funny, but I can just imagine myself having to explain that shirt to my kid (when she is older)...ugh!!!

In other news, we caught up on Brooklyn 99 last night...loving a certain storyline, not sure about another part of it but still some good chuckles :)

Really looking forward to taking it easy with my favourite kiddos this weekend and having a few cold ones and some warm drinks too since it is CHILLY here!!! We are also having an early Thanksgiving dinner with my in-laws (who will be away next weekend) so that will be nice!!

Here are my Friday favourites for this week!!!

FAVOURITE SONG:


A nice one from some Irish girls that I like :) I especially like their name!! haha

FAVOURITE PHOTO:

Lucy enjoyed apple and pear picking last weekend.

FAVOURITE RECIPE:

Cheater's Korean beef from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

FAVOURITE REMINDER:

(SOURCE)

I am actually thinking of printing it off and putting it on my fridge (and my forehead). ;)

FAVOURITE FINDS ON THE WWW:

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries - going to check this out on the weekend if I have time!
Online fitness plans and Ebooks via Career Girl Daily
The Best Free Products on the Internet
Christmas Dinner at the Great Hall sells out fast - a look at same great moments in Hogwarts' great hall 

FAVOURITE LOLs:

Hope you all have a great weekend!!! I have a couple of fun posts planned for next week!! Now go check out the other Friday favourites on Amanda's blog over HERE!!!