DAY 6

Today I am grateful for: my favourite lunch spot

So, I'm letting you in on a little secret - I have been introduced the best lunch spot in Toowoomba (thanks Heather Woodcraft!). It's 'The Deli' on the corner of Herries and Hume Streets - but it is the one on the Herries Street side.

The cafe does the most amazing gourmet food you have ever tasted with rolls, wraps and panini's of Wagu beef, Ham, and my favourite Turkey & brie with cranberry sauce + if I am being extremely naughty I get a tub of natural yoghurt with macadamias for dessert - heaven!

I do have to limit myself to just one visit a week though - otherwise I'd be spending a lot more time a the gym to counter the adverse 'yummy lunch' effects!

Lately I've been disappearing from the office for an hour with my book, tossing a quick "I'll be back later" over my shoulder before the boys can say anything to the contrary. I sit up on a stool at the long wooden tables, surrounded by shelves and shelves of every gourmet food or ingredient you could imagine, and I smile.

It's my little hideaway. Shhh.....

PS: The Deli has an online store as well - amazing stuff!

DAY 5

Today I am grateful for: the great 'free book' collection

AKA the Library

So, if I could have a cup of tea with any person in history I think I might head to the 17th century to track down the man (or woman) who started the first library - and along with that cup of tea I would also give them a hug!

Think about it - there is no other place that lets your borrow something that you should really be paying for. You can't borrow clothes from Just Jeans, or CD's from Sanity, or a set of dinner plates from Target - but you can go to the library and borrow a whole stack of books - as long as you promise to bring them back in a months time.

I'm grateful for the library and it's shelves and shelves full of things I love - books. Books that make me love and hate, laugh and cry, imagine and understand, believe and distrust + much much more.

DAY 4

Today I am grateful for: an incredible sky

Driving home from work this afternoon, I already had something else planned to be grateful for today (I AM an organised person remember!) but as I turned the corner near my house I was stunned by this gorgeous sunset. I pulled over and grabbed my camera (now conveniently located in my bag), and snapped off a couple shots before it completely disappeared. I decided to change todays blog to this sunset - it's so stunning how could I not?

I've always hoped to one day live somewhere with a great view so I could capture the sunset every day. As it is, I miss it most days as I am either still at work, driving home from work or already on to whatever I have planned for after work.

So today, I am grateful that I caught this one. There will be thousands of sunsets in my lifetime but I will probably only witness a few of them. If nothing else, this project has helped me to stop and be grateful for just this one.

DAY 3

Today I am grateful for: sparkly diamonds

I LOVE my diamond rings. My first was the one on the bottom. I was 25 and tired of being the only girl I knew who didn't have any diamonds. I felt incredibly empowered when buying myself something usually reserved for nervous guys with big plans and credit cards. It became my status symbol to the world - I was single but not destitute. I had bling.

The second was my 30th present from some amazingly generous friends and family. Instead of presents I asked for donations for a new diamond ring. I spotted this one and it captured my heart.

I'll admit that I'm a girl who likes shiny things. Every morning I put these rings on and they make me happy. I sometimes even get distracted at work and find myself admiring how sparkly they are. I think deep down they prove to myself that I can make it on my own. If I can buy my own diamonds there might just be nothing out there that I can't achieve. Who knew transparent rocks could be life affirming.....

Day 2

Today I am grateful for: my mum coming home

Mum's been in America visiting my sister and co for the last 3 weeks. This morning my alarm went off while it was still dark - pulling me out of bed to head to the airport for a 7am pickup.

I hadn't realised how much I missed her until she was in the car with me on the way home. I'd missed the easy way we talk about life and family, books and movies, friends, colleagues, pets, food and pretty much anything else that pops into our heads.

I am incredibly grateful to have such an amazing mother. Someone who understands, listens, laughs and loves regardless. Mum knows what it's like to live with disappointment. She understands that not all problems can be solved, and that some sadnesses just need to be acknowledged and not placated.

I baked some 'welcome home' chocolate mud cupcakes with ganache icing - which were quite delicious with a cup of tea in mum's sunny kitchen when we got home.

PS: Mum's cat, Finn, was seemingly ambivalent to mum's return. Must be a cat thing.

The '100 days of grateful' project begins

I've been a little melancholy lately. A little overwhelmed with the 'not so ideal' things in my life. A little saddened by circumstances. I realised (with a little prodding from some friends) that by dwelling on these things I only make it worse. The light at the end of the tunnel is difficult to see when you've got your eyes closed.

The solution: '100 days of grateful'

Combining my love of photography and words I'm planning to capture one thing I am grateful for every day - for 100 days. If I am feeling particularly grateful I might even write a couple of words as well.

I'm hoping that by identifying the things that make me happy, I can lighten my spirit. Maybe even remind myself that things are even better than I expect.

I'm setting out to find joy in the little things that make up a day.

DAY 1

Today I am grateful for: Sally

Sally is one of my closest friends. We have been friends for 16 years - since we were in high-school together.

Sally has seen me at my worst and at my best, and still loves me anyway.

Sally turned 30 yesterday so we celebrated with an amazing high-tea at Gips restaurant this afternoon. I am so grateful for a true friend. It doesn't matter if we don't talk to each other every week, or see each other regularly (no matter how hard we try), because things don't change between us - we always pick up the conversation right where we left off.

Ethan Lyons....

I just edited some photos of Ethan Lyons and thought I would post them - he is just adorable!!