Grace + Gratitude - What I learnt from Sarah Peck

I've been wanting to write this post for ages, not because I've been asked to but because of what happened when I signed up for this course - it became such a powerful time in my life and set off a year of some really significant changes in my life, ones that were truly magical.

Feel Good Friday - feel better by serving someone else...

This weeks sees the start of December, how are you feeling about this month?

Love it, but sometimes feel drained or overwhelmed by the whole thing?

Hate it and find it a difficult time of the year to get through?

Or maybe the festive season brings about an ambivalent state of mind?

I could be wrong but Christmas and the run up to the end of year normally brings about one of these feelings in most of us, so which one do you fit under?

Monthly Gratitude...

I try to find time each month to write a post about gratitude, it feels sometimes like we focus a lot on what's going wrong doesn't it? So by reminding myself about the positives I have a chance to give thanks for all that is right - it also helps my cluttered mind to keep some perspective too!

So as July is coming to an end in the next week here are some things I am grateful for this month...

* Finishing work for maternity leave to start

* Beautiful sunshine, flip flops and discovering these yummy fruit cordials (my favorite right now is their Ginger Beer Presse over ice and fresh mint!)

* Old friendships being renewed

* Some space and time to write down my dreams, ideas and goals

* My growing bump (although this does make things like painting toenails, putting on shoes, driving and getting comfortable at night a little awkward now!)

* How well my gorgeous big girl is coping with all the changes

* My mum, who is literally super granny to all her grandchildren right now!

* The wisdom and insight of others

Actually writing them down really helps it to sink in, keeping a gratitude diary is so helpful too, I write things on the pages of my diary to remind me what I'm thankful for and to try to stay balanced. Could this be something you might try next month? Here's how to get started:

* If you don't already have one, buy a fun, pretty or funky diary - all the new accademic ones are out in the shops right now, or maybe just a cute little notebook. I love these ones from Ban.do - they ship to the UK too!

* Choose a pen in a bright colour, I find that writing my gratitude notes and thoughts down in coloured ink helps them to stand out and stay in my mind, especially if I'm writing down other notes or appointments.

* Decide whether you want to write down daily, weekly or even monthly gratitude note to yourself.

* Set aside some time each week or month to go over your thoughts, ideas and doodles!

* Lastly - just get started, go on, try it out and see how you feel! 

Don't forget to share here too your monthly gratitude and let me know how or if writing them down made a difference. 

A little bit of Gratitude...

It's been a while since I've written a post here about the many things that are good in life and right now, with all the chaos that's happening around us I felt like it was time to scribble down all that was making smile and feeling good...

A happy kicking baby in my belly

Our family holiday in Rome on the horizon

New summer dresses for me and LC 

Fruity smoothie goodness

Playing outside instead of being stuck in

The most helpful and friendly mortgage advisor on the planet (Yes I know, more to come on this!)

Fresh hair cut

Beautiful stationary ready to go out in my new office
My mum, who is helping us out this week with lots of loose ends.

Whilst I'm struggling with a difficult pregnancy, melting in the heat and feeling frustrated with being overly tired and not being able to give my attention to my blog, my daughter and all the things need doing in around this house in the next few months, feeling useless, deflated and frustrated I know it is only temporary, I know that I am doing the important job of keeping my baby safe and I know that I've got some awesome support around me and that when I sit down for a moment and reflect, there is actually so much goodness to see if allow myself to see it. Isn't amazing what a little perspective can do?

What's making you smile this week? Sharing the gratitude shares the love :)

Mondays Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 66

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough” ― Oprah Winfrey

I love a good quote from Oprah, she always makes so much sense and doesn't dance around the truth or reality. I remember years ago when her show was shown on Channel 4 (remember that?), I was stuck in a bad relationship, making excuse for why I wouldn't or couldn't leave and I was at home watching her show on toxic relationships and self love while I ironed my boyfriend clothes and thought to myself "What the hell are you doing here?!" Cue me in tears and nodding my head along to the testaments of women who had also lost their way in a less that happy relationship. I realised then with the power of Oprah that my self worth was not being honoured by what was happening around me, although it took me another year to finally leave...

Other people's words can be so powerful sometimes, they can strike to the heart of the matter when you can't seem to stop bumbling along with something. This quote does just that for me, I'm big fan of practicing grattitude, reflecting on what is happening for me in the here and now giving it some merit but sometimes like many things in life I forget to honour the good things going on for me in life each day, being reminded by someone else words give me that little kick up the bum to see the good in each moment when I get caught up in the should ofs and could ofs and the what ifs.

What are you grateful for today?

Do you have a favourite quotes that inspires you to live your best life each day?

Share below...

Feel Good Friday - September Gratitude...

We are coming to end of September now and half way through a very busy two months for our family, looking back there has been some emotional lows but some lovely joyful highs and it's always nice and  good for the spirit to reflect back on the good things so here is my Gratitude List for the month...

My husband - he really has been amazing this month and I couldn't of got through with out him, he even went to the supermarket at 4am this week when I was ill in the night to get me the medicine I needed to feel better, I was in agony, couldn't sleep and he was truly my hero!

Blooms - I've had lots of flowers in the house this month, my sweet MIL bought me flowers to cheer me up on what would of been my due date on the 12th. We've had one of the charming little flower decorations place in vintage pots from my SIL's wedding and today LC choose these gorgeous yellow Chrysanthemums from the farm shop today, simple but looking lovely on our fireplace.

Celebrations - there has been so many great things for us enjoy and make the most of and I've got to spend some time with lots of special people who lift me and make some great memories! 

September Sun - we've been quite lucky down here and had lots of warm sunshine, normally my birthday always marks a change in the weather but we are still enjoy nice temperatures and long may it last.

A happy, healthy child - Although this month has been difficult fertility wise what I have reflected so much on is what an adorable, smart, funny and beautiful little girl I do have, many times over the last month when we've had to do some important things she has been our shining light, so well behaved and we are increasingly proud of her.

So how has your month been? What are you feeling grateful for? Leave me a comment below...