This month I am grateful for the beauty of Sydney and its gorgeous parks, a new (Chinese) year, catch-ups with my writer friends on the Central Coast, surviving two stupidly crazy weeks at the magazines, and finally getting to catch up on a little bit of sleep…
With thanks… Monday February 1… Jillian day 22…
Today I’m grateful for a hurt-so-good workout double before work – Pauline Nordin’s Lower Body one, plus Jillian’s Killer Abs.
I’m grateful I got lots done at the magazines…
I’m grateful for the beauty of Hyde Park, just across the road from the office, which is so pretty, and so changeable, and so full of nature and life – big old Morton Bay fig trees, and palms and birds and flowers and bees, and twining ivy that reminds me of our wedding in New York…
With thanks… Tuesday February 2… Jillian day 23…
Today I’m grateful for some awesome, awesome news about some upcoming book covers, and beyond grateful to a sweet and generous and crazy-talented friend.
I’m glad (I think!) that a writer friend inspired me to sign up for Instagram (slow much?), for a writer challenge (ah, me and challenges 🙂 ). Day one was to post a pic of your books, and it was actually pretty cool to see them laid out together. Kinda makes all the late nights and stress worth it 🙂
I’m grateful that, when we had a fire drill at the office, I ran into a friend from another floor in the fire escape, so we got to sit under a tree in the park and catch up for a little while…
Not so grateful that it was another extra day at the magazines, and a stupidly stressful one at that, but I’m just trying to focus on getting through this hellish fortnight – it will end eventually, and go back to normal-level-crazy 🙂
With thanks… Wednesday February 3… Jillian day 24…
Today I’m glad I got up early, despite another no-sleep night, and did a very cool Pump workout. I accidentally put more weight on the bar than usual for the back track, picked it up and swore, then figured what the hell and pushed on. Feeling strong physically makes me feel stronger mentally, so despite really wanting to stay in bed a bit (or a lot) longer, I dragged my sorry ass up and got to it.
I’m glad I could make it to the Zootopia screening before work – it was super cute, and even better than I thought it would be.
The magazines were still crazy, but I’m glad I got lots done…
And I’m grateful for a little bit of time with Juz when I finally made it home.
With thanks… Thursday February 4… Jillian day 25… Lughnasadh blessings…
Wishing all my friends in the south a magical Lughnasadh, and those in the north an enchanting and enchanted Imbolc… On this day of gratitude and thanksgiving, I am grateful for my love-filled life, and all the blessings I have – a loving hubby, close family and friends, clean water, good food, good health, a job that pays the bills, a wonderful little apartment-home, the right to choose, the right to vote, the right to an education, access to health care and (for the most part) equality. So many blessings…
Today I am grateful for a kinda-fun BodyCombat workout, after I dragged my poor tired body out of bed at 6am. There’s nothing quite like punching and kicking out your work frustrations with Dan and Rach before heading in to the office 🙂
I’m grateful for a little bit of time with Juz when I finally got home from work – precious moments, fleeting though they are…
I’m glad I got a little bit of editing done on the way to and from work…
Not so grateful that I had to work late again at the magazines, on my supposed-to-be-writing-for-myself-at-home-day, but I’m hoping it will settle down by the end of next week.
And I’m grateful that I didn’t have a migraine, so, silver linings and all 🙂
With thanks… Friday February 5… Jillian day 26…
Today I am grateful for the beauty of the orange jessamine bushes (trees/shrubs/hedges), just starting to flower in our gardens, and the bee that danced into one of the blossoms when I was taking a photo, which lifted my heart and made me smile…
I’m glad I got up early to do a crazy lower body workout then an abs one before work – stairs got a little bit tougher as the day went on 🙂
I’m glad I got lots done at the magazines, but I will be soooo grateful when these stupid deadlines are over at the end of next week. This stress and workload is really not sustainable.
I’m happy that I managed to escape work and get home at a reasonable hour…
I’m grateful for a long chat with Mum…
And I’m grateful for a beautiful night in with Juz, although we’re both pretty wrecked. So excited and relieved that it’s the weekend!
With thanks… Saturday February 6… Jillian day 27…
Today I am so grateful that I could sleep in. It’s been a seriously sleep-deprived two weeks, so it was blissful to not have to get up at 6am 🙂
I’m grateful for time with Juz…
I’m happy that I did a crazy 70-minute upper body Pump double up workout…
I’m intrigued by the Instagram challenge I signed up for. Today’s was another tricky one for me – fan art… It’s been really cool to see other authors posting drawings of their characters that people have sent them, but I haven’t had that yet. Instead I got to share one of the gorgeous paintings my friend Daniella did for Witchy Magic 🙂
I’m grateful for a cosy night in…
And I’m happy that I spent a few hours working on my stuff. I missed my curfew again, badly, but I got lots done. It’s been really frustrating, just how long it’s taking to do this, but I’ll be happy once it’s finished and I can get back to writing!
With thanks… Sunday February 7… Jillian day 28… Dark moon blessings…
Dark moon blessings… May your night be filled with love and magic, and your dreams vivid and purposeful as you seek answers within… Blessed bee xx
Today I am grateful for a fun birthday lunch with friends, and time to catch up and chill out and drink coffee and laugh a lot…
I’m grateful for a little sleep in…
I’m happy that today’s Instagram challenge was musical – I haven’t written any music, but it was a good excuse to share Carlie’s favourite band 🙂
I’m glad that I did some work on my project…
And I’m grateful for a fun afternoon with Juz, a long walk, a little bit of Vampire Diaries, and precious time together…
Wishing everyone much love, and blessings of the dark moon, as we approach tomorrow’s new moon and Chinese New Year. Now is a time to reflect, and to be brave and look within, before embracing the new energy and passion and inspiration of tomorrow xx
With thanks… Monday February 8… Jillian day 29… New moon blessings and Happy Chinese New Year…
Wishing everyone much love and magic on this new moon day. Tap into 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 bright blessings xx
Today I am grateful for the energy of the new moon, and a new (Chinese) year…
I’m glad that I got up early for a tough Jillian upper body workout before work – and that I did half of another one just to totally hammer my arms 🙂
I’m glad I could squeeze in a quick trip to the chiropractor (not so happy about the migraine though)…
I’m glad I got lots done at the magazines, but I seriously can’t wait for these last two issues to go to print – I’m feeling way too stressed and zombie-like…
I’m grateful for the beauty of the sunset (although not so glad I was seeing it because I had to work late again)…
I’m happy that I got some more work done on my project on the train to and from work…
And I’m grateful that Juz surprised me by meeting me at the station on my way home, so we could walk home together in that golden early evening light – we’ve missed each other these past two weeks of my crazy deadlines…
With thanks… Tuesday February 9… Jillian day 30…
It was another long and late day at the magazines, and I’m feeling like a zombie, but after tomorrow I should be able to breathe again. And sleep for more than five hours a night! Hooray!
Today I’m… glad… I got up stupidly early to work out – I think it’s been keeping me sane these last three weeks of deadline nightmares…
And I’m happy that as I was heading off to work this morning Juz was coming home, and we crossed paths for a cute moment…
I’m glad I got heaps done at the magazines, and the major project was finally approved. The incredible lightness of feeling that stress lift!
And I’m grateful for a little bit of time with Juz when I finally got home – and happy that my BB-8 mug finally arrived. It made me smile 🙂 My tea set is now complete! xx
With thanks… Wednesday February 10… Jillian day 31…
Today I am sooo grateful that the nightmare project was finally approved, and we sent it off to the printer at last. I was a bit of a zombie by the end – too much stress and no sleep for three weeks has left me pretty wrecked… But I’m grateful that it’s over!
And I’m grateful to Juz for meeting me after work, so we could have a cute little date night in the city, then walk home together in the gorgeous golden light of early evening…
And I’m glad I got up early again to work out – 70 minutes of upper body focused Pump, which was very cool – it makes me feel strong mentally when I feel strong physically, and I was happy to keep my weights up higher than usual. Although of course I would have preferred to stay in bed for an extra hour! I don’t actually love working out, or jump out of bed with excitement and joy in the mornings so I can do it, but I am committed to it, and I know I’ll want to do it even less by the time I make it home from work at night, so I suck it up, set the alarm for 6am and just do it. Motivation is a lie, it doesn’t really exist – for me it’s about commitment and dedication, and wanting to be healthy and fit and strong, so doing what I have to do to achieve that…
With thanks… Thursday February 11… Jillian day 32…
Today I am grateful that I could sleep in… After three weeks of sweet FA sleep, it was total bliss to not have to set the alarm for 6am 🙂
Juz has had a week off work, so I’m grateful that we finally got a day to hang out together! I definitely needed to chill a bit, and drink tea, and watch some Vampire Diaries, and zone out 🙂
I’m kinda glad I signed up to Instagram to do a writer challenge with a friend, it’s been interesting…
And I’m grateful for a long phone chat with Dad…
With thanks… Friday February 12… Jillian day 33…
Tonight I’m grateful for a beautiful night with Juz. There hasn’t been enough time together of late, thanks to my pesky deadlines, so tonight was all the more precious.
I’m glad I got up early and did an hour of Combat to (sort of) wake myself up, before heading up the coast to meet some writer friends. And I’m grateful for a fun catch up, with lots of plans discussed and set in motion, and announcements to be made soon 🙂
I’m not so glad for the migraine, or for having to spend an hour checking magazine dyelines when I got home in the afternoon – but I approved them by 4.30pm, and now I am FREE! A proper weekend is ahead, with lots of time to spend with Juz, and a bit to spend on my own book stuff, and maybe even a little sleep 🙂 xx
With thanks… Saturday February 13… Jillian day 34…
Today I am grateful for a beautiful day with Juz.
I’m grateful for our fun day out – and grateful to Juz for coming to the Nicholas Sparks movie with me – he’s a very sweet husbee! 🙂
I’m grateful for our cute lunch date, and an afternoon spent chilling out at home…
I’m grateful for a walk through our pretty neighbourhood in the magical golden light of early evening, and for the beautiful frangipani trees in full bloom everywhere, and the scent of gardenia blossoms unfurling…
I’m happy that I got up early to work out – a double Pump session, which was fun/challenging/sweaty/etc 🙂
And I’m grateful for a beautiful night at home with Juz, making dinner together, exchanging super-sweet Valentine’s cards, and canisters of our favourite teas – heather tea for Juz, and chai and earl grey for me – then drinking lots of it 🙂
With thanks… Sunday February 21… Catch-up…
I’m feeling pretty lousy today, achey and exhausted, but I’m grateful that I could spend the day at home with Juz, watching some Vampire Diaries, doing some work, falling asleep on the couch for a while, and taking a rest day from working out. It’s been a while 🙂
Saturday I was grateful for a fun catch up with some writer friends on the Central Coast, plotting and planning, and time on the train to get some more work done, and to appreciate the beauty of the light shining through the threatening grey clouds as I crossed the harbour early in the morning, and the blue-skies-and-sunshine in the afternoon…
It was an… interesting… week at work…
And a fun week workout-wise – a few days of Jillian’s Killer Arms and Back, one of Pauline Nordin’s lower body workouts, a couple of Pump sessions and some Combat…
I’m happy that I signed up for three fundraising challenges…
I’m glad I got heaps of work done on my project – the end is slowly coming into sight…
I’m grateful for the beauty of the waxing moon…
And I’m grateful for precious moments with Juz…
With thanks… Monday February 22… Cardio week… Full Moon Blessings…
Today I am grateful for a chance to catch up on things writer/author-related. Work at the magazines has been beyond crazy for a while now, and I’ve been really sad that I’ve had to sacrifice my own writing days to make recent deadlines… But it’s finally looking a little calmer, so after coming thisclose to resigning, I’m feeling a little more hopeful about things. And I’ve taken two days back to work on my stuff this week, which is helping too…
So I’m grateful that I caught up on my With Thanks notes (kinda) and my Instagram author challenge, and that I got to do some more editing on my Trilogy project…
I’m grateful for a sweaty, fun hour of BodyCombat to break up the day, thankful for the fan, and happy that I’m feeling so much better than yesterday…
I’m grateful for some time with Juz when he got home from work, to catch up on our days…
Not so grateful for the migraine, but at least it waited until night-time to start, and the painkillers have it sorta under control…
And I’m grateful for the beauty of the moon, which becomes full at 5.21am tomorrow morning, Sydney time – and for how well my iPad takes pics. Who knew! Wishing everyone love, joy and magic on this beautiful almost-full moon night. May its sweet light illuminate you with inspiration and inner wisdom this month, and inspire you to work towards your dreams and goals… Bright blessings xx
With thanks… Tuesday February 23… Cardio week… Full Moon Blessings…
Full moon blessings… Wishing everyone a magical, mystical full moon, and a month ahead full of love, joy and illumination… Make a wish – then work to make it come true 🙂 xx
Today I am grateful for the energy of the full moon – although I didn’t get up at 5am to see it become full – cos I am also grateful that I could sleep in til 6.45, just as the sun rose and the moon set 🙂
I’m glad I got lots of planning done with friends for our upcoming and exciting launch, and moved forward with my own extra project…
I’m happy that I finally got organised and worked out – an awesome hour of BodyCombat for my cardio week between Jillian programs…
I’m glad I got more work done on my Trilogy editing (will it never end???)…
And I’m grateful for time with my beloved when he got home from work, a quiet night at home together, and being in bed by 11… Something of a record 🙂
With thanks… Wednesday February 24… Cardio week – Combat…
Tonight I am grateful that I could pick Mum up from the airport, then go hang out with my aunty and uncle…
I’m grateful for the beauty of the just-past-full moon – it was even more spectacular tonight, so huge and golden…
I’m not so glad I had to do more magazine work on my day off, sigh, but I’m glad I managed to get some of my own stuff done…
I’m grateful for an awesome hour of BodyCombat…
And I’m grateful for some time with Juz before my airport run, and the last two episodes of The Vampire Diaries (well, Elena’s last one anyway). Surprisingly touching 🙂
With thanks… Thursday February 25… Cardio week – Jillian…
Today I am grateful for coffee with a friend, and catching up, and sweet support, and the cutest little cup of tea stickers gift 🙂
I’m happy that I got heaps of work on my projects done, yay!
I’m happy (yet exhausted) that I survived two of Jillian’s cardio workouts back to back. Even after three and a half years, I still feel like she’s trying to kill me, ha ha.
I’m glad I figured out a way for my Instagram pics not to be destroyed in the posting process…
And I’m grateful for a beautiful night with my beloved, chilling out, catching up on our days and drinking tea. Man the two-week fundraising challenge with no tea/juice/soft drink/coffee/milk etc is going to suck!
With thanks… Friday February 26… Cardio week – Combat…
Tonight I am grateful for a beautiful night with Juz, celebrating the end of a crazy week, drinking tea, chilling out, and liking the new episode of Arrow a bit more than the last few…
I’m glad I got up early and worked out – an hour of BodyCombat – even though it dragged, and I was crazy tired, and it was more difficult than usual – but it felt good that I still did it anyway. Can’t wait for winter though, this heat is challenging!
I’m glad I got lots done at the magazines – and even happier that I left on time! Hooray!
And I’m excited about a mini project that is getting closer to fruition. Yay!
With thanks… Saturday February 27…
Today I am grateful to the people who have sponsored me for the WaterAid Challenge and/or Walk In Her Shoes – I really appreciate it. And it makes it much much easier to tackle knowing it has raised some money for two amazing causes – especially the giving up tea one! (And there’s still time to sign up, if anyone wants to join me 🙂 )
I’m grateful to Juz for talking me through a bout of project doubt. And he didn’t even roll his eyes at me this time 🙂 And I’m grateful that he didn’t mind me working on it most of the day…
I’m glad that it’s getting so close to done. Just one more after this, then I’m back to finishing the Into the Mists Chronicles, hooray!
And I’m grateful that I got some of a Combat workout in – although our dinner arrived way earlier than expected so I didn’t make the full hour. Lucky I got extra in during the week to even it out 🙂
With thanks… Sunday February 28…
Today I am grateful that I sent a mini project off to the printer. Well, it was strictly speaking Monday morning that it went, but as I hadn’t been to bed I’m counting it as Sunday night 🙂
I’m happy that I could spend most of the day working on it and getting it ready – I’ll do the cover reveal and share more about it at the Story Queens launch on March 11…
And I’m grateful to Juz for time spent together, and for being so patient when I did banish myself to my little purple office.
With thanks… Monday February 29…
Today I’m a bit pouty that I’m still feeling sick, but I’m glad I managed to get to work and get a magazine off to print – oh, the joy of deadlines that mean you can’t ever take a sick day – and that I at least managed to leave a little bit early once it was sent…
I was frustrated that I felt too sick to work out, but I walked some of the way home, and hit 10,000 steps, so figured that would have to do 🙂
I’m grateful for the beautiful park across the road from our apartment – who needs a backyard when you have this? Complete with adorable swamp hens and ducks and pelicans, a crazy half blue, half black sky, a tor-like hill and trees and grass and lakes and flowers and nature right in the heart of the city, plus a frangipani tree on the train station platform…
And I’m grateful for a quiet night in with Juz, and glad I let myself read for a while in bed instead of doing more work. Bliss…
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