Day 141 - Today I am grateful for....venting

I felt completely out of sorts today. My brain didn't seem to be connected to my body and I struggled all day.

I felt a bit like Toowoomba - four seasons in one day. Every human emotion seemed to pass through me rapidly like the speed of light and I couldn't seem to keep up. One minute I was quietly crying to myself at my desk, and the next I was chuckling to myself about something funny.

It was a strange day.

Moreover I seemed to just say things without thinking.

Things just flew out of my mouth and I was agressive and impatient. I don't know if it was an extension of last night because that was just awful, or I just fell out of bed on the wrong side.

Either way, it was good to be able to have a little vent. I felt better.

Sometimes, a problem shared is a problem halved and often the heaviness in my heart is lifted once I say something out loud.

Take my weight for example. It's a really sore point. I'm totally loathing myself at the moment. And I can't articulate what it means for me. All I know is that I am so desperately afraid of ending up where I was before my Husband left, that by any means possible I will avoid it.

Whether it is rational or not, I believe that the way I looked was a factor in him leaving. I was not attractive to him, so of course he would look for someone else. It makes sense. The more weight I hold, the worse my Fibro is and the worse my mental state becomes. And here we are, heading down a road that I can't bear to go down again.

So I am choosing to take a sharp left at the random street before the end of this road that I know so well, because I know where the road goes. It leads to misery and heartbreak and I cannot go down there again. Who knows where the random street on the left goes, but here's hoping it's somewhere better than here.

And to my friends that I vented to today, thanks for listening and thanks for your patience. I love you.

Grateful x

Day 140 - Today I am grateful for....the nurses at The Red Cross Blood Bank

Tonight at The Red Cross Blood Bank began as any other night giving plasma with my girlfriend Tiffany.

I'd drunk enough water and I'd eaten enough food but for whatever reason, my body shut down half way through the procedure. Nothing like it has ever happened to me before.

I was happily chatting to Tiff and all of a sudden I started to feel really strange, like I was going to pass out. I told Tiff who called out for a nurse but it was too late....

The nurses were fabulous and they quickly altered how I was positioned and I was OK for a couple of minutes but by the time the nurse came to check on me again, it was worse.

It happened so fast. I couldn't move properly or talk and I was freezing cold. My eyes were heavy and it felt like I'd taken some serious serious sedative. They laid me flat in the chair and stopped the procedure immediately.

An oxygen mask was placed on my face plus blankets and heat packs.

The nurse didn't leave my side. It would be over an hour before I started to feel better.

Apparently my blood pressure was fine but my pulse quite slow. There is no other medical reason for my malaise except severe exhaustion. For whatever reason my body shut down because I was just bloody tired.

It was actually quite a scary thing to go through. I couldn't communicate and I felt trapped in my body. I couldn't comprehend what people were saying and pretty much all I could do was blink.

When I finally felt better again, I then had the guilts because I was unable to help someone fully as they had to stop midway.

But I am grateful for the lovely nurses and volunteers at The Red Cross Blood Bank - Toowoomba. Not a bad place to be when you pass out :-)

Grateful.

Day 139 - Today I am grateful for....secret saviours and amazing friends :-)

Sometimes it's really lovely in life to be acknowledged as a good friend.

There have been some times in the last 12 months where I have not been a good friend. I have made some mistakes that I cannot take back, no matter how much I wish I could. I acknowledge my mistakes and have tried to make amends to the best of my ability. Sometimes I have been forgiven, sometimes not.

Often I find myself reflecting on the times that I've let people down. I truly haven't meant to. I would never hurt someone intentionally. Not now, not ever. But I torture myself for the things I cannot fix.

But you know what? There are times that I have been a good friend. In fact, there are many times that I've been a good friend. And just because I haven't been sometimes, doesn't negate the times I have.

I do really try to be a good friend. I'm available 24/7 if someone needs to talk. I've answered the phone many times in the wee hours of the morning to a friend in need. I've housed and clothed friends in need. I've talked and cried and offered advice. I've loaned money to friends. I've kept secrets and shared my own. I'm the friend that picks you up at 3am so you don't have to catch a cab or I won't drink so you have a lift home and are safe. I throw an epic party and I always try to give thoughtful gifts. I am an open and non-judgemental ear. I'm a decent person and I don't lie. I'm fiercely loyal and am a vault with a secret. I'm kind and friendly and I'm always, well....there.

And so today, when I was recognised for being a good friend, with the most amazingly thoughtful and epic gesture, in my hour of desperate need, and without having to ask for help, I just don't know how to thank my secret saviours. They know who they are and I don't want to publicly embarrass them but thankyou guys - from the bottom of my hearts.

I love you and am truly grateful for what you did for me today. Thankyou x

Day 138 - Today I am grateful for....2kg

So it turns out that quitting smoking has consequently made me gain a couple of kilos.

Now I am mortified and totally disgusted in the sight of myself.

But at the end of the day it's 2kg. It's not 20kg. I'm not going to die. I can get it off if I work hard.

And given that I've got something to look forward to, I need to be grateful for this 2kg.

Not only because it means I have enough food to eat but also because it has spurred me into action!

So today I choose to be grateful that I have put on a little bit of weight. No more lazy times or naughty food - it's time to get a bikini body! STAT!

Grateful :-P

Day 137 - Today I am grateful for....something to look forward to!

I've been fumbling around wondering what the hell I want to do this year.

And it dawned on me.

Apart from the goals I've set for myself, I want to take a break and have a rest somewhere beautiful.

I've been to every corner of the world and in each country, I've had to battle language barriers and transport issues. Whilst I love travelling, this time I wanted to go somewhere and just....be.

I've lost some weight and so I'm not totally disgusted in the sight of myself, so I was thinking maybe tropical.

I wanted to go somewhere where I could be lazy, lie on the beach, drink cocktails and read all day......ding! How about Thailand?

Now, my Mother has always said that I was too dumb to go to Thailand. She said that I would be gullible enough that if a stranger asked me to hold something for them, I would, it would be drugs, I'd be thrown in a Thai jail and she would never see me again. Not that she's prone to exaggeration.....

I don't want to worry though. I want to feel safe. And so I'm going to contact my Travel Agent and make my way to that beautiful place.

I'm going to save my money and go.

I want to lie on the beach, drink cocktails, ride elephants, swim in the blue water, visit mystic temples and shop until I drop. I want the option to do everything or nothing, depending on the day.

And so I'm grateful for having something to look forward to.

Grateful :-)

Day 136 - Today I am grateful for....a bedroom revamp

I was feeling like my house needs a little bit of a shift around.

Sometimes if my brain is cluttered, so are my surroundings usually.

It's a vicious circle. If my surroundings are cluttered, I feel flat and if I feel flat, my surroundings become cluttered.....blah.

And so I decided maybe I should move my room around.

So I did.

I've recently shifted around the lounge room, my office and the front room.

And I'm loving it.

I'm sleeping better and it's nice to have a little change every now and again.

Grateful....

Day 135 - Today I am grateful for....a healthy Tom :-)

My friend Andrea's cat Tom was hit by a car the other day but coming from family made of tough stuff, he will of course be fine :-)

Apparently a cat gets 9 lives so he's officially only got 8 left but I'm sure he'll make bloody good use of them!

The poor little love was hit by a car, had his hip broken and just got out of hospital today.

I went down the mountain for dinner tonight. It was yummy as always but the real treat was seeing their little man getting around, slower than normal no less, but still the same old Tom.

Tom is literally the coolest cat in the world. Apart from my own little man, Charlie and my other cat, Bella that lives with Mum & Dad, he is my favourite cat. So full of personality and life, it's always a treat to see him.

And my lap is where he sits when I visit. I love it. Neither Charlie or Bella are cuddly cats, so little Tom more than makes up for it. And tonight was no different. The only difference was that he was in pain and so once he found my lap, he wasn't moving in a hurry.

My bum went numb.....

It's more than OK though because little Tom is OK. He took on a car and won.

Grateful :-)

Day 134 - Today I am grateful for....the epic fail of dinner

OMG - I had a serious shocker today.

Let it be said that I by no means classify myself as an exceptional cook but I can cook.

But potentially I should not talk and cook at the same time or else things can take a serious turn for the worse....

I had big plans for dinner tonight.

I'd had a good day. Picked up groceries at lunch. Nice short line at the grocery store.

Not too bad of a day and then home to cook a lovely meal for my friend.

I thought I would make Chicken & Mushroom Voluvents. Fairly simple yes? No.

Things started off fine. I cooked up the chicken and the onion and it was smelling devine.....

Then Vic arrived. And we started to talk......

It was here that the wheels fell off in spectacular style.

Chatting away, I was not paying attention to what I was doing and proceeded to put two CUPS of flour into the mixture instead of two tablespoons. Bugger.

A whole litre of milk later and I really hadn't achieved anything apart from a gluggy floury mess. We kind of rescued it but it wasn't great.

I then burnt the ass out of the saucepan boiling the potatoes. I've lost count of the hundreds of times that I have successfully cooked mashed potato. All without incident. Not today.

WTF.

So I gave up.

But the epic fail that I had tonight, means that I get a chance to redeem myself and cook for my friends again next week. Grateful.

I am grateful for their patience and their good grace for telling me that what was left of the failure tasted nice. They lied :-)

Day 133 - Today I am grateful for....the ability to hand in my assignments late :-)

I've been a little bit lax with regards to getting in and finishing my course.

It's something I really want to do and I've set the challenge for myself to do it but I was worried that they may not accept my assignments anymore, given that it's been nearly a year since I've handed one in.

Sometimes my self esteem and self confidence are so low that I wonder if it's worth handing anything in because it might be wrong or not good enough. I'm not sure that my self esteem can cope with another blow?

And so I've handed nothing in and instead held on to the fear in my heart.

But I decided to bite the bullet and make the call. I wanted to know if I was still able to continue on.

I left a message and waited.....

Turns out they will accept my assignments even after a year! I got the phone call today! Go me!

I'm pretty excited and am feeling a renewed enthusiasm for my course again.

Although I will need some help, I know I can do it and I will!

Grateful.

Day 132 - Today I am grateful for....my sense of smell

I've been off the ciggies for 11 days and all of a sudden I can smell everything again! It's just the strangest thing?

I can smell flowers and coffee and freshly mown grass and perfume and food. But it's not a faint distant smell, it's hard core in-your-face stuff!! I can even smell cigarettes on other people and marvel that that's what I used to smell like when I came back from my desperate afternoon ciggie!

I love love love it.

I don't miss the ciggies at all. I have no cravings and no real desire to smoke. I can be around people who smoke and it doesn't bother me one bit.

But it's the smells that are amazing me the most. I'm sure that my sense of smell will become even more accute as the days go on but for now it's just the most exciting thing.

Now to curb the eating.....ha ha

Grateful!

Day 131 - Today I am grateful for....our new colleague!

We had a new man start today in the role of Maintenance Co-Ordinator and what a treat it has been to train someone with so much enthusiasm!

He is excited to be there, grateful to be employed and willing to learn. As a trainer, he is a dream come true!

It feels like I've trained so many people in the past few months, and when they leave, I often am concerned that it's me. Was I a poor trainer? Did they not like me? Was I too fast? Was I too dismissive? Did I let them sink or swim too soon? Did I not teach them enough?

That's not to say that I haven't enjoyed training people and some of my most recent trainees are still in place, God love them, but this was just different altogether. I don't think I've ever experienced someone with such a passion for something new? Maybe it's because I'm such a scaredy-cat.....

So many things run through my head when I'm training, so many worries I guess, but when my new colleague thanked me for a "wonderful" day and for everything I had shown him, my heart sang!

I thought to myself (for the first time in a long time) "gosh, I'm actually OK at this".

It's lovely training someone with initiative and drive and genuine interest in what you are showing them.

It reminds me of when I first started work so many years ago. I was so excited. I was painfully shy but it didn't take long for me to come out of my shell. Perhaps a little bit longer for me to find my feet and my place but after 12 months I was part of the furniture. 8 years later and I'm confident that they'll wheel me out on a gurney.

But that's OK because I love it.

I think anyone who says they love their job every minute of every day is a big fat liar but in my opinion, so long as you don't hate your job every minute of every day and have a healthy balance between life, love and work, then it's a good job and a good life :-)

Grateful.

Day 130 - Today I am grateful for....Fish & Chips!

Sunday was another all-day work event with not a lot of progress and some ever increasing (self inflicted) frustrations at my (self perceived) lack of ability.

By the end of it, again, I was shagged.

So because I'm all about healthy eating at the moment....ha ha, I thought I might have a crack at the Fish & Chip shop down the road.

I'm pretty sure that they saw me coming because I paid $20 for a seafood basket and I feel I got robbed.

Anyhoo, it was pretty nice and I made sure that I didn't feel the slightest bit guilty as I sat down in front of the TV and watched the Biggest Loser. Might as well put one in for the team, poor buggers!

So today, I am grateful for my Fish & Chips and not having to cook.

Grateful!

Day 129 - Today I am grateful for....a Saturday night ritual :-)

I worked all day today.

And by the end of it I was totally shagged.

It has become a little routine for me....albeit an unhealthy one, but on a Saturday night, I have been going and getting KFC and sitting on the couch with my kids and watching a movie.

I've got to tell you, it's a cracker of a way to spend a Saturday night.

I never have to worry about my hair or what I'm going to wear or who I'm going out with. I don't have to get dressed into anything other than my PJ's. And frankly my 3 four-legged children are far more interesting and better behaved than most of the inebriated, abnoxious, pathetic-excuses-for-men at the pub!

And so I was uber-grateful once again for some quiet time and my new Saturday night ritual.....
Grateful!

Day 128 - Today I am grateful for....a housewarming dinner!

Tonight was my first dinner at Bradley & Megan's new little house.

They've recently sold their home and have moved into a little unit for a while until they build.

It's all a little bit exciting as it's just theirs :-)

We enjoyed a lovely roast dinner with Nathan & Vic which is always a treat.

Some of my fave people all in one room plus dinner cooked for me? I'm a lucky girl!

Grateful....

Day 127 - Today I am grateful for....a new budget!

Thursday is pay day at my work but I'm a little bit excited this week as my new budget has kicked in.

I've consolidated some debt and have made my home loan work for me. I finally feel like I'm sorting my sh*t out! And I can do it on my own!

Long gone are the days of scrimping & scratching to get some dollars together.

I've got a new budget!

That coupled with the extra money I'm saving with not smoking - I'll be able to go OS again in no time!

Go me!

Grateful :-)

Day 126 - Today I am grateful for....Morning Tea Wednesdays

On Wednesdays we are soooooooooooooooo spoilt at my work.

Each of takes turns and brings Morning Tea for everyone to share.

It's been a ritual for the 8 years that I've worked at RE/MAX and although it's changed a little bit with us all pitching in instead of just one person each week, it's still a highlight.

Not only is it hump day but we are also we are uber-spoilt with goodies!

Grateful!

Day 125 - Today I am grateful for....a working computer!

My computer has been on the blink for a little while.

To be honest, I wanted to throw it off the top of a very tall building and I'm quite confident that I would relish in the joy of seeing it smash into a million pieces.

I've had an absolute gutful.

I'd been robbed blind for the computer in the first place and for it to now not be working....again, drove me nuts!

I couldn't watch movies, I couldn't hear anything, I've had stupid cookie things popping up all over the shop AND I have spam - I HATE IT!

I'm no computer whiz, in fact I'm bordering on technologically retarded but even I knew that those things should have been working, I just didn't know how to fix any of it.

A friend of mine had a look but he couldn't fix it either so in the end, I had to bite the bullet and get a little man to fix it.

Turns out it was a fairly minor issue thank God - no replacing the Mother Board for me this time! Phew!

So today, I am grateful for a working computer and the IT boys that know far more about this stuff than I ever will!

Day 124 - Today I am grateful for....Memories you can wear

I wonder sometimes how people come up with things....

You know, there is a lot to be said for an idea, an inspiration, a single thought. Whomever came up with the idea of a charm bracelet really was an "ideas man". Furthermore, whomever modernised that notion deserves a medal. What a beautiful idea! To be able to actually wear a memory....

When my Mother bought me a Nominations bracelet a few years ago. I had absolutely no idea what it was but I loved it.

Each year on Christmas and my Birthday she would buy me a little tile to add to my collection.

When I travelled around the world two years ago, I realised that the Nominations brand was Italian and I was able to easily add to my bracelet until it was full. Nominations tiles are difficult to locate in Toowoomba....not so in Italy. I was spoilt for choice! I have a tile for each country I have visted, I have tiles signifying my love of animals and my birth sign. Each one means something important and special.

Not many people have ever heard of Nominations nor seen a bracelet like mine and that's why I love it so much. Each little tile holds a cherished memory.

In my 30th year last year, given that my Nominations bracelet was full, I suggested a new idea to my Mum....the Pandora bracelet.

With my 30th & 31st Birthdays combined plus a charm at Christmas time, my Pandora bracelet is now full too! Each charm is from someone different and each one represents a piece of their heart that I carry with my heart.

Every second person has a Pandora but not everyone has a Nominations and not many people have both! I'm a lucky girl :-)

I just love it. I love memories that I can wear. I love being able to look at my bracelets and know exactly who gave me what and when. I can wear cherished memories with me everyday.

So to all the people whose memories I wear, I love you x
Grateful.

Day 123 - Today I am grateful for....no hangover!

Again....I'm a little bit behind in my gratefuls but Sunday week ago I was uber grateful I didn't have a hangover!

I was stepping pretty high by the end of the night and it was definately time for me to head home at 3am.

I'd had an absolutely cracker of a Birthday!!

I'd been hooking in to the Jager Bombs so there was a very real possibility that I could have been hugging my friend the toilet bowl but thank God - I didn't.

I went home alone at a fairly reasonable hour, I was coherent and lucid and alone. I paid the taxi man the correct amount of money and I was not ripped off, injured or molested.

And to top it all off.....I didn't have a hangover the next morning! Win!

Although very tired and Fibro-sore, I avoided the hangover. Grateful....

Day 122 - Today I am grateful for....the BEST Birthday EVER!

Today (a week ago) was my Birthday and I literally had the BEST Birthday EVER!!!

I turned 31 on Saturday 5th March 2011.

I was spoilt rotten from the moment I woke up. In fact, I was spoilt yesterday too!

Yesterday, Karissa spoilt me with a whole day long non-Birthday event including balloons, cards, profiterole cakes and presents! I also received a beautiful bunch of flowers from my work family :-)

And then today on my Birthday, I was taken out for Breakfast with Bradley, Megan, Nathan & Vic to Cafe Valetta.

After Breakfast, I spent a lovely day with Vicki doing Wedding stuff and we located her Dress, Shoes and our Bridesmaid Dresses. Very productive day!

On Saturday night, I enjoyed a lovely dinner with 40 of my closest friends (minus a few who couldn't make it) at my fave restaurant and then proceeded to dance the night away at Fibbers!

I really honestly had the most enjoyable Birthday I've ever had. I don't think I've ever felt so loved and special in such a long time.

To everyone who made my Birthday so lovely.... Thankyou!

For all of my lovely gifts...Thankyou!

For being a part of my life....Thankyou, from the very bottom of my heart xxx

Grateful!

Day 121 - Today I am grateful for....something that works!

I was hypnotised for the first time in my life today and I have come out of it feeling amazing....

I've been thinking about quitting smoking for a while now but when my Husband left, there didn't seem to be a reason anymore.

Gone was my hope of starting a family, so why not just keep on smoking? It certainly helped with stress and when I didn't feel like eating, I always felt like smoking.

I'm not even really sure how I started smoking? It just kind of happened one day. I certainly felt accepted by my peers and developed close friendships over the years.

But ultimately, it was time to quit. I simply cannot afford it anymore.

I wasn't a fan of patches. And I hated the gum. I had a really bad allergic reaction to Champix, when combined with other medication, so I was kind of all out of ideas. All I knew was that it was time.

I'd grown tired of hearing all of my friends tell me to quit. My Mum coughed every time I went near her - even if I hadn't had a ciggie, it lingered. My mouth always felt like the bottom of a budgie cage. My clothes smelt. My hair smelt. My skin looked like poo. I felt like poo. It was time.

And so I went on the search for a hypnotherapist in Toowoomba and I finally found one...quite innocently actually but it was obviously meant to be. It will have been an expensive exercise but well worth it in the long run. I've had some bloody fabulous times smoking and being around smokers but at the end of the day, it's really bad for me and I acknowledge that. I acknowledge that eventually I will die if I don't do something about it now. And so I made the call.

It doesn't mean that I can't be around smokers anymore, nor will I be judging a smoker. I refuse to be one of those reformed smokers that you just want to punch in the face. It's a person's choice at the end of the day and this is mine.

I was worried though. I didn't want to put on weight. I've come so far since my Husband left that I would rather smoke and keep my 20kg off than not and end up fatter than when he left. Whether that is the reason that he left or not, I'm sure it didn't help. So there was a 2nd reason for heading to a clinical hypnotherapist for help.

I'm not going to lie, I was apprehensive about it. It's been a long time since I've been a non-smoker. I'd also never been hypnotised. Was this man going to make me cluck like a chicken? I was genuinely worried.

I shouldn't have been.

I've come out feeling amazing. I remembered everything. It was basically a very intense relaxation therapy session. And now not only have I quit smoking but it feels like I've never smoked before! In real time it has been over a week and I feel great. I have no cravings at all. I haven't really been grumpy. And I have been trying very hard not to replace cigarettes with food.

But when the Hypnotherapist spoke to my Sub-Conscious Mind, I'm thankful that he did whatever he did because my life will be much much better now. How does that even work?

I don't know and I don't care.

I'm just.....Grateful.

Day 120 - Today I am grateful for....My Mum

So....this time 31 years ago, my Mother went into labour with me.

That's right. Today is the 3rd March. I wasn't born until the 5th. The poor woman endured 36 hours of torturous pain with me as the end result.

There is a lot to be said for child birth and the pain that a woman goes through to bring a child into the world. I applaud all the Mothers out there because I really am a gigantic sook. A big girls blouse. God help the day that it's me there pushing a watermelon out of a pin hole.....

I couldn't help but think about my Mum today though, it's nearly my Birthday after all and without her, I wouldn't be here. Each year around this time that I sit down and really think about our relationship and how truly blessed I am.

She is my best friend in the whole world. She knows everything about me and loves me just the same. She completes me and I am but a shadow in life without her.

We really are so similar in so many ways (not only to look at), but she is so much stronger than me. Our mannerisms are the same but she is smarter and far more courageous than I. She is the rock in our family and the glue that binds us together.

 So many times in my life, and often daily, I marvel at the fact that I'm lucky enough to have her as my Mum. Not only is she an wonderful woman, but I am actually selfish enough to be pleased that she's all mine and I don't actually have to share her with a sibling....

We've been through everything together. Good times. Hard times. Happy times. Sad times. She is my mentor, my life coach, my friend. I go to her with every stupid problem in my life and she fixes it because that's just what Mum's do.



Every decision in my life (big or small), I continue to run past her because she is my voice of reason. For the times I can't see something clearly, she can.

 So thankyou Mum, for being you and loving me. I love you and am grateful for you every day xxx

Day 119 - Today I am grateful for....No Name Brands

I am currently hooking into a Coles Brand Chicken Risotto for dinner and it is delicious! I'm a little bit shocked. Not sure what I was expecting.

I guess you could say I've always been a no name kid though. Food, clothes, furniture. I didn't care when I was young and I certainly don't care now.

I grew up shopping at Target and a Big W - so what? They have good stuff! I like simple basic clothes that I can mix and match with. I've never been a trendsetter nor a trend follower. I wear what suits me and I feel good in. And I definately love love love a bargain!

I've never been able to justify (or get my head around) spending so much money on things, just to say that it was a Gucci whatever or a D & G whatever. Or similarly if it is Sportsgirl or Polo Ralph Lauren. Whatever. Aside from the fact that I can't afford it, who actually cares? I certainly don't.

And these days, the knock offs are so close to the originals, that I can't tell what's what!

I'll admit that when overseas I purchased a knock off Jimmy Choo handbag and various other knock-offs but at the end of the day, it's just a bit of a lark isn't it? Image is apparently, everything.

It is the same with furniture, electrical goods, food, clothes, sunglasses, homewares....and so the list goes on.

But who decided that expensive was better in every instance?

There is a big misconception in our world that if it costs more then it must be better quality. I disagree. There are some things that can be just as good quality and half the price. Other things, well you really do get what you pay for (ie my $30 DVD player that I purchased from Silly Sollys in 2004 that caught fire....hmmmm). That said, on the flipside, things are just simply not made like they used to be either. So it's a bit of a catch 22. Do you pay extra for something that will likely last as long as or be just as good as something half the price? Well, yes.....I do.

Look at food though - Home Brand (like Coles / Woolworths etc) staples like flour, rice, pasta, milk, bread, toilet paper, soap etc are all excellent. I'll admit that sometimes it can be a hit and miss kind of deal when it comes to things like sauces or microwave meals etc but the good old staples are just fine. They come out of the same factory, just a different label! Although, at Aldi, well I just don't know where their stuff comes from - most of it is God awful!

You know, so many times in my job, I marvel at the lack of quality in things nowadays too. For example, ovens. They just don't make them like they used to! Long gone are the days where you buy an oven and expect it will last you 20 years. Some don't even last 2 years. It's a shame. I guess that's the money making game. Things are made cheaply to trick you into having to come back again in a short amount of time.

I make no apologies for bargain hunting. If something looks nice on, tastes good or looks lovely in your home, then what does it matter where it came from and who cares what it costs?

Likewise, the times that you are expecting to pay more for something and you end up stumbling upon a bargain - how can you lose? Those are the best kind of surprises!

There is however, no such thing as a knock off diamond or knock off Manolo Blahnik shoes. Sorry boys but a diamond is a diamond and Manolo's are Manolo's. The End. There are just some things in life that cannot be compromised on :)

But my name is not Sarah Jessica Parker, and I'm not getting married any time soon, so today I'll just be grateful for being down to earth and loving my no name brands! Grateful.

Day 118 - Today I am grateful for....my new office

I totally decluttered my office on Sunday.

I'm feeling so virtuous, it's disgusting! ha ha

But honestly, I really needed a brighter space to work in. It was so bloody dark!

I'm getting back into my Interior Design course with gusto! But I needed to clear out my office so I can think.

So today, I'm grateful for my new office space and excited for the things I will achieve here.

Grateful!