as the sun sets on another week....

i am grateful for giving myself the permission to breakdown

those who know know i am a strong woman who takes on a lot and always put others first

this past 2 weeks have been hard for me... i have put far to much pressure on myself and the cracks are showing... the list has been endless.... sick child, sleepless nights, the death of a friend, a separation, family issues, running the auction, dealing with impatient people, dealing with absolute tragedy at work, an increased workload at the hospital and no more hours to do it in, work meetings, missy melly orders through the roof, emails piling up, my own sickness that has led to terrible pain in my joints, pressure from friends and colleagues to deal with an issue, abuse, threats, a feeling of giving up, on top of my regular week which currently doesn't have much spare time in it

there obviously has been a lot of good as well but this week the pressure of it all has caused me to crack, caused me to have a little meltdown... i would normally feel bad about this but this week i have given myself permission to do it and not feel guilty and for that i am grateful

shan

playing along with maxabella

as the sun sets on another week....

i am so so grateful for everyone that has donated to the 

Dream BIG auction 

i am running on facebook starting this Sunday night at 8pm. 

also a big thanks to everyone who has been spreading the word

click here to go directly to the auction

the generosity of everyone has been amazing and i'm have been crying happy tears for weeks now organising it and feel so blessed to know such wonderful people

thank you 

playing along with maxabella

as the sun sets on another week....

i am grateful for my hubby

he's so supportive and loving, always on my side, always allowing me to follow my dreams

but what makes me smile everyday is how he is so involved with the girls and i just love the little vege garden he and the girls have started... everything has been nurtured from seeds in pots in the laundry and when big enough moved out into the garden beds they have prepared outside

hope you have a great weekend

shan x

playing along with 

as the sun sets on another week....

I am most grateful for my facebook detox

I took off over 48hrs with no Facebook no computer no iPhone. just quality time with myself, my girls, my hubby and my friends

I feel so rejuvenated. so clear. so refocused. so in control. amazing how much energy and time gets consumed on the computer.

I'm now taking time out every day and every week to be, to live, to be present, to do, to focus

some pics from my time out









































Do you regularly take a Facebook detox?

Have a great weekend x

as the sun sets on another week...

i am most grateful for the sweet sounds of my girls singing

image from here

playing along with maxabella

as the sun sets on another week...

i am grateful for tea... a hot cup of freshly brewed tea just somehow soothes me

i really must get myself some pretty tea cups like this

playing along with maxabella

as the sun sets on another week...

image from here

today i am most grateful for my hands

they allow me to

touch
feel
sense
work
play
nurture
care
create
survive
connect
communicate
function
feel normal

a friend recently had a nasty car accident and sustained horrific crush injuries to one of her hands and arms... it's got me thinking how much i really appreciate having both of mine in good working order

have a superb day

shan x

as the sun sets on another week...

image from pinterest

....i am so grateful for my positive outlook on life

i must admit it hasn't always been easy to look on the bright side but more and more i find it's the only way i look at things... its becoming a habit, something easy to do and natural

i love to surround myself with others that are like minded or want to be and again this makes it easier for me

so thank you to the people that give me a dose of positivity... i truly appreciate it and love you for it


shan x

playing along with maxabella

as the sun sets on another week...

i am most grateful for my husband who just took the kids swimming and to do the grocery shopping so i can have some time out.... he really is the best!

as the sun sets on another week...

i am most grateful for this

my laundry {please note is doesn't look like this at the moment!!!}

in a week full of poo and spew i am so grateful for this space which makes cleaning up so much easier

imagine back in the day before washing machines dealing with gastro and kids!!!

we are now all back on track :)

have a gorgeous week xxx

as the sun sets on another weekend...

i am most grateful for living in close proximity to the beach

my girls adore the beach
it's a great day out
it's fun all year round
it grounds me
it soothes my soul
i feel at home there

here's a couple of snaps from a day at the beach yesterday

miss e now wants to be a diver and rescue sea animal :)

love shan xx

as the sun sets on another weekend...

this week i am most grateful for my husband... 


he has shown me the true meaning of love
he's so supportive of me and all of my wacky ideas
he's the best dad
he's a hard worker and goal orientated
he can cook and does
he's affectionate
he's kind hearted
he cares about others and the world we live in
he's spiritual
he's a big spunk and we're truly travelling the same path


...i could go on but you get the picture... ♥

as the sun sets on another weekend...

i am grateful for the gorgeous weekend i've just spent with my family

♥ a trip to the aquarium
♥ out for vietnamese lunch
♥ a massage
♥ dinner out with the girls and a few wines
♥ a little bit of sewing and cleaning
♥ making fresh pasta with my hubby and girls
♥ a hot bath
♥ snuggles
♥ yummy cooked brekky
♥ out to the park in sorrento
♥ a picnic
♥ dinner with the inlaws
♥ some free time to catch up on the net

hope you've all had a great weekend

shan x

attitude of gratitude....{moving on}

this week has been a bit of a shit!! but i am feeling very grateful for my ability to pull my socks and not just move on but move forward... i've had a fab few days creating a group for like minded positive women in business and the response has been fabulous so far... i'm very excited, inspired and thankful for the group, the women and their support

and just because i can... here's a little pic of my girls on their way out to a party last weekend... daddy even dressed them {although i had laid out some clothes}!!!

playing along with maxabellaloves

have a gorgeous day xxx

as the sun sets on another weekend....

i am grateful for the values, etiquette and social conscience i have and hope to instil this in my children

as the sun sets on another weekend...

i posted on my facebook page last sunday about reflecting on what you are grateful right now... as the sun sets on another weekend... i practice daily gratitude but thinking about things on a sunday night can set you up for a great week

so right now i'm grateful for my ability to just keep going... we've all been sick here, but life goes on.
as an intensive care nurse i know that even though i've got a terrible cold that it is just that... a terrible cold. the world is so full of whinging about the little things in life... the sniffles that yes may go on for weeks... but take a step back and look at the bigger picture... you will get better and life will go on... this is not the case for a lot of people

i'd love to hear what you are grateful for right now

have a gorgeous week

shan x

going green....

tonight is earth hour and for one hour {or more if you can this year}we will be turning off our lights, i hope you can join us

so in the spirit of this my attitude of gratitude post is about electricity

i'm often heard in my house saying things like "i just flick this and wala LIGHT!!!" "i push this and here come the heat" "how amazing is in that i just pop the kettle on and i can have a cuppa in a minute" 

yes my family think i'm nuts, but i am still to this day so grateful for the things that make our lives easier

take time out to appreciate this next time you pop on the tele or fumble around in the dark or need to quickly reheat something in the microwave as it's truly mind blowing





playing along with maxabellaloves hosted by and then there were four

attitude of gratitude....{those friends}

i'm talking about the friends you don't talk to often, but are always in your thoughts... and that these friendships survive like this.... they are easy

and today i am grateful for them




playing along with maxabellaloves

attitude of gratitude....{where i live}

i lived in Christchurch 1999-2002
i worked in their intensive care unit
i have many friends there
i love many people who still live there
it has a place in my heart

this week i'm grateful not be living there anymore

my heart goes out to all of the current residents of Christchurch

the attitude of gratitude

this week i am writing about my online community... yes, that includes YOU

i am so grateful for the lovely, helpful, supportive and beautiful people i have met from all aound the world blogging, facebooking and running missy melly

i may never meet most of you face to face but you are a part of my everyday life and for that i thank you




joining in with maxabellaloves