On Sunday I was busy celebrating the birthday of my wonderful sister and feasting on oh so many yummy things. This week has been a busy one with meetings galore, treats to test, and running to do! I enjoyed putting my feet up this weekend and celebrating with the ones I love, and I was grateful for spending so much time with my family. Sunday night gave me plenty of time to reflect on all that I have to be grateful for this week, so I present to you, to start the week off with an attitude of gratitude, my Nourished Life Gratitude List 2014 – Week Twenty-One:
Monday: Today I dear friend of mine went in for some surgery. She was very nervous about the operation, but she soldiered on and I received a text message later in the day that everything had gone well. I am grateful for the skill of the surgeons and her bravery. I am sure life will be a whole lot better with her new knee in place.
Tuesday: Today I knew there was just one thing I wanted to do when I got home – make cookies. I was grateful to pad softly around the kitchen after dinner and bake up some sweet treats for Chris to take to work. I am learning the rhythm of this new life and how I will fill my time when I am at home. 
Wednesday: Today was the first of two days of important meetings at work. I was grateful for the help of my colleagues to make sure everything went smoothly. The best part of the day though was getting home and having a nap with Chris who then bundled me into the car, bought me sushi for dinner and settled me in bed with an episode of Anthony Bourdain to watch. 
Thursday: Today was day two of meetings. I was grateful that the big boss came up to me at the end of the day and offered his thanks for my assistance and told me that I could have a few hours off one day whenever I wanted. Have to make good use of that! Then I squirrelled myself away in the kitchen and started testing a recipe that I can’t wait to share with you all very soon.
Friday: Today I got to spend a girl’s night with Jess! After an awesome session at the gym we enjoyed sushi for dinner, then Jess got busy with a baking job she had on while we watched some of our favourite classic teen movies including ‘Sugar & Spice‘, which is so terrible that it’s good… I was grateful to be able to spend the whole night chatting to Jess and just catching on our lives at the moment. I was also grateful to sleep over Jess’s house, her guest bedroom is like a hotel room – so pretty and comfortable!
Saturday: Today was Jess’s birthday! We started out the day with a long walk and then a quick breakfast and then we were off to have lunch at La Dolce Vita (one of our favourites) with Mum, our aunty and grandmother before we all headed to the performing arts centre to watch Melinda Schneider in a Doris Day tribute show. Jess has loved Doris Day since we were little and this was an awesome way to celebrate her birthday! To cap the day off she even got to meet Melinda and have her photo taken. I am grateful to have an interesting, kind, and amazing sister who is also my friend and today was a great way to celebrate her. 
Sunday: Today Jess and I started the day with another long walk because we knew an afternoon of feasting was ahead. I then went home to work on Jess’s birthday cake. This was definitely a diet killer! But it’s all about balance and today the balance tipped in favour of five layers of brownies and cookie dough! I was grateful that so many people turned out to celebrate Jess’s birthday. Tonight I am curled up in bed with yet more recipe books and visions of salad dancing through my head. As I said, it’s all about balance. 
Also this week:
- I whipped up a quick vegan stir-fry for dinner
- I sent Chris to work with a batch of Chocolate Peanut Cookies (not before I stole a few for myself…)
- We celebrated my little sister’s birthday!
The week ahead is going to bring some great veggie filled meals, and maybe a cookie or two. Keep an eye out for Jess’s birthday cake recipe “The Chocolate Brownie Cookie Dough Cake” coming on Tuesday (p.s. it’s gluten free!). Tell me dear readers, what has made you grateful lately?
