Life with Lola

brings me gratitude!

We have fallen...

...in love with a girl named Lola.

She really is the sweetest!

and brings us so much joy and happiness!

It's only been a couple of months...

but I cannot imagine life without her.

Thank you!

Just happy...

...brings me gratitude.

As previously mentioned I was a little off this summer.

I don't feel ill will towards it... I accept it as is and am happy to move on.

I am just happy now.

Happy to be enjoying work. Happy to have work!...

Happy when I have a day off. Or happy when I have an evening with My Love.

Happy that we have so much to look forward to...

Happy about the amazing experiences we have had recently..

and so many more to look forward to...

and in honor of Gandhi, on the anniversary of his birth... my favourite quote:

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Love.

Thank you!

I'mmm Back!

brings me gratitude.

Something happened about mid-summer. I stopped feeling grateful... and hence, stopped writing my blog and I have to admit, it kind of brought me down.

I'm not really sure why, being summer and all, but I delved in and stewed in it, not feeling myself.

Maybe it was the fact that my husband and I didn't have more than 2 days off together during the entire summer that brought my mojo down...

or reverting back to negative thoughts.. Anyways, it doesn't matter anymore because I'm feeling much better!

Maybe she has something to do with it...

Meet Lola.

Meg and Keegan's Apple had a litter

and we decided after MUCH discussion to adopt one.

Actually we decided before the puppies were born because we knew that we wouldn't be able to resist after the fact...

We are soo excited!

We both had dogs growing up and we have wanted one for some time now but our schedules were not conducive.. We both worked long days and nights.

But our schedule now permits.. and we couldn't be more excited.

What is so incredible is that we have been able to watch her grow. We were there just hours after she was born, after she first opened her eyes and now Lola and her siblings have just started walking around. I swear there is nothing cuter than new born puppies!

We are looking forward to Lola joining our life... and sharing our joy. Awwww!

So Many Blessings

bring me gratitude!

I started my Saturday with my walk to the St. Lawrence Farmer's Market,

enjoying the landmarks

along the way.

Picked up our weekly needs. Yum!

Went for a walk to Kensington and got caught in yet another torrential downpour.

I stopped by a coffee shop to read (The Seeker's Guide), enjoy a coffee and wait for the rain to pass. Well, it lasted longer than the usual torrential downpour... and sitting in the coffee shop, reading was absolutely delicious! I don't give myself enough time to read so it was a true indulgence. The book is life changing and moved me to tears at times...

When the rain ended a couple of hours later I picked up our first year wedding anniversary gift

waited for my Love to come home and put on one of my favorite movies.

Love. Love. Love.

We got a last minute visit from Nick's family. They recently moved back here from Virginia so it's ALWAYS nice to see them!

They brought us these spectacular Gladiola's! WOW! Absolutely stunning!

My Love made some sushi and we enjoyed a night in.

I am... So blessed! So grateful! So happy!

Thank you!

Tuesday Night Dinner

... and a walk...

bring me gratitude.

Even better than the real thing!

Being a Guest at Steve & Janice's Wedding

brings me gratitude!

After 6 years together Steve and Janice got married and we were honored to be a guest at their special day.  They got married in the vineyards of Cave Spring in Jordan, Ontario and it was absolutely gorgeous!  

There was a torrential downpour about mid morning but it cleared up to be a beautiful, hot, summer day.

Although we don't see them as much as we'd like to we always have a great time when we do... They have a great relationship and obviously their love and friendship runs deep.  They had a dream to go to Europe and they spent six months traveling throughout.  Much respect!  

They've also bought a home in Grimsby, a picturesque town about an hour or so outside of Toronto.

The reception was at The Inn on Twenty - Cave Spring's restaurant.  The room was beautiful and the backdrop was just stunning!  Floor to ceiling windows, the sun setting behind us.

It was so nice to be a guest at an event as opposed to planning them and fun to dress up with the hubby and pull out the pearls he gave me on our wedding day.  Here's a photo the bride took of us.

Congratulations to the happy couple!  To many, many years of love, happiness and the blessed life. 

and thanks for having us be a part of your very special day!

A whole day off with my Love

... after a long, hard day's work brings me gratitude.

I work as an event coordinator at a great venue in the city.  We do mostly corporate events but this weekend we hosted 2 family events.. a first meeting and coming together of 2 families and a large wedding reception.  The personal events are my favorite.  A get together of family and friends, delicious food and drink... this is life!

Well, it was fulfilling, fun filled and very late night.  After a good, albeit short sleep - (I didn't want to sleep the day away) and after some nudging on my part, my husband made us a delicious breakfast... oh, have I mentioned that he's a chef?  Oh yeah!  

It was a perfect summer day so we ate it on our balcony.  

 

Heaven!

After some lovin' we went for a long walk to the waterfront where live African and Brazilian bands were playing, we sampled some Indian and Mexican food and strolled through The Music Park... I was exhausted but the fresh air and nature rejuvenated me.

And then home for dinner...

My personal chef : ) made another delicious (vegetarian!) meal.

 

We love the simple life, my husband and I, and today was a perfect day!

Choosing gratitude makes me happy

I have a lot to be grateful for... a gorgeous, loving husband, a condo to call our home, a great job and blessed of all, the luxury to choose to be happy, grateful, generous and healthy.  As with many people we have gone through a lot of changes in the last few months and we have learned sooo much!  The best lessons we've learned thus far are 1. Be grateful for what you have.  2.  Realize that you don't need a lot of stuff to be happy.  3.  Choose your happiness.  Choose your health.  Choose your life.

Oh joy!