Weekly Wonderments

the Inukshuk

Mixing things up a bit this week. Grateful friday needed a change-new time of year, new approach. A chance to look around me at not only what I'm grateful for, but what leaves me in wonder, moments to remember.
Last friday night was a chance to catch up with our good friends, and we filled the night with lots of laughter and stories as Spanish and English mingled around yummy food and sangria. The weekend had me working Saturday night at an art auction, which meant shopping for a something to wear, and we hit the Noodle Box for the first time - so so good. A wet grey Sunday meant a lazy morning in bed, more comfort food, and cuddles on the couch.
Monday came up quickly, back to work and reality. Yoga was much needed and much enjoyed, as was coming home to dinner waiting for me. I managed to get there twice this week, which made my body quite happy. The week was full of learning and lunch with friends and co-workers, while being surrounded by such beautiful fall colours. The air has changed, its so fresh and crisp now, I love getting to bundle up again.
The week flew by and Friday night meant a stagette for a friend who's getting married next month. We had a great dinner and finished the evening with a pole dancing class, which was brilliant!! I want a pole in my house now! Lots of laughter and glasses of vino, great women bonding time.
R and I spent yesterday outside walking around enjoying the sunshine, having lunch together, soaking it up. We're off for a hike today with hopefully a hot chocolate at the end. I am going to take some photos of the beautiful trees and enjoy the fresh air.
(Wow that was hard to write, change isn't easy! It might help me pay more attention this week, though!)
What has left you in wonder this week?

Adjusting and finding balance

I'm in a transitional phase. Things are good, very good in fact, but adjustments are being made on every level of my being. I feel so comfortable at work that I forget about the enormous learning curve I'm on. Being busy is new for me - something I've never had to really deal with in my work life. I am loving it, don't get me wrong, but I have a lot to learn about balance and keeping myself separate from what I don't need to worry about. I'm still testing the waters and forget I'm only in week three - wow. My job is continually being re-defined and will probably always be that way- organic is good. I want to believe in my own abilities, to trust I can do this, to allow room for being human and making mistakes. I hope I can find a balance between my work life and taking good care of myself. Caring about my work, but not becoming consumed by it. I have always heard other people talk about work taking over their lives, about losing control, about not having enough time to do the things they enjoy, but I thought I'd never be like that. Now, having a new perspective shows me how easy that could happen to anyone. But I would like to remember to make time to create, to go to yoga class, to have a bath, to spend with my R, to make friends, on and on. Anything's possible if you find the right balance...right? All of this is new to me and I'll figure it out. Being busy is such a gift - believe me, I know that! But, I am adjusting.
How do you find balance? What keeps you in tune with your own needs?

Grateful Friday!!

from flickr

This photo was too cute, I couldn't resist!! I'm feeling a bit tired myself. I had my first big function at work last night and even though it was an early one and I was working not drinking, I was still a bit fuzzy around the edges today. It was only the preview party as well - the art auction is on Saturday night. I am carrying art on and off the stage for the actual live auction, so a bit nervous about that. Except that it means I don' t have to get a dress! I will be all in black and that I can manage quite easily. It's so nice to be around people - I'd forgotten how good that feels. How much energy I get from it.

This week I'm grateful for:

• my R - came home last night to dinner waiting for me and he was taping Grey's Anatomy (which I had completely forgotten!) how sweet is he?!!
• my job
• the amazing weather continuing
• my new jeans (first pair I've bought in over 5 years!)
• getting mail today
• my sister being ok, her husband's away in Taiwan for 2 months
• pumpkin loaf from Starbucks
• finding good organic coffee on Granville island that isn't Starbucks!
• the fall colours
• the Pumpkin regatta this weekend back at home (my parents live across the street from the Pumpkin King, Howie Dill...a story to share later!!)
• the weekend being here
• going out tonight with our friends we haven't seen in weeks
• good emails from friends
• not living in Buffalo or Southern Ontario (it snowed 60 cms!!)
• Madeleine Peyroux's new album, Half the Perfect World
• new music on my iPod
• comfortable shoes
• cold nights
• the sound of children's laughter
• R's parents getting home safely and saying how much fun they had with us
• being invited to my brother's for Christmas this year - so hope we can go!
• new art supplies
• getting to see some amazing art work at the auction
• I'm not in special events - they work so hard!!!!
  What are you grateful for?!

In Awe...

Today I'm feeling in awe of the world around me and my life - and also feeling overwhelmed by it all. I'm in awe of the beautiful weather we've been having for months. I'm in awe of the incredible colours on the trees and how vibrant they get everyday. I'm in awe of the feeling of having a job I enjoy, how different it is. I'm in awe of the life and creativity on Granville island, where I get to go to work everyday. I'm in awe of how events get put together (big fundraising art auction this weekend for our organization). I'm in awe of hormones and what its like to work with all women. I'm in awe of how much I am in love with R and how even after almost 4 years together I still get all mooshy just thinking about him. I'm in awe of how much fear I carry around in a day, in a moment, all the time. I'm in awe of how big the world really is. I'm in awe of how many different people there are in the world, how many different ideas. I'm in awe of how easy it is to fall into patterns that aren't good for us, and how hard it seems to create patterns of things that are good for us. I'm in awe of how much I miss my family. I'm in awe of the silence of a bird flying across the water. I'm in awe of the amazing amount of colours the sky creates for its sunsets - and we've had some real doozies lately. I'm in awe of how fast my mind goes straight to worse case scenario. I'm in awe of artists and their abilities to create works that make me gasp with wonder. I'm in awe of the changing seasons and how drastic, how fast it can feel sometimes. I'm in awe of my own joy. I'm in awe of change and how good it is, yet how disruptive it is even when we are enjoying it. I'm in awe of how tired I am at the end of the day, now that I am actually working. I'm in awe of how long my hair is. I'm in awe of how into my favorite tv shows I get. I'm in awe of how many choices and decisions I have everyday. I'm in awe of how lucky I am. I'm in awe of my beautiful life. I'm in awe of wonder.

I'm feeling like I've got tons of things I want to blog about now that I've had a hiatus, just hope I can find the time. I know, it surprises me too - I have a life!

Grateful Friday!

Friday already, wow! I love being busy! My new job is wonderful. I have been busy since I sat down on Monday morning - a brilliant feeling. And it doesn't look like its going to stop anytime soon either! Everyone is very nice and I love the energy in the place. Being on Granville Island is such a treat as well. I'm sure I'll have something to moan about in the future, but for now, I'm going with this feeling of joy.
I got my bed back last night, heaven!! The inlaws left yesterday and we are loving having our home back. We did have a good visit though and they were so nice taking us out for dinner a lot and buying us new clothes and even got us a George Foreman grill!! So sweet. Who knows how long it will be before we see them again. Sigh... everyone is so far away.
This week I'm grateful for:

• it being a long weekend and us having absolutely no plans!!
• my new job and everything that goes with it
• my Richard and some time alone
• his parents and our time together
• that they got home safely
• my holidays
• fall colours - so love the red
• my commute
• cool nights to cuddle
• my sister in law - its her birthday today!!
• my parents getting a new car
• Friday Night Lights (on NBC) - its got me hooked already
• Grey's Anatomy
• yogurt
• hummus full of garlic
• letters in the mail
• our camera
• my new clothes - so comfy! especially my new hoodie
• being happy
• being busy!!
• being tired from work - a new concept for me completely!!
• good wine
• Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks
• my new hair dryer
• sleeping in my bed again...did I say heaven already?

Hope everyone has a great weekend and Thanksgiving if you're Canadian!!

Re-Connecting

Grouse Mountain and West Vancouver from Jericho Beach

I feel like I've been living on another planet for the past two weeks - amazing what a holiday will do to you! Feeling a bit disconnected from all my own normality, our routines, the regularity of our life here. It's a good thing, but also quite surreal. I needed a vacation from my regular life, we both did, a chance to relax, recharge, and get a new perspective on it all. It was so strange yesterday when we spent the day at the mall, since it was grey and wet outside, and then went to see Jet Li's new movie, "Fearless". Sitting in there, in the dark, watching a movie in Chinese, after being inside all day, I came out expecting to be in a totally different country or something. It was very very bizarre. Time to get back to reality I think - I am ready for it again.
Today is our one year anniversary at our flat - one whole year here, in the same place. The last time I had the same address for 12 months in a row was before I went away to university - 12 years ago. Whoa. I know, I'm weird. No wonder I was ready to settle down. We both feel much more at home after just being away for a week, like this is where we live now. After being travelers for so long, this is a new sensation for both of us. I am loving it. It's a whole new adventure in itself. What sort of adventure are you having this week??