Can you believe it’s already February? yikes.

It’s a busy, busy day today and you know the drill — let’s get right into our moments of gratitude.

This week, I’m thankful for…

Headphones

That Jake Coco put out a new, incredible cover of Use Somebody – so haunting, so beautiful — check it (and again, you’re welcome)

The beautiful sunshine we got to enjoy this week

The new episode of Grey’s tonight — looks a little goofy, but I’m excited

Fast and furious ab workouts that don’t take a ton of time

Mid-day walks in the metroparks

Lunch dates with my little man

My husband, who I cannot wait to relax with at the end of every day. He is just so fantastical, I cant even stand it!

The upcoming weekend and our plans to celebrate a new marriage (and the cake that comes with it )

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What are you thankful for this week? Please share!

First of all, I’m so happy to hear how much you all are loving my workouts I’ve shared — the ab exercises are killer!

I’m actually planning on knocking them both out (arms and abs) over lunch today — who’s with me?! We can totally do this.

But before we get rockin’ let’s all take a few moments to pause and reflect back on our weeks. Time is NOT slowing down and before we know it, the week…month..YEAR is over. Don’t be so speedy that you don’t recognize all the beautiful moments, ok?

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ok.

This week, I’m thankful for…

Surprise visits with friends

Vacation time

Upcoming travel plans with the Mister

That my sleep-training with Bean is making slow but sure progress [we are NOT doing the cry it out method --- instead, I've researched and compiled quite a few methods (tear free!) that are working well for us -- I'm happy to share them with any one who might be interested. If I see there is an interest, I'm happy to dedicate a post to it -- just let me know]

the donut house chocolate glazed donut coffee

voicemail

my little genius

that my planning is coming together for Bean’s 1st bday partaaaay (hint)

kashi honey grain waffles

etsy

making time for workouts

what are you thankful for this week?

But aside from the obvious, there have been some key elements that made this week so great — you, too? Great! Let’s make sure we don’t let them pass by unnoticed.

This week, I’m thankful for:

Gift cards — oh, Skinny Peppermint Mocha, how I’ve missed thee!

My ability to resist take out almost every day this week – I actually have something in the crockpot RIGHT NOW.

ZIPPER pajamas — A word to new parents out there: do NOT, I repeat do NOT ever, under any circumstances, purchase snap pajamas. Don’t even accept them as gifts. Seriously. Snap pajamas are the bane of my existence. Zippers for the win.

Hand sanitizer

Family Feud with Friends – If you thought words with friends was bad, you’ve got a new addiction waiting for you.

Upcoming plans with friends

1000 thread count sheets

The sleep sheep – another new parent must-have!

Smith’s Rosebud lipgloss — on some days, the only beauty product I’ve got! Good thing my napping partner doesn’t seem to mind

What are you thankful for this week? And what TV show are you most happy to see back.

It is a good morning, indeed. The weekend is on the horizon, I feel well-rested for the first time in weeks and I’m headed into a productive workday. Did I mention I actually feel well-rested?

Let’s get right to it, shall we? This week, I’m thankful for…

• The people who still have their Christmas lights up — because otherwise, I would have never seen them with the snow!
• Coffee
• Sawyer’s tooth, which FINALLY seems to be coming in
• The upcoming weekend
• Easy lunches
• My commitment to making meals every night this week — 3 down!
• John Mayer
• Realistic goal-setting
• Pajama pants
• New accessories (thanks, Santa, errr, mom )

What are you thankful for this week?

Remember:

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

~Oprah Winfrey

I can hardly contain my excitement.

I know we’re all busy, but not too busy that we can’t give a few moments of thanks, right? I thought so.

This week, I’m thankful for…

Jesus. For without Him, there’d be nothing to celebrate. Santa’s pretty awesome, but let’s not forget the real meaning of Christmas, ok?

Orange slice smiles from my little fruit bat (aka Bean)

Milk – because cookies aren’t nearly as good without them

Laughter — for no reason at all

The ability to see Christmas through the eyes of a child

Pinterest – so I steal good ideas and look way more creative than I really am

Dove Dark chocolate – no explanation necessary

Watching Christmas movies with the Mister — even if I fall asleep every time, it’s the best part of my day being snuggled up to him

What are you thankful for this week?

But before I start looking forward to the weekend, I’d like to take just a few minutes to live in the moment and recognize everything that made me smile this week. I hope you’ll join me.

This week, I’m thankful for…

• Dinner with girlfriends
• Rufus Wainwright
• Weekend trips to see old, best friends
• Dunkin’ Donuts – for having the best coffee in the world
• The quality time I’ll have with the Mister tonight (finally!)
• Being DONE with the Christmas shopping (go me!)
• 5th Ave Deli and their Mediterranean Salad + Matzo Ball Soup
• My new Keurig  – or should I say the Mister, who bought me a new, UPGRADED Keurig
• My mom and dad, because they are two of my favorite people in this entire world and I cannot tell them enough how much I love their guts
• The three musketeers (me, the Mister + Bean)

Happy Thursday! What are you thankful for this week?

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Happy THURSDAY!

I’m currently jamming out to some of my favorite Holiday Hits via PANDORA Holiday Pop station. Couldn’t be happier. Now if only I could convince the Mister to forgo the Browns Game tonight (I mean, really?) and watch The Holiday, we’d really be in business. You out there, Santa? There’s another item for my list.

Now we just need a little fairy dust and…

much better.

But Holiday or no Holiday, there’s lots to be thankful for this week.

Like,

• The fact that I made time to workout TWICE over my lunch
• Non-fat lattes
• Holiday-themed Food Network shows – like Cupcake Wars
• The Modern Family episode I have sitting on my DVR
• The 5th Ave Deli salad the Mister promised he’d pick up for me tonight
• Bean’s belly laughs
• The upcoming weekend activities

My decorations are out, I’m high on skinny peppermint mochas and carols — it’s a good week.

Now all I need is a quality evening with my Mister and we’ll be headed towards perfection — here’s hoping Bean cooperates

How is your week shaping out? Did you pull out the Holiday decor and festive music yet? How about Christmas shopping – how are you tracking – have you checked out my gift guides?

It’s east to get caught up in the hustle bustle over the Holiday season – and I find myself having to make more of an effort to SLOW DOWN, stop and enjoy all the lovely moments-in-the-making.

This week, I’m thankful for:

Carols

Cookies

My little sock monkey

Vitamix (really cool event recap coming SOON!)

That my place of work has a GYM – and that I’ve used it twice this week!

Lunch dates

The Mister — whom I haven’t gotten nearly enough time with this week, and who I crave more than Skinny Peppermint Mochas (now that is a powerful statement)

The upcoming weekend

Our pathetic, Bean-sized Christmas tree (photo to come!)

Life is good. God is great. I am so, so blessed (I really can’t say it enough).

And now hopefully I’ll be giving one of you something else to be thankful for — the Shabby Apple winner is….

(Thanks to the random number generator) #29 –

janice said:

i already follow shabbu apple on FB as princess janice and twitter as @janicevip
i would choose the feather necklace! i love ittttttttttttttttt

thank u 4 this cool giveaway
best regards

Congrats, Janice! Please email me (thedailybalance(at)gmail(dot)com) and I’ll put you in touch with Shabby Apple!

What are you thankful for this week?

In all seriousness, as we approach Thanksgiving (and the holidays!), it becomes easier to get all wrapped up in the food….the trappings… and the details that we forget about what really matters — giving thanks. So please take a few minutes to clear your busy minds and reflect on this past week.

Per usual, I will begin. This week, I am thankful for—

Textured tights

Dry shampoo

Non-fat lattes

Sunny side up eggs

Buttered toast

People who celebrate one holiday at a time — Nordstrom, I knew we were kindred spirits…

It reads: At Nordstrom, we won’t be decking out halls until Friday, November 27 (this sign was from last year). Why? Well, we just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time. From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

love. it.

Also thankful for…

My Daddy, whom I cannot wait to celebrate with this weekend!

And finally, lunch dates. With this gemstone, of course (you too, mom).

What are you thankful for this week?

I know I shared some photos yesterday, but I haven’t yet shared my experience from the Flashes of Hope benefit.

Aside from getting to meet and chat with players and folks from the Cleveland Browns and Cavs, my highlight of the evening was playing with the kiddos. I had the pleasure of hanging out with Kaleb, who enthusiastically shared his plans for Halloween (dressing up as some WWE wrestler) and got a big kick out of my makeup. Each one of the kids was thrilled to be up on stage as they danced and posed in the spotlight with confidence and infectious glee. Some of them are still fighting cancer, others are recovering and the lucky ones are celebrating the fight they’ve won. Looking out among their smiling faces, I couldn’t tell the difference. But one thing I know for sure is that they don’t take a single day for granted and celebrating life with them will go down as one of my favorite memories this year — it certainly helped put things in perspective.

So once again, let’s all take a few moments to recognize everything we’re thankful for this week. We deserve it.

This week, I’m thankful for:

Hope

Maxi dresses

New clothes

Candlelight

A child’s laughter

Vanilla Biscotti coffee

Lunch dates

Extra time with my little man

Fuzzy blankets

Hugs from the Mister

Bathtime

What are you thankful for this week?