it's my girls' world

Happy Tuesday! What a wonderful weekend was had by all in our circle! My parents  came to visit and we had the most glorious low key weekend filled with fun, family, friendship and you guessed it... food. Here are just a 'few pics' of our weekend.

We celebrated my dad's birthday at a low key hakka restaurant with the most yummy food! Prior to this, my parents picked up my kids and took them for an after school treat, to their extra curricular and to the park. They usually do this and it feels like a mini- vacay!

Saturday was low key in the am with my dad and I organising the backyard and outdoor furniture for the colder months and D, C and my mom making a pumpkin pie... Spoiler alert, C put double to amount of nutmeg and at least four times the amount of cloves...

My parents then took the kiddos apple picking, to a fall fare and to the mall.

It's Thanksgiving this weekend for Canadians!! One of my very favourite holidays of the year. To me, it signals the end of summer and the beginning of beautiful fall and all the holidays we have ahead. This Thankgiving, we are so blessed and thankful to also have my parents visiting and spending the weekend with us.

We try to cultivate grateful hearts around here. Thankfulness has been proven to increase physiological and physical health, self esteem and empathy. When going through tough times, as hard as it is, that's when I make it my mission to be even more thankful than ever. Put those good vibes out there to attract that positive energy, right?

One of my neighbours, one of the most grounded people I know shared two gratititude practices she practises every day. When she gets up, she writes down ten things she's grateful for from the night before. Then when she is on her way to work, she also thinks of ten things she is happy for in general. I've also started to do my version of this.

The night before I go to sleep, or the first thing in the am before I get out of bed, I think of ten things from the day (before) that I'm grateful for. It's a mix of big and small things. Sometimes, it might be bigger things like an outstanding report for a kid but it's also smaller things like the softness of the sheets or my facewash. I don't wrtie it down. Too much pressure for me. Then after, I drop the kids off, in my mind, I rattle off ten things I'm thankful for in general.  It doesn't always pertain to me, just stuff around us that we should be thankful for. Basically, less than five minutes of my day with the two exercises combined and such long lasting effects.

Honestly, since I've started these practices, I feel a definite difference. I'm happier, more selfless and more positive in my everyday activities. I'm also trying to get my family to do it as well.

 Instead of thinking of all the things that are due to us, what about focusing on all the things we do have?

What are you most grateful for? Any gratitude practices to share with me?

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone and Happy Thanksgiving, Canadians!!

So many books to read, so little time! Here are just a few of the books I've been reading lately:

Of Marriageable Age- Sharon Maas

This one intrigued me after K raved about it. 3 distinct characters, 3 different countries and many intermingling lives and love stories through many different decades. It was filled with many twists and turns and many plot twists. I loved this book and towards the end, I kept trying to ignore my kids in order to finish it. Quite long but so well written and the plot so well developed. 

The Unhoneymooners- Christina Lauren

Two "enemies" forced to go on a honeymoon together, falling in love through many twists and turns. A cute beach read that I finished in a couple days. 

Summer of 69- Elin Hilderbrand

Elin's my girl and this one did not disappoint!Written in... you guessed it, 1969... it covered a family and all their angst and upheavals when their son is drafted to Vietnam. It reminded me of Judy Blume's writing and Elin did mention Judy in the acknowledgements. It was so well written and such an interesting read. It was Elin's first historical novel and she nailed it!

The Mother In Law- Sally Hepworth

A mother in law dies and the police is involved and questioning all the members of the family. This one covers a family, their complicated relationships and the drama that unfolds through the years. It is well developed, the characters are compelling and the ending is one I didn't expect. A good one for sure!

What are you reading recently? Any fun ones to report.

Linking up with Steph for Show Us Your Books.