Well isn’t this absolutely spectacular! I took this photo today while strolling around Macy’s Department store in downtown Chicago.  I absolutely love this tree! It is breathtaking and reminds me of a winter wonderland!  How beautiful! I had to share it with you of course!

This past week has been another stressful one.  I know I sound like a broken record, but for a while now that is how things have been.  I envision the weekends as being quite productive, getting some shopping done, cleaning out the fridge, greeting the dust bunnies who have set up a wee little home under the bed.  You know, ‘regular’ things that shouldn’t really present a challenge.

Well, that’s not how things have played out this weekend thus far.  I tend to be very hard on myself in always feeling that I need to do everything perfectly.  I think I have an attitude that if I can’t do something perfectly then I hesitate to do it at all.  That’s not to say I don’t take risks with new activities; I do.  It’s just that at times I feel like a deer in headlights, letting fear envelop me so that…

It’s Thanksgiving in the US this weekend, a time of year when, traditionally, families gather, vast amounts of food are consumed, and thanks given. Even though we don’t celebrate the festival here, I like the idea of expressing gratitude. Of just taking a moment to think about the things I’m thankful for. About a year and a half ago I was challenged by another blogger to take something called The Gratitude Challenge  -I recently re-visited the post and felt it still rang true.

As it seemed quite timely, I thought I might share it again:

I was tagged in a post by the lovely Dee the other day, challenging me to write about something for which I’m grateful.

I’m actually finding this quite difficult. I’m grateful for most things in my life, to be honest. Therefore, choosing one thing to focus on is tough🙂

And I suppose I should be…

You know that life changing moment as a parent when you step on a Lego and your life flashes before your eyes? You end up hopping on one foot and cursing, before finally collapsing on the floor. As you curl up in the fetal position, holding your bleeding appendage, you decide that you will throw out every offending piece of plastic that ever dared to enter your home. This is your safe haven and you refuse to be tortured in your home by some menacing evil bent on destroying the world. Never again will you be branded with a Lego!!!

Well, I found the dog equivalent of stepping on a Lego.

Lola booby-trapped our home this weekend with her plastic chewing bones. As I worked to clean the house, the dog toys plotted their attack on my life. I was making the turn into our living room when it happened…

Hmm.  My blogging mojo disappeared between health challenges, work, and a mini-vacation.  I am trying to restore it, so thanks again to Cee for her wonderful challenges.   Yes, I just completed this challenge for LAST week, but now I’m on a roll.

What are you really glad you did yesterday?  I scheduled a post for today so I didn’t wake up with old mojo-less stuff on my blog.  Oh yeah!  I am so pleased with myself!  I already have a spiffy new post ready to pop out at 12:05 AM!  Woohoo!  I feel that mojo!

Would you prefer a one floor house or multiple levels?  I love multiple levels so I can toss everything upstairs when people come over.  Cleaning hack: use crime scene tape to keep folks from wandering.

Have you done something you truly want to do today?   Yes!  I went swimming. I…