What Are You Grateful For Today?

At a time when the economy is unstable, people have lost their jobs, money is tight and it feels like relief is no where in sight, it's important to focus on what we DO have. It's a proven fact that by focusing on the positives in our life, we will attract more positive things in our lives. It will also allow you to feel more at peace vs. stressed out and frustrated. Sometimes there are circumstances that we may not be able to change but it is our attitude, not our circumstances, that will determine how successful we will be in the future.

At the beginning of the year I started a gratitude journal, as I wanted to document what I was most grateful for each day. It isn't anything fancy, just a hard covered notebook where I can jot down 5 new things each day. Sometimes I'm inspired by others and other times it's the little breakthroughs I've enjoyed throughout the day.

While running some errands yesterday I came across a gentleman in a wheelchair who was missing his right leg. Although he was confined to a wheelchair, he had a big smile on his face and you could just tell he was enjoying life. He was a reminder to me how blessed I am to have two working, healthy legs to walk, run, jog and get around on. I can't even imagine how much more difficult his life must be or the extra time he must spending doing daily tasks that we take for granted. Let's remember what we do have working for us, not what may be mounting against us.

What I'm Grateful for Today:

1. My husband who takes care of me when I'm sick. He was sweet enough to return to the drugstore twice to pick up the right cold medication and even returned with a bunch of beautiful sunflowers!

2. The large downpour of rain we had this morning, because it means less water we need to use on our lawn which is better for the environment and our pocketbook. :)

3. Amazing Friends! In times of celebration and times where I have felt defeated, my friends have always been there for me. I am so blessed to have such an awesome group of friends who each possess such different personalities and zest for life!

4. After reflecting on my thrifty trip to the Goodwill store yesterday, I am definitely grateful that it is so close to my house. They often have loads of brand new 'surplus' items that Target donates. I wound up getting 2 new pairs of yoga pants, a pair of shorts and 3 cardigans for .99 cents each! I also got a Pier One set of 6 appetizer plates for just .99 cents each too. The best part is that they were all brand new items from Target! No matter how much money I have in the bank I know I will always shop there, I love recycling, getting amazing deals and supporting my local community.

5. My Health- Despite a minor cold that I got while travelling, I am completely healthy. I know there are many families who are visiting loved ones in the hospital, a nursing home or who are battling to get the care they need because they do not have the proper medical insurance in place. I thank God for all of the nutritional knowledge I've obtained that allows me to stay at peak performance!

What are you grateful for today? Tell us! We'd love to hear from you!

Have a Blessed Day!

Celebrate & Save

It was 3 years ago today that my husband and I said 'I DO'. I cannot believe how fast these years have flown by! It feels like only yesterday we were preparing for the big day!

Dining out is one of our favorite things to do, but we're always looking for ways to keep money in our wallet too. If you've read some of my previous posts, you know that I am a coupon queen and I love to hunt for amazing deals. I wanted to share some great tips for eating well even if you're on a budget.

We began our morning with a wonderful breakfast at one of our favorite little places- Mimi's Cafe. Aside from their great menu, one awesome thing about them is that they will send you e-coupons on your birthday upon signing up for their club. This year's offer was $10 off any $20 purchase. Since my birthday is exactly one week before our anniversary, I still had time to use it. We got to enjoy a fabulous meal and a mimosa for a steal! visit this Mimi's Cafe link to sign up for their club and get free coupons all year round including one for a FREE breakfast upon joining!

We decided to do a double date Anniversary dinner with some close friends in the evening. They have the same Anniversary as us. How cool is that?! We attempted this last year but they had to fly to NY on short notice. Anyway, since we are both signed up with the Texas De Brazil Restaurant club, they too email us both birthday and anniversary coupons in the form of a free dinner. So the four of us headed out and got 2 out of 4 meals for free plus they provided a complimentary glass of champagne to all of us to toast our Wedding Anniversary! If you are not familiar with Texas De Brazil, it is a fabulous Brazilian all-you-can-eat (to die for) antipasto salad bar followed by unlimited cuts of meat-chicken, lamb, pork, flank steak, fillet mignon, etc. They also include some sweet plantains too for dessert and you can always pick up a more elaborate dessert afterwards, although I doubt you'll have room! If you are planning to go, you'll probably want to skip lunch to make room!

Here is where you can sign up for their free club!

For all of you with a birthday coming up soon, another great deal is the free cold stone creamery cup of icecream! That's right, they'll give you a free cup during your birthday week! Here is the link to sign up and get your sweet treat. If you have kids or a spouse, sign them up too so the whole family can enjoy free icecream year round!

I love to share ideas with you all and I'd love to hear some great deals that you've scored at restaurants, eateries, beauty salons, etc. Leave a comment and let us know!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Life's Little Luxuries for Less!

I hope you all have had a fabulous week. I'm finally back from my week in Toronto and had a wonderful time! It's always amazing to me how quickly a week truly flies by when you're having fun.

Last night my hubby picked me up from the airport and had a card waiting for me (a belated b-day card since I wasn't around on the exact day) and inside he wrote a sweet message which included a voucher for a 1-hr massage followed by some cute gifts at home. He is so sweet. The appointment is set for later this afternoon and it is needed for sure! Sitting on planes, pulling luggage behind me and sleeping in an unfamiliar bed has led to some neck and back stiffness. Anyway, the place I am going to is around the corner from our house and it is really inexpensive!

Why am I telling you all of this, you might be wondering? Well, I have found a way to get great massages at a fraction of the price. It is a local University that offers massage courses and upon completion of their program, students must work a set amount of hours to earn their full certification before starting their career as a Massage Therapist. So, the school offers one-hour massages for just $25! During the Christmas season they had a special promo for regulars and it was just $20. You might be thinking they are less qualified or the massage may not be as good as a pro, but I have been satisfied about 98% of the time. In today's case, Paul paid a little extra for me to have one of the instructors, which I haven't tried yet, so it should be wonderful! The environment is very private, complete with soothing music and massage oils and the students are very professional. After your massage is complete you fill out a short feedback and rating form which allows them to identify where to improve, if necessary. Because they are being graded essentially, I find they really try to make it a great experience.

If you've been dreaming of a massage but feel you can't afford one, I highly recommend doing some research on google and looking into the Massage schools in your area to see what they offer. The same holds true for manicures via Esthetician schools and also Hair Salons too. Aveda in particular offers student services through the Aveda Institure for a lot less than their regular salons in select cities. I often pop over for a $15 manicure or $20 pedicure and I receive the same treatment and products used during a service at another Aveda salon.

I encourage you to find a great service online and carve some time out just for YOU and enjoy some of life's little luxuries!