LIVING MY BEST LIFE EVERY DAY UPDATE #1

Choosing a life of positivity one day at a time. And looking for those moments of joy that each and every day contains.

LIVING LIFE WITH A SMILE EVERY DAY

So much has been happening on the blog over the last couple of months, and seeing I still want to keep it to one post a week, I decided to spin out my monthly update and make it a quarterly one - so today's post is what's been happening in my world for the first quarter of 2021 - it's the Summer edition (with a little bit of Autumn sneaking in at the end).

My focus this year is on moving towards 60 with a positive mindset and gratitude. Cultivating what makes my soul feel happy, and aiming to live my best life every day. Life will never be perfect, but it's full of perfect moments and a lot of little joys if we choose to look for them. These are the happy moments that have popped up over the last few months in my life.

OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

It was our 38th wedding anniversary at the end of February and I shared this pic and quote on my Facebook page - I often think how fortunate I've been to have married such a really nice guy - when you meet someone at 20 and leap into marriage, you don't think of the long haul, and all you'll face together. I'm so relieved that we've done so well so far!

38 years together and still going strong

VISITS WITH THE FAMILY

We had a few lovely catch ups with the family over Summer - including the grandgirls staying with us for a few days while their Mum and Dad had a bit of time to themselves (a rare treat when you have littlies). Instead of the usual pics, I thought I share a couple that were "firsts" for the grandgirls. Georgia had her first time in the dentist's chair and passed with flying colours (such confidence!) and Sophia mastered riding her bicycle without training wheels - a proud moment in their house. I love having photos sent to me by our lovely daughter-in-law - it helps me feel like we're a part of their lives even when we live a couple of hours' drive away.

Firsts for the grandgirls - dentist and two wheels

OUR FIRST FIG HARVEST

Our fig tree finally lived up to the promises on its label (after a few years of looking like a large twig with a few leaves!) and this Summer we had our first small crop of figs. I absolutely love figs - not in a jam, not prepared in any way, just straight from the tree - sweet and delicious. I'm hoping next year's bounty might be even bigger.

Our first crop of figs

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING ON THE BLOG

I shared "CULTIVATE" as my Word of the Year (#WOTY) for 2021 and I love that it's drawn me back to reading more of Brene Brown's work - her "Daring Greatly" and "The Gifts of Imperfection" where I've been drilling down to Wholehearted Living (love that term) and what I need to Cultivate in my life to achieve that.

I've opened up to guest posts and had my first two - Pat's post on Cultivating Positivity and Sue's post on Cultivating Self. Thanks so much to these two lovely bloggers for participating - I have another few lined up and aim to publish one at the beginning of each month. I still have a couple of spots free, so if you're interested you can read about it in my Cultivate post and send me an email - I'd love to hear from you.

I also shared a great collaborative post with VisionDirect - an online glasses and sunglasses provider - and was very impressed with their products. I even "modelled" the Fendi designer sunglasses they sent me as a thank you gift, on my FB page as I headed off for my morning walk. My torn calf muscle has healed really well and only twinges now and then - and it's good to be back to my normal exercise routine.

Fendi sunglasses - from VisionDirect

FINALLY.....

We've just returned home from a lovely wedding - our nephew and his new wife had to cancel their wedding this time last year because of COVID restrictions and finally got to have their big day on Saturday surrounded by family and friends. It was a wonderful time to catch up with our kids and all the nephews and nieces and the joy of the day was palpable. So lovely to have been a part of it all. It was also an opportunity for a family photo and I thought I'd share it here - it's been a long time since we had a photo all together.

The family 27.03.2021
Our son and daughter-in-law and our daughter and son-in-law

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Do you have some highlights over the last few months that are making you smile and count your blessings? Is life in general treating you well, or are you feeling a bit swamped by some tough times? I hope you're choosing joy where you can and that you find little nuggets of happiness - and live your best life every day.

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Choosing a life of positivity one day at a time. And looking for those moments of joy that each and every day contains.

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54 comments

  1. The Summer edition gave me pause for a brief second until I remembered the hemisphere thing. A very beautiful phrase, Leanne, “life will never be perfect, but it’s full of perfect moments...” I enjoy all of your photos. Extra smile with your granddaughter in the dental chair. I have yet to try a fig and I hear how people love them. An extra beautiful photo from the wedding. Every single person has a wonderful smile. I can also see the family resemblance. I am also choosing joy and I have had many special moments that have filled my heart. Can you guess how they may involve my children and grandchildren? xx ❤️

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    1. Hi Erica - I bet almost every one of your joyful moments has at least one family member involved :) x And yes, the hemisphere weather thing does my head in too - we're sweltering while I'm looking at snow covered vistas on other blogs - it's so weird at times, but also feels a bit like I've travelled to somewhere new for a change of scenery. x

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  2. Wonderful "perfect" moments indeed Leanne! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Hi Janet - thanks for stopping by - I thought it was time for a little update on my world (which is quiet and peaceful and not all that newsworthy). I always love seeing what other bloggers have been up to and I'm sure it helps us connect more and feel like we know each other more when we share little snippets of our lives.

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    2. Absolutely! I love the snippets!

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  3. How nice to be able to have the family all together! Happy Anniversary too.

    Janet’s Smiles

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    1. Thanks Janet - it was beyond lovely to be able to get together as an extended family for a decent block of time and enjoy such a special day. And thanks for the Anniversary wishes x

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  4. Hi, Leanne - I love this update and your beautiful photos. I love the shot of Georgia in the dentist chair and Sophia mastering bicycle riding. Isn't it wonderful to be able to enjoy these moments fully and not be off at work (she asks rhetorically)? :D
    Awesome post!

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    1. Hi Donna - I don't know how I managed to get myself out of bed and go to work for all those years! Now that I know how lovely life is without all those hours behind a desk, I am so abundantly grateful and I refuse to ever allow myself to end up wishing days away like I used to :) Life is good and the grandgirls are the icing on the cake x

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  5. Hi Leanne, I love these kinda posts. Firstly, Happy Anniversary! Beautiful photos of your grandgirls and exciting achievements for them both. You know what - I don't think I've ever eaten a fig straight from a tree! Yours looks delicious and well done! Fabulous family photo at the end of your post! I have an idea for a 'cultivating' post to contribute to your series but have a bit much on my plate just yet. I'll be in touch after Easter sometime. Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Hi Min - I'll definitely be in contact and would love to have you come over and be a guest on the blog again. You always have something interesting to share and I think we're both figuring out early retirement and making the most of a life change that wasn't planned, but can still be immensely satisfying. x

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  6. Hi Leanne such a lovely catch up post and life is certainly 'tootling along nicely' as you say.A beautiful photo of the family and isn't it nice to have one together with adult children all dressed up. #lifethisweek

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    1. Sue I was so stoked that they were happy to line up and smile for the camera for me. My DIL even used hers as her new FB profile pic, so I feel like they were definitely a success! I'm updating our big family photo collage with the individual ones because the last ones are several years old - got to make the most of these things x

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  7. Sounds like a positive first few months of 2021 for you Leanne. I love your photos, especially the grandchildren. I wish I could send our figs to you. We have a huge tree that provides many many figs but neither of us like them. I’m planning to drop a basket full to our local aged care home this week #lifethisweek

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    1. Oh Jen I want to be your neighbour and help myself to those figs! The leaves always make me itchy so I have to be careful to wear sleeves if I'm clambouring in amongst the branches, but nothing beats those purple figs (I'm not such a huge fan of the brown Turkish type - but still eat them if the others aren't around). I'm hoping we'll start getting an annual crop now our tree is a bit bigger.

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  8. I love a good round-up post. So good your nephew finally got to have his wedding - and even better that you got a great family pic too. Those figs look yum - they really are special, I think because the season is so fleeting.

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    1. Hi Jo - I think that's why figs always appeal to me - there's only a few weeks to grab them if you're lucky and the birds don't beat you to them. Having a tree that actually produced a crop this year was such a delight! And yes, the wedding was also a delight because the postponement and knowing the precarious nature of group gatherings made it even more precious to be able to be together and to hug and to share in their joy. The last of the family weddings for the foreseeable future so extra special. :)

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  9. Good morning Leanne,

    I love reading reading your summer re-cap as we are just saying goodbye to winter and welcoming summer! There are perfect moments in every day and it is so important to remember the every day joy of these moments. And love the family updates! As you know, we still have quite a few restrictions and I am envious of your family visits. H.

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    1. Hi Helen - I feel a little bit guilty when I share family moments - especially the wedding where 100+ people were dancing, eating, hugging and being totally "normal" compared to other countries where covid is still stopping all that from happening. I hope you're enjoying your Spring as much as I'm enjoying heading into Autumn :)

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  10. Love the wedding picture of you and your hubby, Leanne. Happy Anniversary!!! That quote is a keeper. All young women should be asked to read it before they get married. Bill and I got married young. Luckily, I married a really nice guy too. Isn't time with the grandchildren precious? Your granddaughter looks like a natural riding her bike!

    Beautiful family photo!

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    1. Hi Laurie - I'm always a little bit bewildered about how I managed to pick someone when I was 20 who is still around nearly 40 years later. I'm grateful for it (and him) every day - even on the days when we annoy each other! And yes, grandchildren are definitely the reward for all those tough parenting years!

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  11. Hi Leanne, I love reading posts like this. Thanks for sharing snippets of your life, and your joy with us. You have a beautiful family and you all look really happy. I imagine that goes well below the surface.

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    1. Hi Suzanne - I always love it when I read some little snippets of other bloggers' lives and it's so nice to share the happy moments isn't it? Getting that family photo was such a joy (even without the grandgirls being in it).

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  12. What a great catch up post with fabulous 'firsts' captured and family time. The quote to go with the wedding photo is spot on and as someone who was married at 19 (and 1 month) and still happily married, I can appreciate the words within the quote very well. It's not always been easy but it works and that's all that matters. Such a lovely family photo at the recent wedding, considering you're tall the others make you look a bit small!!

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    1. Hi Deb - I thought the height thing was interesting too - our DIL is a tall girl (close to 6ft) and our son and SIL are both tall too - our daughter is a shortie so she was actually standing on tip toe to make herself feel taller! It was nice to not be towering over everyone for a change :)

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  13. Such a nice update. You have done very well with your marriage so far, continued blessings in that area and such a great quote.

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    1. Thanks Patrick - I'm very grateful that we've weathered the storms and are still hanging in there after all this time. It's so nice to be able to have someone to share life with and to grow old together enjoying the family we've created (although a few more grandchildren would have been a bonus!)

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  14. Those are big milestones for your grandgirls. I have a 10 year old grand who is still struggling with riding her bike without training wheels. Just hate it for her. She is so unsure of herself. Have seen lots of little bitties on balance bikes here and I think they are a great idea.
    You look lovely in those bright colors. Glad your calf has healed well. Our preacher's daughter torn her calf muscle last week and was in heels at church on Sunday. It was our first time back to church in months and months.
    Glad you are enjoying so many aspects of your best life. I am feeling much the same way. Loving my mosaic work, scrapbooking, exercising.

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    1. Hi Leslie - I think those little balance bikes are amazing - I see very young children zooming along on them and I think they'd make transitioning to a proper bike much easier. I hope your granddaughter gets the hang of it soon - once she's confident she'll never look back.
      I can't believe that girl could be in heels after tearing her calf muscle - it must have been a small tear - I couldn't walk properly for a week and wouldn't have risked heels for several weeks!
      Glad you're loving life too - we might be living "small" compared to some, but being content and occupied and happy - you can't beat that can you?

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  15. I haven't been venturing into the blogging world as much lately. Just stuff happening I guess, so hadn't realised you'd cut back to one post a week. Other than my book reviews my posts have been pretty irregular but I love that you're always so positive about things Leanne. It's something I really admire about you... that you look for the best in things and life in general. x

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    1. Hi Deb - thanks for the lovely compliment. I spent many (many...) years looking at what I didn't have and it didn't do me any favours. I think waking up to the fact that life was pretty darn good and when it all boiled down, I had more than enough and wouldn't be living under a bridge eating cat biscuits in retirement! Now I just choose the good stuff to focus on and it certainly improves my world view :)

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  16. What a lovely catch up post. Those granddaughters are growing up fast. How great is it when you can get a photo with your adult kids!! Win!

    Thank you for linking up for Life This Week, and as we approach the changing month to April, may you have some good weather where it's enjoyable to be outside. Next week, the optional prompt is the second of the Self Care stories. Are you self caring enough? See you on Monday 5 April for #lifethisweek link up. Denyse.

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    1. Hi Denyse - I was stoked to get those photos - it's so hard to get them to agree to having a group pic (and for someone to be available to take it!) so I certainly seized the moment. I would have loved to have had the g/girls included but they weren't invited to the wedding.

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  17. I see you've been cultivating a harvest of figs this year! Congratulations on 38 years. In this day and age, that's a wow! I should know, didn't make it past 15 with my first. Currently working on 10 years married and 13 years together with the chef. He's a keeper. I read him the quote next to your wedding picture (so cute) and we both agree with it.

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    1. Hi Jennifer - for some reason that quote just appealed to me and I think it's a really good thing when you realize it applies to the person you're doing life with for the long haul. I'm grateful every day that we've managed to pull off 38 years! And yes those figs were an amazing cultivation for me :)

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  18. Heartiest congratulations on your 38th anniversary, Leanne. May the Almighty shower happiness, peace and good health to you both, and your family.
    Lovely photos!
    Well, counting the blessing is something that I fervently believe in and which I always do.
    Take care. :-)

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    1. Hi Pradeep - thanks so much for your good wishes - and it's mighty nice to have made it this far and still be going strong - that's a blessing I count every day :)

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  19. Happy Easter Leanne and congratulations on your anniversary. Your photos are lovely, especially the family one. Have a lovely weekend, Christina

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    1. Hi Christina - Happy Easter to you too and thanks for your lovely comment - family is so special isn't it?

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  20. Congratulations on your anniversary. It seems to be a good season for figs this year, and feijoas too.

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    1. I'm hoping that this is the beginning of my fig tree being productive every year - that would be a lovely Summer treat indeed!

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  21. Happy belated Anniversary! It must have been so nice to finally see family and be able to have that wedding. I felt so bad for all those brides that had to postpone everything-- there is always so much work involved in planning a wedding that I just could not imagine having to rearrange/ re-plan everything.

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    1. I feel the same way Joanne - so much goes into pulling a wedding together these days and to have to cancel it at the last minute would be awful. It was such a joy to be able to celebrate with them and to have a large gathering of people - something we still don't take for granted.

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  22. Congratulations on your anniversary, Leanne! The figs look delicious. I like to eat them ripe naturally, too. Glad to hear your calf has healed. The family photo is lovely. It's not easy to get all adults dressed up and together in one place. Thank you for sharing your updates at #WeekendCoffeeShare.

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    1. Hi Natalie - yes it's been good to be able to walk properly again and to not need the support sleeve for my calf very often. Getting dressed up was such a treat after living in casual clothes so much over the last year or so - it definitely called for a photo or two!

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  23. WHat wonderful events making beautiful memories.

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    1. Thanks Antoinette - I think life is all about what we choose to focus our attention on - it always makes the little things more special if we pause to recognize them.

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  24. I definitely enjoyed this catch up post. I think those are so fun to include. It really allows people to get to know you.

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    1. Hi Elise - I always love an occasional post by bloggers about their lives - it makes them seem a little more "real" and that's why I continue to do an update now and then - life is all about connection. x

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  25. Lovely pics of you all. Our Elise has chosen your post to be featured in the next Blogger's Pit Stop.
    Kathleen

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    1. Thank you to both yourself and Elise Kathleen - it's always lovely to be featured at the Pit Stop x

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  26. I have so many highlights!
    Mostly because (like you) I choose to focus on the positive.
    xoxo

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  27. Loved your update and your word of the year. I'll have to read the other posts in the series. Have a great week. I'm very late getting around to visiting everyones' posts from last week.

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  28. You have several milestones in just a couple of years, Leanne. I think that is the perfect time for reflection. And I love your WOTY: Cultivate. I'm giving thought to a similar word next year: Curate.
    I turned 60 in December 2019 and I must say, it is my favorite decade so far. I am finally learning to accept myself. A lesson I wish I had embraced sooner, but I don't think I had enough life lessons to get me to that point.
    And my husband and I will celebrate 39 years of marriage in June. How is that possible?? While we have had many struggles, we have never lost respect for one another. And for us, that is the glue that holds our relationship together.

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.