Attitude of Gratitude: Days Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen & Seventeen

Day thirteen made me grateful for our stunning Christmas tree.

This is only my second Christmas out of home and it is my second Christmas with my wonderful man. We went out last year and bought all our Christmas decorations from scratch. We are big Christmas lovers, so this year we went out and added another 2 colours!! 

Christmas is exciting! It's filled with love and joy and kindness and generosity and it just makes me so happy. These are all the things of I think of every time I glance at our gorgeous tree! This image was a bit of an experiment with long exposures even though I don't have my tripod yet - I'm going mental in the after Christmas sales!!

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Day fourteen I was grateful that my Soundwave tickets finally arrived!

I know this isn't the most creative photo so far this month but you can't possibly understand how excited I was when they were delivered! My best friend and I are going to go and see our most favourite band of all time! Can't wait!!!

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Day fifteen I was thankful for generosity.

On Saturday night my partner and I hosted Christmas drinks at our place for our close friends. My sister-in-law offered to bring a cheese platter, so I said 'sure, but please don't go over board'.... This is what she brought! Bianca is the most generous and giving person I know... and these platters were delicious!! 

Generosity is such an honourable quality. I love to give and I deeply respect others who do. Unfortunately, it's a little rare these days. I am grateful for generosity in the world.

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On day sixteen I was grateful for the opportunity to see Lee Stardust play in an intimate setting.

This is Lee Stardust. She's an amazingly talented local artist. She and her family are also close friends with my partner's family. We were invited to her parents house warming on the weekend and she played a short set of songs. It was wonderful. I can't really say much more other than if you get the chance, go and see her! 

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Day seventeen made me thankful for my Gemma.

I'd like you to meet my 7 month old whippet cross, Gemma. She is amazing and every single day she makes me smile. I've been particularly aware of how much she means to me in the last 3 days because she had a bit of an accident on Sunday morning and has since been to the vet twice. She just hasn't been herself over the last few days and has been following me around feeling sorry for herself ad being very sooky and affectionate. 

She has such a wonderful personality, so having her be a bit off has worried me. However, she still lights up my life... I am still smiling just looking at this photo haha!

I am so grateful for my Gemmy-bug. Today and everyday.

Attitude of Gratitude: Days Eleven & Twelve

Day eleven I was grateful for the beautiful weather.

I spent the day with two gorgeous friends drinking peach and honeycomb smoothies (YUM!!) and grazing away on the most delicious antipasto platter! Plus, we got to do it sitting outside, in the shade at a stunning McLaren Vale cellar door enjoying the sunshine! Yes, the food and company would still have been great in the pouring rain, but the weather really made yesterday something special.

I was thankful for the glorious weather.

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On day twelve I am grateful for families

Our families are there for us from the day we are born until we die. Its both a blessing and a curse. I know that everyone has a different idea of family and we don't all have the same experience of it either, but I have found that family will be there for you, even if they would really rather be somewhere else, when you need them. My family experience has been a little hectic in the last few years, we have all grown and changed. Even though it was hard and we went through some really terrible moments, we have come out the other side stronger and closer. 

Photographing this family today reminded me how important family is and how thankful I am to have mine <3

Attitude of Gratitude: Days Six, Seven, Eight, Nine & Ten

So it turns out I'm better at keeping these up to date on Facebook than here! I promise they were all taken on the day, I've just been slack at posting...

If you'd like more regular updates on my photo challenge or my other photography please visit the Facebook page

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Day six I was grateful for support.

This was the view from my friend's couch on Thursday night. She is the most wonderful, caring and supportive friend and I've only really known her a year. I feel like I can pour my heart out to her and I will only ever be met with love and understanding, never judgement or anything negative - which is more than I can say for a few others I have encountered in my time. Support is such an important thing, it helps us survive the big and the small, everything that life throws at us.

This day made me thankful for support.

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Day seven I was thankful for the opportunity to have watched this gorgeous sunset from my friend's balcony on her 21st birthday.

Dressed as a Mexican, I saw this stunning view on Friday night whilst celebrating with friends. Happy birthday Jazz <3

Need I say more?

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On day eight I was so grateful to finally have my Christmas present shopping finished.

I LOVE Christmas! This is our tree and most of the gifts we will be giving this year. Our whole house is covered in festive decorations... and has been since mid-October!! I think its such a wonderful time of the year, when for once people think of others rather than themselves, people are generous and loving and generally happier. I am a little thankful that I wont have to try and negotiate a shopping mall any closer to Christmas now that we are finished, but mostly I am just so excited that it's finished because it means I have a special gift for all my loved ones sitting, waiting for them under our tree <3

I am thankful that my Christmas shopping is finished.

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Day nine made me thankful for western medicine.

You can probably guess from this one that I'm sick... Throat infection :'( I know that drugs (even the innocent ones) can be a sensitive and personal issue and thats why I chose a moodier feel for this image. However, for me... Bring on the antibiotics and painkillers! I have too much to get done in my life than to spend time sitting around sick. I want to make the most of my time, so I am grateful for the assistance that medicines offer :)

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Today I am grateful for motivation.

Without the motivation to get up and take my puppy for a walk today I never would have seen the ocean today... and it was stunning. I love that the same beach can look entirely different every single day! Anyway, being sick and feeling sorry for myself, it would have been easier to stay at home, not take Gemma for a walk, not take a photo for the day, not get any exercise myself or any vitamin D for that matter... I am thankful that I found the motivation to get all these things today, because I feel better for it now.

I am grateful for motivation.

Attitude of Gratitude: Days Four & Five

Day four I was thankful for comfort.

I had a really huge day on Tuesday and came home feeling really run down and sick. *Sadface* All I wanted to do was snuggle up with all the things that make me feel comfortable - Tea, cake, my nanna blanket and a novel! 

This day made me so grateful for comfort.

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Yesterday I was thankful for leaders.

I spent two days in a very intense leadership program. It was amazing and inspiring and I feel so energised about mt photography, my business and about my university degree and career. It made me think of all the leaders who have changed our world. This image is the bust of Matthew Flinders at my uni. I can't image what life would be like without the people that showed amazing leadership and helped to shape the world we know today and those that have altered the course of my own life.

I am grateful for leaders.

Attitude of Gratitude: Day Three

Today I am thankful for mothers.

I had the privilege of shooting this mum-to-be this evening, just one prior to her due date!! She got me thinking about everything our mums go through for us. Giving birth is enough to earn you a life time of praise I'd say, but mums don't stop there... The feed us and provide for us, they shelter and care for us, they teach us and help shape the person we will become. Most of all they love us every single day of the rest of our lives. What a blessing mums are.

So today, I say to all the mums out there and especially my own - Thank you <3 

Attitude of Gratitude: Day Two

Today I am thankful for the place I live.

I live in a gorgeous area, walking distance from the shops and the beach and I count myself lucky! This one was taken on an evening walk with my partner and our puppy. Its not the first and it wont be the last photograph I take of the local scenery.

Today, and most days in fact, I am grateful for the place I live.