Happy Halloween Monday everyone! Yesterday afternoon I took some time out to relax, so I’m popping in quickly on this busy Monday to take a pause and celebrate all that I had to be grateful for last week. Here is my Nourished Life Gratitude List 2016 – Week Forty-Four. 
I got to attend (via Skype) an amazing workshop with Fiona Willer all about body image, the non-diet approach, and Health At Every Size. These are all areas of health and nutrition that fascinate me both as a dietitian, and as an individual. I took so many pages of notes that I had a callus on my thumb at the end of the night. I am grateful to Fiona for making time to talk to a bunch of dietitians on a Monday night and sharing her incredible gift and passion for the non-diet approach to health.
So, Wednesday was hard, and if there hadn’t been a pile of nearly sixty documents for me to get out the door by close of business, I would have come home, curled up in my bed and had a cry. I plowed through with the help of a hot chocolate. At the end of the day one of my sweet co-workers presented me with a lovely bottle of wine to say thank you, and that he hoped I could relax and forget about the bad start to the day. I am grateful for this truly sweet gesture from my colleague. His thoughtful gift certainly helped take some of the tarnish off the day.
Sometimes I struggle with pushing my exercise buttons too far. This week I took a step back and didn’t run for a whole week. I took lots of long walks, went to yoga, and played with Penny. It was just what my body needed, and when I stepped out for a run on Saturday afternoon I was rewarded by my body feeling relaxed and ready for the run, and with this beautiful sky. I am grateful that I am working towards a more peaceful relationship with my body and how I move and nourish it. 
On Saturday night my parents and I joined our family friend (and my ‘Melbourne Big Sister’) Cara for dinner in the city. We had the best night! After dinner at Verve (which is quickly becoming one of my favourite places in to dine in the city) we treated ourselves to ice cream (salted caramel with chocolate coated caramel popcorn – yes gluten free too!) and a long walk along the river. It was a simply gorgeous night out, the temperature was perfect for walking and talking and the sky was bright and clear. I am grateful I got this chance to catch up with Cara and have some big deep talks as well as just catching up on life. I can’t wait to go and visit her in Melbourne soon! 
And here is something incredibly silly that I am grateful for. These little devil horns that Mum bought for Penny’s Halloween costume. Sure, they only stayed on for about five minutes, but boy did they deliver in the laughter and cuteness departments. She also has a shark costume. Is that cruel and unusual punishment? I don’t think Penny likes Halloween, but maybe a few more dog treats while she’s in costume and she’ll come over to my Halloween-loving team 
I hope you all have a great week. I’ll be back soon with a NEW banana bread recipe, so get those nice spotty bananas ready for action!
Tell me, dear readers, what are you grateful for this week? Is anyone dressing up for Halloween?