A good day at work = a well planned iTunes soundtrack accompanied by a lunch out with friends, a walk to Starbucks mid-afternoon and scooting out 15 minutes early to pick up my kids and take them to the park to play.

(Notice how there wasn't a whole lot about my actual job in there?)

Nooners always make for a great rest of the day....

Going to a local park over the lunch hour and taking a good walk, reading a book, or maybe a short nap. All of this is only relaxing if I've actually gotten quite a bit done at work from 8-12, or otherwise I sit there thinking about what I need to get done.

I need to feel like I've gotten my work done, and that along the way I've done it with a fairly good attitude. The work day always ends well when there's been some kind of baby shower, farewell party, etc in the office and there's leftover cake in the break room.

For me, it's all about a balance of working with others and good, productive alone time with work. Cupcakes from the Flying Cupcake don't hurt. Since my work connects to youth development, but in a semi-removed capacity, I also love days when I can see a real impact on the community.

A great lunch with a friend or my husband is kind of the only thing that can make that sort of day a teensy bit more ideal.