January 2022 - PLAYWORKEATREPEAT

heart shape for date night at home ideas post

Stay At Home Date Night Ideas

Looking for some stay-at-home date night ideas? Here are 9 simple ideas that you and your partner might like to try. Date Nights Are Important To Keep The Spark In A Relationship Date nights are important for nurturing a relationship at any stage. Whether you are newly dating or have been married for ages. Couples who prioritize date nights and make it a regular habit will enjoy many benefits. Such as better communication, increased affection, and a positive fun time together. Date nights don’t always need to mean going out to dinner or dinner and a movie. While these are certainly fun things to do and of course a big favourite. I mean who doesn’t like getting dressed up and relaxing in a lovely restaurant. I know I do, but sometimes these kinds of date nights may not always be possible. Maybe the budget just doesn’t allow for this kind of indulgence. Perhaps you have a baby or young children and you might not have anyone to babysit. The way the world is today with the pandemic, going out may not even be possible. Either because of lockdown or because you might just prefer to stay home and be safe. Spending time together with your partner is what is important. So scheduling a date night should be a real priority. Here are some fun stay-at-home date night ideas that you might like to try for those times when you either can’t go out or just prefer to stay home. Cook Together As a couple, spend some time during the week browsing through cookbooks or looking online for a recipe that you both might like to try. Spending time together planning will add to the fun and anticipation of your stay-at-home date night. It’s always a bonus when you have something to look forward to. Light some candles, crack open a bottle of wine, play some slow romantic tunes and set the table nicely. You could even use this as an opportunity to explore cuisines from around the world. Why not go ahead and cook a meal inspired by a particular country. This is a fun date night idea where you can work together as a team in the kitchen and then enjoy a lovely meal. Have A Picnic In Your Living Room To keep things simple you could choose to order takeaway for your picnic at home. That way you won’t have to worry about any washing up. You can also keep the menu simple just like you would if were to go on a real picnic in the park. Maybe have cheese, bread, cold meats, paté, dips, crackers, and fruit on the menu. Of course, don’t forget the bubbly! Lay out your picnic rug on your living room floor, add some soft comfy cushions, and turn on your lamps to keep things romantic and cosy. Then spend the night eating, drinking, and enjoying each other’s company. Enjoy A Night Of Reading Sometimes you might not have the energy to do much, especially if you have had a very busy or stressful week. When that happens you might not feel like putting in a big effort planning and preparing a date night. On those nights, instead of skipping date night altogether because of lack of energy. Why not put on your comfy loungewear or cosy robes and spend the night reading. Sit on your sofa next to each other. Make yourselves a drink, open a delicious block of chocolate then spend a few hours reading a book or looking through your favourite magazines. This way you will both be able to relax while you still spend time together. Watch A Movie A Favourite Movie From Your Childhood Watching a movie on Netflix is always fun but why not try switching things up and watch a movie from your younger days. Take turns in choosing the movies as you don’t want to be stuck watching a John Wayne western every time (unless of course, you are passionate about John Wayne westerns too). Order Some Dessert How fun would it be to be able to eat your favourite restaurant or cafe dessert at home in your comfy clothes? So why not consider ordering dessert and have it delivered! You could eat it while enjoying a movie together. Spend The Night Looking At Some Old Photos Together We seem to take a lot of photos these days and who doesn’t have a collection of photos from their childhood? Yet very rarely do we take the time to sit down and have a look at them. Why not make this a date night! Pour a nice cup of your preferred hot drink and make it a night of looking at each other’s old photos. This type of date night is not only fun but it can mean taking a trip down memory lane and maybe even discovering something new about your partner’s life when they were growing up. You could also spend the night looking at your wedding photos. What a great way to reminisce over the time when you first became a married couple. If you have been together for a long time, your photos might be full of past fashion and hairstyles that were “in” at the time. Your date night could also turn into a night full of laughter!! Have A Beer Or Wine Tasting Evening At Home You could choose a few bottles of wine or beer that you may have been wanting to try for a while. Sometimes you can find small bottles at the liquor store but if not then portion them out into small glasses. Resist the urge to finish the bottles or you may not remember your fun date night at home the next day! To make the night more interesting you could also do a bit of research on each type of wine or beer. Maybe print out this information and share it as you slowly sip and enjoy! Add a cheese platter with

Stay At Home Date Night Ideas Read More »

Back To Work On A Friday

A Nice Relaxing Month

6 Comments / Family Life

Hi all, I’m excited to be back for the first What’s Up Wednesday for 2022. As usual, I am linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for today’s post. Thank you so much for stopping by to have a read and let’s jump straight into What We’re Eating This Week Chicken schnitzel! I just love love love chicken schnitzel and this week I made a big batch of it. I thought I would have some to freeze for later but no, we ended up eating it all!! We had some for dinner with baked potato and salad. Then for lunch the next day I made schnitzel burgers. So delicious! I like to add some parsley, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder to the breadcrumb mix. Gives the schnitzel that extra flavour. What I’m Reminiscing About My Sam is going into his final year of school. How did those last twelve years just fly by so fast? It feels like yesterday that we were all excited about him starting big school. He had a big send-off on his first day of kindergarten. His uncle, cousin, and two grandmothers all come over to wish him well on his first day. Gosh, I’m starting to get emotional just typing this so I might just leave it there. What I’m Loving My new charging pad. How did I not know about this? I mean I kind of had heard about it but had not paid much attention. I certainly didn’t realise how life-changing it would be! The other day I was in Ikea with my lovely bestie and she introduced me to this charging pad. It only cost $9.oo. I don’t need to muck around looking for my charger to plug it into my phone. All I do now is place my phone on the pad and bam, the phone starts to charge. The great thing is that my husband can now charge his phone properly. His cable kept slipping out of the charging port and it was so frustrating for him. This charging pad has been a real game-changer for him too! What We’ve Been Up To Staying up late and sleeping in! Probably my two favourite things to do. Summer holidays mean not having to rush around or stick to schedules. Although I have mainly stayed at home, once again trying to be careful because of you know what. I have also been able to enjoy some really fun outings and activities. Over the last few weeks, I have also gradually gone through the house and done lots of cleaning and organising. Even though that doesn’t sound like much fun. I have really loved that I have had the time to do this. It always feels so much better to start the school and work year with a more organised house. What I’m Dreading Going back to work. Waaaaaahhhhhhhh! I really do enjoy my job as a preschool educator. Like I have said before, I am really blessed to work with some super friendly, nice, and fun ladies. BUT, what I am really sad about is the going back to rushing around getting “all the things done”. I am not looking forward to that at all, in fact, I am dreading it. Big sigh!! What I’m Excited About I think that I am probably more nervous than I am excited. In order to distract me from my nervousness, my husband has made plans for us to go out for dinner next week and try some Korean BBQ. He’s worked out that if I am thinking about food and looking forward to a mid-week dinner date. Then I won’t be focused on being nervous about going back to work. Haha!! What I’m Watching Ok, so I have only just discovered “The Office”. Where was I and what was I doing when it first aired??? Who knows!!!! I never thought that I would find a sitcom that I loved as much as “Seinfeld” but I can definitely say that”The Office” is now up there as one of my favourites. I have to admit that it took me about four or five episodes to really get into it. Now I can’t stop and I have been binge-watching it every night. I love all the characters and I will be sad when I finish all the seasons. I’m up to season five at the moment. It’s hilarious!!!! What I’m Reading I dusted off my kindle and downloaded a book. It has been such a long time since I have done that! I even had to update my credit card details on my Kindle because that’s how long it’s been. I have always loved reading and growing up I would practically devour books. Up until a couple of years ago I always carried my kindle everywhere I went and I would read whenever I got the chance. Then just like Forest Gump suddenly stopped running. I just stopped reading. Earlier this week I enjoyed reading Joanne’s book review and based on her recommendation I thought I would give “The Good Sister” by Sally Hepworth a try. I am so glad that I did because it got my attention right from the first page. I’m not very far into the book yet but I can see that the story is heading into some kind of really interesting twist. What I’m Listening To Lots of soft relaxing background music on Spotify like jazz and chill-out. Trying to get into the calm zone before next week hits me like a freight train. What I’m Wearing It’s been great to be able to wear a variety of clothes from my wardrobe other than just my preschool work clothes. My feet have also been grateful for not having to wear closed-in shoes during the last six weeks. We aren’t allowed to wear sandals to work for safety reasons. You can imagine how hot and sweaty it feels during the summer. Having said that, I have had toys and equipment fall on my toes over the

A Nice Relaxing Month Read More »

Cleaning, Organising And A Dash Of Fun

11 Comments / Hello Monday

Hey Monday, you sure came around quick! Hope you all find yourselves well and had a great weekend. I spent a lot of my weekend cleaning and organising. It sure feels great to purge, donate and throw out all the things that we no longer use and have been taking up space at home. Friday night before I went to bed I made plans in my head to do some much-needed cleaning and organising on Saturday. That’s how usually like to start. I will visualise what I want to get done and then I give myself a pep talk. I’m not a big list writer, although I should probably try and make this a good habit. It might make life easier as far as not forgetting things. Also, it must be very satisfying to see the things crossed off the list once they are finished. Yes, I should really work on writing out some lists. Fun things first Saturday mid-morning Steve suggested we go and have a browse around our local farmers market. Get a coffee and have something to eat. So we did just that! I also wanted to pick up some fruit. They have such a lovely variety of fresh fruit and vegetables at the market. As well as so many yummy food stalls. It was such a beautiful sunny Saturday. Normally I like to finish all my chores before I have a fun outing but that wasn’t going to work because Steve started work in the afternoon/evening. So we headed out and had a fun morning together. We shared a lamb, mashed potato, vegetables, and gravy lunch. Yum, so good! Time To Get Stuck Into It! When we got home I was feeling a little too relaxed. I had to dig really deep to find my motivation again. I could have easily plonked myself on the sofa and camped out there for the rest of the day. See why I like to get my chores done first!!! Council Clean Up Four times a year our local council offers a free clean-up service to all the council residents. This means we can put almost anything out front of our homes that we want to get rid of. Things like old furniture, mattresses, green waste, carpet, and white goods. Council gives us the dates for collection and then we can place all our unwanted things out on the kerb 48 hours before the collection date. It’s such a great service and we are really lucky that our council does this as not all of them do. Some councils require households to book times and dates for individual collections. Getting Rid Of Stuff The past few clean-ups I hadn’t needed to get rid of too many things. But this time around I had accumulated quite a pile. I even threw out my ironing board. I haven’t ironed on an ironing board in forever. When my iron stopped working early last year I didn’t bother replacing it. Instead, I just got in the habit of using a handheld steamer. So much easier! Plus I try to fold all my laundry as soon as it comes off the line. So far I can’t say that I have missed not having an iron. Doesn’t look like a whole lot there but I had already taken three garbage bags full of clothes and shoes to the charity bin. I had been piling up all this stuff in my little office. So it was so nice to get my floor space back and have everything looking neat and tidy again. Sunday I managed to get most of my cleaning and organising done on Saturday, I only had a bit more to do on Sunday. So I was really happy about that. I had a nice slow morning and then around midday I made spinach pie. It’s a big favourite around here! Full of cheesy goodness and lots of spinach!! In the late afternoon, I made a trip to Bunnings. I had to return a fan that made a weird noise when I turned it on. Then I went to Kmart to return a pot plant and a wooden tray that I had bought but didn’t end up needing. New Things For My Little Cat While I was at Kmart I spotted a new kitty litter box which is very similar to my cat’s old one. Her current box is ten years old and cracked so I bought her this new one. Cats are such creatures of habit, fingers crossed that she will get used to her new box. I did put her old litter in so she could smell it (ugh!). I gently placed her inside the new litter box and she used it. Hope she does this on her own without any problems. I also got her some new bowls for her food and water to replace her old plastic ones. She was perfectly happy to eat out of them. This new laser toy I bought for her kept her very entertained for a while. She was a spoilt cat this weekend! In the evening I worked on my blog and then Sushi (that’s my kitty’s name) came to say hi. It certainly was a weekend of cleaning and organising. I was happy we were able to squeeze in some fun too! Happy Monday friends!! Linking up with Holly and Sarah for today’s Hello Monday Post

Cleaning, Organising And A Dash Of Fun Read More »

Fun Things For Friday!

3 Comments / Family Life

Hi friends, I hope you have all had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend. Here are a few fun things that I am excited to share with you for today’s Friday Favourites post. As usual, I am linking up with Andrea and Erika. So let’s jump right in with favourite number one. #1 A Day At The Art Gallery My first favourite on this week’s list of a few fun things was a trip to the NSW Art Gallery to see the Matisse exhibition. Steve, Sam, and I caught a train into the city to enjoy lunch and see the lovely works by Henri Matisse. The three of us have made this a tradition where we see one exhibition a year. I love going to visit the art gallery and am happy to do it multiple times throughout the year. Ha! Steve and Sam, not so much. BUT both of them really enjoy the lunch part and they have also been really impressed by all the exhibitions we have been to so far. We always have a fun time together and Sam comments on how much he enjoys it. Are they big art buffs running to the gallery more than once a year? No, ma’am, that’s more my thing!! However, I do appreciate and love how they are happy to come along to something that I really enjoy (the lunch is also a big drawcard 😉) focaccia and burrata with figs for the entree We all enjoyed the swordfish with some fancy carrots as a side. #2 A Fun Shopping Trip I did another trip into the city again later in the week for a fun shopping day with my lovely friend. It’s funny how most of my weeks have been really low-key. Then this week I did not one but two city trips. I love going in so it’s been a great week for me!! My sweet friend and I also work together and are trying to squeeze in some last-minute holiday fun before real life hits us again real soon. #3 Muji My friend took me to a store that I had never been to before called Muji. It’s a Japanese retailer and they sell everything from clothes, household goods, stationery, to furniture. Apparently, some say that Muji is Japan’s equivalent of Ikea. Hmmm, not so sure about that. I really loved their dining chairs that were made from Oak. The prices for them started at $379 each. The bigger armchair-style dining chairs were over $1000 each. Definitely not like Ikea as far as pricing goes. It was fun looking through this store that was new to me. I really liked a lot of their clothing. They had some nice neutral basics so I bought three cotton t-shirts. I have purged a lot of clothes from my wardrobe that do not bring me joy. #4 Wardrobe Goals My goal for 2022 is to build a capsule wardrobe just for work. Rather than wearing clothes that I really don’t like anymore. So I am starting with the three T-shirts in white, black, and sage that I bought from Muji. The next step is to organise some pants, long shorts and maybe a skirt. Let’s see how I go. #5 Denim Shorts I found some really nice denim shorts in Myer. They were discounted to half price plus a further 20% off. I had already tried on some clothes previously and I just couldn’t be bothered taking my pants off again! So I tried my shorts over my black pants. I figured that if they fitted this way then they would fit just fine. Ha! #6 Yummy Lunch We stopped for lunch at a cafe in the QVB where I had a chicken and mushroom filo with lentil salad. It was very delicious and I didn’t realise how hungry I was until I started eating. My friend had an egg sandwich with a side salad. I think she kind of enjoyed her lunch but the gluten-free bread was disappointing. Not sure what’s up with gluten-free bread as I have never tried it. But sadly I often hear comments from many people about how it’s not very nice. Egg sandwich Yum! I had a big mouthful of my chicken and mushroom filo and then realised that I hadn’t taken a photo! I ordered a mixed juice which looked good but tasted just like rockmelon and rockmelon isn’t really my favourite. We finished off with some sweets! I had a raspberry friand and a cappuccino and my friend had an orange cake and a hot chocolate. Goodness, I was so full I could barely get up out of my chair!! So we kept browsing the shops to walk off some of our lunch. #7 T2 Look at all these gorgeous teapots! We went into a tea store called T2 where they sell every tea under the sun. As well as some lovely teapots, cups, saucers and anything tea-related! Such a beautiful shop!! #8 A Kikki K Find One of the last shops we visited was my favourite stationery and gift shop called Kikki K. Where I bought this lovely water bottle and glass that sits perfectly on the top. It was a bit pricey but so pretty that I couldn’t resist. Plus I thought that it was a good way to remember to drink water first thing in the morning as I have put it on my bedside table. When I keep a glass of water next to my bed, my little cat always thinks it’s for her to enjoy. So she won’t be able to stick her tongue into this cute bottle. That’s it for now! I hope you enjoyed looking at a few fun things that I got up to. This past week was my last full week of school holiday as I’m back to work next Friday. Yep, somehow this year the school calendar has us going back on Friday for a

Fun Things For Friday! Read More »

Essential Handbags for Women

2 Comments / Fashion Files

As we all know fashion trends come and go. What’s in one year is out the next, sometimes trends last a few seasons and others not so much. So it’s probably a good idea to try not to get swept up with trends that won’t last very long. It’s damaging to your budget and not good for the environment. Discover these essential handbags, a collection with the perfect blend of classic, style and practicality. These bags not only hold all your necessities for any occasion but also ensure you stay stylish year after year. 8 Essential Handbags for Women The Cross Body Bag The cross-body bag is probably the most versatile bag ever. It is great for keeping your hands free to be able to do things like shopping and running errands. Cross-body bags are more thief-proof than other bags. So they are great for when you are traveling and need to keep important documents safe and close at hand. It is easier to be able to keep a close eye on a cross-body bag due to the fact that it hangs right by your side as you go about your day. Furthermore, because you essentially ‘wear’ a cross-body bag it also means that you are less likely to lose it by accidentally leaving it behind somewhere. The Carry-All A carry-all is high on the list of essential handbags every woman should own. The reason is that it will hold all your necessities and a good many other things. Some days you might need to fit in a book that you can’t put down. Or maybe the change in seasons means you need to carry an extra layer. Carry-All bags are also great for busy mums who need to have snacks on hand for their kids. As well as important items like disinfectant wipes or hand sanitiser. Carry all bags even have enough room to hold that special cuddly toy and things like rocks, sticks, or shells that kids just love collecting to take home! In addition, the carry-all bag is the perfect go-to bag for teachers who need to fit things like folders, papers, tablets, or even a computer. A Clutch A sleek and stylish clutch will complete your evening outfit. It should be the right size to fit your phone, credit card, ID, lipstick, and keys. You can stick to a simple black one that will suit almost any outfit. Or you could be daring and go for one with a bold print. If you really want some glitz and glamour why not choose a metallic or glittery one! A clutch will elevate any evening outfit because it works as an important accessory that will compliment your outfit. The Top-Handle Bag Vintage-inspired features have become very popular over the last few years. This is definitely no surprise because as we all know, fashion runs in cycles. Structured top handle bags have that vintage element and classic, elegant style from the 1950s. They have since evolved from the time Grace Kelly was first seen carrying her top handle bag to hide her pregnancy from the media. Nowadays many top handle bags also include a shoulder strap which will leave your hands free and allow you to do all the things you need to do when you are out and about. Top handle bags are both functional as well as fashionable. They are typically larger than a cross-body bag, therefore they will suit perfectly on days where you need to carry more things. Furthermore, the nice structured look of this type of bag makes them a much more stylish and elegant option than a typical shoulder bag. Hobo Bag Hobo bags make a great fun everyday casual bag because they have that cool slouchy look. They are usually made from soft flexible materials such as canvas, leather or vegan leather. You can fit just about anything into a hobo bag. They are perfect for when you need a bag that will hold more than just your usual essentials. Some days you might need to carry a water bottle, a small cardigan or maybe you need some extra storage when you are out on a fun shopping outing with friends. They look really stylish worn over your shoulder and will give any outfit a relaxed yet fashionable element. Handy Fold Up Shopping Bag Most shops have banned single-use plastic bags so this means that it is important to always have the essential fold-up shopping bag just in case. As many of us know the minute you run into the supermarket, for just one thing, you usually come out with ten!! Therefore keeping a fold-up shopping bag in your usual handbag is a must. Fold-up shopping bags also come in a variety of fun colours and sizes. You can find many beautifully handmade varieties in places like Etsy. They can be made from nylon, fabric, or even silk. So who says shopping bags need to be plain and boring? You can find so many choices of fold-up shopping bags to suit your individual style. The Good Old Shoulder Bag Shoulder bags are practical, spacious, convenient, and are a great everyday use bag. They typically have one strap and many compartments with or without zippers. This makes them ideal for shopping, running errands, outings with kids, and taking to work. You can fit so many things inside a shoulder bag and you can keep your things organised within the available compartments. They are more structured than a hobo or tote bag and are made from an endless variety of materials and fabrics. There are just so many options to choose from when it comes to shoulder bags. They really are a must-have addition and probably on top of the list of types of bags that every woman needs. The Weekender Perfect for short trips and fun weekend getaways! Every woman needs a go-to convenient weekender bag. They should be roomy enough to fit about two days worth of essential items and clothes. With enough

Essential Handbags for Women Read More »

Hanging Out At Home

6 Comments / Hello Monday

Hi all! I am really excited to link up with Holly and Sarah for today’s hello Monday post. I’m doing a quick recap of my super low-key weekend and I’m really glad you have stopped by to join me. Isn’t it funny how in December you hardly get a chance to stop and breathe as it’s so busy? Then when January hits everything kind of just stops! But I am really grateful for weekends like this one where I was just able to enjoy hanging out at home and really appreciate the luxury of spare time. I’ll be back at work in a couple of weeks and I know my weekends won’t be quite the same. Friday night It’s been super hot and steamy so I was really happy to sit in the dark, have the air conditioning on, and watch ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service”. I felt so comfortable and relaxed that I nearly dozed off a couple of times. Lucky the movie had lots of cool action scenes so they kept me awake. Saturday Saturday morning I got up and I must have slept well because I had lots of energy. I felt really motivated to spend time in the kitchen doing some cooking. We had finished our favourite granola and I hadn’t made it in a while, so I went ahead and made a batch. As well as the granola, I made my apple and berry gluten-free loaf. The granola is full of crunchy goodness and we like to have it for breakfast, sprinkle it on yogurt, or just munch on it as a snack. Another big favourite is the gluten-free apple and berry loaf which is made with almond meal. It’s really moist, delicious, and super filling. It’s also great for breakfast and even dessert. It tastes even better if you serve it toasted and you can add things like Greek yoghurt, more berries, sliced banana, or anything you like. So good!! I also made some turkey patties Roasted off some pumpkin Made some couscous with olives, Spanish onion, and semi-dried tomatoes. Lastly, I cooked off some mushrooms that needed to be used up and added chopped parsley. The great thing about doing a whole lot of cooking all in one hit was that I didn’t have to worry about lunches or dinners either Saturday or Sunday. The turkey patties were so good and they turned out really moist and super delicious. We had them with buns and made them into burgers for lunch. Then for dinner, we ate them with couscous, mushrooms and roast pumpkin. Easy peasy!! More Water!!!! Before I started all my cooking I made sure to have a glass of water. I am so inconsistent with my water intake but I am determined to improve. So I left this glass out near the sink and made a real effort to drink throughout the day. I did the same thing on Sunday, here’s hoping I can keep this up for the next three hundred and something days. Cable Concealer I found this cable concealer on Amazon and as you may have heard, I am fast becoming a real fan of Amazon Prime. I know I am late to the party compared to a lot of you. But in Australia Amazon Prime was only launched in 2018 and I joined late last year. The cables from the TV to the power point were so obvious and looked really bad. The way everything was arranged in the living room before meant that you couldn’t see the cables. They were all hiding behind furniture and curtains. But since I moved everything, the cables were just there looking really obvious. This cable concealer was really easy to attach to the skirting board. I used the double-sided tape that came in the packet with the cable concealer, I didn’t bother with the complicated-looking screws. Now it looks so much better because you can’t see the cables anymore. The only thing I had trouble working out was the super sticky double-sided tape. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to unstick it. In the end, I watched a very helpful YouTube video. Seriously YouTube must have almost an answer for anything and everything!! A Relaxing Face Mask After dinner, I enjoyed a cup of tea with a slice of apple and berry loaf. Then I treated myself to a face mask. One of my preschool children gave me a little pamper pack as a Christmas present last year. This Vitamin C mask was in it and it was so refreshing. Every time I put on one of these sheet masks I think I look like the guy from the movie ‘Halloween’ Ha! Sunday Is anybody else watching ‘Money Heist’? Such a great show!!! We watched one episode Sunday afternoon and we only have three episodes to go before the big finale. Steve and I have really loved this intense and very clever series and we are sad that it is almost finished. ‘Money Heist’ is in Spanish so Steve has to read the subtitles. I can understand almost all of it but the actors talk incredibly fast. Sometimes I find that I need to read the subtitles too. There’s a lot of swearing in the show and the translation sometimes makes me laugh. It’s not always spot on! Crispy Kremes We very rarely have Krispy Kremes even though I could probably quite easily have them every week. They are loaded with sugar and goodness knows what. But they are so delicious and were such a nice Sunday treat. Three down, one left. Wonder who will get the last one. Maybe we should cut it up into thirds and share! A Yummy Milkshake Sunday, after lunch, I made myself a banana milkshake. In this heat, the bananas were looking a bit sad and I needed to use them up before they went completely mushy. I threw in a handful of almonds to my shake and it tasted great!! Another

Hanging Out At Home Read More »

Summer Holidays

2 Comments / Friday Favourites

Hi friends! Hope everyone is keeping safe and well. Doesn’t Christmas feel like a lifetime ago?? I have been enjoying every minute of my Summer holidays. Instead of panicking about the beginning of the school year, which is now only two weeks away, I have been trying really hard to live in the moment. Mostly all I have been doing is staying at home which I totally love as I am a real homebody but there have been lots of favourites this week that I’m excited to share with you. #1 Anniversary Night Away Beginning with my first favourite. Tuesday Steve and I stayed overnight in North Sydney and celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary. Woah how did 32 years just whizz past in a blink !! We stayed at the North Sydney Harbourview Hotel, where we have stayed many times before and this was the view from our room. The view of the good old Sydney Harbour bridge just never gets old! So beautiful at night Normally when we stay, we enjoy a drink at the bar and then a lovely dinner in the hotel restaurant. Unfortunately, both were closed this time. I think Covid has meant fewer guests staying at the hotel. So both the bar and restaurant are only opening Thursday to Sunday. When I booked online this information wasn’t on their website. But it probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway because we don’t really have the luxury of weekends together anymore as Steve works in hospitality, so Tuesday night was really our only option. Our dinner was delicious and we had a lovely time. But we both felt a bit disappointed we weren’t able to enjoy eating in the restaurant. Fingers crossed things will be back to normal next year. Zucchini flowers as an entree Sirloin steak for Steve Barramundi for me Cheese plate and sorbet to share! Our anniversary is actually today and would you believe it we both forgot! Ha, I guess because we celebrated on Tuesday it felt like it was over. As Steve was running out the door for work he wished me a happy anniversary. Too funny! #2 A Fun Manicure While we were away I treated myself to a manicure! I wanted to get one before Christmas but I ran out of time. It’s not often that I paint my own nails or even get a manicure. I seem to go through phases where I paint my nails for a couple of months and then stop. Getting a manicure was a fun thing to do and I really enjoyed it. So maybe I should make it my aim to do this as part of my self-care routine. I’m not very good at taking time out just for myself so this year I am going to try and change that. #3 Relaxing Bubble Bath Another huge favourite for me was having a relaxing bubble bath while we were away at the hotel. I always have super quick showers. The funny thing is that we actually have a spa bath at home and I NEVER use it. Seriously what is wrong with me?? This is another thing I am going to add to the list of things that I will be doing this year!! #4 A BIG New Television A whole family favourite was finally getting a new TV and guess what? We don’t need binoculars to see this one!! Ha!! Look at the size difference!! We had a Samsung TV that was about nine years old and still works perfectly fine. But for the last couple of years, my son has been asking (practically begging) for a new TV. I have to admit even with glasses on I had trouble seeing the screen from the sofa. BUT, I had a real attachment to this old TV cabinet that held the old TV. I just couldn’t bear to get rid of it even though it was only ever made for the old-style televisions from 30 years ago. So none of the big new ones would fit into the tight space inside the cabinet. The Old TV Cabinet Had To Go I just loved this old clunky TV cabinet. It represented so much! It was the first ‘real’ piece of furniture I bought when we were first married. I had seen it in the local furniture shop and I fell instantly in love with it. But it was so expensive and money was tight back then. So I saved and saved desperately hoping that someone else didn’t buy it first. The nice man who owned the furniture store was probably sick of me coming into the shop to admire it. He let me pay for half of it and then he held onto it for me until I finished paying it off. So to say I loved this cabinet is an understatement but it was time for it to go. I also had nowhere else to put it. If I had a spare room I would for sure have stored it in there. I managed to sell it on Facebook Marketplace which took forever. (I thought there might be a frenzy of buyers desperate for it, ummm but No) And now I am so totally happy with the new TV that I don’t miss the old TV cabinet at all. It’s really out of character for me to be so attached to a piece of furniture. Our huge fancy new Sony TV has an incredible sound and makes me feel like I’m at the cinema. #5 Movie Night So during the week we popped some microwave popcorn and watched Batman Returns. We were keen to watch an action movie we hadn’t seen before. The three of us wanted to get blown away by the sound and picture quality. It’s incredible to watch, I really hope I never get used to the new TV and take it for granted. You can even see the pores on the actor’s skin on this TV!!!! #6 A New

Summer Holidays Read More »

How To Pack A Healthy School Lunch Box

5 Comments / Insights Into Early Childhood Education

The school year is starting soon. So now is the perfect opportunity to start planning and preparing for a new year of healthy school lunches. Without a doubt, it’s very beneficial for kids to become involved in the planning process. It is a perfect opportunity to get them excited about nutrition, meal planning and learn how to pack a healthy school lunch box. Furthermore, they are more likely to accept any food changes if they feel that they are part of the whole decision-making process. Set A Healthy Eating Example We all know that children are always watching and learning from everything we do and say. So it is also really important to lead by example when it comes to our diet. When children learn good habits early on they will carry these habits right through to adulthood. Some Things To Consider When Packing Your Childs Lunchbox When considering how to pack a healthy school lunch box. Begin by making a list of some healthy food options together with your child. And just like you meal plan for your dinners, consider creating a lunch plan. You can easily rotate the food choices to avoid boredom or uneaten lunches. Avoid sneaking in new foods in the hope that your child will be tempted to try them. If they are not going to eat it at home then they are not going to eat it at school. What You Can Include In A Healthy Lunch box Fresh fruit Apples Bananas Pears Oranges Grapes Crunchy Vegetables Celery Cucumbers Carrot Tomatoes Capsicum Sugar snap peas or snow peas Protein Lean Chicken Canned tuna Canned salmon Eggs Baked beans Hummus Dairy Milk Yoghurt Cheese Grains Wholemeal sliced bread Wholemeal crackers Bread roll Flatbread Pita bread Tortillas Drinks Tap water, it’s simple and it’s the best option Examples Of A Healthy School Lunch Could Include Sandwich It’s best to choose wholemeal bread and you could add fillings like Cheese, and salad Egg and mayonnaise with some shredded lettuce Sliced cooked chicken breast with pesto and salad Tuna or salmon and salad Chicken and avocado Cheese and tomato Roast beef, cheese, and salad Omelette with slices of tomato and shredded lettuce or rocket These are just a few ideas, you could also add things like leftover meatloaf or meatballs. Instead of using sliced bread why not rotate and include bread rolls and wraps. This will keep lunches more interesting and varied. If you know your child likes condiments then you could include them in moderation and add them to sandwiches or wraps. Some Condiment Ideas Could Include Mustard Pesto Hummus Mayonnaise Chutney Tapenade Bento Boxes Bento boxes are a great way to keep your child’s lunches both healthy and interesting. So you could add things like A small variety of fruit and vegetables Salad such as potato, garden or Greek Salad Crackers or pita bread Dips such as hummus, guacamole, or salsa Dried fruits such as apricots or apples Well cooked chicken, ham, roast beef, or hard-boiled eggs Leftovers Sometimes children prefer things like leftovers instead of sandwiches. For example Leftover spaghetti bolognese Rice dishes like fried rice plain noodles Children will enjoy leftover lunches either hot or cold. Just make sure that you pack these food items safely and correctly. Examples Of Healthy Morning tea, Recess Or Snack Air-popped popcorn Sliced fresh fruit Stewed fruit Carrot and celery sticks with hummus Cheese and wholegrain crackers Rice cakes Dried fruit Fruit bread Corn on the cob Foods To Eat In Moderation Or Avoid Highly processed meats such as salami, ham, devon, pastrami, and mortadella. These cold meats are also high in fat and salt content. For this reason, they should only be included in moderation. Many preschools and schools also have a “No Nut Policy” to ensure the safety of the children who are allergic. Therefore it is important to avoid sending anything with nuts. Avoid giving your child chocolate spreads, honey, or jam as these contain very high amounts of sugar and are therefore very bad for their teeth. Important Things To Remember When Packing A Healthy School Lunch Box Indeed, remember not to overwhelm your child with too many choices. Therefore keep it simple and easy for them so they will want to eat their lunch. Cut up their sandwiches in manageable pieces either in half or quarters Cut or slice the fruit you pack. It is much easier and less overwhelming for children to eat an apple or pear if it is sliced. Just make sure to squeeze some lemon juice to avoid these fruits turning brown and looking unappetising. Avoid soggy sandwiches. A great way to do this is by being mindful of how you prepare them. Firstly, don’t add too many condiments or spreads. Secondly, layer the fillings in the sandwich correctly. Make sure the salad items are always in between the meat and the cheese. If the salad is touching the bread, by the time it’s lunch break the sandwich will be nothing short of a soggy mess. Importantly, if you send grapes please be sure to slice them lengthwise, there have been cases of children choking on grapes. The same applies to cherry tomatoes too! Make sure to pack lunch boxes with an ice brick. This will ensure that your child’s lunch is safe to eat later in the day. The same applies to leftovers. If you plan to send cold leftovers then make sure to include an ice brick. If you want your child to have a hot lunch then make sure to heat the food to a safe correct temperature before it goes into the thermos. These are some ideas and suggestions for how to pack a healthy school lunch box. Another thing you might like to consider is minimising the use of single-use plastic and wraps. This way your child’s lunchbox will not only be healthy but sustainable too! Related Articles How To Pack A Sustainable Lunch Box How To Prepare Your Child For Preschool

How To Pack A Healthy School Lunch Box Read More »

Ways To Feel Instantly Happier

9 Comments / Beauty and Self Care

Sometimes when life gives you lemons you might not always be in the mood to make lemonade. But unfortunately, it’s really hard to be productive when you do find yourself feeling like you’re in a funk. In addition, being down can have a negative impact on those around you and that’s no fun. So what are some things that you can do when you feel like your mood has hit a bit of a slump? Here are 12 ways to feel instantly happier that you can try the next time you need to lift yourself out of some grey clouds. Have A Good Cry Crying has many positive effects on your body and mind. After a good cry, your body can almost feel like the tears have washed away all that built-up tension and frustration that might have been causing you to feel unhappy. You will feel calmer, soothed and your mood can improve after you have shed some tears. Eat Some Happy Food Sometimes when you are feeling down it may be tempting to reach for some comforting junk food. But that is not the way to go. A much better alternative is to eat some dark chocolate or cheese! These foods are not only decadent but also contain natural ingredients that can enhance your mood. Have A Nap Just like babies get tired and irritable, adults can too. If you are feeling down and lethargic the reason may be that you are just plain exhausted and you need to have a nap to recharge yourself. A short nap can do wonders to lift your mood and can also have many benefits for your overall health and well-being. Listen To Your Favourite Music There’s no doubt that music affects mood and has the power to make us feel all the emotions. So why not play some of your favourite songs that evoke happy feelings. Maybe songs from a good period in your life will bring back feel-good happy memories. Spend Time With A Happy Friend When you hang out with happy people then chances are that you will feel happier too. Happiness is contagious and so it’s something that we definitely want to catch. Spend time with that special happy friend who you can confide in, trust, and enjoy spending time with. Dance A great way to get your blood pumping and feel more energised is to bust out some dance moves. Shake off the cranky pants and put on your boogie shoes!! Practice Gratitude Take some time to think about all the things that you are thankful for. Doing this shifts your mind to be more positive. Practicing gratitude is a helpful habit to take on because it means that your mind is reflecting on more positive and helpful thoughts that you can focus on. Get Outside Spending time outside under the blue sky and sunlight does wonders for your state of mind. Breathing in the fresh air will revitalise you and leave you feeling happier. If you can’t go outside then at the very least open the blinds and curtains to let the light shine into your home. Write Down What You Are Feeling If you write down what you are feeling it can be really beneficial in a couple of ways. firstly, it can help you to organise your thoughts onto paper and be able to understand them better. Secondly, it helps to clarify why you are feeling the way you are and help you to recognise any triggers. Put On A Smile Even if you don’t feel like it, go ahead and smile. Research shows that smiling can boost your frame of mind and make you feel more positive. I guess that’s why they say “fake it till you make it”. Light Your Favourite Candle Not only does candlelight make everything feel cosy, but finding the right scent can also do wonders to lift your mood. Burn a candle with your favourite fragrance or try a guaranteed pleasant and uplifting scent like good old vanilla. Focus On The Now “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present”- Bill Keane Thinking about the past or looking too much into the future can be a real downer. As challenging as this can be, try and stop your mind from wandering away and instead focus on the now. So next time you are not feeling your usual happy self why not give these tips on ways to feel instantly happier a try. Related Articles How To Be Positive In A Negative World Self Care

Ways To Feel Instantly Happier Read More »