February 2023

Hello To A New Week

Hi friends, have you ever had one of those weekends that just seem to fly by in a blink of an eye? Well, that’s exactly how I feel about this weekend. I blinked and it was gone and here we are again saying hello to a brand new week! I hope that you guys had a great weekend. Thanks so much for stopping by today and letting me share with you a few of the things that I got up to. Friday First up Friday afternoon I literally raced home from work. I had a super fast shower and got changed. Because it was finally time to go see Ed Sheeran in concert with my lovely friend! I can hardly believe that we bought the tickets almost a year ago. Here I am saying that the weekend flew by. But I think that it really feels like time has just hit fast-forward! But first…..Sushi Anyway, my friend and I both decided that it was a good idea to grab a bite to eat before we went to the concert. She brought some delicious fresh sushi. And we tucked in while we caught up on what had been going on with us over the last couple of weeks. Ed Sheeran Sydney Concert Then it was time to get going and luckily we got through the busy Friday evening traffic ok. As a result, we were at Accor stadium just before 7 pm. And oh my goodness there were SO many people! I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t been to any big events in a couple of years. But I felt kind of overwhelmed by the number of people everywhere. We walked around for a bit so I could get used to the masses before going inside the stadium. And I’m so glad that we did because this is what it looked like inside. The concert was completely sold out so eventually all of those seats, even the ones right up at the very top. They were all full. I loved that Ed Sheeran appeared right on time. And it was really fun to do the countdown with the crowd in the last ten seconds before showtime. Then all of a sudden bam there he was on stage. It definitely was a night to remember. The atmosphere was electric and the music was incredible. He is a very talented musician and he seemed very down to earth. It was such a fun night! Saturday Saturday morning I had to go to the shops to pick up a few things. Before I set out I made sure to have a coffee and make a list. Because there were a few things that I had to make sure that I didn’t forget. I also made sure to grab my list before I left home. I can’t tell you the number of times that I have gone to the shops and left my list at home grrrr!! On the way, I realised that my outfit matched my shopping bags ha! Then in the afternoon, I really enjoyed some downtime. I had a really late lunch while I watched a movie on Netflix called “The Strays”. Have you seen it? I can’t say I loved it but it was one of those movies where you feel committed enough to watch. Because you want to know how it ends. Well, it sure didn’t end the way I expected. In the evening, Sam came home from his part-time job and we had some dinner together. Then we watched the latest episode of “The Last Of Us”. Now, this is one show that I am really enjoying. And I especially love that Sam and I are watching it together. Steve works in the evenings so he hasn’t been watching it with us. But I’m pretty sure that he is secretly pleased because zombies scare him. And there are plenty of zombies in this one! Sunday was a fun day because I went to my cousin’s surprise birthday lunch. Her husband organised a really cute birthday cake. It had a picture of all their beloved cats singing happy birthday. So cute! In the excitement, her husband forgot to bring birthday candles. But it was all ok, we still sang nice and loud. After lunch, I came home and got to work on my meal planning for the week. I’m determined to do this on a Sunday afternoon. Because it really helps to keep me on track with my healthy eating goals. And it’s also great to not have to worry about what to cook each night of the week. Then I worked on my blog and before I knew it, the afternoon had flown by. Overall, it was a really great weekend and I’m thankful for all the fun times. But it was also really nice to have some time to unwind and recharge as well. It’s a bit tough saying goodbye to the weekend but I’m feeling ready to say hello to a brand new week. And tackle whatever the new week throws my way. Really I am 😜 Happy Monday! Linking up with Holly and Sarah Sharing on ;

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This Week’s Favourites

6 Comments / Friday Favorites

Hiya friends. I know I say this a lot but seriously! This week really went by so fast!! It’s been a good week with a whole lot of good things happening. This week has been all about some lovely treats. As well as some big things that I just have to get my head around. I kind of feel like I’m a bit all over the place but I’m happy to be back here today sharing a few of this week’s favourites! Pizza And Margaritas! I had an amazing birthday weekend which ended on Sunday night. When my family came over to my place for pizzas and Margaritas! Birthday Surprises I had a fantastic start to the week! My lovely friend surprised me with some amazing birthday goodies on Monday morning. She has the sweetest family and I love them so much!! Now I have the best mug in the staff room at preschool. And drinking out of it it really just makes me so happy!! Flavoured Tea When I got home on Monday afternoon after work. Sam’s lovely girlfriend was visiting and she gave me a lovely variety of teas from T2 as a birthday present. I love a nice cup of tea in the evenings and I especially love tea from T2. Lollies! My cousin gave each of us a treat jar filled with our favourite lollies as well as a gift card for Christmas. As you can see I have more self-control than Steve or Sam. They have finished all their lollies but I’m making sure that I make my favourite snake lollies last! Avocados I have been eating lots of avocados that I bought from the farmer’s market. These are a perfect size to pack for lunch. Strawberry Milkshake! Strawberry milkshakes are my favourite and when my work colleague sent me this pic on Tuesday evening. I was inspired to make myself one too. I used this delicious Hersheys syrup but I got carried away and splashed a huge amount so my milkshake was super sweet! Macarons! Then on Wednesday, another lovely friend gave me these delicious macarons for my birthday. So Wednesday evening after dinner I ate three of them and they tasted so good!! Thursday was a big day because Sam bought himself a car!! It’s a lovely car and mechanically sound but I have to get my head around this big purchase. I’m still not used to the fact that he drives. And now that he is responsible for his own car. Well, that just about messes with all of my emotions and my brain is playing catch up. How did the years go by so fast, I mean it feels like he was a little kid just a minute ago! Wow, what an amazing week it’s been, packed with some more birthday surprises and some majorly exciting events! Although I must admit, even good things can be a little bit overwhelming, so I just need a bit of time to fully take them all in and savour the excitement! Anyway, I’m keeping today’s Friday favourites post short because I am just about to head off to the Ed Sheeran concert in a minute. Thank you so much for being here today and letting me share a few of this week’s favourites with you. I hope that you have the best weekend! See you back here on Monday 😊 Happy Friday! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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12 Comments / Family Life

February 2023-Hi friends! February is such a short month! And when I checked my planner the other day I could hardly believe that it was already the last Wednesday of the month. It sure crept up so fast! Anyway, I’m here today linking up with Shay for the February edition of ‘What’s Up Wednesday’. And we are looking at what we’ve been up to during this very short month. So let’s dive right in. What We’re Eating This Week I’m happy to report that I have kept up with my weekly meal planning! Yay, go me! Now I just have to be consistent for the rest of the year. Monday- Chicken pie with mashed potato and veggies Tuesday- Grilled Barramundi with chips and salad Wednesday- Lamb cutlets with vegetables and jacket potatoes, sour and chives. Thursday- Turkey bolognese with garlic bread and salad Friday-leftovers because I’m going out Saturday- Roast chicken with baked potatoes and salad Sunday-Teriyaki salmon with rice and vegetables What I’m Reminiscing About My super fun birthday weekend which you can read all about here. My sweet colleague whose birthday was the day after mine (but she is decades younger!) has declared this week as birthday week too. She inspires me happy all the time. So I think I might do the same 😊 I’m also reminiscing about when Sam was little. It feels like only yesterday that he was wheeling around the house in his plastic car. And now after passing his driving test he is looking to buy a real live car with a motor and everything! What I’m Loving We have been having some really hot days this month! Summer arrived late this year so hopefully, this means that it will also leave late. I just love the hot weather so much. The only thing that I dislike about the hot weather is the bugs and the spiders! Thankfully I haven’t had any major run-ins with giant cockroaches this summer. But I nearly walked into a huge spider web that sprung up overnight. Isn’t it massive!! Luckily I sprayed the awning where the web was hanging from and ran inside the laundry. Sure enough, I heard a scuttling sound and then this dropped down. I think it’s a huntsman spider which isn’t deadly. But it could surely scare me to death!! It doesn’t look huge in the pic because it’s all shrivelled up from the bug spray. But believe me, it was BIG !! What We’ve Been Up To Just the usual things like work but with lots of fun times spent with family on the weekends eating delicious food. Ha! I guess this is why I called my blog play, work, eat, repeat. 🤗 What I’m Dreading Thankfully I’m not dreading anything at the moment. What I’m Excited About I’m going to the Ed Sheeran concert on Friday night with my bestie! What I’m Watching I’m still watching The Sopranos and I’m up to Season 2. I haven’t had a lot of time to watch much else. Although I’m really enjoying The Sopranos, I would really love to watch a feel-good show. I need a good viewing balance so if you have any recommendations I would really love to hear them. What I’m Listening To Right now I’m listening to the rain and thunder. It was a really sunny day until this afternoon and now it’s all humid and rainy. I checked the weather forecast and it looks like we are in for some much cooler days ahead. Oh well, I guess Autumn is coming. What I’m Wearing Here is a recap of a few things that I have been wearing this month. It’s been all mainly about summer clothes!! What I’m Doing This Weekend I’m going to a surprise birthday party on Sunday. Don’t worry the person who is being surprised doesn’t read my blog so I haven’t spoiled anything. What I’m Looking Forward To Next Month Sam starts uni next month and he has chosen to do a Bachelor of Nursing. So I’m excited for him and praying that he likes his course, is able to keep up with juggling part-time work as well as study and that he can cope with the commute. The uni he will be going to is one hour by car or nearly two hours by train. He doesn’t need to go in every day which is a good thing! What Amazon Purchase Did I Love This Month I found these fantastic grey microfiber cleaning cloths that I use only for the kitchen. They are amazing for cleaning up any spills, they are also super absorbent and they wash really well. I really like having neutral-coloured cloths and dish towels for the kitchen so these are perfect! I also bought these coloured ones for the bathrooms, laundry and other messy areas. They are fantastic and they leave my bathrooms all fresh and shiny. Plus I love that they are all different colours because that means that they will never be confused with the kitchen ones. We bought Sam a new gaming monitor as a combined Christmas and high school graduation present. He had been researching the best value-for-money monitor for the longest time and he decided that this one was the best. So far he has been so happy with this monitor and he tells me that his gaming experience is out of this world! So I guess that just about wraps up this month’s edition of ‘What’s Up Wednesday’. Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope that you have the best day!

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Birthday Weekend

17 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia

Hey there friends! Woah Monday sure came around fast!! I’m not feeling quite ready to let go of the weekend because it was such a fun birthday weekend! But I’m happy to be back again linking up with Holly and Sarah for today’s ‘Hello Monday’.Thank you so much for being here, I always appreciate you guys stopping by to have a read. Ok, so I have to confess that I don’t usually love celebrating my birthday. I’m pretty shy and being the centre of attention always kind of freaks me out. I’ll have to tell you about my wedding day someday! Plus there’s also the fact that getting older doesn’t excite me. Anyway this year instead of moaning about being a year older I decided to embrace all the celebrations wholeheartedly. And I’m pretty sure that it’s because after such a horrible 2022. I am learning that every minute on earth is a precious blessing not to be taken for granted. Birthday Weekend An Amazing Birthday Lunch! I decided that last week was birthday week and so this weekend was definitely going to be birthday weekend! And we kicked off the celebrations by going to The Grounds Of Alexandria on Saturday. This is one of my favourite places to visit and we hadn’t been there for ages. So when my husband asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday this was of course my first choice! I did a blog post about The Grounds Of Alexandria a while ago and you can read all about it here. If you’re ever in Sydney then I would say that this is one of the places that you really should visit! This time we didn’t eat in the cafe instead we ate in the restaurant called ‘The Potting Shed’. The Grounds has a big cafe and a restaurant where you can enjoy lovely meals. There are also different function areas for wedding receptions and other big and small events. The Potting Shed was just amazing! I loved the whole atmosphere, the decor and the super friendly and attentive staff. And to top it off the food was just incredible! We’ve eaten at places before where it’s all about the atmosphere and vibe. But not so much about the food. Or the other way around where the food is great but the place is dull. The Potting Shed has both a really great ambience and incredibly delicious food. So much greenery everywhere! Fun Cocktails! Steve and I started off with some cocktails and they came served like this! Ha! Isn’t it just so cute!! Two pot plants with ice and the cocktail in a small watering can. For our entree, we shared some mussels with crusty bread in the most delicious sauce. Oh my gosh, the sauce was so good that I honestly just wanted to pick up the whole bowl and slurp it all up! But don’t worry I didn’t. For mains, we both ordered the Morton Bay bug tortellini. Moreton Bay bugs are a type of seafood that is native to the coastal waters of Australia. They have a sweet and delicate flavour which is often compared to lobster or prawns. I really wish they would take the word “bug” out of the name. Such delicious seafood shouldn’t be called a bug eeewww! I try not to think about it because it really tastes divine! Then we finished off by sharing a red velvet skillet cookie with mango and passionfruit and white chocolate sauce. Afterwards, we wandered around The Grounds looking at all the fun Disney displays. The theme until the end of April is celebrating 100 years of Disney. And The Grounds Of Alexandria has been turned into a neon fantasyland. I would love to go back at night because it must look even more spectacular when all the neon displays are visibly lit up. Verandah Bar After our long lunch, we went home and hung around for a couple of hours before we got ready to go out for the evening celebrations! We met up with our friends, another couple and headed to the Verandah Bar in the city. I wasn’t very hungry after such a big lunch earlier. But we all shared some arancini balls and a really delicious Butchers Board which had cheese, prosciutto, hummus, relish, flatbread and a whole lot more. The cocktail jug was great too. And the DJ was incredible, playing a great mix which kept us on the dance floor the whole night. Sunday Even after a big night Steve and I somehow still managed to get up bright and early on Sunday morning for swim club. The races started at 7.30 am and I helped with the timekeeping. Steve did quite well in his races and he was just so happy being in the cool water on such a hot morning. I enjoyed the beautiful view of the water and was perfectly happy staying dry. The races went on until midday and then we enjoyed a BBQ lunch. There was steak, sausages, chicken and a variety of salads. Oatley Amateur Swim Club sure do a great BBQ! In the afternoon Steve went to work and my family dropped in to wish me a happy birthday. My cousin and his girlfriend brought their baby Zila to meet our cat Sushi. Not sure if they’ll be best friends yet. They just stared at each other until Sushi got annoyed with Zila who was jumping around all excited. And then the deal breaker was when Zila went onto Sushi’s bed. Nope, she wasn’t impressed at all which really surprised me because Susi is the friendliest most chilled cat. But I guess everyone has their limits- even cats that are usually calm. We ordered pizza, I made a quick salad and then everyone sang me Happy Birthday! My lovely aunt surprised me with a delicious carrot cake. It was truly an epic birthday weekend! Getting up to go to work this morning was a

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Birthday Week

17 Comments / Friday Favorites

Happy Friday friends! It’s that glorious time of the week again when we can take a deep breath and finally welcome the weekend. I am so excited that the weekend is finally here. Probably because It has felt like such an incredibly long week! We hit the ‘week three blues’ at preschool. The new children have now realised that saying goodbye to mum and staying to play is not as exciting as it was in week one. Sigh! Anyway, I decided to call this week ‘birthday week’ because it’s my birthday this Saturday. And to celebrate I decided to try and remember to treat myself every day. It’s been so good that I may carry ‘birthday week’ into next week! Today I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share a few highlights from ‘birthday week’. Thank you so much for stopping by today. And I really hope that you all had a great week. But I’m pretty sure that if you are like me. Then you are super thankful for the weekend. So let’s jump right in with my first favourite for birthday week. Spend And Save It was ‘Spend and Save’ at my favourite clothing store Country Road. This was a week-long promotion where if you spent over a certain amount then you saved by getting a discount. I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t spent at all I would have definitely saved. But hey it was birthday week! So I just had to treat myself. I bought a chocolate-coloured top, a black sleeveless top, a pair of black pants and a cute cap. Can you tell I like dark colours? Flowers In my front garden, I noticed the flowers facing the sun that I planted in the spring blooming beautifully. While the ones that are in the shade are really struggling. It made me think of how important sunlight is and how we all need a bit of it to thrive! These look nice and healthy! Look at these poor guys. You would never think that they were planted at the same time as the others! Fruit And Veggies! I have been really excited about eating a wider variety of fruit and vegetables. I think that my visit to the farmers market on the weekend inspired me! On Monday, I roasted some capsicum and eggplant. I packed myself the most delicious sandwich with Turkish bread, ham, cheese, eggplant and capsicum. And I toasted it for lunch at work on Tuesday. It was so good!! Drivers’ License Sam passed his driver’s license test on Wednesday!! So we can finally say bye-bye to these. And hello to these! Dinner Date Steve and I went out for dinner on Wednesday and we had a fabulous dinner for birthday week. He’s working on Saturday when it’s my actual birthday. So Wednesday night was our own date night celebration. We had Alaskan king crab and prawn stack as well as bruschetta for entrees. Then for mains, Steve had the steak and I had a huge half lobster mornay with chips and salad. It’s so funny how almost every time we go out I always end up with the biggest meal! Hehe. A Dessert Bar Afterwards, we went to a dessert bar where we saw a big strawberry chocolate fountain. We were so full from dinner but we still had some room for dessert. We decided to order a sharing plate because there was no way that either of us would be able to finish a whole dessert on our own. Coke I was walking home on Thursday and I stopped off at 7-Eleven to buy myself a treat for birthday week. I bought a Coke in a glass bottle because I honestly think that it tastes better that way. We hardly ever buy coke and if we do we usually just get the bigger size that comes in a plastic bottle. But I’m convinced that Coke always tastes better from a glass bottle. Doughnuts My Friday birthday treat was some doughnuts with fun sprinkles! Strawberry-flavoured anything is my favourite!! It brings back all kinds of nostalgic memories from my childhood. My mum would sometimes treat me to a strawberry milkshake and I remember blowing into the straw to make bubbles until they almost spilled out down the sides of the cup. Ha! those were the days!! Valentine’s Card Oh yes and I nearly forgot that it was Valentine’s Day on Tuesday. Valentine’s Day is not really a huge deal here in Australia but it was nice to get a sweet card from my husband. In the end ‘birthday week’ has been a real blast. It’s amazing how taking the time to celebrate yourself can lift your spirits! I am really grateful for all the moments that made this week pretty special. I hope you all have an amazing weekend and I look forward to being back here on Monday! Happy Friday! Previous Posts In case you missed some posts from earlier this week. On Monday we talked about ‘House Rules’. And I shared some of our rules that give our family structure and stability so we can enjoy our home life. On Tuesday it was all about ‘ Teaching Children About Sustainability‘. And how important it is to teach our future generation to care for our precious earth.

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Sustainability-Teaching Children About Sustainability

2 Comments / Insights Into Early Childhood Education

Are you a parent or an educator looking for fun and engaging ways to teach young children about sustainability and caring for the environment, but not quite sure where to begin? Then you are definitely not alone. But keep in mind that teaching young children about being eco-friendly doesn’t have to be dull. In fact, there are many interesting and creative ways to present these important topics to young children. Teaching young children about sustainability can be interesting and fun! So let’s explore some strategies we can use to teach this very important topic to young children that will inspire them to grow up to be responsible caretakers of our precious planet. Why Is Teaching Young Children About Sustainability So Important? Before we jump into looking at some methods for teaching sustainability to young children and how we can incorporate eco-friendly practices into our daily routine. Firstly we need to explore why this education is so necessary. Young children are the green guardians of the future! Therefore it is vital that they understand how important it is to care for and protect the environment. In addition, teaching young children about sustainability has many learning and developmental benefits. For example, it teaches children a sense of responsibility as well as self-awareness. It fosters empathy and understanding of how their actions impact others and the world around them. Furthermore, teaching sustainability at a young age will ingrain positive practices and values that they will carry right through until they are adults. Introducing young children to sustainability will ensure that they will grow up to be a mindful and responsible generation of people who will actively preserve the earth for the future. How To Teach Children About Sustainability Explore Nature Together Exploring nature together is one of the simplest and most practical ways to present sustainability to young children. Spend some quality time exploring nature together! Go on a fun nature walk and talk about all the different plants, animals and insects you can spot. This will encourage lots of discussions about the importance of preserving these delicate ecosystems. Incorporate Sustainable Practices Into Everday Routines Incorporating sustainable practices into every day routines is a very effective way of teaching young children about sustainability. Encourage your children to do simple yet important things like Turn off lights whenever possible. Switch off electronics if they are not being used. Teach them to open the blinds and curtains to use natural light as much as possible. Don’t waste water by making sure to turn the tap off when your children are brushing their teeth. Encourage children to take shorter showers. All of these suggestions are small yet they can make a big impact on the environment. Don’t forget to have lots of conversations with your children about why doing these things is so important. And how these everyday practices will help to look after our natural resources. Use Environmentally Friendly Products Using environmentally products is yet another fantastic way of teaching children about sustainability. Talk to them about why it is important to use reusable water bottles and food containers. Pack them a sustainable lunch box every day for preschool or school. And teach them to recycle whenever possible. Be A Good Role Model Children learn more from what we do than what we say. And they are always watching! So don’t forget to be a good role model and make sustainable choices. For example, take your own shopping bags every time that you go to the supermarket. Make a conscious effort to not buy unnecessarily packaged food. Perhaps visit a local farmers market and let them help you choose fresh fruit and vegetables. Let them see that food doesn’t have to come out of a plastic wrapper. Plant A Garden Young children love to get their hands dirty and explore. That’s why planting a garden is such a great way to teach them about the importance of growing their own food. Children love to care for the plants by watering them and they are absolutely fascinated when they can see plants growing and producing food. When it comes time to harvest their food. The excitement on their faces is such a joy to watch! And it’s amazing to see them be so willing to taste fruits and vegetables that they have grown themselves. Have A Worm Farm Another fun way to teach children about sustainability is to keep a worm farm. Children can learn all about the benefits of composting and the natural process of decomposition. Furthermore, children will gain an appreciation of the amazing role that worms have in our ecosystem. Looking after a worm farm can also spark lots of conversation about the importance of reducing food waste and how food waste can be repurposed instead of going into a landfill. Children will also really enjoy looking after a worm farm and they will be amazed to see how fast the worms manage to chomp through food scraps to produce nutrient-rich soil Use Natural Materials Children can be incredibly persistent about wanting to buy toys. But try hard not to give in to pester power. And instead of buying expensive plastic toys that will keep them entertained for a short amount of time. Why not use natural materials like clay, cardboard boxes, old magazines or fabric? This is much more sustainable and the added bonus is that they will spend hours using their creativity and imagination. Make Recycling Fun And Engaging To make learning about recycling engaging you could try some fun games and crafts. Make your own matching games or create an art project using only recycled materials. In Conclusion Teaching children about sustainability can be a lot of fun. Engaging in activities like exploring nature, using eco-friendly products, embracing sustainable practices in everyday life and being a positive role model. You can nurture and instil in your child a real passion and respect for the environment that will last a lifetime.

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House Rules

10 Comments / Family Life

House Rules- Hi everybody! I hope you are all feeling bright and ready for a fantastic new week. It’s tough hitting the grind again but there are many reasons to love Mondays. And joining in with the monthly ‘Not Just A Mom’ link-up is always a great way to start off the working week. Today we are going to chat about ‘House Rules’. I honestly feel that a happy home really needs a solid foundation, and that’s where house rules come in! If we set clear, positive and fair house rules then this helps to create a safe, harmonious and enjoyable environment for our family. House rules give us structure as well as stability. They make our home a safe space where we can express our values, priorities and expectations. In addition, having house rules sets the tone for healthy communication and also encourages responsibility. I live with my husband and our eighteen-year-old son and we have a few simple rules that help us coexist in harmony. Of course, realistically speaking not every day can be sunshine and rainbows but these rules certainly do help! House Rules Respect Each Other’s Belongings This means no borrowing my phone charger without permission! Clean Up After Yourself If everyone pitches in and doesn’t leave a mess after themselves then the mess doesn’t pile up. So we have a few rules that really make a difference. If you make yourself something to eat in the kitchen then pack everything away and wipe any spills Squeegee the shower after each use to keep it shiny and free of water spots. This makes cleaning the bathrooms so much easier! Put your dirty clothes in the clothes hamper. Communication Is Key If something is bothering us, we talk about it instead of letting it fester. And if someone needs alone time we try and respect that. Now that’s the rule but here is the reality. I’m not great at expressing what is bothering me and I’m working on it. However, my husband and son are both much better at it! Seriously sometimes I think I brought the wrong kid home from the hospital. Because Sam is so calm and communicates very maturely. He doesn’t let things build up and really values times when we sit down as a family and talk. Wait I just realised that I did indeed bring the right kid home from the hospital. It’s just that he clearly takes after his dad. Hehe! Chores For All We all have a few household responsibilities to keep things running smoothly. From taking out the recycling and rubbish, emptying the dishwasher, and feeding the cat. Mind Your Manners It’s much more fun to be around people who are polite and respectful. So we really value good manners by using “please” and thank you” and treating each other with kindness and consideration. Knock Before You Come In! This house rule is a high-priority one. And we all make sure that we knock before we enter a room if the door is closed. This shows respect for privacy and respect of personal space. None of us wants to have someone walk in on us if we’re half-dressed! No Swearing I guess no swearing is not really a ‘rule’ as such. It’s more that we just don’t swear at home (not out loud anyway 😂) Check-In We check in with each other if we are running late or out longer than expected. This helps to stop mama from catastrophising! Having a set of house rules in my home with my husband and eighteen-year-old is the key to creating a harmonious household. Whether it’s taking turns feeding the cat, putting out the garbage or checking in when we’re out. These small actions all add up to create a good vibe at home. But it’s important to remember that no one is perfect and believe me we do mess up from time to time. However it’s not about being perfect, it’s about trying. After all mistakes and rough times are an opportunity to learn and grow. Linking up with Holly and Sarah Sharing with the Not Just A Mom Ladies And Sharing on

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sunshine for a few of this weeks favourites

Favourites For This Week

7 Comments / Friday Favorites

Hello, hello! Can you believe it’s already the end of another week? It feels like just yesterday we were starting the week with a bang, and now here were are, ready to share some favourites that happened in just a few short days. I really enjoy linking up with Andrea from ‘Momfessionals’ and Erika from “A Little Bit Of Everything’ each week for Friday Favourites. There’s something so special about reflecting on all the things that happened over the last few days (that go by in a flash!). And I always appreciate you guys stopping by to have a read. So let’s dive right in with some favourites for this week. Monthly Dinner With Friends Monday night was all about catching up with some friends for our monthly dinner at the local club. A regular monthly catch-up is one of my favourite things. It’s the perfect opportunity to catch up with all of the things that have happened during the month. And I really love having a set date on the calendar each month too. Because this way I know that there is always something fun to look forward to each and every month. I enjoyed my usual steamed barramundi served with broccoli and boiled rice. Every month I think about ordering something else but I just love this dish so much. The barramundi is very delicate and flaky and it’s cooked in fresh garlic and soy sauce. I also love how the steamed broccoli is always cooked perfectly with just the right amount of crunch. I tend to overcook mine unless I stand there watching it and stay really focused! Movie Night Tuesday night Steve convinced me to go to the movies. I was a bit worried that I would fall asleep because I felt so exhausted after a big day at work. We went to the 8.50 pm session to watch ‘Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre’ with Jason Stratham and Hugh Grant. I did manage to stay awake (mostly). I guess that it helped that the movie was full of big action scenes that I normally enjoy. But I didn’t really love this movie and I thought that it was just ok. I think I prefer Hugh Grant in a rom-com. He played a villain in this movie and it just seemed a bit strange. The choc tops we ate before the movie started were great! Cheers to yummy choc-tops! So Much Rain! Thursday the weather was absolutely nuts! The rain came down so hard and fast that it made the preschool playground totally saturated. Our preschool is located up on a hill so you could see all the rainwater gushing down the path and onto the street. It was crazy and I don’t think that I have ever seen so much rain in one day before. Then at the end of the day when we left the preschool later than usual after a staff meeting. The sun was out! Ha, the weather is just so weird this summer. A Yummy Lunchbox I had to take a photo of this delicious lunch box from one of our new preschoolers. Doesn’t it look so fresh and healthy? I had to laugh when the cute little owner told me she had grandpa cheese. I guess her grandpa must love Brie cheese a lot and now she’s named it after him. Yummy nutritious lunchboxes are a favourite! And so are the ones that are easy to open and close. You wouldn’t believe how difficult some lunchboxes can be to manage! These seemingly innocent containers can be as tricky as a Rubik’s cube. With lids that won’t go on properly, and snap locks that just won’t snap. I don’t know who designs these containers but I’d really like to have a chat with them!! Lip Oil I have been loving my Clarins Lip Comfort Oil which I bought when I went shopping with my friend in the school holidays. It leaves my lips feeling smooth and hydrated and I really love that it has a subtle colour and glossy shine. When I first saw it at the shops I thought that the colour would be too intense. But when I tried it on it gave my lips just the right amount of tint. And I’m so glad that I chose the chocolate colour. Meal Planning And Online Grocery Shopping I pretty much stuck to my meal plan this week and I’m proud of myself! It’s been so great knowing what to cook each night and it’s made my week a whole lot easier. It’s also made my online grocery shopping a breeze because I knew exactly what to order. I get such a buzz when my groceries are delivered because it means that I haven’t had to step foot inside a supermarket and battle the long lines. Which is really the last thing that I feel like doing after a long week at work. And that’s a wrap on another week! It sure was a busy one and I still feel like I’m adjusting to being back at work after the lovely long summer break. Which now feels like a very distant memory! I don’t have any major plans for the weekend and I’m excited to have some lovely free time! I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and I look forward to being back here on Monday. Happy Friday friends! And just in case you missed this week’s posts you can catch up here. Hello Monday Let’s Look-What’s Inside My Medicine Cabinet How To Keep The Spark Alive In Your Relationship

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How To Keep The Spark Alive In Your Relationship

1 Comment / Health and Well Being

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so it’s the perfect opportunity to show your special person just how much they mean to you. But it’s not just about the gifts, it’s also about how to keep the spark alive in your relationship. So today I have put together a few tips that we can all use to help keep our relationships strong and healthy. How To Keep The Spark Alive In Your Relationship Communicate Good communication would have to be the most important element in any relationship. So make time to listen to your partner, be open and honest and express how you feel. Communication is key to making sure to address any issues that come up. Keep in mind that consistent communication will keep your relationship strong. Long working days and the general busyness of everyday life can make it hard to keep the lines of communication open. Therefore sending texts to your partner throughout the day can be a simple and effective way to stay connected. A simple sweet message expressing affection is a great way to show love. And even a short message like “hey how’s your day” can show your partner that you are thinking of them. Be Polite Sometimes when you have been together forever. It can be easy to slip into the habit of taking each other for granted and forget to be polite. So don’t forget to say ” please” and “thank you”. And genuinely complimenting your significant other can go a long way in making them feel appreciated and valued. Being polite and respectful in your everyday interactions is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy and happy relationship. And will be sure to keep the spark alive in a relationship. Try New Things Together Plan some new activities that you can both experience together. This is a great way to keep things alive and exciting in a relationship. Remember back when you were first dating and you couldn’t wait for the next fun date that you had thoughtfully planned out? Keep the spark in your relationship by planning and exploring new experiences together. This is a great way to help bring you closer. And who doesn’t love having a fun date to look forward to? Keep The Romance Alive Holding hands or cuddling can help keep the spark alive by creating a sense of closeness and intimacy. Physical affection is an essential part of maintaining a strong emotional connection. Express Your Love To Your Partner In Their Love Language Showing your partner love in their love language is a meaningful way to make them feel valued and appreciated. If your partner’s love language is words of affirmation then compliment them or express your love through kind words. If their love language is physical touch then try giving them long warm hugs or holding their hand. If they appreciate acts of service and this speaks to their heart then do something that will make their life easier. For example, you could cook or clean for them. If your partner’s love language is gifts then surprise them with a meaningful token of your affection. Kindness Show your partner how much you care for them by surprising them with thoughtful gestures. Acts of kindness are the best way to intentionally communicate how much you love and appreciate them. Take A Trip Down Memory Lane Reliving some of your favourite moments together by looking at old photos and reminiscing about the good times. Is a sure way to reignite the spark in your relationship. Schedule Regular Date Nights Make time for each other and plan regular date nights. You can choose to go to a fancy restaurant, pack a picnic, or spend a cozy night at home. It really doesn’t matter. The most important thing is that you focus on each other and spend uninterrupted quality time together. And now for the fun part, Valentine’s Day gifts! If you are running short on time and ideas then get creative. Surprise your partner with a special date or a staycation. Spend the day together and do something that you both enjoy. Maybe a picnic, hike or even a cozy movie night at home. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as you both spend time doing something you love. Cook a romantic meal together and enjoy dinner for two by candlelight. Give each other meaningful gifts that show how much you care. Write your partner a love letter or choose a cute card that they will appreciate. In conclusion, keeping the spark alive in a relationship takes effort and intentional actions from both partners. Whether it’s finding new ways to show love in your partner’s love language, trying new things together, or making time for each other by scheduling regular date nights. The key is to never stop investing in your relationship. So spend some time reflecting on what makes your relationship special and unique. And remember that a strong and healthy relationship needs ongoing attention and nurturing. Putting in the effort to keep the spark shining bright is so worth it! Related Articles Stay-At-Home Date Night Ideas

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What’s Inside My Medicine Cabinet

6 Comments / Cleaning and Organising

Hi everyone I can hardly believe that it’s already the February edition of ‘Let’s Look’. Today I’m linking up with Shay from ‘Mix and Match Mama’ and Erika from ‘ A Little Bit Of Everything’. And we are going to chat about ‘What’s In Our Medicine Cabinet”. I like joining in and looking at these topics because they are a great way to exchange ideas and grab some tips. And the nosey part of me also likes to peek inside people’s cabinets too. Hehe! What’s Inside My Medicine Cabinet So welcome to my medicine cabinet the home of my happy and healthy essentials. From first aid must-haves to self-care staples. This medicine cabinet holds all the tools that I need to keep me feeling my best. A First Aid Box I like to keep all my first aid essentials in a box that I picked up from Ikea. I love this big box which is part of a set that has containers of different sizes. They are fantastic for keeping my bits and pieces neatly stored inside my cabinets. Inside this box, I keep my first aid things like band-aids and antiseptic for cuts and scrapes. As well as bandages, splinter cream, burn-aid (which is absolutely amazing for small burns. It stops the stinging in a flash) and an asthma puffer. I don’t have asthma but after I get a cold and cough. I find that my airway is very sensitive so the puffer helps with that. Pain relievers I have some Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in the medicine cabinet. When headaches strike I try and deal with them first of all by drinking water (sometimes I’m not great at remembering until I have a headache). But then of course, if that doesn’t work then I reach for the paracetamol. And the ibuprofen is mainly for my husband who gets knee pain from being on his feet for so many hours at work. Allergy relief My allergies are nowhere near as bad as they used to be. But sometimes they flare up and my nose is so annoyingly itchy that I want to scratch it off. So I like to keep some antihistamines to help during the allergy season. You can see by the way I’ve ripped open the box that my nose must have been making me crazy. I couldn’t wait to get into the antihistamine to make it stop! Skincare I keep some essential skincare products in my medicine cabinet. Like sunscreen, moisturiser and night cream. As well as some face masks to pamper my skin and give it the nourishment it needs. Visine Eye Drops My eyes go bright red almost every time I wash my hair. It doesn’t matter what brand of shampoo I use whether it’s organic, salon or supermarket shampoo. For some reason, any shampoo irritates my eyes and makes me look like I have been crying. So after I wash my hair I squirt some Visine eye drops in my eyes and then I’m all good to go. Thermometer I make sure to keep a thermometer in the medicine cabinet for easy access. It sure came in handy when we had covid! Electrolyte Solution For Dehydration We had the worst bout of gastro late last year. So I had to order some Hydrolyte ice blocks online to help us all get through it. None of us could even leave the house to go and buy it at the chemist. We don’t often get gastro but now we are prepared. Cotton Buds And Cotton Balls There’s also a small stash of cotton buds and cotton balls stored away in the Ikea containers that I mentioned earlier. RAT Tests I keep a couple of boxes of rapid antigen tests. But we got given so many from Sam’s school and my preschool that we also have a few boxes stored under the main bathroom sink. Aeroguard The mozzies are just relentless, especially in this humid weather. So roll-on Aeroguard insect repellent is an absolute must in the medicine cabinet! And that’s about all of the essentials that I keep in my main medicine cabinet. I also have a cupboard under the sink in the ensuite where I keep other things like hair products and make-up etc. Thanks so much for stopping by today and letting me give you a little tour of what’s inside my medicine cabinet. What’s inside yours, I’d really love to know 😊. In case you missed it. Here’s what we looked at in January. Organisation Tips For A Busy Family

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