April 2023

Hi friends! Welcome back to this week’s Friday favourites. I’m excited to be linking up with Andrea and Erika to share a few favourites from my week. This week has been all about adjusting back to the working week after the term break. And it was a bit of an unusual week because we had a public holiday on Tuesday. But as I’ve mentioned before even though we had one less working day. The week didn’t really feel any shorter! Anzac Day On Tuesday we celebrated Anzac Day, a special day in Australia and New Zealand where we show our appreciation towards the courageous men and women who have served our countries. And we come together to remember their bravery and sacrifice. We usually attend a dawn service but we didn’t this year because Steve has been working crazy long hours. And there was no way that he would have been able to get up so early. To be honest I couldn’t either! I have had some really crumby sleep lately and I think it might be a mixture of feeling a bit anxious about going back to work and also still feeling a bit sniffly from being sick last week. Anyway, our friends who we usually go to the dawn service with sent us a pic of the parade that they went to. Anzac Biscuits In honour of Anzac Day, I bought a packet of Anzac biscuits. Anzac biscuits are more than just a sweet treat, they are actually a symbol of the strength and resilience of our servicemen and women. They were originally sent to soldiers as a comforting reminder of home during World War I. Anzac biscuits are well known for their long shelf life because they are made with ingredients that don’t spoil easily. And they are really yummy, especially with a cup of tea! Warm Autumn Days This week has been really warm and gloriously sunny. And you would almost think it was spring over here. But according to my weather app, it looks like we are headed for a rainy weekend 🙁 Groceries Here is my mini grocery haul. I don’t usually go to the supermarket anymore and just order online. But I have really enjoyed walking up to our new Woolworths Metro. It is about a 15-minute walk and because the days have been so sunny I have loved walking up to have a sticky beak. And I was excited to find some things that were discounted! Tea I usually buy Tetley teabags but I thought I would try this Twinings English Breakfast. And I really enjoyed it too because the tea is extra strong and extra delicious! Date Night Wednesday night date night was fun and we went back to our usual haunt to enjoy the seafood platter. Then we finished with a bowl of gelato-vanilla, apple pie and pistachio. It was a great combo! Tasty Plant Sushi is really loving our new plant for the living room. She was munching on the leaves and I panicked, quickly googling to make sure that it wasn’t toxic. I hadn’t thought of that when I bought it at Ikea last weekend. But luckily the plant is non-toxic and completely fine for pets. Preschool Happenings My lovely colleague is back from maternity leave and I’m excited to be back in the classroom with her. She is so funny, and kind and her enthusiasm is contagious! During the week we have been talking to the kids about Anzac Day. And today we finished off by making Anzac biscuits and the kids had a blast! They were so good at waiting patiently for their turn to pour and mix the ingredients. I burst out laughing when they watched me carefully pour the melted butter into the mixture and they all let out a loud gasp of excitement. It was a chorus of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ and they made me feel like a total baking rockstar! I packaged the biscuits into brown paper bags and popped the recipe inside for their families. They were so excited to take their biscuits home. And that wraps up a few favourites for this week! To be honest, going back to work was a bit tough, but it turned out to be a good one nonetheless. And I’m feeling a whole lot better now that I’ve got week one under my belt. Thank you so much for being here today, I hope that you have all had a fantastic week and are just as excited as I am that it’s the weekend! Happy Friday! In case you missed my previous posts this week Hello Monday- A Recap Of My Weekend What’s Up Wednesday- Monthly Update Monthly Musings- all About Spring!  

Hey everyone it’s so good to be back again for this month’s fun Monthly Musings link-up with Holly and Patty. This month’s topic is All About Spring. And even though spring is a few months away for us because it’s Autumn over here in Australia. I’m excited to talk all about spring and everything that makes this season so delightful! In addition to the general excitement of the season. Today we are going to chat about favourite spring fashion pieces, delicious meals, spring traditions and a whole lot more. So let’s dive right in! All About Spring Favourite Spring Fashion Pieces I love wearing black and neutral colours. But once the weather warms up I find that I am just itching to wear something light and fresh. I don’t really tend to go for floral patterns. And when it comes to favourite spring pieces I usually like to wear anything that is neutral-coloured and add a touch of soft pink or blush. I also really love my light-coloured jeans. And after months of wearing dark denim and black pants. I am so ready to ditch these items. It’s so refreshing to embrace the lighter and brighter side of fashion in spring. Favourite Spring Scent When it comes to favourite spring scents there is nothing quite like the fresh invigorating aromas that fill the air during this time of the year. Spring is all about the smell of blooming flowers, the scent of freshly cut grass and the zesty fragrance of citrus fruits. All of these scents just scream ‘Spring is here!’ And when it comes to fragrances my favourite one for spring is Ô De Lancôme because it has a perfect blend of all the scents that make springtime so special. Go To Spring Meals Once the weather starts to warm up I get excited to whip up some fresh, colourful salads. I also like to make this very easy quiche which you can enjoy both hot and cold. And this spinach pie is also a favourite because it goes so well with a crispy fresh garden salad. Share A Spring Dessert Recipe I love these simple-to-make peanut butter M&M cookies because they are full of colourful M&Ms. And spring is all about colour! Plus these are great to take to picnics or any fun get-together! Share A Few Spring Traditions I always go to Bunnings on the first weekend of September to buy some colourful flowering plants for our front garden. I don’t have a green thumb at all but I’m getting better at looking after plants. Go me! Best Spring Cleaning Hack I think that my best spring cleaning hack is to declutter my wardrobe. It’s the perfect time to get rid of winter clothes that have seen better days. Or donate the ones that I haven’t worn at all during the colder months. It’s fun and exciting to pack away all the heavy winter clothing and pull out a fresh spring wardrobe. Will You Plant A Garden This Year? I’ve given up trying to grow vegetables. I used to grow tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and zucchini when my kids were little. We had some success and enjoyed gardening together despite my limited gardening skills. Now I just plant flowering plants because they look pretty and don’t need much looking after. Spring Rain…Love Or Hate? I’m not a fan of rain EVER unless I’m tucked into bed and night and I can hear it pouring down softly. Rain just makes my hair go frizzy! Favourite Spring Flower Jonquils because they have a lovely sweet fragrance. Any Spring Travel Plans This Year? No, not really, we don’t have any big travel plans but we do want to go on our staycation to Manly (a beachside suburb) that we missed out on last month. And it’s not much fun going to the beach in autumn or winter so we have decided to postpone it until later in the year.   Even though autumn is in full swing for me right now. It’s still always exciting to look forward to spring. So I’m going to try hard to embrace the autumn vibes while I keep dreaming of the warm, sunny days and bright colourful flowers that await us in the spring!  

Hi friends! Thanks so much for being here today for another Friday Favourites link-up with Andrea and Erika. It’s time to kick back, relax and embrace those Friday feels. While I’m excited that it’s the weekend, my head is almost spinning because the week has just flown by so fast. I had a really great week and it was all about food, friends and fun moments. And after such a lovely week, I have to admit that I don’t feel quite ready to go back to work on Monday hmph! Nevertheless, I need to focus on the positives and be grateful for the two weeks’ holiday that I just had. I am so happy that you have stopped by to have a read so let’s jump into a quick recap and a few favourite moments from the week. Resting Up! I spent Monday at home watching more 9-1-1 and resting after feeling unwell on Sunday. Thankfully the strong antibiotics did their thing and I woke up feeling almost back to my normal self on Tuesday! This was a good thing because a friend of mine invited me to have lunch with her at St George Sailing Club. I was so happy that I felt well enough to go out and actually enjoy the day pain-free! If you have ever had a sinus infection you’ll know what I mean. They are no fun at all! A Long Lunch It was fun catching up over cocktails, a delicious lunch and some pretty stunning views of the water. Afterwards, we went for a nice walk along the promenade admiring the views and the huge mansions. It must be nice to wake up to those views every morning! After I said goodbye to my friend I was going to catch an Uber home. But it was such a lovely afternoon that I decided to keep walking. Despite the hour-long trek, I felt really energized as I made my way home, enjoying the glorious sunshine and feeling grateful for the beautiful autumn day. Date Night Wednesday Steve and I went to The Continental Bar and Bistro in Newtown and it was such a delightful place. It had a warm, cozy, inviting atmosphere and the staff were so friendly. I love places like this where you feel so instantly welcome the minute you walk in. We shared a charcuterie board and it did not disappoint. From the variety of cured meats to the selection of cheeses and artisanal bread, every bite was such a treat. I was blown away by how creative and innovative their menu is and I think that this is what sets it apart from other eateries. I loved how they serve up their signature cocktails straight from a can. And I enjoyed a seriously good mar-tinny with just the right balance of vermouth and gin. For dessert, we ordered a flan in a can haha! which was really good. We had such a great night and we really enjoyed the fun and playful vibe of the bar. I thought that it was a really cute and unusual way to enjoy food and cocktails. Who knew that eating and drinking out of cans could be so exciting and delicious? I can’t wait to go back! Shopping And Lunch Wednesday I met up with my sweet bestie for a fun day out for lunch and shopping in the city. We had a nice long lunch at a Mediterranean fusion cafe. After studying the menu for ages because we couldn’t decide what to eat. I decided on a  delicious hearty bowl of pasta and my friend ordered the chicken skewers. We looked around the shops for a bit more after lunch and we ended the day at one of my favourite shops called Muji. Where I bought a few more cleaning supplies and then we caught the train home. I had such a great time with my sweet kind friend, she has such a thoughtful kind nature. And I just love hanging out with her. When I got home I think that I must have been inspired after buying some cleaning things at Muji so even though it was late I decided to clean the oven. Believe me, it really needed a good cleaning. I put on a movie on my Ipad to listen/watch and went to work scrubbing until it was sparkling clean and when I finished I felt like a total hero. I didn’t think to take a before photo of the oven and I only took a pic of the gross glass so I would remember how it fitted properly. It has some tricky clips on the side that gave me grief when I cleaned the oven for the first time when it was brand new a couple of years ago. Even though it’s a self-cleaning oven you still have to scrub the racks and the glass by hand. It’s only the inside that cleans itself. Oven cleaning is not a favourite but a sparkly one sure is! More Shopping Today I caught up with another lovely friend and this time we hit the shops at Bondi Junction. This bubbly friend of mine is a total cosmetics guru and she’s an absolute expert when it comes to beauty products. I always love learning new tips and tricks from her. Plus she is so much fun to be around. We’ve known each other for over twenty years, and even though there have been periods of time when we haven’t seen each other, we always manage to pick up where we left off. I had a really great week and it was so much better than last week when I was feeling sick. It felt amazing to get out and be well enough to enjoy some fun things and try new places to eat. But what truly made this week special was hanging out with some wonderful friends. Having friends who lift you up and make life more enjoyable is one of the

Hey there friends, welcome back! Can you believe that another week has already passed by? And here we are again for today’s Friday favourites. Personally, I have mixed feelings about how fast this week went by. On the one hand, I’m thrilled to be here with you to share my latest happenings and highlights. But on the other hand, I’m on term break right now and I don’t want the holidays to end so fast! Nevertheless, I’m so glad that you have stopped by today, so let’s dive right into this week’s recap shall we? Happenings And Highlights Good Friday It was so great to get together with my family for lunch on Good Friday. We had so much yummy food and spent lots of time chatting, taking turns cuddling our favourite puppy and we even watched a movie together. This was a huge highlight and I was so glad that I got a chance to see my family on Friday because on Saturday I woke up sick! A Cold Can you believe that I got a cold over the weekend? Just in time for the first few days of my much anticipated holidays!! It wasn’t a terrible cold and it was mainly just my head and sinuses aching as well as feeling generally bleh. But it was still so annoying! So I stayed home over the rest of the Easter weekend. And I drank lots of cups of warm cozy tea with lemon and honey. Binge Watching   And I also binge-watched ‘The Stranger’ on Netflix. It’s an eight-part British mystery thriller based on the Harlen Coben novel. I haven’t read any of his books but I sure am enjoying all of the limited series on Netflix that are based on his books! So far I have also watched ‘Stay Close’ and ‘Safe’ and I can recommend them all. I love a good limited series with a nice twist at the end! A Fun Performance Steve and I had plans to go to Manly for a few days. And We were both really looking forward to it. But he ended up not being able to get the time off from work as another one of the workers had a family emergency and had to go overseas. So we are hoping to get away another time. Anyway, that meant that I was free on Tuesday night and so I went along to see my friend perform at a bar called The Gasoline Pony. She has such a lovely voice and I really enjoyed her performance. We both go to the same bible study group and it was so encouraging to see most of the group there also supporting her. Burgers! On Wednesday Steve had the day off from work. So we went into Circular Quay to try out some burgers at Wahlburgers. We had a fun time and the burgers were delicious. This cheese sauce was divine. I have never tasted anything so deliciously cheesy before! We shared a choc-strawberry milkshake because I love strawberries and Steve loves chocolate. Then we finished off with this huge dessert made up of doughnut strips, bananas, ice cream and caramel syrup. Yum! I enjoyed looking around the restaurant at the photos of the Wahlberg family and some other memorabilia. When we left the restaurant the sun was setting and Sydney harbour looked so pretty. Rainbows Thursday I walked to our local Woolworths metro to pick up some cinnamon for a gluten-free pear cake that I wanted to make. On my way home I spotted some pretty rainbows and I sent a photo to my lovely friend. She sends me rainbow pics when she spots them too and they always make me so happy. We both say that they are signs from heaven and our mums saying hello to us. I like that a lot so I said hello back to my mum. It was so cloudy on the other side of the street but I could still see the rainbow! After I bought the cinnamon and admired the rainbows on the way home. I stepped into the house and suddenly it started to rain. The sound of the rain was so soothing and I loved listening to it as I made the cake. With the smell of cinnamon and pears wafting through my home. It truly felt like the perfect autumn day. Gluten-Free Pear cake The cake was really delicious too and we had it with a nice creamy dollop of vanilla ice cream on the side. It’s full of some nice wholesome ingredients and I love that the recipe is very simple. I don’t like complicated recipes so this one is perfect! It got big thumbs up from Steve and Sam so I will be making it again for sure. You can find the recipe here. Spare This morning I went to pick up a copy of Prince Harry’s book ‘Spare’ from our local library. Because I finally got an email from them saying that it was available. I had been on the waiting list since it was first released. So I’m really excited to read it over the weekend. Even though I was battling an annoying cold. I still managed to enjoy a couple of nice outings. But to be honest I have also really loved being at home. It is just the best treat to be able to enjoy my days without having to feel the pressure of the working routine. I have to keep reminding myself that I have time and I don’t need to get this or that done right this very minute. It often takes me a while to relax and stop acting like I have a schedule chasing me! I hope that you guys also had a great week and are excited about the upcoming weekend. I don’t have any big plans. So I guess it’s still more cozy days at home for me. Hope to ‘see’ you back here on Monday! Happy Friday! Linking