June 2023 - PLAYWORKEATREPEAT

Why The 80s Was The Best Decade-12 Reasons

I thought that it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane. And look at my all-time favourite decade- The 80s! If you grew up in this decade then you will know exactly what I mean. The 80s was a time of interesting fashion and hairstyles. Amazing pop culture, epic music and the best TV shows. So let’s have a look at why the 80s was the best decade ever. As I share some of my favourite things about this wonderful time. This post features some sponsored content. I believe in transparency and only collaborate with brands aligned with my values. You can count on me to share my honest opinions. Your trust means the world to me, and I appreciate you being here! 12 Reasons Why The 80s Was The Best Decade The Music I love music from all the decades, even today’s music. Except not that angry rap stuff, that I will never understand or like. But it would be probably accurate to say that I am head over heels for 80s music! From the catchy pop tunes of Madonna to the rebellious rock anthems of Bon Jovi, there was something for everyone. Remember the lure of the synthesisers that made the melodies come alive and created memorable electrifying music like the soundtrack to ‘Beverly Hills Cop’. And who can forget the new wave explosion that took the whole world by storm? Bands like New Order, Talking Heads, A-ha, and Duran Duran to name a few. These bands helped to define the new wave genre with their unique sound and blend of punk, pop and electronic music. The Mix Tape Haha, the good old mix tape that took so much effort and perseverance to create! Firstly you had to wait (all day) patiently hovering around the radio ready to catch that favourite song. And then with ninja-like reflexes as soon as you heard the song you had to press the record and play buttons at the same time. If you were very lucky you would catch the whole song without the DJ’s intrusive voice at the beginning or the annoying tail end of a commercial. The struggle was real but the victory was sweet! The Fashion The 80s would have to be the decade that brought us the most memorable styles. The 80s were all about big shoulder pads, leg warmers, neon colours and oversized t-shirts emblazoned with bold eye-catching inspirational messages like Choose Life Be Yourself Dream Big It was also the decade of acid-wash jeans, scrunchies, ra-ra skirts and multiple layers of rubber bracelets. The 80s was a fashion adventure for sure! If you love 80s fashion, you should definitely give this style a try! Small accessories like necklaces, earrings, or custom patches from Patches Co. can have a fantastic impact. Customising patches with unique 80s fashion elements to embellish your outfit will add a unique and unmistakable retro vibe to your outfit. The Hairstyles The best word that describes 80s hair is excess! From big hair to gravity-defying creations, the 80s really did push the boundaries of hairstyling to new heights. Not to mention how the sale of hair spray and gels must have skyrocketed through the roof! Big hair was all the rage and almost everyone’s motto was “The higher the better”. Oh, how I envied my friends who could rock the big messy Madonna-style hair with the glorious standing-up fringe. I was never allowed to leave the house looking like this. God knows I tried but my mum would always catch me and send me back to brush my hair out. She would say “Why do you want to look like a cockatoo?”. I just did Mum…..I really really did! TV Shows Television in the 80s was a cultural phenomenon. There were epic cartoons like ‘Inspector Gadget’, ‘The Smurfs’, ‘Voltron’ and ‘Super Friends’ which featured the ‘Wonder Twins’- “Wonder twin powers activate!”. Back in the days when streaming services didn’t exist, the wholesome family TV sitcoms were the best and I always eagerly anticipated their airtime. I remember waiting and fiddling with the darn TV antenna praying for a strong signal to watch some of my favourite shows like ‘Family Ties’, ‘Growing Pains’, ‘Full House’, and ‘The Facts Of Life’. The Movies The 80s gifted us some of the most iconic movies of all time. From the unforgettable dance moves in ‘Footloose’ and ‘Dirty Dancing’ to the action-packed adventures in ‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’ and ‘Top Gun’. It was also a time when The Brat Pack ruled the screen with movies like ‘The Breakfast Cub’, ‘Pretty In Pink’, ‘St Elmo’s Fire’ and ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’. The decade delivered countless classics and introduced us to exhilarating experiences leaving us craving for more. Arcade Games The ’80s is also the decade when arcade games like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Street Fighter and Donkey Kong were all the rage. The colourful graphics, iconic sounds (pac-man dying), catchy soundtracks and addictive gameplay kept us totally hooked. We were also introduced to portable gaming with handheld devices like Nintendo’s Game & Watch. Oh my goodness, I remember the very first time that I saw one of these. I felt like the cavemen must have felt when they discovered fire for the very first time. Memorable Toys I think that the 80s was a golden age for toys. This decade introduced us to toys like Cabbage Patch Kids, Strawberry Shortcake, Transformers and the iconic Rubik’s Cube to name a few. These toys sparked our imagination and provided endless hours of entertainment. Video Stores The 80s also gave us video rental stores where we would spend ages trying to decide what movie to pick for that special weekend movie night. The giddy anticipation of finding the much-awaited new release added a real sense of excitement to the movie-watching experience. Phone Conversations Before smartphones and texting, talking on the phone was a social event. The 80s teen years were all about spending hours on the phone sharing secrets,

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Vacation, Trips and Adventures!

12 Comments / Cleaning and Organising

Hi there everyone it’s time for the June edition of Monthly Musings. So today I am joining Holly and Patty to talk about Vacations, Trips and Adventures. This is a fun topic and although it’s been a long time since I have been on a proper long vacation. I still have so many memories from past vacations. And after writing this post, I find that I am getting really excited about the possibility of future travel. Vacation, Trips and Adventures FAVOURITE VACATION DESTINATIONS I would have to say that my favourite travel destination is Los Angeles. I’m a big chicken when it comes to flying. So I have decided that if I have to risk my life. Then the only places I want to risk my life for are Disneyland and Universal Studios. Another favourite vacation destination is Hawaii. The weather is beautiful and everyone is so friendly and unrushed. I have been lucky enough to visit L. A and Hawaii a few times but not for many years. Who knows maybe I will make my way there again in the next couple of years. I love these travel destinations so much that I refuse to give in to my fear of flying! BEST PACKING TIPS I love packing cubes as they keep everything so neat and organised in your suitcase. But my best packing tip would be to roll your clothes before placing them in the packing cubes. Rolling your clothes saves space and also minimises wrinkles. The rolled garments fit neatly inside the packing cubes and you can easily locate your items without messing up the rest of your packing. I also have a whole bunch of travel tips that you might like to check out here. ROAD TRIPS OR FLY I guess road trips, although it means I will always have one foot ready on my invisible brake. FAVOURITE VACATION MEMORY AS A CHILD Hands down it would have to be the time when my family stayed in a caravan park with my childhood friends and their families. We went to a place called Budgewoi and spent about a week there. To this day we still talk about it because we had so much fun! We swam all day until we were ravenous and then we would go back to the caravan where our mums would be waiting for us with food. There was also some kind of electronic gaming machine in the only shop on the caravan site. My friends and I took turns getting our names up on the top score screen. Although they did have a hard time beating me. Hehe, I’m not sporty at all but give me a joystick and I’m a champ. Such fantastic memories and the best part is that I still keep in contact with my lovely friends. OCEAN, LAKE OR MOUNTAIN I think that I like all of these choices and I don’t have a preference. CAMPOUT OR INDOOR GRILL Campout for sure! FAVOURITE SUMMER COCKTAIL OR MOCKTAIL Probably a Margarita or Piña Colada but give me any fruity Summer cocktail and I’m as happy as can be. MOST AMAZING TRAVEL UPGRADE STORY When I was 14 I went with my mum to visit family who lived on Long Island in New York. When we boarded the plane in Sydney we discovered that our seats were in first class and my mum and I were very confused. We thought they must have made a mistake for sure! The flight attendant assured us that they were our assigned seats. So we sat down fully expecting to be thrown out of there haha! But we weren’t, instead, it was a long luxurious flight where we got to pick our meals from a menu, we had real cutlery and we kept getting offered anything and everything. It was the best!! Here I am with my cousin and her kids in New York! ICE CREAM OR POPSICLE Both as long as there is some strawberry flavour! DO YOU CAMP I don’t camp now but we did when I was a kid. My uncle had all the necessary camping equipment along with a massive army-style tent. My whole family would go to a place called Bundeena and stay during the Easter break and also in Summer. We would all sleep in this one big tent and my aunt would tell us the best ghost stories at night. They left me scared to death and unable to sleep. They’re the best kind, aren’t they? Even though the thought of flying or enduring long car rides sends shivers down my spine. I have decided to conquer my travel fears because I don’t want to miss out on fabulous vacation opportunities and unforgettable memories. So despite my travel quirks, I am excited about researching for our next adventure. And although our big vacation is still a long while away, it’s going to be epic!

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June Recap

7 Comments / Family Life

Hi friends I can hardly believe that it’s time for a What’s Up Wednesday-June recap. The month has sure flown by so fast! I am excited to be linking up with Shay to share a little about this and that. Thank you so much for stopping by today! What’s Up Wednesday-June Recap WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK Monday -Chilli con carne with rice Tuesday-Quiche with pumpkin steamed beans and sliced tomato Wednesday-Chicken schnitzel, jacket potatoes with sour cream and chives, vegetables and lots of gravy Thursday- Salmon and pea risotto Friday- Burgers and wedges Saturday-Dinner at my cousins WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT Summer! I am currently reminiscing about summer. But I have enjoyed reading about the awesome summer fun of my friends who live in the northern hemisphere. I think I have reached that point where I’m done with feeling cold and I am really looking forward to spring. Only 65 days to go! WHAT I’M LOVING I am loving the rest that I am getting at the moment and just hanging out at home. WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO Sam is off from uni until the end of July so he is enjoying a nice long break. I am off from work at the moment recovering from surgery. The winter school holidays start next week so I won’t be back at preschool until after the break. Steve is looking forward to taking some time off from work soon too. WHAT I’M DREADING Nothing and I am so grateful! WHAT I’M WORKING ON At the moment I’m getting used to doing nothing! It feels so weird giving myself permission to do nothing while I recover. So other than blogging I haven’t been working on much at all. WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT I’ve started making some fun plans for the school holidays! So far Steve and I are looking forward to a fun lunch date in the city next Wednesday. And then on Thursday, I am going away to stay at a friend’s house in Avoca until Sunday. I am also making plans with my lovely friend to go see ‘Mama Mia’ which is currently on at Sydney Lyric Theatre. I also want to go shopping, enjoy high tea somewhere fancy and catch up with friends and family. Did I mention how excited I am!! Gosh, I haven’t felt this excited in ages and it’s not even spring!! WHAT I’M WATCHING I finished watching 9-1-1 and then picked up watching 9-1-1 Lone Star again. But I don’t think I love it as much as I loved 9-1-1. I find Rob Lowe extremely visually captivating but I miss Chim, Hen and the rest of the gang. WHAT I’M LISTENING TO I have Smooth FM playing very softly in the background. Music tends to distract me sometimes so I like to keep it barely audible when I am trying to concentrate. I could never understand how my kids could study with music going either on speaker or through their headphones. Maybe they were pretending to study?!?! WHAT I’M WEARING All the warm layers, jackets, coats and jumpers. It’s been freezing over here! I am also wearing scarves and turtle necks until the scar on my neck heals. It’s going quite well but it’s still obvious and although I think a scar trumps a visible lump. I am looking forward to when it looks fainter. WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND It’s time for cousin connect again and this time my cousin who lives about 20 minutes away is hosting. We are all excited because a couple of my much younger cousins are visiting for the school holidays. They live in Banora Point (9 hours away) with their mum but are staying for a week in Sydney. We haven’t seen them for a year so we are all very excited to catch up with them soon. WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH The winter school holidays! WHAT AMAZON PURCHASE DID I LOVE THIS MONTH I bought this eye mask for Steve as he has trouble staying asleep. Sometimes he gets home from work in the early hours of the morning. So he doesn’t get a lot of hours to sleep when it’s dark. This mask is great for keeping the light out and it’s also super lightweight. He has claimed it as a winner! And that’s a wrap for the What’s Up Wednesday-June recap. I hope that you all have the best Wednesday!

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Relaxed Weekend

9 Comments / Hello Monday

Hi, friends welcome back to this week’s edition of Hello Monday link up with Holly and Sarah. It’s nice to be back today sharing a bit about my very relaxed weekend with you guys. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and were also able to unwind and spend some time with your favourite people. A Relaxed Weekend Saturday My relaxed weekend was off to a super slow start and my biggest achievement on Saturday morning was getting out of bed and having a shower. I feel great post-surgery but I can tell I’m not quite there yet in terms of motivation and energy. I can totally understand why the doctor recommended taking two to three weeks off from work. I was just plodding along not doing very much. When my friend rang and invited me over to her place for a cup of coffee. So I went over and had a really nice time chatting with her for a couple of hours. When I got home I got started on making a chicken casserole for dinner. Even cutting up an onion felt like a big effort on Saturday. So I was really happy when I remembered that I had frozen some chopped onion a short while ago. Sometimes if I have a big onion and don’t intend to use it all I will just chop up the whole thing and freeze what I don’t need for later. Recently my aunty showed me that she uses this cold-pressed garlic paste instead of fresh garlic as it saves her a lot of time. So I went ahead and bought some to try. She was right, it does taste good and it saved me time fiddling with garlic cloves. I will still use fresh garlic but it’s handy to have this garlic paste in the fridge as a quick and tasty alternative. Welcome Home Sam Sam got home in the evening at around 7.30 and it was so good to see him! He had gone away to Evan’s Head with a friend for about a week. His friend was house and dog sitting and the owners of the house had said he could invite a friend over to keep him company. So Sam went along for a mini getaway as he is off from uni at the moment. Evan’s Head is about an 8-hour drive from where we live. But Sam and his friend flew there and back for $90 which was much more convenient. And with the price of petrol, flying was also probably a whole lot cheaper than driving. Saturday morning Sam caught an early flight back to Sydney and went straight to his part-time job. So we didn’t see him until the evening when he got home. Sushi missed him and was happy to have her buddy back. After telling me all about his fun trip where he did a lot of fishing and swimming (It’s a whole lot warmer in Evan’s Head than it is in Sydney!). Sam lay down on the sofa and fell asleep. He was so exhausted, and when I went to bed I just let him stay asleep. There’s nothing quite like falling asleep on a comfy sofa. Sunday Sunday I felt way more motivated! I even vacuumed under the sofa cushions. It wasn’t too bad but I’m always amazed to find bits of crumbs from snacking on the sofa while watching TV. I mean I thought we were pretty good at aiming for our mouths when we ate! Sunday afternoon I needed to grab some Panadol and an asthma inhaler at the chemist. I don’t have asthma but I have been battling a bit of a cough and cold. With the cold air, I find that my chest feels tight and I cough a lot, especially at night. It’s usually an annoying winter thing for me, but with my neck still healing it feels extra annoying having to cough so much. The asthma inhaler really helps. On the way to the chemist, I spotted these pretty flowers at the florist. But look at the prices!! Woah, flowers are so expensive! I forgot to take many photos this weekend. But I couldn’t believe these prices and so I remembered to take a pic right then and there. Blake St Kitchen When I got home Steve and I decided that it would be fun to go out later and grab a drink and something to eat. It felt like ages since we had gone anywhere together. We decided to go to Blake St Kitchen and enjoyed a really nice time. We had some wine and shared a fisherman’s basket. Steve was also happy that he got to catch some of the footy game on the screen. Ha! I quickly worked out why he chose to sit at the table we were at! Favourite TV Shows When we got home I felt so relaxed and sleepy. I had a lie down on the sofa and watched ‘Escape To The Country’. I was surprised that the couple on the show actually bought a property. I’m pretty sure that it’s the first time that I have ever watched an episode where they buy any of the properties that they visit. I had a nap and then when I woke up we watched a few episodes of Blue Bloods. We are up to season 4 and I just love this show so much! It’s a perfect blend of crime-solving, family dynamics and relatable characters. I think my favourite thing about Blue Bloods is that it really does an amazing job of capturing the essence of family values and strong bonds. If you haven’t watched it you really should! So I guess that is about all that I got up to this weekend. Thank you so much for joining me today and taking the time to read about my relaxed weekend. I hope you have a great week and I look forward to being back here on Wednesday for

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Catching Up On Favourites

9 Comments / Friday Favorites

Hey friends it’s great to be back today catching up on favourites. The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind! But I’m happy to report that I’m feeling better every day since my thyroidectomy. So I thought that today I would catch you up on all the favourite moments that I missed sharing last Friday. 1 Firstly, I cannot express how happy I am with my recovery and the huge relief that this surgery is over and done with. I saw the surgeon on Wednesday for my post-surgery appointment. And he was really pleased with how my neck is healing. And best of all he said that the biopsy on my nodules had come back clear. It was worth the two-hour wait in his surgery to see him and hear this news. I really appreciate how he takes time with each patient so I didn’t mind waiting at all. It also gave me a chance to read some of my favourite blogs that I wanted to catch up on. 2 Taking time off from work has also been a blessing in disguise, allowing me to focus on my well-being. Plus with the school holidays just around the corner, I have even more reason to celebrate being at home! 3 Waking up without the need to rush out of bed in the chilly Sydney mornings has been the best! Just this past week we had our coldest mornings in thirteen years where the temps tipped down really low to around 5°C. That’s Arctic conditions for us Sydneysiders! I remember reading somewhere a couple of weeks ago that we were supposed to be having a very mild winter this year. Oh well, I just have to keep reminding myself that compared to many parts of the world. Our winters really are in fact on the mild side. 4 One of my favourite moments during this period has been the opportunity to have lunch with my husband. Normally he would have just left for work by the time I got home. But this week we have been able to share a meal together every day. We had some burgers and fries from Maccas earlier in the week as a yummy treat. Steve used a few leftovers and cooked up some fried rice. Today we had some pumpkin soup with ham and cheese melts. So good on a cold Friday! 5 Just backtracking now, but the weekend before my surgery my Aunty celebrated her birthday. She even changed the weekend so that it meant I wouldn’t miss out because of the surgery. We had a fun time at her house celebrating with friends and family, lots of delicious food and of course, cake! 6 Speaking of friends and family, I am so grateful for the kindness they have shown me while I have been recovering. I have had calls and texts from so many of them checking in on me. And one of my friends from my bible study group cooked us a delicious meal which she dropped off for us. Another lovely friend surprised me with sweet goodies and a really special handmade treasure. This beautiful paper crane came in an origami box with the sweetest kindest note that brought tears to my eyes! My work colleagues also didn’t miss a beat in brightening my recovery. They sent me a stunning bouquet of flowers! While I was in the hospital my little cousin also gifted me a beautiful plant in a lovely pale pink pot that she chose herself. 7 Yesterday I felt well enough to go out and get a much-needed haircut. The hairdresser took a lot off from the back and it felt so good. Now I have more of a long bob without so many layers and I’m happy with this slight change. After my haircut, I went to TK Maxx and picked up this tube of treatment for split ends and frizzy hair. It was only $12 but it retails for over $50 online, talk about a good bargain! I guess that brings me to the end, it’s been fun catching up on some favourites. Thanks so much for dropping by to read my blog and I hope that you have a most wonderful weekend. Happy Friday! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Italian Meatballs-Easy Recipe

4 Comments / Recipes

I’m always on the lookout for simple yet delicious meals that I can make for my family. There are days when the time seems to slip away faster than I can chop an onion! So I’m all for recipes that cleverly cut corners and make my life a little easier. This deliciously satisfying recipe for Italian meatballs ticks all the boxes because it’s healthy, full of flavour and so easy to make. Another big bonus is that Italian meatballs are a perfect dish for entertaining. I have made it for when it’s been my turn to host our monthly family get-together and it’s always been a real winner! Italian Meatballs Ingredients 500 grams of minced meat (beef, pork or a combination of both) 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs Onion flakes 1 tsp of minced garlic 2 tbsp dried parsley 1 tsp dried basil 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tbsp onion flakes 1 egg 1/2 tsp white pepper 1 tsp salt For the tomato-based sauce 3 cups of passata 1/2 cup of chicken or beef stock 1 tsp dried basil 1 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp minced garlic 1 tbsp onion flakes or one medium-sized chopped onion salt and pepper to taste Instructions In a large bowl, combine the minced meat, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, parsley, egg, salt and pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly combined. Shape the mixture into meatballs of your desired size. You can make them small or large depending on what you prefer. In a large pot, combine the passata, stock, dried basil, dried oregano, minced garlic, and onion flakes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir well to combine. Gently drop the meatballs into the sauce, ensuring they are fully submerged. The sauce should be at a simmer. Cover the pot and let the meatballs cook in the sauce for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until they are cooked through. It’s a good idea to stir the meatballs occasionally to make sure that they cook evenly. Serve over your preferred side dish and enjoy! Reasons Why Italian Meatballs Are A Perfect Dish For Entertaining Easy To Prepare This recipe gives you a hassle-free way to prepare meatballs for a crowd. By eliminating the need for pan frying or baking. You save time, effort and best of all washing up and mess. While the meatballs are simmering in the rich tomato sauce you can be focussing on all the other things that you need to get done to prepare for your gathering. Or better yet you can be attending to your guests. Versatile Italian meatballs are a versatile and crowd-pleasing dish that attracts a wide range of tastes. You can also customise the recipe using different types of minced meat, such as pork, beef, turkey or chicken. Additionally, you can also adjust the seasonings to suit your tastes and the dried herbs can be easily substituted for fresh ones. Make Ahead Option Italian meatballs can be easily prepared and stored in the fridge until you are ready to cook them. This means that you can plan and prep for your gathering ahead of time. This will eliminate last-minute stress and it will ensure that you can enjoy spending time with your guests. Serve A Crowd This recipe can easily be scaled up or down to accommodate the number of guests you are entertaining. Whether you’re hosting a small gathering or a larger party, you can adjust the quantities of ingredients accordingly. Accompaniment Options This Italian meatball recipe pairs really well with a variety of side dishes. You can serve Italian meatballs with different pasta shapes such as farfalle, spiral pasta or good old spaghetti. Italian meatballs are also delicious when served with mashed potato, rice or even simple crusty bread. Whether you’re looking for a simple weeknight meal for your family or planning a fun and relaxed gathering with friends, this easy recipe for Italian meatballs has got you totally covered! It’s the kind of dish that is so fuss-free and simple to make yet full of flavour and will leave everyone asking for seconds. Other Simple Recipes You Might Like To Try Easy Lasagna Recipe Fall Apart Roasted Pork Leg

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Thyroidectomy Recovery

21 Comments / Health and Well Being

Hey, there lovely friends! Wow, it feels great to be back and saying hi to all of you after a few days away. I’ve missed you guys and am super excited to catch up with all of you. So, in case you have been wondering where I have been. Well, I’ve just undergone a total thyroidectomy, and let me tell you. I’m so glad it’s all over! Thyroid Problems A few years ago I went to my doctor about a sore neck. And she found some nodules on my thyroid. This unexpected and totally unwelcome discovery led me down a path of incessant worry and anxiety for years. You can read all about it here, anyway in March this year I finally had enough. I plucked up the courage and made an appointment to see an endocrinologist. And when he examined me in May he immediately recommended that I get a total thyroidectomy. He said that I had three nodules and a cyst. If I didn’t do anything about it now, the cyst was bound to give me problems in the future. Once he told me this I just agreed to go ahead with the total thyroidectomy. I was done with worrying and resigned to getting it over and done with asap! So it was a huge relief to book the first available surgery date-15th of June. Thyroidectomy So the day that I had dreaded and worried about for what feels like forever finally arrived. And early Thursday morning Steve drove me to the hospital. And I tried really hard to act like a brave grown-up even though I felt like a scared kid. I’m just no good with any medical stuff. The last time that I had surgery was when I was about four years old to get my tonsils removed. We waited for ages for the nurse to come and finalise my hospital admission. See the scans in the brown bag? I joked to Steve that I guess I’ve reached that time in my life when I have now started to collect these. Anyway, the nurse was really lovely, she asked a bunch of health-related questions and she assured me that everything would be fine. She could tell I was clearly super anxious. The nurse led me to my hospital bed and gave me a blue gown, compression stockings and non-slip socks for me to get changed into. I liked the blue and pink colour combo, they used to give out bright red ones. (My mum had quite a few red ones from all of her procedures) But I think that these are much prettier! I said bye to Steve and after he left I burst into tears. Yep, I had run out of bravery by then! The sweet nurse gave me a cuddle and I will forever be grateful to her for her kindness and understanding. The rest is a bit of a blur but I remember being wheeled to the operating theatre and thinking about all those medical shows that I really wished I had NOT watched. Then I spoke to the anesthesiologist, said hi to the surgeon and his lovely assistant and then it was nighty night for me. The Surgery Was Finally Over I think I went into surgery around 11 or 12 and I woke up around 3 pm. Later in the day another kind nurse gave me something to eat and she helped me get changed out of the blue hospital gown and into my pyjamas. I had a drain thing sticking out of my neck so I needed help, plus I felt so groggy and sore. Groggy, sore but oh so relieved that it was over! My wonderful boys came right up to my room once they heard I was moved to the ward, they had been waiting around at the hospital. My cousins also came to visit and I got so many lovely texts and messages from kind friends. Steve, Sam and Luke stayed until the end of visiting hours and we watched an episode of Dr Who and an episode of Star Trek on Sam’s laptop. Haha, I have absolutely no clue what happened in either show! I was still floating in the world of anesthesia. Before the boys left to go home my surgeon came around to see how I was doing and he asked me if I wanted to see a photo of my thyroid that was removed. I had signed some paperwork at his office giving permission for them to take photos to show medical students. So I said yes! I did indeed want to see it and so did Luke and Sam, even Steve who gets easily grossed out agreed. Well, after seeing that photo I am so happy that I underwent a total thyroidectomy. I could see the large nodule that had been visible on my neck. But I was so surprised to see that it was nothing compared to the size of the huge ugly cyst that had been growing on the right lobe of my thyroid. Oh my goodness I don’t know how that thing sat inside my neck but it was certainly taking up a lot of space! Thyroxine Early Friday morning I took my first-ever thyroxine tablet. And now that I don’t have a thyroid anymore, I will be taking this little tablet daily for the rest of my life. Thyroxine, also known as T4 is a synthetic hormone that I now have to take to make up for what my thyroid used to do naturally. Thyroxine will ensure that my metabolism stays balanced and my energy levels remain steady. Home! Steve picked me up from the hospital on Saturday morning and I was so happy to come home. Sushi kept meowing and meowing when I walked in. I think she might have missed me. I am just so incredibly grateful for the unwavering kindness and support from my family and friends during this time. Their calls, texts, and

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Best Travel Tips

5 Comments / Cleaning and Organising

Hey there friends it’s time for our June edition of ‘Let’s Look’ and today we are going to be looking at our best travel tips. Now it’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to pack my bags and set off on a fun getaway. But I still have a bunch of travel tips from my past holidays that I’m excited to share with you. Best Travel Tips Embrace Your Sense Of Adventure Travelling is the perfect opportunity to get outside of our comfort zones and embrace new experiences. So be open to trying new things that you might have never gotten the chance to do before. Break free from the same ol’ resort and jump into the heart of the real destination. Why spend your whole holiday doing the same thing in different places when there’s a whole world out there just waiting for you to discover it? Go ahead and immerse yourself in the unique culture, attractions and hidden places. This will make your holiday a truly unforgettable experience. Oh, and the stories you will have to tell when you get home….priceless! Plan But Be Flexible It’s always great to have a solid plan of all the places that you really want to visit. But it’s also important to remember not to over-timetable yourself. Flexibility allows you to seize unexpected yet incredible experiences. Immerse Yourself In Local Culture Interact with locals, embrace the local culture, try traditional cuisines and explore customs and traditions. This is the best way to truly gain an understanding of the world and its rich diverse communities. Capture Memories, Not Just Photos Of course, you want to take many photos so you can look back on your wonderful time away. But consider giving your phone camera a rest and immerse yourself fully in the moment. By doing this you will create unforgettable memories that will stay with you forever. Embrace Technology These days there are so many travel apps that will make your holiday so much easier. You can use these apps to find the best local spots, map your routes and discover new places. You can also stay connected with your friends and family who will be dying to know what you’re up to! Travel Responsibly As travellers, we need to remember that we have a responsibility to preserve and protect the places we visit. Respect the local traditions and customs. And always be aware to minimize your environmental impact. Pack Like A Pro Efficient packing is the key to avoiding unnecessary stress. Use packing cubes to maximise space and consider versatile clothing that you can mix and match to create different outfits. Don’t forget to pack light so that you have room for all those souvenirs and bargains that you might be able to nab. Take Time To Relax It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement and then forget to make rest, relaxation and self-care a priority. Make sure to find moments to relax and unwind. Find a local coffee shop, or park or just sit down somewhere and inhale the local surroundings. Appreciate the beauty of your newly found amazing destination. Learn A Few Local Phrases Connect with locals by learning a few basic phrases in the local language. This is a fantastic way to break the ice, simple greetings and thank-yous can work wonders in making connections and showing respect and appreciation for the local culture. Create A Travel Playlist Before you set off on your fun trip, create a playlist filled with your favourite upbeat music that grabs the spirit of adventure. Let the music set the tone for your trip and make your travel experience a total blast. Then whenever you hear those favourite tunes. Your mind will transport you back to your wonderful travel memories. Because that’s exactly the powerful effect that music has on us- it transports us into different times and places! Keep A Travel Journal Don’t forget to take a journal with you and document your adventures. Write about what you see, hear, and how you feel. Stick little memorabilia in your journal such as transport tickets, menus and pamphlets of places you visit. You can even stick things like snack wrappers (just make sure they’re clean). This is such a fun and creative way of remembering the treats you indulged in during your travels. It’s so fun to look back on your travel journal. And you will be so glad that you kept a record of even the little things that you might have otherwise forgotten if you hadn’t documented them. So there you have it! Eleven best travel tips to make your next adventure even more incredible. Happy travels! Linking up with Shay and Erika

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How I Became A Mum

19 Comments / Family Life

Hey everyone it’s great to be here today for this month’s edition of ‘Not Just A Mom’ hosted by Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne Lauren and Sarah. Today we are sharing about how we became a Mum (or Mom). I had been dreaming about being a mum since forever. Looking back now, I was that kid who was always playing with baby dolls. And I could hardly wait until I had my own little real live baby! I was 19 and my husband was 25 when we got married. By the time I was 23, I was more than ready to finally have the baby that I had always wanted. Looking back now I can’t help but chuckle, we were so young, full of enthusiasm and virtually owned nothing. We were renting a small flat and probably couldn’t even afford a cot let alone a baby. Anyway back then I didn’t worry about things like that. We were just so excited to be having our own baby that practical things like being able to afford one didn’t really cross our minds. Now I seem to have more than made up for my worry-free days and have a knack for worrying about almost anything! Luke Anyway, we had our little boy in 1993 and named him Luke. My husband chose it because it was a biblical name and it got my vote. Because hey, I’m a huge Star Wars fan! I just loved being a mum and I made sure to document every detail and milestone. I still have Luke’s baby book complete with a lock of his baby hair and hospital bracelet. Anyway, I always knew that I wanted a gap between kids and I thought that maybe 4 years was just right. Well, life had other plans for us. My husband became really unwell with an overactive thyroid when Luke was about 4. I had no clue about thyroids back then. And I didn’t know how badly they can impact a person when their thyroid becomes overactive. Trust me it’s bad and the fact that we survived those years is a miracle. So fast forward about ten years since we had Luke. We were finally in a good place and we decided that if we didn’t want Luke to be an only child. Then we better have another one…. and soon! I am an only child and I always wished that I had a sibling (I still do!) Thankfully I fell pregnant really fast and I was so excited about telling Luke that he was finally going to be a big brother. I sat him down and had not considered that by the age of 11, he had gotten quite used to being an only child. So when I broke the news to him, his response was nothing at all what I had envisioned. He burst into tears and asked me “Who told you you were having a baby”. I said,” Well, the doctor did”. His response “Why did you have to go and ask him for…waaaaahhhhhh?”. Hahaha! I laugh about that moment now! (but I didn’t then). Sam Sam was born in 2004 and we named him after my cousin Sam who lives in Los Angeles and is one of the nicest people on the planet. Having children 11 years apart was interesting. On the one hand, I knew that time just flew by so fast and the baby stage was over in a blink. So I savoured every moment and didn’t stress so much over the small stuff. But on the other hand, it meant that Luke was a teen when Sam was a toddler and didn’t always enjoy having an inquisitive little person getting into his ‘stuff’. Now they are super close and Sam will always turn to Luke for advice. He really looks up to his big brother and Luke loves his little brother. Except neither one of them are very little, Luke is 29 and Sam is 18. They are both over 6 feet tall and every time they get together, they measure each other. Sam is determined to be taller but at the moment they are the same height. So I guess this is a super short version of how I became a mum. I think it all went by too fast and I long for the days when the boys (men) were babies. The saying “The days are long, but the years are short” is just so darn true! Thank you so much for stopping by today and letting me share with you my story about how I became a mum. I hope you have a wonderful week.

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Quick Favourites

8 Comments / Friday Favorites

Hi friends I hope that you have all had a great week! I am really excited that over here we have a long weekend as it’s the King’s birthday. I have a few quick favourites to share with you today and I am so glad that you are here. So let’s get started! 1 First up I had some leftover chicken from Saturday’s cousin Connect dinner. We polished off all the leftover lasagna in a flash. And I needed a quick side for Monday night’s dinner and I made Mediterranean couscous. Easy and healthy recipes that take no time to make are my favourite! I finished throwing the ingredients together into a dish when I got a text from my friend reminding me that it was our monthly dinner with friends at the club and that she was coming over to pick me up in an hour. I had completely forgotten!! Oh my gosh, my brain has been all over the place lately and I’m having trouble concentrating and even remembering what day it is! Anyway, Sam and Steve were at work and they weren’t going to be able to make it to the dinner. So it was leftover chicken and Mediterranean couscous for them. Easy peasy! I got ready in record time and I was so glad that I went because we had a lovely night eating and catching up. We had some delicious fried dim sims to start with. My friend ordered a vegetarian chow mein as a main. And I went back to my good old favourite- the steamed barramundi with boiled rice and broccoli. We also had cake to celebrate one of our friend’s birthday. Then we finished off with a cozy cup of hot chocolate. 2 Another huge favourite is that my lovely, kind and very funny friend has been doing casual work at the preschool. She worked with us over twenty years ago and now she’s back! She’s so sweet, and sometimes she brings me treats like this. She knows that food is the way to my heart. Hehe! 3 It really is a huge favourite when the classroom is full of happy kids who are busy playing. This week we transformed our home corner into an animal hospital and the kids had a blast. The rest of the classroom was practically untouched as they all congregated in that tiny space taking care of the sick animals. 4 I was feeling a little down the other day and I opened the little box my bestie gave me, it sits on my desk and is perfect for days when things feel overwhelming. It honestly made me feel so much better. Thank you, sweet friend! 5 The other night I was too tired to sit on the couch and watch a favourite show. So instead I got into bed with a hot cup of tea and Steve and I watched an episode of ‘Vera’ on my iPad-we don’t have a TV in our room. It was so cozy and yes I did fall asleep but managed to follow the plot somehow! 6 Here is my new favourite water bottle that I use at work. I bought it last year from William Sonoma and I didn’t really need a new one when I bought it. But I couldn’t resist it and I’m so glad that I did buy it because now my old one needs replacing. 7 Sam finished his two-week hospital placement today and now he is on holiday from uni. I know he’s a big boy but I was happy to be packing his lunches again just like when he was at school. This morning I wrote him a little note and put it in his lunchbox just for old times’ sake. And that brings me to the end of seven quick favourites for today. I hope that you have a wonderful weekend and I’m excited to be back here again on Monday. Happy Friday! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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