September 2024 - PLAYWORKEATREPEAT

Hello Monday

Hi friends! It’s great to be back on this sunny yet chilly Monday. I’m still a bit croaky, but feeling a whole lot better than last week, that’s for sure! Thanks so much for stopping by as I share a few weekend snapshots. Last week, I lay in bed without a single ounce of energy, and I remember thinking, ‘Will I ever feel like doing anything again!’ Haha, everything felt like such an effort! Thankfully, my energy levels began to climb back up again on Friday afternoon, and I got out of the land of the zombies and made dinner. Go me!! It felt good to be up and doing everyday things like cooking. The creamy chicken and mushroom dish tasted great, and my tastebuds were back to normal. Food no longer tasted like tin, and I could enjoy my dinner. Saturday We went to vote in the NSW local government elections, and voting was a no-brainer since our friend was running for re-election as an independent candidate. He’s a great guy and does incredible work for the community, including being a big part of getting our local pool rebuilt when the council wanted to turn the land into apartments. That campaign is actually how we met and became friends over ten years ago. He’s the guy on the right. In the afternoon, I walked up to our local Westfields and met my lovely friend. It was so good to see her and finally get a chance to sit down and talk because it had been way too long between catch-ups! We had sushi from a sushi train for lunch. There were so many choices that my fuzzy post-COVID brain needed a minute—or ten—to decide. After sushi, we moved on to a cafe and had a strawberry and banana smoothie. We left the café and walked over to the play and party centre, where our preschool was hosting a social event and fundraiser. This area was completely packed full of kids and families. Everyone had a great time; tears were minimal, and everyone enjoyed the pizza dinner and juice box. There was only one vomit incident, so all in all, it was a huge success! Sunday Sunday morning, Steve watched Songs of Praise on the ABC while our cat Sushi claimed my bean bag. Why do cats always seem to make it their mission to take over our favourite spots? I didn’t bother fighting Sushi for the bean bag. I was happy to sit on a cushion by the coffee table and enjoy raisin toast with peanut butter and jam. It was so relaxing to look at my pretty books while I had my breakfast. I can’t remember if I’ve shared these books here before, but my lovely bestie gave them to me earlier this year. They’re by Megan Hess, my favourite illustrator. Her work is so uniquely glamorous, and you can spot it instantly because of its stylish, elegant flair. I even have one of her illustrations as my phone wallpaper. Around midday, I called my aunt in LA, and we had a wonderful conversation, as always. She’s the sweetest, and I surprised her with the news of our plans to visit in January. She was so excited and even said she’d join us at Disneyland! Woohoo!! Oh my gosh, I can hardly wait—112 days, 4 hours, 48 minutes, and 19 seconds to go! In the late afternoon, Steve went to work, and Sam was still at work, so I had the house to myself again for the first time in months. I continued watching my favourite comedy-drama, Meaning of Life, and then I watched a movie called Tuesday Club. Both are Swedish and both are really good! I’m not quite sure where my obsession with all things Swedish things came from, but I’m sure IKEA played a huge part! And that’s what I got up to over the weekend. How was yours? I hope it was a good one! Have a wonderful day. Linking up with Holly and Sarah

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Friday Favourites

5 Comments / Friday Favorites, Home

Hi friends, it’s Friday again, and you know what that means. Yep, it’s time to share a recap of the week. Thanks so much for stopping by today! I didn’t share about last weekend earlier because I joined the Share Our Lives Link Up, where we all chatted about how we find peace in our day. So, let’s backtrack to the weekend because things pretty much went downhill from there. Some weeks are just like that, aren’t they? Friday Last Friday night, my work colleagues and I had a fantastic dinner out courtesy of our amazing parent committee. They treat us to a meal each term at a place of our choosing, and we always pick a new venue. This time, we chose a newly refurbished local RSL and had a lovely night catching up. We see each other almost every day at our busy preschool, but there’s rarely time for much catching up! We started with cocktails, and I went for a strawberry daiquiri, it was like a slushie with a kick! The table was pretty long, so, unfortunately, we couldn’t chat with everyone. We probably should have moved around and swapped seats, but we didn’t think of it. Maybe we felt too tired from the busy week, and after a cocktail, we figured we’d better stay put. Tiredness and cocktails might not mix well if we were moving around too much! My work buddies I sat next to and I had a fun time, laughing hard and swapping stories about preschool life. At one point, we were almost in tears from laughing so much. I’ve got some seriously funny work friends! Sometimes, I think I could easily write a book or a sitcom about what it’s like to work with children in a preschool—though I’d probably end up losing my day job, so I won’t! I was starving, so I ordered two lamb shanks with red wine sauce and mashed potatoes. It was delicious! I was going to say it was gone in 60 seconds, but I’m a slow eater. Trust me, though, I polished it off easily. Saturday Saturday was time for cousin connect at my cousin T’s house. My cousin S, the charcuterie master, switched things up a bit. Instead of his usual amazing cheese board, he brought an artichoke dip. It was cheesy, melty, and oh-so-goody! Cousin S, who’s from Ohio, told us the dip was a recipe from a restaurant chain called Olive Garden. Now, I’ve added that to our list of places to eat when we visit the U.S. in January! I made a pasta. My other cousins brought schnitzel, lasagna, garlic bread and salads. It was a feast! Two cousins have their birthdays on the same day. So my aunt brought a chocolate cake to celebrate. We didn’t play our usual board game that night; we just sat around talking and sharing funny stories. Sunday Sunday, I felt exhausted and thought that I might have stayed up too late the night before or eaten too much. I spent most of the day on a bean bag with this girl on me and I love how she is so tired from just being a cat. Anyone would think she was busy juggling kittens and a full-time job, the way she’s sprawled out like that. I went to bed early and thought after resting all day and going to bed early, I would be ok. Monday, I went to work, and my throat felt scratchy. I spent the day talking all sexy-like. By the time I walked home, I felt really unwell and ended up with a temp in the evening. Ugh! I kept thinking nooooo I can’t be sick; I was sick a couple of weeks ago! Tuesday- I took the day off work because my back was sore, my taste buds had gone crazy, and everything I ate tasted like tin. These were the same symptoms I had when COVID got me two years ago. I’d done a test on Monday morning and got a negative result, but by Tuesday afternoon, I did another one and, you guessed it, it was positive. So, I spent the rest of the week feeling pretty terrible. I had zero energy, and even getting up for a shower felt like a massive effort. I wasn’t very hungry, but I did manage to eat the scrambled eggs Steve made for me. I’m sure they would have tasted delicious if my taste buds were working. They certainly looked good! His dumpling soup looked great, too! Usually, I don’t spend much time scrolling on Instagram, but that’s all I did while lying in bed. I came across this in my friend’s stories—so sad about the passing of James Earl Jones. Our grocery order arrived just in time because I had almost run out of tissues. Good news for Friday! Today, I feel much better! I’m still coughing, but I can move around and feel alive now, yay! I could even taste these juicy strawberries. So, that was my week… hmph! It wasn’t great, but I’m so glad to be feeling much better. I don’t have much on this weekend other than catching up with my lovely friend tomorrow. After that, we’re both ‘working’ on a Saturday as our preschool is holding a fundraising event at a local play and party centre. I thought I might be too sick to go, but now I’m feeling up to it and ready to get back into things. So, after our catch-up and a bite to eat, we’ll head over to the event and lend a hand for a couple of hours. It should be fun, or maybe I’m just saying that because I’ve been in bed all week, haha! Well, at least we won’t be ‘on duty’ as the parents will be there and will be responsible for their children. Phew! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to being back here on Monday. Happy Friday! Linking

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Quick Weeknight Dinners

6 Comments / Home, Recipes

Hey, everyone! It’s time for another Let’s Look link-up with Shay and Erika, and today we’re sharing some Quick Weeknight Dinners. I love to keep things as simple and stress-free as possible during the week. My top tip? Plan your meals and have your grocery order sorted! The weeks when I do both of these, I feel like I’m winning. So, if you’re looking for some easy and quick weeknight dinners to get you through those busy nights, I’ve got some go-to recipes that might have just managed to save my sanity many times! Plus I’ll also share some tips on how to turn these dishes into versatile meals that can do more than just get you through dinner. Quick Weeknight Dinners Italian Meatballs These classic Italian meatballs are a quick, comforting weeknight dinner. You can serve them with spaghetti, rice or mashed potatoes and a side salad or veggies (you should always eat your veggies!). You can even enjoy the meatballs with garlic bread or plain bread to scoop up all the delicious sauce! Any leftovers can be tossed into a bread roll for a tasty meatball sub for lunch the next day. Or, if you’ve got more than you can use, freeze them for future meals—they reheat beautifully! If you are really in a hurry you can always buy the meatballs either frozen or pre-packaged. Then simply add your favourite sauce, either homemade or from a bottle….no judgement here! 😊 Turkey Bolognese If your family isn’t keen on beef mince, this turkey bolognese is a great alternative. It’s rich, hearty, and goes perfectly with pasta or even a baked potato if you want something a bit different. Even my non-bolognese-loving family will eat this. Quick Quiche A quick quiche is perfect for those days when you need something easy and satisfying. You can throw in whatever veggies or cheese you have on hand, and it’s ready in no time. It’s great for dinner and even better as leftovers for breakfast or a light lunch the next day. This recipe is great because it uses frozen pastry. Either shortcrust or puff pastry works fine. Easy Lasagna Lasagna might seem like a weekend project, but with a simple recipe like this one, it can be a satisfying weeknight dinner. You can also make it ahead of time and just pop it in the oven when you’re ready. Mediterranean Couscous This dish looks impressive and it’s a breeze to make. I love it because it’s full of colourful and healthy ingredients like olives, capsicum, zucchini, chickpeas, tomatoes, and fresh herbs. It’s fantastic as a side or a light main course – just add some grilled chicken and sprinkle cubes of feta! If you’ve got leftovers, they’re great for a quick lunch the next day Stir Fry Stir fry is one of my go-to meals when I need something quick and healthy. It’s a fantastic way to use up any leftover veggies from the fridge. Just toss in whatever protein you’ve got, and if you don’t have time to make your own sauce it’s more than ok to use a ready-made sauce (who’s gonna know?). Serve it over rice or noodles throw on some cashews, chopped spring onions and coriander for crunch and you’re done! Tuna Patties These tuna patties are the best! They’re easy to make, and you can serve them with a side salad or in a burger bun. They also freeze well, so you can make a batch and have them on hand for a quick meal. Greek-Style Chicken This is a super easy option for busy nights. Simply pop the chicken in a zip-lock bag, season with herbs like oregano add some lemon juice, and a few other ingredients and bake. It cooks quickly in the oven and goes perfectly with rice, couscous, or even pita bread for a quick wrap. Plus, it’s packed with flavour and satisfying without being complicated. I’ll share the recipe soon—it’s been on my to-do list for a while. Opa! Roasted Fall-Apart Pork Although this isn’t a 30-minute meal, it’s definitely worth the effort due to its versatility. Make it in advance, and future you will thank yourself! The pork is incredibly tender and can be used in various ways. Enjoy it as a main dish one night, then shred the leftovers for tacos or sandwiches. You could even get creative and turn it into a chilli by adding beans, tomatoes, onions, and spices. The flavours are even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep. Spinach Pie This pie is a winner for both dinner and lunch. It’s satisfying, healthy, and flavourful. Make it ahead of time, and you’ve got a fantastic lunch option for the next few days. Serve it warm or cold, and it goes perfectly with a fresh salad or even some fruit for a quick and easy meal. This is another recipe that uses ready made pastry because the goal here is to keep things uncomplicated! So there you have it—my go-to quick and versatile weeknight dinners to help make your evenings a little less hectic. While a couple of these might take a bit more effort, the best part is that they’re versatile enough to be transformed into different meals throughout the week. Your family will never guess! I hope these ideas take some of the stress out of your dinner planning and make those bumpy weeknights a bit smoother! Have a wonderful day!

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Finding Peace in Your Day

11 Comments / Home, Life Hacks

Hi friends! I hope you had a relaxing weekend. I’m linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne, and Sarah today to chat about Finding Peace in Your Day. I have to admit, when I saw the prompt, I wasn’t sure how much peace I actually have on any given day. The first things that popped into my head were the constant noise at preschool, the busyness of every day, and the never-ending chores… phew! So much to do… always. But as I thought more about it, I realised I do find pockets of peace, even when life is full-on. So let’s take a look at what these little moments of peace look like for me. Thanks so much for being here! Finding Peace In My Day Walking When I leave home around 7:45 or 7:50 each morning, I pop in my earbuds and listen to uplifting podcasts or gratitude affirmations. I love the peaceful walk to work—it’s my way of finding peace in the morning. The streets are quiet but not so quiet that I feel uneasy. It’s a great way to get some exercise without feeling like I’m exercising if you know what I mean. I usually power walk, and by the time I get to work, I feel great and ready to start the day. In winter, I also arrive warm, which is a huge plus because I really dislike feeling cold. I love seeing the gardens first thing in the morning along my route, especially now that it’s spring and there are so many pretty blooming flowers everywhere! In the colder months, it’s fun to walk along the pavement crunching the leaves. Ha, I find that so satisfying! Walking home is great too! My earbuds go in, and I either keep listening to a podcast or have my own private version of a silent disco. It’s so tempting to dance in the streets, but of course, I don’t—because that would be weird! I think walking is the perfect way of finding peace in my day. The walk home, in particular, helps the stress and tension of the day melt away with each step. I try to relax my shoulders and avoid clenching my teeth, making sure I’m fully unwinding as I go. By the time I get home, I usually feel relaxed—except for today. Today I felt sick and think I’m coming down with a cold again…boo! A Cup of Tea in the Evening Another way of finding peace in my day is by finishing it with a cup of tea. After everything is done and the kitchen is clean, I go have a shower and then settle in with a cup of tea, milk and one sugar. I snuggle on the sofa, sit on a cushion on the floor, or, lately, sink into a beanbag. If I’m home alone and Steve is at work, I’ll watch my Swedish comedy-drama series (he’s not a fan). If he’s home, we’ll watch FBI, Blue Bloods, or Vera—crime shows that are interesting but not too intense. They’re kind of soothing and I find that these days I avoid intense shows as well as the news. The news is a peace destroyer in my book! Ending the Day I usually fall asleep praying, unless I’m caught up in a loop thinking about the next day or other silly distractions. Praying before falling asleep is the best way I know how to end the day. I surrender everything to God (or try to) and remind myself that I can’t control anything. We are all in His hands. And that’s about it—three simple things that are guaranteed to bring peace to my day. I look forward to being back here on Wednesday, and I hope you have an amazing day. Peace out!

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Friday Favourites

4 Comments / Friday Favorites, Home

Hi friends and happy Friday! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favourites from the week that zoomed by oh so fast! Monday I got an early mark from work! It’s that time of the year when we have to write some detailed summaries of the children’s progress at preschool. Our director has rostered some time for each of us to work from home, where we can hear ourselves think. Our centre isn’t purpose-built. The building used to be an old council chamber that has been used as a preschool for over 70 years. While it has a lot of historical charm, it’s also very noisy and cramped. We’re constantly bumping into each other just trying to fit into the office. Finding a spot to work without interruptions is nearly impossible! So on Monday, I enjoyed a walk home at midday and couldn’t help thinking that working a four-hour day felt pretty good! Of course, I didn’t only work four hours because as soon as I got home I got stuck into those summaries. I had set myself some high expectations and thought that I would smash through them. But no, the time flew by and I didn’t get through as many as I had hoped. I’ll tackle more of them over the next few weeks. In the evening it was time to get together with some friends at our local club for dinner. It was a nice evening and the fish and chips were delicious. But I was eager to get home to hear about how Steve went on his first evening shift back at work. He is easing into work and doing fewer hours for this first week and so far so good. Yay! Tuesday Our go-to person for organising work socials—who’s young, fun, and always enthusiastic—was busy exploring potential venues for our Christmas work lunch. Without her enthusiasm, we’d probably miss out on some pretty great socials! Before she joined our team even making a decision where to go was always such a ‘thing’. Not anymore and now she makes sure we book early to avoid missing out because all the good restaurants get booked up fast during the festive season. I’m still having trouble getting my head around the fact that the festive season will soon be upon us. Holy guacamole! Wednesday I had totally forgotten about Educator’s Day but our kind director didn’t. She surprised us with some treats and kind words. I picked out this cute notebook, a couple of chocolates (I’ve eaten more than a couple since Wednesday!) and a pen that says Outdream Yourself. I love a pen with a boost of inspiration. A kind mum brought us some Lebanese pizzas and they were delicious! We also received a box of chocolates from another parent, along with a lovely note that really meant a lot to us. Thursday I got some Barramundi for dinner from Woolworths, and I also picked up garlic, herb, and butter from them. Woolworths gives these for free when you buy fresh protein, which makes the fish delicious and my life easier! Friday I came across this piece of wisdom on Instagram and used Canva to create my own graphic based on it. It’s true, isn’t it? Life is too short and I need to remember this more often. I’m off to get ready for dinner with my lovely work colleagues. They’re a fun bunch, and I’m looking forward to actually having a proper conversation for once! Even though we work together, we never get a chance to chat—let’s just say the kids at preschool keep us very busy! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to being back on Monday. See ya! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Currently-September 20224

7 Comments / Family Life, Home

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Jennifer from Overflowing With Thankfulness and chat about what we’re currently loving, looking forward to, smelling, watching, and admiring. I hope you’re having an amazing day—thanks so much for stopping by! LOVING It’s no secret that I am not a morning person. I struggle so much to get out of my warm, cozy bed every morning when the alarm goes off, ugh! I play whack-a-mole with that snooze button like a champ! However, my youngest son Sam is doing his practical nursing placement in a city hospital. He has been assigned the early shift and needs to get up early to make it to the station on time for the early train. Did I say early? It means I hear his alarm go off first, so I get up to see him off. I don’t have to, but I like to, and once I’m up, it’s okay! This getting up early isn’t so bad after all. Ha! I’ve had so much more time to do extra things in the morning, and I enjoy the quietness and stillness of the early hours. I can definitely say I’m loving this extra time—a lot! It is certainly easier to get up early in the spring when the sun is shining. I’m not sure I would love it as much if we were in the middle of winter. But who knows, I might become a morning person after all……nah! LOOKING FORWARD TO It’s time for Cousin Connect this Saturday, and I’m excited to see my family! I’m so happy we’ve kept up this monthly tradition for the past two years. Sure, not everyone can always make it, and sometimes we have to change the date. But I’m incredibly grateful that we’ve kept this special connection going strong! SMELLING It has been warm here but incredibly windy and so dry! I wash my hands constantly at work because, you know, kids and germs are usually best friends. All this hand washing and dry weather is making my hands feel rough. So, I keep a tube of hand cream in the classroom and have been enjoying its scent each time I use it—which is multiple times a day at the moment. It has a deliciously sweet scent that makes me hungry, and it leaves my hands feeling soft without any residue. I can’t cope with a hand cream that leaves a residue… shudder! My lovely friend brought it back for me when she visited her family in San Francisco. The yummy smell really brings home what Autumn must be like over there. It’s no wonder Autumn is so popular over in the Northern Hemisphere if it smells like my hand cream! WATCHING I have been watching the days get longer and the sun linger a little later each evening. Perfect! ADMIRING I’ve been admiring the spring flowers blooming everywhere. The beautiful vibrant colours are such a treat after winter! That wraps up a few things I’ve been up to lately. Can you believe it’s September? The year is sure flying by, wow! Happy Wednesday 😀

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How To Inspire A Love Of Learning In Children

Leave a Comment / Home, Insights Into Early Childhood Education

Every parent wants their child to develop a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. But how do you turn everyday learning into something that excites and motivates them? The secret lies in making learning engaging and enjoyable from the start. By tapping into their interests, mixing up activities, and celebrating their progress, you can create an environment where curiosity thrives. In this post, we’ll explore how to inspire a love for learning in children through fun, creative, and practical strategies that make education an adventure they’ll eagerly embrace. How To Inspire A Love of Learning In Children Through Creative Projects To inspire a love of learning in children, start by tapping into their natural interests. What gets them excited—drawing, building, or exploring the great outdoors? Whatever it is, let that passion be the springboard for educational activities! For instance, if they’re into drawing, why not turn it into a storytelling challenge where they create characters and weave tales? This method not only introduces lessons on narrative structure and creativity but also keeps them engaged in activities they adore. By connecting learning to what they already love, you’ll keep their curiosity alive and their minds buzzing with excitement! Mix It Up and Keep Learning Fun The key to making learning exciting and effective is variety. Switch things up with different activities to keep your child entertained and their enthusiasm high. How about setting up a weekly science experiment, crafting art from recycled materials, or starting a mini garden to explore plant life? By offering a range of hands-on projects, you give your child the chance to learn by doing, making the whole experience more engaging and memorable than traditional methods. So, get creative and watch their curiosity blossom with every new adventure! Turn Learning into Playtime with Educational Games and Puzzles Mix a little fun into your child’s learning with educational games and puzzles. These activities can make problem-solving a blast! For instance, try strategy board games or card games that involve quick maths. Not only are these games entertaining, but they also help with critical thinking. In addition, puzzles can challenge their minds in a relaxed way. In no time, they’ll be learning new concepts while having a great time. So, grab those games, shuffle the cards, and watch as your child learns and laughs their way through every challenge! Consider Private Tutors for Those Challenging Subjects Let’s face it—some subjects can be tough to teach, and that’s completely okay! When you’re navigating complex topics like advanced maths or a foreign language, private tutors can be your secret weapon. These experts have the know-how to ensure your child excels in those challenging areas. They provide the extra support you might need. A private tutor won’t replace your role but will enhance it. They add valuable knowledge to your child’s learning journey. So, think about bringing in a private tutor to help make those tough subjects a bit easier to master! Celebrate the Small Victories In your child’s education, don’t wait for the big achievements to celebrate—start with the small victories! When they tackle a challenging task or complete a tricky project, take a moment to acknowledge their hard work. This kind of positive reinforcement is key to how to inspire a love of learning in children. It builds their confidence and encourages them to take on new challenges with enthusiasm. By celebrating these little wins, you create a positive association with learning, making them excited and eager for the next adventure. So, cheer for those small successes, and watch their passion for learning flourish! Focus on Fun and Enjoyable Learning Encouraging a love of learning in your child doesn’t have to be perfect—what’s important is sparking their curiosity and making them eager to try new things. By setting up a positive and supportive learning environment, you help them develop a lifelong passion for learning that extends far beyond the classroom. Think of it as an adventure where creative projects and educational games are just the beginning. The real goal? To make learning an exciting, joyful experience that they look forward to every day. So dive into the fun, celebrate their curiosity, and watch their love of learning grow!

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Hello Monday

6 Comments / Hello Monday, Home

Hi there and happy Monday! I hope you all had an amazing weekend and are ready to embrace a new week. I’m feeling extra chipper today because it’s so warm and sunny—though we won’t mention the 50 km/h winds that nearly blew me away on the way home! Anyway, it’s time to share some weekend highlights on today’s Hello Monday link-up with Holly and Sarah. Thanks for joining me! Saturday Spring is my favourite season! This year it seems to have arrived extra early and that’s more than okay by me!! I just love looking at all the colourful flowers and the bright blue skies. The novelty of going for regular walks with Steve hasn’t worn off and I’m loving it. Haha, he doesn’t completely share my excitement. But he has been a real champ about keeping up with his physio exercises which of course includes doing regular walking. So we hit the pavement on Saturday and walked around the neighbourhood for almost an hour and a half! We stopped for a sticky beak at an open house- we don’t have any plans to move but if I see a house that’s open for inspection, I’m in for a look! It was a nice house but I didn’t like the awkward layout or the quick reno job they have done to probably try and sell it fast. Gosh, I thought I was a messy painter!! We picked up some sourdough on the way home and made some sandwiches for lunch. The rest of the day I took full advantage of the sunny, windy weather and did a few loads of laundry. I’ve quit feeling annoyed about carrying household chores into the weekend. There’s that saying about laundry–that it’s a reminder to be grateful you have clothes in the first place. Yeah, I’m embracing that mindset–namasté! In the evening, we watched a few more episodes of Blue Bloods. If you’re a fan of the show and love food like I do, you might notice the delicious meals at their regular Sunday dinners. I tend to pick up on details like that. I also noticed a couple of seasons ago that the characters hardly eat anything! It makes sense, of course—if they’re filming a scene all day, they can’t be eating all day. But this is what I have seen and now I can’t unsee it!!! Erin always adds masses of salt to her food, Danny eats the cucumbers, Pop always butters his bread the whole time, Frank talks, Jaimie pushes his food around and Jenko chews nothing. Hahaha!! I didn’t share any of this with Steve as he loves the show as much as I do. But …well because it was the final season I couldn’t help myself! And now his Sunday dinners with the Reagans are shattered just like mine were. I kind of wish I’d kept my mouth shut! Now Steve sits there counting out loud how many cucumbers they eat! Sunday Sunday was Father’s Day, and while I always try to focus on celebrating Steve as a dad, it’s a tough day for me. I don’t have a relationship with my own dad for many reasons I won’t go into. However, this year, after many years of working on forgiveness, I reached out to him about a month ago, and we had a chat. It wasn’t deep—just polite conversation and that’s okay. I’ve made peace with that and have stopped hoping for anything more. So, I called and wished him a Happy Father’s Day. I won’t lie—it felt a bit awkward, but at the same time, I’m glad I did it. After that, I visited my Uncle Bill at the cemetery. He was more than just an uncle to me—he was like a father, my hero, and my favourite person in the whole world. His unexpected passing ten years ago shattered my world. He was my mum’s youngest brother, and he was the best. I also visited my mum’s grave, which is nearby. It’s tough when the people you love aren’t around anymore. I got home around midday and Luke arrived with his lovely fiancee. She works most weekends so seeing her as well as Luke was such a highlight and an instant mood-lifter! We got takeaway chicken, chips and salad for lunch and got down to the business of celebrating. After lunch we watched Sonic The Hedgehog-we’re all big kids around here so we loved it! Sonic is so cute!! Sam got home from his part-time job and then it was time to order pizza and watch Aliens. Talk about a change in genre! The ‘kids’ loved it and all agreed that they made better movies in the olden days. Hahaha!! We finished the night with a big box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts delivered fresh from the Mascot store. They were incredible—so much better than the ones from 7-Eleven! I thought I was full after the pizza, but the doughnuts were so fresh and delicious that I ended up having two! And that was our weekend- a few lows but way more highs! How was yours, I hope it was a good one!

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