November 2025

My Anti-Bucket List: Adventures I’ll Skip

Hi friends! Today I’m sharing something a little different: my anti bucket list. These are adventures and experiences I know I will never do or even be tempted to try. Some are way too terrifying for someone like me, who likes to keep both feet firmly on the ground, and others are simply a no, thank you. Before I begin, I just want to say that this is purely for fun and not a judgment on anyone. Because if any of the things on this list are for you, then Yay!! Go you! These are just some of the things I’m happy to leave to everyone else. No FOMO here, I promise. My Anti Bucket List Skydiving Free-falling from a plane? Yikes! I couldn’t think of anything worse. I’ve been working on my fear of flying, and I’m not as bad as I used to be. But I’m still that person who likes to keep an eye on things like the wings, the noises, and I scan the cabin to make sure the flight attendants look calm. Because if they’re calm, then that’s a good sign. But then again, they’ve been trained to look calm. So who can be sure? You get me, right? Yep, that’s how my brain works, so there is no way I would ever jump out of a plane. No way. A couple of my brave cousins have done it and say it’s amazing. I’m happy to take their word for it. Bungee Jumping Just thinking about jumping off a bridge, or whatever bungee jumpers jump from, even with a safety harness, makes my stomach flip. Risky Hikes for Views or Photos Earlier this year, I had the best time hiking in Bryce Canyon, but only along the safe trails. The epic views were incredible, and I loved taking it all in without putting myself in danger. So I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw a few people who looked like influencers ignoring barriers and danger signs, posing on the edge of clifftops in gym clothes during winter in minus five-degree temps. I wasn’t sure if I was more worried about them catching pneumonia or falling off. I so badly wanted to yell, “Please come back where it’s safe and put on a jacket! What would your mother say?” Get a Tattoo I don’t think I would like to wear something on my skin that’s so permanent, and it looks like a painful process, too. Botox I don’t love seeing lines, extra eye bags, and saggy parts on my face when I look in the mirror. I’m like, “Who is that… oh, it’s me! Haha, hello older me!” I also don’t really like the “I’m growing old gracefully” line. I’ll probably continue to grow old disgracefully, fussing and whinging the whole way because it was so much fun being young. And as much as I wish my face wasn’t slowly falling south, injecting anything into it isn’t for me. Hot Air Balloon Ride There is a recurring theme here! I clearly don’t like heights, flying, or anything that might make me feel like I’m about to fall out of the sky. I’ve seen beautiful photos of colourful hot air balloons floating gently in the sky, but it’s still a no from me. Go Grey I have a lovely friend who let her hair go grey a few years ago, and she looks fantastic. Her hair is healthy, and she doesn’t have to worry about chemicals or regrowth popping up overnight. But I just can’t see myself going grey. Maybe it’s because of my mum. She always said she’d never go grey, and as she got older, when she couldn’t colour her own hair anymore, I would do it for her. She made me promise I would keep covering her greys. I remember giving her a quick root touch-up the day before she went to the hospital for the last time. I was completely heartbroken because I knew she was very unwell, but I wanted to keep my promise. I’m glad I was able to do that for her. Host a Birthday Party for Myself I love parties, celebrations and fun events, especially when there’s dancing. But I really don’t like being the centre of attention. I even get super self-conscious when people sing Happy Birthday to me. That song seems to go on forever, or at least it feels like it does when everyone is looking at you while you blow out the candles. Eat Spicy Food I can cope with a minuscule amount of spice, like the gentle kind you get from sweet chilli sauce. I even add a few dried chilli flakes to my chilli con carne, maybe ten for the whole pot. But that is about as adventurous as I will ever get. I just cannot do spicy food. If I ever accidentally eat something hot when I am out and feel my mouth or throat start burning, I immediately get anxious and think, Oh no… I am going to choke in front of everyone. Like the time I made a huge mistake and thought the blob of wasabi on my sushi box was avocado and put the whole thing in my mouth. I was having lunch with people I didn’t know very well, and once I realised what I had eaten, it was too late. All I could do was pretend to be calm and swallow it. But for a minute there, I was sure I was going to die. Thanks so much for stopping by today and reading along at some of the things I’m happy to skip. I think I’ve covered everything I’d ever want on my anti bucket list. What about you? Anything you’d never do? I’d love to know—maybe I’ll add them to my list 😉

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Friday Favourites

Happy Friday, friends! I’m wrapping up the week by sharing a few things that made it feel extra bright. Here are this week’s favourites. A Small Joy This lollipop brought me so much joy the other day! I was craving something sweet and found this little treasure in my work bag. It was a Halloween treat from my fun, treat-supplying friend and colleague I’ve shared about before. She’s such a cravings lifesaver. I’m so glad I deliberately carried it in my bag for a day when I really needed a sugar fix. A Product I’m Loving You know, when you wish you could go back in time? That’s me, every time I look at this little bottle of room spray from the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia range I picked up in LA. Why oh why did I buy just ONE? What was I thinking? In my defence, it was only day two of the trip and I didn’t want to overload my suitcase too early. We were at Glendale Mall, I walked into Target, and just about lost my mind when I saw the Magnolia range I’d only ever seen on Instagram. The scent is like nothing I have ever experienced before. It’s pomelo and smells fresh, warm, a little fruity, and I absolutely love it. Every time I spray it, I instantly feel like I’m back in that Glendale Target aisle. This room spray is basically my LA trip in a bottle. Luckily, my travelling cousins recently came back from Ohio and brought me another one, so I’m rationing it like it’s liquid gold. A Favourite Moment My aunt hosted an early Christmas get-together last weekend, and you should see her house all decorated for Christmas. It is AMAZING! I shared some photos on my Instagram if you’d like to have a look. My Christmas spirit has been a little dim this year, but after seeing her place, I think I got a spark back. I love how much my aunt loves Christmas, and I do too, but for some reason, up until last weekend, I just wasn’t really feeling it yet. We had a delicious charcuterie board followed by dinner, and by the time we got to desserts, we barely had any room. After dinner, some cousins headed off to the Metallica concert, and the rest of us listened to music and painted Christmas rocks. We used a cute kit my aunt had bought that’s meant for kids, which was perfect for us “big kids.” It came with paints and Christmas-themed instructions. Do you like my Santa rock? Haha. I’m feeling more excited now, especially after we started planning our Christmas Eve get-together that night. Since then, my aunt has sent me a bunch of Instagram reels on how to decorate for Christmas, which has helped a whole lot, too. Something I’m Learning I love Canva and have the paid version, which I use for this blog as well as for preschool resources and other preschool-related projects. I’m still discovering all the incredible things you can do on this app. I’ve been trying to figure out how to bulk-create things like end-of-year certificates for the preschool children. I could type each name out individually. But I figure that since we do these certificates every year, it will be a really useful skill to know. I also started working on the children’s Christmas cards using Canva at work today, but I’m not completely happy with them yet. Once I get going, I just can’t stop because I want them to be perfect. I really need to calm down! A Fun Outing Steve and I went to IKEA yesterday to “find out” how to get a replacement light for our oven we bought about four years ago. Haha, I could have found this info online or over the phone easily, but I totally agreed with him that these things are better done in person. 😉 It was so fun wandering around, and it was amazingly quiet for a Thursday night. The best part was the Christmas section, where I bought some wrapping paper, cards, a Christmas-scented candle, the VINTERSAGA mulled fruit drink and a big star lamp for our window. Oh yes, and we also picked up frozen meatballs. You can never leave IKEA without the meatballs. Something I’m Looking Forward To Tomorrow the Danish Christmas markets are on, and I’m going along with a group of friends. It’s a tradition now, and something I look forward to every year. I’m sure the markets will give me a great big boost of Christmas spirit! What are you up to this weekend? I hope you get to enjoy a little festive fun too. Thanks so much for stopping by. Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Cleaning Caddy Essentials: What’s in Mine

Before I bought my cleaning caddy, I kept my cleaning supplies in different spots around the house. Some things were under the kitchen sink, others were in the laundry, and I would constantly go back and forth trying to find whatever I needed. If I had a dollar for every lap I did gathering my cleaning supplies, I probably could have paid someone to clean for me. I finally realised a cleaning caddy was the answer (not sure why it took me so long?), and today I am sharing what is inside mine. I just have the essentials because I have stopped buying ten different sprays for the same job. Simple is the goal, friends! My Cleaning Caddy Before I show what’s inside, I should say I do not love this caddy. It’s a bit shallow, and the compartments are oddly shaped, so bottles tip over if they don’t sit just right. It’s kind of annoying, but it keeps everything in one place, and I can carry it from room to room, so I’m not in a rush to replace it. If you’re on the lookout for a cleaning caddy, I would say get one that is deeper and has better-shaped compartments for bottles. I may eventually get another one, but for now, this one works–until it drives me completely nuts! What’s Inside My Cleaning Caddy Domestos This bottle of Domestos is the hero! I love that the nozzle is long, so I can squirt the liquid into all the edges and grooves of the shower. Bleach is fantastic for mould and stubborn grime. So far, the shower has stayed mould-free for years. Phew! Bath and Shower Spray This citrus bath and shower spray is such a nice change from the heavy-duty ones. It smells fresh, and it’s not harsh. You know those cleaners that promise big results but leave you tasting chemicals in the back of your throat? This is the opposite of that. Fresh, light, and it doesn’t make you feel like you need to evacuate the bathroom and run outside for fresh air. Toilet Cleaner I always pick the tropical blossom one because it smells the prettiest. Disinfectant A splash of this in hot water is perfect for cleaning around the cat litter boxes and other cat-related messes — ick! My cats are generally very clean, but you know how cats are. I also use it for general disinfecting around the house. Floor Cleaner This is a great low-cost floor cleaner that gets the floors clean, which is all I really need. Oh, and it smells good too, with a subtle fresh scent. Gumption Gumption is perfect for scrubbing the shower floor in our main bathroom. We have one of those plastic floors where no spray will do the job. Sometimes you just can’t escape the Cinderella-on-your-knees method. Cloths and Gloves My cleaning caddy also has some cloths for cleaning the bathrooms and general dusting, plus a pair of rubber gloves to save my hands. And that’s what I keep inside my cleaning caddy. All the basics, nothing extra — anything more wouldn’t fit anyway, which is probably a good thing for someone like me who likes to keep things minimal. The caddy helps me stick to my simple cleaning routine, doing a little each day to stay on top of things and aim for the ultimate goal of having nothing to do on the weekends. It’s a big goal I haven’t achieved yet, because there’s always something to do, isn’t there?

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How I Show Gratitude

Hi friends, and happy Wednesday! It’s time for the November edition of Let’s Look, and today we’re chatting about how we show gratitude. When I first quickly read the prompt, I focused on the word gratitude and thought, oh my gosh, I don’t have a gratitude journal, routine quiet time, or any kind of guided gratitude meditation ritual. Yikes, I must be the most ungrateful person on the planet! But then I realised the prompt isn’t about how grateful we are, it’s about how we show gratitude in the little things we do every day. And, of course, the good English student in me (always my favourite subject in school) had to look up the definition of gratitude just to be sure. Phew! I realised I am thankful, and I do show it by noticing the little things and taking small actions to make life easier or brighter for the people around me. Here’s how I show gratitude in my world. Small, Practical Gestures I’m a doer and love to do things to make someone’s day easier. It can be anything from washing someone’s lunch containers that have been left in the sink at work (we’re supposed to do our own) to offering to feed my neighbour’s cat while she is in Fiji on holidays next week. Humour If humour were a love language, it would be mine! I love to laugh, and I love making others laugh. Life is too short, and working with children is too hard, to take everything seriously. Showing You Care I think it’s really important to be consistent. Following through on promises, really listening when someone is talking, and turning up when you say you will are all ways I try to show gratitude. Send a Thoughtful Text I’m not much of a card writer, but I do send texts to let someone know I’m thinking of them, to encourage them, or to say thank you for something. It’s a simple way to show that someone notices and cares, and a really nice way to show gratitude Random Acts of Kindness Small, unexpected gestures go a long way. Holding the door or letting someone cut in front of you while driving (even though they don’t usually say thank you-hehe) Give Encouragement and Recognition It’s important to notice the effort, not just the outcome, and it’s always worth saying out loud. Something as simple as “I saw how hard you worked on that” can really make someone feel seen and appreciated. I’ve been working on this myself because I have a habit of thinking it, but not actually saying it. I don’t know why people can’t just hear my thoughts! Show Gratitude to Your Family I’m a big believer in showing gratitude to family, and it shouldn’t be left at the front door. I send texts to my husband and kids to let them know I’m thinking of them. With all of us working different schedules and having days off that don’t line up, I think it’s important to stay in communication. I learned this from my husband, who is much better at communicating than me. I also like to acknowledge the little things my family do, like when someone empties the dishwasher or takes out the garbage, without being asked. My boys are good eggs, and they deserve a thank you. Gratitude for Myself Along with showing gratitude to others, I’ve been learning to show it to myself. I’m rewiring my brain to be more positive, taking breaks when I need them, resting, eating well, and noticing the little things I actually manage to get done each day. Go me! Those are some of the ways I try to show gratitude every day. I’d love to hear how you do it, too. It’s amazing how the little things can mean so much. Linking up with Erika and Shay

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