Ruth(playworkeatrepeat), Author at PLAYWORKEATREPEAT

Weekend Wrap Up

Hi friends I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend! I am really sad to see the weekend end so fast but I am very excited that we are now in the countdown for the end of term break. We finish term one on the 5th of April and then we are off for Autumn break until the 24th of April. I can NOT wait! Anyway, I am so glad that you are here today where I am linking up with Holly and Sarah to share my weekend wrap-up. FRIDAY Friday seems like a distant memory now but I just wanted to show you the beautiful sunrise from my kitchen window. Please excuse the not-so-clean window oops! The days are getting shorter now that it’s Autumn and I can’t say that I’m a big fan. When I wake up it’s quite dark and it also gets darker much earlier in the evenings. Daylight saving ends the following weekend which will leave me so confused for about a week or more! On the flip side, I am really happy that the days are still very sunny and warm. You gotta look at the positives! SATURDAY Saturday was election day and we all had to vote for an NSW Premier. Steve and I decided that we needed a bit of motivation to get us to the polls. So he suggested that we vote first and then go to the Ramsgate farmers market aferwards. We went to our local polling place and I honestly expected the lines to be super long. But luckily it wasn’t very busy which was a lovely unexpected surprise. So that meant that we were easily in and out in about ten minutes. Ramsgate Farmer’s Market Afterwards, we went to the market and bumped into our friends Marianne and Daniel as soon as we got there. We hung out with them for a while and had something to eat. I have known my friend Marianne forever, and she makes me laugh so much. We always say we need a proper agenda every time that we meet up because we have so much to say and our conversations are usually all over the place. We start by saying one thing and then digress to another bunch of topics. In the end, we totally forget about what we were talking about in the first place! Lunch Steve and I shared some Vietnamese noodle soup called Fuh which I’m never sure how to pronounce properly. We also had some prawn and pork spring rolls followed by a custard tart and coffee. After lunch, we said goodbye to our friends and had a browse around the market. I just love looking at all of the food stalls. Chicken Pie I found my favourite pie stall and bought the last family-sized chicken pie. Sadly I totally forgot about buying the jar of honey that I wanted. Oh well, I’ll just have to go back again next weekend hehe. A New Premier For NSW Saturday evening I watched the election results on TV and we said bye bye to the current NSW premier. and hello the newly elected one. A New Mini-Series After I had enough of watching all the political stuff, I started watching a new miniseries on Netflix called Safe. Steve came home from work just after midnight. I filled him in on what he had missed and he was totally engrossed in the next episode that we watched together. It truly amazes me how he can so easily get right into any show and it doesn’t matter to him how much he has missed. I always need to start from the first episode and work myself in. SUNDAY Some of the kids at preschool have been coming down with coughs and colds. I have been really motivated to remember to take my vitamins because I’m determined to try and stay healthy for the holidays. It’s easy to drink this Vitamin C effervescent tablet first thing in the morning because it is so refreshing. Hello Sushi what are you doing there? She knows that she is not allowed on my bed but she always tries hard to ignore this rule! Mid-morning I had a nice piece of raisin toast and a cup of coffee. A Fun Catch-Up In the afternoon I caught up with my lovely fun friend and we had a delicious lunch at a place called Japanese Kitchen. The food was so delicious and incredibly filling. Yum, I love Japanese food! Then we spent the rest of the afternoon strolling around the local shops. After watching ‘The Spice Trails’ together on TV last week we were keen to explore some of these global foods and spices. I took her to a local shop that has an amazing variety of spices and food products mainly from South America. It was an interesting shop and I liked the infectious music they were playing which reminded me of my zumba days. We also walked around the shops inside our local Westfield and I spotted this card. Haha, my friend agreed that this totally described me. I’m on a constant quest for smooth hair so I bought these products which were half-price at Priceline. I walked home and I was really glad that my ankle felt pretty good afterwards. It was a bit tender after the long walk but nothing compared to how sore it was a couple of weeks ago. As I turned into my street I spotted a pretty tree. I have no clue what kind of tree it is but I really liked the purple flowers. And that’s my weekend wrap-up! I hope that you guys had a great weekend and are feeling ready for a brand-new week. Now as the school week gets underway, I can’t help but feel a little distracted. The school holidays are just around the corner, and it can get a bit tricky for me to stay focused and motivated when such an exciting break is

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One Favourite Thing A Day

15 Comments / Friday Favourites

Hi, friends welcome to this week’s Friday favourites. Today is all about my week-long journey of discovering one favourite thing a day. I was feeling a bit down on Monday so I decided to focus on the little things that bring me joy. So today I’m going to be sharing one specific thing that sparked happiness each day of the week and why it made my day brighter! Monday I pretty much limped through the door on Monday afternoon after a long and tiring day at work. Guys, I’m not exaggerating it wasn’t a pretty start to the week! I injured my ankle last week and it was so sore that I was literally limping! The good news is that I wore ankle support all week and today is the first day that I’m completely pain-free. Yay! Anyway as I dragged myself home, I spotted a beautiful couple of pink roses in my front garden. It was almost as if the roses were there just waiting for me to notice them. Usually, I race in the front door and obviously miss some good stuff. The roses were so pretty and it really made me stop and take notice of how something as simple as a flower can brighten up even the toughest of days. Tuesday After getting a solid night’s sleep on Monday, I woke up feeling better on Tuesday. My favourite thing for Tuesday was watching a TV show called ‘The Spice Trails’ with my bestie. We watched the show at the same time, from our respective homes and had fun texting each other throughout. Wednesday Steve was off from work and so my favourite thing for Wednesday was hanging out with him. We watched about four episodes of the show ‘Blue Bloods’ while we enjoyed cheese and crackers with a glass of wine followed by pizza for dinner. Thursday I made Mediterranean couscous as a side dish for Thursday night’s dinner. Adding a variety of vegetables to the couscous made me very happy. Friday I love how the plants that are growing on my shelves in the kitchen are friends. Firstly I am really excited that I haven’t killed them and secondly, a huge favourite is that they are growing towards each other. It almost looks like they are holding hands. One Overall Favourite I managed to post articles this week about a couple of my favourite topics. Wednesday I posted all about Learning Through Play and Thursday I blogged about some Simple Cleaning Hacks. It’s not always easy for me to find the time to write blog posts during the busy preschool term. So I was really happy that I achieved this goal! A Favourite Quote For The Week And this quote just about sums up this week perfectly! Focusing on one favourite thing a day this week has really shown me how important it is to intentionally seek out joy and gratitude. It’s amazing how finding the good in every day can have such a positive impact on my overall well-being. Ugh, I have to admit that sometimes catastrophising and anxiety seem to come effortlessly to me. But I am learning that focusing on the good can really make the world of difference! Thank you so much for being here and reading along. I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. Happy Friday! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Simple Cleaning Hacks

4 Comments / Cleaning and Organising

Keeping a clean home can be an overwhelming task, but with these simple cleaning hacks, you can conquer those tasks in a flash! These tips are effective and super easy to follow and they also add a touch of fun and creativity to your cleaning routine. These cleaning hacks are perfect for tackling those annoying little chores that are easy to forget about. From cleaning grout in your bathroom to dusting those hard-to-reach places. These cleaning hacks can help you keep up with those smaller cleaning tasks that can snowball and become overwhelming if you leave them “for another day”. These tips can help you smash out these tasks quickly and efficiently, leaving your home looking and feeling clean and refreshed. So go ahead and give them a try and see how you can make your cleaning routine a breeze! SIMPLE CLEANING HACKS USE BICARB (BAKING SODA) TO CLEAN YOUR OVEN If your oven needs a good clean and you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to those nasty sprays which are full of chemicals. Then try this simple cleaning hack. First, remove the oven racks and soak them in hot soapy water. Then mix bicarb and water to make a paste and spread it over the inside of your oven. Let it sit for a few hours or better still leave it overnight. Then simply wipe it away with a damp cloth. Finally, spray vinegar on the inside of the oven. Wipe it down again to get rid of any remaining residue. CLEAN YOUR SHOWERHEAD WITH VINEGAR Have you noticed that over time mineral deposits can build up on your showerhead? This build-up can be really annoying because it causes the water to spray in all sorts of weird directions. A simple way to clean it is to fill a plastic bag with vinegar. Then tie the bag securely around the showerhead. You just need to make sure that the head is fully immersed in the vinegar. Then leave it for a few hours and run the shower to rinse off the vinegar. Your showerhead will be free of mineral deposits and good to go for a whole lot more refreshing showers. USE A DRYER SHEET TO CLEAN BASEBOARDS (SKIRTING BOARDS) Skirting boards can be big dust collectors and difficult to clean. One simple cleaning hack is to use a dryer sheet to wipe them down. The sheet will pick up the dust and an added bonus is it will leave behind a nice fresh fragrance. USE A TOOTHBRUSH TO CLEAN SMALL SPACES Don’t throw away your old toothbrushes. Instead, give them a good wash and keep them for cleaning small spaces like the grout between the tiles, or the corners of the windows. If you also use a cleaning solution like vinegar or bicarb then this will help to loosen the dirt. USE A LEMON TO CLEAN YOUR MICROWAVE We all know that microwaves can become dirty really fast. Get rid of the splatters and food smells with a lemon. Simply cut a lemon in half and place it in a bowl of water. Then microwave the bowl for about 3-5 minutes. Let it sit inside the microwave so that the steam does all the work of loosening any grime and dirt. Finally, use a cloth to wipe down the inside of the microwave. And the result will be a clean, shiny and fresh-smelling microwave. USE A LINT ROLLER TO CLEAN LAMPSHADES Lampshades are one of those things that can be awkward to clean. But with a lint roller, you can quickly and easily remove any dirt and dust. Simply roll the lint roller over the lampshade and it will pick up any debris. USE A VINEGAR SOLUTION TO CLEAN YOUR DISHWASHER Dishwashers can get really dirty and smelly over time. To clean your dishwasher, mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Then spray the inside of the dishwasher, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. Let it sit for about 30 minutes and then wipe it down with a damp cloth. USE A MICROFIBER CLOTH TO CLEAN ELECTRONIC SCREENS Electronic screens can get smudgy, dusty and dirty very fast. But with a microfiber cloth, you can get it sparkly clean in no time. Simply dampen the cloth with a tiny bit of water and then gently wipe the screen in a circular motion. This is the gentlest and most effective way to clean electronic screens. If you use chemicals then you run the risk of damaging or scratching your screen. USE VINEGAR TO CLEAN YOUR KETTLE The inside of kettles can go brown and unsightly after a while. But with vinegar, you can get your kettle looking like new in no time. All you have to do is fill the kettle with equal parts vinegar and water. Leave it overnight and in the morning rinse the kettle several times to remove any vinegar. USE A TOOTHBRUSH TO CLEAN YOUR KEYBOARD Have you ever looked at your keyboard and then been horrified by all the crumbs, dust and debris? Just use a toothbrush dipped in rubbing alcohol. Gently scrub but always make sure that your keyboard is unplugged first. For a more thorough clean, you can also use compressed air to really blow away any remaining dust. You can buy compressed air at many office supply stores, electronic stores or hardware stores. USE BICARB (BAKING SODA) AND VINEGAR TO CLEAN DRAINS Ugh, clogged drains can just about ruin your day! But there’s a simple solution to this problem. Simply pour a cup of bicarb down the drain followed by a cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes then flush it down wth boiling water. This can help clean any debris and leave your drains smelling fresh. CLEAN YOUR BLINDS WITH A SOCK Cleaning blinds can be so frustrating and time-consuming. But there’s a simple hack that you can use to get your blinds clean in next

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Learning Through Play

Leave a Comment / Insights Into Early Childhood Education

As parents, caregivers, and educators we all want to ensure that children receive the best possible start in life. One awesome way to make sure of this is by learning through play! Play is such an important part of a child’s development. And research has shown that it can have a major impact on their cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. Learning Through Play What Is Learning Through Play? Learning through play is an educational approach that promotes both learning and development. It emphasises the importance of play in the learning process. And it involves creating a play-based environment where children can freely explore, experiment and discover the world around them. Learning through play is a powerful learning tool because it allows children to develop cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills in an organic and engaging way. Learning through play is all about sparking a child’s natural curiosity and creativity. By providing fun and engaging opportunities for exploration, children can develop the skills and knowledge they need to thrive both academically and personally. Plus, when learning feels like play, it’s more memorable and enjoyable and this can help children stay motivated and eager to learn more! The Different Types Of Play In the context of learning, there are different types of play that can be used to help children develop important skills while they are having fun. Here are some examples: Imaginative Play Also known as pretend play or role-playing. This is where children can let their imaginations run wild as they take on different roles. Constructive Play Children can get creative with building blocks, legos or clay. Physical Play Children can burn off some energy and enjoy fun physical activities such as running, jumping, climbing and playing sports. Games with Rules These are great for teaching children about following instructions, taking turns and fair play. Some examples of games with rules are board games, card games, or sports games. Social Play Involves interacting with others, such as cooperative play, where children work together towards achieving a common goal. This is perfect for practising teamwork and communication. Another aspect of social play is dramatic play where children take on different roles and act out scenarios together. Exploratory Play Involves exploring and discovering new things. Children can investigate objects or use scientific experiments. Sensory Play Sensory play is all about engaging children’s senses, like touch, taste, smell, sight and sound, through fun activities like sensory bins, water play or messy play. It’s a fantastic way to help children learn and explore the world around them. The wonderful thing about learning through play is that you can mix and match different types of play to achieve different learning goals and cater to the unique needs and interests of children at various ages and stages of development. Benefits Of Learning Through Play 1. Develops Social Skills Play provides children with the opportunity to interact with others. Therefore this helps them to develop important social skills such as communication, cooperation, empathy and self-regulation. Through play, children learn to express their emotions, form relationships and interact with others in a positive way. All of these are critical for building a strong sense of self. Play also teaches children sharing and turn-taking skills. As well as the importance of working together to achieve a common goal. 2. Enriches Creativity Play inspires children to use their imaginations and be creative in the way they problem-solve. This helps them to flex their minds and think outside the box! 3. Builds Physical Skills Learning through play gives children the opportunity to develop important physical skills such as balance, coordination and dexterity. From running around in the sunny park to playing with fun construction toys. Play activities can help your child to develop their physical abilities and build a strong foundation for lifelong health and well-being. 4. Improves Cognitive Skills Play can help to improve cognitive skills such as memory, attention, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and imagination. When children engage in play activities, they are constantly learning and processing new information. Play can also help children to develop their language and literacy skills, as they engage in conversations, storytelling and imaginative play. 5. Fosters A Love Of Learning Children who are fully immersed in a play activity are much more likely to retain information than when they are passive learners. Therefore when learning is fun and engaging, children will be able to learn at their full potential and embrace a lifelong love of learning Tips For Encouraging Your Child To Learn Through Play: Make Education Fun and Engaging! Follow Your Child’s Lead Let your child choose the play activities that they are interested in and go with it! This will guarantee that they will be thoroughly engaged and super motivated to learn. Provide A Nice Variety Of Materials Offer your child a variety of play materials, such as blocks, puzzles, art supplies and outdoor equipment. This will give your child plenty of opportunities to explore and discover amazing new things. Don’t Sit Back Make sure that you don’t sit back instead join in the fun too. Play with your child and this will strengthen your bond with them. In addition, it will give you the opportunity to model positive social behaviours. Make Learning Fun When you are playing with your child you can do things like ask questions and provide challenges. This incorporates learning into play activities. And don’t forget to give lots of praise and encouragement too! Create A Safe And Supportive Environment Make sure that the play environment is safe, welcoming and supportive. This can include making sure that there is adequate supervision, and clear rules and expectations. Ready, Set, Play! In conclusion, learning through play is a fun and effective way for children to develop new skills and reach their full potential. When you encourage your children to learn, you are helping them to become happy, healthy and successful individuals. So, let’s get creative and explore all the amazing ways we can use play to help

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Good Times With Friends And Family

14 Comments / Hello Monday

Hey there, welcome back to another week! I hope that you had a fantastic weekend filled with plenty of rest, relaxation, and maybe a little adventure too. As for me, I had a really nice couple of days enjoying good times with friends and family. I’m so glad that you have stopped by and as usual, I am excited to be linking up with Holly and Sarah to share some of the things that I got up to on this very hot and sunny weekend. Friday Night I got a call from my friend and her husband inviting me over for an impromptu dinner. I was really happy to accept as I didn’t have any plans for Friday night. Steve was at work and Sam was out with his girlfriend. So it would have been just me and my cat Sushi at home. My friend whipped up a quick pesto pasta and some pizza. For dessert, we had good old Maltesers with ice-cream. Yum! Everything was so delicious and it was so lovely to sit around eating and talking. I have known these guys since I was about 14 years old and they are more like family than friends. Then after dinner, we just sat around listening and singing along to our favourite music from back in the day. It was such a fun and unexpected night which I was really grateful for. Saturday I had a nice low-key Saturday. We got up later than usual and I made some scrambled eggs for a late breakfast. I also made some more smoothies. Steve commented that this smoothie tasted even better than the ones that I usually make. I totally agreed and I know that it’s because I have been using different honey. Normally I just use honey that I buy from the supermarket. But the last few times that I have made smoothies I have used honey that I bought from the farmer’s market. It’s all-natural raw Australian honey and it tastes so much nicer. I’m planning on making a trip to the farmers market next weekend. So I’ll make sure to grab another jar of this sweet goodness! A Trip To The Hairdressers And Some Shopping Later in the afternoon, I went to the hair salon to get a much-needed trim. I hadn’t been to the hairdresser since around December last year. It was so nice to have my hair washed, cut and blow-dried. I always think it’s so funny how a few inches of less hair always makes my whole head feel lighter. Here’s a pic that I took in the evening of my fresh trim. Why can’t I ever blow dry it the same way they do at the salon? After my haircut, I went to Westfield to buy a birthday present for Sam’s girlfriend who is turning 18. I bought her some pyjamas from Peter Alexander. I picked out some cute pyjama shorts with birthday cakes all over them and a light blue pyjama top to match. Sunday Morning Sunrise It was so hard getting out of bed at 6.30 am on Sunday morning to go to Steve’s swim club. But there are only a few more weeks left until the season ends and it was the second last social event. When we arrived at 7 am we got to see the most beautiful sunrise. So it was totally worth the early morning start. All of the races were finished by about 9 am which is very quick compared to other times when they have gone on until 11 am. We all enjoyed a BBQ breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms, onions and bread rolls. Yum! It was such a nice relaxing morning and I was so glad that I didn’t give in to the temptation of staying in my cozy bed. A Whole Year Late Sunday afternoon, my whole family got together for an early dinner at Oatley pub. It was a bittersweet day because Sunday marked a whole year since my mum passed away. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed, and yet it feels like an eternity since we last saw her. I miss her so much. It was a special time when we enjoyed a meal and then spent hours talking and just being together. In the end, I really felt a sense of comfort knowing that we are always there for each other, even on the toughest days. All in all, I really enjoyed the good times that I shared with my friends and family this weekend. But today I am feeling a bit down and emotional. I’m sure that tomorrow will be better and I am grateful for the memories of the last couple of days…….So here’s to brighter days ahead! And I hope you all have a great rest of the week.

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Weekly Recap

8 Comments / Friday Favourites

Hey friends! I’m so happy to be back here again for another weekly recap. Where I am sharing some of my favourite moments. I hope that you guys have had a great week! And I’m pretty sure that you must be just as excited as I am that it’s the weekend!! Thanks so much for being here today and let[‘s jump right in and take a look at this week’s first fave. Farewell Dinner We had an absolute blast bidding farewell to our lovely colleague over dinner! Our destination of choice was a fabulous Greek restaurant called ‘Meet The Greek’. Oh my goodness I just love Greek food so much! We started with salads, pita bread and an amazing variety of dips. For my main, I picked lamb skewers with pita bread, tzatziki and hand-cut chips. It was so good, especially those chips! To finish off we had some delicious sticky sweets compliments of the restaurant! Oppa!! There was live music featuring the Greek instrument called the bouzouki. Despite the fact that the restaurant was quite small without a designated dance floor. A few of us couldn’t resist the infectious beat of the Zorba music. Before we knew it we were up on our feet weaving in and out of the tightly packed tables. And we must have bumped into a few waiters but we couldn’t help it. The music made us do it! Colourful Tomatoes On Monday I mentioned that I went to Costco with my aunty on the weekend. There wasn’t anything that I really needed. But I can never say no to a trip to Costco and I also love hanging out with my aunty. I did buy a big tub of my favourite colourful and bright tomatoes. A big bonus is that the big tub is about the same price as what I pay for a tiny tub from my local supermarket. Bright Smoothies This week I made myself some more smoothies. But this time I used oat milk and now oat milk smoothies are my favourite. I added a banana, frozen berries, dates and honey to this smoothie. So colourful, sweet and tasty! A Mango Look a mango!! I don’t know how I had not spotted this one and only mango growing on our mango tree. But I saw it for the very first time on Wednesday. We have lived in our house for 22 years and I didn’t even know that the tree in our front yard was in fact a mango tree. Until about 4 years ago when about twenty mangos just suddenly started growing. Then after that, we haven’t seen any more until this one. Mango trees are a mystery! Date Night Steve and I went to Newtown on Wednesday night. I love Newtown because it has such a vibrant eclectic atmosphere. It has a fantastic food scene with lots of restaurants, cafes and bars. As well as a thriving nightlife. During the day the shopping is really great too. There is a range of independent boutiques and lots of interesting vintage shops. We went to a restaurant called Pistou and the food was really delicious. The servings were on the small side but it was full of big flavours. The Pinot Grigio was divine and we enjoyed a really fun night together. The only lowlight happened just before we went into the restaurant. I felt something prickly crawling on my face. I swiped it off and it turned out to be an ugly black beetle. UGH!! Why me?? I let out a very small composed scream and it probably helped that Steve quickly grabbed me and gave me a big cuddle. Now that I look back on the moment. I don’t think that he was just trying to comfort me. I’m sure that he was probably more intent on smothering me to stop me from screaming loudly LOL!! Summer Continues And the hot weather continues! Yay! Groceries Getting my groceries delivered is a huge favourite! Ice Cream I ordered these KitKat ice creams to have on the weekend. I’ll let you know next week if they are a favourite because I haven’t tried them before. Lost Wallet Sam had a hard day last Friday. He got stuck on a train for two hours on the way to his part-time job in the city. Apparently, some wires had come down over a train in another suburb causing massive delays. On top of that, he lost his wallet either on a train or at the station which contained all of his ID and bank cards. I’m happy to say that there is a happy ending to all of this. He didn’t lose out on any pay as his boss said that he could make up the lost hours. And a very kind person handed his wallet in. Sam had filled out a lost property online form with City Rail. And he received an email on Wednesday saying that it had been found! He collected it yesterday and all of his contents were still in his wallet including the small amount of cash that he had. So this is a huge favourite. And thank you to the very kind and honest person who handed his wallet in. Wherever you are! It’s so nice and very encouraging to know that there are still many honest people in the world 😊. So that brings me to the end of my weekly recap highlighting a few of my favourite moments. I hope that you have the best weekend and I look forward to being back on Monday. Happy Friday! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Laundry Stain Removal Hacks You Need To Know

7 Comments / Cleaning and Organising

Today we are going to look at some super effective laundry stain removal hacks that will make your life easier. One of the most frustrating parts of doing laundry is dealing with stubborn stains that won’t come off. Whether it’s grass stains on your child’s pants, coffee stains on your favourite shirt or a greasy stain on your t-shirt compliments of a juicy burger. It can be a real challenge to get rid of them. But fear not! There are plenty of effective laundry stain-removal hacks that can help you tackle even the toughest stains. So let’s jump right in and look at some great tips for dealing with nasty laundry stains. Laundry Stain Removal Hacks Act Fast The first and most important laundry stain removal hack is to act fast. Because the longer you wait, the harder it will be to remove the stain. So make sure that you treat it as soon as notice it. Don’t Rub The Stain It’s so tempting to rub the stain vigorously with a cloth or sponge when you are in a panic and trying desperately to stop your clothes from being permanently ruined. In fact, rubbing can cause the stain to spread and embed deeper into the fibers, making it difficult to remove. Instead of rubbing, gently blot the stain with a clean cloth before you treat it with the appropriate stain remover. Check The Care Label Before you do anything, always make sure to read the tiny writing on the care label of the garment. The last thing that you want to do is damage the fabric by using the wrong cleaning method. Identify The Stain Remember that different types of stains require different treatments. So before you try and remove the stain always make sure that you know what kind of stain you are dealing with. And that way you will use the appropriate treatment. For example, a grease stain will require a different treatment than a red wine stain. Use The Correct Detergent You need to make sure that you use the correct detergent. Because it will make a big difference when it comes to how successful you are in removing that annoying stain. So look for a detergent that is made especially for your type of stain and fabric. Use Hot Water Hot water can be helpful in removing some stains. The reason for this is that hot water can help break down and remove certain stains. Again, make sure to identify the stain and check the care label to make sure that hot water won’t ruin the fabric. Use Vinegar Vinegar is an amazing all-purpose natural cleaner. And it can also be very effective when it comes to stain removal. Mix equal parts vinegar and water then apply to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes before washing. Use Baking Soda Baking soda is also another natural cleaner that can help to remove stains. All you need to do is mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a little water to make a paste. Then apply it to the stain and let sit for a few minutes before washing. Use Lemon Juice Did you know that lemon juice is a type of natural bleach? It can be very effective for removing stains if you apply a little to the stain and then wash as usual after a few minutes. Use Dish Soap Dish soap is amazing when it comes to removing grease and oil stains. Just apply a little bit of dish soap to the stain and leave it on for a few minutes before washing as you normally would. Use Salt Salt is fantastic for removing red wine stains. Pour a good amount onto the stain and let it sit for a few minutes before washing. Use Soda Water Soda water is good for removing coffee and tea stains. Pour some soda water onto the stain and leave it on for a short while before washing as usual. Use Cornflour Corn flour can be used to remove grease and oil stains. Sprinkle some onto the stain and after a short while brush the cornflour off and wash as you normally would. Use Rubbing Alcohol Rubbing alcohol is perfect for removing ink stains. Just apply some onto the stain before washing as usual. Soak Stained Clothes For stubborn stains try soaking your garment in water and laundry detergent before washing. Use A Brush Some tough stains need to brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. This can loosen the stain and make it much easier to remove in the wash. Don’t Dry Clothes Until The Stain Is Gone If you can still see the stain even after you have washed your garment. Then make sure not to let it dry because this will make it so much harder to remove the stain. The last thing you want is for the stain to set. Here Is A List Of Possible Stains And Laundry Stain Removal Solutions Coffee/tea stains: First soak the stained area in cold water and then blot with a solution of white vinegar and water. Rinse with cold water. Grass Stains: Make a paste with baking soda and a small amount of water. Apply the paste to the stain and let sit for approximately 15 minutes. Then scrub with a soft-bristled toothbrush before washing as usual. Wine Stains: Blot up any excess wine with a clean cloth. Then cover the stain with enough salt to absorb the liquid. Rinse with cold water and apply a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Lastly, rinse with cold water again. Oil Stains: Apply a small amount of dish soap to the stained area and let sit for at least 10 minutes then rinse with hot water and wash as usual. Blood Stains: Soak the stained area in cold water. Then apply dish soap, let it sit for 10 minutes and rinse with cold water. Grease Stains: Apply a solution of white vinegar and baking soda then

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Weekend Edition

14 Comments / Family Life

Hi friends, happy Monday! Today I am joining some lovely ladies for the Not Just A Mom link-up. And the topic for March is “Day In The Life Weekend Edition’. I love reading day in the life posts because it’s so fun to catch a glimpse into someone’s day. I Love My Weekends! But before I jump in I’ll have to say that I didn’t do anything very exciting this weekend and I spent a lot of time at home. But after such a busy week it was exactly what I needed. I have structured weekdays and a set routine during the week with specific times for work, breaks, meals and household chores. So my weekdays are mainly all about keeping focused on fulfilling my responsibilities and meeting my obligations. On the other hand, my weekends are much more flexible and open-ended. Sometimes I like to sleep in and other times I have fun plans to socialize with friends or family. I just love my weekends so much!! For me, they are a time to unwind and do the things that I enjoy without the pressure of a schedule or routine. So let’s get started on what a day or two in the life weekend edition looked like for me… A Very Early Good Morning I really wanted to sleep in on Saturday but Sushi is so used to having breakfast at 6 am 😩. So I fed her and went back to bed for a bit longer. I couldn’t fall back asleep but it was nice to have a bit of extra time in my cozy bed. A Late Breakfast I made some scrambled eggs and bacon for a late breakfast. My new Tefal non-stick pan is amazing for cooking anything. It’s such a breeze when it comes to washing off all the scrambled egg residue. Eggs are so sticky!! Later on Steve and I sat down to watch a couple of episodes of Blue Bloods on Binge. I love this show and I’m so happy that we are watching from season one. Laundry! Steve went to work and I put a load (or two) of washing on. Never-ending laundry hmph! Instagram I sat down for a bit and put together an Instagram reel. I am not great at posting on Instagram regularly but I do enjoy making reels. A Late Lunch Then it was time for a late lunch and I just went through the fridge and heated up some leftovers in a bowl. I threw in a couple of slices of tomatoes for colour and vitamins hehe. Old YouTube Movie While I ate my lunch I watched an old movie on YouTube. I like watching these old ‘midday movies’ that I used to watch as a teen whenever I had to stay home from school because I was sick. Turkey Burgers Then I read some blogs and before I knew it it was time to start making dinner. I made some turkey burgers for our Saturday night dinner. And I also made some homemade wedges but forgot to take a pic. I watched an episode of ‘The Sopranos’ and called it a night. Just before I went to bed Steve texted to say that he had to stay at work extra late. Because one of the other guys he works with had some sort of family emergency. Ah, the joys of working in hospitality! Sunday I woke up at 7.24 am on Sunday and this time I remembered to take a screenshot of my phone. Sushi slept in and didn’t come into our bedroom meowing for breakfast. Thank you Sushi! Blogging Then Church I worked on the blog for a bit while I had a coffee and then it was time to go to church which started at 10.30. New Woolworths Metro After church, I had to pick up a couple of things from the grocery shop. And I decided to go to a new Woolworths metro store that has opened recently. It’s a bit closer to where I live and I wanted to avoid having to try and find a parking spot inside the busy Westfields where they also have a Woolworths. I parked my car in the unfamiliar car park and followed these signs to the store. There was hardly anyone around and it felt a bit strange. The new store looked so good and because it’s a metro it was small. Which makes it great for when you just need a couple of things as I did. No frozen chips and now we have a poultry shortage as well. Would you believe that I got lost when I went back down to the car park? It was so empty and every level looked the same. I backtracked and thanked God for the signs that I had followed earlier. And I eventually found my lonely little car. Phew!! I got home and by then Steve was awake. We had some lunch and then I went to Costco with my aunt. I didn’t really need anything but I can never say no to a trip to Costco! My aunt stocked up on quite a few things. They didn’t have many food-tasting stations because it was a Sunday. But they did have wheatgrass samples. It didn’t taste bad at all, probably because it was mixed with some very sweet apple juice. When I got home in the late afternoon I was really craving pasta. So I made a very simple mushroom and bacon pasta dish. Sam and I had dinner together and we talked politics. We have an election coming up soon and it looks like he’s voting one way and I’m voting another. Haha! He’s excited that he gets to vote for the first time. I cleaned up after dinner and watched a bit of television. Have you guys watched Grand Designs? It’s a British show hosted by Kevin McCloud. He follows some very ambitious building projects from individuals with big ideas for their homes.

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Favourite Moments

8 Comments / Friday Favourites

Hi friends! Welcome back to this week’s Friday favourites where I am sharing all about some favourite moments from my busy week. I am so ready for the weekend and come to think of it. My body is more than ready for the end-of-term break! But that is still ages away so for now I am super grateful that it’s the weekend Yay!! I hope that you all enjoyed a great week and thanks so much for stopping by to have a read. I always appreciate you guys visiting my blog and your lovely comments always make my heart sing! So let’s dive right into a recap of some favourite moments from my week. A Drive After I got home from work on Monday Sam asked me if I wanted to go for a drive with him. Do you know that up until then I hadn’t actually been in the car with Sam as the driver? Steve was the one in charge of all the hours and hours of driving practice. He’s actually a fantastic driving instructor and incredibly patient and calm. He also took me to endless hours of driving practice way back when I finally got the courage to learn at the age of 27! Anyway, when I first got into the passenger seat and we drove off. My left foot was all set to use the invisible emergency brake. But as we drove around some quiet streets I finally took my foot off my imaginary brake and relaxed. Haha! We chatted as he drove and I had a really nice time in the car with my big boy. Dinner With Friends After the drive, we got ready to go out for dinner with some friends. We went to our usual local club and this time I didn’t order the same thing I order every time which is the steamed barramundi with rice. Instead, I ordered fish with chips and salad. Would you believe that we are currently experiencing a chip shortage? I know this sounds crazy but it’s true and apparently, it’s due to a supply and demand issue. Anyway, I think that from now on I might stick to ordering the steamed barramundi with rice. At least until the potato chip shortage is over. Because the ones that I ate on Monday night weren’t very nice at all. They were really dense and dry. The Last Of Us We didn’t get home from dinner too late. So Sam and I got a chance to watch the latest episode of ‘The Last Of Us’. Since he has started uni and is at work on the weekend. He’s been so busy that we have hardly seen him. Come to think of it almost none of us are home at the same time very much anymore! Oh well, I guess that’s the new stage of life we are in at the moment. And it really makes me appreciate the times when we can be together and share a meal. A Boiling Hot Week This week wasn’t just a busy week it was also an extremely hot week. And this came up on my Instagram. Monday was the hottest day in two years!! Iced Tea When I got home from work on Tuesday I was so hot and thirsty for a nice cold drink. So I made some refreshing iced tea with ice and slices of lime. Yum! Scrubs Sam has started the practical part of his course and he is required to wear scrubs to uni on Wednesdays. Awww it was so good to see him in his scrubs when he came home on Wednesday evening. My Favourite Night This Week Wednesday evening was my favourite evening during this very busy week. As we were all home together for dinner! I made some sauce to go with the pasta that I had bought from Aldi on the weekend. And it was delicious! It was also great that we all got to sit together to eat dinner and finally catch up. After dinner, Sam went off to do some uni work and Steve and I sat down to watch ‘Shotgun Wedding’. It was a fun movie but I kept dozing off. Luckily the plot was pretty simple so I knew what was happening even though I missed some parts. I find it so hard to stay awake for a whole movie during the week! Gospel Teams Thursday night we had our weekly bible study or gospel teams as we call it. And it was my turn to provide supper so I quickly put together a platter of goodies to take. A Farewell Dinner As soon as I jump off the computer I am off to a farewell dinner for one of our lovely colleagues. She joined us at preschool for one year to cover a maternity leave position. And I have loved working in the same classroom with her this year. I have a whole heap of favourite moments that we have shared over the year. She is so lovely, and kind and also has a fantastic sense of humour. I’m excited to welcome back our colleague as she returns at the end of this term from maternity leave. But I really wish that we could also keep her temporary replacement. I am sad to say goodbye and I know that I probably won’t be seeing her as she lives overseas and will be eventually returning to her home country 😢. But I am very happy that we got to share a year in the same classroom. And I guess that just about wraps up a recap of some of my favourite moments from the week. I am really looking forward to not doing much this weekend as I don’t have any major plans. I hope that you all have a fabulous weekend and I look forward to being back here on Monday. Happy Friday! Linking up with Andrea.

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Is Rest’s Silvercool Sheet Set Worth $300

1 Comment / Health and Well Being, Home

Recently I was sent the Silvercool Performance Sheet set from Rest Duvet to review. And let me tell you that after sleeping in them for a few nights. They have been a total game-changer! And I seriously doubt that I can go back to regular cotton sheets ever again. I have been struggling with the joys that come with getting older! Sometimes I wake up during the night and feel like I have my own internal furnace. I have to quickly throw my sheets off before I melt. And then a little while later I find that I am reaching for the sheets in the darkness because I’m cold. To top it off when it’s summer and we get those hot humid sticky nights. Getting a good night’s sleep is almost impossible. Silvercool Performance Sheet Set From Rest Duvet I was impressed the minute I saw that the sheets were beautifully packaged in a responsibly sourced box. And they felt so smooth, soft and silky when I touched them. I honestly couldn’t wait to go to bed that night! Perfect For Your Skin The Silvercool Performance Sheets from Rest Duvet feel so great against my skin. And they are just so lovely and cool to touch. I guess the best way to describe them is. That when I jump into bed I feel like I am in a relaxing cool swimming pool. And the gorgeous pale blue colour that the sheets come in just adds to the incredible experience. I can honestly say that the Silvercool Performance Sheets have helped me to get a really great night’s sleep. Because they just keep me cool all night. And it has been almost unbearably hot and humid recently. So I have been able to really put them to the test. I also love that I don’t have to turn my pillow over during the night because it’s become hot and uncomfortable. The pillowcases just stay cool and dry all night. The material feels so soft and luxurious against my skin and I find that I don’t have those creases that I get on my face when I sleep on my regular cotton pillowcase. This is perfect if you have sensitive skin and is also great for preventing wrinkles. No More Frizzy Hair Another huge and unexpected bonus is that when I wake up my hair isn’t frizzy. If you have been reading along you will know what a struggle I have with frizzy hair. And how I am always trying different hair products to cope with the frizz. I had never considered that changing my bed sheets and pillowcases could help so dramatically. But since I have been sleeping in the Silvercool Performance Sheets from Rest Duvet. My hair is smooth when I get out of bed and I don’t even have to use the hair straightener in the mornings. They Wash And Dry So Well The sheets also wash very well and feel smooth and soft. There is absolutely no sagging or piling. I have dried them on the clothesline as well as in the clothes dryer on a low setting. And they have come out beautifully. A Perfect Night’s Sleep I love sleeping in the incredibly comfortable Silvercool Performance Sheets and my husband can’t stop saying how amazing they are because he struggles with getting overheated at night all year long! I have also been recommending them to my friends and family. And I’m actually going to buy a set for my son as he gets uncomfortably hot and sweaty even during winter. So if you struggle to regulate your body temperature during the night, and you want to enjoy a cool and comfortable night’s sleep. Then I highly recommend the Silvercool Performance Sheet set from Rest Duvet. I can hardly believe what a difference they have made to the quality of my sleep and the way my hair is just so silky smooth when I wake up! Don’t miss out on Rest’s huge sale for a wonderfully cool night’s sleep! Click here to check out the fantastic discounts available. Enjoy these incredible savings!

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