Family Life

Friday Favourites: Things I’ve Enjoyed Lately

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Hi friends! I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika to share a few things I’ve enjoyed lately. Yes, it’s time for Friday Favourites, and I’m excited to be here, and even more excited that you’ve stopped by! Thanks 😊 Okay, so let’s rewind to last Friday because I didn’t get around to sharing last week’s Friday Favourites, and this definitely makes the list. Greek Night We had a staff dinner last Friday at a Greek restaurant called Meet The Greek. Cute name, huh? The food was good, and the atmosphere was next level. The band played the bouzouki all night, and then the dancing started. Random people got up and did solos on chairs, at their tables, and then once the Zorba came on, that was it. We couldn’t stay seated any longer, and a bunch of us got up and joined in. Then the waiters came out and started throwing white serviettes around like confetti. At some point, the manager or owner, or possibly just someone with the required level of clearance, came out and smashed some plates. Oh my gosh, talk about a fun night! I love Greek dancing, but I need to practice. It started slow, and then it went so fast, you know the one I mean? The one you see in all the fun Greek movies. And when we joined in on Friday night, holding hands as they do in a circle (a very big circle), I was trying so hard to get the steps right with my two left feet. I’m way better at freestyling it on the dance floor. We played some music in the playground at work this Tuesday and, of course, we had to revisit Friday night with some Greek dancing. We played the Zorba on Spotify, and the kids thought it was a hoot seeing the teachers dance. I love that about working in early childhood. You can be as silly as you want and it’s all okay. Imagine doing that spontaneously in an office? Haha! My lovely Greek colleague gave me a dance lesson around the sandpit. Step, step, kick, kick, then right, right, right, kick, kick… or something like that. Opa! Educators’ Day Wednesday was Early Childhood Educators’ Day, and at work our kind director surprised us with some goodies. We got to choose two things, one sweet and one stationery item. I picked my favourite peanut M&M’s and a notebook. It was a nice surprise in the middle of the week. Dinner at Hubert We went to Hubert for Steve’s belated birthday. I’d originally booked it for his birthday week, on his night off. But his work got a bit crazy, and there was a chance he’d have to work that night, so it was just easier to postpone. They charge $80 per person if you cancel, amend or reschedule with less than 24 hours’ notice, yikes! It was such a great night and completely exceeded my expectations. I mean completely! And I have to thank my fun work friend who encouraged me to go and said there was no way I’d be disappointed. She was 100% right! We loved the food, the atmosphere, the whole experience. It was just amazing. We started with oysters, duck parfait and baguette. There was also a live jazz band playing all night. For our main meals, we shared a melt-in-your-mouth beef bourguignon and Murray cod with the most delicious sauce, along with bitter leaf salad and pommes Anna. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted such an amazing variety of dishes. EVER! And then we ordered this little dessert with a very complicated name I can’t remember. It was perfect for sharing, as it was very rich and creamy. What I Wore Last week I wrote a post about some winter fashion ideas and how putting together an outfit for a special night is all part of the fun. Well, I was excited to finally wear the top that I bought in Singapore earlier this year. As it was winter here, I hadn’t had a chance to wear it yet. For our night at Hubert, I’d planned a winter outfit, but would you believe the second day of spring turned out to be so warm it felt like summer? So I ditched the winter option and went for the sleeveless top instead. I can’t remember such a complete change in weather so early in the season. Normally, we have to wait weeks for even one slightly warmer day. I’m certainly not complaining though. It was so nice to have some warm weather! A Very Useful Freebie My youngest son Sam came home from work with a slow cooker. He works casually at a kitchenware store, and when customers return items, staff members can take them home for free if they want them. I’m not sure why this slow cooker was returned because it works perfectly. But what a win for us! The best part is that it doubles as a rice cooker and triples as a steamer. My old slow cooker died years ago, and I never bought a new one. My rice cooker was also on the way out and would sometimes just decide, “No, I’m not cooking tonight,” and switch itself off, leaving us with crunchy rice. Bleh! And Now It’s Friday And hooray, it’s Friday! It’s Friday afternoon over here, and I’m feeling a little like this. It’s been a big week, and today we had a special Father’s Day event at preschool. It was a lovely time with a good turnout, but these events sure do wear me out. Tomorrow we’re heading to a cafe in Como for an early Father’s Day celebration because Father’s Day is Sunday and Steve is working. But since he doesn’t finish work until 3 am Saturday morning, that might not work out either. So we may end up celebrating on Monday instead. Haha! It all sounds a bit complicated, so it’s a good thing we’re flexible. Wishing you all a

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What’s Up Wednesday:August 2026

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Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Shay for the August edition of What’s Up Wednesday. Here’s a little peek at what we’ve been up to during August. Thanks so much for stopping by! WHAT WE’RE EATING Some days, knowing what we’re eating is a mystery until I decide what I can make as I walk home from work. A big appetite after a busy work day is very motivating! For the last couple of weeks, I’ve kind of had a rhythm going and have been making a few meals on repeat. This week I’m still rolling with this rhythm, so our menu looks like this. Monday Pot roast, which I actually made on the weekend, and we had leftovers until Monday night. We love leftovers. Tuesday Chilli con carne. This time I served it over half a purple sweet potato, sprinkled with cheese and coriander, with a dollop of sour cream and roast capsicum on the side because I forgot to chop it up and add it to the chilli. Wednesday Chicken, snow peas and cashews with rice. You can only see one lonely snow pea in the pic, but I promise there were more buried under the chicken. Thursday Chickpea and silverbeet casserole. My younger son is keen to try more meatless meals as he’s thinking of becoming a vegan. But the good egg has said that’s a long-term goal for when he moves out, as he knows that cooking vegan would be a big ask for his meat-loving family. I guess if he does decide to go vegan, I won’t be able to call him a good egg, will I? But good tofu doesn’t quite hit the same. He’s got plenty of time to work out the vegan thing — I’m certainly not in any rush for him to move out! Friday Meatballs made with turkey mince and a mushroom gravy. We’ll serve these with mashed potato and veggies. WHAT I’M LOVING Sitting in the courtyard after work on warmer days and enjoying a cup of tea without worrying (sort of worrying) about the neighbours seeing me from their two-storey house next door. I think I’m going to go to IKEA soon to get a sun umbrella for spring. It will look nice out there, and it will help me feel less self-conscious. It probably sounds a bit silly to be like this, but that’s where I am, I guess. August is the countdown to spring, and even though it’s still cool, I know that it’s only weeks before we hit my favourite time of the year. As always, I love my walks to and from work, especially when the sun is shining and the sky is blue. I’m loving the spring flowers that are starting to pop up. These flowers sleep all winter and then, one week before spring, boom—they bloom! They’re right outside our house as I walk in, and I was sure they weren’t open when I left home in the morning earlier this week. They probably were, and I just didn’t see them as I dashed by on the way to work. Anyway, it was so nice to see them in the afternoon when I got home, because do you know what they mean? Yep, spring is coming! Yay!! WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO On a sunny winter’s day in early August, I went to look for the GreenWay, which I can’t wait to explore in the spring school holidays. By the time I found it, it was starting to get late and, with no daylight saving, I didn’t have long until it got dark. So I pretty much found the GreenWay, snapped a couple of pics, then turned around and went home. It was good for shaking off the funk I was feeling that day. We went reminiscing with Steve for the 150-year celebration of his primary school, spending most of the day at the fair they organised to mark the milestone. Haha, we enjoyed the day and the funny stories that went with it. Steve celebrated his birthday in August with a low-key dinner, just the four of us. My eldest son came over, minus his partner, as she works all sorts of hours and couldn’t make it. I made chicken schnitzel, salad, cheesy baked potato and rice because everyone loves rice. Double carbs is a winning combo! Instead of a cake, we did what we did for my birthday and went to a local cake shop and picked out a selection of sweets. Hehe, I like the card we found for him.   WHAT I’M DREADING Nothing, thankfully. Phew! WHAT I’M WATCHING Call the Midwife! I’d watched an episode here and there over the years, and I remember my lovely mum used to watch it, but I never got into it. It’s streaming on Stan over here, and I decided to give it a go. Well, now I can see why it’s made it to 15 seasons — it’s brilliant! I’m up to season 3, and every night Steve comes home (when he finishes before 1 am) and finds me watching. Initially, he wasn’t keen to join me for an episode because, you know… childbirth scenes. But one night he got home around 10ish and was too tired to move off the couch, so he joined me. Now he loves it too. He closes his eyes during the childbirth scenes, though, haha! I’m loving Call the Midwife so much that I said to him last night that I’m happy to rewatch seasons 1 and 2 with him so he can catch up. That way he’ll know who’s who and what’s happened, and I won’t have to keep stopping to explain! WHAT I’M LISTENING TO Big emotions in the playground! I’m typing this during my lunch break, and the weather today is bleh, which might account for why I can hear so many kids in the playground sounding less than happy. Why can’t we have world peace? WHAT I’M

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My Favourite Current Music

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When I saw that this week’s link-up was all about favourite current music, I initially thought, hmmm… Oh, I don’t really have a favourite type of music. And as far as what I’m currently listening to, well, it really depends on my mood. I’m a mood-listener kind of gal. I go with my mood. What I listen to can change completely depending on where I am, what I’m doing, and whether I need calming down or cheering up. And all of that can change in the space of one day! Maybe I’m like the weather – changeable. So here is a little look at what’s currently playing on the soundtrack of my life. Calm and Chill When I’m home alone, I love putting on something chilled-out. It could be ambient, lo-fi, jazz or anything calming. I listen to it on TV through YouTube Music, and the bonus is that it comes with a beautiful scene. So I can choose whether I want to be in a swanky New York apartment, a cosy coffee shop or a little cottage somewhere in the countryside. And I don’t have to leave home. I love having it playing in the background while I’m getting on with chores around the house, cooking or having a cup of tea. I can also pretend I’m in one of those calm Nordic slow-living YouTube videos. My husband, however, absolutely cannot stand it. To him, this music is total auditory torture. Whenever he hears it, he practically has a seizure. So I tend to save it for when he’s not home. When I Need a Pick-Me-Up: Latin Music When I need some energy, give me some upbeat Latin music, and I can usually shake off a funk (usually). Latin music makes it almost impossible to sit still. The beat is too contagious and, as Gloria Estefan says, the rhythm is gonna get you! 80s Music Will Always Have My Heart And then there’s the 80s. No matter how much new music comes along, the 80s will always have a very special place in my heart. I especially love the new wave era — Duran Duran, OMD, Talking Heads, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, The Cure, New Order and Depeche Mode. These are the songs that can come on, and boom, instantly transport me back to my teens. That’s one of the best things about music, isn’t it? One song can take you straight back to a particular time in your life. I am 100% convinced that the 80s was the best decade EVER! When I Want to Travel Without Leaving Home I also have playlists for my trips to the USA and Japan, and I love putting them on when I feel like reminiscing. USA: A Bar Song (Tipsy), Counting Stars, Blinding Lights, A Sky Full of Stars, Alive, Heaven is a Place on Earth, Walking on a Dream, Titanium Japan: Tokyo Drift, Blue Monday, Just Can’t Get Enough, Smalltown Boy, Hit That Perfect Beat I used these songs as the soundtrack to the videos I made of the trips, so I think that’s why I associate them so strongly with those holidays. Whenever I put these playlists on, bam! I’m back on that road trip through Utah or walking around busy Tokyo. There was actually a time when I couldn’t listen to these songs because I had the post-trip blues so badly, especially after the US trip. I’d hear one of them and actually start crying. Dramatic? Maybe. But I really loved that trip! I’m OK now, though, and can listen to them without crying. Haha! And Then There’s Preschool Music… Last year I discovered Stephanie Leavell, and she is an absolute godsend with a voice that will calm a room full of wild preschoolers. Her voice is so beautiful and soothing, so any educators out there, take note! She’s on Spotify, and I kid you not, she saves my sanity weekly. Sometimes the children are behaving like they have been playing in a windy playground for six hours. Everyone is talking. Everyone is moving. Someone is calling out. Someone is poking someone Someone else is running around. I play Stephanie Leavell and… calm. So, What’s My Favourite Current Music? Well, I’m not sure I have one. I have chill music when I want peace, Latin music when I need a lift, 80s new wave because it will always have my heart, travel playlists when I want to revisit some wonderful memories, and Stephanie Leavell when I need to restore order to a room full of… ahem… excited children. I think that pretty much sums up what I’m listening to. And it all depends on my mood. Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Joanne and Jen  

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Favourite Things From May

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Hi friends, it’s great to be back today for Friday Favourites. I haven’t shared much about what’s been going on in my world as I’ve mostly been doing travel recaps, so I thought I’d do a quick round-up of some favourite things from May. Before I jump in, here are the links to my travel recaps if you’d like to catch up: Singapore Tokyo Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea Tokyo Dome Baseball Game Osaka: Dotonbori Day and Night The Osaka Aquarium Now onto my favourite things from May A Day Out in Manly with Friends We kicked off May with a day out to Manly with some friends. These lovely ladies are keen to do day-out adventures every couple of months, and this was our first outing. We had such a lovely day, and the weather felt more like spring than autumn. We caught the ferry from Circular Quay, then walked around Manly for a while, enjoying the beautiful beachside suburb before we found a place for lunch. We talked for hours over delicious food and a glass (or three) of wine. Before we knew it, the sun was setting, and it was time to head home. Our next day out will be on the 4th of July, and this time we’re heading south to Thirroul. I love having fun outings to look forward to. Mother’s Day It was Mother’s Day on the 10th of May, and I bought two bunches of pink roses — one for me and one for my mum in heaven. After four years of not being able to stand having flowers at home, this year I was finally ready to. When my mum passed, I was lovingly inundated with the most beautiful flowers from family and friends. I loved every single arrangement, and the love that came through with each gift was exactly what I needed. The problem for me was that flowers wilt and eventually die, and every time I had to throw a dead bunch out, my heart broke. I really struggled with that for a long time. For the last four years, Mother’s Day has been tough, tougher than birthdays and Christmas. My family know this, so we spend the day together and keep things low-key. This year we did just that and had a lovely day. I’m also happy with myself that I was able to enjoy having these pretty pink roses on my dining room table for almost two weeks. I’m also looking forward to more bunches, especially in spring. It feels like I’ve taken a quiet step forward, which is really great because I do love flowers. I Found My Lipsticks In May, I finally rounded up all my lipsticks… they were hiding in every handbag I own. A Cute Lamp I love different types of lighting around the house and very rarely have the ceiling downlights on. I think I only ever turn them on if I drop something and can’t find it. So when I saw this cute lamp in Kmart, I couldn’t resist it. It sits so nicely on the dining room table, and it’s rechargeable. What a find! Autumn Weather Lately Oh my goodness, it’s been so warm this autumn, and I’m not complaining. No sir! I love that I’ve been able to go out in a light shirt and just throw a jumper over my shoulders just in case. It’s been raining on and off this week, mostly on. But let’s not talk about that and stick with the positive. It’s still mostly warm enough for T-shirts and shorts around the house. Swim Club Presentation Night Last Friday was my husband’s swim club presentation evening. He couldn’t go because he had to work, so I went on his behalf to collect his two trophies. This is a standout moment for both of us. For Steve, it’s because he loves to swim, is super competitive, and these trophies mean the world to him. For me, I can’t swim, and I have never won a trophy in my life. So I get to experience the thrill of winning… without actually doing any of the winning. It’s a win-win! Favourite Meals In May We enjoyed some yummy meals out. Like breakfast at the Flower Power Cafe, where I had the scrambled eggs with avocado on sourdough. Steve and I also shared the pancakes. They were too good, and next time I think there may be no sharing on my part. Can never go wrong with pizza for dinner! Quiet meals at home are always a favourite, and we all love a juicy steak with chips and salad. I’m getting better at pan-frying them medium-rare. This one I cooked for two and a half minutes on each side, but next time I’m going to try two and a half on one side and two on the other. I want the steak just a touch rarer. I know my husband, the chef, could make them perfect as he has the technique down pat. But it’s a personal challenge, and I really want to master it myself. Cousin Connect in May In May, we had Cousin Connect at our place, and it was Mexican night. Well, mostly Mexican, with nachos, rice, and street corn salad. I also made sliders, which aren’t Mexican but still delicious. We were missing six family members this month, but I love that we still catch up even when we can’t all make it. Fingers crossed for next month! And those were my favourite things from May. It was a great month, except for this week when I came down with a really bad cold that kept me home from work for most of the week. I went in today for the first time, and now I’m not feeling great, so I’m wondering whether that was the best decision. I should probably have taken the whole week off, but I always feel so guilty taking time off, even though I have months of sick leave.

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December Recap

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 Hello, lovely friends! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m so glad to be back linking up with Holly and Sarah for Hello Monday. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Can you believe how fast the festivities flew by? To kick off 2026, I thought I’d do a quick December recap and share some of the things we got up to. Thanks so much for stopping by! December Recap The Last Day for 2025 Walking out of work on the last day of the year, December 19, never felt so amazing. I think I got home and didn’t move off the lounge for about two days. My husband said, “Wow, it’s so good to see you getting right into holiday mode.” He knew exactly how tough the year had been at work. The truth is, I was completely done. Kaput. Done. I know I always feel tired at the end of the year, and I usually have a good old whinge about it. This was next-level tired. It wasn’t until I was at home by myself on the first Saturday evening that I started to feel a bit better after a little cry. It was so weird because it wasn’t like I felt sad, but I must have been, and I wasn’t really sure why. After all, it was holiday time, so there was nothing to be sad about. I was exhausted but couldn’t relax or fall asleep. Every time I was just about to drift off, I would jolt awake like I was falling off a building. I guess I was emotionally and physically confused, haha. The good news is that I soon got out of the funk. When Monday rolled around, we went straight into happy holiday mode with lunch at one of my favourite places, The Grounds of Alexandria. Our Lunch at The Grounds The Grounds always look amazing, and for Christmas, they went all out with a traditional festive theme. It was so pretty. Christmas Dessert Prep The next day, Tuesday, I made a chocolate hazelnut filling for the small tart cases I’d bought from Woolworths. I wanted to get a head start on some Christmas desserts for the big day. Date Night Then, in the evening, we headed out to Martin Place to have dinner at a restaurant called Epula, which is in the Fullerton Hotel and right near the giant Christmas tree. The restaurant had a lovely, relaxed feel as well as beautiful decor. The food was pretty spectacular, too. After dinner, we wandered around Martin Place and soaked up the Christmas atmosphere in the city. Christmas Eve Christmas feels like a decade ago now! We had our big family celebration with the cousins, although our older son and his partner couldn’t make it. His partner’s family also celebrates on Christmas Eve, and in the past, they’ve managed to attend both gatherings. Since last year, though, their celebration has moved to another relative’s house, which is much further away. My cousin, who hosted our gathering this year, has also moved, and it would have taken them well over an hour to get there. So we decided in advance that we would have Christmas lunch with just the five of us at my place on the 25th. We missed them both, but it certainly made things easier for them. My son’s partner is the best, and we couldn’t love her more. For many years, she cut her own celebration short to attend ours as well, but the distance is now just too much. Christmas Eve was a huge feast followed by some crazy games. I’m pretty sure the whole street heard us shrieking. Loved the Star Wars Christmas crackers my cousin found. Christmas Day It was such a lovely, calm day, and after the endless hot weather, we finally got a break. Instead of temperatures in the high 30s, Christmas Day sat in the low 20s, which was perfect weather for eating. And eat we did. I was really happy with how the table turned out. This year, I picked up the tablecloth and plate chargers from Kmart, and the gold napkin rings came from Amazon. We’re a bit behind here with Amazon, or maybe it was just me, but until December 2024, ordering from Amazon didn’t feel like such a big thing. I used to read posts about “what I primed this month” and think, huh? Now I get it. I still try to be intentional when it comes to buying things, but the cute gold napkin rings are something I know I’ll use often, and not just for Christmas. We started with seafood. Then turkey, ham, roast potatoes, beans and gravy. Pavlova and hazelnut tarts for dessert. Boxing Day What better way to spend Boxing Day than a trip to Ikea with one of your favourite people? That’s exactly how I spent mine. My lovely friend booked us into a free gingerbread house-making activity at Ikea. New Year’s Eve Steve and I had planned to stay home, make a trifle we didn’t get to make for Christmas, eat, drink bubbly, and see the New Year in just the two of us, as Sam had a fun party invitation. But the day before, my friend texted to see if we wanted to come over to their house. Of course, we said yes. They made a delicious meal, and we took our trifle over for dessert. It’s a Mary Berry recipe, and it not only looked spectacular but tasted really good too. So good, even without any jelly, that we will definitely be making it again. It’s interesting. If you want to grow a relationship, I definitely recommend cooking together. Haha, we had creative differences, pushed through, and even learned how to make the darn sugar decoration thingy that nearly broke me. Five attempts later, it finally worked. I wasn’t going to let it beat me! Holiday Projects Now that I have some time on my hands and plenty

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Friday Favourites – Spring and Term Break Edition

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Hi friends, happy Friday! I’m so ready for this term break and the fresh spring vibes that come with it. It’s been a tiring term, and I’m so thankful that, as of 3:46 pm today, we have two weeks off—Ahhhh, big sigh of relief happening over here as I type this. So, for today’s Friday Favourites, I thought I’d share a few of my favourite things about this time of year and why I’m so excited for the spring school holidays. Slow mornings No rushing out the door, no packing lunches, or racing to hang out the washing so it dries while I’m at work. Just slow coffee and letting the day ease in. Bliss. Now, if only our cats would get the memo that I’m not getting up early. They love to show up at my bedroom door at 6 am sharp, meowing for breakfast. Spring walks I love walking to and from work in any season. Even if it’s cold, windy or rainy (thank goodness for my gum boots), I still enjoy it. But nothing beats walking in spring. I love the smell in the air and seeing people out with their dogs, even the little white fluffy one that barks and scares the life out of me almost every day. Sunshine after winter Being able to sit outside without freezing is such a treat, especially at work when we are in the playground. I’m 100 per cent sure our playground is the coldest place on earth. I also love that the evenings are longer and I don’t feel like the day is over by 4.30 pm. Fresh fruit Hello berries, peaches, and mangoes! I haven’t seen a mango yet, but I’m sure I will any day now. After months of apples and oranges, I’m so excited that colourful fruit is finally coming back into season. Little home refreshes Swapping out heavy blankets for lighter bed covers, washing the sofa covers and knowing they’ll dry in the warm sun, and even just opening the windows wide. It feels good to say see ya later, winter! Time to recharge I love that the term break gives me the freedom to catch up with friends! I’m lining up some shopping days, lunch dates, and a few coffee catch-ups. I’d also love to catch up on blogging since it’s taken a real back seat lately with everything going on at work. But that ended today, and boy did it feel good tying up all the bits and pieces, turning off the laptop, and packing it away. I also want my brain to rest! You won’t believe how, for the past few weeks, all I’ve been thinking about is preschool planning and those children’s songs going around in my head on loop… Larry the Lobster, Larry the Lobster digging in the sand all day… aaaaarghhh! Stop already! So little old tired me is keeping it short and signing off. I’m still wearing my work clothes, so I’m off to have a shower, and because it’s Friday night over here, that means it’s time to relax. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you have an amazing weekend. Happy Friday!

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Hello Monday

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Hi friends, and welcome to a recap of our sunny spring weekend. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by! Saturday It was Father’s Day last Sunday, but we weren’t able to celebrate together then. So this weekend we had a belated Father’s Day get-together. Our eldest son Luke came over, and it was lovely to have lunch and catch up. We don’t see him as much as we would like, with work for us, study for Sam, our youngest, and the 40 to 50-minute trip it takes to come over. Anyway, it was so good to see him and hear all about what is happening in the world. I have mentioned before that I avoid the news at all costs. Of course, things eventually trickle down to me, and I find out what is going on. But mostly, I am more than happy not to know too much because it gives me so much anxiety. Luke is our facts guy, and I don’t mind hearing what he has to share. He has a way of explaining things so clearly, and now all my fears are perfectly justified. Yikes! We spent the afternoon talking and eating. For lunch, Steve made a slow-roast lamb. Yep, now he’s even cooking for his own celebrations! 😂 For dessert, we had Princess Cakes that we had in the freezer from one of our trips to Ikea. I’m so glad they have brought these cakes back again after being MIA for three or four years. Sunday Sunday was like the perfect spring day. With all the rain we’ve had over the past few weeks, the soil in our front garden was nice and loose, so Steve was able to pull out the old lavender bush. It was lovely when it flowered once a year, but most of the time it was woody and weedy. So I made a trip to Bunnings to pick up some colourful flowers to plant in its place, and when I got there, it was so busy, full of spring-inspired gardeners. I also bought some seed-raising mix and cress seeds because I have an idea for this week’s preschool craft. We are going to make grass heads! I put together this picture on Canva so the kids will know what I’m talking about when I explain it to them. This should be a fun activity that ties in perfectly with learning about spring and the life cycle of plants. Let’s hope Miss Ruth, the non-gardener, can pull it off. Fingers crossed! Back to my afternoon of planting. This time, before I went off buying random plants, I did a bit of research and picked up Petunias, Violas and Alyssum. According to Google, I even found out how to plant them, how far apart to space them, and what should go in the back, middle and front. Now I just have to look after them. Good practice before we do the grass heads with the preschool kids. And because I was sad to see our lavender bush go, I ended up buying a lavender plant. This time I’ll keep it contained in a pot. I also bought a jasmine plant. Wonder how long I have to wait for the sweet-smelling flowers to grow? And that was my warm and sunny spring weekend. I know the best is yet to come, with plenty more sunny days ahead. I’m so excited for summer. That is, until I come across the first giant cockroach of the season and start thinking maybe winter’s not so bad after all. No gross bugs around in winter! Happy Monday! Linking up with Holly and Sarah

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5 Things I Like to Do in Each Season

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Hi friends, and welcome to the September edition of Share Our Lives. Today, I’m sharing 5 things I like to do in each season, from winter to summer, spring to autumn. Let’s go! Winter I love lighting candles. Plain IKEA tapers, tea lights, scented, unscented, any warm glowing flame makes me feel a bit cheerier about my least favourite season. Yeah, I don’t like being cold, so I’ll do whatever it takes to trick myself into believing I’m not. For me, that often means having a virtual fireplace video with crackling fire sounds on my TV screen. Eat casseroles! Yum to chicken or beef casseroles on a cold night. Drink Swiss Miss hot chocolate, with or without marshmallows. I’m not fussy about the marshmallows, but the hot chocolate has to be Swiss Miss. It’s the best I’ve tasted, and I’ve tried all the ones our supermarkets sell: Jarrah, Cadbury, Lindt, Nestlé. None of them comes close! I wear chunky bed socks because if my feet are cold, the rest of me is cold too, no matter how many blankets I’ve got on me. Phew! I had to dig deep to find five things I like to do in winter. Now it’s time to move on to my favourite seasons, spring and summer. Spring I am in no way a gardener, but there’s something about the excitement of seeing sunshine and flowers start to bloom that makes me want to grow something, anything. I usually make a trip to Bunnings to buy some potted flowers for the front garden. Then I just try to remember to water them and pray for their survival. I love sitting on my front step and smelling my neighbour’s jasmine in the villa opposite ours. The scent is so strong it wafts right over, and what’s even better is that if I leave the front door open with just the fly screen, you can even faintly smell it inside the house. It’s spring over here, and I’m planning to go to Bunnings this weekend. Maybe I should buy a Jasmine plant. Open the windows and shout hooray, it’s spring! Only kidding, I just open the windows—there’s no shouting. Go to a spring fair or Oktoberfest. My sweet, kind friend and I usually find a spring fair somewhere. Last year we went to Cronulla… or was it the year before? Time goes so fast! Every year I say, “We should go on a picnic.” Spring is picnic weather, don’t you agree? I need to organise one pronto! Summer When I host Cousin Connect in the summer, I like to eat in our courtyard with the long fold-out tables, fairy lights on, music on and pretend we are in Italy. Drink Aperol Spritz Count down the days until the summer school holidays and get ready for Christmas. Find a rooftop bar, listen to live music, and enjoy the evening lights. I enjoy going along to my husband’s swim club on Sunday mornings when they have socials, like BBQs. They do amazing BBQs. We missed last year’s season because he gave himself a year off after his knee replacement, but this year he’ll be back. Notice I haven’t mentioned swimming or any water activities on my summer list. I’m more of an eater than a swimmer, and sand is definitely not my friend… unless I’m in Hawaii. Autumn I don’t love autumn at all. To get out of my funk about summer being over, I like to watch YouTube videos of cozy autumn living in Nordic countries. Cooler weather always looks better on the other side of the world. Eat apple pie and ice cream. I could eat it any time of the year, but somehow it cheers me up in autumn. Watch Hallmark movies that are “fall” related. Autumn looks like so much fun in the Northern Hemisphere. There’s pumpkin spice everything (not that I like the flavour very much, I want to love it, but I don’t), apples, crunchy leaves, scarves, boots, and of course, Halloween. All the cozy vibes I wish we had here. Celebrate Easter! Count the months until spring. Humbug. So there you have it, 5 things I like to do in each season. If you’re reading from the Northern Hemisphere, you’ll notice we do things differently over here in Australia because our seasons are the opposite. And here’s a fun fact: there are actually more countries up north than down here, which is why autumn leaves, pumpkin spice, and all those cozy vibes are happening while we’re still enjoying summer. And yes, that also means Christmas happens in the heat. Here, you can even find Christmas postcards that show Santa riding a surfboard instead of a sleigh. Funny, hey? Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne, and Sarah  

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What’s Up Wednesday

5 Comments / Family Life, Home, What's Up Wednesday

Hi friends, it’s time to link up for What’s Up Wednesday! I’m recapping June, which—although very cold (not complaining, just saying)—turned out to be a pretty fantastic month. WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK Monday – Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, vegetables and lots of gravy Tuesday – Nachos Wednesday – leftover nachos because I like to make enough for two days. Thursday – Grilled barramundi with chips and salad Friday – I’m going out for a work dinner Saturday – Chicken souvlaki pita wrap Sunday – steak sandwiches WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT You’ll see what I mean when you read what I’m dreading a bit further on. Lately, I’ve been thinking about simpler times—the ’80s kind of simpler, back before we were constantly bombarded with news and updates every second of the day. Life just felt slower, quieter, and a lot less overwhelming. I know we had some wild hair and interesting fashion, but I’d be more than happy to embrace those crazy styles all over again if it meant going back to a time when the world wasn’t such a mess. WHAT I’M LOVING As much as I’m nostalgic for simpler times, I’m really loving making plans for the winter school holidays! I’ve started a list, and so far… every single plan involves going out to eat somewhere. I should probably get a bit more creative, but food wins every time. WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO I had a fantastic trip to Melbourne with my cousin, where we explored the city in a day. The sun hits the front of our house, and during the day, it gets beautifully warm. Since the inside is so cold, I like to sit on the front step with a drink and soak up some sunshine when I’m home on the weekend. Just one visit to our favourite local café in June. Those Portuguese tarts are so good—I could easily eat ten! ( The flaky pastry and the creamy custard are irresistible.) Some cozy drinks for June! We discovered a delicious local Chinese restaurant and ended up going twice in June. What a well-kept secret it seemed to be—until I started telling people about it. Turns out we were probably the last locals to find it because everyone I’ve mentioned it to has said, “Oh yeah, we love that place!” Sheet masks for the days when my face feels like a desert. This one was a lovely Christmas gift from one of the kind preschool parents last year. I found out I can buy them from Mecca, so I’ll definitely be getting them again. It’s the best one I’ve tried—way better than the ones I usually buy from Priceline. I finally finished the last trip recap—five months later! This one was all about snorkelling in Waikiki. The trip recaps took me so long to write because there was a lot to cover. I still can’t believe I got to see so many amazing places! One day, I’ll be that grandma telling my grandkids all about our great Cousin Connect 2025 adventure—and they’ll be saying, “Stop, Grannie, we’ve heard that story a hundred times already!” In June, Steve and I took a trip to Avoca Beach to join our friends in celebrating their dad’s life. It was an emotional day, especially watching the slideshow his granddaughter put together. On the way there, we made a quick pit stop for breakfast. It was a nice, quiet little moment before a very big day. That same evening, we celebrated my aunt’s birthday. While the grown-ups danced, I joined the kids playing Telestrations, a drawing and guessing game. Oh my goodness, I haven’t laughed that hard in ages! The game had some cheeky prompts, but you could pick tamer ones too. I went for the tamer ones.  It was such a lovely way to end the day, with lots of laughter. It really is such good medicine! Pizza night with my cousins last weekend. This week, we’ve been enjoying scones—so good with jam, cream, and a cup of tea. There were so many, I ended up freezing a few for later. June was a good one! WHAT I’M DREADING Nothing personal at the moment—but I can’t ignore the sense of dread I feel about the tense political situation unfolding globally. WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT We’ve got just a week and a half left of Term Two before our two-week winter break. Yeeehaaa! WHAT I’M WATCHING We’re making our way through Better Call Saul and are nearly at the end of season two. It’s been such a fantastic series so far—although I’ve heard it dips a bit in the later seasons, but everyone says to stick with it because it ends really well. Sam and I are trying to convince Steve that he needs to watch Breaking Bad once we finish. I’m pretty sure he won’t need much convincing. WHAT I’M LISTENING TO Audiobooks! I used to feel a bit like I was cheating by listening instead of reading. But I guess it’s just another way to enjoy books, especially when you don’t have much time to sit down with a physical copy. I’ve listened to Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth, and it’s definitely my favourite of her books so far. Right now, I’m listening to Unbreakable by Jelena Dokic, the Australian tennis star. Gosh, she had it tough with her father’s terrible physical and emotional abuse. What she had to endure—keeping silent, telling no one—is heartbreaking. I remember watching her compete, and during interviews, she often came across as indifferent, defensive, and not very friendly. Listening to her story really struck me with how important it is to give people who seem ‘rude’ the benefit of the doubt. There’s usually a reason behind it, and we often have no clue what someone is going through. I really need to remember this! In Jelena’s case, she behaved that way because she knew what was waiting for her after the interviews. Win or lose, she would face relentless verbal abuse

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Hello Monday

7 Comments / Family Life, Hello Monday, Home

Hi friends! Welcome to today’s Hello Monday Link up with Holly and Sarah. It’s great to be here on this sunny Monday to share a little about my weekend. Thanks so much for stopping by 😊 Saturday It was one of those cold winter days in Australia—sunny but freezing—when I just couldn’t get warm, no matter how many layers I wore. I’m really trying not to whinge about winter (after all, our winters don’t get seriously cold compared to other countries). So I’ve always felt like I shouldn’t really complain. I came across a few social media posts about how cold Aussie winters feel and realised I’m not the only one who finds them tough—and that made me feel a whole lot better. People visiting from seriously cold countries say the same thing: the cold here somehow feels worse. And they’re right! In places where winters are harsh, houses are actually built for it—proper insulation, double-glazed windows, and central heating are common. Over here, our houses aren’t designed that way. And come to think of it, they’re not a great design for our hot summers either! I saw someone on Instagram say, “It’s like they couldn’t decide which season to build for—so they picked neither.” Haha, it’s spot on! And that explains why we often feel just as cold inside our homes as we do outside. Pizza Night Now that my rant about the cold is over, I’m happy to share that I had a lovely Saturday evening with some of my cousins when we went out for pizza. This month’s cousin connect didn’t quite happen. We usually try to catch up on the first weekend of every month, but we had cousins overseas, one away on a farm, and others tied up with parties—the younger cousins and their friends are slowly hitting the big 30. Haha, they say they feel old… wait till they hit the big 50! We didn’t want to skip the month entirely, so my lovely cousin J invited me (I was the only one free) to hang out with her and her family. Ever since our recent trip to Melbourne, when we went to Sal’s, I’ve had a serious craving for their pizza. Their crust and pizza sauce are just incredible. We have a Sal’s in Sydney too, but it’s in Darlinghurst, which is about a 50-minute drive from my cousin’s house and around 25 minutes from mine. They kindly picked me up on the way, and the food was so good that it was worth the trek. When we finished eating, we went across the road to the Darlinghurst night markets. It was pretty small, with a few food trucks, a flower stall, and a hall full of vintage clothing. We enjoyed wandering around for a bit. Then we headed out and got some ice cream at Messina. I picked the hazelnut flavour, and it was full of crunchy hazelnuts. It’s never too cold for delicious, creamy, crunchy ice cream! Sunday Woollies delivered my grocery shop at 8 a.m.—a bit earlier than I’m usually up on weekends. The time slot sounded like a good idea when I placed the order the night before… not so much when I had to get out of my warm bed on Sunday morning. Still, it was nice to be up early and make the most of a precious Sunday. My lovely aunt, who lives in LA, called, and we chatted for about an hour. Then it was time for fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast for breakfast. I was actually hungry for breakfast, and that rarely happens. It must be because of the cold weather. The bomber pants I ordered from Zara arrived. The XS just fits me around the waist—but if I eat, it won’t be pretty. So I went ahead and ordered a size S and will return whichever one doesn’t work. I’m kind of in between an XS and an S. Normally, I prefer to size up, but since they’re bomber pants—with balloon legs and a cuff at the ankle—I was a bit scared I’d look like a genie. And I definitely don’t want to look like a genie. So I’ll wait and see: if I have to unzip the XS after I eat, or if the S doesn’t make me look like I’m about to grant three wishes, then I’ll keep them… and have my wish of eating as much as I like granted. No try-on pic yet—just the package for now. Steve made scones before he went to work. Yum–scones with the jam I bought at the Lydham Hall Open Day, topped with cream. It was such a beautiful Sunday afternoon, so I went for a walk. I finished my afternoon catching up on some blogging. For dinner, we had steak sandwiches, then watched a couple of episodes of Better Call Saul (can’t stand that Chuck!). After that, I probably went to bed later than I should have—always trying to squeeze out the last minute of  Sunday. That’s a wrap on my weekend. How was yours? Hope it was a good one.  

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