Family Life

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne, and Sarah. This month’s topic is ‘A Day in the Life’—a peek into what an average day looks like. The nosey Parker in me loves these kinds of posts, so I’m excited to read about everyone else’s day. Here’s mine from last Thursday. I always set my alarm for 6.25 instead of 6.30, so I feel like I’m winning. I’m not a morning person AT ALL, so I figure if I play mind games like this, I might just have a shot at getting up on time at 6.30! 6.27—I was 3 minutes ahead of myself! Yay! First things first—I took my thyroid meds and made sure to leave the empty glass on top of the chopping board in the kitchen. That’s my little sign and a way of knowing for sure that I’ve taken them. When you take regular medication, it’s easy to get confused and wonder, “Did I take them, or was that yesterday?” That used to happen to me a lot, but now my glass trick has helped so much. Next, I went down to the laundry to feed the cats and take care of their kitty litter—bleh. Then, I charged my watch and phone to get them ready for the day. Up until a week ago, I used to leave my watch charging overnight, but then I heard it could cause overheating or damage the battery. Oops! Next, I folded some washing—because there’s always washing! I had to turn the light on because it was cloudy. But even when it’s not, I’ve noticed the sun is coming up later. Autumn is getting started. Then, it was time to sort out my lunch and get ready for work. Sunscreen first—always! I keep my makeup pretty simple: concealer, BB cream, blush, and lipstick. Just enough so I don’t look like I’ve been haunting houses. It was time to head out and walk fast! So cloudy, but this colourful tree was a treat on such a gloomy day. Every day, I dread these lights—they take forever to change! I like that our pedestrian lights have little men: red for wait and green for walk. But when I was in California, I think the pedestrian signals showed a white walking person for “WALK” and an orange raised hand for “DON’T WALK.” I kept waiting for the green man, but he never showed up. A bit sweaty from the walk, but I made it to work on time! Then, it was the usual running around we all do at preschool—getting everything ready, helping the children with their activities, and making sure everyone was settled and happy, using friendly hands and kind words. It’s a work in progress. Look, Miss Ruth, I painted a plum! Always bending down to pick up some kind of mess or spill. According to Dan Buettner, the guy who wrote about the Blue Zones, that’s supposed to be good for longevity, right? Excellent! Maybe I’ll live to 150. During my lunch break, I did some blogging. The day went by pretty fast at work, and I finished at 3:46. Yep, that’s my actual finishing time—pretty precise, huh? In the afternoon, the sun came out, and the skies turned bright blue. I always love walking home after a noisy, busy day. By the time I get home, I feel so zen. The only ones to greet me when I walked in the door were the cats. Steve was at work, and Sam was at uni. Dinner time for the girls. I grabbed my cleaning caddy and did a quick clean. I used to do it all in the morning, but now I do it in the afternoon when no one’s home. Then, it was time to cook dinner. On Thursdays, we usually eat together because everyone’s home in the evening. After everything had been cleaned up, we caught an episode of Matlock and had a cup of tea. I love Kathy Bates! Around 11 (probably later than I should), I got ready for bed. Brushed my teeth. All showered-pyjamas on, and then it was lights out. Nighty night!

Hi friends, I’m linking up with Jenn for the February edition of Currently. Towards the end of last year, I was crazy over the top busy with work, study and trip planning, so I missed quite a few link-ups. This year, my studies are over, and my trip has come and gone (waaahhhhh!!). I’m also on long service leave and won’t be back to work until the 19th of February. So it’s great to be here today, taking a breath and excited to share what I’m currently loving, anticipating, remembering, sharing and wish-listing. Let’s go! Loving Hmmm, there are so many things that I have been loving lately. I loved loved loved my trip away with my family, but then I also loved coming home last Tuesday. I love having free time without feeling that I have a deadline to meet. After the whirlwind of last year, I’m really appreciating having an extra long summer break! Also on the list of things I am loving is cooking meals with heaps of vegetables. I missed eating my veggies during our trip (it turns out I’m not the fast food queen I thought I would be!) Anticipating I am anticipating that this year will not be nearly as busy as last year was. So, I am looking forward to going back to regular date nights with my husband, and I’m also excited to have the spare time on the weekends to spend time with friends! I have an exciting catch-up this Saturday with my lovely friend, who I haven’t seen in what feels like forever, and I can’t wait! Remembering I am remembering all the fun times I had over the three weeks we were away. Gosh, it was such a special time with my family, and I’m so grateful for it all. Even though I was happy to arrive home safely last Tuesday and jump back into regular old stuff, now I’ve got the post-holiday blues really bad! Haha, my husband (he knows me so well) kept looking at me funny all of last week and checking in on me. He kept asking, “Are you ok?” because he fully expected me to be on a real downer after the trip. And no, I was still on such a high! Until this Monday when I came off the high with a great big thud–sigh. Sharing Speaking of sharing, I will be sharing all about our trip soon and doing many recaps. Once I wipe away all of my tears–haha, no, I’m not that bad, but it might take me a little time to gather my thoughts! Wish Listing I think one of the only things on my wish list right now is a new fly screen for our laundry. Last year, we had our door frame replaced because it was weather-damaged. The new door frame looks fantastic, but since it’s a different size, the old cream-coloured fly screen no longer fits. So it sat outside in the courtyard propped up against the wall, gathering dust and cobwebs until I finally sold it on Facebook Marketplace in December. I love Facebook Marketplace—it’s amazing what you can sell!   This year, I’d love a simple fly-screen door with a white frame, something like this one. So now that I’ve got some time and I’m home during the day, I really should get on top of ringing around for quotes. The big fat flies that sneak in the second I leave the laundry door open are definitely motivating me to get moving on this. Summer flies are so gross!!! And that wraps up the February edition of Currently. Thanks so much for being here today, and I hope you have an amazing Wednesday!  

With just hours left in 2024, I wanted to take a moment to say hi and wish everyone all the best for 2025! I’m also taking a minute to look back on everything it brought, and I can happily say that 2024 was a pretty good year. And for that, I am extremely grateful. Highlights of the Year January Steve and I had such a wonderful night celebrating our anniversary at The Opera Bar. Enjoying a delicious seafood platter while enjoying the view of Sydney Harbour was definitely a January highlight! February Cheers to my birthday month! My positive vibes-only work buddy encouraged me to treat myself all month long, and I did just that. I highly recommend it! March I love playing tourist in my own city with my fun friend. In March, we walked over the Harbour Bridge and explored The Rocks. Then, I started working towards my diploma but had to redo my Certificate III first—ugh! Many of our fun outings got put on hold, but we’re planning to make up for it in 2025! Another March highlight was Easter and getting together with some of my cousin crew. Hunting for eggs before they melted in the heat was a fun challenge! April We visited Canberra! May Sam had a wonderful time with his friends when they went to Japan. They all came home sick with colds and spent the next week recovering. It was a huge deal for us to have our youngest go overseas. He’s an adventurous lad, so I’m sure this will be the first of many trips. (yikes) May was a huge month- Steve had a knee replacement at the end of May, and his recovery has been such an achievement. Watching him regain mobility and confidence after years of limping is the highlight of 2024! June We bought our flights for our Cousin Connect adventure, and the planning began! July Christmas in July! August What can I say about August? It was cold, we got sick and couldn’t wait for spring! But we did have an August highlight, and that was a surprise birthday dinner at Mr Wong’s to celebrate Steve’s birthday. September Hooray for spring and visits to the Ramsgate Farmers Markets! October My big boys turned 31 and 20-they have a huge age gap but share the same birthday month. Good planning, Mum and Dad 😉 November November was not my favourite! I pretty much chained myself to the computer and knocked off assignment after assignment. There were tears and lots of frustrating moments. (Sorry, Miss D, and thank you for putting up with me. I couldn’t have done it without you, and I will be forever grateful xx). Having a fantastic cheer squad at work and home got me through November! December It was a scramble to get ready for Christmas, but we got there in the end. Lessons Learned in 2024 I can be brave: We’re heading overseas, and I’m getting on that plane! I can be determined: I finally hit submit on all my diploma assignments. I can’t watch the news: It gives me too much anxiety. Sadly, bad news always seems to find its way to me (and everyone else). I accidentally saw some footage, and now I can’t unsee it (sigh). I’ve learned it’s better for me to turn away and protect my peace. I can give myself permission: To rest and do nothing. To let go of worrying about things I can’t control. And to embrace being a big kid and having fun—because age really is just a number! Looking Ahead I’m excited to welcome 2025 with our upcoming trip and a nice long break from work. I’m also looking forward to continuing to share a peek into my world here. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you all stopping by to read—thank you so much!! So, that’s a wrap for 2024! I’ll be back in the first week of February. If you’d like to follow along on our Cousin Connect Adventure, feel free to join me on Instagram: @playworkeatrepeat. I’ll follow back! Have a wonderful New Year and I’ll see you in 2025! Big hugs    

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Jennifer from Overflowing With Thankfulness for the October edition of Currently. Can you believe it’s October already? Where has the time gone? Thanks so much for stopping by as I share what I’m currently loving, looking forward to, wearing, reading, and cooking. LOVING I’ve been enjoying these delicious and refreshing cans of sugar-free soft drinks. I typically love sugary soft drinks because I don’t enjoy the aftertaste of artificial sweetness, but I can’t tell the difference with these! LOOKING FORWARD TO I’m really looking forward to getting back to my usual routine! At my preschool job, I normally work 7.6-hour days, but for my placement at a daycare centre as part of my studies, I’m doing eight hours plus an extra hour to make up for losing a day due to the October long weekend—so that’s 9-hour days! I have always felt very grateful to be working where I am, and I never took the shorter hours and school holiday breaks for granted. But now, after experiencing these longer days, I appreciate my usual routine even more and can’t wait to get back to it! WEARING I’m back to wearing winter clothes again, and I’m not a fan. The weather tricked us, as it does every year, making us believe spring had finally arrived. Why do I fall for it every year?! READING I’ve been trying to catch up on reading blogs, but with these long work hours, it’s been tough to find the time. I didn’t even get a chance to post on Monday! COOKING Quick meals that don’t require too many steps have been the go lately. On Monday night, I made a chicken and spinach casserole that tasted great and was healthy and satisfying. I’ve been more exhausted than usual, so I’ve finally taken my husband up on his offer to cook. His work week has changed since he returned after his operation, and now he has Wednesdays and Thursdays off. He’s always been more than happy to cook, but I guess I’m just used to doing things in the kitchen myself. But after coming home to a roast dinner and dessert tonight, I’m definitely happy to let him cook more often! That’s a wrap for now. I just want to say I’ve been scrambling to stay afloat with everything lately. I absolutely love blogging and being part of this lovely blog community, but I just haven’t been able to find the time to blog or comment as much as I’d like. I guess there’s a season for everything, and I’m trying not to get discouraged. Right now, I’m in a busy season, but hopefully, it won’t last forever—because blogging is my favourite! Happy Wednesday, friends!

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

Hi friends, it’s time to link up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne and Sarah for this month’s edition of Share Our Lives. The topic for August is our least favourite activities. Yep, it’s the perfect chance to get a few things off my chest, have a bit of a vent, and then find my Zen. I’m looking forward to sharing what really makes me groan. Thanks so much for stopping by! My Least Favourite Activities Filling The Car With Petrol I don’t have to deal with this much anymore since I walk everywhere now, and I’m absolutely loving it! But lining up to fill up the car really had a knack for ruining a good day. I know, it sounds a bit dramatic, but honestly, it’s one of my least favourite activities! I don’t like dealing with the fiddly fuel cap, and I get really stressed if the petrol pump isn’t on the right side of where my car is parked. Another thing that gets to me about the whole petrol station experience is when people seem to take forever to get back to their cars. They pick out snacks, sort out their indecisive kids, take ages to pay, examine their receipts, adjust their sunglasses, check their lipstick, and chat on their phones—all while the line of cars keeps growing. Aaaargh! I know everyone’s busy, but it can feel like forever! Taxes It’s tax time over here, and I tackled this yesterday – phew, now that’s over I don’t have to think about it for another year! Yay! Setting Passwords Just take my identity already because I’m done setting and remembering passwords! Unclogging Drains Any hair in the drain, even if it’s my own, just makes me gag…ugh! I’ve just turned green. Going To The Doctors I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but I really dislike and have a strong aversion to seeing the doctor. If I have a health concern, I stress myself out, convincing myself that when I finally walk into the doctor’s office, they’re going to tell me I have three months to live. So what do I do? I put it off, Google (big mistake), and lie awake fearing the worst. Then, I make that dreaded appointment. Going To The Dentist I’m not scared…….ok, I’m scared. Cleaning The Oven We’ve got a self-cleaning oven… Hallelujah! But I still have to take out the racks, scrub them, and tackle the glass, so it still makes the list of my least favourite activities. The first time I cleaned this oven, I couldn’t remember how to put the glass back, and it just wouldn’t click into place. I may have ended up sitting on the kitchen floor and crying. Putting Flat-Packed Furniture Together I was totally ok with this and would knock together anything from Ikea. Until the dreaded Hemnes bed, we got for Sam. It had the most confusing instructions with a gazillion screws. I have never felt so overwhelmed and may have cried over this too. In the end, I MacGyvered a few things together and hoped for the best. So far, it’s still standing, but none of us can figure out what the aluminium stick that keeps falling off is actually for. We just put it back and don’t talk about it. Cleaning The Cat Litter Two cats double the…… fun. You thought I was going to say poop didn’t you? Taking Off Or Putting On The Sandpit Cover At Work Sometimes, I wonder how many times I have done this least favourite activity over all the years I have been working at preschool…lots! It’s a two-person job because it’s heavy, especially if it’s been raining and it always feels kind of icky, so I wear plastic gloves when I have to touch it. Many times, we hear parents say how lucky we are because we get to play all day long and how they wish they had our fun, relaxing jobs. Hmm, that’s not always the case. But I guess it’s the same when I wish I could wear lovely clothes and stylish shoes and sit in a relaxing air-conditioned office. I’m sure office jobs are stressful too. Packing Away Christmas Decorations Not only is packing away Christmas decorations one of my least favourite activities, but it’s also a bit of a downer! I absolutely love Christmas, and, like a kid, I look forward to it all year. Once Father’s Day is over in September, out come the decorations in the shops, and I get so excited! But even though I love decorating for Christmas, come January 1st, I usually pack everything away. Because when it’s over, it’s over, and you have to rip it off like a band-aid. Oof, that sounds a bit harsh, doesn’t it? Ironing I used to iron everything–even teatowels. Ha! I must have had rocks in my head. Now, I fold like a champ, and whenever something needs ironing, I pull out my steamer or my cheap Kmart iron and tiny Ikea ironing board. But the steamer usually wins because it’s quick and easy! I’m sure I’ve forgotten a whole bunch of other least favourite activities, but here are a few that come to mind and it sure feels great to share them. It’s almost like a therapy session! If you’d like to find out about a few other things that get me ruffled you can read all about my pet peeves and fashion pet peeves too. I hope you have an amazing week, and may your least favourite activities be few and far between!  

Hi friends it’s time to link up with Jennifer for the August edition of Currently. I am so happy you have stopped by! Today we are chatting about what we are currently loving, looking forward to, dreading, eating and buying. Let’s go! Loving January this year I spotted some colourful Bauhaus prints when I went to Mitchell Road Antique and Design Centre. I fell in love with them instantly! I was so tempted to get them, but I didn’t because I don’t usually go for such colourful choices. Normally, I go for neutrals or darker tones. I actually had some Jackson Pollock-inspired canvases up on the dining room wall for years. They were done in shades of brown with splashes of black and cream. I painted them when Sam was about four years old. He watched me splash paint around and looked a bit horrified. I remember him saying ” No mummy, you need to paint nicely!” He was too young to appreciate true art, hehe. Over the winter holidays, I decided to get creative and make my own prints instead of buying the ones from Mitchell Road Antiques. I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying a bit of colour these days! The prints have brought a refreshing change to the dining room, and they were so easy and inexpensive to make. Looking Forward To I love having something to look forward to because it makes each day (especially those dreary winter days) feel brighter. Luckily for me, I have a few exciting things coming up. First on the list is our Cousin Connect get-together this Saturday. We’re hosting at our place this time, and the theme is finger food. Everyone will bring something we can eat with our hands, so we won’t have to worry about too much washing up. Then, I have a day off work on the 16th (yay!), and I’m taking Steve out for dinner that night to a surprise venue (double yay!). And, of course, I’m super excited for spring! Oh gosh, I am so looking forward to it and can’t wait for it to arrive! Dreading I’m not dreading anything, hooray! Eating Snacks at work! My friend, who works at our preschool on a casual basis, often comes in to cover for staff who are away. She always brings us snacks, which is a lovely treat! Just having her at work is a treat in itself because she’s so friendly, fun, and has such an infectious, upbeat vibe. We always know it’s going to be a great day when we see her car parked outside our preschool in the morning! Buying Other than groceries, I haven’t been buying anything. I’m trying to have a no-spend month because the more I save now, the more I can spend overseas next year. But then I found out Country Road is having its ‘Spend and Save’ sale until mid-August. Ooof, it’s going to be hard to resist! And that’s a wrap for this month’s Currently link-up! I’m looking forward to catching up with you all again on Friday. Happy Wednesday, wherever you are—day or night!    

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Jennifer for the July edition of Currently. Today we are chatting about what we are currently loving, looking forward to, savouring, celebrating, and remembering. LOVING I am loving going to bed early (well, at a decent time anyway). I never thought I would say that because I love staying up late. But I feel so good the next day after getting a proper night’s sleep. Luckily, I rarely have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. The only nights I struggle are some Sunday nights and always the nights before the beginning of the school term. LOOKING FORWARD TO I am very excited about the upcoming school holiday break! Term two was a ten-week term, and even though it’s always hard to get up out of a warm bed in winter, I managed through ten weeks. Term one, however, was an eleven-week term, and that last week—well, you get the picture! So, I’m really looking forward to not waking up to an early alarm and not having to stick to any schedule. It’s free time for the next two weeks, and I can’t wait! Apart from a few fun plans, such as catching up with friends and going away for a weekend, I am also keen to get some jobs done. One of these tasks is painting our small walk-in wardrobe. It really needs a good makeover and proper lighting! Then there’s the living room I never got around to painting white like the rest of the house. It’s been over a year since I painted the bedrooms, hallway, and dining room. After that, I stopped, packed up my brushes, and never went back. I think it’s time! Even though it’s work, I’m in the mood to finally tick these jobs off my list. Well, the wardrobe anyway, not so much the living room. SAVOURING Fresh herbs! I love adding fresh herbs to my cooking, and I have parsley growing in our front garden and the basil is doing okay too. I also bought a pot of coriander. I think it’s my 3,567th attempt to try and grow coriander! Every time I buy a pot at the supermarket, I make sure to follow all the instructions on the packaging on how to maintain it. I water it, put it near the window for some sun, and I even talk to it, but no luck—it just withers and dies. Oh my gosh, I just realised, maybe it’s my conversations! CELEBRATING My cousin messaged us in our family group chat and we are making plans to get together and celebrate Christmas in July on the 20th! REMEMBERING I’m still using my trusty notebook to jot down all the things I need to remember! So now I’m actually remembering things. Go me! And that’s a wrap for what’s currently happening in July! I hope you all have an amazing Wednesday!

Hi friends and happy Wednesday! I’m linking up with Jennifer from Overflowing With Thankfulness for the June edition of Currently. We are looking at what we are currently loving, looking forward to, enjoying, seeing, and lounging around in. Thanks so much for stopping by! LOVING We got new letterboxes in our villa complex a couple of weeks ago, and I’m loving it! Letterboxes may not sound exciting, but for me, they sure are. The original letterboxes were lower to the ground (now hidden behind the silver number sign) and had become a home for snails. I was usually the one to grab the mail when I got home from work in the afternoon, and it was so gross! Ugh, I feel sick just thinking about it. The slimy snails would leave a trail everywhere, and on top of that, they also ate our letters. Since the mail was delivered in the morning, by the afternoon, bits of the letters had been eaten away. Now, our fancy new letterboxes not only look better, but they are also higher up and seem to be snail-proof. Checking the mail is no longer a horror story for me! Yay! LOOKING FORWARD TO I’m looking forward to this weekend because it’s a long weekend to celebrate the King’s Birthday. Happy birthday, King Charles! We don’t have any specific plans, but it will be nice to have a three-day weekend! ENJOYING I’ve been enjoying all the hot drinks after a long day at work! Some nights, I’ll have my usual Tetley extra-strong tea, while other nights, I’ll go for herbal tea from T2. SEEING Weird cloud formations in the sky! Yesterday afternoon, this cloud hung around for about three hours and you could see it all over Sydney. The kids were still talking about it today at preschool, and our classroom was in hysterics trying to pronounce the Latin name for this type of cloud – Altocumulus volutus. LOUNGING AROUND IN It’s cold over here so now I am lounging around in all things fleece! Fleecy tracksuit pants, hoodies and woolly Ugg slippers. And that’s a wrap! I can hardly believe it’s already June. Wow, we’re halfway through the year, and if time keeps flying by at this pace, Christmas will be here before we know it! I hope you have an amazing day and I’ll be back on Friday to share some favourites. See ya!

Hello, friends, and welcome to Friday Favourites! I hope you all had a great week. If you’re anything like me, I’m sure you’re very excited to welcome back the weekend! This week has flown by so fast yet at the same time it’s felt never-ending because of the wet weather! It’s true what they say about rainy days — time seems to slow to a crawl, doesn’t it? Especially when you’re stuck inside with a crowd of energetic and enthusiastic preschoolers! But hey, at least we made it to Friday! Let’s look at some favourites from this week. Monday Night I almost didn’t make it to our monthly dinner with friends on Monday night. I got home from work later than usual and had to catch up on a few things. It was rainy, I was tired and almost in a bit of a funk. But my friend rang and convinced me to go and I’m so glad I did. Sometimes it’s good to push through even when it feels like everything is caving in on you! I didn’t feel very hungry, which is very unlike me! But when I tucked into my grilled chicken burger and fries. It almost felt as if my appetite woke up and suddenly I was starving. So weird! Does that ever happen to you? Let’s talk about the weather! Lately, I don’t know if I’m cold or hot and it’s not my hormones, it’s the weather. As I said before it has been raining non-stop but the temps have been hovering around 20ºC. So it almost feels humid during the day and at night it gets cooler. I wore my jacket to dinner on Monday night because there was a chill in the night air. I bought this jacket online a few years ago, and initially, I didn’t like it very much. It had so many hanging threads! However, I’m so glad that I didn’t return it because now it’s one of my favourites. I got used to the raw edge look, and I think the jacket’s style goes well with a lot of things I have in my wardrobe. Oregano Oregano is one of my favourite herbs and I read somewhere that it contains some pretty amazing health perks as well. I used to buy oregano from the supermarket but I have to say that it’s not as good as this one that comes on the stalks. It just has a much more robust flavour and it makes my Greek chicken taste better. Dried Fruit! Last Saturday I went to the farmer’s market and I bought some dried mango and dried paw paw. I thought that they would be great to add to my homemade granola. Well, I haven’t got around to making any granola yet but I have been enjoying them as a snack. They taste like lollies! Sometimes I combine it with almonds. It’s healthy, right? Well, as long as I don’t think about the sugar content! Website Issues-Again! Seeing this when I tried to access my website was NOT a favourite last Friday! But I’m grateful for a couple of kind blogger friends who reached out to let me know. It’s fixed now, but I’m still having issues with comments not coming through. Apologies if you’ve tried to comment and haven’t been able to. I always love and appreciate your comments, and I’m sad that I don’t know how to fix this! Aaaargh!!! I’ve had lots of laughs at work with some of my amazing work friends. They’re the best and they brighten my days-even the dreary wet days. But I can’t say that this week has been my favourite and to be honest I’m excited to say bye-bye to it! I thought I had finished all of my written assessment tasks. But I found out on Thursday afternoon that I was missing a whole entire one! I could have cried and if I still had my thyroid I probably would have! I’m more emotionally regulated on thyroxine these days – phew! Anyway, I stayed up late on Thursday night and finished it and I can’t wait for this part of my course to be over! Sam Is Arriving Tomorrow! I’m excited that Sam gets back from Japan tomorrow morning, and I can’t wait to pick him up from the airport! He’s been pretty good about sending me at least one message a day. I’ve slept better knowing he was fine and having a great time with his friends. I’ve also been in contact with his friend’s mum, and we’ve been regularly texting each other, piecing together the bits of information we had about what they were up to. I think we are coming to terms with the fact that this trip may be the beginning of more overseas travel for them. I’m happy that they are a great group of friends and that Sam is a good egg. He just grew up so fast! And that’s a wrap for now! Thank you so much for stopping by today, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Fingers crossed that next week will be sunnier in more ways than one! Happy Mother’s Day to all the lovely mums out there. If you’re missing your mum, just like I am, I’m sending you big virtual hugs. Linking up with Andrea and Erika