Friday Favorites

Friday favourites

Friday Favourites

Hey everyone! I’m so happy to welcome Friday back today—are you the same? It always feels like Friday is an eternity away when the alarm goes off on Monday morning, but then the week flies by so fast! And here we are again, ready to share a recap of the week and some favourites that make life más bueno. Thanks so much for being here! It’s always a great start to the week when our favourite casual teacher comes to work—and it’s not just because she brings us snacks! That super germ that took me down also hit two of our usual lovely staff members. Thankfully, we were all back by the end of the week. Our energy levels are still a bit low as we recover, but I think we’re all on the mend. I made our favourite guacamole for our Tuesday night burrito bowls. Along with some Mexican Street Corn Salad. My family loves some Mexican food on a Tuesday or any other day of the week too! Our preschool children went on a Book Week parade excursion to a local primary school. As expected, the kids were extra excited and couldn’t wait for the bus ride. I think that’s always the highlight of any excursion! It makes me wonder if we should just hire a bus and go round and round—maybe the kids would even fall asleep, haha. The school entrance was all colourfully decorated. The children watched as each grade took turns parading their costumes around the playground. When it was our turn they had a blast high-fiving the big school kids as they walked around. It was very cute! The school provided us with a delicious morning tea of sandwiches and cupcakes. We were famished and everything was so tasty—it was practically all gone in 60 seconds! As fun as excursions are for the kids, it’s always a relief when we’re all safely back on the bus and everyone is accounted for. My group was the first on the bus, so we got the back seats to ourselves. Hooray, we made it! I’ve discovered Oust, and I love the smell. It’s much nicer than Glen 20, which has such a strong scent that you can even taste it in the back of your throat after spraying. The only downside is that I can’t find Oust at the regular supermarket. I have to order it online from Officeworks and do click and collect to avoid paying postage, which costs as much as a can. Onto some cleaning products. I’ve found a simple way to cut down on plastic packaging: Bath and Shower refills. It’s a great way to reuse the bottles you already have instead of buying new ones all the time. Plus, it’s better for the planet and my wallet. Win-win! Same thing with this laundry refill. I never buy frozen yoghurt, but a few online shopping deliveries ago, I ended up with part of someone else’s order. They have great taste—we all tried it and loved it. Once we finish this small tub, we’ll definitely be buying it again. It’s perfect with pancakes because it’s lighter than ice cream and has a delicious, mild coconut flavour. If you love berries and coconut, this one’s a winner! It has been incredibly windy the last few days. The other day, when I was walking home from work, the wind was so strong it gave me a huge shove. I pushed on and got home safely, but there were branches and debris scattered everywhere. I was a bit freaked out about the possibility of a branch or tree falling on me, especially since a huge tree came down at the end of my street on a windy day a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully, no one was hurt and no property was damaged because that was one huge tree! CPR training on Thursday wasn’t exactly my favourite, especially after a long day at work. But the trainer was really nice, and we only had to do a one-hour yearly refresher course. So we were finished by 5 pm. And that was my week, thanks for catching up with me! I hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead, and I look forward to being back here on Monday. Linking up with Andrea and Erika  

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spring flowers

Friday Favourites

Hi friends! I can smell spring in the air today, and when you combine that with a Friday and a day off work, it’s looking like a pretty fantastic start to my three-day weekend! I’m just popping in quickly to say hi and share some photos I took recently that have me excited for spring. I’ve been counting down since the first day of winter and now there are only 15 more days until the 1st of September. Yippee! I snapped this photo at 5:45 when we went out for a walk on Tuesday. Look, it’s not completely dark at this time anymore! This gorgeous rose seemed to appear out of nowhere and I spotted it in our front garden when I came home from work the other day. We went for a walk in the sunshine and spotted even more colourful flowers along the way. Spring, I love you so much! Tonight, I’m taking Steve out to dinner at a surprise location. Tomorrow night, we’re having a combined Cousin Connect and birthday celebration for Steve since it’s his actual birthday. After some wonderfully low-key weekends, it’s time to celebrate and make the most of this one. I’m excited! Thanks so much for being here today and I hope you have an amazing weekend. I look forward to being back here on Monday! Happy Friday and happy weekend!! Linking up with Andrea and Erika  

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simple skincare routine

My Simple Skincare Routine

Happy Friday everyone! It’s great to be back today linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favourites. Today, I’m excited to share one of my favourite routines that keeps my skin feeling fresh and healthy. Over the years, I’ve tried several skincare products and techniques, but I’ve found that a simple skincare routine works best for me. Here’s my go-to skincare routine that’s easy to follow and doesn’t require a ton of products. Keeping things as fuss-free as possible is the way to go for me! Morning Routine Cleanser I start my day with a gentle cleanser to wash away any impurities that have built up overnight. My current favourite is Neutrogena Deep Clean facial cleanser. It’s mild, doesn’t strip my skin of its natural oils, and leaves my face feeling clean and refreshed. Toner Next, I use a hydrating toner. I love Sukin Hydrating Skin Toner because it preps my skin for the next steps and adds a layer of moisture. A few spritzes does the trick and in the summertime, I like to keep it in the fridge for an instant refresh on a hot day. Moisturiser For hydration, I apply a lightweight moisturiser. I usually use Lacura Renew Expert Day Cream. It’s perfect for my skin type—non-greasy, absorbs quickly and provides the right amount of moisture to keep my skin soft and supple all day. Plus, it has received rave reviews for its affordability and effectiveness, making it a fantastic addition to my simple skincare routine. At the moment, I’m treating myself to the Chanel Revitalizing No.1 cream lately, but to be honest, I can’t really tell the difference between the Lacura moisturiser from Aldi – they both feel great on my skin. Still, it’s nice to indulge occasionally; it helps with the psychology of age reversal! Pay more, age less (if only!). Sunscreen I wish I had paid attention to the amazing benefits of sunscreen when I was younger. Back then I was also washing my face with soap (shudder). Now, sunscreen is a non-negotiable part of my routine. Living in Australia, where the sun is fierce, it’s essential! I use Naked Sundays Hydrating Glow Mist Top-Up Spray with SPF 50 – my cousin gave me a bottle of this amazing sunscreen, and it leaves my skin beautifully dewy. When I initially used the spray, I was excited that it came in a spray bottle. So, I did what I thought I was supposed to do – I sprayed it directly on my face. Big mistake! The sunscreen got in my eye, and it felt like I had a knife stuck in my eyeball for a good hour. It hurt so bad! Eventually, I flushed it out with saline, and all was fine. I should have read the instructions on the bottle: ‘Spray on hands first, then apply to your face’. Oh oh! Evening Routine Cleanser In the evening, I double cleanse. I used to start with my Neutrogena cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, and then I used micellar water afterwards. I’ve learned that it’s actually better to start with micellar water first to break down makeup and sunscreen, and then follow up with a water-based cleanser. Does that sound right? Toner I apply my hydrating toner to replenish moisture and soothe my skin after cleansing. Bakuchiol Serum At night, I have started using Lacura Bakuchiol serum, which I picked up from Aldi a few weeks ago. After cleansing and toning, I apply the bakuchiol serum, gently patting it onto my skin. A few drops go a long way and are enough to cover my face and neck. Amazingly, this routine has even softened a deep line on my cheek. I try serums and creams, and I’m always so sceptical, but this one gave me an obvious result, so I’m happy! Moisturiser Finally, I use the same Chanel moisturiser or the Lacura night-time moisturiser. Extras     Face Mask Once every couple of weeks, I treat myself to a sheet mask. It’s perfect for extra hydration, and because it’s a sheet mask, it forces me to sit back and relax. It’s a wonderful way to unwind and give my skin some extra love. Facial Rollers I also use a roller in my routine, which is fantastic for a bit of extra pampering. I watched a YouTube video to learn the best technique, and now I roll it gently from the centre of my face outwards. This technique helps to boost circulation and reduce puffiness. The soothing sensation feels great! Water I try not to forget the importance of staying hydrated! Some days I’m a champ and remember all day long, while others, not so much. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is essential for maintaining healthy, glowing skin. It helps flush out toxins, supports cellular function, and keeps your skin moisturised from the inside out. Pairing good hydration with your simple skincare routine is a winning combination—I just need to get better about being consistent with it! That’s it! My simple skincare routine is all about consistency and using products that work well for my skin. If all else fails, my top tip is to look in the mirror before you head out, use your fingers to gently hold your face back to where it was a few years ago (ten or twenty years, in my case), smile, and then run out the door with that image in your mind. It works a treat! What are your favourite skincare products or tips? I’d love to hear about them!    

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Friday Favourites

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share some recent favourites. Well, it was back to work for me on Monday. Even though I had an amazing break, when Monday morning rolled around, it sure felt like it had gone by in a flash. Fun, relaxing times always seem to go by so fast! I shouldn’t complain because my winter school holidays were pretty terrific. I got quite a lot of things done around the house that I wanted to do. Things like painting and reorganising which I never have much time for when I’m at work. Plus, I spent time with friends and family and a fun time away in Gosford was also a highlight. Our first day back at work was a pupil-free day. We started the morning with a team meeting, followed by morning tea—fruit bun, strawberries, and blueberries, compliments of the preschool. Then it was time for a workshop called “Understanding Yourself and Others.” This session was all about getting to know different personality styles and how these differences can either lead to conflicts or foster cooperation. We also did a personality self-assessment, which was very insightful and reminded me of all those quizzes I loved as a teen from “Dolly” and “Cosmopolitan” – “Are You His Type, Take This Quiz and Find Out! We also explored practical ways to encourage respectful communication and teamwork.  And it was honestly one of the most interesting workshops I’ve ever attended. I’ve been to so many that are a sure cure for insomnia, but I was wide awake for this one and learned so much. After the workshop, it was time for lunch, again kindly provided by the preschool. We had delicious BBQ chicken with salad, pickles, and chips. I added a big dollop of garlic sauce—enough to keep the vampires away for the rest of the year! I’m back to walking to and from work, and it feels great. It’s definitely a huge favourite. Another big bonus this week has been the amazing weather. With temps hitting as high as 23ºC, it almost felt like spring on Thursday and Friday. I’m so excited that soon we’ll only have one more month of winter, then it will be spring, and all will be right with my world again. I’m so happy with my SILVTJÄRN glass jar from IKEA (I wish I spoke Swedish). I swapped out the pineapple container that you can see at the back of the photo. I used to keep my hoop earrings and a few bracelets inside the pineapple container, but I never loved it as it looked a bit odd on my dressing table. I’m much happier with this new container; I think it looks much nicer. It was only $8.00! My lovely cousin flew in from her holiday in Switzerland, and her mum picked her up from the airport so they could join us for our Cousin Connect Christmas in July. Since it was her birthday while she was away, we had a surprise birthday cake waiting for her. My aunt baked it, and doesn’t it look nice with the macarons on top? Another recent favourite is dessert! It’s a special treat since we don’t often have dessert, but this week, I made caramel bananas for Wednesday night. We’re all still enjoying homemade garlic bread over here.  I’ve been buying bread from the fruit shop near my place and making my own garlic butter. It’s a bit of extra work, but it tastes great, and I split it in half and freeze it for later—win/win! I used to steam my zucchini because, you know, we need to eat veggies for health. But they never tasted great. These days, I roast them in the oven and sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese on top. Mwah! Delicious! Even though the days have been warmer, the evenings are still cold. Dunking these almond biscuits from IKEA in my steamy cup of tea is a winner! Olive oil is so expensive right now! The European heatwave and drought have sent prices through the roof due to a significant drop in production. We use a lot of olive oil, so I was excited to find this bottle at a slight discount. My mum always used to say, “Use all your special things whenever you can and don’t save them only for a special occasion.” I love this thinking and try to follow it. So yesterday, I pulled out this Corningware that my mum and I brought back from our visit to see my uncle in New York way back in 1984. We carried the set as part of our hand luggage, and I still don’t know how we managed it—it’s so heavy! But back then, this Corningware wasn’t readily available here in Australia, and it was quite the sensation at our dinner gatherings. Fast forward to yesterday, and I used the big dish to make a pot roast. I had heard a while ago that this set was going for thousands, and I didn’t think much of it. I just Googled it, and— no way, that can’t be right, can it?   By the way, the pot roast turned out delicious, but it made a bit of a mess of the dish. Don’t worry—it came out perfectly clean in the dishwasher. Now I’m wondering if we might be sitting on a gold mine. Who on earth would pay so much for a Corningware set? Seriously?? That’s a whole lot of trips to Disneyland! Hmmm… On that note, I’m going to list my Corningware on eBay – just kidding! I’m having a shower and getting ready to go out for dinner. Hooray for the weekend!! Happy Friday, and thank you so much for stopping by!              

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Hey friends! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favourites! I can’t believe how fast the week has flown by, taking the first week of my holidays with it! But I can’t complain because it really was a good one! First up, I got to hang out with my lovely friend and spend a day shopping at Chatswood with her on Monday. What a brilliant way to start the winter school holidays! We work at the same preschool, but we don’t get much of a chance to talk during the week because we’re always so busy! As soon as we got out of the train station, we looked for a place to have brunch and found a little café inside Westfield. We did wander around for a while like two lost sheep because Chatswood shopping centre is so huge and neither of us visits often. We both had smashed avocado on sourdough with poached eggs, and I forgot to ask for no chilli! Luckily, it wasn’t too spicy. I moved all the chilli bits to the side of my plate just to be safe (chilli be gone!). Phew! It was actually one of the nicest smashed avocados I’ve ever had. It came with an avocado dressing that had a delicious flavour. I bought my favourite concealer because I had run out and concealer is my best friend these days. Steve had manipulation therapy on his leg on Wednesday. I waited for hours at the hospital cafe and caught up on reading blogs. I could have gone home because the hospital is a five-minute drive from home. But I didn’t mind waiting. I also went for a walk around the block and it was a nice sunny day. The good news is that all went well and Steve wasn’t in much pain afterwards. Now he’s on a mission to improve his walking. After 13 years of walking with a limp, it has become a habit, and he can’t shake the protective walking technique. So he’s retraining his brain to walk without limping. Now that I’m off from work, I’m his walking coach. I emptied out our small walk-in wardrobe and painted it. I’m feeling so good that I got onto this task this week and didn’t leave it until the next. It’s amazing how much stuff we had and how much stuff I have bundled together to give to charity. Prepping for a paint job is not a favourite but I did find two Kit Kats while I was gathering my paint supplies. One of the fun things about pulling everything out and going through boxes is finding treasures like my Lulu doll. Ha! I’ve had her since I was five and I love her so much. She’s lost her hair ( she used to have two plaits) and she’s wearing one of my creations I sewed for her when I was about ten. I also found Snoopy who always has trouble keeping his jeans up! My uncle gave me this Snoopy when I was about nine. Then there are the photos!! Don’t laugh, ok go ahead and laugh, I sure did!! This is what I had to wear to my cousin’s ex-wife’s second wedding. We were super close, and even though she divorced my cousin, she wanted me to be her bridesmaid. I remember not loving the huge outfit she chose for me. Can you believe that even though it was the 80s, those sleeves were not a criminal offence? Here is the finished closet. I went to Ikea and Kmart and bought clothes hangers, shoe boxes, and other storage boxes. I have another closet in the spare room where I keep my clothes, and this one is mainly for Steve’s clothes. I’m so happy with how it turned out because the shelves, walls and ceiling needed a big refresh! I’m excited for this weekend! Steve and I are going away to Gosford for a couple of days. It will be fun to get away for a short trip. I’m not sure when I’ll be back here next week, as I might take a little break. But then again, I may not—I’ll see how it goes. I hope you all have an amazing weekend and thank you so much for stopping by!    

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Friday Favourites

Hi friends, and welcome to Friday Favourites! As usual, the week has just flown by, and here we are again, ready to share some favourites. I’m so happy you’ve stopped by today—thank you for reading along! I always think the last week of term is my favourite because everyone is in high spirits, counting down the days until the holiday break. Well, the staff are, maybe not so much some of the preschool parents. We’ve had a few groans and comments like, “Oh no! Two weeks!!” Haha, yes sir, two weeks indeed! Backtracking to Monday night, we caught up with our friends for our monthly dinner catch-up. We didn’t join our group for the June dinner because Steve had only just had knee surgery. Six weeks post-surgery he is much more mobile and now walking with one crutch. Steve ordered the Laksa and shared some with me. It was full of flavour but too spicy for me! It was too spicy for him too, but he battled through the watery eyes and runny nose—good for clearing the sinuses! I ordered the safe grilled chicken burger. My English friend with amazing Greek cooking skills shared some cheese and pickle-flavoured chips with me. They were good! Hooray! My passport arrived by registered post! Thursday was s mix of favourite and not-so-favourite moments. We went to see the knee surgeon for another follow-up appointment and we didn’t get the best news. Even though Steve is much more mobile and he is making progress. The doc isn’t happy with the range of motion in Steve’s knee. So it’s back to the hospital next Wednesday for a quick but painful-sounding procedure. Steve’s having manipulation therapy where the doctor will bend his knee and break the scar tissue (ouch! My eyes are watering just thinking about this). He will have this done under a light anaesthetic and should be home within a few hours. Hmph! When we got home from seeing the doctor, we were both a bit down and took a minute to process the news. Steve is much better at focusing on the moment; I’m usually seven days ahead and imagining the worst! I didn’t want to be a downer, so I shook off my worries and put on my big girl pants. Ha! I’m not even the one having the procedure, and Steve was comforting me! I just want him to be well… fast!! Luckily, we had tickets to see Boney M at the Enmore Theatre that night, which helped take our minds off things. Before the concert, we had dinner at a Thai place just four doors down from the theatre. Enmore was so busy that night! The restaurants and pubs were packed, and everyone seemed to be having the best time. I was surprised by how lively it was for a cold winter weeknight. We shared a mixed entree and a super mild beef curry. Then it was showtime! We had seats, but I was on the dance floor in a flash with Steve’s blessing. He knew there was no way I could just sit and watch! Even though dancing isn’t his thing, he would have joined me if it weren’t for his knee. Oh my goodness, what a performance! Boney M. was amazing, and dancing along to all the disco favourites I grew up hearing was surreal! Their original performer, Maizie Williams, was there that night, and you would never guess she’s 73 years old! I want to be just like Maizie when I grow up and groove to disco for as long as I can! And that was the week! I’m keeping it short and sweet because I have to jump off and get ready to go out with my work buddies to celebrate the end of the term. I hope you have an amazing weekend and I look forward to being back here on Monday! Linking up with Andrea and Erika   

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Friday favourites

Friday Favourites

Hi friends, it’s time to share some of my favourite things for this week! I hope you all had a good one. Didn’t this week just zoom by in a flash? But that’s okay because now we can welcome back the weekend—Amen! This week started off cold and gloomy. The clouds and wet, rainy weather lingered on after a very wet weekend. It’s hard to feel upbeat when the weather is like that. But thankfully, things shifted, and by the end of the week, the sun was shining brightly again. Yes, it was cold, but it was warm in the sun, and seeing the blue skies always makes everything so much better! Sunny days are my favourite! When I walked into the kitchen this morning and saw the sun shining brightly, I knew instantly that it was going to be a good day! Then as I walked to work, even though it was extremely chilly, the clear blue skies and golden sunshine made me happy. I’ll have to keep this moment in mind because I checked the forecast, and yes, it will be raining all of next week. Sigh! Speaking of walking to work, well, I haven’t done as much of it as I’d like lately. My husband is home, which means the car is home, and that in turn means I’ve given in and driven to work. Aaaargh!! My goal for next week is to pretend the car isn’t available and walk! I love walking, and I feel so much better on the days that I do. Funny story though, the other day I forgot that I had walked, and when I left work, I was looking for my car. For a second, I thought, “Oh no, it’s been stolen!” Ha, who would want to steal such a teeny tiny Suzuki? It took me a little while to realise that, duh, the car was at home! Anyway back to more favourites. This olive sourdough is the best and that’s probably why it’s usually sold out by the time I get to the fruit shop after work. But I got lucky this week and I nabbed the last loaf. I’m not much of a breakfast eater during the week. But on the weekends, I do enjoy a very late breakfast. The other day, I was craving porridge, so I bought these sachets. They are easy to make and deliciously creamy. Healthy too, if you ignore the amount of brown sugar I added… shhh. This raisin toast is my favourite. These mini flakes are for me but everyone at home thinks I like to share. Washed and ready-to-grab fruit is a favourite of mine. Whenever I get my grocery order, I make sure to wash everything to save the hassle of doing it later. Good looking fruit, huh? I always feel like I’m winning whenever I need cream for a recipe and I have the long-life version in the cupboard! The other night I made Mexican street corn salad to go with our nachos. It’s so crunchy, cheesy and zesty. It’s full of our family’s favourite ingredients like corn, parmesan cheese, feta cheese, mayonnaise and red onion. This made me laugh and I couldn’t agree more! Hahaha! Here’s hoping the weekend goes by real slow. Thank you so much for stopping by today and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Linking up with Andrea and Erika        

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Friday Favourites

Hello friends and happy Friday! It’s great to be here to share some Friday favourites, thanks so much for stopping by! It’s been so cold! I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll keep saying it until the first day of spring—I’m NOT a fan! Haha. I need to keep reminding myself that at least it’s not as cold as it is in many other parts of the world. Plus, there’s always delicious comfort food to enjoy! I shared on Monday that I made some yummy ramen over the weekend. I made enough for leftovers, so we had some for lunch the next day. Soup in winter is the best and I love it; it’s comforting, filling, and healthy. I added delicious veggies like shredded carrots, wombok cabbage, spring onions, coriander, bean sprouts, and celery. I also included chopped garlic and ginger to boost our immunity and help fight off any nasty colds. So far, so good—none of us have been sick yet (but now that I’ve said that, you know what might happen!). Anyway, fingers crossed we stay healthy this winter. I love the vibrant colours of fresh vegetables and enjoy taking photos of them! I’ve got a bunch of fruit and vegetable photos on my camera roll. I once watched a movie about a couple who got divorced, partly because the wife was always taking photos of vegetables. The husband found it so annoying for some reason. Hahaha! Maybe I need to be careful! Lots of my Friday favourites are food related and this week is no exception. I made a zucchini slice the other day and tweaked the recipe to make it better. I’ve made zucchini slices in the past that have turned out meh. So this time instead of adding the onion and the bacon to the mix raw, I cooked them first. I also added garlic and parmesan cheese and it was a winner! It was exciting to boil eggs exactly how I like them—a bit soft in the middle. I’ve finally learned how to time them just right—you set a timer instead of just hoping for the best, as I always did. That makes sense, right? Some of this week’s favourite dinners include baked barramundi with garlic and lemon juice. Chicken stir fry with noodles and crunchy cashews. Even this girl is feeling the cold and is always looking for someone at home she can curl up with. This notebook contains my brain. I’ve increasingly become Mrs. Forgetful (is it age, being too busy, or wine…who knows!). Anyway, I am now writing down everything I need to remember. Siri helps me too, but I love this notebook because it’s tangible and always there when I need it—if I can remember where I’ve put it. I also use it to write down meals that have turned out well. I don’t follow recipes and sometimes get creative, adding this or that. Or I may change things, like I did with the zucchini slice. But then, the next time I make the same dish, I often forget what I did to improve it. This way, I have a record of my successful tweaks and can recreate those dishes. Yay! Aha! We got good news when Steve saw the knee surgeon on Wednesday. Last week, we were both a bit down after the appointment because the surgeon was still unhappy with how the knee was healing and wanted us to come in again this week. He even said scary things like, “If it doesn’t heal, then we’ll have to go in surgically and wash out any infection.” Yikes! Turns out there wasn’t any infection in the actual wound, which was a huge relief. The surgeon took the time to explain (properly this time; last time he rushed us out the door) that Steve had a severe allergic reaction to the glue they used, causing the skin on his knee to burn. So, it looked like an ulcer, but it wasn’t. I’ve found that sometimes doctors may overlook the importance of thoroughly explaining things to patients. Anyway, we are very happy that things are okay and on track! After the doctor’s appointment, I dropped Steve off at home and went to get some more pain meds from the pharmacy. I got a bit sidetracked when one of my favourite clothes shops was calling me! I went in, tried on a couple of things, and couldn’t resist buying yet another sleeveless black top. It met my rule: I won’t buy it unless I love it. Maybe I should add another rule: avoid stepping into clothing stores altogether! But nah, I love clothes too much, and I try to avoid impulse buys. Look at how well this plant is growing! It used to live in the bathroom and looked sad and small. So, I relocated it to the sunny kitchen window, and now it’s flourishing. Happy, flourishing plants are a big favourite for this reformed plant assassin. That wraps up some favourites! I’m going to thaw out my right hand, which feels frozen from typing, and then get moving to cook dinner. It’s so cold!! I hope you all have a great weekend, and if you’re enjoying the sun in the northern hemisphere, please catch some rays for me! Everyone else, stay warm!! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Friday favourites

Friday Favourites

Hi friends, it’s time to share some favourites! I hope you all had an amazing week and are as excited as I am to welcome the weekend! I love this link-up because whenever it’s been ‘one of those weeks’ and I’m struggling to find some joy. It reminds me to focus on the little things that bring happiness. When you put all these little things together you end up with some pretty cool Friday favourites. Having the day off from work on Monday was a big favourite because who doesn’t love a long weekend? I knocked off a couple of things from my to-do list so that felt great! On Tuesday, we were back at work. I snapped a photo of this pile of leaves in the playground. You know what’s funny, and at the same time, not so funny? We don’t have many deciduous trees around here during winter—all those evergreens—but of course, our preschool playground has this one deciduous tree. Its leaves are stunning this time of year, but they seem to rain down endlessly for weeks. And guess who ended up on playground setup duty this week? Yep, me and I spent the morning raking, only to see it covered again by the time we headed out for afternoon play. Just another day in the life at the preschool during winter! My sunny always smiling positive colleague (I love sunny smiley positive people!). She brought some healthy snacks to work and shared some with me. Oh my goodness they were so delicious! Crunchy, salty and a teeny bit sweet – all of my favourite flavours rolled up in each cluster of crispiness! I’m going to add them to my shopping order for sure. I remember feeling a bit melancholy when Sam finished school a year and a half ago—I realised I wouldn’t be packing his school lunches anymore (boy that’s gone fast!). Looking back, maybe it wasn’t so much about missing the chore but about seeing him grow up so quickly! Haha! Anyway, I still like to pack his lunches when he goes to work at his casual job a few times a week. And yes I still get boomerang fruit! This banana made a couple of round trips inside Sam’s lunchbox. In the end, I took it to work with me where it reached its final destination. We went to our appointment at Australia Post to lodge our paperwork for our new passports on Thursday afternoon. There’s a significant increase coming on July 1st, from $346 to $398! Fun fact: this means Australian passports will soon be the second most expensive in the world, behind only Liechtenstein, where they cost $444. So I was happy to get this sorted before the price hike kicks in! Steve lodged his paperwork with no problem at all. But I had to get my photo retaken because I had a slight smile and my fringe was touching my eyebrow—guaranteed rejection by the passport office. I thought the original one was unflattering enough, but no. The one I had taken on Thursday—well, that will make a fantastic poster for Halloween or Australia’s Most Wanted. The lady who took my photo was so sweet. She kept saying, “Think happy thoughts” as she snapped the picture. It was hard to think happy thoughts when I couldn’t hide behind my fringe, couldn’t smile, and had a camera pointed right at me. I kept telling myself, “Think about Disneyland!” But no happy thoughts really came to me. All this is perfectly captured in that one photo I will have in my passport for the next ten years… excellent. One little thing that made me happy this week was these tissue boxes. The new pictures on the boxes are fun and look much nicer than the previous washed-out designs they used to have. After the passport photo incident on Thursday, I picked up some supplies to make me feel better—facial wax strips and a sheet mask. Those photos showed no mercy! The temps have dropped, and it’s freezing! It’s only day 14 of winter, but I think that’s enough now—I want it to stop. At least there’s always comfort food—Greek-style chicken with rice and veggies for dinner made us feel warm and cozy. I found some leftover pizza in the fridge at preschool and had a couple of slices. Finding anything other than playdough in the fridge is always a big win! The kids made it as a cooking experience, and I’m hoping the oven killed all the extra unwanted toppings they may have added—if you know what I mean. And now it’s Friday afternoon, and I couldn’t be happier! As we were walking out of the preschool after a very long week. My colleagues and I were laughing about a random conversation involving Chinese lucky numbers and which one of us had the luckiest number. It was one of those moments that made me happy and grateful to work where I do. A good laugh was the perfect way to end the week because working with little ones is a tough gig. So having fun with colleagues whom I am lucky enough to call friends is gold! I hope you have a fun weekend sprinkled with just the right amount of rest and relaxation and I look forward to being back here on Monday. See ya! Linking up with Andrea and Erika    

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Friday favourites

Friday Favourites

Hi friends and welcome to Friday favourites! I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika to share a few favourites, thanks so much for being here! Last Friday, I returned to the salon where I got my keratin treatment earlier in the year. This time, I went for a haircut and I’m so happy to have found a hairdresser who makes me feel comfortable and doesn’t cut my fringe too short! I have a short fringe phobia from way back when my mum would keep cutting until she got it straight. Oh man, I’ve got some pics I could show you—I’ll have to dig them out sometime! Haha!! I didn’t get anything too different from my usual style, except now I have a bit more fringe and I’ve had the layers cut off at the back.  I’ve gone back to the 90s when I wore a long bob. I forgot to take a photo when I left the salon, and I don’t want to take one at the minute—it’s been a day and I don’t want to scare you! I love getting pampered at the salon. They serve coffee and snacks, and they give the best head massages when they shampoo my hair. It feels amazing! Before the rain came on Wednesday, we had beautiful sunsets like this one. Last week I was all over the place with my usual cleaning routine. So finally seeing the bottom of the laundry basket was a huge favourite! This was one of three piles I folded! Wednesday night was the State of Origin rugby league match. I don’t care much for rugby league, but Steve loves it! So while he watched and yelled at the TV, I worked on my travel journal. I’m writing down all our exciting plans for our big trip in January, including attractions, must-see landmarks, and a packing list. I’ve been getting lots of comfortable travel outfit ideas on Pinterest and researching places we want to eat, like Wendy’s, IHOP, Chick-fil-A, and Jack in the Box. Haha! I know that might sound a bit strange, but we don’t have these fast food chains here. So I’m super curious to try them after hearing so much about them. I know our trip is still six months away (30 weeks, 3 days, 11 hours, 53 minutes, and 11 seconds to be exact), but the more I plan, the more excited I get. Planning is half the fun, right? Speaking of our trip, the suitcases I ordered from Myer arrived. We have no luggage because we haven’t gone overseas as a family in forever! We did go to New Zealand for a week in 2008 for a wedding, but we only took small duffle bags, and Sam borrowed my cousin’s suitcase for his recent trip to Japan. So it was time to invest in proper luggage, and I got three large Samsonite hardshell suitcases. They sure weren’t cheap, but luckily, I got them at 40% off. Now onto some food favourites for the week! Wednesday night (State of Origin night) we had corn crackers with salami and hummus. I popped some creamy camembert topped with fig jam, and walnuts in the oven to warm up and it was extra gooey and delicious. Then we had good old meat pies, mashed potato and peas for dinner. It was such a treat because I hardly ever buy frozen foods. It’s soup weather! So I made a big pot of minestrone and took some to work for lunch and made my coworkers jealous. Hehe. I nabbed the last piece of leftover lasagna before it was all gone! Last night we had oven-baked barramundi with wedges, coleslaw and tartare sauce. The jar of tartare sauce was nearly empty so I made my own. It was so easy and I don’t know why I never thought of making it before. It’s just mayonnaise, chopped pickles, lemon juice and dill. I was happy with how the potato wedges turned out. I coated the potatoes in olive oil then seasoned them with salt and pepper and sprinkled some paprika and flour to give them a crispy coating. Steve being off from work means we get to eat dinner together every night! It’s such a novelty! Luke popped over the other night and it was the four of us again like old times. We had chicken thigh cutlets with rice and salad. That wraps up some of this week’s favourites. We’re excited for the upcoming three-day weekend, due to Monday being the King’s birthday public holiday. Long weekends are truly my favourite! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and I look forward to being back on Monday.      

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