Friday Favourites

Hi friends, it’s Friday (woop woop!)–I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika and sharing a few of this week’s favourites. Let’s go! 1 Starting with something simple that made my week better — my shopping trolley. I picked up this compact trolley from IKEA a while ago, and it’s the best! As you might already know, I love walking everywhere. Luckily, I live within walking distance of Westfields, where I can pretty much get anything I need. I get my groceries delivered every week. But sometimes I walk to the shops for a few bits and pieces I may have forgotten or just because I feel like picking up a few things without the hassle of a big grocery run. And if you’re anything like me, you know what it’s like when you go to the shops for just one thing and walk out with twenty! Yep, this trolley is perfect for all those times. 2 Next up, my scented soy candle that’s been making my autumn days a little brighter. I love this scent because it’s the perfect balance of sweet and fresh. It also fills the room without being overpowering. But it’s not my husband’s favourite — last night he said it smelled like… well, I won’t tell you what he said it smelled like. But he can just wear a peg on his nose — hehe. 3 Two of our favourite shows at the moment are Survivor and The Amazing Race. This season of Survivor has so many likeable contestants, and I love how they’re trying to play the game honestly, which is tough to do while also making those strategic moves to stay in the game. My favourites this season are Eva, Joe, and Mitch, and I also like Kyle, Camila, and Shahen. The Amazing Race is so fun to watch, and it’s interesting to see how the teams’ relationships really come into play when they face big challenges. So far, my favourite team is the married nurse anesthetists, Alyssa and Josiah, because they always support each other. Josiah’s dad jokes are pretty cheesy, but he definitely seems like such a genuinely nice guy. 4 Next up, these crispy trail mix crackers are so good. My friend bought me two big bags when she went to Costco, and they are such a treat! This reminds me that I haven’t been to Costco in ages, and I’m missing it. 5 And finally, my last favourite of the week — surviving my first week back at work. Already, the school holidays feel like a distant memory. As much as I always say holidays fly by, this week seemed to go even quicker. But I’m not complaining because I love Fridays! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you have a brilliant weekend! 😊

Hi friends, and happy Friday! I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favourites, and I’m so glad you’re here — thank you for stopping by! Sunday Afternoon at The Gasoline Pony Last weekend, I went to The Gasoline Pony in Marrickville with my fun friend. It was a last-minute plan, and I love that she’s always up for a spur-of-the-moment outing. The Gasoline Pony is a cozy, compact bar that hosts all kinds of live music. We went to see a community choir called Isingonthecake perform. Originally, I thought it would be like a pub choir event where everyone joins in — but nope. I’m still yet to find one of those locally, and it’s definitely on my to-do list. My voice is really only for preschool ears, where it doesn’t matter if I sound like a mouse being strangled when I sing. But even though my voice is far (very far) from great, I love singing because it’s such a mood booster. We didn’t get to join in, but my friend and I both agreed that the choir’s performance was incredibly uplifting. Sipping on drinks and listening to music was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Best of all, we didn’t have to worry about any Sunday night blues creeping in. Because Monday was the start of our Autumn break! Yay! Mochi Mochi missed her vet appointment the week before last. She was booked to be spayed, and Sam was going to take her in—easy… um, no! Mochi refused to get into the cat carrier, and poor Sam spent hours trying. He got scratched, she turned into a little beast, and it was a mess of a day. We rebooked her for Monday of this week, and this time, Steve managed to get her into the carrier. I tried, but she scared me! Mochi is the sweetest, cuddliest cat—until she knows she has to get in the carrier. Then, she becomes terrifying! Sam picked Mochi up from the vet on Monday afternoon after her successful surgery. When she came home, she was calm and sweet, but definitely not impressed with the cone she had to wear. Sam unzipped the carrier and was telling me how the vet had instructed us to keep her calm and that she wasn’t allowed to do any zoomies. The words hadn’t even fully come out of his mouth when Mochi tore out of the carrier with the cone dangling off her. She ran around the house like a maniac, thinking she was being chased by it! It was like something straight out of a cartoon. Sam was running after Mochi, I was chasing both of them, and Mochi was running away from the cone! Oh my goodness, it was nuts—eventually, the cone came off. But we all had to take a long minute to calm down. Then Sam went straight back to the vet to pick up some calming meds for her, and by that point, I was seriously considering taking one of her tablets too! Back to the Vet Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there. A couple of days later, Mochi’s wound split open and lucky Sam, who’s studying nursing, doesn’t get grossed out like I do. So back to the vet she went, and this time, it was easier to get her into the carrier because the sedatives were a lifesaver. She was resutured with staples (ouch), and so far, she seems to be doing okay. Bistro George Tuesday evening, Steve and I went out to the city to have dinner at Bistro George, and it was seriously impressive! The decor, lighting, and atmosphere were amazing, and the food was spectacular. I had heard it was good, but I didn’t think it would be that good. Definitely a restaurant I’d love to go back to! For entrees, Steve had the prosciutto with figs. I ordered the chicken liver parfait, which looked like a dessert–haha! It tasted so good! For mains, it was steak for Steve and fish for me. Our lovely waitress suggested we share and brought out extra plates — I’ve never had anyone suggest that before. It was so much better than our usual swapping plates halfway through because we love to taste everything. For dessert, we shared a crème caramel and a banoffee sundae. No photo of the sundae though — we were already halfway through it before I realised I hadn’t taken one. I have to admit, I always feel a bit awkward taking pictures of my food. Then again, I don’t really like having my photo taken either, so food pics are definitely the way to go! I love the city at night—it’s so pretty with all the lit up buildings. We caught the train back home from Circular Quay station. Cleaning I love a bit of spontaneous deep cleaning, and it’s great to have time during the break to really get into those areas that need it! This week, I moved the sofa to vacuum and mop up all the dust. While I was at it, I scrubbed the skirting boards, which then led me to wash the living room rug too. My reward was finding my hair ties under the sofa, and guess who loves to play with them — Mochi! I thought I was accidentally losing them, even though I swore I always left them on my nightstand. She must have been sneaking them off there. So, now I’ve washed them, put them inside a container with a lid on and stored them in my bathroom cabinet. Good luck finding them now, Mochi! Making Lunches Again I remember when it was Sam’s last day of school, and I felt a bit sad knowing it would be the last school lunch I’d pack for him – sniff, sniff. Well, turns out it wasn’t the last after all. This week, I’m back to packing lunches for him, and I’m enjoying it! He’s doing his nursing placement in a hospital, and

Hi friends, it’s great to be back! I didn’t blog all week because life happened, so I gave myself a bit of a breather. Sometimes you’ve just got to step back for a minute. But I’m back now and feeling more like myself again—yay! As of 3:46 this afternoon, I’m officially off work for the next two weeks (hello, autumn school holidays!), so I thought I’d share a few things I’m hoping to do during the break. Autumn School Holidays: Things I’d Love to Do Embrace Autumn Cooler weather isn’t my thing–I’m definitely a sunshine-and-hot-days kind of person. But after getting a taste of what real cold weather feels like on our U.S. trip earlier this year, I have decided that there’s still plenty to love about this time of year, and today was proof of that. I woke up to a crisp, chilly morning, but as the day went on, the sun came out and it warmed up beautifully. Temps hit 27ºC, and even though I know this kind of weather won’t stick around, it was a nice little reminder that autumn can still bring the sunshine. I hope we get plenty of it during the next two weeks! Shopping Days with Friends I haven’t been shopping in the city for way too long and I’m looking forward to browsing through the shops and looking at all the autumn-winter fashions! Country Road and Zara, here I come! Rest Autumn school holidays = the perfect excuse to slow down. Oh my goodness, it was such a busy term at preschool! I’d just collapse at the end of each week, spend the weekend recovering, and then do it all over again the following week. You gotta love term one—it’s the same every year! Now that autumn’s here, it’s so much easier to fall asleep when the nights are cool. And guess what? For the last three nights, I’ve actually been going to bed earlier and falling asleep almost straight away. I was really struggling, and I think I’d built up a huge sleep debt, which probably explains why I didn’t feel great earlier this week. Who knows—maybe my night owl days are over—yikes! Finish Writing My Trip Recaps I’ve written a few already, but there are still plenty left to go. We did so much on this trip! Every week, I keep thinking, “I’ll write one next week,” and then, suddenly, it’s April. But they’re coming soon(ish). Try Out New Places to Eat We cut back on eating out last year because we were saving for our trip. In January 2025, the Australian dollar was quite weak against the US dollar, averaging around 62 cents to the US dollar. This meant that items priced at USD 10 would cost us approximately AUD 16 after conversion. Airfares, hotels, and three weeks of fun cost us a small fortune—but it was so worth it! Now that we have a breather before we start planning the next big adventure, we’ve decided to try out some new places to eat in Sydney. We’ve already booked a table at Bistro George next week, and I’m really looking forward to it! Visit a Farmer’s Market We often go to our local Ramsgate Farmer’s Market. But these autumn school holidays I’d love to visit bigger Farmer’s market like Eveleigh or Carriageworks. Check Out the Autumn Colours in the Botanic Gardens I’ve been wanting to go to the Royal Botanic Garden for ages. Maybe during these school holidays, I’ll finally make it happen and catch some beautiful autumn colours in full swing. Do a Gallery Day I’m thinking of dedicating a day to galleries this break—maybe a trip to the Art Gallery of NSW or a visit to the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills. It’s free, and I love how it gives you a peek into the creative space of one of Australia’s most iconic artists. It’s also close to some great cafes for a coffee break afterwards. And that’s my autumn school holidays wish list. Maybe it’s a little ambitious and I’ll run out of days… but I’m excited to see how many I can cross off. Thanks so much for stopping by—I hope you’re having a lovely day 😊 🍁 Happy Friday!🍁 Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Hi friends and welcome to Friday Favourites! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share five favourite things about this week. I love humour and enjoy a good laugh, so I guess I landed in the perfect work environment! Yes, working with children can be stressful and tiring, but it’s never boring. And I’m lucky that I work with people who enjoy a good laugh too. The other day was “one of those days” when we were cleaning up the classroom to get ready for rest time (truthfully—not a lot of resting goes on in our classroom). My coworker and I started laughing about something random, and of course, we couldn’t stop. Those moments when you start to giggle, and then it builds up into uncontrollable laughter that actually hurts your stomach are the best, aren’t they? It was very funny, and we were still laughing about it the next day. Laughter really is the perfect way to beat a stressful day. I’m in a different classroom this year, and I’m getting to know these two cute birds who’ve been visiting us for years. They come into our classroom every single day like an old married couple, then walk out again. It’s like clockwork—always at around 11 am. I accidentally scared them out when I reached for my iPad to take this photo, but to make up for it, I gave them a grape each. Hopefully, they’ll eventually trust me. Somehow, we got extra milk delivered with our grocery order, and one of the bottles was about to reach its use-by date. I don’t like wasting food, so I decided to use it up by making a big quiche. As you can see, someone grabbed a slice before I had a chance to take a photo. It’s definitely easier to eat a huge quiche than to drink a whole lot of milk. I got a keratin treatment on my hair on Wednesday afternoon. The salon I go to is right near my workplace so I can make an appointment and pop in after work. I’ve been visiting this salon for about a year now, and my hairdresser is wonderful. She’s also the only one I trust completely with cutting my fringe. Over the years, a lot of hairdressers have let me down and cut my fringe too short. And I’ve probably mentioned before that when I was little, my mum would cut my fringe until it was straight, which often resulted in a very short fringe– yikes! Anyway, it was a nice Wednesday treat to sit down and enjoy a complimentary biscuit and cup of coffee while I had my hair done. I’m excited to have six months off from frizzy hair but this whole keratin treatment is such an ordeal. Right now, it’s flat and dead straight, and I can’t wash or style it until Saturday because the keratin needs time to set. Plus, I can’t colour it until next Wednesday because I have to wait a week. Oh yes, and to top it off my hair is also a slight orange because the keratin strips the colour. Oh my goodness what a process. I’ve been so tempted to wear a hat for the last few days. So I won’t show you a photo of my hair because – scary. But here’s a photo of my yummy biscuit I enjoyed while I got my hair done. This afternoon, I got a notification on my watch saying I’d achieved my move goal for the day. We finished up the preschool week with a dance party in the playground. Friday afternoons can be tricky, so dancing it out to The Floor is Lava, Party Freeze, and other favourites is a fun way to end the week– and hit that move goal! Did I mention I love to dance? Dancing and laughing are my two favourite things—and this week I got paid to do both. Yay! That’s a wrap for this week, thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Friday 😊

I’m wrapping up the week with a few things I’ve been loving lately. It’s the little things that make the week better, don’t you agree?  😊 I finally ditched my old pyjama shorts because the elastic was completely worn out. Lucky for me, Peter Alexander was having an end-of-season sale with an extra 30% off already discounted items. The selection wasn’t huge when I popped into my local store, but I managed to find a couple of pairs of shorts in my size. While I was there, I picked up a T-shirt too. The graphic isn’t something I’d usually choose, but since I’m only wearing it to bed, it doesn’t really matter. They’re super comfortable, and that’s what counts! Our director at work celebrated her birthday and brought in a cake to share. She’s so nice! It’s always a good week when you open the fridge at work and find something other than playdough. I found this drip coffee at an Asian supermarket. The instructions were all in Japanese, so I used Google Translate. I probably could have figured it out just from the front photo, but I love testing out Google Translate—it’s such a helpful tool! It’s also funny how it translates word-for-word without adjusting for sentence structure or grammar. So, the sentences often end up sounding a little off. The meaning is there, but the phrasing is slightly jumbled. I think it’s a good peek into how different languages work. The coffee tasted great, too. I took some sachets to work, and it tasted like real coffee—such a nice change from the usual instant coffee. Sticking with the coffee theme (haha, totally unintentional!), I ordered some Twirls and coffee sachets with my groceries—one for my Friday night treat and the other for our Sunday brunch. Since this post has ended up being mostly about coffee, I thought I’d end with some coffee trivia for you. Did you know… Australia invented the flat white in the 1980s. It’s like a latte but with stronger coffee and less milk. Coffee was first discovered by a goat herder in Ethiopia. Legend has it that in the 9th century, a goat herder named Kaldi noticed his goats getting extra energetic after eating berries from a certain tree. It turned out to be the coffee plant! Australia has more cafes than pubs. And a little meme for your Friday.   Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend. Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Hi, friends, and happy Friday! Did this week fly by for you? It sure did for me! As much as I don’t want to wish my life away, I can’t say I’m sorry to see Friday again—I’m tired! But before I settle in for the evening with my beloved couch, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika to share a few favourites. Thanks so much for stopping by! Is there anything better than food? Ha! I think not! So, butter chicken and rice for dinner on Monday night was a highlight! I love to add some chopped coriander to mine because it tastes so good—zesty and fresh. I also love the word zesty! Steve works on the weekend, so we usually enjoy our ‘weekend’ fun on his days off—Wednesday and Thursday nights. That’s why we had prawns and a glass of wine on a Wednesday night while watching TV. Maybe that’s why the week flies by for me—since Steve’s weekends fall during the week, it kind of feels like I get two weekends… sort of. We started watching a new show called Scrublands. It’s an Australian drama that kicked off very dramatically but then quickly slowed down to a snail’s pace, with about a 20-minute wait between interesting moments. So slow! I can’t say that I’m enjoying it. But it does give me a chance to browse Pinterest, scroll through Instagram, play Candy Crush, and even read a book while I ‘watch.’ Maybe it’ll pick up, so we’re giving it a go. Steve’s into it, and I kind of look up every so often to catch up. Speaking of reading, I dusted off my old Kindle and started Okay Days by Jenny Mustard, and I’m really enjoying it! I’ve been following her YouTube channel for a while now, and I love her minimalist approach to life. She’s all about simple living, mindful routines, minimalist aesthetics, and sustainable fashion. I really admire how she embraces a balanced, less-is-more lifestyle. She’s so inspiring! Back to my favourite topic–food. My usual work lunches are leftovers or whatever I can grab out of the fridge before I fly out the door. I’m never hungry in the mornings, so I’m not inspired to make anything much. Sometimes, I’ll make a salad, but lately, it’s just been grab-and-go. Of course, by the time lunch rolls around, I’m starving and wishing I’d made more of an effort. But today, I had raisin toast with strawberries and a drizzle of honey. It was delicious! I found some honey in the kitchen cupboard at work, and I was pretty excited! It must have been leftover from one of the cooking activities with the children. I don’t usually go for sweet food, especially when it comes to lunch, but maybe I was just excited for sweet Friday! I’m using a new bag for work, and I’m so happy to have retired my old one. This one is much nicer, and I’ve organised all my things into small zipped pouches. I’m determined to keep my work bag tidy all year long—I don’t want old pens, bobby pins, or hair ties cluttering up the bottom of my nice new bag. Goals! I’m looking at a very low-key weekend with no plans other than a trip to our local cafe for coffee and Portuguese tarts tomorrow. On Sunday, I might go for a walk and then give myself a soap nail manicure. You might like to catch my post on soap nails—it’s a fun little DIY treat, perfect for a relaxing weekend! Happy Friday!

Hi friends, and happy Friday! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika for some Friday favourites. I’m so glad you’re here! On Monday, I blogged about my Sunday reset routine, so I didn’t get around to sharing about our weekend. Here are a few pics from our Cousin Connect dinner on Saturday. Let’s eat! I snapped a pic before we all sat down. This month, it was my turn to host. Since a few cousins couldn’t make it, we managed to fit around the table in my small dining room. I added Sam’s old Ikea table—the one he used as a desk before he bought a height-adjustable, ergonomic one. I threw a white tablecloth over it, and voilà—extra seating! When you live in a small space, you need to get creative. It’s 2025, so it’s time for the cousins to try a new game! I ordered Taboo from Amazon and thought it would be fun to switch things up from our usual board game. I played it years ago with friends, so I knew it would be fun. It’s simple, with easy-to-follow rules—perfect for me because games that involve too much strategy and complicated instructions make me feel the same way I do when I open flat-packed furniture. It was a hit with everyone — so many laughs! The leftovers from our cheese board made the perfect Sunday snack. Another favourite this week was a spur-of-the-moment trip to Ikea after work on Wednesday. It was so quiet—nothing like the weekend crowds. Steve wanted to get a frame for a Father’s Day card our oldest son had drawn for him. He’d been meaning to frame it for ages. While we were there, we also looked at dining tables because we’d love to upgrade to a bigger one—it’s not an urgent need, but it’s definitely on our wish list. When we bought our furniture ages ago, I chose darker colors, but now I’m leaning toward something lighter. The dilemma is whether it will go with everything else. I’m not a fan of everything matching exactly, but I also don’t want things to clash. This oak coloured one extends, which is what we’re looking for. But I think the white table would look better. No rush, though—we’ll keep looking, and I’m excited for more Ikea trips until we decide. Haha, not sure Steve’s as keen as I am—he’s not the biggest fan of Ikea shopping. He prefers to get in and out as quickly as possible, while I love to take my time and wander around. Then, on Thursday, we did something a bit different and went out for cocktails in the evening. There’s a nice rooftop bar not far from where we live called Above 8. Soaking up the last of the hot weather—still feeling very much like summer over here. Nice views as the sun went down and the city lights came on. A couple of weeks ago, I picked up some T-shirts and a pair of shorts from Uniqlo. Perfect for work, and they were 50% off since it’s the end of the season. The shorts are just the right length—not too short—and I love the neutral colours. Neutrals are my favourite! I wore the white T-shirt to work this week. Wearing white to work is always risky, but yay— no paint stains when I got home! Speaking of work, there’s always something to laugh about, even on the most unfunny days. I had the camera in my hand and managed to catch this little guy sticking half his body in our pretend pizza oven…..interesting. And that sums up a few favourite and funny moments from my week. Never a dull moment! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and if you’re enjoying the last days of hot weather like me (it’s 32ºC today), keep cool. If it’s still cold where you are, stay cozy and remember—warmer weather is on its way! Happy Friday!

Hi friends, and happy Friday to you! I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika to share a few favourites. Thank you so much for stopping by! I didn’t do a weekend recap on Monday because I shared a post about our amazing day at Universal Studios instead. So, let’s backtrack to Sunday—I went out for a late lunch with my friend, and it was so nice to catch up! It was also such a hot day, and what better way to cool down than with an Aperol Spritz? I had a delicious tuna poke bowl. The dressing was amazing, and the tuna was so fresh and tender. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did, but I’d definitely order it again next time. My lovely friend gave me an oil diffuser for my birthday. I love the calming scents it fills the room with—it makes everything feel so relaxing. It goes perfectly with the chilled jazz music I like to play. Monday was a medical day. Just by coincidence, my eldest son and I both had appointments at the same hospital around the same time. Mine was for an annual check-up with the endocrinologist, and Luke had a small procedure. So we both went together. My appointment was quick, and the doctor went over my blood test results and adjusted the dosage of my thyroid meds. Now, I only have to take one tablet six days a week instead of seven. Since my thyroidectomy and starting thyroid medication, my energy levels have been so much better. I also no longer have to worry about choking on food and drinks or even just swallowing the wrong way like I used to. It’s such a relief! Those nodules and cysts were a big issue before my surgery. Bleh! This sign in the doctor’s waiting room always surprises me. I think it’s so outdated, and I’m pretty sure everyone else thinks the same because the waiting room was full of people on their phones—including me! Surely, it’s just an old one that never got taken down, right? But then again, maybe not… because when I told the receptionist my referral was emailed, she wasn’t impressed. Apparently, they still prefer paper. Yikes! Having medical appointments behind me is a huge favourite. Any kind of medical appointment always makes me anxious. I’m also really happy that my check-ups are no longer annual—the doctor said I don’t have to go back for another three years. Plus, my son’s procedure went well. Yay! We’ve been enjoying the delicious fresh produce I bought at the farmers market last Saturday. Even though it’s been so incredibly hot, I still love walking to and from work. It feels so good to get some exercise without feeling like I’m actually exercising. I think these two little roses might be the last ones for the season. Autumn will be here before we know it! I’m always sad to see summer go until I come across a huge (or small) cockroach or spider. Thankfully, I don’t see many because we have our house sprayed at the start of each summer. But I’ve never made it through a hot season without a surprise insect or two. The other night, I walked into the kitchen, and just as I turned on the light, this big huntsman crawled across the tiles at lightning speed and scared the life out of me! Yuck! I’m not brave in these situations, so I screamed. Sam was home and came out of his room, asking if I’d seen a cockroach. Mum screaming always means cockroach. The funny thing is, I know Sam will deal with cockroaches, but he’s terrified of spiders! It’s so funny how, as a mum, you can instantly become brave when it comes to protecting your kids—even when they’re over 6 feet tall. So I grabbed the insect spray and sprayed until the spider was white and fell into the kitchen sink. It must have been possessed or something because it would not die! In the end, I turned on the hot water, and that did the trick. I know this might sound like a drastic way to get rid of a spider, and I get that they have their place in nature… just not in my kitchen. But don’t let my spider story put you off from visiting Australia. Big bugs and scary snakes are usually only in the bush or out in the wild. In cities, you’re pretty safe. Huntsmans are also not poisonous; they’re just big and hairy, so they might only scare you to death. Hehe. Thanks for reading, friends. Wishing you a wonderful weekend full of fun and relaxation and no surprise spiders! See you next week 😊    

Hey friends! Welcome to this week’s Friday Favourites. I’m so happy to be back, and I can’t wait to share a few of the highlights from my week with you. Monday night, I made some chili, and what better way to enjoy it than with a bit of cornbread? I made it in a round tin because I don’t have a rectangular one, and it was easier than using a muffin tray. I first tasted this delicious cornbread at one of our cousin connect dinners last year (or maybe it was a couple of years ago—time goes so fast!). My cousin J and her family brought back a packet mix from their trip to the US for us to try. I loved it so much that during our recent trip, I made sure to pick up a couple of packets at Walmart. We can’t get it in Australia, and I regret stressing about my luggage being overweight when I was actually under. I could’ve brought back heaps more of this mix! Out of curiosity, I checked online to see if I could buy it here. I can, but it costs AUD$14, plus $46.50 for international shipping. I guess it’s cheaper than a plane ticket. But at that price, I won’t be rushing to buy any, that’s for sure! Tuesday was my birthday, and it was also the last day of my long service leave. So I made sure to enjoy every moment! We had a late breakfast at home. Then Steve and I headed to a local café that specialises in Portuguese tarts. These tarts are incredible—honestly, the best I’ve ever tasted. They’re made fresh daily, with a sweet, silky creamy filling and a perfectly crunchy, flaky pastry. The café is called Lusinata, and it’s in Hurstville. I’m sharing this because I truly think you’d love them as much as I do. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favour and try them—you won’t regret it! My husband offered to take me out for a special birthday dinner. But the last couple of months have felt like one long celebration. With our trip, extra time off work, and a bunch of lunch and dinner outings, I was more than happy to stay home that night. My eldest son and his partner came over, and Sam finished uni just in time to join us for dinner. We ordered takeaway and ended the night watching Three Amigos. Nothing beats a classic comedy! Wednesday was back to work, and I was actually excited to return. I missed some of my work buddies! I’ve been at the same preschool for nearly 28 years now, so it really feels like home. I brought back a little gift from Hawaii for everyone—a packet of pineapple lollies to share and a plastic flower hair clip. I think they liked them since they were wearing them, and by the time I took the photo, only two were left for the staff who work on different days. It was good to see some children returning from last year, and there were lots of new little faces! I was a bit worried I wouldn’t be able to remember all of their names. But even though my brain is a year older, by Friday, I had managed to get them all down! Then, of course, it felt like I’d never left, and my days were filled with the usual—picking up toys, helping the kids with their painting, cleaning up messes, reading stories, and singing those songs that get stuck in my head on loop. I think I really needed the extra long break because I came back feeling energetic and inspired. Ask me how I feel in a few weeks, and I might be singing a different tune, but so far, so good. Thursday night, Steve and I went out for dinner with friends. It was good to go to our local pub for a hearty meal. I had the chicken schnitzel with chips, salad and two lots of gravy because there’s no such thing as too much gravy! It was a great week, and starting work on a Wednesday was definitely a bonus. Before I knew it, the weekend was here! How was your week? I hope it was a good one. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I’ll be back on Monday with part 4 of our trip recap, where I’ll share all about our unforgettable day at Universal Studios. Hope you can join me then! 😊 If you missed parts 1, 2, or 3 of my trip recap, you can catch up here: Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Hi friends, and happy Friday! Thank you so much for stopping by as I share some favourites. Would you believe that it’s a little after 6 pm here, and I just realised it’s Valentine’s Day? Oops! I quickly wished my husband a happy one and jumped on the computer to blog. Turns out we both forgot-haha! Lucky for us, we’re not too sentimental about it. But if you’re celebrating, I hope you’re having a wonderful day filled with love and chocolate! As for me, I made the most of my last full week off before heading back to work next week. Here are a few of my favourite moments! I’ve been missing my walks to and from work, and although I intended to go for more this week, I only managed one on Monday. But that’s okay—I’ll be pounding the pavement again after next Tuesday. I snapped a pic during my one and only walk because it felt so good to be back in my familiar streets. It looked like a miserable winter’s day, but it was actually warm and humid, with thick clouds hanging overhead. I got home, and not long after, the skies opened up, and it started pouring. Monday was an exciting day—I got an email confirming that I passed all the requirements for my Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. Woop woop! I immediately forwarded it to my super supportive director, and she emailed back saying I’d move up a step in my pay scale, effective immediately. Nice! So, that meant I could finally get this pile of assignments off my desk! I’d kept them there just in case I had to resubmit something. I thought about starting a small bonfire, but instead, I put them in the cupboard. I’m just not quite ready to let go of the evidence of all my hard work just yet. On Tuesday, we went to see Mufasa, and Steve and I were the only ones in the entire theatre. I wonder if movie theatres will become a thing of the past, just like drive-in cinemas. That would be such a shame. The reviews I read about the movie were pretty negative, but we both loved it. And of course, I cried at the end—I always cry at the end of Disney movies, even if they have happy endings! Such a sook! It was 3 pm when we walked out of the movie, and we were both starving. So, we grabbed some Vietnamese pork rolls from King’s Bakery. They make the best rolls! I had mine with an iced green tea latte, and we sat in the little plaza to eat. On Wednesday, we went to Wolli Creek to try a restaurant called Yan. Wolli Creek is only a 5-minute train ride from Hurstville. It’s a newer, redeveloped area that’s really come to life in recent years. It used to be an industrial area. But now, it’s full of modern apartments, playgrounds, cafes and restaurants. We chose the banquet for two because that meant we could try a variety of dishes. Here are a few of them. We finished off with this massive tower of coconut ice cream. Yikes, if we’d known how big it was, I’m not sure we would’ve ordered it! It was a serious commitment, but we got through it. I definitely paid for it the next day!! On Thursday, we went to Alexandria and had lunch at a cafe called Goodhood Project. We both ordered the grilled snapper. Then we walked over to The Grounds of Alexandria for a sweet treat. After checking out the cakes on display, we chose this deliciousness(I can’t remember the name, though!). I had a flat white, and Steve chose a fancy-looking Chai latte. Then we wandered around The Grounds, admiring the Claris the Mouse display. It’s been transformed into a beautiful Parisian-inspired wonderland, with all sorts of lovely details from Claris’s world. I love how it brings the character to life in such a magical way! Claris the Mouse is the creation of Megan Hess, one of my favourite illustrators. I love how she illustrates fashion, mixing in all these beautiful details that make her work so unique— as soon as you see it, you know it’s hers. After visiting The Grounds, we drove a quick 5 minutes to one of my favourite places- Mitchell Road Antiques! If we had more space and needed extra seating, I would love to add some mid-century furniture like this black chair. I spotted almost the exact same dining table and chairs we had when I was a kid (ours was round), and I couldn’t help but wish we hadn’t gotten rid of it when we moved my mum into our place. But then again, I’m not sure I ever loved the colour of the chairs—haha! I guess it’s more about nostalgic memories. I also couldn’t believe the price tag- $1800. Wowsers! Ten years ago, I tried to sell my mum’s set, but nobody bought it, so it went to the tip—ouch! It was my last full week off before I go back to work next Wednesday! Wow, those nearly nine weeks flew by! I haven’t had such a long break in a very long time, and I’ve loved every minute of it. But I’m okay with going back—though I know I’ll be eating my words by the end of next week! I’ll be back on Monday with part 3 of our fun cousin connect adventure in the USA. If you missed parts 1 and 2, you can catch up here for part 1 and here for part 2! I hope you have an amazing weekend! Linking up with Andrea and Erika