Friday Favourites

Hello friends, and welcome to Friday Favourites! I’m sharing some of the highlights from my first week of the school holidays—it was a fun one that flew by way too fast! Dinner With Friends We had a nice evening catching up with friends for our monthly get-together at the local RSL. The bistro is usually quiet on a Monday night, but this time it was buzzing with a big crowd celebrating someone’s special occasion. They’d taken our usual table, so we ended up sitting at a long one, which made it harder to chat with everyone. I sat next to the friend I’m closest to in the group, and we caught up on life. Time had flown by, and I realised we hadn’t had a proper conversation in ages. The bistro is under new management, and this was my second time trying their updated menu. I’ve been impressed both times, even though I liked the food from the old menu. The portions were huge, and everything was fresh and full of flavour. I had the grilled fish with chips and salad. One of our friends brought a cake to share, which is one of the great things about eating at this RSL—you can bring your own dessert, and they don’t mind. RSLs aren’t exactly my favourite places, but for this kind of casual catch-up, it works perfectly. The food is nice and reliably good, we always get a table, and it’s never too noisy, so we can talk and hear each other. Shopping Day On Tuesday, I caught up with my fun shopping queen friend. Whenever we go shopping, we seem to have a mission. Sometimes it’s finding the perfect lipstick, sometimes hats, and other times clothes. This time, it was to find a new fragrance. Can you tell? This was us at lunch with all our sample cards. In the end, our noses got confused, and we aborted the mission for another time. Stay tuned! Lunch Lunch was so good! We tried a French brasserie called Manon, which a work friend had highly recommended. I ordered the tuna baguette, and it was so delicious, I didn’t expect it to be that good! I love tuna on sandwiches and rolls, etc., but this baguette was on another level. It had big flavours like anchovies, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, all drizzled with a zesty green dressing. The egg on top mellowed out those big flavours. Yum! I would have loved to pick up the baguette and eat it with my hands, but that was a no-no. So I ate it with a knife and fork instead, which wasn’t easy. I was trying to keep it classy, but I felt like George Costanza eating a Snickers bar with cutlery. Have you seen that Seinfeld episode? 😂 My friend ordered the escargot and kindly offered me one. I like to think I can eat almost anything—even rocks—but I’m not quite there yet when it comes to snails. I’ve heard they are very delicious, so maybe one day. Hot Chocolate Then I ordered the thick hot chocolate, which, according to Instagram, is the best hot chocolate ever. As in, “don’t leave Manon without trying it.”Umm… not for me. It was thick—like ganache-on-a-cake thick. I added a small dollop of cream… and I’m pretty sure my arteries started hardening the minute I tasted it. I might’ve risked a coronary if it had tasted amazing, but the Swiss Milk hot chocolate I have at home is way better. So I had a few sips and left the rest, which is totally unlike me. I usually polish off everything. That’s okay—the baguette was great, and I’m glad I gave the hot chocolate a try. A Sunny Walk Wednesday was a lazy day, and it was so sunny! After doing a few chores around the house, I went for a long walk. Oh my gosh, I can’t tell you how fun it is to do chores during the day instead of rushing around getting them done before or after work. I enjoyed it! I did a fast-paced, hour-long walk, and even though it was sunny, I didn’t feel warm until about 30 minutes in. On the way, I passed the fruit shop and picked up some apples because I suddenly started craving a smoothie. When I got home, I made a green smoothie. It kind of looked like split pea soup, and you should have seen my husband’s face when I offered him a taste. But it was delish! I laughed when I checked my step count after my walk—9999 steps! Just one step short of 10,000. Missed it by that much! I was meant to go out with another lovely friend today, but I woke up with a sore neck and a headache. So, we rescheduled for Sunday. We’re planning to visit the Kirribilli Markets, and the weather forecast is promising a sunny 20ºC. I can’t wait! And that’s a wrap for this week’s favourites. And just like that, the first week of the school holidays is over… waaaahhhh! I’m hoping next week goes by at a snail’s pace. Fingers crossed! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you have a great weekend. See you on Monday! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Hey friends, welcome to Friday Favourites! Today I’m popping in quickly to say hi and share a few favourite things from my week. Let’s go! First Favourite: The Week is Over! The last week before the end of term is always the slowest — at least that’s how it feels, anyway. I wasn’t sure I’d make it to the finish line because I’ve been feeling unwell with a cold that just wouldn’t go away… but also wouldn’t fully knock me down. You know those annoying colds where you’re not quite sick enough to stay home from work, but you don’t feel like you’re functioning at your best? Yep, that was me. All week. Right up until yesterday, when I finally started to feel a bit more like myself. A Miracle Vitamin (maybe?) When I told my lovely friend at work how lousy I felt, she gave me a vitamin with garlic, Vitamin C, and echinacea that she absolutely swears by. I don’t know if it was that little capsule or just my immune system finally kicking in. But by Thursday, I was feeling so much better. So that’s definitely a favourite! Blogging Plans for the Holidays Funny enough, feeling sick actually sparked an idea for a post about how to stay healthy when you work in childcare — it’s in the works. And now that I’ll have some time on my hands over the next couple of weeks, I plan to post that one (plus a few more). I’m really looking forward to spending more time blogging these school holidays. Sunshine! Walking home from work today felt extra amazing! The sun was still shining, and after a busy week of cleaning and packing everything away, ready for Term 3, it felt so good knowing Term 2 is finally done. It’s not my favourite term, so I’m really glad it’s over. We’d just come through some of the wildest weather I’ve seen in a long time — cyclone warnings, strong winds, and a few days stuck inside with all the kids. The beautiful sunshine was exactly what I needed! Hello Winter School Holidays And of course, the biggest favourite this week has to be that I’m finally on a two-week term break! Last night, I turned off my alarm for the last time before the holidays — and it felt amazing. I can’t wait to catch up with friends, binge my favourite shows, lounge around, and just be. For the next couple of weeks, I’m officially a lady of leisure — and I’m beyond excited! So, I’m about to jump off the computer, go have a shower, eat dinner in front of the TV (everyone else is out for the evening — work and the gym), and grab some snacks for later. The fun starts in 3… 2… 1… now! Have a wonderful weekend, and I look forward to being back here on Monday. Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Hey friends, here’s a little catch-up on some favourites from this week. King’s Birthday Long Weekend It’s been super windy and freezing over here. We had a long weekend for the King’s Birthday, so having Monday off was such a bonus! I didn’t have any plans and just spent the day at home, feeling as happy as a clam—warm and cosy inside the house while it blew a gale outside. The pot plants on the verandah got knocked over in the wind, but I was so happy that my washing dried better than usual. Yay! Because it’s winter, my washing tends to have damp spots even after being on the clothesline all day. I usually have to throw them in the dryer for a bit. Funny what we get excited about as adults, isn’t it? A Swedish Drama I binge-watched a terrific Swedish drama called A Nearly Normal Family. Have you heard of it? It’s on Netflix. I love the sound of the Swedish language, and I’m hoping that by watching enough shows, I can start to pick it up. My cousin’s partner started learning Spanish from watching TV—so who knows, it might work for me too. So far, I can say hi, goodbye, thank you, thank you very much, I’m sorry, I don’t know, yes, no, good morning, and precisely. Maybe one day soon, I’ll be able to make a full sentence! Half-Price Tuesdays at The Movies Every Tuesday, movie tickets are half-price, so we went to see Karate Kid: Legends. I thought it was such a great movie. The reviews said otherwise, which makes me wonder how these reviewers judge things. Oppenheimer got rave reviews, but to me, that kind of movie was a guaranteed cure for insomnia. We loved Karate Kid: Legends—it felt both modern and nostalgic. I’m not sure why I expected the cast to include the kids from Cobra Kai. They weren’t in it—just Daniel, Mr Miyagi in a flashback, and Johnny right at the end. The lead guy was great and so likeable… wow, he sure can karate! Dinner With Friends Wednesday night, we went to our friends’ house for dinner. It was a nice mid-week catch-up. Oh my goodness—we ate until we could hardly walk! We started with fried halloumi, then had pumpkin soup, followed by beef stew, rice, and broccoli. For dessert, she even whipped up a chocolate mousse right in front of us. By the time we’d made it through all the courses, the mousse had set, and it was absolutely delicious. My friend sure can cook! And that was a few of my favourite things from this week. We have a busy Saturday. My lovely friend’s father passed away a couple of weeks ago, and tomorrow she is hosting a family and friends get-together to celebrate his life. She said he would want us to enjoy being together, eat, and, in true South American style, sing a few tangos. I visited him at the nursing home a few times, but I never made it there this year, and I wish that I had. Here is a photo of us from a couple of years ago. I’m so happy that I have the beautiful painting he did hanging in my house. Then, in the evening, my aunt is having a party to celebrate her birthday. Isn’t it always the way that some weekends are totally free, and then two events pop up on the same day? I’m so relieved they don’t clash, though, and I can make it to both. Thanks so much for stopping by — I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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!