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Cleaning Caddy Essentials: What’s in Mine

3 Comments / Cleaning and Organising, Home

Before I bought my cleaning caddy, I kept my cleaning supplies in different spots around the house. Some things were under the kitchen sink, others were in the laundry, and I would constantly go back and forth trying to find whatever I needed. If I had a dollar for every lap I did gathering my cleaning supplies, I probably could have paid someone to clean for me. I finally realised a cleaning caddy was the answer (not sure why it took me so long?), and today I am sharing what is inside mine. I just have the essentials because I have stopped buying ten different sprays for the same job. Simple is the goal, friends! My Cleaning Caddy Before I show what’s inside, I should say I do not love this caddy. It’s a bit shallow, and the compartments are oddly shaped, so bottles tip over if they don’t sit just right. It’s kind of annoying, but it keeps everything in one place, and I can carry it from room to room, so I’m not in a rush to replace it. If you’re on the lookout for a cleaning caddy, I would say get one that is deeper and has better-shaped compartments for bottles. I may eventually get another one, but for now, this one works–until it drives me completely nuts! What’s Inside My Cleaning Caddy Domestos This bottle of Domestos is the hero! I love that the nozzle is long, so I can squirt the liquid into all the edges and grooves of the shower. Bleach is fantastic for mould and stubborn grime. So far, the shower has stayed mould-free for years. Phew! Bath and Shower Spray This citrus bath and shower spray is such a nice change from the heavy-duty ones. It smells fresh, and it’s not harsh. You know those cleaners that promise big results but leave you tasting chemicals in the back of your throat? This is the opposite of that. Fresh, light, and it doesn’t make you feel like you need to evacuate the bathroom and run outside for fresh air. Toilet Cleaner I always pick the tropical blossom one because it smells the prettiest. Disinfectant A splash of this in hot water is perfect for cleaning around the cat litter boxes and other cat-related messes — ick! My cats are generally very clean, but you know how cats are. I also use it for general disinfecting around the house. Floor Cleaner This is a great low-cost floor cleaner that gets the floors clean, which is all I really need. Oh, and it smells good too, with a subtle fresh scent. Gumption Gumption is perfect for scrubbing the shower floor in our main bathroom. We have one of those plastic floors where no spray will do the job. Sometimes you just can’t escape the Cinderella-on-your-knees method. Cloths and Gloves My cleaning caddy also has some cloths for cleaning the bathrooms and general dusting, plus a pair of rubber gloves to save my hands. And that’s what I keep inside my cleaning caddy. All the basics, nothing extra — anything more wouldn’t fit anyway, which is probably a good thing for someone like me who likes to keep things minimal. The caddy helps me stick to my simple cleaning routine, doing a little each day to stay on top of things and aim for the ultimate goal of having nothing to do on the weekends. It’s a big goal I haven’t achieved yet, because there’s always something to do, isn’t there?

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How I Show Gratitude

3 Comments / Beauty and Self Care, Home

Hi friends, and happy Wednesday! It’s time for the November edition of Let’s Look, and today we’re chatting about how we show gratitude. When I first quickly read the prompt, I focused on the word gratitude and thought, oh my gosh, I don’t have a gratitude journal, routine quiet time, or any kind of guided gratitude meditation ritual. Yikes, I must be the most ungrateful person on the planet! But then I realised the prompt isn’t about how grateful we are, it’s about how we show gratitude in the little things we do every day. And, of course, the good English student in me (always my favourite subject in school) had to look up the definition of gratitude just to be sure. Phew! I realised I am thankful, and I do show it by noticing the little things and taking small actions to make life easier or brighter for the people around me. Here’s how I show gratitude in my world. Small, Practical Gestures I’m a doer and love to do things to make someone’s day easier. It can be anything from washing someone’s lunch containers that have been left in the sink at work (we’re supposed to do our own) to offering to feed my neighbour’s cat while she is in Fiji on holidays next week. Humour If humour were a love language, it would be mine! I love to laugh, and I love making others laugh. Life is too short, and working with children is too hard, to take everything seriously. Showing You Care I think it’s really important to be consistent. Following through on promises, really listening when someone is talking, and turning up when you say you will are all ways I try to show gratitude. Send a Thoughtful Text I’m not much of a card writer, but I do send texts to let someone know I’m thinking of them, to encourage them, or to say thank you for something. It’s a simple way to show that someone notices and cares, and a really nice way to show gratitude Random Acts of Kindness Small, unexpected gestures go a long way. Holding the door or letting someone cut in front of you while driving (even though they don’t usually say thank you-hehe) Give Encouragement and Recognition It’s important to notice the effort, not just the outcome, and it’s always worth saying out loud. Something as simple as “I saw how hard you worked on that” can really make someone feel seen and appreciated. I’ve been working on this myself because I have a habit of thinking it, but not actually saying it. I don’t know why people can’t just hear my thoughts! Show Gratitude to Your Family I’m a big believer in showing gratitude to family, and it shouldn’t be left at the front door. I send texts to my husband and kids to let them know I’m thinking of them. With all of us working different schedules and having days off that don’t line up, I think it’s important to stay in communication. I learned this from my husband, who is much better at communicating than me. I also like to acknowledge the little things my family do, like when someone empties the dishwasher or takes out the garbage, without being asked. My boys are good eggs, and they deserve a thank you. Gratitude for Myself Along with showing gratitude to others, I’ve been learning to show it to myself. I’m rewiring my brain to be more positive, taking breaks when I need them, resting, eating well, and noticing the little things I actually manage to get done each day. Go me! Those are some of the ways I try to show gratitude every day. I’d love to hear how you do it, too. It’s amazing how the little things can mean so much. Linking up with Erika and Shay

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October Favourites

8 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

Hi friends! I hope you’ve all had an amazing week. I’m excited to be back to share some of my favourites from October. It’s an October Favourites edition! Which feels just right, since (can you believe it?) it’s the last day of the month. Oh, and by the way, Happy Halloween! I’m pretty sure I say this all the time, but whoa, didn’t the month go by so fast! We said cheers to the first day of October with a yummy snack of salami, crackers and halloumi. Spring School Holidays In  October, I had a relaxing school holiday break and enjoyed the gorgeous spring weather. First on the holiday agenda was a fun catch-up with friends for lunch. The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney I also did a day trip to the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, where my funny friend and I admitted we do not have a great sense of direction. To be fair, the garden is huge! We ended up using my phone to guide us to where we wanted to go. My iPhone has this feature where you hold it up and giant blue arrows appear to show you which way to walk. They reminded me of the arrows in a Mario Kart game, hehe. Here are a few pics of the beautiful gardens. Pamela Allen Exhibition After the Botanic Gardens, we went to see The Pamela Allen Exhibition. Pamela Allen is a children’s author from New Zealand who made her name in Australia. She wrote Who Sank the Boat? and Alexander’s Outing. We read her books to the children at preschool all the time. Such classics! After a big day out, you really can’t go wrong with a chicken and leek pie. It was so nice to sit down, eat, and chat. Cousin Connect In October, my aunt hosted Cousin Connect. Most of us managed to get together before some of our travelling cousins went overseas. October is Birthday Month Our younger son turned 21! We got lucky, and all five of us, the three of us plus my older son and his fiancée, had time off work during the day. At the birthday boy’s request, we went to see a movie and then had burgers and chips for dinner at a place called Mister Gee. We saw the Leonardo DiCaprio movie One Battle After Another, and it was so good I didn’t fall asleep once! In October, my eldest son turned 32. He came over our way with his fiancée, and we had dinner at a Chinese restaurant, Lilong. Then it was back to our house for cake. Let me tell you about the funny cake incident. Since Luke moved out, he’s always come over for his birthday dinner — but this year, we were all less than amazing at communicating. I didn’t want to assume he was coming in case he had other plans, and he figured I’d automatically know he was coming over. So when he rang me while I was at work and said, “Hey Mum, I’ll be coming over at 7,” I was of course super excited… but we hadn’t actually planned dinner or a cake. I rang my husband and he came up with a plan: we’d go out for dinner, and he would ice and decorate a banana bread he’d baked and pass it off as a birthday cake. No one would ever know. Well… everyone figured it out immediately. At the very first bite: “Hey, isn’t this Dad’s usual banana bread? He’s just put lollies and choc chips on top!” Hahahahaha!!! “He thought we wouldn’t notice!!” It was very funny, and now we’ve made it official, Luke will be coming over for his birthday dinner every year, and next time he’s getting a spectacular birthday cake! A Day of Action In October, some of my work colleagues and I went to a day of action in the city. We’re standing up for fair pay for preschool staff and against the Premier of NSW, Chris Minns’s proposal to turn community preschools like the one I work in into long‑day care centres. If it goes ahead, I know I’d seriously be looking at my options. Community preschools are different to long day care centres. They mostly run during school hours and only during term time, focusing on the year or two before school. They offer more structured play-based learning, are not-for-profit, usually run by a parent committee, and have smaller groups with long-standing staff. One of the reasons we have less staff turnover is because we get term breaks. There’s no way I could work in such a demanding environment without those precious term breaks. I really don’t understand why the Premier wants to mess with something that works so well. Some of the signs I saw at the rally were very clever! Mochi Ran Away Last weekend, Mochi, our indoor cat, ran away! She got out into the courtyard and hid behind some pot plants. We didn’t notice and accidentally left her out there, which gave her the perfect opportunity to jump onto the neighbour’s garage and disappear into the neighbourhood. We walked up and down our street, knocking on doors, but she was gone, and we were so sad. I Googled “how to get your runaway cat back”, and it suggested going out late at night or early in the morning when everything is quiet and calling her name. So at 2 am, I went outside and did exactly that, and she appeared. I waited until she came to me and then gently picked her up. Well, I may have gently-ish grabbed her because my heart was pounding! Phew, what a relief to have her back home again. And that was a glimpse at a few of the things from our October. Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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Celebrating a 21st Birthday Party at Home

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Hey friends! It’s great to be back linking up with Holly and Sarah to share a little about our weekend. Sam, our youngest, celebrated his birthday (which was actually two weeks ago) with a party. Not going to lie, I’m so glad it’s over because party planning is way outside my comfort zone. But the good news is that Sam and his friends had a great time, and my house survived the event! Woohoo! A couple of months ago, Sam asked if he could have his 21st birthday party at our house. That’s a reasonable request, except our house, although very comfortable and one I truly love, is more of a cozy, compact space than an entertainer’s home. We tossed around the idea of having it at a pub or a restaurant. But he was keen to celebrate at home with his friends. When we rattled off a list of things we’d have to do to get it all organised, he said, “Mum, don’t worry, it’ll be fine. We’ll just order pizzas and have some music.” Bless his positive, easy-breezy attitude. You and I both know that was never going to be all we needed to pull off a 21st! We were all busy with work, study, and everything in between, and Sam’s relaxed approach was a bit contagious. That is, until last Monday, when I started to panic! I thought, “Oh my gosh, we have only a few days until the Friday night event!” We all kicked things into high gear, ordering things off Amazon, shopping for snacks and drinks, preordering the pizzas for delivery, and organising the decorations. We hired a few bar tables and stools, and got an LED party light that pulses with the music. The boombox we wanted was unavailable. But luckily, my boss was able to lend us hers–phew! Then it was just a bit of furniture reshuffling, and I thought back to my post on entertaining in small spaces. I stopped panicking, pushed through, and it all came together. I stayed away that night to give them some space to enjoy themselves and celebrate. My husband was at work until 3 am, but our oldest son came over and helped keep things running smoothly. When I got home, I was super impressed with how all the rubbish was bundled up into garbage bags. And apart from the sticky floors, Sam and his friends had done such a great job cleaning up. It was clear they’d had fun, and I couldn’t believe how well they’d looked after everything. To be honest, I was expecting a total frat-house kind of mess like the ones I’ve seen in movies, so this was a very pleasant surprise. I’ve met most of Sam’s friends and always thought they were good eggs, and their party clean-up effort confirmed it big time! I was also happy to find that the only thing they ended up using from the “just in case” kit I left was the mozzie repellent. On top of the party being a big success, Sam got completely spoiled with presents, which none of us were expecting. He got money, Chanel cologne, and nine of his friends even chipped in for a ticket to Bali. So now he’s off to Bali with them for a week at the end of January 2026, gulp. I’m sure they’ll have a wonderful time, but I’m already looking forward to their safe return. Happy Monday, friends, and thanks so much for stopping by!

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Seinfeld Trivia Night: What I Learned About Myself

4 Comments / Home, My Favourite Movies and TV shows

During a recent Seinfeld trivia night, I discovered a side of myself I never knew existed. When I’m really into something, I go all in, completely all in, and suddenly I’m the person who wants to win. I become competitive! Yikes. This revelation made my head spin because I didn’t even know that person existed. Who am I? Why I love Seinfeld I think Seinfeld is one of the funniest sitcoms ever! The humour is so clever, and I love it because the punchlines are unpredictable. Well, after watching and rewatching it, I can predict what’s coming next. But the humour itself isn’t like so many other shows. I also love all the memorable quotes. I don’t think a week goes by without me sneaking in a Seinfeld reference. And yes, I can do the Elaine dance pretty well. Just ask some of my work colleagues! More Than Just Laughs Seinfeld isn’t just a sitcom for me. It’s more than laughing or cringing at the ridiculous things the characters get up to. It’s a fascinating look at human behaviour, social quirks, and the absurd moments of everyday life. And yes, most of the stuff they do is completely over the top. But I don’t think I’ve found another sitcom that makes me laugh out loud the way Seinfeld does. I actually think it’s a show about everything, not a show about nothing, which, by the way, was only one episode and not the original pitch. Seinfeld Trivia Night When my friend invited me to a Seinfeld trivia night, I was excited to go. I’ve been watching Seinfeld since it first started airing in Australia in the mid-90s. I would put my baby to bed and plonk myself in front of our old tube TV for my weekly comedy fix. So you could say I was pretty confident my general knowledge of Seinfeld was solid. But I wanted to be sure, and I probably studied for this trivia night more than I did for my HSC. I wanted our team to win. My friends, including my husband, were my teammates, and while they are all fans too, I’m pretty sure they didn’t obsess over it like I did. And then we lost, and it stung. I was surprised at how bothered I was because, before the trivia night, I would have easily said I am one of the least competitive people ever. I don’t even have a favourite football or soccer team. But then again, put Australia at the Olympics, and suddenly I’m a die-hard fan of whatever sport is on. I can totally relate to Puddy and his face painting (if you know, you know). So what does this mean? Am I actually competitive or not? Was the Seinfeld trivia night just a one-off competitive moment I experienced? And are there maybe a couple of things that trigger me into competitive mode? Come along with me as I explore this aspect of my personality. Because it’s never too late to discover new things about yourself. Giddy up! Intrinsic Motivation Is My Driver I’m putting on my pseudopsychologist hat and saying that the Seinfeld trivia night turned me into a competitive person (for a short while) because it tapped into something I enjoy. I didn’t really care about the prize. In fact, I didn’t even know what it was until after the night was over. Sure, the $100 pub voucher would have been amazing, but that wasn’t the point. It wasn’t just about beating others, although I still don’t know how the other teams knew what they knew! Google cheats? Nope. I’d better not say that because I don’t want to be a sore loser. For me, it was all about knowing the tiny details that got me motivated, like Jerry lived in apartment 5A (though it was 3A in the early episodes), Elaine got banned from ordering at Hop Sing, you have to say please and step aside when ordering soup from the Soup Nazi, and George’s ATM password was Bosco. Remembering all of that lit up my brain. And all of that trivia only mattered to me because I love the show so much, and that’s what motivated me. It wasn’t for anyone else. It came from within. Intrinsic! I Got A Dopamine Hit! Humans are wired to feel pleasure from mastering things that challenge them. For me, the Seinfeld trivia night was a test of how well I could remember all those small details. Apparently not as well as I had hoped. That buzzy feeling of knowing you’re good at something you actually care about is a dopamine hit. That’s why I got so absorbed, so “all in.” It’s not a feeling I notice too often, and I liked it. Selective Engagement The fact is, I’m not competitive about everything, hardly anything if the truth be told. Which is probably why my mother-in-law couldn’t relate to me, but that’s another story. Something has to really and truly resonate with me to bring out that competitive spark. So far, I’ve discovered two things: Seinfeld trivia and cheering for Australia at the Olympics. No Ego I wasn’t out to prove anything to anyone. It was all about me, my love for Seinfeld, and my own enjoyment. Me, me, and more me. Am I Competitive After All? So I guess in short, I’m not competitive all the time. But I can be competitive, super focused and maybe a little absorbed in the things that I love.  Who knew a trivia night could teach me so much about myself? Get out!!

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Snack Time! My Favourite Go-To Snacks

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It’s great to be here today with the lovely ladies from the Share Our Lives link-up. This time, we’re chatting all about our go-to snacks. Thanks so much for stopping by 😊 Now, let’s see… what are some of my go-to snacks? Well, to be honest, I don’t really snack a whole lot during the week. I’m not sure if anyone else is like this, but I actually love feeling properly hungry before my main meals. It makes them feel like a real event! I look forward to lunch and dinner (not breakfast—I’m never hungry first thing in the morning). And I love that when I finally sit down to eat, it feels like a major occasion. I even try really hard not to moan after every bite, because that would just sound too weird, right? Snack Time Although I don’t usually snack during the week, that all changes when Friday night rolls around. Because that’s when snack time is on like Donkey Kong! Here are some of my go-to savoury snacks: Nuts – I love all nuts, but these Kri Kri peanuts from our local fruit shop are just so delicious. Chips – Salt and vinegar or plain are my favourites. Cheese – with or without crackers. Corn Thins – When I feel like I need to pretend that they are a healthier option. Are they? No, don’t tell me. Seaweed – So deliciously salty and crunchy. Until two years ago, I avoided seaweed because it’s high in iodine and I had thyroid issues. Now that I don’t have a thyroid, I’m making up for all the times I had to say no to seaweed. My go-to sweet snacks: Cadbury Hazelnut chocolate – this one is dangerous because I buy the block and it’s so hard to stop at just a few squares. Snake lollies – The green ones are my favourite, but I also love the orange ones because they remind me of the lollies I used to get as a super special, once-every-few-months treat when I was little. Peanut M&Ms – Nuts all the way! Cadbury Flake – crumbly and yummy Picnic bars – I clearly just can’t get enough nuts. Now, I know I said I don’t snack much during the week, but when my work buddy is rostered on for a casual day, she usually brings me some kind of delicious treat. She’s introduced me to some of the best snacks ever, and every time she’s called in to work, I just know it’s going to be a fun day. And no, it’s not just because she’s my snack supplier… haha! My healthy snacks: Plain yoghurt with honey and berries Fruit – Usually grapes when they are in season. At the moment, I’m enjoying the small mandarins I buy from Woolworths. They remind me of the ones I saw on our trip to the U.S, called Cuties. So there you have it, my go-to snacks. I sure do look forward to Friday nights and the weekend when it’s open season on snacks. What about you? Are you more of a weekday grazer or a weekend snacker? Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Joanne, Jen and Sarah.  

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Friday Favourites – Spring and Term Break Edition

6 Comments / Family Life, Friday Favourites, Home

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

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What’s Up Wednesday

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Hi friends, and welcome to What’s Up Wednesday. It’s time to share some of the things we have been up to in September. Can you believe how fast the month went by? WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK Monday – Creamy chicken and mushroom with rice Tuesday – Chilli Wednesday – Leftover chilli Thursday – Barramundi, wedges and salad Friday – Turkey burgers Saturday – Cousin connect dinner at my aunt’s Sunday – Steak sandwiches and chips WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT I miss my mum every day. September was her birth month, and she would have been 97. I’ve been getting teary every time I think about it. There are also some things I really wish I could talk to her about, nothing major, just ordinary things that only she would understand. I miss her reactions when I shared things with her. She was funny. WHAT I’M LOVING I’m loving the warmer days, flowers blooming, longer daylight, and wearing lighter clothing. I’m also excited to see Halloween costumes and decorations popping up in the shops. I love the months from September to February; they are my absolute favourites. Right now, I feel like finding a mountain to spin around on and sing ‘The Hills Are Alive! WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO Apart from the usual routine of work, in September, we also enjoyed a trip to Ikea to buy things we didn’t know we needed. Dinner at our local Chinese restaurant, called Lilong. Our monthly catch-up with friends at the RSL. A fun lunch with great friends and a wonderful view. A whole lot of preschool prep. We enjoyed some sweet treats for R U OK Day. At work, our parent committee also spoiled us with cakes and a lovely pen for Educator’s Day. We celebrated Father’s Day a week late. I made a trip to Bunnings to buy some pretty plants for our front garden. As well as some things we needed for our preschool class to make Cress Heads. A delicious dinner out with colleagues for our once-a-term catch-up. It’s funny, I always think we didn’t really do much, then I scroll back through my photos and realise we did all the ordinary things and also enjoyed a few little highlights sprinkled throughout the month. WHAT I’M DREADING I love it when I can answer this one with a big fat nothing. WHAT I’M WATCHING We’re definitely late to the party on this one because I know it was really popular when it first came out. But we started watching Designated Survivor a couple of weeks ago, and we’re enjoying it so much. Kiefer never disappoints! WHAT I’M LISTENING TO SBS Chill, and it plays chill music that doesn’t stress Steve. He intensely dislikes chill music, but he doesn’t mind this digital station. WHAT I’M WEARING We’re still in that in-between season phase; some days are warm, others chilly. Some nights I’m in the full winter pyjama outfit with bed socks and everything, and other nights it’s just a T-shirt and shorts. I love the days when I can wear a T-shirt and have my arms out. When Sam was little and saw someone barefoot, he’d say, ‘Look, Mummy, they’re wearing feet!’ It always cracked me up. I guess now, since some days my arms are bare, you could say I’ve been ‘wearing arms’. WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND It’s the first weekend of the school holidays, and so far it’s looking like a relaxed one. All we have planned is our Cousin Connect dinner at my aunt’s house. WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH I’m looking forward to warmer weather, and October means my two boys have birthdays coming up. One’s turning 21 and the other 32, so they’re not exactly boys anymore, but they will always be my boys. And just like that, September is almost done. I hope your month was a good one. Thanks for reading along, and I hope October is good to all of us. 😊 Linking up with Shay

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Hello Monday

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Hi friends, it’s good to be back today after being MIA for most of last week. Life has just been crazy busy lately, and I’m counting down the days until Friday when we break up for the school holidays. That’s 3 days, 22 hours, and 51 minutes to go. I cannot wait! For this post, I had to scroll back through my camera roll to remember what I did over the weekend. I remember the fun parts, but not the in-between bits that make up most of the time. Turns out, I only took photos of food and one outfit. I know, I know, the weekend was only yesterday, but I needed a little reminder. I always think it’s funny how, on crime shows, the suspect instantly knows where they were on a random date and time. Then there’s me, who can’t even remember what happened 24 hours ago. If I were a suspect, I’d look instantly guilty for being so forgetful. Anyway, before I get myself in any more imaginary trouble, here’s a peek at what I got up to over the weekend. Friday Night Friday night was so much fun, I had no trouble remembering this part of the weekend. We went out for our Term 3 work dinner. Our preschool generously treats us to a dinner out every term at a place of our choosing. We usually pick a pub because they have a good variety of food and drinks at reasonable prices. This time we went to the Como Hotel. Even though I was so tired from our busy day at preschool, I somehow managed to race home, colour my roots, and get ready faster than I thought possible. There was a whole lot of grey showing where I part my hair, yikes! I had been putting it off because I always need an excuse to colour my hair. Definitely not my favourite job, that is for sure. I snapped a quick pic of my casual outfit. Then waited out front of my house for my work friend, who was giving us a lift. Her daughter drove us, and the party started the moment we were all in the car. These work colleagues are so much fun, always! The food was delicious, and we all grabbed the chance to chat without being interrupted, laugh at the funny things that happen in our world, and just unload everything from the week, term, and year. It was like a much-needed therapy session over cocktails and food. So you can imagine just how much we laughed that night! Saturday Normally, we have brunch on a Sunday, but this time we had it on Saturday. My stomach and my head were both craving protein and carbs to help me recover from the night before. Then in the evening we went out to see my cousin perform at her spring dance gala. Before the performance, some of my cousins and I went to the bistro for dinner. It was a great night catching up with most of the cousins. As always, I thought my cousin was the best dancer of the night, and I’m not just saying it because she’s ours. She really is so graceful and elegant on stage. Sunday A while ago, I did a post on my Sunday Reset Routine and wrote about how I used to do way too many household chores, but now I try to focus on relaxing and self-care. Well, I must have jinxed myself, because lately so many weekends have been all about playing catch-up and not just around the house, but with work too! What’s going on? Ha! Next term, things will be different. The staff reshuffle will be sorted, and I can get back to my usual routine. That means leaving the laptop at work locked in the cupboard. So Sunday was all about getting the laundry done (thank goodness for sunny weather), a few cleaning jobs, and writing up preschool stuff. Then in the evening, Steve was at work and Sam was at a friend’s house, so I had a date with my lounge room. Spaghetti bolognese for one in front of the TV, perfect. And that was my weekend ☺️ Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m planning to be back for What’s Up Wednesday. Hope to see you then.

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Hello Monday

6 Comments / Family Life, Home

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

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