Home Archives - Page 11 of 28 - PLAYWORKEATREPEAT

Death Valley and Valley of Fire State Park Adventures

Hey friends, I hope you are having a wonderful day! Today, I’m sharing Part 5 of our incredible USA trip. So far, I’ve covered our arrival in Part One. A day of unexpected mall exploring in Part Two. Because our original plans had to change due to the LA fires. Then, in Part Three, I shared our magical two days at Disneyland. Part four was all about Universal Studios, where we had an unforgettable time experiencing the rides, shows, and behind-the-scenes Hollywood fun. Road Trip In today’s post, I’m sharing the next leg of our adventure, where we road-tripped through Nevada and Utah. I’ve spent the last couple of days retracing our steps to write this recap. We just packed so much into our days and saw so many incredible sights! It’s been hard for me to remember exactly when we did what. Luckily, I took heaps of photos of everything and anything. So it’s really helped me to piece everything together. I’m still kicking myself for not writing any notes along the way—big travel fail! Steve, Sam, and I got to enjoy the trip without stressing over the logistics—my cousin and her husband took care of all the flights and hotels while we focused on planning the fun stuff! It honestly felt like we were kids on holiday with our ‘mum and dad.’ Since they already have two kids, I’m sure to them it may have felt like they were travelling with five kids! I can’t thank them enough for all the planning and effort they put into making this trip such an incredible experience for us. And Cousin S definitely deserves a medal for all the driving he did! There are just no words to describe how amazing this adventure was. So, today, I’ll be covering the first couple of days of our road trip. We made our way from California, driving along the iconic Route 66, and then through Las Vegas on our way to Zion National Park. Along the way, we explored the stunning landscapes of Death Valley and Valley of Fire State Park. I can’t wait to share all the details (plus another hundred or so photos) of these unforgettable stops and the incredible sights we saw! I hope you like travel posts! Route 66 For part of our drive, we followed Historic Route 66, passing through spots like Victorville and Barstow, where old gas stations still hold onto that classic Americana charm. The petrol stations were incredible—they’re nothing like the ones we have here in Australia. Some were decked out with old artifacts, vintage signs, and even classic cars on display. And they sell alcohol!! Haha, that totally blew my mind. In fact, my mind was blown earlier in LA when I saw alcohol sold at Target. In Australia, alcohol is only sold in licensed stores, so seeing it in places like Target was such a huge surprise! I loved how we stopped at so many interesting places, and this country store was incredible! They sold everything—from clothes and snacks to jerky, stones, and even more alcohol. I’m not a huge drinker, but I must sound like one with how often I mention it! I just couldn’t get over how different it was here. The next stop was McDonald’s, where my cousin J introduced us to the most delicious breakfast ever—sausage biscuit. I had mine with hot chocolate, and honestly, it will go down in my mind as the best breakfast ever! I’ll be doing a separate post about all the food we ate and how I struggled with eating so much fast food. But this sausage biscuit was something else—soft, buttery, and so satisfying. I had no idea what to expect since we don’t have biscuits like this in Australia. In fact, we refer to biscuits as cookies! But in the US, “biscuits” are more like our savoury scones (only better). The Chevron with all the cool artifacts on display. On the road again! Look at the landscape! It’s nothing like what we have back home. We passed so many of those massive trucks, and even though I completely trusted Cousin S at the wheel, I still found myself closing my eyes. Big trucks on the road are definitely not my favourite! Death Valley National Park Three hours after leaving California, we made it to Death Valley National Park. In the following pic, we got caught just as we were about to do our jump! Before we left on our trip, one thing we all agreed on was that we would film ourselves jumping at all the major signs. I’ve put all our jump shots together in a reel, which you can check out here if you’d like! It was hilarious, and we definitely had to do a few takes because, well, we weren’t always the most coordinated! Oh my gosh! Death Valley is just something else! It honestly felt like I could have been on the moon, or even better—Tatooine! Yep, if you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Death Valley was actually used as the filming location for many of the desert scenes in Star Wars: A New Hope.. So yeah, I guess this was me during the whole trip! I love this photo of my family. This path is where R2D2 walked! Pinch me now!! Here we are, heading back to the van, but I could have stayed forever! Next stop–The Visitor’s Centre Then, it was back in the van again, where I took this incredible photo. Las Vegas at Night It was starting to get dark just as we got to Las Vegas. We stopped at Olive Garden for dinner. Then jumped back in the van for a nighttime drive through Las Vegas. It was incredible! Along with being eye-opening! Some of the nighttime activities we saw were a bit sketchy, to say the least. This time around, we just drove through, but on our way back after visiting the national parks, we spent a

Death Valley and Valley of Fire State Park Adventures Read More »

Lydham Hall Historic House Open Day

8 Comments / Discovering NSW Australia, Hello Monday, Home

Hi friends and happy Monday! Wow, that weekend went by fast! And now, here we are in the first week of March already. I hope you had a great weekend! Mine was a good mix of some super chilled TV time on Saturday and a visit to Lydham Hall Historic House in Rockdale on Sunday. I’m excited to tell you all about it, so let’s get started! Saturday Steve and I walked to our local café for some delicious Portuguese tarts—so good! I had an iced coffee, and Steve went for an iced chocolate, which was perfect for a hot day. I was about to say a hot summer’s day, but since Saturday was the first day of March, we’re officially in autumn now. Not that it means much yet—I’m sure it’ll be a while before the temps start to cool down! Once we got home, I pretty much camped out in front of the TV for the rest of the day and into the night! I haven’t done that in ages, but I think I’m still adjusting to being back at work—I was exhausted. Plus, the right side of my neck was sore from tension and probably jaw clenching. My body was begging for a lazy day, so I listened. Steve worked in the evening, so I ate dinner and started binge-watching Big Little Lies. When it first came out, I remember hearing so much about it, but I never got around to watching it. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the first couple of episodes, but if I had to sum it up in one word—disturbed comes to mind. It’s an intense series that dives into domestic violence, complicated relationships, and just how fake people can be. The more I watched, the more I got into it, and by Sunday afternoon, I’d finished Season One. It’s definitely not a feel-good show, but I’m hooked, and I’ve already started Season Two. Sunday – Lydham Hall Open Day This year, we made it to the Lydham Hall open day! It’s something I had been wanting to do, but somehow I had missed it. Lydham Hall was built in the late 1870s and is one of the oldest homes in the St. George area. I live in the area, so it was very interesting to explore this piece of local history. Every room had a volunteer who shared their knowledge of the house and gave us some great insights into its history. It was so interesting to hear about the different eras the house has been through and the people who’ve lived there. Each room had its own little story, and it was all so fascinating. We were even encouraged to touch things, which made it feel really interactive. I opened a few of the books on the shelf and couldn’t help but wonder who George Southern and Aunt Maggie were. I kept thinking, what did they look like? What were their lives like? Dining Room Dinner was served! Haha, Lydham Hall definitely gave off some serious Downton Abbey vibes. The dinner time gong. I just had to try it out and gave it a little clang. The Kitchen This nice man explained how a kitchen of the time functioned and showed us where they kept their meat. I meant to ask him how long the meat was stored for. But I got distracted looking at the butter churner and forgot. I did lift the irons, and they were so heavy!! The Bedroom This gentleman shared some really interesting information about the beds. Apparently, the mattresses were made with layers of horsehair and topped with a feather mattress topper. The bed frames had legs to keep bed bugs out, and the mattress was held in place with crossed rope—kind of like modern-day slats. But here’s where it gets interesting: the legs weren’t enough to stop the bed bugs from crawling onto the beds. So, they came up with the idea of spreading horse dung under the bed! The bugs were attracted to the dung instead of climbing onto the bed. Back in the day, the ropes used to hold the mattress in place would loosen over time with the weight of the mattress and the person sleeping on it. If the ropes got too saggy, the bed would become uncomfortable, and—well, you might end up sinking toward the horse dung underneath! So, to avoid that, people had to regularly tighten the ropes to keep the mattress firm and the bugs at bay. It’s funny to think about how much effort went into something we take for granted today, like a comfy bed. And this next bit of information just about blew my mind– that’s where the saying “Goodnight sleep tight don’t let the bed bugs bite” comes from! It’s all about tightening the ropes to make sure the bed stays firm and the bugs don’t get to you! Haha! Wow, I never knew this! Lunch Time After the fantastic history lesson, we made our way to the back of the house for something to eat. I loved how they had set up the little tables. Most of the tables were taken, and I thought we’d have no luck finding a spot. Steve walked over to one of the benches in the garden while I stopped to check out the menu at the counter. Just as I turned around, I saw a couple leaving, and I quickly made my way over and snagged the table. So there I was at the table, and Steve was at the bench further away. I tried to discreetly call him over—”Pssst…hey, Steve.” Nothing. “Over here, Steve!” Still nothing. Of course, everyone else around me could see me waving my arms in the most ladylike way I could (not). Then I had a brainwave and called him on his phone: “Hey, turn around I got a table!” hahahaha!! We ordered the Tattie scones with smoked salmon and sour cream. The other things on the menu

Lydham Hall Historic House Open Day Read More »

Friday Favourites

10 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

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 😊

Friday Favourites Read More »

What’s Up Wednesday

5 Comments / Home, What's Up Wednesday

Hi friends! It’s time to catch up on what we’ve been eating, watching, looking forward to, and a whole lot more. I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer for What’s Up Wednesday, and I’m so glad you’re here! What We’re Eating This Week Here’s our menu for the week. Monday – Chicken Stroganoff with rice and veggies Tuesday – Pot Roast Wednesday – Leftovers Thursday – Prawn pesto pasta Friday – Chicken Caesar wraps Saturday – Mediterranean chicken with rice Sunday- Steak sandwiches I’m meal planning like a champ this week! Let’s see how long I can keep it up—I’m pretty good at falling off the meal-planning train as the year goes on! What I’m Reminiscing About Our amazing, incredible, wonderful family trip! We started in California, where we visited family, spent two magical days at Disneyland, and had so much fun at Universal Studios. Then, we set off on a road trip through Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, exploring some spectacular national parks. Words can’t describe how beautiful they are! The photos I took hardly do them justice! I think I truly understand now what it means to have your breath taken away. The road trip will forever be one of the best parts—not just for the scenery, but for the laughs. When we weren’t staring out at breathtaking landscapes, we were cracking up over the most random things. There were so many moments when we were just gone with laughter! We wrapped it all up with a week in Hawaii, which was the perfect way to finish off an already incredible trip. At first, I was happy to be home, but after four or five days, the post-trip blues hit hard. Even looking at our photos made me sad. We had the best time, and travelling with my cousin and her family made it even more special. After spending three weeks together, it felt so strange not seeing them every day once we got back. We already want to do it all over again—maybe we will next year at a different destination. Stay tuned! What I’m Loving I’m loving the summer weather, but I know autumn is just around the corner! Ho hum. What We’ve Been Up To Just coming off an incredible high and settling into our regular old routine over here. That means I’m back at work and getting used to that alarm going off at 6.30 every morning (I need to stop hitting that snooze button!). I’m also looking forward to Fridays again! I was off work for so long that I kept losing track of the days. Now Fridays feel extra sweet again because nothing beats that end-of-the-week feeling, does it? What I’m Dreading I’m not dreading anything, and I’m always thankful when I can say that! I was dreading my eldest having a procedure last Monday, but now that it’s over, I don’t have to worry about it anymore. Phew! What I’m Excited About After so much epic excitement, I can’t think of anything I’m super excited about right now! Haha. I think I’m just happy to cruise along for a while and enjoy the ordinary days. What I’m Watching We’ve been watching Reacher and really enjoying it. Season 3 came out recently and caught our eye, so we decided to start from Season 1. I started watching the latest season of Sweet Magnolias. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’ve lost all interest and thought it was boring, so I stopped halfway through the first episode. I’m excited to start watching the new season of Survivor that starts on Thursday. It’s been fast-tracked from the USA, which is good! Oh, and I almost forgot—I’ve also been watching Married at First Sight. It’s just so awful, but I can’t look away! What I’m Listening To Smooth jazz vibes on Spotify—such a soothing backdrop for when I’m at home. I love it! Steve, on the other hand, can’t stand it. He says it drives him crazy and makes him feel edgy. Haha! What I’m Wearing No photos to show because I always forget. But I’m back to wearing comfy work clothes—ones I don’t mind getting paint, glue, sand, playdough, or, God forbid, other less-than-pleasant things that come with the job of working with little kids What I’m Doing This Weekend As of this moment, I have zero plans. I like the idea of having a quiet weekend. Sometimes, they are the best ones, right? What I’m Looking Forward To Next Month March Cousin Connect! Next month’s catch-up will be a smaller one since some cousins are away on a cruise, others are working, and one is tied up with wedding plans for two close friends. But I love that we never cancel, no matter the size. It’s important to stick to our monthly catch-up because that’s how traditions stay alive! That wraps up some of the things that have been going on in our little world. Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have the best day.

What’s Up Wednesday Read More »

Universal Studios

12 Comments / Hello Monday, Home, Travel

Hi friends, today I’m recapping our day at Universal Studios! Yay, we finally made it there after initially thinking we’d miss out because of the devastating LA fires. Universal Studios closed for two days and reopened on Friday, and we were lucky enough to go on Saturday when the sky was so blue you’d never guess the area had been covered in smoke just days before. Before I start, I have to say that we were in a happy travel bubble. While we knew about the fires, we didn’t fully grasp how bad they were. We weren’t following the news at all. We were just focused on what was right in front of us. And on Saturday, that meant nothing but glorious, clear blue skies. What we didn’t realise was that back home, our family and friends were glued to the news, watching the unfolding disaster and worrying about us. It wasn’t until I caught up with a friend a week after I got back home that I understood just how serious things had been. She told me the coverage was on all day, on almost every channel. It also made sense why my son had called me that Saturday morning, practically begging me to get out of LA and avoid Universal Studios since it was closer to the fires. No matter how much I reassured him we were safe, he wasn’t convinced. I could tell that if the roles were reversed, I would have definitely felt the same way. After the call, I didn’t feel great because it was hard to hear how worried he was. I also felt a little like the naughty kid who had disobeyed their parent! But once we worked it out (after many texts and conversations), the excitement of the day took over. So now it’s time to share all the amazing moments from our day at Universal Studios. Along with another gazillion photos! Nintendo World First stop Nintendo World where it felt like you were in the actual video game! Springfield I’m not a huge Simpsons fan, but part of my “research” for the trip involved watching a few episodes. Walking through Springfield at Universal, I was amazed by how they brought the show to life. Even as a casual viewer, it was so fun to see it all in person. Transformers I’m a huge Transformers fan, so meeting Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, and Megatron was so cool! Megatron was the cheekiest and came out with the funniest lines. I was a tiny bit nervous around him, haha! It was such a fun experience, and we all loved how the characters stayed true to their on-screen personalities. The Transformers ride was so much fun, too! We were lucky that we got to go on it because not long after, it was shut down for the rest of the day! Jurassic Park Ride My clever cousin brought ponchos for all of us so we wouldn’t get wet on the ride. We ended up looking like walking Bunnings ads (an Australian hardware store)! But we stayed dry and were totally prepared for the splash zone! Thank you, Cousin J! I’m scared of dinosaurs—even though I know they’re not real, they sure look and sound real! So, I may have ridden this ride with one eye open and one eye closed. By the end, though, both eyes were definitely shut tight. If you know, you know! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter My younger cousin couldn’t believe I had only watched the first Harry Potter movie. She’s watched them all and read some of the books! But luckily, I did watch at least one so I could appreciate the experience of being in such a realistic Harry Potter world. The ride was amazing, and I fully enjoyed it with mostly two eyes open! Studio Tour I think the Studio Tour was the highlight of the day for me. I loved seeing all the sets and hearing all about what movies were made there. It was fascinating! But it also wasn’t like your usual tour with a guide doing a lot of talking. You didn’t just sit back and listen. No sir! You got to experience it all firsthand. There were special effects, interactive exhibits, and even moments where you felt like you were part of the action. It wasn’t just a tour–it was like you were in a movie! Truly amazing!! Haha! At the Bates Motel, an actor came out, stuffed a pretend body in the boot, and then chased our tour tram with a knife! The Psycho house-yikes! I think this is where War of the Worlds was filmed—the plane crash disaster set-up looked a little too realistic! Can you hear the soundtrack as soon as you see this? The iconic pillars from Back to the Future! We had such a wonderful time! Sigh! It was sad to leave, and once again, we made so many wonderful memories. I always feel so nostalgic writing these recaps, but it’s a great way to document such an amazing time! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Universal Studios Read More »

Friday Favourites

6 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

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

Friday Favourites Read More »

My Simple Morning Skincare Routine

1 Comment / Beauty and Self Care, Home

This week marks another year around the sun for me! It’s always a good time to reflect—whether that means sticking with what works, shaking things up, or making small tweaks. So far, I’m still quite happy with my simple morning skincare routine. The only recent addition is a new eye cream. I’m testing it out to see if it actually does anything and I’ll keep you posted. Another year, another eye bag… yikes! As we all know, mornings can be very busy and there’s rarely time, energy, or patience for an extensive skincare routine. That’s why I keep things simple, quick, and effective, focusing on the essentials. Here’s the no-fuss routine that keeps my skin feeling fresh and ready to go—and hopefully helps keep those lines and wrinkles at bay! Simple Morning Skincare Routine Step 1: Cleanser First things first, I always start with a gentle foaming cleanser. Cleansing is essential because it removes the buildup from overnight—whether it’s oils from your skin, sweat, or even any residual products from the night before. A good cleanser sets the foundation for the rest of your skincare routine. I love a foaming cleanser because it’s quick and light, and the inner child in me can’t get enough of the texture and luxurious feeling of foam! It leaves my skin feeling clean without stripping it. I focus on clearing away impurities while making sure my skin’s natural balance stays in check. Step 2: Toner (Optional, But Recommended) Now, here’s where some might skip a step—but I’ve found that toner can make a real difference. I used to think it was just an extra, unnecessary step, but I definitely don’t skip it anymore in my morning skincare routine. Why? Well, a toner helps balance your skin’s pH levels after cleansing. It ensures your skin isn’t too dry or too oily—which, honestly, is a win in my book! Plus, it’s a great way to remove any last traces of dirt or makeup your cleanser might have missed. Toners come in different forms, but I prefer a hydrating one—something gentle and soothing. This way, it doesn’t dry me out or irritate my skin. My skin feels fresh and clean ready for the rest of my routine. If you’ve got sensitive skin, a hydrating or alcohol-free toner is the way to go. It’ll help get your skin ready for the next steps, without any irritation. Step 3: Eye Cream Now, let’s talk eye cream. If you’re anything like me, those stubborn under-eye bags and dark circles seem to have taken up permanent residence under your eyes (no matter how much sleep you get). I’ve recently added an eye cream to my routine to try and tackle this issue. While it’s still early days and I’m just testing it out, I’ve heard great things about eye creams packed with ingredients like caffeine or peptides, which are said to help reduce puffiness and dark circles. I apply it gently around my eye area using my ring finger—this finger applies the least amount of pressure, making it perfect for that delicate skin. Even if you’re not dealing with puffy eyes or dark circles, using eye cream can be a great extra step to keep the skin around your eyes hydrated and refreshed. Who knows, it might just be the solution to all your under-eye baggage (fingers crossed!) Step 4: Moisturiser Next, I keep it simple with a lightweight moisturiser. I just need something that hydrates, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy or heavy. After cleansing and toning, locking in moisture is key to keeping my skin soft and hydrated all day. Since I work both indoors and outdoors as a childcare educator, my skin faces different challenges. I’m outside with the children a lot, which means exposure to the sun and wind. Then I’m also inside, surrounded by air conditioning, which, as we all know, can dry skin. So, a good moisturiser helps balance everything out, keeping my skin fresh and comfortable no matter where I am. Optional Extras Sometimes, I’ll add a couple of extras depending on what my skin needs:Lip balm – Chapped lips are the worst, especially in winter! So I’ll apply some if they’re feeling dry before heading out.Facial mist – A quick spritz feels amazing if my skin’s looking a bit tired or if it’s a warmer day. The Result? That’s it! My simple morning skincare routine is all about keeping it quick, effective, and consistent. It doesn’t take long at all, but I know that I’m making sure to do the best I can for my skin to keep it healthy and glowing—goals! Plus, as much as I’d love to spend hours pampering my skin, I know that in reality, a straightforward, simple morning skincare routine that works is what I need. Let me know if you’ve tried any of these steps or if you have any quick tips for a low-maintenance skincare routine. Glow on and enjoy your day!

My Simple Morning Skincare Routine Read More »

Trip Recap Part 3-Disneyland!

11 Comments / Home, Travel

It’s time to share part 3 of our Cousin Connect adventure! We switched up our original plans and ended up going to Disneyland on Thursday and Friday instead of Friday and Saturday. Universal Studios was still closed due to high winds and the threat of fires. My brilliant and fast-thinking cousins figured that if we moved our Disneyland plans up a day and left Saturday free, we might just have a chance of going to Universal Studios if it reopened. We were hoping really hard that we wouldn’t miss out! Spoiler alert—Universal reopened on Friday, so we made it there on Saturday (phew!) Disneyland Day One Oh, my goodness, words cannot describe how excited I was—how excited we all were! We were running purely on adrenaline after staying up late the night before, making a last-minute plan. So, what does one do when they’re living a wish come true? They take random pictures! Here’s my first pic of the day, taken the minute I got out of the Uber. And, of course, a Disneyland garbage bin because it says DISNEYLAND!!! I promise the photos do get better, and just to prove it, I’ve posted about a million. Sorry, not sorry. 😜 Every time I read these words, I choke up! Isn’t it just the most beautiful message? I couldn’t hold back the tears the minute I walked under the sign. And to make the moment even more perfect, Minnie was waiting to greet me! Ok, I’ll be honest—I was so excited that I didn’t notice the small queue of waiting kids. All I saw was Minnie, and I ran straight to hug her. Sorry, kids!! My cousins haven’t let me live this down yet! Hahaha—oops!! They’ve even come up with a new saying: “Ruthie Minnied Minnie!” And now, if someone pushes past, we say they’ve “Minnied past.” First stop: Galaxy’s Edge—no questions asked!! Watching the pre-show for the ride Rise of the Resistance! This is a very unflattering photo, but I think it does capture the “I can’t believe this is happening” moment. The ride was an unbelievable experience, and we all felt like we were right there in a Star Wars movie, fighting for the resistance. Words can’t even begin to describe! Hello friend! We were on such a high after visiting Galaxy’s Edge—being a family of Star Wars fans, it was an absolute dream come true! I’m still pinching myself! Next ride-Pirates of the Caribbean! Waiting for the Cars ride at Disney California Adventure Park I can’t quite remember the exact order of the rides we went on, but I’m pretty sure our next one was Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! It’s no secret that I’m a scaredy-cat, BUT I had promised myself I was going to conquer all of my fears on this trip. I’m not sure if I’ve conquered them all (the list is pretty long), but I definitely crossed off a huge chunk! And I didn’t chicken out of any rides or activities I’ve been too scared of in the past—go me! I knew that the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! ride was a fast, free-falling (gulp) ride. So I was prepared—scared but prepared. That’s the best way to be, no? What I didn’t know was that they were going to play the awesome 80s music from the movie during the ride. Heck, if you’re going to play my kind of music, throw me down a building anytime! I’m totally cool with that! And when “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar started blasting, I almost died—and no, not from fear! I’m in the back row next to Steve, who I think must have been praying at the time, hehe! He did love it enough to ride it again with all of us the next day, though. The Incredicoaster was a different story—I did not love it. But I’m glad I went on it, and once was definitely enough for me. The ride was fast, and the car tipped from side to side as we went up, down, around, and upside down. I remember thinking, “Yep, this is when the car flies off the track and we end up on the news.” Haha—also, I was wearing contacts so I could see distance crystal clear and not have to deal with my glasses. But when I got off the ride, I had clamped my eyes shut so tightly that the contact in my right eye got completely squished—like an accordion—and fell out! My face says it all! Cars Land is just so sweet! We shot anything and everything on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. It was a fun tame ride after the Incredicoaster! We wore funny glasses to see the 3D effects on Webslingers. The Cars Ride was so much fun and a lot faster than I expected! But it wasn’t scary at all. Sam, who grew up watching the Lightning McQueen movie about ten times a day, absolutely loved it. When he was two, he would go everywhere with his little Lightning McQueen car in hand. I even kept a spare one just in case he ever lost it. Some of the Cousin Crew All of the Cousin Crew. This was so cool! It looks like I’m about to fall into an abyss, but it’s actually a brilliant illusion! The floor is completely flat, but if you stand in just the right spot, the tiles create a mind-bending effect that makes it seem like there’s a giant hole beneath you! You can find this optical illusion in Tomorrowland, near Star Wars Launch Bay—definitely worth a stop for a fun photo! It got dark pretty quickly as it was winter. All the pretty lights came on everywhere and here is one of my favourite rides, It’s a Small World. I know some people think this ride is boring, but I love it! The song is so sweet, even if it got stuck in my head on a loop. It was

Trip Recap Part 3-Disneyland! Read More »

Friday Favourites

7 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

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

Friday Favourites Read More »

Trip Recap Part 2

12 Comments / Home, Travel

Hey friends, welcome to a bonus Monday night post where I’ll continue the trip recap. So, here’s what we had planned for Tuesday, January 8th: we were meeting in the hotel lobby at 6:30 am to make sure we’d get an early start for Universal Studios. We were so excited! Honestly, the anticipation was through the roof. When we stepped outside, the wind hit us hard. A super friendly hotel staff member with the coolest U.S accent asked, “Where are you folks headed?” All seven of us said “Universal Studios!” at the same time. Then, my ears and brain didn’t quite sync up, and it took me a minute to process what she said next, “Sorry folks, it’s closed today because of the winds.” I honestly think my first thought was, “Wait, what? Could you please ask them to open it because we’ve come all the way from Australia, and we’ve been planning this for two years!” She told us that overnight the strong winds had blown debris everywhere. Universal needed to check that everything was operational. She also mentioned something about a fire. My cousins, who organized the trip, are amazing at pivoting and coming up with a Plan B. So after the initial disappointment and shock—wait, a fire? What fire? Oh, maybe the one we spotted from the plane the day before?—We all agreed to grab some breakfast and then call my aunt, who lives in LA, to hang out with them instead. Originally, we were going to visit Universal Studios on Tuesday and spend Wednesday with our LA family. Switching up the days made sense—after all, once the debris was cleared, Universal Studios would be open. Or so we thought. They say ignorance is bliss, and that day, it sure was. It was still early, so before heading to my aunt’s house, we stopped at Walmart. I know this sounds crazy, but I think my excitement about stepping inside a Walmart was equal to my excitement for the theme parks. I kid you not! When we got out of our van, we noticed the smokey sky and thought Hmmm, that looks kind of bad. Do you know what really stands out about the U.S? The amount of space they have. Space to build huge, stand-alone Walmarts with massive, wide-open car parks. We don’t have that over here because land is expensive, and every bit of space gets used efficiently. You’d never see a Walmart-sized store sitting all on its own with a giant parking lot in Australia! Well, definitely not in Sydney. Cool Walmart entrance Then I spotted some of the food items I’d read about on blogs and just about lost my mind. Look, Crescent rolls!!! I couldn’t cook or taste them, but I could hold the package!! Minute Maid!!! And eggo’s just like on Stranger Things! Huge packet of strawberries. We only see these at Costco. Everything is so mini over here 😂 So many varieties of sauces! And look at the huge bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s! I wished we could take one home—Sam goes through the small bottles (the only ones available) so quickly. Haha! The price signs are in English and Spanish, and so were the store announcements. My cousins were laughing as I tried to translate fast before the announcement came on in English. I should probably explain that Spanish speakers are few and far between over here. Australia has a large Chinese-speaking population, along with communities from Italy, Greece, India, Vietnam, Lebanon, and many other cultures, especially in the suburbs where we live. After Walmart, we hopped back in the van to go to my aunt’s. We could see some blue skies, and we were pretty certain that those fires that were mentioned were probably all under control. But then, as we kept driving towards Tujunga, a strange alarm started beeping super loud in the van. At first, we thought the noise was coming from the car, maybe the door wasn’t closed properly. What was that piercing noise? After a minute or so, I realised it was my phone with an alert. We were confused and totally unaware of the severity of the situation, so we kept driving towards my aunt’s house. When we got there, we met up with some cousins we had caught up with the night before. They had been evacuated to my aunt’s house because their homes were closer to the fire. Oh gosh, I thought, this must be serious. Nah, everyone’s probably just being cautious. We grabbed my aunt and cousin to go and explore Glendale Mall. All the photos I took are of shops we don’t have back home. My cousin M loves and plays baseball, so he bought some cool cleats from Dick’s. They sell alcohol at Target!! No way!! Okay, before you think we don’t have escalators in Australia, and that’s why I took this photo—don’t worry, we do have them! What we don’t have, and what I’d never seen before, is a trolley escalator. You just place your shopping trolley in between the escalators, and it goes up. Woah!!! I saw someone doing it, but my jaw dropped, and I fumbled with my phone, missing the shot. I did manage to get a video later, though. Haha! As we walked around, I was chatting with my aunt, and she said she had never seen the mall so empty. She said it was like a ghost mall. Afterwards, we walked over to the Americana Mall, and it was so pretty! Some of the Christmas decorations were still up. What?? A cupcake ATM!!! Most of the shops were closed. I don’t know what this shop was but it’s the name of that movie I’ve never seen. Then it was time to grab something to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings. Something I’ve always wanted to do is go to a sports bar, eat wings, watch sports, and drink beer. Now, here’s the thing: I don’t actually love sports, and I don’t drink beer.

Trip Recap Part 2 Read More »