Home Archives - Page 18 of 30 - PLAYWORKEATREPEAT

Quick Weeknight Dinners

Hey, everyone! It’s time for another Let’s Look link-up with Shay and Erika, and today we’re sharing some Quick Weeknight Dinners. I love to keep things as simple and stress-free as possible during the week. My top tip? Plan your meals and have your grocery order sorted! The weeks when I do both of these, I feel like I’m winning. So, if you’re looking for some easy and quick weeknight dinners to get you through those busy nights, I’ve got some go-to recipes that might have just managed to save my sanity many times! Plus I’ll also share some tips on how to turn these dishes into versatile meals that can do more than just get you through dinner. Quick Weeknight Dinners Italian Meatballs These classic Italian meatballs are a quick, comforting weeknight dinner. You can serve them with spaghetti, rice or mashed potatoes and a side salad or veggies (you should always eat your veggies!). You can even enjoy the meatballs with garlic bread or plain bread to scoop up all the delicious sauce! Any leftovers can be tossed into a bread roll for a tasty meatball sub for lunch the next day. Or, if you’ve got more than you can use, freeze them for future meals—they reheat beautifully! If you are really in a hurry you can always buy the meatballs either frozen or pre-packaged. Then simply add your favourite sauce, either homemade or from a bottle….no judgement here! 😊 Turkey Bolognese If your family isn’t keen on beef mince, this turkey bolognese is a great alternative. It’s rich, hearty, and goes perfectly with pasta or even a baked potato if you want something a bit different. Even my non-bolognese-loving family will eat this. Quick Quiche A quick quiche is perfect for those days when you need something easy and satisfying. You can throw in whatever veggies or cheese you have on hand, and it’s ready in no time. It’s great for dinner and even better as leftovers for breakfast or a light lunch the next day. This recipe is great because it uses frozen pastry. Either shortcrust or puff pastry works fine. Easy Lasagna Lasagna might seem like a weekend project, but with a simple recipe like this one, it can be a satisfying weeknight dinner. You can also make it ahead of time and just pop it in the oven when you’re ready. Mediterranean Couscous This dish looks impressive and it’s a breeze to make. I love it because it’s full of colourful and healthy ingredients like olives, capsicum, zucchini, chickpeas, tomatoes, and fresh herbs. It’s fantastic as a side or a light main course – just add some grilled chicken and sprinkle cubes of feta! If you’ve got leftovers, they’re great for a quick lunch the next day Stir Fry Stir fry is one of my go-to meals when I need something quick and healthy. It’s a fantastic way to use up any leftover veggies from the fridge. Just toss in whatever protein you’ve got, and if you don’t have time to make your own sauce it’s more than ok to use a ready-made sauce (who’s gonna know?). Serve it over rice or noodles throw on some cashews, chopped spring onions and coriander for crunch and you’re done! Tuna Patties These tuna patties are the best! They’re easy to make, and you can serve them with a side salad or in a burger bun. They also freeze well, so you can make a batch and have them on hand for a quick meal. Greek-Style Chicken This is a super easy option for busy nights. Simply pop the chicken in a zip-lock bag, season with herbs like oregano add some lemon juice, and a few other ingredients and bake. It cooks quickly in the oven and goes perfectly with rice, couscous, or even pita bread for a quick wrap. Plus, it’s packed with flavour and satisfying without being complicated. I’ll share the recipe soon—it’s been on my to-do list for a while. Opa! Roasted Fall-Apart Pork Although this isn’t a 30-minute meal, it’s definitely worth the effort due to its versatility. Make it in advance, and future you will thank yourself! The pork is incredibly tender and can be used in various ways. Enjoy it as a main dish one night, then shred the leftovers for tacos or sandwiches. You could even get creative and turn it into a chilli by adding beans, tomatoes, onions, and spices. The flavours are even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep. Spinach Pie This pie is a winner for both dinner and lunch. It’s satisfying, healthy, and flavourful. Make it ahead of time, and you’ve got a fantastic lunch option for the next few days. Serve it warm or cold, and it goes perfectly with a fresh salad or even some fruit for a quick and easy meal. This is another recipe that uses ready made pastry because the goal here is to keep things uncomplicated! So there you have it—my go-to quick and versatile weeknight dinners to help make your evenings a little less hectic. While a couple of these might take a bit more effort, the best part is that they’re versatile enough to be transformed into different meals throughout the week. Your family will never guess! I hope these ideas take some of the stress out of your dinner planning and make those bumpy weeknights a bit smoother! Have a wonderful day!

Quick Weeknight Dinners Read More »

Finding Peace in Your Day

11 Comments / Home, Life Hacks

Hi friends! I hope you had a relaxing weekend. I’m linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne, and Sarah today to chat about Finding Peace in Your Day. I have to admit, when I saw the prompt, I wasn’t sure how much peace I actually have on any given day. The first things that popped into my head were the constant noise at preschool, the busyness of every day, and the never-ending chores… phew! So much to do… always. But as I thought more about it, I realised I do find pockets of peace, even when life is full-on. So let’s take a look at what these little moments of peace look like for me. Thanks so much for being here! Finding Peace In My Day Walking When I leave home around 7:45 or 7:50 each morning, I pop in my earbuds and listen to uplifting podcasts or gratitude affirmations. I love the peaceful walk to work—it’s my way of finding peace in the morning. The streets are quiet but not so quiet that I feel uneasy. It’s a great way to get some exercise without feeling like I’m exercising if you know what I mean. I usually power walk, and by the time I get to work, I feel great and ready to start the day. In winter, I also arrive warm, which is a huge plus because I really dislike feeling cold. I love seeing the gardens first thing in the morning along my route, especially now that it’s spring and there are so many pretty blooming flowers everywhere! In the colder months, it’s fun to walk along the pavement crunching the leaves. Ha, I find that so satisfying! Walking home is great too! My earbuds go in, and I either keep listening to a podcast or have my own private version of a silent disco. It’s so tempting to dance in the streets, but of course, I don’t—because that would be weird! I think walking is the perfect way of finding peace in my day. The walk home, in particular, helps the stress and tension of the day melt away with each step. I try to relax my shoulders and avoid clenching my teeth, making sure I’m fully unwinding as I go. By the time I get home, I usually feel relaxed—except for today. Today I felt sick and think I’m coming down with a cold again…boo! A Cup of Tea in the Evening Another way of finding peace in my day is by finishing it with a cup of tea. After everything is done and the kitchen is clean, I go have a shower and then settle in with a cup of tea, milk and one sugar. I snuggle on the sofa, sit on a cushion on the floor, or, lately, sink into a beanbag. If I’m home alone and Steve is at work, I’ll watch my Swedish comedy-drama series (he’s not a fan). If he’s home, we’ll watch FBI, Blue Bloods, or Vera—crime shows that are interesting but not too intense. They’re kind of soothing and I find that these days I avoid intense shows as well as the news. The news is a peace destroyer in my book! Ending the Day I usually fall asleep praying, unless I’m caught up in a loop thinking about the next day or other silly distractions. Praying before falling asleep is the best way I know how to end the day. I surrender everything to God (or try to) and remind myself that I can’t control anything. We are all in His hands. And that’s about it—three simple things that are guaranteed to bring peace to my day. I look forward to being back here on Wednesday, and I hope you have an amazing day. Peace out!

Finding Peace in Your Day Read More »

Friday Favourites

4 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

Hi friends and happy Friday! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favourites from the week that zoomed by oh so fast! Monday I got an early mark from work! It’s that time of the year when we have to write some detailed summaries of the children’s progress at preschool. Our director has rostered some time for each of us to work from home, where we can hear ourselves think. Our centre isn’t purpose-built. The building used to be an old council chamber that has been used as a preschool for over 70 years. While it has a lot of historical charm, it’s also very noisy and cramped. We’re constantly bumping into each other just trying to fit into the office. Finding a spot to work without interruptions is nearly impossible! So on Monday, I enjoyed a walk home at midday and couldn’t help thinking that working a four-hour day felt pretty good! Of course, I didn’t only work four hours because as soon as I got home I got stuck into those summaries. I had set myself some high expectations and thought that I would smash through them. But no, the time flew by and I didn’t get through as many as I had hoped. I’ll tackle more of them over the next few weeks. In the evening it was time to get together with some friends at our local club for dinner. It was a nice evening and the fish and chips were delicious. But I was eager to get home to hear about how Steve went on his first evening shift back at work. He is easing into work and doing fewer hours for this first week and so far so good. Yay! Tuesday Our go-to person for organising work socials—who’s young, fun, and always enthusiastic—was busy exploring potential venues for our Christmas work lunch. Without her enthusiasm, we’d probably miss out on some pretty great socials! Before she joined our team even making a decision where to go was always such a ‘thing’. Not anymore and now she makes sure we book early to avoid missing out because all the good restaurants get booked up fast during the festive season. I’m still having trouble getting my head around the fact that the festive season will soon be upon us. Holy guacamole! Wednesday I had totally forgotten about Educator’s Day but our kind director didn’t. She surprised us with some treats and kind words. I picked out this cute notebook, a couple of chocolates (I’ve eaten more than a couple since Wednesday!) and a pen that says Outdream Yourself. I love a pen with a boost of inspiration. A kind mum brought us some Lebanese pizzas and they were delicious! We also received a box of chocolates from another parent, along with a lovely note that really meant a lot to us. Thursday I got some Barramundi for dinner from Woolworths, and I also picked up garlic, herb, and butter from them. Woolworths gives these for free when you buy fresh protein, which makes the fish delicious and my life easier! Friday I came across this piece of wisdom on Instagram and used Canva to create my own graphic based on it. It’s true, isn’t it? Life is too short and I need to remember this more often. I’m off to get ready for dinner with my lovely work colleagues. They’re a fun bunch, and I’m looking forward to actually having a proper conversation for once! Even though we work together, we never get a chance to chat—let’s just say the kids at preschool keep us very busy! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to being back on Monday. See ya! Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Friday Favourites Read More »

Currently-September 20224

7 Comments / Family Life, Home

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Jennifer from Overflowing With Thankfulness and chat about what we’re currently loving, looking forward to, smelling, watching, and admiring. I hope you’re having an amazing day—thanks so much for stopping by! LOVING It’s no secret that I am not a morning person. I struggle so much to get out of my warm, cozy bed every morning when the alarm goes off, ugh! I play whack-a-mole with that snooze button like a champ! However, my youngest son Sam is doing his practical nursing placement in a city hospital. He has been assigned the early shift and needs to get up early to make it to the station on time for the early train. Did I say early? It means I hear his alarm go off first, so I get up to see him off. I don’t have to, but I like to, and once I’m up, it’s okay! This getting up early isn’t so bad after all. Ha! I’ve had so much more time to do extra things in the morning, and I enjoy the quietness and stillness of the early hours. I can definitely say I’m loving this extra time—a lot! It is certainly easier to get up early in the spring when the sun is shining. I’m not sure I would love it as much if we were in the middle of winter. But who knows, I might become a morning person after all……nah! LOOKING FORWARD TO It’s time for Cousin Connect this Saturday, and I’m excited to see my family! I’m so happy we’ve kept up this monthly tradition for the past two years. Sure, not everyone can always make it, and sometimes we have to change the date. But I’m incredibly grateful that we’ve kept this special connection going strong! SMELLING It has been warm here but incredibly windy and so dry! I wash my hands constantly at work because, you know, kids and germs are usually best friends. All this hand washing and dry weather is making my hands feel rough. So, I keep a tube of hand cream in the classroom and have been enjoying its scent each time I use it—which is multiple times a day at the moment. It has a deliciously sweet scent that makes me hungry, and it leaves my hands feeling soft without any residue. I can’t cope with a hand cream that leaves a residue… shudder! My lovely friend brought it back for me when she visited her family in San Francisco. The yummy smell really brings home what Autumn must be like over there. It’s no wonder Autumn is so popular over in the Northern Hemisphere if it smells like my hand cream! WATCHING I have been watching the days get longer and the sun linger a little later each evening. Perfect! ADMIRING I’ve been admiring the spring flowers blooming everywhere. The beautiful vibrant colours are such a treat after winter! That wraps up a few things I’ve been up to lately. Can you believe it’s September? The year is sure flying by, wow! Happy Wednesday 😀

Currently-September 20224 Read More »

How To Inspire A Love Of Learning In Children

Leave a Comment / Home, Insights Into Early Childhood Education

Every parent wants their child to develop a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. But how do you turn everyday learning into something that excites and motivates them? The secret lies in making learning engaging and enjoyable from the start. By tapping into their interests, mixing up activities, and celebrating their progress, you can create an environment where curiosity thrives. In this post, we’ll explore how to inspire a love for learning in children through fun, creative, and practical strategies that make education an adventure they’ll eagerly embrace. How To Inspire A Love of Learning In Children Through Creative Projects To inspire a love of learning in children, start by tapping into their natural interests. What gets them excited—drawing, building, or exploring the great outdoors? Whatever it is, let that passion be the springboard for educational activities! For instance, if they’re into drawing, why not turn it into a storytelling challenge where they create characters and weave tales? This method not only introduces lessons on narrative structure and creativity but also keeps them engaged in activities they adore. By connecting learning to what they already love, you’ll keep their curiosity alive and their minds buzzing with excitement! Mix It Up and Keep Learning Fun The key to making learning exciting and effective is variety. Switch things up with different activities to keep your child entertained and their enthusiasm high. How about setting up a weekly science experiment, crafting art from recycled materials, or starting a mini garden to explore plant life? By offering a range of hands-on projects, you give your child the chance to learn by doing, making the whole experience more engaging and memorable than traditional methods. So, get creative and watch their curiosity blossom with every new adventure! Turn Learning into Playtime with Educational Games and Puzzles Mix a little fun into your child’s learning with educational games and puzzles. These activities can make problem-solving a blast! For instance, try strategy board games or card games that involve quick maths. Not only are these games entertaining, but they also help with critical thinking. In addition, puzzles can challenge their minds in a relaxed way. In no time, they’ll be learning new concepts while having a great time. So, grab those games, shuffle the cards, and watch as your child learns and laughs their way through every challenge! Consider Private Tutors for Those Challenging Subjects Let’s face it—some subjects can be tough to teach, and that’s completely okay! When you’re navigating complex topics like advanced maths or a foreign language, private tutors can be your secret weapon. These experts have the know-how to ensure your child excels in those challenging areas. They provide the extra support you might need. A private tutor won’t replace your role but will enhance it. They add valuable knowledge to your child’s learning journey. So, think about bringing in a private tutor to help make those tough subjects a bit easier to master! Celebrate the Small Victories In your child’s education, don’t wait for the big achievements to celebrate—start with the small victories! When they tackle a challenging task or complete a tricky project, take a moment to acknowledge their hard work. This kind of positive reinforcement is key to how to inspire a love of learning in children. It builds their confidence and encourages them to take on new challenges with enthusiasm. By celebrating these little wins, you create a positive association with learning, making them excited and eager for the next adventure. So, cheer for those small successes, and watch their passion for learning flourish! Focus on Fun and Enjoyable Learning Encouraging a love of learning in your child doesn’t have to be perfect—what’s important is sparking their curiosity and making them eager to try new things. By setting up a positive and supportive learning environment, you help them develop a lifelong passion for learning that extends far beyond the classroom. Think of it as an adventure where creative projects and educational games are just the beginning. The real goal? To make learning an exciting, joyful experience that they look forward to every day. So dive into the fun, celebrate their curiosity, and watch their love of learning grow!

How To Inspire A Love Of Learning In Children Read More »

Hello Monday

6 Comments / Hello Monday, Home

Hi there and happy Monday! I hope you all had an amazing weekend and are ready to embrace a new week. I’m feeling extra chipper today because it’s so warm and sunny—though we won’t mention the 50 km/h winds that nearly blew me away on the way home! Anyway, it’s time to share some weekend highlights on today’s Hello Monday link-up with Holly and Sarah. Thanks for joining me! Saturday Spring is my favourite season! This year it seems to have arrived extra early and that’s more than okay by me!! I just love looking at all the colourful flowers and the bright blue skies. The novelty of going for regular walks with Steve hasn’t worn off and I’m loving it. Haha, he doesn’t completely share my excitement. But he has been a real champ about keeping up with his physio exercises which of course includes doing regular walking. So we hit the pavement on Saturday and walked around the neighbourhood for almost an hour and a half! We stopped for a sticky beak at an open house- we don’t have any plans to move but if I see a house that’s open for inspection, I’m in for a look! It was a nice house but I didn’t like the awkward layout or the quick reno job they have done to probably try and sell it fast. Gosh, I thought I was a messy painter!! We picked up some sourdough on the way home and made some sandwiches for lunch. The rest of the day I took full advantage of the sunny, windy weather and did a few loads of laundry. I’ve quit feeling annoyed about carrying household chores into the weekend. There’s that saying about laundry–that it’s a reminder to be grateful you have clothes in the first place. Yeah, I’m embracing that mindset–namasté! In the evening, we watched a few more episodes of Blue Bloods. If you’re a fan of the show and love food like I do, you might notice the delicious meals at their regular Sunday dinners. I tend to pick up on details like that. I also noticed a couple of seasons ago that the characters hardly eat anything! It makes sense, of course—if they’re filming a scene all day, they can’t be eating all day. But this is what I have seen and now I can’t unsee it!!! Erin always adds masses of salt to her food, Danny eats the cucumbers, Pop always butters his bread the whole time, Frank talks, Jaimie pushes his food around and Jenko chews nothing. Hahaha!! I didn’t share any of this with Steve as he loves the show as much as I do. But …well because it was the final season I couldn’t help myself! And now his Sunday dinners with the Reagans are shattered just like mine were. I kind of wish I’d kept my mouth shut! Now Steve sits there counting out loud how many cucumbers they eat! Sunday Sunday was Father’s Day, and while I always try to focus on celebrating Steve as a dad, it’s a tough day for me. I don’t have a relationship with my own dad for many reasons I won’t go into. However, this year, after many years of working on forgiveness, I reached out to him about a month ago, and we had a chat. It wasn’t deep—just polite conversation and that’s okay. I’ve made peace with that and have stopped hoping for anything more. So, I called and wished him a Happy Father’s Day. I won’t lie—it felt a bit awkward, but at the same time, I’m glad I did it. After that, I visited my Uncle Bill at the cemetery. He was more than just an uncle to me—he was like a father, my hero, and my favourite person in the whole world. His unexpected passing ten years ago shattered my world. He was my mum’s youngest brother, and he was the best. I also visited my mum’s grave, which is nearby. It’s tough when the people you love aren’t around anymore. I got home around midday and Luke arrived with his lovely fiancee. She works most weekends so seeing her as well as Luke was such a highlight and an instant mood-lifter! We got takeaway chicken, chips and salad for lunch and got down to the business of celebrating. After lunch we watched Sonic The Hedgehog-we’re all big kids around here so we loved it! Sonic is so cute!! Sam got home from his part-time job and then it was time to order pizza and watch Aliens. Talk about a change in genre! The ‘kids’ loved it and all agreed that they made better movies in the olden days. Hahaha!! We finished the night with a big box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts delivered fresh from the Mascot store. They were incredible—so much better than the ones from 7-Eleven! I thought I was full after the pizza, but the doughnuts were so fresh and delicious that I ended up having two! And that was our weekend- a few lows but way more highs! How was yours, I hope it was a good one!

Hello Monday Read More »

Friday Favourites

4 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

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

Friday Favourites Read More »

What’s Up Wednesday

7 Comments / Home, What's Up Wednesday

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Shay and Sheaffer for What’s Up Wednesday! Can you believe how fast August flew by? Woah, but I’m excited because it means we’re heading into my favourite months of the year. I love September to December— the weather warms up, colourful flowers pop up everywhere, the days get longer, and there’s only one more term until the end of the school year. Right after Father’s Day this Sunday, Halloween and Christmas decorations will start appearing in the shops. Then, before we know it, the festive season will be here! Oops, maybe I’m getting a little ahead of myself, but I love this time of year so much. Before I get too carried away, it’s time to share a little bit about what August looked like for us. Let’s go! WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK Monday – Chicken Schnitzel, Veggies, Baked Potato with Big Dollops of Sour Cream and Gravy Tuesday – Burrito Bowls Wednesday – Pasta Bolognese Thursday – Mango Chilli Chicken with Rice Friday – It’s a surprise for everyone, including me! WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT Today, our preschoolers went on an excursion to a local primary school, where they were celebrating Book Week with a “Dress Up as Your Favourite Book Character” parade. The school we visited is the same one my youngest son, Sam, attended from Kindy to Year 6. He’ll be turning 20 in October, so it sure has been a while since those school days. Anyway, while we were there, I couldn’t help but do a whole lot of reminiscing. I thought about his first day of Kindergarten with his lovely teacher, Miss Choi. I remembered the last day of Year 6 when the children from the younger grades created an arch of honour, forming a tunnel for all the students to walk through to the song the ‘Cup Song’ from Pitch Perfect. I also thought about all the school events, like the times I went to watch Sam at his own Book Week parades, and the day he won a big trophy for being Swimmer of the Year. Sigh, it all went by too fast. WHAT I’M LOVING The early warm spring weather! It felt more like summer than spring and not like all the other freezing cold Augusts I remember. WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO In August we enjoyed some lovely evening walks We connected with our cousins! celebrated Steve’s birthday and saw some pretty spring blooms appear. WHAT I’M DREADING Hmmmm I’m not sure if I’m dreading this-dreading sounds a bit strong. but I’m definitely not looking forward to it and I’m more than less than excited about it! Ok, maybe I am dreading it and I’m trying to convince myself I’m not. As part of the requirements for my Diploma course, I need to log a total of 80 hours of placement in a long daycare centre. This includes 40 hours working with children aged from birth to two years and 40 hours with children aged two to three years. I already work with three to five-year-olds, so that part of the requirement is already covered. I have no choice but to do this during our preschool Term 3 school holiday break, which is in four weeks. No holidays for me. Waaaaah! I could postpone it and do it during the summer break, but I’d rather get it over and done with now, rather than have it hanging over my head. It’s like eating your veggies first as a kid so you can get to the good stuff and truly enjoy it. The thing that really annoys me is that I’ve worked with this age group for years before landing my current preschool role, but it doesn’t count. I still have to cover these age groups during my enrollment period in the course. I’m sure I’ll enjoy working with all those babies and seeing how another children’s service operates. But sacrificing school holidays? That stings! WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT It’s Father’s Day on Sunday, so it’ll be fun to have Luke come over for lunch. We’re staying home and ordering Steve’s choice of takeaway. We also have Cousin Connect the following weekend and then I’m going to see my cousin perform with her dance group at Canterbury RSL on the 21st of September. Oh yes and I nearly forgot, we have our staff mid-term dinner next Friday night so that will be fun. WHAT I’M WATCHING I discovered a new Swedish series called Meaning of Life and it’s great! If you’re in Australia, you can watch it on SBS On Demand, and I thoroughly recommend it. It strikes the perfect balance of drama and humour. I’m also watching the latest season of The Block, where five (I think it’s five) couples compete in a massive home renovation challenge. So far, I don’t really like any of the couples much. They’re often rude to each other, and there’s so much drama and arguing. I can’t help but wonder how they feel when they watch themselves on screen once it’s aired. Cringe! WHAT I’M LISTENING TO The wind! It’s so windy today, and I can still hear it howling as I type. As I was walking home from work this afternoon, I felt like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. At one point, the wind pushed me back so hard that I thought my AirPods and sunglasses were going to fly off! Hahaha, it was kind of funny! There was a lady standing in her front garden who watched the whole spectacle, and we ended up laughing together as I walked past. WHAT I’M WEARING As usual, I forgot to take any photos of what I wore in August—I’ll try harder in September! But here’s today’s fancy ensemble for our preschool excursion. High-vis vests and all the name tags—just to make my identity ultra clear. All the staff had to wear them, hehe. WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH I’d usually say I’m

What’s Up Wednesday Read More »

Hello Monday

5 Comments / Hello Monday, Home

Hi friends! Welcome to this week’s Hello Monday link-up with Holly and Sarah, where we share a little bit about our weekend adventures. My weekend wasn’t exactly adventurous. I spent most of it recovering from a yucky cold and a dose of conjunctivitis. I had already taken three days off work last week. But the extra time over the weekend was exactly what I needed. By Sunday, I was finally feeling like my old self again. Yay! I realised how run down I’d been before getting sick and how I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be truly well. Has that ever happened to you? Anyway, it’s great to be here on this gloriously sunny Monday feeling great! Thanks so much for stopping by. Saturday Strawberries and blueberries are back at reasonable prices again! It’s wonderful to see that we don’t need a bank loan to enjoy these delicious berries now that they’re in season. They were perfect to enjoy with our pancake breakfast on Saturday. I found a new Swedish comedy-drama called Meaning of Life on SBS. After loving Bonus Family so much I didn’t think I would find another one that grabbed me (I tried a couple). This one did and so I watched a couple of episodes on my iPad and now I’m addicted. The thing with foreign shows is that you have to sit and watch closely to catch the subtitles. But it’s a great excuse to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee too! I’m not sure why I love Swedish shows so much, but it might be because, according to Ancestry, I’m 1% Swedish—hehe. In the afternoon Steve hosed down the car on our front lawn and gave it a vacuum. He said it was a good way to water the garden at the same time. I’m not sure the grass appreciated getting squished. But I guess I could see his point, sort of. Anyway, it was good to see him being so mobile and doing everyday stuff. We enjoyed a short sunset walk on a warm evening. By the time we got home, it was time for dinner. I made steak sandwiches with mayo, mustard, and tomato sauce for me, and BBQ sauce for the guys. We might not share the same taste in sauces, but we all agree on one thing: a big slice of pickle in our sandwiches is a must! We spent the rest of Saturday night relaxing in front of the TV before calling it a day. Sunday I needed a couple of things from the supermarket and felt up to a big walk instead of driving. Steve joined me this time, and we walked about two kilometres there and back—something we wouldn’t have done before he got his new knee. Steve is still adjusting to enjoying walking since it used to be so painful. I can’t blame him for that! We made it home pain-free! I didn’t go to the supermarket for my favourite lollies, but they were half-price, so now my treat jar is full again! We also didn’t go for rosé, but we grabbed a bottle to celebrate the warm weather and toast to feeling well and a great weekend. We are having the best spring weather even though we haven’t quite hit September. But I’m still fully prepared for a change back to winter. So I won’t be storing away any of my warm jumpers just yet. For now, I’m loving the sunny blue skies, and on Wednesday, the forecast is a top of 28ºC—a heatwave in some parts of the world! I can’t wait!! Happy Monday!

Hello Monday Read More »

Friday Favourites

7 Comments / Home

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favourites for the week! I only blogged on Monday, so it feels like I’ve been MIA for ages. But one of the things I love about Friday favourites is that it helps me look back on those not-so-favourite weeks and still find some highlights! So even during those less-than-ideal weeks (like this one), it’s amazing how you can still uncover a few bright spots. Yay! Monday On Monday I just felt off all day and I was tired from the get-go and couldn’t shake it off. Ugh, so annoying especially when you work with kids and you need to be energetic and engaged. Or at least engaged. I was neither! Dinner was good though. We had ravioli with meatballs-nothing wrong with my appetite! I went to bed later than I should have and when I walked into my room this was the time on the clock. I had my phone in my hand because I was about to set my alarm so I snapped a photo. What does this mean, is it a sign? Hehe Tuesday After my brisk morning walk, I made it to work thinking I’d be okay. But as the day went on, I started to go downhill fast. It was clear that the germs I’d managed to dodge nearly all winter had finally caught up with me. They took me down hard, and that was it for my working week. I spent the next three days at home, taking kids’ Dimetapp like tequila shots! I think that Kid’s Dimetapp is way more effective than adult cold and flu tablets. It tastes great too! Wednesday to Friday I’ve spent the last three days recovering and sipping on this delicious honey ginger tea. It’s so simple to make—just add a teaspoon to some boiling water. The tea is nice and sweet with a subtle lemon flavour and chunks of ginger that clear my nose when I munch on them. Definitely a favourite this week! A friend of ours (the same kind friend who replaced my bread basket) had invited us over for dinner on Wednesday, but unfortunately, we couldn’t make it—boo! Thankfully, she’s kindly rescheduled so we can get together in a couple of weeks. She surprised us by dropping in some goodies -Tompouces from Aldi and mandarins from the farmer’s market! Once a year, Aldi sells Dutch food, and these Tompouces (vanilla slices) are absolutely delicious. I have no idea how to pronounce the name, and neither does my husband, even though he’s Dutch. His parents spoke English at home, so none of his siblings learned Dutch. I had no clue about his Dutch heritage when I first met him because he has a true Aussie accent. When I met his parents for the first time, their thick Dutch accents completely blew me away! Anyway, I digress—back to the favourites for the week: mandarins from the farmer’s market. They were as sweet as ever! Another favourite that made us laugh was this belated birthday card Steve received. It was very appropriate—si! Drum roll, please… Steve got the all-clear from the surgeon on Thursday and can go back to work. Ta-da! After his knee replacement, he’s pain-free, and it’s been life-changing for him—and for all of us! It’s amazing to see him moving so comfortably now. He even says he feels good enough for the next Olympics in LA. Well, if Raygun made it, he might just have a chance! And that’s a wrap for a few favourites from this strange week! Thanks so much for being here. I’m looking forward to feeling better and being back next week. Happy Friday!

Friday Favourites Read More »