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Fun Favourites

Hello friends and hello Friday! Thanks so much for joining me today as I share a few fun favourites for this week. Sam’s Home! My first fun favourite is, of course, having my boy back home after his trip to Japan! Yay!! We were very excited to go and pick him up last Saturday morning. I love going to the arrivals area at the airport and seeing the joyful reunions, tears and great big hugs. I get all emotional and choked up, just like I do every time I see the final scene of ‘Love Actually’. The plane landed at 8.10 am and we waited about an hour for Sam and his friends to get through customs etc. They were so tired and sick with colds. One of the guys had gotten sick in the first few days of the trip, and then the other two fell like dominoes. Sam said they had an amazing time and he loved Japan, but he was really glad to be home. I loved hearing this because I expected that he may have had the post-holiday blues. And I wouldn’t have blamed him at all because I remember always feeling the post-camp blues when I returned home after having had so much fun with my friends at church camp. Souvenirs From Japan Sam brought back a whole pile of snacks for us and the cousins. Some of Sam’s stories about his trip have had me in stitches, while others not so much. For instance, I’m glad I was blissfully oblivious to the fact that they spent most of the trip riding electric scooters in traffic minus helmets. According to Sam, the traffic isn’t as bad in Japan as it is here in Sydney and helmets are recommended but not compulsory for adults. Interesting! Ha! This miniature soba noodle set he brought back for me is just the cutest! He also got me a Curious George fold-up bag from a monkey park in Kyoto. A Samurai sword letter opener for his dad. A Pokémon plush for his big brother haha! As well as some Attack On Titan books and Magic cards. None of us expected any souvenirs and I thought Sam did amazing with his choices for us. Winter Gala 2024 Another fun favourite was seeing my cousin perform at the Winter Gala. She dances the Bachata with a dance studio and she delivered a fantastic performance with her partner and the rest of the group. I’m always amazed at how effortless partner dancing looks when other people do it. I’m terrible at it and always end up leading, which is a real mess because I don’t know how to partner dance at all! Mother’s Day Mother’s Days are tough and I guess they always will be. I felt sad for most of the morning, but then I gradually cheered up after receiving some beautiful Mother’s Day wishes from my family as well as some super kind and thoughtful texts from friends. My beautiful friend sent me this photo of her gorgeous kids (I love these two!) and a rainbow. I love that she always sends me rainbow pics whenever she sees one. For us, it’s a symbol that our mums are reaching out to us, and sure enough, on a rainy and miserable Mother’s Day, they did just that. Hi Mum! In the end Mothers Day turned out to be a perfectly low key day, which is exactly what I needed. Sam was still recovering from an ear infection, so we stayed home, ordered take away and watched the Barbie movie. I had already seen it but Sam and Steve hadn’t, and since it was Mothers Day, they were happy to watch it with me. Sam enjoyed it and Steve said it was the best movie he had ever seen – after he woke up. Mid-week Dinner With Friends Another fun favourite was having a mid-week event to look forward to. Our friends invited us over for dinner on Wednesday night, and we had such a lovely night. These friends are more like family than friends, and we have known them forever. We’ve shared all the highs and lows that life has thrown our way. Friends like this are priceless! For dessert, we had some chocolates and nougat–my favourite! Yum, I hadn’t had any nougat since Christmas and I more than made up for it. Blue Skies A big favourite this week was finally seeing some blue sky after so many rainy days. I snapped this pic while I was walking home after finishing work on Thursday. Blue skies make me happy! Self-Care At Work Our director at work put a self-care sign with cute illustrations on the staff room fridge and I think it’s full of great tips. I’m happy that I work with some uplifting colleagues and I’m also lucky enough to be able to call two of them my besties! And that’s a wrap for a few of this week’s fun favourites! Thank you so much for being here and I hope you have an amazing weekend. I look forward to being back here on Monday. See ya! Linking up with Andrea and Erika.

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Embracing Good Posture

2 Comments / Health and Well Being, Home

Hi everyone, welcome to Wellness Wednesday! I thought we could chat today about good posture and standing tall to feel great (or at least feel better in my case). This week, I had a major wake-up call about the impact of bad posture and realised the importance of embracing good posture right away! Embracing Good Posture As a teenager, my mum would often correct my posture with a light whack across my shoulders. It never hurt but it would certainly startle me into standing tall! Even today, whenever I straighten up, I can still hear her voice in my head saying “Straighten your back!” (except she said it in Spanish. It’s amazing how effective it sounds in Spanish!) I think that spending way too much time in front of the computer. As well as sitting on a non-ergonomic chair is what has messed up my neck lately. It got so bad that I could hear my neck joints crunching every time I moved after spending hours in a slouched position with my big head jutting out from my body. Ewwww! Then of course I started to get headaches and the pain started to travel down to my shoulder blades. Sigh. Motivated by Pain: Taking Action on Posture There’s nothing like pain to motivate you to change a bad habit is there? So for the past couple of days, I have been really focused on keeping my shoulders back and my head aligned with my spine, held up high and parallel to the ground. I did some Googling and was so happy to find tips on relieving neck pain. Instead of the usual list of potentially scary health warnings. You know the ones that Dr Google loves to give, right? Tips to Remember: Making Good Posture Stick I know it kind of sounds obvious- good posture means standing up straight (just like my mum said) and aligning your body (just like Google said). But once the pain goes away I tend to forget and go back to my slouchy ways!! So I found some good tips to remember how to stand tall and make it a habit that sticks. Set some reminders throughout the day to check in with your posture. Invest in ergonomic furniture, like a supportive chair and adjustable desk. Stretch and strengthening exercises! Since I have been making a conscious effort to stand tall, straight and aligned. I’ve noticed some positive changes. I have started to feel better and thankfully, that annoying neck crunch has quietened down. I have to admit that standing straight still doesn’t feel entirely natural yet. But by doing some simple stretches and focusing on my posture, I can feel my body slowly getting used to feeling less like a stiff robot and becoming more at ease in its new, healthier alignment. Now if I could just remember to stop clenching my jaw!! Related Articles Lower Back Pain Solutions

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Favourite and Least Favourite Foods

15 Comments / Hello Monday, Home

Hey everyone, welcome back! I hope you all had an amazing weekend filled with a good mix of relaxation and fun. Thanks so much for joining me today for the monthly ‘Share our Lives’ link-up. Today, we are chatting about our top 5 favourite and least favourite foods! I have a serious passion for food! If I’m not eating then you can bet I’m either daydreaming about my next meal or what I’m going to be cooking and eating for dinner. So narrowing down my least favourite food was a bit of a challenge because, honestly I think that I’m pretty happy to eat just about anything (well, almost anything). Let’s look at the foods that make my taste buds happy! As well as the ones that are my least favourite and don’t quite hit the spot. My Favourite and Least Favourite Foods 5 Favourites Pasta With Savoury Sauces My all-time favourite foods includes a variety of pasta dishes. Whether it’s spaghetti with a rich bolognese sauce (my ultimate favourite) sprinkled with a very generous amount of fresh parmesan cheese or creamy fettucini carbonara, I simply can’t resist them. My other favourites are boscialo and lasagna- I love them all. Yum!! Roasted Meat and Comforting Sides I love any kind of roast meat-beef, lamb, pork or chicken. I’m not fussy as long as it’s served with vegetables, potatoes (roast or mashed) and lots of gravy! Cheese I’m incredibly thankful I’m not lactose intolerant because I absolutely adore cheese. I think Havarti cheese might be my favourite, but I also love Brie, Camembert, feta, Swiss cheese, Gouda, Edam and so many more. Honestly, just give me all the cheese, please!! Hot Chips Just thinking about hot chips is making me hungrier than I already am! Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with a generous amount of plain salt or chicken salt. I like hot chips on their own or with a splash of vinegar. I also love to dip them in mayonnaise or aioli and sometimes tomato sauce. Irresistible! Seafood Some of my favourite seafood include salmon, barramundi, prawns, oysters, lobster, and crab. However, when it comes to seafood dishes, my absolute favourite is ceviche—a Latin American creation made with raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice, mixed with Spanish onions, coriander, and spices. I can’t get enough of the tangy flavours, though I make sure not to breathe on anyone after tucking into this amazing dish! 5 Least Favourite Chilli Hot chillies are my least favourite because I can’t do hot spicy food very well. I start coughing, my eyes water and I panic-it’s no fun! The other day I accidentally ordered a winter margarita, I didn’t read the list of ingredients and I got such a shock when I took the first sip. It had red chilli powder and flakes. Yikes! I didn’t know hot chilli in cocktails was a thing. I’ll be reading the list of ingredients very carefully from now on! Chocolate cake Chocolate cake is my least favourite cake of all! I always find them dense and they require too much commitment once you take the first bite. Licorice Just no. The end. Blue Cheese I know I said that I love cheese but blue cheese is so intensely not good! Snails I nearly tried them once but I just couldn’t do it. So to be fair, I probably shouldn’t include them on my list of least favourite foods. They may well be delicious! However, the thought of eating snails doesn’t make me feel great. I’m more comfortable with them on plants than on my plate. So there we have it, my 5 favorite and least favourite foods. Now I’m curious, what are yours? I’d love to hear about them in the comments! Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne and Sarah.

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6 Tips To Make Your House A Home

Friday Favourites

6 Comments / Family Life, Home

Hello, friends, and welcome to Friday Favourites! I hope you all had a great week. If you’re anything like me, I’m sure you’re very excited to welcome back the weekend! This week has flown by so fast yet at the same time it’s felt never-ending because of the wet weather! It’s true what they say about rainy days — time seems to slow to a crawl, doesn’t it? Especially when you’re stuck inside with a crowd of energetic and enthusiastic preschoolers! But hey, at least we made it to Friday! Let’s look at some favourites from this week. Monday Night I almost didn’t make it to our monthly dinner with friends on Monday night. I got home from work later than usual and had to catch up on a few things. It was rainy, I was tired and almost in a bit of a funk. But my friend rang and convinced me to go and I’m so glad I did. Sometimes it’s good to push through even when it feels like everything is caving in on you! I didn’t feel very hungry, which is very unlike me! But when I tucked into my grilled chicken burger and fries. It almost felt as if my appetite woke up and suddenly I was starving. So weird! Does that ever happen to you? Let’s talk about the weather! Lately, I don’t know if I’m cold or hot and it’s not my hormones, it’s the weather. As I said before it has been raining non-stop but the temps have been hovering around 20ºC. So it almost feels humid during the day and at night it gets cooler. I wore my jacket to dinner on Monday night because there was a chill in the night air. I bought this jacket online a few years ago, and initially, I didn’t like it very much. It had so many hanging threads! However, I’m so glad that I didn’t return it because now it’s one of my favourites. I got used to the raw edge look, and I think the jacket’s style goes well with a lot of things I have in my wardrobe. Oregano Oregano is one of my favourite herbs and I read somewhere that it contains some pretty amazing health perks as well. I used to buy oregano from the supermarket but I have to say that it’s not as good as this one that comes on the stalks. It just has a much more robust flavour and it makes my Greek chicken taste better. Dried Fruit! Last Saturday I went to the farmer’s market and I bought some dried mango and dried paw paw. I thought that they would be great to add to my homemade granola. Well, I haven’t got around to making any granola yet but I have been enjoying them as a snack. They taste like lollies! Sometimes I combine it with almonds. It’s healthy, right? Well, as long as I don’t think about the sugar content! Website Issues-Again! Seeing this when I tried to access my website was NOT a favourite last Friday! But I’m grateful for a couple of kind blogger friends who reached out to let me know. It’s fixed now, but I’m still having issues with comments not coming through. Apologies if you’ve tried to comment and haven’t been able to. I always love and appreciate your comments, and I’m sad that I don’t know how to fix this! Aaaargh!!! I’ve had lots of laughs at work with some of my amazing work friends. They’re the best and they brighten my days-even the dreary wet days. But I can’t say that this week has been my favourite and to be honest I’m excited to say bye-bye to it! I thought I had finished all of my written assessment tasks. But I found out on Thursday afternoon that I was missing a whole entire one! I could have cried and if I still had my thyroid I probably would have! I’m more emotionally regulated on thyroxine these days – phew! Anyway, I stayed up late on Thursday night and finished it and I can’t wait for this part of my course to be over! Sam Is Arriving Tomorrow! I’m excited that Sam gets back from Japan tomorrow morning, and I can’t wait to pick him up from the airport! He’s been pretty good about sending me at least one message a day. I’ve slept better knowing he was fine and having a great time with his friends. I’ve also been in contact with his friend’s mum, and we’ve been regularly texting each other, piecing together the bits of information we had about what they were up to. I think we are coming to terms with the fact that this trip may be the beginning of more overseas travel for them. I’m happy that they are a great group of friends and that Sam is a good egg. He just grew up so fast! And that’s a wrap for now! Thank you so much for stopping by today, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Fingers crossed that next week will be sunnier in more ways than one! Happy Mother’s Day to all the lovely mums out there. If you’re missing your mum, just like I am, I’m sending you big virtual hugs. Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Strategies For Engaging Kids In Science

Leave a Comment / Home, Insights Into Early Childhood Education

Society is abuzz with excitement for the wonders of science! As we zoom into a future filled with technology, grasping the inner workings of nature is key. Engaging kids in science becomes essential for paving the way to this bright future. Yet, not everyone has the academic toolkit to dive into this fascinating realm. The trick is to change how we teach so that kids get more excited about science. Engaging kids in science isn’t just about teaching facts; it’s about fostering a passion that will illuminate their path into adulthood. But how are educators supposed to achieve that, exactly? Let’s take a look. Engaging Kids In Science Make Science Relevant One vital strategy, maybe even the golden ticket, is to make science relevant to students’ lives. Children crave a reason to dive into learning, a real “why” behind the effort they put in. Sadly, many science lessons seem like they’re floating in an abstract realm, far from the pulse of everyday life. Students often wonder, “How does this stuff even matter to me?” It’s no surprise they feel disconnected and unsure if it’ll ever be useful. Revamping the entire science curriculum is no small feat; it’s a journey that takes time. However, teachers who bridge the gap between science and the here-and-now captivate their students. Imagine the excitement when pupils grasp why covalent bonds or mitosis play a role in their lives. That connection? It’s the key ingredient that transforms passive listening into active learning! Dive into Discovery: Offering a Menu of Science Topics to Explore Imagine teachers giving students the power to choose their science adventure! By offering a variety of topics, the material suddenly becomes more than just words on a page—it becomes relevant to their lives and passions. Sure, some students are natural-born explorers, eager to unravel the mysteries of the universe. They’ll gravitate towards topics that ignite their curiosity. Yet, for many, the draw lies in picking subjects with practical applications or potential career paths. Empowering students to select their science journey fuels their interests and opens doors to a world of possibilities! Embark on Adventures: Elevating Science Education with Field Trips Picture students trading their desks for exploration, diving into science beyond the classroom walls! Field trips to museums, nature havens, and even aquariums inject life into learning, propelling them forward faster than any textbook ever could. For many, breakthroughs happen when they can roll up their sleeves and get hands-on with science. Getting up close and personal with topics sparks a deeper connection, allowing knowledge to seep effortlessly into their minds. It’s time to break free from the confines of four walls and venture into the great outdoors! From lush forests to arid deserts and meandering rivers, natural wonders await. These immersive experiences offer more than just textbook lessons; they unveil the magic of science unfolding right before their eyes, turning passive learners into passionate explorers! Igniting Innovation: Unleashing Fresh Learning Adventures Hold onto your lab goggles because some teachers are gearing up to revolutionise science education! They’re breaking out new methods to ignite kids’ passion for STEM education, aiming to turn every classroom into a hub of excitement. For example, we’re seeing some educators attempting to sell science centers. This could include digital apps, interactive experiments, high-tech gadgets, and engaging games—all wrapped up in one irresistible package! These cutting-edge approaches aren’t just about promoting STEM; they’re about creating an experience that screams, “Science is awesome!” Students can’t resist jumping on board, eager to be part of the action-packed journey. Inspire, Educate, Empower: Enriching Science Education with Guest Speakers Guest speakers inject vitality into science education, offering real-world insights directly to students. Scientists, engineers, and professionals share their expertise, showcasing diverse career paths and making science relevant to students’ lives. Students see firsthand the value of lifelong learning and the human side of science, inspiring them to pursue their own passions. Inviting guest speakers enriches classrooms, empowering the next generation of scientists and innovators. Engaging Educational Games and Apps: Enhancing Science Learning Some educators are shifting gears from traditional pen-and-paper methods to embrace the dynamic world of educational games and apps in science education, all with the goal of engaging kids in science. Why? Because most children find them more captivating, and evidence suggests they foster better learning outcomes. For instance, games and apps offer kids a level of stimulation beyond what textbooks provide. While reading might feel like a chore, gaming inherently holds purpose and excitement. Moreover, puzzles and similar games boost students’ problem-solving skills by challenging them to approach topics from various angles, further engaging kids in science. This multidimensional learning approach not only fills knowledge gaps but also encourages innovative thinking. Students can tackle questions based on similar principles, even if they’re presented in a different context, and they can even brainstorm creative solutions beyond what’s taught in class. Engage and Excel with Project-Based Learning Strategies Experiments in Scandinavia highlight the effectiveness of project-based learning over traditional methods. Encouraging kids to research and design their own solutions proves more impactful than passive textbook study. This insight mirrors real-world apprenticeships, where hands-on experience reigns supreme. Active participation fosters deeper learning and ingrains knowledge, reducing the risk of forgetting. The most successful projects address real-world challenges. When students have a tangible goal, it fuels their drive to learn, innovate, and take risks. Mistakes become valuable learning opportunities within these dynamic strategies. Spark Curiosity with Fascinating Experiments Engaging students in captivating experiments is a surefire way to ignite their interest in science and inspire them to pursue it further in their careers. Young minds thrive on the thrill of testing the world to see if it aligns with the principles laid out in textbooks. Moreover, experiments offer a delightful twist of fun (think mixing baking soda and vinegar in a bottle!). They show students that science isn’t just about meeting parental expectations; it’s also about tapping into their sense of enjoyment and wonder. In conclusion, by embracing a variety of innovative approaches—from

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Summer Closet Staples:10 Must-Have Minimalist Essentials

2 Comments / Fashion Files, Home

Hi friends, it’s time to link up with Shay and Erika for the May edition of Let’s Look! This month, we are sharing our summer closet staples. I’m excited about this topic because, even though we’re heading into winter over here. I love talking about my favourite season-summer. Add fashion to this, and I’m in! I’m a minimalist at heart and I love neutral tones and timeless pieces. My summer closet staples are mainly made up of favourites I can mix and match easily depending on the occasion. So let’s take a peek at what my summer closet staples look like. Summer Closet Staples 1. T-Shirts Black, white, and black-and-white striped t-shirts are my favourite summer closet staples. They’re my ultimate go-to for any outfit and I wear them on repeat all summer long. You can’t beat the simplicity of a classic T-shirt because not only do they keep you cool, but they’re also incredibly versatile. Perfect for dressing up or down. 2. White Shirt The white shirt is a classic piece I love wearing with jeans when it’s not too hot. It also goes great with a skirt or shorts too! 3. Shorts I love casual shorts, denim shorts as well as structured dressier shorts. Shorts are a perfect summer staple as long as they’re not super short on me! 4. Tan Coloured Sandals They’re a perfect summer closet staple because they just go with everything! 5. Aviators I got a pair of Ray-Ban aviators for my birthday a few years ago and I love them because they feel so light on my face. They’re brilliant for UV protection and they also look cool! Hehe. 6. Jeans I don’t love wearing jeans when it’s very hot. But they’re still a great summer closet staple for those breezy days or nights. I have a pair of light denim high-waisted jeans that are oh-so comfortable! I like wearing them in the warmer months because the light denim colour makes them look more summery than darker ones. 7. Hoop Earrings I hardly wear any jewellery at all but I do love my big hoops in the summertime. 8. Denim or Military Style Jacket Perfect for cooler evenings or air-conditioned spaces. I get cold very easily so a denim or military-style jacket is always a handy addition to my summer wardrobe. 9. Tank Tops I buy my tank tops from Country Road because they fit just right and they’re made of comfortable, good quality, stretchy fabric. They wash so well, too. They look great as a casual outfit with shorts, and if I want to dress them up, they also go well with a skirt. 10. Summer Tops My summer tops are made from lightweight fabric and are either sleeveless, flowy or form-fitting. But the one thing they all have in common is that they’re mostly all in neutral or single colours except for a couple. And that sums up my summer closet staples -10 items that keep me cool and feeling great all summer. I haven’t included swimwear because although I do own a black one-piece swimsuit, it’s been gathering dust in my closet for about two years. I guess you could say that I’m more of a land lover than a beach girl! Thanks so much for joining me as I shared my summer closet staples. I really appreciate you stopping by and I hope you have an amazing day!

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Rainy Weekend

6 Comments / Family Life, Home

Hi friends and welcome back, I hope you all had an amazing weekend and are feeling relaxed and ready for a new week! Thanks so much for being here today! Here is a recap of my fun but rainy weekend! We started the weekend with a nice sleep-in on Saturday morning. Followed by a quick trip to the farmers market. It was rainy and pretty miserable weather so we decided not to hang around and grab something to eat like we usually do. Instead, we bought a few things and then headed home. We bought nuts, honey, sourdough, apples, dried fruit and mandarins (they weren’t as great as I was hoping-it must not be a good mandarin season). We also got a delicious croissant we enjoyed at home with a nice cup of hot tea. It was May the 4th! So in the afternoon, I went to the movies with my cousin and her family to watch The empire Strikes Back. The seats in the cinema were so comfy! We even had pouffes, wow! After the movie, we had dumpling soup in a small Chinese restaurant. It was perfect on such a cold and rainy day. After lunch, it was time for the next Star Wars movie – Return Of the Jedi. It was fun watching some of the original movies on the big screen, I felt like a big kid! After that we hit Timezone and played a few arcade games. Sunday I caught up with some of my girl cousins for a sweet treat in Brighton. We went to a place called Dine and Dezerts. I had some waffles on a stick with chocolate sauce and strawberries-so good! My little cousin ordered this amazing milkshake and she finished it all with no problem! Then she sugar-crashed haha! It was a fun weekend full of my favourite things like Star Wars and family time. Couldn’t get much better than that! I hope yours was a good one too! Time has gotten away from me and I have to run and get ready for our monthly dinner catch-up with some friends. So it’s a short and sweet recap today. I look forward to being back here on Wednesday. See ya! Linking up with Holly and Sarah

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Collecting Memorable Travel Souvenirs

Friday Favourites

4 Comments / Family Life, Friday Favourites, Home

Hi everyone I hope that you all had an amazing week! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share a few of this week’s favourites. Just a heads up, this post may contain affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to buy something, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! While going back to the work routine on Monday was not really a favourite. It was good to start the term with a pupil-free day. It meant that we had a chance to settle in, set up the playrooms, have meetings and enjoy a special lunch as a team. Food is always the way to my heart so when our director ordered Subway and sushi- well, I was practically dancing with joy! Continuing with one of my favourite subjects: food! During the school holidays, Steve made me lunch almost every day while I worked on smashing through some not-so-fun assessment tasks. Food is incredibly motivating! I could say that doing extra study is giving me more grey hairs, but that might not be entirely true. It certainly feels that way, though! Anyway, during my last trip to the hairdresser, she suggested I only colour my roots instead of always doing my entire hair, as it was drying out the ends too much. I found this Clairol root touch-up on Amazon the other day and tried it for the first time. I loved the fact that I didn’t have to mix anything. But I think my grey roots need a mega-powerful colour punch! While the pre-mixed root touch-up is incredibly convenient. I noticed that after one wash, the semi-permanent solution is not going to last very long (insert very sad face here). However, I still think it’s a great for when you need a quick touch-up that lasts a few washes. It might also work better for those who have less aggressive grey roots than mine! Oh my goodness! These Bugles have become my favourite snack lately. They are so delicious and nothing like I have ever tasted before. They don’t sell these at the supermarket here but I found them at a petrol station that has a corner shelf full of American snacks! What a find!! My lovely friend gave me this military-style jacket, and I absolutely adore it! It’s perfect for autumn—comfortable, and it fits just right. I had a similar-colored jacket that I used to wear all the time, but it’s probably time to retire it now. Military-style jackets are definitely a must-have in any wardrobe, I think! Now that I have quit being a plant assassin, I love having lots of greenery around the house. The other day, my cousin came over and taught me how to grow new plants by cutting them in a specific way to encourage root growth. I think it’s called propagation – oooooh I’m even learning big fancy plant terminology too! I just hope that I cut them in the right place, time will tell I guess. Simple meals are often the best! The other night we had cheese with French baguette and steamed mussels for dinner. These wool socks are definitely a favourite! Now that the weather has turned cold, they are brilliant for keeping my feet warm in the preschool playground. My biggest favourite for this week was Luke and his lovely partner coming over for dinner on Wednesday night. They came to say bye to Sam who was flying out on a one-week trip to Japan on Thursday morning. It was a last-minute plan and we had such a lovely night together. It’s been a while since we had seen Luke’s partner as she can’t make our cousin get-togethers because she works every weekend. On my walk home from work, I stopped off at the fruit shop where they also sell a variety of frozen goodies. I bought a bag of pork and vegetable dumplings and we had them as an entree. For mains, we had teriyaki salmon with salads and rice. Haha, I just realised that we had a Japanese dish for dinner! It wasn’t planned as we often have this favourite meal on a Wednesday night. Luckily, I had a frozen dessert that I bought on one of my trips to Ikea during the school holidays. Ha! I was amazed at how we put together a delicious meal so fast and happy that we had a well-stocked freezer! I’ve found that last-minute get-togethers often turn out to be the most memorable and enjoyable. While it wouldn’t have mattered if we had simply eaten plain two-minute noodles. I was certainly grateful for having done my meal planning earlier in the week! On Thursday morning we were all up early to take Sam to the airport. I was surprised how quickly they checked in! We took a quick photo and said “Goodbye, take care, be good, look after your belongings, watch out for each other” and a whole lot of other advice. I’m sure most of it went over their heads. But we as parents must say these things even if it’s only for our own peace of mind! Here is Sam (wearing the Asics sloppy joe) with his buddies. I was very relieved to see this last night! The boys landed safely and later on Sam reached out and messaged me sounding very excited to begin his adventure in Japan! That brings me to the end of this week’s favourites, thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you have an amazing weekend and If you’re a Sar Wars fan, Happy May the 4th tomorrow!

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