What’s Up Wednesday

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

Hi friends, welcome to What’s Up Wednesday! It’s that time again to share a few highlights from August. Thanks so much for stopping by—I always appreciate you being here. WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK Monday – Chilli con carne with rice. To jazz things up a bit, I added some turmeric to the rice to make it yellow. It doesn’t change the flavour, but it makes the dish more colourful Tuesday – We went to Allawah Pub for dinner with friends. I had the chicken schnitzel with chips, salad and gravy, but after seeing my friend’s chicken and leek pie, I knew I should have ordered that instead. I had major pie envy! Wednesday – Roast chicken with mash and vegetables Thursday – Spaghetti bolognese. Friday – Roast beef Saturday – leftovers My husband convinced me to let him cook today (and for the rest of the week!). I’m not sure why I’ve never taken him up on his offer — he’s really helpful around the house and actually enjoys being in the kitchen. Part of me loves zoning out while I cook, but another part of me is starting to think… why not let him take over more often? He’s cut back on his work hours and could even look at retiring, but after watching the Netflix documentary The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner, we both decided we’d like to keep working. I’m happy doing full-time, and he’s happy to scale back, and it’s working really well. We get to spend more time together. That said, it has definitely shaken up my little evening routine, where I used to be home alone with my own schedule that included cooking. I’m enjoying having him around more, but it’s a change — and even good change takes me a little while to get used to. Do you get what I mean? Anyway, my weekly meal planning turned into a bit of a therapy session — thanks for letting me get that off my chest! 😅 In a nutshell… I think I might have a few control issues — yikes! WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT To be honest… I can’t think of anything. WHAT I’M LOVING I’ve spotted some flowers blooming in my garden and in other people’s gardens on my walks to and from work. After what feels like an eternal winter, I’m so happy to see evidence of spring starting to peek through! WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO The highlights in August have been Cousin Connect. We celebrated Steve’s birthday with a lunch at home, just the four of us. Then, on his actual birthday, we had breakfast at The Boat Shed and walked around exploring La Perouse–such a lovely spot! We had lunch at The Opera Bar last weekend. Those were the fun moments, and then for the rest of the month, it was just the usual work routine. WHAT I’M DREADING Tomorrow I’m leading an evacuation drill at work. This time, it’s a bigger scenario, and we have to evacuate to the local park. Hmph, just thinking about it stresses me out! First of all, this group of children are very lively, so rounding them up will be ‘fun.’ Then it’s roll call, grabbing all the necessary things (medication, etc.), getting them onto the walking rope, we’ll be using the walking rope with loop handles (sometimes called doughnut rings) and crossing a busy road. We practised a drill on Tuesday that was led by another educator, and I made the mistake of directing one of the boys to “hold on to the doughnut.” So he started chewing on it: “But Miss Ruth, you said it was a doughnut!” Lord, give me strength! WHAT I’M WATCHING The Gilded Age– it’s so good and reminds me a little of Downton Abbey, which I loved so much. I also finished watching Friends Like Her, a series from New Zealand. I’d never watched a show from New Zealand before, and I enjoyed it so much — lots of drama, but not the stressful kind I can’t handle at the moment, just entertaining drama. Then on Sunday night, we started watching Hostage. We’ve only got two episodes left, and I’m wondering if it’s a limited series or not. We’re really into it and can’t wait to see how it ends! WHAT I’M LISTENING TO This is part of my Music & Movement Spotify playlist. Most of these songs are new to me (except A Ram Sam Sam), and I’ve been practising the actions so I can get them right before introducing them to the preschool kids. WHAT I’M WEARING Still in winter clothes, BUT the good news is I’m down one layer this week. Spring is coming! WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND Coffee and Portuguese tarts on Saturday morning. Then I’m catching up with some friends I haven’t seen in ages in the afternoon. Sunday looks like it’ll be a stay-at-home day. WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH Spring! Hooray for spring! And that’s a wrap on August! I can’t believe how fast time is flying by. I have to admit, my favourite months are coming, and I’m so excited! From September onwards, it’s spring, the fun festivities are on the way, and everything just feels brighter and more upbeat. I hope you all had a great August, and here’s hoping September is good to all of us! Linking up with Shay

It’s time for the July edition of What’s Up Wednesday. Oh my goodness, isn’t the year flying? Here’s a quick look at what we’ve been up to this month—what we’ve been doing, eating, watching, wearing, and everything in between. Let’s go! WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK My meal planning days are almost a distant memory (I need to get back on track), and these days, I’m mostly just winging it. I have a vague idea of what I’m going to make each day, and I know we usually have fish on Wednesdays—but that’s about it. For inspiration, I sometimes ask the kids at preschool, “Hey, what should Miss Ruth cook for dinner tonight?” They usually come back with ideas like chocolate soup or chicken nuggets. Hmm… I guess they’re only four and five, so they’re not exactly culinary experts just yet. On Monday night, I made chicken and mushrooms with a creamy sauce, and we ate it with rice and vegetables. On Tuesday, we finished the chicken from Monday night, and I also made some battered cauliflower to go with it. Tonight, we’ll be having barramundi with chips and salad. I’ve got a staff meeting on Thursday, so I’ll be making a quick chilli con carne with guacamole on the side. We’ve still got plenty of avocados from my aunt’s tree. I’m thinking Friday will be turkey burgers. As for Saturday… hmm, it’s a mystery. So, meal planning is now done thanks to this post! WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT When I was 5 and my saddest moment was when Lassie finished, and I had to wait until the next day to watch the next episode. WHAT I’M LOVING A few weeks ago, I popped into Priceline and, by pure luck, found a lovely sales assistant who gave me so many great makeup tips. These people are absolute gems! She knew exactly what I needed and pointed me in the right direction with products that actually suited me. I’ve been to high-end makeup counters before and sadly walked away with products that made me look like an Oompa Loompa. So when my lovely work colleague commented the other day, “Wow, your makeup looks really nice—what are you using?” I knew I’d finally cracked it. I’ll share a post soon about the changes I’ve made and my five-minute makeup routine—for people like me who have no time, no patience, and still want to look a little bit glam (or at the very least, not scary). WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO A spontaneous staycation at The Rocks during my winter school holiday break. A visit to the Christmas in July markets. I did a big overhaul of my office space—and now I actually love it! Christmas in July with my cousins. Date nights. I got a haircut during the holidays, and I’m pretty sure my hair grew two inches the very next day. WHAT I’M DREADING I’ve got to put my big girl pants on because I’m off for a breast screen on Monday. Just one of the many joys of being, ahem, over 50. While I’m at it, I’ll also finally get that yearly blood test done. The last time I did one, they told me my white cells were low, so naturally, I did the most “Ruth” thing ever and didn’t go back for three years. Who needs that kind of negativity? But really, I should get on top of these grown-up tests and stop walking in expecting to be told I’ve got three months to live. WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT Four weeks till spring! WHAT I’M WATCHING As many Swedish shows and movies as I can find! I love the sound of the language, and I’m also keeping up with Duolingo. Every time I catch a word in a scene, I feel so proud. Subtitles are still very much on—but I’m working on it. I’m also watching MasterChef Australia, and it’s nearly finals time. All of the contestants are very likable. So I don’t mind who wins. Bit of a funny—my family always say I cook better when MasterChef is on. I’m not about to temper chocolate or cook over a hibachi, but it does get me thinking about balancing flavours and getting that umami happening. Look at me using MasterChef words like I know what I’m doing haha! WHAT I’M LISTENING TO I’m typing this during my lunch break, and the noise from the playroom is wild. So, I’m listening to pink noise. Have you heard of it? I hadn’t until I searched for white noise on Spotify, and this popped up. I can’t hear any pink—it just sounds like white to me. Curiosity got me, so I Googled it. Turns out, pink noise is like white noise but with more low-end rumble. People say it helps block out noise and helps with sleep. Mystery solved (though I still think it sounds exactly like white noise). WHAT I’M WEARING During cold winter nights, I often wear my cat to keep me warm while I’m watching TV. WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND No plans WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH Cousin Connect and my husband’s birthday. And that’s a wrap for July, which turned out to be a pretty good month (despite the cold). Fingers crossed August is kind to us all! Linking up with Shay

Hi friends It’s time to link up and share a little of this and that on today’s What’s Up Wednesday link-up. Thanks so much for stopping by! WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK Monday – Steak sandwiches and chips Tuesday – Woolworths BBQ chicken Wednesday – Dinner out Thursday – Cottage pie Then the rest of the week is a mystery. WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT I think I said this last time — and I’ll probably keep saying it until the warmer months roll back around… summer. I’m reminiscing about summer. WHAT I’M LOVING We went to Ikea the other day, and I was so happy to see that Princess Cakes are back! It’s been years since they’ve had them — I thought they were gone for good. WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO We went to see my cousin perform at her Winter Gala Trips to the Farmer’s market. I’ve noticed that if I go later in the day, the prices drop, and I can score some great bargains, like three bags of avocados for $5.00 and bunches of herbs for a dollar each. Avocados usually cost $5 to $6.00 a bag, and the herbs are $3.00 a bunch. I wrote two trip recaps this month — one about visiting Aulani, the Disney Resort, and another all about Kualoa Ranch, where we went on the most amazing movie sites tour. I had never heard of Kualoa Ranch before our trip, and I had no idea that so many films and TV shows had been filmed there. WHAT I’M DREADING I’m trying so hard not to dwell on this, but I’m flying to Melbourne tomorrow. It’s a quick one-and-a-half-hour plane ride, but it’s still a plane ride — way up high in the sky. WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT I’m going to Melbourne to see Footloose the musical with my cousin. She planned this fun little overnight getaway just for the two of us, and I’m so excited. I’m determined not to let my fear of flying stop me from enjoying adventures. But it’s funny how I can feel nervous (sick, terrified, cold, clammy) and excited all at the same time. Yay! I flew across the Pacific Ocean from Australia to the USA in January this year — I’ve got this! (gulp) My sweet friend sent me this the other day, and it made me laugh. It also made me feel very reassured that there are many of us out there keeping those planes up in the sky. Phew, where would the aviation world be without us! WHAT I’M WATCHING We finished watching The Amazing Race and Survivor the other day. I think both seasons were great, and I really loved the way the contestants played Survivor this year. We also went to see Mission: Impossible last Tuesday and loved it. Of course, it was way over the top and totally unrealistic — but so much fun to watch! All the action scenes were fantastic, and was it just me, or were there even more Tom Cruise running scenes than usual? I’m not complaining — those scenes are iconic. Let the man run. WHAT I’M LISTENING TO A bit of a mix depending on my mood. I really like Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra at the moment. WHAT I’M WEARING This is the latest jewellery creation designed especially for me. It’s a gorgeous purple heart bracelet made of the finest preschool paper and smoothest markers, attached securely with Bostik glue that also found its way onto my arm (ouch). WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND No plans for this weekend, I think it’s going to be a quiet one. WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH It’s unusual for June to be busy with it being winter here, but I’ve got a few catch-ups planned with friends I haven’t seen in a while, spread out over a few weekends. We also have a fun work dinner coming up on the second-last Friday of the term, which I’m really looking forward to. And of course, there’s our usual cousin connect — though I’m not sure who’s hosting this time… maybe it’s my turn? And that’s a wrap for this month’s What’s Up Wednesday! Can you believe that next month marks the halfway point of the year? I sure can’t. I hope you have a wonderful day, and I’ll be back here on Friday to share all about my Melbourne adventure. See you then! Linking up with Shay  

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Shay for What’s Up Wednesday. Thanks for stopping by today as I share a little about what’s been happening in our corner of the world this April. WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK Monday – Bacon and spinach quiche Tuesday – Chili con carne Wednesday – Chicken and vegetable soup Thursday – Barramundi with chips and salad Friday – Butter chicken Saturday – leftovers WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT Summer! It’s been rainy and so cold today. I’m not complaining because I promised I wouldn’t. Just saying. WHAT I’M LOVING Peanut M&M’s! These are so good, and I might have to start counting them because I’m starting to suspect someone else might be enjoying my treat jar—even though it’s on my desk with my name on it! WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO It was great having two weeks off for the school holidays. We didn’t do anything too big, but it was so nice just being home during the day. Here’s a little of what we got up to this April. We had a lovely night out at Bistro George. I enjoyed some bubbles when I went to listen to a community choir at The Gasoline Pony with a lovely friend. Towards the end of the school holidays, I caught up with a fun friend, and we went to the city to shop, have lunch, and laugh! She’s so funny, and we just bounce off each other all day long! We got so caught up shopping and trying things on that we ended up having a late lunch. We both ordered the same thing—club sandwich with fries, and it was so delicious. Our cat Mochi put us through some major chaos when we had to take her to the vet to get spayed—she was not a fan of getting into the carrier and turned into a psycho cat! But she’s all healed up now and back to her cute, cuddly self. Sam started his four-week placement in the emergency department at a hospital. It was nice staying up late to hear some of his stories when he got home after his afternoon/evening shifts. I started back at work this week, so I haven’t seen him since Sunday—I’m already in bed when he gets home, and by the time I leave for work, he’s still asleep. But we’ve been texting each other. With some spare time over the school holidays, I also managed to write three more trip recaps. Here they are if you want to relive the adventures with me: Page, Arizona and Utah The Grand Canyon and Desert View Watchtower Las Vegas WHAT I’M DREADING Nothing–yay! WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT Hot chocolate! One of the upsides of the colder weather is having an excuse to enjoy all the cosy treats. I ordered a big tin of Swiss Miss from Amazon the other day, and today I got a delivery notification while I was at work. On the way home, I popped into the shop to pick up some marshmallows. As soon as I’ve done all the things tonight, I’ll be enjoying my first hot chocolate of the season. WHAT I’M WATCHING Lately, I’ve been into Harlan Coben’s limited series on Netflix. After finishing all the English-speaking ones—Safe, The Stranger, Stay Close, and Fool Me Once—I’ve now moved on to the international series. I watched The Innocent(Spanish) and just started the Polish one, Just One Look. Same twisty plots, different languages, and still completely addictive—once you give them a bit of time. They don’t always grab me straight away, but if I stick with it, they get really good, and then I can’t stop watching. WHAT I’M LISTENING TO At the moment, I’m listening to the loud hum of the rangehood in the kitchen while my chicken and vegetable soup simmers away. Quite annoying and not very relaxing, but it’s doing its thing, I guess. WHAT I’M WEARING My trusty denim jacket–perfect for those crisp autumn mornings earlier this week. But from today, I think that I’ll be pulling out my puffer jacket. Brrrrr. WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND I’m going to see my talented cousin perform Bachata with her dance school. I think most of the Cousin Connect gang are going this time so it will be extra fun! WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH I’m flying (yikes!) to Melbourne with my cousin J to see Footloose the musical, and I am so excited! And that’s a wrap for April! Woah, it sure went fast, didn’t it? I look forward to being back here on Friday to share some favourites. Hope to see you then. Happy Wednesday!

Oh my goodness, I can hardly believe it’s the last Wednesday of the month, friends! Today’s been a work-from-home day spent writing up children’s developmental summaries. With term one nearly over, parent-teacher interviews are coming up soon. But first—summaries. Working from home always sounds so good to me, but in reality, I don’t think they’re all that great. Haha, it might even be harder than a regular day! My shoulder is sore from sitting at the computer all day and being at home makes me feel like I’m being naughty and skipping school. So, I didn’t even give myself a lunch break. Crazy huh? I also nearly decided to miss this fun link-up, but I had a shower to shake off the sluggishness, poured another coffee, and jumped back on the computer. Now, I’m here to share a little of this and that about what’s been happening for us in March. Let’s go! WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK Monday – Chicken thighs marinated in garlic, ginger, and soy sauce with fried rice. My boys loved it and asked to have it on the menu regularly. Sure, no problem—such an easy meal to make! Tuesday – Teriyaki salmon, rice and Asian salad. The salad comes in a bag from Woolworths and it goes perfectly with the salmon. Wednesday – Pesto fettuccine with prawns. Thursday – Pot roast. Friday – Leftovers. Saturday – Chicken schnitzel with baked potatoes, salad and gravy (lots of gravy). Sunday – Steak sandwiches. WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT March marks three years since my beloved Mumma passed. I miss her every single day, and there isn’t a day that goes by without thinking about her. Sometimes, I even catch myself thinking, ‘Oh, I have to tell my mum…’ and then I remember. Loss sucks, and grief never goes away. You just get better at carrying it with you, and you learn to live alongside it. The 19th of March was the actual day, and on that day, I went about getting to work without thinking about the date—until a kind, well-meaning lady from the church I used to attend texted me to see if I was okay on such a hard day. I got the message mid-morning, and it kind of unravelled me. One, because I remembered, and two, because I felt bad that I had forgotten. So, I had to remind myself that grief doesn’t care about the calendar. Some years, anniversaries hit hard, and other times, they pass quietly. And that’s okay. The love, the loss, and the missing her—it’s there every day, not just on one marked date. I still felt bad for the rest of the day, though. WHAT I’M LOVING Even though it’s nearly April, the weather is still warm over here. We’ve had plenty of cloudy and humid days, which are making my hair frizzy. Despite that, I’m still loving the heat and enjoying wearing summer clothes. I’m also planning to get a keratin hair treatment soon to combat the frizz. In the meantime, I bought a heat styling brush from Amazon, and now I’m wondering if I even need the keratin treatment since this brush is doing such a good job at taming my hair. Decisions, decisions! WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO In March, we took a step back in time and visited Lyndham Hall Historic House for their open day. We learned some local history and enjoyed a delicious lunch followed by a traditional Devonshire tea. We went to Ikea for a mid-week shop. This was an exciting March event for a huge Ikea fan like me! We hosted Cousin Connect. Played a hilarious new board game. Said cheers to a gorgeous sunset at a local rooftop bar. Another unexpected mid-week treat. Every Sunday in March, we made homemade brunch a thing. Yum! WHAT I’M DREADING Nothing–yay! WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT Term one is nearly over, and we break up for the autumn holidays on April 11th. That’s 12 more early morning alarms, 16 more sleeps, and 384 more hours. WHAT I’M WATCHING I watched Adolescence on Netflix, and WOW! What an intense series! I won’t spoil it, but it’s one of those shows that stays with you because it’s so raw and thought-provoking. As a parent, it left me wondering what it’s like to have preteens and teens in this digital era. My youngest is 20, so it’s been a while since those teenage years. But the pressures young people face today? It must be so tough. Each episode was filmed in one continuous take, and I’ve been reading about how they pulled that off. It took so much skill, coordination, and timing to make it all come together. The acting is incredible, and you feel everything the characters feel. It’s a must-watch. Please go watch it now if you haven’t already! WHAT I’M LISTENING TO Teddy Swims. I just discovered his music the other day—what a voice! WHAT I’M WEARING I remembered to take one photo of what I wore in March. Go me! WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND Another no-plans weekend for me. WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH The autumn break and Easter. And that’s a wrap for March! How was your month? I hope it treated you well and brought you some good moments. I’m looking forward to what April has in store and hoping it’s kind to all of us. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday. Linking up with Shay and Sheaffer.  

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.  

Hi friends, and welcome to What’s Up Wednesday! I hope you’re having a wonderful day. Can you believe how fast this year is flying by? October has gone by in a flash, and we are about to hit November already—whoa! I’m excited to be here today to share a little of this and that and catch up on what’s been happening, what’s coming up, and a few things I’ve been loving lately. Let’s go! WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK Monday – Pot roast Tuesday – Turkey meatballs Wednesday – Barramundi, chips and salad Thursday – Chicken stir fry with cashews Friday – Cottage pie Saturday – Chicken schnitzel Sunday – I don’t know, but I’m sure it will be good 😉 WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT I’m not the only one reminiscing about how quickly the years go by—our eldest son, Luke, is feeling it, too! I sent him this cute photo of his younger brother, Sam, and our two cats just relaxing together. Sam is a whole 11 years and 10 days younger than Luke. He sent this photo back of Sam when he was little, saying, ‘He’s so big now. It feels like just yesterday he was this small.’ Indeed it does… indeed it does….sigh. WHAT I’M LOVING I love seeing Christmas decorations in the shops! Not long ago, there were just a few festive items here and there. But when I went to Westfields for my appointment with the optometrist a couple of weekends ago, I saw beautiful garlands, Christmas trees and even a Nativity scene. My stomach did a flip-flop because even though I know Christmas is still weeks away. Those weeks will turn into days in no time! WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO We celebrated two birthdays in October; Luke turned 31, and Sam turned 20. We had a very small Cousin Connect because most of the cousins were busy. So far, it seems we have full attendance for our November catch-up. Yay! I bought the Lululemon jacket and leggings that I had my eye on for ages. Both will be perfect for our trip! I continued my trip planning—old school style with a book and colourful pens! I just can’t get excited about digital planners. We also booked all our accommodation, which feels like a big win! My biggest October achievement was working through my preschool term break and doing my work placement in a long daycare centre. I can’t tell you how good it feels to have that ticked off the long list of tasks for my course. I got my hair cut, and I’ve gone shoulder-length for summer. WHAT I’M DREADING Nothing really, so that’s a good thing. WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT Everything! It’s spring (even though the weather is all over the place), and fun and festive celebrations will be here before we know it. We are in the last term of preschool (the last term is the best term!). We will be getting ready for our end-of-year events like concerts, parties, and graduation. There’s also our staff Christmas lunch, which we all look forward to. Then, of course, summer will be here, and I’m really hoping the weather gets the memo to turn up the heat! Yep, this is definitely my favourite time of the year! WHAT I’M WATCHING After putting in hours of work for my diploma, I have been treating myself to more TV time than usual. I recently watched Nobody Wants This and absolutely loved it. Senior Year with Rebel Wilson–she’s so funny. A 2014 Cameron Diaz movie, The Other Woman, it was a bit silly but also brain-numbingly good. I rewatched Notting Hill and Monster in Law because they’re such classics! I started Fool Me Once, but it’s stressing me out a bit, so I don’t know if I’ll stick with it. I’m really into feel-good movies and TV shows at the moment! Season 7 of 9-1-1 has its dramatic moments like all the other seasons, but it’s not too intense, so I like it. Plus, I can always skip to the part where people have been rescued if it’s too much. Oh yes! Steve and I are into the latest season of Survivor, and as a family, we are watching the Japanese anime Fullmetal Alchemist–the character voices are so cute!! WHAT I’M LISTENING TO Well, I’m on my lunch break at work as I type this, listening to a preschooler making a very realistic siren noise. I kinda wish he’d stop–haha! But apart from that (he’s stopped the noise now, thank goodness!) I have been listening to Lovefly podcasts. As I have shared before, flying is not my favourite–shudder! However, I want to squash my fear so I can enjoy our upcoming family trip. My kind and helpful friend shared a Facebook group with me called Lovefly. Lovefly is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to overcome their fear of flying. It features a podcast hosted by Paul Tizzard, a fear of flying coach. He chats with guests about their experiences and offers heaps of practical strategies for dealing with flying anxiety. The Lovefly website also has free, helpful articles and resources focused on flying fears. So, I have been reading the blog articles, and during my walks to and from work, I’ve been listening to the podcasts. You know what? I had no idea so many people, like me (and my friend), struggle with this fear. Most people I know seem to have a sensible approach to flying—they may not love it, but they’re okay with it. It makes me feel better knowing that I’m not the only person who has to sit perfectly still on a flight, concentrating with the pilot to make sure we all land safely. I want to be calm and okay with flying so I can truly enjoy every minute of our trip. So, if you can relate to my flying fears, check out the Lovefly website! It’s very helpful, and when I get on that plane, I want to

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