Monthly Recap

Hi everyone happy Wednesday!! Thank you so much for joining me for today’s monthly recap What’s up Wednesday post where I am linking up with Sheaffer and Shay.

Can you believe a whole month has flown past us just like that? We are really getting closer to the end of the year when all the fun stuff happens!

Well, we finally have a date set for ‘Freedom Day’. The NSW premier announced that lockdown will officially end on 11th October. I am super excited that I’ll be able to see my family who I have missed so much and it looks like Christmas is all systems go!!

Ok let’s recap this month and jump into today’s fun what’s Up Wednesday post beginning with

1. What We’re Eating

Hello Mangos! yes, delicious sweet juicy mangos are back. I just love them, don’t you? Plus, every time I see mangos at the supermarket I get really excited. Because to me, seeing them means we are heading into summer, longer days, fun BBQs and end-of-year celebrations! Yes, I love mangos not just because of their delicious flavour but also because of what they represent! Go Mangos!!

Sam has really been into ‘Full English Breakfasts’. So most Saturdays this month we have been indulging in scrambled eggs, mushrooms, sausages, bacon, hash browns, and tomatoes. It’s been a real cholesterol fest for me! But oh so delicious!!

Smoothies!! we’ve had so many bananas lately given to us from some friends who have a banana tree in their back yard. So we’ve made delicious sweet banana smoothies with low-fat milk, just to make me feel a bit better about the state of my arteries.

2. What I’m Reminiscing About

Being able to celebrate birthdays with my family. My mum, who lives with us turned 93 on 15th September and so I made her all her favourite food for dinner and an upside-down pineapple cake instead of a usual birthday cake.

But this year it was just the 4 of us and I kept thinking back to last year when we had the whole family together. I’m feeling much more optimistic now though since we have a date set for when we can finally get together.

3. What I’m Loving

Cutting my own hair! I know this must sound crazy but my hair was driving me nuts. It grows so fast especially the back. Not knowing when the lockdown was ending back in July I got brave and cut quite a bit off the back of my hair and tidied up the side layers.

And guess what! It actually looked pretty good. I even liked it better than when my hairdresser does it. To tell the truth, in all my years I have never, that’s right never found a hairdresser I have been completely happy with. They always cut the sides too short and leave the back too long. They all do this, maybe it’s because I have a weird-shaped head or something.

So anyway I trimmed it again last week and now I’m thinking this is the way to go for me. I can just trim it whenever I feel like it without having to wait for an appointment.

4. What we’ve been up to

Just the usual lockdown stuff, staying up way too late on the days when I didn’t have to go into work. Watching really fun shows, playing words with friends, and endlessly chatting to my bestie on messenger.

Sam has been doing online learning all term and can’t wait to get back to school to see his friends. He is super excited the gyms are opening up soon too. He has his driving learner’s permit so he’s gone back to doing lessons with Steve again.

Strict lockdown had us all too scared to even let Sam practice driving in case they got stopped by the police. Now things have improved and some restrictions are easing he’s been back on the road with his dad again. Gulp!

Steve’s been working, as usual, nothing much changed for him during lockdown because he works in hospitality. Restaurants were allowed to stay open for pick up and take away only. He can hardly wait for the local swimming pool to reopen. He loves swimming and is part of a Sunday morning swim club. We are very both very different, he likes swimming and sports. I like to be dry and sitting still.

5. What I’m Dreading

I’m not really dreading much at the moment. We’ve all had our covid vaccines, Sam has his second dose next Monday. I was a bit anxious about that and glad it’s over.

I guess I’m just dreading the frantic pace of life once everything reopens. Don’t get me wrong I am excited that lockdown is ending very soon but for the first time ever I had a chance to see what life was like without having to rush around everywhere. I’m thinking I need to make a few changes, I don’t want that stress-tight neck muscle to come back ever again.

6. What I’m Working On

I’m planning a big get-together with my family for later next month. Last year I had everyone over for dinner and to watch a Halloween movie. I bought a cheap but good projector and we had a big-screen experience in the living room. Everyone had such a great time and I’m hoping to do this again soonish.

I’ve also been doing things like tidying up and getting rid of unnecessary hair and makeup products from my bathroom cabinet. I’ve done my ensuite but need to do the main bathroom cabinet. I’m just not feeling very motivated at the moment but I am working on it.

7. What I’m Excited About

I have to hold on to my heart because Sam turns 17 on Wednesday! How is that even possible. My nickname for him is Little Sam even though he’s over 6 feet tall and towers over me. I called him that in front of someone once and they burst out laughing. But he will always be little to me.

I’m excited about seeing the shops all decorated for Halloween and Christmas. I know many people think it’s too early but I don’t. I just love it and I can’t wait!! Usually the week after fathers day you see all the Christmas things starting to appear in the shops and then not long afterward the decorations go up too. Everything is still shut but soon oh so soon they will be open and decorated again, yippee!!

8. What I’m Watching

I’m nearing the end of “The Durrells” which I started ages ago. If I love a show I take breaks from watching them because I just don’t want them to end and” The Durrells” is one of them. But with only 2 more episodes to go, I have to finish and I know I’ll be sad for days.

The same applies to “Parenthood”, I took a big break and now I’m back and already feeling sad that I’m into the last season.

I can’t say the same for “Good Girls” I really enjoyed the first two seasons, the third was meh. And I just want the last over and done with. I’m at the stage that I don’t care if all the girls get thrown in jail because I’m sick of their constant bad decisions. It’s just frustrating me. If it wasn’t for Steve wanting to watch it to the end I would have given up already.

I am REALLY loving this year’s season of The Block. It’s an Australian reality TV show where contestants compete against each other to renovate a home. So there are 5 couples and 5 houses. The houses then go up for auction and the contestants win big money! Oh the drama that goes on each week has me completely hooked. It’s so good!

I have recently discovered another show called “In The Club”. I’ve only watched the first episode and I need more hours in the day to watch more. But the first episode had more intense drama than many shows have in one season.

I really recommend it and so far I’ve gotten my friend really hooked on it. Ha! she was looking for a calm sweet show like “The Durrells” but I found this one for her instead.

9. What I’m Wearing

Well, I’m still wearing comfortable daggy track pants and T-shirts at home, but with the weather warming up I have also been wearing shorts. I had to do a grocery pick-up last week and I was feeling really excited that it was sunny and warm so I wore a dress! I haven’t worn anything decent in so long! I felt happy and excited about my trip to the supermarket in my dress.

10. What I’m Looking Forward To Next Month

I’m excited to see the kids back at preschool. I know it will mean I’m back at work full time again but I have missed seeing them. Term 4 is always the best. The weather is warm, all the kids know the routine, they’ve made friends and we have great connections with the families. We usually practice and practice for our big Christmas concert too and it’s just a fun time at preschool.

I’m expecting that once we all return to preschool there will be a few kids struggling with having to separate from their families again. So maybe Term 4 will look a bit different this year, but it will still be good to see everyone.

So that’s it friends! Thanks again so much for stopping by. I really hope you have a fantastic rest of the week and stay safe!