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Exploring the Beauty of Page, Arizona, and Utah

After three nights in Springdale/Zion National Park, it was time to pack up, check out of our hotel, hit the road again, and drive to Page, Arizona, with a quick dip into Utah along the way. Yeehaa! I just loved sitting in the van with my family, listening to music and watching the scenery roll by. We would sometimes sit quietly, other times, someone would say something random, leading to a domino effect of silly jokes and random comments that had us in stitches. And then there were the sleepy stretches… I may have dozed off a few times with my head back and mouth wide open, only to be woken up by a loud snore (ahem… possibly mine). Yikes. How embarrassing. Haha! We made a few pit stops along the way for bathroom breaks and, of course, more amazing photo ops. As we got close to our hotel we passed the Glen Canyon Dam. We arrived in Page, Arizona, around 2:00 pm, checked into our hotel, and dropped our bags in our rooms. Less than an hour later, we were back in the van and off to explore. Every precious minute counted, and we didn’t want to miss a thing. There was no time for dilly-dallying—and I’m so glad we stuck to that! It would’ve been such a shame to miss out on some of the spectacular sights because we didn’t stay on track. Living in Australia means we’re about as far from the rest of the world as you can get! That’s why we were all in for squeezing in as much as we could. The Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona Oh my goodness, yet another spectacular sight and another pinch-me, I-can’t-believe-I’m-here moment! See that river? It’s the Colorado River, and it bends around those towering rock walls. I’ll say it a million times—I feel like the luckiest person alive to have seen views like this! After a huge day of sightseeing, we were ready for something hearty. We finished the day with dinner at The Grand Canyon Brewing Distillery, where I had my first real American Mac and Cheese. I’ve been meaning to do a post on all the American foods I tried and my thoughts on them. But for now, I’ll just say this: I’m a big eater, and I can usually smash through any meal without a problem. But Mac and Cheese? That was a whole other level. I kept eating and eating, and that bowl stayed full. Full, I tell you, and I seemed to get nowhere. So in the end, I had to ask the server to pack it up so I could take it back to the hotel for part two of my Mac and Cheese challenge. Around 9 pm, I won! Carl Hayden Visitors Centre in Page, Arizona Our first stop the next day was the Carl Hayden Visitor Centre. Haha, it’s funny for me to spell “center” this way because in Australia, we spell it “centre.”Oops, sorry, I digressed with a grammar fact — let’s stay on track! At the Carl Hayden Centre, we learnt so much about Glen Canyon and water conservation (fantastic information to take back to my preschool). I stopped to listen to a video where Elders from American Indian Tribes spoke about the Colorado River and what it means to them. It was incredibly moving, and I loved how they spoke so passionately yet gently in their rich, melodic voices — so beautiful! Again, this is another visitors’ centre where I could have stayed the whole day. John Wayne Point at Monument Valley Oh my goodness, the views as we drove through Monument Valley were absolutely breathtaking! And what better way to take in views like these than with an old soundtrack from classic western movies like The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly playing? Then, of course, we had to play some America—A Horse with No Name at my request. Hehe, even though I know my husband really dislikes this song because he loves horses and insists that all horses should have a name. But it’s such a fantastic song, right? When we got to John Wayne Point, my husband had his special dream-come-true moment, just like I did when we went to Death Valley and I walked the same route that R2D2 did in Star Wars: A New Hope. Steve absolutely loves western movies, and of course, his favourite actor is John Wayne. I’ve sat through many a western film with him in our 35 years together, and I can tell you, the man loves his westerns big time! Forrest Gump Point We stopped for a quick packed lunch in the van. Then we were off to Forrest Gump Point, which was only a short drive from John Wayne Point. I didn’t even know about this place! My cousins are absolutely the best tour guides, and if it weren’t for them, we would never have visited these amazing spots. This was such a fantastic memory, and as I type this, I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry—let’s do both! Laugh because it was so funny, and cry because I wish we could do it all again! We got out of the van, and my husband made sure to watch for cars and trucks on the road. Then, we did it! Sam, my cousin J, and I recreated that iconic moment from Forrest Gump where he suddenly stops running. It was HILARIOUS!! Would you believe that night, back at the hotel, Forrest Gump came on as I was flipping through the channels? I stayed up to watch the moment in the film, even though it was late and we were oh-so-tired! It was just too much of a funny coincidence. Page, Arizona Caves This is a hidden gem that, again, if it wasn’t for my cousins, I never would’ve dreamed of visiting. It’s a lesser-known spot, but the photo opportunities here are absolutely incredible. If you’re in the area and love capturing unique shots,

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Friday Favourites

7 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

Hi friends, and happy Friday! I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some favourites, and I’m so glad you’re here — thank you for stopping by! Sunday Afternoon at The Gasoline Pony Last weekend, I went to The Gasoline Pony in Marrickville with my fun friend. It was a last-minute plan, and I love that she’s always up for a spur-of-the-moment outing. The Gasoline Pony is a cozy, compact bar that hosts all kinds of live music. We went to see a community choir called Isingonthecake perform. Originally, I thought it would be like a pub choir event where everyone joins in — but nope. I’m still yet to find one of those locally, and it’s definitely on my to-do list. My voice is really only for preschool ears, where it doesn’t matter if I sound like a mouse being strangled when I sing. But even though my voice is far (very far) from great, I love singing because it’s such a mood booster. We didn’t get to join in, but my friend and I both agreed that the choir’s performance was incredibly uplifting. Sipping on drinks and listening to music was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Best of all, we didn’t have to worry about any Sunday night blues creeping in. Because Monday was the start of our Autumn break! Yay! Mochi Mochi missed her vet appointment the week before last. She was booked to be spayed, and Sam was going to take her in—easy… um, no! Mochi refused to get into the cat carrier, and poor Sam spent hours trying. He got scratched, she turned into a little beast, and it was a mess of a day. We rebooked her for Monday of this week, and this time, Steve managed to get her into the carrier. I tried, but she scared me! Mochi is the sweetest, cuddliest cat—until she knows she has to get in the carrier. Then, she becomes terrifying! Sam picked Mochi up from the vet on Monday afternoon after her successful surgery. When she came home, she was calm and sweet, but definitely not impressed with the cone she had to wear. Sam unzipped the carrier and was telling me how the vet had instructed us to keep her calm and that she wasn’t allowed to do any zoomies. The words hadn’t even fully come out of his mouth when Mochi tore out of the carrier with the cone dangling off her. She ran around the house like a maniac, thinking she was being chased by it! It was like something straight out of a cartoon. Sam was running after Mochi, I was chasing both of them, and Mochi was running away from the cone! Oh my goodness, it was nuts—eventually, the cone came off. But we all had to take a long minute to calm down. Then Sam went straight back to the vet to pick up some calming meds for her, and by that point, I was seriously considering taking one of her tablets too! Back to the Vet Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there. A couple of days later, Mochi’s wound split open and lucky Sam, who’s studying nursing, doesn’t get grossed out like I do. So back to the vet she went, and this time, it was easier to get her into the carrier because the sedatives were a lifesaver. She was resutured with staples (ouch), and so far, she seems to be doing okay. Bistro George Tuesday evening, Steve and I went out to the city to have dinner at Bistro George, and it was seriously impressive! The decor, lighting, and atmosphere were amazing, and the food was spectacular. I had heard it was good, but I didn’t think it would be that good. Definitely a restaurant I’d love to go back to! For entrees, Steve had the prosciutto with figs. I ordered the chicken liver parfait, which looked like a dessert–haha! It tasted so good! For mains, it was steak for Steve and fish for me. Our lovely waitress suggested we share and brought out extra plates — I’ve never had anyone suggest that before. It was so much better than our usual swapping plates halfway through because we love to taste everything. For dessert, we shared a crème caramel and a banoffee sundae. No photo of the sundae though — we were already halfway through it before I realised I hadn’t taken one. I have to admit, I always feel a bit awkward taking pictures of my food. Then again, I don’t really like having my photo taken either, so food pics are definitely the way to go! I love the city at night—it’s so pretty with all the lit up buildings. We caught the train back home from Circular Quay station. Cleaning I love a bit of spontaneous deep cleaning, and it’s great to have time during the break to really get into those areas that need it! This week, I moved the sofa to vacuum and mop up all the dust. While I was at it, I scrubbed the skirting boards, which then led me to wash the living room rug too. My reward was finding my hair ties under the sofa, and guess who loves to play with them — Mochi! I thought I was accidentally losing them, even though I swore I always left them on my nightstand. She must have been sneaking them off there. So, now I’ve washed them, put them inside a container with a lid on and stored them in my bathroom cabinet. Good luck finding them now, Mochi! Making Lunches Again I remember when it was Sam’s last day of school, and I felt a bit sad knowing it would be the last school lunch I’d pack for him – sniff, sniff. Well, turns out it wasn’t the last after all. This week, I’m back to packing lunches for him, and I’m enjoying it! He’s doing his nursing placement in a hospital, and

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Creative Outlets and Free Time

7 Comments / Health and Well Being, Home, Home Decor

Hi friends! I’m joining in today’s Share Our Lives link-up, and the topic is Creative Outlets/Free Time. I’ll be honest—I got myself into a bit of an ‘overthinking-it’ cycle and wasn’t sure what I was meant to write about. Should I pick one? Do both? And what even counts as a creative outlet? Isn’t that just a hobby in disguise? I’ve already shared a post about my hobbies, so I didn’t want to repeat myself. Instead, I figured I’d talk about both–creative outlets and how I spend my free time because a lot of creativity tends to happen when there’s a bit of space in the day. Let’s see where this takes me. Creative Outlets That Inspire Me I’m a huge fan of activities that give me a chance to be creative. I love playing with fashion, makeup, and skincare. I try not to get carried away with trends because, as you know, they change faster than we can keep up with. Instead, I stick with what works for me and sprinkle in some new ideas here and there. I get a lot of inspiration from YouTube, especially when it comes to skincare routines or trying out new makeup looks. It’s a great way to learn something new, and one of these days I’ll nail that smokey-eye look. Or who knows—maybe the raccoon look will catch on, and I’ll be ahead of the trend! Blogging is My Number One Creative Outlet When it comes to creative outlets, blogging is hands down my number one. It ticks all the boxes for me because I get to chat about my week, life, and adventures, as well as reflect on things that are on my mind and things that I’m learning. I also get to share the things I love and explore ideas that have been swirling in my head. Best of all, I get to be creative with how I add visuals and design images using my favourite creative app—Canva. Designing Small Spaces as a Creative Outlet I love exploring small-space living, probably because my house is so small! I can easily spend hours learning about minimalist design ideas and one of my absolute favourite YouTube channels is Never Too Small. They focus on creating functional, beautiful spaces in small areas. I like to take these ideas and use them in my own home—it’s definetly a creative outlet for me. Sharing Creativity with Others Creative outlets don’t always have to be solo activities. I also love creating things that others can enjoy. At work, for example, I enjoy setting up dramatic play areas for the children. Back in the day, before the government threatened to reduce our funding if we didn’t extend the time children could attend, we had a solid 40 minutes before and after their day to plan and set up. That was my time to get creative and make props for pretend play spaces. I’d make things like a pizza oven for our dramatic play area or pretend cakes for our bakery set-up. Sadly, there’s not much time in the day anymore for big creative projects like these. But it’s always great to see the children still enjoy them—although it doesn’t take long before everything is upside down! The pizza oven is still holding up—not bad for cardboard, aluminium foil, and a whole lot of plastic contact. How Creative Outlets and Free Time Connect For me, creative outlets and free time are completely linked. I find that my free time is when I can dive into the things that interest, inspire, and help me get creative. If I had no free time, I wouldn’t have the chance to explore my creative side and discover those outlets. Then there are also times when free time means just that—free time. It’s the freedom to plonk myself in front of the TV and binge-watch something. Because I shouldn’t feel like I always have to be productive or creative. I just need to shush that nagging voice in my head that says otherwise! Thanks so much for stopping by. It’s been great reflecting on how creative outlets and free time are connected in my life. I’d love to hear how you balance them, so I’m looking forward to reading your posts. Wishing you all a creative and relaxing day. Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne and Sarah

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Autumn School Holidays: Things I’d Love to Do

6 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

Hi friends, it’s great to be back! I didn’t blog all week because life happened, so I gave myself a bit of a breather. Sometimes you’ve just got to step back for a minute. But I’m back now and feeling more like myself again—yay! As of 3:46 this afternoon, I’m officially off work for the next two weeks (hello, autumn school holidays!), so I thought I’d share a few things I’m hoping to do during the break. Autumn School Holidays: Things I’d Love to Do Embrace Autumn Cooler weather isn’t my thing–I’m definitely a sunshine-and-hot-days kind of person. But after getting a taste of what real cold weather feels like on our U.S. trip earlier this year, I have decided that there’s still plenty to love about this time of year, and today was proof of that. I woke up to a crisp, chilly morning, but as the day went on, the sun came out and it warmed up beautifully. Temps hit 27ºC, and even though I know this kind of weather won’t stick around, it was a nice little reminder that autumn can still bring the sunshine. I hope we get plenty of it during the next two weeks! Shopping Days with Friends I haven’t been shopping in the city for way too long and I’m looking forward to browsing through the shops and looking at all the autumn-winter fashions! Country Road and Zara, here I come! Rest Autumn school holidays = the perfect excuse to slow down. Oh my goodness, it was such a busy term at preschool! I’d just collapse at the end of each week, spend the weekend recovering, and then do it all over again the following week. You gotta love term one—it’s the same every year! Now that autumn’s here, it’s so much easier to fall asleep when the nights are cool. And guess what? For the last three nights, I’ve actually been going to bed earlier and falling asleep almost straight away. I was really struggling, and I think I’d built up a huge sleep debt, which probably explains why I didn’t feel great earlier this week. Who knows—maybe my night owl days are over—yikes! Finish Writing My Trip Recaps I’ve written a few already, but there are still plenty left to go. We did so much on this trip! Every week, I keep thinking, “I’ll write one next week,” and then, suddenly, it’s April. But they’re coming soon(ish). Try Out New Places to Eat We cut back on eating out last year because we were saving for our trip. In January 2025, the Australian dollar was quite weak against the US dollar, averaging around 62 cents to the US dollar. This meant that items priced at USD 10 would cost us approximately AUD 16 after conversion. Airfares, hotels, and three weeks of fun cost us a small fortune—but it was so worth it! Now that we have a breather before we start planning the next big adventure, we’ve decided to try out some new places to eat in Sydney. We’ve already booked a table at Bistro George next week, and I’m really looking forward to it! Visit a Farmer’s Market We often go to our local Ramsgate Farmer’s Market. But these autumn school holidays I’d love to visit bigger Farmer’s market like Eveleigh or Carriageworks. Check Out the Autumn Colours in the Botanic Gardens I’ve been wanting to go to the Royal Botanic Garden for ages. Maybe during these school holidays, I’ll finally make it happen and catch some beautiful autumn colours in full swing. Do a Gallery Day I’m thinking of dedicating a day to galleries this break—maybe a trip to the Art Gallery of NSW or a visit to the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills. It’s free, and I love how it gives you a peek into the creative space of one of Australia’s most iconic artists. It’s also close to some great cafes for a coffee break afterwards. And that’s my autumn school holidays wish list. Maybe it’s a little ambitious and I’ll run out of days… but I’m excited to see how many I can cross off. Thanks so much for stopping by—I hope you’re having a lovely day 😊 🍁 Happy Friday!🍁 Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Five Favourites

6 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

Hi friends and welcome to Friday Favourites! It’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share five favourite things about this week. I love humour and enjoy a good laugh, so I guess I landed in the perfect work environment! Yes, working with children can be stressful and tiring, but it’s never boring. And I’m lucky that I work with people who enjoy a good laugh too. The other day was “one of those days” when we were cleaning up the classroom to get ready for rest time (truthfully—not a lot of resting goes on in our classroom). My coworker and I started laughing about something random, and of course, we couldn’t stop. Those moments when you start to giggle, and then it builds up into uncontrollable laughter that actually hurts your stomach are the best, aren’t they? It was very funny, and we were still laughing about it the next day. Laughter really is the perfect way to beat a stressful day. I’m in a different classroom this year, and I’m getting to know these two cute birds who’ve been visiting us for years. They come into our classroom every single day like an old married couple, then walk out again. It’s like clockwork—always at around 11 am. I accidentally scared them out when I reached for my iPad to take this photo, but to make up for it, I gave them a grape each. Hopefully, they’ll eventually trust me. Somehow, we got extra milk delivered with our grocery order, and one of the bottles was about to reach its use-by date. I don’t like wasting food, so I decided to use it up by making a big quiche. As you can see, someone grabbed a slice before I had a chance to take a photo. It’s definitely easier to eat a huge quiche than to drink a whole lot of milk. I got a keratin treatment on my hair on Wednesday afternoon. The salon I go to is right near my workplace so I can make an appointment and pop in after work. I’ve been visiting this salon for about a year now, and my hairdresser is wonderful. She’s also the only one I trust completely with cutting my fringe. Over the years, a lot of hairdressers have let me down and cut my fringe too short. And I’ve probably mentioned before that when I was little, my mum would cut my fringe until it was straight, which often resulted in a very short fringe– yikes! Anyway, it was a nice Wednesday treat to sit down and enjoy a complimentary biscuit and cup of coffee while I had my hair done. I’m excited to have six months off from frizzy hair but this whole keratin treatment is such an ordeal. Right now, it’s flat and dead straight, and I can’t wash or style it until Saturday because the keratin needs time to set. Plus, I can’t colour it until next Wednesday because I have to wait a week. Oh yes, and to top it off my hair is also a slight orange because the keratin strips the colour. Oh my goodness what a process. I’ve been so tempted to wear a hat for the last few days. So I won’t show you a photo of my hair because – scary. But here’s a photo of my yummy biscuit I enjoyed while I got my hair done. This afternoon, I got a notification on my watch saying I’d achieved my move goal for the day. We finished up the preschool week with a dance party in the playground. Friday afternoons can be tricky, so dancing it out to The Floor is Lava, Party Freeze, and other favourites is a fun way to end the week– and hit that move goal! Did I mention I love to dance? Dancing and laughing are my two favourite things—and this week I got paid to do both. Yay! That’s a wrap for this week, thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Friday 😊

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An Average Day In The Life

8 Comments / Family Life, Home

Hi friends! It’s time to link up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne, and Sarah. This month’s topic is ‘A Day in the Life’—a peek into what an average day looks like. The nosey Parker in me loves these kinds of posts, so I’m excited to read about everyone else’s day. Here’s mine from last Thursday. I always set my alarm for 6.25 instead of 6.30, so I feel like I’m winning. I’m not a morning person AT ALL, so I figure if I play mind games like this, I might just have a shot at getting up on time at 6.30! 6.27—I was 3 minutes ahead of myself! Yay! First things first—I took my thyroid meds and made sure to leave the empty glass on top of the chopping board in the kitchen. That’s my little sign and a way of knowing for sure that I’ve taken them. When you take regular medication, it’s easy to get confused and wonder, “Did I take them, or was that yesterday?” That used to happen to me a lot, but now my glass trick has helped so much. Next, I went down to the laundry to feed the cats and take care of their kitty litter—bleh. Then, I charged my watch and phone to get them ready for the day. Up until a week ago, I used to leave my watch charging overnight, but then I heard it could cause overheating or damage the battery. Oops! Next, I folded some washing—because there’s always washing! I had to turn the light on because it was cloudy. But even when it’s not, I’ve noticed the sun is coming up later. Autumn is getting started. Then, it was time to sort out my lunch and get ready for work. Sunscreen first—always! I keep my makeup pretty simple: concealer, BB cream, blush, and lipstick. Just enough so I don’t look like I’ve been haunting houses. It was time to head out and walk fast! So cloudy, but this colourful tree was a treat on such a gloomy day. Every day, I dread these lights—they take forever to change! I like that our pedestrian lights have little men: red for wait and green for walk. But when I was in California, I think the pedestrian signals showed a white walking person for “WALK” and an orange raised hand for “DON’T WALK.” I kept waiting for the green man, but he never showed up. A bit sweaty from the walk, but I made it to work on time! Then, it was the usual running around we all do at preschool—getting everything ready, helping the children with their activities, and making sure everyone was settled and happy, using friendly hands and kind words. It’s a work in progress. Look, Miss Ruth, I painted a plum! Always bending down to pick up some kind of mess or spill. According to Dan Buettner, the guy who wrote about the Blue Zones, that’s supposed to be good for longevity, right? Excellent! Maybe I’ll live to 150. During my lunch break, I did some blogging. The day went by pretty fast at work, and I finished at 3:46. Yep, that’s my actual finishing time—pretty precise, huh? In the afternoon, the sun came out, and the skies turned bright blue. I always love walking home after a noisy, busy day. By the time I get home, I feel so zen. The only ones to greet me when I walked in the door were the cats. Steve was at work, and Sam was at uni. Dinner time for the girls. I grabbed my cleaning caddy and did a quick clean. I used to do it all in the morning, but now I do it in the afternoon when no one’s home. Then, it was time to cook dinner. On Thursdays, we usually eat together because everyone’s home in the evening. After everything had been cleaned up, we caught an episode of Matlock and had a cup of tea. I love Kathy Bates! Around 11 (probably later than I should), I got ready for bed. Brushed my teeth. All showered-pyjamas on, and then it was lights out. Nighty night!

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Friday Favourites

6 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

Hey friends! Welcome to this week’s Friday Favourites. I’m so happy to be back, and I can’t wait to share a few of the highlights from my week with you. Monday night, I made some chili, and what better way to enjoy it than with a bit of cornbread? I made it in a round tin because I don’t have a rectangular one, and it was easier than using a muffin tray. I first tasted this delicious cornbread at one of our cousin connect dinners last year (or maybe it was a couple of years ago—time goes so fast!). My cousin J and her family brought back a packet mix from their trip to the US for us to try. I loved it so much that during our recent trip, I made sure to pick up a couple of packets at Walmart. We can’t get it in Australia, and I regret stressing about my luggage being overweight when I was actually under. I could’ve brought back heaps more of this mix! Out of curiosity, I checked online to see if I could buy it here. I can, but it costs AUD$14, plus $46.50 for international shipping. I guess it’s cheaper than a plane ticket. But at that price, I won’t be rushing to buy any, that’s for sure! Tuesday was my birthday, and it was also the last day of my long service leave. So I made sure to enjoy every moment! We had a late breakfast at home. Then Steve and I headed to a local café that specialises in Portuguese tarts. These tarts are incredible—honestly, the best I’ve ever tasted. They’re made fresh daily, with a sweet, silky creamy filling and a perfectly crunchy, flaky pastry. The café is called Lusinata, and it’s in Hurstville. I’m sharing this because I truly think you’d love them as much as I do. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favour and try them—you won’t regret it! My husband offered to take me out for a special birthday dinner. But the last couple of months have felt like one long celebration. With our trip, extra time off work, and a bunch of lunch and dinner outings, I was more than happy to stay home that night. My eldest son and his partner came over, and Sam finished uni just in time to join us for dinner. We ordered takeaway and ended the night watching Three Amigos. Nothing beats a classic comedy! Wednesday was back to work, and I was actually excited to return. I missed some of my work buddies! I’ve been at the same preschool for nearly 28 years now, so it really feels like home. I brought back a little gift from Hawaii for everyone—a packet of pineapple lollies to share and a plastic flower hair clip. I think they liked them since they were wearing them, and by the time I took the photo, only two were left for the staff who work on different days. It was good to see some children returning from last year, and there were lots of new little faces! I was a bit worried I wouldn’t be able to remember all of their names. But even though my brain is a year older, by Friday, I had managed to get them all down! Then, of course, it felt like I’d never left, and my days were filled with the usual—picking up toys, helping the kids with their painting, cleaning up messes, reading stories, and singing those songs that get stuck in my head on loop. I think I really needed the extra long break because I came back feeling energetic and inspired. Ask me how I feel in a few weeks, and I might be singing a different tune, but so far, so good. Thursday night, Steve and I went out for dinner with friends. It was good to go to our local pub for a hearty meal. I had the chicken schnitzel with chips, salad and two lots of gravy because there’s no such thing as too much gravy! It was a great week, and starting work on a Wednesday was definitely a bonus. Before I knew it, the weekend was here! How was your week? I hope it was a good one. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I’ll be back on Monday with part 4 of our trip recap, where I’ll share all about our unforgettable day at Universal Studios. Hope you can join me then! 😊 If you missed parts 1, 2, or 3 of my trip recap, you can catch up here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Tips For Falling Asleep

9 Comments / Beauty and Self Care, Home, Life Hacks

Hey there, friends! I’m excited to join the Share Our Lives linkup today, where we’re sharing tips for falling asleep. To be honest, I was a bit stumped when I saw the prompt because I wasn’t sure I had much to offer. My sleep usually reflects my mood—if I’m worried, anxious, or it’s the first day back to work after the holidays, I’m pretty sure I won’t sleep well the night before. Then I thought, my number one tip for falling asleep is simple—just put on an amazing movie you’ve been saving up to watch for movie night. Bam, instant slumber! But that’s not very helpful. I know there are so many wonderful and sensible tips for falling asleep. Such as creating a calm bedtime routine, avoiding screens, and sticking to a sleep schedule. But, to be honest, I don’t really follow many of these myself. So, instead, I’ll just share a few personal tips for falling asleep that actually work for me. Some of them might even be the opposite of what the sleep experts recommend—oops! Tips For Falling Asleep Watch a Favourite Show and Enjoy a Favourite Drink I guess this could fall under the category of a calm bedtime routine. After all the chores are done, I have a shower, put on my PJs, and relax with a favourite show and a cup of tea. I know they say you shouldn’t have caffeine right before bed. But does tea have much caffeine? Not sure, but I know that I love mine with one teaspoon of sugar and a little milk. Oh yes, and I also have a small piece of chocolate or a biscuit (cookie). Don’t Avoid Screens Again, I’m stressing that this is definitely not what the experts recommend, but it works for me. Once I’m all cozy in bed, I’ll watch a quick 15-minute YouTube video. I love watching minimalist lifestyle videos, especially ones with Scandinavian-inspired home decor and simple living tips. They are just so calming, and they play the best soothing music in the background. Other times, I’ll scroll through Pinterest for fashion and hairstyling tips, then drift off to sleep imagining myself in the latest Zara fashions with perfectly styled glossy hair. Don’t Go To Bed Hungry I can’t sleep when I’m hungry, which is why an early dinner just doesn’t work for me. If I eat too early, I’ll lie in bed thinking about food! On the rare occasion I’ve eaten too early and gone to bed, I’ll end up lying there obsessing about my next meal. I’ve even had to get out of bed and go to the kitchen in the dark to have a quick snack just so I can fall asleep. Box Breathing If all my falling asleep tips are failing and I’m lying there, staring at the clock and stressing about how I’m not falling asleep, and the alarm is going to go off any minute! Aaaaaargh!!! Then, I will try a breathing technique called box breathing. I’m not sure where I first came across it, but apparently, it’s used by soldiers, first responders, and athletes to stay calm and focused in stressful situations. It’s super simple: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold again for 4. It slows everything down and helps calm your mind, which makes it way easier to drift off to sleep. Working with kids at preschool definitely counts as high stress, and some days, it feels like I’ve been on a battlefield, so this technique has come in handy more than once. Pray Other than asking God to please help me fall asleep, praying for others can work wonders. When I start thinking about the people I care about and say a little prayer for them, it helps shift my focus away from my own racing thoughts. It’s also a great remedy for those of us who can’t help catastrophising! Not Too Hot or Too Cold If I’m too cold in winter, I can’t sleep, and the same goes for when it’s too hot in summer. At the moment, it’s been hot and muggy, so we’ve got the fan on all night. In winter, though, I’m in thick bed socks and my ‘sexy’ flannels. Hehe. Those are my tips for falling asleep. Maybe a little unconventional, but they work for me. Of course, some nights none of these will work, and that’s the pits when you just can’t sleep! With all the worries, hormones, and responsibilities weighing heavy on us, it’s no wonder sleep can be so elusive some nights. And then there’s the way the world is heading, but let’s not go there—or none of us will get any sleep!! I hope these tips gave you a little idea to try next time you’re counting sheep (because that sure never worked!). Sleep tight, friends! Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne and Sarah

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Friday Favourites

8 Comments / Friday Favourites, Home

Happy Friday friends! I’m excited to be back today to share a recap of the first week of the summer holidays. Today officially wrapped up the preschool year. But I took this week off thanks to some accumulated long service leave. The best part is that I’m also on leave for the first few weeks of term 1 and I won’t be back until the 19th of February. So that’s a total of nine weeks and two days off–no complaints here! So, how did I spend my first week off? Cleaning and organising, of course! Haha! Honestly, it felt amazing to finally have the time and energy to tackle so many things around the house. I sorted out the cabinet under the sink in the ensuite, organised the medicine cabinet, dusted the blinds, rearranged the office/garage, and even cleaned the oven. Look—one sparkly oven! (No before picture, though, because, it was really bad!) And finally, the Christmas tree is up—hallelujah! I even put on a cozy Christmas scene on the TV, complete with a crackling fireplace. It looked beautiful, but looking at that fireplace in this heat made me feel even hotter. Summer has hit with a vengeance, and we’ve been sweltering through some super high temps and crazy humidity. But I’m not complaining—I love summer!!! Steve and I bumped into my aunt at the supermarket on Wednesday, and just like that, we were invited over for dinner that evening. She quickly threw together a Christmas meal since her daughter won’t be celebrating with us this year—she’s off on a fun overseas trip. My aunt has a knack for putting together an amazing spread. This would have taken me days of planning! And when it comes to decorating, my Christmas-loving aunt is a champ. She definitely makes up for my lack of Christmas spirit this year! When all the little houses are lit up and the music is playing it looks so beautiful! Every day now our big trip is getting closer and closer! We really are on the countdown now with only days to go. I’m so excited, nervous, and a little bit terrified at times too. This is not just a total dream come true but also a trip where I will be conquering many fears (gulp). As I have mentioned so many times there’s the flying part (so many flights-yikes!!). We also have a few adventurous hikes planned when we get to Zion National Park including walking through the narrows. In Hawaii, we are also going to be doing some water-related activities. Then there are the rides in Disneyland. Sam, my youngest does not like rollercoasters, and neither do I! But if I can get on a plane I can get on a rollercoaster, right? He and I were chatting the other day about the trip and I was explaining to him how Disneyland is the happiest place on earth and how excited I am. When we got to the topic of the rides he said “Mum I don’t think it sounds like the happiest place on earth, it sounds more like the most terrifying place on earth”. Haha, no, it’s for sure the happiest place and I can’t wait for him and my husband who also has never visited to feel that magic! So for someone like me, a real homebody who loves to stay dry with both feet firmly on the ground, this trip is definitely pushing me out of my comfort zone. But still, I’m so excited that I can hardly wait!! Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Can you believe it’s only four sleeps until Christmas Eve? Linking up with Andrea and Erika

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Hello Monday

6 Comments / Hello Monday, Home

Hi friends, and happy Monday! Thanks for stopping by—it’s time for a quick weekend recap. On Saturday afternoon, I made a quick trip into the city to return a few things I’d bought during the Black Friday sales. Online shopping can be hit or miss, and this time, it was mostly misses. So back to the shops they went. Getting into the city was a bit different this time. The trains weren’t running to Town Hall station—my usual stop for city shopping. The train only went as far as Sydenham, and from there, I hopped on the metro. Even though the metro’s been running since August (it was all over the news when it launched). I hadn’t been on it yet. A few kids at preschool were so excited when they rode it on opening weekend and couldn’t stop talking about it. Now I can finally say I’ve experienced it too! I felt like a lost tourist trying to find my way around and even had to ask a friendly station assistant for directions. The Sydney metro station is incredible–so sleek, modern and very futuristic looking. Honestly, I must have been living under a rock because I had no idea Sydney had added this new mode of transport. The metro is fully automated, and the carriages are spacious and air-conditioned. Which was a good thing because it was an incredibly hot and humid Saturday. I’m not complaining about the heat because summer is my favourite season, and I do enough complaining over winter, my least favourite season! It was a very fast ride to Gadigal Station. I have discovered that there are a whole lot of new stations with new names that I need to get to know. I returned the things I needed to return, and then I wandered around for a bit. It was so nice to be in the city and soak up the buzz. Before I went home, I went to Lululemon and bought myself a hoodie to take with me on the plane. Yikes! I’m getting on a plane soon–maybe having a nice hoodie will make me braver! I got home just in time to receive my online grocery order. Then my cousins came over—the ones we’re going on the trip with—and we all sat down to apply for our ESTAs together. Ticking off travel admin as a team!! Once we were all done, we went to Chebbos for burgers and fries. I always love hanging out with my cousins and can’t wait to spend three weeks travelling with them. Sunday I meant to put the Christmas tree up, but I wanted to do some reorganising first. My office/garage needed it desperately, or at least I think it was me who needed it done desperately! It was bothering me, and I wanted to cross it off my to-do list ASAP. As with all reorganising and decluttering projects, it took way longer than I expected. Especially when you do what I did and pulled everything out first. I’m not one to keep things, and I’m consistently decluttering, yet still, there was stuff that needed to go! I listed quite a few things on marketplace and loaded up the car with items to donate to the Salvos. So, there is no Christmas tree up yet, and this year, I’m calling myself a total Christmas flop! To top it off, I mailed my overseas Christmas cards this afternoon, and the postie said I missed the Christmas cut-off date. Hmph!! It’s Monday evening, and I’m determined to get the Christmas tree up tonight before I blink and it’s Easter! Have a wonderful day and wish me luck! Linking up with Holly and Sarah

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