Recapping July-What’s Up Wednesday

Hi friends! It’s the last Wednesday in July, which means it’s time to link up with Shay and Sheaffer for What’s Up Wednesday. I’m sharing a bit of this and that and recapping what happened in July. I’m so glad you’re here!

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WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK

I’m constantly hungry, and I blame the freezing cold weather! Salads for work lunches just don’t cut it anymore, so this week, I have been having soup and toast. This is what our dinner menu looks like for the week.

Monday – Mexican chicken

Tuesday – Tuna patties with rice and green salad

Wednesday – Salmon pasta with string beans and garlic bread (the half that I made and froze the other day)

Thursday – Hopefully leftovers and I’ll make a zucchini slice as well

Friday -turkey burgers and homemade chips

Saturday – ??

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT

Sunny, blooming flowers! Everything feels so dull and grey at the moment, and I’m really longing for the brightness and freshness of spring.

WHAT I’M LOVING

The pure wool socks I bought from Costco a while back. They keep my feet so warm in the freezing cold preschool playground, and I couldn’t love them more. Bless my socks!!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

Sometimes, I have trouble remembering what I did five minutes ago. So luckily, I can look back on some photos to jog my memory about some of the things we’ve been up to in July. Here’s a snapshot.

We saw Boney M in concert and had so much fun singing along and dancing to some pretty cool disco classics

My winter school holiday break was a fantastic mix of getting stuff done around the house and enjoying some much-needed downtime. Our short trip to Gosford was a highlight.

We had a fantastic stay at The Hotel Gosford! We loved the cozy atmosphere with its blend of heritage charm and modern comforts. Figuring out how to use the heritage lift was interesting and almost a bit scary at first, but we soon got the hang of it.

I painted and reorganised our small walk-in closet. Now I don’t mind leaving the door open anymore because it looks so neat and tidy.

I enjoyed a few trips to IKEA, and on one of those trips, I bought a new rug for the living room. The cats had made a mess of the other one, and despite using every cleaner, disinfectant, and freshener, as well as scrubbing away like crazy, I couldn’t save it. Although nobody else at home could smell “it,” I definitely could. This new rug is machine washable, and I’ve also had some strict words with the cats! So, fingers crossed that they listen.

One of the best things (along with a million other best things) about being on school holidays is having the time to get a bit creative! I made some prints to hang in our dining room with the Canva website and used lots of Bauhaus inspiration.

We celebrated Christmas in July

I got my passport, and we bought our Disneyland and Universal Studios tickets online on Saturday. We’ve also sorted our accommodation for LA and Hawaii and hired a van to drive from LA to Las Vegas and then on to Zion National Park. Aaaahhhh! It’s all getting so real now!

Steve had another procedure on his knee—manipulation therapy—to help with his range of motion. We were a bit down about this setback, expecting more pain and a longer recovery. But he actually did way better than we expected, with not much pain after the procedure, and I see improvements every day. Good job, Steve!

He’s got physiotherapists coming to the house a couple of times a week and is also doing his own exercises at our local pool, walking up and down in the water to strengthen his knee. They weren’t kidding when they said it would be a long recovery!

July was a pretty good month, with the usual mix of fun moments and a few of life’s surprises to keep us on our toes and remind us to be grateful for the ‘ordinary’ times.

WHAT I’M DREADING

I’m not really dreading anything at the moment. Hmmm, maybe I’m dreading a little something. I’m up to the second part of my study journey, and I’m procrastinating badly. I have to respond to a few long assessment-style questions to see if I’m eligible for any credits, and it’s been hard to get started. I know that once I get going, I’ll be ok. It’s the get-going part I’m having trouble with!

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT

August is the final month of winter. It doesn’t get much more exciting than that!!

WHAT I’M WATCHING

We were hooked on Crossing Lines and loved it until we reached the end of season 2. I totally understand why the show only lasted three seasons! They ruined the ending of the second season and offered a pitiful explanation about what happened to three of the main characters. It was so disappointing that we decided to give up on it.

Last night, we started watching DI Ray, a British police series. I was really enjoying it, but then I woke up and saw the first episode had finished. Why can’t I stay awake?! I’m keen to see more, so I’ll definitely be rewatching it and catching up!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

The airconditioner keeping us warm. I wonder what our electricity bill will look like in August…hmmmm??

WHAT I’M WEARING

I remembered to take a couple of photos this month!

This is my favourite wool jumper. It’s so warm, and I love that it has a zipper on the front, so I have the option of leaving it down or zipping it all the way up so it’s a turtleneck. When I bought it last year I was afraid it might be itchy. You know how itchy wool can get, right?! Nope, this one is soft, and it doesn’t itch at all.

I’m pretty sure I’ve shown you this jacket before, but I just had to mention the leather rose I pinned on my shirt. I picked it up from Etsy a few years ago, and I really like it. It’s got two clips, so I can even pin it in my hair, plus a safety pin attachment to secure it on my clothes. I ran out of Hollywood Fashion Tape the other day, and when I put on the shirt, it was gaping so badly! I stuck the rose on and saved myself from an embarrassing fashion disaster, and I thought it looked pretty good. I’m still going to order the fashion tape from Amazon, though, because leather roses won’t always save me!

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH

Steve’s birthday is in August, and I’ve decided to surprise him with dinner at a secret spot. He never reads my blog, so he won’t know I’ve mentioned it. I’m taking a day off from work on Friday the 16th (I saved up some leave) to spend the day with him, and I’ve booked a table at Mr Wong’s. It’s one of Sydney’s top dining spots, known for its amazing modern Cantonese food, stylish atmosphere, and excellent service. You really have to book well in advance because it’s so popular. I’ve also heard the cocktails are exceptional. Yay! Then, on Saturday (his actual birthday), we’ll have the family over for dinner. Since we’ve done the fancy part, just the two of us, we’ll keep it casual with a pizza party. Haha!

That wraps up July! I hope yours was great, and here’s to hoping August is kind to all of us.

Thanks so much for stopping by and happy Wednesday!