Nature walks
There are some nature reserves around Brisbane with cleared walkways or boardwalks, that are flat and easy to navigate. Sometimes the boardwalk will go over a mangrove area, or by a creek, or finish in a bird hide. There is normally a visitor's center with free maps, guided day and night tours, and lots of information about the flora and fauna you might see. Last time we were there, the lady behind the counter at the visitor center lent the monkeys some binoculars to do some bird watching. I love being in nature, and I'm delighted that the rest of the family love it as well. I'm not impressed with camping, but I do so love to spend a few soothing hours breathing in some gorgeous bushland air, and resting my eyes on the wetlands. There is normally no one else there but us, and you don't have to take the guided tour, just grab a map and go. It's lovely.
My label maker
I have had a longstanding love affair with my DYMO label maker. I label things in the pantry, the freezer, the fridge, the laundry, the spice rack. I labelled the shelves in the linen press and it's been so much tidier since, everything stays on the right shelf. I am about to label the shelves in the boys wardrobes, and I have high hopes that this will stop the wardrobes looking like the inside of a charity clothing bin. I am happy in advance for this.
My children's new school
We made the epic decision to enroll the monkey brothers in a different school this year, and so far it is proving to be the best decision ever. They come home exhausted and complain that 'this is a learning school mum!' Insert massive sad faces from them, gleeful smiles from us. Already their reading, writing and handwriting skills are leaping ahead, and they are making friends and relaxing into a new routine really well - half of The Gentleman's baseball team already attend the new school, which is making the transition easier. This new school has a very strict anti bully policy, which is a refreshing change, and one of the biggest reasons we moved. Those sad faces are turning upside down. It was a tough decision to move them, but every day we our decision is validated to us in so many ways, and this makes us very happy indeed!
Settling into a blog routine after the Christmas break
The Christmas break was a big stretch of each stinking hot day blending into the next, and it was a tough routine to break, all that doing nothing! The new school starts half an hour earlier than the old one and there is no time wasting daily assembly first up, so my day starts very early, and I love it! I am able to get a walk in most days, and am home by 9.30 to quickly chuck some laundry on before I get properly into my schedule. I am settling into a productive routine after a long time, and it feels great.
Catching up with friends for coffee
I am one of those people who are always catching up over coffee, or lunch. I find it really nice to get out of the house, get some fresh air, and see things from a different perspective. Be it work, friendship, or an overlap of both; I think you can have more depth and meaning in a 30 minute face to face conversation than you would in 50 emails. So I've been very happy to continue the friendships I had with the school mums from the old school, over coffee, a spot of op shopping, or even a Tupperware party. We might have changed schools but we are still local.
Summer stone fruit
I love that peaches, plums and nectarines are at the cheap end of the season! They are just perfect right now to eat straight up, but I'm having fun cooking with them as well. This afternoon, I'll be making plum sorbet, if there are any left in the house. Mangoes are still in the shops, which is quite late for them but I guess the weather has been super hot for a long time. They haven't come down in price though, which is disappointing, and don't get me started on avocados! $4 EACH! Ridiculous!
I love that peaches, plums and nectarines are at the cheap end of the season! They are just perfect right now to eat straight up, but I'm having fun cooking with them as well. This afternoon, I'll be making plum sorbet, if there are any left in the house. Mangoes are still in the shops, which is quite late for them but I guess the weather has been super hot for a long time. They haven't come down in price though, which is disappointing, and don't get me started on avocados! $4 EACH! Ridiculous!
Gifted jewelry made by clever clog friends
My lovely friend K started making resin jewelry last year, and before she discovered she was allergic to working with resin, she made some beautiful rings and bangles and gave them away to friends as 'practice pieces'. One of my most treasured items is this small blue dish that she made. I love it's size, it's elongated, organic shape and the depth of colours it has. I am not the only one that is sad that K is allergic to resin, but I am very happy to be the owner of some limited edition K resin.
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| His n Her eye checks. Sweet! |
At the beginning of every year, I get this weird head space thing going on, and suddenly need to clear the decks and tick the boxes so I can get on with my yearly plans. Part of this clearing the decks is having all the health checks done and dusted, and I'm lucky in that medicare lets me do this for little to no cost. In the last few weeks I've had a mammogram (results: all clear!) had my maculars checked (results: all clear!) a skin check, results: Not so clear!! That charming beauty mark on my derriere is being removed this Friday. I'm glad it was caught early, because it looks like a 'pre cancerous melanoma' but we won't know until after the pathology comes back. Honestly, I am not that worried about it. I am, however, certainly not looking forward to a local anesthetic in my bum. Last time I had a local I screamed the surgery down with dramatic swearing while the nurse shushed me and the Dr shook his head at me, so I thought I'd better check to make sure the procedure room was soundproof, but the nurse just laughed at me. She's in for a shock.
RSPCA approved chickens from Coles
When I see labels like RSPCA Approved or Heart Foundation Tick approved, my inner cynic comes out and says 'Oh, realllllllly??' It's like saying 'Cage Free Eggs'; not always truth in advertising. Anyway, I bought an RSPCA Approved chook from Coles recently because it was on sale, and I am hooked. Beautifully plump, fresh and juicy - only a happy chicken could be that delicious. I massaged it with some soy, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice before butterflying it and roasting it, and good heavens it was divine. This is not sponsored, I was just impressed. Yum.
When I see labels like RSPCA Approved or Heart Foundation Tick approved, my inner cynic comes out and says 'Oh, realllllllly??' It's like saying 'Cage Free Eggs'; not always truth in advertising. Anyway, I bought an RSPCA Approved chook from Coles recently because it was on sale, and I am hooked. Beautifully plump, fresh and juicy - only a happy chicken could be that delicious. I massaged it with some soy, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice before butterflying it and roasting it, and good heavens it was divine. This is not sponsored, I was just impressed. Yum.
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| Beautiful one day, perfect the next. Wear a hat. |
The promise of Autumn
I get it, I live in Australia. I live in Queensland, known as 'The Sunshine State'. It's glorious weather is why we love it. But oh my freakin goodness I am tired of this relentless heat. Honestly. You know when it's so hot that you are sweating before you even get out of the shower? When you joke that sweat is the new black, and everyone agrees but no one laughs? When there is no point putting on makeup or even moisturizer because it is just going to melt right off your skin and evaporate before you get to the car? I am so over it. So, so over it. I sleep under a ceiling fan, and haven't had a sheet or doona (haha! funny!) on top of me since well before last November. It's been over 35 degrees every day for a week but I am happy because I know Autumn is on its way, and that means cooler weather. There was decent rain recently a few hours south, and my fingers are crossed that that is the start of a seasonal change. I can't tell you how happy that would make me.
So what is making you happy right now? Which label maker do you prefer? Chickens, yes or no? Are you over your weather too? Go on, tantalize me with some snow porn.
Linking to IBOT today. Yay me!
xx
I get it, I live in Australia. I live in Queensland, known as 'The Sunshine State'. It's glorious weather is why we love it. But oh my freakin goodness I am tired of this relentless heat. Honestly. You know when it's so hot that you are sweating before you even get out of the shower? When you joke that sweat is the new black, and everyone agrees but no one laughs? When there is no point putting on makeup or even moisturizer because it is just going to melt right off your skin and evaporate before you get to the car? I am so over it. So, so over it. I sleep under a ceiling fan, and haven't had a sheet or doona (haha! funny!) on top of me since well before last November. It's been over 35 degrees every day for a week but I am happy because I know Autumn is on its way, and that means cooler weather. There was decent rain recently a few hours south, and my fingers are crossed that that is the start of a seasonal change. I can't tell you how happy that would make me.
So what is making you happy right now? Which label maker do you prefer? Chickens, yes or no? Are you over your weather too? Go on, tantalize me with some snow porn.
Linking to IBOT today. Yay me!
xx