Hey there friends, welcome to the July edition of Share Our Lives.

When I saw that this month’s prompt was about my favourite room in the house, I knew exactly which room I was going to choose.

Our kitchen!

Yep! I love our kitchen, and here are 7 reasons why.

1. We Dreamt of a New Kitchen for the Longest Time

When we bought our home, the kitchen had already been given a cosmetic facelift, but underneath it was still the original kitchen from when the house was built.

As the years passed, it started showing its age. The shelves began to sag, cupboard doors started falling off, and then the oven decided to pack it in and give us only one setting: burning hot!

After years of dreaming about a new kitchen and many trips to IKEA and other kitchen showrooms for inspiration, we finally created our dream kitchen.

2. It’s Small, but It Works

Our kitchen is a galley kitchen, so it’s not huge. Ha, it’s not even big! But we made sure we used every bit of space. We built the cupboards right up high, giving us so much extra storage.

3. The Pantry

I had never had a pantry before, so this was a big deal for me. It was so good to say goodbye to cupboards full of random jars and packets everywhere.

Everything has a place now, yay!

4. The Power Points

This one might sound a bit odd, but I think adding four double power points in a small kitchen was a genius idea.

During the planning stage, when my husband first suggested it, I thought it was a bit excessive. But it turns out he was right because it means I can plug things in when I need them without constantly unplugging appliances.

They’re also the perfect spot to charge our phones and other gadgets. Is there anything these days that doesn’t need charging?

5. The Morning Sunshine

I love that when I lift the blinds in the morning, the sun shines into our kitchen through the big windows. I can also see the top of our cumquat tree and the big tree on the nature strip.

6. It’s all White

I love that our kitchen is all white. It feels clean, simple and uncluttered, which is exactly how I like my home.

I know trends are moving away from all-white kitchens and some people think they’re boring. But I love that I can add details like wood, textured canisters and a couple of plants to warm it up.

I definitely never want the dentist’s surgery vibe!

7. The Little Nook

One of my favourite things about our kitchen is the little nook at the entrance.

It’s somewhere to sit, have a quick meal or just perch while chatting.

The open shelves above are perfect for a few plants and things.

Credit to my husband for suggesting the power points, but this nook was my idea. Go me!

So there you have it — 7 reasons why I love our kitchen.

I’ve shared all the details of our kitchen renovation, including the before and after, in a separate post if you’d like to have a look.

Thanks for stopping by and having a look at my favourite room in the house!

Hi friends, it’s great to be back linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some weekly favourites from the first week of my winter school holidays. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Well, well, well… the first week has certainly gone fast. I’m for sure not a fan of how quickly school holidays seem to disappear, but I’m very grateful that I get to enjoy these breaks. They are something I look forward to so much, and I’ve been making the most of this first week of fun outings, as well as lazy days.

Lunch Out

First up this week was a lovely lunch out with my fun friend.

Ooooh, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy a daytime catch-up during the school holidays, so this was the perfect way to start the term break.

We both had the crab ravioli in a little Italian restaurant in the city. It was so cozy inside, perfect on a cold, rainy day.

A Sweet Treat

After lunch, we browsed inside some of the shops and then had a sweet treat to end the day. My friend shared this delicious pistachio layered cake from Stitch Coffee in the QVB with me.

Soccer

I think I spent most of Tuesday in front of the TV watching the World Cup soccer. The game was on at 10 am Sydney time. It was so good not having to get up in the early hours like we did to watch the Socceroos play. Steve and I did a lot of excited yelling every time Belgium scored. Woohoo! I couldn’t have been happier to see them secure their place in the quarter-finals. Go Belgium!!

Then we watched the replay of the Norway vs Brazil game. Oh my goodness, what a great game! I’m excited for their next match against England in the quarter-finals.

A New App

Last weekend I discovered the Stylebook app. Since then I’ve been adding my wardrobe and playing around with different outfit ideas. It’s been so good seeing all the possibilities with the clothes I already have. I’ll share more about this in another post because I’ve been having so much fun with it.

Swedish Fika

I enjoy watching a lot of lifestyle videos about Swedish living on YouTube. Did you know they have a daily tradition called fika, where they enjoy coffee and something sweet? According to my Ancestry DNA results, I’m 1% Swedish (my husband cracks up every time I remind him of this). Anyway, I’m embracing my teeny tiny Swedish connection and enjoying this lovely tradition during the winter school holidays! Hehe.

Dinner Out

Thursday night, Steve and I went to Marrickville Tennis Club, where our Prime Minister plays tennis. Steve told me this, and I thought he was pulling my leg, so I had to fact-check it. Turns out he was right! How funny is that?

Anyway, we didn’t go to play tennis, nope, we went to try the Portuguese food they serve there.

I had to take a photo of the stage because the decor was so old school. It reminded me of the movie Strictly Ballroom.

I’d never had Portuguese food before, but the flavours were delicious and very similar to how my mum used to cook. I felt like I was back in the 70s and 80s on Thursday night. I’m excited to go back again soon.

Winter Sunshine

Having a mid-morning coffee and seeing the sun come in through the windows and brighten up the winter days has been the best feeling. It’s the simple things!

Yep, it sure was a lovely first week of the school holidays. It looks like I’ll be spending a lot of this weekend watching the World Cup soccer. We’ve stocked up on snacks and meat pies. Meat pies for breakfast because of the early match times… that should be interesting!

Happy Friday 😊

In June 2026, British media outlets reported that a 48-year-old man, Damon Bennett, and a 51-year-old woman, Tricia Coley, from Williamsburg, Kentucky, were arrested after authorities found narcotics inside multiple bags they were carrying. 

The investigation began when their car was spotted in an “Employees Only” parking space of a local business in London, Kentucky, at around 11:30 a.m. on June 18. 

During interrogation, Croley allegedly gave the police a plastic bag containing contraband and another that had some sort of tablets. The ID she showed the police for self-identification belonged to another female individual.

When the deputies searched the vehicle, they found a black bag containing a crystal-like substance, a bag of green leafy material, and several other items of substance paraphernalia. 

The bag was labeled “Definitely Not A Bag Full Of Dr**s,” according to reports.

Netizens had a field day over the label, flooding social media with jokes and memes.

“That is some Scooby-Doo-level villain shenanigans right there,” one person said. Another wrote, “In the box of the least brightest crayons…they are the piece of chalk.”

“An officer wearing a shirt that said ‘Definitely Not A Cop’ making the arrest would have made this story much better,” a third joked. 

“Did the bumper sticker say ‘Definitely An Employee?’” a fourth posted, referring to their parked vehicle. 

Image credits: Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida

“I bet the combination on their luggage is 1234,” another comment read.

Both Bennett and Croley were arrested on the spot and taken to the Laurel County Corrections Center. A check of Croley’s true identity showed she had an outstanding warrant, and so did Bennett.

Croley was arrested on the spot with four charges as of now: giving an officer false identification, possession of a controlled substance (first degree), possession of a controlled substance (third degree), and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. 

Bennett was arrested on the charge of failure to appear stemming from a previous case. Jail records show he was released after posting a $100 bond.

Two other similar arrests have occurred in the last two years.

In October 2024, police officers pulled over a car that was reported stolen in Portland, Oregon, and found a bag inside with the same label. It contained 230g of narcotics, 79 fentanyl pills, and 3 fake oxycodone tablets. 

Reginald Reynolds and Mia Baggenstos, who were in the car, were arrested on charges of possession of a substance and a stolen vehicle.

A few months later, in January 2025, Florida’s Teryn Acri was arrested with a similar bag, only 10 days after she was released from jail on a $15,500 bond. 

A deputy searched a vehicle she was traveling in as a passenger after a K9 unit dog detected something amiss. Acri had a bag labeled “Definitely Not a Bag Full Of D**gs,” which contained narcotics and substance paraphernalia, including needles and digital scales. 

Her previous detention was also substance-related. 

“In Brevard County, we have zero tolerance for crime, especially when it comes to people putting poison out on our streets!” Sheriff Wayne Ivey wrote in a Facebook post at the time, condemning Acri’s earlier release on a “ridiculous” bond amount.

Trends come and go, but truly thoughtful design has a way of outlasting the era it was created in. Whether it’s an intricately carved staircase, a beautifully proportioned armchair, an Art Deco cinema, a centuries-old front door, or a perfectly preserved mid-century interior, these spaces and objects continue to captivate because they reflect craftsmanship, creativity, and an attention to detail that never goes out of style. They also offer a fascinating glimpse into how people across different periods and cultures shaped the places they lived in, and the objects they chose to surround themselves with.

That’s exactly what the Design History community celebrates. Bringing together hundreds of thousands of design enthusiasts, architects, collectors, and history lovers, it has become a place where remarkable examples of historical design are preserved and shared. From furniture, lighting, and illustrations to entire homes, movie sets, restorations, and decorative details, the community highlights the enduring beauty of well-crafted design.

Hi friends, it’s great to be back to share some favourites from the week.

How The Week Started

My week started off a bit meh with a wet, rainy start that didn’t help my mood. My brain already felt all jumbled up with dreading an upcoming appointment, and I was also trying to figure out some work and weekend plans at the same time.

Then, during the last part of the week, things turned around, and everything that had been cluttering my brain started to settle. I could feel my usual feel-good feelings coming back. Yay!

I guess most of my favourite moments from the week happened after Wednesday, so let’s just forget Monday and Tuesday and jump into Wednesday.

Wednesday Win

I was majorly excited to receive my discounted winter offer box of natural cleaning products from Marlow and Peach.

Can anyone else relate to this?

This brand kept popping up in my newsfeed with promises of making my home smell clean and fresh, just like a hotel. And if there’s one thing that will get my attention, it’s the promise of that fresh hotel smell.

The winter starter kit came with a few seasonal scent concentrates, along with a free glass spray bottle and microfibre cloth. All you do is fill the bottle with the natural cleaning mix and water. Then you can use it on pretty much every surface in the house. Bingo!

While I’m not sure the scent lasts quite as long as I’d like, the microfibre cloth is really good and leaves everything looking shiny. I also love the pretty glass spray bottle.

Thursday was a Good One

On Thursday, the sun was shining and the skies turned a brilliant blue. It was such a welcome sight after only seeing grey skies for days. In the morning, I ducked out of work for my doctor’s appointment, and hooray, I got the all-clear on my results. I also don’t have to see Dr Tina for five years, yeehaa, amazing!

With the sun finally out and the appointment out of the way, I think Thursday might have just been my favourite day of the week.

Last Day of Term Two

And today was the last day of Term Two! Oh my goodness, for the first time in a while it was an 11-week term and boy did it feel loooong.

I shouldn’t even be complaining as I started in week 2 after we got back from Japan. But even so, it still felt extra long for everyone — the staff, the children, and the parents.

Well… maybe not the parents. I think they probably see the upcoming two-week holidays as the really long part!

End of Term Clean-Up

Today we spent every available minute cleaning like we were possessed by the cleaning fairy, scrubbing, wiping, and sorting as fast as we could.

It felt really good to see the classrooms looking so fresh again, and there’s something about everyone getting stuck into it together as a team. It’s almost like team building, haha.

Hello School Holidays

So now I’m on term break, except I have to go in to work for three hours on Monday to do a first aid course. But that’s okay, as we don’t usually have to go in once the term break starts.

I’m feeling very excited for the next two weeks of school holidays. After the clunky start to the week, it feels so good to end on a high.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Nature photography is often associated with patience, timing, and a willingness to wait for fleeting moments. For Austrian photographer Ory Schneor, however, the goal extends beyond documenting what he sees. His photographs invite viewers to look more closely at the natural world, revealing the remarkable detail, texture, and individuality found in everything from birds and mammals to insects, fungi, and plants. Rather than chasing dramatic scenes, Schneor creates carefully composed images that encourage a deeper appreciation of nature, transforming familiar subjects into striking portraits that feel both intimate and timeless.

Based in Vienna, Schneor is an award-winning photographer whose work has received international recognition in competitions including National Geographic, One Eyeland, the CEWE Photo Award, and the Austrian Professional Photographers Association. Although he is also well known for his portrait and concert photography, his lifelong fascination with nature has become one of the defining themes of his artistic work.

More info: ory-schneor.art | Instagram | Facebook

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Image credits: Andrew Neel

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Hi friends, and welcome to the June edition of What’s Up Wednesday. Time to share a little about what’s been going on in June. Thanks so much for stopping by!

What We’re Eating

Monday – Roast beef and veggies. It’s the perfect winter meal!

Tuesday – Leftover roast beef

Wednesday – Steak, chips and salad

Thursday – Dinner at Allawah pub, so I’ll most likely order a chicken schnitzel with two lots of gravy. Because it’s winter, we’ve decided that if we want to eat out, we’re going to keep it local.

Allawah pub and Lilong Chinese restaurant are our local winter hangs. In the summer we’ll venture out to Newtown and the city.

Friday – Spaghetti and meatballs. I went to Ikea last Sunday and left with home organisation things and frozen meatballs.

The weekend is full of surprises because I have no meal plan.

What I’m Reminiscing About

Warm weather!

What I’m Loving

I was thinking about this prompt and came up with a whole list of things I’m not loving because it’s winter. So that’s not great.

Hmmmmm……I really had to dig deep, and I came up with winter fashion.

Yes, I think I do love winter fashion because you get to wear more clothes. Haha, that sounds weird. What I mean is that you get to wear a variety of layers, mix and match outfits, and accessorise. In summer, especially in Sydney, it’s often too hot to wear much beyond the basics. Winter gives you a lot more options, and I do enjoy putting outfits together.

What We’ve Been Up To

At the risk of sounding boring, nothing particularly exciting is happening right now. It’s the usual work and home routine, as well as cosy nights.
But I’ve realised that sometimes the ordinary weeks, when everything is just moving along as it should be, are actually the good ones. I’ve come to appreciate the “boring” seasons because they usually mean everyone I love is okay and life is steady.

What I’m Dreading

Whenever I dread anything, it’s usually medical-related. If you’ve been reading along, you’ll know I have major anxiety about anything to do with going to see a doctor. But yay to me, I still show up for the usual tests even though the stress of them probably takes years off my life (dramatic much).

I got some blood test results back today. A few things were a bit low or high, nothing serious, but it does mean another follow-up test in four months.

I really need to stop leaving every appointment feeling like I’ve been given a dramatic life sentence when, in reality, it’s all manageable.

What I’m Watching

Oh my goodness, I binge-watched Gavin and Stacey in June, and I absolutely loved it! It’s a British comedy written by James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families from very different parts of the UK whose lives get connected when Gavin from Essex and Stacey from Wales fall in love.

I love every single character, and I’ve told everyone I know that their lives are not complete until they watch this series. So far, only one coworker has taken my advice, and now her life is so much better for it. Every morning she greets me with, “What’s occurring, Miss Ruth?” Haha. IYKYK.

What I’m Listening To

This month it’s all about 90s music… Whoomp! There It Is!

What I’m Wearing

I bought this jacket from Zara, and I’ve been wearing it a lot this season.

I’ve also been wearing my very bright Onitsuka Tiger sneakers I bought in Japan.

What I’m Doing This Weekend

It’s a no-plans weekend.

What I’m Looking Forward To Next Month

The July school holidays! Woop woop! I’ve got some fun outings planned with friends, and I also have tickets to see Disney on Ice. Gotta get a Disney fix!

That’s a wrap for June! We’re halfway through the year already, and I’m still convinced we had Christmas about five minutes ago. Time is wild.

Hope your June was a good one — here’s to an amazing July!