Hey there, friends! I hope you all had an amazing week!
I’ve been all over the place with blogging lately. I haven’t really been posting regularly or following any kind of schedule or pattern. But I’m glad to be back today to link up with Erika and Andrea for Friday Favourites.
I joined the Share Our Lives link-up on Monday and chatted all about my favourite current music, so I didn’t do my weekend recap. I thought I’d do that today and share what we got up to last Saturday.
Last Saturday was the 150th anniversary of Hurstville Public School, and to celebrate, they had a big fair.
My husband went to Hurstville Public School, so we were excited to go along with our son and his girlfriend and see the place where so many of his childhood adventures took place. Over the years, we’ve heard plenty of stories about his school days, and some of them have become family favourites that we still tease him about.
I’ll just say that he was more mischievous back then than he is now. Our sons find this particularly hilarious because anyone who knows him today would probably describe him as a bit of a goody-two-shoes! But we know better. Haha!
First stop was the school hall, where they had all the school memorabilia on display.
When we spotted the naughty book with all the students’ names who had been given detention, you should have seen Steve’s face!
Luckily for him, the last entry was 1966 — way before his time. I’m guessing they must have had another system by the time he was at school.
There were quite a few food trucks, and the smells made us hungry, so we stopped for an early lunch.
Then wandered around all the stalls.
We checked out the grounds and saw one of the original buildings. I think there are quite a few original buildings, along with some newer additions, but they were all blocked off.
Seeing this building made me wonder what it must have been like 150 years ago. There must have been so much open land around back then, and it’s so different now with all the high-rise apartments in the area.
We live about a seven-minute walk from the school, and I’d never actually been inside the grounds, so I was surprised by how big it was.
Spotted a few vintage cars they had on display.
Saw the ponies.
We sat down for a while to watch the current students perform dances and play in the bands. Before we knew it, we’d been there for hours and decided it was time to head home.
On the way out, Steve bumped into a friend he didn’t even know had been in the same Year 6 class as him at Hurstville Public School. Oh my goodness, we were in stitches hearing all his stories!
I won’t go into detail, but they involved the principal, the cane, his mum at the principal’s office, and then having to face his dad when he got home. And it was all over footy cards!
I mean, it sure must have been traumatic for him at the time. But on this day, hearing him tell us the story, we were all laughing so hard. Poor guy!
Sounds like school was way stricter back then. Do you think so too?
Anyway, it was a fun way to spend last Saturday. Reminiscing and laughing about school days. Time goes way too fast, doesn’t it?
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Happy Friday 😊
PakarPBN
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
When I saw that this week’s link-up was all about favourite current music, I initially thought, hmmm… Oh, I don’t really have a favourite type of music.
And as far as what I’m currently listening to, well, it really depends on my mood. I’m a mood-listener kind of gal.
I go with my mood.
What I listen to can change completely depending on where I am, what I’m doing, and whether I need calming down or cheering up. And all of that can change in the space of one day! Maybe I’m like the weather – changeable.
So here is a little look at what’s currently playing on the soundtrack of my life.
Calm and Chill
When I’m home alone, I love putting on something chilled-out. It could be ambient, lo-fi, jazz or anything calming. I listen to it on TV through YouTube Music, and the bonus is that it comes with a beautiful scene. So I can choose whether I want to be in a swanky New York apartment, a cosy coffee shop or a little cottage somewhere in the countryside. And I don’t have to leave home.
I love having it playing in the background while I’m getting on with chores around the house, cooking or having a cup of tea. I can also pretend I’m in one of those calm Nordic slow-living YouTube videos.
My husband, however, absolutely cannot stand it. To him, this music is total auditory torture. Whenever he hears it, he practically has a seizure.
So I tend to save it for when he’s not home.
When I Need a Pick-Me-Up: Latin Music
When I need some energy, give me some upbeat Latin music, and I can usually shake off a funk (usually). Latin music makes it almost impossible to sit still. The beat is too contagious and, as Gloria Estefan says, the rhythm is gonna get you!
80s Music Will Always Have My Heart
And then there’s the 80s.
No matter how much new music comes along, the 80s will always have a very special place in my heart. I especially love the new wave era — Duran Duran, OMD, Talking Heads, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, The Cure, New Order and Depeche Mode.
These are the songs that can come on, and boom, instantly transport me back to my teens. That’s one of the best things about music, isn’t it? One song can take you straight back to a particular time in your life.
I am 100% convinced that the 80s was the best decade EVER!
When I Want to Travel Without Leaving Home
I also have playlists for my trips to the USA and Japan, and I love putting them on when I feel like reminiscing.
USA: A Bar Song (Tipsy), Counting Stars, Blinding Lights, A Sky Full of Stars, Alive, Heaven is a Place on Earth, Walking on a Dream, Titanium
Japan: Tokyo Drift, Blue Monday, Just Can’t Get Enough, Smalltown Boy, Hit That Perfect Beat
I used these songs as the soundtrack to the videos I made of the trips, so I think that’s why I associate them so strongly with those holidays. Whenever I put these playlists on, bam! I’m back on that road trip through Utah or walking around busy Tokyo.
There was actually a time when I couldn’t listen to these songs because I had the post-trip blues so badly, especially after the US trip. I’d hear one of them and actually start crying. Dramatic? Maybe. But I really loved that trip! I’m OK now, though, and can listen to them without crying. Haha!
And Then There’s Preschool Music…
Last year I discovered Stephanie Leavell, and she is an absolute godsend with a voice that will calm a room full of wild preschoolers. Her voice is so beautiful and soothing, so any educators out there, take note! She’s on Spotify, and I kid you not, she saves my sanity weekly.
Sometimes the children are behaving like they have been playing in a windy playground for six hours.
Everyone is talking.
Everyone is moving.
Someone is calling out.
Someone is poking someone
Someone else is running around.
I play Stephanie Leavell and… calm.
So, What’s My Favourite Current Music?
Well, I’m not sure I have one.
I have chill music when I want peace, Latin music when I need a lift, 80s new wave because it will always have my heart, travel playlists when I want to revisit some wonderful memories, and Stephanie Leavell when I need to restore order to a room full of… ahem… excited children.
I think that pretty much sums up what I’m listening to. And it all depends on my mood.
Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Joanne and Jen
PakarPBN
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
A Hawaiian congressional candidate has become famous across the country for all the wrong reasons.
Kirill Basin, 40, was captured having a heated altercation with beachgoers on the shores of Maui. When things escalated, a witness was seen knocking him out cold.
“Now his family gets to enjoy this video for generations,” one commented online after Basin’s arrest.
Highlights
A Hawaii congressional candidate, Kirill Basin, sparked headlines across the country in recent days.
He allegedly threatened a man’s wife and claimed he had a firearm.
Viral footage captured a bystander knocking Basin to the ground.
“Can’t even get along in paradise,” one commented online.
A Hawaii congressional candidate went viral after being knocked out cold in a beach brawl
kirill4congress/Instagram
Violence broke out at Keawakapu Beach in South Kihei on August 2.
Kirill Basin was filmed having a verbal tussle with a 61-year-old man, who reportedly asked him to turn down the volume of his music.
The Hawaii Democrat, who is running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, allegedly responded by saying he had a firearm and threatened to harm his wife.
kirill4congress/Instagram
Watching the altercation from far away was fellow beach visitor, Kama Homan, a father who works in construction and whose martial arts training came in handy that day.
“I’m like, maybe I should intervene, and then as I got closer and closer, he was just getting more irate and violent and then saying stuff,” Homan told Hawaii News Now. “‘I’m going to hurt you’ or ‘I can injure you’ or ‘You like scrap’ to the aunties.”
The altercation reportedly began over loud music on a Maui beach
@matchaqueen80 🚨Meet Democratic candidate Kirill Basin. Well… that escalated faster than expected🤣👀🍿 #hawaii#beach#democrats♬ original sound – matchaqueen80
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Viral footage captured Homan approaching Basin and throwing a punch, knocking the hopeful politician to the ground.
“He put his hands on me, and as soon as he tried to shove me, I hit him with a left and a right, and that’s when he stumbled and fell over the chairs,” Homan said.
Basin was seen lying in the sand for a few moments, prompting Homan to check on him.
kirill4congress/Instagram
When cops arrived, Homan said Basin had a knife that he threw into the ocean.
Homan claimed he fished the 5-inch switchblade out of the sea and handed it over to cops, who put Basin in handcuffs.
Netizens believed he was served an instant dose of karma by the bystander. And that karma only seemed to mount with his subsequent arrest and criminal charges.
A bystander with martial arts training stepped in — and ended the fight in seconds
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Hawaii News Now
The Maui Police Department also confirmed that Basin allegedly pulled out the knife and threatened several people before flinging it into the water.
“He ended up pulling the knife out on me after the altercation, and that was obviously a game changer when I knew he was off,” Homan told the outlet.
Basin was charged with two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.
His attorney, Brandon Segal, said the judge set an “outrageous” bail amount of $1 million during a court appearance on Tuesday.
Hawaii News Now
The judge also ordered Basin not to have contact with Homan and four other people.
“These are just allegations. My client has a presumption of innocence,” Segal told the outlet.
The attorney also disputed the claims of Basin having a weapon with him.
“There’s no evidence in any of these videos that have been circulated tremendously that he ever had a knife in his possession,” he said. “He never had a firearm in his possession.”
Basin was charged with two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening
Kirill 4 Congress ’26
This isn’t the first time Basin has had a run-in with the law. He has a history of arrests for assault and property damage to his name.
In May, he was arrested for brandishing a firearm at officials after storming a government building. He faced a charge of terrorist threatening in the first degree at the time and was asked by the court to undergo a mental health assessment.
kirill4congress/Instagram
Homan, who was nominated for Young Small Businessperson of the Year by the Maui Chamber of Commerce in 2024 for his local construction business, said he had no idea about Basin’s political background when he knocked him to the ground.
“No. I didn’t even know who the guy was,” said the father, who doesn’t regret intervening because he believes someone could have gotten hurt if he didn’t.
He revealed his motto in life is: “You do what’s right because that’s what we should do.”
“Can’t even get along in paradise,” one commented online
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PakarPBN
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
Happy Monday! Time to link up with Holly and Sarah for a weekend recap. Thanks so much for stopping by!
A Slow Saturday at Home
I had such a lovely, slow Saturday at home.
It started with avocado on the best rye and wholemeal bread.
I have to say, this was so much nicer than the rye bread I bought a while ago. Rye can be a little bitter, so when Steve brought this one home from the fruit shop, I thought, “Ugh, now we have to eat a whole loaf of bitter bread.”
But I was wrong. The wholemeal mixed through made it much nicer, and I’ll definitely be getting this one again.
I spent some time folding laundry. Not piles and piles, though, because I’m winning with my laundry routine at the moment! But let’s not talk about my meal planning routine.
I had YouTube playing on the iPad with videos of cosy homes in Nordic countries. I find them so calming. I love the background music, the minimal-style homes and all the little ASMR moments.
My favourite is probably the sound of opening packets. Is that weird? Oh well, maybe it is, but I find those everyday sounds so satisfying.
Movie Afternoon
In the afternoon, we watched The Castle. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to watch this movie. It never really appealed to me when it first came out way back in 1997.
The humour is so Australian, and it’s funny realising how many phrases from the movie have just become part of everyday conversation here, like “Tell him he’s dreaming”. People say that all the time, and I had no idea how much the movie helped make it famous.
We also spotted a very young Eric Bana. The Castle was clearly way before he hit the Hollywood big time!
Maybe now is the time to finally watch Crocodile Dundee. Another classic Australian movie that I’ve never seen!
After Steve left for work, I scrolled through Netflix for far too long trying to find something to watch. I started about three different shows and one movie, but none of them grabbed me, so I gave up and looked at fashion inspo on Stylebook instead.
You know what? Next time I’m going to read a book. I used to read all the time, and now I don’t!
Sunday Adventure
Then Sunday arrived
I’ve been getting the Sunday scaries a little lately. Ugh! You know when your mind keeps jumping ahead to Monday? Then the next week, and oh my goodness, I’ve got to do this and this and……
Last Sunday afternoon I couldn’t switch off those scaries, and I felt bleh. So this Sunday I decided I wanted to do something different.
Walking is one of my favourite ways to clear my mind. I love that I can do it by myself, at my own pace, and listen to music. I love looking at gardens, trees, the sky and people’s homes as I walk past.
Usually I’m just walking to work and back, so I thought it would be nice to change things up and explore somewhere different.
The sun was shining, and even though it was cold, it was a beautiful Sunday. Perfect for exploring the GreenWay.
A Quick Explore of the GreenWay
I first heard about the GreenWay on Sydney Weekender, and the little bit they showed looked really interesting. But getting there was more complicated than I expected, and Google sent me on a trip around the world to get there.
After Steve went to work, I left home at 2 pm and wanted to make sure I was back before it got dark.
The plan was to take the train to Sydenham, then the bus to Dulwich Hill. But after I got off the bus, I kind of got lost. I found myself walking down a laneway that looked a little sketchy, and I thought, “Great, this is where I get mugged.”
Thankfully, I had told Steve where I was going. At least he would know where to find my remains.
I came across a lovely older couple and asked them for directions. They pointed me in the right direction, so I backtracked and finally found the signs for the GreenWay.
It was a lot further from where the bus had dropped me off than I expected, and hardly anyone was around.
After a fast-paced 20-minute walk, I found it. Phew! I was also glad to see a few people around enjoying the day.
I took some photos and decided this was definitely somewhere I wanted to come back and explore properly.
What I didn’t know at the time, and only discovered today after talking to a work colleague about my adventure, was just how massive it actually is! She told me it’s a walking and cycling path through Sydney’s Inner West, with parks, bushland and different neighbourhoods along the way. NEIGHBOURHOODS!
So now I’m planning a proper explore for the spring school holidays in eight weeks (who’s counting!).
Sunday Night Pizza and a New Show
On the way home, I was so happy to see that It’s getting darker just a tiny bit later now, and that is a huge mood lifter. Can you tell by now I don’t love winter?
I stopped at Woolworths to pick up a couple of things. And in usual style, I left with a bag full of groceries.
Once I got home, I made what is becoming our Sunday night tradition: homemade pizza.
I’m using a cauliflower pizza base from the supermarket (for a little less guilt) and added a whole lot of tasty toppings like bocconcini, cooked turkey mince, salami, olives, mushrooms and capsicum, it was great! With a little rocket, walnut and goat cheese salad on the side, it was a perfect Sunday night dinner.
Then it was time to find something to watch.
I wrote the other day that I thought I didn’t like period dramas, and yet here I am watching another one. We started The Hardacres, and we are hooked.
So that was my weekend. A cosy Saturday, and a little out of my comfort zone Sunday adventure. What a mix!
PakarPBN
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
Red flags get all the attention. The bad habits, the mixed signals, the stuff we warn our friends about. Green flags deserve more credit – they’re the actual reason some relationships work.
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Maybe you’re always on time. Maybe you know exactly what to say on someone’s worst day. Maybe you argue fairly, or you just remember the little things. Whatever it is, you’ve got something that makes people glad to know you.
Here’s the catch: green flags are quiet. Nobody posts a warning story about the person who texted back at a normal hour or didn’t make things weird. So the trait just… works, in the background, and you never stop to name it.
Problem is, most of us can’t see our own green flag. We’re too close to it – like trying to read your own handwriting upside down.
Let’s find out what yours is.
Secretly wondering what your red flag is too? Take the quiz here and find out the truth.
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PakarPBN
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
I feel like I blinked and we’re at the end of another week. How does that happen?
When I was thinking about what I wanted to share today, I realised that, as usual, it’s the little things that end up being my favourites. The simple moments that give my ordinary week a little zing.
So here are my Friday favourites…
A Coffee Date
It had been ages since we had walked down to a café that specialises in Portuguese tarts.
And oh my goodness… why did we wait so long? These little tarts are so good!
I only had one, but I could have easily eaten three. No problemo!
A Meal I Loved This Week
Is there anything better than coming home to someone else cooking dinner for you? I think not.
I’ve shared before that I kind of like to do everything myself. Some might call it being a control freak… I prefer to think of it as being very helpful 😜
The funny thing is, while I absolutely love being cooked for, I can sometimes find it hard to hand over the reins in the kitchen (or anywhere else… yikes!). I’m not quite sure why… maybe it’s a little bit of only-child syndrome.
But this week I had a staff meeting and arrived home later than usual, so my husband took care of dinner.
Veal Chasseur with vegetables was on the menu that night, and it was delicious.
Something I’m Wearing on Repeat
Thank you to the fashion gurus for finally letting us breathe again and giving skinny jeans a rest!
I’ve been loving wide-leg pants for a while now, and my current favourites are my JW Anderson Uniqlo jeans. They’re so comfortable and easy to wear, and every time I put them on I have a major fashion flashback… yep, I’ve done this fashion cycle before.
Back when I was at uni in the early 90s, my uniform was basically straight-leg jeans with plenty of room, a simple top, and black loafers or sneakers.
I’m that old that I’m now wearing the same trends I wore the first time around.
Oh, and see that leather belt? I’ve had that belt for ages!
It’s a Country Road one that I bought in 1989 with a lot of my hard-earned part-time job money. At the time it felt like a big purchase, but I remember thinking it was worth it because I really, really loved it.
And you know what? They’re right when they say “buy once, buy well.” Thirty-seven years later and I’m still wearing it.
I’d say younger me made a pretty good investment.
Something I’m Enjoying Watching
The Other Bennet Sister!
It’s so good! And it stars Ruth Jones (Nessa from Gavin & Stacey), which made me even more excited to watch it.
Do you know what I always say? “I can’t stand period dramas.”
And yet here I am… hooked again.
Seriously, what is wrong with me?
Because clearly I’m lying to myself. I’ve loved The Gilded Age, Downton Abbey, A Woman of Substance, All Creatures Great and Small, and The Durrells, so I think it’s time I admit the truth…
I’m Ruth, and I love a period drama.
A Little Unexpected Gift
Walking home the other day, I found a little bunch of wattle just lying there on the footpath.
It was like a little gift, and I have no idea where it came from or who had picked it, but there it was, just waiting for me to find it.
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make you happy, isn’t it?
I took it home and put it in a little crystal jug.
Anyway, that’s it from me this week. I hope you have a lovely weekend, and I’ll see you back here soon.
Linking up with Andrea and Erika
PakarPBN
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
A quiet Michigan community has been left reeling following the horrifying tragedy that unfolded last week inside a lakeside home on Riverside Trail in Grand Haven Township.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that 47-year-old Kristopher “Kris” Karolkiewicz fatally sh*t his 39-year-old wife, Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, and their six young children before ending his own life.
Highlights
Amanda Karolkiewicz’s resurfaced Reddit posts detailed years of alleged emotional a**se, marital turmoil, and workplace infidelity.
Authorities are still searching for a motive as investigators examine Kristopher Karolkiewicz’s recent job loss and other evidence.
Grieving relatives have launched a GoFundMe to cover legal costs and establish a scholarship in memory of Amanda and her six children.
In the wake of the tragedy, new details about Kristopher’s recent job loss and Amanda’s resurfaced Reddit posts detailing their troubled marriage have emerged.
One netizen reacted, “There is a lot to unpack… Reminds me of Amityville Horror.”
The tragedy took place on the morning of Friday, July 24, after emergency responders were called twice to the family home
Image credits: mandykarolk
Emergency responders were alerted to the scene early in the morning when neighbors reported smelling smoke.
Firefighters were initially dispatched to the family’s home around 8:30 a.m., but because the fires were contained inside and no visible flames were showing from the exterior, crews could not locate the source and temporarily departed.
Reportedly, firefighters were summoned back at 11:42 a.m. after neighbors made multiple calls reporting heavy, thick white smoke pouring from a window.
Image credits: CBSDetroit
Upon returning, crews forced entry into the heavily smoke-filled building and began extinguishing fires intentionally set in multiple rooms across the basement and first floor.
Inside, first responders discovered the bodies of all eight family members alongside their deceased family pets, including dogs and a cat.
Forensic autopsies conducted at Corewell Health-Blodgett confirmed that all eight individuals passed away from firearm wounds.
Authorities officially ruled the passing of Amanda and the couple’s six children, four boys, ages 5, 11, 12, and 15, and two adopted 11-year-old girls, a homicide.
Image credits: mandykarolk
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Kristopher’s passing was officially ruled a s**cide from a self-inflicted firearm wound using a weapon legally registered in his name.
According to Michigan State Police arson investigators, Kristopher deliberately set multiple fires throughout the home’s interior after reportedly m**dering his entire family.
Authorities believe the fires were intentionally started in an effort to destroy the crime scene before he turned the weapon on himself.
Amanda’s resurfaced Reddit posts revealed years of alleged emotional a**se, workplace infidelity, and deep marital tension
Image credits: mandykarolk
Long before the tragedy unfolded, Amanda, a beloved substitute teacher at Peach Plains Elementary, a recognized blogger, and a special needs advocate, had quietly documented her marital struggles in several Reddit posts.
The Detroit News verified the authenticity of her Reddit account under the username “MandyK1179” by cross-referencing specific details about her marriage date, local beach town, and children’s ages.
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In archived posts dating back to 2024 on a subreddit dedicated to surviving infidelity, Amanda detailed how she first met Kristopher in 2008 while working as an intern at a beverage company before marrying in August 2009.
Image credits: mandykarolk
In one post, she alleged that, “He was divorced and older than me… fast forward ten years and five kids, he was cheating with the intern again, the same age I was when I was the intern.”
Amanda continued, “We have six kids, so the idea of leaving is insanely terrifying,” she wrote in May 2024, noting that an unexpected sixth pregnancy had left her feeling “stretched way too thin” and “on the brink”.
“He’s always had major red flags that I ignored due to my own trauma and anxious attachment,” she allegedly added.
Amanda also described her husband as a strict “perfectionist” who suffered from volatile emotional spirals whenever confronted with his dishonesty.
Image credits: CBSDetroit
She recalled one incident where routine questions from a marriage counselor left Kristopher deeply angry, unable to sleep, and mad at himself.
Addressing the psychological toll and physical imbalance during arguments, Amanda commented on the page in 2024 about an incident where she pushed him back.
“I don’t feel bad still,” she wrote. “He towers over me and destroyed me mentally. It felt like I was being a**aulted and needed to fight back. I think it’s a fight or flight thing.”
Amanda allegedly wrote online, “He… destroyed me mentally. It felt like I was being a**aulted and needed to fight back”
Image credits: mandykarolk
“I kept telling myself, ‘I love my kids more than I hate my husband right now.’ They have no idea — I faked it ’till we made it. We’re in a much better place 4.5 years out, but it’s still a fight to stay in a healthy place.”
In another post reflecting on her personal growth after a year of “self-loathing,” she wrote about coming to terms with her own strength.
“I finally realized that I had been the only person who has ever showed up for myself my whole entire life.”
While law enforcement has not formally identified a motive, investigators are reportedly examining Kristopher’s recent job loss and whether it may have played a role in the tragedy.
Image credits: mandykarolk
From September 2023 until July 2026, Kristopher served as the National Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the American Heart Association (AHA), overseeing CPR and first aid training products remotely from his Michigan home.
However, his high-ranking position abruptly ended earlier in July 2026, just weeks before the tragedy.
Addressing the m**der-s***ide incident, the American Heart Association’s national headquarters said in a statement shared with People, “The American Heart Association national headquarters is aware that one of its former staff members was among those who perished under tragic circumstances…”
Image credits: mandykarolk
“As an organization with professional staff who are dedicated to helping others, we are devastated by the news out of Grand Haven, and our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragedy.”
According to multiple reports, losing his executive-level income while serving as the primary earner for a family of eight living in a $750,000 home likely caused immense financial stress.
The local community and grieving family continue searching for answers as the motive remains unknown
Image credits: mandykarolk
In an interview with Detroit’s Local 4 News, Amanda’s cousin, Emily Stoye Jones, spoke on behalf of the grieving family as they prepared for several concurrent funerals and urged law enforcement to uncover a definitive motive.
“Everybody wants to know why. It’s unfathomable, and we need to know why,” she said. “We still want to know. Make it make sense just a little bit, because it doesn’t make sense.”
Amanda’s parents, Steve and Becky Lawwill, also released a heartbreaking joint statement.
Image credits: mandykarolk
They wrote, “Our daughter Mandy was a kind and devoted soul who loved her family and her students.”
“We treasured every moment we had with her and her six children, and words cannot adequately express our devastation. We pray for God’s peace and comfort as we grieve their d**ths and honor their lives.”
On social media, her father Steve separately shared a family photo with a simple caption, writing that the family was “just so shattered.”
The grieving family has also launched a GoFundMe campaign titled Support Becky and Steve After Tragic Loss.
As of this writing, it has raised more than $23,216 of its $25,000 goal to help Amanda’s parents cover legal expenses, with any remaining funds set aside to establish a scholarship in the children’s memory.
Ottawa County Sheriff’s Captain Jacob Sparks confirmed that while Kristopher acted alone, the official investigation remains open as detectives process seized digital devices, financial records, and arson evidence.
One netizen reacted, “One of life’s rules: never marry someone who is cheating on their spouse with you…”
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PakarPBN
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
