Birthday Week 2026 🎉

This year I’m once again celebrating my birthday over an entire week – because one day just isn’t enough!

It’s become a bit of a quiet tradition now. Not big parties or grand plans, but a collection of small moments: time with family, getting things done around the house, seasonal rituals, and plenty of good food. Birthday Week always feels like a gentle pause – a chance to reset before the year really kicks into gear.

purple, pink and white balloons on a lavender background with the text “2026 Birthday Week”

Monday

A public holiday, which immediately set the tone for the week. I spent the day catching up on housework and getting things organised for the days ahead. I also prepped K for her Future Changers camp starting tomorrow – bags packed, last-minute checks, the usual mix of excitement and nerves.

The evening was quieter, spent sorting through photos for the in-laws. One of those slow, slightly nostalgic tasks that feels grounding in an unexpected way.


Tuesday

Camp drop-off day. I dropped K at the bus for Camp Clayton and then came home to a very productive (and much-needed) clean of the kids’ bedroom. Not glamorous, but satisfying. There’s something about Birthday Week that always nudges me into clearing space – physically and mentally.


Wednesday – My Birthday 🎂

Payday birthdays always feel practical, so the morning was spent paying bills and doing the grocery shop – oddly comforting in its own way. We met Dad for lunch at The George Town Tavern, a recently opened new local eatery, which was a lovely, relaxed way to mark the day. We’ll be going back for another meal and I’ll be sharing a review here. If today’s meal was anything to go by, it’ll be positive.

After that, we headed into Launceston to wander the shops and spend some birthday money. I came home with many new plants (as expected), a weighted blanket, a Ryobi glue gun, a couple of books, a new cookware set, and a few other kitchen bits and pieces. It felt indulgent in the best, most useful way – things I’ll enjoy well beyond the day itself.


Thursday

More cleaning in the kids’ room = clearly a theme this week. K came home from camp absolutely buzzing and full of stories. She had an awesome time, which made the tired end-of-camp energy totally worth it.


Friday

A slow day. I spent most of it just pottering around at home, doing little jobs without any pressure to be productive. Exactly the kind of breathing space I needed.

Caught up with the in-laws and had the ever popular Tasman Fish & Chip Co for tea. They make one of the best souvlaki in Tasmania and the fish is fresh and delicious.


Saturday

My first proper sleep-in in a while, followed by laundry day. I made a batch of apricot jam using fruit from our tree – one of those deeply satisfying, seasonal tasks that feels like its own reward.

I also spent some time working on things for my blogs and socials, easing back into creative mode without forcing it.


Sunday

A full, cosy end to the week. I had a nice lazy morning, did some back-to-school prep for the week ahead, and set up my planner pages for February.

It was also Lammas, so the kitchen became the heart of the day: cheese and bacon rolls, cheese & bacon pull apart bread, and pumpkin soup. A simple, intentional way to honour the season and everything this week held.


Wrap-up

Birthday Week 2026 wasn’t flashy or fast – and that’s exactly what made it special. It was full of steady rhythms, family moments, home comforts, and small rituals that stitched the days together. I loved the balance of getting things done and allowing space to rest, reflect, and reset. It felt like a quiet turning point – a gentle reminder that celebration doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful.

Birthday week 2025

This year I decided to celebrate my birthday over an entire week, just because I can.

Image of purple, pink and white balloons on a purple background with the words 2025 Birthday Week.

Monday – Got a nice long sleep in and a very lazy morning. Popped out to see the in laws and check out their new car. Went to the supermarket to get stuff for tea – home made pizza. Had some craft time. Watched the BBL final between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Sydney Thunder.

Tuesday – My actual birthday day. Quiet day just pottering around home. A made me a birthday cake.
Moved the dishwasher out of the kitchen.
Stuffed around on the internet.
J & K made me Honey chicken for tea then we had Vienetta & cake for dessert.
Watched my niece in the finals of the Tasmania Inline Hockey Cup.

Wednesday – Pay day so I did the usual pay day things like ordering groceries and paying bills.
We got our new dishwasher delivered. Our other had nothing but problems after just shy of two years – just before the warranty ran out. Lucky for us we got an extended care plan so they offered us a replacement after much faffing about and 3 lots of repairs. Here’s hoping this one won’t do the same.
We then headed to town to grab a few back to school things for the kiddos.
Had a bit of a Chinese banquet at home to celebrate Chinese New Year

Thursday – Did have a full day planned but decided to keep it simple. We’d planed to head to Bridport Food Vans for tea with Dad & the in-laws, plus one of K’s friends but… K got bitten by something and had a reaction so we took her to the doctor then something else happened so we decided to postpone visiting the vans until a later date. Instead we grabbed fish & chips from our favourite take away and K & her friend crashed in the tent in the backyard.

Friday – Headed back up to town as J had an MRI booked. Went to Bunnings and grabbed some plants with the gift card from my brother then Kmart to grab a few things with money from Dad.
Picked up another one of K’s friends and we headed out to the beach to have have hot chips then went for a wander along the beach while the kids went for a swim.
Had fried ice cream for desert (leftovers from Chinese New Year)

Saturday – Got a sleep in.
Today was Lammas but I decided to spread our celebrations over 2 days.
J mowed the lawn while I planted my new plants in the front garden.
Had a roast lamb with roast veg for tea then apple crumble for dessert.


Sunday – Finished off birthday week by watching the Bathurst 12 hour, watching the Royal Rumble and having some craft time while J & one of his mates played Fall Out.
Lammas celebrations today included using the leftover lamb to make Lamb Curry, making some bread and creating Prosperity jars.

Overall not a bad week and I got lots of things I enjoy doing done.

Christmas 2024 Bucket List

December is nearly here (how the hell has that happened?) and I’m getting my December and Christmas planner set up and organised. This year I thought I might create a Christmas Bucket List to do through the month.

I searched for Christmas bucket list templates in Canva (check out the whole list if you want to make your own),picked one I liked, created my list and I’ll print it out then add in to the planner.

So what is on my bucket list for Christmas 2024?

I got some of my ideas from this list, but it is very winter focused (not great for ideas when it’s Summer here in Australia LOL). Anyway onto my list.

  • Decorate a Christmas Tree.  Bit self-explanatory. Our tree goes up on Dec 1. This year we’ll have a 11 month old kitty (whose birthday is Christmas Day) and we’re trying to work out a) where we’ll put the tree and b) how to stop her climbing/attacking it.
  • Bake Gingerbread biscuits. I love baking at Christmas time. I’ll do gingerbread, shortbread, Scottish tablet, mini meringues and a few more things.
  • Host a Festive Movie Night. Need to introduce the kids to some good Christmas movies. What would you recommend?
  • Send Handmade Christmas Cards. I need to get these made, especially the ones to send overseas
  • Visit a Christmas Market. I’ve got a few listed in our calendar already
  • Make Homemade Hot Chocolate. Kids are looking forward to this one. Trying this recipe.
  • Learn a new Christmas tradition. Going to get the eldest to research Christmas traditions from around the world in her last weeks of homeschooling and see if she finds something she wants us to try.
  • Start a new tradition. See above. I’d really like to start a new yearly tradition that we do as a family.
  • Read Christmas Stories. We have a box full of Christmas books. Lots of stories for little kids that I think we need to have one more read of then decide if they are generational books (like the ones I have from my childhood) or ones we would be happy to donate to our local Little Library
  • Create DIY Ornaments. Another one for the kiddos to pick something to make.
  • Have a Pyjama Day. Might mix this with our movie day.
  • Reindeer Food. Even though the kids are 14 & 10, they still love the Christmas Eve reindeer food tradition. How to make magic Reindeer Food.
  • Santa plate on Christmas Eve. I’m going to make something like this.
  • Make Christmas houses. These from Sweet Red Poppy.
  • Beach-side picnic. We live near a beach and do this lots over summer. Nothing beats a chippie picnic at the beach – hot chips from the local take away, then drive to the beach for a picnic.
  • Go to the Christmas parade. Doing that next week.
  • Camp out. The tent will most likely get set up in the backyard either the day after school finishes for the year or on Boxing Day
  • Get a festive door wreath.
  • Bujo Bootcamp over at the JashiiCorrin discord
  • Finish Christmas shopping. Nearly done. Only my father-in-law,a nd my youngest niece and nephew to go. Everything else is bought or ordered and on it’s way.
  • End of School year events.
  • Make Christmas Crafts.
  • Go on a Christmas Light Tour. These are getting less and less each year sadly. People are getting sick of their lights being stolen or damaged. It’s also getting more expensive.
  • Journal Your Christmas.
  • Try a new holiday recipe. Going to give a family friend’s Raspberry cheesecake a go.
  • Plan a Family Game Night. Not sure yet, most likely Game of Life. The kids are loving that one.
  • Write a Letter to Santa. Not sure if the eldest will do this anymore.
  • Reflect and Set Goals

Do you have a Christmas bucket list? I’d love to know what’s on yours.

Well then

after 4 years of avoiding it ,we’ve all managed to catch Covid. Eldest went down with it on Good Friday, then me a few days later, hubby on hist birthday and then the youngest a week after her sister.

We’ve been lucky to only have a mild case but good lord, it was horrible. I have never felt so drained and unmotivated. I spent the majority of my time between bed and the couch with a puddle of foster kitties to keep me company.

A week out and I still feel tired and a little snotty but I do feel a little better day by day. Glad the loss of smell and taste only lasted a couple of days, that was truly horrible.

Upside of it all, I got lots of sleep and got to binge a bunch of TV when I wasn’t sleeping.

Anywho, I’ve started doing some cleaning up on the blog. I’m moving all my craft posts to Nightwolf Crafts, going through old posts to re add photos that went missing during the move from my old hosting, deleting some posts that are outdated or are old giveaways and tidying up all my recipe posts.

Until next time. Hope you all stay healthy.

Holiday baking – Shortbread

It’s Christmas time and I thought I’d share some of my favourites to cook during December. Seriously though these are good any time of year.

First on the list is Shortbread. This is the recipe my Mum used and it comes from my Grandmother on Dad’s side, so it’s a proper Scottish one. I can’t remember if I’ve shared this one before but if I have, oh well, here it is again.

Well my lovelies

went to the doc today and our family is to be plus one in 7 months (all going well)

Very excited. on the downside – I have morning sickness 🙁 just waiting for my first ob appointment. kinda hanging out for the first scan lol

grinning like a loon one minute then crying the next, all good 😉

birthday goodness

Couple of days late but u get that 😉

Just thought I’d share some of the goodies I got 4 my bday on Wednesday.

011

Flowers from Mum & Dad

001

My Slice bag

001

Red Kelly sauces & dressings (yummo)

002

a shirt

003

another shirt

004

A Dymo labler

plus a tatts ticket (so I could b rich – haven’t checked it yet lol) & I have 2 more coming (but there were bought OS apparently)

Well that’s all from me today. I’m off to veg in front of a fan until the Roll 2 Create cyber crop tonight. hope to see u there 🙂