Birthday Flowers

I got picked up from work yesterday. Yay! And on the way home was asked if I wanted to stop by the shops or go straight home. I am ummed and arred a bit about if I wanted to buy myself some birthday flowers or not, but then decided straight home would be better.
We got home, I opened the door and immediately noticed the beautiful flowers above. I let out a very excited "You got me flowers!!" and gave James a massive hug. I then cried a bit.

Today is my birthday, and it's probably the most unbirthday feeling birthday I have had. I've been so absorbed in all the work I have to get done for my course (not to mention my Assessor is visiting the centre tomorrow!) that I've not really had too much time to think about the fact that it's my birthday. The flowers are beautiful. I think they will help me feel a lot happier in the next couple of hectic weeks.

Quote to Inspire: Stupid Fun

Taronga Zoo

I have treated myself to a long weekend this week, so had today off. Yay! Since James and I haven't been back to Taronga Zoo together (he's been twice with guests, poo!) since 2009, a fact James was unaware of, we/I decided it would be a great thing to do with the time off.
I seriously recommend visiting Taronga Zoo if you are ever in Sydney. You take a ferry to get there, with views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, awesome. Then take a little gondola up to the top of the zoo, again, the views, awesome. Then get to see lots of animals, again with the amazing views. So if you appreciate a pretty spectacular view, and like animals, do go.
We had a gorgeous day out. Loved it to bits. We're planning another visit in June! :)

I Love Flowers

 I love flowers. Pretty much every time my flowers die I buy some new ones. The wonderful little place I go to never has the same stuff in their store either, so I get to pick all sorts of beautiful different flower. I really love the coral like flower I got this time. The whole bouquet makes me happy, I love having it right by the door to welcome me home. :)

I also learnt an awesome little tip about Lilies when buying these flowers. If you pull the pollen bits off, with a tissue, when they open you don't get all that horrible orange pollen everywhere. The gorgeous lily smell is till there, just none of the mess. If you pull them off just as the flowers open they aren't as sticky.

Quote to Inspire: Birds

Weather 2 - Katie 1

Around this time last year I had a few battles with the weather, last time I counted it was Weather 1-1 Katie. Weather obviously did not like this and caught me out today. Above are some photos to let you get an idea of what I saw and what I got caught in. There was lightning, thunder and creepy lightning/thunder combos. I was soaked head to toe. My umbrella was useless. Most frustratingly of all, the storm moved quickly, and was easing by the time I got home. Had I finished work an hour later I may have missed the whole thing. Damn you weather!

EDIT: For photos that a bazillion times cooler than mine, check out the storm on buzzfeed. It really did look that awesome.

Quote to Inspire: What a Wonderful Thought

Quote to Inspire: Perfect Moment

Ads That Amuse Me

Fox Sports ad for the NRL season is quite funny. If you have a partner that is obsessed with at least one kind of sport I am sure there is something in there you can relate to.

To my knowledge, I have never had Carlton Dry, but I do really love their ads. This is a compilation of all of them. I think the 'upside down people' dancing is my favourite. :)

I have no words.

Of course, none of these are as good as 'Dumb Ways to Die', who have made a little Valentine's video:

And yes, we do watch WAY too much TV. We are not ashamed.

Quote to Inspire: Never Too Late

Quote to Inspire: Feeling Blue

29 January - 4 February: What I'm Grateful For

I am so proud of myself to have kept this going this long! This week I am grateful for:
29 Jan
Blue skies
Evening of quizzes with James
Comfy pjs

30 Jan
G&T's
Dinner at the dining table
Panadol (not because of the G&T's)

31 Jan - Oh my goodness! This was such an exhausting day!
The quiet after lots of children have been crying/screaming
Sleeping babies
The weekend

1 Feb
GoGet
New Flowers
A wonderful day with James

2 Feb
My life
That James and I now think two days apart is too much
Getting the whole bed to myself

3 Feb
My supportive parents
Dinner with a friend
James coming home a day early

4 Feb
Super comfy rug - the children are LOVING it
Tickle sessions, when I'm the tickler
The Block being on TV again

What are you grateful for?

20 Things We Should Say More Often

5 is my favourite. Haha. I guess that is why I work with kids!

Getting Crafty

This weekend has felt pretty awesome.
Yesterday, James and I rented a car and did some shopping at Ikea and Bunnings. I got a rug and plant for work, and we went in to set them up. The room looks SO much nicer now. I am a lot happier. :) We also found the perfect piece of wood to replace the bit that was broken by our dividing wall blowing open and ripping the old piece apart. We also picked up some new flowers for the apartment, James' idea. :)
I have also made some pretty bunting for the Nursery room, some birthday balloons, and flowers to display all the children in our room.
We've also been through most of our cook books and picked out the recipes we love, and watched the whole first season of Suits.
To some, it may sound like a rather mundane weekend, but to us it was pretty perfect. :)

Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year had a significance in my life since 2009, my first year at university, when we celebrated Chinese New Year to help a friend feel less homesick. Ever since, I have done something to celebrate the day. :)

This year is the year of the horse. My year. So I am hoping it's a good one, and hope it is also a good year for the rest of you horses out there! :)

Quote to Inspire: The Lorax

22-28 January: What I'm Grateful For

This week I am grateful for:

22 Jan

When strangers seem to really appreciate my smile and "Good Morning"

Not being part of the Australian heat wave

Cuddles with James before bed

23 Jan

Working legs

Homemade lunch

Cuddles

24 Jan

Patience

Understanding parents

Not having kids at work and home 

25 Jan

Lots and lots of sleep (13 hours in fact)

Gorgeous little shops on King Street

Crispy Pork Belly

26 Jan

Fireworks

Ziggy lunch dates

Reading before bed

27 Jan

The warm glow of the sun as it fills the bedroom on a lazy morning

A productive day

Quiet

28 Jan

Progress - with children at work

A happy and calm day

Long days - I love the sun being out for so long

What are you grateful for?

Beautiful Girl, Beautiful World

Seriously cute. I love it when she starts singing too. I so want to learn this song (changing girl the child) for work, it's a gorgeous song. Beautiful.

They Say It All

 

With Australia Day being tomorrow, I had been looking up anything Australia Day related on pinterest to get inspired to actually do something about it for work. I did not get much inspiration, BUT I found the above cushions which I think pretty much sums up the whole Sydney/Melbourne relationship. I also kind of want them.

The same website had the below, a fabulous Australian puzzle of Australian foods, including vegemite toast, fairy bread and lammingtons. Love it.

All the above can be found at Make Me Iconic.

Quote to Inspire: Optimistic