Started July on holidays. Turns out my holidays are always busier than my work term as I try to smash out, jam pack, squeeze in and fill every second doing things of my choosing rather than things I have to do! It was busy but it was eventful. Just the way I like it. Ended up with lots of catch ups with friends, gallery visits, travelling country NSW, exploring, and doing all my catch up life admin like claiming money back.

Listening to - 

* The Lively Show - addicted to this one. Loving the new season

* The Retrieval - slow release with a new episode every two weeks which wants you wanting more

* Scamanda - addictive listen about a lady who faked cancer. If you need a new listen, this is a must for your earballs

* People Who Knew Me - about a woman who faked her own death during 9/11 and escaped her marriage. True story

 Read - 

* Different, Not Less by Chloe Hayden - autism from the perspective of someone with autism

* The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles - the story shares two womens lives in two different time periods and how they are interwoven

* Sowing Secrets by Trisha Ashley - great read. I was on to the husband early in the book. Slimeball

* Someone Like You by Victoria Purman - pulls at the heart strings

* Wild Things by Laura Kay - first LGBTQ book I have read. Alright but won’t be rushing back

Splurged on - 

* real nice places for the holidays - Porter Hotel in Sydney and Conquun Cottage in Upper Hunter Valley

Watching - 

* Swimming World Championships

* No Hard Feelings movie - underwhelming. The trailer showed all the good bits

Went to - 

* Anne Frank exhibition at Max Webber Library with my mum and sisters family

* my nieces third birthday party and cooked pink cupcakes to take

* Round She Goes at PCYC Marrickville with my little sis. Bit of a dud visit, as all vintage clothing, not exactly my style

* Carriagework Markets - lined up at the All Purpose Bakery, IYKYK. for the proscuito and goat cheese focaccia and missed out by about twenty people. Sucks. Went for a haloumi wrap at a local cafe and it was 5 star so it all worked out in the end

* Steve McCurry Icons exhibition at Walsh Bay with high school friend. Great exhibition

* The Verandah at Beecroft for dinner with my bf and sis. Nice place, food only 4/5 though

* caught up with a work friend at Little Jacks Cafe at Windsor - another cute place

* Women’s Health and Wellness Afternoon - put on by Paris Jade Soul to Soul and together we raised $1807 for the Cancer Council. Such a fun and uplifting afternoon

* ArtExpress at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery and Mudgee Art Precinct - always impressed by high school talent

* babysat my niece’s for the afternoon and then a night in with Ella

* Fiddler and ended up bumping into my aunt and uncle so had dinner together - they have $2 salt and pepper shrimp at the moment with any meal. Get it while its hot!

* Visited one of my travel buddies out on her new farm at Gulgong. We had a great time with such beautiful people

Booked - 

* Dinnerly meals - smashed with work and no time to think of dinner so got sucked back into the meal kits. So much eaiser. Meals have been 3/5 so far.

Cooked - 

* apple crumble cake, stewed pears

* black rice salad, beef masala, spicy chicken tacos, sticky chicken wings, falafel bowls, beef mie goreng, beef bolognaise, ginger caramel chicken

What's new - 

* house reno - decided upon new kitchen, put plans and measurements in, decided upon appliances and got a quote. Its going to be bigger, better and white! I can’t wait. We are moving the fireplace from the kitchen into the lounge room so flooring in there needs better support so my bf started on that. Also he spent an afternoon doing the first patching of cracks on the outdoor rendering, waiting for it to dry before he puts another coat on. Also spent many hours floor shopping as my bf is still undecided. Next move is to buy floorboards from an auction house.

* blog - true self posts, travel profile post. Working on updating a few pages, added places I’ve been page which got me excited just writing it, as well as a bucket list

* did a massive 12km walk from Gerringong to Kiama along the Kiama Costal Walk with my sister and her work friends. Haven’t done that much walking in a long time

* visited my aunty and uncle at South Maroota and scored more cuttings to add to my plant collection

* got my flu shot and had a blood test. I was so cold so she struggled to get blood. My blood results were not accurate as a result so have to go back to get another blood test :(

* won two, three day passes for the Supercars at Eastern Creek. My bf and I went Saturday and Luc and Scott went Sunday. Was pumped

* one of my bfs friends opened up a home decor shop Avalea at Kurrajong. We went up on the bike for opening day. It is one of those shops where you wish you could have one of everything. Can’t wait for our house reno to be finished so I can finally splurge on pieces.

 Looking for - 

* dutch oven to cook my sourdough bread in

 Sold -

* nothing this month

Started - 

* turning my computer off at 4 pm and exercising either a HIIT workout or taking Reg for a walk.

Attempting to -

* plan my trip to Europe but with not much time, left most of the decision making to my bff.

Did you get a break or work through? What are you currently planning for? Would you change anything looking back in hindsight? Feel free to join the conversation and leave a comment below.

For other months in hindsight click here