After feeling very unsettled and flat for the first half of the year teaching, I went searching for another job and fortunately on the 1st July I was offered a new job as a Transition Support Teacher - Early Intervention. I accepted the job at 11 am and left school at 3 pm with barely a goodbye. It all happened really quick. I had the two-week holiday break before starting and have just finished my first two weeks on the job and I’m loving it. My brain is in overload mode as I am learning so much about special needs, access requests, funding and transition. But I am really enjoying the new challenge and renewed sense of freedom.

The school holidays were a different story though. We had rain, flooding and so much wetness. My boyfriend’s work yard was flooded yet again so I spend a day helping him move all the trailers and trucks to higher ground. It was devasting to see yet again and a painful task to clean it all up. Thankfully I got out of that.

I was looking forward to going away in the holidays and didn’t let the rain stop me. I spent three days with my little sis in Wollongong and did a two-day country getaway out to Orange and back again.

Going away is always good medicine for me. Particularly when I learnt the news of one of my best friends passing away. It was a devasting blow emotionally and such a terrible tragedy for her young family. She was an awesome friend and one of my biggest supporters. She had a lot of faith in God and was doing her best to heal. It just wasn’t meant to be her story. I lost my smile for awhile but getting away helped get me back on track.

Listened to - 

* Awesome Inside Out with Sarah Ann Stewart

* The Terri Cole Show

* The CEO Teacher by Kayse Morris

* Simple Families The Podcast with Denaye Barahona

* The School of Greatness

* Real Raw Relatable with Kat John

* The Tiffany Han Show

* Commune with Jeff

* Happier with Gretchin Rubin

* The Lively Show

* Other People’s Houses by Kelli Hawkins - my first audiobook

* The Other Side of Beautiful by Kim Lock - my second audiobook

 Read - 

* The Broken Shore by Peter Temple

* Grounded by Anna Carlile

* The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper

* Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer

* The Winds Of Heaven by Judith Clarke

 

Splurged on - 

* floor lamp - white of course

Watching - 

* Have You Been Paying Attention?

* Embodied Relating with the IV through The Lively Foundation

* 4 Steps To Running A Successful Blog

Went to - 

* stay with my sister in Wollongong for a long weekend - went shopping

* visit Mayfield Gardens - amazing, but avoid it during Winter - save it for Spring

* stayed in Orange at Silver Gums Studio, in 2 degree weather

* lunch at Circa Espresso at Parramatta for lunch with my bff

* dinner at The Governor at Macquarie Park with friends

* explore Homebush with my bff - included Newington Armoury, Ss Ayrefield Shipwreck, Bay Marker, Brickpit Ring Walk, Badu Mangrove Walk and lunch at Left of Fields

* see Jagged Little Pill musical with a good friend

Booked - 

* tickets to George Thorogood concert for October

* tickets for Sydney Skywalk in October

* tickets to The First Astronomer

 

Cooked - 

* Apple Pie, Choc Chip Cookies, Pineapple Slice, Chocolate Slice, Fudge Cake

* Beef Bowl, Farmhouse Casserole, Pumpkin Soup, Beef Stirfry, Chicken Curry, Dahl, Lamb Shoulder

 

What's new - 

* Home improvements - had another council cleanup, purchased vanity and tapwear for the bathroom downstairs, yet to be installed

* My boyfriends sister came to visit for coffee. She hasn’t been to Bens house for over 15 years. We were really proud to show her the improvements

* Get my annual haircut

Looking for - 

* black shower head

Sold -

* Grey office chairs, soccer boots, coconut pots, Rothko print

 
Started - 

* 5 Minute Stress Less Challenge

* bought and using NoPong deodorant - to do my part for Plastic Free July

Attempting to -

* not turn into a perfectionist workaholic. Trying to hold myself back as I ease into my new job

What was your July like? Any big news to share? We would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel welcome to join the conversation and leave a comment below.

For other months in hindsight click here