Kia Ora friends! Happy Sunday! I hope ya'll don't have the Sunday Scaries this evening (or if you do, you have the absolute best co-workers). It feels really late today for some reason but it's only about 6:30pm that I decided to sit down and write this, with my laptop being only about 36% charged so hopefully it lasts while I write today's blog otherwise we'll have to come back to it later and as I'm a dedicated pumpkin, we gotta keep writing daily (well, for now anyway).
Melbourne weather today is sunny and a little breezy and only about 20 degrees so a nice day for a kiwi (who defo struggles in the heat waves and weather that is up and down) and this morning was a bit of a lazy morning for Luke and I - I don't think either of us had a great sleep last night. I must have been tired though because I didn't even hear Luke in the shower but woke up feeling like I didn't get much sleep again! We didn't get up too early but we did head out to brunch at one of our favourite foodie spots - North and Eight. It's a great spot to people watch and eavesdrop on other people's convos ahaha exposing myself today and there's always plenty of doggos to see sitting outside too! Oh, and the food and coffee is yummy! Not super expensive either - because some brunch places can be $$$$ pricey af but this one is a good balance for sure. I had the smashed avo on toast with an added poached egg and Luke had the big breakfast (which I was lowkey jealous of because they have the BEST spicy chorizo) and I was surprised how tasty the mushrooms looked and I am not a big fan of mushrooms because of the texture. I like the flavour, just not the texture, it's so annoying. I wonder if texture issues are related to OCD? #notadoctor
After this, we headed back home and got started on our chores for the week like catching up on cleaning, washing, and doing our groceries. Although randomly our neighbours had locked themselves out of their house and had to come and jump our fence to get inside (which was so random) - I hope they found their keys. Imagine if they read this blog? That would be funny! Although it's not very common for neighbours to introduce themselves around here (I'm not sure if that's just because I am anxious and don't go out of my way to do so, but a hello how's it going is pretty normal but not to the extent of what it's like in NZ, where your neighbours are your friends). I hope that makes sense. It made sense in my head and now I'm thinking this is a very long paragraph so let's make a new one!
Welcome to the new paragraph LOL what am I doing? Hahah sometimes I worry about myself. Anyway, because we had a big brunch, we didn't really do a lunch so I kinda just grazed throughout the day on leftovers from this week and then I've done about 4 walks today - all relatively short but I was very proud that I managed to do them. I'm at about 9400 steps so I am happy with that, I did have to sit down as soon as I finished all the walks but hopefully, I can build back up my fitness because I am missing it and getting so frustrated not being able to do as much as I normally can. Anyway, I also had a bath this evening as a bit of self-care and we watched the Red Dwarf movie (and we've now finished all of Red Dwarf so we're going to need some new things to watch over summer). Hopefully, we can spend a bit more time outside as well AND finally start doing our ice cream reviews. I don't want it to turn into one of those things where you say you're going to do it and it never happens. I don't want to be one of those people haha. So once the weather starts to stay warm in the evenings, we gotta go try some ice cream places for sure. Anyway, tonight Luke felt like making something Indian for Diwali, so we are having Chicken Curry and then Gajar Ka Halwa for dessert which will be yummy. Luke's in charge of dinner today (but I will be in charge tomorrow and Tuesday as Luke is in the office tomorrow and then has cricket training on Tuesday night. I've also got a package coming this week (which I think might be some camera gear) so I've gotta make sure that I'm home to sign for those bc I don't really want it going to a post shop. Anyway, watch this space for whatever creative stuff I do next AND please please please check out my "shop" if you'd like to purchase a digital download. I also think a few birthday cards are still to come too so maybe they'll come over the next few days.
I feel like I'm writing this so fast because I'm worried that my laptop is going to die but I really like writing. It makes me very happy. Although as I did do a lot of baking this past week, my carpal tunnel has decided to play up (and it was doing so good these past few months). But this week I'm not too sure what we have planned. I definitely want to do some photography, keep making canva designs for my 2nd insta account asheydesigns (main one is asheycakes), trial out more video content e.g., I am thinking of vlogging but talking to a camera is terrifying - like idk why giving lectures wasn't as scary because I knew I was being recorded and watched at home too (and like a room full of a lot of people). Anyway, hopefully, I can get over my anxiety and do something like that OR at least give it a go) because I know it would make 15 year old me really proud. I also want to start doing the Christmas shopping early (as there's a few people we need to buy for) AND we do wanna go and get a big Christmas tree and some decorations. I haven't had proper decorations in SO long. We thought about heading to NZ for Christmas this year but flights are just so expensive atm and I'd like to be able to take Luke on a special South Island roadie when we go so I can show him all the cool spots in NZ he missed when he did a touristy stop there with his fam. So maybe next year sometime or next Christmas/NY would be good. But we do have a Great Ocean Road Trip planned post Christmas this year will be good. I love travelling so much. It's just annoying how expensive it is HAHA. I'd love a job where you choose your own hours and travel whenever you want. I'm basically saying I should be self-employed AHAH. Maybe that's the new goal.
Also, Dessert Masters starts tonight and am looking forward to watching that because as many of you know, I have the biggest sweet tooth ever and I love baking and learning new desserts and I am defo excited for Christmas baking.
It sounds like dinner is almost ready and my laptop definitely needs to go on charge so I"ll end the blog there. But for today's question, I want to know, if you could swap lives for a celebrity for a day, who would it be and why? Let me know in the comments below. Mine would be Gordon Ramsay because I would want to learn all his cooking skills and take them back with me haha.
Ka kite, Much love,
Ash xx
Freddie Prinze Jr so SMG was my wife for the day haha