My last Shein Splurge

 I often wonder what is pending in other peoples "Shopping Carts" on sites like Shien, Temu AliExpress etc because my carts are always full.

With some availability on my AfterPay Account last week I was able to splurge a little and save a lot on some of these things..

First of all I bought this really cute beanie for my daughter..

I also bought these little silicon egg pans for our air fryer for Jie and I to make eggs or omelets..

As mentioned in this post not too long ago, I installed a new hand held shower head. It's made showering so much easier and so I have also ordered this hand held tap extension for our kitchen tap.

My daughter Nevaeh and I both suffer with really dry hair and scalp issues and so I thought I would buy these to try.. 

This next buy is something I am really anticipating! As you all know, I am a Melbourne Storm Supporter and I'm known for wearing my Melbourne Storm Oodie to games. Being a winter sport, the nights get quite cold and so when I found this it made me so excited >.< 

Also last week I bought our family new knives, forks and spoons as well as steak knives. To keep this kitchen upgrade going I also bought these new additions..

And also these which will make cooking with fresh ingredients so much easier..

I bought these although I'm really not sure of if they will fit. There were no comments or feedback left on these so I'm hoping for the best. They are pretty though..

Now these ones, I have bought before. I only got 100 last time so this time I went for 500. We use our air fryer quite a bit, almost daily, so these liners come in handy for when we cook things like loaded chips, roasted veggies, wedges etc..

Now I;m excited to show Jie this one, my son likes a tidy and clean home and usually uses the kitchen only once or twice a week for meal prep or smoothies. When Jie's in the kitchen there is a chopping board on the bench and now there will also be these bench bins too.. Veggie and fruit scraps will now just slide off the bench into one of these and I can deliver them to a friend whom has chickens. How easy..

The next item I bought will come in handy for the whole family and will live on the fridge as it is magnetic. An Air Fryer Cooking Guide. Who doesn't need on of those when they have teenage kids?

Look away fella's, the next thing I bought is womans buisness. At Thirty Seven my bladder is weaker then it once was an so I've invested in these knicky knoos! I have actually bought two types of these leak proof knickers to try and when they have sizes all the way up to 30, you could try them too!

And to top this shop off, why not a new pair of Sunglasses? I mean I only have around 6 pairs already! I actually own more pairs of sunglasses then I do shoes.. I like these square style though.. very trendy!

So what's in your shopping cart? 

Do you own more sunglasses or Shoes?

Leave me a comment below and have a great week!

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Bacon & Mushroom Pasta Recipe

 This recipe is used at least once a month as it’s one of my daughters absolute favourites.. 

You will need:

200g Coles Bacon $4.00c

half of 500g Coles Spaghetti $0.90c

1tbs Coles Minced Garlic 

1 tbs Vegetable Oil

1 tbs Butter

x1 Brown Onion .70c

half of x1 300g Lite Sour Cream $3.30c

x1 200g diced Mushroom $2.50c

half of x1 100g Grated Parmesan Cheese $2.00c

You will also need:

Pull Chopper (see here) for onion

Table Spoon (tbs)

Frying Pan

Wooden spoon 

Spaghetti Spoon

Knife for chopping bacon

Pot for boiling spaghetti

Step 1

Follow the packet instructions to boil spaghetti.

Step 2

Heat oil in frying pan, add butter and melt. 

Step 3

Add garlic and heat until fragrant.

Step 4

Add bacon and brown.

Step 5

Add onion and mushroom and cook until soft. 

Step 6

Drain Pasta

Step 6 

Add pasta, sour cream and parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper.

Taste and serve!

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100 Prayers

 This blog post is a bit of a re-do as I have written 100 of my prayers before in this post 5 years ago..

I went back today and updated that prayer list with what God has answered of those prayers and have started a new list here..

1. To find a secure full time job that will allow us to live comfortably
2. For Jie to go to Uni or do a course in something he likes next year
3. For Nevaeh to get her first job 
4. To pay off all of our debt ($42,000) in the next 7 years
5. Jie to get his license 
6. Nevaeh to get her license 
7. Spend more time at home
8. Spend more time with God
9. Marry David
10. Grow our own veggies
11. Find Nevaeh a good therapist
12. Get Jie glasses
13. Be more motivated in winter
14. Go out more as a family
15. Eat better
16. Lose weight
17. Show love towards my kids more
18. For Matthew (Nevaehs father) to get the right support that will get him off the streets
19. For Matthew's family to love and want to help him 
20. For Matthews mental health 
21. For Matthew to get a job he can thrive in and get his life back on track
22. For Matthew to get clean
23. For my son to start a relationship with Jesus
24. For my Daughter to read her bible more
25. For my kids to always be protected when I am not with them
26. For a clear diagnosis of Nevaehs mental health
27. For Nevaeh to have more confidence in herself 
28. For Nevaeh to venture out more
29. For Nevaeh to find her tribe
30. For Jie to make some really good life long friends
31. For Jie to enjoy his 20s
32. For Jie's mental health 
33. For David to have wisdom when it comes to doing the budget each week
34. For protection for David when he is out on the roads (Truck Driving)
35. For a job opportunity to come along for David to be earning more for our family
36. For David to grow in confidence in being a father to his kids
37. For David to always respect the mothers of his children for all that they do for them
38. For David to be able to have a relationship with his eldest daughter 
39. For David to be strong and courageous in all situations life throws at him
40. For a really good holiday somewhere tropical together
41. For Jie and Nevaeh to always know who they are and be strong in their identities
42. For me to get a job in the Melton Hospital once its built
43. For me to put myself out there more for my community
44. For me to also humble myself in the things I have and not always want for more
45. Savings
46. All of our health
47. For my friends to know that I will always be there for them
48. For my friends wanting, having babies to birth happy, healthy bubs with no complications
49. For my friends to know love and have love in their lives
50. For my friends to find peace in the parts of their lives they struggle with
51. For my friends to have success 
52. For me to upskill and never stop learning
53. For my kids to want to learn and enjoy learning
54. For my family to turn from the sin they're in and turn to God
55. For my family to have the mental health support they need
56. For my family to quit their addictions with and for each other
57. For my family members to each secure jobs to finance a better life for them all and our next gen
58. For the locks on the doors to keep anyone wanting to hurt my family members out
59. For each of my family members to live in an abundance of happiness and not fear
60. For my family members to have full bellies each and every night
61. For my family members to know where the help is and use it
62. For each of my family members salvation
63. Career pathways for Nevaeh and Jie as they get older
64. Good guidance and wisdom when it comes to money
65. More creative
66. Be more intentional with what I want
67. Take more risks
68. Love people from a distance 
69. Bask in happiness and peace when you find it
70. Church more
71. Bible study more
72. Pray more
73. Witness more
74. Visit the people I love more
75. Call the people I admire and respect more
76. Worship more
77. Live within our means
78. Be more frugal
79. Be more mindful
80. Listen to God more
81. Intervention
82. Fearless
83. Worthy
84. Focus on my blessings
85. Thankfulness
86. Fullness in every area of my life
87. My mental health
88. Exercise more
89. Spend more time with friends
90. See new places
91. Do new things
92. Make new friends
93. See the good in people
94. Say the good in people
95. Love more
96. Thank more
97. Be a blessing more
98. More hugs
99. WWJD more
100. For more trusting God in what's ahead for our family

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My David’s 40th Birthday

 My David’s 40th birthday went like this.. 

Jiedyn got home just after 12am early that Saturday morning after working his shift at Nandos in the CBD. 

Jie put his things down and then went into Nevaeh’s bedroom to get her to help him give David his gifts. 

David received a bouquet of chocolates, a 40th legendary coaster and a 40th whisky glass and a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label (Year of the snake edition). 

David was very thankful for all of his gifts. 

The kids then proceeded to set up David’s birthday cake. Nevaeh actually broke the “H” birthday candle, so once the candles were lit the kids sung “Appy Birthday” to David which was hilarious! 

We all enjoyed a piece of his Creamy Red Velvet Cake.

Not long after we all went to bed, knowing we had a big day planned ahead of us. 

The next morning we dragged our butts into the car and headed over to David’s son’s house. 

We grabbed food on the way and Cat, Ryan, Jie and David all played Mario Party for the next hour and a half. 

We left at around 2.30ish and headed to the hotel we had booked for the night.

Jie had a shower, I had the next one and Nevaeh also had a quick shower before we were all ready to go.

Traditionally we took hotel selfies before we left just like we did the last time we had a hotel room together here.. 

These ones turned out good and we had a lot of fun doing them. 

We left the hotel room and drove up the road to Crown. 

We had Subway for dinner meeting David’s best friend Long and ate together.

We met the rest of the gang at King Pin Bowling where there was a live DJ and had our first drinks. 

We set up the bowling game with 5 people per alley and named ourselves “David’s.. something” 

It was a lot of fun bowling and Jie had a beer with David for his birthday. 

After bowling, the kids left to go home and we entered the casino to play pokies. 

A few drinks later everyone called it a night.. 

Tom, David and I ended the night getting kicked out of The Pub which was David and Tom’s first time getting kicked out of a Pub. 

Once we got back to the hotel room I had left the air conditioner on 5.5 degrees so David and I rugged up in dressing gowns and oodies. 

We also ordered from one of our fave shops and got hot dogs delivered. 

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Melton Craft Circle!

Today was my first time attending the Djerriwarrh Craft Circle which meets every Monday at 9.30am at the Djerriwarrh Community Centre on Station Road in Melton, next door to the Melton Police Station.

Today we created our own planter boxes using beads..

This was the facilitators one..

Which looked so lush and green!

This one was mine..

With my two little beaded mushrooms on the side!

And this is my friend Stavy with her creation..

Who would have thought just some wire, pliers and a whole heap of beads could have us so amused so early in the morning.. 

I cannot wait to return next week for more beading fun!

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How to Save $$$ at the Check Out #MealPlanningMonday

 For the past 4 weeks I have saved $100 a week on our grocery bill simply by meal prepping once a week.

Every Sunday, my son and I spend a few good hours meal prepping.

Jie preps all his dinners for the week because most nights he doesn't get home from work until after 10pm at night and quite frankly, who wants to cook at that time of night?

Jie prepping his food not only helps him save time, but Jie ensures his meals are well balanced and nutritious with high fiber, some good protein and lots of veg.

Jie pays his own food bill as he likes top quality ingredients.

Where-as I have been saving money at the check out these past few weeks buying cheap Coles branded food products to create yummy freezable lunches/dinners.

In the last four weeks I have cooked things like:

Apricot Chicken and Rice

Beef Stroganoff with Mash Potato

Keens Coconut Chicken Curry with Rice

Chicken Chow Mein

Butter Chicken and Rice

Curries Sausages with Mash

Pasta Bake

Cheesy Potato Bake

Spaghetti and Meatballs

So if you're looking to save some serious money when shopping, three meals a week portioned and frozen to heat and eat after a busy day is the way to go!

You could even use the saved money to take the family out to a fave restaurant!

I would recommend Back to Bacchus! 

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Sunday Salon Blog Hop

 I came across this new blog hop over at Vicki's Blog.

So I thought I'd join in this week is all the happenings around here and check out a few new blog on their blog hop. Feel free to also check it out and join in today.

Right Now..

I'm in my Melbourne Storm Oodie in bed with pillows upon pillows browsing blogs for something to do before I have to do shopping, cook some meals for this weeks meal prep and do a cover letter this afternoon for a job I'm applying for this coming week. The weather is a cool 15 degrees, the boys are in the lounge watching the news and Nevaeh is still sleeping.

Books..

To be honest I haven't read any books this week but I have downloaded the ABC Listen App and have been following the daily podcast of the Death Cap Mushroom Murder Trial each and every night before bed for the past few weeks. 

Also another great listen would be the MR BIG podcast on the same app. Search Unravel and trust me, you wont be able to stop listening. 

Movies and TV..

I watched The Little Rascals Movie on Mothers Day.

I have also been binge watching the old episodes of "Trading Spouses", "Kitchen Nightmares" and "Rich Kids go Skink UK" on YouTube. I have also been waiting for the new episodes of "What Would Your Kid Do?".

The last three movies I watched was "I am ALL GIRLS", "Secrets we Keep" and "Leave no Trace". Highly recommend them all (on Netflix).

Other than that we have been watching and playing along to  "The Floor" Monday and Tuesday nights on Channel 9, "Letters and Numbers" on SBS and "The 1% Club" on Channel 7.

Games..

I added this in as I do like playing online games as well as watching my gameshows. 

Lately I have been dominating FreeCell, FruitMerge and WordGuess on an app called "Offline Games".

I play "Wizard of Oz" and "Wonka Slots" as well as "PokemonGo".

Every morning before my partner David starts work, we play "Scrabble", "SongPop" and/or "Stop 2".

David also plays Monopoly.

In the Kitchen..

We bought a new fridge! 

I have a great post on how we are saving money on groceries on the blog tomorrow so be sure to check back for some info. We have cut our shopping bill in half.

Todays to-do List..

Shopping

Meal Prep

Cover Letter for Job

Bible Verse..

As I said earlier I haven't read much this week but I was just saying to my David last night that I want to start a new bible study. If you guys have any recommendations, I'd appreciate it.

Grateful for..

My son embracing his culture and identity for the first time.

Family time together.

The ability to give my kids a few "wants" and not just what they "need".

A New job opportunity.

Supportive friendships.

A partner whom loves and understands me, whom I can lean on and rely on. 

My Home, my Heater but most of all my Health.

From my Camera..

This pic was taken on a night out last weekend! 

See more here.. 

As I said, it's my first time linking up for the Sunday Salon blog hop.. 

Feel free to do the same!

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Fresh Yummy Nachos!

Needing a bit of food inspo this week?

Why not some fresh nachos?

You will need:

500g Coles Lean Beef Mince $12.50c

175g Coles Original Corn Chips $2.20c

40g Coles Mexican Taco Seasoning $1.45c

x1 Avocado $2.20c

x1 300g Lite Sour Cream $3.30c

x1 Gourmet Tomato $1.20c

x1 Brown Onion .70c

x1 250g Shredded Mexican Cheese $5.50c

You will also need:

Pull Chopper (see here)

Baking Tray

Pan

Wooden spoon for taco mince

Tongs

Knife for Avo

Spoon for Sour Cream

Step 1

Follow the packet instructions of the Taco Seasoning Packet.

Step 2

Once Taco mince is ready, layer corn chips onto the baking tray, add a layer of the taco mince, a layer of cheese and put on a lower oven rack on 180 degrees until cheese is melted.

Step 3

Cut onion and tomato and put it into the hand chopper together and chop it up!

Step 4

Dice up avocado.

Step 5

Dish it up and top off with Sour Cream!

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Bacchus Marsh Golf Club Carvery Night

 Every Sunday, the Bacchus Marsh Gold Club in Darley host an All-You-Can-Eat Roast Carvery.

David and I have been a few times but it was Nevaeh's first time last Sunday.

Jie had to work so it was just the three of us.

I love my family

Love a good roast 

And would recommend a visit! 

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My baby turns 16!

My Nevaeh Anne turned 16 today!

Nevaeh Received a $250 Shein Shopping Spree, New Shoes, a new Hoodie, a brand new gaming laptop, a butterfly candle holder off of David, a $100 JBHiFi gift card from her Dad, a new mirror, $20 from her brother, a jacket from Aunty Rosie and Aunty Margie, makeup and a gaming mouse for her new laptop.

Nevaeh enjoyed a chocolate mud cake this year from the cheesecake shop.

Nevaeh has grown so much this year! She is passionate and ready to take on the world!

On her birthday night we all watched Fly Away Home in the lounge room together.

Happy 16th my sweet girl xx

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A Day in the Life of Mel (no work edition)

Monday 14th April 2025

 4.30am - Wake up to David’s alarm, listen to him get up and make his lunch, have a shower and get ready for work.

5am - David leaves for work and he calls me on his way and we go through the plans for our days, the weather, sports scores, the kids days and sometimes dinner plans.

 

6am - David and I spend a half our playing Scrabble or SongPop before he goes in at 6.30am. 

6.30am - Jie is up and already wanting to bargain off the dishes if I cook him breakfast. The dishes consist of about three plates, a smoothie maker, a bowl and a few cutlery.. but seeing as he was so eager for Mum to cook for him - he is 20yo by the way! - I ended up giving in and cooked him Eggs and Avo on Toast! 

7am-8am - Jie eats his breakfast as we watch the rest of the movie we started last night.. Tom Hanks in A Man Named Otto. The movie reminded us of my Dad as we laughed and paused different parts of things he did that Pop would do too. Jie like to rate movies and so gave it an 8 once it was finished. I gave it a 9. 

8am-9.30am - Jie has a shower and I get stuck into my 1000 piece puzzle 🧩  Jie honors his part of the deal made earlier and does the dishes. He brings out his basket from his room and doubles his task with more plates, mugs and cutlery. I put on Pixar Cars as background entertainment and we both quote and laugh as we do our own things. 

9.30am - Jie decides he wants to annoy me as I sit in peace doing my puzzle.. and so he does.. and for a good half our too!

10am - Nevaeh gets up, Jie is finally in his room playing his Xbox and I’m packing up my puzzle for another day. Nevaeh washes her basket of dishes and I pull out chops, chicken burgers and meatballs for the next three nights dinners. 

10.30am - A loads of towels get washed, the dog and cat get fed and I go and scroll fb, twitter and insta for a bit. 

11am - I’m playing Pokemon go while talking to David on the phone as he drives one of the fleets biggest trucks which he know I love. I do another load of towels, hang them and order the kids and I pizza 🍕 

12pm - It’s very rare for me to spend one on one time with my kids at these ages, Jie and I work, Nevaeh and Jie go to two different school, Jie does a course and goes to the gym.. I barely see us all finding the time to hang out. So I thought I’d get us Pizza to share seeing as we were all home together. 

12.45pm - Pizza comes and Nevaeh and I eat on my bed watching a crime investigation show. Jie eats in his room and watches an episode of Supernatural which he is really into at the moment. 

1.30ish - Jie and I have an afternoon sleep. (I know right? The life!!) ☺️

3pm - I get up and a package comes. It motivates me to then clean my room. 

3.15-5pm - I’m cleaning, sorting, stopping to look at photos, filling a massive donation box, going through medication dates and finding all those missing pairs of socks under our bed..

5pm - David calls me to say he is leaving work at 6.10pm and wants to take me out for a dinner date. I’m still up to my neck in sorting Mum and Dads stuff so I tell him I’ll finish up and then have a shower and call him back. (Jie is still asleep by the way!)

7pm - David and I cosy up at Deganis at Woodgrove and each order what we “want” instead of usually only what we can “afford”. I also get a frozen Pina Colada Daiquiri 🍹 for the occasion! 

8pm - We are at chemist warehouse picking up my script from my hospital stay the other night before we drive home and crawl into bed. 

9.30pm - Jie heads to the gym, Nevaeh heats up pasta from the other nights dinner and David and I are singing the lyrics to our fave love songs. We check our games and then David grabs us water and shuts the light off. 

10pm - I text the kids goodnight and then snuggle my man and Sleeeeeeeeep! 😴 

Photos below 👇🏾 

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12-04-2025

 

Apparently the 12-4-2025 was the day The Simpsons predicted that Donald Trump would die.. yet I was the one left breathless at 2.30am! 

Thankful to the staff and doctor at Urgent Care in Bacchus Marsh whom were very attentive and thorough in their management of my situation! I can breathe again 🌬️

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