And it was the week Kevin headed off to the States for a 2 week trip and Amy & I had a fabulous day out shopping at Bondi…

A highlight was getting to visit Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma.

On the way home I stopped to take in the view over Wollongong.

It was the week Christy got her minecraft sword in the mail…

and the week I got a delivery from iherb….

It was the week of green nails…

and it was the week of Rosie sleeping under a pillowpet….

After my normal morning routine I headed off on a walk about 8am. I’m using a new hands-free technique by attaching the leads to my dog walking belt. I started it so they didn’t pull while my shoulder is still weak, but I really like having my hands free.

After our walk I fed Charlie and drove Christy up to school.

I had to back in time to get tickets for a concert that I’m taking Amy and her friend to in October. Not sure quite I’ve got myself into as it’s a metalcore concert!!!! Oh, well, it will definitely be a new experience for me as the “heaviest” concert I’ve ever been to was David Lee Roth .

After I got the tickets I went up to shower and get dressed, then dropped off Christy’s enrolement form for the local high school. We’re still hoping she’ll get into Montessori but at least if she doesn’t she will have a school to attend next year. I have the philosophy that things turn out for a reason and maybe the local school won’t be as bad as we fear .

I then headed down to the Mall for a very special treat – a Gloria Jeans Iced Chocolate. I haven’t had one in over a month and thoroughly enjoyed it.

When I got back home I found a rather guilty puppy.

I wonder who could possibly have done this?

I spent some time finishing off the packing that Kevin had started. He leaves for the 2 weeks in the States tomorrow.

I then wanted to work on my Project Life but am still having MAJOR problems with printing my photos so I didn’t get very far .

I had a yummy salad for lunch and watched a bit of YouTube.

Time to bring in some washing. The blankets that I had hung up earlier were already dry.

At 3pm I went to pick up Christy (Amy was on an excursion). She was nice enough to let me have a leftover piece of chocolate brownie that she had taken in for a class party. I enjoyed it with a cup of tea and a chia cookie while editing a Germany Vlog.

Then at 4.15pm Bailey and I headed to Amy’s school to pick her up.

As you can see we were treated to a lovely sunset as we drove home.

Kevin arrived home shortly after we did and got the pups their dinner.

Bailey always like to go out right after he’s eaten and I think he looks like a ghost dog through the glass.

Since we were headed out tonight to watch Amy’s drama performance we decided to have dinner out.

We just went to a fast-food Mexican place in Wollongong. I had a burrito as it was a cold night out (but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the rice bowl I’d had here last time).

We then had a bit of a wait until it was time for the show. Amy did really well and it was an odd, but enjoyable performance.

Back home we all headed to bed as we’ve got an early morning – leaving the house at 6am to take Kevin to the airport.

It was the week I took a sick Fudgie the Budgie to the vets. Unfortunately he passed away a few days later during a second visit to the vets….

It was the week Amy made this cake for a friends birthday….

And it was the week Christy gave me a delightful pedicure….

It was the week of trip to Sydney… where we scored this awesome carspot right by the entry/exit…

and where we went to see the musical Jesus Christ Superstar arena spectacular….

We were nice and close to the stage, which was wonderful.

Nan, Pop and the girls were with us. Everyone loved it. It is Kevin’s favourite musical and stars Tim Minchin (one of his favourite comedians) so he was pretty happy.

I wasn’t quite sure what Christy would make of it but she enjoyed it, once I pointed out who Jesus was .

If you get the chance and love musicals, make sure you see it. I loved the modern interpretation.

It was the week of sparkly blue nails…. love this colour that Kevin chose for Amy’s birthday….

and was the week it was cold enough for Bailey to curl up in a ball….

Breakfast included the usual green smoothie..Sometimes to go….

There was also a crack wrap (mine are not made vegan) from my Peas and Thank You cookbook on my birthday.

A cheese & pineapple jaffle. I find it hard to drink a green smoothie early with the colder weather…

And on the weekend there was a veggie scramble…

Lunch was usually my salad. Wonder if I’ll ever get sick of this?…

one day it was a TVP taco salad….

And, of course, my lovely Birthday lunch….

Dinner included a mexe-bean wrap, after discovering the rice paper rolls had chicken & prawns in them ….

Tofu with a peanut sauce, veggies & brown rice….

Birthday nachos made by Amy….

Followed by some choc mint ice cream….

Pasta with a Quorn Bolognase sauce was enjoyed twice for dinner, and once for lunch….

And there was Zucchini Slice…

Menu planning and using up leftovers is having a good influence on my grocery bill. Do you menu plan?

On Wednesday I had a green smoothie at 8am before embarking on a 6 post-op fast. The food didn’t worry me, but it was SOOO hard not drinking water or tea.

I kept busy through the morning with uniform shop, a bit of shopping and a whole lot of cooking – which was a pretty odd thing to do while fasting. But I then had a lot of prepared foods, chopped veggies and dinner ready. At 1.30pm Kevin came home and took me to the hospital.

Eventually Kevin left (had to get the girls from school) I was taken into the pre-op ward and got into my gown and into bed.

When I realized I was going to be waiting for quite some time a got out my bag (first time using it and I’m in LOVE)….

and read through this magazine I had picked up earlier in the day.

I hardly ever go into newsagents any more but I’m glad I did. This magazine is awesome. I folded all the pages with recipes I want to make . If you’re into eating heathy make sure you check out this mag. It’s also available for the ipad.

Finally around 4pm (I think) I was taken through for my surgery. The doctors and staff were so nice and friendly. I don’t get nervous at all but if you did, they would put you at ease. Then quick as a flash I was waking up in recovery. I came out of this general so well (compared to past experiences) – I think because of the dose given. It was into the recovery ward for a sandwich and a longed for tea. I was chomping at the bit to go home so I was allowed to get dressed and wait in the waiting area. There was a time I couldn’t leave before, but I think I might have gotten an early mark when Kevin arrived.

Surprisingly I have suffered very little pain, and have just taken a few panedine. I have been taking it easy though and getting the girls to do more for me. Unfortunately Kevin fell of his push bike yesterday and his twisted his knee quite badly, so I don’t think he’s going to be much help for me.

I go next week to have the stitches taken out and I believe I’m going to have a bit of a zigzag scar. In the meantime I have a bandage and an X marking the shoulder to be operated on – not that you’d have missed the lumpy carcinoma.

It was my first time having day surgery and I was honestly pleasantly surprised at the whole experience, even though it seems so weird to leave hospital right after an operation!

It was the week of lovely morning walks – it’s been relatively warm again ….

I must like this spot as I snapped a pic in the same spot a few days later…

It was the week of lovely skies…

and it was the week I got tickets to see Ricky Martin with my Mum….

It was the week of green polish…it’s called Bluey but definitely seems more green to me…

It was the week of some father/daughter bonding over Amy’s laptop keyboard – they were giving the keys a clean…

and it was the week of birthday celebrations, starting with my family ALL helping out in the kitchen…

We had lunch with my Mum & Dad, serving some of my favourite foods (many of which I haven’t had in a long time since going low-sugar)….

Hmmm…I think we might have over catered…

In between savoury and sweet stuff we watched Cirque De Soliel Worlds Away. Not quite what I was expecting but enjoyable none-the-less.

Time to cut the cake. This is my fav. cake and the third year in a row that I’ve chosen this one.

It was the week of LOTS of brushes as the dogs are shedding their Summer coats….

and it was the week of lots of cuddles….

It was the week of a weekend swim…

and the week of a trip to the dog bath….

And as always it was the week of crazy Bailey….

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