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Holiday Time :)

Any travel through this CoVid time is a challenge, but we had decided that we did need a break but we would need to stay within our home state of Queensland.  At Easter we usually are able to take the Thursday before and the Tuesday after Easter to create a nice 6 day break.

For this trip we chose Rockhampton as it had been a long time since either of us had been in the area. A quick “Google” showed lots to do and see, but on further investigation I could not find any suitable accommodation.

I knew Yeppoon is the beachside locale of Rockhampton so decided to look there… Still not a lot available but I knew Easter would be a very busy time. I finally found “Salt Yeppoon Apartments“, a newish resort right on the oceanfront. It promised that every room has an ocean view. A few clicks and we were booked in a 1 bedroom apartment for 5 nights.

You can read all about our holiday on my travel blog here…

RedBubble

After having spend a good chunk of my working life playing with photos and designs, I have become fairly comfortable with Photoshop.

Over the years I have designed many T-Shirts, Mugs and other decor items.  In the past I have used VistaPrint to print my designs, but a couple of months ago I was told about RedBubble.

RedBubble is a site where artists and designers are able to upload their designs and have them printed on to all sorts of products and offer them for sale..  How Cool is that  🙂

I dug through my files and found a number of designs I had previously made for friends and family.

I needed to come up with a user name and was stumped for a couple of days.   One day I woke up after a god night’s sleep and the name had come to me overnight… “Waterfall Rose”   I have NO idea what it means, but it is cute 🙂

I would love it if you would have a look  here and see if anything takes your fancy.

4 Simple Rules to Create a RICH Life

When you think of RICH does the image of money and wealth immediately spring to mind?  For most people it does, but did you know that the dictionary has many definitions of the word RICH and only one has to do with actual money.

However, by following these 3 simple rules, you can become financially rich.

Rule Number 1:  Do Not Live Above Your Means.
I think everybody knows their income should be higher than their spending to be able to achieve financial stability. Certainly, my philosophy of making my cash work hard for me has been the cornerstone of creating my “Sunshine Cash” lifestyle

Rule 2: Save Up and Invest
Again the common thinking is to save the balance between your income and outgoings and invest to create further income.  Planning income for your future self is a wise decision if you do not to be still working 9-5 well into your 80’s.

Rule 3:  Improve on Rules 1 & 2.
It is easy to plan and budget your expenses. The issue comes in the practice.  So many have the greatest intentions only to slip back to bad habits in a month or two.  It is VITALLY important to keep checking in with yourself and keep yourself on track to achieve your long term goals.

Rule 4:  Do Not Apply These Rules to Just Your Money.
To have a truly RICH life, every area of life needs to follow the first 2 rules.
Let’s see how this can be applied to the 8 life areas..

 

Life Area Rule 1:

“Do Not Live Above
Your Means”

 Rule 2:

“Save Up and Invest”
Financial Wealth Spend less than you Earn Save and Invest the left over money after expenses
Home and Environment Have a home that suits your lifestyle Maintain your home to keep it in good condition.
Family & Friends Have hundreds of “Friends” Nurture and protect true friendships that see you through thick and thin.
Romance / Partner Be too busy to give your partner time. Taking them for granted Taking time to connect on a personal level often to keep the spark alive.
Health & Wellbeing Overeat and don’t exercise Have regular check-ups with health professionals.
Career & Business Jumping from one job to the next often. Creating a long term career that creates job satisfaction.
Personal Growth Being constantly stressed and busy Allowing some “Me Time” to create balance and unwind.
Fun & Recreation Being constantly stressed and busy Finding time to have fun, engage in a hobby or just relax with friends

Take some time and consider how can you apply the 2 rules to your life in all areas.

If you want to explore deeper how YOU can create your RICH life.    Check out my Rise to RICH course.

 

 

A Restaurant Style Meal

Have you seen my “Getting $#!T Done” course yet?
I ask because, part of the challenge is to audit your life in every area and slowly level each area up to a “10”

One area of life is, of course, “Romance / Significant Other”  I have rated this area of my life as a good solid 8 🙂

Nobody is perfect and I don’t know that anybody should actually rate their relationship as a 10.  Let’s face it there is always more to do and some little thing that we are not 100% happy with about our partners (or ourselves).

When I was going through my monthly plan and trying to decide how I could level up this area, I thought one thing we enjoy doing is eating out.  We choose not to spend $100+ very often on a restaurant meal, but we are both capable home cooks and can replicate a restaurant style dish without too much stress.

Anyway, I digress  🙂

In my never ending quest to become a princess and be wined and dined by my prince  I decided that , as I work from home every Friday, I would look through a few menus and have a “fancy dinner” on Friday nights.    I will not shop specifically for this meal, but rather use the menu as inspiration to use what I have in the fridge, freezer and pantry.

This weeks menu came from a lovely restaurant not far from us.  See Restaraunt in Mooloolaba 
I have actually only been there once, and it was with a group of girlfriends for a special lunch.
It is on my list of places to go with hubby, but is is a stretch on the budget.
(A couple would do well to walk out spending under $100 after meals and a couple of drinks)

Scrolling through their menu, this dish caught my eye….
Confit Duck, Spec and Green Pea Medley, Honey Carrot Puree

Yummmmmm, but I don’t normally have duck or spec residing in my well stocked fridge/freezer, but I most certainly do have chicken and bacon!!   This sounded like a winner.

This is what I ended up with ….
Slow Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken, Bacon and Green Pea Medley, Honey Carrot Puree.

I found this recipe on Taste for the Chicken  and made it with a small half bird from the freezer.

The “bacon and green pea medley” is a side dish I often make for guests.. (a similar recipe is here)
In my dish I used frozen peas, green shallots and snow peas and  fresh beans all cut into small pieces about the same size as the peas.

For the honey carrot puree, I sauteed a small chopped onion in a drizzle of olive oil until soft but not coloured. to that I added two medium carrots chopped into rounds, and covered with water, a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon of chicken stock.  Simmer this until the water is mostly gone. Be careful, you don’t want it to boil dry.   

To serve, mash or puree the carrots ( I used a stick blender) and spread onto a plate in an attractive pool. Nestle the chicken in the puree and surround with the peas.  Gently spoon over the sauce from the chicken being careful not to “drown” it

As I am a TERRIBLE food blogger, I forgot to take pictures 🙁

Hubby declared the meal a success, and I felt I had boosted my “relationship score” a point or so – at least for the night 🙂

I wonder what I will find next Friday??

Not my picture of chicken 🙂

 

80 Days until Christmas

?Does that number strike a feeling of panic and dread, or are you ready for the holiday season?

I have to admit, I am one of “those” annoying people who does not stress about Christmas or the cost of giving gifts.  And, yes, I have just about finished my Christmas Gift shopping  ?

Why??  Well because I buy all throughout the year 🙂

I am fairly lucky in the fact that we do not have a huge family so I only need to buy around 20 gifts.

My husband know that I cannot pass by a sale table or dump bin 🙂   Invariably I see something and think “Oh! S would like that” or “Wow! That would be great for M”

I have one shelf in a cupboard that we call the “present cupboard” On the inside of the cupboard door is a small whiteboard with all the names written down one side in permanent marker.  Then I fill in the gifts as I buy them in whiteboard marker.  That way it is a simple matter to erase the gifts as they get given.

I also know that some of the best gifts can be bought at a bargain price at certain times of the year.

  • Anything “Christmas-y” can be bought for a tiny fraction of the price just after Christmas.  I always buy Christmas paper and cards in the last week of December, often at up to 90% off.  Look for such items as paper, cards, decorations for the tree, themed tableware like plates, bowls, glasses etc.  I like to have a supply of Christmas themes plates, cups or glasses that I can use as part of a gift.  Make a cake or batch of cookies and display on a Christmas plate, or simply place chocolates into a Christmas mug and wrap with cellophane.
  • The lead up to New Years Eve often brings up good specials on Champagne, Wine and other Alcohol.  It can be a good time to buy for birthdays early in the year.
  • January is the best time to buy stationary, school supplies and office equipment in the “back to school” sales.  This is  a good time to buy plain coloured kids clothing  and running shoes.
  • February is the time to buy chocolates in the after Valentines Day sales.
  • March -April is Easter, and again after Easter is the time for chocolate and “Easter-y” decorations.
  • May is Mother’s Day. This is a good time to pick up perfumes, bath sets, soaps, and kitchen appliances.
  • June – July is a time to keep an eye for End of Financial Year Sales. This is often the best time to buy big appliance or cars. Any big ticket items often have sales targets to reach and you can very often drive a hard bargain the closer it gets to June 30.  Also at this time of year the Christmas Toy Sales start with the option to purchase on a 6 month lay-by.
  • August is usually quiet with no major sales happening.
  • September is Fathers Day and Football grand finals.   Fathers Day is time to pick up gift sets of male toiletries, hardware, BBQ accessories and food sets ( think BBQ sauces and rubs etc), tools, car related things and the ubiquitous alcohol.
    The last weeks of September are another time to stock up on alcohol as the stores prepare for football grand final parties.
  • October is the Bathurst Car Race weekend, so again there are car related accessories on sale.
  • November- December brings sales in the lead up to Christmas.

I find that by purchasing gifts throughout the year, the strain on the budget is minimal. Our family has a dollar figure to work to for gift giving, so I can regularly spend the recommended amount but give a much higher value gift – eg a $50 gift budget, can result in a $100 value when that gift is bought at 50% off.

How to you plan for gift giving?  ??