It’s time for a cuppa and a catch up to chat about What’s Been On Your Calendar? during Feburary. I love reading everyone’s post in the #WBOYC linkup and it is so lovely to have you join Debbie, Donna ,Jo and myself to share what you’ve been up to during the month.
I know that February is a short month, but the month seems to have flown by at warp speed. I’ve been trying to slow down TIME (my WOTY) but we all know that is just no possible.
Time & tide waits for no man (or woman)
Did you know that this quote dates pre-dates modern English and the earliest known record is from St. Marher, 1225?
What’s Been On My Calendar in February? More than I remembered….
February has been so hot and humid it has been stifling and energy levels have been low. When it is so hot you just don’t feel like doing too much other than trying to stay cool.
TIME and using my TIME wisely is my theme for 2023 and I’ve feel on reflection that February was ‘all over the shop’. When it was time to write this post, I had difficulty remembering what I did during the month and whether I had used my TIME wisely.
Putting Plans into Action
In last month’s #WBOYC post I suggested that January is my planning month and I use it not to make New Year resolutions but rather to list what I would like to do during the year. I listed some of our plans for 2023 and still feel excited when I review them. Of course, we plan and plan but what good are plans if you don’t put them into practice? I’m considering using #WBOYC post to review my list to add or update my progress during the year.
✔Travel – all booked and just waiting to go now! Bring on June! It is our 25th wedding anniversary in April so hope to plan a short getaway to celebrate.
❌Regular Day Trips – we are yet to re-commence our day trips. At the moment our TIME has been spent renovating our home and it has been too hot!
✔Health and wellness – My darling had a Health Care Plan assessment which reminded me it was TIME for me to put my own Health Care Plan into place. I’ve listed all of my health requirements including health issues I’ve neglected and I’ve started making the relevant appointments with allied health professionals and my GP. I’ve still been running, walking, resistance training and yoga-ing during the month.
✔Home restaurant – I’ve managed two Home Restaurant Date Nights which have both been enjoyable and delicious.
✔Home renovations – We had decided to renovate our bathrooms this year but then changed our minds and are now in the process of replacing our kitchen benchtops. The cabinets are fine, so once the benchtops are installed first week of March, the downstairs renovations will be completed.
✔ Podcast interviews – Season 5 of the Women Living Well After 50 podcast Episode 1 is now LIVE
❌Exploring community groups Mike and I can join – I’ve done the research but just haven’t had the TIME to join. I do note that a Women’s Shed is planned for our community which may be worthwhile looking into.
Kitchen Renos have started
New routines – a new era begins
For the last 8 years I have spent each Wednesday with my grandsons. Firstly, Ethan, until he went to school and then Elliot who started school this year. I will still collect the boys from school each Wednesday afternoon but adapting to having most of my Wednesdays free is taking some getting used to. I’m missing the routine of spending the day with Elliot, walking Ethan to school, taking Elliot to swimming lessons and then having our ‘morning tea’ date, playing and then walking to meet Ethan after school.
It has been a huge adjustment for Elliot, too as he starts Prep which is very different to Kindy. He certainly looks to little for school, his backpack is as tall as he is but he was so proud in his school uniform. Privacy reasons stop me from posting a photo of both the boys in their ‘first day of term’ photos. I am sharing these beautiful words of support to parents (and the children).
Cooking with the Kitchen Confidential Cookbook Club
One of my plans for 2023 is to try new recipes and to reintroduce our Home Restaurant Date Nights. During February, my friend Donna from Retirement Reflections told me about an online bookclub she had joined with other bloggers. The Kitchen Confidential Cookbook Club is hosted by Bernadette from New Classic Recipe. Each month we take turns selecting a cookbook to read, review and make a recipe from. We then share our reviews and whether the Cookbook deserves a place on our bookshelf and Bernadette publishes on her website.
The first Cookbook was ‘Milk Street Tuesday Nights Mediterranean’ by Christopher Kimball. I’ll be posting a link to my review on Bernadette’s blog next week but you can check out all the reviews HERE.
I couldn’t find the book at the local library but managed to download a free sample from Amazon. From the limited recipes in the sample copy, I selected Spicy Ground Beef Kebabs with Tomato-Sumac Sauce to review and make as a main course for our Home Restaurant Date Night #2 – Mediterranean
For dessert I made Cannoli al Cacao con Ricotta from the Italian Street Food Cookbook by Paola Bacchia.
The Women Living Well After 50 Podcast Season 5
Season 5 of the WLWA50 Podcast has now commenced and I have quite a number of interviews booked in for the next two months. Episode 1 was Beautiful Midlife with Tania Dalton – Overcoming Post Menopause making health & lifestyle changes and I was delighted to meet and chat with Tania Dalton from Beautiful Midlife. You can catch the podcast through the link in the image below, on Youtube or on major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music.
To balance my TIME, I’ve decided to publish an interview fortnightly rather than weekly. It takes the pressure off as interviewing and producing the podcast can be tiring, especially when guests are in different time zones. I enjoy this project and want to maintain that enjoyment so finding the right balance is necessary.
Link ups I’ve participated in during January included:
- Wednesday Words & Pics hosted by Denyse Whelan
- What’s On Your Plate? Challenge hosted by Donna from Retirement Reflections and Deb from The Widow Badass
- What’s On Your Bookshelf? and What’s Been On Your Calendar? Hosted by Deb from Deb’s World, Donna from Retirement Reflections, Jo from And Anyways and myself
The 52 Book Club Reading challenge
I am enjoying this challenge which I discovered through my friend Jennifer Jones from Next Phase in Fitness. I’m not putting pressure on myself although as an avid reader I know I can read 52 books in a year. The challenge is finding books that fit the prompts and stepping out of my genre ‘comfort zone’. I’ve not spent as much TIME as I would have liked reading in February but I’ve certainly enjoyed most of the books I’ve read. You can catch up on my progress and reviews in my What’s On Your Bookshelf February edition post. I think this graphic is pretty cool as I can update it when I’ve read a book using one of the prompts and it shows my progress. It also helps me to remember what books I’ve read!
Blog Posts in February you may have missed
Time for Friendly February – Action for Happiness
Home Restaurant Date Nights are Back in 2023
Home Restaurant Date Night #2 – Mediterranean
Beautiful Midlife – Overcoming Post Menopause making health & lifestyle changes
Making Time for the Most important Love of all
What’s On Your Bookshelf? February edition
New Resources: Quick Workout Videos for Women Over 50
Is it Time for a Health Care Plan?
Well, that’s what’s been on my calendar for January and I Iook forward hearing what you’ve been up to. I’m sharing my co-hosts’ links as well so remember to pop over and visit to see how their January progressed.
Debbie Harris
Donna Connolly
Jo Tracey
Enjoy your month!
What’s Been On Your Calendar? #WBOYC
What: 2023 Monthly Wrap-Up Link Party.
When: Last Thursday PM (Northern Hemisphere)/ Last Friday AM (Southern Hemisphere). The link will be open for 7 days
Why: A space to share highlights from your past month.
Where: Link Party, Blog, Blog Comments, Instagram or other social media.
Who: This linkup is open to everyone.
How: You can share in the comments, with a blog post, or on other social media of your choice. Include the hashtag so that we can find you and include your link in our posts.
The next #WBOYC will be Thursday March 30/Friday March 31. I’m lookingforward to seeing and reading What’s Been on your Calendar? during the month.
32 Comments
Hi, Sue – I must confess that I am a tad jealous about your warm February. We had a huge pile of snow yesterday. Our evenings have been hitting -6C with more snow predicted for this coming weekend. Yuk!
Your February was incredibly rich and full. I love your candid review of your January list of things you would like to do. I think that a 25th Anniversary Trip to Hong Kong would be a wonderful addition to your list. I know great friends who would love to take you out to dinner there. Just sayin’! 😀
I absolutely loved the Kindergarten letters sent to parents and students. So clever, creative and very true!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have met up in HK? At least you will get to spend time with your son which is always a joy. Elliot has finally settled into school and the teacher reported that he is doing very well. x
<3 <3 <3
Hi Sue – you’ve certainly had a full February – I remember being over there visiting you in February and how hot and humid it was – we don’t get the humidity here in WA – just lots of dry heat……and no rain so far this year! Glad you’re continuing with the podcasts and I look forward to seeing your kitchen all complete with its new benchtops next month. I’ll be back on Monday to share my post (better late than never!)
Hi Leanne, you have plenty of time to link up now we have it open for a week. It seems so long ago since we spent a couple of days together. I remember the ferry ride into the City. February is always hot and humid – a last hurrah for Summer I think. x
Hi Sue, home projects, finding ways to beat the heat, adjusting to a new routine, and joining an on-line cookbook club, sounds like a lot going on for one month. Even so, you still managed to write eight blog posts. That’s incredible! I can’t wait to hear about your June travel plans.
Hi Suzanne, I definitely surprise myself! We certainly have been extra busy and March is looking the same but should slow down after that, I hope. x
You did get up to a lot in Feb. I’m looking forward to seeing the “after” photos of the kitchen. Thanks for being such a stunning co-host.
Yes, I’m excited about the kitchen. We are only replacing the kitchen benchtops as the cupboards are fine for the moment. It will all look fresh and new and ready for some Stunning Baking LOL 🙂 x
WOW, for a so-called short month, your February is jam-packed. I sometimes forget February is probably even more hectic because schools/unis etc are gearing up and have started new programs. Your Wednesdays have changed, but like me, you have so many memories made for yourself…and those boys have their Nan’s love engraved on their hearts. I like all you are doing and trying out. That’s what renewal is for me. Thank you for the link up. Always grateful for blogging friends, and the kind shout out of my link is appreciated. Denyse x
I know, Denyse, I was stunned when I revisited the month! No wonder I felt tired lately. I miss my Elliot time but we have fun Wednesday afternoons and now I live closeby it is much easier to see them more often. You will be the same with your family soon.x
Hi Sue, What a great month. You look very busy with those renos, so take plenty of time to rest and recover. Toni x
It was busier than expected Toni but I’m looking forward to our cruise to PNG in June. x
And they say life in retirement is quiet and slow!
Thanks for the new link up – I haven’t been a WOTY person for a while now but this will have me thinking about (and sharing) what I did over the month. I’m going to enjoy recalling my month on the last Friday
Take care
Cathy
Hi Cathy it is so great that you have found us and the What’s Been On Your Calendar? Link up. It really is the perfect way to review the month and what we have done. I’ve also found that I get ideas of things to do from the bloggers who participate. Enjoy your weekend. Thanks, Sue x
Hi Sue, you’ve had a busy month. Looking forward to seeing the end result of your kitchen reno. We have a couple of reno jobs here that need to get started, as soon as we get ourselves organised to check out tradies etc.
Hi Jen, I have had a busy month and March is shaping up to be busy too. I will be slowing down in April though. We are only changing out the benchtops in the kitchen but it will make such a difference. It also gives Mike a project to work on. x
That cookbook club and home restaurant date nights sound so fun! I need to get that 52 books graphic as I’ve been reading a lot this year and don’t think that many of them actually fit all that many of the categories! I specifically picked a few books for this month that will. My husband and I always head away for a 4 day weekend to celebrate our anniversary and this year we’re hiking and exploring one of our national parks with the hopes of eventually visiting them all.
They are both fun, Joanne. It is nice to have recommenced our Home Restaurant Date Nights. We’ve only managed two so far but that’s okay we have started. The Cookbook Club is fun and as I like cooking it is great to find new recipes to try. I’ve not decided what to do for our wedding anniversary. I’ll have to put my thinking cap on. Don’t stress about the 52 Bookclub Challenge I’m reading other books as well. It’s fun to look at the prompts but I don’t want that to be the focus of what books I choose. It might take th pleasure out of reading and make it a chore. x
Sue you have been in overdrive with all the projects you took on this month. Thanks so much for joining Cookbook Confidential Cookbook Club.
I know, Bernadette I was very surprised to review my month. Next month is busy too with appointments but hopefully April will slow down. x
Hi Sue, You’ve accomplished a lot in a short and humid month. High heat and humidity usually slows me down. Having your own Health Care plan is a good idea to keep track of the various appointments and results. I look forward to your post-kitchen reno updates. Thank you for the WBOYC linkup. Have a wonderful March!
Hi Natalie, February was a busy month and March looks busy too. Once all the medical appointments are done life will slow down a little. x
Hi Sue
The humidity in February isn’t easy to live with and finding activities especially when you are fit and used to exercise is difficult. I remember how the streets came alive at 5 am when out walking in Brisbane, by 9 everyone was indoors or cars. I admire you both for undertaking a renovation, the end result will be worth all the hard work.
Hi Suzanne, it has been particularly humid and hot this year – or perhaps I’m just getting older and feel it more. We do have to start running earlier and you are right about early morning ‘traffic’ as everyone gets their exercise in before the heat of the day. We are looking forward to having our new benchtops in this week and it will certainly make a difference to the look of the kitchen. Have a lovely week and thanks for visiting. x
You too.
Oh gosh Sue, you have certainly packed a lot into such a short month. Your kitchen update looks exciting- I look forward to seeing the finished photos. Lovely to listen to your podcasts again. Thanks for sharing
Hi Janine, it was a busy month but it was enjoyable. I’m excited about the kitchen We are only replacing the benchtops as the cabinets are fine. It will certainly make a huge difference though. Wishing you a beautiful week. x
Hi Sue, I’m finally getting around to reading and commenting on all the fabulous #WBOYC posts, I’ve been very busy with family visiting for Tumbafest and Patrick’s 3rd birthday – so much fun!
I agree for a short month you sure did pack a lot into February! I was thinking of you now that both boys are at school and wondering how you were feeling, it’s exciting but also sad in a way, they grow up so fast. At least you’re close by now and can see them more easily than before. Your new kitchen bench tops sound great, you’ve certainly been busy since you moved in. I really enjoyed listening to your interview with Tania, she sounds a real delight and so much to offer. Thanks for all you do as co-host, you are such an inspiration and you keep it real which I love about you.
Hi Deb, I know what you mean, I’m just getting back to replying to everyone. March is a whirlwind again topped off by being sick but I’m feeling on the mend now. The only negative was we couldn’t catch up.xx
Hello Sue. It looks like you had a lovely, full February. I really enjoyed your photos.
Thanks, Christie, February was a lovely month and I’m keeping well within my WOTY – using my TIME wisely x