Monthly Round-up: January '26
- Jess
- Feb 23
- 4 min read
Skip to: January Top 10
Wow, it's been a hot start to the year - seems like Summer has really begun here in Melbourne. During the extreme 40 degree days we just keep the aircon on and stay indoors, but there's also been the perfectly sunny, blue skied days where we've loved getting out and exploring the beautiful place we live!
A little behind on the post this month, as I've been working on a refined (instagram friendly) format. Here's January's belated round-up:
New Year's Day traditions - since our firstborn was little, we've gone out for waffles on new years day. Sometimes it's been pancakes or similar, but it's always a special treat we look forward to! This year, most nearby cafes were closed so we decided to make waffles at home, topped with the classic berries, ice cream and maple syrup. Do you have any new year traditions?
Another thing I like to start off the year with is clearing out clutter and making donations. We'd gathered quite a collection of bottles and cans, so loaded up the car and took them to our local Return It centre in exchange for cash. It's a novelty for our 6 year old to load cans onto the fast-moving conveyor belt and watch the dollars add up! We ended up with just over $20, perfect for an ice cream each on the way home.
Took a drive out to Warburton to check out the water park and surrounds. The drive was delightful, and we enjoyed cooling off under the palm tree sprinklers. Afterwards, we popped into Little Joe's for delicious wood-fired pizzas, then explored the local shops. I was very tempted by a stunning magpie artwork I spotted in the gift shop... perhaps I'll return for it someday :)
The school holidays are a great opportunity for teaching skills, so I'll often get my kids to choose a recipe from a favourite cookbook to make together. Since it's blueberry season, we decided on a Blueberry Tart out of the Stardew Valley Cookbook. It was quite a process with numerous steps, but so worth it! A fun learning experience for my eldest, resulting in a luscious dessert to enjoy together.
Isn't it wonderful to catch up with friends you don't get to see often? I was lucky to host one of my oldest friends for a weekend as she lives in another state. We chatted, played games, nibbled on cheese and watched our fave throw-back movie, She's The Man. Classic!
Summer also means... Hottest 100! Your girl loves a bit of music democracy! It's fun being involved in the Aus-wide vote on the previous year's top songs, and seeing where your preferences land. Check my score-card below - 6 out of 10 in the top 50, not bad!
January Top 10
Here's what I've been loving this month. A random assortment of whatever I had on high rotation, whether it was a snack, a TV show or a song - maybe you'll discover a new favourite of your own!
Drink of the month: A nice cold Limoncello on a hot day - especially if it's homemade!!
Currently snacking: Woolies Hot Chilli Honey Mozzarella Bites. Bought these to try and was not disappointed (except I wish they came in a bigger pack!) So good for nibbles alongside a charcuterie board.
Currently watching: Finally got all caught up on the latest season of Emily in Paris. Plenty of hilarious (and slightly cringe) dramas involving her various love triangles, and stunning Italian adventures. Bring on the next season :D
Currently listening to: I've been enjoying these songs lately, all of which can be found on my 'It's a Vibe' playlist on Spotify. Maybe you'll discover a new fave here too!
Fave local spot: Deep Creek Reserve, Pakenham - a fun and eco-conscious play space for kids. You'll find play equipment made from recycled materials, a water zone (always popular with my boys), all-ability swings, musical instruments and a bike track, all surrounded by native trees and plants. There's also frog conservation ponds that attract plenty of native critters and birds.
Outfit of the month: My go-to lately - an oversized graphic tee paired with bike shorts. Comfy, easy & keeps me cool. Absolutely obsessed with these bike shorts from Cotton On - they're incredibly soft, AND they have pockets!!
Currently reading: I finally finished the two books I had on the go last year (The Starless Sea & Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) and have started the next one on my TBR list: The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins. It's a little strange so far (a factory that turns rare spider silk into a noise-cancelling fabric), but I am intrigued to see what it's all about.
Currently playing: I've got back into Hogwarts Legacy on the PS5 after a long hiatus. It's such a huge open-world game and takes a bit of time and skill. As a casual gamer I don't play a lot of RPGs, but absolutely loving this one so far. I'm barely 20% through, but thoroughly enjoying the challenges, side quests and unfolding storylines.
Trend test: Everyone's talking about coconut water - specifically chocolate flavour. So as a fan of chocolate and coconut, I had to give it a try! The verdict: not bad! It's a little sweet for me, but I do like it in an iced coffee, or iced coconut mocha if you will :)
Life hack: Not exactly a hack, but it's something I tend to forget about during the hotter months of the year, and that is using the slow cooker! I usually associate it with warm, comforting food for winter, so it's been previously under-utilised in summer. Such a fantastic appliance, especially during school holidays when there's a lot going on. One my favourite things to make is Mexican style pulled pork, which is excellent on tacos with crunchy slaw and sour cream!
And that's a wrap on January! A slow start to my blogging this year, but I'm hoping my new format makes writing and posting a bit easier for future posts. Let's see if I can keep up the momentum and bring more stories and a compelling top 10 for February :D
Thanks for reading,
Jess
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