#aussiesecretsanta sorry for my late post. The holidays got hectic @CarolynM @Rissreads but I have started the tagged book in the brief moments I can escape. I got straight into the tea too. Thanks Carolyn for organising and Narissa for wonderful presents yet again. You always nail it. British Rose is one of my favourite Body Shop smells. The fold away bag is perfect for carrying home books from Little Free Libraries on my wanderings. Merry Xmas!

After Saturday ballet op shop spoils from late November. I love a loud print. Total = 40.50

After my skin check yesterday (I have a script for some chemo cream for my nose to start next winter) but before my next appointment with the building manager in my other apartment block to change the battery in the smoke detector as I can‘t reach it) and my 🩰 performances last night, I managed to fit in a trip to Kmart where I got my babies some cheap outfits and an op shop. I think the earrings will work for one of my Xmas dos. Grand total $15.

Last Saturday‘s op shop purchases after 3 hours of ballet. Grand total $33.

Met 1 of my idols tonight at my library. The gentle, talented, all round good human above. I saw her on Gardening Oz once & have been collecting her 📚 since. If you aren‘t familiar with her work you have to see it to believe it. Tickets to her exhibition & talk were free & afterwards there was 🍾 & nibbles to finish a gorgeous week night off. No school tomorrow as I‘ve a couple of appointments & performing 🩰 at night. No rest for the wicked.

Sunday‘s Little Free Library finds on my way to the flea market. It was a lovely, long day with rehearsals for my ballet recital next weekend in the afternoon. Then a visit to Kmart afterwards where I got some arty farty stuff and my notebooks for next year.

Scores from my building‘s book exchange a little while ago.

I went for a walk up the hill to the Little Free Library in early November and this is what I scored. It was a nice, hot afternoon so I went for a paddle in my pond for the first time this season afterwards.

These are from 2 different book swaps I raided one night after ballet.

Saturday after ballet op shop purchases. In an attempt to destress before my ballet exam yesterday.

Tuesday evening discoveries in my building‘s book exchange.

Yesterday was a massive day that ended with a tequila courtesy of Stew & a dunk at my ocean 🛀 out front for the 1st time this spring. It‘s the small things. This was last month‘s #authorofthemonth that I picked to read. I can‘t say, a 3rd of the way through, that I‘d read 1 of hers again. A surprising plot twist has just happened so I‘ll persevere like I always do. The 💦 was 🥶 but refreshing after my arvo walk & housework that morning.

Last Saturday‘s Little Free Library scores on my way to ballet. One of the beginner ballerina‘s Nans was giving away her handmade blankets. Yes please!

Very happy with these Salvo purchases from last term. Some good brands.

Book swap scores from a while back.

My favourite of Kate‘s books yet. Only my second actually. She is an Australian author. This was my school holiday read I forgot to post. I was at my sister‘s place 50 km from the nearest town, enjoying this beautiful book and some quiet time then the niece got in with me and everyone out in the garden came to the window to chat #noonecaresinthecountry Last time I visited I was sick with Influenza A so it was much nicer this time. Not freezing.

Sat after 4 hrs of 🩰 op shop scores. I used my 50% off 10 items of clothing voucher. It was 😢 however as 3 truckloads of craft supplies had arrived at the Salvos as an elderly woman had been put into a nursing 🏠. The papers are acid free & 4 my scrapbooking fetish. I‘ve been into 🪡 since I was a teen. I never have enough time for all the things I want to do. Just like the poor, old lady. I also scored a skirt for ballet and some new 🩰 for $10

Current morning poem book. To read with my breakfast tea. Such a beautiful book.

Super excited by these finds at the Little Free Library close to ballet a while ago.

Another gorgeous kid‘s book to add to my collection and a cute story about coming out of your shell and reaching your full potential.

Yesterday‘s op shop purchases. The topical print skirt is way too big but I‘ll make something else with it as I love the material. Grand total 🟰 $44. The lady behind the counter warned me that they are getting rid of their loyalty cards. The 5th purchase over $10 gets 50% off clothing up to 10 items. Not for items that cost over $30 though. Guess who is going shopping at Salvos after ballet on Saturday. Like I need an excuse!

A successful op shop from the 🏫 hols while my dad ran errands for my nan. The Dior scarf was $3 but the lady behind the counter thought that was too much so knocked it down to $1! A bargain as it‘s hand stiched & rolled towards the front so authentic, I think? The patchwork vest appears to be handmade. The stationery is for #LitsyLove. I realised after purchasing the 👚 that it‘s missing a button but that is an easy fix. The eyelashes are for 🩰

Little Free Library finds from a while back.

Friday arvo I got a lift most of the way home with a colleague who was headed to meet friends at a pub. I got myself a vegan fairy bread 🍩 from dougheads which was delicious but $7 then went to the op shop. Not only did the vintage skirt fit it was also on sale! $15 down to $7. I love me a patchwork print. I‘ve read the kitchen magazine already. Grand total 🟰 $12. Relaxation level attained priceless. I even made it home in time for pilates.

What a morning it‘s been. Had a run in with a 🥜 job druggy. She was trying to start something by saying I was harassing her on the 🚊 when in fact it was the other way around. She even took a pic of me. She was following me every time I moved but thankfully I lost her before the 2 LFLs I like to raid weekly. The tagged 📕 has some gorgeous pictures and I ❤️ the cover of the top 1. The English 1 I will investigate to see if it‘s any good for 🏫.

Combination of 2 Little Free Library scores the last Thursday of the school holidays when I treated myself to a Stockton op shop. I caught the ferry over and had a lovely morning to myself.

From my closest book swap a while back.

Sat op shop purchases. Lifeline is way too $ now. I left things I liked behind cause I refused to pay the $s. This haul 🟰 $33 but then the glasses were only $4! I couldn‘t find the bottom 4 the 👙 but the 🔝 doesn‘t fit anyway so I‘ll give it to my niece. My friend & I are planning a 1 a month 🪡 sesh so I got the fabric for 50c to turn into patchwork? The 🍽️ was $1. The L‘Occitane book is for my 🇫🇷 godson. The 🖼️ 📚 I will use for 🎁 wrap.

Today‘s op shopping spree before heading home on the bus after a wonderful week with family. Grand total $42.50.

Combo of a couple of book swap scores. The colouring book will be for my niece.

Little Free Library finds these holidays. The top book will be given to my niece.

Another one bites the dust! I got a stack of these last night from the library downstairs. I use them for my kid‘s books and as wrapping paper. Would you believe I have already started wrapping my Christmas presents? Wonders never cease! The things you do on school holidays.

Last Saturday I raided two different book swaps after ballet and these were my scores. The dinosaur book will be gifted to my nephew.

So many goodies right in time for the school holidays. I plan on reading the tagged book on the bus ride to visit family next week. Thankyou for your kindness @maich I‘m sorry mine is late getting to you.

Thankyou @julieclair I‘ve always wanted to read the tagged book. It‘s so pretty. @thebacklistbook

Yesterday my tram was cancelled due to lack of staff so I was going to miss my normal train. My care factor was zero instead I wandered to the closest Little Free Library where I found nothing to my taste so caught the next tram to the local shopping centre‘s book swap where I got these. I then went to the bakery and bought my 2nd breakfast, recess and lunch before walking to the train station where I had just enough time to order a chai latte.

Tuesday‘s 1st op shop spree after work. The ‘toot‘ bunting is for my baby nephew, Murphy who is currently obsessed with trains. The skirt is for his wild sister, Sybil. I collect clogs. It‘s my Dutch friend, Janneke‘s fault. I also hoard crochet rugs and books of course.

1. Pjs (multiple layers in winter to virtually nothing in summer) to boring work clothes/weekend fun and bright clothes to ballet attire then back to pjs. I love a good dress up for an outing too. This weekend I am off to an album launch with girlfriends at a pub. We will eat dinner together beforehand. We saw the same singer at a festival back in April. I organised this gathering. Wonders never cease! I‘m also visiting the hair dresser that arvo!

Op shop finds after ballet from a while back.

Yesterday‘s op shop spoils on my way home from 🩰 . The recipe 📖 is beautiful. The recipes are simple and there is space to write your own down. The design is right up my alley. Some of the serviettes are a bit damaged. I got the 👛 and 🧼 for free. I missed out on the Liberty 🫖 at Aldi last yr so it was kind of the op shop gods to gift it to me. The HP bag is for my niece. I‘ll put her 🎁 in it. The 🥿 are leather & still tagged. Perfect for wk

I hit up a Little Free Library as well.

Last night‘s scores from the book swap on the way home from ballet. I‘m getting stronger every week under Georgia‘s expert tuition. She makes me feel like my next exam is doable to my standards. This feeling is costly though $ Ha!