This post is sponsored by Nissan Pathfinder
As you know I have been given a Nissan Pathfinder Ti 4WD to drive around for a few weeks, to then share with you some of it’s fabulous features. But rather than writing a car review I’ll share my thoughts on the car via a variety of fun posts. Last week I shared with you my top tips & ideas to keep your car organised and next week how to tame the kids in the car.
I have shared with you previously A Day in the Life of The Organised Housewife, this was on a weekday a few years ago, however I thought you may enjoy following a day in the life of a busy mum. I chose a Sunday as I am not ‘The Organised Housewife’ on the weekends, I am a mum, busy running around with the kids and preparing for the following week of school. The Sunday I decided to photograph was extremely busy, not a regular relaxing Sunday. A big thank you to my Miss 11 for photographing most of it for me.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BUSY MUM
My days lately have been starting around 5am, I have been naturally waking up early. I quite enjoy the early mornings, as I get some quiet time to myself. Usually on Sunday mornings I write out my meal plan for the following week, along with my grocery list while I eat breakfast. Breakfast is granola, with plain yoghurt, banana and raspberries.
I already had a good idea of what I was wanting to cook this week so my meal plan didn’t take long, everybody was still sleeping so I made myself a cuppa and watched one of my favourite TV shows on Netflix, Jane the Virgin, ooh it’s so funny.
I can’t sit still very long, one episode is enough, everybody is still asleep so I make some bliss balls, I had some dates in the fridge and the remaining ingredients are always stocked in the pantry.
Before I do the weekly grocery shop I like to wipe out the fridge and take stock of what fruit and vegetables I already have. I like to do the grocery shopping on a Sunday so we have fresh food for the kids lunches and weeknight meals.
Kids are up, we have a cuddle on the couch and the kids get breakfast for themselves. I go have a shower and get ready for the day. Meanwhile, as I am getting ready my girls come in and do their hair too!
I do love this time with my girls…. for now it’s just straightening and braiding hair, they are growing up so fast.
Now I’m ready to go grocery shopping! I have a very busy day ahead of me and planned to get to the grocery store right on opening time, no lazying around this morning.
You know me, I’m no fashionista, I wear basic makeup, foundation to cover my freckles along with mascara and brow pencil…. I always forget to put on lipstick. I keep some in the centre console of the car for those moments when I realise I have forgotten to put some colour on my lips. See what else I keep in the console here. Automatic light in the sun visor… how clever!
Shopping done, heading home!
Once I get home I quickly put away the groceries. One thing I always do after my grocery shop is cut up my fruit and vegetables, this saves me so much time when it comes to cooking dinner through the week and I also find they stay fresher longer. I usually cut up fruit too, however I am rushing to get back out the door, so today it’s just vegetables. If I didn’t take a few minutes now to cut up the vegetables I probably wouldn’t do it through the week, they would just sit in the plastic bag I purchased them in, which is when I find they sweat and spoil quicker.
I’ve left hubby and son at home, and the girls and I are now heading to my nieces 4th birthday party. Our Nissan Pathfinder has dual zone automatic climate control which is great as each person in the front can have it set to a temperature they feel comfortable with.
The kids have their own climate control in the back, allowing them to choose their own temperature and fan settings.
I like music on in the car, I enjoy singing and bopping along to the tunes. I have no idea what songs are called these days, I thought it was a clever feature that the car is telling me what song is playing on the radio.
I would have to say my favourite feature in our Nissan Pathfinder is the Blind Spot Warning. I am a very observant driver, but as I’m a shortie I struggle to get a good view out the side of the car when looking over my shoulder to switch lanes. The Blind Spot Warning turns on a warning light (you can see the orange light below, near the mirror) if a vehicle is detected in the blind spot area and sounds a warning tone if you indicate to change lanes. Love this especially when I am travelling along a very busy highway.
My niece, the birthday girl, we spent a little time with her to celebrate her birthday.
Today is also another special day, my angel mum’s birthday, so we picked up some flowers and visited her resting place.
My mum loved soft serve ice creams so we had lunch with one of my brothers and my Dad , followed by a soft serve in her memory.
Next we headed to BCF for Miss 11 to pick up a birthday present for her brother’s upcoming 13th birthday, she’s so sweet!
Now we head home! I find the Pathfinder smooth on the road, powerful enough for me when entering the highway and a very easy turn on the steering wheel. There is very little road or engine noise no matter if driving slowly through the streets or fast along the highway.
I got a phone call on the way home, when your phone is connected to the car’s bluetooth it makes it really easy and safe to receive and make phone calls, with buttons to answer and hang up the call on the steering wheel.
Now we are home I want to spend some time with the boy, we were tossing up whether to play a board game or ride a bike…. we chose bike ride! I am really enjoying riding my bike with the kids, I honestly feel like a kid again following them around the streets.
Ironing…. school uniforms…. has to be done, I do it while catching up on some TV.
Quickly whip up a batch of Honey and Carrot Muffins for afternoon tea and to have in tomorrows lunch boxes.
I don’t usually do housework on a Sunday, you’ll notice there was no washing done this morning as I declare Sunday’s my day off!! But I do look down and see the cat must be moulting so I quickly sweep the floor.
While I am waiting for the muffins to cool I sit down with the girls and watch an episode of Pretty Little Liars with them and quickly type up tomorrows daily task newsletter.
Miss 11 begs me to go play badminton with her… I’m buggered after such a busy day, but I can’t say no to this face.
As I come back inside I put on a load of washing ready to put out the next morning.
Then…. I go have a shower and strategically think about what I am going to do next…. I’m sharing my secret with you here ladies and gents. I’m buggered, it has been a long day, but there is still so much to do. I could make dinner (but I knew at the beginning of the day it was a very busy day so I planned to have BBQ steak and salad, an easy dinner which hubby can cook) or I could pack lunch boxes to have ready for tomorrow, but instead…… I sit on the couch and relax for half an hour (me time!!) whilst hubby makes dinner.
Then after dinner, I say “right, you wash the dishes and I’ll make lunches”, delegate!! Typically whoever cooks doesn’t have to clean up, but I was tired and really didn’t want to do dishes and make lunches. See my thinking there, I could have made lunches while he was cooking dinner, then I would have felt compelled to washed the dishes too, but when would have I got in that 30 minutes me time, I wouldn’t have. He had a very busy day too, out in the garden, fixing the pool, clearing some of the garage and he fit in some ‘him time’ earlier that afternoon. I have a very loving hubby!!!
Kids lunches are ready for them to pack in their school bags in the morning and I also sliced up some fruit for me to snack on while working too. I have been packing lunches the night before as I am finding it saves me time in the morning, I spend the mornings doing some housework, washing, cleaning etc. The lunchboxes I used are available here.
Then it’s time to relax for the evening, together we sit in the lounge room and watch TV! I slept very soundly this night, it was a big day.
What is the one task you like to do on a Sunday?
This post was coordinated by The Remarkables Group and run in accordance with my disclosure policy
