New year, New me (finally)

thrifty_fifty

Morning!

Well it's the bday tomorrow. Got today off and can't quite decide what to do with it. Might do some baking.

Going to chill for a few days. Got plenty of training coming up in december, so that will add to the skill set.

Yesterday was good, in that it made me decide what I definitely do not want, and that I'm not willing to compromise.

I'm a bubbly creative person, and to work somewhere that my creativity is stifled, there's no opportunity for progression, and I end up looking as grey as the ladies who interviewed me, just won't do.

I've decided that I need to do something that suits my personality, this is the only way that I will truly excel at what I'm doing. So it's on with the studying, and also picking up some management training and qualifications along the way to keep the CV nice and strong. Going to try and push forward some projects at work, which is all ad hoc to the job, but it makes my CV look good.

Definitely going to start on the home made items (little material hearts to hang on the christmas tree, and so on). There's a creative streak in me, and I just need to tease it out. This job has made me realise that I have a talent for being able to look at processes and find better ways of doing things, so maybe I need to be in charge and run some kind of business? I clearly have my own ideas and don't work well where I have no direction or say in how I go about my work.

moo2moo

Since you're a talented laydee how about pracatising your new found skills with these.

ps. whilst some are truly hideous there are a few nice ones hidden amongst the horrors.

thrifty_fifty

Cheers moo

might have to get a bit of practice in.

Big 30 today, hmmm just like turning another year really. Treated myself by paying the bills and enjoyed looking at loan which has now gone to sub 2k on online banking. Everything good.

xx

thrifty_fifty

Here are my virtual birthday togs. Hey I might not be able to buy them, but I can wear them virtually, and I'm not a size 6 either!!!

dress

http://http://www.yoox.com/item/YOOX/MICHAEL+KORS/dept/clothingwomen/tskay/B84CE7A2/rr/1/cod10/34156840UQ/sts/sr_clothingwomen80

shoes

http://http://www.yoox.com/item/YOOX/MARC+BY+MARC+JACOBS/dept/shoeswomen/tskay/B84CE7A2/rr/1/cod10/44243256JJ/sts/sr_shoeswomen80

thrifty_fifty

Not sure atall what OH has planned now. At first I thought it was a daytrip, then a daytrip with a meal, and now it involves an overnight stay. This is so exciting.

xx

karom

Have a fantastic day, happy birthday!

Turning 30 was fantastic for me (much more confidence, seriously !)

moo2moo

:bdaycake:Happpy birthday! Hope whatever OH has planned is fabulous!

thrifty_fifty

Thanks for the birthday wishes.

Ooh eck, I'm a proper grown up now

OH came up trumps. He took us to stay for a night at a lovely hall, which is where we went for our first anniversary, same room and everything. I wasn't very well when we went the first time, but this time I enjoyed it and it was lovely.

He even produced a cool bag when we got to the room and out popped a bottle of champagne, and he had brought two of the champagne saucers that I had picked up in a charity shops a couple of months back.

Dinner was a really fancy affair-where they put tiny things on the plate and arrange them in an arty fashion. Blue cheese mousse with roasted pear and thyme, walnuts and beetroot to start, and duck with parsnips, roast apple, fondant potato for main. It's amazing how they make these things. The roast potato was shaped so it looked like a scallop.

All topped off with a very lovely but chilly walk around york yesterday. Amazing.

xx

thrifty_fifty

Just one more payday and debt busting for the end of the year. Should be able to get this to below the 7k mark next month.
Was v sensible with birthday money, bought a minton teapot of which the set is discontinued, so need to get bits as I see them, to make the set. put another lot down as petrol money for our trip out next weekend, and the other lot bought me and OH a christmas pudding and some christmas cake slices from waitrose. Mmmm.

OH and I are obviously being thrifty this year, but have decided that we are going to have a moderately splurgesome christmas next year £500 for the lot-food, a trip out etc. I'll be debt free and OH will be halfway there. OH has been getting the food this year so I can direct all my money at my debts, so next year when I'm debt free I'll be directing all my hard earned his way, so he can get clear and then we can open a joint savings account, and start putting a set amount in there each for our house deposit.

I can't believe that next month I will have cleared 6k's worth of debt in 10 months.

we were looking at antiques on our trip out, and realised that the amount we are paying out each month servicing debts (about £1100) we could easily afford one or two nice items a year. By the time we are 50 we will have a lovely house with some fab items.

Just the £20 a month I'm paying out for the finance on my laptop, saved over 10 months, and I could buy myself a lalique vase I was lusting after. Awesome.

thrifty_fifty

Oh my goodness, could it be any colder? I think it's about -10 here today. Cottages do look lovely in this weather, but my goodness are they cold!!!!

I've got the radiators on, a duvet, woollen blanket and duvet topper on the bed, and it's still freezing in here-I mean I literally need to wear gloves. I've got the towels that are waiting to go in the washing machine, rammed up against the front doors to plug the drafts. Just waiting for the shop to open now, so I can get some kindling and tins of food in, in case it stays for a while.

Bit of a hairy drive last night, where I tried to turn the car into a country lane, and ended up skidding a good few hundred yards past the junction. I had to reverse back to it and try again, and that was travelling at 10 miles an hour. Eeek.

I do love the snow though, and the opportunity to just snuggle up indoors. Mmmm, sure we'll have the mulled wine brewing this afternoon.

xx