greent's mfw journey

greent

Hello all!


Dd had a fab birthday and her cake from Patisserie Valerie was gorgeous! She loved all of her pressies - the wand she had was Harry's - it was a toss up between his and Hermione's! (I may get her that one next year)


Since then - schools have all broken up, obviously - we were all so ready for it! I'm not used to working that much in the run up to Xmas! OH also finished work for Xmas on the 18th Dec and doesn't go back until 4th Jan, so we all have a nice break together. We've had a lovely day today, lots of lovely pressies, nice food, prosecco (and a nap on the sofa after!) All present dropping off was done yesterday (except BF - she has inlaws staying, so wanted to wait until after) so we just had my mum here for a couple of hours today. Has made for a nice relaxing day. Leftovers all tubbed up - am looking forward to bubble and squeak to use a lot of them up (I love a decent bubble and squeak) and carcass is bubbling away to make stock Will take DS3 to bed shortly and then collapse on sofa along with OH and DD (DS2 will be off to bed soon ish too, and DS1 is playing with his present (partly paid for by himself)


As the title suggests, I received a fitbit from OH for Xmas - so I need so fitbit buddies if anyone wants me! I promise not to be much of a threat in general, and certainly not for the next couple of weeks whilst we're all off!


We have the Panto on Sunday - am looking forward to that (oh yes I am!!)


Hope you've all had a lovely day


xx

greent

PrincessLou wrote: »

Lucky DD - what a lovely collection of presents and treats :j

Do you have a set budget that you work to for birthdays for your children? I love when the children's birthdays roll around each year but I'm always debating how much to spend overall, i.e. presents, party and cake, etc.

Not a set budget, really. We don't tend to spend huge amounts (in comparison to many of our friends) - I guess about £50-£70 on the smaller 2, a little more on the teens (but not much) PArties are a pain, but DS3 shares with his bestie if poss (3 weeks apart) and DS2 is a bit weird and doesn't go for them much - maybe a couple of friends to the cinema and McDs. I usually buy a cake from Tesco/ Asda, so about £8-£10 (I bake all the time, so they get bought ones for a change for birthdays - plus - although I can bake cakes, I can't decorate them!)


x

greent

Just to finish it off for the year:




880. Pile of schoolwork from YR and Y1 of DS2's - recycled
881. several mostly-used tubs of o-o-d sprinkles and cake decorations - used up
882. 2 books - CS
883. box of about 12 books - SOLD - Ziffit
884. DS game - SOLD - Ziffit
885. BN Boots - SOLD - ebay
886. Lots of photos from m-i-l's posted to b-i-l - 2 parcels totalling almost 10KG!!
887. inkjet printer and cables - CS
888. Laser printer, cables and manuals - CS
889. book posted to blogger
890. couple of books to the local church via a friend
891. 5 toiletry items - food bank
892. bag of various small items - Operation CC
893. pair of outgrown PJs (DS3) - CS
894. scrap gold and silver - SOLD
895. rugby boots - SOLD - ebay
896. shoes - SOLD - ebay
897. 2 sets of travel toiletries - SOLD - ebay
898. 9 unused organza gift bags - SOLD - ebay
899. pile of magazines (some 11 years old!) from DD's room - recycled
900. Uni prospectii(??) - recycled
901. un-needed toner cartridge - SOLD -ebay
902. partylite candle holders - still boxed (gift) - Charity
903. 5 more candles at least 7 years old burned
904. 2 blouses -CS
905. book - CS
906. pair of boots, worn twice - CS
907. all hotel/ travel shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and body lotions either used up or donated (yeay!)
908. pair of 25yo Xmas jammies with perished elastic - CS ragbag
909. 2 handbags - SOLD - ebay
910. travel toiletries set - SOLD - ebay
911. HM jam & chutney - given to aunt
912. 3 gift boxes from stash - used by DD on presents for friends
913. -914. 2 body butters, 2 HM jams, 2 HM chutneys, cards and gift bags from stash - teachers for Xmas
914. wine from stash - teachers for Xmas
915. Xmas cards (made an effort to use up ones I'm not so fussed on!) - posted/ delivered (still have several years worth left)
916. Various non-specific gifts from stash used up for Xmas presents
917. Lots of packaging used on ebay and Xmas postings
918. 4 badges received on party night out - binned (had commercial slogans on)
919. More HM chutney, jam and soaps - Xmas pressies
920. pile of 10 books - SOLD - ziffit
921. old dressing gown of DD's - CS ragbag
922. 3 baby aloe veras - given to friends
923. couple of badges - binned
924. worktop saver - CS
925. pair of curtains - CS
926. book - CS
927. outgrown top of DS3's - CS
928. CD - CS
929. book - CS
930. New folding leather photo frame - donated to tombola stall
931. toiletries set - sold - ebay
932. saucepan with broken handle - binned



I've quite enjoyed keeping a list - - but don't think I'll bore you all by sharing it again if I do it next year!

greent

I know I did an update on this a few months back - couldn't find it (although didn't try hard):p




Pay off mortgage - DONE July:T
Start to re-build savings after they took a massive hit last year when DH had no job - In progress - although some will be used on kitchen re-model
Start Florida 2016 Fund!:eek: - Again, in progress, but a decent start has been made! :T
Pensions.... - :o - still to do......
Lose 2stone (min - could do with more, but 2stone would make a big difference) - Oops! Not achieved - although I am (just) lighter than at the start of 2015
Get fitter - will also hopefully help with above target! - decent progress made in Summer with walking. Fallen by wayside in recent months
Make £1500 (net) from selling stuff - whether ebay, facebook, nearly new sales or other - DONE - net total of things sold (of mine and the children's) was £1582.24:T
Declutter house & garage - useful to help to achieve above target:D - Lots achieved. Still more to do, but really good progress made here over the year :j
Simplify life (am not rejoining WI as part of this - it's become a chore, rather than enjoyable of late, so clearly I need a break) - PArtial success. Resigned from WI Cttee and stopped attending altogether. Resigned from PTA as Treasurer and stopped attending meetings. Got 2 (very) part time paid jobs. Still a trustee and the treasurer for a small (but growing) local charity and need to make sure I can do this without it impacting negatively on me
Tackle to-do list of jobs on house/ garden/ garage (somewhat neglected of late) - NEW boiler and 2 new radiators. New double glazing throughout (inc garage) Lots done in garden. Landings/ stairwells/ hallway repainted. Will continue in 2016
Look at BTL and decide what to do - needs some work on it whether we keep it or sell - Keeping. Work being done on it. Need new tenant
Make memories together as a family - very important:) - partial success


I say partial success on the last one because 2015 got off to a very bad start, with some very bad memories as a result. Other things which weren't good were my friend's daughter dying at just 17, OH's mum dying v unexpectedly in Sept, his aunt dying in Nov. However, we had a good time in London in the Summer, DD did v well in her AS exams, OH spent the summer at home - but in paid work , lots of little days out and 2 afternoon teas out, 2 new baby guinea pigs (as our original one sadly died aged over 8yo!), DD's 18th birthday. But I shan't be sad to say goodbye to 2015 overall


Now for 2016........:)

greent

In no particular order:

• Make memories together - lots of good ones!
• Florida holiday in the Summer (possibly the last big family holiday as all 6 of us together) without any debt being incurred (will be after A2 and GCSE exams, so a lovely bit of family time together after the teenagers' hard few weeks)
• Kitchen remodel (and some new appliances sadly required) without any debt
• Tackle OH's car loan if any spare funds! (will be second half of year at earliest, I feel!!)
• Support DD and DS1 through A2 and GSCE exams (argh!)
• Continue to declutter - Marie Kondo style (I WILL conquer the paper in this house!!:D)
• Make £500 from selling unwanted items (have been donating more of late and I must have less left to sell by now!!)
• Pensions! (again)
• Lose weight - still aiming for 2 stone
• Review all finances to ensure current needs being met in best possible way
• Finish work on BTL. Get new tenant
• More DIY etc here (decorating bedrooms 4 & 5 as a priority)
• Simplify life - I need to ensure the charity stuff doesn't take too much out of me - possibly look to delegate some stuff. I also help to organise a local festival - am committed to 2016, but may drop it after that - it's a lot of work/ time/ energy/ effort and comes at a busy time of year (early July - which will be straight after the exam period for DD & DS1, and I will be v busy also during that time invigilating between 2 secondary schools in a straight run from late April until v late June. The charity also has an event on at the same time!:eek: - and then I'm looking to go on holiday - and I don't want to be going off to Florida (not restful!) when I'm already shattered!)
• Health - not just weight. I have a dodgy hip, which I tend to just live with, but it's getting worse. And a bad shoulder. Am hoping some sessions with an osteopath will help. Have a couple of other minor issues I should deal with, too. And possibly look at some form of counselling again - I had some earlier this year, but didn't really gel with my counsellor. Or maybe not counselling but something else (thinking of the advice on watty's thread here)
• Count my blessings - of which there are many

xx

Karmacat

greent wrote: »

I say partial success on the last one because 2015 got off to a very bad start, with some very bad memories as a result. Other things which weren't good were my friend's daughter dying at just 17, OH's mum dying v unexpectedly in Sept, his aunt dying in Nov. However, we had a good time in London in the Summer, DD did v well in her AS exams, OH spent the summer at home - but in paid work , lots of little days out and 2 afternoon teas out, 2 new baby guinea pigs (as our original one sadly died aged over 8yo!), DD's 18th birthday. But I shan't be sad to say goodbye to 2015 overall

I'm just quoting the last para because it really emphasizes that the bad things of 2015 weren't things that you had any control over - and nearly all the things that you *did* control, are done, some only partially true, but the contrast really shrieked out at me.

You're doing great :j but I'm not surprised you're glad to see the back of it, with all those bereavements

Karmacat

Those are great 2016 plans, greent! Loving the "making memories" plan

It really stands out how much voluntary work you do, too - I want to be really mean and say, charity begins at home - if your health is worsening, nip it in the bud now - otherwise you can need help yourself and you can take me as an example of that with my sister needing to ferry me home from her house after a visit of only 3 hours, just her and me, left me feeling really ill.

Am counting my blessings too though

greent

Karmacat wrote: »

I'm just quoting the last para because it really emphasizes that the bad things of 2015 weren't things that you had any control over - and nearly all the things that you *did* control, are done, some only partially true, but the contrast really shrieked out at me.

You're doing great :j but I'm not surprised you're glad to see the back of it, with all those bereavements

Thanks Kc - I was thinking about this earlier - I can't control some things in my life (what others do etc) but I can change how I react to some things - tried CBT this year but didn't get on with it but mindfulness of myself and using de-stressing techniques helps I know that eating badly is one of my reactions to things - but I can change that


x

Goldiegirl

I love that you are de-cluttering right to the end of 2015.


I kept a numbered list on the de-cluttering thread, and found it really helped. It's one of those things I'm glad I did, but won't be doing a list again. At one point, I had so many lists going, it was getting annoying! :rotfl:


Some great plans for 2016 - Florida will be brilliant. We had a couple of Florida holidays in the 90's and it was brilliant 'doing' all the theme parks and we didn't even have kids! Certainly great memories though


I noticed you have started a 2016 Marie Kondo thread on the OS board. Although my de-cluttering is essentially done, I don't want it to rebuild, and there's a few things that I'm not joyful about, so I'll be looking in on that thread.


Hope 2016 will be a year to remember

greent

DD has been decluttering great guns in the hols - her theory being that she'll have to do it in the Summer before Uni, so she may as well make a start on it now - clever girl! The vast majority is for selling on, though (money to her) so isn't on the list until it sells


I like MK's principle of 'sparking joy' - simple, yet very effective if that's the focus you maintain when sorting things. I also like new threads for new years - and (secretly) wanted the start of it to be a bit more 'ordered' for newbies


Florida is definitely going to happen - but I really need to get a move on with it. Have had some very helpful PMs to give me some pointers


Had a evening of games/ takeaway/ games planned with the children. Last night the neighbours (our very best ones) invited us over to their's for tonight - slightly peeved not my plan but will enjoy it - even if I can't wear my jammies!!


Hope everyone has a lovely evening, whatever they are doing - whether sleeping or partying!


xx