Improving my life during Summer 2010

boredofbeingathome

Hi Mags, didn't know you had a diary- just had a catch up and i love the way you set out your challenges. I really must get back into mystery shopping as i haven't done nearly enough of them.

Mags30

boredofbeingathome wrote: »

Hi Mags, didn't know you had a diary- just had a catch up and i love the way you set out your challenges. I really must get back into mystery shopping as i haven't done nearly enough of them.

:wave: Thanks for dropping by. Mostly we all just chat on Memorygirl's diary. Mystery shopping wrecks my head some days but I'm still conviced it can be a viable extra income. Definitely suits me better than working in most of those places would and it is very varied! You can learn a lot of insider information on how different companies operate from the briefing notes too which can be interesting. Tomorrow's job involves pretending I want to buy curtains, I was supposed to do it today but I didn't have time.

Mags30

The homestore where I was doing the mystery shop about the curtains was fabulous. I'll definitely go back as a normal customer.

Then I went to Halfords where I met a lovely boy racer type staff member. He came out to the car park to look at the car and told me how to fix it myself. He mixed up a can of spray paint for me and gave me really clear instructions on how to fix it. I got everything needed for €33 which is a huge saving on the quote of €100 I got from the garage. Boy racers are the best people to ask about car problems. I know they have a bad reputation but I've known a few of them over the years and have always found them to be so lovely.

Of course paying to fix a scratch on my car is something I shouldn't be paying for at all because it should never have happened. It happened 2 weeks ago when I was turning a bit too close to a pillar. I'm not that bothered though because if that's all that's happened in 2 years of driving I'm doing ok, it's just yet another expense.

Mags30

The envelope system has been abandoned again this week, there's no category for buying spray paint at Halfords or for buying towels on mystery shopping jobs. Then I bought a €15 ticket to see Les Miserables at the cinema in October (it's being shown via satellite from the O2 in London) and a €7 ticket for Eat, Pray, Love, cups of coffee while out and about....I don't even know what I've spent. Starting again next payday.

Mags30

Few random thoughts before I switch off the computer for the weekend.

• How come the stranger in Halfords was so friendly and helpful when the ex couldn't even be bothered to reply to my question. Should be the other way other, people who claim to care about us should help more than staff in shops. Yes I know the guy in the shop is paid to help but he really was great. Memorygirls thread is a bit like that too, strangers going out of their way to help when the people closest to us can't be bothered.
• There are some really fabulous places to be found in industrial estates. This has been a real revelation for me a girl who never ventured far beyond the high street until this summer. Driving is great!
• I didn't enjoy Eat, Pray, Love as much as I was supposed to. I prefered the book-I'll write a review soon
• X-Factor Bootcamp tonight:)

Mags30

The spray paint from Halfords did an amazing job, took me ages, lots of steps involved rather than "take can and spray at car"

I painted the front door too (with Ronseal, not the can of sliver matallic spray paint:D) just in case anybody reading is imagining me painting my front door graffiti style with a can of spray paint.

I've just been catching up with the MrBig challenges. Tonights' one is easy for me, I know what I want to learn (law). Did some at the weekend.

I'm off to wash my hair using the fluffy new towel and the Orifluido oil from last weeks mystery shopping jobs.

Hoping for a productive week ahead.

Mags30

I stood on the scales in Boots this morning and I'm not too happy.

Weight: 10st 7lbs or 66.9kg
Height: 5' 6.5" or 1.69m
BMI: 23.4

My weight tends to be around 10st average, now I'm half a stone above that, my ideal weight is 9st 7lbs exactly 1 stone less than I am right now.

Must get those Reebok Easy tone trainers out of their box.

Mags30

After yesterday's dis-satisfaction with the scales in Boots I went and ordered a pizza from Dominos last night :wall:

Then after my shower I had a good luck in the mirror and realised that I definitely do look a bit more curvy than I used to and that it suits me....but I don't even want to be thinking like that because I look better in my clothes when I'm thinner.

In a better frame of mind today and have decided on a mini detox, nothing too difficult, I don't want to risk giving up before I start but I have a 2 litre bottle of water by my desk (unusual for me) and I'm going to have a smoothie instead of a coffee later. Lets see how long I can keep this up for!

Mags30

£15 on onepoll:T I'm so stupidly addicted to it. I think it's because the surveys are short and really fast to do.

I'v gone just over £15 on Crowdology as well, I like that too but I really hate toluna. I'm on 40,000 points there so half way to a £15 Amazon voucher.

I think this mini detox is badly needed, I've just been texting a truck-driver friend who drove through the night and isn't half as tired as I am at 11.30am.

Mags30

I've messed up rather badly. I sort of ended up acting as mediator between 2 friends. It was an awkward case of "don't tell X this" and "don't tell Y that". I'm the most trustworthy person imaginable which is why they were both confiding in me but then X found out I was keeping secrets for Y.....it's complicated but basically they're both annoyed with me now and it's not even my fault :wall:

I couldn't sleep last night worrying about this mess and then the anxiety kicked in and I started worrying about a million other things mostly money and work related....will my law plans ever work out.....will my budget always be this tight.......depressing.

I have blisters from the Reebok easy tone trainers although I'm not blaming Reebok for this, happens to me with every new pair of shoes.

Renewed my car tax today €94 for 3 months.

I've started re-reading bits of The Artists's Way by Julia Cameron. I bought this years ago but I've been reminded of it a few times lately by things I've read on here. I'm not aspiring to be an artist but like the MrBig challenges it can be made relevant to lots of things. I :heart2: the idea of the Artists date. Basically you have to allocate 2hrs a week to doing something different to what you normally would.