Sorting through my rubbish

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Hope you all had a nice relaxed weekend, I certainly did. Got a bit more of the garden sorted with DH, it is looking so different from when we moved in!

Bought very little in the way of food this weekend. We went to B-i-L's for dinner on Saturday, took a bottle of wine with us and I made Puttenesca yesterday from stocks so a pretty frugal weekend. DH is well into making our bread now, with only three of us at home a small loaf lasts us several days (gone are the days of a loaf a day!) and even DD really likes his homemade concoctions! We have been taking advantage of Lidl's good weekend deals on wine, buying a case a time which will either make nice Christmas pressies for friends or be kept by us for the fesitive period and any entertaining we do.

I am finding small pleasures in using things that we all ready have rather than buying more, I lit some pumpkin spiced candles last night and enjoyed a mini facial using up some of my products. I sorted through my wardrobe and packed away my summer clothes and dug out the winter things, I'm actually looking forward to warm tights and boots!! Tonight I plan a nice, hot, bubbly bath and then will redo my nails.

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Happy Friday:j, I'm on call this weekend so may not get much of a break but at least I won't be in the office, I plan to chill and watch some films with my daughter. It will be a particularly frugal weekend as not worth even trying to go anywhere or do anything as the phone is bound to ring!

Been managing the food budget, using up things we already have, had a gammon joint, eggs and homemade chips on wednesday night (all in the fridge and all needed using), then yesterday used up the rest of the gammon in a quiche, jacket potatoes and veg from the freezer. Tonight will be chicken breasts from the freezer, cooked in one of those seasoning cook in the bag jobs (reduced to 15p) with the last of the spuds and more frozen veg, small food shop tomorrow for the weekend. Saturday will probably be pizza and garlic bread from the freezer and a mini roast on Sunday as we have some joints from Iceland and can get a few veg and yorkshire pud to go with it.

I've just checked my Experian and despite my taking out the loan and messing about with quotes etc my score has only dropped by 16 points and is still in the high excellent range so I am happy with that. Need to make sure a couple of the credit card accounts are closed off so hopefully will go back up again next month.

I've been enjoying my pampering, using the products I all ready have, face masks, moisturisers, serums, body butters etc, makes me feel better and ensures none of these lovely things go to waste.

DS2 will be back the end of next week so that will mean more food etc but will be lovely to have him home again for a week, he is loving Uni and has adjusted well to city life.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, see you on the other side!!

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

As predicted ours was very chilled. Visited a friend on saturday morning and on Sunday we were child free so treated ourselves to breakfast out, got a few bits of groceries and then pottered about at home. The oncall phone was thankfully very quiet.

We had the pizzas out of the freezer for dinner on Saturday, lunch was just some homemade bread with some lovely Crunchy Cheddar. Sunday due to having breakfast out we didnt have any lunch and as it was just the two of us I knocked up a quick Cottage Pie for dinner with ingredients from the freezer, it was blooming lovely too!

Dinner tonight is bacon and mushroom pasta to use up some mushrooms from the fridge, tommorrows will probably be liver and bacon in the slow cooker as I am meeting a friend for drinks after work. Wednesday I have a study day so will make something nice then and hopefully have enough for Thursday as well as I have a late meeting in another town then. By Friday DS2 will be home so will probably make his favourite pasta bake, saturday may be pizzas again and then sunday we are having a big family roast.

DD visited my sister yesterday and came home with a bag of hand-me-downs from my nieces, she does very well out of them!

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Sorry I've been MIA for a week, been hectic at work.

Had a nice chilled weekend, takeaway with DS2 and his g/f on Saturday and roast dinner with DS1 and his g/f yesterday. Pottered around, gave the family bathroom and kitchen a deep clean. DH and I went to see his brothers new house, they are remodelling it and have a lot of work still to do before they can move in, but it should be lovely.

Food wise, we have been eating out of the stocks, just bought a few bits like milk and bread flour. Tonight we have chilli, made from beefburgers as we won't be having any more barbeques this year and I hate cooking burgers in the house because of the smell, so gound up the burgers and use them like mince.

I have started following the 16:8 diet, you 'fast' for 16 hours of the day (so 8pm - 12noon the next day) and condense your eating into the other 8 hours, no need to calorie count etc. I'm hoping to extend it most days as we have usually eaten dinner by 7pm and I'll try not to have luch until 1pm. During the fast times you can have as much water, black tea and coffee as you like. There are supposed to be great health benefits as well as weight loss, I need to lose about 2 stone (1 of which I have put on in the last 6 months with DH doing most of the cooking!). I have tried the 5:2 before but found the fast days a struggle, I think the 16:8 will fit in with family and work etc better.

I've made a few fairly expensive but frugal purchases. I have some black Clarks knee high boots, with a small wedge which I love, they look good with skirts or trousers and are so comfortable that I have traipsed around London in them for days! I bought them half price in a sale and have been trying to get another pair for when these finally give up the ghost. Until now every pair I have seen either on Eb*y or in Clarks factory shops have been too small or too big, this weekend I found a brand new pair in my size on Eb*y, again half price, I am so happy and can't wait for them to arrive. So a fairly expensive purchase but half the rrp and I know I will get loads of use from them. I also found a pair of capri trousers, identical to a black pair I have that I wear at least twice a week, but this time in plum and they were only £4! I think the colour will be a nice change and I know the style really suits me. I have stocked up on my favourite serum for 1/4 of the rrp so happy with that too. Again I am trying to buy items that really suit me, are good quality but without spending a fortune. I think I will start the crazy clothes challenge again next year, I have a pretty good wardrobe now, I am happy with my look so will just need to replace items that are worn out, so hopefully £250 will do me for the year.

Anyway must fly, have a good day.

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Well we had our chilli last night, very nice it was too. I am back in charge of most of the cooking now so we had about half of the serving each that DH would have given us. There are three more tubs of chilli in the freezer and four of bolognaise sauce, all made from the reduced burgers we had in the freezer, waiting for a bbq!

Not sure what is on the menu tonight, needs to be fairly quick as I have to pack for a business trip at the end of the week, I may do a fish curry (smoked mackeral in a satay type sauce).

We have rediscovered frozen veg and the wide variety that is now available. It makes preparing meals so much easier to have ready prepared vegetables at hand, there's no waste either, plus nutrient wise it is better than having fresh vegetables sat around for days on end before they are eaten. I even had to agree that the frozen mashed potato (:eek:) is actually quite nice and makes for a super speedy cottage pie!

I weighed myself this morning and in the last week I have lost 4lbs, I'm very happy with that. Finger's crossed I can keep this going and get this weight shifted.

That's about it for today.

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Hope you have been enjoying this fabulous weather.

Got on the scales this morning and I have put 2 lbs back on BUT I was on a business trip for two days at the end of last week and it is 'that time' so I probably have some water retention too. I did quite well sticking to my 16:8 diet, even on the business trip, I avoided the traditional cooked breakfast and just had a couple of cups of tea, went for a walk before dinner and watched what I ate for lunch. My downfall was that they had my favourite cocktails on the menu!!

I am really liking this way of watching what I eat, I thought I would feel lathargic in the mornings as I have always had a good breakfast, but if anything I feel more awake and mornings feel like less of a rush.

DS has returned to Uni so over the weekend we used up some bits from the freezer. Saturday we had a curry and Sunday I did roast gammon with parsley sauce, yummy! Tonight is fajitas, again using chicken etc from the freezer.

We've been tackling the garden whilst the weather is so good, lawns given final cut, gazebo and hot tub packed away, just need to do a bit of weedkilling and we should be good for the winter. Whilst DH was busy sorting the garage out on Sunday, I took the dog for a lovely walk over the hills, bright sunshine, if a little nippy, we both thoroughly enjoyed it though. DH has painted the walls our dark, dingy garage, just basic white emulsion but it has made it brighter as they reflect the light and it is an altogether more pleasant environment and you can now see where everything is.

Must go and do some work now, have a great afternoon.

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Happy Halloween!:eek::eek:

Bright but cold here today, still not got the heating on in the mornings though and only turning it on in the evenings when needed.

Had our yummy fajitas last night and using up the roast gammon in a crustless quiche for dinner tonight, will save some for DD for when she comes in from Trick or Treating. DH and I are eating at work tomorrow night so DD can either have more quiche or something from the freezer/cupboards. Might do a cottage pie Thursday night with ingredients from the freezer and Friday might be an 'eating the orts' night as my Nan would say, ie using up bits n bobs and leftovers.

Tight month this month, only just been paid and counting the pennies already, but I have bought several Xmas pressies, including my parents. I have got £100+ to come through from Topcashbuck and also about £250 in expenses due so will be ok. It is just us for Xmas so wont need to go to mad for that, already have loads of Xmas booze, will just need some beers and ciders for the lads.

Looking forward to a nice pampering bath tonight and I am cold and achey. I'll leave DH to cope with the Trick or Treaters!! We actually had some T or T'ers on Sunday evening, I was quick to point out that it wasn't Halloween!!

We have a fairly new Lid1s in town and I have been keeping an eye on their weekend deals, over the last few weeks we have stocked up on wine, Crunchy Cheddar, Emmental, Laundry liquid and fabric conditioner to name a few things, all at less than half price. My 'price point' for things like laundry and dishwasher products is 10p per wash, hubby used to think I was mad stocking up when quality items were below this cost but even he sees the sense in it now; the items dont go off and get used eventually and it saves a fair amount of money over a year!

Have a terrifying evening everyone.

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Hope you all had a lovely Bonfire weekend. Ours was very relaxed. We didn't go to the local Fireworks display as it was raining heavily and hailing too at one point.

Very frugal food shop this weekend, needed very little as cupboards/freezer amply stocked still. Has DS1 and his gf round for dinner on Saturday, made chicken chasseur with roast potatoes and vegetables. Had some icecream for dessert and DS asked for chocolate sauce, I had none so microwaved some chocolate spread and poured that over the icecream, he was well impressed! I also made him some of my Rocky Road to take home as he mentioned that I hadn't made it for ages, luckily had all of the ingredients in stock. Sunday DH treated us to a cooked breakfast at 'Spoons', I was so full I didn't eat for the rest of the day and DH and DD just had hotdogs for their dinner!

Last night was Mexican Monday and DD made tacos, tonight is a quick pie and mash as we have our haircuts booked (at a friends £18 for the two of us) just Frey Bantos pies bought when they are £1 each. I am looking forward to a nice soak in the bath after our hair appointment and a bit of pampering time using up some more of my toiletries. My weightloss has plataeued which is very frustrating but I am keeping on with the 16:8 as I am feeling better through doing it and my stomach is definitely smaller and less bloated even if the scales aren't shifting.

I was going to say its a busy week this week, but every week seems busy at the moment and time is just flying past. I am on my course on Friday so that will be another long day and I will try and fit in a bit of retail therapy afterwards, hopefully buy a few bits for Christmas.

Have a lovely day

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Pretty chilly here today and a nasty sickness bug doing the rounds which I am doing my best to avoid!

Did some Christmas shopping at the weekend, I think I am actually pretty organised this year. I will need to find the wrapping paper and cards which I think a buried in the deep, dark recesses of the loft (bearing in mind we moved in January, they could be anywhere!). DD is struggling to find and afford presents for all of her friends etc so I had a sort through my present stash and found her quite a few items that I can't think of recipients for now and were suitable for her to gift, she was very happy with the selection.

I bought myself a few bargains in the asd@ sale, I managed to get 3 dresses for £4 each, all a size smaller than I have previously bought, plus a nice long line pack-a-mac, something I have been looking for for a while but refused to pay silly money for, this one was only £8. I have also bought a pair of Clarks shoes from Ebay, identical to the ones I wear almost daily for work, smart and so, so comfortable, they only cost me £20.

Hit bargain time in Mossies last night, fresh noodles and stirfry sauce only 10p a pack, various pies etc £1 each, individually wrapped cakes for lunch boxes 35p a pack, bakery foccacias 25p and potato cakes 15p, only went in for a lettuce! Obviously most of these bargains have gone straight in the freezer.

We are continuing to semi meal plan which means that whoever is home first can get on and cook dinner, DD has cooked the last couple of nights, stuffed chick breasts on Monday and tacos on Tuesday. Tonight DH and I are out for a work related function so DD will just have some pasta.

Had a lovely surprise when I checked my Exper!an account today, I now have a perfect credit rating (999), I'm so pleased as I was devastated when I found out it was 'Poor' a few months back.

Anyway must fly, absolutely crazy at work at the mo, and no staff again!

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Crazy day today so just a flying visit.

Lost another 2 lbs so am now down half a stone in a month which I am very happy with as I am finding the 16:8 fits in well with family life. Would ideally like to lose another 1.5/2 stone but will see how it goes.

Having our noodles and stirfry tonight and probably a pie on Friday. I am out for a celebration on Friday night so will need something good to line my stomach! Will go grocery shopping on Saturday but will be taking a list and just getting milk, potatoes etc. I am going to write a meal plan for the next week using up the stocks we have to a) save some money and b) make some space for some lovely Christmas treats. Will post the plan on here so that I am committed to it.

Likewise, this weekend I need to write a list of Christmas presents we still need to get as DH and I are off to London soon so could do some shopping then.

Been another stressful old week but a client gave me some roses this week as a thank you which gave me a little boost!

Must go now, enjoy the rest of your day

321 xxx