Memorygirls - The Matrix Reloaded

Double_Trouble

I am up for the challenge too.

1. I want to maintain my present weight
2. Due to another significant reduction in our income I have had to set a tight budget so I need to stay within that budget and record any daily spends NSD today
3. I need to increase my income I am hoping that I have been succesful in getting a census job but if I haven't then I need to find another source of income before the end of the challenge period
4. I need to exercise more

Think that will do for this challenge

DTxx

robsmum_2

fantasia322 wrote: »

Have been thinking about challenges and what I NEED to do, for me, my health (which is very good) atm, but I'm thinking longterm.
I mentioned somewhere along the line that I smoke (argh, grrr shame on me). Have done now 20 a day for 30 years. I stopped once for 6 months about 9 years ago and have made piddling, pathetic attempts to stop several times between then and now.

I have a months supply of patches and lozenges. The most i can usually go is 3 days and then I crack and smoke again.
I also know that I am chemically addicted, this stuff (tobacco is more addictive than heroin according to the medical profession).
I cannot afford to spend huge amounts of money on seminars on stopping or buying books and I know I can't do it cold-turkey.

And I don't want to go the stopping smoking support thread either. I want to stay here:o.

SO *Bites the bullet, here goes. I bought a 20 packet this morning which I will finish. Then I will put on a nicotine patch, not buy cigarettes, suck lozenges and go 1 cigarette at a time. I will change my habits of drinking coffee, which makes me ligh up automatically.
I will keep my self busy domestically (or try too).
And ignore OH who smokes too and isn't interested in stopping (YET). But I will ask him to go to the back door and to please stop leaving cigarettes where I can see them etc.

What I'd like to ask you all is if you will keep on at me, nag me, encourage me, tell me straight if needs be, don't accept any excuses from me. I have to do this for me, I can't afford to smoke anymore, am fed up of burning money each day.
I want to have no spend days, which I can't when I'm frittering 5 quid daily on the dreaded weed.
Whatever it takes basically.

Thank you x

That's me exactly! Difference is I was 28 a day:eek: Now got to 20:eek:and I'm doing it by weekly reductions at the moment. Will support you all the way but am not quite ready to do it as bravely as you.
Good Luck.

Claire: Pastry looks good - guess the proof will be in the eating. Made 3 leek and stilton quiches, tray of jam tarts and 12 chocolate chip muffins.

crickett1234

And Robsmum... when can I come round for tea? It all sounds lovely!

NorthernLas

Bitzy - I may have some thicker fabrics in my stash, I will have a look tonight.

Have you thought of trawling the local charity shops to see if there are fabrics you can re-use/recycle. This time of year lots of people declutter and my local shop has a 50% sale on. OK, it may not be too exciting but I'm thinking along the lines of winter coats, blankets, curtains, duvet covers etc. As long as you sew with cotton thread and check the label you will be able to piece fabrics together. And you can always get fabric dye for £4.99 at J0hn Lewis

For example, I got my nefu a navy blue cashmere coat for £5 and a vintage 1950s 3/4 brocade Audrey Hepburn'esque for myself for £5. The coat for him needs the lining stitching and I am not gonna cut mine up ... but for £10 !!!!

Worth a look methinks ... and if in doubt head off to a local town, that either does not have a large supermarket or has a population of 'well to dos'. I have excursions to Alderley Edge and Bakewell each spring and autumn :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

crickett1234

Sorry to have been posting and running... been stupidly busy at work all day and have only been on here in snippets before disappearing and running off to do more horrible work. This time I think I might be able to go home. Yeah!!

MrsMoo2U

My my, a couple of days away and the thread goes bonkers. So much positivity starting to filter its way back in here I love it.

I like the idea of revisiting Mr Bigs challenges. Perhaps we should start from the beginning and share our thoughts. It could run alongside personal challenges maybe.

I love a good quote so I thought that it might be apt to share a Maya Angelou quote as we are all feeling the effects of changes going on in our lives. We all have to hit a low before climbing back towards the end goal.
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

We are all achieving lots on the way to being butterflies so lets start to recognise each achievement and share the difficulties to help each other find a way forward.

fantasia322

robsmum wrote: »

That's me exactly! Difference is I was 28 a day:eek: Now got to 20:eek:and I'm doing it by weekly reductions at the moment. Will support you all the way but am not quite ready to do it as bravely as you.
Good Luck.

Claire: Pastry looks good - guess the proof will be in the eating. Made 3 leek and stilton quiches, tray of jam tarts and 12 chocolate chip muffins.

Thank you, am going to need it methinks. I#ve tried the cutting down thing, just doesnt work for me, But good on you for cutting back, x

maryb

DH's birthday is on 20 January and mine is on 1 May. If I can count right that leaves exactly 100 days in between.

And we both need to lose 2 stone.

HMM, what can I challenge myself with?

Bitsy_Beans

NorthernLas wrote: »

Bitzy - I may have some thicker fabrics in my stash, I will have a look tonight.

Have you thought of trawling the local charity shops to see if there are fabrics you can re-use/recycle. This time of year lots of people declutter and my local shop has a 50% sale on. OK, it may not be too exciting but I'm thinking along the lines of winter coats, blankets, curtains, duvet covers etc. As long as you sew with cotton thread and check the label you will be able to piece fabrics together. And you can always get fabric dye for £4.99 at J0hn Lewis

For example, I got my nefu a navy blue cashmere coat for £5 and a vintage 1950s 3/4 brocade Audrey Hepburn'esque for myself for £5. The coat for him needs the lining stitching and I am not gonna cut mine up ... but for £10 !!!!

Worth a look methinks ... and if in doubt head off to a local town, that either does not have a large supermarket or has a population of 'well to dos'. I have excursions to Alderley Edge and Bakewell each spring and autumn :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

My local CS aren't a mine for fabric but I suppose it's a question of going up each which TBH I don't really have time for at the moment. I've been told the place to go for CS in well to do places is Kenilworth but when you factor in the cost of petrol to get there it's not cost effective.
It's such a faff having to go into Brum but there really isn't anywhere near me that sells fabric for less than £10 a metre :eek::eek: My local Hobbycraft and House of Fraser have lots of fabric on the roll but it's eye wateringly expensive

Anyone ever buy fabric online or recommend anywhere?

Anyway I am just whinging, I've managed to get some fabric and for that I am grateful. Just need to have a go with it now :eek: <big gulp>

fantasia - you can do this my lovely, my H used to smoke 20 full strength marlboro a day and he managed to quit. I think it's finding the best way that suits you, he change the strength of his ciggies until he was on the ultra light and then cut it out cold turkey, no patches or anything.

NorthernLas

I have just come back from a patchwork/quilting class this afternoon - I am next back on 8th Feb, I'll ask the tutor then. Do you have shops that sell curtain material near you, either small independants who will give you samples to take home to see if it matches your decor or Dunelm Mill?? (they sell online see http://www.dunelm-mill.com/shop/fabric-and-sewing/fabric/)

There are also a couple of shops local to me who do 'the markets' and they sell on-line ... http://www.fabricsatthefentshop.com/. Have a look and if they don't sell on-line you could order and I can collect for you as I am in Macc every Thurs AM.

NL x