The Ultimate Hard and Fast debt clearing mission

ruby_eskimo

wendz86 wrote: »

Is annoying isn't it Ruby! I think we need to have a proper money chat so he fully understands.

I think a lot of men think "how hard can it be" when they see programs like 'Don't Tell the Bride'. But they don't then think about the guys on that being given the money. It's a little more difficult when you have to save for it yourself.

So bored at work. Have absolutely nothing to do. Only another 2 and a half hours to go!

Tete_en_l'Air

Yikes to car costs Wendz! I can see how you wouldn't want to spend inheritance on the wedding but isn't it nicer than spending it on tyres? And that way I guess you can feel like whoever's money it was is sort of part of the day too?

Love that second dress Shrimpy although it looks a tad short on that model. Have you chosen your dress yet Wendz (sorry if I've missed it!)

There's one CCC which holds some meetings nearish me, but I don't have enough confidence in my cakes!! If it was just me and my friends it would be good but for some reason I worry it'd be a load of WI types! Reminds me though that I was going to try out a new knitting club on Sunday evening but I'm a bit scared - I can't find enough info on it on the internet so I'm scared I'll turn up and no one will be there!

Birdie85

Love your mundane dreams Shrimpy! I go through periods of having really boring dreams like that, it's so depressing being at work all night in my dreams then getting up and going there for real!

Very pretty wedding dresses, that Kitty & Dulcie one is pretty reasonably priced too, all things considered!

That blazer is you all over Tete! If the sleeves are too short, roll them up - you could even add a little contrasting fabric so it looks like they're meant to be rolled up.

I made such a mess with the watercolours! Thankfully our carpet, although cream, has a bit of a mixed weave going on so the splatters that were all over aren't too visible. I'll have to get the Vanish on it at some point before OH looks closely and asks why there are flecks of blue, green and pink all over!

I haven't done much but read since I got my Kindle, OH keeps moaning that all I do is sit around reading all the time! Even when I suggest an early night he knows it's so I can curl up and read rather than anything else! I'd like to join a book club, but I like to read what I feel like when I feel like it, not sure how I'd get on reading something that I've been told to read.

I like the sound of your theme Wendz. I'd be cheeky and find a patterened paper or fabric that I really liked then scan it into my computer and print off as many 'free' copies as I need to stick on everything so it looks all pretty and matchy-matchy for not a lot of money. Not that I do that with expensive scrapbook paper or anything. Nor have I saved the Cath Kidston free desktop backgrounds from the website to print off and use on cards. Nope, that would be too naughty. Sorry you're struggling with money though. Bloody cars are more trouble than the're worth aren't they?!

wendz86

I do agree Tete. I think its just because my mum said to me that she thinks i should use it towards a house deposit rather than wedding but i dont know where she thinks i will manage to magic the wedding money from. My mum and dad have said they will help out with some wedding things and have paid the deposit for venue but not sure how much more they are giving. Kind of think i should ask but feel a bit cheeky.

I do have my dress Tete and keep meaning to post a pic but cant find one on the internet and don't like the ones i have of me wearing it.

Ohh good ideas Birdie!

Dinah93

Birdie85 wrote: »

Morning! Hope nice weekends were had all round! Mine was far too short, not feeling very happy Mondayish today! OH must be getting tired of me getting my craft head on when he goes off to rugby; he came home on Saturday to find 3 new pictures to be framed for the bathroom! He wonders why I can't just buy generic prints like normal folk instead of having to display my 'artwork'! I'm just glad we don't have an exposed fridge to stick the pictures on as in his eyes it's the best place for them! :rotfl:

I really want to try that cake Archers! I guess I could get a shop bought and decorate it?! Would be cheating but it'd look so pretty who'd care?! Maybe I could do it for Christmas using white chocolate KitKats (do they make them?! Could find some alternative..) and red and green M&Ms. Mmmm. Must write that down so I remember to do that! Oh and Cinny, those burger buns were amazing but I had quite a bit of help from a friend!

Oooh, stealing your Christmas cake idea - love it!

Oh where is the fun in generic art? I love love love having things that are special to us around the house. We have some prints, but from Etsy or craft fairs and the like usually, but we have a few originals (both by me and others) and I can't wait to get some frames and get them on the walls.

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Definitely go along to the crochet class, I'm obsessed with all things woolly at the moment, constantly scouring pinterest and blogs for inspiration, but I'm so slow! What else are you doing as part of Operation Make Friends? Something I should make more of an effort with really but I tend to find that going to groups and things - people don't seem to want to make friends outside of that environment, so you still have no-one to go to the cinema/pub with, you know? I need to just move to London where my friends are I think!

Exciting to see your new sig Cinny! Are you trying yet or just saving to try?

Did you have a nice weekend D&N? Was it this weekend you were off to Northumberland?

Next weekend, which works out well as it's the Alnwick food festival, so we can spend a day wandering and nibbling. NIMs dad and partner were over this weekend, was good for NIM to get to see him and for him to see Grace etc. It was a shame though as he could only hold her for 20mins or so each morning, after his shower before he went out for a smoke, kind of hoping it'll be an incentive for him to quit before the next time he sees her.

Also very excited about a Cinnybump.

That is an amazing dress Shrimpy. I love the waist detail. I wish I could have a wedding a year, just to wear the dress. Don't really want all the hoohaa again, just more dresses please. Have you considered dress shopping on Etsy? There is some amazing stuff on there for a lot less than shop prices, and most of them make it to your measurements so no need for alterations. I would assume most will also do refunds on non made to measure as well.

It's really interesting operation Make Friends came up this morning. I got up and was going into my usual pattern of 'right, what needs cleaning' and I sort of pulled myself up and thought about the fact I only have 6 months until I go back to work, I don't want to waste those 6 months lost in a cloud of Mr Muscle. So I decided to bite the bullet and go to a mum and baby group. I'm so scared of showing up to places and being the odd one out as I'm the new girl and they all know each other, but I don't want to not make any friends with babies. A quick google and I found an ideal class - fit2push - basically a group of mums with babies and toddlers in buggies walking, jogging and circuit training around the local park for an hour for the stunning cost of £1. So I went and really enjoyed it, made a new friend, got chatting to quite a few others, and didn't even have to pay the £1 as the stand in teacher was a no show (regular one on holiday) so some of the mums who go every week lead it for free.

Tete that cake club looks FANTASTIC - I can't imagine a more relaxed evening than meeting up with a cake for a natter. Are you a member? I'd love to go but it's that fear of being a loner hurdle again, plus the fact the Co Durham one is about an hour away and I'd be scared my cake would be a gunky mess after going over hill and dale. We could start our own one, no judgement on sunken cakes, wonky icing or unusual flavours

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

I know no-one in real life who knows anyone male and single - and they're ALL you know! Typical!

Ahem!

As the other strand of not wasting the next 6 months away I've dug all my craft and sewing stuff out the attic. I might not be able to sell anything, or not enough to count, but I've got boxes and boxes of this stuff so I might as well use it up and see if anything comes of it. NIM and I have agreed I'll take a small amount of the inheritance out to use for this purpose, as I'm sure my grandad would have been pleased at me using the money to hopefully better our lives longer term.

Grace is having the STROPPIEST day ever, she chewed through the class earlier, she has cried most of the afternoon, mum has come over and is walking her around the town to try to settle her a bit as she was screaming blue murder. In more positive news she gained another 160g this week, making her 3.9kg or 8lbs 10oz.

ETA: Also weigh in day for NIM and I, he lost 1.6lbs this week, I lost 1.8lbs, so all in the right direction.

shrimpy_80

Thanks for the dress love ladies I agree that the K & D one is a bit short but the model looks quite leggy whereas I am most definitely not. Weirdly it looks much longer in the sitting down pics. I would love to see yours too Wendz. I can't believe you're only getting married a few weeks before me, in my mind your wedding is really close and mine is ages away - plus you seem so much more organised! Your theme sounds lovely, I am aiming for something quite similar although when I told my mum I didn't want balloons at the weekend she seemed horrified (!) I didn't realise they were such a must-have item!

Birdie I saw your paintings on your blog, such a cool idea! (Hope you get the paint spots out though...!)

Tete, ordinarily I would say go for it with the knitting club, if you hate it you need never go back. But it seems to me that you have quite a lot on your plate at the moment, so it depends if you think it would really be a pleasure and 'time out' or whether you think another commitment would add stress - I absolutely love choir and am so so glad I joined, but even so there are weeks when it feels like yet another thing on the to-do list, if you know what I mean. I'm not trying to put you off at all, just saying don't feel bad if you decide to defer it for a while. But if its just the fear holding you back then you should definitely go for it

I was going to join in regarding OHs and money but I got cross thinking about it so I won't

ruby_eskimo

Sounds like a great day all round Dinah!

Etsy have some fabulous dresses! I may have favorited a whole bunch of them...

starnac

Ooh I love the first dress. Loving all the wedding talk too as mine was years and years ago. Wow I feel so old! :eek:

Dinah loved the grace pic on FB. She is one gorgeous baby. I can't believe she's 6 months already!! Mind you DS turns 1 in November! Where has that time gone?

Birdie I need to check out your artwork I think. Will nosey around your blog later.

DD is ready to go to bed now so I'm off. See you later

wendz86

Well done for going to the baby group Dinah and great you have made a friend as well. I have made some really good friends at the baby groups i went to.

Well done on the weight gain for Grace and weight loss for you and NIM.

Birdie85

Well done for going to baby group Dinah, must have been a bit nerve wracking to go on your own so I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I too would quite like to get married once a year just to wear a pretty dress! Just had a little look at the dresses on Etsy, and Oh My Goodness there are some amazing frocks on there for such low prices considering you're getting something custom made!

Wendz, I was having a mooch on my laptop last night and found some pretty vintage shabby chic-y papers for printing out on there... if you want I can e-mail them to you? If you're going for a similar theme Shrimpy I can e-mail them to you too if you like

I didn't know that balloons were a 'must have' item?! I'm more used to hearing about people being horrified when you choose balloons over flowers! My friends had them instead of flowers in their venue because they were cheaper (but looked great and fit in with the relaxed feel of the whole day), but other weddings I've been to didn't have any (one bride dismissed them as 'tacky' but I wouldn't agree... but then she said gerberas are tacky too so methinks she's just a bit snooty!). I guess if you're having a garden party feel then flowers will be more fitting than balloons! The whole things a minefield though, as great as wedding magazines and blogs are, they make you feel like you need to have everything!