Lulabelle's MFW Diary

SAMMYE_2

lulabelle1 wrote: »

Decided to cook a stew for dinner tonight. I'm not really big on stews but DH has been asking to have one for a few years (!!!), so I finally gave in......
Have chucked all of the ingredients in a huge pan which is now hopefully bubbling a way in the oven. didn't really know what too add, to just chucked in "stew type" things and will hope for the best. I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong with a stew so it should be fine. Will also dig out a Jamie receipt for some yummy dumplings that I've not cooked for yonks and will chuck those in nearer to tea time.

Oh stews are just the best food ever and plus you can use cheap meat as it goes tender anyway!! MMMM nom nom nom

lulabelle1

Just had a lovely friend pop in for a coffee and natter, provided a nice break from my computer screen.
Stew is bubbling away nicely and spelling yummy.

lulabelle1

Stew update, it's been cooking for hours and my veggies are still hard!!! Best turn up the temp otherwise we will be eating at midnight!!

lulabelle1

DH is prepping the dumplings... I gave him parsley to put in them.... what does he do, goes to the fridge and gets out the coriander and adds that instead - so threw it in the bin, he's now making them again.

lulabelle1

The stew was a resounding success. There was tonnes of it. Enough for a few more dinners, so have portioned and am just waiting for it to cool down so I can pop it in the fridge and freezer.

DS1 is now in bed and DS2 has been there since 6pm (he will sleep through until 7:30, he was extra tired tonight after a busy weekend) so now got my feet up in prep for the Young Apprentice final. Looking forward to having a nice warm mince pie with brandy butter while it's on, yummy!

Lovely day planned with a friend tomorrow, we're treating ourselves to a spa day (well until after lunch) and then a wander around Bicester village. Really looking forward to a day away from work and family for some me time. Sounds awful but it's needed to recharge my batteries. I will the return as a chilled out lovely mummy again.

lulabelle1

Btw, our spa day including a mini pedicure was only £10 each so not breaking the bank!

sweetdaisy

lulabelle1 wrote: »

Well, different weather again here today... The wind has gone and the rain has stopped... Instead we have clear blue skies and the sun is shining, beautiful.

DH's day off today and he has taken DS2 to get some new shoes as he has outgrown his old pair. Talking of shoes and children..... It never ceases to amaze me when I see other children that I know and they have different footwear on every time I see them. I have 2 boys and I guess they are not so high maintenance as girls, but DS1 who is 7 has one pair of school shoes and 1 pair of trainers which he wears when not at school. DS2 is just 2 and he just has one pair of shoes or trainers at any one time.

Am I tight? I just can't see the point of small children having various pairs of shoes, trainers, boots etc etc when their feet grow so much.

Some parents that i know dress their small children as though they are taking part in a modelling campaign for a high fashion magazine, it amazes me. Firstly, they are children, they should just be playing and having fun and not worrying about being super trendy and cool at such a young age. Secondly, why spend so much money dressing the children? Don't get me wrong, my kids always look nice and their clothes are good quality but surely you don't have to spend a small fortune to do this.

Anyway, rant over... I really don't know where that came from!!

Interesting to hear from other parents though in regards to your own personal views on this.....

Just catching up on you diary and saw this, so thought I would reply .

I completely agree with you about children's shoes. We have 2 boys too, DS1 is 3.5 years old and he has a pair of school shoes, one pair of trainers and a pair of wellies (we live in the countryside so loves getting muddy) and this is enough. DS2 is only a baby, so obviously not in shoes yet.

Over the past few months DS1 has been having a growth spurt and I am buying new shoes every 3 months, so I can't see the point of having loads of pairs of shoes as I would rather him have a couple of pairs which fit properly.

However, I think it is different having boys, as we have two nieces and they have more shoes as their shoes co-ordinate more with their clothes, whereas with boys, darks shoes go with any dark trousers etc, so just makes life easier :rotfl:.

lulabelle1

I think you're right SD, boys are much easier when it comes to clothes and shoes..... I just let my boys be boys and don't worry about them being trendsetters!

lulabelle1

Had a lovely day with my good friend yesterday and enjoyed some time in the sauna and steam room followed by a manicure. Bargain for just £10 all in.......

Mooched around the shops and behaved very well indeed, the only thing I bought was a new brolly as it was pouring down. I sadly left my last lovely brolly in a cab on a business trip to Munich, grrrrr....

Friend bought all sorts of things and spent a fortune. I thought I would be tempted but just wasn't interested in spending any money. The kids have everything they need for Christmas so anything more would just be wasteful and DH and I agreed that we would just buy each other a few things from the kids, so no need to buy anything for him. I saw all sorts of lovely things for myself but nothing was "needed" so I just turned the other way.....

Have managed to catch up on the work this morning and will be picking up DS2 from nursery at 12.30. Have managed to get tonights dinner on, so will leave that to simmer for a few hours and then just leave to one side. Having a chilli tonight... I love this meal and its also excellent value. I just worked out that the ingredients cost me £5.70 and I will have enough for DH and I to have 3 dinners from it, so very economical.

lulabelle1

Have just spent a rather lovely day taking it quite easy......
Bit of work first thing, then off to the shops with DH to finish the Christmas shopping. Pleased to say that the final odds and sods have now been purchased and wrapped. Enjoyed a lovely lunch together and forgot about being frugal for an hour. I have to say it was lovely and we both really enjoyed it.
Lit a new Yankee Christmas candle when I got home and the house is smelling rather wonderful.
Done a bit more work and now have an hour free until DS2 needs to be collected from nursery. DS1 is on a playdate, so the house is lovely and quiet, just the sound of DH in the other room wrapping my pressies from the kids.
Hope you are all starting to feel a little bit Christmassy, L