A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

katieowl_2

jamanda wrote: »

I need to tell you (because you are the only ones who will understand how excited I am) - I've had a brainwave.:eek:

Some [STRIKE]lateral[/STRIKE] vertical thinking later --- there is room on the top of the dressers for some fair sized baskets. This would keep the look of the kitchen, look tidy and I could [STRIKE]stuff [/STRIKE] store a lot of stuff that isn't used everyday.

Right, when I get home I'm going to measure (very carefully) and try to source some good sturdy baskets.

Thanks for everyone's help. Got me thinking.

Ooooooh, genius.

My kitchen is a lot smaller than the one I had in London - I've got baskets on top of the cupboards too...if they are going to have stuff in that you don't use very often it's well worth putting the contents in bags before [STRIKE][STRIKE]stuffing[/STRIKE][/STRIKE]storing anything up there, as it gets covered in a layer of kitchen goo.

My baskets are just red plastic...as that kind of goes with the colour scheme I've got a beam in the way too, which means they have to be jiggled in sideways and turned, but hey - a space is a space. I inherited a kitchen I don't 'love' but do what I can

I've got a pantry outside. There are two doors to the garden into the living room. A very large piece of furniture had to go over one doorway as there was literally no where else for it to go in the house (OH made it so we have to keep it) so we go in and out of the conservatory. The lobby behind the unused door, acessed from the garden, got used as a cupboard for stuff we didn't use very often, then I had the brainwave of putting sturdy shelves in there (which I bought online) and it's my 'Armageddon cupboard'. Being an outside door, it has a lock on it, so I can lock up my 'stash' if needed! I keep tins, bottles and jars in there, and spare cleaning stuff. I keep all the packets of dry stuff in the actual kitchen to deter small furry things.

Kate

gailey_2

Morning guys

Blimey so much catching up to do.

really need to get moving and do stuff as both girls out today just me and babe.

sammy k-we got new thick lined curtains for drafty pation doors last year made so much difference to heating the room.

Anyone else noticed how this bad weathers affected their mood feelk bit glum and lethargic really need to snap out of it. was watching tv yesterday afternoon and fell asleep.

Update on toxic freinds-feel bit bad.
but she called yesterday and I chose not to take it.
Feel mean but quite cross right now dont want to get into a row .
just think need a few days maybe i be better mood next week.
As I know shes working wed,thur ,fri.
I feared the hi how are you, missed you oh by way can you pick up daughter from school tommorow and take her to club and giver her tea. it might not have been that hate being so cyniocal but put myself out so many times now.

Gets even more complex. eldests club teacher says shes so good he wants to move her up to older class alomg with her club freind they been going since they were 3.
Thats great but freinds little girl only recently started last term and likes going with mine but this makes them different groups which makes me feel bad but not my choice its her teachers?
worried now freind think im being delibertly off but im not in this case.
her club freinds ,mums really good freind and shes been so helpful and supportive last year.
But also mine is arguing with freinds daughter during class as they split into different ability groups so know freinds little girl not going to be pleased.

Such a complicated life.

trying to organise cheap birthday party for elkdest but really need to restrict numbers to keep costs down but feel mean leaving clasmates off list.

fast realising its hard pleasing everyone.
need to put myself first at times.

Had sun hols brochure through door. hubby surprised me and said lets risk it. went in 2010 but people were horrible and place was filthy and middle of nowhere.
Think we were just unlucky as some have lovley time. lots hidden costs though on top not just 9.50per person but thinking see if can take own bedding ect as have bigger car this year.
Think woolacombe devon maybe. we dident have hols at all last year and felt bad as girls love the beach.

Any ideas what to do with 2 day old out date dried tomatoes?
doing well with food can easily last until end of next week
defrosted some diced turkey and whole chicken so debating what to cook.

looks like rain here again of ciourse downpour on school run.
best go do housework.

hubbys working kate as hes had dentist this morning to have tooth out so unsure if hes up to food .
toddler fed lunch and tea in nursery. eldest has apcked lunch so needs cooked meal later,
might nip in spar later check out reductions.

usual stuff to do
wash up
hoover
washing
clean bathroom.

hope everyones having good day and ok.

SpikyHedgehog

lilac_lady wrote: »

The wind here has blown bins over and assorted rubbish has been bowling down our street. Why do people not put their rubbish into bags (green bin) before putting it in the bin?

The sun has come out so hopefully it will chase the wind away.

Nothing like Mother Nature to make us count our blessings that the bins are all we have to worry about in adverse weather.

I'm thinking of Bangladesh, the Phillipines etc, etc, and feel so lucky to be here instead of there.

Rubbish not bagged up before going in the landfill bin drives me potty ;-) I'm chairperson of my boys' scout group, & 1 of the people in the group is so set on not using bin liners & making sure all the rubbish goes in the wheely bin loose, that he actually takes the rubbish filled bags & empties the rubbish out & tries to re-use the bags :-(

I do try to reduce what goes to landfill, but bagging stuff up helps it not go everywhere when the bins are emptied, & I think compressing rubbish (& reusing, recycling, & reducing what went in the bin in the first place) are more effective ways for me.

artybear

Hi all I tend to lurk and gather all your great tips so I was wondering if I could pick your brains please?

I have lots of mince and some frozen fresh lasagne sheets, so wondering what is your best/frugal lasagne? I looked online but lots of them contain nutmeg/lots of fresh herbs which I would rather not buy.

I have lots of food in and a fully stocked store cupboard.

Thanks

katieowl_2

artybear wrote: »

Hi all I tend to lurk and gather all your great tips so I was wondering if I could pick your brains please?

I have lots of mince and some frozen fresh lasagne sheets, so wondering what is your best/frugal lasagne? I looked online but lots of them contain nutmeg/lots of fresh herbs which I would rather not buy.

I have lots of food in and a fully stocked store cupboard.

Thanks

Just leave anything out you don't have! I tend to use my usual bolgnese recipe with a few frozen pepper instead of the carrots...use dried herbs, mixed herbs, provence herbs or oregano. Make an ordinary white sauce using cornflour (better behaved in the oven) and bung in all the odds and ends of cheese. Just use salt and pepper in it - not nutmeg - but a bayleaf is nice if you've got one (take it out when you pour it over the lasagne though)

Kate

Byatt

Hello everyone, I need to catch up on all the posts and reply! The wind here is really bad; I was going to go out but think I should stay in an declutter. Hope Wen is having a safe trip to Cornwall!

Mardatha, hope those chickens are tied down!

maryb

Ikea is quite good for baskets if you've got one near you and I also find that those cheap houseware shops that are taking over empty shops sometimes have them as well. They look quite good painted with white satinwood

jamanda

maryb wrote: »

Ikea is quite good for baskets if you've got one near you and I also find that those cheap houseware shops that are taking over empty shops sometimes have them as well. They look quite good painted with white satinwood

Thanks - will check them out. Dressers are pine, so me being idle the baskets will probably stop basket colour. Although dog's toy basket is white and looks nice when you can see it under the pile of toys.

smileyt_2

WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME THERE WAS A TOUGHER THREAD AGAIN????:p:p:p

Humph.

Double humph.

Have I missed anything exciting? I can't possibly go back through the thousands or posts that are on here!

And most importantly - does GreyQueen still have a stash of tinned tomatoes under her bed? I'm all agog to know!

Catch you all later - I've been on the computer all day so far so I need to give myself a break. Take care xxx

prepareathome

artybear wrote: »

Hi all I tend to lurk and gather all your great tips so I was wondering if I could pick your brains please?

I have lots of mince and some frozen fresh lasagne sheets, so wondering what is your best/frugal lasagne? I looked online but lots of them contain nutmeg/lots of fresh herbs which I would rather not buy.

I have lots of food in and a fully stocked store cupboard.

Thanks

Just throw in what you have an herbs or as I have done a couple of times spices - did a chilli one once, was well received but some how never have got round to making it again - I just put lots of tomatoes in with the mince as well as the chilli powder. Otherwise as said whatever you have in