Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

HOWMUCH

Hello MMMer's the cherry tomatoe relish is done and cooling the oven dried cherry tomatoes will now be done tomorrow as we've had a change of plan in meals so oven will be on tomorrow instead of today. I've had a photo sent of the baby in one of the cardi's and she looked lovely in it.
Hugs to all others that need one. x

vhalla1478

Hello Strangers,

I've found you all again, thanks to Lynnplatinum. Sorry I've been absent and I will catch up = just to let you know that myself and my daughter-in-law have started our antiques and interiors business and that if you are even vaguely interested you can find us on Facebook under Grange Antiques and Interiors. Not everything is priced yet - massive job, but if there is anything you are interested in, please message us and mention you are from this forum and I promise you will get a very good deal.

Speak soon

Viv x,

[Deleted User]

Welcome back stranger, hope all goes well with your new business. I expect you have been up to your eyes in things I thought perhaps you had absconded to a tropical island again:) Good Luck with your new venture

JackieO xx

meritaten

How exciting for you Vhalla! The best of luck with your new venture!

not sure if this counts as make do or what - but, I was getting fed up of storing my crafting stash all over the place! Tucked away wherever I could find room. I hankered after one of those beautiful wood storage cabinets that doubles as a craft table etc, and probably keeps supplying the coffee! instead I have purchased four plastic storage towers with four large drawers each. they were £12 each in £stretcher - compared to the £2000+ of the 'Posh' one! Been busy sorting my stuff into the drawers (and finding half of it!), and came across gorgeous items I don't even remember purchasing! I have had loads of inspiration I have jotted down in my little 'IDEAS' notebook.

I also found the grocery section on Amazin! now it costs me to go to Tresco and they only stock 500g Gram flour which is more than twice the price of wheat flour. I ordered both 1Kg Gram and Rice flour from Amazin and it only cost about £8! its expensive being wheat intolerant!
I catered a 13th birthday party for DG1 yesterday and the only two things DD and I could eat were the cold meats and my onion bhajis. so I need to research recipes now.

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

Wow busy folks on here!! Had a fab wkend away with my friends but we found the food and beer in Germany not particularly inspiring. The sausages were amazing though! but one cannot eat sausages for 4 days!! - everywhere was v clean - in every single loo you could have eaten your dinner off the floor! Puts the UK to shame I am sad to report. Had a really good boat trip for an hour on the Rhine in Dusseldorf and the sun shone on us!
We stopped in Belgium on the way back and I had lovely lunch - sitting in the Cathedral square in Ghent eating croque monseiur and drink such tasty Belgian beer in the sunshine - total bliss!!
Making do - I took some hummus and carrot sticks and oat cakes and HM flap jack for food on the journey out. The flapjack was still good for the journey back too!!!
Mend - my sanity - the stress levels of moving were really getting to me and now I am back have loads more energy!! :j
Minimise - my spend while out there - I came back with 21 euros to spare!! I did not buy souvenirs as the photos I took will act as those! Folks here know I am on a tight budget and they dont want me to bring daft ornaments back and most are on diets so choccy is NOT required!!!:cool:
Well - thats my holiday for the year - and great fun it was too. Back to frugality now to save for next year!
Off for 3 days to my son in Hastings to take some of his stuff down to minimise what I move with me!
Nite all

silvasava

Lovely to 'see' you again Vhalla & wishing you and DiL every success in your new venture.
I have Ghent envy LynP - went there on business quite a while ago but had a few hours to spare. What a lovely city - I had ribs in a pub on the square - delish !! I'd love to go back again and explore further.
I'm up early cos I've been coughing since 5.30 so came downstairs as not to disturb DH -cat has come down with me to keep me company, I'm wide awake & she's snoring!!
Weather report is good for today so hoping I can get my potatoes planted and some clearing up done in the garden and take advantage of the fresh air.
Have a good day all x

[Deleted User]

I agree Ghent is a very pretty place and the Square is gorgeous .well done on not buying into the 'tat' gifts market Lyn, I think we all have either been guilty of it or been on the receiving end of it :):)Nice though, but just totally useless.
Making do with freebie drinks vouchers with my DGS today as I still have a few Dobbies voucher to use up before the 8th April when they expire, Luxury hot chocolates with whipped cream and marshmallows for the boys this afternoon and a skinny latte for me
Minimising my fresh food in the fridge as much as I can as I am off on my spring hols next week.
Not much I can think of to mend today as I am at DDs with the boys.
Off up to London tomorrow with eldest DD for a wander down Oxford Street and 'posh afternoon tea at the waldorf (my booked birthday present from February) I have birthday cash to spend and some M&S vouchers as well :):)

JackieO xx

mrs-moneypenny

Morning all
Welcome to the returners and the newbies, if you are lurking please post and say hello and let us know what you are up to. No one bites.

Finished a quick read paperback yesterday so that's been minimised into the CS bag.
Not a lot else to report today so far.

savingpennies

I've not been able to do much recently. I damaged my knee on New Year's Eve dancing and it's not been right since. Doctor thinks I have damaged a ligament and has referred me on to see a consultant but first I have to be assessed by a physio. All of this takes weeks and the knee gets worse, and I can't get about much. I met up with an old colleague last week and we did a short walk around a nature reserve. It was lovely; the weather was fab, it was great to see her but boy did I suffer that night and the following morning. It is so frustrating when I can see things that need doing:mad:
Right got that off my chest and I will try not to moan about it again. I'll save that treat for the OH.
I have managed to pot on some seedlings in the garden and created grids to go over my metre(ish) wide veggie patches. I've got such a small patch that I am trying the square foot gardening method. I also sowed a few calendula, poached egg plants, sunflower seeds to add a bit of colour and attract pollinators. I'm hoping to plant up my spuds this afternoon when OH gets everything out for me. Gardening from a sitting position does feel very odd but means I can get things done.
Make do: converted some spag bol into chilli for tonight's tea and will use up some HM coleslaw on jacket spuds for lunch.
Have a good day everyone.

mrs-moneypenny

Ouch saving pennies I hope your knee get sorted soon and that you are soon pain free.

Just remembered Dh needs to mend his mums tv glasses so she can have them back. She's a bit heavy hand with them and keeps knocking a lens out so he's has to screw it back into place.
Also I need to put curtain rod back up over front door once I've clean it, it's one of those extending shower rods but ds2 accidentally pulled it down yesterday.

Plan to make a shepherd's pie for tea tonight, I'll use the mash and cauliflower che see left over from last night as the topping once I've mashed it together.