2016 - A year of 16 Challenges

rdone

1. Declutter 2016 items
Probably, I find this one really difficult to keep track of
245/2016

2. Read 16 Books
About a half of the way through, hoping to finish it before the end of the month (I don't see why not) as then I'll be on an average of one a month
3/16

3. Make 3 homemade meals a week
Dreadful week for this one
0/3

4. 16 no spend days a month

2/16

5. Exercise 4 times a week (I have signed up to a triathlon in July so this is a must!) The triathlon is for my Duke of Edinburgh diamond challenge and a month before the wedding. Have been having back trouble but need to slowly get back into it!
Have now done 7 days in a row. Today was day 5 of the week!
5/4

6. I currently do the VSPC in which I do a daily, weekly and monthly challenge. Daily is on the 1st Jan put £3.66, 2nd £3.65 etc until the 31st Dec is 1p. Have done it opposite to most people as I felt I'd be more enthusiastic in the beginning and also get more interest! Weekly is rounding my bank account to the nearest £10 at the end of every Sunday and monthly is rounding my salary to the nearest £100.
Still haven't done this as HSBC are being weird

7. Clean/tidy for 16 minutes per day
Looks lovely

8. Do at least 3 pages of my Travel scrapbook per month.

2/36

9. Bring a packed lunch at least 13 times this month.
Been soooo bad at this. Although I did yesterday
4/12

10. No buying any unnecessary toiletries and using the stash first


11. When doing craft use up stash in house first, only exception is wedding craft! I have a huge cupboard full of things but always seem to buy new when I want to make something. Allowing the wedding to be an exception as some things I've never had before.


12. Two meal a week to be shopped for in the kitchen cupboards
See above
0/2

13. Do 16 random acts of kindness that cost nothing

6/16

14. 16 days out with family/friends that doesn't include holidays

9/16

15. 16 days out with H2B that doesn't include holiday

8/16

16. Visit elderly relatives twice a month IN THEIR HOME. I often time a visit to my parents house when I know they'll be there.

2/4 (I have two to visit)

rdone

1. Declutter 2016 items
Probably, I find this one really difficult to keep track of
245/2016

2. Read 16 Books
Not long left now!
3/16

3. Make 3 homemade meals a week
New Week
0/3

4. 16 no spend days a month

2/16

5. Exercise 4 times a week (I have signed up to a triathlon in July so this is a must!) The triathlon is for my Duke of Edinburgh diamond challenge and a month before the wedding. Have been having back trouble but need to slowly get back into it!
Did every day last week. Nothing yet today
0/4

6. I currently do the VSPC in which I do a daily, weekly and monthly challenge. Daily is on the 1st Jan put £3.66, 2nd £3.65 etc until the 31st Dec is 1p. Have done it opposite to most people as I felt I'd be more enthusiastic in the beginning and also get more interest! Weekly is rounding my bank account to the nearest £10 at the end of every Sunday and monthly is rounding my salary to the nearest £100.
Still haven't done this as HSBC are being weird

7. Clean/tidy for 16 minutes per day
Looks lovely

8. Do at least 3 pages of my Travel scrapbook per month.

2/36

9. Bring a packed lunch at least 13 times this month.
Nope
4/12

10. No buying any unnecessary toiletries and using the stash first


11. When doing craft use up stash in house first, only exception is wedding craft! I have a huge cupboard full of things but always seem to buy new when I want to make something. Allowing the wedding to be an exception as some things I've never had before.


12. Two meal a week to be shopped for in the kitchen cupboards
New week
0/2

13. Do 16 random acts of kindness that cost nothing

6/16

14. 16 days out with family/friends that doesn't include holidays

9/16

15. 16 days out with H2B that doesn't include holiday

8/16

16. Visit elderly relatives twice a month IN THEIR HOME. I often time a visit to my parents house when I know they'll be there.

2/4 (I have two to visit)

rdone

1. Declutter 2016 items
Probably, I find this one really difficult to keep track of
245/2016

2. Read 16 Books
Book4 finished and have started number 5
4/16

3. Make 3 homemade meals a week
Done pretty well this week
3/3

4. 16 no spend days a month

2/16

5. Exercise 4 times a week (I have signed up to a triathlon in July so this is a must!) The triathlon is for my Duke of Edinburgh diamond challenge and a month before the wedding. Have been having back trouble but need to slowly get back into it!
Every day so far!
4/4

6. I currently do the VSPC in which I do a daily, weekly and monthly challenge. Daily is on the 1st Jan put £3.66, 2nd £3.65 etc until the 31st Dec is 1p. Have done it opposite to most people as I felt I'd be more enthusiastic in the beginning and also get more interest! Weekly is rounding my bank account to the nearest £10 at the end of every Sunday and monthly is rounding my salary to the nearest £100.
Still haven't done this as HSBC are being weird

7. Clean/tidy for 16 minutes per day
Need to do a bit this evening

8. Do at least 3 pages of my Travel scrapbook per month.

2/36

9. Bring a packed lunch at least 13 times this month.
Yep
5/13

10. No buying any unnecessary toiletries and using the stash first


11. When doing craft use up stash in house first, only exception is wedding craft! I have a huge cupboard full of things but always seem to buy new when I want to make something. Allowing the wedding to be an exception as some things I've never had before.


12. Two meal a week to be shopped for in the kitchen cupboards
Tuesday's was and probably tonight as well
1/2

13. Do 16 random acts of kindness that cost nothing

6/16

14. 16 days out with family/friends that doesn't include holidays

9/16

15. 16 days out with H2B that doesn't include holiday

8/16

16. Visit elderly relatives twice a month IN THEIR HOME. I often time a visit to my parents house when I know they'll be there.

4/4 (I have two to visit)

rdone

1. Declutter 2016 items
Probably, I find this one really difficult to keep track of
245/2016

2. Read 16 Books
Over half way through number 5, I am determined to read all HP books before The Cursed Child is out!
4/16

3. Make 3 homemade meals a week
New week
0/3

4. 16 no spend days a month
New month
0/16

5. Exercise 4 times a week (I have signed up to a triathlon in July so this is a must!) The triathlon is for my Duke of Edinburgh diamond challenge and a month before the wedding. Have been having back trouble but need to slowly get back into it!
Yesterday I went for a run and then cycled to the in laws and back which is about 10k each way with a (steep) large hill. Run this morning and had to make my route longer to get over the 20minutes for bounts.
2/4

6. I currently do the VSPC in which I do a daily, weekly and monthly challenge. Daily is on the 1st Jan put £3.66, 2nd £3.65 etc until the 31st Dec is 1p. Have done it opposite to most people as I felt I'd be more enthusiastic in the beginning and also get more interest! Weekly is rounding my bank account to the nearest £10 at the end of every Sunday and monthly is rounding my salary to the nearest £100.
Still haven't done this as HSBC are being weird

7. Clean/tidy for 16 minutes per day
It's looking beautiful

8. Do at least 3 pages of my Travel scrapbook per month.

2/36

9. Bring a packed lunch at least 11 times this month.
Yep
1/11

10. No buying any unnecessary toiletries and using the stash first


11. When doing craft use up stash in house first, only exception is wedding craft! I have a huge cupboard full of things but always seem to buy new when I want to make something. Allowing the wedding to be an exception as some things I've never had before.


12. Two meal a week to be shopped for in the kitchen cupboards
New week, last week was a success
0/2

13. Do 16 random acts of kindness that cost nothing

6/16

14. 16 days out with family/friends that doesn't include holidays

9/16

15. 16 days out with H2B that doesn't include holiday

8/16

16. Visit elderly relatives twice a month IN THEIR HOME. I often time a visit to my parents house when I know they'll be there.
New month
0/4 (I have two to visit)

mothernerd

You are doing very well. I have put 2 things into a charity sack today - I did take a large shoe box size box to the charity shop on Saturday. They had appealed for 'crafty' items a while ago and this is my third bag/box. I am slowly working through my grandmother's work box, my mother's sewing stuff and my own (anything not embroidery/ straight sewing related - all the things I thought about trying or have done with children over the years).

It's bin day tomorrow so have done a paper cull (small amount in the sack but mostly receipts and notes from the past 2 months) and put out various rubbish items (+ more for when it's emptied as DS3's birthday celebrations last week resulted in pizza box overload).

All the clean bedding (some done when I changed the beds before his friends arrived plus some that didn't get used - one friend slept on the couch and I had left bedding for them taking the second mattress off the single bed) has been folded and put on the shelves which used to have all my embroidery stuff on. All my clean clothes have been put away. Some items tucked away in baskets and also onto the shelves.

Quite pleased with what I have done, all in small batches with resting in between. Seriously lacking in energy, sleeping for 12 hours and still falling asleep at odd moments. Had lots of blood tests a week ago and have to starve tonight and go for a 2 hour fasting glucose test in the morning. If no physical cause can be found then it is likely to be depression - I have been trying lots of little mood improving tricks and doing a time audit to check my sleeping pattern. It also helps to be positive and concentrate on what I have achieved rather than what is still to be done or what I think I should have done.

Next Tuesday I have a bulky waste collection so 5 large items are leaving the house. Still waiting for the builders to give me a quote for the work that needs doing - one of DS3's friends made unfavourable comments on the house, which annoyed/ slightly upset me. I had spent all day Saturday doing what I could, DS3 always says they are not bothered by what the house looks like.

Will just keep plodding and finishing off my embroidery pieces.

rdone

That's very rude of that child to comment, even if he thought it he shouldn't say it. Very bad manners. Everyone always has home improvements that can be done, what a horrible child.

1. Declutter 2016 items
Probably, I find this one really difficult to keep track of
245/2016

2. Read 16 Books
Stayed up late last night as I was so excited, will start number 6 today!
5/16

3. Make 3 homemade meals a week
Last night was yum
1/3

4. 16 no spend days a month
Don't think I spent anything yesterday...
1/16

5. Exercise 4 times a week (I have signed up to a triathlon in July so this is a must!) The triathlon is for my Duke of Edinburgh diamond challenge and a month before the wedding. Have been having back trouble but need to slowly get back into it!
Gym this morning
3/4

6. I currently do the VSPC in which I do a daily, weekly and monthly challenge. Daily is on the 1st Jan put £3.66, 2nd £3.65 etc until the 31st Dec is 1p. Have done it opposite to most people as I felt I'd be more enthusiastic in the beginning and also get more interest! Weekly is rounding my bank account to the nearest £10 at the end of every Sunday and monthly is rounding my salary to the nearest £100.
Still haven't done this as HSBC are being weird

7. Clean/tidy for 16 minutes per day
It's looking beautiful

8. Do at least 3 pages of my Travel scrapbook per month.

2/36

9. Bring a packed lunch at least 11 times this month.
Mr T. is coming tonight so the house is very bare
1/11

10. No buying any unnecessary toiletries and using the stash first


11. When doing craft use up stash in house first, only exception is wedding craft! I have a huge cupboard full of things but always seem to buy new when I want to make something. Allowing the wedding to be an exception as some things I've never had before.


12. Two meal a week to be shopped for in the kitchen cupboards
Everything but my main part as there is NOTHING in the freezer. The freezer has 3 drawers and two are empty
0/2

13. Do 16 random acts of kindness that cost nothing

6/16

14. 16 days out with family/friends that doesn't include holidays

9/16

15. 16 days out with H2B that doesn't include holiday

8/16

16. Visit elderly relatives twice a month IN THEIR HOME. I often time a visit to my parents house when I know they'll be there.
New month
0/4 (I have two to visit)

mothernerd

The 'child' was 25. I did comfort myself with the fact that I had paid for said house by the time I was his age - it was a total wreck and I have more or less rebuilt it twice since ie rewiring, new bathroom (first one was a friend's old bath and sink and toilet from someone my mum knew at a total cost of £25), windows and doors, kitchen, roof done about 10 years ago.

It looks a mess because I was physically unable to do essential maintenance and hadn't the cash to pay someone else. Lad in question lives in a rented flat with his father (don't know the full story but he has claimed it was his behaviour that made his mum leave). He has a part-time job now and goes to college but after his gf chucked him out, my son would frequently order pizza to be delivered to him as he had no money and his father hadn't bought any food.

Sorry rant over.

One of his points was that the house was painted (no wallpaper). Now about eight years ago I paid a lot of money to have nearly all the walls replastered (master craftsman) so for the first time ever (well since 1981 when I bought it) I have straight walls therefore don't need textured wallpaper to disguise crooked walls.

I will have it how I want it.

I have always made all DS3's friends welcome - a few years ago he and a friend who lived with us for about 18 months would bring back waifs and strays when they went to the city on Saturdays. We also had several people who stayed regularly at weekends.

The boys are intelligent, all self-employed to some extent and their technical knowledge far exceeds mine but just felt a bit put out by the remarks. Ah well. When the boys were younger I would console myself with the thought that the other people in our row might have tidier houses but their kids were always in mine.

Will continue to be polite and welcoming (even if I have to grit my teeth). rant definitely over now.

rdone

Big hugs mothernerd!! Sometimes people need to think before they speak and realise what someone has done for them their whole life. I have painted walls in my house as well and much prefer it. I'm 25 and would never dream of saying anything like that. One of my best friends lived with her mum growing up and she would constantly berate the house (it was definitely disgusting) but I would never agree with her, rather let her rant and then point out the good bits! Mind you, her mother wasn't very nice at all so that's completely different.


1. Declutter 2016 items
Probably, I find this one really difficult to keep track of
245/2016

2. Read 16 Books
No reading last night as I was so tired from the night before. Will start goblet of fire tonight though
5/16

3. Make 3 homemade meals a week
Take away last night as we were so busy. It was disgusting and I wish I hadn't eaten it!
1/3

4. 16 no spend days a month
Don't think I spent anything yesterday...
1/16

5. Exercise 4 times a week (I have signed up to a triathlon in July so this is a must!) The triathlon is for my Duke of Edinburgh diamond challenge and a month before the wedding. Have been having back trouble but need to slowly get back into it!
Run this morning and cycle this evening
4/4

6. I currently do the VSPC in which I do a daily, weekly and monthly challenge. Daily is on the 1st Jan put £3.66, 2nd £3.65 etc until the 31st Dec is 1p. Have done it opposite to most people as I felt I'd be more enthusiastic in the beginning and also get more interest! Weekly is rounding my bank account to the nearest £10 at the end of every Sunday and monthly is rounding my salary to the nearest £100.
Still haven't done this as HSBC are being weird

7. Clean/tidy for 16 minutes per day
It's looking beautiful

8. Do at least 3 pages of my Travel scrapbook per month.

2/36

9. Bring a packed lunch at least 11 times this month.
Yuuuuumm lunch
1/11

10. No buying any unnecessary toiletries and using the stash first


11. When doing craft use up stash in house first, only exception is wedding craft! I have a huge cupboard full of things but always seem to buy new when I want to make something. Allowing the wedding to be an exception as some things I've never had before.


12. Two meal a week to be shopped for in the kitchen cupboards
see above :wall:
0/2

13. Do 16 random acts of kindness that cost nothing

6/16

14. 16 days out with family/friends that doesn't include holidays

9/16

15. 16 days out with H2B that doesn't include holiday

8/16

16. Visit elderly relatives twice a month IN THEIR HOME. I often time a visit to my parents house when I know they'll be there.
Went hat shopping with my mum and Nana last night for my wedding!
1/4 (I have two to visit)

rdone

1. Declutter 2016 items
Probably, I find this one really difficult to keep track of
245/2016

2. Read 16 Books
Started book 6
5/16

3. Make 3 homemade meals a week
Completed this last week, new week
0/3

4. 16 no spend days a month
Don't think I spent anything yesterday...
2/16

5. Exercise 4 times a week (I have signed up to a triathlon in July so this is a must!) The triathlon is for my Duke of Edinburgh diamond challenge and a month before the wedding. Have been having back trouble but need to slowly get back into it!
Every day last week
0/4

6. I currently do the VSPC in which I do a daily, weekly and monthly challenge. Daily is on the 1st Jan put £3.66, 2nd £3.65 etc until the 31st Dec is 1p. Have done it opposite to most people as I felt I'd be more enthusiastic in the beginning and also get more interest! Weekly is rounding my bank account to the nearest £10 at the end of every Sunday and monthly is rounding my salary to the nearest £100.
Still haven't done this as HSBC are being weird

7. Clean/tidy for 16 minutes per day
It's looking beautiful

8. Do at least 3 pages of my Travel scrapbook per month.

2/36

9. Bring a packed lunch at least 11 times this month.
Nope
3/11

10. No buying any unnecessary toiletries and using the stash first


11. When doing craft use up stash in house first, only exception is wedding craft! I have a huge cupboard full of things but always seem to buy new when I want to make something. Allowing the wedding to be an exception as some things I've never had before.


12. Two meal a week to be shopped for in the kitchen cupboards
New week
0/2

13. Do 16 random acts of kindness that cost nothing

6/16

14. 16 days out with family/friends that doesn't include holidays

9/16

15. 16 days out with H2B that doesn't include holiday

10/16

16. Visit elderly relatives twice a month IN THEIR HOME. I often time a visit to my parents house when I know they'll be there.

2/4 (I have two to visit)

rdone

1. Declutter 2016 items
Probably, I find this one really difficult to keep track of
245/2016

2. Read 16 Books
Started book 6
5/16

3. Make 3 homemade meals a week
Caved and had take away last night, it was late and we were tired
1/3

4. 16 no spend days a month

2/16

5. Exercise 4 times a week (I have signed up to a triathlon in July so this is a must!) The triathlon is for my Duke of Edinburgh diamond challenge and a month before the wedding. Have been having back trouble but need to slowly get back into it!
Ran my first ever 5k yesterday morning without stopping and was 6 minutes quicker than I was hoping. Need to build it up now. Gym this morning for weights
2/4

6. I currently do the VSPC in which I do a daily, weekly and monthly challenge. Daily is on the 1st Jan put £3.66, 2nd £3.65 etc until the 31st Dec is 1p. Have done it opposite to most people as I felt I'd be more enthusiastic in the beginning and also get more interest! Weekly is rounding my bank account to the nearest £10 at the end of every Sunday and monthly is rounding my salary to the nearest £100.
Still haven't done this as HSBC are being weird

7. Clean/tidy for 16 minutes per day
It's looking beautiful

8. Do at least 3 pages of my Travel scrapbook per month.

2/36

9. Bring a packed lunch at least 11 times this month.
I was really good at this and now I've fallen off the wagon, really need to get back on it.
3/11

10. No buying any unnecessary toiletries and using the stash first


11. When doing craft use up stash in house first, only exception is wedding craft! I have a huge cupboard full of things but always seem to buy new when I want to make something. Allowing the wedding to be an exception as some things I've never had before.


12. Two meal a week to be shopped for in the kitchen cupboards
Monday's was
1/2

13. Do 16 random acts of kindness that cost nothing

6/16

14. 16 days out with family/friends that doesn't include holidays

9/16

15. 16 days out with H2B that doesn't include holiday

10/16

16. Visit elderly relatives twice a month IN THEIR HOME. I often time a visit to my parents house when I know they'll be there.

2/4 (I have two to visit)