NST February Challenge : A Winter Voyage

SpekySquarehead

Good morning all,

Another NSD yesterday.

Today was always a planned spend day though as I have football tonight (£3.50). My oil light came on in my car so I'll need to buy some at lunch (£20ish) and also need some water for my window washers (£2). Now that I think of it, I might need a top up in some vegetables too while I'm there but that should tide me over until Sunday.

Florence_J

Hello all,

Sorry for not checking in sooner, life is very busy in the week and as it was the Super bowl on Sunday that has taken up a lot of my time.

I have achieved 4 NSDs and I am hoping that today will be #5 as I am off work ill AGAIN! I don't know why but this year, whilst great in so many ways, has been making me ill. I feel like I've been run over despite having more sleep than usual.

Life is in all other ways going well.

This month I have been grateful for:

1. My family and friends
2. Having plenty of food in the cupboards meaning I can rack up the NSDs easily
3. Finding the time to write everyday

Dia_Pita

Morning all,

NSD 3 yesterday.

Thank you f0xh0les for replying to apple muncher for me, sorry I don't know how to add quotes. We like to use flasks for the yoghurt as no energy is being used and the results are more consistant.

Weigh in today and I have lost an amazing 5.25lb in a week (mind you the first 3 days weren't the best).
So, as we have a holiday booked for last week of May & first week of June in Crete I have set my self the target of losing a total of 2st ( including 5.25lb I have already lost).
Most of the lunches we have are salads with eggs, fish or feta or if we want something hot, homemade vegetable soup.

The bread we make in made using 750g wholemeal flour, 1 sachet if dried instant yeast, 450ml of hand hot tomato juice (heat in microwave) 2tbsp of olive oil and 1 level tsp salt.
Mix dry ingredients together by hand or in a mixer, using dough hooks.
Then add the tomato juice a third at a time mixing still using the dough hooks or by hand in between each third.
Once it has formed a firm but not stiff dough (best slightly tacky) make into a round and place in a plastic floured bowl and cover loosely with cling film.
Put in a warm place for at least 2 hours or until it has a least doubled in size (we plae ours on a rack over the central heating radiators, when the heating is on).
Option one - pre-heat oven to gas mark 6 and roll out the dough nto 2 pizza bases, !!!!! with a fork all over and place on a tray covered with greaseproof paper, into middle of the oven for 10 -15 minutes.
Then take out of the oven add pizza topping and return to oven for 10-12 minutes, or until topping is cooked.
Option 2 - Divide dough in to 8 and form into baps (teacakes) and place on a tray covered in greaseproof paper. cover with a tea towel and leave to raise again for another 1 to 2 hours until at least doubled in size in a warm place.
Pre-heat oven to gas mark 7, place in middle of oven for 15 minutes.
Cool on a rack.

DS called to see us last night and confirmed he is getting married in August, so happy for them both as they are well suited and make a lovely couple. DGD was weighed and now weighs in at 14.5lb.

Grateful for
*our car that gets us around when it is raining
*the mobile phone that means our children can keep in touch
*central heating that keeps us warm on cold days.

Now going on the hunt for a small butter churn, so I can have a go at making butter at home.

thriftylass

Hello,

decided against a pick up order from Tesco for Friday. Once I put everything in the basket I realised how much money I could save by going to LIDL/ALDI and that overrode practicality. So I copied all the things and devided them into a Friday night dinner/top up shop and a big shop for Sat morning, when I have to be strict and go by myself or only the kids (DH is the one that puts things we do't need in the trolley).

SFD today and off to the gym again at lunch time.

XSpender

Hello Shipmates

I have been out in the dinghy on a 2 day expedition (away with work) and will be taking it out again for another overnight expedition this afternoon, back tomorrow.

I have managed to only spend a £1 this week on a snack when travelling but have eaten too much naughty but nice food when away and must get back on plan.

I got weighed and measured at the gym last night and was so disappointed that nothing had changed since I started my new healthy eating and exercise plan last week . I don't need to really lose weight tbh but would like to lose my wobbly tum but this isn't one of the measurements and I don't see my rib cage getting any smaller where I am measured :rotfl:. I think I will ask my PT to change where I am measured or add in another tummy measurement.

Only done 1 PT session this week and have 1 on Friday plus a class booked for Sunday. Will do either a swim or HIIT at the hotel tonight. Would like to squeeze another session in somewhere but DH is at work all day Saturday and then out with work sat night, DS and I are at cinema Saturday afternoon and Rugby match Sunday but I could do something in the house.

I have claimed £37.63 from TCB today but undecided if to add it to savings or pay off CC as both about £200 from where I would ideally like to be, if a little unrealistic, by EOM. I also have the package to send off 2 mobile phones which I will try to get done at the weekend which is another £69.

As we are away for the weekend at the end of the month I am going to do my best to miss out a weekly shop on 24th of Feb. I still need to go through the freezer as there is a lot of beef in there (I don't eat this) that DH and DS need to get through including about 10 steaks!

Things to do this week:

1) Send off mobile phones (£69)
2) List 2 x freezer contents
3) Clean the house!
4) Meal plan, shop and batch cooking for next week
5) Exercise x 2 in addition to sessions booked
6) Spend some quality time with DS playing games and snuggling, make Saturday dinner together and pictures already booked for Saturday afternoon
7) Have another 3 NSDs (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday)

Right, I must get on with the presentation I need to write before I have a 5 hour drive this afternoon for a 4 hour meeting tomorrow, followed by a return 5 hour journey. I hope the snow keeps away:eek:

f0xh0les

A week into our little adventure already!
Still have treasure in the chest.
Just did a rejig of the pantry and still have enough in there for at least another 18 meals, not counting my pastry mountain in the bottom drawer of the freezer (and it is FULL) but will get used up next week as pasties (arrr!) always go down well for lunches with the powder monkeys. Might need more milk though, I only have 5 litres left (isn't it funny how that is not a large amount for me?) will try and make it last. Need to buy 2 x alarm clocks for DS3 & 4 at the weekend- they are now too old for Mum to come and wake them up in the morning, they want to do it themselves and alarm clocks are obviously big boy things (to them anyway). Won't have to touch the card as have treasure in my moneybags so no movement on the bank account front. I am enjoying my balance staying the same for days on end. Still keep checking it though!

It will be NSD5 for me today

greent

f0xh0les wrote: »

Might need more milk though, I only have 5 litres left (isn't it funny how that is not a large amount for me?) will try and make it last.

Milk is my shopping downfall - I can't actually physically fit enough milk in my fridge at one go to only go shopping once a week - we usually get through 30 -32 pints of semi skimmed and 5-6 pints of skimmed a week :eek::eek: School hols are even worse :eek:


No spending so far today, and I can't see that changing. Worked this morning and this afternoon will be spent on paperwork before going to get the small ones. DS3 has Beavers tonight and that's it then - relatively early evening, thankfully - as we are all tired (am sooooo looking forward to half term next week!)

Have just made pesto from a mahooosive basil plant on my kitchen windowsill, using cashews - very easy and very yummy - why have I never done it before???? Also planning on knocking up a quick apple and pear crumble for pud tonight - lots of hg fruit still in the freezer and it's still cold enough for rib-sticking puddings

Today I am thankful for:
* work this morning passing much quicker than anticipated
* bids on fleabay items :T
* discount vouchers for planned spends
* a nil balance credit card statement received in the post :j


ETA:
My most joyful thing today for which I am thankful:
* an unexpected phone call from DD (at uni) for an hour, for no reason
x

thriftylass

Re milk,

I love my conservatory in the winter. It's freezing and we use it as our walk in fridge . As soon as it get's warm we struggle too.

XSpender

thriftylass wrote: »

Re milk,

I love my conservatory in the winter. It's freezing and we use it as our walk in fridge . As soon as it get's warm we struggle too.

That's where I keep the overflow from my veg box that wont fit in the fridge! And the booze at Christmas

short_bird

yesterday, I was grateful for:

Something settling down with other people which should make my life easier.
Central heating and hot water bottles.
broadband... but not the price :rotfl: