NST February Challenge : A Winter Voyage

crazy_cat_lady

Not fair. I still have another week to go until I get half term. But I suppose I'll be looking forward to that this time next week and it'll be on my gratitudes list then. It's been a really long few half terms - all 7 weeks since the summer. Which I know doesn't sound much to non school folk but is draining for definite.
Another busy day, and as I only have to collect dd from her gymnastics class I think I can safely declare a nsd.
Other than that life continues as always - work, sleep, work, sleep, but of housework.
Today I'm grateful for:
my motivation for meal planning
having a L1dl close to home for cheap groceries (planning to shop tomorrow)
Not bringing any marking home

x_raphael_xx

mrshubbard wrote: »

I lured him away with a promise of a homemade hot choc with cream & marshmallows - a close escape there!

uugh...now I have to go and make me a BF a hot choc

Toni'sfriend wrote: »

Any recipes or suggestions for using up cooked chicken will be gratefully received

Chicken Tikka Masala

Calling14

Yesterday I bought 3 lots of meat from a farm food shop and wow the chicken beast was gorgeous. Nothing like supermarket pale looking stuff and tasted gorgeous even in a Chicken tikka masala sauce could still taste yummy chicken.
Can't wait for breakfast with the bacon.

Been naughty tonight bought tickets for a gig and a bed/ breakfast not until May so excited to go somewhere, meeting friend up there and haven't seen her in ages. Not too expensive nice to having something to look forward to.

Dislike snow don't come here please.

The_Only_Girl

Late check in for me as I'm still nursing a sore knee after the legs, bums and tums class on Tuesday. just goes to show how unfit I am. One exercise class and I'm practically disabled.

Second work week in February under our belts and I'm proud to stay I've managed to stay away from the pirates in the staff canteen and costalota coffees. Lunches to work for two weeks have saved me tons of money. There have been many a times when I couldn't be bothered to pack my own lunch but the tinned soups in the cupboard have been a lifebuoy!

I did a top up shop today, a trolley full of goodies, 46 items in total, but all of them were ys, mostly 9ps, 49ps and the most expensive one is the big bouquet of luxury lilies that I got for 99p and a pack of six roast chicken drumstick for 99p. Examples of my precious treasures were lychees, samphire, chives, bananas, salads, chicken and rosemary ravioli (original price was £2.48), carrots and peas, brioche rolls -- all for 9p. Frijoles milkshake for 15p, cinnamon whirls and pecan plaits, triple chocolate cookies, for 45p. The total cost of the shopping (46 items) was £17.80. According to the rules they don't count as spend so reluctantly, I am declaring NSD no. 6.

I also picked up a discarded receipt with 235 unclaimed Morris points plus my shopping worth 85 points = 320 points! Wombles!

Today I am thankful for:

1. Fri-yay! Looking forward to a restful weekend.
2. Productive day at work. I managed to do something above and beyond my duty,
3. Special Friday meal with my family. Hubby and DS2 were both aspiring for a take away meal tonight but their hopes were dashed when they saw my loot. we had the roast chicken, chicken and rosemary ravioli and salad for dinner which was way better than any takeaway and for a fraction of the price of a take away. The whole shopping cost less than fish and chips for 3, but will serve us more than a few days worth of meals.
4. Heard from DS1 who is away at uni in Dundee. He says he's been looking after his pennies and has now saved enough money to pay for 10 hours of driving lessons. Can't wait to talk/FaceTime him on Sunday to discuss his options.

mothernerd

NSD number 7 for me. Very quiet day. Where is captain abundant with our special challenge?

tog I saw a poster in the library for chair based exercises and I am seriously considering it. Says dementia friendly but everyone welcome.

Today I am grateful for good reading material (stocked up in case it snows + did a rubbish round up and got it all in the bins outside), for helpful receptionists and for my freezer (very basic but does the job).

abundant1972

Evening all!

Today I am grateful for:

• A fantastic end to my week, and managing to clear the decks before my leave
• My supportive Boss and fellow co-worker
• A week off starting NOW! <well - 5pm but hey!>

Today = NSD number 7

So, it's the end of the week... and over a 1/3 of the way through Feb. How did this week go trying to cut back on spends and use up stock? Certainly the NSDs seem to have been rolling in thick and fast... So well done. I've done a mid(ish) month review before I go away.

Mothernerd - It'll be over to you tomorrow, weather permitting, to keep the rabble in line!

We are fast approaching the Isle of Aphrodite, and the moon is almost full. A way through the fog has appeared as legend foretold... and we will make the island my morning.

My plans for the next few days are as follows:

It occurred to me that February the 14th - Valentine's Day - has become something of a commercial affair - that encourages us to 'do something' - buy cards and flowers go out for expensive meals - and spend spend spend! I recall as a teenager, an overwhelming need to 'be with someone' by this day or feel a failure... a loner. Needless to say I always was on my own... and it was always a day I dreaded...

A few years ago, I promised myself that I wouldn't put myself through this every year... and I decided to use this day as an occasion to celebrate myself... After all... if I can't love myself... how can I ever expect anyone else to love me...

So - between now and next Tuesday - I would like you to try and set aside some time... a few hours... a whole day... to YOU. By all means, celebrate your marriage, your relationship, your partner... but try and do something that is just for YOU. For many - this may feel self-indulgent... but self-love/kindness is very different from that. This is about nurturing your soul... and recharging your batteries... so that you can go on, refreshed and with a better sense of your own needs - which are every bit as important as the needs of those around you.

1. So find some time...
2. If you set aside £10 - you can use it to treat yourself - guilt free. You don't have to spend anything though.
3. Find some activity that sings to your soul - it could be a hobby, or something you cast aside years ago because you didn't have the time.
4. Rest, relax and give yourself permission to just 'be' in the here and now.
5. Try and put aside your cares for that time. Maybe keep a note book at hand - so if your head does kick in and go into work mode - you can jot it down, and lay it to one side to sort after your break.
6. Try for a hot bath, oils, light a candle, play some music... indulge your senses and pamper yourself...

The Island is a haven. Celebrate the abundance in your life... look at what you have - all the great things and make a list. Look at the people in your life and the relationships that feed and nourish you... congratulate yourselves on all your accomplishments - not just on this forum, but in life as a whole.

You are all amazing - each and every one of you... You deserve this rest.

Captain's orders!!!

abundant1972

Well me hearties… This be counting as my mid-month look at what ye’ve all been up to… I feel everyone is making good progress… though a couple of ye haven’t posted any goals for the year. That be ok – but it’d be good to have something to carry forward each month and work towards… only if ye want to! We had a couple of late arrivals but they seem to be settling in well. Ye be a fine crew!!!

NannyGladys - How organised are you??? You started crafting for Christmas already! You should write to Santa and apply for a job! I reckon he’d snap you up! Have you eaten the left over chocolates yet? You’ll never get into that fur-lined bikini if you don’t share them out haha! <I don’t like creams ok!> Night duty it is for you – as requested. Any sightings of any icebergs? If you spy any mermen – they have an invite (along with Tom and James – see below) to the island party!!!

FurryBeastOZ – Unprepared/fat budget = overspends from You need a budged app? Great idea! I love it. I may adopt that one and see what it adds up to. Do you have a separate budget for other spends (cinema, clothes etc?). Now… What happened to the ‘spiraliser’? Was it rubbish after all? What a great exchange though! You’re quids in!!! I’m guessing on Wednesday you had a bad day…? YS fat attack haha!!! Was that some comfort eating? I was doing some youtubing this week on healthy eating and they advocate a cheat meal as opposed to a cheat day once a week. I think we can cut ye a little slack and say that was your cheat meal haha!!!

Bobarella – It sounds like your business is doing well this month - great news on your booking. Is it a B&B you run? I always loved the idea of running a retreat-type B&B, though I know from talking to friends who have done it – it’s not without its challenges and is hard work!!!

ThriftyCutlass - I love how giving up smoking is already causing a shift in your life. Your sense of taste, and appetite have improved already… and whilst initially eating more, it’s now kicked you into booting up fitness pal again which in turn will improve your health. You are restructuring your meal times and will spend more time with the kids… all just from giving up smoking. Brilliant! Now… when you have finished wallpapering… there are just another 35 cabins to do ok??? Let me know how the Alde/Lidl shop goes? I use Mr T but everyone says how amazing the other two are.

XSpender- How is the eating plan going? What brand of protein bars did you buy? I have tried a few and some taste a bit gritty sometimes… but you’re right… a good choice for a high protein snack. I wonder if there is a way to make them homemade and a lot cheaper? Just as an aside… My PT said to me when I started, that if you are going to a gym and doing lifting, weight isn’t always a reliable indicator of weight loss. Muscle weighs in more, and often as we tone/bulk up our weight can increase. Focus on consistency – keep attending… keep as best you can to the healthy eating… you will tone up – but it takes time. Keep at it. Changes will be happening. I love your weekly to do list… I think this is something we could all do. Set weekly lists in writing on here – makes it more ‘real’ so to speak.

SpekySquarehead – I’m impressed that you plan 7 days’ worth of meals in advance. Do you have a few regular meals you rotate? I want to get on-board with this asap, so any tips would be good. How often do you need to do a shop?

Toni’s Friend– Don’t feel bad for not having an Emergency Fund – especially as you say, the council cover most things… but… if you can spare a few £s a month it soon builds up. There’s a 3-6 month EF challenge I am a part of… you could sign up there if you need motivation! It’s good your brother is being positive… I think when you are at the centre of something like an illness – you have to adapt and come to terms with it. It can be much harder for the people around trying to get their heads around it all. I’d say follow his lead and be positive as best you can. On the finance front, I just noticed your ‘wombling’ total for 2017!!! Is that money saved/earned from receipts you found out and about? You are doing great with your walks too – practically one every day! I reckon they are paying off given the great weight loss too!!!

Seasidegal58 – I laughed reading your post about Tom Hardy. He is waiting for us on the Isle of Aphrodite this weekend in just a pair of trunks. Form an orderly queue now please!!! <stampede ensues!!!> How are you getting on this month? If you need any help just ask away ok!

1LuckyLady – My charity bag hung up in the galley is slowly getting filled… thanks again for that idea. Well done on the gym and your weight loss. Keep up that momentum… we are just over a 1/3 of the way through Feb and you’re totally on target! How are you finding using a lucky charm? I find if I have it on me, it has helped stave off buys!

Calling14 – I noticed you and Bobarella buy Lidll face cream. Is it any good? Will it restore my youth and make me look like Brad Pitt??? How did you get on with your cooker – is it all fixed now? Your puppet theatre sounds awesome!!! I will get James Martin on-board for the weekend alongside Tom Hardy. In trunks. Serving onion soup. How’s that? Was that veggie barley risotto easy to make? You have a recipe? I love barley so much!!!

Smallholdingsister – Cars are tricky things… costly creatures but invaluable in what they do for us. Mine is getting on and although I am saving an EF now, and have some aside towards a deposit… I have nothing really aside for a new car (though I try and budget in for tax, insurance and an amount each year (£250) towards repairs. How do other folk manage planning for their cars? How is the month going otherwise? You doing ok?

ShySpender – You are really awesome in your charity donations. Donating on freecycle to someone who’d lost stuff in a house fire was a lovely thing to do, and then on top of that you’ve done a food bank donation, and a band/pin. Well done. You said earlier you had Singapore noodle recipe? I love them!!!! You got a recipe? And yes… yes… NSK was a hard task master! She makes me look like Mary Poppins!!! Haircut duly taken as a spend day!

Crazy_cat_lady– How did you get on with the kidney bean recipe from F0xh0les? Are you now eating, sleeping and breathing kidney bean pate? Ok… now… I love that you have days where you don’t get changed too!!! I do that – and they are often my most productive. I give myself permission to have a duvet day and I revel in being at home – cooking, cleaning, relaxing – whatever I need to do to recharge myself and get on top of life. Good on you! Great to hear your youngest is back on form after the vomit episode. I guess if you have days where you are confined to the cabin – treat them as an enforced duvet day – and as you say – looking positively – it limits spending and you can catch up on stuff. Now – you mention you are leaking cash on your food spends… How about keeping all your receipts, and at the end of the week/month – going through them and seeing where those leaks have occurred? I am doing it this month and it’s quite revealing! I don’t class having to take your pet in as a Siren ‘lure’ – so if that was your only spend – count it as a health need (an NSD), as you would for yourself. Pets are like part of the family, right?

Greent – I like your point about food shelters – that folk will likely need other stuff too – I’m going to see if I have a local one/website too. How was Trainspotting 2? Your cabin boys sound like they bring a creative sparkle into your life… museum trips and populating rainforests! I reckon kids keep you young!!! <that and Lidl’s face cream haha!> The pesto was a success then? How did you make it? I love sliced tomatoes, crushed garlic, torn up basil and olive oil – chill for an hour or two… heaven!!! Now I got all hungry!!!

LauraLozlle – So, you cleaned your entire cabin! Well done! Now – would you like to make a start on the rest hahaharrr! Congratulations on the YS haul too. I usually only find cream cakes or pizza – both of which I’m trying to avoid lol. You are doing great with the smoking too. I know there was a lot of uncertainty about vaping, but I think the consensus now is – it’s way better than smoking… keep up the good work. You spent £2 on a drink… TO THE PLANK with ye!!! Joke!!! Haharrr. In the grand scheme of things £2 isn’t so bad… Do you have a B&M near you? I bought a great water bottle you can carry (has a built in handle) for £2.99 and is obviously re-usable. I stopped buying drinks at work since. Saved me heaps in the long run, and I take it out walking/jogging.

AppleMuncher – How is the exercise going this month? I notice you say you do running? I’m hoping to get into it more… outdoor and on a treadmill. Could you recommend any brand of trainers you have found to be good?

X_Raphael_XX– Hey! You’re a gamer too!!! What game do you play. 8 hours!!! You’re a legend!!! I love fighting dragons as a pastime too - usually Wow, Hearthsetone and Diablo3. I find it a great way to unwind and get away from reality for a bit. My day to day life is full on responsibility and I need that outlet to just let go sometimes. Plus – it’s cheap entertainment!

Lozzie81 – I have left my wallet at home pretty much most days and been clocking up a lot more NSDs as a result. What do you put in your fruit pots <don’t say fruit haha!> How do you stop them going brown/mushy after a day or two? They have these in our canteen but I inevitably get lured off course down there so I try to stay away!

Misstara – Well done on sticking to your night out budget last week. Very disciplined! After your comment about taking a flask into the cinema… has anyone ever been stopped for taking in their own food/drinks? There are only so many places you can smuggle a flask too haha!!! How’s your belt tightening going this month?

Dia Pita– What a week you have had! Happy Anniversary too. I like your breakfast ideas – do you just add the oats in dry out the pack to your yoghurt, or do you cook them first? Poached egg, spinach and tomato – yum!!! Flatbread sounds awesome too – thanks for the recipe! Could I use gluten free flour instead do you think? I am trying to reduce/cut wheat as it doesn’t agree with me. Thanks for the yoghurt recipe too! AMAZING weight loss progress!!! Finally, I hope the snow isn’t too bad where you are… batten down the hatches and wrap up warm!

ChasingSunshine – Congrats on the payrise!!! What great news for February. A house fund is a great idea. I wished I had started when I was younger but I was never guided to save. That and an Emergency Fund are two great things to start, as long as you are not mired in debt. This can be your golden nest egg!

Short_Bird– I am hereby confiscating all your biscuit and chocolate supplies <stashes in cabin for later> Also… what a stroke of genius! We have a cat. I can masquerade as a beggar with said cat, move to Hull, and earn a small fortune. Now if you just give me your address I can set up shop nearby haha! I jest of course. How are the NSDs coming along? Have you spotted where the ‘leaks’ in your spending are occurring?

WelshKitty85 – You are off to a great start with the stock take and all that batch cooking. You are doing great helping hubby find a new job – sending him lots of luck. With all those qualifications, somebody has to see his worth – and surely better to have than not. Stay strong. How are things going otherwise?

F0xh0les – Thanks for your links to the foodnetwork… and for your ideas with blackbeans! I love beans. Seems your marmalade recipe was a huge hit too!On the health front… How is the cold? Must have spread around the ship as I had one too I’m trying to shake off! It best not be the POX! Regarding sighting Dolphins (YS)… Sunday at 3pm is a good time? When does everyone else go? Your willpower is fantastic – well done for resisting buying elsewhere, and sticking to the YS section! How are the half term preparations coming along for the cabinboys? Is your pantry like Mothernerds bedroom? <a.k.a. a TARDIS!?!> I am laughing at your description of mornings in your house haha. Chasing DS2 around HAHA!!! I also LOVE sci-fi. Farscape was awesome… Deep Space Nine… I have got as far as Season 1 episode 3 haha! Loved Next Gen… this one is harder to get into! I’m a Who geek through and through lol. How’s the snow doing up <down?> yonder? Lol re. the weather peeps being on performance related pay!!!

TheOnlyGirl – You are doing fantastically with your EF – awesome job. I laughed when you said you could have ‘eaten your hands’ after church that night… Whilst money saving and you could have still bagged a NSD – am afraid it wouldn’t get you out of ships duties ok!!! What an amazing YS haul too. That is IMPRESSIVE! Regarding your friend and her electric meter – surely a cautionary example of how lack of planning and foresight, and impulse spending can lead to potentially bad situations. They had a lucky escape this time, but what a lot of stress to have to go through for that one night out? Living beyond your means rarely leads to anything positive further down the line, right? I am well impressed that you have resisted the Silk Siren and made use of free samples at your sewing group. Well done!!! Also – well done on surviving <just!> the torture that is legs, bums and tums class!

Mothernerd – Loving your colourful posts and for challenging yourself. I think I could take a leaf out of your book… I am still on my trusty iphone4s and already feel out of date. Technology changes so fast! Well done for getting the book though. Wanting to get out more socially is something close to my heart and a big challenge… Wise words though – I think taking little steps and not taking on too much too soon is sound advice. Be sure to carve out time for ‘you’ amidst all the other stuff you have going on with family. You are doing great also with the bedroom clearing out – and finding £8.49 in there? Result! Let us know if you find any buried treasure, missing persons, ex-partners, lost relics etc amidst the piles of belongings haha!!! Is your bedroom like the TARDIS? Bigger on the inside than on the out? Brilliant job for making an appointment with Healthy Options. You really have taken the bull by the horns where your goals are concerned. Fantastic! It’s over to you tomorrow (weather permitting). Thank you again for keeping an eye on the rabble!

ILoveTea – You live up north? I’m from Manchester, and heading back there tomorrow for a week. What’s the weather been like? Next up… what is your ‘bottom of the fridge soup?’ haha! Now… never one to miss a trick… when I asked about your fat loss… you said “lets forget about that”… so what can any of us do to help you out. There are a fair few on this mission – can they drag you along and get you back on track? On a different note, I agree with Applemuncher, Hospital transport doesn’t count as a spend day, as it is an essential. I guess it’s good to have a small budget (EF?) set aside for these kinds of things if you can… I hope it went ok.

Fmess – How is SW going? 11lbs in 5 weeks..? That sounds awesome!!! I like your idea of ‘no carbs in the evening’ and am making an effort to adopt that too. Thanks for posting the onion bhaji recipe – I have all of that in!!! I will make some as soon as I get back!!! Love that you go to coffee mornings - what a great way to donate to charity!!! You donate and get cake!!! Result!!!

SkintTeacher – That was so cute about your little boy and his lego set… give him a few years and it’ll be ‘when can I have a new car Mom’ hehe! Now… What was this idea you have been sitting on for a while?!? Is it something you can tell us about? It sounds really exciting!!! Could this be a goal for 2017?

Moll – Good to have another Slimming World champion on-board alongside Fmess. You mentioned egg wraps save syns - how do you make them? Is it literally egg sliced in a wrap haha? I love your sea charm – very appropriate! I guess if we run into trouble – it’s good to know we have your 4 year old at hand as a direct link to the mermaid-squad! How’s the gigantic bread loaf coming along? How about the freezer stock take? Also - are your hands as soft as a baby’s bottom yet with all that moisturiser? Don’t you love the way karma works? You give your time to a worthy cause, and you receive a random act of kindness also – in the food they’d made too much of. Enjoy! Well done on the weight loss – ½lb is great. Look at half a bag of sugar and see how much that is!!! Congrats on the good news too with DS!

EagerElephant – So… You use YNAB too? Is it really good? Your marmalade cakes sound AMAZING <thank you F0xh0les> - please send a shipment up to my quarters before I set sail tomorrow haha! Sausages and marmalade though??? Are you INSANE? Haha! Does that work? Really…? How is the new enforced ‘no evening cooking’ coming along? Has there been strike action yet? I hope the car/washing machine aren’t too costly. Do you have an EF (Emergency Fund) at all for such things? I keep flogging the 3-6month EF thread haha. Come join us! I don’t get commission I promise lol.

Crazy_Lady2009 – I fear we may have lost you overboard? That or you have bunked off with some hunk of a merman haha!!! I will send out another search party… Can’t have you having all the fun!

Bizzie – Great progress on the charity clear-out front, and I’m with you on the meal plan front. I got as far as finding a blank form and filling out a stock take. But my basics consist of tinned beans, tomatoes and herbs/condiments – but that’s because my recipe repertoire is like 2 or 3 things haha!!! If you find any good ideas on building a food store and meal planning let us know!

Ladykernow – So how have you settled in. Have you posted your goals yet?

Massa1982 – How are you settling in too? Have you any goals for 2017? Have a quick look at the NST January challenge by Misstara and add them in to your monthly challenge if you want. Well done on resisting the kitchen Sirens <have a vision of a wicked looking mermaid trying to tempt you with her shiny shopping channel handy kitchen accessories… ‘look how it catches the light… this gadget comes with inlaid mother-of-pearl, and also shreds and dices… Yours for only £199…’ BUY IT NOW! Haha>

FlorenceJ – Are ye sure you've been ok since checking in on-board? If it's just that life took a hold... then unwind over the next few days. Hope you are feeling better soon… but I think you are right in trying to see the positives in being ill – in that it will likely mean less spending and (if you feel up to it) gives you a chance to catch up on a few things… though get in lots of R&R too.

MrsHubbard – Brilliant post and welcome aboard! It is definitely better late, than not to have joined at all. You have some great ideas and goals in there too. I am a bit of a gamer – and a tech free night would be a good thing I’m sure. Well done on completing all the pre-boarding tasks! Brilliant resolve today too with resisting spending, and luring hubby home with the promise of hot chocolate!!! Are you an ex- Siren who has reformed and now use your powers for good? Haha!

Abundant1972– <looks in mirror> Ok. Not bad going… On the plus – you used a free voucher and have clocked in 7 NSDs… not too shabby… My packed lunches/batch cooking are also going well. I must try and run those stocks down though! I have herbal teas expiring soon and so what if they taste like insipid dish water! They detox you ok!!! <allegedly> There will be a few spend days over the next week with family *but* try and limit spending. There is still a week to go when you get back to reality. Plan to get some recipes from Mum whilst back home, and come back with fresh ideas for batch cooking.

abundant1972

I wish each and everyone of you a lovely weekend... Please try and put aside some time and relax... We still have a way to go until the end of our Voyage and I want us all to get there feeling we have achieved what we set out to do, and that we get there in one piece! I'll touch base as and when I can - but rest well... You are all officially on shore leave!!!

:T

Fmess

Morning all,

Sorry for lack of posting the last few days. It toon all my energy and strength to get to half term and I'm full of cold, had parent's evening and staff shortages for the last two days, but it is finally here I'd like to say it'll be a complete rest but I need to use it to get ahead for next half term, I'm going to try and limit it to three days working and six days holiday/rest.

Thanks for the support abundant, I really appreciate you taking the time to address us all individually I lost another pound this week so 12lbs in 6 weeks I haven't ate well the last two days due to my cold and tiredness, and a celebratory meal out yesterday but I'm back on it today. I'm about to make carrot and sweet potato rosti to have with bacon, eggs and mushrooms. It really doesn't feel like a diet!

Today's plan is to mainly potter at home as I want rid of this cold. I always want to start to declutter as I own too much unnecessary clutter. I'm at the point where everything has a place/drawer/cupboard but I own too much that I never use/need and as NSK once pointed out, what's the point in having items sat in cupboards when someone else could be loving them. I also want to do a food shop and need to reconcile the spreadsheet and figure out how much I've got left.

Fmess

Mothernerd i saw chair based exercises on tv once, maybe the one show. They look like a great idea.

Forgot to say I'm on five SFDs so far and yesterday I was grateful for:-

- the company of lovely friends
- being an organised (even if sometimes manic) person
- my friend's husband driving is and saving me a fortune on taxis