NST Joyful July

abundant1972

Afternoon!!! :beer:
Today I am grateful for:

1. Finding the motivation to exercise
2. The internet and all the knowledge out there
3. Laughs with my hairdresser

Today alas was a spend day. I realised I'd forgotten yesterday to get it done, and not planning on another food spend for over a week. I didn't want to have wig hair so...

Interesting observations on my energy levels when I spend money - and learning not to categorise myself as feeling 'down' so much as imagining some of my energy leaving me thus creating a sense of depletion/emptiness. With a bit of gratitude work I can swing this around and realise how much I have left. My life is overflowing.

Love and light all x

apple_muncher

Well done on the run, skinty. Hope the half training goes smoothly.

Indigo - good to hear you are feeling more restful re your kids. It can't be easy for you at all. Hugs.

Today I am grateful for getting shred #6 done before my brain could object, for finding out about a major road closure and being able to plan a different bus route, for finding out that the new bus route also avoided a boot fair bottleneck, for watching Fantastic Beasts and where to find them (for 99p), for an easy tea, for another NSD, for plenty of water to drink, for my apples growing nicely, for dd loving all the h potter stuff out there, for every day having fresh things to enjoy.

lcc86

A long but rewarding day today. Volunteered this morning and despite being really thin on the ground we managed really well. Time flew by and it was probably the most enjoyable session I've been to in a while.

Also went out on my share horse and had a lovely canter - something I've struggled with on him so very pleased with that. Then sat and had a drink with other people from the yard for a bit and enjoyed the sunshine. The weather here has been beautiful today. I did splurge on a bit of chocolate cake at the yard and then had frozen pizza for dinner so probably undid all of the good work exercise wise but it's not the end of the world. Also notched up my 3rd NSD.

PlaysNicely

:wave:

Hope everyone's OK.

1) NSDs: achieved today, so 5 /16.

2) At least one store cupboard menu week this month: longest run so far 5 days.
No extra dinner spends today, spicy salmon, potato & tomato salad with salad leaves & rocket from garden.

3) Try to up my own income in some way (legally of course)! Achieved! Extra weekend job starting this month.

4) My NST health goal: 10,000 steps a day (as total of 70,000 across a week)!
Achieved this today: 13780 (includes 1.5 km power walk first thing and a 6 km walk over reserve this evening. Total so far 27,780 / 70,000.

5) No FleaBay shopping for the whole month - achieved again today so 9 / 31.

6) Frugal focus: sourcing instead of spending: lovely day today so mostly spent time with OH on garden, so apart from small task which finished off skirt, everything's still work in progress ...
* Valance in progress - one panel hemmed, still needs sewing to base.
* Doggy glove puppet in progress
* Summer skirt finished (but the elasticated waist, although easy to sew, makes me look very cluttered around the middle!
* Repurposed shirt for OH finished.

Simple pleasures:
Lovely day, lots of fresh air and exercise.
Beautiful sunset, truly magnificent.
Tidy house (for at least an hour, until returning from walk with sandy dogs, of course)

Hope next week brings good things for everyone. Sleep well all, PN x

mothernerd

Good morning turtles (will catch up later).

I recently watched a simple but tough TED talk. One of the points was

Recognise That Each Day is a Gift

Each day is unique and can never be repeated. No other day will happen in quite the same way. So wake up and give thanks for being alive.

So for the gift of today, I am grateful for
1 the rain (1) - the gardens need it and the air is considerably fresher this morning

2 the rain (2) can't saw down shrubs in this weather

3 the rain (3) no need to do more prep for now as Mrs Builder can't paint the fences in the rain and I think she has to wit until it is fully dry again

4 the rain (4) has damped down my hayfever (welcome first summer cold)

5 In any case I should be grateful for the hayfever (at least part of my immune system is working - even if it has an overactive imagingation and mistakes a grain of pollen for a poison gas attack)

6 my sense of humour - dark, very dark but such a help in times of trouble

7 for my pills - may be hard to swallow but some of them are keeping me alive

8 for our wonderful NHS and may we all do whatever we can to keep it

9 the rain (5) - no need to feel guilty about not washing my (rather large) bedcover as there is nowhere to put it and it need tender care due to it's age

10 free geeky cross- stitch so tempting, so inspiring, so much to do, so little time, chibis of all the reincarnations of the doctor, many companions and enemies, a rendition of Van Gogh's Starry night/ tardis mash-up and lots of other friends as well as 'sayings' (DS1 would love "I am silently correcting your grammar" - my quotation marks which is why I haven't included the full stop before them.

11 for my sons, so very different but with little connections between us, they all share my sense of humour (was going to repeat the "dark, very dark" but then my head went into the Funnybones intro).

12 for my mother, for enjoying the time spent together, for our shared values (lots of differences but again, there are points of contact).

I am going to stop now, otherwise the rest of mum's shopping will not get done and I won't have any of my work done before I go to mum's.

Calling14

Lovely weekend spent 11.00 going out and about. 3 pounds on bday pressie, and 11 pounds in asda on few bits.

Saturday went lovely walk along river, castle town and hunted a gs bday pressie down from shops. Went out for a drink Sat. night bf paid but I had cooked tea from leftover stewing steak, cauliflower and red pepper - yeh a curry was nice as well.

Sunday full day out walking beaches to island couple of lighthouses, great day exploring. Shame bf decided we would have tea out. Not great meal so I contributed towards the bill. Next time picnic.

Grateful for.
Bf reappearing on scene whereas this weekend would been bit lonely, kids busy at weddings.
Fab weather
Lots of steps walked. (Still no weight loss however eek)

thriftylass

Hello,

Thank you for all the kind messages.

I really enjoy reading frugalwood's UFM emails. However, they make me realise how much better off and easier finances would be without DH . I've tried the talk so many times....:(

No SFDs over the weekend. Well, done a Tesco top up shop and got the kids new shoes and socks (shoes were reduced to £5 and £7 respectively) as they needed them (both have two pairs now and wellies). Will give the small ones to a friend. And had my girly night on Friday which I think cost me £20.

Managed to built the playpark without instructions and without killing my DH. The kids are getting better at not being in the way and excepting little jobs we give them rather than wanting to do the drilling etc. Also I learnt to be less bossy and give DH a chance. We don't do decorating etc well together but carpentry seems to work. The little fence and now this. Might even do the decking ourselves this year then.

The washing machine that I only just bought in April already has a broken door latch. So the engineer will come out on Thu to fix that for free.

Cooked a couple of lunches and did some gardening too.

I was about to do the stick my head in the sand escape but won't. This month is super tight due to mistakes at the start again. But I will not give up this month. I still start a rescue mission although I won't come in on budget. Oh just realised I will have to pay for a filling on Wednesday. Arrgh....and breath, do not lower head to floor...it will be ok.

have a nice day

Lauralozzle

Today has been a spendy day but this was planned. £34 spent at the butchers but this included 20 chicken breasts 2 little trays of chicken tenders (southern style and lemon pepper) 8 very low fat sausages, four beef pies for the OH (we got three free!) and two sausage rolls.

Also got some bits for the wedding and found a pair of converse hi tops for £35. They're usually £50 so I got a pair as my last pair for f converse had to go in the bin as they had a BIG holes in the soles and the sides were super glued down. I'm wearing every pair of shoes down to nothing at the moment as I can't afford to replace them all.

I'm grateful for the lady at the butchers giving us 3 free pies (even f I won't eat them). I'm grateful for the rain - every time I mow my lawn I seem to kill it slightly so hoping the rain will help.

I'm mostly grateful for being able to take today, Tuesday and Wednesday off work though. I need time to recuperate.

indigowarrior

Last two days have been a spend day. Need to get myself into gear.

SkintTeacher

nsd 4
Had a bit of a ding dong with my boss today - end of term frayed nerves!