NST October ORGANISE OCTOBER

DawnW

Day 18/31
I have a really nasty cold atm, so didn't round get to updating yesterday, and not much achieved today tbh.

ORGANIZE: Nothing specific, but I do try to be organised most of the time. Pays off when I am not well, as I can take it easy without chaos descending.... or I can now, I do remember it not being nearly so straightforward when the children were small!

GET READY FOR WINTER: We have lit the wood stove for the past 2 nights, for just the first part of the evening and then let it go out once the house has warmed up. Using up waste wood from OH's workshop, gifted from neighbours etc before we order in logs.

ALWAYS BE KIND: I always try to be kind - but can't think of anything specific today

IMPROVISE: Had some leftover mashed potato in the fridge. I usually make fish cakes with leftover mash, but wanted soup. Can you make leek and potato soup with leftover mash? Yes you can Used leeks from the garden, so (almost) free soup!

STOPTOBER: No vices today! I often have 1 small glass of wine with dinner (much smaller than small pub measure), but don't feel like it with this cold

EXERCISE: None today apart from a 20 minute dog walk

ONE MORE TIME: OH and I are trying to lose some weight, well OH more than me tbh, but I could honestly do with losing a stone so am joining him in sensible eating. He needs to lose a lot more, first time dieting for him, but he seems determined Definitely one more time for me though

CHRISTMAS: Nothing specific as yet. More for next month I think.

NSD: 5/12. NSD yesterday Needed some bits from the supermarket today (more tissues and cold medication mainly), sent OH as I did not feel up to shopping and he was out anyway. He spent more than I would have done, but I knew he would. Updated signature with abysmal household / shopping total Aiming for another NSD tomorrow.

EXTRA INCOME: Did some surveys. Sold a few bits on ebay.

Hope your arm is better soon Mothernerd
Congrats on the job Fruitloop I have lost it with the challenge this month too

apple_muncher

Congratulations fruitloop.

Mothernerd - do try to take it easy! Have some long hot baths to help the aches ease.

For those who are feeling like they have 'lost it' this month, hang in there. These challenges are so multi-stranded that it can be tricky to keep up with them all. But that is the joy of being a turtle! Some months we see more 'success' than others, however we measure our success/ lack of success. Other months, the sap flows well, the NSDs come easily and it feels good. There are still 12 days left, all is not lost. Maybe set some mini targets for the last part...?

Scrimps

Hi all,

I hope you're all keeping or recovering well. Today was not a NSD, I needed to bite the bullet and finally buy a proper maternity bra...ahh new realms of comfort achieved. I was getting very uncomfortable every day. I also popped to Aldi though. This was supposed to be DH's duty this month but given that I have dropped my duty of decorating for the last few days i figured I should pick up a bit of feeding myself, I went in hungry to buy food to last me until the end of the month, it could have waited really. I spent £8, most of it OK but the chicken Kiev's were absolutely an impulse purchase. my colleague bought in Jaffa cakes today -we ate them all so bought some to take into work tomorrow also.

The wheels have fallen off the not obsessing about budgeting. I did a fair bit this morning. I'm thinking of starting a couple of challenges in November for the next 12 months, no clothes or cosmetics for 12 months. I have enough clothes including pants and socks to last me a year. Bras may be an issue as I will hopefully be breastfeeding.
There will be weddings coming up but I think they will be 2019, though I could try borrowing a dress...all mine were worn many times then Ebayd so I don't have anything like that. I have £50 of advantage card points that will keep me in deodrent and face wash and mascara if needed. I'm pretty sure I have enough conceler etc. I think we probably also have enough soap and moisturizer to last me a year also!

I mentioned it to DH, he was very nonplussed as he would most likely manage well not buying anything like that for 12 months, Im sure men's stuff lasts longer!....but he is quite naturally tight...though he has gotten used to his tony and guy haircuts:o

I tend to plan this stuff, he just does it. If I do it and manage the household budget very well whilst on mat leave, we could make some good overpayments on the mortgage next year.

I will check with proper update tomorrow.
I also did more winter prep/organising yesterday by taking all the meter readings. Water has been reduced by £12pcm and have quite a big energy credit that should see us through winter.

Apart from that it was straight on the sofa this evening and will be going to bed shortly. So tired at the moment.

Take care all

thriftylass

Congratulations fruitloop

Productive evening here. Cooked some more tasty lunches using stuff up. Have 10 ready now. Did a freezer inventory. Will finalise meal plan tomorrow.

Also checked my seeds. Won't need any apart from seed potatoes and onion sets for next year.

Stashed away some Christmas presents for the kids that arrived and updated my diary with future things to do. Feel rather organised now.

Off to bed soon with a book for some me time

mothernerd

Congratulations on the job fruitloop. Just read along, practice what you can and we'll see you in November.

The rest of you, remember that every small step in the right direction helps, even if you can't see it atm.

I've had an up and down day. Went out to pick up some bits of shopping. Beloved asked DS3 to buy a plunger and he refused. So if she is willing to unblock the sink if provided with a plunger, a plunger she shall have. Tried to get statements for mum's bs accounts (need to query holiday people as deposit not shown) - partial success.

Went to crafts. Mum came too, so free taxi travel there and back. Low attendance again but plenty to do. Found out S's operation was last week (brought forward?) which explains why she was missing. Started out colouring in the cardboard pumpkins I had stencilled designs on.

Book-folding queen keep popping up and disappearing again, then asked for 'help' with one of the wise men. She is making a full nativity set with each character based on a folded book - in practice she does the book folding and then us lucky 'helpers' do most of the work. She then dragooned another participant into painting a string bowl with black paint. This went well until the bowl got saturated and started to disintegrate. 3 failed attempts at rescuing it, left 3 of us covered in a mixture of black paint and glue. Mum handed us all wet wipes from the pack on the table.

I asked the purpose of the bowl - it was supposed to be a cauldron for the party next week (for centre residents). Asked if BQ had a saucepan she did not need to use before then. Attempted to pad out a small pan to make it more cauldron shaped, added a cardboard liner to make it taller. Not thrilled with the result. Asked the purpose of the cauldron - decorative or practical.

It's just to put sweets in so offered use of one of my stock pots and will buy crepe paper and cover it. Also decorated the wise man's robe and added sleeves and hands, plus put strings on some bats (receptionist wants to hang them from the ceiling. Mum helped, cutting string lengths and poking some holes, I tied the knots and dabbed paint to cover the string at the bat end.

Tidied up and have brought pumpkins home to finish colouring in.

Whilst we were waiting in the yard for the taxi (could have ahd the mini-bus but mum wasn't sure she could do the steps, mum needed the loo. We were by the gate so I took her across to Haven House and asked my counsellor if she could use there loo. Went back to my bags and was arrogant enough to sit on the kerb (about 8" high).

Taxi came as mum was coming back out of the building. I couldn't get up. taxi driver tried to help/ pull me up. I tried to get up using mum's walker. Legs alone would not push me upright (not being able to use my right arm to push against the pavement did not help. Took combined efforts of the taxi driver and my counsellor (+ my meagre contribution) to get me standing and left me breathless and dizzy. Will have to work on my legs (and my weight). To be fair, it is the furthest down I have been, might have managed if I had sat next to the gate and fencepost as there were more things to grab hold of.

Was still slightly dizzy and out of breath when they dropped me off so back in bed, ate my lunch sandwich. I keep thinking I should have been embarrassed but I am not. Maybe everyone could see I was trying my hardest, just not having any success.

So have done the flappy bird exercise (mum has myasthenia gravis - nerve signals to not get through,keep checking as I could inherit it) which was okay. Had a nap, easy tea, brought the bin in, took out two stinky bin bags (one had the chinchilla litter inside).

Putting it down to several long days, doing the heavy stuff (concreting, some lifting and the painting) and short of sleep because of the marathon sewing project (very well receieved) and am going to spend the rest of the evening in bed, sorting through craft stuff and embroidery stuff (separate category because there is so much of it) and try to make a realistic plan of which pieces I can complete before Christmas.

Some shopping I wanted to do but will sacrifice an NSD tomorrow to spread the load. Will have an easy day at mum's tomorrow and catch up with domestic stuff and make plans for the weekend after that.

Today I am grateful for kind people helping me, for using my problem solving skills and finding creative solutions and for the luxury of me time and the prospect of an easy day ahead.

DancingDragons

Sorry to hear about your arm Mothernerd, and the day you've had.
Well done on the Job Fruitloop.
Thriftylass. Never thought of having a 'organise me' diary, what a brill idea. I tend to keep everything in my head.


A late check in,
NSD still stands at 1. DD2 needed bongela, as I didn't want to treat icky mouth ulcer (too much apple juice?) with bicarb at her age. Had to take mum to town, while there I spotted birthday wrap reduced to 25p. 2 Birthdays coming up, seemed silly not to.
This is harder than I thought.
I've got the menu planned out (need inspiration going forward, I'm so tired of the same flipping meal) and the shopping set for tomorrow.

Christmas: Mulling over the idea of giving Gingerbread trees this year. I normally spend £50 each on distant family, and it never seems well received. In balance we bake Gingerbread houses for our own fun, but the kids haven't been all that fussed about decorating them, and I REALLY don't need to eat 2lbs of brown sugar in house format. But I love the gingerbread smell - so baking to give away is a win.

Organise. Need more time for self and family things at the moment, I had to step away from helping the school PTA. Sad decision, but I need to sort out all the stuff I've been storing on their behalf. Probably a Friday job.

One more Time: missed gym today as running around for mum.


Grateful for:
People who share information without expecting payment.
MSE mantra as it kept me away from that Sainsburys toy sale. (Don't need it.)


Always be kind: Gave directions to, then walked with New mum who was lost in town. Costa was a welcome sight for her!

thriftylass

dancingdragon, i used to have things in my head, on post it notes on my desk, on lists in the kitchen, on reminders on my phone etc. I found it stressful and was always worried about forgetting sth. Now everything from gardening schedules, activities, Christmas lists, appointments, to meal plans, shopping lists, you name it, is in one of those fancy planner calendar diary thingies. Now i just check twice a day and I'm a lot less stressed out. Whenever sth comes up in goes in there and leaves my head till i actually need to deal with it.

bizzie

Check in 18/31 and still on 10/15 NSD.
Groceries took advantage of money off coupons for stocking up for remainder of the week, though will need some fruit and veg tomorrow.
Making a list of jobs to tackle during half term and want to balance with some trips out / treats for the dc whilst not spending entire budget.

mothernerd

Appreciate where you are in your journey even if it's not where you want to be. Every season serves a purpose.

Fmess

Hope your arm is ok mothernerd

Congratulations fruitloop

Yesterday was not a SFD, I went to weigh in and then bought a takeaway on the way home. I’m so tired that I’m not making the best decisions although I had ate on plan for the rest of the week and will do again today. Today is another busy day but the end is in sight I just need to not lose it completely in the next two days!