Nst november in new york

mothernerd

Okay, last part of lagom - lots of little tips, hints and tricks (use them as baby steps if you really can't face a complete overhaul atm)


Keep comunications simple
Tackle e-mails in batches between other tasks
Are your meetings necessary or just a chance to sit and chat
Making a request (work) make it clear and simple and include a deadline
Dealing with difficult colleagues - try to tackle the problem before it escalates, avoid confrontation, document the incident and inform your line manager


Learn to say 'NO' even to your superiors. If you are overloaded and cannot handle a new task, politely decline with a brief explanation (good luck with that one - Sweden has better laws and working conditions than we do)


Balance thinking with doing
If it's something you really want to do, don't put it off, just do it
Can you form a group with friends to motivate each other to reach your goals


Keep challenging yourself

Learning a new skill can take years but losing yourself in a course of study or creative pursuit brings reaal contentment


Money 9leaving this out as there is plenty of advice on the site and it's mostly stuff we already do)


Family Activites
If you are constantly on the move ferrying various children from one activity to another, it may be time to ask if there are too many
Do they cause stress
Do they all deserve a place in your diary
What is the right amount of activities


Social Commitments
Distinguish between should and must. If it's a'should' and you don't wan to, then say no
Stop seeing people that make you stressed. Unavoidable family members should be time limited
Work out the right amount of socialising for you


TV/ Computer time
Keep track of how much time you and your family spend on screens. Avoid idle scrolling ('Why Don't You......SOTTVAGADSLBI)
Ease family members into reducing screen time gradually
Book in family time and do something together (for up to an hour)
Try to eat together, engage in conversation and ban phones and tablets.
Switch off your computer/ tv and read for an hour before bedtime. Be mindful of media consumption


Sleep

Try to have a set bedtime and work out the correct amount of sleep for you (do you fel rested or are you constantly tired)
Declutter your mind before sleeping - try writing things down or discussing them with a friend


Press Pause
Life is short. You need to schedule time for things you enjoy and timetable down time. Plan what you want to do.


Be Grateful
Focus on the good things in your life


Balance your needs with the wider world
Be the Change You want to see
Leave th car at home
Take a staycation
Go paperless


Use less plastic
Use reusable bags and bottles, take your own cutlery to work rather than use plastic
If you have a spare weekend day, you might enjoy helping with a beach clean
If you use coffee shops - take your own cup rather than use the disposable ones.


BE Kind (book suggestions)

Volunteer to spend time with an older isolated person in your neighbourhood or offer to do simple tasks for a neighbour
Help the Homeless by serving meals or donating warm clothing
Make regular donations or become a 'sponsor' for a favourite charity (research shows that money can buy happiness, but only if you spend it on someone else)
Speak up - write to your MP or local Councillor about your concerns. Sign on-line petitions you agree with


Small Acts of Kindness
I'm going to leave this one until the end of the month to help anyone who wants to do a reverse advent calendar - can give away things or do kind things (and they don't suggest walking up to random stranhers or organising a street party on day 3)

'A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees' Amelia Earhart


Give Time (volunteering?)


Give someone a hug (probably best with people you know)

GlendaSugarbean

Spendy weekend here . Classic case of falling off the bandwagon early and staying off! Rules broken: bought some winter stuff for the boys before checking we really needed it (we didn't), 1 takeaway, 1 coffee out and 1 more expensive SM trip rather than sticking with Aldee.

Still at 10/15 NSDs.

So this week is a bit of a reset. Need to plan rest of Xmas shopping plus stockings, establish what we are eating for Xmas day and get DH to confirm family travel plans. I will not overspend on my Xmas budget, I'm fed up of being solely responsible for all presents, food shopping and the rest while DH does a single shop for me and his family and complains all year about how he hates Xmas. We are keeping it simple this year and I'm concentrating on enjoying my time with the boys. Will also be my first attempt at an AF Xmas, which will bring down the food bill considerably and reduce the argument levels!

Already done: turned down work Xmas do, we have some smaller work events which are much more enjoyable so I'm going to those. Not buying for family except the boys. Making presents where I can. Enjoying myself rather than stressing over trying to make everything perfect!

dolly84

Went out with DH yesterday to get the last bits of Christmas shopping, just one present to order online then I'm done.


I did end up spending on things for me though which wasn't part of the plan, I bought some cleanser which was half price, I don't need it yet but decided to get it now. Then DH wanted to call at TKMaxx, he didn't find what he wanted to look at but I got one of my favourite scented candles and a pair of wool slipper socks, neither were cheap and neither were needed so I am cross with myself but they are both lovely so I will enjoy them.


Today is payday for DH so our new budgets start today, I don't need to budget any extra for Christmas food or drinks as we have saved M&S vouchers, Tesco vouchers and Nectar points for this and have way more than we need.

dolly84

Just remembered I spent £6.50 in the charity shop when I collected DD from her shift there, we got a very lovely shirt for DH that DD spotted, a dress and brand new cardigan for me,

laurenh1

Hi Turtles,
I am at home on the sofa today after waking up at 3am with D&V. Feeling fairly lousy.

At least it will be a NSD. Now on 15.:j
spent last night sewing, I had a small pile of things that needed a few stitches, and my son had a spider man outfit that needed taking up. Glad they're done.

Picked up a load of YS cereal at Tesco yesterday, will do us for quite some weeks. Nothing wrong with it but damaged boxes.

Off to sleep on the sofa, have a good day all

thriftylass

Good morning, not a good start to the week. Snoozed the alarm a few times and then just didn't get up before the kids. Didn't have to rush but was still a bit off as I didn't have time to sit and plan.

Then had the kids at the dentist and I burst into tears there as they discovered cavities in my son's teeth. Totally distraught, he's only 7 and I thought you have to be quiet lazy with the brushing, eat loads of sweets and drink pop etc for that to happen. And now it happened to us, DH said it's his soft teeth DS got. I know it's "only" the milk teeth and it's a wakeup call to be even more vigilant. So I made use of cyber Monday for a change and bought us all electric toothbrushes (saved over 50%, even 75% DH's set) as we talked about getting some for ages anyway.
Plus the dentist appointment made me late for work and I have to take another two mornings of next year for DS treatment of the cavities. Raging with myself for failing him.

Ok, count to ten, breath , it's done. Now on to saving the day.

Might not go to the gym but might get some steps in picking sth up at lunchtime from town. Leftover lunch with me and snacks. Something good at least.

mothernerd

Hugs thrifty and yes breathe, With the best will in the world things will go wrong when you have children. I felt guilty because DS3 had to have 4 perfectly healthy teeth extracted - his second teeth were coming through underneath and the dentist was worried that they might get pushed out of shape if they had to force the baby teeth out.


I felt guilty for years in case his inattentiveness (daydreaming) and poor socialisation skills were due to the accident we had when he was 6 months old. I had PTSD for 2 years and that's prime time for learning how to interact with others. His first year teacher told me to stop beating myself up over it. The accident wasn't my fault in any way. A mother's place is in the wrong.

f0xh0les

Oh Thrifty, massive hugs, this might encourage him to brush better and longer, in about 2 years he will be cavity free again - they are only baby teeth and you just take this as a 'heads up' that even though you thought you were ok, a bit more is needed. If you were not mortified, that would ring alarm bells!! Now you have the fun of dyeing his face purple once a week to check on his brushing,

In Manchester, our primary school kids all had a toothbrush at school and they made the kids brush after lunch as well! That was when I found out that crisps are actually as bad as sweeties for teeth.

Yesterday turned into NSD 11, which is handy as I have £20 left in the budget until midnight on Thursday, and not terribly much in the pantry or freezer.

So it is mostly sausage based foods this week -S-casserole, toad in't 'ole, S-wedges & beans. Something on toast (beans/hoops) and two or three soups, as that way I only have to buy ys bread and oil this week.

Only 15 passive aggressive cooking apples left!!
Made a massive apple sponge (Eve's pudding) - should do at least 12 large portions, and a rather large crumble (as the oven was on anyway). So puddings / after school snacks sorted for the next few days, will knock up a batch of flapjacks tonight - school is nut free, so the ones for home are nut-loaded and delicious and the ones for lunchboxes are pretty dull really as the boys do not like dried fruit.

Swallowed a frog this morning, up my ladder painting the coving in the hall. looks carp, but it has to go from brown to white, which will take another coat to make it look nicer. First coats always take ages.... but it is done, and before December!

Also found the place for the tree to go at the weekend. Involved moving a sofa and repositioning a coffee table.

Just started to feel cold around the ankles now. Will get up and do more stuff before the school run commences.

Have a great day!

thriftylass

mothernerd and f0xh0les thanks for the encouraging words. I know crisps etc are just as bad and he never gets sweets or crisps in his school bag as I don't think they are a great break snack anyway. But then supposedly healthy dried fruit are bad too, confused .... But then they get a sweet desert everyday in school and unfortunately don't brush their teeth there any more.

We'll definitely look at brushing for longer (he still gets supervised anyway) and absolutely nothing else but water unless it's dinner time (he would drink milk all day if you let him). There are a few changes we can still make. At least he still has his teeth not like his sister who lost 3 in the skatepark 2 years ago when she was 2.5 and now the forth one that went black and then white again wobbles. I just have sth about teeth, maybe because they don't heal like a broken bone.

But you're right, what's done is done, try to make the best of it from now.

Toni'sfriend

NSD 19/15 AFD No 26

I'm pleased to say that everything with Himself's scan was fine.

I spoke to one of the friends we are going on holiday with and told him that Himself and I are drastically reducing our alcohol intake whilst we are on holiday. He was a bit surprised but said that was good and suggested that instead of spending most of the time in the pub we go for some drives and visit some places we've never been to. I'm so glad that he's giving his support and to be honest I think he's a bit relieved. Another one who is starting to take his health more seriously.

I haven't actually done my packing but it's all ready to go in the case so will only take a few minutes and I've downloaded some books to read - either free or very cheap.

The house is looking quite tidy but I still have a list of things to do in the next few days. I made a pot of the hot chilli soup - delicious! So wedges and left over roast pork for dinner with some of Himself's many jars of chutney.