Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

moo121

Thanks Sheila, I'll take a look. It's my project for this month

lessonlearned

Great project Moo. Bet it will look fab. I love doing up old furniture too.

Siebrie

I am really enjoying making my own bunches of flowers, from flowers and leaves from my garden. I use grass with seedheads, as well. Most flowers are selfsown and come back every year (aquilegia, love in a mist), others are hardy or evergreen (sage, ivy, rose).

lessonlearned

siebre.....that sounds wonderful. My garden here was a wildnerness but I'm gradually getting there, planting lots of flowers for cutting. Trying to concentrate on perennials mainly. In fact I shall be taking lavender cuttings soon. I want to try and build up a lavender hedge. I think if you have nice grasses and greenery you can make a lovely display with just a few blooms can't you.

I came across a quote recently "Flowers are nature's Chanel". .

I love flowers and plants and always have something in the house, even in The depths of winter. One of life's little luxuries which, with a bit of care and forethought, needn't break the bank.

Well had to take my car into the garage this morning for a repair ......not too bad £112. I'm trying to keep this little car going for as long as possible. I don't do a high mileage and could probably manage perfectly well without a car but it is a "nice to have".

I have just done my budget again......made a few tweaks here and there. The last couple of months have been rather "spendy" so I need to pull my horns in for a while.:rotfl:

But.......life is good, there are lots of lovely champagne moments which are entirely free or very low cost. It's not all about money.

I'll leave you with this thought.......

The best things in life may be free but very often the best things aren't even things.......:D.

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moment on Sunday was my Grandson paying us all an unexpected visit. It was good to spend time with him.

My Champagne moment yesterday was using my Odeon Limitless card to watch the 2 films Aladdin and Rocketman.

I really enjoyed both of the films. Aladdin has a lot of drama, adventure, music, singing and dancing. I loved seeing Will Smith as the Genie.

Rocketman also has a different kind of adventure with lots of music and singing. I learnt a lot I did not know about the early life of Elton John and I felt so much empathy and sadness for Elton the 5 year old and young boy. Also Elton found stratospheric fame and amassed a huge fortune but still found his life was empty away from his music and singing which was an unutterable shame. I am so glad that he finally did find sobriety, the love of his life and became a father to his 2 lovely sons.

I would give both of these films 9.5/10

My Champagne moment today was when I went to see the film Booksmart. I did enjoy this film, but it turned out not to be as funny as the trailers for this film had made me think it would be. I would give this film 6.5/10

lessonlearned

SUgarbaby.....I saw Rocketman too. Great film. Even allowing for poetic licence and dramatic effect it seems the poor man had an abysmal childhood, no wonder he had "issues" with drink, drugs, sex and food. His parents were monsters.

He had remarkable self awareness though about his aesthetic limitations. He wasn't naturally gifted in the looks department like Bolan or Bowie but he knew how to compensate by becoming the ultimate showman.

Even at the very beginning of his career he knew he needed to create a stage persona that was larger than life which would wow people, much like Liberace before him. I loved his comment when he was accused of going "over the top" with his costumes etc. He replied Something along the lines of "no one will pay to see Reg Dwight, they pay to see Elton John".

I really warmed to the man and I too am glad that he finally found love and happiness. He deserves it.

I thought the actor who played him was fantastic.

sugarbaby125

My Champagne moment today is being 15 stones 5lbs which means I have now lost exactly 2 stones since last year June. :j:D

I am going to keep going with my healthy eating and my exercises because I have a long way to go yet, but I am really pleased that I can wear fixed waistband size 16 and so many of my size 14 tops now fit perfectly. :j

lessonlearned

Well done SUgarbaby......that's fantastic. I have now lost just over 2 stones too. It's feels great doesn't it.

Well my phone is playing up so I need to go and Try and get it sorted. I shall get dressed up and turn a mundane errand into a nice outing......a coffee somewhere nice and a mooch round the chazzers....

Have a great day.

lessonlearned

Lovely lovely mornjng. Loads of champagne moments, mainly of the finding amazing bargains variety.

Nice leisurely bath, got dolled up and went into town. Got my phone unblocked, no charge. Yes I'd done something stupid but the girl there was lovely and cheerfully sorted it for me. Service with a huge grin, not just a smile.

Then picked up some bargainous fruit from the street vendor who sells flowers and fruit. Dirt cheap.

Now you might not believe this but at the grand old age of 67 I have just discovered the delights of fresh apricots. My mum always bought tinned ones and I hated them, so I was convinced I didn't like apricots. :rotfl: They are deLicious and I have been missing out all these years. :rotfl: anyway picked up a huge punnet for £1 and two punnets of raspberries for £1.50.

Then I called in to my favourite everything's either 50p or a £1 chazzer. Found some fab bargains, two tops, and a skirt £1 each and a nice pashmina shawl for 50p.

Who says you need to be rich to eat and dress well.

Also nipped into TK Max. If you are lucky you can pick up high end cosmetics and toiletries for next to nothing. I love posh soaps and they have a great selection. Bought some today. I shall smell divine. :rotfl:

Finally called into Aldi and spent just £20 on groceries. Will probably need milk at some point but I'm all stocked up with lots of delicious goodies.

I'm going to potter about in the garden and then just soak up some sunshine with my book and a cup of tea, cook a nice evening meal and then settle down and watch 63 up with just a little bit of my favourite chocolate.

A great day.

Blackcats

My champagne moment today was using a gorgeous shower gel and body lotion that I got as a Christmas present. I'd been saving it - either to re-gift or for "best" but actually it made a Thursday morning seem very indulgent. Didn't feel guilty about not re-gifting it because as the saying goes "I'm worth it"