Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget.

lessonlearned

Sun dipping already and it's getting cold now, so I'm indoors heating on and nice and cosy. I think it's going to be a cold night. My knee is really painful so it's feet up and rest for a while. Might try an ice pack later, even industrial strength voltarol isn't helping. The house is a bit of a tip but it can wait till my knee pain eases off.

Had a fabulous shopping trip this Morning. Only Aldi's but lots of Christmas goodies.

Bought the proper Radio Times - it just wouldn't be Christmas without it. Some cocktail mixer syrups for champagne cocktails for my NYE party. . A small spruce Christmas tree. It's in a pot so hopefully I can plant that out next year. It will go on a sideboard in the lounge, so a small one will look nice there. The big 7ft fake tree is really too big for the lounge so that will go in the dining room. Good job I've got high ceilings.....I only bought it last year. It is gorgeous, but it was quite expensive, even with my sons 20 per cent discount so I'm relieved it fits in this house and I dont have to buy a new smaller one. A wreath for the door, a bit plain but it was dirt cheap and I can jazz it up a bit. Next year I will try anD make my own but I'm a bit pushed for both time and materials this year.

I still need a nice garland for the fireplace but there's not much greenery in my garden (there's not much of anything at the moment). I'll have to raid my sons gardens.

A nice smelly reed diffuser for my bathroom. Need to get a nice orchid but haven't found the right one yet, maybe tomorrow when I go into the city centre. And a log basket, it was the last one and reduced so it obviously had my name on it. Lol.

And of course a bright red poinsetta. .

I recently bought an amaryllis. I love them, they're like triffids. You can almost see them grow how whilst you watch them. Anyway I didn't plant it before I went on holiday. Opened it up this morning and it's already about 5 inches tall, and all out shape and the stem is almost white rather than a nice healthy green. I've put it on a sunny windowcill so that it can lean towards the light and hopefully recover. It's got two choices, live or die. :rotfl:

Not long till Christmas. Two weeks and counting.......

candygirl

'LL would a multi cooker be any good , in the meantime? There's loads on the selling sites v cheap

kippers

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

I have been using Boots' own brand moisturiser since I was a student (20 years ago...); the cucumber scented one in the green tub. It seems much lighter and fresher than the more expensive fancily packaged creams. And as it's so cheap, if it doesn't suit your skin after a trial, it's not the end of the world.

I have excema and this is the only moisturiser i can find to use now that doesnt affect my skin

Eyeore

Another ‘mostly lurker’ here who just wanted to pop in and say I am loving this thread.

Lessonlearned, what a brilliantly positive post and just what I needed so thank you very much 😊

I recently changed jobs, moved county and absolutely hated it! I knew straight away and told my new employer who were very nice thankfully. My lesson has been to remember the grass is not always greener and be thankful for my little home in place near my friends! I am dealing with dreadful feelings of guilt but I hope this will pass soon.

As JackieO would say ‘onwards and upwards’ 😀

humptydumptybits

I'm getting ready to go for a blood test. I dread it, I don't have good veins and it can be a bit brutal. On one occasion I had to see an anaesthetist as no one at the surgery could do it. I'm all wrapped up and baking hot but apparently that helps the blood flow and drinking lots of water as that helps as well. I wish somethings could just be a bit more straightforward! I suppose I should worry more about the results than the test but I haven't given that a thought.


I'm going out late afternoon to a nearby town where they are having a Christmas fayre. It is usually nice with lots of stalls and kids from the local school singing carols. It will be pleasant and free unless we decide to eat out which is a distinct possibility. Can't decide if I should ring DIL and suggest taking the children but then we will have to get back for bedtime, maybe this time we should just have a childfree outing.


It is very gloomy and miserable here. I've been rounding up all rubbish and recycling as collection due. All good fun.

Siebrie

We had the local WI's christmas meal on Monday, and I took my Mum. It was €12 for both of us to get in, and €4 for both of us to drink a glass of water.

The WI organises this 'taster' event every year: they make a christmas menu and craft christmas decorations, lay the tables according to a theme, and then serve everyone with taster portions of a four course meal. The first glass comes free with an entree snack (goat's cheese balls with pistacchio nuts and cranberries, in this case), we had a small salad with duck, chicon soup with salmon, pumpkin with quinoa salad and roast potatoes and (optional) guinea fowl, dessert was polenta lemon cake and polenta chocolate cake.

They run a small christmas fayre at the same time, there were about 100 women present. Some of the leaders gave a short christmas speech, and we all had great fun.

humptydumptybits

Blood test done, the new phlebotomist did a good job possibly helped by my preparations. Just got to see how the bruise is, normally looks like someone has tried to rip my arm off but I'm hopeful it won't be that bad.


Siebrie that sounds nice. Nice to do things in the run up to Christmas.

doingitanyway

i've just had a few clothes delivered. One of my ways of champagne living on a lemonade budget is to go for clothing ranges that suit my style but are out of my league. They tend to have bigger discounts and discount really quickly too. So, clothes that were full price a few weeks ago are now reduced. I have a dress for £40 that was £140 and a great pair of trousers that were £115 and now £55. They aren't dirt cheap even at sale price but the quality is excellent so I am pleased.

Off for a bowl of homemade soup. I consider that a luxury too

I hope you are having a good day

lessonlearned

Hello everyone.

Well I was up early and into the city centre this morning to attend to some business. I am afraid I didn't get much sleep last night - too "wired" so I'll probably crash later. My champagne moments today will be a nap this afternoon and then a cosy evening by the fire, candles lit, a nice film, resting, unwinding and then an early night.

I have decided that I need to reduce screen time and electronic device usage so no tinterweb after 6pm. I'm sure evening use of mobile devices makes my brain whirr so I can't switch off and sleep properly.

Anyway, some serious Hygge tonight. :rotfl:

Humpty.....Glad the blood test wasn't too brutal. Horrible things. I think a lot depends on the skill and experience of the practitioner. Like you my veins really don't like parting with blood so I drink as much water as I can manage.

CandyGirl......thanks for the tip about multi cookers. I think that is a great idea. I had a quick google online. I want one that is big enough to do a small roast. I'm thinking the Lakeland one looks promising. I might try and pop into their shop next week. It would certainly tide
Me over nicely. Means I wouldnt have to rush to get the kitchen done. So thanks for that, I think it's a goer.

Siebre - your WI lunch sounds great. Nice food choices too.

Well. My latest challenge. 10 portions of fruit and veg per day. Going all out for healthy eating.....:rotfl:

Hi Eeyore.......are you like him....:rotfl: I'm a bit of a Tigger:rotfl:

Anyway well done on acting quickly to rectify your mistake about your job move. You are absolutely right, the grass isn't always greener. Don't feel guilty, you have done the right thing. You tried and it wasn't for you, fair enough. Now you know. If you hadn't given it a go it would always been at the back of your mind and you might have really regretted not trying.

I think it is essential to step out of our comfort zone, to push ourselves sometimes and to try something new. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Ok this wasn't the right move for you, but now you know for sure where you are happiest so you can now build on that.

Onwards and upwards, indeed. .

lessonlearned

doingitanyway wrote: »

i've just had a few clothes delivered. One of my ways of champagne living on a lemonade budget is to go for clothing ranges that suit my style but are out of my league. They tend to have bigger discounts and discount really quickly too. So, clothes that were full price a few weeks ago are now reduced. I have a dress for £40 that was £140 and a great pair of trousers that were £115 and now £55. They aren't dirt cheap even at sale price but the quality is excellent so I am pleased.

Off for a bowl of homemade soup. I consider that a luxury too

I hope you are having a good day

Ooh sounds exciting. I do this. I found a website called Justlastseason. They sell Jacques Verte, Dash, Eastex and P r e c i s.

I do very well with Jacques Vertes, their sizing seems right for me and the lengths are right too. They do some really great discounts.