Cutting it Fine - the challenge is on!

SandyShores

Hi @savingholmes, thank you, that's a great idea - I have a recipe somewhere for something similar.  Mince is so versatile.  But I think I might have confused the issue.  Its not that we don't want to eat the same meal every day, but the three of us all want to eat something different to each other   - its not great.  MrShores and me are very easy going, but DD isn't.  Its hard work trying to find something all three of us like, so I menu planned for Mr Shores - large vat of curry; and then with DD's agreement planned some veggie soups and stuff but she's decided its not for her after all.  Its fine, because I have my meals sorted and so does MrShores, so DD is going to have to get her thinking cap and apron on, and get herself down to the shops - as this kitchen is taking a break for the rest of the summer

I love chilli, spag bol and casseroles too, will be cooking those very soon.  Very nice comfort food

So, today was very worky.  Achieved a lot, but a lot still to do tomorrow.  If I manage to finish off the things that I want to by tomorrow evening, I will be a very happy person.  I was feeling a bit overwhelmed but now although I'm busy, I'm a bit calmer.  I also removed myself from the 'connected with work' thing, which has helped too.  I'm hoping to get another item off the to do list tomorrow as well, which will be great, and the weekend is almost here!!

savingholmes

I recently have DD a £25 a week food budget of her own due to similar issues. It's helping her be more responsible with her choices, encouraging her to cook and making her more grateful if she eats my cooking. I pretty much only batch cook

SandyShores

That's a good idea savingholmes, I don't mind paying for her stuff - she doesn't choose expensive menus, just labour intensive ones.

LadyWithAPlan

@savingholmes oh I love a cottage pie, you have inspired me to make one

@SandyShores
Big shop done yesterday, then batch cooked chicken curry, and lentil & tomato soup tonight
That sounds yummy. I am really looking at my grocery budget right now on a whole different level. I only have a small freezer - basically double the standard size that comes with a fridge.  It is packed so I am eating it down til I see the next lot of yellow stickers ... I do need veg but going through the froze stuff right now.

savingholmes

Good luck with the cooking. DD is being a lot more adventurous - now she's in charge of her menu. Win:win

SandyShores

Thanks SH.  Dinner was cooked for me tonight - it was very nice, and plenty leftover too.  Its the healthy options DD cooks that I have issues with.  They tend to involve lots of prep, or/and no taste (as in no fat or sugar) - which I know is healthy, but sometimes after a long day at work I just want to shove something in the oven from the freezer.  We'll get there, thanks for your encouragement

Had another lazy Saturday and even fell asleep in front of the tv this afternoon - a real treat for me as I don't do well with my sleep.  I also did a bit of shopping in the M&S lingerie dept. - got to love Marks's pants

Nothing much else happened today so it really was a relaxing day.  I did cross another thing off the ToDo list on Friday and have another one booked for next Friday so that was quite satisfying to cross off.  And I bought a batch of reporters note books from Am@zon in the week, so I've got one by my bedside as a reminder notebook.  The plan isn't to fill it full of everything that I end up not doing, but to put only my priority things on there.  I want this to be the year when I start to do all the things in life I keep saying I'm going to do.

SandyShores

Cars washed today - at home - so saved ourselves about £20.  And the garage was tidied out, its kind of part one of tidying the garage where I grouped everything together and put it on the shelves.  DH needs to go through some of his stuff and ditch it, and I've got some CS stuff to drop off.  It looks and feels loads better, and I can see we have plenty of space for everything - it just needs a bit more sorting out.  So two things crossed off the ToDo List.

I need to order some stuff for the garden tomorrow, so that will be more things crossed off.  I'm feeling really productive at the moment 😇

SandyShores

Listened to a podcast about mindfulness earlier on the BBC World of Wisdom.  I've had some sessions before, but these were a step further than previous ones and I thought the guidance was really useful.  

My notebook is really helping me to focus on what needs doing and it seems to be aiding in leaving a bit of space for things like mindfulness.  Looking forward to a productive (if not easy) week ahead.  Night all.

SandyShores

The mindfulness podcast has really helped.  Its about coming back to the present when you find yourself worrying about the future (or dwelling on the past).  And my notebook is really helpful - not much getting crossed off but its focussing me.  Bit of batch cooking done today in the slow cooker.  Next time I'm going to double the quantity, but I need to sort out some freezer tubs.  I've usually a load of leftover takeaway tubs, but they've gradually disappeared.  I'd quite like some squarer ones but they might not be as practical for loading in the fridge or freezer - will check the tinterweb out.  The good thing is that the difficult part of my week is over - hurray!  Things are slowly coming together.

Chiglepig

@SandyShores, pleased mindfulness is working for you - you might also look up some of the research on 'Awe Walks' - I find the stillness of some mindfulness practices really difficult, but awe walks - where you focus on aspects of things around you, in the moment, that you might ordinarily walk past, really works for me in a similar way to the aims of mindfulness