NST Jolly Joyful July

Toni'sfriend

Can I join please. Mothernerd?

shabbychic12

Me please, lm hanging on by my fingertips.

f0xh0les

Me too please, although I will be in absentia for bits of week 2/3 while on a secret puffin strangling mission.

Jolly excited about spending a night somewhere not in my house for the first time since the October half term holiday in 2019.

Jolly excited about it being the long Summer holiday soon.

Jolly excited about DS4 leaving primary school this month.

Really tempted to mention the really offensive 'C' word as we have passed the Solstice

f0xh0les

NST JOLLY JOYFUL JULY

JUST make a start. I am going on a very cheap YHA holiday by the seaside, with all the kids, possibly for the last time in a while depending on exam results.
OVERVIEW - budget set, holiday accommodation paid for – food spends will be a worry. Eating mainly from the pantry when at home, as I have loads of ys bargains in there, but they are not bargains if they do not stop me from going shopping. So far no social activities planned, but finally, after 6 years, I was asked for my phone number to join the Wot-app? group of the cool and trendy mums to meet up over the holidays in local parks -kind of like being 15 again but without the cider.

LOVE your body – painted toenails and shaven legs are a must, have conditioning treatment for my hair and suncream for the rest of me.
LOOK at your relationship with food -We love each other. Passionately. Just need to make a few tweaks.
YOU pay to debt first, live on what is left over. Going to have to wing it a bit – the ‘normal budget’ will not work if we have to eat out (if they keep the self-catering kitchen closed) so I will aim for 10-20 NSDs, will overpay mortgage first.

JOYFUL Movement. Will aim to explore on foot as much as possible, will track my steps, will walk on beaches and stretch over rock pools, jump in puddles and run up the 199 steps.
OVERVIEW of the next 6 months. All house stuff I’m afraid, but important, as I live here -  Roof to be fixed with extra skylights, architect plans drawn, roof spaces boarded, new mattresses for all the boys (again!), upstairs bathroom rejigged and made beautiful, new bedroom doors that fit, and new carpets for the top two floors. Possible new central heating and radiators. I have managed to save the money to do all the above, with a stack left over to start the extension. I am just too petrified to start. I will own ½ my house by December.

YOU Need to DANCE. Yes I do. Really, I need no encouragement.
FOCUS on being positive. I need a reason to be unhappy, not a reason to be happy - happy should be the default position. If today doesn’t go to plan, don’t worry, there will be another shiny new one tomorrow!
UNCERTAINTY – going to look for a job once back from holidays. Smallest is going to secondary school, I no longer receive any tax credits, ds1 wants to go to uni in the centre of London Town, so I will become a wage earner.
LISTS. My lists are the stuff of legend. I know exactly what it is I am not doing

JULY STAYCATION – Luckily schools in Le Shire stop a week before the rest of the country – throwback to ‘the factory fortnight’- so I am heading to the seaside in that week, and we will be back home the day the rest of the schools end and the crowds begin (plus it was 1/3 the price that week). Want to explore the local canal network on foot or wheels. Will tell the kids it is a graffiti safari or some such they can take photos on their phones -
USE it or lose it – going to sell the lego, a kid size armchair, and some books. Also going to use up more fabric stash over the hols.
LOOK forward – will make plans to see family and friends. Will get DS1 his 2nd vaccine in the next week, and soon should be able to get DS2 his 1st jab (he is 16 ¾) soon.

YOU should give thanks (gratitudes) – I give thanks every morning I open my eyes and I am still here.

ditty1234

@f0xh0les I'm off for a few days with my two Graduates (Uni and Alevel) and we haven't really been anywhere just us since 18 and I'm really looking forwards to it. But they just keep listing all of the other things they could be doing for those 5 days! I'm not taking it personally though (I'm not really) As I think it's the nature of being young and busy. Fingers crossed we will actually have nice time once we get going.
 

mothernerd

I did wonder about mentioning that day, someone on another thread said that last Friday it was 6 months to go. I don't want to be horrible or negative but doing things early seems like a good idea, especially if making gifts. If lorry drivers and food pickers are in short supply then the whole mailing out cards and presents thing gets extended. If you are seeing someone, hand things over at that time. If you plan on making gifts, start now. My mother used to pay for and hide at her house, half price lego sets I had seen in the end of summer sales. Some events (as Martin reminds us each year) are on the same date this year as every other year. It's worth looking out for things like specific occasion clothing/ dressing up stuff and having a note tucked away in the back of your head in case you need a new winter jumper or cardigan (always try the cs first - my best buys were a badminton set and 4 racquets for DS3 and DS2 needed a particular Shakespeare set text and I found the Cambridge University Press one in one of the cs (it was university level so lots and lots of notes of themes and other things that come up in exams.

STAYCATIONS
Just a few notes I've made. This is from staycations for singles but could apply to anyone
1   Put professional responsibilities on hold - you're on holiday
2   Eliminate distractions (leave the post until you come 'back', put your phone on silent and only check it once or twice a day
Prepare your home
3    Set aside a day to run errands, buy food and do laundry. Clean the house thoroughly
4    Reset sleep cycles. Switch off the morning alarm. Stay up late if you want to. Let your body adjust to it's own sleep pattern.
Activities
1   Spa Day - pampering, candles, guided meditation
2   Indulge in hobbies. Immerse yourself without guilt
3   Change the way you use your space - read on a pile of pillows on the floor or take your chair outside. Read, eat. watch soppy movies. Sleep in a different room. Break routines and challenge 'norms'. Live your best life
4    Eat cake and delicious foods. Use the 'good' china. If it's strange but creates happiness, then don't judge yourself
5    Immerse yourself in a different culture - music, books and movies, make a meal, virtual tour, dress up

For families
Set the dates
Take time to plan activities in advance
Disconnect (phones etc)
Set a budget
Take lots of pictures and document your staycation
Ideas
Backyard camping
Visit your local library (many have exhibitions or activities)
Be a tourist at home - research your town and find activities and places to visit. Heritage weekend is in September and many churches and other buildings open their doors. Our local authority has a programme of events.
Do things you wouldn't normally do at home - stay up late, make popcorn, have breakfast for dinner. Try something new and get out of your comfort zone.

School holiday ideas
Suggestions from several "summer camp at home" sites. Theme a week or dip in for ideas .
Space, Super Heroes, Pirates, Under the Sea, Dinosaurs, Mermaids, Rainforest, Arts and crafts, Around the world, Science, Nature, animals, Survivor Week (would work for teenagers, throw them into the backyard with camping equipment or take them somewhere in the car and let them find their own way home - whether you allow them a small amount of money, food or preparation is up to you), Robots, Going green, Sharks, Scavenger hunts, Princess (for boys too), Bugs, insects and anything creepy crawly.

Most of the sites had suggestions in sections
- Learn and explore
- Fun and creative (cookery, crafts)
- Move
- Movies and podcasts
eg Space theme included making moon sand and galaxy slime, walking and jumping like an astronaut on the moon and astronaut training. 

Local libraries will have books on many of these themes and lots of craft activities too. It's also a good idea to borrow books on C'mas craft ideas as all the nursery teachers take them out at the start of the new term.

Remember  You do not need to any or all of these, they are just suggestions. Pinterest has ways of making almost anything out of cardboard boxes and if you have damaged furniture that cannot be donated let your kids play with it to break it down. We had a pile of plastic drinks crates I rescued from a skip, worn out mattresses became trampolines for as long as it stayed fine and a bed base was used for all sorts of things including aeroplane wings.

f0xh0les

I will still invite him @ditty1234 , he just might be too cool and grown up to be seen with his 3 younger brothers by then.

Calling14

Please add me to the turtle list this month Mothernerd with 6 family birthdays going to try to get organised next few days and dd2 back from Canada we will have a meal or 2 out whilst she is here.

Challenge looks fab, great ideas for gkids this weekend. Thanks.

DawnW

Can I join please Mothernerd? I have joined a couple of times before, but normally just lurk and read along

Kerry_Woman

OVERVIEW of the month. Have set my budget for each category that I have.  Will be looking at when I do my food shop.

LOOK at your relationship with food. Definitely have to look at this especially as to what I buy and my mental health.

  
YOU should pay to debt or savings first, live on what is left over. No debt, have set up dd for savings account.  Want to achieve 20 NSD. 

JOYFUL Movement. Going to plan to do more walking.

OVERVIEW of the next six months. My 3 month goal is my mental and physical health.  Lose weight, healthy eating and more exercise. 

FOCUS on being positive. Will do this as it will help me generally.

UNCERTAINTY is all around us.  Not sure how long my current temp job is going to last, so am going to wait until I hear to make a decision regarding looking for other work.  Still going to carry on doing things that help with my mh that I am already doing.

LISTS. I usually have lists for each week.  

JULY STAYCATION (or whenever you feel like it or it's permitted in the next 6 months). Planning days out for the rest of the year.

USE it or lose it. Will be using up creams etc that I already have in.

YOU should give thanks every day (gratitudes).  Will do.