NST May MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM

ditty1234

Hi @mothernerd this is just what I needed, I have completely lost it at all levels of accountability and reflection for a few weeks and I am finally back at the table. It has not been a bad time, just very emotional and I have been overwhelmed, but this weekend I have the house to myself for the first time since December and I have made no plans except my creative work, writing, probably some exercise and a bit of cleaning. So on to the check in:


Friday Saturday Check In
What can I celebrate this week?
This week I am celebrating that my son is off on a weekend with a friend and his independence has grown immensely since we went back to see family over Christmas. I am celebrating eating dinner outside Thursday evening and spending a leisurely hour gardening.

What did I learn?
Well this morning weighing in I have relearnt that when I don't take the time to plan and look after myself I put on weight, a lot and qucikly, so hopefully it will come off fairly quickly as well. I have also not checked in here, not written in my journal, so between all of the above I need to look after my sleep and myself to stay sane. 
 
What brought me joy?
Driving ds1 quite far to meet w friend who met us about half way and the lovely Cambodian restaurant we had booked for rendez vous was absolutely lovely, who would have known. 

How am I feeling?
Not sure about this one a bit lost, but very determined, I have alot of stuff to do, but I am prioritising sorting my baseline first, so I don't have to worry about practical stuff all of the time. 

How can I take great care of me this weekend?
Get my 11000 stepe in, that doesent happen very often, I bicycle to work, so on week days that makes up for a bit of it. 
Have a beauty bath - and probably cut my hari, can't be asked to pay for a haircut.
Write and do some creative experimentation so I can finish my micro exhibition over the next few weeks. (Opens on JUne 2.)
Book plane tickets to go to my own exhibition!

What are my intentions for next week?
Make a meal plan.
Get in loads of NSD days I am already on 5 today, but might lose it later if I go shopping for the week today. 
Be kinder at work, not talk about myself but listen to other people and be more helpful.
Catch up with friend over a drink as lots of new pubs have opened locally.

Toni'sfriend

"if you can do 90% of the job you'll soon catch up, if you can only do 10% it's better than nothing. Just make a start"


Thank you, Mothernerd. That's just the kind of advice and inspiration I need.

Money - NSD No 6. I've spent practically nothing of this week's food budget. £3.56 to be precise I think I'll put what's left towards food and drink in Edinburgh next week.

Home - I did little more than the minimum yesterday because I got engrossed in the election results. But everything is looking tidy and spick and span. I found another packet of free "bee and butterfly" seeds. Must find a suitable pot and plant them up today. The ones I planted earlier are starting to poke through. My little porch is beginning to look quite pretty - all yellows and purples.

Me - I'm feeling remarkably content at the moment. It must be because I'm feeling more organised.

I'll finish my coffee and then it's off to the shops. I've promised the Boy a roast for his dinner on Sunday. Just have to keep Himself away from any YS items that we definitely don't need.

Have a lovely weekend.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Morning turtles

to misquote mothernerd - i am sat in bed with a cuppa tea stalking my internet friends

Missed the Friday review so will do it today:
What can I celebrate this week?  DD2's graduation & spending time with both my DDs 
What did I learn? I need to take more care of my physical health and pace myself, I slumped forward on my chair at the count and felt my back go and now it is painful.  I ate too much chocolate & feel bloated. I did eat salad and fruit too though
What brought me joy? Seeing DD2 graduate.  A few years ago i didnt even know if she'd still be here - severe MH issues and has had C  & other ongoing health issues, I'm grateful everyday for her life
How am I feeling? Wrung out.  In physical discomfort, tired (hardly any sleep on Weds night ) a bit emosh after the graduation, disappointed at the election results where i work! overwhelmed with work for my PT and self emp jobs that are coming up....  
How can I take great care of me this weekend? Pace myself, get some fresh air, eat well, early nights
What are my intentions for next week? Be organised and be prepared.  I have lots of work for 3 of my jobs but i can do it so long as I prepare 

love Deni x

mothernerd

Thank you for your kind remarks. I'm on the second stage of my morning routine, have had a shower and got back in bed until I was thoroughly dry, just applied antiseptic cream and then a combination of face cream (scraping out the pot) and hand and nail cream (already cut the tube in half, down to the bit stuck in the top, which is now the bottom). Clothes may be optional today - my favourite dress is rubbing one of the bits I'm using antiseptic cream on. I should have 2 in a more flowing style but can only find one and it's already been used for painting. Did throw clothes down for washing but threatening rain stopped me putting clothes out to dry so new lot couldn't go in.

Managed 2 extra grooming tasks yesterday. My hair needs cutting but was absolutely exhausted by the extras so pushed it back whilst wet. May just do the bits coming near to my eyes when I can fit another 'extra' in. Ate 'use ups' ys beetroot and raspberries plus some little carrots. Food waste out - mainly theirs. potatoes and cabbage from weeks ago, the stalks from my carrots and a few dodgy raspberries, went through both fridges (their's had 3 packs of chopped swede and carrot bbf Apr 3rd, cooking bacon from September and a slick of green slime that had once been a lettuce) and put a wodge of kitchen roll (last of mum's, not something I buy) in the bottom to soak up the liquid waste.

Brought in 2 dried dresses (put out late on after the rain had stopped) and brought them back upstairs) but didn't put more out as rain threatened. DS1 messaged with some sad news - the doctor's won't intervene if the boys' father deteriorates further (he'd confided in me that this was the first operation he'd hoped not to wake up from). Didn't treat me well and was totally the wrong person for me but overall not a bad man. Slightly worried about the prospect of a funeral in north Wales (those for my parents-in-law were quite exhausting and I'm much older and less mobile) and want to help the boys, not be a hindrance. Tried to have the laptop on most of the day but no further news.

Rinsed the recycling that needed it and put it out, emptied the last few things from the dishwasher, refilled it (2 bags with pots I'd brought down along with recycling plus random bits gathered from around the house) and set it off. half filled the paper bag again. Read my borrowed plant based cookbook and made myself hungry. More use ups ys ready meals and then brought cheese spread, seeded w'meal bread and sliced red pepper back upstairs.

Finally managed NSD 1, but it was so hard. Really wanted crisps (I've switched to baked ones) and then chocolate, even looked at the takeaway app a couple of times but kept telling myself I could get through until today and I did. Later on I went outside and made a start on cutting up two long branches into bin sized bits but settled for gathering smaller branches and twigs. Glad I'd stopped because it absolutely poured down.

I need to go through the Friday review of the week as I want to be looking further ahead. Plodding is good when you can't do anything else but I need to look for some blue sky and not get bogged down. grateful for lovely food use up's, ditching the guilt over food waste (and binning a couple of takeaway containers that were gunged up - settling for getting most of the job done), new beginnings.

MazzieD

@mothernerd Just wanted to say thank you for all your posts so far this month, really making me think and enjoying any jokes that appear.  

I am reading everyone's posts, it's taken a few days for me to adjust, this is so different to anything I've done before but in a good way.

Think what I've got out of this week is that self-care is going to be a priority from now on.  It won't necessarily be a set day, but I'm planning to soak my feet tomorrow and really try to look after the most neglected part of my body.

Grateful for a tall handsome man appearing on my doorstep yesterday, we almost missed each other as I was on my way out and that he took my suggestion about ringing first really well. For getting the shopping done before the weekend and some housework/changing the bedding yesterday. 

Quiet weekend planned,  picnic with a couple of friends in a local park later today as the weather is lovely.  OH is working but might manage some time together.

Keeping a close eye on my cat who had a serious fight with another cat yesterday.  Seems ok but last time it happened had to rush him to the vet.  He is 13 now and should know better!.

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
Just checking in quickly before work. Unfortunately yesterday’s slightly spendy day became s biggish one. The microwave has started to make funny noises and get hot so it’s time to replace, so I found a basic decent price one which OH is collecting for me today. I was going to live without one for a while but it does seem to be one of my more necessary kitchen appliances with the electricity price rises. The last one is 14 years old so I’ve had my moneys worth.
Todays going to be a NSD mainly because by the time I’ve finished work I’ll be too shattered to do anything. One of our members has gone sick and it’s been impossible to get a replacement so we’ll just have to cope. Weekends are our busy time and especially as it’s a lovely day it will be busy. 

Anyway enough from me
Have a lovely day 

wishus

Good morning! What a gorgeous day in my neck of the woods. Just taking a break mid ironing sesh. It's last week's... More washing on the line making the most of the sunshine. I think I am bringing no-mow-May to an end tomorrow because all the gardens on my stretch now look like nature taking over in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Well my OH not too thrilled that I was pushing him out the door practically... He was supposed to go camping with friends this weekend, but found out someone he has fallen out with was also going so he's finally left to join them but left his tent behind ( he may end up crashing in someone else's then...). I wanted him out of the road as I need to blitz the house. I have to shift furniture and get rid of accumulated detritus in order to spray Indorex in all the corners and crannies. 

What can I celebrate this week?  9 years married. Okay I want him out of the house to clean it without him slobbing up the place and getting in the way. But you know, he's lovely.
What brought me joy? Cake. Better than cake - free cake.
How am I feeling? As grotty as my house if I'm honest. Been struggling with exhaustion all week, generally run down, dehydrated. Drinking lots of water, and I'll go for a walk later to get my vitamin D and buy lovely fruit.
What are my intentions for next week? Show my OH a good time for his birthday. Also super thrilled that my fab day out was a super bargain.

2 NSDs so far!

Shrewbie

 Hi turtles, especially the new ones. I need to properly catch up with all of your posts.

Deni - congrats to your DD on her graduation, it meant the world to me when both my parents came to mine (they separated when I was three y/o and that was the first time I ever remember seeing them in the same room) 
Thrifty - well done on the recommendations
hugs to suffolksue 
Mothernerd - thank you for the posts, especially the needs/wants thing, going to have a proper look at that.
Toni's friend - the brussel sprout did make me laugh

I sadly only have one NSD so far. It would be easier if bf and I didn't share a credit card as he's always doing top up shops. I don't blame him though, as he does most of the cooking it makes more sense for him to be in control of it, and he rarely overspends on silly things. 

I am out of hibernation and trying to be sociable. Went out yesterday to a day party after work (6 until 10pm - my kinds of hours) with an old friend. It was on a terrace on the top of a hotel with views of the city and the mountains...lovely. Today we have TWO birthday parties, also during the day... so let's see if I can maintain my good behaviour.

Exercise done this week but no more than usual, going to add some yoga and skipping into the mix next week (not together, though ) I have not been doing morning pages, would like to start this next week. I managed to go to bed early to read 3 days out of 5. 

 I have definitely been more sociable at work and feeling more comfortable and confident. I have tried not to stress about my Spanish  as I realised the fun element had been lost somewhat - the mischief!!! so made sure I did some lighter activities than like listening to podcasts every day and watching a silly film instead of stressing about needing to learn more grammar etc, and that approach seems to be working. 

Grateful for seeing a beautiful pink sunset, for feeling sociable, for receiving good feedback in my evaluation at work.

apple_muncher

mothernerd said:

Friday 6th May 2022

Friday Check In
What can I celebrate this week?
What did I learn?
What brought me joy?
How am I feeling?
How can I take great care of me this weekend?
What are my intentions for next week?

Happy Friday Here's to all of us who made it through another week of faking adulthood (Nanea Hoffman).  

This week I celebrate dc managing 4 days at school, for sprouting seeds, for planting stuff out, for finding a job to apply for, for keeping up on my workouts and monitoring my food intake, for prepping good salads and fruit salads.

I learned that I need to keep planning ahead as regards food and doing things like reading a book instead of losing time online.

I am joyful about completing the gcse orals smoothly, for chatting with big sis re going to Guernsey, for so e sunny weather.

I feel all of a muddle! Just as I start to feel on an even keel, something happens with dc and I'm all overwhelmed and wobbly and anxious again! But knowing that this happens is a start to managing it and dealing with it better.

This weekend will involve a fair amount of toing and froing. I've already been to the gym and liddle, and will take dc to dance later, so may go for a walk or pop into ch shops (looking for 2x trousers) while they dance. Tomorrow we're all busy at church so that's the morning done but we'll need to race hwk/prep/job application at some point. It's vital to choose the right  times to do them- that's part of my self-preservation.

For next week, I will continue prepping the salads. It makes life and meals just so much simpler.

'nuff wittering. Tom Baker is on the telly!

beanielou

Mothernerd. You are an inspiration. 

I am forever grateful that I live in a bungalow.