NST Sweet May 2023 - Pick 'N' Mix Challenge

lcc86

@Toni'sfriend sorry you've been having such a tough time recently, I hope things improve for you!

Today wasn't a NSD as had an escape room planned with friends. So had to pay for the train and also decided to get lunch as a group afterwards, it was nice to sit in the sunshine enjoying good company. Don't get to meet up with these friends enough so it was worth the spend.

Took a fair while to get home because of various train issues but have got the slow cooker on with a veg curry on the go, and now just relaxing. Need to get the dinner on shortly but feel like I'm about to nod off!

Thrifty_Taylor

Things will get better @Toni'sfriend. How you're feeling now is a bump in the road to your future healthy self. Rest when you can, escape in your book & recharge. All these appointments & scans take lots of your energy, plus the not knowing is hard too, so don't put additional pressure on yourself to be wonder woman & do everything else too!

Went to town after breakfast, dropped sewing off in two places, then had my haircut. It's 12 weeks since my last trim, as I missed my last one with being on holiday. Had quite a bit cut off, hoping it'll look good once I dry it myself. Guess it'll grow back at some point 🤣 picked mum up & we went good shopping. Put it all away, then went out into the garden. Some heavy rain showers, so went in after an hour. Updated spend sheets, then listed some things on the bay of E. Did lots of ironing after tea, then more of my rug.

Grateful for arranging to have a girly sleepover with mum on Friday, time outside, remembering how much I like the smell of bergamot

Shrewbie

ldee2111 said:

P.S I have had plenty of drama this week, sleepless nights from anxiety, but I have deliberately chosen to focus on what was good. I’m listening to an audiobook (free from library) and it’s called The Stress Solution by Dr Ragan Chattergee. I’m finding it very good. He’s also got a free podcast which I think is worth listening to. 

I love that podcast too! I was listening to the glucose goddess one yesterday, very interesting.

Lots of hugs to @toni'sfriend. I cannot imagine how horrible the waiting must be but you will get through it. 

Was going to make bread in the morning yesterday then realised I’d accidentally bought baking soda instead of yeast as the Spanish names are the same, so had to go to the supermarket to get some. Walked to the bigger, cheaper supermarket. While we were there I picked up a glass microwaveable lunch container and some cotton pop socks. Bags of frozen berries snuck into the trolley too. Home to make the bread and then went to the park to do some skipping, managed 15 minutes on and off and met loads of inquisitive dogs. Came home and did a bit of writing at which point the weather had turned so didn’t feel guilty for being indoors. Watched a couple of eps of a series before bf came home and we had bread slathered in butter with a bowl of dhal and indian pickles. Was delish. No NSD but minimal spends. More of the same today I hope! 

Grateful for bread turning out lovely, for interesting podcasts, for dogs and for a chilled and AF weekend.

f0xh0les

Yesterday was a quiet day, reading and a spot of tidying, laundry, and accidentally making a fruitcake, 6 massive coconut buns, and a tray of flapjacks....  well, the oven was on for the cake, so really it was moneysaving. Going to freeze the buns, the cake can go in lunchboxes,  and the flapjacks will go with a cup of tea and after school snack tomorrow.

Today's goals will be making pastry  to make pasties, so might as well make a pumpkin pie creation to be rid of a tin of pumpkin puree and one vegan condensed milk - I am properly committed to this pantry reduction experiment. I don't half have some bizarre stuff in my pantry! Luckily I am down to my last 5 bottles of ys BBQ sauce - in my defence it was 7p a glass bottle.

Thinking of making a new recipe this week - a chickpea and (not)chicken rice casserole, but worried about dissenters. Might get rid of one lonely knock-off p0t n0ddle if someone refuses though...... - I am working my way through my 10kg basmati rice sack (ys £3).    It is making a massive difference to the weekly grocery bill - will need to go shopping tomorrow for vegetables, as the pasties will wipe out most of what we have left.

Nothing wrong with clearing the decks every now and then is there?  - how goes your soupery @grandmanerd ?

Next week is the last week of school before half term.  Expecting wild mood swings from DS3 and DS4 - it tends to be the way when they can see the finish line. Then there are only 6 weeks left until the long summer holidays.  Really should plan things in.

Toni'sfriend

Taking your advice, Thrifty Taylor. Done virtually nothing today apart from paint my nails.

So my alternative wins today:

• The chicken in white wine and cream was so delicious, I hope I can remember how I made it so we can have it again.
• Himself made my salad with the sweet chilli chicken at lunchtime. Added some pineapple. That was also delicious.
• Having some gammon from freezer cooked in cider for dinner.
• Taken out some meatballs for dinner tomorrow. How many of the ***** things are there in there? It was going to be one of Himself's many unmarked containers but when it started to defrost he realised it was mashed turnip. Now I like turnip. I really do. But I don't want a plate of it for dinner. I despair of what is in all the other unmarked containers that are in there.
• Whipped up the rest of the cream and had scones, cream and black cherry jam this afternoon. This is all getting a bit foody, isn't it?
• Didn't sleep very well but read loads of my book.

So. After dinner I'm off to bed because I'm feeling really, really tired. I'm hoping this is all going to settle down once I've had these appointments. xxxx

f0xh0les

Accidentally made 18 scones instead of a pumpkin pie. 6 have gone into the freezer. 

lcc86

NSD today, off out early for a horse ride, sun was out and weather was beautiful! Very busy but had fun. Got some washing done and line dried, and have also done two batches of bolognese, a veggie lentil one for me and a meat one for OH.

OH wanted to get takeaway but I decided against it as I wanted to keep my NSD and not ruin my diet either.

beanielou

No sun here today.
Rain

Thrifty_Taylor

@Toni'sfriend glad you've done some pampering & rested today. Maybe I should take my own advice sometimes too!

NSD#11
A gorgeous day on our island. Had a lie in, then did a 5 mile walk with DH. The first time this year that we've done this route. Saw a very young calf asleep in a field, near its mum. It must've been dreaming cos it's body kept twitching. So cute!

Couldn't persuade DS3 to paint the fence, so I spent 2 hours doing it this afternoon. Had my headphones on & listened to a radio show from this morning. I would've liked to have done some weeding, but I thought " no, do some relaxing instead!" Had a watermelon ice lolly & read a chapter of my book, then watched the bees buzzing round the flowers. Went inside & had a nap for half an hour. Late tea, so started a sewing job, then finished it afterwards. Took GF home & dropped DS1 at the garage to collect his car. He was so pleased to have it back, after not driving it for at least 3 weeks. It's saved me having to rush in the morning to take him before I go to work, especially as there's roadworks nearby, with LONG tailbacks at peak times.

Had a nice bath with my book & soaked my aching muscles.

Grateful for a beautiful day, exploring, anything watermelon flavoured, DS getting his car back & a newly painted fence

@f0xh0les we break up for the summer on 30th June, 5 weeks & counting! 😃

f0xh0les

Urgh!  Envious of the more enlightened nations! We break up on the 14th July, but tragically I am living in a hotel getting  paid from 10th-21st July so I have to miss the first week They might even be bored by then!