NST January 2025: Freedom!

f0xh0les

Today was NSD16.  
Went to the free waste food shop and picked up some potatoes, peppers, spring onions, limes, oranges, naan breads, bread rolls and ciabatta.
Made fried banana and walnut balls for pudding from sad bananas in the fruit bowl.  
Roll on payday on Friday 

grandmanerd

February challenge https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6584226/nst-february-2025-love-and-kindness/p1?new=1

grandmanerd

Had a bit of excitement yesterday. The new neighbour had put her bin out and the gate slammed shut behind her and the latch dropped down. She asked was DS3 in, I tried but he was asleep. I suggested we try ourselves using my small ladder. I set it up and held it steady (the ground wasn't entirely level) and she climbed up. I was terrified she was going to fall over as her middle was on the top of the gate, her body hung forward as she scrabbled at the latch, her feet were barely touching the top step. I clung to the hem of her dress, trying to maintain contact with the ladder but eventually we did it.

Bins went out, fully loaded.

Earlier DS3 gave me a form to fill in for him. They were asking about childhood development. They gave me about 3/4 of a page. Eight pages later. So not done a lot else today.

Grateful for being able to help a neighbour, filling in DS3's form, lots of easy cook things to eat.

apple_muncher

3 ingredient brownies:

Mash 3 ripe bananas.

Add 120g or 1/2 cup peanut butter (I use crunchy but you can use smooth)

Persuade 50 g or 1/2 cup cocoa powder to mix in too.

Pop it all in a brownie pan 🤣🤣🤣 or use greaseproof paper to make a 15*15cm case and bake at gas 5, 180°F, 350°F for 25-30 mins.

Let it cool completely before cutting. It apparently makes 9 servings!

You can play around with the quantities, as I reckon thie combo of ingredients will never fail to produce something yummy!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a good gym session, for pottering on with making bunting, for Pip doing all day at school, for seeing a neighbour I've not seen in ages, for a useful meeting with Pip's head of sixth form.

Thrifty_Taylor

Thank you for a shiny new thread @grandmanerd, & for the delicious recipe @apple_muncher 😋

Another NSD today.

An ok day at work, but think there was something in the water, to make a couple of pupils test my patience!! A quick 10 mins nap when I got home, then paired up clean socks & unpicked 2 zips, which were replaced after tea. 

Grateful for managing not to fall for a FB scam re free local bus travel for 6 months, getting sewing done & contact from 2 more customers wanting some doing, watching TV with DS1

abundant1972

Good morning

Sorry for the AWOL - I have been in full-on hibernation mode, and recovering from a nasty flu/cough. 

Happy belated birthday grandmanerd - it sounded like you had a lovely day. Thanks for the brownie recipe apple_muncher - I am a nightmare for buying bananas and then not eating them when they get brown spots on them. 

Finally used up my stores, and defrosted the freezer (very satisfying!) and trying to get back into eating more fruit and veg. Since my op - they advise no fruit / veg with skins, no nuts too. I used to eat an apple a day and walnuts/almonds and spinach with most meals. My skin has now started developing dry patches which I've never had - so am convinced it is dietary related. Saw GP who just gave me steroid cream, and waiting on blood results. 

My challenge next month is to design a healthy meal plan. May have to zap fruit and veg in a blender, or just eat peeled fruit. I can buy nut butters which won't cause any blockages. Just have to think outside the box a bit.

I'm on track with budget - although totally lost track of my NSDs - I'm going to estimate 12 or 13. 

Today I am grateful for:

1) A chilled morning
2) Time spent with family yesterday
3) The internet

NSD total = 12 or 13 

Thanks for February's challenge grandmanerd. Love the theme. Since my cancer diagnosis, treatment and surgery - I get so frustrated that I am not doing more and am not back to normal yet. I tire easily, and even wake up tired - and give myself a hard time for it. I haven't been exercising because I can't do what I used to, and have ben struggling facing up to having to start from scratch with low weights and resistances. On top of that my body image has changed massively and there's an element of 'why would I put in the effort now to stay trim when nobody is going to see me like this anyway' (with a stoma). 

So self-love will be a big theme for me in February as I try to get back to work and some semblance of normality. I need to lower my expectations, and take onboard what I've been through last year physically, mentally and emotionally - and just be kind to myself. x

Thanks for running this month's apple x

Have a lovely day folks x

DawnW

@grandma247 thanks for the February thread (and of course thanks to @apple_muncher for this one)

@abundant1972 it sounds as though you have really been through the mill - take care and be kind to yourself

NSD- I- don't- know- how- many today. I have totally lost count  

Work today, wore a scarf that I had for Christmas, and it helped greatly in keeping warm. I must message the giver and tell them that their gift is much appreciated. I didn't even need the hot water bottle that I also took with me  

Took lunch with me, and dinner will be pesto pasta using home made pesto made from home grown basil (from the freezer) so cheap and easy

OH had made yummy cheese straws. I don't know why, but he makes them every Thursday. I have a couple after work also on Thursdays, not sure where the rest of them go  

beanielou

Finishing on 30 NSD’s. 

Kitchen is starting on Monday. Still got a lot to do though. 

grandmanerd

beanie We will be kitchen twins