NST February 2026 - You Are Enough

grandmanerd

Today I am grateful for getting my hair washed (all extra grooming tasks take a toll, I have to pick a 'good day' to do them), for doing the washing up, for finding more food combinations.

This month I'm allowing £100 for food which is difficult/ impossible. I'm going to use what I have and see how far I get. I would also like to go to the community shop. DS3 made me go under the stairs (apparently I'm the only one who can squeeze through) to sort through the tall freezer to accomodate their shopping. I pulled out some beet and bean burgers, two part packs of block meals (which I've bulked out with red pepper, mushrooms and tenderstem broccoli and added half a teaspoon of easy chillies as I found them rather bland). I also have a portion of curry sauce which came with their takeaway which will also be bulked out with veg.

Yesterday I made bacon soup (bacon misshapes, bag of frozen onions, brown lentils, pearl barley, half a cabbage, herbs and chilli flakes). The other half of the cabbage will be used with leeks, celery and carrots plus chicken and seasoning and more lentils and barley (possibly split peas). I've pulled out and mostly eaten spicy prawn lollipops, chicken dippers, crinkly chips, smoked mackerel, happy hog pigs in blankets plus frozen berries and lemon sorbet. Some of these can be repeated ie there are similar items in the freezer. I have peppers, radish, onions, carrots and celery which will make sticks for dips and toppings for cheese spread open sandwiches, omelettes and quiche muffins. I have eggs, some will be boiled for easy meals/ snacks.

in_need_of_direction

today I am grateful for a day spent at home, for time to read and for dinner from freezer ingredients. I am also grateful for DH keeping me hydrated with the regular provision of drinks.

grandmanerd

Monday 2nd February 2025

Self Care Ideas for February

Unlock new ideeas

Look at the big picture

Focus on life's sweetness

Set fire to self doubt

Treat yourself

Accept what's unknown

Find magic in Mondays

Make your home into a palace

Give love freely

Let yourself feel sad

Wriet a (self) love story

Don't wait foolishly

Notice what thrives in the cold

Decode your own truth

Unshackle your mind

(Positively Present)

thriftylass

Hello,

NSD number 1 today. Did a big shop on Friday but had forgotten a few things and got them yesterday. Sorted the school snacks and stashed them away. Plus DD needed a new phone case (natural wear and tear). I will not be replacing DS headphones however. He cracked his (irreparable) and then mine by lying on the side of his head in bed. Passed him a roll of gaffer tape till he can afford his own again.

Edit: got my days mixed up. Did the shop of forgotten things on Sat which was still January, so it's NSD 2 today.

f0xh0les

Food shopping wrangled, if it isnt in the house, they can flippin' well do without or buy it themselves.

Menus planned

Volunteering done

Birthday presents opened, he danced around the room a bit, he is a happy little chappie today.

Nothing more to do today than cook supper and ice the cake. In totally unMSE fashion I bought a tub of ready made icing, but it was actually cheaper than buying more butter and icing sugar. Swings and roundabouts. He will be full of cake and loving it. Fizz bought. Ice cream bought. Job done.

Going to go and play with my sourdough-friend.

DawnW

Washing is out on the line as it isn't raining for once. I must get it back in shortly, as it is going to rain, no doubt.

Bought seed potatoes and a bag of compost at the garden centre this morning (also succumbed to 3 primroses in lovely jewel colours), then went into the attached lovely farm shop and bought a couple of sausage rolls for lunch and a bag of posh bread flour. The went into my work shop and put in a couple of bits to sell. Pleased to see that a couple of items had sold since I was last there on Friday 😊 It was payday too, and I have done quite well this month.

When we got back I put the seed potatoes in egg boxes on a windowsill to chit, and planted the primroses in a tub outside the back door to make it look a bit more cheery, and it has, a bargain for £4.50 😊 While I was out there I earmarked a plant stand and some pretty pots to sell next month when people start looking for garden things.

I have washed up and tidied the kitchen, swallowed a medical related frog and been through the fridge as it is shopping day tomorrow. Froze some peppers and some cooked beetroot which won't be used in the next couple of days and would otherwise go off. Easy dinner tonight, BLT for me and bacon, brie and cranberry for DH, on Mr W half ciabattas from the freezer.

Grateful today that it isn't raining, for a good sales month and a garden centre visit - honestly I could spend a fortune there, but luckily I don't 😎

apple_muncher

I think I'd like to eat round at grandmanerd's house!

Today I am grateful for Pip having a good zoom call that moved things on a bit, for dh getting to spend time with a friend, for doing a workout at home as I couldn't get to the gym, for fresh bed linen, for baked potatoes, for a robin in the garden.

grandmanerd

Mrs Builder came, the kitchen and shower room are clean and clear, 3 bin bags went out including a huge one from upstairs, plus one each of paper and cans/ bottles. She did some sweeping and mopping in the front room and we both did litter clearing. I asked her to bring my laundry basket down from upstairs so I can pretend to be a normal civilised person. (I finally did the washing yesterday and it may be a day or two until I feel able to tackle the sheets which are still on the bed).

I found some embroidery thread that's a near match for my cardigan so have gathered thread, needles, the cardigan and the button that need to be sewn back on. I asked Mrs Builder if she would be going near a letter box and she's taken my cousin's Christmas card and letter - my cousin will spread the word to my other cousins as to why they didn't get cards. I also took stock of who actually sent me cards. I've been trying to cut back on cards sent for a few years. For many years I sent my cards out the first week of December. I've been late for the past couple of years, dwindling to almost none this year (reluctant to pass on unwanted viruses whilst I was coughing and spluttering) and only 2 cousins have sent me a card (5 missing).

I charged both phones this morning and had a call from the solicitor when they were turned back on. She wanted to check my bank details. The sale of grandma's house will go through today and the money will be in my bank account in 2 to 3 days. It is going into my new account (I kept the old one open because I thought the money was going in there.

Budgets Food has already been discussed. I was going to say £20 for travel, but will say £30 and try to get out more (will be less if I can use buses, more if I need to use taxis). I need a haircut but have 2 appointments that take priority (haircut will happen if I have any energy left). I also have an amount set aside for 'luxuries' (house sale bonus). I have set an upper and lower limit and there will be a couple of one off charity donations (normally done at Christmas but felt so uncertain as to whether the sale would go through). My 'luxury' list includes new front room curtains, two bedspreads (one for the bed and one to cover the couch) and yes it is still the same bedspread as previously discussed. I'm wobbling over colours. Room is rich cream, curtains are dark brown, 2 seater couch (keeping for now), new sh armchair is brown with cream flowers. I'm planning for 2 pairs of curtains and reusing the existing curtains as door curtains and then either deep green or turquoise/ teal for the bedspreads. Except that dark brown curtains seem to be out of fashion. 'Brown' curtains seem to be rust (orange) or mucky beige. I looked at green and teal and the greens are lime to mid green (grass green). Anyway I have an amount set aside and will have fun choosing and making careful decisions. Small items include glasses cases (saw lots of good ones from charity sites when sourcing presents but wasn't falling into the trap of buying things for me).

Grateful for getting rubbish/ recycling out, getting more books out of bags on the floor and into boxes stacked up, finding new homes for things and living from the fridge and cupboard.

.

in_need_of_direction

yesterday was my proper start to February. Inspired by this thread, I initiated what I would like to have done for each new year. I had a sort out of my work space and created a realistic to do list. I also addressed an issue outstanding since November that was popping up on my outlook calendar daily. It took one phone call lasting less than 9 minutes and things are sorted until next November.

Food was a combination of stores and leftovers for all three of us and I was able to help a former colleague income generate.

Today I am grateful for £200 from Ernie, a first step to creating a palace like home and items appropriately disposed of

grandmanerd

Tuesday 3rd February 2025

Is Your Home a Safe Serene Place When Things Are Stormy Outside (wider implications I think)

Home Safety Priorities (preparation reduces stress in the moment)

1 Clear exits and walkways

2 Charged powerbanks and phones

3 Hot water flask filled

4 Torch candles and batteries easy to reach

Simple systems Make Preparation Easier (Organisation saves time and stress)

1 Clear labels = quick decisions

2 Everything has a home

3 No last minute scrambling

4 No panic buying in emergencies

Ceate One Cosy Family Space

1 Blankets and throws ready

2 Board games or colouring in

3 Meals made from simple, no-cook foods

4 One room together

Stay home if you can - make it cosy

Comfort and connection matter in unsettled weather

(by Serenity Spaces NI - in Armagh)