Valentine's Day

Hello All,

I hope you are all warm and well and happy!!! Not too much to ask is it?!

I can't believe half term is upon us already....since I turned 40 the time seems to be going much quicker!!!  The childcare this week has fallen to my parents for two days, my hubbies parents tomorrow and my husband Thursday and both of us on Friday so we can spend at least one day together as a family!!  It does annoy me sometimes that with school holidays, teacher training and the contingency plan for the chance of 1 or more of my three children getting sick at some point too that my husband and I only manage to have a week or maybe two off together!  But that's life(well the life I've chosen to have!).

My hope of sticking to £300 is a bit shakey but i will only go over getting stuff like milk and fruit so it will be close so I am happy with that!  I have got loads in the freezer and fridge and enough beans and chickpeas to sink a batleship so I will be able to rustle up something tasty in a flash!! This week so far I have made a beef chilli and rice and today we had stick pork stir fry with noodles(Kids had chicken nougats, homemade potato wedges and beans as the pork dish was one I haven; made before and wanted to test taste it myslef before making it for all 5 of us!)!  My mum in law cooks us tea every Wednesday.I have cooked all the meals from scratch and as I shelled out quite a bit of money on herbs and spices I hope that I will see a reduction in my food bill next month as these should last a wee while!

Happt St Valentine's Day to you all, I spend it with the residents in work we had a valentine singalong with the assitance of my dad and my son on their ukuleles and my daughter singing and shaking her tambourine!  My husband is happily watching Shameless in the lounge as I type up here in the attic!!  But I do admit that he is my gorgeous man who I have had the pleasure to have as my partner, lover, friend and husband for the past 16 years!!! He still makes my heart skip a beat with one kiss!! and I love him very much!!!

Nos da/Good night everyone

Natalie xx

My frugal journey so far!!

Well Hello There!

2012 has been a very frugal year so far!!!  I stuck to a £250 shopping budget which I was impressed with as there are five of us and a labrador to keep fed and watered! I obviouslyquite a bit of food left over from December so that made it a bit easier.  February's budget for food etc is £300 and I will hopefully not go over that as I have planned meals etc for 3 weeks!! only time will tell but I will try my very hardest to stick to it ;o)

Reading the blogs I follow has inspred my in several different areas of my life...gardening, crafting, being frugal and trying to live a greener and better life!  Thank you all!!

I am cream crackered so it's off to bed for me!

Nitey nite all

Natalie xx

New beginnings

Hello All,

Today I say a final farewell to a friend, a friend who lived life her way, she did what she wanted, how she wanted when she wanted!  I admire her for that!  Her passing away has made me rethink my life, as you do, and it has been the kick up the a&$e I needed to sort my act out!

I have started the ball rolling in building a better life for myself and all the people I love....Life is too short to stand on the sidelines to nervous to join in!!

So heres to the rest of my life!!

TTFN

Natalie x

Life is precious

Hello All,

Yesterday I found out that a friend died....she was a lovely, sweet, gentle girl who had a refreshing attutude to life....

Her death has made me realise that Life is for living, don't sweat the small stuff and love and cherish all you love and care for and tell them as often as you can how much they mean to you and how much you truly love them!!

Rest in Peace, sweet gentle Alison xx

Natalie xx

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda - Happy New Year!!!

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a quick post to say Happy New Year/Blwyddyn Newydd Dda to everyone!!!  May you all be blessed with Health and Happiness in 2012!!!!

Love to you All,

Natalie xx

1/12/11 A New beginning

Hello All

Its been a while and I apologise......I have been on here reading all my favourite blogs but just needed a break from computers etc.  I have also had loads of work done to the house which meansI have had loads to do but we are over the worse and getting the hous straight again, which makes me a happy lady!

I have to go cook paella so I will be back on to tell you what has happened in the last few months!

Love n hugs to you all

Natalie xx

Countdown to 6/9!

Well I can now say that the children have all they need to start back to "Ysgol" on Tuesday!!! Bought the last pair of school shoes, the obligitry new underwear and socks and waterproof coat for the younger two!!! So, come on Tuesday, lets be having you!!! I just want a teeny bit of routine to get my head straight!!!

Well I'll be fine tuning my monthly meal plan and shopping for it all on Monday.....I visited my mam and dad earlier today and they were eating "Cawl"(Welsh Lamb Stew) and I had a longing for stews and casseroles so I will be sure to include them in the coming months and Aldi's three bird roast is down to £6.99 at the moment so I am going to buy 4 of them and put them in the freezer because we all love it and as there are five of us there is plenty to go around! I am probaby going to stockpile some things that are on offer like washing powder, fabric conditioner and washing up liquid so I won't have to buy them for a while.  So I will get bck to you with them amount I spend once the shopping is done.

We are having a day out as a family tomorrow which will be lovely...The company I work for have organised and end of summer event/ family day at the community farm near where I live and it will cost us £5 for the five of us when it is usually between £10-15!!! there is a bbq, treasure hunt, access to the farm with food for animals, raffles etc so it should be great day. 

Another thing I am looking forward to is the family service in church tomorrow.  My dad and my son are playing their ukulele's and I will be playing my flute to accompany the hymns, my children wil be saying the Lord's Prayer in Welsh and I will be reading a poem that I have written so I pretty excited about that too!! It's gonna be a busy Sunday but i love it!!!!!

Anyway....I'm off now

TTFN

Nat xx