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

School Shoe Shopping!!!!!

Today is the day I dread every year....school shoe shopping!!!! I took the younger two to the dentist and then bit the bullet and ventured into Clarks...to my surprise it was relatively quiet!!! the ticket machine was on 15 and I was number 17 so I was quite happy....shoes sorted and £65 worse off! and I still have one child's shoes to buy!!!! She is in Year 8 and doesn't want any velcro of any sort anywhere near her feet!!(even the shoes for older girls in there mostly have a whiff of velcro but they also come in the size that my 6 year old wears...not good for the 12 year olds street cred!)  She has seen a few pairs she liked when she went to town with her Nan but none were in her size so I am taking her in to our town to see if they have anything there for her.  Clarks shoes have been excellent for my children over the years and my kids have the slowest growing feet in the world so the girls shoes last all year and my son's until Easter!(football, rugby, superheroes etc mean his fall apart rather than his feet growing!  So although bt the end of the weekend I will have spent near enough £100 on shoes they will serve my children well over the academic year so I see it as money well spent!

I still need to do a proper shop which may be tomorrow...if I can face Aldi and Asda on a Saturday!!!! :o(..
Also the children are all back in school on Tuesday as, you guessed it, there is teacher training on Monday!!! But with the beginning of a new school year comes some normality and order which is always welcome after the mad, dizzy school holidays!  So I can only put off going shopping until Monday anyway.....I will have to get myself psyched up - wish me luck!!

Have a great weekend

love Nat x

Day 1 -Freezer Surprise for tea!

I haven't done a big shop and although I am not at the Old Mother Hubbard stage I am teetering on the edge of it!

However I managed to feed the family a healthy tasty, if a little bit wierd and wonderful, meal so I happy with that!

I will write a menu plan for the month, buy as much as I can at the beginning of the month and buy stuff like fruit etc as and when.

I have started saving the tetra pac as I have found out that the ASDA close to where I work has a carton recycling point so I won't be going out of my way to recycle them!! Marvellous!!

I have spent nothing today so I am happy with that too!!

TTFN

Love Nat xx

New month.....new me!!!???

Once again a month has gone by and I haven't blogged.....I added photos last time and the memory stick they were on appears to be corrupted so I have lost(unless my cousin can sort them out) lots of cherished and special photos.....so that upset me a bit!!!  Also as it is the school holidays I have been rushing around family depositing my children for the 4 hours a day I work...also I have been involved in a fete in work and a family fun day in church as well as the usual crap that life throws at you!! 

So September is the month I give myself a kick up the bum and get sorted....get back to being frigal, planning my meals...not spending money unnecessarily...and trying to save a bit!!! I want to become greener in the way I live and DE-CLUTTER, DE-CLUTTER, DE-CLUTTER my life and home!

So here's to 1/9/11 when I do something each day to become greener, declutter and  save some money!!

Wish me luck!

love to you all

Nat xx

My Blaen Bran Adventures!!!

SORRY FOR THE PHOTOS NOT ALL FACING THE RIGHT WAY BUT I WAS IN A RUSH AND COULDN'T WORK OUT HOW TURN THEM!!

I HAD LOADS OF FUN THOUGH!!

What Ive been up to - Rhodes - July 2011

Hello everyone....I hope you are all well!!

Sorry it has been so long but, as is always the case, life has got in the way of my blogging....I do apologise.  I have also lost my way again with the frugal aspects etc of my life.  Over the past two months I have had two weddings to attend, one locally, where my husband was the best man and then my niece's wedding in Northern Ireland.   Much of the time I have been swimming, going to the gym, or buying outfits etc for myself and the family.  I think what annoyed me was I spent lots of money on a dress, my nails and eyebrows, foundation garments and I feel soooo guilty as I was professing to be a frugal girl trying to live simply etc and this lot has just blown it right out of the water!!!  Don't get me wrong I will wear all I have bought for a while to come and I will get my money's worth out of all the purchases and I ensured the kid's outfits were suitable for regular use too so maybe I shouldn't beat myself up about it!

Any way Friday is a new month and I have decided that this will be my new start back on the frugal, good life, simple living wagon!!

I have been sewing lots of hearts to fill with lavender, I have been making loads of fete makes for work with th residents and I have things growing in the garden.  I have also had the chance to record a poem I wrote for a digital story ;O)

So, heres to a new month, a new start and a new focussed Natalie!!

LOVE TO YOU ALL

Natalie xxx

BOO!!!!

Hello all,

I am still here......I will be back very soon......Love you all

Nat xx

Thank the Lord for the Rain!!

I just want to say that I have never looked forward to rain so much in all my life and it has worked it's magic and things are popping left, right and centre in my garden!!! Hoorah!!!

Thank God for the rain!!

XX

Hello!

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all well as I type this post....sorry again for the long spaces between posting...sometimes life just gets in the way ;o))

The school holidays, bank holidays and "Teacher training" pinned on the end(for two of the three children as the comprehensive is picking a random day in May instead..don't you just love it!) have messed with my head and my body clock a bit too so hopefully I can do some decent post on a regular basis from now on (fingers crossed!)

I have planted some flowers etc in the garden and I got some Jamie Oliver herbs(parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, margoram and mint 1/2 price) so they are in my garden along with other eatable things that I will expand on if they materialise...My peas are coming through and my dad has given me some beans that he started off so I'm on my way on the gardening front which is enough to put a smile on my face.

Over the school holidays(week before and week after Easter in Wales) I worked so the children stayed with my mother and father in law, my husband or my mum and dad's but as I only do 4 hours a day it wasn't soooo bad and I still had the bank holidays.  We went to Porthkerry Park & St Fagans over the Easter weekend and went for a woodland walk with the dog in Wentwood and Chepstow Castle and Museum on The May day weekend so we all had loads of fun as a family which is always a good thing.

I went on a training course yesterday to enable me to teach Seated physical activities to the residents in work!!! It was lots of fun and I can't wait to get them moving about a bit!!

Here is my 4 week menu plan:-

Week 1

MONDAY: Hot dogs, wedges and salad
TUESDAY: Baked fish, rice/pasta and salad
WEDNESDAY: MOTHER IN LAWS FOR TEA!!
THURSDAY: Oven cooked burgers, chips and salad
FRIDAY: Chicken Fajitas, salad andf tortilla chips
SATURDAY: Curry and brown rice
SUNDAY: Roast beef Sunday dinner

Week 2

MONDAY: Salmon, salad and new potatoes
TUESDAY: Chili con carne and brown rice 
WEDNESDAY: MOTHER IN LAWS FOR TEA!!!
THURSDAY: Pesto Chicken, rice/pasta, salad
FRIDAY: Chicken enchiladas and salad
SATURDAY: Home made pizza, wedges and garlic gread
SUNDAY: Roast pork Sunday dinner

Week 3

MONDAY: Spagetti bolognese and garlic bread
TUESDAY: Baked fish, rice/pasta, salad
WEDNESDAY: MOTHER IN LAWS FOR TEA!!
THURSDAY: Pork loins, new potatoes and salad
FRIDAY: Prawn curry and brown rice
SATURDAY: Chicken fajitas, salad and tortilla chips
SUNDAY:  Roast lamb Sunday dinner

Week 4: 

MONDAY:Oven cooked burgers, chips and salad
TUESDAY: Paella
WEDNESDAY: MOTHER IN LAWS FOR TEA!!!!
THURSDAY: Tuna steaks, rice/pasta and salad
FRIDAY: Chili con carne and rice
SATURDAY: BBQ
SUNDAY:  Roast chicken Sunday dinner

I have bought the bulk of the ingredients etc for all for weeks as well as stuff for the sandwiches, sandwich bag staples and it came to approx £220, so all I need to buy is fresh vegetable and fruit, milk and bread(if I don't bake it) and it is a mixture of economy, best and mid range products within the shop so I was quite impressed with that!!

I will have to love you and leave you for now but I will be back soon,

Take care all xxxxxxxxx

SUNSHINE!!!!

Hello Everyone,

What a glorious day it is today in sunny South Wales!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I hope the sunshine is shining down on you today!! Raising your spirit, drying your washing and generally ensuring you have a lovely Tuesday!!  Work at 1.30 today so I will do a "proper post" later!!!!

Have gud un!!!

Later

NatalieXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

What a chuffing week Ive had!!

Hello all,

I've just managed to get off the hamster wheel of mummy, wife, working woman life and having a breather before jumping back on!!!

I compiled a 4 week meal plan and went shopping and spent £200 and will only have to buy fresh fruit and veg and a few bits and bobs!!

Since last Friday I have had a cough and a cold which is still managing to linger and hang on in there today...It is snot central still and to top it off I was awoken by an upset tummy 5.23 this morning!!!(You always remember the time when you are woken early!! - Thank God for Imodium ;o)))

I haven't been to the gym or swimming this week because of the above and my gorgeous dad has given me and my mischevious dog a dog run that I would live in!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have triesd to explain how amazing it is to the kids that my dad had an idea in his head and made into reality and built it with his own hands and that this was a gift and a brilliant thing!!! I couldn't do it!!!(Photos to follow!)

I can now plan my garden safe in the knowledge that JJ will not immediately pull it out and shake it to death so a busy few weeks ahead me thinks.

I have had a whirlwind of school stuff, parties and usual after school stuff which I let get me down...Its that time of the month when the littlest thing has had me balling my eyes out!  Oh and to top my week off I had a bump in my car :O(...it is being sorted and there was nobody injured so I am very lucky.  I have a replacement car so I am able to carry on with day to day life!!

Anyhow, this was only a quicky and I will attempt to write a bit more regularly and have some creative and happy posts for all you lovely followers out there

Have a lush weekend

xx

The ***** is back!!!!(you fill in the blank with what you see fit!)

Hello everyone,

Sorry for my little break from blogging....I just let stupid stuff that I have no control over and won't do me any physical harm get to me!!! All better now!

I lost my way with my craft, gardening & frugalising but I am truly focussed now....but after reading my my frugal life and the frugal queen's blogs I am still an amatuer at the frugalising lark! They have inspired me to step it up a notch and use up some of my store cupboard stuff that seemed a good idea at the time.

I have also decided to go back to doing my shopping monthly along with a menu and just buy fresh stuff as an when as I found I was spending £20 here, £15 there, £30 here and that mean't I was losing track a bit.  What I intend to do is do a big shop at the beginning of every month which will consist of all I need for my main meals and then buy fruit, veg and yogurts etc as and when.  I will keep you posted on how it goes.

I have also bought, raspberries, Rhubarb and Asparegus(?spelling) so I will be planting them once my dad has built my dog run so JJ doesn't come along and pull up everything like he did last year!!! Oh, and I haven't forgotten my mushroom kit which I will be sorting soon......

Crafting is a bit slow but I'm sure my mojo will return soon....

I hope all the mothers out there had a wonderful Mothering Sunday and were spoiled rotten...I had lovely cards, money, flowers and a  t-shirt(for the gym :o)) and my eldest daughter bought me an owl(you know what I am like about owls!) and a necklace from a Charity shop...I was so touched and impressed with her choices and she is definitelu a chip off the old block!

Have a lovely week ahead

XX

Sorry....

I've been a very bad blogger and haven't posted for a week or two!!! I feel really bad!!  I have been very busy, lost my way on my frugalizing and simple living and my craft mojo has stumbled a bit too..

Normal service will be resumed very soon and you will have a super doopa post very soon!! 

Just completed the Census for 5 of us so I'm all computered out!

Have a lovely week ahead all

Love n Hugs

Natalie xx

What Natalie Did......

This week has been another busy(ish week)

Monday I joined the local gym....I would like to point out that I thought long and hard and realised that a 1/2hour walk with the dog ain't gonna shift the pounds!!! I paid £310 in advance which meant that I had 12 months for the price of 10 saving myself £62 and I can use all the facilities in my local leaisure centre and three others in the area too so I was quite happy with that!  I have been to the gym 3 times this week and went swimming today and Tuesday so I am going to make damn sure I get more than my moneys worth!!

Tuesday was Pancake Day which I love and I made pancakes for my family and my mum and dad came over...they were gluten free as my mum is a coeliac but the were delicious anyway...no one could taste the difference!  The toppings available were the old school lemon and sugar, then there was golden syrup, choocolate spread, marshmallows and lemon curd.  My youngest daughter went for the chocolate spread and marshmallow combo which looked delicious but I was old school as was my mum and dad!!!  It was fun and lovely to have us all together!!  It was also my monthly "Open Mic" night with my dad, it was an interesting night with a lady asking us to get involved in digital storytelling and then we all read poems we had written or admired....lush night spent with my lush dad!!

Wednesday was busy but not to bad, started Lent which entails giving up nice food and Facebook and following a daily Bible reading diary....;o)

Thursday my son was singing in a Schools Choral festival so I was running around a bit but it was lovely to here the choir sing!

Friday brought the devestating news of what was happening in Japan and made me realise what a lucky lucky person I am to be where I am, with a healthy family, a house that is still standing and all the creature comforts that we take for granted!!!!  My thoughts and prayers are with them all!!!!

Saturday was Karate day(for the 3rd day this week for darling eldest and son)  I will take them to the ends of the earth if it means they are getting some physical exercise!!!!)  I then tidied my greenhouse and garden which brought some extra colour to my already red face and got a line of washing out whille there was a hint of blue sky! 

And finally today was a delightfully, delicious, sunny Sunday!!! What more could you ask for?

I was up and out at 9.30 to go to the second writing workshop with my dad and it was once again a brilliant 3 hours, the poet who is taking the workshop was impressed with the work I had done and that has only stoked up my enthusiasm even more and the creative juices are overflowing at last...there has been a bit of a drought in recent times so I am sooooo glad ;o))))  and this afternoon the five of us went swimming...it was a family fun time with balls, floats, toys, lights and music....the kids loved it and it was very nice to do something together as a family!

Although my heart is heavy for the people of Japan, and New Zealand still...I wish all my bloggy friends wherever you are a lovely week ahead.....XxXxXxXxXxX

One Weird Week!!!

I have had quite a busy week again this week but it has been enjoyable....

My two younger children went back to school on Monday but my eldest was off so she stayed with Nanna and Grandad, she went to town and had her hair cut in a "Jessie J" style bob and she looks absolutely gorgeous but about 3 years older than she is ;oO.  It is amazing how a cut and blow dry can give someone a bit of confidence, so it was worth the money just for that.

Tuesday was St David's Day so my two younger children went to school in their welsh costumes and I did a Wales inspired singalong in work...so I had a wonderful day...once that was out the way it was time to think of what to wear for World Book Day!!!  To add to it the primary school wanted it to be a character from a book that they had read in school...easy you might think but my children go to a Welsh Medium School!!!  Luckily they have read Harry Potter in Welsh so that was my son sorted and to my delight my youngest daughter wanted to go as a character I cant spell but it turned out they were a black cat!! Marvellous!!! Ears on a headband, eyeliner on the face and a tail made out of strips of leather I had-Phew!!

In between all of this I had volunteered to deliver "Yes for Wales" leaflets before the referendum(500 to be exact) that kept me fit!!  Thursday was the actual referendum day and Friday the count...I was asked to be a counting agent by one of the councillors in the area I live...I didn't know what to expect and it was very interesting....the Yes vote went through at about 65-35% in favour ...only time will tell what difference it will make to my life...I don't pay for prescriptions which is marvellous and as I type University and college fees will remain cheaper for students studying here or in England because they will be subsidised.

And today I went to a creative writing workshop with my father and my daughter. It was amazing and I feel like it was the little shove I needed to start getting into writing poetry on a regular basis!  I feel like I have my creative writing "Mojo" back...there are another 3 workshops so I will keep you posted!

I didn't stick rigidly to my meal plan last week as the children wanted chicken curry instead of fajitas and pasta yesterday instead of pizza.  I was fine with this as I had things in the cupboards so didn;t have to shell out for more food.

Anyhow here is this weeks menu:-

MONDAY: BEEFBURGERS AND CHIPS(ALL OVEN COOKED)

TUESDAY: TURKEY MINCE AND SWEET POTATO SHEPHERDS PIE AND PANCAKES

WEDNESDAY: MOTHER IN LAWS FOR TEA(YAY!!)

THURSDAY: BEEF CASSEROLE, POTATOES AND VEGETABLES

FRIDAY; CHICKEN FAJITAS

SATURDAY; PAELLA

SUNDAY: LAMB ROAST DINNER

All I should need to get for next week is the lamb and some chicken for the end of the week...so it's all good!!

I am hoping to be doing some planting next week too!

I start Lent on Wednesday which entails me giving up cakes, crisps, sweets, etc as well as not going on FACEBOOK.. I am also going to be limiting my time on here to 30 mins a day!!!  Talk about cold(ish) turkey!!! :o)))))

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.

xx

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus!!!

How was your weekend?

I had a nice weekend....my nephew had his 6th birthday yesterday which, with 24  6 year old biys and girls was eventful to say the least...then I went to do my shopping....I spent £150....I got loads including the usual school stuff, juices bread, fruit etc and this should mean I haven't got to do a big shop for at lest two weeks so its all good.

Meal plan for next week:-

MONDAY: VEGETARIAN MEATBALLS(THAT COMBO NEVER MAKES SENSE!), SPAGETTI AND TOMATO AND MASCAPONE SAUCE.

TUESDAY: BACON, POTATOES AND BEANS(HEALTHILY COOKED!)

WEDNESDAY: MOTHER IN LAWS FOR TEA!!!!

THURSDAY: TURKEY CHILI(LOADS OF "HIDDEN" VEG IF POSSIBLE!)

FRIDAY: CHICKEN FAJITAS

SATURDAY:TUNA & SWEETCORN PIZZAS, WEDGES AND GARLIC BREAD (ALL HOME MADE)

SUNDAY: PORK LOIN ROAST DINNER

I am going to try and make some bread throughout the week as I have a cupboard full of flour etc, I have three v large and v ripe bananas that are feeling sorry for themselves so I intend to make a gluten free cake for my mum and one for my family as they are low fat and extremely tasty(recipe in a previous post) and there is a yoghurt that has just finished being made going in the fridge as I type so its all good at the moment!

In my wisdom today I purchased a mushroom growing kit from Aldi's as well as an early crop strawberry starter kit.  My intention is to get some fruit trees that have been grown especially for pots and wont grow too big...the ones in Aldi's stated that they would grow to between 5 and 25 ft!!!  I did look on the internet and found some and I will try and purchase them over the next few weeks, eating apple, cooking apple and plum ;oO....I also have some poundland spuds and that need to be chitted and shallots to be planted so I better pull my socks up!!  Also I have been inspired by Keepapi Creative to make some sort of preserve, marmalade, hopefully!

My two younger children are back in school tomorrow, my older child is in the comprehensive and has a teacher training day...so not only have I got to beg, steal and borrow favours for the school holidays I also have children with different teacher training days to add in to the mix...fun fun fun! They have had a nomadic week with a different person including my husband and I having them each day of the week but they had a couple of chill out days(which equals staying in the PJs all day!), we went to an arts and crafts session and Abergavenny, my mother and father in law had my three and my niece and nephew(don't envy them..3 of them are 11 + and were happy with ipods, laptops and doing nails!!), my dad took them to see the Neslon museum and then my mum took them to the pantomime on Friday....They'll be going to school for a rest!!  My oldest child went to a creative writing workshop for young people 11+ with my dad today and they were the only ones there so she basically had a 1-1 workshop with a poet!!!! Lucky girl,  she loved it and learnt loads, wrote some poetry that is going to be displayed in the art gallery in Blaenavon..I'm so happy for her, I am going over the next few weeks as it is more geared to adults but they are encourging N to go to those too!!!  Three generations writing creatively together....what an amazing and special memory we will be making!!!

I can't believe that March is quickly descending on us.....St David's Day on Tuesay!!...which I absolutely love, daffidils, welsh cakes, singing (loads of welsh songs ready for the singalong in work), my little ones in their outfits(photos will be posted!!)...I am so proud to be Welsh!!! and the referendum on Thursday!!!! Yet another busy week...but I shouldn't complain as I have my health, my family and friends, a roof over my head and I live in a democracy!!!

May you have a blessed, fruitful and enjoyable week ahead of you

Nos da

Natalie xxxxxxx

FRUGALICIOUS MARCH!!!!!!

As I have stated earlier in the week my frugalising mojo faded a bit in February and that has annoyed me!!!  I was still pretty good and on spent approx £450 for the whole month on shopping...everything* 2 grown-ups, 3 children and a labrador!!!)!!! So I am not totally lost, however I have bought(YES bought!!) cards and pressies for birthdays etc when I have cupboards spewing out all manner of crafty stuff begging me to find some time to get re-acquainted with them and millions of toys that should be re-gifted to new owners!!

I have also slipped on the old weekly menu and cost posts that I started, which I found therapuetic and helpful and someone out there may find them helpful....I have also slipped on the recipes etc. Bad blogger!!!!

As I have stated  before I have changed my career path, which I absolutely love but I am half the money I earned this time last year...I therefore need to start car booting, to clear my chocablock garage so that maybe, just maybe, a car could squeeze in there and to ensure that my aching creeking attic doesn't fall in on me in the middle of the night.  I also need to start making and selling my cards, "Cloth Cupcakes, Nappie Cakes, Jewellery and other homemade items to generate money......a plan must been drawn up and steps taken ;o)))

I also have to plan what I am going to grow in my postage stamp garden to become ever so slightly more self sufficient which I hope to do this weekend and attempt to become a bit greener to boot too!!

So, we can safely say we have a couple of things to getting on with over then next few weeks!!!!

Fun Fun Fun

I will draw up next weeks menu on Sunday for the week ahead and then give you the low down on how much was spent.

Have a simply divine and delightful weekend XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Do you ever get that feeling?.............

I don't know what it is but for the past 3 months or so I have had an overwhelming feeling I should be doing more with my life.....I NEED to get involved in my community, bring a bit of sunshine into lives of people less fortunate than me....it is a feeling deep down in my stomach and it is constantly there...maybe it's a "turning 40 thing" I don't know but it just wont go away....

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, it is amazing to me still that I get paid to do my job, singing, dancing, crafting and gardening with a group of people who have lived long, varied and wonderful lives but I believe I need to get out there in my local community and help.

How, where, when is another matter but I know deep in my heart this feling won't go away!

I am so glad I have got that off my chest ;O)

Thanks for listening..reading....oh you know what I mean!

Love to you all xxxx

Mmmmmm....

I have done over 60 posts since I started this blog in late November 2010 but I realise these are my photo diary(Since January!!).  I have, therefore decided to only do my photos once a week, probably on the weekend, this should give me the motivation and the time to actually write something in my blog rather than just describing photographs ;o)

It's the start of a new month on Tuesday (and it's St David's Day!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!).  So my pledge for March is to get my frugal mojo back, which will entail getting back to my menu plans, telling you how much I spent each week and sharing some yummy recipes.  I also promised to make 52 crafty things this year...I did have a bit of a head start as I made a nappie cake and other baby items(will give you a breakdown and photos in a later blog!), some of my "cupcakes" and some valentine cards so I have probably done more than 8 items which puts me right for the end of February!  What is frustrating me is I have som many ideas buzzing around in my head and I need to start making them a reality ;oO!!!

SO onwards and upwards on my new and improved zest for a more frugal,simple and eco-friendlier existence!!

Nite nite y'all

xxxxxx

Photo Diary 17-21/2/11

17/2/11 - Went to see John Bishop in Cardiff

18/2/11 - Started knitting in an attempt to stop me eating...scarf as that is all my brain can manage at the mo!!

19/2/11 - Mum and Dads went to St David's for a holiday and went to a Fete were the got me some material and these scraps of leather...Ooh I have so many ideas for this!!!!

20/2/11 - R at his Karate grading - went from white to orange belt(he has missed one grading)

20/2/11 - N at her Karate grading - she went from yellow to green

21/2/11 - I don't know...you leave your kids alone upstairs for 5 mins......and this happens!!!! ;O)))

15/2/11 - I made little felt brooches and sort of matching cards with the residents, they loved them!!

16/2/11 - My house has clothes drying on every available space!!!
The rain has stopped today but because the dog goes out in the garden if it is fine
I can't hang washing out because he pulls it all of to make a nice comfy bed for himself!!!
Even though he has a warm kennel with a blanket in already >:o(

Photo Diary 14/2/11

14/2/11 - My Valentine Presents from my darling husband ;o)))))

 And a single rose for each of his daughter's!!!!! ( Son had a bar of Chocolate!!)

Photo diary....6/2/11 - 13/2/11

6/2/11 - spent all dy on the loo and drinking water

7/2/11 - Day 2 of tummy bug..still on the loo and drinking water..oh and a rich tea biscuit

8/2/11 - This is where I spent most of the day as this bug knocked myself and Princess N for six!!

9/2/11 - Felt much better, Princess N went back to school and I made some more "Cupcakes" from de-icer/airfreshner lids!, lipgloss/balm and a flannel!!

10/2/11 - Made my first batch of yoghurt using my new Easi-yo!!! It was delicious!!!

11/2/11 - felt in the mood for a little drinky-poos!!  Sloe gin and lemonade for hubby and Sherry and lemonade for me!!



12/2/11 - Guess who hijacked my I-pod and as you can see she is back to her nomal self!!!



13/2/11 - Not a brilliant photo but this is my knitting back and a back to basics book, hoping to do a bit tonight ;o)


I hope everyone had a lovely week and have a wonderful week ahead!!


XXXXXXX

Hello......

How is everyone......My absence has been due to the fact that both myself and my youngest daughter have been struck down with a tummy bug for several days...not good ;o(

However we are both on the road to recovery and getting stronger every day!!!!

For me the loss of 1/2 a stone was the only good thing to come out of it for me :o)))

I will, therefore, be coming on here and reading and commentsing on your blogs later tonight!!!

Later!!

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Photo Diary - 5/2/11

5/2/11 - Saturday Breakfast...Bagel, juice and coffee ;o)

up and down :o( ;o)))

Well what a wierd and wonderful week I have had so far!!!

My car(yes my new car has been in the garage twice...once to find out why a light was coming on and then once more to sort the problem!!! £40!!!! marvelous!!! As I know nothing about cars I was expecting it to be £100s but my mechanic is a lovely man!!!!

Then I had a mega migraine on Wednesday!!! Now normally most months(you know whaat I mean ladies!!) I get what is known as a haemaplegic migraine, where I feel slightly numb on one side and then my vision goes funny for about 20-25mins and thats it!!! Horrible whilst it is happening and I feel a bit icky after(as with any type of migraine) and I have become accustomesd to them.  Wednesday was a migraine with the headache, vomiting etc and I am such a baby when I have these and just have to go to bed and hope it goes away!  So I basically slept all day!

Then yesterday my daughter complained of a bad tummy,which she does most mornings after saying she hates school, well break time and lunch time!! so she has cried wolf many times!  When I got home from work she said that she had "stinky burps" and a bad tummy in school, which I can verify she did(stinky burps wise) which is a sign that she had a tummy bug!  She went to bed fine and appeared at the living room door at 11.30pm saying she had been sick all over her bed!! So I had to sort her out, the bed out, washing machine on and her in bed with me, with hubby down on the sofa(his choice as he doesn't like her bottom bunk bed!)....amazingly she was fine straight after and was right as rain all day, though off school and staying with Nan and Grandad.

And tonight I have my son's friend sleeping over, I ummed and aughed over it, but we had put it off for one thing or another for over two weeks and she has been fine all day....but it may be a decision that comes back to haunt me!!!  So goodness knows when they will get to sleep!

Tomorrow I am going out for my third 40th birthday bash although my birthday was over a month ago!!!  About 8 of us are going to Cardiff...I haven't been out to Cardiff for over 10 years...and the forecast is rain and strong winds so I may leave the house looking reasonably attractive but I can't see it lasting long in that weather!!!

Oh well!!!

Photo Diary - 4/2/11

4/2/11    - Wales v England - 6 Nations.....:o(

Photo diary-31/1/11 - 3/2/11 ......Sorry for delay!

31/1/11 - Had a day off to catch up on housework!!! How sad am I!!

1/2/11 - Got creative...inspired by scented sweetpea and was a test run for a craft session with the residents in work!



2/2/11 - Migraine.....:o(((



3/2/11 - I want a house like Polly Pocket



This weeks menu and other things.....

Monday: Chicken Casserole & potatoes
Tuesday: Pasta Bolognese & garlic bread
Wednesday: Mum in laws for tea!!!
Thursday: Prawn Stir-fry(Hubby and Me) - Fish, potatoes and vegetables(Children)
Friday: Homemade burgers, potato wedges
Saturday: Family buffet
Sunday: Roast Dinner

I have got quite a bit of the main parts of the meals for this week which means a minimal spend to top up what I have...slowly but surely bringing down the shopping bill without bringing down the taste and all that I cook is cooked as healthily as possible.

I have had a lovely week and today ended it rather nicely....the only down side is I have been brimming over with ideas and haven't had chance to put those ideas into actions...hopefully that will happen this week....fingers crossed.

Work was a mix of creativeness and fun, with arts and craft leaning towards St Valentines Day, which is all good.  I also bought a set of soup bowls/cups with saucers(5) for £2 from a charity shop, whilst I was in there keeping warm waiting for my daughter ;o)

I love them and as I am a big soup maker they are going to be used all the time!!! Marvellous!!!

Yesterday, the weather was sunny but cold and I ventured out into the garden and tidied up a bit, it won't be long and I will be back in to the swing of planting and growing....exciting times ahead.

I would like to thank all the blogs I follow as they all feed me in different ways, creatively, emotionally, mentally and spititually.....they inspire me to be who I know I want to be in the future...Cheesy but true ;oP

No work tomorrow....blitzing the house(how sad am I that I have to book a day off to tidy my house)!!

I wish everyone a lovely week ahead...enjoy

xxxx

Photo Diary 30/1/11

30/1/11 - My Sunday Roast Lamb Dinner ;oP

Photo Diary -29/1/11

29/1/11 - Walking the dog...my teeny bit of me time ;o)

Photo Diary - 28/1/11

28/1/11 - "Look what I've got" ;o)

Photo Diary - 27/1/11

Freshly made Spicy Roast Parsnip and Carrot Soup ;oP