So, today I was going to post about HabitHacker, but then I came across an article about Extreme Couponing... (I promise, I'll come back to HabitHacker).
And we all love a good bargain don't we? I have to admit that despite it being a Mail on Sunday article, I was quite intrigued.. I'm constantly skint, so I'd love to be able to cut the cost of my shopping... (if I can halve the cost of my shopping I'll be very impressed!)
My main problem is getting vouchers (usually at the checkout with my receipt) then forgetting to actually use them... So I really need to start remembering them! But reading this article, it does seem that it would be more productive (cost-cutting) for me to find online vouchers & do my shopping online...
Tips include using price-comparison websites when making your shopping list in order to work out which shops you should be buying which items & using voucher websites in order to find money-off vouchers & codes for your shopping.
When you consider that one woman quoted in the article got £155 worth of shopping for £99 & over in America, "extreme couponers" make even more savings (£148 worth of shopping for just £4.45!!!) it's definitely worth a little bit of extra work...
I'm going to be starting with these sites:
www.mysupermarket.com
www.moneysavingexpert.com
www.savoo.co.uk
then I'll start googling for even more sites & offers!!
Happy shopping everyone! xx
Sunday 27 November 2011
Friday 25 November 2011
The joys of potty training (could this be the most boring post in history?)
So now my youngest is 3, I figured that I've really got to stop being lazy & get on with getting him out of nappies & into pants...
So, this time last week I bit the bullet & put pants on him.... Cue lots of wet pants & no wees in the potty...
The first time he did a wee in the potty (which was completely through sheer luck, I'm convinced of it) prompted celebrations totally out of proportion to the actual act!!
And still we had more wees "in the wrong place" (ie his pants & on the floor) than "the right place" (the potty) buuut - he was able to tell me that he'd wee'd & that it was in the wrong place - result!!!
Then yesterday, he did a wee when asked to - & his little face lit up! He was so proud that he'd done it in the right place bless him!!
Which brings us to today - he's actually asking to go for a wee!!! Hoo-fecking-ray!!! Even though it does mean that I'm up & down like a whores drawers!! I'm so hoping that we've cracked it with wee's!
BUT (& yes, there had to be a but) he doesn't seem to want to poo in the potty... well he doesn't actually mind pooing in the potty - but if he does it's more luck than judgement (usually prompted by the eldest shouting "Mummy, Nikki's taken his pants off & now he's going to do a poo on the floor" leading me to run like a fecking mad woman to get him on the potty in time...) He won't actually tell me that he needs a poo - which is leading to a lot of accidents & pants needing rinsing out before being flung in the washing machine.... gah...
Ah well - I've got nearly 7 weeks to get him to figure it out before he starts school!!!
So, this time last week I bit the bullet & put pants on him.... Cue lots of wet pants & no wees in the potty...
The first time he did a wee in the potty (which was completely through sheer luck, I'm convinced of it) prompted celebrations totally out of proportion to the actual act!!
And still we had more wees "in the wrong place" (ie his pants & on the floor) than "the right place" (the potty) buuut - he was able to tell me that he'd wee'd & that it was in the wrong place - result!!!
Then yesterday, he did a wee when asked to - & his little face lit up! He was so proud that he'd done it in the right place bless him!!
Which brings us to today - he's actually asking to go for a wee!!! Hoo-fecking-ray!!! Even though it does mean that I'm up & down like a whores drawers!! I'm so hoping that we've cracked it with wee's!
BUT (& yes, there had to be a but) he doesn't seem to want to poo in the potty... well he doesn't actually mind pooing in the potty - but if he does it's more luck than judgement (usually prompted by the eldest shouting "Mummy, Nikki's taken his pants off & now he's going to do a poo on the floor" leading me to run like a fecking mad woman to get him on the potty in time...) He won't actually tell me that he needs a poo - which is leading to a lot of accidents & pants needing rinsing out before being flung in the washing machine.... gah...
Ah well - I've got nearly 7 weeks to get him to figure it out before he starts school!!!
Monday 21 November 2011
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat....
and I've done my Christmas cake & pudding! I normally use my Mam's recipe but put it on my computer using the Microsoft Works database (rather than word) then stupidly threw out my scrawled paper copy.... (yep, you know what's coming next, don't you!).
My laptop went kaput. One of the lovely dad's at my sons' school managed to rescue all my data off the hard-drive for me, but my new laptop doesn't have Microsoft Works... I've downloaded a program that can open Works files but still - no recipes......
So this year I'm using Delia's recipes for Christmas cake & pudding.... I've had to adapt them cos a) I've developed an allergy to nuts, specifically almonds & hazelnuts (with walnuts & possibly pecans thrown in) & b) none of us really like currants...
So, cashews in place of almonds & extra sultanas/raisins in place of currants. Mind you, stupidly I substituted prunes in place of some of the currants in the pudding & then realised that prunes are dried plums & almonds are a member of the plum family..... (it's a good job I just get a rash & a tingly mouth really, isn't it!!)
What else have I done? I've knitted one small green elephant for one small green elephant (gorgeous boy number 4 seems to think that he's a green elephant!) I'm just about finished one hat (one down, 3 more to go) & I'm hoping to have time to make a larger green elephant.
I've found a recipe for homemade FROZEN roasties - so we're going to test that out this week to see if it actually works - if so, they can be pre-prepared when I do the rest of the veggies & the gravy some time in the next 2 weeks....
I've ordered a couple of presents for the boys & we have a rough idea what else they're getting....
Just the food shopping & present buying for himself to do then. How many shopping days left?
Till next time - mwah xxx
My laptop went kaput. One of the lovely dad's at my sons' school managed to rescue all my data off the hard-drive for me, but my new laptop doesn't have Microsoft Works... I've downloaded a program that can open Works files but still - no recipes......
So this year I'm using Delia's recipes for Christmas cake & pudding.... I've had to adapt them cos a) I've developed an allergy to nuts, specifically almonds & hazelnuts (with walnuts & possibly pecans thrown in) & b) none of us really like currants...
So, cashews in place of almonds & extra sultanas/raisins in place of currants. Mind you, stupidly I substituted prunes in place of some of the currants in the pudding & then realised that prunes are dried plums & almonds are a member of the plum family..... (it's a good job I just get a rash & a tingly mouth really, isn't it!!)
What else have I done? I've knitted one small green elephant for one small green elephant (gorgeous boy number 4 seems to think that he's a green elephant!) I'm just about finished one hat (one down, 3 more to go) & I'm hoping to have time to make a larger green elephant.
I've found a recipe for homemade FROZEN roasties - so we're going to test that out this week to see if it actually works - if so, they can be pre-prepared when I do the rest of the veggies & the gravy some time in the next 2 weeks....
I've ordered a couple of presents for the boys & we have a rough idea what else they're getting....
Just the food shopping & present buying for himself to do then. How many shopping days left?
Till next time - mwah xxx
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Scampi & Lemon NikNaks
Just don't taste the same as they used to... Where is the overwhelming fishyness of them? The only thing that's overwhelming about them now is the fake lemon flavour...
Scampi's never been anywhere near the flaming things... They do contain lemon oil (albeit the second lowest on the ingredients list - there was clearly a drip, as opposed to the waving over of the spice jar from the lowest ingredient) so I suppose that technically they can claim that lemons were involved in the making of them...
sigh. I'm so disappointed.
Scampi's never been anywhere near the flaming things... They do contain lemon oil (albeit the second lowest on the ingredients list - there was clearly a drip, as opposed to the waving over of the spice jar from the lowest ingredient) so I suppose that technically they can claim that lemons were involved in the making of them...
sigh. I'm so disappointed.
Sunday 13 November 2011
My bathroom - finished at last!!
Well, I say finished - there's still a couple of teeny bits to do. We'll be replacing the doors soon, so I haven't painted the doorframes & there's a little bit of sealing to do. (oh & the lights could do with replacing with nicer ones) Other than that it's good to go!!
Here's what it looked like before...
And the horrible floor...
Oh look - more of that wallpaper, and as for the toilet.....
Here's what it looked like before...
Look at the nasty wallpaper...
Oh look - more of that wallpaper, and as for the toilet.....
Sooo, we stripped off the wallpaper - to discover that underneath the horrid yellow painted blown vinyl it was pink - with a layer of mould....
And underneath the sink, we discovered this...
So at some point in the past, the bathrooms been a fetching shade of orange. With the distinct possibility that it was black as well. We also found scraps of a dark blue flowery wallpaper... tasteful!!
So, a lot of wallpaper/mould removal; tiling & painting later (oh & toilet replacement!) May I present...
Waddya think?
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Dishcloths
Mabu multi cloths to be precise.
These cloths are made from 100% biodegradable WOOD - yep, it's true. But as the packaging says, once the starch has been rinsed out, it's hard to believe that this lovely soft, thick dishcloth is made from wood.
I bought some a few months ago from Waitrose, moved house & promptly forgot about them (you know what it's like when you move house - everything is in boxes & things get lost!) I've rediscovered them & you know what? I'm never using another make of dishcloth again!! They do what it says on the packaging & rinse clean - they don't smell, even after washing up the smelliest of dishes & they are highly absorbent.
There are many many uses on the website for them, including bathing babies or as a make-up removing cloth & yep, I'd happily use them for both those purposes, they are that soft!
I highly recommend them - they are soooo good!
As I already said, you can get them from Waitrose, but for those of us nowhere near a Waitrose (I'm one - we were in Newark visiting family at the time) you can also get them from Lakeland.
Try them - they're fantastic!
These cloths are made from 100% biodegradable WOOD - yep, it's true. But as the packaging says, once the starch has been rinsed out, it's hard to believe that this lovely soft, thick dishcloth is made from wood.
I bought some a few months ago from Waitrose, moved house & promptly forgot about them (you know what it's like when you move house - everything is in boxes & things get lost!) I've rediscovered them & you know what? I'm never using another make of dishcloth again!! They do what it says on the packaging & rinse clean - they don't smell, even after washing up the smelliest of dishes & they are highly absorbent.
There are many many uses on the website for them, including bathing babies or as a make-up removing cloth & yep, I'd happily use them for both those purposes, they are that soft!
I highly recommend them - they are soooo good!
As I already said, you can get them from Waitrose, but for those of us nowhere near a Waitrose (I'm one - we were in Newark visiting family at the time) you can also get them from Lakeland.
Try them - they're fantastic!
Saturday 5 November 2011
Organising tips
So in the spirit of trying to be less complete slattern & more Domestic Goddess (like that's EVER going to happen!!) I've borrowed a whole load of organising tips from the lovely Damsels....
1) Divide the day into hourly slots. (use a diary!) slot in the important stuff (work, appointments etc) then use the remaining time slots to book in the housework.
2) Meal plan & do grocery shopping online.
-have a list of what's in the freezer/cupboards
- list meals that get eaten regularly (including recipe info if necessary)
- have a list of "future" shopping to write things as they get low.
3) Wash up after every meal (guess I need to go wash the dishes now!!)
4) Set up present/card file - wrapping paper, sellotape, cards, stamps etc... (use the Ikea carrier bag recycling container...)
5) Deal with paperwork as it comes in (although another tip is to put all post in file & deal with it once a week - I'll try both & see which one works best for me)
6) Leave the washing out on the line till it's dry. (although how that's going to work in winter I'm not sure...) Another washing tip was to just do it all once a week, although I think that's one that would only work if you had a dryer, which I don't...)
7) Premake sandwiches for lunch & freeze. Take out night before.
Soooo, I'm hoping that these tips will help me. Of course I've also got my babysteps written in my diary to be added every 3 weeks. I WILL get this place under control!!!
1) Divide the day into hourly slots. (use a diary!) slot in the important stuff (work, appointments etc) then use the remaining time slots to book in the housework.
2) Meal plan & do grocery shopping online.
-have a list of what's in the freezer/cupboards
- list meals that get eaten regularly (including recipe info if necessary)
- have a list of "future" shopping to write things as they get low.
3) Wash up after every meal (guess I need to go wash the dishes now!!)
4) Set up present/card file - wrapping paper, sellotape, cards, stamps etc... (use the Ikea carrier bag recycling container...)
5) Deal with paperwork as it comes in (although another tip is to put all post in file & deal with it once a week - I'll try both & see which one works best for me)
6) Leave the washing out on the line till it's dry. (although how that's going to work in winter I'm not sure...) Another washing tip was to just do it all once a week, although I think that's one that would only work if you had a dryer, which I don't...)
7) Premake sandwiches for lunch & freeze. Take out night before.
Soooo, I'm hoping that these tips will help me. Of course I've also got my babysteps written in my diary to be added every 3 weeks. I WILL get this place under control!!!
Friday 4 November 2011
November already....
The year is rushing rapidly past me!! I really don't know where the past month has gone, I really don't...
Well, last time I was here I was aiming to get the bathroom decorated, the dining room decluttered & start planning for Christmas...
I guess 1.5 out of 3 ain't bad??? The bathroom is finally decorated (just about - a couple of finishing touches to do - mainly sealing & putting the blinds up...) I'll post pics when I get round to taking them.
The Christmas planning? Well, I've got 1 present bought & 1 half-made, so at least I've started THINKING about it, even if I haven't actually started planning properly...
As for the dining room - I'm going to hang my head in shame, for not only have I STILL not got round to decluttering, I swear it actually looks worse than it did to start with.....
Housework really isn't my thing!
OK - November goals...
Yep - the dreaded dining room
Decorate the big boys' bedroom
Finalise the Christmas planning & have most of the presents bought...
Well, last time I was here I was aiming to get the bathroom decorated, the dining room decluttered & start planning for Christmas...
I guess 1.5 out of 3 ain't bad??? The bathroom is finally decorated (just about - a couple of finishing touches to do - mainly sealing & putting the blinds up...) I'll post pics when I get round to taking them.
The Christmas planning? Well, I've got 1 present bought & 1 half-made, so at least I've started THINKING about it, even if I haven't actually started planning properly...
As for the dining room - I'm going to hang my head in shame, for not only have I STILL not got round to decluttering, I swear it actually looks worse than it did to start with.....
Housework really isn't my thing!
OK - November goals...
Yep - the dreaded dining room
Decorate the big boys' bedroom
Finalise the Christmas planning & have most of the presents bought...
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