Ready for a day off.

Friday 30th June 2023

Another good day yesterday, fab huddles and the day flew.  I tracked my dinner on the morning so I knew it was going to come in over 1000 calories which was an eye opener but we had the food and I was going to enjoy it.  When it came to serving it up, I gave myself a little less of the pie and mash so I saved a couple hundred calories.  I still ended my day just shy of 2k calories, it was all tracked 100% honestly though.

The pie filling was lovely, the pastry was too crunchy for me so I left some, the mash was mega, I left a little of that too because I was full.  I wouldn't buy either again though, it was a £12 meal deal from M&S there's a sticky toffee pudding in the fridge, they can share Sunday.

All this was followed by another cracking nights sleep, bed by 10pm, awake at 6.15am, ready for my day off and sitting here trying to decide how to spend it.  I think he's working tomorrow so I have a whole day to fill, it'll start with housework for sure, there's washing in the machine already.  I'll be cooking a Gousto meal, I had a 25% off for 2 weeks through the post probably because I haven't bought one for a while, 

I opted for some unusual sounding meals as you can see, it'll be interesting to see what they taste like, I do enjoy experimenting.  I might bake Aryn some rock cakes too, I need to try a different cake I know but I have the ingredients for them and at least the sultanas are one of his 5 a day.

I feel really good this week, is it because I'm taking care of myself a little better, prioritising my health again?  I have eaten less white bread this week and less overall!  The temperature is lower too, that's definitely helping.

 My washing machine has just beeped but the weather forecast and the sky is saying rain from now till 9 so it'll have to wait to go out!

Here's to another on track day, I've got some tomatoes that are dying in the kitchen, might have them on toast this morning or with eggs.  

Have a great day, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

You can't beat good food!

Thursday 29th June 2023

Yesterday I ate really tasty food, I did have 1902 calories but I'm not going for perfection, I'm aiming at accountability and honesty whilst tracking 100%!  I even tracked the tiny chunk of blue cheese I helped myself to from the fridge!

After our lovely huddle on the morning, I nipped to Aldi, I'd got 250g diced chicken defrosted in the fridge which I'd found in the freezer (I can't remember how come it was there, probably unused from one of the hello fresh or gousto meals), anyway I noticed a thai curry kit which sounded tasty and it was, I servd it with their lime and coriander rice, mmm tasty.   I'd definitely buy again worked out at just under a fiver for a meal for two including the price of chicken breast and the red pepper I threw in to bulk it out.  I don't think Aryn's done a Thai restaurant so maybe we can do that in the holidays.

  

  

The Hello Fresh meal later was off the scale, right up my street the garlic butter parsley sauce, I loved it, Aryn didn't want the sauce on his chicken, he wasn't keen, but for me, well I can't wait to have the leftovers today for lunch, I'm tempted to have it for breakfast :) took all my willpower not to eat it last night if I'm honest. 

 

Sue, if you're reading this, you'll love this recipe, I'm going to do the sauce on fish and use low fat spread, see if that works as well as it would save calories. 

Oh I do love good food!  You can make this without an HelloFresh box but if you do fancy trialling their stuff, great savings for the first couple of months, here's the link 

Food was the highlight of my day, not much else occurring, I did finish that Redemption series on ITV, really enjoyed it then I had another early night to catch up on missed sleep and I was still resisting getting out of bed when he called me just before six this morning. 

Well I've had my shower already, so I'm good for work, another cuppa is required though and some painkillers to set me up for today, so I'll catch up with you tomorrow.  Here's to another day of honest tracking and being accountable.

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

Happy with my results this week!

Wednesday 28th June 2023

YAY, I lost weight, 3lb, I've also tracked 100% for the last two days which I have to admit does make me think before eating!  I went to look at my progress on my chart and on a positive, I've lost my Christmas weight :) and I'm at the same weight I have maintenance sussed.  Now to try and lose some before this Christmas!  The lightest I've been is 3lb lower than I am now, so here's to making the second half of the year the best of the year.

When I think of all the 'good times' I've been having, let's not forget I've had 2 holidays abroad in that time and lots of nights out and takeaways, I've just got to tweak my behaviour a little haven't I and making it continuous not a good week then a not so good week.  I'm feeling positive thankfully.

For lunch yesterday I had a jacket spud from the freezer and fish in butter sauce with asparagus, it was lovely.  Then for dinner Aryn had chosen another veggie meal from Hello Fresh, Cheesy chipotle bean quesadillas, now I'm not gonna lie, just the thought of this meal makes me pull a face, mixed beans just don't do it for me at all, it's the texture I think, I'm just not keen.  Anyway, I made them, they'd sent small wraps but I had a couple of large wraps left in my bread bin so I made the first lot with the one pack of small, it made 6, Aryn had 5 I had 1 to try, I have to say - they were tasty, because the beans were mashed up and flavour added, I liked them.   As the pack feeds 4, I made the second batch for when I got home and made one large wrap but could only eat half, the eating machine that is Aryn, ate the rest!   He ate just a bit more than 3 portions, how is he the shape of a racing snake I'd like to know!  They look tasty though don't they, I would definitely make a similar version myself in the future, I've put the recipe at the end, if you can't get central american spice, I'd just fajita mix.   

 

  

IFfyou haven't tried it yet and want 60% off first box and 25% off following 10 weeks, here's the code.

Hello Fresh Discount

Anyway the rest of my day involved a great chat in the huddles if I do say so myself, it's going to help me stay focused this week for sure. 

I did a bit more work on the next journal, only about 5 recipes to find now and it can go to print.  

Aryn sat chatting with me whilst I cooked and we ate dinner, then hung around until half eight, so the comfy sofa has helped already :) we had a good chat.  I went to bed then and had another great nights sleep, managing to stay in bed till 6.15am this morning which is awesome for me. 

Again not sure what's on the menu for breakfast/lunch, most likely to be brunch, but dinner is HelloFresh again, garlic chicken and chips - I'm really looking forward to that I can tell ya.

I better get my act together, I've just realised I could do with a lap top table to go on the coffee table as this sofa is a little lower than our other one and it would help me sit up straighter rather than leaning over or having it on my lap.  I'm go look on Amazon for ideas.

Here's to another day of tracking, 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx 

Yay, it's cooler!

Tuesday 27th June 2023
Ignorance isn't bliss but can make you fat :) 

Deciding I was fed up with being the Annie of the 'diet' world 'Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll diet tomorrow, you're always a day a way' I finally managed a day of tracking and being within my allowance, I also did a meat free day which is one of the challenges in our huddles so a good day all round.   It's not until you have to write it down and accept the totals that you start to wonder if what you're thinking of eating is worth it!  I had leftover lamb which I was gonna eat some of with leftover spuds but when I did the totals, I didn't want to spend 600 calories on brunch so I froze the lamb with the leftover gravy instead to make a shepherds ish pie another day.  

I had a lovely chilled out day yesterday, the only thing I needed to leave the house for was to go buy a fan for Aryn's bedroom, I nipped to my sisters on the way and she gave me one so I drove back round the corner home and put the kettle on!  

I was productive though, I did one load of washing, then sat down to work on our next journal, it's almost finished now, I need about a dozen more recipes and then it's done.  

Speaking of recipes I made this last night for our tea, a Hello Fresh meal, thanks to a coupon, I hadn't realised it was a veggie meal when we ordered, but damn it was tasty to say it had all that green stuff. 

 

 

IF you haven't tried it yet and want 60% off first box and 25% off following 10 weeks, here's the code.
Hello Fresh Discount

I went up to bed early to lie and watch tele and I must of fell asleep because he called me at just before 8pm and woke me lol, I've had over 9 hours sleep, thankfully it's cooled down.  I'm trying to watch Redemption on ITV catch up but keep falling asleep, the series is great, I'm just tired when I put it on.  Only on episode 2, but really enjoying it. 

I'm looking forward to this weeks Be Happy Owls chat because I've written it based on tracking and I'm hoping that will help me change my mindset and get me continuing to track daily whether it's good, bad or just plain ugly! 

I'm ready for my day, off to shower and get dressed, not gonna lie, there's no meal plan in place but we do have 2 Hello Fresh meals to choose from for later so at least that's in place.  I've also done an online order as I had another £15 email coupon for Ocado so just bought the things I really need, that's coming tomorrow and will stop me from buying stuff I don't need by walking round the store. 

Let's all have a great day 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx 

 

I'm melting, I'm melting!

Monday 26th June 2023

I haven't blogged since Thursday because not much had happened by Friday morning, we did have a great day of huddles taking up most of my day.   I also managed more tidying, the chest of drawers were filled with clothes, shoes were sorted from under the stairs and I even managed to cook tandoori fish, rice and green beans - which I wouldn't cook again!  I also took my car to be MOT'd and was thrilled it passed without any advisories too - happy days.  In bed by 10 after a quiet night, oh not completely quiet, we went to sit in the garden and were talking about painting the fence so I went to check what paint we'd got when I moved a mat and a load of wasps came flying at me - you've never seen me move so fast, managed to get away with just the one sting thankfully, which I washed and sat with ice on my face for a bit.  

Saturday was all about the huddle on the morning, I got back just before 11 when himself was taking the motorhome for it's MOT, perfect timing for him as he pulled off the drive, the IKEA van pulled up with our new corner sofa.  I started putting it together had managed to do the 3 seater, then was starting the corner unit when he got back.  Good news it had passed its MOT but that's where our 'happy' ended lol as once we'd put together the corner bit and the right end bit connecting them to each other was a nightmare, that took us till just gone 3pm, there was a lot of testing his patience, me saying "I'll shut up then", followed by "can I just say...." lol.  We got there in the end and god we wished we'd bought it months ago because we've had a comfy weekend lounging on it, well when I say comfy, we were too blooming hot but at least had plenty of lying down space. 

As if we'd not had enough, we then went to Dreams for a bed!  Got ourselves a real bargain though, ex display so saving a lot of money, it'll be delivered on the 15th July because they've included putting it together, I think he felt sorry for us after we told him we'd just put a sofa together.  That's everything we need now, Aryn can have our existing bed as he's sleeping on a bed sofa mattress which was okay at first but he's now 5ft 11in and needs something more sturdy.  

Well as you can imagine when we got back we were ready for a drink and as next door had helped him get the existing sofa and chair out the house ready for the new one, we all went for a drink together which was supposed to be a few and turned into us catching a bus with them and going for a curry at Spice River in the village.  I didn't really fancy Indian so ordered Tandoori starter and tikka masala, which hadn't got much chicken in so most of the sauce was left in the dish.  Ended the night in the garden where they carried on drinking and I fell asleep out there :) 

Spot the chicken in the bowl!

Sunday we were all just a sweaty mess, I'd say there was no breeze out there yesterday but there was enough to blow our gazebo over the fence into next doors garden - that's knackered now, only bought it in May too :(  

Because of the cats being indoor cats, we can't have all the windows open but tbh we shut the living room and opened the windows and it made not much difference to the hot and humid weekend we've had. 

I'm the one on the right these days!

I also cooked us a roast lamb dinner because I wasn't hot enough!  It was delicious though, worth sweating in the kitchen for, so glad I bought a second leg of lamb when they were half price back at Easter. 

   

Lots of lamb left for sandwiches on night and he's took some to work today.

TV wise we watched Extraction & Extraction 2 with Chris Hemsworth on Netflix and George Foreman film followed by an old footie film 'The Bromley Boys'. 

That was my weekend.  I've got an Hello Fresh box coming today, help me with meals, I've not been cooking properly since we stopped having them and I had a £20 credit from when someones used my code, so thank you whoever you were xx much appreciated. The offer at the minute if you want to try them is 60% off 1st box, 25% off for 10 weeks plus I get a £25 credit to my account which I'm not gonna lie would be super good, we've spent a lot of our savings on Furniture the last week as you've probably noticed!

I'm shattered from lack of sleep because of the heat, I know I should go swimming but I don't have the inclination at all especially as my pain had been something quite special this weekend because of all the putting together of furniture, I've clocked up a lot of steps at least and sweat like a bitch.  Gonna spend this morning planning our huddle chat, hopefully the food box will be early and we can have one of the meals for dinner later.  

 Right let's go make another cuppa and get to work, been up since 4.18am, ridiculous time, so I'll be having a very, early night tonight.

Have a great day, 

Luv u

Love me xx

A good productive day had...

Thursday 22nd June 2023

It's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it.

Well I woke up and I could move which surprised me after all the DIY I did yesterday, so I'm a happy lady, they do say it's the following day though don't they, fingers crossed.  I was just glad I was able to do it.  I managed to walk round IKEA which in itself hurts like hell, my leg was screaming by the time I got to the checkout.  Then the challenge of getting the boxes in the car and out again the other side.  6 boxes, the heaviest 30kg, I can't believe I used to carry sacks of potatoes 2 at a time when I was a kid, I managed though, even got them upstairs to put the furniture together and here's the finished results.  I love having someone who can do all this kind of thing for me, but I enjoyed doing it yesterday and reminding myself I'm still more than capable of looking after myself.

Our clothing storage solution, these make me very, very happy!  They took hours though and I'm black and blue now plus my poor thumb is red raw thanks to the crappy screwdriver handle being ridged.

My day was none stop yesterday from the minute I left at 8.30am, actually I started an hour earlier by sorting out all our paperwork into filing drawers (check me out) I stopped at 8.30pm and ate this chicken tikka masala out the freezer, it wasn't bad tbh, Sainsbury's own brand I think. 

Then I drank a very, big glass of wine before going up to bed, I messaged Elle at 9.45 and she was like 'what you doing still awake', then ten minutes later told me to go to sleep and take painkillers, I love how she takes care of me lol. 

Not gonna lie, I went to bed sweaty and smelly, I just couldn't be bothered to shower so that's the first thing I'll be doing when I finish this blog, then find something cool to wear today, thankfully the mem is always nice and cool. 

WOW, I did 13,001 steps yesterday, that's really good for me, no wonder my leg was hurting round IKEA, didn't sleep any better for it though, still only had 6 hours, wide wake by 5am. 

Let's get this day started shall we, lots of huddles for me, I'll continue with the sorting for an hour when I get home at lunchtime.  I'd have loved the whole day on it tomorrow but my cars in for MOT, fingers crossed there.  I've got all weekend to mess and there's always next week isn't there, just want the living room done before the sofa arrives Saturday.

Here's to a great day, 

Mwah, luv y

Love me x

Another day...

Wednesday 21st June 2023

Other than a good day at work yesterday, I spent most of the afternoon 'sorting', trying to have a clear out/up of stuff we've collected over the last few years and boy do we have some 'stuff'.  I'm glad the bin men come today, they'll at least empty the recycling bin, the other bin is 2/3rds full already though and that's got another week and I'm still sorting!  I want it done by Saturday for when the sofa arrives, then I can continue with the spare room.

My hip/leg is blooming hurting this morning though, all that movement takes its toll. I really need to lose some weight to see if it would help ease the pain but I'm really struggling since we got back from holiday, I just can't seem to hit the reset button.  I managed to lose 1.5lb last week then I put 2.5lb back on this week!  

I've just lost my appetite and found a donkey's the last few days, I eat my dinner then go looking for something else.  I started tracking yesterday, at least that was a start, it wasn't pretty thought 2,791 calories - ouch!  My fitbits telling me I didn't even but 2,400 calories so I'm not going to lose weight with numbers like that am I.  I'm still sat here thinking 'shall I go make 2 of those thin crumpets with butter and a cuppa'.  I've got to say, I wasn't taken by the two I had yesterday but they had Flora light on, so not sure if it was the crumpet or the lack of butter I've frozen 4 of them but there's two in the kitchen.  I've just worked out 2 crumpets and 10g of best butter is 195 calories, I can afford that, I've lots of seabass in the freezer, need to do something with that, yeah I'll go get some out the freezer and we'll have a healthy tea.  

Taking Minnie to the vets later, she's got something wrong with her skin, allergy hopefully but we shall see, poor things pulling her fur out. 

Well I stopped typing to go make teas and toast the crumpets, they are better with butter, but it took 18g of butter and had I not been weighing it, I would've had more butter than I did, 253 calories, not bad I guess, I could eat the same again though, but I won't, I AM GOING TO HAVE A GOOD DAY TODAY! 

I've taken the basa out of the freezer, now to work out what to make with it, I have a jar of tikka masala sauce, wonder what that would be like with fish?  Or pan fried with noodles, I have some new potatoes that would be nice with veggies.  We shall see...

I need to remember my water today, I planned to drink plenty yesterday and forgot the bottle as I left the house, my memory does not help me at all.

Despite not being very good on the diet front, everything else in my world is wonderful at least.  It'll be even better when the house has been sorted!  I'm toying with whether to get rid of my books or keep the few I still have, cookbooks, that I could just take out the recipes I'm likely to cook, they take a whole shelf on a book shelf.  I don't remember the last time I opened those books which is telling me to get rid.  My spare room is only a box room so there's not much space for many things.  I have a fold up bed in there and 3 bookcases which I think need cutting down to one because I want chest of drawers in there more so we can store our clothes. 

Anyway, I'm processing my thoughts again in blog form aren't I so I'll go and start my day, get ready for work and do a bit more sorting, paper work today I think, that will free up another wooden box in the living room ready to be filled by crap in the coming months :) 

Have a great day, hoping your behaving healthier than me, although I'm working on my mental health with all the tidying, the eating health will kick back in and I'll restart every day.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

 

Challenges...

Tuesday 20th June 2023

After writing my blog yesterday, I went to pop the kettle back on and whilst waiting for it to boil, I started loading the washing machine when I found a key on the floor.  I took a photo and whatsapp'd it to himself saying, 'Just found this by washing like. Is it yours/important?' My phone rung immediately!  Oh yes it was important and he'd need it as it was to one of the machines.  My morning suddenly changed, I drove a 4 hour round trip to take the key, the traffic on the M6 around 7am is ludicrous.  At least I got to finish my audiobook on the drive.

I nipped in Dunelm and Matalan when I got off the motorway and bought some cushions for the sofa when it arrives, I also got new curtains half price £35 for the living room, bloomin bargain because they nearly cover the one wall = happy girl.  Let's see how long it takes the cats to fill these ones full of holes.

Spent a couple of hours getting ready for the huddle today before going to meet my bestie where we enjoyed a few hours of catching up, lovely and the food wasn't bad too.  I had seabass and scallops on risotto.  

I was charged £4.05 for a pint of diet coke though which is just ridiculous, we can buy Guinness over the road for that.  I know it was a countryside pub but seriously, can you imagine take your kids out, a family of 4 and they all want pop!  

Anyway that was my day, home by 7ish, bed by 8ish, asleep by 9ish. 

I'm not hopeful at the scales today but I really do need to get a grip because I want to lose weight, my knee would thank me I'm sure and I'd fit clothes better.  I just need to remember this when I'm eating or drinking don't I!

Ooo it's just started raining, might cool things down a little, I don't like this muggy weather one bit. 

I bought a tin of pink salmon in Farm Foods on my way home yesterday so I'll have a salad later I think.  I've got some thin crumpets in the kitchen for breakfast and I'll think about what to feed Aryn and me for dinner in a bit.

Right let's start this day, get my ass moving and have a great one.  We gave our members challenges last week, can't wait to hear how they've got on.  These are them, just in case you fancy joining in...

Daily Challenges - which challenge will you start with? 

 

1.          Replace at least 3 hot drinks with a glass of water, if you don't drink hot drinks (tea/coffee), it's to have 3 glasses extra of water, maybe one with each meal today.  

2.          Have 5 a day, or 8 at least if you already easily have your 5 a day. 

3.          Look at your reflection in a mirror and say "I love you; I accept you and I'm going to take care of you!"  Then every time you see your reflection today, smile at yourself and say "I love you" or at least think it.

4.          A meat free day, beans on toast & egg & chips are veggie meals!  Pasta, rice, fruit & veggies. 

5.          Go a day without any bread products!

6.          Do at least an extra 500 steps a day,

7.          Try a new recipe or meal.

8.          Plan your main meals for the week ahead.

9.          Track honestly - everything good or bad.

10.      Focus & think about what you're going to eat, put it on a plate &sit without distraction.

11.      Do something fun, there's more to life than eating, let's prove it!

12.      Really think about what you're eating, how you're behaving towards yourself and if the way you're living your life is helping you lead a healthy & happy life or is it getting you one step closer to a drive in a big ambulance.  Then see if you can make any changes!

13.      Drink your water and only snack on fruit and veg!

14.      Treat yourself!  Not with food or booze, something else!

15.      Keep it simple, prove healthy can be simple to put together & doesn't have to be hard work.

16.      Have a complaint free day!  Good luck 😊  

17.      Write down your why.  Why do you want to lose weight?  Be personal and specific, for example 'I want to lower my blood pressure, I want to get back into my jeans, I want more energy for chasing the kids, I don't want to hid from the camera on my next holiday.  

 

 I've done number 3, 6, 7, 11, 14 and 17.  Now to do the ones that aren't so easy for me, I'll track today, I struggle with that, water too, I forget to drink. 

Have a great day, 

Mwah, luv ya 

luv me x

  

All quiet in my world

Monday 19th June 2023

I'm a little bit excited still as on Saturday we went and finally bought a corner sofa from IKEA, we've been uncomfortable forever, Aryn's growing by the day and he sits in a chair that he looks like a giant in so yay himself said Saturday when I got back from our lovely huddle, 'come on let's go get that sofa', it's being delivered this Saturday.  I can't wait for there to be room for us all to chill out and relax together.  It does mean I've got to spend the week sorting the living room ready, I have lots of wooden boxes under chairs with stuff in them and they won't fit under the new sofa.

I'm struggling with this heat, yesterday was so muggy, it makes sleeping difficult too which has a knock on effect to everything else.  I was chuffed I took my washing in yesterday literally a minute before the heavens opened = result.  We spent yesterday binge watching the Full Monty series on Disney that's just come out, they did a good job, a little far fetched at one point but overall superb.

Foodwise, well this weekend there was chippy Friday night, BBQ meats and salads Saturday night then last night we had Chinese takeaway for Fathers Day.  We also went to the pub Saturday so chances of a weight loss at the scales tomorrow are slim but that's okay, there's always this week!  Although I'm out for a meal again later, going to catch up with my bestie, first time in a long time.

I can't see me getting much done today, I've woke up tired but can't go back to sleep, so I'll have a slow and steady kind of day.  Start by doing what I have to, plan the weeks huddle chat, try and get the washing done and dried, although the tumble dryer might stand a better chance than the garden today.

Not much else to report here, so I'll crack on with my tasks, I can feel a lot of procrastination being present today!  

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Ready for the weekend

Saturday 17th June 2023

Take a deep breathe & smile

Oh you know when you've fancied something for maybe a day or even weeks like I had with the Donor Kebab but then you have it and it's not what you were expecting - well that didn't happen last night, oh my days, it was the best donor kebab I think I've ever had.  I inhaled it!  We'd bought a portion of chips to go with them but I only ate about 3, I was stuffed from the kebab, left about 2 slivers of meat, it really was so good.  All that salad with lemon and mint in the pitta topped complementing the meat. Nom nom nom.

It helped that I was hungry, I'd had a cheese and onion omelette for breakfast and a cheese triangle and tomato sandwich at lunch, then nothing till we nipped to the chippy on the way back from the pub, we only went for a couple, so were back by half seven I reckon, eight latest.  We sat in the garden chatting and eating, a lovely end to our day.  

I did have a productive day, to the point I did 11,161 steps, 138 active minutes.  I moved the drawers, they fitted perfectly side by side in the cupboard under the stairs, they will be our paperwork / documents  /important stuff and stationary for work drawers.   I just need to sort said important documents out.  I sorted magazine and got rid, managed to fill a big bag with stuff from spare room.  Kept having a little cry here and there as I found some trinket or bit of crap of moms that bought back floods of memories.  I don't miss her on a daily basis but when I see those things I miss the memories we made and the laughs we had, she was after all my best friend my whole life.  Thankfully himself does a really good job of being my best friend these days, we laugh lots and we're making memories together.  

There's still a lot of sorting to be done but by 2pm I was in agony, I'd done 3 loads of washing, all that sorting and carried stuff up and down stairs, I've pulled my shoulder again and it was just improving - I'll never learn! 

I've just took some BBQ food out the freezer, if we don't have a BBQ I can cook it indoors, either way, it's not living in my freezer for another month, there's still the same amount still there we can have next weekend. 

I've managed to get some sleep not helped by others, half one this morning there was half a dozen blokes standing, chatting and making a noise at the end of the alley next door, at half four this morning there's a couple having a conversation outside our house, she's sat on the floor, they're deep in discussion.  I've been awake since then, at least it means I've managed to get another load of washing on the line.

Looking forward to the morning at the huddle, then a chill out day, it's too warm for much else.

Here's to a great day, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

I do love Fridays

Friday 16th June 2023

Yay, It's Friday! 

Half six in the morning, mug of tea in hands, nothing that HAS to be done, what a wonderful way to start my day.   I am going to change my quilt today to a 4 tog one, I've not been sleeping with the quilt at all this week but I know he will so if it's a thin one, I can cope with that.  

I'm gonna do some sorting I think, I was watching that 'sort your life out' show yesterday where they go into peoples houses and organise them and it made me want to do some sorting myself, it also made me feel really good because I have nowhere near the kind of crap in my house they have in theirs.  I do want to sort the spare box room out, it's where our crap ends up, it used to be my office so has bookcases in there where I would really like a few chest of drawers, will keep my eye out for second hand ones because I don't want to spend lots.  I'd like to be able to to keep clothes in there as we don't have enough storage in our bedroom.  Somewhere to keep shoes too!  I know the old airing cupboard in Aryns room hasn't been opened in probably a year so what's in there could be got rid of surely.  There are two good ikea metal office drawers in there that we could use to store documents that you have to keep, I just need to work out where to put them as they're bright red, mmm wonder if they'll fit in the cupboards under the stairs.  Processing it all here can you tell.  Why can't you buy cheap chest of drawers anymore!

Moving on, I didn't have a kebab, I couldn't be bothered to stop at the chippy is the truth, maybe chippy tea all round tonight will solve that.  A lovely lady shared this recipe with me though, maybe you'd like to try it too.

Instead for lunch I had a chicken wrap with leftover chicken with salad, then for tea I had a frozen pizza, I'd bought them in Tesco for 90p to give them a try and they weren't bad at all.  Almost 800 calories each though and only the size of a dinner plate - that's a lot!

The M&S ones are under 400 calories each but will cost you £3.50, they only weight 168g.   I do prefer the really thin bases, I didn't think the Tesco one was that thin.

I've got an Ocado order coming this morning, I saved £32.05 in offers, I only bought things that were on offer, then I saved £22.38 in vouchers, I had a 25% off voucher come through on email, £22.50 was the maximum you could save, I do like a bargain!  I did notice a lot of their basics were no more expensive than any of the other supermarkets too.

Right I'm gonna go start the decluttering whilst the mood takes me, catch you tomorrow, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Making the effort in the kitchen

Thursday 15th June 2023

It's your choice to make your day good!

Before a wonderful morning at the huddle, I spent 15-20 minutes in the kitchen dicing onion, carrot, yellow pepper, celery, tomato, mushroom, courgette and a chilli pepper into the smallest pieces ever.  My mission was to get Aryn to eat these veggies, especially mushroom and onion of which he doesn't like the texture.   I defrosted 500g of lamb mince, then realised when I got home, I needed more mince because of how many veggies I'd cooked, so I defrosted 500g of beef mince.  Threw it all in together with a tin of tomatoes, oxo cubes, wine stock, tomato puree and cooked it all through until it was resembling a sort of shepherd's pie mix, ooo it was tasty.  I waited for Aryn to get home and asked if he wanted it with mash on top, or in wraps with rice and cheese, he opted for the latter and I had mine with mash.  We both agreed it was delicious and he was good with the veggies because they were diced.  I do love a food success, plus getting the veggies in to him easily is a massive bonus. 

 

There's loads left too, which I'll freeze for another day.  I then cooked some rock cakes, I did have one, the rest are for Aryn, in-between I sat on my backside in the garden for a bit then afterwards I moved to sitting on my backside in the house as my leg was hurting like hell by then.  I also had a bath to try and relax the leg - ain't my life just the best, seriously though I do love it, I'm happy not to be busy and rushing about all the time anymore. 

Today though, I'm thinking of having a donor kebab!  I've fancied one since we were in Corfu and it's a long day of huddles so I could indulge, if I have at lunchtime, I only have to buy for me lol.  I might change my mind of course but I'm giving myself permission to have it if I choose too.

My days started with a good mug of tea so I'm feeling the need for a second, it's cooled down a tad hasn't it so I've slept better, although Coco seems to have his mad half hour at 4am which I could do without but I managed to fall back to sleep till my alarm at 6 thankfully.  

I'm doing my shop online this week, I have 25% discount for Ocado, so I'm going to stock up on stuff that won't go off, making sure it works out cheaper than my usual shop, most things are about the same price as other supermarkets, M&S stuff is slighty more expensive than in the M&S store but with the discount it's happy days :) 

Well I better go get ready for work, here's to a great day.

Mwah, luv ya

Love me 

 

What to eat in this heat?

Wednesday 14th June 2023

Another day to find a way.

Another hot day yesterday, I did manage to sleep last night just shy of 7 hours, I made sure the cats were out of my room and opened my windows for a little of the breeze that there was.  

We had a good day in huddles, lots of success and members managing to enjoy the sunshine, enjoying life at the same time.  I managed to lose 1 1/2lb of my holiday gain which made me smile as I too have been enjoying life at the same time.  Salad was my friend a few times last week and I plan it will be this week too. 

Egg and chips was one of my meals yesterday, 

Plus this delicious salad.

I had 2 ryvita for my breakfast and that was my food day.  Not planned today, it really is too warm to stand cooking, especially as the cooker makes the temperature of the kitchen rise.

My day was most filled with work and trying to stay cool.  I'd run out of bottled water for Aryn to take to school, he takes 4 bottles a day, so nipped to Farm Foods where it had been £1.69 for 12 in May, yesterday it was 2 packs for £5, seriously, what is going on, did the sun come out and they thought 'oh we'll put the price of the water up'.  I refused to buy it, nipped in the Tesco garage and it was on offer for £2.25, better tops on the bottles too.  I know it's not good for the environment but I need the boy to drink water and this is the only way to do it.

Now what to eat today?  I fancy these but not sure I have enough frozen peas, they're on my shopping list, I could add some frozen spinach I suppose.  I can use normal onion rather than shallots. 

Mini pea and mint frittatas

cooking spray
6 eggs
50ml skimmed milk
90g frozen peas
2 shallots, finely chopped
50g reduced-fat natural cottage cheese
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint, plus extra to serve.

Preheat the oven to 200oC, fan 180oC, gas mark 6.  Mist two 12 hole mini muffin tins with cooking spray or use silicon cases. 

In a large jug, beat together the eggs and mik, then season.  Put the peas in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water.  Leave for 1 minute, then drain and refresh under cold running water and drain well.

Add the peas to the egg mixture, along with the shallots, cottage cheese and mint.  Stir to combine, then divide the mixture between the muffin holes and bake for 12 minutes or until just set. Serve warm, sprinkled with the extra chopped mint.

Yeah I might make those, have some with a salad.  Maybe roast some peppers and courgettes at the same time.

But before I do anything, I want a shower and another mug of tea, here's to getting through another day, doing our best to stay cool.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x