Tesco bargains

Yesterday me and M went food shopping to Mr T's at Alfreton. I have never seen so much fruit and veg being reduced! Also some xmas food bargains to be had. We got:-

Sliced carrots 10p

Button mushrooms 9p x6

Little tomatoes 18p x 2

Asparagus 15p x 2

Tomatoes 15p

Bag of 3 large peppers 20p

Bag of 4 peppers 13p

Potatoes 20p

Brocolli 10p

Brandy Butter 40p

Choc liquer cream 58p

Baileys pouring cream 50p

Mini mince pies x 12 74p

Stollen (treat for Jez) £2

We had some of the brocolli, carrots and mushrooms for tea with potatoes and brussells (sausage for the meat eaters and cheese sauce and extra mushrooms for the veggies). Then after tea, I made a pan of veggie chilli and sliced up the rest of the peppers which won't keep for the freezer. 2 peppers which were pristine are still in the fridge for later in the week.

Today, I am thinking of making mushroom and asparagus risotto for tea and I might make some pasta sauce or curry for the freezer with some more of the mushrooms.

Nothing much planned for today. Just hoping for a bit of calm as M has been a real monkey this past few days. It was wierd, he turned 4 and became a little angel for a few weeks but not any more lol! Sometimes there is no talking to him and he has been hitting, kicking, tormenting the cat, getting angry or upset easily and he won't listen and certainly won't go to bed (despite the fact that I happily read books and lie with him until he goes to sleep). I just keep thinking this is a phase and it will pass but it is hard not to be a shouty mummy and we both did far to much of it yesterday despite having a really sensible conversation in the morning - about listening, not hitting and how everyone is happier if there is no shouting and how much nicer it is etc etc! This is a phase and I know it will pass (they always do even though it is hard at the time) and we will try to have a no shouting day today at least from me!

Hopefully it will brighten up later as a bit of fresh air would probably do us all the world of good!

Christmas 2010

We have had a lovely time this christmas. Mitchell being 4 now was so excited and this time of year is full of magic and wonder. He is full of questions though, like how will santa get in (with a magic key) and how will he know what I want (he might not know what you want but he always seems to know what you would like) and why can't he come down the chimney (we don't have one). All good.

The weeks before I seem to have rediscovered my social life but Christmas can be a bit like that, full on and then nothing after.

This year I am going to try and make sure I catch up with at least 1 friend once a month. Mitchell enjoyed his nursery christmas party and

the Twistin Tots christmas party and we have caught up with lots of our lovely friends. We don't have babysitters so we either go out separately or Mitchell comes with us.

On Christmas eve we had a 'picnic' in the lounge and watched 'Miracle on 34th Street' before Mitchell went to bed. Then it was time to go in the loft and play santa :)

Sometime during the night, Mitchell came and snuggled up in bed with us and in the morning straight away said, 'I didn't hear Santa - did you? Did you hear any bells' I said no, but dad said he might have heard footsteps. Down he went to have a look and then ran scrambling back upstairs to say 'HE'S BEEEEN!!!' Wonderful stuff. We all got up to have a look and it was a very civilised ten past 7.

After a session of pressie opening, tea and biscuits my mum woke up and we

shortly went to open more pressies in her room (those for her and one parcel and a christmas stocking for M). Had a chilled out day just the 4 of us, playing, cooking, eating, watching telly and then more of the same on boxing day.

Monday I hit the sales thinking that if I went early it would not be so busy in Next (I get lots of M's clothes in their half price sale). WRONG - at 7am, 2 hours after opening, there must have been 300+ people queuing just to get in the shop. 6 hours later after Next, Boots, Debenhams, WHSmiths etc I returned home with my bargains.

Oh and as a treat for me, I got my belly button pierced :) and I love it :)

We will be having a quiet new year, probably watch a bit of telly and then watch the fireworks through the window. Last year they woke M so just we watched them together and then snuggled up in the big bed. This year we have more room if the same thing happens as we recently bought a superking!

Sunday night we are going out for a chinese meal with my brother in law and his girlfriend which will be nice so it isn't all over with just yet for us.

To Do in 2011

1. Paint kitchen including the cupboards

2. Repaint the shed and paint the recycling tower

3. Declutter and decorate the spare bedroom

4. Hire a carpet shampooer and shampoo the carpets

New years resolutions

Morning :)

Not sure why I am smiling actually as I have a sore throat and it is 5.30am when I should be tucked up in bed! Instead, I had to let the cat out and while I was up decided to have some ibuprofen, gargle with salt water and make a cuppa. Might make another in a minute...

I can't believe it has been 5 weeks since I started writing this blog. I was so full of good intentions to keep it up! I have been thinking about new years resolutions (quite a few money saving) so here goes.

1. Get on top of the grocery spend - budget for January is £300 and I have signed up to the grocery challenge on the MSE forum to keep me on track.

2. Try to write this blog at least once per week.

3. Do the things I keep putting off - stop procrastinating!

4. List stuff on ebay every week and work on decluttering our house.

5. Work on paying extra off the mortgage.

6. Don't buy any toiletries unless I need them.

7. Don't buy any clothes unless I need them.

8. Have an alcohol free month - starts Monday 3rd January.

9. See a friend at least once a month.

10. Don't waste food and recycle better.

11. Realise that housework done badly still blesses my home (including stop getting onto Jez when he doesn't do things like I would) and generally work on my flylady routines!

12. Grow more veg in pots this year.

13. Bake at least once per fortnight (weekly might be to hard to stick to).

14. Loose 2 stone.

15. Get a bit fitter!

16. Meal plan more.

17. Keep a spending diary.

18.Read and release some books (at least 1 per month).

19. Always have a to do list.

20.Work on saving electricity and water.

21. Boycott Nestle (apart from the Go Cat - I will try other brands but so far they won't eat anything else, and mum's Nescafe)

There, that will do for starters!