Simple things and daft cats.

Well, another week is done. There are 4 working days til the Easter holidays. 8 days until our first wedding anniversary (where did that go?!). 

We've not had any snow this week, though it has been bitterly cold and very windy. We've had to turn the heating up again as our house has been very cold, so I hope that doesn't mean our DD will need to go up. 

You know I posted a bit ago about not getting a new coat? I've changed my mind. I've ordered one, and it should be here during the week. I shall post about it when it arrives. 

Tonight me and the husband are going out for a meal, followed by a concert in a church, with local singers performing. It should be a lovely evening, and I'm looking forward to spending some time just the two of us. I can't decide what to wear though - do I go for comfort or glam? I'm sure comfort will win out this evening, as it's so cold outside. We shall see!

And talking of daft cats, this sight greeted me earlier:

Django is guarding a pair of my socks - as in, he wouldn't let them go! I'd put them out on the bed, and the next moment, he'd got hold of them and was guarding them. The way he was looking just seemed as if he was saying "Go on, I dare you to try and get them!" Luna then decided to go to his side, so both of them were just sat watching me, with the socks. They are daft, and cute. 

Happy Saturday everyone x 

Comfort and ease.

I like nothing better than coming home from work and relaxing. I don't want to spend lots of time doing stuff when I get home; home time is for relaxing, spending time with family and winding down after a hectic day. 

And that includes food and cooking. I love cooking, but the last thing I want to do after a long day at work is slave away for ages over a meal - I want something nice, simple and easy. 

This is what we had for tea tonight:

The potatoes, onion and peas were things we had in already. That's a pork shoulder steak on the plate too, which cost 75p and we needed apple sauce too. But, a very tasty meal which doesn't cost much and little effort in cooking is the best one in my book. 

Happy Monday. 

My 100th post.

When I first started this blog, I didn't really know what I wanted from it. I wanted to write about our lives, but not really sure about what I would actually write about. Our lives are not that exciting, we're just a young couple trying to do our best. 

But, I do enjoy it. It's nice to look back over posts and see what was going on. I love reading other people's blogs, getting glimpses into other lives, all around the world. I love looking at photographs that capture little moments in time, sometimes happy and sometimes not. 

I just want to say thank you if you ever read my blog, or if you comment. I love reading comments from people who can offer advice when I need it, or encouragement when things aren't going well. 

The blogging community is amazing. 

Meals for the week.

I have not had time at all this week to get online really, so not had chance to write a post. I've not really done much, except work has been really busy, so spent most evenings doing stuff or sleeping as I'm shattered. 

Our meals for this week are:

today - roast lamb with veg and gravy

Monday - spag bol with garlic bread

Tuesday - pizza (DH) soup (me)

Wednesday - summer-in-winter chicken with rice

Thursday - pasta (DH) slim fast (me)

Friday - grilled pork chops with apple sauce and mash

Lots of simple recipes this week that require little concentration and effort, which is always a bonus. 

I've had a bit of a financial wobble this week. I'll post more on that tomorrow, and perhaps ask some advice on various things. Ho hum. 

What I wouldn't give to be somewhere warm right now, for a relax....

Meals for the week.

As per usual, Sunday's post is about the meals for the week and food shopping.

I was disappointed last week when we spent quite a lot at the supermarket, and was determined not to have a repeat of that! Due to using some of the things in the freezer and careful planning, our spends at the supermarket this week was £38.31 - that's more like it! This total even included some beer for DH, so I'm very pleased with that. 

Our meals for this week are:

today - out at the in-laws for Sunday dinner

Monday - coconut prawn curry

Tuesday -pizza 

Wednesday - chicken fajitas and salad

Thursday - pasta and sauce (DH) slim fast (me)

Friday - spaghetti bolognaise with garlic bread

Lots of stuff to be used from the fridge and freezer for this week's meals. 

A little confession next... I've given up chocolate, crisps, biscuits, cake and sweets for Lent, as I do every year. This year though, I'm finding chocolate especially hard, not sure why. So, I've been planning (as you do!) for when Lent is over. DH has a chocolate bar every day with his lunch, as he walk 7-8 miles a day in his job, so he can eat quite a bit. We buy chocolate bars on offer/whatever the best deal is. Over the past two weeks, I've been snaffling some of DH's chocolate bars and keeping them safe in a box.....:

Mmm.... the only thing I haven't bought in this box is the bag of peanut butter cup miniatures - they were a Christmas present - and all the rest were on good deals. I'm especially looking forward to the peanut butter kit kat chunky - yes, I'm cool! 

Have you given anything up for Lent? How are you finding it?

Happy Sunday everyone. 

Good intentions.

When I went out this morning, I had every intention of buying a coat. I researched on the internet last night, and found one I liked the look of. I had £30 worth of vouchers for the store, and it looked like it would last a long time and worth the money. 

But, as I was driving into town, I was thinking, do I really need to buy a new coat now? Hopefully the cold weather is behind us - the sun is shining today and I didn't even need to wear a coat this morning. So, do I really need to buy one? 

I didn't, in the end. When I get into town, the shop didn't even have the coat in stock, so I couldn't try it on. I'm always wary of ordering online, as I like to try clothes on first. I did look at some alternatives, but I didn't particularly like them. So, no coat purchased. 

I then took my time over a cinnamon latte and bacon roll from Costa, which was a lovely Saturday morning treat. I read a newspaper whilst slurping my coffee. 

I then went for a browse, and ended up buying a scarf from Fat Face:

The material is so soft, and the colours are just lovely. To be honest, I could have bought a lot more from there, but restrained myself. This was enough! Not sure what the husband creature will say - I have quite a lot of scarves already... I'm a scarf person apparently. 

Right, I'm off to read my book in the conservatory, where two cats are snoozing in the sunshine. I love weekends. 

Monthly aims: March 2013

I don't know about anything else, but I can't believe it's March. 2013 is going so quickly!

My aims for March are:

- lose 4lbs

- Overpay £600

- Put £300 in the Emergency Fund

- Have 18 No Spend Days

- Buy a new coat!

I'm going to try and lose 1lb a week this month. I'm getting on the right track/right frame of mind for this, so it's just a case of continuing and being strong and staying away from certain foods....

I'm going to aim to overpay £600, but it might not be as much as that this month, we shall see. I have worked out that our daily interest on our mortgage is £10.98 which seems like a high amount, so the sooner that can be under £10 a day, the better! 

Still plodding along with the Emergency Fund. I was hoping to get it to 25% by the end of the month, but that means nearly £400 to put in by the end of the month, and I think that'll be pushing it. 

I desperately need a new coat, but I'm hoping not to spend too much (as always!) I've got a couple of vouchers to spend, so I'm going to have a browse. 

I am looking forward to March; at the end of the month it'll be our first wedding anniversary. I can't believe a year ago began the most stressful month ever, ending with a perfect day. It's almost a year away, and yet it doesn't seem that long ago. We're going to Bamburgh for a long weekend, where we'll spend time looking at the sights, enjoying meals out and having a relax. DH proposed at Seahouses, so we might pop there too, we shall see! 

I can't wait! Here's to March.