Christmas Planning - Week 5: Bathroom Week

A little late (sorry) but it means that I can bring you my new hashtag a week early (so not all bad than) .... let me introduce #MistletoeMonday.   Organised will return to Sundays again this weekend and Mondays will be full of festive ideas, treats, and exciting reviews to get you in the mood.  After all there is only 87 more sleeps.

Well after blogging about them we headed to Tesco last week and picked up a tub of Heroes for £4.  I wanted to get a tub of the rowntree ones too but they didn't have any :(  I have now been assured by
Tesco they have them in at my local so think I'll pay them a visit on the way home tomorrow and see if they still do.

e-books vs tree-books

Don't get me wrong I LOVE the idea of an e-book.  I've often considered buying an e-reader or tablet and putting the app on it.  I have read the odd few pages of e-books on my android smartphone but it is so small that I could never read a whole book on it... we do read e-books on the internet occasionally (small few page ones),  and of course when you want to read 'that type' of book on a bus load of people an e-book is so much less embarrassing :).

..... and THAT is why I have hung up the #pblogger hat.

Let me lay it on the line.... I am clearly NOT a parent blogger... and not just because my @tots100 stats tell me so.

1) I don't CARE if the kids packed lunch doesn't resemble a letter of the alphabet every day.   They have never complained because the jam from their sandwich (when I'm feeling generous and change from
the normal ham) has strayed onto their slice of cheese.  I've never been screamed at because their carrot sticks were not nice and even.

In fact while I am on the subject of food I don't make their tea like pretty either (ok I did twice).  I cook the food I put it on a plate. To be honest they don't even really care that alphabet potato shapes look like letters and Peppa Pig spaghetti may as well be hoops.

Panda Drinks are back

If you were an 80s / 90s child then you  probably grew up with Panda Pops... yummy fizzy goodness that artifically flavoured cherryade and the orangeade that well come to think of it wasn't really that
orangy and don't get me started on my views about 'cola'.... then the health police came around and they disappeared.  The good news is they are now back... with a soft drink that tastes JUST as good (if not better) then the fizzy pop of our childhood.

         VS  

Tuneful Tuesday - Birdhouse In Your Soul (They Might Be Giants)

Back in the days of casesste tapes and recording the Pepsi Network Chart Show this found its way onto a mix tape.  I'd forgotton all about it, reheard it today and the memories came flooding back.

It was released in 1989 but most recently returned to the UK Singles Chart in 2010, after its use in a television advert for Clarks Shoes.

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle - Party Invitations

I may have mentioned (once or twice) how Ben is having a TMNT party for his birthday.  As it's at home I've told him he can have 4 friends as my house can't take many more.  All the invitations we saw to buy were very boring . ... so with a bit of Pin-spiration ...  I bring you home made TMNT invitations.  And they are soo easy.

Christmas Planning - Week 4: Our Bedroom Week

So the chocolates in Morrisons are definitely back up to full price now so I'll be waiting to see who's next to reduce them or give a great deal.

Did you see my Poundland post?  The boys are very excited to have their advent calenders already.  I need to get my wooden advent calendar out I made last year and see if it needs updating.

The selling stuff didn't sell again last week so next weekend (it's black bin day this week) I'll be throwing or charity shopping stuff to make the space.

Books for sale............

I know tree-books are in decline but I love them farr more then electronic ones.  

I've listed these on Preloved, I've tried local sites and ebay with no responses.  Some are on read it swap it but to be honest I just need them gone.

Collection is from Sheffield or I can post (tho this works out pretty pricey now and I probably can't beat Amazon - thanks royal mail!).

So I'm going to put them on here for a little while and see if any of you lovely people fancy them......

Prices start from just 50p and all can be seen in this album

Halloween, Christmas and Birthday all catered for on today's Poundland shop

I only went out for sugar and bread .... but ended up spending £13 in Poundland today.....

Review - Yollies

A long time ago .... way back in ...... August..... the lovely people who make Cheesestrings(Kerry Dairies)  produced a yummy new after dinner snack - a yogurt lolly on a stick - a Yollies.

We couldn't wait to try these, unfortunately they are only available in large Asda stores at the moment (other retailers will be stocking them later in the year) in the chiller aisle, tho I am told they also taste great frozen in the warmer summer months..

Revamp your fridge with PicStick

Every time I look at my fridge I am reminded of the baby dinosaur from 'Dinosaurs' back in the early 90's.  He drew a picture and handed it to Frank who exclaimed "where will I put it?  the fridge is full".... Baby's reply "Buy a new fridge..... problem solved".........

............ whilst PicStick's can't solve the space issue (or maybe they can... I'll come to that in a minute) they can certainly make a boring white fridge prettier.

Photo Magnets themselves are not a new concept to me, a few years ago I made my own, that is to say I found some pictures I liked, printed them, laminated and stuck some magnetic tape on the back.  It is fair to say these were massively overdue for an update as my kids are no longer babies.  So when PicStick offered me the chance to explore their website and order some Photo Magnets I jumped at the chance..... and it is safe to say I'll be heading back.

Meredith Brooks - Bitch (as you can guess contains bad words)

In the days of PC gone mad and people overreacting to things I was shocked to hear Asda playing one of my favourite songs this week... in fact I moseyed around the clothing/ entertainment department far longer then I anticipated just to hear all of it.

I kind of see this song as a theme tune to my life ... I am all these things and you know what ... if you don't like it I don't care, I DO have a softer side but only if you deserve to see it :)

Released in May 1997 I was still at school (albeit high school) and to say the word 'bitch' even in context/ a song was really frowned about in my house.  However it is one of my go-to feel good songs for an anger release.

Turtle Power.... cupcakes

As you may have seen on Twitter it's all about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in this house at the moment.  Just when I've learnt all the superhero's from A-Z (honestly would you like me to list them) Ben announces he wants a TMNT birthday party.   Well his birthday isn't until the middle of October but when we went to B&M the other day he found a turtle bun mix and it sat in the cupboard forgotten about until this weekend.

He loved the fact the cake's were soo easy to make, and I loved not having to measure out all the ingredients.

Christmas Planning - Week 3: Entry/ Foyer Week

I was really cross with myself when I went into Morrisons today and the sweetie tubs appeared to be back to full price (so I didn't get any), it was only on the way out I noticed the sign was still up saying they were on offer, will have to go back for a couple.   I even resisted the urge to buy the boys chocolate advent calenders when I saw them.

I've managed to empty a box/ rearrange my stitching stash to make an extra Christmas present box but I need more space.  There is only one thing for it, a load of my unsold stuff will have to go to a charity shop to free up the large box!!!  Do I want to give ebay a chance first??? hmmm.....

Step back to school with Shoe Zone

........ sound familiar???  Then you must be a trying to get school shoes (with the rest of the town) in the last few days before term starts, because you know if you bought them in July your child's feet WILL grow in the 6 weeks holiday.

My very own Personal Planner

Planner, organiser, jotter, diary .... whatever it's called in your house there is bound to be one in your bag.  In my case I probably have about 3 in the house as I change my mind as often as I change my pants and if I see a nice new diary (within budget) I will buy it.

I don't know if it stems back to the days of being in school but there is something about mid-year diaries that I need in my life.  Starting something on the 1st of January seems .... wrong.   My friend is unfortunate enough to have her birthday on the 2nd of January (or is it the 3rd?) and I won't begin to tell you how many times I have forgotten it because I haven't started using my new diary/ calender until 1st January.

This year I wanted something more than a diary, last year I had a lovely organiser diary with compartments, note space, shopping lists, budgeting etc and I thought right this year I WILL be organised....... it lasted about 3 months before it got tatty/ took up too much space in my bag and to be honest I was bored of it and bought a basic diary .... that I didn't like because I didn't have enough space to write things I thought of (like shopping lists).

Exuviance Age Reverse Night Lift

I'm really enjoying going through my goody bag from #NorthernBloggersMeetUp and this week has been a great week for trialing creams.

I can't remember the last time my skin saw any face cream, I just forget! This cream was a pleasure to use tho, once you get past the strong alcohol (?) smell.  Unlike other night creams I've used this is light and silky to apply and moisturisers in quickly.  It does't leave a greasy sensation like previous products.

Silent Sunday 7.9.14

Christmas Planning - Week 2: Living Room / Question Week

We move on slightly from lists in Week Two and turn our focus to questions questions questions.   It is supposed to be living room cleaning/ decluttering week and as I've not actually done this from last week I think I'd better keep it in.

Couldn't believe it yesterday when I went into Morrisons and they had hugee towers of the Hero, Celebration, Roses, Quality Street and Haribo tubs for £5 each or 2 for £8.  i was very tempted to make a start on my Christmas food storage until I remembered I'd nearly filled the pressie box and hadn't unburied the big Christmas 'stuff' box... which in reality means they would be gone before October :)

Every year I pledge to not buy these but for me they are a BIG part of Christmas.  Last year, I will

admit, we bought the Haribo one but kept it topped up with goodies from other places.... we even found Christmas Haribo (why don't they include that??) Do you buy the tubs??

Ghost Train and Gimmie 5

Back in the days (1989 - 1994) when Nobby really was a non-laughed at name for a sheep were
Ghost Train and Gimmie 5.

Hours and hours were spent watching these fantastic series which ran ALL MORNING on ITV on Saturdays for children. Not everything on them was to my taste... so I'd move over to see what BBC were offering (but that's for another post)

Northern Rail plan to introduce New PEAK ticket prices ..... will you be affected

As non-car drivers you will be aware that we do a LOT of travelling by train.  We have a family and friends rail card and love to go for days out.

Fortunately most of our outings fall on the weekends but there are times, like this weekend (or during the school holidays).  We considered going away for a couple of night when the kids finished school tonight (meaning travelling out of Sheffield after 4pm).  Additionally if we do go on a day out in the week we tend to try and get back to Sheffield for around 5pm so enough time for tea and bed with out rushing our day out.   Today I have just spotted Northern Rails plans to ruin our days out by increasing ticket prices in South and West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Hexham-Newcastle.... so all the routes we frequently use...from the 8th September.   They say they have given plenty of notice of this including announcements on affected trains.... well I must have slept through my return journey from Manchester last week because there was NOTHING about this change - no posters, no announcements - if I'd not seen it on Twitter today I would not have been aware.  You would have expected when I booked my tickets (and I can't remember who I booked through) a month ago that some notification of the change would have been sent, but not that I can see.

Northern Bloggers Meet Up - 30th August

Saturday... the day I'd been waiting for for ... agesssss finally came round.  A double celebration, the first Saturday in years where hubby was at home for the kids and I could abandon them and go to meet some fellow bloggers....oh and I got my hair cut for the occasion too
.

The morning didn't go too smoothly and I ended up 45 minutes late for the #northerbloggersmeetup meaning I'd missed all the introductions and people were already deep in conversation.  Thankfully I found a lovey comfy armchair and was instantly welcomed to a smaller group.  It was lovely to get a chance to talk to Jaye from Liberty Belle properly as she was rather busy the last time I saw her.

#WIP - Let's Deck the halls.

here's where I'm at 3/9/14

  

Work in Progress Wednesday - Let's Deck the Halls, Ursula Michael

My Ursula Michael passion hit again when I found this beauty on crossstitch.com  and yes it may only be September but I had to start it.

I choose to go against the guidance (I wouldn't be me otherwise) and opt for various shades of green for the text.  I am contemplating replacing the star with metallic gold.......

A week in and here's my progress...........I am determined that for the first year ever I will have a seasonal work finished and framed for the festivities.

Tuneful Tuesday - Roxette - must have been love

Originally released in 1987 as a Christmas song, "Christmas for the Broken Hearted", the song's original title, it went on to become a Top 10 hit in Sweden but EMI Germany decided not to the release the track.  Later "It must have been love" featured on the 1990 soundtrack to the popular film Pretty Woman and had a much better run.

Word fun with Bananagrams

Imagine a game of scrabble with no board ... well now you have it.... Bananagrams.  Much more lightweight and easier for travelling then the popular board based game and with endless possibilities.

Following the #NorthernBloggersMeetUp the kids were eager to see what I had in my goodybags.... the makeup, tea and supplements were very quickly pushed aside when we saw a bright yellow pouch (and that was just my reaction).   I'd seen Banangrams on the shelf in my local stores, they are hard to miss, but already owning more then 1 version of scrabble I'd not been allowed to buy it.

Home made Frozen Yogurt

SO the boys have now developed my passion for frozen yogurt and with a punnet of freshly picked blackberries in the freezer and some yogurt to use up I thought now would be a good time to see how easy it was.

Let's just say it could be better.  I did a little bit of research online, including asking my good tweeps Ben and Jerry's

300 picture book challenge - August Update

August

We are still plowing through The Enchanted Wood trilogy .......now onto the 3rd book ....

• The Magic Faraway Tree - 51 -55  (book 2 in trilogy)
• Thomas Annual
• Topsy and Tim: camping
• The Folk of The Faraway Tree - 56 - 58 (book 3 in trilogy)
• Bangers and Mash: Eggs is Eggs
• Bangers and Mash: wiggly woms
• Bangers and Mash: wet paint

only 13 this month  (I am counting 1 chapter as equivalent to 1 book) - very very very bad show.  We had a lot of days out/ late nights and games in the evenings rather then snuggling to read stories.

Total: 219/300