Sunday 30 December 2012

New Year's Eve!

So it's nearly 2013, only 16hrs off... Time to post up my new year's resolutions:

1) Nothing Tastes As Good As Skinny Feels: Time to really buckled down and do this Slimming World stuff seriously, as I have two bloody good reasons to do so now! I managed to lose around 9lbs before Christmas, which was good enough for the time of year, but now to really shift some serious pounds...


2) Learn to knit something: Tom's mum is a fabulous and imaginative knitter, and I've decided, having completed my patchwork target this year, I would learn to knit something basic but pretty to add to skills I have craft-wise.


3) Remember birthdays and celebrations and get cards out: There are certain people in my life who ALWAYS remember my birthday or send me a card if something good happens. I think it's time to start making them feel remembered back and so this year I will try to send everyone a card when they're having a special time.


There is also the small matter of the fact that on Christmas Eve this year, I got ENGAGED!!!!!!

 Tom made me the happiest lady on Earth and finally popped me the question. With plans for the wedding to be in 2014, we need to be careful with our money this year and save up for our honeymoon and other things. It's going to be awesome.

Anyway, gotta get ready for work now (Boo!!) But, happy new year to you all! What are you up to this evening??

Lots of new start love,

BB xxx

Sunday 23 December 2012

Just in time for Christmas!

Hello! It has been a while, yes? Apologies! But to make up for my absence, I have a pretty massive post to put up!
I write this on Christmas Eve-Eve, finally getting a chance to relax and do not very much at all as I look on at our christmas tree which is positively bursting with pressies underneath it. I have been working very hard on the run up to the big day; my family decided that we would all be conservative this year with gifts, and so I've been careful to be creative and make as much as I can, or spend as little as possible, but get maximum results.
My proudest and biggest achievement was my gift to my Mum, which has taken me MONTHS, but has paid off. Last year I made a new years resolution to make a patchwork creation, and I've done it.




It's not quite quilt-size, but it's a large bed-end to go over the end of their MASSIVE bed! The applique squares have pictures that represent in-jokes within the family, so it has a personal touch. When making this project, I was directed to Patchwork Corner in Hemel Hempstead and they were incredibly helpful there, and sold me the wadding and some other bits. Since finishing it, I have invested in a rotary cutter and board, and am planning to complete a bigger project in the new year.

I also made something for my Nan to put up in her conservatory among all her other garden memorabilia:




I've made a couple of buntings now, and again this was personalised using applique felt figures. I used a lot of left-over fabric from other projects over the year, but I have bought some fat quarter bundles off of eBay and from Needlecraft in Hemel too, which I have ironed and put away from another day.

Speaking of othe frugal gifts, I wanted to give my new work colleagues a little something each, so I went online and bought some festive cake decorations, and voila! Look!!






I loved bringing them into work and presenting them with an egg box each, and seeing their faces of utter puzzlement when I did so, and then the glee when they opened them! Also very cheap to make; I have been collecting so many egg boxes that I have a cupboard full now, and the cake cases go a long way. For the cake itself, I buy a supermarket's own-brand cake mix that you just add an egg too, and the results were as good as making the mix from scratch. I will be making more of these before christmas day for friends and family too.
Back in October I joined Slimming World again, and have managed to shift 9lbs so far (slow progress, but atleast it should stay off!!) We had our christmas party last week, and everyone bought something tasty, but 'syn-free'...






I've been making meals at home and freezing as much as possible in bulk, especially as we're doing our £2-a day challenge again come January. I've been making the Slimming World alternatives to family favourites like Shepherds and Cottage pie, tomato and basil soup, vegetable soup, bean stew, etc...




The soup was a particular steal, thanks to the reduced isle in Tescos on a Monday evening!


My family and partner have also been enjoying some lovely food over the winter months. Back in November, my mum, Nan and sister-in-law went to the Country Living Christmas fair in Islington. A beautiful day out, but very busy!! And also very expensive - I discovered the downside to making my own things, because suddenly I resent spending £6 on a single felt decoration when I know I can do it myself!


Still, Mum had a good day!
Tom turned 28 in late November, and as well as cooking a beautiful roast lamb dinner, he also got a homemade lemon and yogurt cake from me!




So, what next??
As mentioned before, in the new year we will be trying to save money again and live on just £2-a day for the whole of January, as well as continuning as many of those good habits as possible into the rest of the year. More quilting to come, and at this point I'd like to direct you all to Frugal Queen's blog (see right hand side of this page...) which does all of what I want to do, but ten times better! A truly inspiring blog, and if you're reading this, Froogs, I am a MASSIVE fan, so thankyou! :)

That's all for now. Have a merry christmas, and a happy new year! I'll be back soon!

BB xx