02.29.08
Cloth Nappies
This is day two of using cotton nappies for Izzy. The first one leaked but this was my fault because I left it on for too long before changing it, but this has made sure that I change them regularly and ensure that they are fitted securely. I don’t know whether this means that Izzy likes them or not but after having no dirty nappies for almost the first week of her life, yesterday she decided to have three in a row – yes all in cotton washable nappies instead of disposables…. lovely! I preferred it when she just had one a day, still she appears to be going through a bit of a growth spurt at the moment and is being fed every three hours (it was four) and feeding takes approx 40 minutes… heaven knows how I manage to get anything done with a two hour window between feeds!
But I digress, I feel that I am now getting used to the cotton nappies especially now that I am in a routine of feeding then changing. The one task I need to keep on top of is with my washing. Apparently in the notes that came with the nappies, with the 20 that I have, this should allow me to do a wash every other day without running out…. Anyway I am happy with the way they fit and keep little one dry (no nappy rash yet!)and would thoroughly recommend them
Food Ideas
Since giving birth to Izzy earlier this month money saving has all but gone out of the window – however for March I plan to get back onto the wagon and hence am planning my menus today for the next month. Inevitably this will alter towards the end of the month, but it gives me an idea of how much I should be spending during the month and definitely allows me to get shopping for the next month.
Another of my aims is to eat “5-a-day” of fruit and vegetables and therefore I need to factor this in to the plan whilst still trying to keep within my budget. Because months vary between 4- and 5-week months I budget to spend £80 in week 1 and then £40 for each following week, making my budget either £240 or £280 a month. [I plan for a big week 1 to buy all the pantry and freezer items and then just top up with bread, milk, veg etc in the subsequent weeks]. Ideally I’d like to get this down to £200 a month including all food, drink (including alcohol), cleaning products (vinegar, bicarb, etc) and toiletries, but I need to start growing my own veg and making my own wine and beer first.
I also want to try and reduce my food air-miles and buy in season veg – this will also help me to come up with recipes to make when I have my own veg to use, so I use up everything that I have instead of letting it go to waste. I have found this great website I’m in Season which I’m currently using to work out what veg I should buy this week, and also looking at the Tesco website to see what offers they have on to save money before I finalise my menu for this coming week.
I’ve also found another site Think Vegetables that gives help on the seasonality of vegetables – so between the two I’m sure I’ll be able to post my menu plans shortly
02.26.08
Blog to Review Later
http://disdressed.blogspot.com/2008/02/diy-laundry-soap.html - bookmarking to review later – need to pick son up from school. Interested in the powdered laundry detergent….
Blog to Review Later
http://disdressed.blogspot.com/2008/02/diy-laundry-soap.html – bookmarking to review later – need to pick son up from school. Interested in the powdered laundry detergent….
Going to Pot
I had planned to spend yesterday afternoon deciding what vegetables to grow in the garden and plan a sowing rota (after reading Kethry’s blog and realising that I haven’t done this yet!). Unfortunately time disappeared… school rang at lunchtime to inform me that DS didn’t have any sandwiches and didn’t fancy any of the school meals, so I have to make his sandwiches and drop them off to him – I had run out of time in the morning and asked him if he could make his lunch which he often does when I’m running late, he managed to do all of his lunch but forgot the sandwiches – so this ate into my day, and then I found out that he hadn’t eaten them anyway as apparently he wasn’t hungry by the time I delivered them to school, therefore I put them straight into the fridge and he’s having them for lunch today.
I also planned to get rid of my ironing pile yesterday, I don’t believe how long it took, it felt like it took all day. However it wasn’t all lost since I managed to make some chicken stock from a carcass I had from jointing a chicken at the weekend. I put some of the stock in the fridge ready to made a casserole with tonight and the rest I used to make some carrot and coriander soup which should feed me for lunches all (or most of) this week. I also managed to vaccum downstairs and get dinner ready so I don’t feel like I was sat on my backside all day.
The same cannot be said for today however, I fed Izzy this morning, then got ready to go into town (had another Amazon sale on Sunday so needed to go to the post office) but needed to get the book parcelled up, then the washing out on the line, then the nappy delivery arrived – and I had to get from the neighbour since I was outside with the washing! Eventually made it into town, got everything I needed and walked back – it was midday!! Where did the time go? Izzy was fast asleep in her buggy, so managed to get a cup of tea and load the nappies in the wash before she woke up for a feed. I’ve practically just finished feeding her and so now I’m going to have some soup, hang the nappies on the line, then it will be 3 o’clock and time to pick DS up from school….. then time to start on dinner, then feed Izzy again…… argh!! When will I get chance to sit down….
Going to Pot
I had planned to spend yesterday afternoon deciding what vegetables to grow in the garden and plan a sowing rota (after reading Kethry’s blog and realising that I haven’t done this yet!). Unfortunately time disappeared… school rang at lunchtime to inform me that DS didn’t have any sandwiches and didn’t fancy any of the school meals, so I have to make his sandwiches and drop them off to him – I had run out of time in the morning and asked him if he could make his lunch which he often does when I’m running late, he managed to do all of his lunch but forgot the sandwiches – so this ate into my day, and then I found out that he hadn’t eaten them anyway as apparently he wasn’t hungry by the time I delivered them to school, therefore I put them straight into the fridge and he’s having them for lunch today.
I also planned to get rid of my ironing pile yesterday, I don’t believe how long it took, it felt like it took all day. However it wasn’t all lost since I managed to make some chicken stock from a carcass I had from jointing a chicken at the weekend. I put some of the stock in the fridge ready to made a casserole with tonight and the rest I used to make some carrot and coriander soup which should feed me for lunches all (or most of) this week. I also managed to vaccum downstairs and get dinner ready so I don’t feel like I was sat on my backside all day.
The same cannot be said for today however, I fed Izzy this morning, then got ready to go into town (had another Amazon sale on Sunday so needed to go to the post office) but needed to get the book parcelled up, then the washing out on the line, then the nappy delivery arrived – and I had to get from the neighbour since I was outside with the washing! Eventually made it into town, got everything I needed and walked back – it was midday!! Where did the time go? Izzy was fast asleep in her buggy, so managed to get a cup of tea and load the nappies in the wash before she woke up for a feed. I’ve practically just finished feeding her and so now I’m going to have some soup, hang the nappies on the line, then it will be 3 o’clock and time to pick DS up from school….. then time to start on dinner, then feed Izzy again…… argh!! When will I get chance to sit down….
Re-usable Nappies
I finally pulled my finger out yesterday and ordered some washable nappies, I have been browsing Internet sites, discussion forums, eBay, etc to try and decide which were the best ones, etc, etc and eventually picked a full birth-to-potty set from Little Lamb. OK it cost £220 but that’s it now, apparently I wont need to buy any more nappies – I just need to ensure that I keep on top of the washing so there are always some clean and dry ones ready for use.
I need to wash them before the first use, so they are currently in the machine; in fact I think the machine has finished so I need to hang them out on the line to dry – luckily it’s a perfect day for washing since it’s a bit windy and the sun keeps coming out; I’ve already got my bedding out on the line and that’s dry already so fortunately that can go back on the beds today without being ironed!
Back to the nappies, I opted for the cotton nappies instead of the bamboo ones; I liked the idea of the bamboo ones since they are from a sustainable source, and they are more absorbent than the cotton ones – however due to the fact that they are more absorbent, that also means it takes longer to dry and since I don’t have a tumble drier (and I’m not sure whether I want one) I decided to go for the standard cotton ones which are quicker to dry. I have to say, they are really sort and I can’t wait for them to dry so I can start using them as Izzy will be even more cuddly then usual in them!!
Re-Usable Nappies
I finally pulled my finger out yesterday and ordered some washable nappies, I have been browsing Internet sites, discussion forums, eBay, etc to try and decide which were the best ones, etc, etc and eventually picked a full birth-to-potty set from Little Lamb. OK it cost £220 but that’s it now, apparently I wont need to buy any more nappies – I just need to ensure that I keep on top of the washing so there are always some clean and dry ones ready for use.
I need to wash them before the first use, so they are currently in the machine; in fact I think the machine has finished so I need to hang them out on the line to dry – luckily it’s a perfect day for washing since it’s a bit windy and the sun keeps coming out; I’ve already got my bedding out on the line and that’s dry already so fortunately that can go back on the beds today without being ironed!
Back to the nappies, I opted for the cotton nappies instead of the bamboo ones; I liked the idea of the bamboo ones since they are from a sustainable source, and they are more absorbent than the cotton ones – however due to the fact that they are more absorbent, that also means it takes longer to dry and since I don’t have a tumble drier (and I’m not sure whether I want one) I decided to go for the standard cotton ones which are quicker to dry. I have to say, they are really sort and I can’t wait for them to dry so I can start using them as Izzy will be even more cuddly then usual in them!!
02.25.08
Meal Planner w/c 24 Feb 08
Now that my OH is back to work this week after two weeks paternity leave helping me and little Izzy, I feel like I can get back into a routine after things have just happened hap-hazardly. I managed to plan my meals for the week at the weekend and get the shopping in – unfortunately I went over budget but that’s because I made a coffee cake for OH and I hate coffee so I treated both my DS and myself to some muffins and millionaires shortbread which wasn’t on my list, along with a few other treats… oh well! I get paid today so it’s back on the wagon for March and hopefully back to budget!
So the meals I aim to cook this week are:
Mon – Gammon and mash with cauliflower and carrots
Tue – Lemon and prawn pasta (OH’s favourite and something he cooks so a night off for me)
Wed – Chorizo, chicken and chickpea casserole
Thu – Corned beef hash
Fri – undecided, I am avidly reading “The Bean Book” by Rose Elliot to get some inspiration. I have lots of beans in the pantry but I’m not quite sure what to do with them, I got the book off Amazon a few weeks ago for a penny and haven’t actually looked at it properly yet, but now I’m back on the wagon I need to start saving money again, and I’m also aiming to have one vegetarian meal a week to save on money on buying meat.
Also I bought a whole chicken at the weekend since we have chicken tikka wraps on Saturday with garlic mayonnese – the breasts were used up on Saturday and the thighs, legs and wings are in the fridge ready to use in the casserole on Wednesday. I have the carcass currently boiling on the stove at the moment to make some stock so I can make some tasty carrot and coriander soup which I can have for lunch this week. The chicken cost around £4.50, I had all the stuff in for the wraps, for the casserole I need to go to the deli tomorrow to buy some nice chorizo which should cost about £1.50, the carrots and coriander cost about £2; therefore two dinners and lunch for most of the week will have cost £8 or so – which isn’t bad to feed 3 of use – this isn’t at all accurate but equalling it all out, that is about £1 per meal (3 people x 2 meals x £1) each with £2 for the soup (since the carrots and coriander cost £2!)
Meal Planner w/c 24 Feb 08
Now that my OH is back to work this week after two weeks paternity leave helping me and little Izzy, I feel like I can get back into a routine after things have just happened hap-hazardly. I managed to plan my meals for the week at the weekend and get the shopping in – unfortunately I went over budget but that’s because I made a coffee cake for OH and I hate coffee so I treated both my DS and myself to some muffins and millionaires shortbread which wasn’t on my list, along with a few other treats… oh well! I get paid today so it’s back on the wagon for March and hopefully back to budget!
So the meals I aim to cook this week are:
Mon – Gammon and mash with cauliflower and carrots
Tue – Lemon and prawn pasta (OH’s favourite and something he cooks so a night off for me)
Wed – Chorizo, chicken and chickpea casserole
Thu – Corned beef hash
Fri – undecided, I am avidly reading “The Bean Book” by Rose Elliot to get some inspiration. I have lots of beans in the pantry but I’m not quite sure what to do with them, I got the book off Amazon a few weeks ago for a penny and haven’t actually looked at it properly yet, but now I’m back on the wagon I need to start saving money again, and I’m also aiming to have one vegetarian meal a week to save on money on buying meat.
Also I bought a whole chicken at the weekend since we have chicken tikka wraps on Saturday with garlic mayonnese – the breasts were used up on Saturday and the thighs, legs and wings are in the fridge ready to use in the casserole on Wednesday. I have the carcass currently boiling on the stove at the moment to make some stock so I can make some tasty carrot and coriander soup which I can have for lunch this week. The chicken cost around £4.50, I had all the stuff in for the wraps, for the casserole I need to go to the deli tomorrow to buy some nice chorizo which should cost about £1.50, the carrots and coriander cost about £2; therefore two dinners and lunch for most of the week will have cost £8 or so – which isn’t bad to feed 3 of use – this isn’t at all accurate but equalling it all out, that is about £1 per meal (3 people x 2 meals x £1) each with £2 for the soup (since the carrots and coriander cost £2!)
