The Mighty Frugaleers Meticulously March into March

[WreckTangled]

New thread. Sorry for lame title

Em I know what you mean, I remember when I was in labour with dd and the midwives kept referring to 'mum' and I thought thats weird why are they calling my mum 'mum' it also felt really weird ringing anyone and referring to dd as 'my daughter' for ages!!

Had a nice evening tonight with my girl, had picked up some face packs earlier and some nice treats so we had a girlie evening. Was really nice and have some very sparkly nails now to boot! Ate too much crap though

Plan is to go to Charmouth tomos, its about 50 mins from here and dd will have a fab time looking for fossils, the dog will be able to run free as well. Will take a thermos and picnic obviously

Ooh Girlie I love Charmouth!

Blue yes NHS management. I am taking a break from work at the moment because of my 4yo DS's autism diagnosis - this is his last year before school and he needs a lot more input from me than he was getting for his development and I need time to learn (and fight) the system for him! No way I could do this while working full time. I don't know anyone who does manage being a carer for serious developmental issues with full time work, sadly, which makes me very uncertain about the future. I will have to go back to work after having this baby (we can't live on DH salary) but my heart sinks at going back to the NHS. And that is such a shame.

Since I gave up work I have just been 'DS's mum' to all of the many agencies and professions that we are in contact with. Not only am I a mum but I no longer have a name at all apparently!

Glad you had a nice day ipso, I love it when things just fall into place!

We've had quite a nice day. My sister was staying and she is fab so we had a lovely evening and then today she looked after DS while we went to visit BIL and SIL and new baby (we can't take DS because he is terrified of their dog). Took lots of goodies - presents and champagne and some of our old baby stuff and the dodgy looking gluten-free lemon Drizzle cake (which is apparently really nice. Contains mashed potato - who'd have thunk?). Was all well received. Baby was cute (though tiny!) and seemed quite chilled. Then home and sorted through a few boxes of DS's old clothing for the first 6 months. Most is unisex or okay for a girl anyway, a few things are very boyish and TBH I doubt I would use them so will probably pass them on. I am not sure why I don't want to put baby DD in brown dungarees with trucks all over - I shouldn't care and it's not as though I want to go mad with the pink frills instead . I guess I'd like people not to just assume she's a boy (since she'll probably be bald and churchillian anyway, like all babies!). But odd that I feel this way about clothes, when I would probably class myself as a feminist. (I am keeping all the science t shirts and ambridge village sign one though ).

Between all the sorting I did 4 loads of washing and drying. Laundry has gone mad due to washing all the baby stuff that's been in storage for nearly 5 years, and also DS's washing increasing since his anxiety has flared- he gets through 2-3 outfits most days. Loads more left though - it is never ending! And I spent 90 mins tonight sorting and folding - it was a mission. Feeling quite smug now as i can see our bedroom floor again.

Local autism group has a mini market tomorrow to raise funds so I will be baking. Have a huge to-do list as well... eek!

Rain forecast all day so can't see us doing much! Dh is working.

Not sure what to do today. Go to the beach which will mean DS missing footy or go to DS football which is at 12 for 3 hours.

Ooh Charmouth is lovely, have fun, Girlie!

Hoping for NSD, we'll see how it turns out!

Nice day planned here today. Going for lunch with a friend then to the cinema. I think we're seeing lion. But not sure

I haven't been to the cinema for ages!

Enjoy Charmouth Girlie.

That's a weird feeling isn't it Seacow re the clothes. I have DS, then DD. And, some clothes were just too 'boyish' for me to put on her. And I didn't like feeling like that.

I did spend a bit yesterday, but also made £20 selling on Facebook too. I find clothes from the 'better' shops do have resale value, and I sold some Fat Face stuff and Boden stuff on.

£50 Wiggle
£50 Ebay, jodphurs x 2 for DD.
£50 Jack Wills.

Hopefully, that's clothes spends done for the month now.

Also cancelled extra cloud storage we don't use.

Made carrot and orange soup for lunches.

My life is one half being frugal and the other spending.

Me and the DC watched 12 Years a Slave last night, powerful film indeed.

It is isn't it need we watched it a few months back. Bloody brilliantly done though.

I anyone watching "Roots" on BBC? I thought about giving that a go...

LSD yesterday. Just £1.50 on a drink at a party but that came from DPs wallet

Oldest DD went to two parties yesterday. Presents came from the good value toy stash in the cupboard.

Lazy day today. Better get up before the kids eat all the Danish pastries! Remembered to get the pigs in blankets out the freezer to go with our roast

I must do another freezer audit and keep eating through what is in there. Was doing well but kept having to casserole as wasn't sure what the meat I was defrosting was.

Just realised I missed out on triple points at boots as my spends were two transactions, wonder if it's worth an email, the transactions were minutes apart.

I'd a night out for friends engagement last night another friend who's expecting her first baby after having trouble conceiving drove so I only spent €20 it was so good to hear how happy her & her husband are, I'm ecstatic for her. My dm looked after the dc.

Wreck why is dinner always the woman's responsibility?
Your cat is nuts!!

Em I've heard since having both my dc that you should go to cinema often when pregnant with first dc as it's the cheapest it will ever be for you without having to pay a babysitter

Very happy with my make up investment - 4 hours after going out it was still perfect. Mascara not great but I'll try a different wand I have with it & see if that helps.

Kicked dp out to go for a group pedal, he was not impressed! But he's "the boss" and they always go better if he's there.

Sunny here and I'm cross that I have to spend hours time tidying up when I should be in the garden. But mil should be bringing a bootload of rotted manure from her horses, so I musn't be grumpy.

Went to see Lord of the rings when about 8 months pg with dd1. She jumped and kicked all the way through at the loud noises. It was very wierd. Then she had the hiccups all the way home. I haven't seen a 'grown up' movie for about 12 years at the cinema

mammy glad you're make up is good. Out of interest which brow kit did you buy?

I used to love no7 mascara's. Until I bought the wrong one which sort of "tubed" around my lashes. This was at the point a few years ago when I was super stressed out with work. And ended up picking at the mascara to remove it instead of using a proper remover. Ended up pulling almost all my lashes out and had to have fake ones put in. Haven't worn no7 since. Which is a shame as it's good quality and fairly reasonably priced (and always has vouchers....)

I remember feeling like that with dd Seacow it must be social conditioning! I tried to keep clothes neutral as much as possible, so not overly girlie (def no frills etc) but couldn't quite bring myself to put her into 'boys' clothes. That said as soon as she was old enough for an opinion she wanted batman/ superman stuff over anything princessy

Weather dire which is a shame but will wrap up warm and brave the elements anyway.......

Pleased not to be the only one who feels funny about the boys' clothes! I expect she will have her own views on it soon enough anyway.

em I second going to the cinema lots while pregnant! It's not just babysitting costs (you have family nearby anyway so that may not be an issue) but that when you do get precious time out you'll be more likely to spend it with friends, or wanting to actually talk to each other and drink . Someone gave me thst advice but I didn't heed it enough! I haven't been to the cinema since DS was born, only see films on flights now.

Busy morning so far. Up at 7 with DS, so far I have made a cottage pie and blackberry and apple crumble for dinner, and blueberry pancakes for DS and DH for breakfast. Lemon drizzle cake for bake sale also made but I still need to make 24 cheese and chive scones. My feet hurt though so I am having a break! I have been manic this morning, done another load of washing too. Have left DH with some washing up. Just realised I haven't eaten any breakfast... will get on the case. It might be a bacon butty day.

DS is busy with his magnetic letters. He keeps calling G a 'glee'. I do correct him but it really makes me smile

Up and dressed. Waiting for dh to face time from hk. His flight has just landed.

Have put a load of washing on and am heading out at 1130.

Made a list of all the things I want/need to get done while I'm off work and have done a shopping list for Tuesday. Have a vague idea of meal planning for this week. So that's all good.

Yay just face timed dh. And didn't cry.

He looks fresh for someone who's been sat on a plane for 12 hours... lucky bugger.

I am outrageously behind on the thread as MN has been really slow so not been able to read while away. Back home now after a nice chilled weekend.

I've just signed up for the race for life again this year. Ds really enjoyed it last year.

It was £24.99 for two of us. I always think that it probably does just as much to prevent cancer by getting us all to feel good about sport as it does by raising money.

Hopefully ds doesn't give himself a heart attack trying to win the race this year. I had no idea he was so competitive until we ran it last year.

I thought mn has been reallly slow this week but thought it was just me!

Hello everyone. DH at work today, I'm at home, probably do an online shop later though as we need a load of things.

Yesterday we went out for a bit with some friends and it was quite spendy but DH payed for almost everything so my personal spend was just £30 on a super-cute 2-piece outfit from a small business where they handmake vintage-inspired outfits. It's a slightly-cropped top and midi-skirt so can wear together or separately, super cute. Skirt probably won't be worn til the summer I imagine though.

Em I hate it when DH is away as well so I feel you, but deffo concentrate on looking after yourself and that.

About No.7, I am a number 7 makeup fan. I use their Stay Perfect foundation, their setting powder, their bronzer, and their primer. A lovely staff member helped me find the right colours for me and stuff when I was clueless and really happy with them all.

Love the "glee" Seacow! DH went to see our little cousin who is about 18 months old, and we had sent her a video of us and apparently she loved it and has been asking her mam to watch it loads, and her mam has been telling her "thats Meadow and 'DH's name'", so when he went to visit she was calling DH "Meadow-and-'DH's-name'" as if it was just his one name.

I use number seven primer too. I also have a mascara which is ok. I'm quite fussy with mascara as I have really curly eyelashes so any that adds curl is a no go.

£62 grocery spend at Asda, will be coming Tuesday evening. Not as bad as I thought it would be but then we got some stuff from Heron yesterday whilst in town.