May we continue our furious frugaleering into June : )

[mammymammyIRL]

Anyone new, lurking or regular poster interested in getting the best value for their money big or small- this is our happy place join in

I'm glad I'm not the only one with the eating out! Totally mammy I didn't even notice what I ate on Monday as I juggled a baby on one knee and cajoled a 5yo into sitting up at the table. The whole thing was just stressful and I was thinking the whole time how it was costing money! However, in an act of frugality I've frozen a bolognaise and some bread and have some long life milk in the cupboard as we're visiting family until Sunday so hopefully can avoid the 'just got back pop to the shop'.

Em, what cag said about finding your rhythm is great advice. I kept my sanity by 'riding the wave' of each contraction and knowing that every minute there was a respite (albeit short lived!). I did have all the drugs I could though couldn't have an epidural so not sure how that plays out!

Ouch laska! But loving the idea of a grown up scooter!

Last maternity pay today 😳

Hello new people and returners.

Naughty need. well done need DD.

Oh em they have started your parent classes off right in the deep end. I didn't like pethadine as I don't like the drunk out of control feeling. Yy to gas and air and breathing into the contraction. Go with the flow is the best way. I've been winging it for 10 years

Ouch laska hope it's a bit less sore today but I suspect not

£3.30 posting Lego cards yesterday. £3 on pack up stuff we had run out of.

I've forgotten loads sorry

Dd has a physio appointment this morning and I need to take something back to tk maxx and get some batteries. I promised the dc I would take them out for lunch but I haven't got enough money really. Might see if I can change some clubcard vouchers.

Ha! I'm a winger too

Back in work today so lego cards will be posted life.

Picnic Wrecked then drink and cookies somewhere? Or an ice cream?

Em, the MAC palettes are lovely aren't they. Don't tell DD but I've bought her an UD one for her birthday next month and as a reward for coping with her GCSES and poorly pony etc. It's one of the ones with all the bright colours, which I wouldn't wear myself but the colours look incredible

Omg need amazing!! Beat mummy! I wanted that one but couldn't justify the cost then it sitting in a drawer for years.

life I didn't like the idea of feeling completely out of control. I imagine while in labour even with zero pain relief you feel a bit out of control anyway as although it's a "normal" thing to do, it's not exactly something we do every day...

I think winging it is the best idea though. Go with it. See what happens. Someone in the class was adamant that I'm silly for not having a birth plan (other than go to hospital come home with baby). i said that I'm going with the "see how everything plays out no stress that I can't have xyz" approach. The class "teacher" said I was sensible

Going to get measured for a bra today. Whoop.

Just made a bit of a rash, but essential purchase - £22.98 on 'Sticky 9' photo magnets for Father's Day present. It says in the app that Sticky 9 is closing down tmrw. I'm sure that similar can be bought elsewhere but I do think they make a nice gift and I'm time poor so got them whilst I could!

I found gas and air made me have a massive panic attack, I got to 7 or 8cm on the drip to try and quicken my contractions before I went for the epidural. I was on my back strapped to monitoring and not allowed to move as my waters went 24 hours before labour. I've got hip and back probelms so it was not fun. I had a section second time round, that was easy but long recovery. If we ever have a third I will try a VBAC.

Just spent £5.99 on face mask. I have an order to pick up at Mamas and Papas, half will go back as it is two sizes. Hoping my Debenhams order comes as it has sandals for Gabriel for holiday!

mammy I need a face mask this morning!! A total one! I am looking utterly fabulous darlings .. two marvelous black eyes.. squished , cut, swollen nose beautiful grazes highlighted and accessorised with lots of yellow antiseptic spray.... Am a bit beyond make up to cover that .

As Jane Austen would say ' Mrs Laska was in Beauty! .(Morning quiz for literary nerds: which novel, ? ) .

However apart from feeling a rather sore and sleeping VERY well on ibruprophen and wine I am fine.. I didnt hit my head enough for concussion.. But that doesnt mean I have gone to work today.. will let it go down a bit ( have employed frozen peas) so will be hopefully able to get my reading glasses on properly soon ! ( sigh)

But people... dont let me being a total prat put you of the fab adult scooting though! it really is such fun..

Em ithink your 'birth plan' sounds the best! I remember NCT classes all those years ago .. where I went on my own (sadly exh was not at all interested in baby and left soon after birth, another story but one with a good ending - best thing he ever did! ) . But it was striking that those who had their keen DHs/DPs turn up with them and join in each week were the ones who had the 'proper' birth plans ..

Funnily enough ,when we all met up afterwards with out babies most all births did NOT go to plan at all..

well obviously Not Mrs Laska....

I'm taking a break from cleaning the house. Normally the cleaner is here for four hours, I've been going for about an hour and a half and hardly done anything, slightly worried my two days off will now just be me cleaning the house :/
I need to get some glass cleaner and it looks like the cleaner has taken my glass cleaning cloths, so they'll need to be replaced. Going to wait until Saturday to buy those - any tips of where is cheap for cleaning things?

I am still up or any lego cards.. if we get to the end anyone has any.. unopened packets better as he loves opening them and at 4 hes not doing serious collecting

Today DD1 and I are working through her to do list, which mainly involves things that are better to do without DD2 around

So far I've cut the front grass and stopped for a costa and a brownie (on my to do list!)

She's played Lego
Played on her scooter
Been to the shops
Currently doing sticking mosaics

Spends:
£28 Tesco
£5.89 Boots on old spice for DF and the coconut shampoo/conditioner. Got 50 extra points too using the app.
£5.80 costa but used a gift card
£184 to nursery (one day a week)
Pay day though

Lego cards are on the list to do later so will let people know what we have left! I have a big pile hidden in the car that DD1 doesn't know about.

Lots of tlc for laska today

Well done cag on winning the magazine competition

em I think your being laid back about birthing plans will help a good labour. If you get uptight, then I don't think that helps!

Just opened a considerable pile of Lego cards but still have loads of spaces.

If people are missing certain cards, let me know as our 'spare' pile is considerable.

I will hold off sending unopened packs hidden in my car until we see what we get from DMs hoard of packs on Friday. She is likely to hand them to DD so she will want to open those ones

Karcheer, aldi for glass cleaner & home bargains or halfords for microfibres cloths. Sometimes tk max have them but it's hit & miss.

We're trying to work out what to do for ds' 5th birthday in 2 weeks. There is nothing he needs in the toy department, so we thought a day out. Here is where living in the middle of nowhere is a huge hindrance. Both Edinburgh and Chester zoo are 2+ hours away, and we'll leave a theme park for the summer holidays. Does anyone know of something kids 5 to 14 would love within about 2 hours of Carlisle???

Have finally planted all my main crop spuds, we should have loads later in the year now. After lunch I'm going to plant out some courgettes, which have gone a bit huge in the greenhouse. £40 on chicken food and compost/manure/top soil at the feed shop.

I was never sure why anyone wrote birth plans. It's something you can't plan or really preapare for I think. After having 4 very different births, I think the only advice I'd give would be to not discount an epidural if you have to be induced. They are not 'natural' contractions, and I felt like someone was sawing me in half through my backbone within 10 minutes of the drip going in. To be told I would be like this for the next 8-12 hours was so frightening, and I had a panic attack waiting for the amazing aneathatist (sp) to come. I was convinced the gas and air was poisonous, and made quite a scene

laska take care of your poor face. Hopefully you will heal up quickly

Right, backgarden is calling me...

£86 on three bras. three!!!!!!!! Fml.

On the plus side I whacked it on dhs credit card which he gave me specifically for that reason.

That's interesting about the induction labour pains, I've read it a few times. Both my labours were induced (DD for low amniotic fluid, DS because he was overdue). Nobody said a damn thing to me at the time about an epidural being a good idea!

That said since I've never laboured naturally I can't really compare the two. This one might be induced too depending on how the growth scans go.

Same Cag two pre term inductions. The one with the drip was horrendous but the one with the pessary was a breeze. I wasn't allowed an epidural.

Popped out to get my waxing done which cost £23.

I've also set a food and toiletries budget for us for the next five weeks of £240.

I need to work out what a resonable amount is for pocket money for dh and I, we both are using to being frivolous him more than me) so I think we need to do this to keep on track. Does anyone else do this?
Back to cleaning...

karcheer we do. We allocate ourselves £200 spends a month from what is left after mortgage and bills. The remainder is saved.

It works well for us this way. We have a joint ac for bills and mortgage. Separate savings accounts and separate current accounts and credit cards.

From my "allowance" I pay for my riding lessons, my nails and waxing. And then any other treats I may fancy. The day before payday whatever's in my account I shift to my savings.

Ouch, Laska, you poor thing.

Just been to see the gp. I made myself walk the same route and wear the same shoes, or else I'd avoid both in future, knowing me. The good news is she couldn't feel anything, but she put a different dressing on, that will draw anything out without cream, asked me to try to keep the foot dry and come back again on Monday. So please keep your fingers crossed for me, folks.

NSD.

I bought a bikini and look like a hippo in it. Meh.

Creme I have everything crossed for you. Last thing you want is surgery.

NSD

£3 came through from gfk but the voucher I want is unavailable.