Festive frugaleering - Merry Christmas, and a happy 2019 to you all.

[AutumnLeaves12]

Welcome to the new thread!

The meat eaters are having leftover lamb and beef. I'm having some nut loaf. We are all having roasties, Fluffys yorkshires and tons of veg.

What are you marinating sneaky?

Girlie, glad it went well with you dd.

Photos look amazing wrecked.

happier - I've a They're Real mascara I've used only a couple of times. Obviously opened. I don't get on with it at all. You're welcome if you want it but understand if not as it's been used. X

Meatballs Curvy! I find if I marinate them before I slow cook them they come out juicier.

Jam, that is a lovely story. Well done to them

Sneaky, I may try that when I next to them, what do you do to get them juicy?

Do, even!

Aww thanks girlie

I love the they're real mascara it's all I use. Any time I try something new I think it's shit my eyelashes are naturally really curly though, and quite long, I think it takes a lot of trial and error to find the right one which is annoying when it's so expensive.

Our tree came down at the weekend, it was taking up so much room.

I've finally mastered a delicious tomato sauce. Turns out I had all he ingredients right but cooking it in a frying pan rather than a saucepan makes all the difference.

OMG IKEA is amazing. Why have I never been there before? We saw lots of things for DD's new room. I reckon we can buy a sofa, comfy chair (sort of like a rocking chair), TV stand, desk, desk chair and assorted bits like cushions, lamp etc. for under €1,500 which is super cheap for Ireland. We took lots of pictures of the things we liked, so we can prioritize and agree our budget.

We also saw a really nice unit for the corner of our sitting room but that's a longer term purchase.

I'll check out that link Happier. I'm not looking to lose huge amounts of weight but I know the weight has been creeping on slowly (middle aged spread, I guess) and I want to stem it now . I mainly want to be healthier and exercise more and if I lose some weight in the process, that's a bonus.

It's traditional in Ireland to take down your decorations on or after the 6th (Little Christmas) but I think I'll take them down on Thursday. The clutter is starting to get to me now and I want a clear sitting room.

Evening all. I’m just off to catch up with the thread. Lovely day at the seaside. Df bought fish and chips for lunch and we had a frugal cuppa in the camper. Df also bough dm and I New winter coats each (40% off but still more than I would have spent myself). My winter coat is getting a little tatty so I’m super grateful. It’s my favourite make of cold weather coat (thanks mn for that one) and it’s a mans but in a nice bright colour and lots of pockets

I bought ds some much needed waterproof hiking shoes before January scout camp. Should have been £99 reduced significantly and then scout discount on top (my blue light would have been a bigger discount but I’d left my card at home) £28 so I’m really pleased with that. He’d better not grow anymore, I can’t even take them off him when he grows out of them as they are too big for me but they might do for h.

The tree is down. The £7 I spent on a decoration storage bag has been absolutely worth it’s weight in gold and it’s so much less stressful doing it alone! I need to put the tree in the cellar tomorrow, I know it’s irattional but I don’t go in the cellar in the dark. Right I am off to read your news

Self care Sunday here. In the bath. With Epsom salts. Lavender bath bubbles. A body scrub. A face mask and I’ve just downloaded bbs sounds app and found a 30 minute 90’s mix playlist.

Have just bathed ds. (I’m in a fresh bath...) dh usually baths him and I’ve found out the reason for bath screeching. Apparently we clean him “prison style” 🙄😉 he stands up faces the wall and puts his hand spin up and dh throws water at him.

I don’t get on with the benefit mascara. My lashes are newly grown again. About 4 years ago I was super stressed at work (old job) had the they’re real mascara and spent a lot of time trying to remove it and pulled most of if not all my lashes out. Most of that was stress mind. So I’ve only just stopped having the last inserts.

Once dc 2 arrives though I may go back to it (2.5 hours alone...lying down....plinky plunky music....win!) haha. Spendy though. But when I had essentially no lashes fake ones were necessary.

Hello hello hello how low? With the lights out it’s less dangerous. Here we are now entertain us.

Love. Love. Love.

And nirvana has just been mixed with spice. Up. Your. Life.

Ooooh spice up your life.

Fluffy lovely to see you
Girlie I’m so glad dd did so well
Cag I love red dwarf
Sea I hope the hangover has eased. I’m having my new year Prosecco this evening, it goes down too easily but it made undressing the tree much more pleasant
Wreck your trip sounds amazing
Unescorted I could probably manage that walk as long as there aren’t too many steps or steep bits, sounds good. I think it’s Jam who is close enough to walk with and she has Spaniels
Sneaky if it’s a slat based bed rather than a divan you should just be able to replace the slats
Em my dream is for a walk in wardrobe. I need to strip out the upstairs en suite as it leaks so is never used and I’m thinking of turning the space into a walk in closet
Happier spaniels are amazing (they fill my heart with joy and the seaside was like a spaniel convention today) they need a hell of a lot of exercise and an additive free diet (spaniels like children do not need e-numbers) but they are unbelievably rewarding. I have promised myself one with my next promotion so I can hire a dog walker/sitter one day a week

Right I’m posting this before I lose it but I sti have a page and a half to go you chatty lot

Tayto and Lonely I use some bullet journal the techniques in my work note book but not religiously. Lonely I can imagine yours looks lovely with your artistic skills. I love stationery too. I rate leucthurrm books

Happier I will be rejoining the weight loss thread. Nothing shifted pre Christmas and I’ve definitely put some alcohol related weight on over Christmas. It’s not food related as the cupboards are stuffed and I’ve not really had much appetite

Wreck I can’t wait for Luther. I’ll be locking all the doors and setting the alarm first. The through the ceiling episode in an earlier series gave me the willies

Em I love Nirvana and I am a massive Foos fan. I also love time alone in the beauty parlour. Pre ds when I was under the hospital for counselling for MH they pseudo-prescribed beauty parlour time and it was amazing!

Another Nirvana fan here! Might have to put some on...

Love Nirvana, I had gig tickets, then he shot himself a few weeks before..... Love foos to and chili peppers. Quite a rock chick really, but also love pop and musicals.

I’m excited and nervous for Luther. I adore idris Elba. He is a sexy sexy man. Ooof. When I was on mat leave last time I tried to watch from season 1. I got to the episode when there was someone under the bed. And gave up. Gave me the absolute heebeejeebees.

But. I love a scary series. Dh doesn’t he’s a wuss

I adore the foos. Learn to fly is one of my faves. I saw them a few years back in London. One of the best gigs I’ve been too. Up there with Britney Spears circus tour, lady gagas first tour, and the last muse tour.

I miss gigs. When ds and no2 are old enough we’re taking them to Glastonbury. I went or the first time when I was 10. And last when I was 30 (I think). The year Dolly Parton played anyway. That was ace.

Love Nirvana too, bon jovi, queen and the like, but also like you, life, love a good musical and pop

I've seen Idris Elba. He was doing a DJ set when we went to the races a couple of years ago.

OOOOOOh RHCP yaaaaas! Just listened to dani California. Love that song even if it did rip off Tom pettys last dance with Mary Jane

Also on my faves list are:
Oasis
Tom Odell (listen to his version of dancing in the dark)
Stereophonics (kelly Jones has the sexiest voice)
Kula shaker
Ocean colour scene

I also grew up listening to billy Joel, fleetwood mac, Bruce Springsteen (took my dad to see him a few years ago), Neil Young, Paul Simon, wishbone ash,

I adore a musical. I have so many soundtracks I love to belt them out and pretend I’m on stage!

Em I like to sing a bit of calamity Jane dh is never very impressed

I’ve seen Dolly too. I love her. The door is locked pre Luther. I am fairly squiffy and I have pringles. Win win

Myself & ds had a tumble earlier so no running for me, but h only visited with them for a minute anyhow.

€10 charity donations

Remote control for android box is on the missing list so I've gone to bed same time as dc instead, probably be glad in the morning though.

My decorations will stay up until Sunday as per tradition.
As I've been away during both weekends of Christmas they're not bothering me much.

Just I'll leave the mascara thanks though, thanks for your thoughts on spaniels too, had heard that about beagles too they're hunting dogs by nature. I'm not rushing into a decision.

Wolf what's a decoration storage bag or should I even ask?

Tayto ikea is indeed amazing