January Starters - Thread 11!

[meatyryvita]

Come on in losers!

Err, now struggling not to buy this …

Well spotted @myladyjane i hadn't twigged that it was polyester. Off my list for sure then, I don't buy polyester if I can help it.

I love the shape of that dress @PenelopePoweringOn but the print make me think of those magic eye drawings 🫣

I have a short kimono from One Hundred Stars. It goes with my jeans and black trousers. Great way to slightly elevate an outfit.

Ha ha @MJalltheway I haven’t succumbed yet but I do think it could be useful, three seasons too I’d say with a cardigan or jacket.

So far this week I’ve bought a faux fur coat and a brown leather jacket (which would work with that dress) oh, plus a merino jumper. Not sure about the coat yet, I haven’t tried it on again.

Items listed on Vinted 0️⃣.

I've finally listed a load of things on Vinted this afternoon and already sold 3 of them 😁

Oh I must crack on. I’ve got so many things I can’t wear this winter.

I know we’ve talked about this on here but I just really can’t be bothered to cook 🤯, my fridge and freezer are bursting and I must! I’ve scrolled endlessly and found this recipe for tonight and have got everything apart from split peas. I have got red and green lentils, cannellini beans, red kidney, black turtle beans and pearl barley. New potatoes, cous cous of varying sizes, risotto rice. List is endless but no split peas.

I’m thinking of just substituting the split peas for pearl barley. It needs to be edible as a friend might pop round 😄. Any suggestions? Chicken is marinating so I’m committed!

Chicken recipe

Pearl barley would probably work well. Chickpeas also a possible sub? Or I'd probably just stick more lentils in it - recipe already has red in so I'd put some green in as well

lentils would be my choice as well

Thanks @MJalltheway , I feel like I’ve lost something cooking wise after being on MJ. I used to adore it, now it’s a chore.

Sorry @HeidiLite missed your post (site is so slow), maybe I’ll just use extra red lentils, my green are Puy so not sure about the different textures. I might just serve it with something else plus something green. Wouldn’t be as fussed if my friend wasn’t turning up at some point.

Well, I’ve had a wasted day today. Ended up drinking banana flavoured rum cocktails last night and had to get up in the night to be sick 😱. I can’t remember the last time I puked from binge drinking. Feeling very sheepish today. Have only managed to eat a bit of toast all day.

Trying to catch up with all the posts but just wanted to say very happy birthday to @tinyemmy & @Zempy , and hope you're feeling better Zempy so that you can celebrate properly.

Also wanted to say please don't just leave your foot without getting it checked out properly @MJalltheway . I tripped over something DH had left lying around on the floor (🙄🤬) a few years ago and had an emergency x ray on it that didn't show any break. Was put in a boot and crutches and told to rest it for a few weeks, still didn't get much better although the swelling and bruising went down. Took a lot of faffing and private appointments before being told it's a Lisfranc injury, which is basically a tear in the ligament that holds the bones in the top of the foot (between big toe and next one across). Has taken so long to get diagnosed it's not a given that it could be fixed by surgery and I would be out of action for a couple of months. I put off making decision, hoping weight loss might help; it is a bit better, but I still have to be careful about that foot and it can be extremely painful until I move around a bit after sitting down. Please push for an MRI if you don't see any improvement shortly.

Think I feel sick from just thinking about banana flavoured rum cocktails @Polkadotdash ! 😂 Hope you're feeling better now. 🤕

Hm, I’m limping on. Husband has cooked a curry tonight and I couldn’t face it. Have managed some oven chips instead. Will be an early bed for me tonight. 🤣🤣🤣 pathetic really!

I have bought more winter capsule clothes in the Whistles 20% off sale, another knitted tank but in navy. Another pair of barrel leg jeans but in grey. A white striped button up shirt.
I’m now sorted in the shirts/blouses, tank, trousers and jeans department. There are a few more bits I need, but slowly getting there. Went down a rabbit hole on the John Lewis app last night. Way too much choice. Jealous of those with Vinted finds! I’m not confident enough to buy anything that isn’t BNWT, and most of it isn’t that much cheaper than buying it in the sale.

Went for my PT session and I realised I forgot to eat lunch 🙄, so much for trying to fuel myself responsibly. However, this afternoon I made this recipe but with extra chicken for more protein. It’s v tasty and has 5 different veg in it so I feel like it’s helping hit the 30 veg a week quota. We get a Riverford veg box every two weeks, and they often have lovely recipes for the veg in season.
@PenelopePoweringOn your Ottolenghi one looks delicious. Will have to try that next weekend.

I also made a lemon drizzle traybake for the family to have over the next 3 days to satisfy everyone’s sugar cravings. I’ve bought ingredients to batch cook moussaka and a broccoli & white bean soup tomorrow. Mission to eat more healthier home cooked food.

Wow you lot have been chatty today!!
hope those who are feeling rough feel much better soon!!

ooh @PenelopePoweringOn that does look nice, keeping that to try!

your weekend sounds perfect @BreezyPeer just what you need after a really difficult week.

@myladyjane I've been reading another thread where they’ve been talking about the Rachel dress but agree it could swamp, would def need a belt, and you have to really love the prints. I bought a stork short kimono a couple of years ago and have just sold on Vinted as I just didn’t wear it. A friend has a lovely one though. Great idea to treat yourself, what else do you like?

@DGonMJ ooh your retail therapy sounds fab! I’m in dire need of winter clothes too, I need to go really life shopping and try some stuff I think. Waiting on job news to know whether I’ll be in London 3 days a week or working from home( hopefully the latter!) as that will impact what I need massively. I’ve just had the new Me and Em catalogue through and there’s a beautiful skirt and blouse but it’s super expensive !! I have bought a beautiful chocolate brown slip skirt with lace at the bottom from Zara which I love, need things to go with it.

@Jins love that dress, what a bargain!

We’ve had a lovely therapeutic ( blowy!) day on the south coast today, beach sauna and sea swim, lovely lunch and 10k walk. I feel like I’ve been on holiday!!

Sorry, know I’ve prob missed people, not intentional, just scrolling through on my phone. Have fab evenings everyone!

Greetings, 👋 . I’ve been awake for an hour and there is no sign of sleep which is frustrating.

The flavours in that Ottolenghi recipe were amazing, really lovely. Red lentils alone didn’t have enough texture for me but it was still very nice. I’d make it again, which is always the test isn’t it. I love the look of that Riverford recipe @DGonMJ , I bought some posh halloumi yesterday in my shopping so I might make that tonight with cavelo Nero because that’s what I have. I’m also in soup mode. Roasted cherry tomato and a separate batch of Tuscan bean soup. My fridge is literally bursting and my appetite is tiny. I also need to get used to the fact that I am not cooking for DS on a daily basis.

Despite my appetite I am still dancing around the same kilo, on and off for two weeks.

That’s how I feel about Vinted too @DGonMJ , not confident enough to buy unless it’s new and not really prepared to risk something not fitting as the BNWT stuff is virtually the same price in the sales. I bought my latest leather jacket from Brand Alley, that’s from Whistles. It’s often worth a look there.

Your day sounds lovely @2025istheyeari .

Amazing re your job. I’m on the verge of potentially having too much work. I need to turn something down I think if I’m offered it. I think I might have panicked a bit, looked for too much and more seems to be coming home to roost than I bargained for after a slow start.

Morning all

@PenelopePoweringOn hopefully you are back in the land of nod.

i get the cooking thing. I just cnba most of the time. Rice, protein 2 veggies and sauce is my dinner probably 60% of the time and I rarely eat it all. Toast or fruit and yoghurt quite a lot if the rest of the time. Never helps that we don’t eat as a family (too many activities). I did make fig jam yesterday but don’t know when I’m gonna eat it.

after my exercise chat last week I am considering a peloton app free trial. Also a walking pad. Maybe.

another quiet day here. Dh is very hot and not in a good way. I am snotty. We have football at some stage but other than that, I think it’s lounging around to try and shift this virus and prepare for the week.

i am going to get a tea and do some more browsing. I am going to stop vinting again for the same reasons and focus on barging hunting. I got my new leather boots for less than £30 on a Clark’s outlet site for example.

Morning 🌄 losers
My nurturing weekend is going well. Lovely day yesterday dinosaurs 🦕 and party 🥳 all with a side order of 6 year old gorgeousness!
Today, the sun has come out and we will be heading to the park in a bit.
Then, Sunday lunch out with my parents and lots of hugs and I'll be ready for the working week.

It is doing my soul good to have a weekend of connection.
Last weekend I was very quiet, a sort of cocoon. But I needed human contact after the funeral.
Interesting to see how food has played a part. I have had some comfort food in the form of chocolate but I have eaten as much as I wanted and there is loads left. Before MJ, on a normal day, I would have eaten more chocolate than I have all weekend. So, food is part of the healing but not the main comfort which it definitely was before.

@PenelopePoweringOn great news about your work prospects!
I am addicted to Vinted! I haven't had any disasters but I am expecting it soon, just by the law of averages! 😅
I have been buying some kettlewell items as they are colour coded for the seasons. They are just basics but good quality! That's a new brand for me.
Also, I hope you hot a bit more sleep 😴 xx
@2025istheyeari what a lovely day! It was raining all day here yesterday, to the point of flooding.
What is a beach sauna? I never heard of that! Xx
Have a great day everyone x

Morning losers! Sounds like a positive weekend so far.

Things went a bit odd for me yesterday. I started feeling a bit weird and empty mid morning so had something to eat. No improvement at all so tested my blood pressure which turned out to be at the root of it as it was so low the monitor failed to register. I managed to get a reading of 70/40 about half an hour before heading out for the 2.5hour walk in the rain. Managed it but I was glad to be home again!

Feeling better today thank goodness. It’s our 32nd anniversary today, seems to have flown by. No plans, maybe takeaway from our favourite curry house later.

Happy Anniversary @jins!!

I think I got my days confused re my birthday! It’s Wednesday and my big celebration is next Saturday. Hopefully I will be off the toilet by then.

Still 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

I can’t believe I am nine months into this, and suddenly getting this side effect!

My Vinted addiction is completely out of control. I have probably (definitely) spent more than I have earned. It’s a rather expensive hobby.

@Jins happy anniversary

@Zempy I am sending cooling ‘loo roll in the fridge’ vibes (to be clear I have never done this but you get the intent)

@BreezyPeer interesting observation on food and comfort. I sometimes miss that connection on mj. Have a lovely soothing of your weekend

No tea in bed yet. Can’t get the staff I tell you. He has one job…..

Morning, I didn't go back to sleep until 4:45 😫, I read my book instead. My e-reader was dead so I used my ipad which is a bad idea as then I came on here!

@myladyjane Have you looked at ifit? Also have a walking pad that I quite like but semi retirement means I will be able to walk more, hopefully. I might go back to my Nordic walking group. I can recommend ifit and they have some fabulous walking series which are really interesting as well as getting you moving. I have had apple fitness forever but never use it (gave my watches to the kids as I cba with charging them every single day).

I think you needed your planned weekend @BreezyPeer .

Happy anniversary @Jins . Sorry you've still got an upset stomach @Zempy, it is amazing how differently it affects us all isn't it and even how that changes.

OK, I am going to start selling on Vinted this coming week, I haven't got a clue how to price things and need a bit of direction. Where would you price this sort of thing? Good condition, worn about 35 times for work. Would £10-15 ish be too much?

example

@PenelopePoweringOn my top vinted tip is to decide what you would actually sell it for and list it a bit more than that. Nearly everyone will want some sort of discount. I have also bought some plastic posting bags from Amazon which have sped up the process considerably for me xx

This is my walking pad @myladyjane . It has been really useful, DS used it for rehab following an injury in the winter. We live somewhere quite hilly and he needed flat for two months, saved him travelling to the gym daily. It is really sturdy and well made.