Been a while......

Soooo...Thought I would give a quick update on things
Due to illness and other things going on in my life I kinda lost my way but now I'm back!
I went Tesco last night and bought a few bits from the reduced section, along with a few items I had already had in I decided to set myself a challenge!
I wanted to see exactly how many dishes I could make out of the items below..! 

 Got the witches cauldrons from Tesco for 1p .... that is Jacks sweeties took care of for the next few weeks

Dish no1 is...... beefs stew with dumplings, made using one beef steak, carrots, parsnips, swede onion, half a leek, wine and stock... This cost me next to nothing to make & I just got enough out of it for 2 meals for us, so one for tonight and one for the freezer

Pic took just as I put the dumplings in.

Next is a beef and mushroom curry

Again this cost me next to nothing to make & its a quick tea for myself & hubby next week

I bought a pack of 4 value pizzas for £1.45 normally I would make my own but I thought they were a bargain and with abit of jazzing up they would be great for quick meals for Jack.
So I added some Black pepper salami (which was reduced to 45p), mushroom & cheese,

Already to be wrapped and frozen.


Leek, cheese & potato pie.
Again cost next to nothing and ideal for myself & hubby to have with a slice of quiche and salad for tomorrow nights tea

2 x cheese & onion quiches, 1 for the fridge and 1 for the freezer, as you can see by the colour I just got them out of the oven in time!

Then using the rest of the leeks I decided to make a leek & potato soup

Also made 2 x Apple and blackberry crumbles for the freezer

Just waiting for the crumble topping to go on....

Then I blanched half of the Brocolli, Parsnips, swede cabbage and chopped the mushrooms and got them all ready for the freezer.

I also used up some old bread by making a bread pudding.
Just got to blanch some carrot, the rest of the Brocolli for the freezer, will do this tomorrow.


So after spending most of today in the kitchen slaving, I am going to treat myself to a nice hot bath... I really do think I deserve it! x

We will remember them..... x

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That marks our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scares heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.
Loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from falling hands we throw
The torch: Be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
WE SHALL NOT SLEEP,
THOUGH POPPIES GROW
IN FLANDERS FIELDS.

Lest we forget... x

A few of my makes from the last few days.....

I have not abandoned the blog...Just had soooo much on this last week!  anyway thought I would share a few piccies with you.....I will be adding more over the next few days.. so please keep checking my blog ... Or you could really spoil me and become a follower of my blog......this will give me a more incentive to update my blog more cos sometimes I'm sure I am nattering on here to myself... lol x

Anyway...

After spending a few days staring at a 2week old Clementine all alone in the fruit bowl I decided to jazz it up! sooooo with a few cloves and a piece of old ribbon I came up with this.... Ideal for the xmas tree..

 Whilst sorting the washing out the other day I came across 2 pairs of Jacks Bed socks.... Within an hr they had been turned into this....

His name is Bill...... x

Tonight I have sat and made another bird out of newspaper and cellotape.. This time it is going to be a robin Red breast... he isnt finished yet but thought I would give you a sneeky peek..

Here he is having his first coat of paint... Will update with more pics as I finish him...

I have also been making a few hearts to hang on the Christmas tree out of old scrap materiel I have knocking around the house (Will upload pics later or tomorrow for those as the phone wont let me..Blooming thing!


I'm gonna have to dash as I'm off bargain hunting @ Mr Tesco ... will update with any bargains I get.... x

New additions to my collections & makes from the last week

 Found lots of tissue paper in loft the other day and didn't want to sling it out so I put my thinking cap on so with an empty jam jar a leaf off the garden tree and some glue both myself and Jack came up with this..

It looks lovely at night when it has a lit tealight in it... I'm already planning making some with a christmassy theme...

After watching an episode of Kirsties homemade.. I decided to have a go at one of the paper animals she made for a craft fair, I thought  a bird would be the easiest to have a go at...It took 3 + hours and its a bit rough here and there but I'm really pleased with it...Just got to finish his beak

My cute, cupcake, icecream and sweetie lights, which I bought for a grand sum of £2.50!
I bought 2 sets intending to put them in a large glass goldfish bowl when I eventually find one! for now one set will do up at my window and the other draped over the shelf

Along with Metal detecting & fishing my hubbies other hobby is bottle digging (Digging old tips out ) he has not been active the last few years with him suffering with his joints but just recently he went back to an old tip site to have a mooch about and came back with these little beauties for me...

This is my favourite a 1920's boots medicine bottle...

A vintage hot water bottle,  can just imagine someone tootsies on this on a cold winters night...


Now I'm off to have a read of these.....

With a nice cup of this...

Then I'm going to make some Tree decorations with Jack out of salt dough.. (will add pictures tomorrow)...x

50 odd days till.....

Christmas :))))) I blooming well love it!

My plan this year is to try and get everything done by the end of this month...
So far I have...

Made menu plans/shopping lists , so I know exactly what I need to buy and can pick little bits up every week between now and the big day so that the shopping bill isnt huge.

Made my Christmas cake

Got all Jacks presents total cost should have been £400++  and I've not even spent half of that!!.. I have the grabbit board on Moneysaving expert to thank for all the glitch & special offers posts that the kind members have been posting .. without the forum I would have never been able to treat Jack to all the lovely gifts he will have to open on Christmas morning

Bought my duck for Christmas day ....paid for with my nectar points
My sun perks Turkey
My Pork for Christmas eve
Got 2 tins of chocolates

I have also set up a selling account  on Facebook ...all proceeds will fund mine and hubbys gifts.

So just got to....

Raise enough money to buy mine and hubbys gifts
Buy the rest of the food shopping
Put a Christmas eve hamper together for Jack...
Start working on some craft projects with Jack as I want to have a 6ft tree in the kitchen but I want it totally decorated with things we have made.
Buy the family presents (Only buying for 3 family members this year @£10 each)
Finish off the contents of Jacks stocking (max £5)

Tesco clubcard vouchers will help fund for the contents of Jacks stocking, his Christmas eve hamper and a few bottles of wine ...Just waiting on them to arrive, my neighbour had hers yesterday so mine should be here soon.


Hopefully I manage to get it all done so I can spend the whole month of December going to Christmas fairs, cinema, carol services and family days out... Instead of being stressed running round town fighting the queues to get the last minute bits....x

How are your Christmas plans coming along?