Travel Motel Goodies

So although I'm loving this new minimalish-kind of-me I am still big on the consumable freebies!

This week I'm travelling with work and I've intended to get the best kind of freebies that can be used up and don't take up space.

First we have the classic toiletries:

Check them out! Bath salts AND one had a quick read and they appear good for the environment, the best kind.

Next we have the tea and coffee haul, a classic. Along with cookies and a cereal bar from the airplane, a bonus. I only take what I will use (I.e coffee and hot chocolate - if I haven't drank them first!):

Finally we have a bonus motel special. a CARTON OF MILK AND MAGAZINES. I'm new to the milk and magazines but I'm loving it!!! Milk will be drunk with the coffee but in saving the magazines for the plane!!!

Got to take the small wins when we get them!

Xoxo

I feel it

 

As I build yet another pile of stuff to be vacated from our tiny apartment, I realise I am starting to feel it.

Don't worry I'm not going all philosophical on you. So let's just say it = better.

When I first did my massive purge, I felt nothing. I didn't feel less stressed or less anxiety. But now I THINK I'm starting to feel it. I can't be sure, it could have been the elastic snapping on my knickers, but I'm definitely starting to feel better.

I'm currently working through jewellery and assessories. This was harder than the shoes. I have got round this by getting lots of my old sentimental jewellery melted into bracelets. Two to be precise, one for me and one for my sister. 

 

Minimalist yet keeping all my jewellery, I'm a fucking genius.

Xoxo

How much is too much nail varnish? The minimalism quest continues...

Part of my purge was donating some brand spanking new nail varnishes. You would think this would have left me with an average number of nail varnishes. You would be wrong.

Here is what the charity got. 21 brand new nail varnishes. This broke my heart. I was so tempted just to open one or two colours but the charity couldn't them sell them if i did, and as you will see below I have plenty opened nail varnishes!!!

So I then started going through my opened nail varnishes.

Here was what I was left with, still a ridiculous amount but that was all I was ready to get rid of at the minute! Remember I'm an ex hoarder folks. Getting rid of a paper clip is difficult for me.

Some are going to a lady Ruth in the charity shop who said she would take them as she works with the disabled and they do nails. Some are being donated to my friends daughter, along with some eyeshadow dusts:

I put it into a little bag I was going to bin for my friend:

And after my purge I sat and did my nails, I need some hand cream though..

Outing a layer of the pink, blue and purple glitter onto my wedding ring finger. Just because.

The slouchy boots that sneaked through

Well my wardrobe clear out has had the desired effect. I’ve been dressed much smarter for work this week. When you now only own 4 skirts it makes you start to wear other items!!

This morning I was in that mood where I wanted comfortable clothes, but I had donated all the scabby baggy clothes so I threw on a little black work dress and my slouchy boots and a blazer, the boots are one of the few things left that I own that SHOULD have got donated/recylced, BUT they managed to sneak through the cull. I think this is because:

1) They also help dress down my outfits at the minute!
2) I got them resoled, so there still is some life in them, even though it might not look it. 
3) They are comfortable.

Slouchy winter boots in action:

The shadow/shine makes them look like they are different colours or severely faded at one end, but they are not, I promise!!

Lastly I thought I would post a picture of some of the cull underway, this is about a quarter of what got culled. ONE QUARTER.

When minimalism meets a hoarder

I've been reassessing things recently.

Keeping up with everything often seems like a struggle. I get stresses/anxious about this. Some people don't, but I do. I feel like I am the only one but the world of YouTube has confirmed I am not.

I will admit that I'm a mild hoarder. My debt did not help this, I then became obsessed with not spending money, therefore, would never throw anything out and anything that was free/cheap would get adopted aka hoarded.

My focus for so long was just clearing the debt. Even when I was up to my eyeballs in debt it never occurred to me that having so much "stuff" could be causing emotions such as stress and anxiety. I've looked into tumble dryers, cleaners, dish washers and whilst these things have helped me cope, when you have so much stuff it will always be a vicious cycle of getting by.

This week I had my *Oh sh*t* moment when I stumbled across an article about Matilda Kahl who wears a uniform to work (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3034250/I-wanted-simplify-morning-struggle-Meet-woman-worn-exact-outfit-work-day-THREE-years.html). That lead me to finding Project333 and then onto minimalism. Then onto a girl called Melissa Alexandria on YouTube. I love her. She is just so nice! I know there are many more Icons such as Kondo etc on this subject but these are my people.

I then spent about 3 days reading blogs and watching YouTube videos. Some focused on only having 200 items in your house. Some no limits, just less. Some on cleansing your life to the bare minimal. I just wanted to remove the anxiety my stuff seems to be giving me, live more freely and spend my time, effort and emotions where it matters and not on stuff.

I was out late the 3 nights from reading the article. I literally could not wait to get home on Friday night to start de-cluttering.

I'm currently working through clothes (the largest amount of clutter in our house) and I've previously mentioned that some of my friends colleagues that I stalk/admire are the ones who have (or seem to have) a smaller wardrobe and wear the same clothes and accessorise them to make them look different. They switch them up with accessories or they just wear the outfit I have one friend who i kind-of-want-to-be and she wears the same dresses, shorts, tops etc. I went back facebook pictures that she has been tagged in (I kind of became obsessed this week) and she's been wearing the same clothes for the like the last 5 years.  She's had the same Marc Jacob sunglasses for about 5 years. The same striped vest worn on its own or under a white t-shirt. She is so well kept and a keen athlete and works and she is just all over things. Why do I need 8 pairs of sunglasses? 20 dresses. Even then I only wear about 5 of them. I can't find anything. Ever. I might find the dress, but where is that belt that goes with it? Or that cool bag? Or earrings? 

Anyway, I've did my first clear out in about 10 years, HUGE. I found dresses that I forgot I even had. I emptied 6 Cath Kidston sweater storage bags that were rammed full. I cleared drawers.

I had so much brand new clothes (with labels) it was heartbreaking. I have a problem. I had brand new french connection dresses once i remember costing me £110. Tag. Still. On.

I was adamant I was selling it. Think of how much money I can get back for all this stuff? But what I couldn't shake was the thought of how much money I could get a charity, or someone using it that actually needs/wants it. So I donated it all. Tags and All. 17 brand new nail varnishes unopened. New lip glosses, unopened. Brand new clutch bag. Brand new, never been worn, nine west wedding shoes. Worn once Kurt Geiger wedges, All Saints dress, French Connection dress, Autograph dress, Ted Baker toiletry bag, Dune bag, Carvella shoes, Leather Jacket, Leather skirt. You get the jist. A lot of brand spanking new clothes or items that had been worn once. I think I'm more annoyed at the items that are worn once, as the charity will likely get less money for them.

The charity shop thanked me greatly. They were so kind. They also told me I was not allowed to shop for the next year. Noted love, noted. She also told me she will take my opened, barely used makeup as she has a little charity group she goes to that uses that stuff. So that is my project for this week.

I've came home and I'm not finished. The throw on my bed, gone. The throw on my couch, gone. I don't like them - why do I have them?!

I feel awesome about the thought I may help my charity and I feel lighter, but I don't feel better about my anxiety/stress? Does that make sense? I think my house is still lightly in disarray which may be why I've not got better feelings about my purge.

I'll start putting up pictures of some of my purge! Just wanted to get the words down today!

xoxo

Upcycle: Coffee and Tea Jars

Okay, this is not technically DIY. More an upcycle?

When Mr Mars and I moved we got rid of most of our kitchen stuff. My old rusty IKEA tins got the bin (imagine these in Orange black and white: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80188927/). I then begrudged paying cold hard cash or warm plastic credit for something to go rusty again.

Then I had a brainwave... hold the applause... and I decided to use the old Douwe Egberts coffee jars that I kept my buttons and stuff in. I only had two of these, so I then went to the supermarket and bought another (we needed coffee anyway and Douwe Egberts is one of my preferred instant brands) it is expensive (compared to other instant brands) but if you wait until a special or offer you can get some good bargains.

I then had 3 big jars. Filled them with tea, grinded coffee and sugar, photo below. I also love loose tea as I got a cracking gift of a tea pot (I'll post another time) meant for fires and wood burners but I put it on my retro cooker hob, so I bought another small Douwe Egberts next time and filled that with my red bush tea leaves. Got another that I'm hoing to fill with my coconut chia tea leaves - it is lush, but it has caffeine in it, so is not my ideal pre bedtime drink.

I love them! They will go with any style of kitchen AND won't go rusty like metal containers!

When ready to re-use soak in hot soapy water and take the labels off, you may need to scrub/rub the glue.

 

Coconut Chia Tea waiting to be out into the jar (once it's emptied!)

Anyone got any other uses for their old coffee jars?

xoxo

DIY: Re-vamped penny jar

I thought I had posted this. I had not.

My "DIY" has subsided as we have settled into our new life (along with the blogging ;). We also purged most of our junk/old stuff/used items therefore not much to up-cycle/revamp. To be clear I like to up cycle as much as I can as it's better for the environment AND no-one else is likely to have it AND it usually saves a bit of cash :)

On the note of Purged, I watched the film The Purge last night. Scary.

Back to DIY. I am a fan of saving pennies/coppers/change. I did my wedding scramble from saving the change and have made payments to debt with change! We smashed a couple of our jars that were wedding/engagement gifts before we left the UK (photo below) but this one opens (no need for smashing). Unfortunately it is clearly styled for a 5 year old boy – I think it belongs to Mr Mars from his youth (oops!).  So I decided to take what I had and try and revamp it to blend into the Lodge House living room black/grey/white styling.

Jars in the first 'Life at the Lodge House". RIP Lodge House.
 

Equipment (including cup of tea):

I purchased some fine glitter (£5 GBP) and I already had modge podge, so off I went. Layer of glue, layer of glitter, layer of glue, layer of glitter. GOD it took forever to cover those bl**dy blue stripes!!!

First layer of glue...

 

First layer of glitter...

 

Another layer of glue and glitter...

 

FINALLY!!! After 100 layers of glue and glitter (an exaggeration, more like 3 or 4)...

I dried it using my pepper shaker baby cactus (cool mug from SPCA charity shop).

But I did it. With black glitter EVERYWHERE. Mr Mars was NOT happy. When I empty my purse of the coppers (and steal from Mr Mars’ pockets!) they will be stored here! Then banked at a later date. Small but effective way to gather some savings!

That's all folks

xoxo

Win Tomorrow - The Tale of The Forgotten Lunch Box

I’m following the Win Tomorrow program.

It’s not actually a program, just a thing where you prepare and get ready for the next day in order to have a successful day. I.e. pack lunches, exercise clothes etc. etc. It’s meant for weight loss but I also use it to try and built some organisation into my life. Less clutter and more organisation are my 2015 goals.

PDF: http://www.noexcusesworkout.com/oldsite/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Win-Tommorrow-Check-List-PDF-Version.pdf

So last night, having been to the shops and I had already went my run at lunch time meant I had the ENTIRE evening to “win tomorrow”. After dinner with Mr Mars,  I cook some buckwheat and cajun mixed beans, add it to a nice spinach salad. Get my running clothes ready, get my evening clothes for a dinner with the girls ready (my mate is moving away) and get my work clothes ready. 8.30pm is the target to have it all ready so I can sit down and watch the super cheesy teenage movie called Pitch Perfect (think Glee, but a movie).

My bag won’t close but I meet my target. So feet up and I watch my movie with a cuppa and a bit of raspberry sponge cake and all is right in the world. Tomorrow, I have won.

As I drive to work today all seems to have went seamlessly to plan, until I think of my beautiful lunch. Still sitting in the fridge. My Cajun bean concoction. WHAT A WASTE. Waste of my time AND my money. 

Here is what it looked like:

Tomorrow - 1 

Veronica Mars - 0

Afternoon delights

A cheeky little afternoon tea at my work today! We tend to have afternoon tea 3-4 times a week. Any excuse. Someone's 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, Baby, Anniversary, Birthday, New Dog...you get the idea. We have them. A lot. But hey, it's free food, so I ain't complaining.

So I thought I'd start picturing my treats from said Afternoon Teas. 1, 2, 3...Yehhhhhhh! Pictures of food, but this isn't a food blog, is it?!?! I don't know what it is, but what it isn't, is a food blog. Still following? Which is just as well as I'll be taking pictures of other people's cooking. Not mine.

Today I snaffled a gingerbread man and a gluten free chocolate chip cookie. For the record, I could taste no difference between the gluten free cookie and a normal cookie, it's all cookie to me.

We also did a shop, I lay my food out so then I can allocate it a home, I also took this opportunity to take a picture of some more food. Quite a few treats for us this week. Not sure why, just more carp than normal managed to sneak into the trolly.

An lastly, my dinner. Falafel and some salad. Yum.

Man, this is really starting to seem like a food blog...

Day trip and some pocket money

Sorry I tried to get back into my blogging again, I’m just so bad at it! Really trying to be more organised. I feel organisation is the key. Get organised, save the world and all that.

This week Mr Mars and I have…

Been at the rugby! Sorry no picture. It is our new date night - ohh how things have changed!

Went on a day trip! Mr Mars and went to Akoroa for the day. I lovely French themed town. We were super frugal and shared a fish and chips and coke! Just as well as it was HUGE!!! Total cost $11.50 (£5.75). We MUST try and do this more often as we ALWAYS have food leftover and it is just such a waste of food and money! The coke cost more than the chips or the fish – but it is the small things, guys!

We have still been saving for a house deposit and still working our “Pocket Money”. Don’t believe we even have a 10% deposit never mind a 20% deposit, but getting there. Must buy fewer bottles of coke!

Trying NOT to buy stuff with my pocket money, I have far too much stuff. Buying stuff can also mask underlying issues, like, not feeling comfortable with some weight gain (current issue). Anyway, I HAVE made a couple of purchases. It's stuff - I'm sorry. But full disclosure here! Pocket money purchases:

This hat. Tried to act like a cowgirl - Failed.

This super cool, totally in love with, necklace:

Check it out it’s made with the inside of a watch – did you hear me? THE INSIDE OF A WATCH. How unique, cool and random is that?

That's all folks! 

Keep swimming little fishes:

I return and I'm debt free!!!

I'm debt free!!!

I feel that justifies my delayed return to posting. Sorry! If you are going to keep a blog, you need to do blog posts, it's not hard Veronica!!! #MUSTTRYHARDER

Where have I been?
Mr Mars and I sold everything and upped and travelled across America. We then finished the trip with a flight to New Zealand where we currently reside in a pokey wee flat. GOD I MISS THE LODGE HOUSE. I often think of it, but this is super cosy so that makes me feel better.

Debt Free
Well, onto the big news. Mr Mars and I used the last of our savings and a tax refund to clear our remaining credit card. Tah-dah! We are Debt Free. We were getting bad at organising the funds/debt back in the UK so had to focus on getting it cleared. Went into our overdraft twice because of it. So annoying...

You would think I would feel this huge sense of relief but I feel nothing. It is weird. I think it is because I have been in debt for as long as I can remember and I was debt free once before and I racked it all up again, so I just don't quite believe it.

I/We have had different scales of debt. I refer to them as my "crazy debt days". University was an overdraft and a small credit card and student loans. I should have saw the signs then, others would go for coffee but bring in their own sandwiches etc as they had a balance. I would try to do it all, buy my lunch, and coffee and go on the nights out. On a students wage. There was no beans on toast in my student days. Only Mastercard.

This continued to employment, where again, I had no balance. I wanted it. I got it. From a coffee and pastry every morning to a £150 jacket. NO was never an option with Mastercard.

I had a job but threat of redundancy was and has always been there. In 2010 people were let go in my team twice within one year and there was redundancies every year since. Every. Year. It was not a nice time, especially when you realise that if you are made redundant, you have zero savings and very large amount of debt (approx 16k). A week or two of no salary and the Veronica Mars house of debt would have came tumbling down like a giant game of Jenga.

I was close to the land of Debt Free in 2011 but thinking I was nearly clear and in control meant I slipped back to my old ways and bought some new clothes and started eating out loads and wracked up another 4k of debt. Just like that. Before I knew it, another 4k of debt. Mr Mars then proposed to me and we started to get our life into order, continue to clear the debt, but pay for a wedding and honeymoon without adding to the debt.

We had been struggling with some accommodation and moved into a lovely house that cost much more each month in rent but it gave us the biggest sense of relief. You should be able to relax in your own home and that is not something we could do in our previous flats. I called it The Lodge House :) The flog and chaos lifted and with an upcoming wedding and honeymoon Mr Mars and I started getting our life into order.

Fast forward to the present day. As we start a new chapter in our life, I have a new financial focus of getting enough savings as a deposit on a home when we return to the UK. 

I badly want a home to truly call my own but I am happy to wait until Mr Mars and I have a good solid deposit and a forever home. I've moved enough and I've travelled a lot. I'm coming to the point where I am ready to settle down. My sisters ring tone for me is the Littlest Hobo theme tune.... 

That's all folks!

xoxo

The perks of a travelling business man...off to the windy city!

Mr Mars works away. A lot.

Not for long periods of time, but he literally can fly to London for a day and then fly home that same night. Not fun for him. No different for me. I just put his dinner in the microwave as usual and sometimes he comes home with some unused toiletries or an instyle magazine (he snaffles from the lounges - don't worry they are free, business class perk, he is not stealing).

He works all over the UK and the major perk of this has been large amounts of frequent flyer miles and a humongous spend in one year (I think it was £20k) when meant he then qualified for a companion flight.

What does all of this get you? A Business class flight to Chicago for the cost of the taxes only. I don't think you understand me.... we only paid for the taxes. For a business class flight to Chicago!!! Cost of these flights was £5,827!!! Taxes were still cost a lot, mind you...

Having travelled either Ryan Air or Easy Jet for the best part of my adult life I have no idea what Business Class entails.... I imagine champagne and unicorns. You get champagne, but I think they keep the unicorns for first class.

Thankfully the world wide web has lots of blogs by rich people who like to tell us about the things that us mere morsels will (usually) never get the chance to enjoy. I like this website, it is full of REAL pictures. God I love pictures.

The Luxury Travel Expert:

http://theluxurytravelexpert.com/2014/06/11/flight-review-british-airways-business-class-boeing-747-400-lhr-sfo/

So here is what it looks like I am in for. Excited, ME, Nooooo. This guy says the meal is a disappointment, I am still in awe of the fact that you GET A PLATE THAT IS NOT MADE OF TIN OR PLASTIC. Are you kidding me? Real cutlery? This guy should try economy and he'll see what a disappointment really is...

I'm also struggling with how I will manage to not ransack the FREE shops in the lounge or on board and store everything like a squirrel for when we reach Chicago.

Only take 5 bars of chocolate Mrs Mars... act like you fly business class all the time.... take the other 8 bars out of your bag...take them out...okay grab some peanuts...quickly...COME ON, DO IT...no-one is looking...

I will, of course, be taking pictures of everything. Even down to the toilet. I plan to use them to reminise about the time I flew Business Class with BA when I am shackled up on my next Ryan Air flight trying to hide my handbag so they do not charge me for two carry on and then counting how many euros I have left to see if I can afford a can of cola. All whilst sweating in my extra jacket as my suitcase was over 10kg.

There are OF COURSE catches to these flights see below (here is my understanding of them):

1) They are only available on certain flights and there is only 1 allowance per day. So everyone in the UK with a companion flight is fighting to get in first for these flights
2) Once you qualify it is only valid for one year
3) Only valid for a single flight (no stop offs or returns)
4) Only valid for a flight leaving the UK; and
5) You have to reach the £20k spend within one year
6) You only get this once
7) The big one - you can only use the companion flight to places you have enough air miles to cover. So you can't top up with cash and fly to anywhere in the world.

xoxo

Commonwealth Freebies

As Mr Mars is working at the commonwealth games, we got a couple of freebies!

He got the full kit - as picture below, you also get a bag, water bottle and umbrella. I snaffled the bag, bottle and brollie, but I won't lie - I used the bag once and it started to burst so did not seem the best quality or it could be that I rammed it full with my usual junk - I'm going with poor quality ;o). The trousers are really good and Mr Mars is going to keep them! They also got a big jacket and water resistant cagoule thing. I would steal the jacket but it is too big :o(.



They also got some thank you presents (also snaffled by me); a Clyde pin badge, some thistle seeds, a Clyde USB pen, a towel and a limited edition commonwealth games picture (I LOVE).





Then, whilst cheering on the road cycling, I got talking to a lovely girl who knew the Scotland support team and was in the car that follows the riders. We cheered and waved them as they passed in the support car - then she gave me a "Team Scotland" official pin badge - HOW COOL! What a lovely thing for her to do and it obviously made my day!

She was a very funny girl. She had a top on with shorts and no jacket; I asked her if she was not cold and she responded "I'm very very drunk right now". Ha! I was not drunk, therefore I had a large waterproof jacket on, hoodie and jeans and was still cold.
 

So that is it for my freebies so far. Does not help my hoarding issues...but at least I have some cool pin badges!

xoxo

Sunday Summary

Here is a summary of my Sunday!

 

Catching the Commonwealth fever I became slightly obsessed – after staring off with nothing I have now been to a fair few events. The finale being the Road cycling on Sunday morning. Up we got at 8am (after my sister called me at 8am telling me she was en route to my house with a present – I’ll detail in another post with pictures). Mr Mars and I then had some fresh roasted coffee and toast and fresh farm eggs (another present from sister) before walking into Glasgow City Centre.

 

Off they went:

 

Very much the same for a few laps but I did read that a storm was forecast and the weather did not disappoint… torrential rain ensued… we took refuge in a pub and watched on the TV until they were due to pass then popped outside!

 

The winner passing near the end, below. To give you a grasp of how fantastic a win for Wales this was and how horrific the conditions were, something like 139 started and only 12, yes 12, finished. WELL DONE to anyone who even finished!!!

 

After the race Mr Mars and I went a wee shop to the Nike store to the vegan restaurant Stereo, Mr Mars is not a Veggie, but he almost eats Veggie now because of me! Mwhahaha. He really only eats fish now, so he is almost a pescitarian! He and his friends really like Stereo (non of them are Veggie) because it is known for its music and very good food!

We both ordered off the specials board - the BBQ Ranch chickpea and mushroom burger with rashers – ohhh my goodness me it was sooo GOOD. Perhaps because I have been watching what I have been eating (she says after ramming two Quality Street chocolates into her mouth) but It went down and absolute treat. Shy of licking them, our plates were cleared. We then walked to Costa for a wee coffee and then walked to the BBC at the Quay to watch the Commonwealth Closing ceremony!

 

Picture of the Ceilidh they had going on before it started:

 

 

A brilliant finale - I don't care what anyone thinks, I really enjoyed it!!! With a sad Auld Lang Syne to finish. Maybe because I am soon to be leaving Scotland or because I am sooooo flipping proud to be Scottish, but I was sad at the end. Sad that it is all over, sad that who knows the when the next time I will see a random Ceilidh, or a fiddler playing Caledonia, or bag pipers just randomly walking down the street or people crossing their arms for Auld Lang Syne. But I was sad...

Here is to Gold Coast 2018! I think Oz will also do the games proud! If I am still living at the other side of the world, I can assure you I will be there!!!

xoxo

Wedding Thank You Cards - Snippet 1 - The Envelopes

Only 4 months late...cos that's how I roll.

So I started our wedding thank you cards… this is getting posted about in 3 stages. I will do one all-inclusive post and pop it onto my DIY tab, but for now, time is a luxury I do not have, so I can only do some snippets. Some people would say forget sending the cards, but I really do like a thank you card. I just think it is nice.

We wanted to do our thank you cards a lot cheaper than the invites (as I ain't made of money) BUT I also think that thank you cards are peoples lasting impression of the wedding (or maybe it is just the crazy people in my head who think that) so I don’t want some cheap ass cards getting chucked out the door when we spent the equivalent of a house deposit on our wedding day (judge away - I don’t care).

So I went to a print shop (this one in Glasgow) and just got a nice, non-cheesy, no kissing, picture of us printed in black and white onto card and cut to postcard size (A6). I then ordered some Bordeaux envelopes (C6) from EBay (there are about 100 sellers and I cannot remember which one).

I then used the embossing stamp that we got MADE for our invites (Eve at WEDLOCO helped us do this). I love that we found a design and made it into a stamp. I feel like it became our wedding trade mark, along with our wax seal....more on that later.
 
Because I am 4 months late with them I also wrote a handwritten “Sorry it’s late…” on the bottom corner with an embossing pen, just to acknowledge that I know I am late and I’m sorry. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, I AM SORRY.

A snippet (as I said I will do an all-inclusive post later):

For our labels we purchased some nice CLEAR labels from WH Smith (I'm sure you can get them cheaper but I'm Mrs Unorganised, remember?). With some Rennie Mackintosh font they will look BRILLIANT on the envelopes.

We kept a note of what everyone got us, so I will write personalised message on the back of the postcards – as I also think that is nice. A personalised touch goes a long way in my book (see my personalised wedding glasses HERE). I'm quite self absorbed so that might be why I love items with my personal touch brandished all over them...

A lot of people gave us cash as they knew we were moving abroad so it will be nice to say thanks for the cash, as we are now ACTUALLY moving abroad and are going to put it to good use! You think I could spin that as they reason I left it 4 months to do my thank you cards?!?!

xoxo

Commonwealth Games, a gubbed ankle and a new bike

Sooooooo much to update everyone on, but sooooooo little desire to type it. I’ll sum up the 3 main things in my life at the minute!

The Commonwealth Games have arrived to Glasgow and so far I have seen ZERO events in person. House viewings and a hospital visit (gubbed ankle) have scuppered my plans. Hopefully tomorrow (Saturday) I will get to go to Strathclyde Park and watch the Triathlon and then the Marathon on Sunday morning.

As mentioned above, I've gubbed my ankle. A silly run up and down Ben Lomond (for more info on Ben Lomond see HERE) meant I tore my ligaments and ended up in crutches. We actually thought it was a broken ankle; there was a rather large CRACK when I went over on it and it started swelling up immediately (I aint lying - my brother started squirting water from his water bottle onto my ankle as if this was going to stop the swelling, bless, think I need more than water bro, this is not a “magic sponge at a football match” type situation). A week later and I can walk fine now, but ankle is still in a lot of pain and bruised. Dr advised absolutely NO running for 4-6 weeks and ESPECIALLY not up and down Munro… spoil sport.

Those that have been following will also know that this means my marathon plan on the 2^nd of August has also come to an abrupt end. It is amazing that you get really fit and train for WEEKS and then one incident puts you out for weeks and ruins months of plans. I’m not upset – it is just a race and a gubbed ankle. PERSPECTIVE, people. I’m healthy (ish) and happy. It’s all good! PMA.

On the plus side, I ate a full bag of Cadbury chocolate buttons and had a rather large amount of red wine last night completely GUILT FREE. See, it is all about perspective, people. :o)

Due to said injury AND because I had actually mentioned it on the forums (those visiting from MSE land) I was looking to get a new bike. No better time to get one when you can no longer run and have scuppered all marathon chances…

I’ve bought crap bikes before and I’ve bought super expensive bikes also (crazy debt days). Both are a waste of time for the kind of usage I will be doing. I was like Goldie Locks and her porridge...not too expensive...but not too cheap. It had to be just on Budget…

After much searching Mr Mars and I happened across this bike, which of course, due to halving in price, sold out pretty quickly. Down to £200 and then with a 10% sale I got it for £180. I literally think I got the last one in Glasgow. As we checked all stores and eventually managed to track it down in Paisley, where I think it was the last one.

 

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-zelos-limited-edition-ladies-road-bike-2014

I LOVE it. I would have taken any design, the budget was the concern, so I feel I have lucked out that it also looks pretty good. Where we are moving to, apparently public transport is not great, so cars and bikes are the main forms of transport (I will never moan about UK public transport again). Hopefully this will also get LOTS of use when we move next month (4 weeks today!!!) and not just to cross train on.

 

xoxo

Christmas continues with some healthy eating

Hi All,
 
No money saving, no DIY jobs. Nothing. What a crap blog this is turning out to be!

My posting has become minimal on all forums, of any sort, and considering Mr Mars and I are emigrating abroad next month, and move out of our house in 3.5 weeks time, it looks like posting will be minimal for the foreseeable future.

We are haemorrhaging money, which is another issue altogether. But the focus for the minute is to get some visas and make it out of the country. My simple mind can only focus on one thing at a time.

We leave next month to travel across America for over a month before we then move to the other side of the world. I am terrified. My unorganised self has gone too far this time. We have our flights booked, where we got the bargain of the century (I will dedicate a post to these flights) and we are staying in a rather nice hotel in Chicago (also bargain buy - the perks of having jobs where Mr Mars and I travelled a lot). But beyond that we have nothing planned. NOTHING. Is anyone else panicking about this for me? As I think someone should be!

Christmas:

So, as you know, I am trying to get some Christmas presents sorted before we go. I know this is the last thing I should be thinking about - but sometimes crazy people need something to occupy their mind. This is my thing.

So, the author of this book happens to live where I grew up and works in the building next to me. He has a sign up in the building promoting the book and if you want it signed he will come meet you to do so - how nice is that? Obviously promoting the book, but I still think it's nice.

My Father-in-law is very into books. He loves thrillers and especially likes books that are by local or Scottish authors. I know this as I borrow most of his books after him, and every time I do, I get all the details on where the author lives and where the books are based, so I just know he is going to love this gift:



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Go-Sleep-D-P-Sloan/dp/1906755752

So I've ordered the book and am going to get him to write a personalised message for my Father-in-law. I've not decided whether it will 100% be for Christmas so I'll get the author to write "hope you enjoy your gift". Generic and covers me for any occasion. Mr Mars wants a copy too, but at £10 a book he can borrow his dads!

Healthy Eating:

My eating has been pretty bad recently, just with everything going on. I really notice it in my energy levels and exercise. So last night Mr Mars went out and bought a super-food extravaganza!

We had a rainbow salad with quinoa, topped with organic Herby Olive Oil (I bought a bottle, along with some organic balsamic vinegar in a little shop in North Scotland and it is HEAVEN), we then had some piri piri hummus and normal hummus with it and mini pittas. I was so hungry I forgot to take a photograph...

We then had some fresh blueberries with some Mango flavoured natural yogurt - this was my dessert (check out the vintage bowls that were my grans):

 
YUM. Today my mate is taking me for lunch. I, of course, forgot about this and brought in lunch. Have I mentioned I am unorganised? I seriously think I need to bring the file-o-fax back into my life. But he is infamous for cancelling so I would rather have my backup pasta which I can eat tomorrow than not bring anything. Need to try and retain some control over our finances at the minute.

xoxo

Baby Shower Fun!

I had much fun at a baby shower on Saturday!

 

Apologies, my Sunday was filled up with marathon training and DIY, and then I was back to work yesterday, so I am only just posting the pictures of this.

 

The girls who organised it did very well, although they must have spent a small fortune! Buffet, cake, soft drinks, decorations and unlimited prosecco. Glad it was not me :o)

 

What a great day! A great crowd of girls with some right old characters! There was one lady who kept telling everyone about her vagina. Yes, that is right, I said vagina. I'm not a prude by any means, so this did not bother me, but I do think there is a time and a place for these kind of discussions; whilst I am eating my pink and blue cake at a baby shower, ain't it! Got to love the characters, though, they keep everything interesting!

They decorated the place with bunting and cute balloons...

 

 

They got the mum-to-be an AMAZING cake....

 

When you cut inside it was pink AND blue sponge (as she does not know what she is having).

 

 

Prosecco was on tap, along with a brilliant and superbly thought out buffet (all dietry requirements were considered)...so being veggie I had LOTS of options. YUM. Bravo ladies.

 

Then when everyone was leaving we were giving a little favour from the stack below....
 

Inside the favours...

 

 

Jelly babies and a baby powder candle! How cute!

 

Saturday was topped off by Mr Mars and I cashing in a wedding voucher at Arisaig Restaurant in Merchant Square, Glasgow. Fabulous Scottish Food - just amazing! The Crannachan Ice-cream at the end was my favourite. Nothing like some good food and wine to top off an already great day!

 

Total cost of day out - £5 tip at restaurant! Does not get much better than that!

 

xoxo