A more 'bothered' post!

Well, apologies for my absence of contributions to the net dialogue over the last months and weeks!

I have had a real feeling of not-being-botheredness these last months, and I am determined to drag myself out of it at speed. I hope that my lack of indulgence in the thoughts in my own head are not contagious, and that your own blogs are fantastically running free and wild. There have been a few reasons, of which I'll whine about for a moment or two, for my absence.

I've had a shocking time trying to enjoy what I do for a living. My day care business is currently very slow, due to the upcoming baby, and the children I have are a little difficult. One in particular - my own! - has decided that he no longer needs naps because he is such a big boy. Well guess where that big boy is right now? Yep, that's right, he's asleep because he snuggled in to my lap about a half hour ago and fell silently to sleep. Poor lil bloke, he's coming down with a little cold and the coughing is really taking it out of him.

Another thing is that the doctors' were afraid that my pregnancy wasn't going well. They combined blood and scan results and decided they were concerened. They have still got no idea what their concern was about, but in the end a lovely lady doctor at the antenatal clinic told me to go home, not worry and not show up for a scan until I was 22weeks and then everything will be huge and they'll be able to see if there is anything to be concerned about. She still thinks that there is nothing to worry about! So with that in mind, I had a break to see my favourite girlfriend before she moves too far away to get to and relaxed for a week and did not a lot! The baby is now very active and kicking and all sorts, and I keep thinking that any day now my son will be laying or sitting on me and ask me why my tummy just kicked me! HE's very aware that there is a baby coming, in his own two year old way, and has already informed me that it's a baby sister, and that she will be sleeping in his room and getting cuddles, so that is great.

I am really starting to plan my new baby's and my current baby's lives after november is here. We've taken delivery of our nappies, and I'm pretty sure that the parcel post card left this morning is from the one-size-fits-most covers I ordered online last week. Aside from going in on a full-scale re-usable nappy adventure, I'm also starting to make my own cleaning products, and am thinking of starting a little home business based on it. Then again, to avoid having to actually do anything resembling work every again, I'm thinking of doing just about anything that I can complete with children in tow, so if you have a valid idea that doesn't sound dodgy then let me know!

I am stockpiling any freezable food items and also wearing my partner down to letting me get in some extra pantry cupboards (linen cupboards in other words - I'm not fussy!) so that while I have an income I can stock up on as many things as possible. My local markets are amazing with being able to buy in bulk and then preserve things like tomato sauces and lemons and the like - so I'll be doing a lot of that once I have the storage space to sort it out safely.

My home cooking is taking a fantastic turn for the better - I've been on a soup frenzy this month and have created many different types, with my favourite so far being a blend of an off-the-top-of-my-head cauliflower and potato and bacon soup that I intended to put some of in the freezer for another day. Turns out, the 'another' day was the next day for lunch, it was so yummy!

The recipe -

Half a very big Cauliflower
Two handfuls of bacon pieces
A Handful of sliced leek
Four peeled and diced potatoes (or about three handfuls!)
A litre of chicken or vegie stock.

I slow fried the leek and diced bacon until the leek started to soften, then added the potato and cauliflower. I continued the slow frying for about 5 minutes to let the vegies break down a bit and absorb the leek and bacon juices (I have pretty good non-stick cookware, so you might want to add some olive oil at the start if you dont!). About five minutes in I added the stock and let it simmer really low for about half an hour. That was it. It wasn't too flashy, and the herbs weren't added because I wanted a true taste of cauliflower to come through. It was delish!

I'm trying to stockpile a lot more soups, because my partners' Nan is very unwell and I want to do a frozen food drop off to her and Pop. I know she's not eating much, so I would really feel stoked if I could take them about three or four yummy soups ready to just throw in the microwave and heat. So fingers crossed I haven't made anything too full on for them!

Anyway, I'd best be off to start peeling the blankets off that lil bloke and waking him up, or he'll be awake all night! Hope you all have a lovely week and that I'll have the opportunity to write again within the next 48 hours.

Feeling Unwell...

Today this little guy and I are having a day off. It's already 3pm, but so far we have achieved not much more than vaccuuming the floor and playing with a balloon...the deal was that I blew it up, handed it over, and he let it go. Much to his delight!

It's been such a lovely day spent together, doing nothing. So far we've watched tv, which we never do during the day, but the little guy has found a love for Elmo, so that was fun to dance to. Then we've drawn and done the dishes, then had some leftover soup for lunch, then had a nap (me too, I'm feeling very ordinary...). Since getting up he's eaten just about everything he can find, and seems to be in good spirits.

Our bio liners arrived today, so the Cushie Tushie nappies will be in full use as of tomorrow. We only bought a trial pack of 3 though, so hoping that I can alternate days of cloth and disposables until the baby beehinds arrive closer to the end of the month. But the transition is beginning!

I can't just keep eating....can I?

Hello lovely people. I'm sorry that this post is not taking much shape, and that it's just really going to be a one-liner, but I've just popped in to say I feel sick.

Very, very sick.

I'm quite sure noone in the world has had morning sickness like this before.

And if they have, they would be best to keep it to themself.

I costantly feel like throwing up or having food. The food eating calms my stomach from feeling like I'm on a boat. Then the food digests and the feeling returns.

And no, not just in the morning.

I have a beautiful butternut pumpkin in the kitchen waiting to be made in to soup, and if the good pregnancy fairies would just come and cook it for me I'm sure I'd feel much, much better.

This is the pregnancy fairy I would like to think...she came from this site

Scuse me, I'm off to feel sorry for myself over a bucket...

I am soooo tired.

I can't stay awake. Well, I can. I just would prefer to sleep, especially for a couple hours during the afternoon.

Yep, congratulations ladies and gentlemen, we are pregnant. With number two. Oh lordy, how much I forgot about our first trimester and the tiredness of it all...I'm not really feeling sick, unless nerves count, but I am craving, just as before, sausages, hamburgers and ham. It's terrible. I am trying very hard not to be tempted at all though. And trying to cut back on coffee. But who in god's name can cut back on coffee and work a 10hr day with four kids under two years old?!!!!

zzzzzzzzzzz anyone care to wake me in week 12?

The family don't know, only a couple of girlfriends, the significant other, and our doctor. And the planning in my head has already begun. If its a boy, we won't need to buy anything at all aside from nappies and cross the fingers my boobies work as well this time as they did the first, because then we won't need formula. If it's a girl, we won't really need to buy anything either, because I've plenty of friends' with girls who are lining up to give their stuff away to someone who did the same for them when they had thier little ones.

So that's my news, and my excuse, as to why I've been so absent of late. Please take it easy on me, and rub my back while I have a little rest.....

What a Beautiful Day!

The sun really is shining. The clouds really are fleeting. The kids aren't sleeping, but they are relaxing in their beds, so that will do! I am feeling inspired and very, very happy with my savings efforts this far.

I am determined to move some items around the house today, mainly to give myself room to sew and start to make items for xmas and presents for birthdays if I get enough stock up. I also would love, love, love to teach myself quilting and make them and bags to sell to people - just like this ....

That would make me very, very happy!

Inspiration

I'm so inspired by the blogs I've been following. I'm trying very hard to be a more ethical human being, and more gentle on the earth. Ever since joining Simple Savings( simplesavings.com.au ) I have found myself surrounded (even only in cyber-world) by the most inspiring of ladies!

So I am getting the finances under control. So much so that I was able to permit myself to buy some new clothes on the weekend (because I'm sick of looking like a walking example of "oh judith, see! Thats what happens when you become a mother, look how she's let herself go") and I even managed to do it in both a second and a first hand way! Firstly, I scoured the local op shops and got a very nice new top and a fairly flattering skirt for only $3 a piece. Then I went 'sales' shopping and bought jeans, a top, and 2 dresses all for under $70. When I got home I delightedly added them to my walk in, and then re-addressed the issue of 'what I have'. I still would like to purchase some new tops, as I have quite a few skirts that are in more than reasonable condition but they just don't 'go' with any of my tops! So all being well I should still come under my budget!

Sorry, I know I'm rambling, but it's the first time in two years I've actually had money to spend entirely on myself! And then - and THEN - I counted up all my 'spare' pocket money, and I had $200 in change! How exciting is that?!!! So it's now re-invested and will be decided upon in the very near future!

I'm going to start planning my vegetable patch very soon. There are some 'rules' I must live by, as the family day care situation doesn't allow any plants that are poisonous at any stage, so once that's all figured out, and the savings are there, I'm chopping down some rather intrusive palm trees and getting them mulched and left here as my own mulch, and then putting down some 'no dig' beds. I'm planning on some of my pocket money going on a compost bin, but at the moment, with a German Shepherd and little children it's not an ideal situation! Any advice appreciated!

Ok, so have a lovely week, who ever is watching....

Well, just when you think you're ahead!

You find out that the government have managed to not allow you any cash again...bloody Kevin!

Anyway, just a quickie update, as I haven't blah blah blahed on here for a few weeks!

All's well, we just had a bout of gastro and that was not fun. But I've taken the week off as I have a girlfriend arriving today and can't be bothered with work! YAY FOR ME!

So my spending has been so under control I can actually afford to do this, which is nice. Good thing Kev07 reckons I don't need any help ay!

Whooooaaaa There Nelly!

Well, when I shop, I really do shop...!

Yesterday, due to a wedding I am attending in a week and due to my two pairs of 'throw on' shoes falling apart, I spent some cash. Lots, in my opinion, and with that $200 I got my dress, and a pair of lurvely shoes to go with it, as well as two other pairs of shoes. I also had to do the grocery shopping.

Whiney Fairy has been a bad, bad girl.

Oh, and I got my hair cut and coloured today too....!

Ah, planning ahead rocks!

I had a huge big cookup a couple of weeks ago, which has resulted in my ability to be lazy as I feel for at least the next week. During that cookup, I made a huge amount of lasagne and freezed about 3/4 of it. And some of that is what me and the kids just had for lunch.

*Burp* 'scuse me.

Total spend today : Zero.

Proud of My Self...

Man, I am so proud of myself. I just beam when I think of it. Yesterday, I was in a shopping panic, as I had decided to buy some recipe software for my computer. I finished work early enough to take my son out to the shop.

Well, the nice assistant at X's store recommend I look for some recipe software for free on the internet, as they didn't stock any at the time. So I left, with my trusty $40 still intact. Then I stopped in at a stationary/office supply store and considered buying some accounting software...but thought well, if they have recipe stuff for free, maybe there'll be some accounting stuff for free too...my $40 was still safe.

On the way home I considered buying us some takeaway,as it would just be so quick and eeeeaaassy, no? Well, then I remembered that after I did my pantry stocktake last weekend, I have ample food for at least a fortnight (not including fresh fruit, but still), and decided we would have oven-baked fish fillets and while they were cooking I made a super simple coleslaw and a side salad.

Yet again, my total spending for the day....Zero Dollars.

I'm patting myself on the back for them ones!

What an easy day...

You've gotta love it when 25% of your day's workload doesn't show up huh?!

We were supposed to have four children to care for today (including my son), and one hasn't shown up! Bliss! So right now I'm listening to the sounds of silence while the three who are here sleep away the afternoon.

Hope that your day is equally lovely and easy!

Oh, today was a No Spend day! I am sooo pleased about that. Yesterday I forgot was a public holiday, so forgot to grocery shop for the week (only did my fruit and veg on sunday at the farmers' market). Turns out, after doing a pantry/fridge/freezer stocktake, I don't need to go anywhere near the shops until at least next week, because the amount of food I have stocked up here is Ridiculous! I've even managed a two-week menu plan out of it. Very proud of my new frugal-mindedness paying off already!

Good Morning!

Another day, another fifty cents hey?! Here in Whiney Fairy land I am hoping to not spend that money all year! Like many, I am aware that we are heading in to hard times, and am trying very hard to keep money in my wallet more and more every day. I'm having a no-spend day today, and considering I forgot today was a public holiday it might well be a no-spend WEEK! Can't go grocery shopping today, so going to 'make do' with what is already in my fridge and pantry! We had left over vegie muffins for breakfast today, and hopefully I'll rustle up some recipes today that will keep all week for the kids I look after (and my own son).

Wish me luck!