A little Friday trip out

 

This morning we all got up and headed into the town centre for the day.

We started with a visit to the Library where we read and drew together. The library have recently started making blank birthday cards for  children to decorate and fill out for people in local care homes. The cards are given to people who might not otherwise receive anything on their birthdays which I think is a very sad thought. 

After the library my plan was to treat the children to a Happy Meal in macdonalds. I had not realised however that they now cost £4.39p each!  Instead went into Poundland and looked at their £3 meal deals. I fed all 6 of us happily with 4 x £3 meals and added an extra drink for £1 and some biscuits and crepes for dessert (£1 each)

The whole lot came to just £15 which I think it's pretty darn good for 6 people. 

We are our food in the park with some friends and family before heading over the mobile farm that was set up in the main precinct.

I felt the farm was a little disappointing with just 2 goats and 2 sheep to look at. All 4 animals were looking a bit pestered and fed up with the attention of the crowd around them. Still it entertained the children for 5 minutes until they went to play in the giant sandpit that's been set up for the summer holidays. 

After a good half an hour of sandcastles and burying each other the smallest members of the family were beginning to get hot and tired so we headed home for a quiet afternoon of video games and netflix. 

That's another day of summer in the bag.

So far so good 

X x X

Cheap holiday entertainment

 

 Day 2 of the holidays and more frugal crafting.

We made suprise tubes using toilet rolls, tissue paper and thread. Again a fairly self explanatory craft I think. I hid a little packet of fruit heart gummies in each tube.

Everything we needed was on hand apart from the treats which cost 89p for a packet of 7 in Home Bargains.

I quite like the idea of making these as place cards for Christmas Dinner or perhaps a party 🤔 

X x X

Summer 2024 arrives

 

Life has been a bit rubbish for a while at Spurrier House. I've made a resolution to go the extra mile over summer and cheer us all up a bit. To remind ourselves that as long as we have each and a brain (or most of one) then we have everything we REALLY need.

I'm starting as I mean to go on with this quick frugal craft.

 All you need to do is ask for the end of a till roll next time you are in a shop. Eventually you will find a till worker who has just changed a roll or is about to. Most of these rolls have several metres of paper left on them and are destined straight in the bin.

I folded some till roll concertina style (as if making paper dolls) and cut out the flag shapes making sure to leave them all attached at the top.  That's really the most difficult bit to be honest. 

You can make name banners, birthday or Christmas banners, rude word banners (🙄 teenagers!) Or what ever you can really think of.

Let me know if you give it a go 😁

X x X

Time is whizzing past

 

I feel like the phrase 'blink and you miss it' is apt this week. We have had poorly children, job interviews, household drama and a garden shed burglary.

Poor Miss C - DD4 has had a really horrid case of conjunctivitis which we are just starting to win the battle with. It's needed a lot of vigilance to stop it getting worse or spreading to any other little Spurriers.

Tom, DH, is on the look out for a new job and has been attending some interviews including one for TESLA that latest almost half a day. So far he's had no luck getting a job offer but I just know there is job waiting around the corner for him.

In the house we have had to reshuffle some rooms and sleeping arrangements again. As the children are getting older our bedrooms needs are changing. We've made the decision to give up our living room for DS. So far it's a bit awkward but it's working.  Mostly.

And finally today I came home from the school run to find our garden shed has been riffled through by persons unknown. We only keep some garden toys, lawn chairs and the paddling pool in it so there was nothing to steal. They had a good poke around though to make sure 😡 it makes me feel a bit funny that somes one's been in our space though. You just know they tried our back door and windows while they were there too *shudder*

But onwards and forwards as they say. I've kept myself occupied by making the children all a little treat to enjoy after school. They deserve to celebrate the end of a long week to.

Don't you just love these snack cups too? In our house we call them Bups (Bowl-Cups). They are apparently quite trendy at the moment on Tiktok and the like, according to my teenager anyway. Its not I get told I'm on trend 🤣.

X X X

Starting tomorrow

 

Starting tomorrow I will be taking part in our church's 40 days of fasting and prayer. 

I'm planing to fast each day between 6am and 6pm, with Sundays off. The idea is to follow the podcasts and daily prayer guides to connect closer with God. To heat what He is trying to say to us about the upcoming year and about ourselves. 

I'm looking forward to the journey.

X x X

Whoops

Having finished my 15 knitted hearts project I fancied something a little different. Pinterest suggested a cute heart patterned ear warmer that DD3 said she liked. 

Firstly I'm not happy with my colour choices. The hearts are a lot easier to see on the photo than they are in real life which is annoying.

It's also maybe possible just a smidge on the small side 🤣🤣🤣

A lovely warm wristlet but definitely NOT a ear warmer for a 5 year old 🙈

Having looked at the pattern again I was supposed to use 8mm needles and not size 8 needles. Let's hope the next attempt goes a little bit more successfully!!!

X x X

Enjoying some freedom

 This afternoon was my first little bit of child free time since the Christmas holidays began. After taking DD4 to preschool I met with my parents for coffee and cake in one of our favourite local cafes. I remembered to keep some mementos to add to my junk journal.

After our coffee and a catch up, we had a little wander around the towns charity shops before the schools finished for the day.

I found some very pretty Cath Kidston fold and mail stationary. I thought they would be useful for sending messages and for adding to my junk journal occasionally.

In Poundland I found some Christmas straws in their clearance section for 50p which I thought would be well suited to Valentines theme crafts.

In Tesco I found some Silver and Gold paper cups for 30p.

Together I think they'd look quite fetching on the dining table. I think I might decorate the cups a little more though. I quite like the idea of drawing hearts around them with a sharpie and marking them with the children's initials.  

I'll think on it and see what I can come up with.

In Iceland I was quite excited to discover the new chocolate orange variant for Easter. I had to treat myself to one 🥰

I've yet to find the elusive white chocolate orange though. If anyone spots one please pop me a comment and let me know where they are hiding. I am a woman on a mission 🤣

 Once home from the school run I found a bag by my front door. One of my neighbours had kindly given us a box of mince pies they didn't want and the softest brown shawl I think I've ever touched. I sent her a message thanking her for thinking of us. I'm not entirely sure she's human though between you and me.... she very kindly pops things by our door every so often if she thinks we can make use of them BUT not once has she ever set off my Ring doorbell camera while she does it. Bear in mind that my ring doorbell often sends me video clips of the bushes by the front gate slightly twitching in the breeze or cats walking along the fence.  Very odd. Possibly a vampire?

X x ☓