Freegle Cheek

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 On my local freegle/freecycle page someone was asking for baby clothes. Thinking I was doing a good turn I hooked out some baby grows from the donation pile and offered them to her. I explained that they were all white and neutral, and that I had washed them in prep for Baby D but she had arrived far to big to fit in them so they were almost brand new/never worn just washed. I received a reply back very quickly asking me what make they were as " I only want Next or Gap style brands and not George or supermarket ones"
 Is it just me that thinks this is a bloody cheek? I am suspicious that they were planning to sell them on or perhaps they are just to snobby for non-designer baby things! It's made me really cross. I didn't bother replying to her email and listed my items on the site for someone more grateful.

 What do think readers? What would you have done?

More posh nosh

 Thursdays seem to be my day for finding bargains in Mr.W as again today I struck gold.

 1x huge cabbage - 98p reduced to 65p
Bag of Sugarsnap peas - £1.60 reduced to 25p
Turkey Mince - £4.00 reduced to 75p
6 pack mini pork pies - £2.29  reduced to 55p
2x Banana milkshake - £1 each reduced to 35p each (but on a double offer so actually cost 5p each!)
Salmon Croute - £5.99 reduced to £1.49
Chicken in redwine and brandy - £6.99 reduced to £1.49

 This little lot cost me £ 5.28 but is worth £23.85 full price! I can feed the three of us for at least 3 main meals, plus have some little nibbly treats to munch and enjoy. DD is very much looking forward to some of the banana milk lol.

 We are trying the salmon first with some potatoes and peas, the rest will be popped into the freezer for later in the week.

x x x

Challenge Accepted

 Cassie over at Crafty Mum has started setting a weekly challenge on a wartime theme. Our first challenge was to try out an old war time recipe for corn beef fritters. So I busted out the ingredients from my store cupboard and had an attempt last night.
 I say attempt as I think my mixture was to wet and so didn't stick together in nice patty shapes but sort of melted together in a big lump. So aesthetically it wasn't to pleasing on the eye, but my word what a taste sensation!!! OH was really impressed and has already requested it again next week.

 I can't wait to see what next weeks challenge is!

x x x

A little Sunday crafting

 Thank you for all the get well messages and emails. We are all recovering well and things are returning to normal, now we just have that horrible catching up stage to get through in the house. I've wasted so much fresh food while we were ill I feel pretty bad.
 Yesterday being a horrible rainy afternoon I busted out the craft supplies and made some new storage for DD's art supplies. So far I have 2 empty formula boxes and I was determined to use them.
 So once they had been cleaned and dried, I cover each one in a page from my atlas, added a fish label from a cutting up book and voila! One box for pens and one box for pencils and crayons.

I think they look rather smart and nautical. Certainly an improvement and more on theme than the old biscuit box they were in before. I also threw out any that were snapped or had run out of ink.
 At her peak Baby D will be getting through on of these boxes a week so expect lots more crafty/storage posts using them in the future!

x x x

Saturdays Savings

  I wanted to show you the lovely flowers OH brought home with him yesterday for our anniversary. We also had several cards through the post from friends and family which I thought was really lovely. Once they have been on show for a little while I will add them into the back of our wedding cards album as a memento.

 I popped into Mr.W while hubby was closing up the shop and seemed to have caught it at just the right time!!! Here are the goodies I picked up. (Strawberries came from local market for 50p)

 Hovis Bread - was 66p now 19p
Angus Rump Steak Burgers - was 4.99 now 99p
Tub of Margarine - was £2.30 now 25p
Duck Pate with raspberries - was £2.29 now 65p
2x Organic Milk - was 89p now 19p

 That's £12.02 of shopping for a nominal  £2.46!
I'm quite looking forward to some pate on toast for breakfast, making a chocolate bread and butter pudding, baking shortbread and OH can't wait to have the burgers for his dinner. Topped off with strawberries to snack on of course!

x x x

This time last year.....

..... We were tying the knot!!!
 I can't believe it's been a whole year already! They say your first year is the hardest but I can't say we have done to badly, I think the distraction of a honeymoon baby has helped lol. We will be celebrating tonight with a nice home cooked dinner, some fancy ice cream for desert and a movie to watch once the little ones have been settled for the evening. Simple, Frugal and very us.

 I have also been watching a wonderful program this morning on BBC Iplayer called Love and Marriage; A 20th Century Romance. It's made me smile and cry in equal measure as people share their memories of courting and marriage from the past. If you have a bit of spare time I highly recommend sitting down with a cuppa and having a watch.

x x x
  

Run, Save yourselves

 We are a plague household. OH started feeling off on Saturday and yesterday it had developed into full blown man flu. Over night it has spread to DD, who has been up from 3am feeling miserable. Baby D is also very snuffly and wants constant cuddles. I'm starting to feel the tell tale scratchy throat and congestion starting.
 I think it's going to be a fun couple of days at the Frugal Home!
x x x

Wartime Farm freebie

 I've really enjoyed watching the first two episodes of Wartime Farm on BBC Iplayer, so I was thrilled to find out that the Open University have produced a free booklet to accompany the series. You can nab your own copy by following this link and following the instructions. I can't wait for mine to arrive, I find the idea of rationing quite fascinating and I think it would be interesting to see if you could still live on it today in a healthy and satisfying manner. And would it still be a frugal way to live?
 I feel some research and experimenting is in order.
x x x

Winter woolys.

 I keep hearing from various sources that we are in for a long miserable winter this year so I have been starting to think about blanket stashes and making sure everyone has enough jumpers and cardigans in stock.
 Apparently I am not the only one on this train of thought as two of my wonderful friends have made Baby D the knitted gifts above. The hat should be perfect around Christmas time and the cardigan is just a shade to big for the moment so has been stashed away for a month or so.

I also picked up this lovely hand knitted two piece set in a charity shop for £2! The colours are very neutral so will match nicely with other items in my wardrobe. And should I find myself bored of it once winter has passed I can unravel the cardigan and matching short sleeved top for a huge amount of wool to recycle into something else. Expect to see this a ensemble worn a lot this wintertime.

  My plans for this afternoon is to watch the new War Time Farm series on Iplayer. I really enjoyed their Victorian Farm series that was on a while ago so I'm looking forward to nap time and a cup of coffee while I get my farming fix lol.
x x x

Free Homestead Emag

 

Who doesn't love a freebie? I have just spent a very happy 20 minutes flicking through this free Emag while having a bucket of coffee.Not everything in it will appeal to everyone but such is the stuff of life. I really liked the idea of making up your own cake and cookie mixes for the store cupboard. As a busy mum who likes to have home baked treats on hand this is an idea that could save me a lot of time and effort. Plus it would make cooking with DD slightly less messy but no less fun. My mission for this afternoon is make up a Brownie mix or 3 in some spare jars and see how I get on. I will keep you posted.

Enjoy the magazine :)

x x x

Slowly out and about

 It was my first big trip out today since having Baby D. She's almost three weeks now so I was in danger of become something of a recluse if hadn't been for Hubby dragging me out. We went for a wander around Gunwarf Quay which is a local shopping outlet type place. On route we popped in to see the doctor to have my section scar checked over and review my general well being. OH and the DR both felt I haven't been my usual perky self since having Baby D so I have started on some treatment for PND (Post natal depression),  so fingers crossed I am back to my old self soon.

2x Whittard's Hot Chocolate £5 BOGOF

2x Cath Kidston Mugs £3 each on clearance

In other news here are our bargains from Gunwarf Quays today. The hot chocolate is to die for at Whittard's and we try and make sure we have a pack in the cupboard for snuggly evenings. Autumn and winter evenings just aren't the same without a snuggly blanket and a vat of hot chocolate. The mugs are super sized and I must admit to being a huge fan of CK. Usually a trip into her shop at Gunwarf is strictly for looking and fantasising but today they were having a clearance ready for their xmas lines to come in. I was so pleased to find something new and within my budget.

Photo album - £7.50

Cath Kidston Bandanna - £2.50

Notebook - £9

 Next up is a photo album which we wanted for Baby D's first photos and cards. We made an album up for DD in the same way when she was born so we wanted to do the same for The D. The bandanna is actually a hankie but the fabric is really thick and just the right size for a bandanna so that what I shall use it as. The notebook is my new diary, I found writing really helpful in the past when I've been suffering from depression so I am keen to try it again. It's been over a year since I last kept one other than my blog so I have plenty to write about and catch up with.

 x x x x

RIP Micheal Clarke Duncan

 December 10, 1957 – September 3, 2012

 I was really shocked this morning to hear the news that Micheal Clarke Duncan had passed away on Monday. And at the far to young age of 54!!!
 This evening the hubby and I will be watching one of his films as a mini fan memorial
x x x

This is my Everest

 Horrible isn't it? Full of junk and clutter and I suspect secrets. And sadly it isn't the only cupboard like it in my home at the moment.
 So I armed myself with a selection of carrier bags and got to work for an hour. I have one bag for local charity, 3 things to pass on to specific people, 2 things to check on Ebay in case I donate a hidden fortune, 2 bags for the bin.

And voila. Isn't that better? The top shelf is stashed presents and gifts, the box holds all my cards for various occasions. I was surprised how many I seemed to have collected over time, I guess I won't be needing to any in for a good long time lol. I also have a few gift bags I forgot I had which is always useful.
  It took me just over an hour to complete the whole organise in one go, by the end of it I was struggling a little bit with some dizziness and a bit of pain from bending and lifting (nothing heavy just from the movement). I popped a painkiller and promptly fell into a 2 hour afternoon nap, but I feel so pleased as what I achieved.

 After my nap I woke up to find Daddy had spun some magic and both the girls were fast asleep at 6.30pm. We had a lovely dinner and just enjoyed chatting to each other without interruptions, and finished it off with a movie we've meant to watch forever on Sky. It was a perfect evening.

x x x

A post for Froogs

 Baby D is getting more and more alert with each passing day, and OH snapped these fantastic shots of her having a good look at the world earlier today.

 As you can see Froogs your wonderful quilt is being well loved and used by the newest FHMH member. It washes like a dream, dries soft and quickly and keeps tiny toes super snuggly warm.

x x x