Buying birthday presents was so much easier when they were little!

Now that my girls are adults, I have realised I really struggle when it comes to buying their birthday gifts. When they were little it was easy. They'd circle half the Argos catalogue, write a birthday list that was about three miles long and there would always be something they desperately wanted. Dolls, games, craft kits, DVDs, clothes, Lego and the latest craze that everyone was talking about at school. Now they're adults, everything has changed.

Every year, a few weeks before their birthdays, I ask the same question: what they want for their birthday, hoping that this time they'll come up with loads of ideas but the answer is usually the same, that they don't really need anything! That is not helpful at all. Now if they want something, they usually just buy it. They don't have to wait for birthdays any more because they're earning their own money but the downside for me is that it completely ruins my gift ideas.

The older the girls have got, the more practical they've become and so have I. Years ago I'd never have dreamed of buying socks as a birthday present because I would have thought it was far too boring. Now, they're one of the first things I think about because everybody needs socks. The same goes for toiletries. I can remember being younger and wondering why adults bought people shower gel and body lotion as presents because it seemed such a strange thing to give someone. Now I completely understand it and my girls do too. They love a shower gel set.

I could just give them money. I know they'd appreciate it. Who doesn't love a bit of extra money? but I've never really like giving money on its own because it feels like something is missing. Birthdays are supposed to involve wrapping paper and opening presents and wondering what's inside. Gift cards are a little better because at least they show you've thought about where they like shopping but even then, it still feels a bit boring.

Lately, I've started thinking that experience gifts are the answer. Instead of buying more things that might end up sitting on a shelf or being forgotten about, making memories sounds way better. Concert tickets, theatre tickets, an afternoon tea, a spa day or even a night away all sound like presents that will be remembered long after their birthday. I know the experience itself is a gift, but I still want them to have something to open on the day and I am thinking if I bought tickets for something, I could also wrap something silly that goes with the day, some sweets for the journey or maybe even a little travel bag with everything they'd need for the day. That way they'd still have something to open but the main gift would be the day out itself.

This is just another one of those little reminders that my girls really have grown up. I am starting to think it might get easier once they leave home because at least I could buy them something practical that they need, like a new hoover or a set of pans. lol Now I just need someone to tell me what everyone else buys their grown-up children because I can't be the only parent who gets completely stuck every single birthday!

What do you buy your adult children for their birthdays?

Our weekly meal plan! 3rd - 9th August! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Ours was a nice quiet one and it was just what I needed after coming down with the cold that Stu had last week. I thought I had escaped it Ugh! It's not even a proper cold, it's just there. I have been a little bit snotty, coughing a little and I feel like I am walking through mud. I don't feel really poorly but I also don't feel anywhere near 100% well. Luckily, I had plenty of Wrestling to watch on TV this weekend with a big event taking place over two nights. It was perfect timing because I could sit down with a blanket, a drink and just enjoy.

Last week's meal plan went really well, we ate everything and mostly on the day I had planned too. The Cheeseburger pasta bake went down really well and it was nice not cooking on Saturday night with the Chinese takeaway.

I have no plans at all for this week. At the moment I am planning on taking it easy while I get over this cold. Ugh! Hopefully it disappears quickly because I have things I want to do but I am not going to push myself too much.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Chicken casserole, dumplings and mashed potato!

Today is supposed to be a colder day. Not cold but cooler than what we've had lately and it might actually be forecast rain this afternoon. I can't remember the last time it rained, it was easily over a month ago. The garden really needs it, especially the grass! A chicken casserole feels like the perfect meal for today. Cosy and hearty!

Tuesday - Vegetable fingers and BBQ pasta!

Once upon a time, vegetable fingers were one of the only ways I could get vegetables into my girls. I think it was because they looked like fish fingers. lol Sometimes I had to be a little bit sneaky! If something was shaped like something they liked, of course they were going to eat it. We are having veggie fingers with pasta and the easiest sauce ever. It is simply mayonnaise with a squirt of BBQ sauce mixed in.

Wednesday - Sausage, chips and beans!

You really can't go wrong with sausage, chips and beans. It is one of those meals that everyone loves and enjoys!

Thursday - Jacket potatoes!

Another easy meal! I think I am going to have tuna mayonnaise and sweetcorn, which is one of my favourite toppings for jacket spuds and the girls will probably have baked beans and lots of cheese. I love meals like this where everyone can pick and choose what they want as there are never any complaints.

Friday - Chip shop tea!

Friday night and we're back to having a chip shop tea! No cooking and no fuss. The biggest drama is deciding what we fancy. It feels like a treat and it's something I always look forward to.

Saturday - Some sort of stir fry!

Saturday is going to be a bit of a make it up as I go meal. I am thinking some sort of stir-fry because we have a few packets of Udon noodles in the cupboard. I will see what's in the fridge and throw something together.

Sunday - A help yourself evening!

I have no plans for Sunday at all. Everyone can help themselves to whatever they fancy and use up bits from the fridge, freezer and cupboards.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 26th July - 1st August Week 31 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend. I am having a great weekend. On Friday night, Becky and I went out for a meal, then met up with Stu and then Ellie later in the evening and went to The Irish bar in town. It was exactly the sort of night I needed. Yesterday I caught up on the housework and then the weekend has been filled with wrestling as it was on Friday night, last night and tonight. I did think about staying up to watch. It started at midnight but I decided just to play catch up.

Now for a photo every day!

207/365 26th July

Phew! This was easier than I thought it was going to be, verifying my age for a game I play. It's a new thing that has been introduced and I wasn't sure I could do it without photo ID. I did it and then found out I didn't even need to do it because I don't use the social or chat features on the game.

208/365 27th July

This one went for a job interview. She didn't get the job but it was a great experience for her. She had her fancy clothes on and I had to get a photo before she went and did her hair and make-up. It made me smile because it feels like only yesterday she was getting ready for school and now she is going off to interviews and looking for work.

209/365 28th July

I dyed my hair and first up was lightening it with the bleach. I always panic a little when I do this and think, will this be the time my hair fries and falls out? I feel like I have been lucky so far though, and my hair is in decent condition considering I bleach it every 12 weeks and colour it every 6. I

210/365 29th July

Becky baked a banana loaf! There might have been a couple of almost mishaps along the way though. At one point she got a teaspoon and a tablespoon mixed up and there was a little panic about whether she had overcooked it but it all worked out OK and the banana loaf was perfect!

211/365 30th July

My peppers are finally growing! I have been waiting patiently and they seem to have taken forever! Ellie doesn't usually get excited about what I am growing in the garden but she is interested in these as they are her favourite vegetable. Now I just need to keep them alive long enough for us to actually eat them!

212/365 31st July

Just me! Not the greatest of photos, I am so bad at taking selfies!

213/365 1st August

I am on a mission to find more of these plates. Becky has always said when she leaves home she is taking them and we only have two and I love them too. I think my dad gave us a pile of random plates years ago and these were in the mix. Anyway, I've made it my mission to find more of them online and I can find them but I am not paying the silly prices people are asking. £113 for 5 plates. Eesh! I will keep looking.

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This week my Word of the Week is: Applying!! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is: 

How weird is this? Exactly a year ago my Word of the Week was applying, just like this week. Last year it was all about Stu applying for jobs but this year it is all about Ellie applying for them and Becky applying for houses.

It's crazy to think this time last year Stu wanted to quit his job because he hated it but what a difference a year makes. There were unrealistic targets, people were walking out, he didn't like anyone he worked with and the bonuses and targets weren't achievable. Last year, Stu had a lot of tellings off because he wasn't pushing products enough. There was one call which really stuck with him. A woman rang to change her contract because she was fleeing domestic violence and his manager said Stu wasn't doing his job properly because he didn't try and sell her a new phone! Can you believe that? There is a time and a place to try and sell someone something and that wasn't it. Some things matter far more than sales targets. He had firm words with his managers and they listened and since then, things have been amazing! If there is something he doesn't feel comfortable with, he just says no and no one argues! He gets to pick his hours. As long as he does 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, they don't care when he starts, finishes or what day he goes in. He has a good group of people that he is friends with and apart from the freezing because of the air conditioning, he's happy at work. He's been told the only reason he hasn't been promoted to manager is because he can't do late shifts, Sundays and Bank Holidays. He said he wouldn't want to be a manager anyway, there's too much stress.

Ellie has been great at applying for jobs since she left college and I couldn't be any prouder. I thought I would have to nag her more but I'll be looking through job websites and ask if she's applied for a certain job and nine times out of ten she already has. She's so organised about it too. She has around four different versions of her CV depending on the type of job she's applying for. I didn't even think about doing that when I was younger. This week she had another job interview but sadly didn't get it. She's not devastated and it has actually given her more motivation. Every interview seems to give her more confidence and helps her understand what employers are looking for. She's becoming more comfortable talking to new people, travelling to different places and stepping well outside of her comfort zone.

Becky has been applying for more houses. Her and her partner had thought about buying but have decided that renting is the better option for now. They are still waiting to hear back from the one they viewed last week but the letting agent said there were a few applicants and the owner of the house is taking their time considering everyone. They are not fussy and have been applying for different houses which have come up locally. Rent prices are strange though. I've seen 3 bedroom houses for £600 a month, a 2 bedroom for £650 and a 1 bedroom place is £700 all within a 5 minute walk of each other. Make it make sense. lol You'd think the bigger house would automatically be the most expensive but it all seems a bit random sometimes. Becky isn't asking for much, at least one bedroom, close to work and with a decent landlord. Every house they apply for comes with another mountain of paperwork. There are forms to fill in, documents to scan, references to provide and then everything has to be emailed back. They seem to be getting quite good at it now though.

Hopefully, all this applying will pay off soon. Ellie will get a job and Becky will get the keys to her own place and can start making it feel like home!

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!