Our weekly meal plan! 13th - 19th October! #MealPlanningMonday

We had a great weekend, it was mostly just Stu and I as Becky was at work and Ellie was busy living her best life with friends. Stu and I went wild and had a night out on Saturday and a lazy day on Sunday while Ellie had Pizza Hut for her Sunday lunch!

Last weeks meal plan went well, we ate almost everything just not on the day that I had planned. I cooked the Hearty Beef & Carrot Hotpot in the slow cooker and instead of adding sliced potatoes to the top I just chopped the potatoes into chunks and threw them in the slow cooker. Somehow I ended up making more than I'd planned so there was plenty of leftovers for the next day. This is the type of meal which always tastes better the next day and it was enjoyed!

It's back to normality today. There's the housework to do, blog posts to write and cooking to do. I don't have too much on this week or nothing I can remember anyway. I have been writing appointments and important things in my planner and it's looking pretty empty this week! Phew! This week we're skipping the Gousto Box but we're still having a couple of their meals that we have loved in the past.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Pea and Ham soup! I was going to buy the shredded ham to go in the soup but my dad was cooking ham while I was at his and it tasted amazing so I bought a joint of gammon and I am planning on boiling that. It will go in the soup and there'll be plenty left for sandwiches during the week too. It was the same price as the shredded ham so that's a bonus. 

Tuesday - Corned Beef Crispbakes which are Corned beef, potato and onion in a breadcrumb coating. We'll have them with baked beans.

Wednesday - Oven Baked Pork Belly & Winter Veg Pot Roast! A Gousto recipe that we love.

Thursday - Some sort of stir fry as I realised I have plenty of noodles in the cupboard.

Friday - Hot dogs in buns with onion rings.

Saturday - Pizza. Maybe home made again as we enjoyed it so much last time.

Sunday - A Sunday lunch of some sort.

What about you? What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 5th - 11th October! Week 41 of #Project365

Another week has flown over and it was a good one. I am betting the weekend flies over too as Stu and I have been busy doing our own thing while the girls are living their own lives. It’s such a strange mix of emotions. I absolutely love that they’re off being independent but at the same time it does tug at the heart a bit. So while poor Becky was at work on Saturday night and Ellie was out with friends Stu and I took ourselves for a night out. A nice meal out and a few drinks afterwards in a very lively bar.

Now for a photo every day!

278/365 - 5th October

Sunday means one thing in this house, carvery day!! I went for the chicken this time, piled high with all the veggies and just when I thought it couldn’t get any better they had pigs in blankets! In October! That’s basically a Christmas miracle. hehehe.

279/365 - 6th October

Socks and Crocs… it’s a look isn’t it? lol I had a quick tidy up in the garden and couldn’t be bothered to go back inside to find proper shoes so this happened. Not exactly a fashion statement but my feet were comfy and warm. Then I came inside and had to tip all the soil out of the Crocs that dropped in through the holes.

280/365 - 7th October

I spotted this mystery plant growing in the garden and I have no idea what it is. Every plant ID app I’ve tried has given me a different answer. One says African Daisy and another says Nigella damascena (Love in a Mist). At this point I’m just waiting for it to bloom so I can find out what it is!

281/365 - 8th October

So many sponges. Thirty six to be exact. My dad has a habit of buying everything in bulk it’s like living with my own personal Costco supplier and he always shares the haul around. I shouldn't get excited about things like sponges but these are good one's!

282/365 - 9th October

The fence saga continues! The men came round to fit a new panel after one blew down in the latest storm and while they were at it they replaced another old one that had seen better days.

283/365 - 10th October

Here’s the new fence, well, the photo I forgot to take yesterday, oops. Only three more panels to go and then the whole fence will be brand new.

284/365 - 11th October

Becky was up early and needed something to eat before she went back to bed to sleep for her night shift. She decided to order from Costa. A breakfast wrap and then went for something healthy, yoghurt and granola.

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week has been a good week. I have had just the right amount of busy and quiet time with not too much rushing about and not too much sitting around either. I don’t feel like I’ve got loads of big news to share so I thought I’d just waffle on about a few bits and pieces that have been happening.

Storm Amy made quite the entrance and decided to take another fence panel with her, it's fine as it has already been replaced. Our lawnmower broke but my dad gave us a new one which is a better one as it has a box on the back to collect the grass. Becky has been told that she can't have a few days off work despite having the holidays booked in for months but her manager has said they will find a way around it as she has plans. Ellie had her tattoo booked in for Thursday but her tattooist messaged to ask if her appointment could be changed as he had an emergency dentist appointment. It's booked in for a couple of weeks time. So even the annoying little hiccups this week have turned themselves into good things in the end.

I feel like my family and I are in a good routine now, just in time for the half term to come around and Stu to have a few days off work in a couple of weeks which will throw us all off track again. lol I also feel like I have found a good routine with myself. I will never be a morning person but I have been getting myself up earlier and earlier and I've also been going to sleep earlier too and I'm feeling good about it.

I had a good tidy up in the garden earlier this week. Pulling weeds, getting rid of dead plants and filling our brown wheelie bin. I was reading about the changes next year when it comes to our wheelie bins. Apparently the food waste and garden waste will be in one bin, we're getting a bigger recycling bin where all recyclables will go instead of glass in one box and cans in another and cardboard and paper in the red bin and then we will have another bin for general waste. I was a little worried thinking they would charge extra for all the changes but they have said no, it will all be free so the changes sound good.

Just last week I wrote about when and how we decide to put the central heating on and I can report it was last Friday. I caved in after getting caught in the rain. It was so chilly but it was so nice to get cosy! The last time we had the heating on was probably at the start of the year when the boiler was safety tested so it was good to test it was working properly after not being used in so long.

TV is getting really good again! Celebrity Traitors, Big Brother, Strictly and The 1% Club is back on at the weekend! I keep saying I don’t really watch live TV anymore but this week I’ve been glued to it more than I have for ages. I've actually found myself recording stuff and watching live TV.

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

What I have loved this week! Week 41. #FridayFavourites

I feel like this week has been a quiet one even though I have been keeping myself busy. It has been one of those weeks where you blink and it’s suddenly Friday but you can’t quite remember what you actually did? That’s been me. I’m here today sharing the little things I’ve loved from the past week and of course I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea to share them.

Another fence panel down!

We had a storm over the weekend and surprise, surprise we lost another fence panel! Normally that wouldn’t be something to celebrate but my landlord only replaces the rotten ones when they actually fall down, so it was a bit of a yay moment! Yesterday the fallen panel and the one next to it were replaced and now we’re only three panels away from having a completely new fence. I never thought I’d get so excited over fence panels but here we are.

Celebrity Traitors!

A new season of The Traitors has started and this time it’s a celebrity version! I wasn’t sure what to expect but it’s actually brilliant. Some really big names too with no random reality show leftovers in sight! I was over the moon when Alan Carr and Jonathan Ross were made traitors as they are so chaotic and funny but I didn't like who was murdered first. Hmmf.

Saturday evening!

We were all home on Saturday evening which feels like such a rarity these days so I made the most of it and decided we’d have a nice tea. Homemade pizzas all round! I don’t know what it is but pizza always tastes better when you make it yourself. Afterwards I treated myself to a glass of the Terry’s Chocolate Orange flavoured Baileys. It was lovely but wow it was strong! I know it's an Irish Cream Liqueur but the orange gave it even more kick.

An afternoon with my dad!

I had a lovely unplanned afternoon with my dad this week. He rang saying he needed a bit of help with his computer so off I went. He picked me up, fed me lunch and I got him sorted with his tech issues. In return, he sent me home with 36 kitchen sponges (yes, 36!), he never lets me leave empty handed and I also got a...

New / 2nd hand lawnmower!

Our old lawnmower broke on Monday just as it was halfway through cutting the grass in the back garden. It was about 10 years old so it lasted well. My dad being the king of spare parts found me a replacement from his collection. I counted five lawnmowers in his workshop while he was hunting for the grass box. He's not a hoarder, he needs spares for his business or so he says. I finished cutting the grass yesterday and this one’s an upgrade. It goes up and down depending on the length of the grass and the box collects all the cuttings so there's no more raking for me.

What have you loved over the past week?

Ten soups that take under 30 minutes to make!

When the days start getting shorter, the jumpers come out of hiding and the leaves crunch under your boots there’s only one thing that makes autumn evenings feel complete: a big comforting bowl of soup! What’s not to love? It’s warm, it’s filling, basically a hug in a bowl and if you play your cards right you can have it ready in under half an hour. Here are some of the best recipes which I have found!

Classic tomato and basil soup!

You can’t go wrong with a classic. Grab some tinned tomatoes, garlic, onion and a good handful of fresh or even dried basil. Saute your onion and garlic, chuck in the tomatoes, add a splash of stock, season and let it simmer. Blend it all up and swirl in a little cream if you’re feeling fancy. Bonus points if you serve with crusty bread for dunking.

Sweet potato and red pepper soup! 

This one’s autumn in a bowl. Sweet potato gives you that creamy, filling vibe and roasted red peppers add a lovely smoky sweetness. Cook the sweet potato chunks in some stock, toss in the peppers, blitz and you’ve got soup that looks like liquid sunshine.

Spiced red lentil soup!

For those days you need something hearty, lentil soup has your back. Red lentils are brilliant because they cook quickly. Fry up some onion, garlic and ginger with a sprinkle of cumin and turmeric, add the lentils and stock and let it bubble away. In 20 minutes you’ll have a thick, protein packed soup that warms you from the inside out.

Carrot and coriander soup!

A true British favourite and so easy to whip up. Carrots cook quickly so this one is speedy. Soften some onion and garlic, add chopped carrots and stock, let it simmer, then blitz with fresh coriander. It’s light, fragrant and perfect when you want something a little less heavy but still warming.

Broccoli and Stilton soup!

Broccoli soup doesn’t sound thrilling but throw in some Stilton and suddenly you’re Michelin star material. Steam or boil the broccoli until tender, blend with stock and stir in crumbled Stilton until melted. It’s rich, creamy and tastes way more indulgent than the 20 minutes it took to make.

Minestrone soup!

If you’re after a soup that’s basically a meal in itself, minestrone is your best friend. Fry some onion, garlic and celery, add tinned tomatoes and stock, then toss in pasta, beans and whatever veg you’ve got lying around. It’s hearty, chunky and the kind of soup that makes you feel smug about clearing out the veg drawer.

Mushroom soup!

Autumn and mushrooms are a match made in heaven. Fry up mushrooms, garlic, and onion in a bit of butter, add stock, and simmer for ten minutes. Blend until silky, then swirl in cream or crème fraîche. It’s earthy, rich and tastes like something you’d order at a cosy countryside pub.

Sweetcorn Soup!

This soup is creamy, comforting, and packed with sweetcorn flavour, balanced with tender veggies and a hint of fresh herbs. Start by softening potato, carrot and onion then add garlic and chicken stock for a rich base, add the corn and blitz until smooth.

Leek and potato soup!

This is one of those soups that always feels soothing, like the soup equivalent of your nan’s blanket. Cook sliced leeks and diced potatoes in a little butter, add stock, simmer, then blitz. Simple, comforting and done in under half an hour.

Pea & ham soup!

This is one of my favourites to make! Chop an onion and fry it in butter, then add chopped potatoes and 1 litre of ham stock. Simmer until the potatoes soften, throw in a bag of frozen peas, boil for 5 minutes, then blend until smooth. Stir in chopped ham (saving some for serving) and enjoy with fresh bread. The whole thing takes about 30 minutes start to finish.

Tips for speedy soups!

Chop small: The smaller you chop your veg, the quicker it cooks.

Pre-chopped shortcuts: Frozen chopped onion, garlic paste, and bags of ready cut squash or carrots are lifesavers.

Stick blender magic: A hand blender means you can whizz soup right in the pan with fewer dishes and faster soup.

Season well: Salt, pepper and a sprinkle of herbs or spices can take soup from meh to marvellous.

Do you make your own soup? What is your favourite?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #30

I hope you are all having a good week? It's Wednesday which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.' How does this saying ring true in your own family, either the one you grew up in or the one you made?

I think it’s so true, especially when it comes to myself, my dad and my brother. We’re all so similar. It's those little things that give it away like the looks we give when someone says something silly or the way we always stand with one hand on our hips when we're listening to people talk or waiting for something. It also makes me chuckle how we all love a bargain. I get that from my dad and he has always taught me to be careful with money. My dad has this thing, when we go shopping where he asks, "Do you want it or do you need it?". It’s his subtle way of trying to keep us from buying unnecessary stuff. Of course it backfires on him sometimes. My dad has a soft spot for old vintage cars and when he buys one my brother and I can’t resist saying, "So did you want it or did you need it, Dad?". Now I catch myself saying the exact same thing to my girls. They just roll their eyes and say "you’re turning into Grandad!" and I really think I am. I often find myself thinking that's what my dad would say or do when I say or do something!

2. Something you're nuts about these days? How about something that's driving you nuts?

Right now I’m totally nuts about cosy living. Autumn has officially taken over my life like it's my whole personality! Hot drinks, oversized sweaters, blankets, candles, baking and making the kitchen smell amazing, shutting the curtains early on an evening and getting into my pj's at about 6pm without a shred of guilt.

On the flip side fireworks are driving me up the wall! It’s that time of year when over enthusiastic youngsters start setting them off just as it gets dark. I get that Bonfire Night is coming, but surely they don’t need to start a month early? The other night we had a storm and there were fireworks going off at the same time. There I was jumping at every bang and thinking is the house falling down or is it just fireworks!

3. What does abundance mean to you?

Abundance to me isn’t about having mountains of stuff, to me it's a mindset. It’s noticing and appreciating what’s already in front of me like the cosy, ordinary, lovely bits of life. A warm bed, a good cup of tea, the laughter of people I love bouncing around the kitchen, the kind of quiet evening where you just breath and everything feels OK. That’s abundance, those little, quiet moments where life feels full without the flashy extras.

4. Caramel apple-caramel cake-caramel corn-caramel sundae-caramel macchiatto...what's your caramel treat of choice?

I am not a big caramel lover but I do eat/drink it now and again. I think my favourite would be a caramel macchiato. I often get the Starbucks one's delivered with my food shop as a treat, usually part of a meal deal with a sandwich, snack and drink.

5. What's a childhood memory that always comes to mind as the leaves start to fall?

It has to be about Halloween. When I was a child Halloween wasn't a big thing over here in England. One year my brother and I decided it was going to be and we wanted to go trick or treating which was easier said than done. We lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere and the nearest house was a good ten minute walk away. The next house was another ten minutes. Definitely not the skip from door to door kind of Halloween we see now. My dad, being the absolute legend he is drove us around to bother the people he knew. My brother wrapped himself in a white sheet as a ghost and I was covered in a black bin bag with a kitchen sweeping brush for a broom. Halloween costumes weren't a thing back then and pumpkins certainly weren’t. My grandad carved turnips for us, that was the closest we could get to pumpkins. I still can’t figure out how he did it as they’re tough little things! It was special though and those turnip lanterns are a memory I’ll never forget.

6. Insert. your own random thought here.

I have just seen something on the TV about next years FIFA World Cup. I am getting ahead of myself and was getting excited about it. Over here in England football (soccer) is a big deal and even non-football fans will end up watching. Anyway I have just realised that because of the time difference between here and the USA I won't be watching half of the matches. Hmmf. Kick off times are expected to be 5pm, 8pm, 11pm and 2am our time. The later matches will probably shown the next day but watching when you know the result is no fun!

365 Days Of Gratitude. In September I was grateful for...

I keep saying it but where did September go? It was another blink and you missed it month. All in all it was a good month. It feels like we had a good balance of productivity and fun!

I have seen many people on social media list something every day that they are grateful for and thought I would join in. I did this for the whole of the last couple of years and it has really made me realise that even on the bad day's I have something to be grateful for.

Day 243 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie made it home. She went out last night with friends in town and slept at her friends house. She said never going out two nights in a row, she's tired.

Day 244 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a nice day out with Stu. Shopping for the last of Becky's birthday bits.

Day 245 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful Ellie had a good day back at college.

Day 246 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky tidied her room and got all of her washing done, finally!!

Day 247 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that my girls think of me when they are out shopping! They got me a Halloween Gonk and some Pumpkin wax melts.

Day 248 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a very unplanned night out for Stu & I. The girls are away for the night so Stu text at half 3 asking if I fancied going out. Yes!! 40 minutes later I was on the bus to meet him!

Day 249 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful the kids made it home from their night away with no hangovers. They had a great time at EmoFest!

Day 250 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a day sat in front of the TV catching up on things I've been meaning to watch for ages!

Day 251 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for the farm shop where I got the veg for our roast dinner!

Day 252 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu and Becky had a nice afternoon out together, playing pool!

Day 253 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Becky had a great birthday and got everything that she wanted and more!

Day 254 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a relaxed day after all the fun we had yesterday! That's all the birthdays over with until mine in November!

Day 255 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that a little medical procedure for Ellie went well.

Day 256 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for home made blackberry jam! I made it all myself! It tastes amazing!!

Day 257 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a tissues! I think I am coming down with a cold!

Day 258 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I could stay inside today. It has been so windy and rainy this afternoon.

Day 259 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for KFC for lunch, it was Becky's treat!

Day 260 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I seem to be over the worst of the cold that I caught. Phew!

Day 261 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a day at home with Ellie. She's a busy bee so it was nice to have some time with her.

Day 262 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful to have a new scent in the automatic air freshener thing! Pumpkin Spice!

Day 263 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a cosy day at home with my family.

Day 264 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for Sunday dinner out but mostly for not having to cook and do the washing up!

Day 265 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a walk out to see my dad. He was tinkering with his engine for one of his old cars.

Day 266 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for banana and chocolate chip muffins! I made them myself and they might not be the prettiest but they taste good!

Day 267 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for freshly painted nails.

Day 268 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I didn't spend as much as I thought I would at Primark!

Day 269 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a quiet day at home! I was aching from all the walking I did yesterday!

Day 270 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that the milk leaked all over my shopping and quite a bit was refunded, I wiped everything down and it was all OK. I did tell the delivery guy it was fine but he said no, it's Morrisons policy to refund!

Day 271 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu did some DIY in the bathroom and put some new sealant stuff around the bath.

Day 272 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for Chicken Katsu Curry Burritos for tea! I made it all from scratch.

Day 273 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for Becky taking me out for lunch! We had a lovely afternoon.

What were you grateful for in September?

Our weekly meal plan! 6th - 12th October! #MealPlanningMonday

Another Monday has rolled around again too quickly! We had a lovely weekend with lots of family time, good TV and great food! The girls still had time with their friends but spent a good chunk of time at home too which I will always love. We made home made pizza on Saturday, we all had different toppings and they always taste so much nicer than shop bought or even takeaway!

I hope Storm Amy didn't hit you too hard. It was a bit blustery here and we lost another fence panel but it's fine, it was one of the one's due to be replaced and the wood is in the garage ready to be put up. We can't just go an get say a 6ft wide a fence panel because there are concrete posts in the garden, all different distances apart so they have to be custom made. Such a faff but it does mean when parts of the new fence is put up it's solid and the wind doesn't bother it.

Last weeks meal plan went really well, we ate everything and on the day I had planned too! I feel like I should be giving myself a pat on the back, it's not every week the meal plan totally goes to plan. Last week I mentioned that I wanted to make cinnamon buns and I made them and they were a huge success. I made the dough, rolled them out and then left them to prove, I thought they looked too small but after about 45 minutes they had doubled in size! I said to my youngest even if they didn't bake well I felt chuffed with myself as I don't usually do that well with dough. They tasted amazing but I should have let them cool a little longer before putting the icing on.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - Chinese Takeaway-Style Chicken Balls With Vegetable Fried Rice.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Pork Belly Hog Roast, Apple Sauce & Stuffing. This comes in buns and we've had it before and it's so tasty, messy but good!

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Hearty Beef & Carrot Hotpot.

Thursday - A freezer dive! We have lots in the freezer so it will be something out of there which I have forgotten about.

Friday - Pizza.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Sticky Orange Chicken Thigh With Garlic Rice & Slaw.

Sunday - A Sunday lunch of some sort.

What about you? What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 28th Sept - 4th October! Week 40 of #Project365

Another week gone just like that and week 40 already, it feels awfully close to the end of the year. I just asked Ellie what week of the year did she think it was and she guessed at about 30. I would have guessed the same if I hadn't seen the weeks flying by when doing these type of blog posts.

I've had a good week, ticking a lot of things off my to do list and some of those things I have been putting off for a while so it was good to get them done. Cleaning the wheelie bin out, upgrading to Windows 11, sorting out some cupboards in the kitchen and deep cleaning mine and Stu's bedroom. I've had a few days out and about and feel like I've had a good balance between busy, fun and quiet time.

Now for a photo every day!

271/365 - 28th September

Another Sunday lunch out at the carvery. This has definitely become a thing for us now. I’ve decided Sundays are for eating, not cooking and plus the walk there and back makes me feel slightly less guilty about how many Yorkshire pudding's I put away.

272/365 - 29th September

I finally upgraded to Windows 11! I’d been putting it off for ages because I had this vision of everything breaking, disappearing or just generally refusing to work. Turns out the worry beforehand was the worst part. Once it was done it was actually fine with just a few tweaks here and there to get things looking how I like them.

273/365 - 30th September

Becky and I went out for lunch and I made a bit of an effort, slapping some make up on and a nice dress. We had such a lovely afternoon, full of chatter and good food. It’s amazing how just a couple of hours out can feel like such a treat. Definitely something I want to do more often!

274/365 - 1st October

This was Ellie's rebellion outfit. She dressed up trying to push the new dress code rules at college and was expecting a bit of drama. Instead the teachers absolutely loved it and gave her compliments all day long. Totally backfired on her but it gave us all a good laugh.

275/365 - 2nd October

I finally made cinnamon buns and they were incredible! Warm, gooey and sugary goodness! They were better than any shop bought ones I’ve ever had and I may have eaten slightly more than I should have. I’ll definitely be making them again!

276/365 - 3rd October

The hedges around here are covered in hawthorn berries at the moment, a proper sign that winter’s coming. I am sure the birds will enjoy on them. They make everything look so autumnal.

277/365 - 4th October

My one and only ripe tomato of the year, so far, there are still a few green ones hanging on the plants. I found it on the ground, probably knocked off by that storm we had on Friday night. I hope everyone got through the storm OK? We lost another fence panel but it's fine, it was one of the old one's which was due to be replaced anyway and we have the wood in the garage ready.

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This week my word of the week is: Plans!! #WotW

This week my word of the week is:

Here we are in October already! I am really looking forward to this month. October always feels like such a busy but fun time of year. We’ve got so many plans lined up already with days out, visiting people and of course half term for Ellie from college and then there’s the little matter of someone getting a tattoo, it's not me before you ask!

Last Friday I had zero plans for the weekend and for this week but I have been quite busy. Friday evening rolled around and Ellie and I suddenly decided we needed a day out on Saturday. Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you don’t overthink. We hopped on the bus, had a wander around the shops and just went with the flow. We had a McDonald’s for lunch which reminds me I won on the Monopoly game and I still have a ticket for an apple pie and a McFluffy, we mooched around B&M and TK Maxx and then treated ourselves to a stop at M&S Foodhall. Their snacks and treats are just amazing, so fancy. I also picked up one of their Christmas food catalogues which I of course went through as soon as I got home. There are some stunning things in there but I had to laugh when I saw a Handcrafted Turkey & Stuffing Pie for £50. It looks incredible but it only serves six! For that price I’d want it to feed more than that and still have leftovers. lol

Saturday evening was supposed to be chilled but life had other plans. My food delivery turned up and the milk had leaked everywhere. It's not the first time it's happened, the seals are definitely not sealing. Normally I’d be grumbling while wiping everything down but this time the driver told me not to worry because he was going to refund every item that the milk had touched. That meant all of my chilled food which added up to about £40. I wasn’t complaining!! He mentioned that the drivers are refunding more to try and prove a point to the supermarket that something needs to change and I say good on them but I'm sure they said this a while ago and nothing has changed.

Now Ellie’s tattoo plans. She’s been talking about getting one for years, it's not something she's just came up with since she has turned 18. I know tattoos divide opinions and if I’m totally honest it’s not something I’d be rushing to do myself but I can either stick my head in the sand and hope she forgets about it (which she won’t) or I can be involved, making sure she’s going somewhere reputable and knowing that she’s safe. So off we went yesterday to chat with the tattooist and get her booked in. She is absolutely over the moon about it. I’m still not sure how I’ll feel when she’s sat in that chair but at least I know she’s thought it through and isn’t just picking something random that she’ll regret when she’s 40, she has been thinking about it lots!

Tuesday was meant to be a quiet one but Becky had other plans and suggested lunch out and I wasn’t going to say no to that! It turned into one of those catch ups where you not only eat but also end up making even more plans. There’s now talk of us doing a bottomless brunch, visiting a new place just to mooch around the charity shops and even catching up with a friend. As much as the girls are busy with their own lives I really love that I still get included in their plans sometimes. It feels so special.

Ellie broke the news to me that she won’t be seeing the New Year in with us. Cue the tiny violins. hehehe She’ll be going out with her friends which is fair enough as it’s all part of growing up. Stu and I thought we’d make the best of it and plan a night away but then we realised the flaw in our plan. There are no buses on New Year’s Day so if we went away we’d have to stay two nights which would clash with Ellie’s own arrangements so it’s back to the drawing board. Thankfully, Becky has stepped in like a hero and offered to spend New Year’s Eve with us instead. Bless her, she saved us from ringing in 2026 looking a bit like abandoned puppies. lol

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

What I have loved this week! Week 40. #FridayFavourites

This time last week I was convinced that it wasn’t the first of October until about now and somehow here we are already on the 3rd! How did that happen? I swear the closer we creep towards the end of the year, the quicker time speeds up. It feels like I blinked and September vanished and dare I say it Christmas will be here before we know it. Anyway before I get carried away thinking about twinkly lights and selection boxes I’m here today sharing the little things I’ve loved from the past week and of course I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea to share them.

College dress code!

The big talk in our house this week has been my daughter’s college cracking down on dress code. They’ve suddenly decided to get a lot stricter with all sorts of new rules. Students are now being warned for things like bare legs under skirts, wearing vest tops or just generally being too casual. My daughter being my daughter saw this as a challenge. I didn’t even know what she was planning until she came home and told me about it. Her grand act of rebellion was dressing too over to the top but sticking to the rules. Platform boots, spider-patterned tights, a shiny belt, a black skort, a gothic top and a black hoodie. She looked like a cross between Wednesday Addams and some sort of rocker. She thought she’d get told off along with her friends but instead the teachers loved it and there were compliments all round! She was so annoyed that her big stick it to the man moment backfired. I couldn't help but chuckle.

Big Brother UK!

It's back and of course I am watching. I think it's the 22nd season and I have seen every one! It’s not quite the same as it was in the classic days, nothing ever beats the drama of the early seasons but I can’t not tune in. I don’t have a favourite housemate yet but there are a couple of people who are already winding me up but I want them to stay because they're bringing the drama and entertainment.

This candle!

I spotted this in TK Maxx and it was reduced in price so I couldn't leave it on the shelf. It is so, so cute. It will be ornamental, I couldn't bare to burn the little animals.

Windows 11!

I did it. After months of ignoring the little pop up nagging me to update, I finally upgraded to Windows 11. My laptop kept warning me that the Windows 10 support was ending soon and I panicked, I hate change but I also hate the idea of being left behind. It took about an hour and a half which felt like an eternity but it went smoothly. I’ve spent the past few days fiddling with the settings to get everything back the way I like it. It’s different but it's OK!

Catching up on TV!

I had a little catch up marathon this week. I pressed pause on my Gilmore Girls rewatch and instead binged the soaps I’ve been neglecting. A month away from them is like missing an entire year of drama with affairs, break ups, shocking returns and deaths. I also finally got around to some documentaries I’d recorded. Everything from crime to one's about animals.

A day out with my girls.

This week was extra lovely because I got to spend time with both my daughters separately. On Saturday my youngest and I hit the retail park for a wander and mooch around. The shops were absolutely heaving with Halloween and autumn decor and I almost needed to be dragged out of TK Maxx. Normally I’m not a huge Halloween person but everything was so cute this year, all those little pumpkins and ghost mugs were calling my name. The fact I walked out with just a candle is nothing short of a miracle. Then on Tuesday my eldest took me out for lunch. Three courses! I had trifle for dessert, she had cheesecake and we both left stuffed but very happy.

Heart Musicals!

This was a discovery that made my whole week! I was chatting to someone about musicals and they mentioned the Heart Musicals radio station, I had no clue it existed. I had to try it out and it’s all I’ve listened to. Non-stop musical hits! Wicked, Les Mis, The Greatest Showman, Frozen, Chicago, Hamilton. I’ve been walking around my house, singing like I’m on stage at the West End.

The slow cooker!

I love a meal cooked in the slow cooker and decided to use mine during the week to cook the Creamy pork, apple and mustard casserole. The instructions said cook in the oven but why stick to the rules. I would say it came out better than if I had cooked it in the cooker, the pork was so tender and the whole house smelled amazing all day!

What have you loved over the past week?