My July goals & plans!

I’m carrying on with my monthly goals and plans because writing things down really gives me that little kick up the bum to actually get things done. I always feel more motivated when I have a list to look at instead of just thinking I should probably do that at some point. When it’s written down it feels more official, like I’ve made a little promise to myself.

I did pretty well with my goals in June and ticked a lot off my list.

Find Ellie a full time job - Not yet, but she is working hard to get one and could only really apply for full-time jobs over the last week or so since she finished college.

Plant the plants in the ground - Yep, they are all in the ground and are doing well. I planted them just as we were coming out of that hot spell and I didn't think some were going to make it but they revived themselves.

Go and see the new Toy Story movie - Yes and we loved it!

Have a family Sunday lunch out - Yes, we did the weekend before Father's Day as Becky was working.

Watch the World Cup - Of course!

Sit in the pubs beer garden - Yes, I actually sat in a few different ones.

Buy some new sandals - Yes, I got them off Shein and they are very comfy and look good too!

Have a date with Stu - We had a couple and they were nice.

In July I want to:

Go to a couple of local events.

There is a lot going on around where we live and there are a couple of events that I really want to go to. Becky went to one of them last year and absolutely loved it and came home talking about it so much that Ellie and I felt like we'd missed out. This year we have no excuse and we're going!! There is another local event happening too, which is a lot of fun. I am being deliberately vague because you never know who is reading online and I don't fancy announcing exactly where I am going to be. They both involve getting out of the house, doing something different and hopefully having a really good day.

Go and see Moana at the cinema!

The live action remake of Moana is being released in the cinemas this month and I really want to see it. I loved the original film and still find myself singing along to the songs You're Welcome. hehehe. Then there is the fact Dwayne Johnson is in it. Anyone who knows me knows that my love of wrestling started years ago and I have followed his career ever since. I still find it weird him being a serious actor and not a wrestler hitting the Rock Bottom on people.

Try some new recipes!

We have been taking a break from the Gousto recipe boxes for a while and now feels like a good time to try some new recipes. I always end up cooking the same meals over and over again because they're safe and I know everyone likes them. Now I am thinking more about fresh salads, pasta dishes and lighter meals.

Find a fake tan that works!

As much as I would love a natural tan, I don't want to spend hours in the sun and damaging my skin. I've tried quite a few over the years and every single one seems to have some sort of issue. They're either streaky, orange, patchy, smell strange or disappear too quickly! The last one I tried seemed brilliant at first and gave me exactly the colour I wanted but then I made the mistake of sleeping in it. The next morning, I looked patchy and it took six showers to completely remove it. My mission this month is to find a fake tan which works for me!

Go to the beach!

I don't know which beach or exactly when we'll go but I really want a day beside the sea . It feels like years since I last spent a proper day at the beach. There's just something nice about it with fish and chips, walking along the seafront, listening to the waves and maybe an ice cream.

Start planning the girls birthdays!

August and September are birthday season in my house, which means it's time to start planning. I need to think about meals out, presents, possible days out and all the other little things that come with birthdays. I always like to be organised because before you know it the dates arrive and I'm left wondering where the time went.

Change the furniture around in the living room!

I haven't moved the furniture around for quite a while and I think it's time for a change in the living room. I love rearranging it because it makes everything feel new without actually spending any money. The sofa weighs about the same as a small elephant, so I will get one of the girls to help and Ellie can also take responsibility for moving her computer because every time I touch it something stops working.

Walk more!

I have fallen out of the habit of going for daily walks and I want to get back into it. I'm not planning hikes but a quick walk around the block or a walk to the shop to pick up a loaf of bread would be a start. I always feel better after some fresh air and exercise.

Defrost the freezer!

This is not the most exciting goal on my list but it needs doing. Our freezer is supposedly frost free, but I think it has reached the age where that part of it has stopped working and it desperately needs defrosting. The plan is to spend a week or two eating our way through as much of the freezer food as possible before doing it.

Spend more time with each of my girls!

This is probably the most important goal on my list as the girls are growing up so quickly. I know it won't be long before they're off doing their own thing and don't have time for me. I want to make the most of this time while we still have it and already have a few ideas for days out, shopping trips, lunches and little adventures.

What do you have planned for July?

Our weekly meal plan! 29th June - 5th July!! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend. Ours was a quiet one, mainly sat in front of the TV watching sport. There was of course more of the World Cup and the Austrian Grand Prix.

Last week's meal plan went well, mostly. We ate some of the meals, a couple were swapped around and a couple scrapped. We had jacket potatoes with baked beans and salad, which wasn't on the meal plan but it was too hot to spend too long in the kitchen. I love my kitchen but at the same time I hate it. It is always the coldest room in the winter and hottest in the summer!

We have quite a few plans over the next few days which I'm really looking forward to. I won't say too much just yet because I'll be blogging about everything once it's happened. As well as the fun things, there are a few jobs around the house that need doing. One of those is defrosting the freezer. It's one of those things that I keep putting off because it's a bit of a faff but it needs doing. The good thing is that it gives me the chance to use up lots of what's already in there

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Chicken pie and mashed potato!

I made extra mashed potato yesterday, so tonight's tea should be nice and easy. I only have to cook the chicken pies, heat up the mash and warm the peas. The pies are chicken and gravy ones, so if it has cooled down like the weather forecast says, it should be an enjoyable meal.

Tuesday - Mango, coconut & lime chicken fillets with sweet potato fries.

I have these chicken fillets sitting in the freezer waiting to be used. I spotted them reduced in Tesco a couple of weeks ago and couldn't resist. I think I paid around £2 a pack instead of £5 each, or two for £8. I always love finding yellow sticker bargains. I also have four bags of sweet potato fries in the freezer which will go well with the chicken.

Wednesday - Freezer surprise!

Wednesday is the only day without a proper plan because once I start emptying the freezer I'll no doubt come across something that needs using up which I have completely forgotten about.

Thursday - Sausage fried rice!

This sounds like a good recipe to use up some of the sausages in the freezer. I will loosely follow the recipe. I don't have any oyster sauce, so that will be left out and I'll be using a normal brown onion instead of spring onions because that's what I already have. Over the years, I've learned that recipes don't have to be followed to the letter. If you can swap ingredients for things you've already got, it saves money and usually tastes just as good.

Friday - Fish and chips!

Homemade, not from the chip shop! I already have battered fish in the freezer and frozen chips so it will be a nice easy meal to make. I must remember to buy some mushy peas to go with it as we have none in the cupboard.

Saturday - A help yourself evening!

We have a busy day, so everyone can help themselves to whatever they want. I know I won't feel like cooking so for me, it will be something quick which doesn't need much time spent in the kitchen!

Sunday - A roast dinner of some sort!

It has been ages since we have had a roast dinner at home and I feel in the mood for one. It will either be chicken or gammon with roast and mashed potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots, peas, stuffing and of course Yorkshire puddings.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 21st - 27th June Week 26 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend! We've had a great week, celebrating Father's Day on Sunday, a few outings, Ellie leaving college, lots of football and thankfully a quiet weekend! I feel like I need it. We have no plans at all for today! I think all the excitement over the last week along with the hot weather has completely worn me out. It has been so hot! It seemed like every day there was another headline saying it was the hottest day of June so far. I don't cope too well when it gets really warm. I spend half the day complaining I'm too hot and the other half wondering why I wished summer would hurry up.

Now for a photo every day!

172/365 21st June

This sign was one of Stu's Father's Day gifts from Becky and I think it is pretty accurate. I said it looks more than a mug shot than a wholesome photo. hehehe

173/365 22nd June

I feel like a farmer. hahaha I have wheat growing in the flower beds. I didn't plant it so I'm guessing a bird must have dropped a seed at some point and nature has just done the rest. It's amazing how things just appear in the garden without any help from me.

174/365 23rd June

We went to the cinema to see the new Toy Story movie and it was so good. The girls were worried about us being the only adults there without kids but there were about 15 people at our showing and only one kid. lol Toy Story is one of those movie series which is good for all ages, as most people my age were only teenagers when the first one was released.

175/365 24h June

There we have it, Ellie has left education! However, many years at school and three at college. It feels like the end of an era. This is the first time in about 20 years that I haven't had a child in education. Of course, I had to get a photo of Ellie. I've taken a last-day-of-school photo pretty much every year, so I wasn't about to stop now!

176/365 25th June

We went to see my dad and he was showing off his vintage truck that he has been painting. It hasn't been the ideal weather for it, so it has been a slow process as it needs many coats. It's coming along really well and you can tell how much work he's put into it from when he first got it.

177/365 26th June

This was about as much effort as I could manage with my makeup for a night out. A little bit of eyeshadow, some mascara and lipstick. When it's this hot I really can't be bothered wearing a full face of makeup because it would have been melted off before I got to the bus stop. I even had my hair tied up in a ponytail. Anyone who knows me knows I hardly ever wear my hair up but it was needed!

178/365 27th June

For a few minutes, I was convinced one of my tomato plants had started growing flowers that definitely weren't tomato flowers. It turns out the flowers were from something else growing behind it which Stu kindly pointed out. He was standing at a different angle, looking, so to him it was obvious.

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week has been a brilliant but strange week! Everything has felt like it's off kilter. We've had days and nights out, big life things happening and lots of little things which are different from our normal.

Ellie left college on Wednesday. Officially, it's her last day today but she didn't have to go in for the rest of the week. There were tears from her and her friend when they realised they would never be in college again together. They'll still of course see each other and already have made plans. It's just the end of college and not their friendship. Everything felt a bit off on Wednesday, it's the end of an era. I have gone for 20 years with kids in education and now it is no more. I'm proud my girls have done so well but now I feel like a bit of a spare part. I thought I'd feel relief or maybe excitement for Ellie's next chapter but instead, I just feel strange. It's hard to explain. For so many years, my life has revolved around school and even when they got older, there was always something. Now suddenly there isn't. I know this is exactly what every parent works towards, raising independent young adults who go off and do their own thing but nobody really talks about how odd it feels when you actually get there.

We went to see the newest Toy Story movie early on in the week and it was fantastic. It was strange walking into the cinema with my girls who weren't even born when the first two movies were released and now they're adults. It was also nice because they had air conditioning in the cinema and it was such a relief from being outside! We got the bus into town and had to go to a different stop because workers were painting new lines in front of our bus stop and then there seemed to be roadworks around every corner which made the journey take twice as long, it felt like torture being on the hot bus.

Records have been broken again here in the UK when it comes to the weather. We've had the hottest day ever recorded in June and it's just getting silly now as I am sure we had the hottest day in May too! Schools have been closed, people have been told not to travel, roads are melting and I am trying to enjoy it because I know it is not going to last. We went to my dad's on Thursday and his place was roasting even with fans going. He'd been out all morning and with the door shut it felt like an oven, it was actually cooler outside in the shade. lol We went into the shed where one of his vintage cars is and because of the plastic roof, it felt like a greenhouse! How he works there I don't know! My dad is a strange one, the heat doesn't bother him at all, although my brother and I do have to keep reminding him to drink plenty.

Tuesday is usually the day when I watch Monday night's episode of the wresting and this week I haven't got around to it yet! It made me laugh a bit because if you’d told me a month ago I’d miss wrestling because I was too busy with life I would have rolled my eyes. I am blaming all the football I have been watching. I need to catch up today with Monday's episode of wrestling and last nights episode as there is a live event tonight. That is how this week has been, it has been all over the place. We went out on Tuesday night to watch the England match and I have said never again. They can be playing on top form but if we go out somewhere to watch them, they never seem to win. I know it's just a coincidence but it is a strange one. We went to my dad's a day early because Ellie was out with friends last night celebrating the end of college and even getting the food shopping delivered yesterday felt strange as that is usually a Thursday job.

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!

What I have loved this week! Week 26. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a good week. Mine has been a busy one with lots going on. I feel like I am definitely going to enjoy the weekend when I finally get some time to relax. I have plenty of little things which I have been loving and I am of course linking up with Erika and Andrea to share.

Toy Story 5!

This was such a fun one and probably my favourite thing of the week! My girls and I went to see the new Toy Story film during the week and it was so good. I was so glad they didn't make Woody and Buzz the main characters again. I love them but we've already had so many stories about them. This time it was more about Jessie and it felt new and different. She has always been one of my favourite characters. The plot itself was heart warming and I had a little cry. The writers really know how to hit the parents right in the heart. hehehe

The World Cup!

I've watched so many matches and ended up staying way later on a night than I should but I keep telling myself it's only a few weeks every 4 years! England’s match on Tuesday wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, ending in a draw against Ghana but it was enough to get them through to the next stage. We have our last match of the group stage tomorrow. We went to the pub to watch it and it was such a good night. Sitting outside, watching the big screen, perfect weather and with a crowd watching along makes everything seem more exciting!

Hot weather!

It really feels like summer now! We've had a bit of a heatwave and today is supposed to reach 32C (90F) which is very hot for England. I know some people would laugh at me complaining about that temperature but our houses just aren't built for it and neither am I. lol. When I haven't had to do things, I have tried to move as little as possible. lol I am enjoying it because I know it won't last. Next week is supposed to be colder and wet.

The hosepipe!

This is such a simple thing but it’s been an absolute lifesaver this week. The garden is properly growing and everything needs watering, especially with the warmer weather we’ve had. Usually I just use a watering can and refill it over and over, so the hosepipe has been a great help. It is nice to go out there when it has cooled a little, turn the hosepipe on and have a few minutes peace.

Fizzy pop!

I don't usually drink much fizzy pop but this week I have been enjoying it with lots of ice. I have been drinking it by the pint and I am not even sorry. Pop always tastes good when it is hot out! It’s been one of those small treats that makes sitting down for five minutes feel like a proper break.

Sandals!

It's sandal weather and I have finally found a pair that are comfy and go with everything that I wear in the warmer months!

Pyjama Bottoms!

On Wednesday I went to put some leggings on, which I usually wear around the house but it was that hot and sticky. I thought not today! I reached for some pyjama bottoms and spent the day in them. I wasn't going anywhere and had no visitors coming, so why not? I was so comfortable and actually felt cooler than I would have in leggings. It won't become a regular thing but I came in yesterday afternoon and did the same thing so maybe it will. lol

My youngest has left college!

It was Ellie's last day in college on Wednesday and her last official day today as a student. I don't know how I feel about it at the moment. My baby is all grown up but I am excited about the next stage in her life. There was no graduation ceremony or anything like that but we will be celebrating over the weekend. There were many times over the years when I thought my girl wouldn't complete her education but here we are and she smashed it!

What have you loved over the past week?

British TV that shaped my childhood!

There are certain sounds that will forever live rent-free in my head. The thud thud thud of Contenders ready? Gladiators ready? The little trumpet jingle of Blue Peter and that eerie theme tune from Knightmare that made my living room feel like it had suddenly been transported to a haunted castle. Growing up in Britain, TV wasn’t just something we watched it raised us, entertained us and occasionally scarred us for life. These are some of the TV shows that shaped my childhood.

Blue Peter!

If you grew up in the UK, there’s a 99% chance you’ve tried and failed to make something with sticky back plastic because Blue Peter told you it was so easy. Blue Peter was like an after-school club on TV. You got crafts, pets (I loved the tortoises) and you got presenters who felt like your slightly cooler older brothers or sisters and let’s not forget the Blue Peter badge. That tiny piece of plastic was basically childhood royalty. If you had one, you could stroll into theme parks and museums for free, which in kid currency was priceless.

Knightmare!

Knightmare was a fever dream of a TV show and I still can’t believe it actually existed. You’d get this poor kid shoved in a giant horned helmet so they couldn’t see a thing, then their mates had to guide them through a medieval dungeon full of dodgy CGI monsters. The graphics were not good when you look back now but it was terrifying at the time. I was always shouting at the screen because the kid was about to walk straight into a pit of fire! It was basically the 80s and 90s version of a video game but on the TV and way more stressful.

Byker Grove!

This was meant to be a cool, gritty show for teens but most of us were watching it years before we were anywhere near the age of the characters. It felt grown up. The storylines were heavy with bullying, relationships, even drugs but the one that made everyone gasp was the infamous paintball incident. Poor PJ getting blinded!

Gladiators!

Saturday nights were never boring when Gladiators was on. Forget Marvel superheroes, we had Jet, Hunter and of course, Wolf, the pantomime villain who made kids either terrified or obsessed. The whole thing was way over the top. The giant cotton bud battles or Duel if we’re being proper, were everyone’s favourite. Two grown adults smacking each other while balanced on a podium. That’s quality television right there and the Eliminator course which I always wanted a go at!

Fun House!

No childhood TV list is complete without Fun House. The slime, the games, the mullet were iconic but the real dream was the go-karts. Every kid watching just wanted a go on them. The Fun House itself was basically every child’s fantasy playground, filled with ball pits, foam and prizes that were usually a Walkman or a mountain bike.

Animals of Farthing Wood!

If you know, you know. This animated show was supposedly for kids but it was more like a crash course in heartbreak. The series followed woodland animals trying to survive and reach a new home and along the way, well, let’s just say things happened. Disturbing, emotional, hide behind the cushion things. Whole generations were left sobbing over foxes and hedgehogs.

The Generation Game!

This was family TV at its finest. Bruce Forsyth was the master of cheesy jokes and audience banter and the games were always chaotic. Watching people try to make pottery in 60 seconds or dance with complete strangers was pure comedy and let’s not forget the conveyor belt finale, always with a cuddly toy!

Saturday Morning Chaos - Live & Kicking, SMTV: Live and Going Live!

Saturday mornings were something special. Forget sleeping in you had to be up early for Live & Kicking, Going Live or SMTV: Live. Between phone in competitions, celebrity interviews and sketches that were organised chaos, it was the perfect start to the weekend! Ant & Dec on SMTV: Live was comedy gold. “Wonky Donkey” still lives in my brain rent-free.

Nowadays, kids have all the streaming services where everything is on demand but there was something magical about sitting down as a family or rushing home from school to catch a show before tea.

What did you used to love watching on TV as a child?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #61

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. Summer's here! In the northern hemisphere anyway. If you're in the southern hemisphere substitute winter for the word summer. What do you love most about summer? What's your biggest summer pet peeve?

It is the sunshine which I love the most! Seeing it bright outside when I wake up makes everything feel easier and it really boosts my mood. There are the longer days too, it feels like there's more time to enjoy life instead of rushing through it. When the sun is shining, it's an excuse to enjoy ice cream, ice lollies, cold drinks, long cold showers and easy meals because I can't be bothered to cook!

My biggest pet peeve is trying to sleep when it's too hot. During the day I'll think the weather is lovely but when bedtime arrives and I'm lying there sticking to the sheets, flipping my pillow over every five minutes and I will start Googling how much air conditioning would cost! I usually just shower in the evening but I find myself having to shower in the morning too because I feel sweaty and stinky, it feels like such a chore.

2. What song always reminds you of summer?

At the moment it has to be Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) by The Lightning Seeds with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner. Every two years here there is a big football tournament, whether it’s the World Cup or The Euros and this song just ends up everywhere! It instantly reminds me of summer in England because it’s always on in the background of everything. I think I have heard it or thought about it every day since just before the World Cup started.

3. What's something you remember about your childhood summers? Do you think kids today get to enjoy summer the way you did as a child? Elaborate.

The freedom!! I'd leave the house in the morning with a few pounds in my pocket to buy something to eat and with no real plan. I'd meet up with friends and we'd see where the day took us. We'd always end up back at someone's house because we'd be thirsty or wanted a snack, then off we'd go off again. The big rule was we had to be back home as it was coming in dark. There were no phones, no checking in and no tracking apps. All we had was the trust our parents gave us. They didn't seem to worry where we were.

Now it's completely different. I’ve got daughters who are 18 and 23 and even though they’re adults, I still wouldn’t feel comfortable not knowing where they are for a whole day like that. It’s not even about not trusting them, the world has changed and it feels like there is more danger out there. I do think kids today miss out on the freedom that I had as a child/teenager.

4. We celebrate Fathers Day on June 21st. Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad. Or your husband as a dad. Or a son/son-in-law as a dad. Or your grandpa.

A few people said after I shared my post on Friday about my dad that I look so much like him, I have to agree! The older I get, the more I notice it in little things like my face shape, my smile, even just certain expressions I catch myself doing without thinking but temperament, that’s a different story! We couldn’t be more different if we tried. My dad is calm, doesn’t really get rattled by much and takes life as it comes. I overthink and stress about everything. If something’s happening, he’ll be like it will be fine while I am the one panicking.

5. Let's wrap up with a summer this or that-

flip flops or sandals - Sandals! I hate flip flops and that bit that goes between your toes.

beach or pool - Beach! Outdoor pools are not a big thing here in England so if the sun is shining I'd rather be at a beach.

watermelon or peaches - Peaches! I can take or leave watermelon, it's not my favourite summer fruit but peaches! Yum!

shorts or sundress - Sundresses! I very rarely wear shorts.

iced coffee or ice cold lemonade - This is a hard choice. Right now I would say an ice-cold lemonade.

amusement park or water park - Amusement park but I am not keen on either.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This week is where things start to get busy for my family. We have lots on the calendar for the next 2 and a bit months and almost everything is fun things! It started yesterday with us going to see Toy Story 5 and we have days/nights out planned, we have plenty of local events to go to and then my fellas and girls birthdays. This year it is going to be hard to buy my girls birthday presents as there is nothing they really need. Eek!

Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day!

International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated every year on 23rd June, which is today. It is all about celebrating women who are working in engineering and encouraging more girls to get into it.

If I’m being honest, I used to fall into that old way of thinking where engineering looked like a man's job. When I heard the word engineer, I’d picture hard hats, big machinery, all of that stuff and usually men doing it. I never really pictured women in those roles. It’s funny how your thinking changes over time. Things changed when my youngest Ellie started showing an interest in engineering. That’s when it clicked that those old ideas didn’t really match reality any more. Things are changing, slowly but surely. The problem before was just that women weren’t really visible in those jobs, so a lot of girls probably never even thought it was something they could do. That’s exactly why days like this matter.

As a mam, it's a day that has become quite special to me because my youngest daughter is on her own engineering journey. Ellie is just finishing three years studying engineering at college. She did two years of City & Guilds Electrical Installation, which was tough going at times and she’s just finishing up an NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations. The latest course has been a bit easier for her, especially without the big end of year exam being a thing. Ellie's course finishes on Friday and she’s already been told she’s passed, which I’m so proud of.

Ellie has never once acted like engineering is just for boys. She has spent the last few years proving that thinking belongs in the past. When she started Electrical Engineering at college, she was the only girl in her class. Sixteen years old, walking into a room full of lads would’ve been my worst nightmare but she just got on with it like it was nothing and focused on what she was there to do. A couple of weeks later, another girl joined but by then Ellie had already settled in and made her mark. There was the odd supply teacher who’d walk in and assume she couldn’t do the same as the boys, like she wouldn’t be strong enough or be able to handle the tools and she’d prove them wrong without making a big deal of it but deep down she loved showing them anything a boy can do she could too and sometimes even better!

It has been fantastic to see more girls joining engineering courses over the last few years. When Ellie first started, there were only a handful but that number is slowly growing. It feels like things are finally shifting in the right direction, where girls are actually seeing engineering as something they can choose for themselves.

Today I’ll be celebrating all the women already doing amazing things in engineering, the girls studying it now, and the ones just starting out and of course, I’m a bit extra proud of Ellie today too. She’s worked so hard, stuck with it when things were not easy and never let anything put her off. I don’t know exactly where her engineering will take her next but I do know she’ll give it everything she’s got!

Happy International Women in Engineering Day to all the brilliant women and girls shaping the future!

Our weekly meal plan! 22nd - 28th June!! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend. Ours was nice and quiet. Stu was very happy with his Father's Day gifts yesterday and my dad was too, so that made me happy. We didn't get up to much apart from watching more of the World Cup.

Last week's meal plan went well and we ate everything and on the day I had planned. I am getting back into the swing of things with coming up with meal ideas without using Gousto boxes. This week is going to include quite a few easy meals because we have a lot going on with Ellie leaving college. It feels strange even typing that. There is no big graduation ceremony or huge celebration planned and at the moment we don't even know if she has to go in for her final day. Everything seems a bit up in the air but I just know there is going to be a lot of life admin which comes with it and I will have to deal with it. Ugh!

We do have some fun plans this week though. At the very top of the list is going to see Toy Story 5 which I am so excited about. The Toy Story films have been part of my life for such a long time. I went to see the first Toy Story at the cinema with friends when I was a teenager and back then I never imagined that I would be watching the films with my own kids. Both of my girls grew up with Woody, Buzz and the gang and my very first blog post was linked to Buzz Lightyear in a roundabout sort of way.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Meatloaf and mashed potato.

Meatloaf is one of those meals that I completely forget about until I think about making it. Then, while I'm eating it, I wonder why we don't have it more often as the whole family enjoys it so much. I will make some mashed potatoes to go with it. I am hoping there will be some leftovers so I can have it for lunch tomorrow as it is one of those things that always tastes better the day after.

Tuesday - Greggs sausage rolls or pasties!

This is my easy tea for the week. I have a busy day and the weather forecast says it is supposed to be the hottest day of the week and I already know I won't feel like cooking. I am going to pop into Greggs and pick something up. I'm not sure what yet but it will either be sausage rolls, steak bakes, cheese and onion pasties or a mixture of everything.

Wednesday - Quiche and salad.

Another simple meal and one that doesn't take much effort from me. I already have shop bought quiches sitting in the fridge ready to go and all I need to do is pop them in the oven. I am hoping the family will join me in eating the salad but I know my girls well enough to know there is a good chance they will choose spaghetti hoops instead.

Thursday - Thai style pork patties with sweet potato fries!

This is another favourite meal of ours which originally came from Gousto. The patties are so full of flavour and always go down well. I can make them early in the day before the kitchen gets too hot and they warm up well when we are ready to eat!

Friday - Pizza!

I am trying to be sensible with money at the moment because we have some busy weeks coming up. There will be days out and meals out, so instead of having our usual takeaway, we'll be having frozen pizzas. It will save a bit of money and still gives us that Friday night treat feeling.

Saturday - Fakeaway KFC!

We love a meal like this with lots of picky bits. Chicken bits, corn on the cob, fries, onion rings, baked beans and coleslaw. I am very excited about this one as I can use more of the Ranch sauce. hehehe

Sunday - A help yourself evening!

I have no plan for Sunday, everyone can help themselves to whatever they fancy and use up bits from the fridge, freezer and cupboards. Last Sunday ended up being a proper lazy day and we had crisp sandwiches. Nobody could be bothered cooking and lazy meals like that are sometimes the nicest.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 14th - 20th June Week 25 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend! Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there and thinking of you who are missing your dad's today. We're not doing much to celebrate as Becky is at work today and my dad is busy. We celebrated Stu last weekend and I have already dropped my dad's gift and card off, he was very happy with everything!

Apart from that it has been another week of football, pottering around the house, keeping on top of jobs and trying to stay cool. It has warmed up again here and is set to be even hotter next week. Eek! It's not even the nice, hot weather, it's the type where I move and I am dripping with sweat! Ugh!

Now for a photo every day!

165/365 14th June

I was a bad blogger. I forgot to take a photo of my food before I started eating. We went out for Sunday lunch and I had my usual gammon. I know some people like to try something different every time they go out but I like to stick with what I like. For dessert was Biscoff Banoffee pie and it was so good! I wish I had ordered a 2nd slice to take home!

166/365 15th June

One of my favourite things about this time of year is seeing everything growing and flowering and I noticed these pretty little flowers early in the week. They are the tiniest things and my plant identifier app says they are Sweet Alyssum.

167/365 16th June

This isn't the prettiest meal but it does taste good! One Tray Sticky Hoisin Sausage Traybake! It's just sausages, peppers, onions and little roast potatoes covered in Hoisin sauce. I do love the one tray meals as it means less washing up!

168/365 17th June

England had their first match in the World Cup and they won! Hooray! It was a bit tense at the beginning with the penalty but after that they did really well. I have never really liked Harry Kane but during that match he played so much better than he had in the past!

169/365 18th June

The pea and ham soup before it was blended. Once it was blended, it looked much more like proper soup and far less like a pan full of peas. I was very clever and saved some of the ham from the night before to put in it. It was delicious!

170/365 19th June

We were passing by the field and stopped to look at the sheep like we usually do and this time they came running! It was actually quite scary, I thought they were going to ram into the gate. I am guessing they thought we were going to feed them.

171/365 20th June

The Father's Day card that I got my dad and it's true! He is a big fan of any sport and when he is in front of the TV he always has one of the sports channels. I actually think I am beating him by watching more football than him during the World Cup though. He isn't staying up and watching the 11pm matches. hehehe

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

I could easily have used the word football again as I have watched a lot over the past week and have been planning my evenings around the matches. Of course, I was celebrating England's win! 4 - 2 against Croatia. It sounds like a convincing win but watching it was stressful, especially with the penalty having to be retaken. I had never seen that before. One of the things I have really enjoyed is seeing some of the so called smaller teams giving the big teams a run for their money. It was great to see Portugal, Brazil and Spain only manage draws against teams that many people wouldn't have expected them to struggle against. It just goes to show that anything can happen in football. 

On Sunday we went out for a family lunch, an early one for Father's Day as Becky is at work tomorrow. It turned into a full day event. We had a lovely lunch out, went to another pub to watch the Grand Prix and then another pub closer to home just because we wanted to stay out and we ended up playing pool, watching football and singing along to lots of Queen songs. Those are my favourite family days, the ones that aren't planned!

I've had a really quiet week, I've not been up to anything exciting at all. I've stayed home and mostly just pottered around. It has been nice. It feels a bit like the calm before the excitement starts. Life is quiet now but we have lots of things happening over the next 3 or 4 weeks.

Stu has had a good week at work. Better than good actually. He was given a £200 bonus as he was the best in his team and what makes it even better is that it's a voucher so he won't be taxed on it. Also, a year or so ago, Stu was told that he could finish work at half past four instead of 5pm if he only had a half-hour lunch break but at the time it was pointless as the bus came at 4:45pm and it was a good 14 minute walk to the bus stop so he never made it in time and then had to wait until half five for his usual bus anyway. Early this week it came up in conversation and Stu realised the bus timetable had changed and now there's a bus at 5pm which he has been getting. Him getting home half an hour earlier has made such a difference to our evenings and the first evening it happened it surprised the girls so much. Becky thought she had slept in for her night shift as she is usually on her way out of the door when Stu is coming in and Ellie was just confused. I knew he was getting in early, they didn't! hehehe

I took my dad his Father's Day gift yesterday and I was told off. Stop wasting your money, he said to me and then got excited because I had bought all of his favourite treats. He does make me laugh. He is so hard to buy for, so I always buy him a foodie gift for special occasions, as he says he's at the age now where he has everything he needs or wants and if he doesn't, he just goes out and buys it. I think the only thing he could possibly want at the moment is for someone to come and do the paint work on one of his vintage cars. It's a long process and he has been on with it for around 2 weeks but I do think he's enjoying it.

Happy Father's Day for tomorrow to all the amazing dads, stepdads, grandads, father figures and those who take on that special role and sending extra love and hugs to anyone whose dad is no longer here, those spending today missing them, remembering them and wishing they could have just one more Father's Day together. Thinking of you all!

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!

My favourite things about my dad! #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a good week. Usually my Friday Favourites include all the things that I have loved over the past week but this week is going to be a bit different. With Father's Day coming up I thought I would share the best things about my dad. I am of course still linking up with Erika and Andrea to share as I think it is still classed as a favourites post!

He has supported me all through my life!

My dad has always been there cheering me on. From the days when I was sat on the floor crying about not understanding my maths homework, he sat for hours explaining it to me until I did understand and only the other week to last week, when I needed a lift somewhere. After my mother left, he really stepped up and did the job of two parents.

He gives the best advice, even when I don't want to hear it!

My dad is the first person I speak to when I need advice about anything, as nine times out of ten he's lived it and knows what to say or do. Sometimes I don't agree with his advice, as he has a way of telling it like it is, which can seem quite harsh but he helps me see things from a different perspective and looking back, he's usually been right more often than I'd like to admit.

He worked hard for his family!

As a child, you don't really think about how much your parents do, you just assume the bills get paid and food appears in the cupboards. Looking back now, I can see just how hard my dad worked for my family. He wasn't somebody who worked one job and then came home to put his feet up. He was a milkman delivering milk early in the morning, then running his skip hire business during the day and then working on the farm in the evening. He's 78 years old now and he's still working. Every year he says he's going to retire soon. Every year we all nod and pretend to believe him. I think he's been planning to retire for at least 10 years.

He always helps when something needs fixing!

Every family seems to have that person who can sort things out and for us, that's my Dad. If something breaks, I phone my dad and chances are that he knows how to fix it. He is amazing when it comes to any DIY. He mostly built my childhood home, so there isn't much that he can't do. The only thing letting him down now is his knees. He blames the fact he used to be a jockey and all the pressure and stress went on his knees. He seems to think outside the box when it comes to fixing things. Like when we were saying if only Ellie could move her bed she would have more room. He came up with the idea of shortening her bed and moving it against the wall, which created more space.

He loves his grandchildren!

Seeing my dad as a grandad has made me appreciate him even more. The love and pride he has for his grandchildren is lovely to see, even if they do sometimes test his patience but even then, he has all the time in the world for them. When my brother and I were growing up, there wasn't money for regular McDonald's trips. We had rules and we definitely weren't getting cake before meals but now the grandkids get everything and can do no wrong! There have been occasions where my girls have done something and he's laughed it off, saying they're only kids while I'm standing there thinking, I'd have been grounded because of that. lol

He stays calm in a crisis!

When everyone else is panicking, my dad somehow stays calm. Over the years there have been plenty of family dramas, emergencies and stressful situations. While I'm usually stood there crying and imagining the worst, my dad is already working out what needs doing. He'll arrive, see what's going on, give everyone jobs and somehow get things under control. I don't know how he does it!

He has a great sense of humour!

My dad's sense of humour has created so many funny memories over the years. He is the worst at telling jokes but they always make us laugh. Some of his jokes are so bad but I think that's part of being a dad; The dad jokes. Even in the worst situations, he can calm me down by cracking a joke. Sometimes he's not always politically correct and would probably offend some people but that is just the way he is. I have seen myself cringing hard when he's said something and whispering that you can't say that. He mostly knows when to be on his best behaviour but knows when a joke is needed to lighten the mood.

I love how excited he gets about his cars!

My dad's weakness is battered, broken vintage cars and machinery. He will buy them and spend months doing them up and every time I go to his he is so proud to show off the progress he has made. It all started with one car and he said he would sell it when it was finished. It is still in his garage. He has got another 4 since and they are all in garages. In fact, he had to build more garages to store them. lol

He still treats me like his child!

Even though I'm a grown woman with adult children of my own, he'll still check in on me every day or try to help with something when I am quite capable of doing it myself. When I visit him, he always feeds me and I never leave his place empty handed. Fruit from his trees in the Autumn, random things that he has bought and has extra or things that he thinks I will find useful.

He always wants to help!

My dad is the type of person who will help anyone if he can, not just family. He doesn't do it for praise or for someone to say that he's a good guy. It's simply who he is. Growing up, I thought everyone's dad was like that. It wasn't until I got older that I realised just how lucky I was.

I could list 100 reasons why my dad is the best. He isn't perfect and he wouldn't claim to be but he's exactly the dad I needed growing up and now as an adult. I'm incredibly lucky to call him my dad and I wouldn't change that for the world.