Bargain Hunting and Proof

The above two pics represent the official finalisation of my masters of Health Science - Health services management. It feels like it has been such a long time since I began and I have just been slowly plodding away at it.

I am most definitely relived to be finished and to go out with a bang of two 7's was just a bonus.

Not sure really if I am going to use it now or not. To go in the career direction I would like to go in - I need to wait until I have finished with the having children thing and until Mark has a more secure job. But I will stay open to any opportunities that may present themselve to me.

So What now?

Well nothing for a while. I am quite enjoying being able to spend time painting and sewing and doing crafty relaxation things on my weekends - AND having no guilt about whether I should be doing something else.

This weekend I have finished the third painting for the baby's room. I think they all turned out quite nicely. So now onto the sewing.

This morning I went to the trash and treasure markets to see if I could nab any thrifty bargains.

I used to go to these things and wander around looking at things and thinking who buys this stuff. I only ever used to buy the odd book and plants.

This morning I nabbed an Avent steam sterliser for $5. No bottles of course but as I am planning on only using it for top up feed bottles and that type of thing I thought - Bargain!

I also bought a giant framed picture of Princess diana for $20. Why you might ask? Well last weekend I bought this georgous vintage alphabet wall hanging and I wanted to put it in a frame. I was looking online and picture framing is quite expensive. All I wanted was a simple wooden frame that I could paint to give a bit of a worn-in look. Thus where the princess diana print comes in. Frame is the perfect size - now all I need to do is get a matt cut to go around the print and I have a bargain wall hanging!

Yesterday we also went to a second hand book shop that is have a big 50% off sale at the moment. I bought heaps of the classic childrens book like Alice in Wonderland, Treasure island, snugglepot and cuddlepie, Blinky Bill, the Secret garden and A little Princess. When he is old enough I will read them to him.

I also found some old books on soft toy making and that has givenme a few ideas as well.

So I definitely have plenty to keep me busy!

The list

Here is the list I posted a few weeks ago of what I needed to get:

• Linen - I have been give a few things but I need 3 more sets of cot sheets, a few more wraps and blankets and some towels for bathtime.
• A safe- n-sound car seat
• A Nappy Bag (I am going to spoil myself and buy the Oroton one in the after christmas sales)
• Pram Rain and Shade covers
• Car Window shade
• Baby Bathing toiletries - wash, shampoo, massage oil, powder, nappy rash cream
  
• Infra-red Digital thermometer
• First aid and medicines for bubs
• Ikea Shelves and baskets for shelves
• Foot Stool
• Cushions and decorations for Nursery
• Nappies!

Afterwards

• Breast pump - I am going to get the Avent Isis manual pump (and I am sure you all wanted to know that!) --> Have decided to buy this after bub is born
  
• Stereliser and cleaning equipment ?? Not sure on this need to do more research - but again I will buy it after bub is born
  
• BPA (Bisphenol-A) Free Bottles for giving expressed milk top ups. as above

So there is really only a few things I can strike off there. All the other things seem so small and insignificant though! I really need to sort out christmas presents before the shops get too hectic in the before christmas madness!

Under 80

Here I was a few weeks ago counting down until I was under 100 days and before I know it I am under 80 days to go! I think that I am actually more interested in getting to christmas at the moment. For some reason christmas feels like a bit of a milestone and after that the real countdown will begin.

Feeling: Average. The sleeping business is starting to get difficult - I literally have four pillows semi propping me/ helping to make me comfortable at the moment. Every morning I wake up feeling like I could sleep for at least another hour! Most days I feel quite good - just start to get tired by the afternoons. But by Friday I have totally had enough of work and just want the weekend. I have a long weekend this weekend so that is good.

this has been a particularly tough week though as we have been out most nights - usually straight from work.

Mark's mum (Grandma to baby) was admitted to hospital this week as she has not been able to keep much food down for the past two weeks and has been throwing up and battling constant nausea even when she doesn't eat. On Monday we decided enough was enough and called one of the doctors. She was having planning done for radiation therapy on Tuesday so he brought her in early for that. He did the CT scans which showed that her oesophagus is completely blocked and that it has progressed alot faster that anyone really thought.
So he brought her radiation treatment forward until Wednesday just gone. (Wasn't meant to start until 11th December)
Working in the field of radiation therapy and having someone close to you have to go through it is a bit challenging - especially when you know that the treatment isn't really going to make her any better. Radiation works better in some cases than others - unfortunately this isn't one of them.
I am dealing with it better than I thought I would though!

They probably wont let her out of hospital until they have the nutrition thing under control - but I feel better knowing that she is somewhere that she can be looked after 24/7.

So on the basis of all of that - we have now inherited a dog. Quite the family we are becoming! New house, baby on the way, Cat and now Black Labrador. Zoe.

Hopefully next week will be a little less hectic!

Suitably Devastated

I have just diascovered that there is to be a new running festival held here in Canberra next year. I started to get really excited because stromlo is really close to my house (it would be a warm up jog to get there) and I was thinking "Yay! - I can use this as a goal event. Until I read the dates: 27th Februray - March 1st 2009.

Somehow I dont think that I will be running anywhere in the 4 weeks after I give birth!
However - if you are a keen runner and want to visit Canberra before it gets too cold - Stromlo forest park is just georgous to run and the event sounds like it will be fab (and I am sure the parties that go with it will be even more fab!) I will definitely be going for a look see and possibly try to get along to one of the seminars if I can.

The inaugural STROMLO Running Festival combines on-site camping and catering into a weekend 'Festival' that is not to be missed. The range of running events will provide something for everyone, from the complete beginner to Australia's elite athletes. So come and join Robert de Castella and be part of something amazing.

The STROMLO Running Festival will provide a friendly, social, exciting, and interactive weekend focussed on running, participation and healthy lifestyles. The combination of multiple running events focussed on participation, on-site catering, camping and caravan accommodation, as well as entertainment, lectures and training sessions, will make the STROMLO Running Festival a unique and nationally recognised event; where experienced and elite athletes will socialise
and motivate those individuals who are new to running.

The event slogan – "Get Off The Road" – is highly appropriate given the running events comprising the STROMLO Running Festival will be held on the purpose built Stromlo Cross Country Course, as well as the beautiful fire trials and single tracks within Canberra's nature parks surrounding the Stromlo area.

The STROMLO Running Festival will offer a variety of community and competitive events including

:• Robert de Castella Cross Country Invitational

• Lightning Strike Trail Runs (10km and 30km)

• Cross Country Races (4km and 8km)

• Orienteering Events • Criterium Track Road Race (1.2km)

• Mountain Race (3.2km)

• Social runs led by Celebrities and Elite athletes

• Government/Business challenge

• Primary School and High School Challenge

The event will also incorporate other activities including

:• Official Opening and Dinner • Festival Expo

• Running Clinic hosted by elite athletes and coaches

• Bands and Children's Entertainment

• Guest Lectures on Maximising 6-Foot Track Marathon Performance, Injury Prevention, Training, Footwear and Nutrition

• Practical Training Sessions on Core Stability, Running Drills/PlyometricsPlease Note:

• The field will be limited to 2,500 participants and spots are sure to fill quickly – so don't delay, enter now via our secure online site at www.stromlorunningfestival.com.au

• Amazing 2XU bundle for the first 500 entries. The first 500 entrants will receive a special bundle offer of 2XU STROMLO t-shirt (value $60) and 2XU Compression Socks (value $50) for just $35 - Save over 65%! Important:Entries close 20th of February 2009 (unless sold out). No entries will be taken over the weekend of the event.

Running in Canberra:Since the establishment of the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the nation's capital has developed a strong history of distance running and is now considered one of Australia's most ideal running locations. Stromlo Forest was where 'Deek' and many other Australian and International running greats did much of their training through the 1980's and
1990's. In 2003, the entire forest was destroyed in the bushfires that also claimed the lives of four Canberrans. Deek was one of the 500 families who lost everything in those fires and was a key member on the ACT Government's Bushfire Recovery Taskforce. Stromlo Forest Park was one of his ideas; to not just replace what had been lost, but to make it better and to leave a legacy for future generations. Stromlo Forest Park has already become Australia's best, and most sought after, dedicated off-road running and cycling venues.

Freezing!

You just wouldn't know that we are just a week out from summer because it has been freezing here in Canberra this weekend.

It has been a busy week just gone and even though I had a day off on Wednesday - it too was spent running around doing administrative things (like getting an ACT license) so it doesn't feel as though I have really been able to relax.

In a way it is a good thing that it has been cold this weekend because it has forced me to stay indoors! Had a few errands to do yesterday morning. I had to do a Glucose Challenge test at the pathology place to make sure that I don't have gestational diabetes. I drank the drink and thought to myself - I'm not sure why people say this is so awful - it didn't taste all that bad. However, about 20 minutes later my heart was racing and I felt awful. Light headed and nausea - just plain gross. You have to drink the stuff, wait one hour and then have the blood test done. The awful feelings went away within two hours but that first hour was awful!

After that I had to go and do some errand type things at Federation square and Mark's mum wanted to get a birthday present. Federation square has lots of lovely little shops that sell beautiful and often unique things. I got my secret santa present - So that is one thing I don't have to think about anymore. I also got a really cute elephant keyring and a poster for the baby's room. I'm not sure if I will use it but it is an alphabet done in vintage style with old style pictures alongside each of the letters. I just have to find a frame big nough now.

After that we went and test drove the car we are going to buy - not the most glamourous car - we are looking at getting an Izuzu Dmax - which is basically the same care as a holden rodeo. It has 4 doors and all the safety features as well as having a ute tray - which we have realised we really miss having.

That was enough for one day and when we got home I fell asleep for two hours!

Last night I decided to get creative for the baby's room and I have finished what I did off - to a point - this morning. There is a third painting to come but it is still in the painting process - I ran out of white paint so was kind of stalled. Here is a sneak peek:




This pile of material is my next project.....not 100% sure how it will all turn out just jet, I have a bit of planning to do but I was pretty pleased with my haul from Spotlight this morning. I am fighting with myself as to whether or not to buy a new sewing machine (mum - if you are reading hint hint!)I'm not really sure how much I will use it but on the other hand I think that I will probably use it more than the old ancient one I currently have and I will be able to do more. My current one is unable to do button holes or zips because it is so old that the pieces are missing.
I also find creating things quite satisfying - although I'm not 100% sure what I will sew. Boys clothes are much more difficult to sew than girls clothes - but I would like to be able to make dress ups and that kind of thing.
For now I will stick to home furnishings I think!

Moving along slowly

I have noticed that lately I am slowing down a lot. I just can't do things at the same pace I used to I guess. That is OK though.

After a trip to Ikea last weekend my sister and brother in law have brought me back some goodies so this weekend I am hoping to get started on setting up the baby's room.

I am considering heading to Spotlight tonight as it is in Queanbeyan which is in NSW and therefore has late night shopping.

It isn't so much the furniture that I need to get on top of but the decoration side of things.

I guess I want to see what the things I have so far look like before I get too carried away with the decorating. I have a few bits and pieces, but I will probably need a few more to bring it all together.

I have most things off my list now - I just need some linen - cot sheets and a quilt - all those little finishing touches.

Must go back to work now as I am on my tea break!

Introducing

Soul Photographics

- The georgous lady and very dear friend of mine who also happens to be photographer extraordinaire! If you are in Brisbane or the surrounds and need a fabulous wedding photographer OR stunning children and family portraits - she is your girl!-

The Carb Train

After reading Liz's Posts this morning about the benefits of including carbohydrates in our diet I found myself nodding along thoroughly in agreement. Not only have I studied Biochemistry, thanks to a previous liftime of wanting to study medicine (and then I woke up to myself) am innately familiar with the Krebs cycle. Bottom line is - Carbohydrates are a macronutrient and essential for human survival.

Additionally - it is almost impossible to NOT include them in your diet IF you are consuming vegetables (which you should be!)

But like liz said - it is the type of Carbohydrates that we should be concerned about consuming rather than the consumption of carbs.

During the time I was training with Liz I under went a major brain shift in thinking patterns about food and diet. Prior to following Liz's plans I would exist on Salad and tuna or Salad and Chicken for lunch - having had no carbs since Breakfast (If I had managed to eat oats and not an egg white omlette that day). By the afternoon I was in a complete brain fog, unable to concentrate and starving. The usual pattern would follow - that being me arriving home from work - Starving - and then raiding the cupboard for ANYTHING sweet. That usually included LOTS of sultanas followed by tablespoons of honey and Milo. Hmmn - then an hour later I would sit down to a dinner of veges and some kind of protein - again - no carbs - only to be starving an hour later. I would force myself through the night - often waking up hungry - and do it all again the next day.

When I started training a bit more seriously for running - with the half marathon goal in mind, I just couldn't find the energy for running and enjoying my training while eating in this way. So - taking some of Liz's advice - I started addend good Carbs back in - I had sandwhiches for lunch and ate a jacket potato with dinner. I had yoghurt and fruit again. All good healthy, natural sources of carbs. i also stopped having as much processed sugar, if I had coffee I would have real sugar in it etc.

Funny thing happened - training became really really enjoyable. I stopped bingeling in the afternoons. I got through the night without waking up starving AND I started losing weight and keeping it coming off. I stopped with the fluctuating up and down, the getting frustrated that it wasn't working and giving up after 3 weeks. I actually manged to get down to the lowest weight I had been in years - and I felt really good for it.

It is important for me to remember these things now - because next year when it comes time to do it again - I need to remember that it works and it isn't difficult.

I aways feel really bad for people who are struggling along on low carb based plans - whetherit be in the lead up for a comp or for whatever reason.

As for the coke add with Kerry Armstrong. When I first saw that in WHO magazine I read it because I thought it was a joke or a spoof. I really couldn't believe that they would try and sell the idea to people that coke could possibly be healthy. It certainly is an interesting marketing perspective. What sadden's me is that there are people out there who believe the marketing campaigns. It also saddens me that in the drink dispenser at my work - a bottle of water costs $3.00 and the Coke is only $2.50. Hmmn...

There is more than enoughhigh level evidence out there that high fructose corn syrup (not only in coke - also in every other soft drink, and even some juices among other things) is bad for us.
We don't need academic journals to prove it to us - the proof is in the obesity and the heart disease and the ever increasing incidence of diabetes and all of the other 'Lifestyle' related medical conditions that is placing pressure on our health system.

Just something to ponder I guess.

Lunch Time

I am on my lunch break at work and I thought I would do a quick post because I was online.

Today for lunch is Avocado on Toast with salt and pepper - basic but tasty.

It hasn't been a particularly bust day today but I just have the sorest back. It is 30 degrees here in Canberra today and the past two days I have gone home and tested the water in the pool to see if it was warm enough. Surely it will be warm enough this afternoon? I think I should just bite the bullet and get it even if it isn't - anything to take the weight off my back.

I felt really good when I woke up this morning as well.

I have been dealing with a situation involving many phone calls back and forward between me and a Queensland health payroll employee to get a form signed so that I will be recognised for my prior service with QHealth here in the ACT - the resulting outcome being that I am elligible for paid maternity leave in January. I have been trying to get this done now for 4 months and today I decided enough was enough after the employee has been not returning my phone calls or emails - I am awaiting a call from a team leader to try and get it sorted out once and for all.

I just need the form - can it possibly be so difficult for a person who is employed in human relations to do their job?

Not much going on

Not much really going on here at the moment.

I kind of feel as though I am still recovering from the massive week of finishing off uni last week.

I bought a book that I had my eye on for about the past 2 months and I have been reading that pretty much non-stop until it was finished!It was called One fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell. It was OK - not quite what I was expecting but still good.

The other day I put my hand on my belly because the baby was kicking me and when I pressed down slightly I felt what was very clearly a little foot. It was very cool.

Each day goes by now and I wake up in the morning feeling great. By 3pm in the afternoon my back is starting to hurt a bit and I am tired. I pick up a little around 5 - 6 because I get to go home and relax then as soon as dinner is done all the energy is gone again. Sometimes I don't even feel as though I have to energy to think.

Thus partly the reason for the sporadic blogging.

Right - I am off to hunt down a book I saw in a newspaper article the other day.

Internet issues

Have been having some internet issues this past 24 hours and obviously this has impacted on my 30 blogs in 30 days thingo. In my defence - I have done double posts on some days.

The frugality thing seems to have gone out the window - I just cant focus on it right now. Too much going on.

I spent most of yesterday on the couch feeling terrible. I think that the little one must have been doing some serious growing yesterday because i haven't felt that uncomfortable for a while.

Feeling a bit better today - although energy levels are still quite low.

I keep dropping things and slamming my fingers in drawers and generally being clumsy and it is making me extremely emotional. I have had two teary outburst today and I just feel really out of control.
I am sure that this is normal but Mark thinks I am just over reacting to everything. It is probably partly overreacting but I just can't see it getting any better for the next 3 months.

I think I just want my body back. I'm a bit sick of everything being difficult. I can't even go to the shops to get some veggies - it is all a big mission.

At least I can sleep in tomorrow due to an appointment at the hospital.

New Toy for Finishing

So YAY! I have completed all of my assesment now for my last two subjects of my Masters degree.

I know that I should be happy/relieved but I don't think it will completely set in until I get those results in a few weeks time and know that I have passed everything. I am not really all that concerned about not passing but you just never know.

Aside from being pregnant and having no motivation whatsoever this past 6 months to do any study at all so it has been a really hard slog. I am really looking forward to not feeling guilty about sewing or running or reading a real book for a looong time.

Any study I do in the future will most likely be a short course or tafe based. No more uni for me for a long time!

As a present for finishing, Mark bought be a brand new Pink 8gig Ipod. I was very happy when he gave it to me this afternoon. I don't just use my ipod when I am gymming or running you see - I also use it in the car and at home on a dock - so it used to get a lot of use. The battery on my old one died about 2 months ago - but it was very well loved. Such a great present!

I started on an inspiration board for the baby room this afternoon. I have heaps of things cut out here and there and I want to put it all in the one place, as well as have a place to put fabric samples etc to make sure they all match.

I will update the spending thing tomorrow because after the day I have had today - all I want to do right now is go and sit on the couch!

Day 5

Day 5

Breakfast: Oats w/mixed berries and milk
Morning tea:Tea cake and tea
Lunch: Leftover Quiche (So Yum)
Afternoon Tea: Gingernut biscuits and tea
Dinner: oh oh! Bought vietnamese
Snacks: ice cream

Finished Today:

Wasted Today:
Spent today:$32.00 on bought vietnamese $6.00 ice cream

This is what stress doe to me. It makes me need a quick fix and today dinner had to be the quick fix. I needed the extra hour tonight to do work so cooking dinner had to be substituted for buying dinner

Day 6

Day 6 - Nearly didn't make it!

Breakfast: hmmn nothing....
Morning tea: Cake and tea again
Lunch: hmmn McDonalds... see yesterdays post about creating time
Afternoon Tea: Ginger nuts and tea
Dinner: Spaghetti bolognaise
Snacks:

Finished Today:

Wasted Today:
Spent today:I dont even know - it was at maccas anyway!

Gee - the last two days have been really tough. I have been feeling really worse for wear with belly growing pains and very stressed about getting my last assignment done. Now it is done - as long as I pass thats it for me and universitys for a while. I just don't have the motivation to do it anymore. I have found too many other things in life that I would rather give my time to.

This however, was an excellent demonstration of what happens when I leave things to the last minute - my whole life falls apart.

Now comes the clean up - starting with the house. AND we have people coming for dinner tomorrow night - I have no idea what I am going to cook just yet.

Thanks god tomorrow is Friday.

Feeling stressed

Today I am feeling tired and a little bit stressed. All of these days off work make me just want to not work full stop.

Of course feeling this way makes me just want to run upstairs to the shop here at work and but a magazine and chocolate - just so I can spend some money.

My little brain is telling me that it will make me feel instantly calmer and better, then I can just get lost in the magazine and not think about the things that are stressing me.

Soulution - deal with the stress cause. The problem is that I can't deal with it until I get home tonight. So until then I have to put up with feeling stressed and try and do what I can.

Oh but I want to make the discomfort go away!

This is EXACTLY the same as going on a binge because I am feeling uncomfortable and stressed. I need to learn to deal with the feeling - not hide it away in spending or eating.

Would you like milk with your sugar?

Day 4

Another pregnant brain moment this morning. Whilst making coffee, when I went to pour the milk into the coffee - I poured it straight into the sugar bowl instead. It's quite funny to do something like that because you just look at yourself and think "Stupid!".

I am finding more and more similarities with restricting my spending to restricting my diet. I know that there has been a bit of talk on blogs lately aboutcravings for particular foods when you are on a diet. I tend to agree with Kek, I think it is more about brain power than your body telling you that you need something in particular. I couldn't get enough juice in the beginning weeks of my pregnancy - I think that I probably went through aroun 2 Lt of juice every 2 -3 days. I don't even really like juice THAT much! Apart from the juice I have had no other cravings to speak of for particular foods. Food cravings aside.

I do get an insane burning itch to spend money, if it is there. Whether it is in my bank account or in my wallet. If it is there I can get a little obsessed with allocating it to some purpose. It doesn't have to be on a particular item - it could be on food for instance. If I have 40 dollars in my bank account on the day before pay day I have a compulsion to spend it. I'm not sure where this habit came from. I used to have an absession with having "things" I had to have this or that particular thing to tell myself I was happy. I have moved away from that a little bit - although I do still tend to attach 'things' to having something be 'perfect' in my mind (case in point: Shelving unit from Ikea!). It is the craving to spend that I am trying to overcome and it is really helping being able to relate it back to when i was trying to lose weight and training for the marathon. It truly is about laying down those patterns of thought in your brain so that you untrain it from one way of thinking and retrain it to another. The money that I have saved just in the last few days from simply not buying food while I am at work is amazing.

Yesterday afternoon I even talked myself out of buying a cappacino at the doctor's (it's a bit fancy - there is a cafe) because I knew that if I didn't buy the cappacino then it would mean I wouldn't have spent any money today.

It is also helping me to get back into the 'conscious mind' thinking patterns that I will need to eat a bit better after the baby is born ( so I can shift the extra weight). I'mnot talking about going on a full on diet - because I want to breastfeed and that can be affected by restricting calories. I am simply talking about eating ALOT of really healthy, clean food that will nourish my body. Why not now? you may ask. Well that is a very good question. Mainly because I simply don't want to, it has a lot to do with me needing a very solid goal to work towards in order to be able to be really good with my eating and I can't do that (the goal bit) right now. BUT once I have had the baby, my body is mine again and I will have control over how much I weigh.

Anyhoo - this has gone on for long enough this morning!

Hope you all had a win on the cup!

I ended up doing some gardening today and then went for an inaugural dip in the pool. It was a bit chilly but once you were in it was fine.

I also slipped on a rock or something like that and fell over and sprained my ankle. I felt pretty stupid. I landed straight down on my backside so it wasn't an awkward fall or anything like that but now my ankle hurts as does my pride.

Breakfast: Home made pancakes with lemon juice and sugar, plunger coffee
Morning tea: Tea cake, cup of tea
Lunch: Tuna Salad (Tin tuna, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, cheese, mayo) (had to use up the lettuce)
Afternoon Tea: Sao biscuits with cottage cheese, tomato
Dinner: Tomato, feta and basil Quiche with salad
Snacks: Cottage cheese, frozen berries, yoghurt

Finished Today:Milk(we use UHT milk so always have some in the cupboard), Lettuce

Wasted Today: A whole pot of sugar! (See story above)
Spent today:Gardening things: $30.70

Groceries that were forgotten the other day: $12.20

Love this watch

I may have to save up for one @ $1500.00 RRP! Here is what the blurb says:

This is the Seiko Velatura. A LUXURY MARINE CHRONOGRAPH WITH 53 DIAMONDS. MOTHER OF PEARL DIAL. ANTI GLARE SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL. 10 BAR WATER RESISTANCE.

Day 3

Day 3

Breakfast: Museli and yoghurt
Morning tea: Apple, Orange, cup of tea
Lunch: Creamy Tuna pasta
Afternoon Tea:Fruity Tea cake, 2 kingston biscuits
Dinner: Chicken Kiev and vegetables
Snacks:

Finished Today:Nothing

Wasted Today: Nothing
Spent today: Obstetrician appointment: $10 (with $ Medicare rebate)

I had plenty of opportunities to spend money today. Not so much at work, because I find these types of things very similar to attempting to eat on a plan. I find the weekdays a breeze as long as I am organised, it is the weekends where I tend to let loose a little and forget my reasons for doing it in the first place. If anything I am glad that I am doing this because I have to reset the need versus want mentality in my brain. Instead of just buying something because I know that there is money in my bank account, it is very good for me to be more conscious about what I am spending. If only to remind myself that what ever it is - I can probably live without it. And that my friends is what the crux of this challenge comes down to.

Tomorrow just happens to be a public holiday in Canberra so it is like a weekend and I get urges to spend money BUT I don't intend to go out at all tomorrow so technically I should be OK.

Day 2

Day 2

Breakfast: Toast with Orange marmelade, Tea
Morning tea: Apple, Orange. Cup of White tea.
Lunch: Knock up Creamy Tuna pasta
Afternoon Tea: Milo, Fruity Tea Loaf Cake
Dinner: Chips from KFC - long story
Snacks: chomp bar, water ice block

Finished Today: Cream(replaced @shopping), Penne Pasta (have more)

Wasted Today:
Spent today: Groceries @ Supermarket: $191.28

Gatorade, Drugs and chocolate for mark who is sick: $16.00

KFC Dinner for me: $9.45 (Bad bad Andrea)

Butcher: $34.70

Bargain baby Nappies: $66.00

Domestic type of day today. Just at home pottering around. I made a cake (Fruity Tea cake) and some brownies for morning and afternoon teas throughout the week. That is - if they last that long. The cake didn't really turn out very well, I think that it make need a double batch and to be cooked in a different type of tin. I used a Loaf tin and I think that it would probably do brilliantly in one of those biggish square tins, however the recipie would definitely need to be doubled for that.

Creamy Tuna Pasta

Helping

Can't you see that I am working here...........

WAKE UP!!!!

Awoken this morning to the sounds of a hot air balloon injecting hot air into it's balloon space.

Ahh the serenity!

As you can see - today is a beautiful day in Canberra. Especially to be out in a hot air baloon.

Day 1

Breakfast: Small Bowl of cornfalkes and cup of tea at 6am. Home cooked bacon and eggs and brewed coffee a bit later on.
Morning tea: Sao biscuits, philly cream cheese, leftover tomato from breakfast
Lunch: 2 slices toast, small tin tuna, cheese, tomato. Home made yoghurt.
Afternoon Tea: Milo, grapes
Dinner: Honey soy Chicken Tofu stirfry
Snacks: tablespoon cottage cheese, frozen berries, lemon yoghurt.
Finished Today: Packet of Sao biscuits (replace: staple). Brocollini. Tofu. Pkt museli bars.
Wasted Today: 1 dead cucumber
Spent today: Groceries: $29.30 (fruit and Vege) Other: Pool Maintenance service and equipment: $159.90


I was really struggling with this concept this morning - I was starving all morning - literally hungry again 45 minutes after eating those bacon and eggs.

I like having an 'outing' on the weekends - so when Mark said that he wanted to know what a particular tree in our neighbours backyard was, I suggested that we go and have a wander around some of the native nurseries to see if we could decipher it. Turns out that I had been looking for a completely different tree to the one he was looking at. I was looking at a Callistemon and he was looking at a Banksia. So we went to Pialligo and had a bit of a wander - there is a whole road of nurseries and lovely shops and arty type things. I think I would like to goa wandering again on a day off work. I didn't realise that the Bison pottery gallery
was out there as well. We were given some bison pottery as a wedding present and I really like it. I think that trip will have to wait until after November though.

We couldn't find the tree so mark suggested we go to the Yarralumla nursery - where we were in luck. Not least because there was a native plant market and display on AND there was a specimen of the tree planted on the grounds of the nursery. So we asked what it was and it became a successful mission/outing. Banksia marginata for those who may be interested!

Happily - although I was tempted to buy a Rosemary plant - I didn't buy anything at all.

so only essential spending for me today. Nothing frivolous - which is the aim of the game really.

Our pool should be good as gold in about two weeks which I am rather pleased about. It will be so nice to come home from work being able to look forward to going for a swim!


And now... an hour after dinner I am hungry again....hmmmnnnn


Oh - and I realised today that I need to add another rule:

That is - I am committed to any pre planned expenses that occur throughout the month. I know already that this included today's Pool maintenance and will include Car registration and Insurance, Car roadworthy, and my Professional registration - without which I am not allowed to work. So all together those things alone will come to around $1000.... argh..

Tomorrow's challenge ingredients include:

Tuna, 100ml of Cream, frozen peas, 1/2 box of Penne pasta, a Cos lettuce - hmmnnn I can feel a pasta coming on. Hopefully it will make enough for lunch on Monday as well.

What is the 'Cost'?

Mark made an interesting point to me the other day about the considering the environmental impact of the things that we purchase. He was annoyed at me for wanting a shelving unit from Ikea for the baby's room - I really did have my heart set on this particular set of shelves!

But alas - he did make a good point and in this day and age where everything we buy is just so 'packaged' and consumable - it probably is something that we should be taking into consideration when making a purchase.

While I am getting the shelves - the simple act of getting them will have a massive environmental impact. First thing to consider is where they have initially come from - most likely overseas seeing as they are from Ikea. Then there is the fact that Ikea is in Sydney which is a three hour car trip from Canberra - and back again - in the process using a tank of petrol. Then there is the packaging - usually of which there is an overabundance - which will need to be disposed of and then transported to somewhere for processing - having a further environmental impact. I'm really really glad I am getting the shelves, but I think it is worth considering these things just simply to be more aware of the impact.

Personally I HATE packaging. It is everywhere and I swear that one day we as humans are just going to drown in the waste that we create on this earth. Whether that drowning is from a lack of oxygen in the atmosphere or something else - the amount of waste that comes from the 'thing's' that we buy that are processed and packaged does make it more difficult to tread the earth lightly. One of my pet hates and crusades at the moment is the packaging of meats to incorporate atmosphere modification in the process. I'm talking about those vacuum and gas packaged meats you see in the supermarket. Kangaroo is a meat that is often packaged in this way.

From the supermarket's perspective I can appreciate why they do this - it saves THEM money and reduces the wastage of meat that has gone past it's used by date. This is because vacuum and gas packaging of meats prevents backteria from growing that causes the discolouration and spoiling of meat to occur SO that means we are buying an older product without realising it. For example: Traditionally packaged ground beef has a shelf life of about five days, while modified atmospheric packaging can give ground beef a shelf life of 14 or even 28 days

I believe that we should also consider the amount of processing that goes into geting the meat to the vacuum packed stage. as well as what chaemicals we are subjecting our bodies to in the process. Just something to ponder.

One concept I recently came across was that of Locavores. The ideas is basically that you attempt to consume only what has been grown and produced locally - thus reducing your environmental impact. Cassandra forsythe did a post about it recently if anyone is interested in reading more. Localvores'

On that note - i'm off to the farmers markets to get me some vege's!