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.
Friday, October 31, 2008
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!
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!
NaBloPoMo and Fiscal Fast
I thought that I would try and combine two things that are interesting to me into one interesting thing to keep me entertained this November.
NaBloPoMo
What is That - you may ask??? Simply put - November is National Blog Posting Month. The concept is that you post a blog post every single day for the month of November.
Harder than it seems BUT I figure if I combine it with my money thrifting / Stop food wastage challenge - then it may not be quite so difficult.
SO
The rules for the Money Thrifting Challenge are as follows (kindly borrowed and adapted from The Shopping Sherpa):
Please note: these are the rules (guidelines?) I feel comfortable with. If you fancy playing along you can use these or make up a set of your own that you feel comfortable with...
During the duration of the Fiscal Fast I can only spend money on the following:
1. Groceries. Planned out and purchased on the fortnightly shop. Fruit and vegetables only may be purchased at other times throughout the fortnight - although attempting to limit to 2 extra shops. Anything over and above this will be posted in green.
2. Bills that come due: electricity, gas, phone, insurance, internet etc.
3. Baby related items that are on the list. See previous post.
4. I am allowed one "Get out of jail free" card per week.
5. Medicine related items. This does not include Lipstick, mascara etc etc...
In terms of entertaining, it is permissible for me to cook dinner for friends and have them bring wine, nibbles or dessert as this is what usually happens when I have a dinner party. Not permissible is expecting friends (or strangers!) to pay for my dinner, tickets to things or buy me chocolate or wine just because I've decided to do this challenge.
Seeing as this is the first time I have attempted something along these lines I believe that the rules may need to be altered or added to along the way to account for essential things that I may have forgotten right now.
THINGS I SHOULD BE TRYING TO AVOID:
- Eating out, getting takeaway coffee etc
- Making frivolous shopping purchases because I can
- Paying for parking
I will dilligently write down how thrifty I have been each day and how much money I have spent each day. I will keep a tally in the side bar to see how I am going.. updating on a Sunday.
I'm scared. Tomorrow it begins.
Daily Categories:
Breakfast:
Morning tea:
Lunch:
Afternoon Tea:
Dinner:
Snacks:
Finished Today:
Spent today:
NaBloPoMo
What is That - you may ask??? Simply put - November is National Blog Posting Month. The concept is that you post a blog post every single day for the month of November.
Harder than it seems BUT I figure if I combine it with my money thrifting / Stop food wastage challenge - then it may not be quite so difficult.
SO
The rules for the Money Thrifting Challenge are as follows (kindly borrowed and adapted from The Shopping Sherpa):
Please note: these are the rules (guidelines?) I feel comfortable with. If you fancy playing along you can use these or make up a set of your own that you feel comfortable with...
During the duration of the Fiscal Fast I can only spend money on the following:
1. Groceries. Planned out and purchased on the fortnightly shop. Fruit and vegetables only may be purchased at other times throughout the fortnight - although attempting to limit to 2 extra shops. Anything over and above this will be posted in green.
2. Bills that come due: electricity, gas, phone, insurance, internet etc.
3. Baby related items that are on the list. See previous post.
4. I am allowed one "Get out of jail free" card per week.
5. Medicine related items. This does not include Lipstick, mascara etc etc...
In terms of entertaining, it is permissible for me to cook dinner for friends and have them bring wine, nibbles or dessert as this is what usually happens when I have a dinner party. Not permissible is expecting friends (or strangers!) to pay for my dinner, tickets to things or buy me chocolate or wine just because I've decided to do this challenge.
Seeing as this is the first time I have attempted something along these lines I believe that the rules may need to be altered or added to along the way to account for essential things that I may have forgotten right now.
THINGS I SHOULD BE TRYING TO AVOID:
- Eating out, getting takeaway coffee etc
- Making frivolous shopping purchases because I can
- Paying for parking
I will dilligently write down how thrifty I have been each day and how much money I have spent each day. I will keep a tally in the side bar to see how I am going.. updating on a Sunday.
I'm scared. Tomorrow it begins.
Daily Categories:
Breakfast:
Morning tea:
Lunch:
Afternoon Tea:
Dinner:
Snacks:
Finished Today:
Spent today:
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Over it... glad it is Friday
I am entirely over work today. This place can be incredibly inefficient and some of their timings, processes and protocols just make it worse.
I am sick of standing up and sitting down again 100 times in a day and my back hurts.
Nothing I can really do about it because this is the most stalwarted opposing change work place I have ever worked in.
I want a portal to the 'old world' so I could make them see how hard they all work without really having to.
It is days like these that I really don't fee bad about counting down the weeks until I go on maternity leave. I am positive that raising a baby (Despite the sleepless nights) will be more rewarding than my job is some days.
Silly beauracratic place that it is.....
Anyway - that is enough of my rant- On to more interesting things.
RECENTLY DISCOVERED
I recently came across an interesting thing in Notebook magazine about reducing food waste.
This is something that really interested me because I really really hate throwing out food - that had we been a little more thrifty with using it up in the first place or simply cooked less in the first place - we wouldn't be throwing it out at all.
I have always been one for recipie/menu planning but I think that I would like to make a more concerted effort to only buy and consume what we need - and hopefully spend less money in the process.
I think it really just comes down to being a little more conscious of eactly what is available in the cupboard and fridge at home and trying to use those things to make a dish - instead of going out to the shops to get just one or two things and then coming home with three grocery bags worth of shopping. I am very guilty of that one.
One blogger who is extremely good at this concept is The Shopping Sherpa. This lady (Who happens to be from Canberra) - I love looking back over her blog to see what she has done simply with what shes got in the house. She only really does it full on for 1 month per year and I am contemplating taking up the challenge.
I know that I will need to get better at keeping the pantry basics list and the freezer stock up to date - but hey - all I can do is have a go!
I am off to a good start today at least.
- I used up the last of the raisin bread (Including a crust) for breakfast and made my coffee in the plunger at home (Saving $5.70 at the work Cafe in the process).
- I had half a can of fruit and the end of a tub of jalna yoghurt for morning tea.
- Leftover Beef Stroganoff and the remains of a packet of brown rice for lunch.
- A museli bar for afternoon tea.
and well..... tonight is Laksa night ($10 - a once a fortnight treat)
So - total spent today $13.00 on Laksa and a drink.
I am sick of standing up and sitting down again 100 times in a day and my back hurts.
Nothing I can really do about it because this is the most stalwarted opposing change work place I have ever worked in.
I want a portal to the 'old world' so I could make them see how hard they all work without really having to.
It is days like these that I really don't fee bad about counting down the weeks until I go on maternity leave. I am positive that raising a baby (Despite the sleepless nights) will be more rewarding than my job is some days.
Silly beauracratic place that it is.....
Anyway - that is enough of my rant- On to more interesting things.
RECENTLY DISCOVERED
I recently came across an interesting thing in Notebook magazine about reducing food waste.
This is something that really interested me because I really really hate throwing out food - that had we been a little more thrifty with using it up in the first place or simply cooked less in the first place - we wouldn't be throwing it out at all.
I have always been one for recipie/menu planning but I think that I would like to make a more concerted effort to only buy and consume what we need - and hopefully spend less money in the process.
I think it really just comes down to being a little more conscious of eactly what is available in the cupboard and fridge at home and trying to use those things to make a dish - instead of going out to the shops to get just one or two things and then coming home with three grocery bags worth of shopping. I am very guilty of that one.
One blogger who is extremely good at this concept is The Shopping Sherpa. This lady (Who happens to be from Canberra) - I love looking back over her blog to see what she has done simply with what shes got in the house. She only really does it full on for 1 month per year and I am contemplating taking up the challenge.
I know that I will need to get better at keeping the pantry basics list and the freezer stock up to date - but hey - all I can do is have a go!
I am off to a good start today at least.
- I used up the last of the raisin bread (Including a crust) for breakfast and made my coffee in the plunger at home (Saving $5.70 at the work Cafe in the process).
- I had half a can of fruit and the end of a tub of jalna yoghurt for morning tea.
- Leftover Beef Stroganoff and the remains of a packet of brown rice for lunch.
- A museli bar for afternoon tea.
and well..... tonight is Laksa night ($10 - a once a fortnight treat)
So - total spent today $13.00 on Laksa and a drink.
Absent mindedness
To be honest I have felt pretty normal throughout my pregnancy when it comes to forgetfulness. I haven't had too many problems at all.
Although I did something funny the other day that I thought I would share.
We had turkish pizza on Monday night with some pide bread and Beetroot dip.
On Tuesday afternoon I got the dip out and the bread out and had a bit of a snack.
Once I was done, I put it away and got on with the afternoon.
When Mark came home from work he wanted some bread and dip and he asked me where the dip had gone or whether I had eaten it all. I said "no no I didn't eat it all - I put it back in the fridge". He replies... "nope - not there".
I said yes it is - I only put it back an hour ago. So off I go to the fridge to prove him wrong - only it wasn't there. Hmmmnnn....
Just out of interest I had a peek in the freezer.....
Sure enough there is the dip - on the top shelf of the freezer. Only slightly frozen but our freezer is pretty good so it was a bit ice cream like.
Mmmnnnn.... Beetroot dip ice cream....Yum!
I found it rather amusing......Mark however, did not. LOL.
Although I did something funny the other day that I thought I would share.
We had turkish pizza on Monday night with some pide bread and Beetroot dip.
On Tuesday afternoon I got the dip out and the bread out and had a bit of a snack.
Once I was done, I put it away and got on with the afternoon.
When Mark came home from work he wanted some bread and dip and he asked me where the dip had gone or whether I had eaten it all. I said "no no I didn't eat it all - I put it back in the fridge". He replies... "nope - not there".
I said yes it is - I only put it back an hour ago. So off I go to the fridge to prove him wrong - only it wasn't there. Hmmmnnn....
Just out of interest I had a peek in the freezer.....
Sure enough there is the dip - on the top shelf of the freezer. Only slightly frozen but our freezer is pretty good so it was a bit ice cream like.
Mmmnnnn.... Beetroot dip ice cream....Yum!
I found it rather amusing......Mark however, did not. LOL.
The most hated word in my dictionary
isn't what you might imagine....
No no - it is a much simpler word that when I try to apply it and stick to it I get slowly driven insane.
What could possibly do this you might ask????
The simple word BUDGET.
I hate them witha passion and would much rather just live and spend my money as I please within reason. I kind of have what I like to think of as guidelines instead. My money gets sectioned up and a portion goes here and a portion goes there. The second I refer to it as a budget I almost get cold sweats and go on a spending spree like you wouldn't imagine.
The problem is - that next year I am going to be earning MUCH much less than what I do presently and this is going to force a major alteration in my spending habits.
mark and I have been talking about this tonight and I can already feel the tingles of panic welling. When I feel like I am not going to have the money to do what I want to do - quite simply I get a bit paniky.
I feel as though I need to begin to get over this little hurdle in the coming months and now is as good a time as any to start.
I know the things that I am going to want to put money towards once my income is reduced so I think I need to start the thinking off now - simply so that I dont freak out entirely when it is forced on me in February.
Soo.... I guess there will be no more spur of the moment Pedicures for me ......
Time to engage the brain to start creating the patterns it will need to feel normal.
It sucks but it is life and life wasn't meant to be easy 100% of the time.
That was a pep talk in case you were wondering.
No no - it is a much simpler word that when I try to apply it and stick to it I get slowly driven insane.
What could possibly do this you might ask????
The simple word BUDGET.
I hate them witha passion and would much rather just live and spend my money as I please within reason. I kind of have what I like to think of as guidelines instead. My money gets sectioned up and a portion goes here and a portion goes there. The second I refer to it as a budget I almost get cold sweats and go on a spending spree like you wouldn't imagine.
The problem is - that next year I am going to be earning MUCH much less than what I do presently and this is going to force a major alteration in my spending habits.
mark and I have been talking about this tonight and I can already feel the tingles of panic welling. When I feel like I am not going to have the money to do what I want to do - quite simply I get a bit paniky.
I feel as though I need to begin to get over this little hurdle in the coming months and now is as good a time as any to start.
I know the things that I am going to want to put money towards once my income is reduced so I think I need to start the thinking off now - simply so that I dont freak out entirely when it is forced on me in February.
Soo.... I guess there will be no more spur of the moment Pedicures for me ......
Time to engage the brain to start creating the patterns it will need to feel normal.
It sucks but it is life and life wasn't meant to be easy 100% of the time.
That was a pep talk in case you were wondering.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Rest
I took yesterday off work because I really wasn't feeling up to it - both physically and mentally - and I had an RDO today so I have spent the majority of thepast two days at home lying down - doing very little. It feels really good actually to not be out and about rushing around and I should remind myself to stay at home and rest more often I think.
Forced relaxation is essential sometimes and I know for one that I am already feeling much better for it. Both in terms of clarity in my mind and in how I feel physically.
I don't actually get tired as such. In fact I still feel as though I have as much enery as I normally would - I think it is just that sometimes tasks seem so much more difficult than they really are.
I was thinking yesterday about schedules and routines and how important it will be to give myself one when I am not working - simply so that I don't go mental. I know that it will be different with a baby but I can't let myself get out of the habit of good routines just because I don't have that one big fixed one of going to work each day. Perhaps I will have to make the daily exercise routine equivalent to going to work in my mind. The gym that I am looking to join is having an open day this Saturday so I am going to go along and check it out. I know that they don't have Les Mills classes - which means no RPM and that it a big deciding factor for me - I also need to see from what age they take babies in their childcare facility. There is a fitness first which is a little bit further away but it may work out being more convenient if their childcare facility is better.
Righto - I am off to make beef stroganoff for dinner which we are having with steamed broccolini and green beans. Mmmmnnnn..........
Forced relaxation is essential sometimes and I know for one that I am already feeling much better for it. Both in terms of clarity in my mind and in how I feel physically.
I don't actually get tired as such. In fact I still feel as though I have as much enery as I normally would - I think it is just that sometimes tasks seem so much more difficult than they really are.
I was thinking yesterday about schedules and routines and how important it will be to give myself one when I am not working - simply so that I don't go mental. I know that it will be different with a baby but I can't let myself get out of the habit of good routines just because I don't have that one big fixed one of going to work each day. Perhaps I will have to make the daily exercise routine equivalent to going to work in my mind. The gym that I am looking to join is having an open day this Saturday so I am going to go along and check it out. I know that they don't have Les Mills classes - which means no RPM and that it a big deciding factor for me - I also need to see from what age they take babies in their childcare facility. There is a fitness first which is a little bit further away but it may work out being more convenient if their childcare facility is better.
Righto - I am off to make beef stroganoff for dinner which we are having with steamed broccolini and green beans. Mmmmnnnn..........
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