I think of this blog as my second home. My virtual home. Where friends come to visit.
Every home needs a little blitz from time to time. A little bit of a tidy up.
As Monday is my ‘down day’ in the School’s Out Schedule, I thought today would be a good opportunity to have that blitz.
‘Simply Being Mum’s Six Slow Cooked Soups’ e-book giveaway
First things first. Something that has been weighing heavy on my mind is the unfinished mini e-book that I’m giving away to all readers. As an unexperienced e-book writer, I didn’t really know what it entailed. I do a little more so now. The launch has been delayed considerably (did I originally say March, did I really?).
Top priority for me once the Kids are back at school will be to complete the book. I aim to have it done by the end of September without fail.
There’s still time to request a free-copy.
Spring Sale
Once again this year I decided to do a spring sale. The total generated so far is £135. Which is still £465 below my £600 target. I do have stuff to sell, it’s just getting round to selling it that’s the issue. My second car-boot sale has been postponed numerous times due to weather stopping play. Have I mentioned we are having the wettest year I can remember in my 38? Yesterday several parts of the UK had flash floods and giant hailstones. If I wasn’t so level-headed I’d be suspecting some outer-space activity may be affecting our weather system. Hmm now there’s an idea, could there be a Planet X? 😉
I’m determined to meet and even exceed my self-imposed £600 target. Like I said, I have stuff to sell. Even my 4-year-old’s first bed which he has now outgrown. Time passes so quickly. As Gretchen Rubin says the days are long but the years are short.
Yeast Giveaway
There are still 5 boxes of yeast to post.
If you haven’t yet e-mailed with a delivery address to send it to, please could you get in touch? Many thanks!
As you can see they are on my desk waiting to go. Debbie yours will be in the post tomorrow!
Summer Reading
This one’s a little kick to myself. The Kids still haven’t been signed up for the Summer Reading Challenge!
Having a blog makes you publically accountable and it’s very motivating. I do have a little confession. I decided to finish the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy that I’d downloaded onto my iPad a while back, even though it wasn’t on my reading list. So in theory I’ve read 2 books in 2 weeks (well skim-read actually). I’m moving onto The Host this week by Stephanie Meyer. The Kids and I started Harry Potter last night. I may be the only person remaining who has not read J.K Rowling’s masterpiece! The timing may be perfect as I am in much need of some well written prose 😉
How’s your Summer going? Nice and tidy, all on target or are there things weighing heavy on your mind. Do you need a bit of a blitz?
I now update most days on Facebook, why not head on over and join the conversation?
**Couldn’t leave today without sending my congratulations to Team GB. Way to go Guys!**
Hi Jo
I think I may be due one of those boxes of yeast cluttering up your desk. Please put it to good use yourself as I am in Hong Kong and the yeast probably won’t travel the humidity too well. I made a lovely seven grain loaf over the weekend – yummy!
Okey Dokey Lauren! I’ll use it up myself (if you’re sure!). The loaf sounds yummy!
Hi Jo
I think I may be due one of those boxes of yeast cluttering up your desk. Please put it to good use yourself as I am in Hong Kong and the yeast probably won’t travel the humidity too well. I made a lovely seven grain loaf over the weekend – yummy!
Okey Dokey Lauren! I’ll use it up myself (if you’re sure!). The loaf sounds yummy!
Wow…that is one neat & tidy desk! But I wouldn’t expect any less from you! 😉 I received the yeast the other day, thanks so very much for your generosity!! 🙂
Glad it arrived Carla. The desk isn’t quite so tidy today I’m afraid. There’s all sorts of wires etc left on it by the Hubby. I daren’t move them…
Wow…that is one neat & tidy desk! But I wouldn’t expect any less from you! 😉 I received the yeast the other day, thanks so very much for your generosity!! 🙂
Glad it arrived Carla. The desk isn’t quite so tidy today I’m afraid. There’s all sorts of wires etc left on it by the Hubby. I daren’t move them…
So, do you keep your desk like your fridge–sparse and neat? Or did you clean it up for the picture?
It was tidied for the photo…. well actually I’d tidied it before I’d decided to take the shot but same difference. It’s a little messier today but as I look around I notice none of the mess is via myself! All the hubby’s stuff!:-)
So, do you keep your desk like your fridge–sparse and neat? Or did you clean it up for the picture?
It was tidied for the photo…. well actually I’d tidied it before I’d decided to take the shot but same difference. It’s a little messier today but as I look around I notice none of the mess is via myself! All the hubby’s stuff!:-)
The weather is definitely a factor in my messes 🙂 This summer has been our driest and hottest for as long as I can remember, and I’m a “bit” more than 38 and I mind the heat/humidity. I get much more done in the fall and winter than spring (busy at work) or summer (those hot, muggy days). As you said, wet weather can be a huge problem too. I really love the idea of Mondays being a down day – wish I’d thought of that when my kids were young.
What I’d give for a hot day 😉
The weather is definitely a factor in my messes 🙂 This summer has been our driest and hottest for as long as I can remember, and I’m a “bit” more than 38 and I mind the heat/humidity. I get much more done in the fall and winter than spring (busy at work) or summer (those hot, muggy days). As you said, wet weather can be a huge problem too. I really love the idea of Mondays being a down day – wish I’d thought of that when my kids were young.
What I’d give for a hot day 😉
I’ve always liked the phrase “tidy up”… I have a lot of that to do myself the next couple of weeks!
It is a nice phrase isn’t it? Very succinct!
I’ve always liked the phrase “tidy up”… I have a lot of that to do myself the next couple of weeks!
It is a nice phrase isn’t it? Very succinct!
All I want to know is how have you managed to last this long without Harry Potter!?!
I know…shocking!:-)
All I want to know is how have you managed to last this long without Harry Potter!?!
I know…shocking!:-)
Hi Jo!! In reply to your question about my cake i would love to share the pictures, but i don’t know how to do it on facebook 🙁 I’m pldding on with the fifty shades series but i seemed to have been sidetrcked by a book called ‘In the midst of Life’ byJennifer Worth (midwives trilogy) A really good read and for me a very personal one as i begin my journey into nursing.
We have done lots of pottering over the holiday (my idea of bliss) and kept spends to a minimum as we have a trip planned for Florida next April. So far (thanks to the weather 🙁 ) we have done the photo sort, watched old cam corder recordings (when did my babies grow up?) baked cakes, been to the library, sorted out Lego, Still to do, pictures, park (weather permitting) and finish of school uniform shopping (major stress).
Love your tiffany-esq style lamp on your desk!! And i would love the cook book. Did i tell you the cauliflower cheese soup was a major hit? That has made our journey into vegetarinism a little easier!!
Sharron x
Hey Sharron – glad the hols are going well. We too have kept spend down this summer as we have a big holiday planned for later in the year. Florida sounds fantastic! The Kids will love it!
The school uniform thing I’m not doing this holiday. Before they broke up both needed new school shoes which was bad timing in one-way and good in another. I know they won’t wear them for 6 weeks but their feet won’t grow so much that they’ll need replacing anytime soon. It means I can miss the usual scrum at ‘you know where’. The uniform they have will also suffice, I tend to replace year round as it’s now in the shops all the time, again I’m glad!
As for the cake photo – you can upload the same as on your own page I believe. But why not send it me and I’ll put it up there. I’d love to show your masterpiece off! get in touch please?
(lamp – copied my Big Sis’ believe it or not it’s BHS)
Hi Jo!! In reply to your question about my cake i would love to share the pictures, but i don’t know how to do it on facebook 🙁 I’m pldding on with the fifty shades series but i seemed to have been sidetrcked by a book called ‘In the midst of Life’ byJennifer Worth (midwives trilogy) A really good read and for me a very personal one as i begin my journey into nursing.
We have done lots of pottering over the holiday (my idea of bliss) and kept spends to a minimum as we have a trip planned for Florida next April. So far (thanks to the weather 🙁 ) we have done the photo sort, watched old cam corder recordings (when did my babies grow up?) baked cakes, been to the library, sorted out Lego, Still to do, pictures, park (weather permitting) and finish of school uniform shopping (major stress).
Love your tiffany-esq style lamp on your desk!! And i would love the cook book. Did i tell you the cauliflower cheese soup was a major hit? That has made our journey into vegetarinism a little easier!!
Sharron x
Hey Sharron – glad the hols are going well. We too have kept spend down this summer as we have a big holiday planned for later in the year. Florida sounds fantastic! The Kids will love it!
The school uniform thing I’m not doing this holiday. Before they broke up both needed new school shoes which was bad timing in one-way and good in another. I know they won’t wear them for 6 weeks but their feet won’t grow so much that they’ll need replacing anytime soon. It means I can miss the usual scrum at ‘you know where’. The uniform they have will also suffice, I tend to replace year round as it’s now in the shops all the time, again I’m glad!
As for the cake photo – you can upload the same as on your own page I believe. But why not send it me and I’ll put it up there. I’d love to show your masterpiece off! get in touch please?
(lamp – copied my Big Sis’ believe it or not it’s BHS)
Yes, bit of a blitz needed here too! The summer holiday to-do list runs to a page and a half of A4 (possibly a little bit ambitious!) and so far it has two things crossed off…like you, the Ebay pile is overflowing and there’s a giveaway to post, the kids aren’t making much progress with the Storylab library challenge, but my reading’s going well! (Bypassing 50 Shades tho’…I’m reading Jennifer Worth’s ‘Call the Midwife’ like Sharron above!)
Yes, bit of a blitz needed here too! The summer holiday to-do list runs to a page and a half of A4 (possibly a little bit ambitious!) and so far it has two things crossed off…like you, the Ebay pile is overflowing and there’s a giveaway to post, the kids aren’t making much progress with the Storylab library challenge, but my reading’s going well! (Bypassing 50 Shades tho’…I’m reading Jennifer Worth’s ‘Call the Midwife’ like Sharron above!)