Instagram and being sane has wrecked my blog

I sort of stole that title off Brooke (I nick all her good ideas).

If you really want to know what I am doing ... follow me on instagram (bearlulu) I can't seem to find the motivation to blog ... or maybe I am no longer batshite crazy and need to constantly be poring out my inner most thoughts on this blog... hmmmm.



Anyhoo this is a snapshot of what we have been up too.

I did a development and leadership course for work... and it was held at Mooloolaba Beach. It was stunning!(and I learnt a lot and shock horror I put some of the learning into practice and guess what it works).

David and I took a road trip to help his Dad and Joy pack up and clean their Bay house as they are off overseas for six months. 6 hours alone with David, the BeeGees and Kenny Rogers was ace and sort of like a mini holiday.

I have picked out some paint to paint our dinning room chairs ... see below for inspiration.

David went on a boys fishing weekend and the kids and I hit the beach. We also had tea out. It was a relaxing and good day. The peeps behind us are having their wedding reception on top of a fish and chip shop... I have no words.

 

 

 



We went camping! It was so much fun (until I got a splinter... but even then it was good fun). We went with our neighbours who have baby twins and little boys. It was so good.

 

 

 

 

 

Lulu loves the babies and Selfies. She's great at both.








As we were clearing up the kids rooms, Lulu found some baby clothes. Time and humidity have not been kind to them :-)

 

 

 

Andrew came down from Cookers and we went celebrated by dropping a cash bomb on the Spirit House. 

 

Other things that are possibly only of interest to me (and my Dad lol). This is my work colleague Meegie... I love her so much ... she thinks I'm stalking her... and judging by our work clothes I am!

My gorgeous boy was out of his cast for a week and he hurt his arm at Rugby. This face sums it up. He is on the mend but David had to do the Dr and the hospital... I couldn't face the fracture clinic one more time (listen to me anyone would think I had the break!)

 

Riley also performed in the school Musical - the Seussical.  He devoted A LOT of time to practice and on the night we were so so so proud of our all singing all dancing monkey.

 

 

Hope all is great in your world :-)
Exxx

Short As

Its official ... I am the shortest memeber of the Crew now!

 

 

Tight As

I hate money... actually I quite like the stuff it gets you but I hate thinking about it or stressing about it. My lowest opinion is reserved for tight ungenerous people ... cant stand them.

Anyway what with not winning lotto and paying for two high schoolers at Siena and living our extravagant rock star lifestyle... money is somewhat thin on the ground at the moment.

After Christmas David and I did the soul destroying  awesome task of looking closely at our budget. We have always had and followed a budget but I realised this year that I was going to have to trim some areas to make up for other expenses. Grocery shopping, food buying, and clothing shopping for me all got the chop in some way.

These are my new rules and practises.

• I menu plan for 14 days and then buy to the menu.
• I grocery shop online ... its ALWAYS cheaper and we never miss the random stuff that ends up in the trolley when we shop in store.
• I try to come up with dinner ideas with the food I have in the pantry and fridge freezer (and google the ingredients to make something).
• I cleaned out all the bathroom cupboards and gathered together all the half empty shampoo and conditioner, mouse, gel, face creams etc etc that get shoved away when I buy a bright shiny new bottle. I haven't purchase a bathroom product (apart from toothpaste) for THREE months as we are using up what we have. 
• I am not buying any new clothes or shoes for me. I do not need them. I would also rather go to the movies with David or Vyc than buy another top (and its one OR the other this year).
• I have a list of clothes that David, Riley and Lucy need and that is all I am buying. Lucy needs a new school uniform winter jumper and David needs work socks. Riley needs everything because he has grown 3 sizes...
• I don't go shopping as a leisure activity  and if I do I always have a bit of a think about what I really NEED vs what looks shiny and new at the shops. 
• We don't go out to eat unless its for a special occasion.
• I have also taken on extra research work for a project at work to earn some $ for a trip to Darwin in the dry (this is still very much a work in progress).

I realise after reading these rules how pathetic it all seems but its working for me and that is the main thing. I am prepared to live a bit of a frugal life for the next two years (until Bear finishes High School) to make sure all the bills are paid and all our money is going on the stuff we need.

I also want to spend the dollars I save on things like camping, trips away with David and special dinners with the kids.

See ya
Ex