Failing to Explain What we've been doing

I have tried to write posts for the last 3 weeks but my tablet has stopped letting me upload photos :( I will have to borrow hubby's laptop, though I often finish posts in the evening after bear is in bed but hubby usually has school work to do. I will have to work out the best way of keeping updated.... apologies again. 

An Explanation

I've been rather quiet on the blogging front lately and wanted to explain why. In the Spring, we will become a family of four! Although I haven't as sick as I was with Bear, I have been quite tired, which means that I have not been as adventurous with activities. We have, guiltily, spent a fair few afternoons just playing in the house.

I'm really hoping that I get some energy back now I am into the second trimester. Of course, this also gives me a whole new topic to cover - kitting out and entertaining a newborn.

Recent Bargains

Another quiet week here so I thought I'd share a few of our recent bargains.

 I picked this up today for £2 from a Facebook selling page. Bear loves the one at a group we go to, so now he has his own.

This was £1 from a nearly new sale...

As was this!

These skittles still have the label, and seem brand new. They were £3 from a charity shop.

The stroller was £10 from a Facebook selling page and makes Bear look as though he is in an armchair. (He's into clips at the moment so I couldn't get a picture without him in the way!)

I keep an eye out all the time for things we might need or toys I think Bear might like. For example, we have already bought a toddler bed with mattress, duvet, pillow, and duvet cover set from John Lewis for £25. The bed frame alone from Ikea would cost more than this! 

Have you picked up any bargains lately? 

This Week

I seem to be apologising a lot recently for not keeping up with posts. Illness is to blame this week; bear has had an awful cold and I have had 2 migraines. So, to be honest, we haven't done very much this week. We played with some chalk and went to the park a few times, and that's about it!

Hopefully normal service will be resumed next week.

Oh, I've done pretty well with planning lunches though - we've had leftovers 3 times and scrambled egg.

Lunchtime Lethargy

Up until recently, Little Bear would have sandwichey bits for lunch - bread, cheese, ham, cucumber, sometimes avocado,  and some fruit for afters. However, over the last few weeks, he has stopped eating most of these things including cheese which was his favourite! So I have had to come up with some other ideas, which are quick and easy to prepare as we are often out in the mornings and rush home to get lunch. Cost is a factor, obviously, and to be honest, I don't want to spend my whole day cooking; making a main evening meal is enough.

Eggs have been a hit generally. Scrambled, omelette and eggy bread go down well.

I want to become better at planning for leftovers. We had pasta bake a couple of nights ago but there was none left.

I thought I'd try some soups, seeing as Bear is getting really good with a spoon. Today I made vegetable (1 carrot, 1 leek and 2 small potatoes, and a stock cube). It cost way under £1 for a pan full that will feed both of us for 2 days. Well, that was the plan anyway. Little Bear wouldn't eat it :( So for his lunch he had some crackers, a rice cake and a satsuma. A really balanced meal.

I liked it anyway. 

What do you do for lunch?

Return to Normality

So the summer holidays are over, husband has gone back to work and groups are starting to resume. We had a great time over the 6 weeks doing not so frugal things. We tried to keep costs down where possible but really just used the time to do activities as a family.

We therefore have to tighten our belts over the coming months to save for Christmas. I'm going to try really hard to spend as little as possible, utilising free activities. I will have a car one afternoon a week which I'm really looking forward to as I can take Little Bear swimming or to soft play. These aren't free but I'll have to budget accordingly.

I might share some ideas for Christmas presents (if I think of any!) and I'm in the middle of knitting bears winter sweaters which I will also share.

In the meantime, back to colouring.

Paper from ikea, crayons from my local newsagents for £4.49

What we've been doing Wednesday

First off, I need to apologise for the recent lack of posts. My husband is a teacher (don't know if I've mentioned that before) so is on holiday for 6 weeks - Yay!! This means that we have been doing (not necessarily frugal) family things, with access to the car. A lot of our normal groups don't run in the holidays either, but normal service will be resumed in September.

I'll give you an idea of what we have been doing though:

Soft play

We went to Sea World in Birmingham while visiting my brother in law and his partner (half price tickets booked online in advance!)

We went to the RSPB nature reserve in Sandy because little bear loves birds. It was £5 to park, and then free entry. Unfortunately we didn't see that many birds but we did see some rather pretty butterflies. 

I did a messy play date for some of bear's buddies, with spaghetti, jelly, edible paint and water play.

We've been swimming, and spent lots of time outdoors going on walks.

Next week we are going to the zoo thanks to Tesco voucher exchange, and at the end of August, we are going to Pembrokeshire for a bargain week holiday. 

I'll try to update a bit more regularly. xx