Category: Food/ Recipes

Another week is over

Posted on by Libby Withnall

Well, we’ve just finished week 4 at school – pretty scary if you ask me. It’s only 8 weeks till overseas trip and I know it will come around so fast. I still need to book our pre-cruise accomodation and our 2 nights in San Diego. I think we can make our lunch/dinner reservations for Disneyland in about 2 weeks so I will need to get a move along with our daily plans. I cannot believe how little free time I seem to have this year. I was hoping for a quieter week ahead but it’s Amy’s 8th birthday next Sunday so I will need to be getting organised for that. She’s having a craft party and the girls will be making a mini-accordian album (which I will preassemble) and a decorated monogram letter. Should be fun. Amy is very excited.

Dinner plans went much better this week and I actually made ALL the planned dinners. The girls have gone to Nanny’s for dinner tonight (they do most Fridays) so Kev and I are having take-away Indian. I was going to made a salad to have with some organic sourdough bread Kevin was given but he doesn’t feel like a salad. Not sure how the bread will be with the Indian but we’ll give it a go.

Use it up Challenge

Posted on by Libby Withnall

Busy day today – got a lot done – though I did miss the gym – had to take Amy to the doctors for the results of her blood test (she has sore toe and knee) – the results were negative for anything wrong – told to come back in 10day by a very rude doctor – will go to see our normal doctor next week when she’s back from holidays. I’ve decided to do a “Use It Up” challenge – an idea from a fellow list member http://lightening74.blogspot.com/ I’ve done my list – the pantry section is a page long so I won’t post it. I’ve decided I need to use something from the list with each dinner, as a minimum.
Kevin has been sick the last 2 days though must be better now as he’s eating all of the Hawiian Banana Nut Bread that I just made.
Read a great article at the doctors this morning about SLOW FOOD – wonderful idea – very along the lines of the River Cottage. Kevin wants us to go back to buying Organic fruit & veg – to supplement what we don’t get from our own veggie garden. Hate to think how much it will cost when I was nearly $60 at the local f&v shop this afternoon – didn’t even get a lot today but did buy 4 mangos, 2 pieces of watermelon, red & green grapes and some delicious cherries – which I’ve already eaten half of. Oh, well, at least it’s nice and healthy and good for us.

Advice – Do not go to "Sugar Fix"

Posted on by Libby Withnall

when you’re trying to reduce sugar consumption and money spending……. Hmmm…. it all went out the window today. Amy needed some moulding clay for a school project (she has to make a model of the solar system) and the only place i knew I could get it was at Miranda. So Christy and I went there today. I set off with the best of intentions – even packed my own snacks. I did okay until I got upset by a saleslady – probably not her fault but I must be emotional today. Then that was it – I decided to go to sugar fix. This store has stuff from the USA and UK and since I don’t go very often (I refuse to visit the website – that would be deadly) so I tend to stock up a bit. Today I bought some christmas presents and a few things for the family to share. Didn’t do too badly with the spending money – most was christmas presents – but I did buy some sheet for Amy (could have waited but scared the line is discontinued and this matches her new quilt cover) and a christmas bear for Christy. Another bear you might say? I know it seems a waste but it was only $10 and she was very well behaved. I know i’ll be donating it before long so I just looked at it like a charity donation.

Day 1 complete

Posted on by Libby Withnall

Well, I am happy to report that I manage to have no extra sugar yesterday. A few people questioned what I meant by giving up sugar so I thought I should clarify. I will still eat natural sugars and small amounts in foods. The main focus is giving up sugary foods like cake, biscuits, chocolate, ice cream, etc. Another rule I read somewhere was to avoid any food with sugar in the first 4 ingredients. At this stage I am also avoid artificial sweetners (farewell my beloved Diet Coke) but may introduce them later. I am not even sure I will stay sugar free forever – my goal is the end of November. Hopefully by then I will be past cravings and enjoying the new way I feel. I am hoping this will be like when I became a vegetarian 2 years ago. Then I said I might eat meat occassionally – but I never have. I gave up meat surely I can give up sugar – one is bad for animals, one is bad for my health – both are just as important.
As for my no spend challenge – it’s going okay. Christy wanted her normal cheese rolls from Bakers Delight so I had to withdraw cash for that. Then Amy lost her swimming goggles so I had to buy her some new ones. I also bought some chips at swimming lessons for Christy and I to share. But other than that – and really only the chips were extras – all is good and the cash is staying in my wallet.