Competitions and freebies for January

in the past I've been lucky with competitions so I thought I'd look online and see if  there were any to enter. Turns out there are thousands! Im going to keep a list of any entered each month and then we  will see if it really does pay off to enter these competitions.

 Weetbix cricket stump bin stickers
Now closed

Jayco camper trailer
https://www.jayco.com.au/promo/ifish

Organisational gift pack
https://www.russh.com/win-the-ultimate-2020-gift-pack-with-an-organised-life/

Pipe surfboard
https://billabong.com.au/womens/blog/events-giveaways/win_a_pipe_surfboard.html

Lawn mower kit
https://www.trustedbrands.com.au/giveaway/giveaway-victa.asp

Caravan
https://www.crusadercaravans.com.au/win-a-caravan

Another caravan
https://rvdaily.com.au/ezytrail-ceduna-64k-giveaway/

Ps4 headphones
https://m.facebook.com/JBHiFi/photos/a.214773761888730/2989485471084198/?type=3&theater

Different teas
https://qitea.com.au/detox sample

https://stashteas.com.au/free-sample-offer/

Menstrual samples
Done. https://www.poise.com.au/products/sample. -  arrived
https://www.tena.com.au/product-finder/ - arrived

Plantar Fasciatis

I do suffer with PF, I truly think a lot of my issue is ill fitting shoes and being overweight. This has caused me to walk oddly and in turn caused PF. I've tried various styles of shoes, insoles. It I'm drawing the line at the massive expense of a podiatrist for me. Before Christmas I ordered these insoles from an advert That popped up when I was on Instagram. 3 pairs for approx $50 (can't remember exacly) so I ordered the. And then got on with Christmas preparations. 

The package arrived and I forgot all about then as I live in thongs while we are away. When I came home the first thing I wanted to do was put runners  on, I cut my Shoqs to size and popped them into my runners. I've honestly not had any problem with my legs since I started using them. I'll be sure to mention it again if the pain comes back. 

Camping trips

 We are fortunate enough to go camping every school holidays. It's not by any means my preferred method of holidaying but it's affordable and means we go away each school break.

Our next trip will be to Moama so before this break away ends I'm, thinking about what I need to do to help with organisation for that trip.

There are things that need stocking up on for sure but meats are probably out biggest expense. I think I'll make one drawer of my upright freezer solely for camping food I pick up at the supermarket. But as I freeze it I will take it out of the packaging and move it to a zip lock back.

Hubby wants a BBQ stand for his Baby Q ebay 200
and a side table  ebay 35

Eldest son needs a boogie board (but not until sept holidays)
Hubby and I would like adult snorkel sets

I would like a portaloo for night time toilet trips (3am every single night) about 200 in camping shops

All 4 of us need Aqua shoes before Moama as this is a boating and camping holiday and will help with the rocks - Kmart have these so just need to check sizes DONE

A headphone splitter for the iPad in the car (4.00 from eBay)

Hubby would like a boogie board bag that holds more than one board (online 70.00)

Bike stand for back of ute - Yakima gatekeeper online about 175.00 DONE

Weigh in #2

I'm feeling really happy with this...

I've exercised 3x this week. Taken the dog for 2 long walks and been swimming with a friend. I've watched every piece of food that I've eaten and been so good.

I'm enjoying everything not being quite so tight on me too!


Total loss lso far... -5kg

My day

My car is at the mechanics getting a new radiator installed, hubby is at work for a half day and I'm home with the boys. I think once they have their jobs done I will let them have some free tech time so that I can march on with some housework and be sorted by the time hubs comes home so we can pop out if we need to...2 parcels to pick up from the post office, and the money I find in my sewing box to pay into the GC account.

I would like to get some outgrown school uniform listed on our school 2nd hand uniform website. It's kind of time consuming but hopefully financially viable for us and will not only clear some space but also will it a few extra coins into our Gold Coast savings account.

I had a nice lunch. I found some compliant crackers at Coles last week ($6.50 a box) and opened them today, they are delicious. I was really looking forward to something crunchy and this was perfect. I had 6 of them (7 make one serving) smothered in butter I am so stuffed!

Hubs came home and we made a start on cleaning up one of the students rooms. This money helps. To put a little in savings and also allows us to pay any fees for kids sports in case I don't get work during February.

Update:
We popped to the post office and bank, I paid the money into my GC account.
Took the boys bikes and the dog and went to a fairly local playground with a lake. Hubs, dog and I walked around the lake one time while the boys cycled it eldest 4 times and youngest 3 times. Then they played on the playground for about an hour while hubby and I had a chat about our mornings a do our plans for tomorrow.

For dinner we had leftover sausages, cauli cheese and I fried In butter bacon and half a left over tomato. I've been quite thirsty today. I am hoping the scales look good for me tomorrow.

recipes I want to try - LCHF sausage rolls

I weighed myself this morning for just a bit of a mental boost and I'm loosing kgs. It's a great feeling, I'm kind of dreading going back to work and having to fit back in everything, I've been living in shorts and tank tops all summer!

These have been on my to do list for a while. I'm thinking I might make them to the point of baking then pop them in the freezer for a work night dinner and get some party sized sausage rolls in for the kids in like it when we eat our on versions of the same meal, feels a bit more family wholesome. These would also be good as lunch box fillers for swim comps or just in town getting jobs done at the weekend. Hmm. Maybe I'll cook 1 batch to reese and leave the other ready to bake at home.

https://www.ditchthecarbs.com/fat-head-sausage-rolls/

It rained from about 8pm last night solidly through to about 7.30 this morning. I'm glad the water tanks have been refilled, I did so mch washing when we got back from camping!

Plans for today..

Organise dinner for tonight (sausages)

Tidy the kitchen

Tidy entry room.

Bag up things for op shop

Every little helps

I know I'm busy (like most people) but before I go to bed tonight I'm going to clear this hot mess of clutter and rubbish. It's probably only going to take 10 minutes but it's gong to get done. I'm fed up of not prioritising myself and my needs. I need this to be done! 

I may just grab bits and bobs throughout the day or I may spend the time in one block. Either way...a calm bedside table is my goal!

Oh goodness that feels so much better!
So far this morning I've vacuumed and mopped the toilets and bathroom, vacuumed the bedroom corridor, tidied my bedside table, fed the boys what feels like 94 million times and got meat out for dinner. (Sausages low carb for hubby and I and normal for the kids) I've taken out a double batch as I will cook for tonight and tomorrow and then just serve them differently.

Low carb living

I'm doing okay following LCHF again. I found it hard to get back into the swing of things but realised that it was my lack of preparedness that was the problem. I didn't have compliant snacks in the house. Went to Coles, bought salami, cabana, cheese, crackers (which I will eventually make myself but this get me started) when home, chopped the cabana and cheese into cubes and sorted it all in the fridge. Plenty of cream from Aldi, I. Find their pouring cream perce for my coffees and sour cream a great price for dumping on most meals!  Yesterday was. My first full day 100% Lchf. It felt good going to bed knowing that I'm on the right tracks! This morning was so much easier because the carb and sugar  cravings are less. Today my big need was to have a coffee not coffee and toast!

Dashed out first thing with the boys to pick up my car, it's had the AC regassed and a hose fixed $380! Home, let the boys have some tech time while I sewed on the scouts bushfire badges to their uniforms. Hubby and youngest have had uniforms returned to their rooms but eldest has moved from Cubs to scouts so I still have a mother load of badges to move from one uniform to the other! Boys are playing in their rooms for now. We have a builder coming later to quote on our entertaining area so I'm trying to get the main living areas in hand.

Things to be grateful for...

Found $25 in my threads boxwood have I've put in my bank book to pay into my GC account next time I'm passing the bank

Decorating on a budget

Pur whole house needs an overhaul in terms of decoration but we will start slowly and mindfully and gradually build up. The first room On my list is my eldest sons. I'm keen to take his room into a pre teen state. He has just one all that's needs to be done. I've seen recently on Instagram a few people that have used tones of the one colour to decorate a wall. Before Christmas I bought some different shades of grey sample pots and some tape. Looking at the picture makes me realise I may need to be a bit bolder in my choice of darker colours but that's okay each sample pot was only $5 so I always knew I'd need more that 1 of each, I'll just add in a darker grey when I go back. I found sample pots a much more cost effective way of completing this as I find quality paint really expensive. Before the end of the summer holidays I've asked hubby to get this wall prepared so that once school starts back I can get this done (of at least started) on a day when I'm not working. Tomorrow I'll take down any prints on his wall and get it ready for hubby to work his magic when he has time.

Back on the wagon

Th holidays are well and truly over. I stepped on the scales with trepidation this morning...

wearing only a tshirt and leggings my heart sank. But onwards and upwards,

Coffee with cream
Scrambled eggs with cream and pepper
Fruit tea
No lunch
Chicken Kiev, cauli and brocolli bake with cheese, cream and cream cheese!
Before bed I'll probably have another fruit tea but the sugar cravings are insane and I'm dying for a Pepsi max!

Decluttering the home - January

One thing I aim to do this year is declutter the house. I always save things for a 'what if' moment  and honestly I feel like I'm drowning I have to move things from one space to another just to able to do things and it hurts my brain that I live like this!

So my aim is to declutter and fill bags for the op shop / bin / recycling I have Large white trash bags I will use for this as they are too big for any of our household bins

So my target for January is 10 bags

I currently have 3 bags sat by the front door. I will ask hubby to put them in the back of his ute today. So we don't forget to take them out with us later in the week.

My main aim with decluttering is to spend less time keeping my home tidy because we have less stuff and everything has a place to go.

Running total 3

Home sweet home

We are home again. It was a 2.5 hr drive home and I slept for half of it but hubby drove all the way. I'm not confident towing the trailer.

One load of washing has been done and is drying in the lounge, some small screen on the line for morning sun / wind. Next load in the machine ready to put on in the morning.

Tomorrow I will start to work through my lists and check things off. Most of the things are in the house now, just a few bits and bobs to unpack and put in their correct places. I am also going to put the Christmas decorations away in their cupboard and collect my dog from the pet sitter.

It's good to be home and heading to my own bed.

Recipes I want to try - pumpkin and coconut soup

A perfect cooler night soup to have in the freezer. I think I will use the large pumpkin up that sitting on my kitchen bench and if it is popular then make another batch with a bought pumpkin. Im going to batch this up in lunchbox / thermos sized quantities so that it can be taken for lunch at work if needed and if not then it will be an ample amount for a dinner at home if served with some crispy bacon bits on top

https://skinnymixers.com.au/skinnymixers-coconut-curried-pumpkin-soup/

Camping trip comin to an end

Yesterday we decided to finish our camping trip a few days early. The weather is pretty ordinary we like to be on the beach all day every day but it's just not been possible this year. The wet and windy weather is arriving tomorrow. We decided that wet and windy weather when camping just isn't fun. We end up in the van for so much of the day that we go stir crazy! We've already done 2 weeks heresy honestly leaving a few days early is fine. I have plenty of things to do at home which would just frustrate me if the weather was poor but I'm more than happy to put off if the weather is fine!

So we took the kids to the carnival Last night. Their Nanna sends them money for the carnival every year so they love to go and choose their rides. They can usually get 3 things with that money youngest who isn't a fan of the rides chose 2 sideshows and a ride, eldest chose 3 rides! Then we buy 1 or 2 things for them.  Bought 1 thing and then youngest wanted a drink so we wandered over to the park next to the carnival to use the bubble tap and then they thanked us for taking them to the carnival so we didn't say a word about the fact we were both expecting to go back and do another ride and just wandered back to the van! Most  of our things are packed, we need for the awning to dry in the morning but if needs be we can lay it out in the shed to dry as the van will be going in for a service on Monday so no dramas about needing the space for the van. We also decided after the service to do a proper restock on the van, everything just needs pulling out and restocking properly as over the years things have not been put back in the right places. We bought sunscreen last week and then packing up found 3 new containers of sun screen! So frustrating and such a waste of money!

De cluttering my Mental lists

We are currently relaxing sat the beach. My brain had been off duty but slowly the mental lists start creeping in for when we get back home

School
Wash bags
Buy lunch boxes
Buy drink bottles
Buy shoes
Buy runners
Buy pencil cases
Wash school hats
Set up week 1 uniform on hangers
Fill pencil cases
School hats to bags
Check credit on myki card
Change classes on flexischool account

Work (me)
Empty and restock work bag
Sort 3x work outfits ( sort anything that needs sewing)
Clean and polish any shoes
Vac car
Fuel car

Work (hubby)
Iron clothes in laundry
Polish shoes
Sort 3x work outfits

Update calendar
dates on back of old calendar
Cubs
Futsal including gala days
Scouts
Swimming club
 comps
School
Overseas Student dates
School term dates (also check newsletter for extra dates)

Overseas student home stays
**Front room**
tidy gifts away
 packaging to bins
vacuum room
Art on wall?
Clean window
Clean sheets
sort bottom of white drawers
Pen pot for desk
Move hubby computer
Empty wardrobe

**back room**
List uniform on sustainable school shop
Empty wardrobe and box up anything too small
Shelves in room - scouts - hubby work- me teaching - other...ebay??
Vacuum
Clean windows
Tidy desk (scouts stuff)

Meal planning
Make chicken kievs
https://skinnymixers.com.au/skinnymixers-lchf-chicken-kiev/

Make butter chicken
https://skinnymixers.com.au/skinnymixers-butter-chicken-2/

Make crackers
https://madcreationshub.com/recipe/seasoned-keto-crackers-best-keto-cracker-recipe/

Make cauli / brocolli bake (own recipe)

Make fathead pizza bases
https://www.ditchthecarbs.com/fat-head-pizza/

Make keto cheese and chicken toasties for lunches


Appointments
Dentist - family
Optician - family (check date from last year so 1 year has elapsed)
Tax

Hubby
Scouts leaders meeting dates (suggested 2nd Monday of each month term time only or similar)
Scouts commitee meeting dates

2020

As the dust from NYE settles and tired people everywhere set about the new year. Here we slowly start, breakfast for the littles, coffee and tea for the adults. Everyone needing a bit longer in bed but happy and content. The days of hangovers are long past so tiredness is all we are suffering with. The kids play on the trampoline because they know better than to ask for Tech time and I start to think about 2020...and our plans.

Saving for Gold Coast Trip in 2021 ($10,000 estimated total cost)
Planning for Gold Coast Trip
Lose weight (target under 100kg)
Start to exercise (3x per week of 20 minutes)
Declutter home (equivalent of 1 grocery bag a day)
Prepare for overseas students to arrive (clear bedrooms and organise Christmas things to storage)
Meal plan


January Sales
 - wrapping paper (Christmas and birthdays)
- 6x gifts for overseas students  (Kmart have Australian bird socks, mugs in new ranges and also koala mugs which may get reduced further in sale)

Tomorrow we head out with our cousin and his kids boating for the day.
Wetsuits,
Sun cream
Caps
Towels
Picnic
Sunglasses.

Also need to wrap birthday presents for hubby for the 3rd.