lunchtime spending

As I'm planning quite a few fun times I had a little look at the old budget today. 
I have an Excel spreadsheet going back since Jan 2013. I must confess that for the whole of last year I was paying off my credit card at the rate of a few hundred quid a month. Disgusting and embarrassing. Prior to that I had a serious saving habit. I got quite stressed at the end of the year when I realised I hadn't been able to save for a year.

Anyway, that chapter is over and it won't be back unless I have to deal with a cock-up like smashing my car or emergency dental work. It feels good to have the freedom to spend/save again.

I nipped out at lunch. I have my spend/save money burning a hole in my pocket. Aaahhh. Talked myself out of buying an eye serum as I haven't done enough research and they range from like £12 - £90.
I did not talk myself out of buying a necklace to go with my Zara dress.

Et voila! Image and necklace from Marks and Spencer at £17.50. It's gold and silver so goes with EVERYTHING!

I ate alot of Galaxy cookie crumble today. At first I hated it. But after ploughing my way through about 6 squares it grew on me. I will not be buying it again. The cookie crumble spoils the galaxy choc.

We are over the hump people. Rejoice!

xx Sunny
 

Its only words

I have no photos.
That's not going to be a reason for me to not blog.
Words are more important to me than some nice pics which I love as much as the next person but I'll just have to find something on Google rather than have a photo narrative of my life.

I am always very anxious at this time of the year, Jan-March time. I think it's the New Year, the 12 months looming ahead in which I need to plan as much enjoyment as possible.
I'm never back on an even-keel until I've booked in all my holiday entitlement. Then we need to agree holiday location, get that booked as much as possible. I like to know what I'm doing on our long bank holiday weekends. I need to know what I'm looking forward to.

I have a little diary this year. Its to make me actually plan more events and hobbies into the calendar and DO stuff. Zumba goes in there: yoga, cinema trips, dinner. If I don't do anything on a weekend, I fill in what I did do: complete my first ever cross-stitch; start my jigsaw; went clothes shopping; made a cake.

My little diary and my little blog are my journal of what I do actually do. I have a life. Let's be proud of it and make it something to be proud of.  

In my blog title I call myself lazy. I am. However I am capable of being not lazy. I manage it every day at work. I am now taking an interest in myself and making myself interesting. I was treading water a bit at the end of last year. 
I think I'd told myself that I was saving money for baby-having time/I wouldn't need hobbies as I was saving money/evening weren't so important and I should save up good stuff for weekends/I had to stay in work til 7 every night.

What happens is I'm not waiting for something that is not happening this year or next. Cheapo hobbies at home are good. 5 weeknights can seem a long time to wait for the next weekend and fun thing, don't wait. I do not need to stay in work til 7 every night, I'm not the CFO.

Life is short and every day is ours to do with it a little or alot. I still have lazy days of course, but the lazy/lively balance is better.

Sunny xx

Film catch-up

I am being seriously tempted by TV addiction again...
I'm still on Misfits, Stella, Grand Hotel, but have not advanced past series 2 on Desperate Housewives and have not had time to watch an episode of series 3 of Nashville. True Detective also just started and is ready and waiting on the planner. I love TV but I feel like I'm wasting my life if I watch too much and don't have a legit reason like being too ill or hungover to move.

I did justify watching a film...its called Brokedown Palace and I borrowed it from a friend at work at least 18 months ago -no exaggeration. I was too embarrassed to return it without watching it so finally did (hoorah!) and can return it tomorrow with my head held high. It was ok. Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale as drug mules in Thailand. I think my work friend must have got it in the bargain bucket for £3, at this price its an acceptable watch.

I did a teeny bit more of my jigsaw today but my biggest achievement this weekend was making a caramel apple pie.

There's the crumble. Was worried it was soggy but it wasn't. I love a crumble because it takes about 2 minutes to make and it is served with custard. Custard keeps you going in the cold weather. Using the caramel instead of sugar didn't make a massive amount of difference but there were some nice crispy bits.

This was obvious comfort food as I'm still feeling under the weather. Tried to feed myself better with a cottage pie and a roast chicken with sprouts in garlic butter,cauli and carrots. I even drank OJ which I do not do. I must be ill.

Hopefully all the vits will do their magic overnight. I will report back.
Fight those Sunday night blues.

Layzee xxx

yoga + a night out

Hi there,

Just watched an emotional episode of The Voice. There were tears. As I cry at 70% of programmes, this is no surprise. The boyf just ignores me.

Look what happened this week:

That is a light sky at 5.40pm....Spring is on its way. Don't let the car lights dissuade you of what I'm saying. It was light.

These also arrived from BBE (best boyf ever). Purple n yellow is such a great combo, so summery.

 

Managed a yoga sesh on Thursday. There was some really bendy people there. I've only been doing yoga for about 5 mins but I WILL bend.

Friday had food at Artisan. I couldn't take any pics of the food cause of the ambient (dark) lighting but we had a couple of nice drinks.

Mine is the Prosecco, the cooler was my friend G's. I think it was elderberry and something. A rather tasteful shot taken in the ladies loos showing off their tiled floor. Classy move by moi.
I had 2 starters - baked camembert and prawn and guacamole salad. It was the first time I had baked camembert, I know where have I been for the last 8 years? Loved them both. The guacamole went down well with my side of crinkle chips dipped in it. I could not face a pud after.

G had cooked smoked salmon. It was very "smoky", I did not have food envy and preferred mine. Result!

In further Rock n Roll news today I've been doing a jigsaw. Yep its all go round here, its a wonder I have time to write a blog.

Rock on 
Sunny x

Wordless-ish wednesday

Zara dress!

Warwick castle from the Mill House

Tree root sculpture in our room at the B&B

Shakespeare's birthplace

Hello Stratford Spring

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Assuming 99 hours to Manchester..I'd still be a few miles away

Keep it cool. Sunny x

Excellent Warwickshire

We did some some domestic tourism this weekend.
It was brill.
Sneaky little night away in a B&B on Saturday night.
Went to Warwick Castle on Saturday. I was prepared, tights-jeans-vest-top-jumper-coat-scarf-gloves. We paid £10 each to get in as we bought from an "unauthorised person" just outside the entrance who had spare tickets he wanted to make a bit of money on. He looked like a geology student not a tout and he saved us £15 x 2 so we were happy.

from the walls

It was smaller than I expected. There were alot of actors there - saw some duelling gents and a couple of jesters who were funny. I preferred the older part of the castle -the ramparts and the towers.

Sunday we visited his hometown:

Image from npr.org

I had wanted to go for a while, it was also quite cute as we were re-tracing my parents footsteps from a trip they took in 1981!

We had magnificent weather - blue sky, sunshine. I even braved it and went without my tights.

Have tens of photos to add on soon.
2 weeks of winter left!
LZ x

Pizza and films

Last weekend flew by.
I am certain I put on weight. I read today that Northern Hemisphere people are fatter. Yes. Its cold, we need stodge. 

Friday was the lamb filo pastries and profiteroles. Saturday evening and we went to Gusto for the first time. (Half) my pizza in the photo - goats cheese, rocket, sweet pepper, caramelised onion, pine nuts. Beyond lush.
The meal also involved mozzarella garlic bread and polenta chips to dip in LB's (lovely boyfriend's) lasagne sauce.
 Carb fest. The garlic bread was the size of the pizza. Be hungry before going.

Movie poster taken from another site.

 Dallas Buyers Club was my cinema choice. The true story of the buyers clubs was interesting and something I had no idea about. The lust for life of the main characters when they were dying of AIDS makes you think twice about moaning about crappy day-to-day stuff. That said I found the film a teeny bit slow + that cinema is like a hothouse so I was fidgety towards the end. Matthew Mcconaughy and Jared Leto had put their bodies through the mill to get in character, such dedication. I think 4/5.

LZ x

hibernating

Written on Wed night...
So naughty. I'm in bed in and wearing an 8 year old Wales rugby top, trackie bottoms and a dressing gown wrapped round my head. I have been here since 20 past 8. I need gloves as my hands feel like icicles but they are peripheral body parts so who cares. I am eating minstrels. It feels great to be bundled up warm.

There are wind warnings across the UK, I am lucky that my drive home did not involve crossing any high ground or riding a bike - as I saw some hardy souls doing!I am also very grateful not to be in Somerset or the other places where flooding has ruined so many homes.

I went out for some comforting pasty goodness at lunch but came back with a cold egg butty. I blame Greggs. How the heck are the sausage rolls allowed to run out between 12 and 2? Yes they were cooking more...did I have the inclination to loiter round to wait? No. My loss.


Although I failed to comfort eat my way through the day at work, I had put a plan, or better said, a casserole recipe into action this morning in the brilliance that is the slow cooker. The scent of casserole was wafting towards me when I walked through the door at half 6. Went down a treat with some cheesy mash.

Hunker down with your hunks or your hot water bottles

x LZ

I like eating

Last Friday was brill.
Its Friday how could it not be?

Look what BBE (best boyfriend ever) made us - it was a tesco finest greek lamb filo pastry parcel with roast veg and broccoli and cauli. It was amazing. The filo pastry had the lamb, apricots, spinach, aubergine. Will defo buy again.
It was a dine in for £10 including the nice rose vino and profiteroles for pud. Profiteroles - food of the gods.

Before my tea I fitted in some retail therapy after work. Made a beeline for Zara. Will post a pic of my dress soon. Its cream and yellow and blue.

Also due to the removal of the non-leather hideous shoes and due to the fact that pointy shoes are back in fashion and therefore can be bought in the store I have a new addition to my shoe family.

Campanile(?) shoe. Image from aldoshoes.com

Have not worn these yet, the wet weather does not allow. Boots only for the time being. Boohoo.

Stay dry I hope

xLZ

The week that was

I'm back. Week was busy mainly with work so I didn't make time for blogging.
I made time for yoga and a really funky zumba session - because I'd paid for the both in advance!

Sunday, the day I worked, seemed to be the best day of last week - clear blue skies and everybody driving in their sunglasses. It was lovely.
Feeling I'd missed out on the best weather on Sunday, on Monday I went for a little wander at lunchtime for half an hour to get some fresh air and combat the tired feeling.
I took a couple of pics of what I saw. Very mundane I must warn.

The bottom that looks like a wall with triangle shapes on top is the new Coronation Street studio.
The tall buildings are Salford Quays and a couple of the buildings are the BBC studios. 

I was last over there in December when we went to War Horse at the Lowry theatre. War Horse is brilliant, moving without trying to push the sentiment down your throat and the puppetry was not like anything I'd seen before. Wonderful!

To the right of the first photo is the Imperial War Museum North. I like a good museum and I've lived in Manchester for 8 years in total but I have still not been. Isn't the building striking though?

It was a very windy day. I was cold.

These berries brought the colour to the table. GGGRRR -Winter you grey animal!. Come on Spring, bring us your yellow goodness (DAFFODILS, yay!)

LZG x

So...

Its been a hectic week since my PINK post.
I've had 2 very late nights at work and couldn't face more screen time to post a post.
I'm also feeling sorry for myself as I have a 6 day week starting tomorrow so having a tiny weekend of one paltry day.

I'm only writing this today as I like doing so and need to keep in the habit, but I have no photos. I'm also being too lazy to bother getting web images. Deal with it.

I was inspired to cook a 3 course meal today with some favourites of my gorgeous boyfriend. Starter was halloumi couscous peppers, main was Jamie Oliver's fried chicken with posh ham + potato dauphinoise and dessert was apple and raspberry crumble. I burnt my tongue on the crumble which slightly spoils the memory of the meal. Its still painful now.  I will cook all courses again though. Nice way to "end" my weekend.

Must not feel sorry for self. Look at good things.
1. Wales won their first six nations game! YES! 
2. I had some blue moon beer while watching the match. Its a rule to have beer and watch sport together. 
3. I braved the winter weather outside and did not got blown away.
4. I bought the nice sausages from the butchers
5. I have booked the hotel for me and 5 other hens for the hen do in Spring I'm attending, so don't feel bad about not having done it anymore. Now I'm left thinking please all pay me and don't cancel, please.

Must trot.
LZ x