April - No Spend Challenge

 The irony of posting a no spend challenge hot on the heels of a post about an extravagant Mother’s Day treat, is not lost on me. I’m happy to say, the two are not linked. March was an expensive month for me. Between a broken oven which I had to get fixed, a broken car which I had to get fixed and a multitude of school runs in taxis whilst the car was being fixed, my finances took a battering.

That’s not the sole reason that I’ve decided to challenge myself to a no spend April, even though a financial reset in its own right is valid enough. As anyone who knows me will agree, I love to buy things. Bags and dresses is a particular favourite, but stationary, craft supplies, random toys for little miss all feature highly on my ‘things I don’t need but I’m going to buy anyway’ list. So, I feel a mental reset is in order too. I want to try to get off the consumerism hamster wheel at least a little. 

So, for the month of April I’m doing a no buy challenge. It’s not as strict as some of the no buy challenges I see people doing. I’m still going to be buying takeaways/meals out, day trips and socialising, because I don’t believe in torturing myself. What I will be trying very hard not to buy this month is.

Clothes - All clothes. I don’t need anything, I will use my current wardrobe more thoughtfully and hopefully at some point will be able to bring my spring/summer clothes out of storage too, which is like having a whole new wardrobe.

My most recent hat purchase, when I wear it I’ve been likened to Che Guevara and Citizen Smith

shoes, bags, hats, jewellery, in fact any accessories, for the same reasons as above.

Dug this photo out of the archive, and still use that Aspinal bag sometimes 

Books. My TBR pile is already huge

Stationary- My stock of pens and notebooks is also huge

Toys for little miss (aside from her birthday presents in April)

All the toys and she’s still sooner play with a cardboard box

Makeup - I have plenty, plus backups

Toiletries, unless I have totally run out of something and absolutely have to replace it as there’s no alternative.

Craft supplies - I should actually use some of the stash I have.

Reusable cups/bottles - I have a problem with these. I do use them, but I really don’t need anymore… and I have been tempted recently.

I will be buying supplies to do some decorating, as well as some days out over the Easter holidays so by no means will it be a totally spend free month. There’s no point, however in me just adding to the copious amounts of things I’ve already got.

I’ll check in at the end of the month to see how I got along.

Stressful start, relaxing end

 Last week I alluded to the fact that I’d had some car trouble. It pretty much plagued me for most of the week, it seems every garage in Scarborough is full at the moment so I had days of doing school runs in taxis, or trying out the alternative of a 2 hr bus journey. One day I was saved by getting a lift from one of the other Mums, but honestly, it’s not easy having no wheels.

Having thought the issue was resolved Thursday, it seemed to come back Saturday evening so this week will be fun too.

Obligatory selfie in the office loo in London

Midweek, I had a trip down to London for some meetings. The weather was lovely, and it was actually quite nice to be in the big smoke for a change.

That said, I’m always happiest to get back ooop North, and always exhausted after it all.

It was a useful trip though and the rest of the week was very focused and productive off the back of it.

Today was Mother’s Day in the UK, typical the clocks went forward and robbed me of my Mother’s Day lie in. We still had a fairly relaxed start though. Little Miss had made me a lovely card at school, and I got some beautiful flowers from her (subsidised by the chap lol).

At lunchtime, along with my Mum, we caught a train down to York. We’d got a table booked at the Ivy for afternoon tea, but Mum wanted to peruse a couple of shops first. 

The Ivy was super busy, so we were really happy to be shown to a nice little tucked away table. Mum and I ordered afternoon tea (mine with champagne) whilst little Miss had a delicious and generously portioned burger from the children’s menu.

It was so relaxed and luxurious we had a fabulous time. Both me and Mum were presented with some lovely pink tulips too.

Afterwards, we took a wander through York. Even though the shops had shut it was still busy and bright. We walked up to the Minster, before heading back towards the train station.

It was a wonderful day, and a perfect tonic to the week.

Coastal Adventures

 Wednesday already. How time flies, I thought I’d share last week’s adventures while I sit waiting for my train to London (business not leisure), before we run headlong into another week. I read an article somewhere that as you get older the days and weeks do indeed feel like they pass faster and it’s due to the ‘sameness’ of our weeks. Nothing new to learn or new to see. That’s why children always think everything is ages away, because they are going to have so many more new to them experiences in the timescale. I digress.

Early in the week, the chap surprised me with another lunchtime visit and another beautiful bunch of flowers. We popped out for a spot of lunch and it was a lovely, if fleeting visit.

Wednesday I booked the afternoon off work to go and collect my new glasses, and also because little miss was bringing a friend home from school. I’m absolutely in love with my new glasses. They are Gucci, my prescription has changed meaning that I need to wear them even more often, so I wanted something statement and stylish for my face furniture. These definitely fit the bill. 

The rest of the week was much of a muchness, as usual, until the weekend arrived. Saturday morning, little miss had a friend’s party to attend. She got to play with her friends, I got to drink coffee and catch up with some of my mummy friends. I had also brought my knitting to do while chatting. 

After the party, we headed up to Whitby. After borrowing ‘The Artists Way’ from the library a couple of weeks back I’ve been following the tasks and activities designed to help me rediscover my creativity. It’s encouraged me to rediscover my love of knitting, baking and aromatherapy. So, I needed to go to Totally Natural Skincare in Whitby to stock up on essential oils and herbal teas. 

The weather wasn’t great when we got there, as so often is the case in Whitby. We headed straight for a tea room for crumpets and a pot of Yorkshire Tea, before taking on the shops.

Despite the weather, we had a lovely day perusing the jet shops and gift shops. Aside from my massive stash of oils and herbs, and a new silver ring for little misses forthcoming birthday, I didn’t buy anything.

We finished up with fish and chips, obviously, and a little wander on the massive sailing ship in the harbour before heading home. 

Back at home, I couldn’t wait to start blending up some of my oils. So far I’ve made a relaxing roller ball blend and some nail oil. 

Sunday, I was due to be heading up to Saltburn on Sea with the chap. Alas, my car had thrown a warning message on my way home from Whitby the night before about engine overheating, so we changed our plans and the chap came across to Scarborough for a day of beach walks and arcades.

He arrived mid-morning, and we decided to take Thelma for her second day out of the weekend. It was cold at the seafront, and I immediately regretted not having brought my big wrap scarf. Hardcore would be surfers were having their Sunday morning lessons, and  the beach was strewn with branches, driftwood and debris, indicating rough seas from the night before.

It was a refreshing wander, I’ve said before, these out of season and slightly cooler days are my favourite time to live in Scarborough. 

We walked out to the lighthouse, which is having some maintenance work done. Wandering along the harbour, we picked out the boats we’d like to own. I love the idea of having a little boat to escape to now and again. I’m not even sure I’d take it out on the wild North Sea, I think I’d just sit on it, drink wine and watch the world go by. 

After some restorative homemade (and delicious) soup at the Sunrise cafe, we wandered along the front, stopping to look in some of the shops along the way.

We’d already decided we would spend some time (and money) in the arcades. We’re children at heart, so the 2p push machines, and the giant space invaders are the things that capture us. We won loads of tickets, and some cheap plastic junk too, which really is the thrill of the 2p push machines.

We were surprised when we went to trade or tickets in at how big the shop had got. It used to be just a booth, but it’s much nicer and had much better prizes. Little miss wasn’t with us, but of course we traded our tickets for toys for her.

Then we went to the top floor, which has recently been done up. I had a cheeky Long Island Ice Tea, and we played darts. Despite my surprising fluke bullseye, the chap still won all of the games. 

We wandered off to get our Sunday dinner, which was a rather delicious roast chicken with all the trimmings, before heading home. It had been a perfect day out, despite our last minute change of plans.

Busy Doing Nothing

 It’s been a busy couple of weeks, but one where nothing much noteworthy has happened. Well, noteworthy is the wrong word, because I did buy a new phone after mine started behaving erratically. I decided to opt for a new iPhone, which really is a treat. I have to say, the camera is incredible. All of my photos in today’s post have been taken on it (and some filters used too). It won’t always replace my camera, but it’s definitely a viable option.

I’ve also had an eye test and I’m waiting for my new specs after my eyes got worse, AGAIN. Aside from that though, it’s mostly been concentrating on learning my new job. 

I did get home after a trip out for lunch this week to find the chap had sent me some lovely spring flowers. I think I fell for false spring with such joy, that this week’s grey skies and cold temperatures have really thrown me. These thoughtful flowers brightened up my day again, and continue to brighten up my living room.

Yesterday we popped out for some shopping. Just down to one of the out of town shopping places near York. We decided to stop off at Mama Doreen’s, which is a delightful little tea room, for lunch before hitting the shops. Whilst I didn’t plump for the afternoon tea, little Miss did. 

The joy of pouring your own apple juice from a gold teapot can’t be bettered. 

I did plump for this Pavlova though

I mostly bought bits of junk, including this fabulous little bag charm that’s gone straight on my handbag, which this week is my beloved Mulberry Bayswater that I bought around 5 years ago, preloved. I love hanging tat on my bags, Jane Birkin style. The other decoration is a bracelet that little Miss made for me ages ago.

Today, the weather has been hit and miss, so I put my raincoat on and Thelma’s too and we went for a walk to the beach.

It was delightfully quiet with just a few other dog walkers, and getting caught in a couple of rain showers didn’t bother us at all.

I had cockles, just because it’s ages since I’ve had some. Then I sat outside a cafe with an Americano and watched the world go by. It’s these out of season days that remind me why I moved to Scarborough in the first place. 

Thelma’s sleeping all of the walking off now, but I’m sure she’ll wake up when dinner is served.