Wordless Weekend...

Febusave

Have you heard about Febusave?

 I signed up towards the beginning of the month and have been meaning to do a post on it all month.  So here I am almost at the end, so I may as well do a round up for you and so I have a copy for myself for reference in the future.

I made a deal with myself this year that I would not spend money on wool or material that I did not need.  I even walked in to Spotlight the other day and only walked out with elastic and three meters of cord.The credit card, storage boxes and my husband are all thanking me. (Could have saved up to about $100 as all of the summer stock was marked down this month)

Tangled Yarns have been trying hard to get me to part with my money with 10% off a special thing every Friday. Although I did make a purchase this Friday - but there is a certain husband having a birthday next month and I have plans for it straight away (well as soon as I have it in my hot little hands) (Saving of about $200 - there has been a few things that have tempted me, Sorry Kelly)

We have not had takeaway for the month. We did go out for dinner the other night - but that was a special treat.  We have done a few different things that have been fun.  Picnic dinner with home made pizza on the lounge room floor.  A play and bbq at the park. (the potential to be once a week and then lunch after church $200)

We went camping.  A cheap family holiday and everyone had fun.  And when we looked at it, Yes we had the extra cost of a tank of fuel, but if we did stay home we would have ended up at a shopping centre and bought something that we really did not need and then lunch.

I have been very organised and have been managing to stick to a menu. This is great and I still have a long way to go.  The next task is to work out where I can use the rest of the greek yogurt or celery etc before it gets forgotten in the fridge and goes off.  This also means that I am not at the shops all of the time and tempted by other things.
Another thing that I have been doing is taking a lunch box with treats in it from home.  So when the kids start with the "Mum, I'm hungry" they have something to eat and I am not grabbing something extra. (Savings unknow -  but feels good)

I have found a great local butcher and fruit and vege shop (who offer vouchers that you print off and take in eg.Monday and Tuesday - 10% off of your fresh produce) and the freezer is stocked with meat (if you need mince or silverside I am your girl (I grabbed both for $3.99 a kilo last week and have 5kg of each in the freezer)  We also have a milk man that drives past twice a week and if I know that I am close to running out of milk I grab it off of him.  It is a little more expensive (we are only talking about 10 or 20 cents, but by the time I get the kids in the car and drive to the closest shop it would cost me more than that in fuel) (Savings from shopping on a Mon or Tuesday $20 for the month + meat savings + fuel)

I have not managed to get to the local knitting group for the past few weeks due to DH's work and AGM meetings for different things.  The $15 that I would have spent of a coffee and cake has been going away in a little spot for safe keeping (I am hoping to get to a crafty meetup with other mums in a few months)  (Savings of $60)

Dh has been taking his lunch to work a few times a week (left overs or salads and cold cuts) (A saving of approx $100)
I am also a huge iced coffee drinker and instead of buying a premixed one I have bought a bottle of bickfords iced coffee mix and make my own at home before heading out. (Savings of approx $15)

I am also enjoying finding activities to do with the kids that cost nothing or very little.  There is a Kidsports program here that is run once a week and is funded by the council.  There is a large variety of parks around us and many libraries (not only free aircon on a hot day, but I have also borrowed a large selection of the Burda Style Mags, and I have managed to take them back on time thanks to signing up for the email notification that lets me know that they are due back in the next three days as the fines are a killer)

So, I think that I have done well (rather we have done well as a family)  I would like to keep doing this for the year and see how much we can save.  A family holiday to the snow would be nice in a year or two and how nice would it be if I funded it all on the little extra savings that I can make here and there) And lets not forget about the Happy Points (will do a post on those a little later)

Bloom...

I can not get enough of this pattern.  It looks so cute on all little girls.  I have finally finished the gift for my new niece (who is not so new any more and she has the slackest Aunt in the world - I hope she will fogive me)

Heading down south tomorrow and I can not wait until I get a picture of her in it.  (Is that a hint for her Ma and Pa?)

Drawstring Backpack for le BOY!

Following the wonderful instructions and tutorial by Anna over at Noodlehead. And as Guest Blogger over at Made.

A great little bag to take to playgroup with his morning tea.  He was so happy and thrilled to have his own little bag.  Complete with a little pocket with zip that this Mumma can pop her keys in so she doesn't loose them.

Amelia got one too - hers is being used as her library bag for Kindergarten. It is not a very big bag - but big enough for class reader size books.

Wordless Weekend

Home..

from here...

Not that we want to be, we could have stayed a week.  And are planning on making our own long weekend after the Easter rush. (Don't know about you - but camping with 400+ other people is just not my thing)

On the knitting front - what can I say. With views and water to swim in I only managed two rows.

And a photo from Eme's view, lovely to find somewhere to take our four legged friend.

And of course the Camper Van. Designed by my talented Hubby with help from my Father in Law to put it altogether (and the use of his workshop)

Wordless Weekend...

On your marks...

Get Ready...

Knit...

I have once again signed up for the Ravelympics - the winter ones this time.  As mentioned previously I am going to knit myself a Feb Lady Sweater.

So here is everything ready.  I have signed up in the teammine challenge and yes you see chocolate -what can I say, I was told too.

I would also like to get the woodland shawl finished and put away - that would make one Christmas gift made and finished with 10 months to spare. I have already completed 9 repeates and the pattern calls for 12 - but I might make it a little longer.

Unfortunatly I will not be sitting in front of the TV tomorrow knitting.  We are taking a little weekend getaway and heading bush.

See you all on Monday - My Wordless Weekend pic wll magically appear while we are away.

Warning...

you will hear clucking.  These are just too cute for words.

They will be on there way our new niece Vivianne when I stop thinking of something else to make her, and it best be soon as they will soon be too small. 

Name: Saartje's Bootees by Saartje (Ravelry Link)

Needle: US 3 / 3.25 mm
Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4ply

Showering the Mum to Be

Yesterday I attended the baby shower of my cousin. (It is lovely being in the same city as family and being able to attend such special occasions)

The sex of the bub is unknown, so I descided to knit a beanie and socks in a rainbow theme and if said babe is a girl will crochet a flower for the beanie. (thanks to the girls over at Crafty Mamas who thought that rainbow was the way to go)

The gift was well recieved.

Now the waiting game.  Mel has another 5 weeks to go and then I can create something special for the little boy or girl.

Wordless Weekend

Celebrating the Boys

Rae of Made by Rae and Dana of MADE  are joining forces and are dedicating February to the Boys

Check out there blogs to find:

* Boy tutorials
* Boy clothing ideas
* Boy crafts
* Boy bags
* Baby Boy stuff
* Boy giveaways

I know I for one don't make nearly the amount of things for Baden as I do for Amelia - the inspirtation is not there - lets hope I can change that with some help this month. I will leave you with a few photos of Boys things that I have previously created.

                         

See all knitting - off to get the machine out - see you in a day or two.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ladybug-loops-longies-shorties---baby-pants-8-dkworsted-10-and-bulky-12-ply

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-sophisticate

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aviatrix-baby-hat

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lolo-s-vest

Feb 1st

...how did that happen - a month already.

How did you go with the first month of your New Years Resolution?

And how many Memes and Challenges did you manage to sign up for?

I started off the year with this list

Lets see how I went:  Red - not completed, Blue - finished, Purple - Added and Completed

Baden's Birthday - Hat, Tool Belt, Shorts and Appliqued top

Baby Gift - Whirligig Shrug

New Niece (unborn) - Knitted Socks and Beanie, Sewn Nappy Cover and Dress

Amelia - Finish off Kindy Sheets and Bag, Hat

Baby Shower Gift - (sew unknown) knitted socks

Baby Gift - Matching Cross Over Outfits for her and big sister (Yet to be blogged)

January Challenge - Something for me, A new pattern and new recipe

Not too bad - still a few things to finish or take pictures of and blog.

We tried a few recipes out of the Deceptively Delicious Book.  They were nice (expecially the cakes and slices and the chickpea and choc chip biscuits did not last long at all) but dont thing that I would bother with some of the main meals agan.  My two are fairly good eaters and I dont really find the need to hide vegetables for them.

So full steam ahead into February.

The One a Month Challenge will see me create a little something out of Felties and  Cook  up a storm out of 501 Low Carb Recipes.

The 12 Months 12 Sewing Challenges  for February- Something in Knit fabric. Thinking at this moment in time a polo for Baden.

I have also signed up for the 2010 Ravelymics (where crazy knitters from around the world will cast on and knit there little hearts out from the opening ceromony on the 12th until the torch goes out on the 28th of  February) I have the dream of  knitting  February Lady Sweater I will see how I go - but I may even sign up for a few little things - like a pair of easy socks that can be knitted during the day or on the nights when brain power is low.