Slices of life...

Remember the new budget I moaned and griped about? Well I am loving it! Yes really. The groceries are comfortably within budget and my entertainment allowance has stretched remarkably well. I even managed to buy an outfit while out shopping with Jess, a real girlie something for a change - I love that leggings are back and got a dark grey pair with a nice dusty lilac dress, makes a change from jeans, don't get me wrong I LOVE my jeans but every now and then it is nice to wear a dress.
I also have an odd sense of power and achievement sticking to my budget, I am even beginning to think that maybe just maybe I can squirrel away some of my entertainment allowance so that I can have extra money for my hockey tour to Blackpool in May.
Of course it is only the first month but considering I thought it was going to be real tough going I am so pleasantly surprised. Taking my own lunch to work every day has helped tremendously!

In other news the weather is still lousy, the up side is that apparently the worse the winter the better our summer will be, so it is lining up to be a FANTASTIC one at this rate.

Kirstin is back in the nest after a fantastic trip to Spain which involved a lot of socialising, skiing, tours, paella (not eaten) very little sleep (surprise, surprise), a new doll (not sure how she managed to close her suitcase) and a brilliant present for me - a mosaic bull, he really is magnificent. Of course I am stressing about how much of her allowance she spent on the little guy. I think he deserves a spot on the blog....not tonight though!

Jess was thrilled to have her sister back, there was even a slight scuffle between the two of us as to who would greet her at the door (I acted like the adult and let her go first) a proud parenting moment seeing my daughters fling their arms around each other in pure delight...
Jess is on the final stretch of her mocks and I must say she has handled it all very well and the stress has barely been seen, long may it last! On Friday we celebrate the end of the exams and Jess has invited her friends to come over to our place for pizza and to get ready for their night out to Wes....pity Malcolm has spent his entire months allowance...the pub could be a welcome solace from teenage girls getting ready for a night out......

Best news for last then....Jess entered the schools art competition and claimed FIRST prize, she was shocked but thrilled and we are all very proud. If it were not for her friend C she would never even have entered, now that is what I call healthy peer pressure!