tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69316086555136997112010-03-11T18:30:21.255ZSURVIVING THE CREDIT CRUNCH.... Follow our family's journey as we learn to live a more frugal lifestyle.Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.comBlogger306125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-57899830699978562122010-03-11T14:28:00.001Z2010-03-11T17:41:41.174Z

Due to the boringness of my weekly meal plans, I set myself a bit of a meal plan challenge last week which involved me cooking a different meal each night.  Thursday's new meal was barbecue chicken but Mr Frugal and I disagreed on how to make it so we ended up making two different versions and having a bit of a taste test at the end.... My version was a chicken breast with barbecue sauce spread

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-42049704553569337852010-03-11T08:45:00.001Z2010-03-11T08:46:38.168Z

You might have seen the picture above on your travels around Blogland and wondered what it was -  the Writing Workshop is something organised by Josie over at Sleep is for the weak - every week she post's prompts to help you to write about something that you may not normally choose as a subject. I've cheated a bit this week as I am using a piece that was written by my brother before he died. 

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-23285308952637142872010-03-11T00:08:00.000Z2010-03-11T00:08:54.724Z

Tara over at Sticky Fingers has come up with a fantastic idea to encourage us budding photographers. Every week she will post a prompt to inspire a photograph and we can then share our photos with each other. This week's theme is numbers and I was really looking forward to getting all creative but I haven't really had the chance so I decided to use a photo that makes me smile every time I look

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-40271942645843125072010-03-10T22:27:00.001Z2010-03-10T22:34:21.500Z

It's been a bit of a stressful week so far in the Frugal Household. We've all been feeling a bit yukky since the weekend and I've been really stressed over a big interview at work but thankfully everyone's feeling a lot better today and my interview was this morning so.... you'll be glad to know (I hope) that I'm back! Normal service will be resumed tomorrow ;-) I'm also really excited because

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-56485674932487316752010-03-06T19:10:00.009Z2010-03-10T19:42:43.659Z

Aaaagh - I can't believe it's taken me so long to get this sorted.  Would you believe that I have had another trip to A & E!  This time with Miss Frugal. Bless her, I can safely say that next time she asks a boy for a kiss and he says no, she most certainly will not chase him upstairs to his bedroom and use her hand to block him from slamming his door!  She managed to get three of her fingers

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-59713247696782411592010-03-06T15:28:00.000Z2010-03-06T15:28:46.151Z

I've really enjoyed my week off work cooking meals that I wouldn't normally cook as part of my meal plan challenge.  On the menu last night was chicken quesadillas: If you ask any of my family, they will say that I lovingly prepared the quesadillas with my own hands but I actually bought an Old el Paso Quesadilla kit from Tescos and made it while they were all playing on the wii.  The kit came

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-6752068041049934172010-03-06T11:09:00.000Z2010-03-06T11:09:31.058Z

I've just bought a bargain gammon joint from the Sainsburys Basics range.  I have bought a few things from their basic range before and it's usually quite good so I have high hopes for my little gammon joint. It's starting it's food journey in the slow cooker where I plan to cook it to perfection (probably not knowing me lol).  I'm going to use the stock to make a nice soup with dumplings for

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-26479037623332322392010-03-05T09:45:00.001Z2010-03-05T09:48:18.660Z

Today is guest post day and I have swapped with the very nice (and very talented) Jo Beaufoix.  I'm sure she will take very good care of you so off I pop..... Hello Magic Mummy's lovely readers. Today myself and the fabulous Cass have swapped blogs, so she is writing over at Chez Beaufoix, and I'm attempting to fill her shoes here. It's funny how nervous we all seem to be posting on another

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-56203150724597267132010-03-04T18:14:00.004Z2010-03-06T15:36:57.375Z

This afternoon we've been making ice lollies to celebrate the return of the sunshine.....  I know it's not exactly Summer yet but after the cold, dark winter we've had the I'm going to make the most of what we have got! We made pineapple ice lollies first using two tins of value pineapple chunks (13p each) and some lemonade. Master Frugal helped me to blend the pineapple chucks, saving a few

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-76349578425653203392010-03-04T11:14:00.002Z2010-03-04T11:14:55.046Z

Just in case anyone is interested, there is an offer on at the moment to save 25% on the cost of a Family and Friends Railcard Discount. Click here for your 25% Discount

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-58778143955573008212010-03-03T16:42:00.000Z2010-03-03T16:42:33.467Z

I made my own version of oven baked risotto last night and it was gorgeous - a big success!  I've never made risotto before and I didn't fancy having to constantly stir the pan so I opted for an oven baked version, much more my style. First of all, I fried some diced chicken breast with some onion and garlic, then added it to a large casserole dish along with 250g Arborio rice and 1 and a half 

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-50540681317859847952010-03-02T19:55:00.000Z2010-03-02T19:55:40.711Z

Nickie over at Typecast 2000 has tagged me in the new photo meme that's doing the rounds at the moment....   To keep me out of mischief apparently lol. These are the rules: 1. Open your first photo folder in your computer library 2. Scroll to the 10th photo 3. Post the photo and the story behind it 4. Tag 5 or more people to continue the thread     Sorry it's not the most exiting or

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-22980852122969229802010-03-02T10:01:00.001Z2010-03-02T10:02:05.067Z

You might have seen the picture above on your travels around Blogland.  I've just found out that the Writing Workshop is something organised by Josie over at Sleep is for the weak - every week she post's idea's for you to blog about and share.   This week I am going to write about the demon I am battling at the moment, Josie got the idea for this prompt from Potential Mummy over at My baby

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-48541190575047116902010-03-01T21:18:00.000Z2010-03-01T21:18:33.699Z

Tara over at Sticky Fingers has come up with a fantastic idea to encourage us budding photographers.  Every week she will post a prompt to inspire a photograph and we can then share our photos with each other.  I think it's a brilliant idea and I'm really looking forward to taking part each week.... This week's theme is beauty and I stood in the kitchen with the camera in my hand for ages

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-71382110610226668692010-03-01T21:01:00.001Z2010-03-01T21:33:54.041Z

Today is National Peanut Butter Lover's Day - Really it is, it says so here. So in honour of this special day we've made peanut butter cookies.... It has got to be the simplest recipe in the world and I know that I always say this but this time it's the simplest recipe ever.  Peanut Butter Cookies 1 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy) 1 cup sugar 1 egg Here's Miss Frugal's recipe notes.

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-77649560969698053102010-03-01T18:25:00.000Z2010-03-01T18:25:42.954Z

I made Cheats Chicken Pie for tea tonight and it was delicious.  I had really good intentions of making the tastiest home made chicken pie ever - I was even going to make the pastry from scratch.  I got to Tescos to buy the lard for the pastry and they had that readymade puff pastry stuff for just 81p....  It was practically the same price as making my own so I decided that I would cheat just a

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-87122433284176392002010-02-28T20:05:00.005Z2010-03-06T18:36:01.786Z

Can you believe it's the last day of February today?  How mad is that! I am off work this week so I have decided to set myself a little meal plan challenge to spice up my weekly meal plan as it's got a bit boring (actually - a lot boring).  I am going to cook a different meal every day this week so if everything goes according to plan, I'll have lots of new things to add to my weekly plan in

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-82107190297860051722010-02-28T14:34:00.000Z2010-02-28T14:34:42.883Z

There's a perfectly good reason why we rarely go to the pictures - it costs a bloody fortune.... (Excuse the dollar signs - ever since I got my laptop back my pound sign has gone AWOL) $23.00 to get in - Me and Miss Frugal went to see Princess and the Frog and the boys went to see Astroboy. $8.00 for two cokes and a packet of Revels $4.50 for two small bags of pick n mix and when I say small

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-21314519268525091542010-02-27T19:34:00.000Z2010-02-27T19:34:32.922Z

I got a new little camcorder this week as I have seen all the talk about the next big thing - Vlogging.... I tested it out tonight on Miss Frugal and the video she made was really cute so I thought I would share it with you all: I quite clearly haven't got the hang of using it yet and I think I had it on the wrong quality setting but at least I'm on my way lol

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-89124031386918975152010-02-27T11:25:00.000Z2010-02-27T11:25:07.862Z

This weekend is officially family fun weekend, at least it will be when Mr Frugal finally gets his backside out of bed.  Just because he's worked the night shift does not mean he can delay the start of our Family Fun Weekend lol. I have had a fun morning with the kids playing on the Wii, building weird creatures using K'nex and watching TV and they are now excitedly waiting for Mr Frugal to get

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-8467717364783876302010-02-25T11:03:00.002Z2010-02-27T19:45:09.523Z

Exactly a year yesterday we were in Disneyland Paris.  It was an absolutely perfect trip, there were no tears, tantrums or moods the whole time we were there and we all have fantastic memories from the five days we were there. Last night we decided to pop to Asda with our magic USB stick and print out loads of the photos we took during our trip.  We then came up and cut them all up!  The kids

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-20474216892099146622010-02-25T08:57:00.001Z2010-02-25T08:58:45.456Z

I have often seen the picture above on my journey around Blogland but I thought it was some sort of online course that people were doing.  I've just found out that the Writing Workshop is something organised by Josie over at Sleep is for the weak - every week she post's idea's for you to blog about.  So, never one to be left out lol, I have decided to have a go.  I have chosen to write about

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-21588436389119896952010-02-24T20:54:00.000Z2010-02-24T20:54:24.665Z

I was lucky enough to get a Canon EOS 1000D for christmas and I am slowly (and I mean slowly..) getting the hang of it.  What I want to know is how to take good portrait picture - you know the ones where your subject is in focus but the background is blurry!  Does anyone in the know have a clue how to do it?

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-87761393048776689312010-02-23T19:47:00.001Z2010-03-06T18:37:01.105Z

Bit of a strange one this week as we are having a bit of a treat week - we were supposed to be going to London this weekend but have cancelled it so we're having a treat weekend and using some of the money that we set aside for that.  We were only going to London to use up some free rail tickets we got but we had trouble getting the tickets so the company have now given us the money instead ;-)

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931608655513699711.post-87986999972550430752010-02-21T16:25:00.000Z2010-02-21T16:25:52.965Z

I blogged about my unsuccesful Yorkshire Puddings a while back (here) and I thought I would share today's attempt with you as Miss Frugal decided to try her hand at making them this afternoon. We used the same recipe as always, which is 100g plain flour, 2 eggs and half a pint of milk but I think Miss Frugal has the magic touch because she managed to make these beauties: I think she's the next

Magic Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491476767414959689noreply@blogger.com8