Open when...letters ❤️

As you know my boyfriend, Tom, has just turned 21! I did go out and buy him some presents, but as well as that I wanted to do something really personal. 

I'm just about to start a new job down south and he is going to be doing a PGCE in Lancaster! I know we are both going to miss each other loads so I wanted to give him a present that would remind him of me and that he could use while I'm 300 miles away this year! 

I had seen loads of these open when letter ideas on Pinterest and thought they were perfect. I like the idea of being able to be there for him on paper when he needs me! 

I saw loads online with fancy envelopes with patterns on but tbh my Tom won't care about an envelope with an Aztec pattern, he'll be more interested in what's inside (hopefully)! So that's why I used plain envelopes... I had so much fun drawing on them all :) 

It was great procrastination for exams too (shh...) 

Here's a list of the topics I did and some things that were in them (they all had a little note from me) 

Open when:  

You need cheering up- things to be thankful for etc.  

You can't sleep- a word search, some sleeping tips

You're horny (don't judge me)- I cannot disclose this information

We've had a fight- a little flowchart, a mini chocolate bar

You need motivation- poem

You're jealous-poem, a kiss 

You're ill- 2 ibuprofen, 2 paracetamol, a beechams cold and flu sachet

You're thinking about our future- pictures of gorgeous houses etc.  

You need to know someone loves you- lots of kisses, reasons why I love him

I've just left after visiting- cute coupons to excite him about the next visit (e.g. massage/cuddle/movie night etc.)

You need to have a rant and I'm not available to listen- paper to write down everything that is wrong and get it off his chest

Boy, did these take me ages to make...

D'you like them? 

I hope you do... but what's really more important is that Tom really liked them! In fact he even got a bit emotional but lets not tell him I told you that!

Jess & Flash

I have some adorable news!

I've got two gorgeous little kittens... (well when I say I do, I mean my parents do). 

The kittens were my Auntie's cat's litter, she had 4 girls and 1 boy and we have taken two of the girls. The other kittens have all gone to lovely homes too :)

My dad thinks this one looks like Postman Pat's cat so we have called her Jess. D'you see the resemblance? 

The other little girl is called Flash because of the stripe down her face. 

Flash is her nickname, but her Sunday name is going to be 'The Grand Master Flash'! I know that sounds pretty male doesn't it but their mummy was called Monty so it's already all upside down in there world. 

I think Jess is my favourite so far (I know I'm not supposed to say that) because she is much calmer than Flash and it means we can get better snaps of her...

Jess also loves being cuddled and purrs really loudly when you tickle her belly!

The babies also can't sleep alone... they have to snuggle up to each other at bed time before they'll sleep soundly! HOW CUTE? 

I've got them a really really really good value for money house/bed/igloo to sleep in! 

Dyou like it? I do, especially for only £9 from Quality Save -what a bargain. The lid zips off to make an open top bed and there is a really soft cushion inside that comes out and can be easily machine washable. Buy of the month! 

But they don't really sleep in it... They just sleep on me in all sorts of random positions. But hey! I'm not complaining. 

Cross your fingers that our other cat Fuzz likes them! 

I'll keep you updated :)

How to be speedy in the Supermarket

Here are my top tips for being really speedy in the supermarket...

There is no need to spend ages dawdling around walking up and down each aisle pondering over life.

Get IN. Get OUT.

Here are my top tips for being really speedy in the supermarket...

1. Pick and Stick: Most people already have their one supermarket that they're loyal too, if you don't then you need to decide. Nothing will slow you down more than entering into the maze that is a new supermarket...
2. Mini List: Make a mini list only! Just include the really important things that if you forgot you would genuinely go back for. Any more on the list will make you dawdle, and unless you can write the list in aisle order you'll be faffing about reading the whole list as you get to each aisle.
3. Pre-Pack: This is an important step because it saves lots of time in the later stages of shopping and when you get home. When you put something in your trolley follow this order system- Freezer-Cupboard-Fridge. Put everything that will go in the freezer furthest away from you, cupboard stuff in the middle and fridge things closest to you in the trolley. I do it in this order so I don't get mixed up with fridge and freezer when I get to the till, some of them can be either and its hard to remember which when you're speed packing. 
4. Till Grouping: Put your items on the conveyer-belt in the same order as the pre-packing. At this stage I make sure to spread out the heavy things within each category. (e.g. I don't put the juice and the milk next to each other on the converter-belt because they're too heavy to go in the same bag). If the supermarket is a bit busy you'll have some time at this stage to get your grouping perfect. 
5. Speed Packing: Theres nothing to stop you now! Just grab a bag and throw the items in as they're passed to you. They'll be in the right order... all you have to do is realise when one category has ended and another has begun and make sure you start a new bag!

See my tip for saving money at the supermarket. 

Saving Money at the Supermarket

I'm not going to bother telling you what to and what not to buy at the supermarket, you will get what you want and you'll spend as much as you want too! You might buy branded, you might buy basics/value, you've got brand match on your side so you're not losing out by being at the wrong supermarket.

But what can you do to save a bit of money? 
It's all about what time you go shopping. Now in 24hr shops it can sometimes be a bit later than in others but I recommend 8:45pm as a general time in all shops.

• It's usually not very busy
• The clearance ladies have just done a sweep of what is going off today and just marked it down 
• The bakery have hot cross buns practically for free (tomorrows breakfast yes please?) 

If your supermarket closes at 10pm, don't make the mistake of thinking that going for a quick shop at quarter to will get you loads of good bargains... they have definitely started (and probably nearly finished) throwing away all of the clearance food that is left over by then!! 

But the food goes off today/tomorrow? 

Not a problem, whack it in the freezer!

I put everything from meat to bread in the freezer. It doesn't make much difference just that you need to take out things to thaw in the morning before you go to work. And don't give me that "I don't have time for that in the morning", I timed myself it took me 29 seconds to get out a bag of ready-prepared chicken breast and put it in a bowl of water. 

I have been known to follow the clearance lady (as I like to call her) around the shop watching her mark things down and then popping them in my trolley. I've even engaged in a 10p garlic baguette war with a random man... yes I'm talking both of us holding an end each like an old fashioned comedy sketch or cheesy movie. It wasn't love at first sight... and yes of course I won the garlic bread! 

Borderline OCD?

When it comes to deciding what is a suitable take-away to go to, people usually have the same criteria...Price, Taste and Proximity. Add one more factor and you've got me! 

Does the take-away serve the food in plastic or foil containers? 
Foil=goodbye
Plastic=come to mama

Originally this factor became important after I lost a tupperware which I had paid approximately £3 for. Well, that was unacceptable and couldn't happen again... what a waste of money!

I decided right then that I was no longer taking my lunch into university or work in anything that I couldn't get for free. You may say that take-away containers are technically not free but in my mind they are because most people throw them away! 

And well, you were always going to buy the take-away anyway weren't you...

When does it stop being weird and start being really useful?

Well, aside from not wasting any money if you accidentally lose your tupperware (or accidentally leave it dirty in a bag for two weeks and then can't bare to use it again even after you've cleaned off all the mould) they're really good for storing things in your fridge. 

My life can get quite busy sometimes and I know it will get even more busy when I'm working on placement next year (my degree has a year in industry) so it is great to spend one morning or afternoon at the weekend or one evening just sorting out my fridge or food for the week. 

Usually it doesn't take too long for me to prepare my non-junk fast food because my ingredients are already prepared (post on how I save cooking time by prepping in advance coming soon). So I make up some easy dishes and keep them all in my free containers until I want to heat them up. 

It basically means that if I come in from a horrible day or I'm in a rush to get somewhere I can just grab one container and pop it in the microwave and my dinner is ready. And yes sometimes I am too lazy to wash up a plate as well so I eat it out of the container. But also I can just grab a container and take it with me for lunch as well. 

It probably takes a few hours out of my life on a sunday morning but if I spent 30-45mins a night cooking on weekdays that would be 2hrs 30-3hrs 45 used up. So if I spend any less than that prepping then I'm winning. But lets be honest, there is always more free time at the weekend so its better doing it then anyway.

I'll post a picture of all my prepped meals next time I've done them but I've only got 2 containers left in the fridge right now so it wouldn't be a suitable example!

When did the useful collecting become unhealthy?

Yes, you're right some of them don't look like take-away containers... they're Haribo tubs (still free in my mind)!

Who is the Aspiring Housewife?

Hey guys! 

Here I am, an aspiring housewife with a big problem! I have neither a house nor a husband...guess I'll have to work on that part. 

All joking aside, I am not one of those types who wants nothing more than to cook and clean all day (although that does sound very appealing to me). I want a career too, but the word 'housewife' basically symbolises all of the things I like to do for hobbies. Cooking, Cleaning, Baking... I even like doing Laundry! Am I boring you already? 

I am super excited about the stage in my life where I'll be able to have my own house to decorate! For now I satisfy those cravings through Pinterest...(you can follow me here if you'd like)

Basically, the other week I was starting to make a board on Pinterest of my favourite recipes... but I make so many little changes to recipes that I find so important that it was frustrating me that I couldn't Pin to my own. So now I'm going to start doing just that! 

I'll also do loads of other little posts every now and again about random things I'm interested in or doing! I'll include in that the little gifts I like to make up for people... I'm kicking myself because I didn't take any pictures of this cute little Baker's Survival Kit I made for my friend Kayleigh! Oh well, I'm sure I'll have some other things to post about soon enough. Look out for some because my boyfriend's 21st is coming up in June so I'll definitely have some kind of gift to post about then!

Well, hopefully you feel like you've got to know me a bit better now, come back soon and there should be some more interesting stuff on here! (I have no idea what I'm doing yet, but its already fun!)