January blues what are they ?

Hello readers January blues huh what are those ?
I have been reading a lot about how the UK are suffering with the January blues. Not me readers I'm happier than I have been in a long time. While I write this post I'm listening to free music on Brandons kindle that Ben put on here for me. It's all music from my youth and I'm loving dancing round the room making the munchkins giggle. I'm sure the boys think I was born old lol. As many of you will know I am partially deaf due to my menieres disease and music is one of the things I miss the most. For Xmas I bought the boys a good quality pair of headphones each and to my surprise I can hear music clearly using them with the kindle. I can actually hear all the words being sung its amazing. I am so looking forward to rediscovering my love of music. I am a big believer that music can be a very powerful tool in lifting one's mood and it is certainly having a good effect on my mood.

I mentioned in a previous post that we would be going extremely frugal over the next few weeks to save money for our holiday in February. I thought I would share a few of the little things I am doing to save a few pennies here and there....
1= Using tissues instead of toilet roll (my mum always puts a couple of boxes in my Xmas hamper and these have been kept over the last few years. I have 5 boxes of tissues which will be used before buying toilet roll).
2= Hanging clothes inside to dry on airing racks (a lot of people will use their tumble driers in this poor weather or partially dry them on the line and then finish them off in the drier. I am solely using my racks for drying)
3= Using up every scrap of food in the house before buying more.
4= Baking treats instead of buying them using ingredients from my fully stocked baking cupboard.
5= Enjoying free films on the kindle and for new releases I am using blinkbox (at the moment if you sign up and credit your account with £1 you can watch a new release film for £1 instead of the usual £3.49. I also have a code from tesco for £10 of free blinkbox credit which means I can watch 4 new release films for the low cost of £1.47).

We had an appointment with the behaviour specialist today for Brandon. I know E well as she has helped me with Brad in the past so it was nice to see her again and have a little catch up. We have decided to use reward charts to try and help Brandon with his toileting and his jumping on people and furniture. It has been an approach I have tried in the past but am willing to give it another go under E's guidance. We have decided to tackle his behaviour in small chunks rather than overwhelming him with everything all at once. E also mentioned using a weighted jacket with Brandon to try and calm him down a little. I had a look on eBay and can find lots of weighted lap blankets but no suitable weighted jackets. I had a look on Google and did manage to find a few suitable options but the prices ranged from £60 upwards by gum. It's a lot of money but I think it is a necessary expense that I will have to find the money for.

Tea last night was pancakes
3 packs of batter mix 45p (Tesco value)
3 eggs 30p (Tesco value)

Served 4 so 19p per serving


Tea tonight was tinned spaghetti Bolognese with bread and butter
2 tins of spaghetti Bolognese 40p (Tesco value)
A bread roll each 5p (yellow sticker)
Butter for roll 15p (Morrison's savers)

Served 3 so 20p per serving

Anyway off to listen to my free music whilst reading my free book and maybe later I will partake of a free new release movie who knows ?

Anyone else avoiding the January blues like me ?

Much Love
Claire xx xx xx