Lunch planning the week

A few weeks ago, I started to pedantically write down everything I spend and I realised something unpleasant: I am overspending. Not by much, mind, but I am and I think the main reason are lunch and snacks and drinks while studying in the library (and things like the lovely coat in the last post... ). So, that has got to stop.

First I thought I'd just make a plan, go shopping once and then see how well I fare on it but I realised that isn't going to work. Us four share food and the fridge is fairly full at the moment. I'm not going to buy a whole pack of carrots while also having some left over ones from last week go off in the fridge. So, I am going to play the game the other way around: Make a plan, write down exactly what I use in sticking to it and add it all up at the end of the week.

During a full day in Uni, I eat lunch, have a snack in the form of a cupcake or something similar and get myself a drink to supplement the water I get for free. The aim of this week is to spend NO MONEY at all on lunch, snacks and drinks while also living healthily and without going hungry.

I calculated that if I would spend 29.50 £ in Uni in a week so that's the aim to beat!

Snacks: Bake a batch of cupcakes and flapjacks. That makes for some variety and since there will be too much, my flatmates can have some and I can get away with hiding the rest. That avoids the cupcake related drama which would otherwise occur and makes sure I actually get some ;) Also, basic cupcakes and flapjacks are cheap and filling. To make it a little healthier, I am going to supplement it with fruit.

Lunch: 
Monday: Pasta Bolognese
Tuesday: Potatoes with leftover Bolognese and some veggies
Wednesday: Pitabread with some form of filling
Thurday: More Bolognese
Friday: More Pitabread with filling, possibly a side salat

Somewhat monotonous? Yep but the alternative in Uni would be the ever same selection of about 8 sandwiches, which isn't any more varied than what I am taking so that's fine. Wish me luck!

I love how our little garden has been doing lately. A few of the flowers have come into bloom again and its a nice mix of crazy green and specks of colour. We are considering cutting a few more of the bushes down to give the flowers even more light since thinning it had such a great effect.

By the way, I will be leaving London early tomorrow morning (Don't ask how early) and I won't be back until October. Furthermore, I will not have internet access for the next two weeks or so. Fear not, I won't let you get too bored. On monday, I will start the promised travel journal series and there will be new updates every few days so have a look regularily. I hope you enjoy it.

excuse me miss, we'd like to be a skirt

These fabrics have mentioned that they would like to be a skirt. Some of them I got from a lovely friend for my last birthday and they have patiently waited for their moment. I haven't quite decided yet what the skirt will look like but it will layered and summery. Can't go wrong with those two!

So many ideas...

... so many obligations. I distinctly need more time to be crafty. My next big project will include a lot of mesh and lace and I will start it this week. That's a promise to both myself and you.

picture from weheartit

Summer dresses

Since I can't wait for summer, I might as well get ready so I decided it's time to make myself some pretty dresses. I love dresses but for some reason there aren't many in my cupboard so far. That has to change! After digging through my fabricbox I discovered these two. I think they will be perfect. Light cottons with pretty prints (and in case anyone recognises it, yes, the left one is a bedsheet from ikea that my washing machine abused badly. Now it needs a new purpose in life.)



I also found a pattern already that looks perfect and offers a bit of variety. It's vogue number V8470 in case anyone is wondering. Now I just need time to get going.

wardrobe remix

I decided to do something about my lack of motivation to make clothes for myself and joined a sew along in my favorite forum. The idea is that everyone makes 5 garments which can all be worn together, but not neccessarily all at the same time though.

For example, if I make one pair of trousers, one skirt, a shirt, a top and a jumper then I have to be able to wear them in the following combinations:

skirt,shirt,jumper
skirt,top,jumper
trousers,shirt,jumper
trousers,top,jumper

a few side comments:
-it has to include one bottom, one top and one "topper", eg a jacket or a jumper
-allowed are 1 readymade and 1 accessory
- one patterned fabric has to be included
- a dress can be included but then it needs to fit either a bottom or a top ( and of course the topper)

I made a moodboard that shows you what style I'm aiming for. It's quite different to what I have in my cupboard at the moment and that's why I'm all the more excited about it :)


I'm planning on make some black trousers like the ones in the middle, a shirt with lace, similar to the one at the top, a blue jumper a bit like the one at the top left and possibly a long sleeved shirt out of the patterned fabric. Oh, I'm not sure yet what number five is going to be.

Here are the fabrics I have bought so far. I also have some lace but I'm not quite sure where exactly at the moment. I will have to search for it.