New home! What a week.

So we are in and it has been considerably more stressful than I thought it would of been.

Friday I packed up at work, headed down with Lisa to my Dad's work and picked up the sofa Lisa very kindly donated to us!

I then came home and headed to Ikea for their sale but to be honest that was quite disappointing and then we were up till late packing all the last things and getting the last bits of furniture downstairs. We got to bed around 1am but I barely slept. It was like we had waited so long and then boom that was it, the room was almost empty and we were about to leave! I really didn't sleep much and was clock watching until my alarm went off, I was up and ready before 8am. We headed straight for Redhill where we enjoyed a very nice Mccy d’s breakfast and then went to the estate agents.

We from there went to the flat and meet the lady doing the itinerary, she should us around and pointed out all marks or anything that was replaced and we took a look around and zoomed off home where I picked up my Dad and we started to load the van up. The flat was nicer than I remembered and the new carpet was great. They had linoed the bathroom which was preferred above carpet and the carpet was a lovely brown colour really soft and inviting. It is amazing once it was empty how much more potential and modern it looked without the previous persons stuff in there!

Didn't take too long to load the van but we didn't fit it all in, in one go. My Mum meet us as we headed over to the flat and I went with my Mum and Matt in the van with my Dad and we started moving in. They both really liked the place. We got everything in quite quickly and then headed back to Matt's mum's house to get the last bits there, pick up Debbie and then to my Grans to pack up the last bits. We all stopped for tea and biscuits as now it was well after lunch time and no one had, had lunch. THEN it was back in the vans and cars and one final trip. 

We started unloading everything again and this time the valuables came in, it was unpleasant carrying the expensive equipment from the cars to the flat. Then I made a cup of tea for everyone and my Mum and Dad headed off to return the van and Debbie stayed washing all the kitchen stuff up while me and Matt started to arrange furniture. 

The first few days we didn't eat when we should of and days kind of blurred into each other. Tuesday I think it all got too much and we bought a second sofa, got it home and it didn't fit the Matt ended up having a huge row over the phone with my Dad and I got very upset so Tuesday was a waste of a day and I wish it never happened... We were however able to return the sofa thank goodness. But I wish I had slept through Tuesday. But things looked up from there.

We couldn't fit the table I had been given in so we bought a cool one from Argos that folds up and stores 4 chairs in it! We also got two leather foot stools instead of an extra sofa which has made the sofa we have 100x more comfy for lounging on. Working through the piles of boxes made it so hard and I felt like there was no end in sight. 

For over a month we had spent a lot of our free time packing, moving things planning. I knew the end was close but it just felt like it was taking too long. We finally got bits put away but it got to that last 'bit' where you have loads of stuff that you don't really know what to do with. 

I wanted to be finished by Monday, that was the plan but we were done on Wednesday night. I was so pleased and it gave us 4 days to enjoy it! 

Hallway and entrance.

Living Room

What I like to call nerd corner 

Bathroom

Kitchen 

Bedroom

It has been a really odd experience. I have this dreaded feeling of, OH GOD I WANT MY MUM AND DAD.... I am only 15-20 minute drive away but I do feel like I already miss them. When they left I got the same feelings of when they dropped me off at Uni on my own for the first time minus the tears. I think it is scary this is the first time I have lived completely independently, but I am really excited at the same time. 

I am so pleased with the flat we found, and I cannot wait to really get to live in it! I cannot wait for my first weekend after a week of work there too, and of course Christmas I CANNOT WAIT to decorate and make it my own! So Exciting!

Wednesday we went to Crawley and got our first foot stool (which we loved so much we bought a second one) and just finished off the flat! The people I work with were so generous and sent us a card and a gift voucher which I ordered a house phone with and bought a really nice fluffy bath mat! Thursday we had to wait in almost all day as they broadband guys came. The first guy came but couldn't do it and so another person came later in the day and it was fine. There was a a panic for a moment we couldn't get fiber broadband but it was ok! 

Friday we took ourselves off to see Jurassic World (which was AWESOME) had a bit of a day out and off. When then had to go back to Matt's mum's on Saturday to get rid of all the furniture that was left. That was a pretty grim job! But I was glad when it was done because that was LITERALLY the last thing we had to do. It did however suck up almost the WHOLE DAY which meant I really feel like we had 1-2 days off.... alas. But it was worth it because I wouldn't be been able to do all this had we not had time off. 

It also meant that when my family came over to celebrate Fathers day  on Sunday I could relax and enjoy having people over.

I was told at the beginning of all of this that moving is one of the most stressful things you can do and after this week I would inclined to agree. I have made lists and lists of things to sort out and although I took a whole week off of work I do not feel like I had any sort of holiday or time off. UGH! Now I really need a holiday.

So my plans for 2015:

1. Loving myself.
2. Working on my design work
3. Debt,
4. Having my own home!
5. Saving for a holiday!

I am proud to say that I can tick 2 of the list which were some of the bigger items! And I am starting 5 and still working on 1! Maybe if i get time this year I can work on 2 ha ha!

I hope everyone has a fab week and I can't wait to get home, the first trip to my new home. 

Half way round the year!

So here we are in the 6 Month. Half way through the year and all I can say is BLOODY HELL where has it gone?

So I actually set some goals this year and I want to see how I was doing with them.

1. Loving myself.
2. Working on my design work
3. Debt,
4. Having my own home!

1. 

I am getting there. I am having a hard time especially going from winter to summer. Getting my legs back out again is hard for me but I will get there I am determined. 

2.

Yeah so this hasn't happened yet, I have been quite busy and not overaly in the mood. When things have settled down in the next month hopefully I can look at some Halloween designs. 

3. 

DONE and dusted. All gone and it is staying that way. I even have savings, I am really proud of this and I want to keep it this way.

4. 

FINALLY we got there. Deposit is down, and we move tomorrow. I am so excited and SO SO ready for this.

I am going to add a new one which is SAVE SAVE SAVE and the HOLIDAY. I want to get away on a proper holiday this year and I am determined to do it!

So my new 5. Is save for a Holiday. 

This year is defiantly the year of change I was right with that statement at the beginning of the year. I am hoping the second half of the year will be the year that I can really enjoy myself!

Have a great weekend... I know I will its moving DAY TOMORROW YAAY!

Final countdown! 5 more sleeps

I am in my final count down before I move! This is the last ever Monday that I will come to work from Matt’s Mums house and I will never spend another weekend there again!

After our mammoth packing fest over the bank holiday and then my back playing up (a mixture of pulled muscle and stress as I found out) we failed at packing last weekend…. In actual fact I’m pretty sure we did nothing all weekend.

This weekend however we were fully aware that this was it and all the last bits and pieces had to be done and we were in full packing mode. We cleaned the upstairs room out, took 10+ bin bags up the tip and packed everything but the bits and bobs we need for the week ahead! I am feeling bare today with no necklace on!

I’ve been on a bargain hunting mission. Most the items I have bought have been on offers or some I even got for free! My barging hunting ways started on the 26^th December (well actually I did get some bits before then too) but in that week between Christmas and New Year’s I got my WHOLE collection of Christmas decorations around 75% off. In House of Fraser alone I think I got about £80 worth of stuff for about £17. I did get rather carried away and I have MORE than enough stuff now to kit my new flat out. I also got a really nice tree for about £35 reduced from £70 odd. I wish I have documented a little better what I got but on the plus side I think it will be a great surprise when I open all the boxes again and get the decorations out!  I also got myself plates and glasses and towels.. and I got a lovely bedding set from Debenhams, that was half price (£70 - £35)

These last few weeks though I have had to really splash some cash on things that to be honest with you are rather boring buys, but essential to everyday life. I am particularly proud of some of my bargains. I have learnt that shopping around means you can get some really high quality pieces are really low prices, and in one case I didn’t pay anything!

My clothes airier, this was annoying me as they were considerably more expensive that I thought! Matt had seen the one below and wanted it, but it was £20 and I said it was too much. However I then noticed Tesco was doubling up their Clubcard vouchers so I thought I would get one with that and I then noticed it was 20% off! I got that and an airier for the radiators. I paid nothing! And spent £10.50 of clubcard vouchers so I was more than pleased!

Pans were something we wanted to upgrade. We had a look round and found in Robert Dyas a Salter pan set for £59.99 reduced to £24.99. Very pleased with these they seem like great quality pans and are ceramic.

I managed to get an ironing board on offer for £12 but was advised to spend a little more on an iron, so I picked out a Morphy Richards Turbosteam Iron which was half price and cost £25 from Debenhams.

We needed new bedside tables and I got two that were listed as never used just sat in a spare room so I got those for £48 which I was very pleased with! And we picked up a second hand solid wood chest of drawers for £50.

I also got a Wok reduced from £25 to £7.50 and some kitchen utensils as well which saved a few pounds on as well as other things I have managed to save the odd pound here and there. I think it is well worth having a good shop around and starting in advance so you have time to wait a see if a bargain will come up! I also got some pillows for £12 instead of £40 and I order a few bits from Debenhams and I got a £5 gift card when I collected my items so I used that on certain things too!

I think I have saved myself a tidy sum of money! It is really helpful working in a town centre. The weather has been so naff lately that I have been happy to wonder around looking for said bargains!

Now the deadline date is looming so closely! 5 more sleeps and then a whole week off. We plan on going and signing the paper on Saturday for around 9am, and then back to mine to load up the van and get moving. Saturday night will be the first night in our new flat and I am so excited!

To end of a cheery note, I have wanted a little backpack for some time. I dislike bags greatly and I find them annoying, they get in my way and they can make my back worse. I only like using tiny ones, but  our trip to London on the bank holiday week proved that I needed something a tad bigger because I couldn’t fit all my belongings in it such as my glasses case… but bring a bigger bag and my back aches and I get exceptionally annoyed. Since going to France last year I’ve wanted a backpack handbag. I love my backpacks but find them far too big, so I found this mini one and it is JUST PERFECT!. I got this in the Debenhams sale. I paid £35 reduced from £49 and it is real leather.

From Debenhams, Mantaray bag. 

I cannot wait to use it properly and get some better photos of it! I probably shouldn’t of bought it as I am moving but I sold some old bits on eBay that more than covered the price of it! It is just the perfect size for all my essentials for a day out! 

Have a lovely week and the next time I update will most likely be of my lovely new flat! EEEEE I DO hope this week goes quickly!