20 things to do with that extra hour when the clocks go back!

One of my favourite things about this time of year is when the clocks go back! Here in the UK they go back on Sunday! I know, I know, the clocks going back also means the evenings suddenly become dark really early but there is a little bonus that comes with it and that is the extra hour! Instead of wasting it this year, I thought I'd put together 20 things you could do with that extra hour. Some are useful, some are things I've been meaning to do for ages and some are just excuses to sit down and do very little.

Have a proper lie in!

This is the most obvious one and the one that most people are probably going to choose anyway. Sleep! There is nothing wrong with using your extra hour to stay in bed. I think this is the best way to spend it and it's probably what I am going to do! If you've had a busy week, getting an extra hour in bed is such a treat. Turn the alarm off, stay under the duvet and don't feel guilty!!

Have a proper breakfast!

Breakfast can be a rush during the week just grabbing something while you are on the go. This Sunday, why don't you take the hour to sit down and have a proper breakfast? Make pancakes, have bacon and eggs or just make something you don't normally have time for. I would love a full English breakfast! 

Do some baking!

I have always thought an extra hour is a good excuse for baking. You don't have to make anything fancy either. A cake, some brownies, cookies or a banana loaf would be perfect! There's also the added bonus of getting something nice to eat at the end of it which is probably the main reason I like baking.

Watch a film you've been meaning to watch!

I have so many films on my list that I've been saying I will get around to eventually but I never get around to them. I could make use of the hour to start watching one. I know most films last more than an hour. Get some snacks and settle down on the sofa. I always find the hardest part is choosing what to watch. I could probably spend an hour trying to decide on something and then end up watching a film I've already seen about ten times!

Have a long bath!

There's a difference between having a bath because you need a wash and having a bath because you actually want to relax. I'm talking about the second one. Run the bath, put in your favourite bubble bath, get your phone somewhere you can't accidentally drop it in the water and just stay there for a while.

Do that job you've been ignoring!

We all have those jobs that we've been putting off, ones that we keep walking past and ignoring! A cupboard or drawer that needs sorting, a pile of paperwork that needs putting away or shredding or the clothes that have somehow ended up on a chair instead of in the wardrobe. Use the extra hour to pick one job and go and get it done.

Look through old photographs!

I love looking through old photos, especially ones I haven't seen for ages. You could spend your extra hour going through old albums, sorting out photos or even getting around to printing some out. Nowadays we take hundreds of photos and never look at them again. You might come across some that you've forgotten about.

Make a playlist!

Spend an hour making a playlist full of your favourite songs, one for autumn, one for cleaning the house, one for driving or just a playlist of songs that remind you of a special in your life. I might actually do some prepping for Christmas and make a list full of Christmas songs!

Make a proper Sunday dinner!

At this time of year I do love a Sunday dinner! The meat, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, vegetables and loads of gravy. There is nothing better! Having an extra hour means you can have most of it cooked without wasting any of the day. You can take your time and actually enjoy making it!

Sort out your wardrobe!

This is one of those jobs that I always mean to do and then don't. When the clocks change, it is a good time to admit that summer is pretty much over and it's time to get the colder weather clothes out.

Start thinking about Christmas!

I know some people don't want to hear the word Christmas yet but once the clocks go back it doesn't feel that far away. You could start making a list of people you need to buy for, think about presents or even have a look at what you might want to add to your Christmas list. I've always found that getting a few things sorted before December makes Christmas feel much easier.

Go for a walk!

If the weather is OK, put your coat on and go for a walk. It doesn't have to be a long one, just get outside, have a wander and get some fresh air.

Phone someone you've not spoken to in ages!

We all have someone we keep saying we need to catch up with. Use that extra hour to actually pick up the phone and give them a call. Have a proper chat instead of sending each other messages saying we need to catch up. Sometimes a good old-fashioned phone call is just what you need.

Get the games out!

Board games, play cards or do a puzzle! It doesn't matter what you choose, the point is to do something fun instead of being productive. If you've got family around, get them involved too.

Tidy up your phone!

This is one of those jobs that I really should do more often. Delete apps you never use and have a look through your photos and delete all the rubbish. Screenshots you don't need, blurry photos, accidental photos and the 15 pictures you took of exactly the same thing because you couldn't decide which one was best.

Cook something you've never tried before!

Instead of making one of your usual meals, maybe find a recipe you've been meaning to try and make it. It doesn't have to be anything complicated, it is Sunday after all but sometimes just trying something different can make an ordinary Sunday feel a bit more exciting!

Have a little pamper session!

Treat yourself! Use the extra hour to give yourself a bit of a pamper. Not just a bath or shower, put a hair or face mask on, do your nails or just moisturise and put on your favourite pyjamas. It's amazing how much better you can feel after taking a bit of time for yourself.

Try something you've never done before!

It could be anything! Painting, drawing, baking, Lego, knitting, journaling, doing a puzzle or learning something new. You've got an extra hour to use so give it a go. You don't have to be good at it but it might become your new hobby.

Catch up on your favourite shows!

You could just make a cup of tea, get yourself comfortable and catch up on a programme you've been watching. If you've missed a few episodes, it's even better because you've got the time to sit down and watch them without feeling like you should be doing something else. I know I always have an episode or three of Eastenders to watch and random other things recorded!

Do absolutely nothing!

This might actually be the most important one on the list. You don't have to do anything with your extra hour. You can sit on the sofa, watch TV, scroll through your phone, have a cup of tea, eat something nice and just enjoy having nowhere you need to be. We're always trying to make better use of our time but sometimes doing nothing important can be good for us!

What will you do with your extra hour?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #78

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on 'Back To The Future Day'. October 21, 2015 was the date the movie characters (Marty McFly, Doc, and Jennifer Parker) traveled to in the future in the 1989 film Back To The Future Part 2.

Did you see the movie? Tell us a something about what was happening in your life in the fall of 2015.

Of course! I used to love the Back to the Future films. They are the sort of films that are on TV every year inbetween Christmas and New Year. I've never planned to rewatch them but seem to every year. I caught most of the first one and the next day had to watch the 2nd and day after the third one.

Nothing big happened in the Autumn of 2015. We were just plodding on with family life. Becky had turned 13 and Ellie had turned 8 over the summer. They were both getting on well at school and were working hard. It was the year when they were obsessed with Minecraft. Becky got braces which was such a big deal for her and it took her some time to get used to them. The most exciting thing to happen was seeing One Direction in concert again. We had the best time but by the end of the year they had split up. At the end of October we did a bit of pumpkin carving for Halloween. I had been blogging for three years and never thought I would still be here now. I am so glad I have my blog to remind me what we were up to.

2. Which -ber month is your favorite? (September, October, November, December). Explain why.

This is an easy for me to answer. My favourite month of the ber months is November. It's my birthday month and my blogs birthday too. The excitement of Christmas is starting but with none of the stress. I always sneak an early Christmas dinner in at the end of November and start eating all the seasonal treats. The tree and decorations will go up after my birthday and I'll start watching Christmas movies. I used to save them for December but there are so many now, it is not possible to watch them all in 25 days. lol

3. Red, yellow, orange, bronze...your favorite fall color to wear? To eat? To see in nature?

I think autumn is one of the best seasons for colour. I seem to wear more red at this time of year. I love how it looks in autumn, especially the darker reds. 

I like all the oranges and yellows when it comes to food. Roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots and Yorkshire puddings. There's nothing better than a proper roast dinner followed by an apple crumble with custard! Nature is amazing at this time of year and is so pretty. I like seeing the reds, yellows and oranges when the leaves start changing colour.

4. What do you miss most about being 20?

The thing I miss most about being 20 is the freedom. Being able to do what I wanted, when I wanted, without having to think about everyone else first. If I wanted to spend my money on something silly, I could. I didn't have to worry about bills, food shopping or all the other things that come with being an adult as much. I wouldn't change having my girls for anything. Being a mum is amazing but sometimes I look back and think about a life before kids. Life seemed so much simpler back then.

5. We're roughly three quarters of the way through the year. What's one goal, habit, or mindset you want to purposely carry into the final weeks of the year? Elaborate.

I've been going to bed earlier over the last few weeks and getting up earlier and I would like to carry that on. I'm feeling so much better for it but I know it won't last. I'll go back to staying up late again at some point but for now it's working.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

My random thought this week is how quickly the year seems to be going by. Didn't October just start! I know I say this all the time but it really does feel as though the weeks are flying by. It will be November in a week and a half, then Christmas and then the end of the year!

If I could plan the perfect Autumn day!

If I could wave a magic wand and have the perfect autumn day I already know how it would go. I would like to do all of my favourite things and the weather has to be just right too. I would want proper autumn weather where it's cold enough to need a coat but not freezing that I'm shivering as soon as I step outside. I'd like a bit of that crisp feeling in the air, some sunshine would be great along with some blue skies and a few leaves swirling around would be perfect!

I'd start the day with a wander around a farmers market. I'm a sucker for them at any time of year but there's something about going in Autumn that makes me want to buy everything in sight. I love having a look at all the seasonal fruit and veg, homemade bread, cakes, jams and chutneys. All the things I probably don't need but still manage to convince myself I need! I'm terrible for walking in saying I'm just having a look and then coming out with a bag full of things I really didn't need to buy. Oops! There is one thing I'll have to show some self control with though. I mustn't buy any apples or pears because I've already got plans for those later in the day. I'd probably get a nice coffee while I wandered around too. A pumpkin spice latte would be perfect. it is the season after all. I know pumpkin spice isn't for everyone but I like it at this time of year. Next month I will move onto hot chocolate. hehehe

From there we'd head straight to a pumpkin patch! You can't have the perfect autumn day without pumpkins! I'd want to wander around checking out all the weird and wonderful shapes and sizes and knowing me, choosing just one would take forever. I'd pick one, spot a better one, find an even bigger one and convince myself we needed all of them. I'd definitely leave trying to carry way too many home.

By this point we'd probably be getting hungry, which is perfect because the afternoon tea at a pub near us would be next. They're doing an autumn afternoon tea with toasted sandwiches and tomato soup, mini sausage and chutney rolls, scones with jam and clotted cream, apple crumble and custard, treacle tart and as much tea and coffee as you can drink. Doesn't that sound amazing! I'm a big fan of afternoon tea anyway but give me toasted sandwiches and tomato soup instead of just tiny sandwiches and I'm happy. There's something I really like about sitting in a pub on a chilly autumn afternoon too. If there's an open fire going, even better!

After all that food, I'd definitely need to walk some of it off so I'd head over to my dad's and pick some apples and pears from his trees. Picking fruit is one of my favourite things to do at this time of year. There's something nice about knowing exactly where the fruit has came from. I'd probably end up with more than I actually need because I'm not very good at knowing when to stop. I'd bring them home, put them on the kitchen bench and then start thinking about what I could make with them. Apple crumble would probably be first because it's one of my favourites but then I'd start thinking about pies and muffins too!

While we're out, I'd also have had the slow cooker doing its job at home. I would have filled it before heading out in the morning. Putting everything in ready for a sausage casserole. There is nothing better than coming home to the smell of something that has been cooking all day.

I'd probably decide to do some baking which sounds lovely in my head. In reality, the kitchen would probably look like I'd been in there for about six hours. There'd be apple peelings everywhere, flour on the kitchen side, bowls in the sink and something cooling down while I try not to eat it before it's properly ready.

After tea I'd want to do a whole lot of nothing. I'd get changed into my PJs and plonk my behind straight into my armchair to watch a film. I wouldn't want anything too scary. I'd want something fun and autumnal which is why Hocus Pocus would be perfect. It's one of those films that just feels right at this time of year. You've got witches, Halloween, pumpkins and all the autumn bits. I'd probably have a piece of whatever I'd baked earlier too with a hot chocolate to drink. Now I just need to actually make this perfect autumn day happen.

What would your perfect Autumn day look like?

Our weekly meal plan! 19th - 25th October! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a lovely weekend! I had a lovely Saturday. Becky was home and awake which is a rarity for a Saturday. Usually she is sleeping after a night shift or before one, she had a week off and it felt like a treat for everyone. She helped with the jobs around the house, I annoyed her by listening to Christmas music and she caught up with her laundry. Yesterday we didn't do much at all. It was a day for watching movies and just relaxing. Just what Sunday's are made for.

Last week's meal plan went pretty well. We ate almost everything and on the day I had planned. We had to change things on Saturday and we didn't have the Pork Meatball Marinara Flatbreads because when I found out Becky's partner was coming, I knew there wouldn't be enough from the Gousto box so we just made pizza. Our favourite meal from the week was the One Pot Spicy Lamb & Sultana Stew! The flavours worked so well together and we will be having it again!

This week is going to be another quiet week for me. Ellie finished her temporary job and they said they will be back in touch at the beginning of November if there is more work but she's not hanging around waiting. She has 2 more job interviews this week!

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - No idea!

Stu is doing the cooking tonight, so it will be a surprise. I don't think he knows what he's planning to cook either but I think it will be something out of the freezer. I like nights like this because I don't have to decide anything. I can just turn up and eat!

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Oven Baked Normandy-Style Chicken Thigh & Apple Casserole!

This is a new recipe for us and it sounds so fancy! It's a chicken dish with apples and a creamy sauce making it a bit different from the usual chicken casserole we normally have with gravy.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - One Pot Pork & Beef Cheeseburger Macaroni!

I saw this on the options of meals from Gousto and had to get it. Last time we had it my family loved it and it's one of those meals they have been thinking about ever since. It's basically pasta with pork and beef mince and all those cheeseburger flavours mixed in.

Thursday - Gousto meal - Meat-Free Sloppy Joe Loaded Fries!

We're trying these meat free Sloppy Joe loaded fries. I think it is the same sloppy joe mix that we had in buns last week but this time it is over chips!

Friday - A takeaway of some sort!

Friday night is an easy night for me. I don't cook and we order takeaway. It could be Chinese or Indian food or even ordering from the fish and chip shop. We will decide on the day what we fancy. Last week we has sausage, chips and curry sauce.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Toffee Apple, Pork & Cheddar Burger!

This is another new meal to try. The burgers are made with pork, apple and cheddar which sounds like an yummy combination. I like trying different burgers instead of just having plain beef burgers every time.

Sunday - A help yourself evening!

I have no plans for Sunday at all. Everyone can help themselves to whatever they fancy and use up bits from the fridge, freezer and cupboards. There is always something that needs using up.

What are you eating this week?