santas Challenge 2016... Gifts, chat, challenges

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't been posting much, just seemed to be bogged down with things. DS2 has been here last few days and all I seem to have been doing is cooking and going up and down the stairs.

I hope to do some proper replies this evening.

It's my dad's 90th today.

I was making the card the day before I was going to take his presents round because I couldn't find what I was looking for. Luckily I found some bits and pieces at home and embellished a shop bought blank card as dad celebrates his name day (today) not his actual birthday.

For some reason I couldn't find a really nice blank card I felt comfortable with in the shops. You know when you have someone in mind and even if they were not to like the card, you don't feel right until you get a certain feeling you can leave the shop satisfied?

Hi all

Thanks for the new challenge mum2one, and sending you and the family best wishes and this difficult time.

Re the handbag chore - I've had real difficulty adjusting since my favourite bag broke - I've tried out 3 different ones and still doesn't feel right - one was too big and I was losing thing, the other two are smaller and can't fit enough in.

Anglea. I'm so sorry about your cousin. Such a shock when it's out of the blue like that. Hope you and your family are coping as well as can be expected.

Good luck with the baking. A friend of mine makes and sells celebration cakes. She makes some stunning ones. No idea how she decorates them so well. Mine would end up on cakewrecks.com do you need permits and special cover to sell to people? I only know there are guidelines about listing ingredients fully because of allergies and intelligences. Clueless about it beyond that.

I feel ok to be back. It was quite tiring actually, so in a way I was glad to be home. Hawaii was so beautiful. I just wish t were a few hours nearer. We were awake for around 35 hours from leaving to landing home and getting to bed. And not easy when I was 17 weeks pregnant and had a very bad back. (20 weeks now. Half way!!). Ended up with a chest infection again. I always seem to get one after long flights. 5th year on a run.
But apart from all that whining, it was beautiful. Last holiday for a while with this one on the way.

My extra challenge to myself is to start getting a move on with buying baby bits. Anywhere I see offers I have a look a stock up on a few small things. I know Aldi have baby week next week and asda had theirs too.

On the general challenges, special occasions list and diary is all filled in. Cards for everything written and in the card folder. Just need to remember I've already written them and not write more. Baby brain isn't helping. I have a well stocked present cupboard to dive into.

Handbags are all sorted. Dug through the wardrobe to find the lesser used ones, all well as my favorites. Got back some long lost stationary and lip balms, also a small pile of change and other long lost items. As well as a huge pile of random paper and junk that seems to accumulate and no doubt will again.

Right. My evening is to be spend weeding and deadheading in my garden/jungle. So I can hopefully get it looking somewhere near presentable for summer.

Hope everyone is well.

Hi again,

Mrs M, you'll have to give us an update when it's more convenient I've been wondering how you are doing. I hope you can stop yourself from overdoing it or it may take a toll on your health eventually. I know there are times we feel we have to do it and there doesn't seem to be a way around it. So no easy solutions unless there are ways you can take a good break for yourself.

Crazy cat lady - do you think it's the dry air on the plane that causes your chest infections? That was a very long time to be awake but I guess that it doesn't put you off holidays as it's been your 5th time.

You've done well with your cards.

I know just what you mean about finding a random pile of paper in the handbag. I also tend to get napkins and sugar/sweetener sachets as my friend always picks them up and put them in my bag for her to use at my house as I don't sweeten my drinks and tend to keep the sugar jar on a higher shelf and forget it's there.

I often have the sachets falling out of my bag when I've not realised they are there and I'm trying to find some money lol

For us to sell cakes we've got to do a special course and register with Environmental Health and follow the rules and regulations in a handbook, fill in paperwork about the products and package the items in certain ways that are necessary. This is for the W.I and also via the W.I stall at Farmers Markets. I don't know what other people have to do if they sell from home to the public.