Christmas 09 Let's Get Organised!!

sammy_kaye18

princesswoo wrote: »

When it comes to crafty items - i sit down and do something and the kids are sat at the table with me doing something of their own.

When it comes to shopping the internet is a god send, but if i have to go out shopping a few white lies are a must. Along with child x-ray proof carrier bags.

But they key is ORGANISATION, keep lists in a book, that way you know who your buying for and what your keeping your eyes open for.

Write down all ideas you have. I have loads of things i'd like to make but once i have bought the base materials , it sometimes works out to expensive to make if i'm just making 1 or 2.

When you have bought something i use a highlighter to cross it off my list, makes my xmas book look really colourful and helps me to feel like i am making massive progress.

I find having a small notebook in my handbag is good because if im out I can make a note of things I see and prices, ideas that come to me or what sales are on.

I have my lists on teh computer as well as a final draft in my christmas folder. Then when Im done I highlight then list in my christmas folder and use a colour change and different font on the comp to let me know ive done it.


ALSO meant to add is anyone else buying for pets this Xmas? I have 2 dogs, 1 puppy, 3 cats, 2 guinea pigs , 2 terrapins and a bearded dragon to include! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

before you ask
me - 1 JRT + terrapins
sister - puppy + kitten
mum - 2 older rescue cats
MIL - 1 rescue dog
SIL - guinea pigs
Dad - bearded dragon.

There should also be a python to the list of family pets but wouldn't know where to start with that! Think a trip to PAT is a must this year.

Bella79

Im def gonna get into it from NOW, Last year was a nightmare i ended up buying everything i needed for presents in december whoch left us short we jst cannot afford to do that this year.

One thing i am worried about is giving ppl homemade gifts , Do you think they will think im cheap ? , Your lots on here look so proffesional i dont think mine will

Gonna start with the snow man soups, sock monkey for daughter, pots of gold for neighbours

Thankyou for inspiring me :@)

pretzelnut

owens3116 wrote: »

Im def gonna get into it from NOW, Last year was a nightmare i ended up buying everything i needed for presents in december whoch left us short we jst cannot afford to do that this year.

One thing i am worried about is giving ppl homemade gifts , Do you think they will think im cheap ? , Your lots on here look so proffesional i dont think mine will

Gonna start with the snow man soups, sock monkey for daughter, pots of gold for neighbours

Thankyou for inspiring me :@)

Home made gifts are not cheap - time is money and a lot of these gifts involve quite a bit of time + thought to make.

I thought my efforts would turn out like burnt scrambled eggs (yes i have burnt scrambled eggs on quite a few occasions:o), but i am quite pleased with myself and they way they have turned out. The key is to know when to stop. ie stop adding decoration, less is more as they say.

Pick something simple and give it a whirl, dont get disheartened if your 1st effort doesnt look FAB - they rarely do unless your truly gifted, so try a 2nd one, by the 2nd one you should have picked up a few more tips / bits of inspiration and it will turn out a lot better.

I'm making all these thoughful hampers and handmade gifts for people which will have taken months of planning and organising and i know they will be appreciated but on the downside i know no one else in my family is that thoughtful so i will end up with the usual dozen tins of celebrations and biscuits, which i never eat. :rotfl:

We live in scotland and my DS is back at school today so thats it for me - the kids going back to school means:

:snow_laug IT'S OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN TIME. :santa2:

cdsmiler

Money maker – I’m going to be ordering that Scene it game too. We have quite a few Scene it games already at home, including one of the earlier Harry P ones, so we’re going to wait until all the films have been out before getting ourselves a new HP Scene it (we LOVE board games)! Otherwise we’ll just want to keep getting the updates versions every year! But we’re going to get one for my SIL who also likes the films and enjoys a board game every now and again! At that price, why not. Saying that, the price they say it should be sold at is SILLY!! (£40 for a board game?!?!)

Oooo while I talk of board games, there’s a new Monopoly out called City or something – it’s £15 in ASDA at the moment which aint bad. And if anyone likes Monopoly but would like to play one with a twist, try and get hold of Tropical Tycoon Monopoly – I think they’ve recently stopped making it, but we bought it from Home Bargains (I think it was…..) last year for £7! I’m sure you could probably find it online for a similar price….. It’s really one of the better alternative Monopolies.

And I won’t get started on Cluedo (OMG, I LOVE cluedo!! Lol), but I will recommend for Harry Potter lovers, the Harry Potter Cluedo! Great fun and a good twist on an old classic!

Phew, sorry, I get over excited with board games. I keep telling hubby that he’s lucky it’s board games I get excited about rather than handbags or shoes!! Lol

Hello to all newbies!!

Oh, and I bought mince pies yesterday...yummy!!

pretzelnut

ah mince pies. ......i can feel my mouth watering already just at the thought of one.

I want a piece of christmas cake with marzipan and icing on now.

cyclingyorkie

me too!

really looking forward to daughter making the Christmas cake this year! She's doing GCSE food and last year she made the best cake we've ever had.....

jemtom

hello all, really looking forward to x-mas this year, its just me and tom now and were having x-mas at my parents, cant wait and neither can my mum - although i think she will think different on the day when i wake her up very early to see if santa has been lol, got a couple of stocking fillers for tom's stocking from a sale at asda and his main present is going to be a bike which my consumer pulse vouchers are going towards. also going to make a couple of hampers for x-mil and fil, and my auntie and uncle. and thinking of doing a movie hamper for bro. thanks to everyone for ideas. getting rather excited about it all now although my livingroom has new furniture now since ex moved out and i brought all my own stuff dont have a clue where im going to put tree i dont think there is room!!

pretzelnut

My mum makes our christmas cakes, there just the best.

She's on her way to get ingredients now. Mainly as she needs to make me 2 christening cakes, but she wont be able to resist making a few extra's.

Although she's moaning (as her DH has a mild nut allergy) so she cant put nuts or marzipan on their cake and she says it doesnt taste the same without them.

And NO WAY am i sharing mine. Its mine i tell you all mine. :rotfl:

I am also the only person i know who likes christmas pudding, but i arent moaning as it means i get a huge one all to myself on christmas day.

When i was younger i always had a 2 - 3ft christmas tree in my bedroom. Unfortunately its not a tradition any of my kids want to adopt.

tiredwithtwins

princesswoo wrote: »

I want a piece of christmas cake with marzipan and icing on now.

i still have a couple of pieces of last years christmas cake in the freezer ... shall i send one round?

when does everyone start making their christmas cakes? I usually do mine end of october, then spend the 7 or 8 weeks leading up to xmas injecting it with all sorts of alcohol!!

sue :rotfl:

cdsmiler

tiredwithtwins wrote: »

when does everyone start making their christmas cakes? I usually do mine end of october, then spend the 7 or 8 weeks leading up to xmas injecting it with all sorts of alcohol!!

sue :rotfl:

My dad just does one big one (I like it, but hubby doesn't, so I just have some when we're at my parents house) and I ice and decorate it (my arty side!). He normally makes his around the end of september/beginning of October I think. Then my mum marzipans in 2 days before I'm due to come over and royal icing it! That's normally sometime in December.

Oh and he feeds his with lots of alcohol too.

Clare x