Thrifty Gifty - Organised for Christmas and all ocassions 2009- Santas Challenges

JaneLiz

Well I still have soo much to buy - but hopefully a little shopping trip will sort most of it out on Saturday

Need to get one person a bear from the build-a-bear factory, they all seem quite expensive but hey.. anyway, anyone know how it works? I last bought one of these when I was about 10

mumofjusttwo

just pick the bear you want then take it to thy=e stuffing machine and you can put a heart in it and the one of the workers will put the stuffing in for you.

You can also put a recording in there too and buy clothes for but of course that costs more money.

queenb1981

i had a heart beat in my daughters bear she loved it

HopeAndDriftWood

Hey everyone!
Thought I'd pop in while I work on Dooyoo....haven't done any in a while, and 5000 expired, but I've done 4970 today and I'll carry on tomorrow.
How long does it usually take you to reach the target?
I thought I was on top of Christmas shopping (Its my boyfriends birthday too, so it's a little hectic) but his mum's birthday is next week now...It has to be a good present, too.

Just had a big fight with OH too, probably because he had a big presentation at uni today and they went for drinks after (2pm) so he's stressed and he gets headachy after alcohol. Prrfftt.

mum2one

MERRY CRUNCHMAS – CLEVER CUTBACKS
1. Think before you spend,
Stick to a realistic budget – that includes everything (cards, stamps, wrapping paper, not just the presents).
2. Make your own Christmas cards
Photo-copying the kids drawings or a great family photo and sticking onto a card
3. Menu planning
Write down your menu for the holiday period.
Check whats on offer every week and buy discounted essential items that keep.
4. Presents for families
Think about presents for the whole family, such as board games, instead of buying seperate gifts for the whole family, or do a family hamper.
5. Save for 2010
Hopefully with all the hard work we’ve done this year, some of our xmas costs will be money neutral, if possible add up what you spent and see if you can divide that sum and save monthly towards 2010.
6. The lovely January Sales
Buy cards, presents, wrapping paper, etc in the Jan sales, have a list ready, so you don’t buy 20 mens gift sets and you only need 3.... or in my case 800 christmas cards!!

mum2one

The recipies will need adult help, great for kids to do.

Get the kids involved, design their own paper
www.crayola.com

print off a christmas place mat – to be coloured in (A4 size)
www.tesco.com/magazine

Get the kids involved, design their own paper
www.crayola.com

print off a christmas place mat – to be coloured in (A4 size)
www.tesco.com/magazine
Get the kids involved, design their own paper
www.crayola.com

print off a christmas place mat – to be coloured in (A4 size)
www.tesco.com/magazine
WHITE CHOCOLATE AND CRANBERRY FUDGE
350G / 12OZ GRANULATED SUGAR
25G / 1OZ UNSALTED BUTTER
175ML / 6 FL OZ CAN EVAPORATED MILK
100G / 3 1/2OZ DRIED SWEETENED CRANBERRIES
300G / 10OZ WHITE CHOCOLATE CHOPPED
METHOD
1. Cut a piece of baking parchment large enough to line a shallow 25cm x 20cm (10in x 8in) baking tin or a 1kg (2lb) loaf tin
2. Put the sugar, butter and evaporated milk in a large heavy-based pan
3. Heat gently until the sugar has been disolved
4. Bring to the boil, stirring with a wooden spoon, reduce the heat, simmer for 5 mins
5. Remove from the heat, add the cranberries and chocolate, pour straight into the tin
6. Chill for an hr or until firm
7. Cut into squares.



PISTACHIO AND MARZIPAN FESTIVE YULE LOGS
150G / 5OZ BAR MILK OR DARK CHOCOLATE
50G / 2OZ DREIED SWEETENED CRANBERRIES
50G / 2OZ SHELLED PISTACHIO NUTS
ICING SUGAR TO DUST
500G / 1LB PACK NATURAL MARZIPAN
50G / 2OZ WHITE CHOCOLATE
METHOD
1. Finally chop 2oz of the milr or dark chocolate, the cranberries and nuts, reserve few pieces nuts + berries for decoration
2. Dust the work surface with icing sugar
3. Roll marzipan into a rectangle 23cm x 33cm (9in x 13in)
4. Cut into 4 equal pieces
5. Sprinkle each with chopped chocolate and nut mixture
6. Roll up tightly to make a log shape
7. Melt remaining milk or dark choc, spread over the logs, leave to set
8. Melt the white chocolate, drizzle over the logs
9. Decorate with cranberries and pistachio
10. Leave to cool, cut into slices and gift wrap
Keeps for 2 weeks in an airtight container.

mum2one

The address for Santa or Santa has now got modern you can email him!!

POST
Letters to Santa
Your child can send thier wish list to Father Christmas
SANTA
SANTAS GROTTO
REINDEERLAND
SAN TA1
To recieve a reply by Christmas Eve make sure your child’s name and address is included and the letter is stamped and posted by 12th December – Royal Mail try to answer every letter
Or
Email Santa
www.emailsanta.com

mum2one

POSTING DATES
Send cards and gifts early to avoid those lovely last minute queues!!
LAST POSTING DATES
4TH DECEMBER
Airmail to South and Central America
Caribbean
Africa
Middle East
Far East (except Japan)
Asia
New Zealand
Australia

10th December
Airmail to Japan
USA
Canada
Eastern Europe

11th December
Airmail to western Europe

18th December
Second Class

21st December
First Class

23rd December
Special delievery / Next Day

More details call 08457 740740
www.royalmail.com

mum2one

Cheat xmas decorations.
Beaded Candle
Pillar candle and beaded garland, small bit double sided sticky tape.
Wrap your beaded garland a third of the way up candle (bottom upwards), and secure with double sided tape.

Union Jack Notice Board
24in x 16in canvas or which size you prefer
White ribbon
Red ribbon
(the lengths quoted are for the 24in x 16in board)
1. Spray paint the board in blue
2. Cut 2 pieces of white ribbon 47cm (19in) and 67cm (27in) and 2 x 70cm (28in) lengths of white ribbon
3. Use the thin white ribbon, form an x-shape, stapling at back of canvas
4. Cut 2 x 70cm narrow red ribbon, lay on top of white, secure as before.
5. Place shorter piece of white ribbon vertically, secure, then add red ribbon.
6. Staple tightly.
Pattern can be adjusted to what ever you fancy.
Pink painted canvas, add black ribbon in a criss cross.
The worlds your oyster.

mum2one

Florentine topping for Christmas cakes
Cover a 23cm / 9in christmas cake
25g / 1oz butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup
50g / 2oz flaked almonds
50g / 2oz roughly chopped walnuts
200g / 7oz glace cherries – halfed
50g / 2oz chopped mix peel
1 tablespoon plain flour
Method
1. Preheat Oven Gas 4 / 180C / fan-160C
2. In a pan, melt together the butter and golden syrup
3. Add almonds and walnuts
4. Add cherries, peel and stir in flour
5. Pull off heat
6. Spread the mixture over the top of the cake and bake for 10/15mins until golden.
7. ALLOW TO COOL – WILL KEEP FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS