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

helen_jelly

Lurker here ........... but full time poster next year as I found you too late, however,

Mary - really pleased for you and DH
Foxy - hope you're feeling better now, Tonsilitus can be dreadful
Mum - I was just like that woman when you were shopping, nearly pee'd myself laughing, clever DD you have there!!

Helen x

elyphant

98jdougl wrote: »

I use the cloves pushed into an orange with cinnamon sticks tied to the top or on the bottom with the orange on top - my mum used to do it with us when we were little and i have stuck with it.

The other thing you could do with the above recipe is pop it on the dish and sit it on top of a radiator and the heat from the radiator will release the scent in the same way simmer would (I think)

Thanks for this jdougl, will do the orange thing. We don't really have any flat-topped radiators where I could sit anything, so not sure about that. Sorry I know this is from a few days ago, but have been off the internet and just catching up.

Love the idea of your family scrapbook, I bet that will be much appreciated.

ragz_2

Hi all, didn't get a look in on PC yesterday as OH had the day off!

Mary - So pleased for you and your OH, so glad it was good news.
Mum2One - Your DD sounds like a very clever little mini mummy lol
Is that Boots 17 offer only in store, can't find it online. I need some new mascara and I'd put Purple nail polish on my wish list lol - might actually have to go to Boots, nearest one's in Eastbourne but it's next to Next and Matalan and I just know I'll be there all day!

OH found the missing xmas box in the garage (god knows how, it's appalling in there!) so we have the kids stockings and the tree lights and missing decs. I'm shocked at how few decorations we have, but only been together 4 years so not collected many yet. I bought cute window stickers from Amazon the other day that me and the boys put up yesterday
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002HIUQB6/ref=ox_ya_oh_product
they look really nice and subtle from outside and cute from inside. Not meant to be re-useable though but I reckon I could try it!

Spent half an hour making paper chains with the boys this afternoon, was hoping it would occupy them longer but they found it quite hard. Was using ready made prestuck ones, at first DS1 thought he couldn't do it, in the end he did a chain of 8 all by himself (he's only 3 but he perseveres) and DS2 (2) managed a few circles though couldn't join them up. Neither of them could manage the gumemd ones you have to lick though! I was very dissapointed in the shiny ones I paid £1.80 a pack and there were only a few gold, red and green ones in each (it looked like they were all those colours) so I manages to get about a 3m chain out of two packs! Won't be bothering next year.

Light are up in front bay window in LR, other window decorated but really need more decorations. Tesco didn't have anything decent apart from some lovely felt stitched things but they were too pricey I thought.
Really need a tree - still can't decide on one...

Still got a couple of pressies to wrap (including the boys' big box of bricks they spotted in my room, I told them it's just a box of old clothes that used to have bricks in!)
Need to wrap OH's stocking presents, he's out hunting tonight so may do it then. Hope he doesn't come back with any rabbits, I've just done the food shop and meal plan!

In Tesco today they announced they were giving away free vegetable slicers, so I hung around (anything for a freebie) and it was really a demo of The World's Sharpest Knife -after all the demonstration, I have to say it looked pretty good and apparently retails at £19.99. They were offering 3 of them, plus 2 paring knives and a filliting knife for £25 so I used my £18 clubcard vouchers to get the set for £7 (it's all meant to be worth nearly £100). I wouldn't normally fall for a sales pitch but she cut a hammer and a lump of wood with it! I have to say I wouldn't have paid the £25 though, but thought I could give the spare ones as gifts or ebay them.
Got it home and it is bloody sharp, I cut myself without realising until I saw the blood, but the blade is rather bendy and the quality doesn't look great

98jdougl

Does anyone know the best place to compare courier (ie: DHL) services for christmas deliveries?

mary-op

Hello all and many thanks for all your kind thoughts:j
OH says its sunk in more now and he feels more relieved though still can't work out why he doesn't feel 'back to normal'..............I've told him, just cos his results were clear a magic wand hasn't been waved around him.......it'll take time before he gets his energy back and can function as he used to and maybe, get back to work to stop him being so bored !.........lol
Foster daughter has invited us for christmas dinner and OH thinks its a wonderful idea (normally he likes christmas to be just me and him......quiet and a bit of 'us' time). She's taking me down to my sons week on Saturday to deliver christmas pressies to grandkids (OH couldn't drive that far) and its the Christmas market in town here the day after.........something to look forward to.
I braved the damp and took my cough and me into town today to get some ribbon to finish off my christmas 'primitive' hearts/stars garland for the dresser -bit of a sad choice but I got some green check that looks ok.
Not much in the charity shops..........managed to get a new pair of track suit bottoms for OH to loaf about him (words fail me to describe his old ones :eek:) then got a taxi home when it started to rain buckets.

Actually feel I can look forward to Christmas now....:j

tq16

ragz wrote: »

Hi all, didn't get a look in on PC yesterday as OH had the day off!

Mary - So pleased for you and your OH, so glad it was good news.
Mum2One - Your DD sounds like a very clever little mini mummy lol
Is that Boots 17 offer only in store, can't find it online. I need some new mascara and I'd put Purple nail polish on my wish list lol - might actually have to go to Boots, nearest one's in Eastbourne but it's next to Next and Matalan and I just know I'll be there all day!

OH found the missing xmas box in the garage (god knows how, it's appalling in there!) so we have the kids stockings and the tree lights and missing decs. I'm shocked at how few decorations we have, but only been together 4 years so not collected many yet. I bought cute window stickers from Amazon the other day that me and the boys put up yesterday
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002HIUQB6/ref=ox_ya_oh_product
they look really nice and subtle from outside and cute from inside. Not meant to be re-useable though but I reckon I could try it!

Spent half an hour making paper chains with the boys this afternoon, was hoping it would occupy them longer but they found it quite hard. Was using ready made prestuck ones, at first DS1 thought he couldn't do it, in the end he did a chain of 8 all by himself (he's only 3 but he perseveres) and DS2 (2) managed a few circles though couldn't join them up. Neither of them could manage the gumemd ones you have to lick though! I was very dissapointed in the shiny ones I paid £1.80 a pack and there were only a few gold, red and green ones in each (it looked like they were all those colours) so I manages to get about a 3m chain out of two packs! Won't be bothering next year.

Light are up in front bay window in LR, other window decorated but really need more decorations. Tesco didn't have anything decent apart from some lovely felt stitched things but they were too pricey I thought.
Really need a tree - still can't decide on one...

Still got a couple of pressies to wrap (including the boys' big box of bricks they spotted in my room, I told them it's just a box of old clothes that used to have bricks in!)
Need to wrap OH's stocking presents, he's out hunting tonight so may do it then. Hope he doesn't come back with any rabbits, I've just done the food shop and meal plan!

In Tesco today they announced they were giving away free vegetable slicers, so I hung around (anything for a freebie) and it was really a demo of The World's Sharpest Knife -after all the demonstration, I have to say it looked pretty good and apparently retails at £19.99. They were offering 3 of them, plus 2 paring knives and a filliting knife for £25 so I used my £18 clubcard vouchers to get the set for £7 (it's all meant to be worth nearly £100). I wouldn't normally fall for a sales pitch but she cut a hammer and a lump of wood with it! I have to say I wouldn't have paid the £25 though, but thought I could give the spare ones as gifts or ebay them.
Got it home and it is bloody sharp, I cut myself without realising until I saw the blood, but the blade is rather bendy and the quality doesn't look great

I also have the world's sharpest knife set got over a year ago, and they are fantastic, I know quality doesn't look that great but they have lasted really well- would recommend them :-)

mum2one

ragz wrote: »

Hi all, didn't get a look in on PC yesterday as OH had the day off!

Mary - So pleased for you and your OH, so glad it was good news.
Mum2One - Your DD sounds like a very clever little mini mummy lol
Is that Boots 17 offer only in store, can't find it online. I need some new mascara and I'd put Purple nail polish on my wish list lol - might actually have to go to Boots, nearest one's in Eastbourne but it's next to Next and Matalan and I just know I'll be there all day!

We got ours from instore, also when we went to the points machine there was a voucher for 50 extra points if you brought a no 17 nail polish, (I got nail polish + lipstick £6.50 )+ free gift .

OH found the missing xmas box in the garage (god knows how, it's appalling in there!) so we have the kids stockings and the tree lights and missing decs. I'm shocked at how few decorations we have, but only been together 4 years so not collected many yet. I bought cute window stickers from Amazon the other day that me and the boys put up yesterday
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002HIUQB6/ref=ox_ya_oh_product
they look really nice and subtle from outside and cute from inside. Not meant to be re-useable though but I reckon I could try it!

Spent half an hour making paper chains with the boys this afternoon, was hoping it would occupy them longer but they found it quite hard. Was using ready made prestuck ones, at first DS1 thought he couldn't do it, in the end he did a chain of 8 all by himself (he's only 3 but he perseveres) and DS2 (2) managed a few circles though couldn't join them up. Neither of them could manage the gumemd ones you have to lick though! I was very dissapointed in the shiny ones I paid £1.80 a pack and there were only a few gold, red and green ones in each (it looked like they were all those colours) so I manages to get about a 3m chain out of two packs! Won't be bothering next year.
Bet they loved it.
Light are up in front bay window in LR, other window decorated but really need more decorations. Tesco didn't have anything decent apart from some lovely felt stitched things but they were too pricey I thought.
Really need a tree - still can't decide on one...

Still got a couple of pressies to wrap (including the boys' big box of bricks they spotted in my room, I told them it's just a box of old clothes that used to have bricks in!)
Need to wrap OH's stocking presents, he's out hunting tonight so may do it then. Hope he doesn't come back with any rabbits, I've just done the food shop and meal plan!

In Tesco today they announced they were giving away free vegetable slicers, so I hung around (anything for a freebie) and it was really a demo of The World's Sharpest Knife -after all the demonstration, I have to say it looked pretty good and apparently retails at £19.99. They were offering 3 of them, plus 2 paring knives and a filliting knife for £25 so I used my £18 clubcard vouchers to get the set for £7 (it's all meant to be worth nearly £100). I wouldn't normally fall for a sales pitch but she cut a hammer and a lump of wood with it! I have to say I wouldn't have paid the £25 though, but thought I could give the spare ones as gifts or ebay them.
Got it home and it is bloody sharp, I cut myself without realising until I saw the blood, but the blade is rather bendy and the quality doesn't look great

Those knives are absolutely brilliant, they were being demonstared when we were up in Blackpool Tesco in Aug, its the best investment we (rephase as I) made. Got dad with me, terrible if theres a demo and they say something free, so made him stand the opposiate side so we could get 2 of the whirlers, I brought the set of knives....... got the usual ur waste money on anything etc etc...... got the knives home, while there the best thing since buttered bread, best thing he ever got!! (all he did was carry them to the car!!),
We ended up chucking out a wack of odd knives and just use them for everything, the best part I found is the handle, sounds very daft, but there designed so that ur fingers fit comfy, but can't go to the blade.

xx

ragz_2

mum2one wrote: »

Those knives are absolutely brilliant, they were being demonstared when we were up in Blackpool Tesco in Aug, its the best investment we (rephase as I) made. Got dad with me, terrible if theres a demo and they say something free, so made him stand the opposiate side so we could get 2 of the whirlers, I brought the set of knives....... got the usual ur waste money on anything etc etc...... got the knives home, while there the best thing since buttered bread, best thing he ever got!! (all he did was carry them to the car!!),
We ended up chucking out a wack of odd knives and just use them for everything, the best part I found is the handle, sounds very daft, but there designed so that ur fingers fit comfy, but can't go to the blade.

xx

Each to their own lol, I've decided to take them back! The blades are too bendy, the handles are too short and cheap and don't seem very well designed. OH took one look and decided they are rubbish (he's a knife snob, he sharpens ours a LOT!) so they are going back to the shop. They aren't good enough to give as gifts and I really don't need 3 of them!
I have to say the sharpness is very impressive (my finger stings now!) but that's all they have going for them IMHO, I am fussy with knives though, OH and I just use our Opinel's for most things.

I am just wondering though, as I bought them with my clubcard vouchers, what happens when I return them? Do the points go back into my CC account or do I get cash/debit? I'd rather have the points and save them until they do the double up thing again (I am sure this is why they sent us an extra statement, want us to waste our points!).


Have decided to take kids and a load of crafty stuff over to my Mum's this afternoon to do some making xmassy things, she's really creative and has more patience than me!

I wrapped OH's stocking stuff last night as well as the last few presents. Still can't find MIL's pressie - :mad:

sarahf191979

been really busy this morning, have managed to wrap some more pressies and finished off the pressies for kids teachers, so thats another job off my list altough have put about 20 more things on it :eek: got a loads of little jobs that need doing this afternoon and finish DS1 tardis consol off with him after he gets back from school so may be awol most of the day and weekedn:eek:

cdsmiler

mary-op wrote: »

Hello all :j
Well am I relieved ..................:j
After not hearing anything yesterday a letter came in the post this morning saying OH had appt. yesterday ?? I phoned up and told girl 'no point in telling us the day afterwards (seems someone should have told him last week when it was and didn't) I had small rant about needing appy. pretty damn quick......stress/worry/ etc. not to mention OH's possible conditon.
Bout 2 hours later consultant phoned(yes the white coat man himself -though don't seem to remember him wearing one)!! ''It's good news'' says he going on to say biopsy was clear and the area it was taken from had apparently shrunk !! So, he and his team of 'white coats' all agreed that at the moment no more is needed other than getting 2 weeks antibiotics from GP and him having another appt. and xrays in 2 weeks time as it could be that it was due to an adverse reaction to an infection OH had (pleurosy was mentioned-possibly bit of pneumonia) and further antibiotics would do the trick.
He wants to keep an eye on him so I can see a fair few trips back and forth to the hospital but what the heck................it's nothing like I thought.............:j
Thankyou for all your good wishes, positive thoughts and bless 'em............the card thread ladies wearing anything that had inside out.............well you never know...............lol:rotfl:stranger things happen

I'm a bit late in saying this, but YEAYYYYYYY!!! That's fab news! So pleased for you and your OH Mary!! :T Make sure he rests to recover properly!

Foxy - hope you're feeling better!

Welcome to the mad house Fed08!

elyphant - your Venezuelan food sounds facinating!!!

mum2one - you've taught your daughter well!!


Well, tree up, and cards written! Wrapping a few little bits today as have a bit of a Christmas do tonight so can give some gifts tonight, but have to straighten my hair and do me nails too, so it'll be the bare minimum! (Oooo sounds posh really! lol) Then wrapping all weekend!

Hubby surprised me yesterday - he's terrible at Christmas and spends far too much. But yesterday he went into a charity shop and bought us two board games for about £4 total! Well impressed! lol

Had some good news yesterday - dunno if anyone remembers me ranting about fraud on my Abbey acccount in the summer and the fiasco they made of the whole process? Well they've just offered me £150 compensation!! Woooo! Good timing with maternity pay for the next few months! Complaining works ladies, complaining works!

Clare x