New Thrifty Gifty - Organised for Christmas and all ocassions 2010- Santas Challenges

Anglea

Hi all Lovely to read your SANTA updates

VALENTINE DAY - used all my heart shaped Xmax ornies for a project for me.
HALF TERM PARENTS - children don't live at home
RUBBER GLOVES-frost free, but cleaned shelves
FRIDGE- ongoing - lots done inside and out
XMAS PLANNING -transferred info from folder into 2009 diary- present/cards/received/personal achievements /health/Xmas dinner/cost/family landmarks/do's and don'ts ready to read and compare for this year. Also got my card folder filled with left over Xmas cards and starting making son's envelopes (illustrated) to use for money. Thinking about other present ideas. Started notebook. Cut up some old cards -more to do.
SPARE PRESENTS -haven't needed them in previous years so didn't plan this year. Although I just remembered that I tried making an Xmas ornie as a little pressie for a new craft friend and it went wrong. So could make a few hand made craft items as standby's (she also makes me presents at other times of year e.g. Easter).
FUN CHALLENGE - feet and massaging hands and face
OTHER CHALLENGE - I did this but can't remember what I wore

mum2one

mary-op wrote: »

Hello all :j
Aren't you all so organised............sadly I'm not:(

Feb challenge I'm afraid went out the window...........apart from OH cleaning out fridges and freezers at the minute and thats really because we've for a couple staying (with 1 yr old :eek:) from this weekend for a few weeks while they try and find somewhere to live.
My bedroom just might get sorted out then (I might need somewhere to hide :rotfl:)

Today I've covered a shoe box and two twiglets tubs with some red textured wallpaper I got from charity shop...........so thats being a bit organised for christmas........isn;t it ?? Oh, also printed out NEGirl's recipes for foster daughters recipe index box I'm doing for her for Christmas. Just need to find some pretty paper to cover it with now.
Must...........absolutely must tidy up this room..........desk is a heap.......again and whats lurking underneath it........well don't ask............:rotfl:

Think ur the most organised one of us all, wish I had a fraction of ur craft abilities,
Being nosey, how have you done the recipies? xx

NickyBo_2

Valentines day
I made DH a card, some gorgeous Bailey Truffles and a set of vouchers. All were appreciated

Half-term - Parents
My son is too young to help with this much so it was down to me. I bagged up lots of his old clothes and toys and my parents are storing them in their attic. Didn't make much progress in our room, every time I tidy it, it ends up messy again by the end of the day!

The Rubber Gloves
Half done the freezer, just the bottom shelf to do, but I think it's going to be the worst!

The Fridge-
Done

Xmas Planning
I've managed to keep my spreadsheets updated and feel organised.

Spare Presents – ADULTS BIRTHDAYS
Got a couple of spare ladies presents in the sales. Not got any men's though.

Spare Presents – CHILDRENS BIRTHDAYS
I have a box full of children's presents!


Parents – Half Term Treat!!
We went to the seaside for 3 days, much fun had by all.

After all that hard work... time for a treat, fun challenge, 2 parts to the challenge
Part 1....
Had a lovely long bubble bath with posh bubbles, facemask, chocolate and good book. I could get used to that!

2nd Part of daft challenge

I don't think I've done this yet, I will try to do it this week.

mum2one

Santas Challenge February
Good News – Miss Hoodie is in bed so you can all breath a sigh of relief as, no major cleaning!!
Since December we all have been busy, getting the bargains, getting orgainsed and all the cleaning, as well as Valentines Day, the next big “challenge” is Mothers Day......

MOTHERS DAY MEMO BOX
We had a slight technical hitch at the weekend dd and her friend tried out the memo box idea....... worked a treat, but brain box forgot to take the photos of the stages, luckly were doing them with another friend at the weekend, so will post instructions, but will add photos after weekend– great present not just for mothers day, (thinking nannas, grandmothers) but any very money saving homemade gift..... off children they get the “aren’t you clever”...

EASTER EGGS
No I haven’t gone mad, feels like it at times, but the price was is getting better with eggs, Tesco and Asda had a selection for £1.00, now Morrisons have jumped on the band wagon with a large selection of eggs at half price....... just put them out of prying eyes and little (or big fingers).
Don’t forget we have an easter egg bunny to knit (courtesy of Pips mum), which fits a Cadburys Creme egg in, I’m going to do a few of those as dd wants an easter egg hunt...

CLEANING
I couldn’t let a month go by without getting somewhere sorted + cleaned, this month its the kitchen..........

Kitchen Draws
How many times have we gone to look for something in the draw and find 4 corkscrews... or dozen wooden spoons, graters and every but the kitchen sink. If it hasn’t been used for 12 months, then do we really need it!

RECIPIE BOOKS
Recipie Books – I remember reading an article that says we only use a few recipies from a book. My Bero book and Dairy Cookbook (back from the 70s), is the 2 best cook books for basics and recipies I can cook with dd. The others why not copy the recipie, (scan, write, type) then file away, and see if the cookbooks can be sold on ebay, car boots etc.

CUPBOARDS
How many times did we buy that item because the sales ploy was brilliant, or we thought that the new invention would look brilliant, how many plates or dishes have we kept from sets that have broken and we get a new set out.

CHILDRENS SECTION
This is the bit that has to be done very carefully, when there not here, if your children are anything like Miss Hoodie, she hates parting with things, I’ve lost count of the number of half set of McDonalds glasses, that little sports bottle, those mini sandwich boxes, you think they need...
In our Kitchen, - the cupboards are in dire need of a major sort out, the last time we cleaned the top of the cupboards, last year, we found newspaper dateing back to the 1980s. Everytime we had a Christmas pud, instead of chucking the plastic container away, it went in the cupboard just to warm the baked beans up.
The kitchen doesn’t have to be gutted in one day, spread it out, maybe the draws, one day, the unit the next.

CHRISTMAS ORGANISATION
I Know last month was the get organised month in relation to the presents, see what you have got, what you need, etc.

This month – I want List... (no not a coffee Sarah, or tall, dark and handsome for me!)
Look at your supplies, I know it may be wrong time of year for Christmas Paper and cards, but have a look at your supplies and see what you need, and spread them and the cost over the months.

Not an exhaustive list (pick and mix and add your own items)

Xmas Paper

Cards

Tags

Sellotape

Bubble Wrap (incase of posting)

Brown paper (incase of posting)

How many cards do I need to make

Do I need any items ready for crafting – baskets, flannels etc

Santas Stockings

Cello Wrap

Tissue paper

Curling Ribbon

Boxes (whether that be recycled from home or brought sets)

Glue

Bottle of wine

After all that I think we deserve a treat, as always – we do it the mse way.. Just remember how wonderful we are, we do all the budgeting, bargain hunting, and more often not wrapping up!!

Treat – Food

Pick a treat-
1. Get OH to cook a meal even if its beans on toast and he does the washing up, you put your feet up.
2. Have a mse evening in front of the TV, borrow a dvd (off a friend so its free), and treat yourself to a box of chocs. Poundland sell Maltesers!!
3. Have a pizza night with friends, - doesn’t have to be a takeaway, buy base, cheese and your own toppings (very mse way of having a treat)
4. Get OH to take you out for a meal. – Must be a money saving experience 2 4 1 pub, 2 meals for £10 etc
5. Those with children, have a jimjam day – watch a dvd, do something daft, even let the kids make u up.......

Think I’ve made you all work hard enough with the kitchen, but as with all the challenges, if theres one bit that you can use/do, that is brilliant, you don’t have to turn into Kim and Aggie.... just have some fun. xx

sarahf191979

Loving the Challenges this month Mum2one but had to laugh when I got to this bit

Treat – Food

Pick a treat-
1. Get OH to cook a meal even if its beans on toast and he does the washing up, you put your feet up.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

If my OH made anything in the kitchen even beans on toast I would be worried that he had been swapped with an alien:rotfl:

He can't Cook Won't Cook LOL

elysia2003

LOL. Same as mine Sarah, but funnily enough if i'm not there for some reason he'll cook for himself!!! He washes up every night though.

Kitchen part of the challenge already done. Have been going through all the cupboards before it gets dismantled later in the week. Great Idea about the recipe books through. I Have sold loads on ebay in the past couple of years, but as you say, have kept books which I have one or two favourite recipes in.
That's my mission to save them to computer then. That way I'll also have a bigger pile to put on ebay instead of one or two things.

The only thing I need Christmas and birthday gift wise is tags, was planning to cut up Christmas cards (still have them in a pile upstairs) so I'll do that too.

Brilliant suggestions again Mum2one. Thankyou very much.

sarahf191979

elysia2003 wrote: »

LOL. Same as mine Sarah, but funnily enough if i'm not there for some reason he'll cook for himself!!! He washes up every night though.

.

Ohhh I'm glad its not just me then LOL thought I was on my own, but if I'm not in he won't cook, just waits for me to get back and then acts as if I've starved him for a month:rotfl:

sarahf191979

NickyBo wrote: »

Didn't make much progress in our room, every time I tidy it, it ends up messy again by the end of the day!

.

SNAP I seem to dump everything in there :eek:

rufusdog52

Well we have made great strides in sorting out our bedroom, not just sorting it but giving it a make over at same time.

Got the feature wall wallpapered yesterday. Need to buy some plainer wallpaper for the rest of the room but not a lot showing as we have big wardrobes and cupboards in front of most of the walls that dont move so will paper round them. Only need 2 rolls. Had some of the flowery paper left so cut some and stuck the pieces on the front of the wardrobe doors as they have these panels on them like a picture frames.

All our furniture is mismatched in there, wardrobes are white with the frame bits mentioned above in a mid brown wood, the bedside drawers are beech, then OH has his big dvd shelf up there which is dark wood and we have an old cupboard his grandad made with dark wood which he keeps more dvds in. We also have two chest of drawers, one white and one some horrible 70's looking brown wood look.

Need to get a new chest of drawers from somewhere, the two bedside drawers I am going to get OH to paint with the dark wood varnish to make them match the other bits and I am going to paint the frames on the wardrobe to match them.

Want to make one of those headboards as well that look like they are made of leather, you know the rectangle ones. Just asked my dad and he said get a bit of plywood cut to the size I want (B&Q) then get a piece of foam same size and then cover it with the leather look fabric (Dunelm Mill). The head board we have has the prong bits that fix it to the bed so will just transfer them to the new headboard.

Cant wait to get stuck in now lol. Means another trip to Dunelm Mill.

mum2one

Rufus - Sounds absolutely fab, do you want to loan your talents out...

Shouldn't laugh but I know I put the men and cooking, in my case its dad, bless him, if its simple, deep fried, in the oven he can do it, give him a recipie book - no go - It took him 25 years of married life to bake an apple pie........ he was so proud he'd even made the pastry......
xx