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

candjsmum

sarahf191979 wrote: »

Great ideas everyone. And thanks for the recipies they sound yum.

Well I'm feeling all christmassy, noticed the local hotel had its posters up saying they were taking christmas bookings now:j:j not long now, wonder when the cards and decorations will come out??? (not that i need any more lol:rotfl:)

Hope everyone is having a great week.

Well they have xmas cards and crackers out now in our local Chaplins store. Hubby is a lorry driver and he will start delivering crackers and cards with food anytime now, then Easter egss between Xmas and New year!!

elysia2003

I worked in Woolies for 15 years and the xmas decorations would have been in stock by now, ready to display on shop floor the end of the month. :eek:

Apparantly if anyone wants to take the kids to see Father Christmas at Harrods this year you have to pre-book, there is a link on the freebie board.

Thankyou Fedup for the links, I'll definately try those. When are you making yours? I want to be able to buy the ingredients a bit at a time, but don't want to leave it too late. Will they be ok if I did them when the kids so back to school?

I hope you are feeling a bit better today. You wrap up warm and take care of yourself. (((big hug)))

Everyone else, have a nice afternoon/evening.

fedupandskint

I still feel like I am either fighting it off or run down and it keeps coming and going so hey wish it would go away!

The ingredients for the cakes I have listed and totted up the amounts needed and starting buying the bottles of booze needed to stretch out the cost.

As for the others I remember last year sometime in Sept or early Oct Sainsbugs had their own range of dried fruit and sugar on offer so I'm waiting for then to see if they do it again and then I'll make the cakes in October. I would aim for approx 6-8 weeks before Christmas Day to allow the cakes to mature, do a bit of feeding with brandy each week or 2 make sure it is well wrapped up in greaseproof and foil and it should be fine

I felt very apprehensive about this last year and thought the cake would dry out/go mouldy/I'd overcooked it and it was rubbish

I followed all the instructions and it was great!

I'm looking forward to making the creole version as I have most of this booze in a cupboard so its quite nice to find a use for it!

juliejim

How about a tin opener and a corkscrew in the emergency box if it's for a new home?

mary-op

Hello all :j

fedupandskint -take it easy and spoil yourself with hot chocolate drinks, and any other 'comfort' stuff you can think of.:)

I've been having a clear out of one of the bedrooms we used to have another lad in. He really was a problem and furniture got broken and there was so much rubbish type stuff in there. Young girl who cleans came up and between us we had a real sort out so now I can see the carpet as well as all the paintwork that now needs re-doing :eek: Neighbours new furniture won't arrive till the end of August so I can take my time with the rest of it up there and shift the old furniture a bit at a time.

Done nothing 'christmassy' for few days now:( time I did I think. Gravy tubs need covering with something and I found a coaster while clearing out the room.........took out the football piccy and can put something else in there............maybe piece of fabric sample............be another christmas pressie for someone.

fedupandskint

I will be having a hot chocolate and some freezer surprise for tea then wrap up and off to bed

I'm going to make a note later on of the emergency box idea to see if I ever need it plus maybe use it for me too!

What else, today in another branch of sainsbugs I bought 2 birdhouses to go in the gardening hampers reduced for £7.99 to £0.99 and some more small plant pots for 49p and called it a day there. Really nice buying all this massively reduced gardening stuff to go to a new home and be used in a lovely gift. There's no way I could have afforded it all full price or would have caved in on a pre done expensive hamper a couple of years ago and thinking what I can get for the lowest price is a lovely way of putting more in and thinking what I need and what will be needed and used and hopefully enjoyed

Right, off for a short walk with the dog and then off to wrap up and lie down!

JaneLiz

I know it sounds simple..but any ideas on presents for a two year old little boy? Birthday or Christmas. It sounds easy, but anything interesting and different and maybe something other people wouldn't have thought of buying for him? Otherwise I can just get typical toys, which is okay, but something a little different would be nice..

mary-op

Think I'm going to do an 'emergency' box for us........so many times we run out of something -batteries for a start.

Neighbour just been round..........her new furniture arrives next Tuesday :eek: Oh eck...........got to get the old stuff out before then and hopefully some paint on where needed before the ''new'' stuff we're getting from her goes in...........:eek: Be nice to get that room sorted and actually looking like a bedroom again.

elysia2003

I'll put my thinking cap on for you Jane - but there's mainly girls in our family.

Mary you and OH take care decorating and moving furniture.

DD1 want's money for Christmas as her driving test is booked for the end of next month. She'll need money towards car insurance. I will buy her a few more bits to go with the presents I've already bought, to open on the day, so she's nearly sorted. :j

mary-op

elysia - don't worry, I'll not be lifting anything. Young lad here big enough and strong enough to do that I'm sure and if he decides not to then young girl who cleans will do it. She's like a little dynamo with shifting stuff.............lol
Can't wait now..................lol:rotfl: