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

fedupandskint

Sorry to hear what happened yesterday with the chilli jam making elysia - hope you feel better soon x

tq16

Hi,
Thank you everyone for being so welcoming;

Elysia – Big hugs, how scary I hope your appointment gave you some answers today.
Cdsmiler – tesco have them to, can’t remember what we paid last year- is it a good deal? (can I hold off eating them until Christmas!!!). Thank you- hoping baby maybe little early to fit with half term
Sugurspun – thanks so much never heard of that site, but have just placed an order fantastic bargins- offer changed slightly but got some free baby books J
Scattymam – Thank you- hope we can get as organised as you. Got dd’s to design cards last year then photocopied onto red and green card- hoping to get them drawing soon, but not sure if I start the Christmas talk with them now that may regret it ;-). Have you thought about making some pancake mix or things along that line for breakfast hamper?
Sorry if missed anyone x

cookiecrumbs

Hello everyone

Just looking back over the last few pages to see what you've all been up to. I haven't done anything Christmassy this weekend whatsoever - I have a job interview this week so I'm revising like crazy at the moment.

Sugarspun - thanks for the tip about the Archie McPhee website - they've got some mad stuff on there!

I said in a previous post that I would give the recipe for the Italian Pickles - they are absolutely perfect for Christmas hampers and pretty easy to do. They look really bright and colourful too. Just looked at the recipe and it's quite long for on here so if anyone would like it please PM me and I will happily send it over. They keep for 6 months too by the way...

Hope everyone is ok, I'm off back to my books - will be glad when this week is over.

mum2one

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Hope all goes well Elysia xx

Sorry to hear about the egg throwing Anglea, that would scare me to bits if someone targetted our house, hope you get it sorted xx

Hello to some more new faces xx

Big ditto from me as well.

Hope you get everything sorted, and they pack it in as quick as they started. xx

mum2one

SugarSpun wrote: »

That's awful Anglea

Sorry to hear that Elysia - hope they get to the bottom of it and can fix it soon.

I sent out emails to everyone who'll be receiving home made goodies from me this year asking about allergies and received a round of mock abuse in return - apparently most people are allergic to thinking about Christmas in September.

Thats a really brilliant idea, (may have to borrow the idea please, pretty please!!) xx

mum2one

:money:

lizalloareds wrote: »

Hugs, elysia and mum2one

Thank you, feel more sorted today.
Had a fab time last night, if Brian Connerly is at a theatre near you, go and see him, I didn't stop laughing all night, literally had tears of joy. I just felt like I'd had an injection of life, even Miss Hoodie loved it, thou some of the jokes went over her head (phew!!), dad came up with us, he loved it, bit of a variety show, good mix, and saw a lot of Brian Connerly, and all his characters, dangerous brian, nick with the puppet, and then he did some songs from his shows. When he did mammy from Jolson, it was like turning the clock back (too many yrs!!), and being transported back to London.

Have been very proactive today - all calls made, got dentist, doctors, solicitors and physio sorted.
Been to sainsburys for last minute purchase wellingtons - text from school saying class needs wellingtons, old clothes, wets for forest school, less than 24hrs notice lovely!!....... That was 2 skirts, and cardi added into basket.

Then to Argos - got DSXL for dd, raided Love to shop vouchers, then mum and me split the difference - got gd deal, brought a game from their list, she had free accessory set. Its what she wanted.

Then Boots - had the £5 vouchers, and no 7 do a set of mini make up brushes, £8.50 - with £5 off, so ended up with 3. DD having one, one for me, and 1 for friends xmas hamper. Also got dd some make up from Natural collection, 3 for £5. she wanted some make up, don't agree 100%, but figured if I control it, then be very discreet...... thats the birthday present off Bailey.

Also got the mens 2 for £6 Fish sets, thou they refused to discount them at till, tried to say it was single items, I threatened a sit in..... amazingly 5 mins later, they accepted it was an error on their part.

Just glad they were on all the same retail park...... so funny, between Argos and Boots there was 2 other shops, theres me having to drive down to Boots. (the presure of a dodgy back, and delighful crutches).

Think overall have done quite well for me, thou it was funny when we were in Sainsburys, mum said its Miss Hoodies cousins bday Oct - we had to use her present when we had a late bday invite..... mum was going to buy her a school bag, reduced to £8.... theres me sod that not paying £8, she can have one of those halfcost bags its works out at 66p, and she'll still have present off me and Miss Hoodie. This customer behind me burst out laughing, I ended up writing her the halfcost website address down!.

Just catching up, as decided 2mor and Thurs free day, so its assisgnment time. (Help)

Finish off by giving you all a laugh, - one of the next courses is Health, fitness and nutrition - sports course - got the materials - theres a heart monitior in there..... I nearly fell off the chair laughing...... just can't wait for the tutorial, me waddling in on crutches.... xx

mum2one

scattymam1 wrote: »

OOOhhhhh I would love a real fire just for the feeling of coziness u get at christmas, we don't even have a gas or electric one ( we may have to paint one and stick it on the wall this year lol)

Did anyone see Nativity last year - I'm dying to see it but it doesn't come out til november!

tq16 - I was due my second baby in november last year so I made sure I had done everything before the baby came, the cards, the shopping and most of the wrapping. It meant we had a lovely relaxing christmas.

just sold some stuff on ebay and made 32pounds so gonna keep to use on christmas presents.

gonna try some crafts - one of these threads had reindeer wrapper for a chocolate bar - so I love that idea

also making an organised hamper for my sis in law and have a really cute writing set from home bargains for 99p - I'm going to go get another one and use that one to cover a diary, notepad and a pen. Is it mary who does this - if so, mary, is it better to cover pens or pencils??

I am going to do a breakfast hamper for someone for christmas - what things could I put in, thinking jam, hot chocolate ??!! any ideas??

Can help with the breakfast box idea - doing a few small ones!

Putting in
Mug (got mine 25p)
Small Cafeterie (poundland)
Teatowel (got 5 for 99p - check Argos clearance they have 5 for £1.49 - split mine up).
Mini Jams /Marmalades (Morrisons sell mini jars 4 for £1.00)
Cappicunio / latte sachets - Poundland do box of 10 - split between the sets)
Egg cup (12p - got set 4 for 50p from QS - plastic - try Poundland, Poundstretcher, Home Bargains etc)
Biscuits ( shortbread fingers multi pack, split them, tesco or Poundland)
Mini cereal boxes (sounds daft but Nestle boxes 8 in set are cheaper than Kellogs, £1.20 at most supermarkets, kellogs £1.80 or Asda do own brand)

The good thing with breakfast hamper, you can make them as cheap or as dear as you want, - I've estimated mine at about £3.00

I'm planning on putting mine in small plastic basket (got 6 for £1 - last yr Morrisons), the plan is use tea towel as liner then add in, wrap in cello wrap.

If its a man, you could always add a mini bottle of Whisky - goes down very well! xx

scattymam1

Thanks mum2one that's fab, never thought of egg cups - gonna look for some cool ones, and a tea towel, fab ideas, thanks x

susan42

Whew - i only went missing for 48 hours , had a fair bit to catch up

OMG elysia are you ok? I remember my 2nd heart attack, talking of mishaps, was determined to get kids to school, so dropped them off, went to A & E parked the car, went to reception, took one look at me and trollied me off, hooked me up to machines, asked where was the pain the worst and I said, "i`ve only paid for 2 hours parking could i borrow a phone to phone OH" he wasnt amused, said he`d been trying to get hold of me and why wasnt my phone on, told him, "can you move my car" he said why, i repeated much to the amusement of the doctor and nurses " I only paid for 2 hours parking and i think the heart attack is going to last a bit longer " shocked wasnt the word.

Sugarspun - I did chuckle on the allergys request i must admit

cd smiler - mmmmmm tins of chocs, i have to buy these xmas week, otherwise they dont last til xmas

scattymam, - i ordered my nativity on amazon, was in london last year and was throughly worn out so convinced OH to take me to pictures in the afternoon for a rest, i love xmas films and this was brilliant. I usually cover pens from ikea, argos or betting shop

mum2one - wd on OU assignment brilliant result and your shopping trips sound like mine :T

rufusdog - glad you dad doing well, hope you have nice party

tq16 - welcome welcome, good place to be ...honest :beer:

mummyslittleboy - love the pots of gold idea, do you use the glass paint to do it??? and love the pamper hampers ideas.

Mary - i can just imagine you in your furry boots, i have some golg uggs (cheap ones) bought by my DS as a joke, the joke was on him as i love them and use them as slippers in winter...toasty feet in the craft room :rotfl:

nicky - hi, did you sort your bargains

Sorry about the length of this post but you all been so busy and i been so lasy xx

mummyslittleboy

susan42 wrote: »

mummyslittleboy - love the pots of gold idea, do you use the glass paint to do it??? and love the pamper hampers ideas.

I didn't get glass paint:( so am going to experiment with one on friday and I might just have to get some will let you know how well it turns out but I am thinking it will be rubbish.