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

fedupandskint

Thanks for the challenge as usual to miss hoodie and mum2one!

I checked last months challenge and the only outstanding thing is the freezer (arrrrrgggh!!!! Think I'd better eat some of the contents first to make some room!)

This months looks pretty achievable - most of the HM goodies and presents are done, all wrapping is upstairs with ribbons and bows and cellotape. Maybe just one more hamper container of a trug to get.

Today I have Hearty Ale Chutney on the go and have made a list of what is left to do and buy.

just need to nip to Mr S for some prune to go in the soaking cake ingredients

Just deciding whether to make Beetroot and Ginger Chutney or not. Next weekend is Nigella's Christmas Chutney and cake baking weekend then almost there!

Ddraig

Hello all my long lost MSE friends.Hope I have not been forgotten.Was a naughty Mser and took time out of everything in last few months of my pregnancy.
Gave birth to a gorgeous lil boy 10th Sept.Now he is 6 weeks old.Im all focused to get back on it.
Im on a jewellery course,hoping to tap in there.And logged in to cashback site and found 10 quid had cleared to claim.So I guess MSE keeps on your tail even when you think you have walked away for a while.
Hope you have all been well and hope you will let me walk through 2011 with you xx.

rufusdog52

Great challenge, lots of things to get on with on there.

Elysia - nice to see you back again xx

Have finished off the two big and three small dolls to put away for a stall. Dont think I will get one this year now so looking for next year. Will hopefully have a nice bit of stock by then.

Havent really done any more for Christmas except wrapped the newish Barbie doll up in cello with a bit of cardboard behind her and did the same for the jewellery I salvaged from the bundle I got from Ebay. Had a look in Peacocks yesterday for some plain vests for pyjama tops but couldnt find anything suitable. Will have to try to get to Primark and see if they have any there. Just want a plain white and plain cream one if I can.

We had a discussion about Christmas day yesterday as OH is working all day and will be out from 6 in the morning until nearly 8 in the evening. Will just be me and youngest daughter here so we are going to have a Christmas dinner and cook some for him too for when he gets in. Daughter is going to have any presents that she gets from other people during the day. Then on the Monday, OH is off and we are going to have this as our Christmas day proper with all the presents we have bought each other and a nice dinner up the table for all of us. We are mainly giving her money this year and we will take her out on the Tuesday hopefully to a big Primark so she can buy herself some clothes. She said if she gets money from anyone else she is going to get her self a skate board lol, she wants one that you buy all the bits and make it up yourself.

I am hoping that on Boxing day me and youngest daughter can go to my Dad's, my son has said he will take us over there but he tends to change his mind about things without telling us so I wont hold my breath on that one lol. Would be nice though as all the family will be there so I can take their presents over and seeing that OH is working Boxing day as well would make sense.

rufusdog52

Hi Ddraig, nice to see you again, and congrats on the new baby. Good luck with the jewellery course. Rufus xx

junior_j

Yay off to look around some shops for Xmas shopping , with a very small budget plus I have to get my friends daughter a birthday present for Friday she is a very clever arty crafty little girl who will be the big 5 x

Ddraig

Ty Rufus.Im 2 kids down this week,no school run so I may indulge in reading the last 100 or so pages of our group,lol.
Hoping it will be easy to get back in the swing of things.Went on the mortgage calculator yesterday and got giddy playing with the mortgage overpayment tool,lol.Im adamant id like to earn 100 extra a month to overpay mortgage in 2011.And make enough good jewellery to give to female family members in 2011.
Anyone else got next year in their minds already?lol.

junior_j

Ddraig congrats on your little boy xx

I am having little thoughts bout being way more organized for next year lol! mad aye. I know ill get cards , wrapping papers ect in the jan sales x

fedupandskint

Hi Ddraig - congratulations and nice to see you back on here :T

Thanks for the reminder about the mortgage tool - I should have a look at that and see if I can overpay and see if it makes a difference

Hearty Ale Chutney not looking that great - very runny. Have potted it up and will leave it to mature for the next 2mths and then see if it tastes ok. might have to leave this one!

Costs 6 jars made
1/4 cauliflower - 8p1/2 swede 25p
400g onions 35p
apples 50p
spices neligiable (already have in)
stout - used up 2 cans in the cupboard from a year ago - £1.50
Tomato puree 35p
Sugar 50p
Malt vinegar 6p

Total = £3.59

Total per jar = 60p

No big loss if it tastes awful - hopefully it will mature and mellow

abdonz

Well I have done all kitchen cupboards and drawers so far today, can cross that off the challenge, and I have already booked my hair app for 23rd of Dec also gave made all hm things I'm doing.
Congratulations on baby boy ddraig.
I'm sure your chutney will be gorgeous fedupandskint.
Happy shopping junior
Xx

juliejim

Congratulations ddraig.