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

fedupandskint

Very good elysia!

I had a bad morning. I got up to go back to work today and then had some porridge and it set off all my symptoms again bigstyle and had to take another day off. Has worn off now so wondering if it was milk that triggered things off.

Payday on Fri and planning a big chrissy bits and pieces shop - stock up on butter, bit of booze, other store cupboard ingredients.

Now the sickness is passing I'm going to crack on with my assignment

Did another order yesterday for M+S beauty gifts for some that were so cheap with 50% I'm going to take on holiday next year as they are great sizes!

foxy219

Ah mum2one sorry to hear you are suffering, hope you get back on track soon!

I've just bid on a nice dress on ebay for my Christmas party, got it for a third of the price so am well chuffed! My foods shopping list is done, I'm just waiting for oh to get his vouchers from work so we can go and start spending them! After our trip to London (and cooking lesson) I have now got all the ingredients for a tip top yule log, the one we made tasted amazing, so if you would like the recipe please let me know and I will happily post it later.
I have got another exam next week so need to get my head down and do some revision, but am spending the afternoon writing the Christmas cards at least until the kids come home!

elysia2003

Yes please to the recipe Foxy. How did the weekend go? What did you buy? I was thinking of you, hoping you had a great time.

Fedup - I hope you feel better now. I bought some sets from M&S too, gift box of five talcs, one with five body lotions, one with the same five showergels and a box of four (but still matching) candles for Mothers Day. Organised or what? LOL. They should have cost £20 for the four, but I got them £8 and pennies after the codes. I've been watching QVC (on in background) most of the day and I'm tempted by a Tiffany lamp to go with them (in the shape of a cup and saucer). It's very pretty and Mum will love it, but I'm waiting as it's payday tomorrow.

cdsmiler

Afternoon all!

Scattymam - I almost forgot about cards!! Ordered 10 pictures ones from Vistaprint, dug out the ones I bought in the sales last year (pretty much the only thing I managed to get in the sales! lol) but forgot I actually had to write them!! Duh.
Good deeds chart - this is the original, but I copied it and designed my own in Word aiming the deeds at the two girls. http://www.northpole.com/Academy/GoodDeeds/
Just found this one too if you wanted something a bit different... http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/pdfs/advent_good_deed_chart.pdf

Elysia - Thanks for the countdown!! lol Good luck with Avon this week. How do you work the next two campaigns?! WHY does Avon bother to do them so close to and over Christmas?! lol

Mum2one - Lets hope what the school said about Miss Hoodie is correct - from what you've said about her she does seem the type to take it to heart if her friends are having difficulties. She maybe finds it hard to see them being bullied and feels she can't do anything to help. MASSIVE gold star to her for her reading though!! That's amazing! And I think it's a good idea that your Dad told the school about what happened with you - talking from when I was a primary school teacher (for all of two years!) it's good to know if there's anything else going on at home that could result in slightly unusual behaviour in a child. Can provide extra (and the correct type of) support that way.

diddly - how old is your younger DD?? lol made me laugh reading about her putting her cards in alphabetical order and playing teacher!! I used to do that when I was little! lol

restricted - wrap up warm you!! Be careful - don't let your fingers freeze off otherwise you won't be able to write cards, wrap pressies or type on here!! lol

fedupandskint - do you have lactose intolerance or something? Maybe you just have it mildly and your body is being a bit sensitive. You take it easy.

foxy - yes, tell us all about your weekend!!! Was it fab?!

Oh, I'm a bit behind with last month's Santa Challenges (SO need a reminder later in the month! lol) but I HAVE booked to have my hair cut on the 3rd December! yeay! lol

Hang on, did I just read that right?? A DOUBLE CHALLENGE?!!? mum2one, you're so mean!! lol

Not impressed with the calendar from Vistaprint. Generally it's great - great picture quality. However, they didn't wait for it to dry properly and part of the grid in May is on the picture instead!! Grrr. Can't be bothered to complain this time though - it was one of the 99p offer ones and it's for my Nan - she probably won't even notice! lol

Oh well, long day in work today - don't finish til 7. Then popping to Mr A to get some bits and hopefully find something I can wear for a Christmas do a week friday. Here's hoping eh?!

Clare x

cdsmiler

Ok guys, I need some inspiration for a surprise gift for my Mum. Doesn't need to be expensive or anything, just something she'll love but hasn't asked for (we do lists!).

She's not girly really - has some makeup but not much as she doesn't wear it often. Wears very little jewellery. Enjoys the soaps and TV in general. Doesn't mind Films. Likes Harry Potter and reads a LOT of books (but I've already bought her a book!). Loves computer Adventure games (Monkey Island type) but I've already bought her a computer game! lol Loves gardening. Does quite a bit of DIY around the house with my dad. Cooks well. Looks after my daughter 2 days a week while we're in work.

Any thoughts?? Have gotten my brother and dad two things off their lists and one extra thing each they haven't asked for - my brother a DVD of a TV program he used to watch when youhg, and my dad one of those classic books that you can personalise.

Thanks in advance!

Clare x

foxy219

The weekend was fabulous, we got the train down and were greeted at the station by our very own driver! He took us to the hotel and we went into the marble entrance through the revolving doors to check in. Once we had given our name, the concierge took our bags and we were given a parcel with a letter attached to it - the parcel held a handheld video camera for us to record our trip (and for us to keep!) We then walked into the centre of London (old habits) and headed to Regent Street and Hamleys toy store. I have never known anywhere so busy and fast! We spent two hours exploring the five floors and both kids came out with a new build a bear each (Dog Vader for DS and Hamley the ice skating rabbit for DD) They also had a new toy each which we are saving for Santa. We had a wander round Leicester Square where the Harry Potter premiere had taken place the night before and then went for food. The kids were really good to say we had walked so far! When we got back to the hotel we had to watch the X Factor and settled the kids down (it was about 9.30!) Breakfast was a swanky affair - food of all types was available - a full breakfast was £21 per person!!! There were cold meats, bacon and every type of egg available, toast, croissants pain au chocolat, etc etc. We ate as much as we could and then got on the tube to Trafalgar Square where we took lots of pics and watched all the dignitaries arriving for the Remembrance Day parade which was really nice. We headed back to the hotel where a car picked us up to take us to l'atalier de chef which is an exclusive cooking school! There we were met by no other than Antony Worrall Thomson who proceeded to give us a cooking lesson in making a Christmas Yule Log (recipe will follow!) He was lovely, a really nice bloke and he knows his cooking as the cake was GORGEOUS!!! I have just bought the ingredients to make it again at the weekend! We also had a buffet lunch and when this was over were given £500 JL vouchers to spend! OH and I have no idea what we are going to buy, but we are definitely going to treat ourselves! We had an amazing time, got treated like serious VIP's, and came home tired but happy - and back to reality! Thank you for asking xxx

foxy219

Christmas Yule Log recipe by Antony Worrall Thomson

Ingredients & method for the sponge

4 large eggs
115g caster sugar & extra for dusting
65g self raising flour
40g cocoa powder

Preheat the oven to 200c
Lightly grease a 33cm x 23cm swiss roll tin and line with non stick parchment paper, pushing it into the corners
For the sponge, whisk the eggs and sugar until pale, light and frothy
Sift the flour and the cocoa together and carefully mix until full incorporated then mix the flour mixture carefully into the eggs with a metal spoon until well combined, trying not to knock out too much air.
Pour the batter onto the lined tin and spread evenly. Bake in the middle if the pre-heated oven for 8-10 minutes until the sides are shrinking away from the edge of the tin. Allow to cool for 5 mins.

Place another piece of parchment paper slightly bigger than the swiss roll tin on your work surface, then sprinkle with castor sugar. Invert the cake onto the paper, leaving the paper upon which the cake was cooked underneath it. Trim the edges with a knife, then lightly score along the long edge 2.5cm in, this helps to get a tight centre. Roll up using the paper, roll with the paper insice. Allow to cool.

Ingredients & method for the filling
4 tablespoons nutella
250g tub mascarpone
2 tablespoons amaretti liquid (don't have to use this)

Mix the Nutella with the mascarpone until smooth then gradually fold in the liqueur. Cover and chill

Uncurl and remove the paper, spread the filling over the surface and reroll (not too tightly) so that the filling does not squeeze out.

Ingredients & method for the icing
250g dark chocolate
300ml double cream

Melt the chocolate and cream in a bowl set over simmering water until fully melted. Stir to combine then allow to cool in the fridge until firm. This will make more than you need but allows for mistakes!

Pipe the icing using a star nozzle to create a wood effect, covering each end. Dust with icing sugar

We also decorated ours with chocolate Santa's, cranberries silver balls and holly leaves, so you can be as creative as you wish here!

Enjoy - any questions please ask xxx

fedupandskint

I've been taking it very easy today and I'm going back to work tomorrow and have only written another 100 words so far today leaving still another 1500 to do

cdsmiler- what about a little gardening kit for your mum with gardening gloves, seeds or tools or a gardening book or garden kneeler?

elysia - I have a tiffany lamp from QVC and its great and everyone who sees it comments on it says wow look at that, its a floor lamp and I'm always looking out for a table lamp to match. Can't get one atm until I get paid too and I find one that I love as much as the one I have. So need to stay strong! I know which one you're on about, I've seen it many times and hey it might sell out today if not it'll be around for payday

cdsmiler

foxy - sounds like you had a wonderful weekend!! I'm very jealous!! lol

fedupandskint - she's got loads of gardening stuff. She and my dad garden all year.... Grrr. I've always said she's easy to buy for....lol guess I was wrong! Thank you though!

Clare x

Anglea

Hi all

Foxy thank so much for giving us all your details, it was so interesting to read, I'm glad you all had such a good time, I bet you won't forget it in a hurry. What a fantastic extra - that personal cookery lesson.

Mum2one, hope you get sorted out and no more sickness for the medicines. Good thing your dad was around to go to the school I know you wanted to go and find out about the bullying. Let's hope that whatever is going on at the school is dealt with.

Reading all the experiences here with allergies and epi pens, I'm wondering why my mum has never been given anything because she has those throat swelling reactions to certain tastes, smells as well as medicines. She's never had anti-histamines either. Although that might be because she's scared of getting a reaction.

I bought a few Xmas bits today. I've been spending the past week on and off trying to fix my tv. Just when I thought it was ok, it's gone wrong again :mad:. It's annoying as I wanted to do something else this evening, but want to sort it before the Apprentice

I'm reallly looking forward to Miss Hoodie's list (not)