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

juliejim

Yes when you press quote so go to the reply box if you go up to the top of the page then it gives the thread title and you can press on it.

elysia2003

Hi Anglea - Hi JulieJim. :beer:

Esmer - thanks for the photos. What a bargain!!! Girl power! :rotfl:

I'm feeling pleased with myself,:j I've bought my last presents today. My stepdad is so awkward to buy for - he has no hobbies. I've just bought him two pairs of trousers. He already has a bottle of red wine and some mulling spices, three bottles of old fashioned ginger wine and a tin of traditional old fashioned liquorice. So he's done, hurray!

I only just made it - I wanted to finish before December and I have. Just cards and wrapping to do now. :T

TTFN I'm off to make mince pies.

abdonz

Evening guys here is my update on novs challenge
santas challenge November.

1st message from Miss Hoodie, tidy out your bedrooms, and make sure its clean.
its as tidy as it can be with pressies stashed all over but i am going to give it a good clean this weekend.
As usual think of it as a pick and mix......

Check out any presents that are brought, whether they need batteries, or if there for your children, see if anything can be made up before hand.
Also batteries for cameras, make sure camcorders etc are charged and u know where they are!!
i have got batteries DH is going to make sure cameras etc are all charged up

Check prescriptions - reorder as necessary, just going by our surgery there cut of date is 17th December - but try and avoid the last minute rush.
will order on thurs

Healthcare checklist for home-
Check prescriptions
Diocalm or own brand tabs
paracetamol
Rennies
Plasters
Alca setzer
re-hydration sachets (or drink flat cola)
Children - Paracetmol, Calpol
all sorted

Check - when doctor surgerys are closed
out of hours doctors number
out of hours dentist number
is there a walk in NHS centre
What the chemist rota is in your area
There displayed in doctors surgery, and local papers
all sorted

Car - now got frosty mornings
de-icer
scraper
windscreen cover
try and keep petrol topped up, couple days b4 xmas queues no go!
i am sorted i think so far i have been able to drive will be going for petrol 23rd when i pay all my bills for christmas

Ladies - A treat!! - Book your haircut in early to make sure you get the
appointment you want, not the ones that are squeezed in!!
booked hair 18th dec
Gas / Elec - anyone on prepay meters - check locations for top ups
will be topping up for christmas 23rd going throu so much gas and electric at mo dryer is always on at mo as is the heating
Magic Box - No not the money tree at the bottom of the garden, but
have a few tricks up your sleeves - for those emergency
moments - or long car jounrneys
DVD
Colouring sheets
Craft box
Jigsaw
dig the wii / ds game etc thats not been used for ages
will have the ds's charged and got a couple of new dvds
Grocery Shopping -
Online - Book your slot in early, even if you just put a pint of milk
in to reserve the slot
dont need
Shankies Pony - Get your lists ready, check opening, closing times
???
Any family gettogethers -
Apart from the emergency hip flask!!!, check if anyone is vegetarian - would be solds law.
all coming to me as normal so no surprises
Spare Presents
The incase of emergency presents, - make sure there something you like, may fancy that box of Thortons Chocolates that are half price in Mr T's. Be such a waste to carry them forward to next yr for a birthday present!!
got some tins of roses and couple of selection boxes
School Presents
If your children are anything like Miss Hoodie, its the teacher, ta, the head, the people that read, and the choir teacher!! (there all having santa soups and Vistaprint Goodies!!
Also suggest getting a few spare presents - incase your child comes home with extra presents - great suggestion - Selection box, pre-wrapped ready for last day.
sorted
Tree, Lights, Dec's
If you decide you don't like your decs, lights, tree etc, and haven't had chance to replace them this year, do a list of what you want you want to replace - be ready for the sales, - put the new ones up, discard the old ones.
we are getting a new tree after christmas and lights checked they all worked last month
Advent Calenders
If your doing fill your own, hunt them down from that safe place!!
just put them out ready for morning
Double Check Family arrangements - just incase hubby's etc have made new arrangements!!
no new plans
Santa Letters
At the mo the Post Office are doing free Santa replies, - write to
Father Christmas
North Pole
SAN TA1

(I know it was on last weeks mse weekly email).
kids have just written them before bed will send them in morn on way to school
Present Wrapping
If your doing a hamper etc and have got no filling, shred wrapping paper, festive and very mse!!
all done
Also anything that is breakable - add a label to the present

Set yourself a countdown plan
Writing Cards done
Wrapping Presents done
Delieverying - double check that the people in - save wasting a journey all sorted
Xmas Eve Plans i will be cleaning and baking in the morn early afternoon then pop to nanas come home tea, hamper, dvd,bed
POSTING
ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/pu...Leaflet_v1.pdf

thats the official royal Mail download,

Quick run throu

Card is larger than 240mm x 165mm x 5mm - needs large letter stamp

UK DELIEVERY
Tues 15th Dec - Standard Parcels
Fri 18th Dec - 2nd Class letters / 2nd class recorded
Mon 21st Dec - 1st Class letters / 1st class recorded

SPECIAL DELIEVERY
Wed 23rd December

Stamps - Presently Superdrug have 5% off 1st class stamps.
thank you
Turkey-
http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydie...ristmaseating/
the link is from the Food Standards Agency,
guide on there for time needed to defrost, cooking time. Really good info.
brilliant thanks,i am following jamie oliver i havent done a turkey before normally have lamb
Last but least..........
If you get chance do a few standby meals for the freezers, so if your running late - got something to hand.
dont really need to do any

pheww sorry for long post, think im quite sorted.
ITS DECEMBER TOMORROW!!!!!
hasnt it come round so quick looking forward to putting decs up just waiting for a new sideboard i ordered to arrive. should be this week weather depending.
i am going to blitz upstairs this weekend get all carpets vaxed double check toys,clothes etc
we must have about 1ft of snow 2ft in places said on tv this morn we may have a white christmas wish it would go away now and come back 24th lol i can keep wishing.

xxxxx

scattymam1

thanks sugarspun - it sounds good - will have to find a demo. one somewhere and have a go. The games seem expensive though compared to wii games!

diddly74

I was rather diappointed today. DD2 has Brownies tomorrow (weather permitting) so I said we would put decs up today so she could help. But our tree is far to large for our new lounge - and it has left me feeling so disappointed and deflated!

So I had a firm word with myself in the kitchen whilst making tea - christmas isn't made by having a big tree!!! Its about the love you give one another, and the care you take of eachother. Not trees, not tinsel and not presents or money spent (tho I have spent a fair whack this year!!)

So I have decided not to mope and moan - we have a tree - 4ft, in the window as it is the only place I can fit one without it being in the way or too far from a socket. But we also have eachother, we are healthy, warm, fed and to all intents and purposes happy. My girls (11 and 8) are happy with the tree so why can't I be!

Real_Toothfairy

Hi all............Not been on much over the past week. Have managed to get all 12 monkeys sewn ready to stuff but to be honest I have hit a brick wall (and sorry for the language) but I really cant be arsed!!! Dont know what is the matter with me.....but I feel so down.

Hope you are all well and coping with the snow if you have it. We havent had much settle here in London.

Lis xxx

esmer

Well Said Diddly74! Christmas is about TIME, family, love and being happy together.

Ok Ladies, i have the photos of the advent tree. My lovely dad made the tree, painted it and even put on Glitter. :rotfl:

So no, the house car and me are covered in the sparkly stuff.

I sat tonight and put on little loops on the advents and I put in choccies and voila, and advent tree. :j

mum2one

emser - thats a brilliant job with the kitchen tiles, looks really professional.

Love the tree - had to read twice thought you'd put chocolates and vodka!!! then realised it was my eyesight!!!!!!

Mary - Got to ask how do you do the kitchen organiser, the idea sounds fab.

Angela - Had to smile at the brandy butter / brandy sauce weird thing is love clotted cream, but tried the brandy butter last yr (whether it was coz it was from Lidl_, but it didn't taste nice. I love the brandy sauce, I just add a splash of brandy to give it an extra kick..... Thou last xmas the sauce went from being white to brown, Bailey jumped up and knocked my elbow as I was pouring!!

Sarah - Glad the new school going ok, just sorry you've got the treck to get there...... Miss Hoodies class - they've got 2 girls that are bullies, the school are trying to clamp down on it, but at that age you don't expect it. Even when Miss Hoodie was in reception, she was getting bullied, the then head was as much use as a choc teapot...... so we had the education dept in, which did the trick. Hope there both ok.

Abondz - We have had a really brilliant suggestion from this lovely lady to add dates, special ocassions etc into the planning and organising stage.

Miss Hoodie - She's come down with a cold and a cough- nipped her to the pharmacy to get some stuff, and she asked for V i c k s first defence....... it works on the advert!! The pharmasist laughed, so its back to good old Vicks and trilyxix, (that was around when I was a kid!!).
Had the epi-pen saga - family outing to the nurse, she was really niced, explained everything, saids its foolproof (needs to be for me!!), and bless her she's ordering me a 2nd one, so can have one in handbag and 1 at home.

Organised, and made 8 snowman soups last night (and I remembered to take photo), took them in for the ladies at our surgery,( this batch was 65p to make, ), quite funny, depending on who answers the phone once said hi...... 3 of the ladies know my voice!! They've been brilliant organising apps etc since this incident, thought a little goes a long way.

Now been allocated my class and teacher as a govener, and I have my ID badge - scary.... so after xmas be spending 1 morning a week with the class in my "official role".

xx

rufusdog52

Morning everyone

Schools shut again today although daughter stayed at her friends last night. We hae to venture up town this morning as OH has opticians appointment and we need a bit of shopping too. Not looking forward to going out in it at all. OH rang me yesterday afternoon and said his work were letting him home early, then it took him over 4 hours to get home so was later in than normal. Usually only takes 40 mins.

I finished another shirt but forgot to take a photo for my blog before wrapping it up. Ordered the buttons for the last one, that is finished apart from the buttonholes and buttons. Hoping they might turn up today or tomorrow.

Cut out a long sleeved blouse for youngest daughter, she has one of those long checkered blouses that they have in New Look at the moment from last year so used that as a pattern. The fabric is an off white, a bit like a cheesecloth but thicker and its crinkled and it has a sparkle to it. Doubt if I will get any sewing done today as we are going to put our tree up when we get back from town but might get up there to do some tomorrow.

Its pitch dark here and the snow is coming down again so going to go and make a nice hot chocolate to warm me up. Rufus xx

esmer

I had to put my lights on there, the snow is coming thick and fast, and our motorways are either shut or single lanes................. Im not going anywhere today, kept DD off nursery and all the schools are closed. So if the snow stops we will make another snowman, and I will get soup on to heat us up when we come back in. I will get some crafts for wee one todo. Otherwise it will be a LONG day.