Old style Preparations for Christmas 2010!!

littleme96

Winged_one wrote: »

I will be making cookies as well for a few people - I make rolls of cookie dough earlier in the season and, once I've baked a few (for testing purposes!!), I freeze the rest of the roll. Then, Christmas Eve or whenever needed, I will take out the rolls, slice off howevre many I need and bake in 10-15 minutes. And it means I can have 3/4 different flavours (hazelnut, chocolate with choc chips, lemon & orange, coconut, plain) on the plate without a lot of hassle in the kitchen on the final day.

Do you mind posting the recipe for the freezer cookies please? Sounds like they could be very useful for preparing in advance and the flavour variations sound lovely!

Thanks :j

BigMummaF

seabright wrote: »

My family and I have decided to set a limit of £15 per person for pressies....

We've been doing this for a couple of years now, but then The Offspring are all in their twenties. It doesn't really matter tho, as times is 'ard for anyone who doesn't work in Westminster & a good crimbo is NOT defined by how much you spend. I just think of that seasonal episode of The Good Life, where Margot suddenly realises "that Christmas isn't delivered in a van, but who you share it with".

I scour charity shops throughout the year for designer labels that are appropriate & buy things up to have in reserve for either birthdays or xmas. I've also have found some brand new things in some, such as those little gizmoes where you break the disc & shove them in your gloves to keep your hands warm for a couple of pounds a go :T

There's some crispy dip stuff that was on offer the other week & a tub of nibbles forming the base of the inevitable food mountain in me muvva's spare room & the freezers are almost ready for a defrost.
Some little bits hiding in me drawers & an idea of a menu hiding in the shadows of the noggin

Clurbur85

Well I’m pleased to see that I’m not the only crazy Christmas planner!!

Last year I made all close family members and friends ‘Pots of Gold’ with individual gold treats inside – I tried to get everybody something personal (eg – lucky gold cufflinks for my dad and a lucky gold Buddha for my Buddha-mad mate), but each pot also had generic things inside too – like chocolate coins and a lucky scratchcard. I was really pleased with the results and everybody seemed really made up and genuinely touched by their gifts.

I also made my nephew a cushion with his name and a train on it. It took ages to sew and I’ve never made anything like it before but I was so proud of the finished product! My sister says that people often ask her which website she ordered it from! …I will try and post the piccies… here goes…





As far as 2010 goes I am going to make people hampers and I’ve started buying bits and pieces from Amazon with vouchers I’ve earned via Dooyoo. Here is my list of hamper ideas:

OH: military hamper;
Dad: gangster hamper;
Mum: pamper hamper;
Grandad: Golf hamper;
Nanna: Lavender hamper;
Sister and BIL: A night at the movie;
Sister 2: Girl’s driving hamper;
Brother: Football supporters hamper;
Nephew aged 1: goodnight god bless hamper;
Nephew aged 10: Football hamper;
Friend 1: cocktail hamper;
Friend 2: girl’s driving hamper;
Friend 3: chocolate hamper.

I am stuck with my step-mother and step-father though… I haven’t got a clue about hamper themes… any ideas????

Also, I don’t want to spend a fortune on baskets that will probably be thrown away… I am putting the two car hampers into big car washing buckets, but I don’t know how to display everybody else’s... I don’t see the point in buying baskets that will probably just be discarded.

Also, my OH’s family are such hard work… his parents would rather have money than a gift… I might test the water with a calendar this year with pictures of all the grandkids and see what reaction I get…

The OH has 10 nephews and nieces too so I want to think of a nice homemade gift ideas that don’t cost the earth… aunties and uncles don’t usually buy for the kids in the family but I think it’d be nice to make something small. I suggested pots of gold last year - my OH turned his nose up - until he saw the finished result… I think he thought they’d be naff, HA to him!!

Gosh when I write it all out it seems like I have so much to do and no time!!!

xxxxxx

pavlovs_dog

gailey wrote: »

I have an idea for my cousins 7year old twin boys but need some input as running out of things to put in it.

They come from weathy family and have tonnes of toys so always struggle to buy for boys who appear to have everything.

Anyway mum said they totally injto enid blyton famous five books.

Was thinking

trying to find every famous five/secret seven book.
old fashioned small suitcase maybe from carboot
few cans ginger beer.
couple of torches
maybe the book called dangerous games for boys.

idea was a set for twins to share a sort of enid blyton/adventure set as seems really different.

Anything else anyone suggest been a while since I read famous five used to love them too. All my mind can think of is they always ate potted ham and ginger beer.

i recall that they always had some chocolate handy whenever they fell into an adventure.

how about a cheap disposable camera so that they can take pictures of their adventures?

tracey2412

have you tried green metropolis for the books - though that might be a bit dear? or the salvation army charity shop near us has a large book section - like 50p a book or less, or Oxfam book shops?

tracey2412

PS - think its a brilliant idea!!!!

Lindy_-_Loo

Clurbur85 wrote: »

Well I’m pleased to see that I’m not the only crazy Christmas planner!!

Last year I made all close family members and friends ‘Pots of Gold’ with individual gold treats inside – I tried to get everybody something personal (eg – lucky gold cufflinks for my dad and a lucky gold Buddha for my Buddha-mad mate), but each pot also had generic things inside too – like chocolate coins and a lucky scratchcard.










xxxxxx

The pots are great, what have you used to put the stuff in, are they plastic cups sprayed gold?

We did calenders last year for granparents. B & M had A4 blank ones for 99p, they had a 6x4 space for each month so you could glue photo in.

tracey2412

TK Maxx or Dunelm Mills for the suitcase??

tinselfairy

Gailey- I really like your idea about the Famous 5 books and all the extra bits to go with them.

ClurBur- An idea for your in-laws is maybe a 'winter hamper'. I posted this idea ages ago in the hamper thread, but instead of putting in a box I used a glass storage jar. In the one I did for a friend I put a hat, hot chocolate, Vaseline rosy lip salve tin, Boots smellies with a 'winter fragrance' and tied a scarf round it. Things like handwarmers,gloves, hot water bottles, a hot toddy kit, mulled wine could be added if you wanted to make a larger gift and I'm sure other Moneysavers will be able to come up with some great ideas.

I buy for Christmas all year round. My sister and I only buy each other itmes that come from charity shops and car boots and jumble sales and set a limit budget of £10.00. I also buy gifts for other people at these places, if you visit regularly and keep your eye out then there are lots of finds to be had. Some of the presents for our children come from these sources too.

I also do the shoe box donation thing, buy for local charities and try to involve the children so they realise how lucky they are.

nellykim

so.........

what do you all plan to do once this Christmas is over then ?



( save for ....SUMMER HOLIDAYS !!!....) ( dont forget to include the planning for Christmas 2011 in this !! )


:rotfl: