New, New Thirfty Gifty for Christmas and All Ocassions 2011..Santas Challenge...

stepmum

So glad that you didn't have to enter the court room and things were sorted easier. Your cakes look amazing. There is a cupcake shop that has opened here but I have only gone in once, Luckily it's not a shop I pass or I would eat them everyday!!!

mary-op

Hello all :j

esmer - better to sort things out without going into the courtroom I think.....those places are always a bit daunting.

toothfairy - head still bit itchy but it said on the 'magic potion' that it might itch for few days. Just hope I got all the little b*****s !!!

Managed to sleep all last night :T First time since I came out of hospital............yippee !! Mind you I took it easy yesterday and tried to really relax.......done much the same today. Cleaner came so I just chatter to her inbetween vaccum going on and off.............lol
Re-wrapped christmas presents from last year for son and his girlfriend who are due next weekend. Hadn't wrapped his family tree scrapbook and thought while I was at it I would check everything was ok that I'd made in the shoeboxes........all ok so I undid ribbon for nothing !
No crafting today, no card making.............been lovely and warm this afternoon I'd have love to have gone out in the garden but with no ramp yet I couldn't and daren't try it with sticks or frame........be just my luck to trip over a stray flower pot..................lol:rotfl:
OH and his mate are taking down rickety old back porch next week...........then I can get ramp installed...............oh bliss ! (bet it'll turn cold and wet again then............just my luck..........lol)

Hope you're all ok.............take care:)

mrs-moneypenny

re mum2ones challenges

Santas Challenge will be on this evening, just putting the finishing touches to it, as Miss Hoodie has helped..........
Being rejected (she writes her ideas on the computer ready)- your all be pleased to know
Pick a bedroom that needs decorating, and decorate it, - if anyone wants to do mine they can do i'm fed up of purple

im in the process of doing two rooms the house is bedlam, we had subsidence so had it done on the insurance, well they did the plastering and emulsion on the boys rooms and the hall stairs and landing, ive got all the glossing to do:mad: while the rooms are stripped weve decided to replace the windows and do the carpets, then ive got to put everything back and retidy the rest of the house i think it willl take all of march to get square.

As its half term its our holiday and we read enough at school - so dont read school books - read what you want, I am reading mums Fortune telling book!!
im reading a lyn anderson -friends forever

make sure your school uniform and pe kit gets left to Sunday then tell mums you remember they need washing!!
haha the state of the house at the mo ill be lucky to find the school uniform, i had to send a note in on the last date asked DS to be excused from handing a piece of homework in, hed done it and id put it in a safe plac - so safe its still not been found:o

Buy yourself a box of chocolates and a glass of wine, but you could make it Baileys (not my dog - the drink), as I know mum tries to put a nice challenge on!!
this one i like dd's bf brought me a box of baileys chocolate cups for christmas ill treat myself to one of those.

did some cross stitch today a scottish thistle bookmark, not sure who its for but it will go in the pressie box once its done.

esmer glad things went well

sending hugs to all who need one

mum2one

Santas Challenge - Feb (thou think Santa went the wrong way round!!)

As you all be pleased a lot of Miss Hoodie's helpful selection has not been added, I can't be that cruel!! I'e done a light month this time, as we've had a couple of busy months, so lets use this as a reminder and check!

Hopefully those with children are manageing half term without the oh mum, I want!! ......

Easter Eggs!
I know we have March's challenge before Easter, but the reason brought the Easter egg, Easter presents etc forward, is the supermarkets price wars - Presently Asda's are £2 instead of £5 with mugs, think Tesco have had an offer, I think within the next couple of weeks, all the other supermarkets will break into price war, so maybe now the time for the list.
Don't do my trick forgeting where I have put them or they accidently fallout of the box and can't send them down broken!!

Vistaprint
We're nearly there for a new month, so that means we can raid top cash back and quidco. I know they send a lot of emails with special offers, but sometimes theres a chance the cashback won't go through, I'm guessing its there free offers on site, but also check the "special offers link" - as its Vistas offers - would still be ok for cash back, again its a maximum of 4 items free, but it doesn't stop a 2nd free order going through.

Birthday and Christmas Lists
I know were wonderful ladies and are doing brilliantly at money saving, bargain hunting, and even having xmas items wrapped, - keep an eye out of sales for smaller items.
Argos - Clearance section - you can locate your local store, going by one of our stores, their clearance has gone from 700 to nearly 1000 items - bargains to be had

Lloyds Chemist - They have a 3 for 1 on clearance products, there may be suitable items (thou not sure on stock), both online and instore.

Easter Holidays
Apologies more a mums one - we've got about 5 or so weeks to Easter, then there back on Tues for 3 days off the Fri (Royal Wedding), - so its a bit of a hit and miss, hopefully weather be warmed, - look for offers as a lot of the local attractions usually open Easter, tend to do offers in local papers - keep an eye out for vouchers, and also plan ahead money wise - day out, they go out with friends etc

Car Boot
There starting to creep back in, so if you have stuff to sell, no lie in's on a Sunday!!

It wouldn't be a Santa's challenge if Miss Hoodie didn't have a cleaning challenge......

The car - we're not that mean to make you wash it yet!!!, but give the inside a good clean out, remember that glove compartment where we chuck everything in and then jam it shut!!
Two fun bits to the car challenge -
1. Who finds the worst / most embarrasing item in their car!!
2. Money - who finds the most money that has dropped out in the car... (little tip - the best place to look is by the seat belt holders in the rear seat)

First Aid kit etc
I know we checked this before christmas, - simple things plasters, wet wipes, parecatomal etc........ re check and see if anything needs replacing, everybody has different items they use, follow accordingly.

Cooking
Lets have some fun, grab a recipie that you haven't used for a while, and cook something from it, - for the fun element it needs to be something you haven't cooked before. Doesn't have to be a 3 course meal, could be as simple as jam tarts with home made pastry...
I think I might raid old faithful, bero 1970s cookbook or dairy one (same era!!).

Christmas / Birthday Lists
May sound daft, but don't forget to update the list if you have brought, made, put by anything, as well as putting note by any that have gone, my mother had a panic she'd forgotten her friends bday...... she'd put it in her diary on 2 different days in Feb, got the right one and the present done.

We're have a bit of fun....
Just imagine we had a lovely sunny day!! who would you want to rub sun tan lotion into you.
for me - Johnny Depp or Simon Cowell

I will add one of Miss Hoodies suggestions - the glass of wine and the chocolate but for us not the children!! xx

mhagster

I've been Christmas shoping today!
It's almost end of summer here in Australia so shops were full of end of season bargains today!
Got a whole load of jewellry for dd2. Was all marked down to $2 each, got 5 items . When I checked original prices was over $70 worth, so most chuffed with what I got. Got her 2 lovely tops & a pair of shorts all drastically reduced. Everything is so much more expensive here.....no Primark prices for us!...so pleased I got these. Also got her & DD1 PJ's for Christmas Eve Hamper.

I came home & wrapped them & put away!

Last week I bought DD2 a set of 4 beautiful card suitcases(different sizes). They are very pretty. Large one will have art stuff, next has a beautiful pair of PJ's ( very into pretty PJ"s over here!) and will get nice slippers to go in. 3rd has all her jewellry & tiny 4th one has the start of a few pieces of make up that were reduced. Already got her a big make-up kit well reduced after Christmas.

DD2 has birthday next week & everything has been bought in the sales.

DD1 loves Elmo and I paid a shocking full price for 1 pair of PJ trousers for Christmas only for them to be reduced after! Won't make that mistake again! So got her a pair in sales & a pair of Elmo slippers reduced too. Got a set of Sex in the City perfumes, which had one bottle missing (had been nicked) mega reduced to $5. Got her a lovely bar of soap & glittery shower gel, both reduced today & I'd bought a gorgeous toilet bag for them to go in.

So plan is to continue to pick up as I go along. Poor DS.....not as easy to get bits & pieces for!

My only problem is I don't have the hiding places I had back home!

rufusdog52

I went in primark yesterday and got three t shirts for my Son for his birthday for £7. Also went to fabric shop and bought myself some fabric to make a top, cost £6 for fabric so cheap top if it comes out ok and might be enough fabric left over to make Gdd a dress or something out of it. Its like a t shirt fabric with butterflies on it so would be suitable. Her birthday is August so right time of year for making a summer dress. Used my stash of £2 coins to pay for it all so very MSE.

Will check out the challenges a bit better tomorrow as busy day today, Rufus xx

esmer

I just cleared out my hall cupboard, and I have a storage box, and two cardboard boxes full of presents.............. I just got my latest Vista order, stickers, a mug, a pen and notebook. Think I will put in for another mug and a keyring for mothers day from my wee one to her gran. a notepad for fathers day, and a pen as well. They are really nice the notepads.

B&M have a single bed for 30.00 and mum got one for my niece, and its really good. I am going to get DD one for her room, also really nice storage I seen on IKEA site http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S99876662 Its storage, and then a table.

Off now to make cakes with DD. Have a good Friday

cdsmiler

esmer - yeay, glad it went well!!

mary - yeay for the full night's sleep. How did you sleep last night?

mhagster - Well done on your bargains!

mum2one - I'll look at your challenges later!! Don't look to bad though!!

Clare x

mary-op

Hello all :j

mum2one - Santa's challenge........oh eck.......I'm way behind with all sorts. Still have got stuff left over from last Christmas where I made too many of some things plus some 'unwanteds' that are stashed away.
Birthday cards for the year are practically done and I'm ploughing through with Christmas cards and trying to be very mse and using all my odd scraps of paper up.

Easter -don't know what I'm doing for that........might just send cheque to son to get grandkids something to save me posting -bit boring I know but its easier for me at the minute.

Cooking is OH's dept and he's always concocting something we've never had before
Cleaning the car is also his domain -daren't mention it.................lol:rotfl:

First aid kid has just been topped up so thats done

Not really a sun worshipper so wouldn't want sun tan oil rubbed on but a nice massage by someone would suit............now who ???
Oh I know.........that chap who plays Harry in Silent Witness............can't remember his name but he'd do for me................lol:rotfl:

Must check Argos when I've spoken to eldest son. Little grandsons birthdays in June and not sure what he''ll be getting off anyone else yet

Clare - slept ok again last night :T I can get used to this.............lol:rotfl:

Made some more ''patchwork'' christmas cards this morning and to go with youngest sons birthday card I ''concocted'' a little suitcase (credit card size), covered with grey corrugated card with handle.........inside there's a cheque for his birthday..........he's going away for a week with his girlfriend so it's holiday money for him. I know I'll not get around to making anything let alone fill a shoe box up like I normally do.

So thats been my day...............oh eck........neighbours just popped two boxes round she thought Id like to cover with christmas stuff:eek:
Oh well, might give me some motivation............lol:)

Hope you're all ok:)

kimwez

Hi All

I've seen several of you mention Vista orders, can someone tell me what its all about please? Thanks very much

Kim xxx