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

mary-op

Hello all :j
rufus -Haven't totted up the cost of christmas/birthdays yet. Odd bits and pieces are next to nothing but I've sent cheques to teenage grandchildren that tot up to £80 -thats birthday and christmas for 2 of them
Youngest grandson wanted a Mario Olympics game for £30, his dad wanted Beatled calendar -£6 plus postage, his girlfriend some foot care stuff - £6
Always give both my sons a cheque as well for around £40 each so haven't done too bad this year.
Pressies for foster daughter and 2 friends are my kitchen cast offs so cost me nothing. Wool for wrist warmers about £7 -2 pairs for me, stuff for youngest sons girlfriend and son and wristwarmers for everyone else and I've still got a bit to spare.
I've got a lot of odd bits left over from last year and thinking I'll still have some leftovers with all the freebies I got as well............lol Neighbour will be getting some of them.

Gardener/odd job chap came today too start painting -well I;d picked a colour for kitchen doors -back door and door to back room thats now utility room...........urban grey it said..........more like battleship grey and OH freaked out at it. :eek: So back to square one and can I find the colour chart ? No I can't :eek: I know its here somewhere but I'm still in such a muddle...........could be anywhere...........:(
Oh well, not to worry.............more important things like making a card for youngest son moving in with his girlfriend to new flat and haven't got any spare card ! And cardigan I ordered hasn't arrived - Tuesday the chap said and he gave todays date ! Not the worlds best at being patient and waiting for things.

Oh I do sound a grumpy old woman.............not the end of the world, tin of paint and a cardigan is it ?

Hope you're all ok:)

mum2one

My amazon order came today, my Andy McNab book, mums Soliders CD and her surprise xmas prezzie, the autobiography of Brendan from the coach trip, then 30mins later cds from asda. So all sorted now.... xx

rufusdog52

Glad your order came Mum2one. I checked my Amazon orders this morning and one has delivery dates from between the 13th Dec and 5th Jan so might come in time, if not it will be after. Doesnt really matter as its not a main present, just a dvd OH mentioned the other day he would like so he can have it as an extra present after if its late.

So lovely this morning to get up to a tidy dining room after all the mess has been cleared up. I am glad I got them done as my Son is coming Sunday with his GF and the new baby for an early Christmas dinner. Will be the first time they have come for a meal together, we usually go round there these days but it will be nice to have them here. We decorate our home with all the Christmas bits then hardly anyone comes round so will be lovely this year. My daughter and her lot are coming on the Friday after Christmas for a late Christmas dinner after all so it will be a nice prolonged affair this year. We have quite a few large meat joints in the freezer so we should have enough food in to cover both meals, may be just need to get a couple of nice puddings when we have used enough food to get a bit of space in the freezers to put them in.

I'm having a lazy day today, nothing special to do this morning, then this afternoon I am meeting my friend for a bit.

mary-op

Hello all :santa2:

Thought it was time for a festive 'smiley'............lol
My chunky cardigan arrived so now looking for woolly hat to go with it..........no luck so far and might end up knitting one with all the odds and ends I've got. OH's coat arrived this afternoon and fits really well so his weight loss hasn't made that much difference.
He hated the colour I picked for the kitchen doors so now he's in charge of the paint chart.............lol
Must admit what I chose did turn out to be more like a battleship grey than anything else........lol
I'm going to attempt a walk into town tomorrow to get rid of the last bits of post and have a quick look round the shops..cleaner comes in the afternoon -there's that much dust from the builders.......she'll have a fair bit to do plus change our bed and make up spare beds just in case my son and grandson make it........doubt they will with the cost of petrol, work etc. but you never know.
Decorations go up at the weekend thanks to OH's mate otherwise they'd be none. Then poor cleaner will have all the bits of tinsel and plastic evergreen bits to hoover up...........lol Oh dear it never ends does it. Hopefully when she's been tomorrow I might be in the mood for tidying up...........I keep saying I'll do it, do a little but then get fed up with it. Must put on new years resolutions -be more tidy !

Still pressies to sort out as to who's having what.........I've got it sorted in my head (I think) just needs putting in different bags/baskets.

Hope you're all ok and keeping warm:)

cdsmiler

Anglea wrote: »

Clare, what a wonderful advent calendar.

Thanks Angela!

mum2one - thinking of you and Miss Hoodie! Great news from the mental health officer. And the liason officer - sounds like they're both diamonds!

Sugarspun - Couldn't imagine the stress you're under. Thank goodness you've been so well organised with everything else!!

mary - lovely idea having lamb for Xmas dinner! Take it easy walking to town tomorrow!

Rufus - LOVE your chairs - you're very clever!

Crusty chicken pox pretty much all gone now! All pressie's bought pretty much except any mentioned below, and something for friend's son. All cards done. Oh, just waiting for a calendar to come from Vistaprint for Nan's B'day (v soon after xmas!) Busy busy busy here!

Weekend - last Murder Mystery of December done, then relaxing Sunday where hubby & I on our own went for a meal and cinema (all on lots of vouchers, and spent only about a £10 even though had premier seats and drink at cinema and massive 3 course meal at restaurant. That evening we then put DD's new chair and table together for her birthday this coming Saturday.
Week - Arranged our staff's children christmas party which happened yesterday, all went well until half way through we looked outside and saw everything was WHITE!!! ARGH! lol especially as DD was there with me and we have to travel over the Brecon BEacons to get home!! lol Luckily it was just hail and although there was a bit of snow over the mountains, we got home without any probs. Shattered though!

Plan for rest of week:
Tonight (Wednesday) - last massive food shop, buy last bits for childminder's film night in hamper, and bit of choc for DD's stocking. THen need to wrap Nan's and aunt's pressies ready to hand over to my dad to pass on to them early next week!
Thurs Eve (work all day) - Bake cakes for DD's birthday and make some bits of the decorations. Wrap more pressies.
Fri Day - shopping for party food for Saturday. Make Cupcakes.
Fri Eve - Decorate main B'Day cake, hopefully ice cupcakes too.
Sat Day - DD's birthday and tea party!
Sat Eve - Put together DD's play kitchen ready for Christmas.
Sun - Try to watch Christmas Carol (the new one with Jim Carrey), plus try to wrap more pressies and have a bit of a family day.
Mon - WOrk during day, collect turkey crowns (x2!), sort Avon delivery in eve, drop off turkey crown to my parents.
Tues - Work in day, Eve - Last load of wrapping, make and freeze cupcakes to take to inlaws ready for boxing day. MIGHT make a second b'day cake for DD to take to inlaws.....
Wed - Work in day, Eve - delivery Avon & pack to go to inlaws
Thurs - Work in day, Eve - travel to london!!! (Taking turkey crown, frozen cupcakes, frozen sausages in bacon, frozen stuffing, and possible extra cake...)

After that, except for defrosting and decorating cupcakes, and decorating inlaws christmas cake, I'm collapsing.....

Big Christmassy hugs to you all!!

Clare x

mum2one

cdmiller, - that is one organised list, do you fancy adding a couple of OU assisgnments in...

Been xmas shopping with Miss Hoodie and dad 2ngt, came back absolutely shattered, sounds daft but as i normally hire a mobility scooter, it was harder getting around.

So funny we had dad as bag carrier, Miss Hoodie did an absolute classic, given her £30 to get her presents for mum and dad, in a local wine shop (wroxeter wine), in the one shopping centre, they just do xmas, went in there, they have all local peoducts, and she asked how much got to spend on dad, so I said you've got £15, she pipes up...... mmmm he can have £5 and I'll keep the tenner. We compromised that she would spend £10 on him, mum and me.

Dad - 3 bottles cider and box of turkish delight
Mum - Showergel set Boots and tshirt
Me - very funky purple croc print bag, very different but it jumped out, that was £8, but she thinks she shoud have the £2 for carrying the bag!!

I did treat myself,
3 x summer strappy tops, new swimsuit, 3 prs knickers and posh brown and metal beaded top - £34 in sale, original price £108.

xx

fedupandskint

IU have 4 bowls of bath salts in the kitchen currently drying out. Thought 2 had gone wrong but 1 has recovered so the other may too!

Just waiting for a final bottle of essential oil and some colour safe soap dyes to arrive to finish them off and go into the waiting jars then done. I'm off with a pretty horrible cold virus thing tomorrow and might attempt some turkish delight today if I have enough stuff in to make it

made a list yesterday of foodie gifts to make - not sure if I'll do all of the these yet
Florentines
Chocolate and ginger snaps
Turkish Delight
Mocha and Walnut fudge
Whiskey and raisin fudge

Then just some stuffing and cranberry sauce to make, a soup for Boxing Day and some festive bread

lucylou82_2

That is amazing i was not organised this year but next year i intend to be and make my son one as he has a diary allegy so i will be joining this group to get some inspiration for next year as you all seem very organised and i love the challenges merry christmas everyone

rufusdog52

Clare, I was feeling exhausted after reading what you have done and still have to do lol, at least you have it all planned out and organised.

We are going shopping today when OH gets back, he has just taken his Mum and Dad home. He got paid his Christmas bonus this morning, big chunk of it went on Tax etc but still a nice amount. He got a bit extra because he did such a good job on his Asia trip.

I was going to take YD up the town this morning so she could buy something for OH for Christmas but she told me she is going out with her friends instead. Wanted me to give her a tenner so she can buy something herself, yeah right lol, I think she must be long lost relation of Miss Hoody lol, last year I gave her a tenner to get him something and when he opened it she had got him a tin of Lynx, she spent the rest lol. I told her she will have to wait now until next week when OH is on nights and we can go up and get him something while he is asleep.

rufusdog52

Fedup - you are doing really well with your home made bits, the bath salts sound nice, hope the other one works out ok in the end.

Lucylou - looking forward to having you with us for next year and a Merry Christmas to you too xx