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

esmer

Hi Mary, sounds like you had a rough night but a good day. Hope you get some decent help soon

I forgot to post about the nozzle, thanks Susan. Im not sure what size it is to be honest, i got it in a kit from Lakeland and its the only one I use. Found it made perfect swirls.

I was just about to purchase some fusible interfacing in hobbycraft until I seen the Q. they had all the bargain bins at the door, and it was FULL, I got a bit stressed as I dont like busy shops too much so I just left was going to make some crayon rolls with scraps of material I have.

mum2one

susan42 wrote: »

Lisi - so sorry to hear your news , thoughts are with you x

wammy - for cupcakes i use a 72 nozzle, was advised use the biggest one you can and ice from outside in, it works

mum2one - those are fab barains and regard the wine trip, waiting for warmer weather. As regards sons uni, he can pay £20 extra and have all his meals , 3 meals a day. He said be cheaper to cook....he cant cook mind you. What everyone think.???

Without soundind daft I'd go for the £20 a week deal, ok yes he can cook, but if the novelty wears off, off he gets food and someone else helps them self to it, I'd grab the deal, even if he takes it for the 1st year. In all honestly I doubt he would be able to buy the food for that amount.

Def agree with the warmer weather xx

mary-op

Hello all :j

esmer - had a decent nights sleep last night..........OH lay a duvet on top of the mattress my side of the bed plus couple of cushions to support my back and leg and that helped no end........next think I knew it was 10 am !! Not felt like doing anything though. Had to have tablet when I got up (once a week one) and sit for 30mins before I could have other medication or a cup of coffee...............seemed like a long half hour.
Every cushion in the house is on the sofa so at least I can sit comfy watching tele and well propped up.
Hoping it'll make a difference with extra aids but could do with a leg/back exchange...............lol:rotfl:

susan42

Mary - i feel for you, i know what its like with back pain, must admit my electric blanket is ace

mum2one - thxs, i think he should have food too

esmer - when you mentioned fusible interfacing i was intrigued until i thought do you mean something like wonder web?

Not done much organising today, seem worn out for some reason, have made a hanky holder here though which i`m off to blog, just wanted something pretty for beside the bed for when guests come

esmer

susan42 wrote: »

Mary - i feel for you, i know what its like with back pain, must admit my electric blanket is ace

mum2one - thxs, i think he should have food too

esmer - when you mentioned fusible interfacing i was intrigued until i thought do you mean something like wonder web?

Not done much organising today, seem worn out for some reason, have made a hanky holder here though which i`m off to blog, just wanted something pretty for beside the bed for when guests come

Great tissue holder..........

Not used it yet, but I think thats what it looks like, but only one side must be sticky, as I seen others on blogs ironing it straight onto material.

Im off tomorrow, might go to the shop and get some, its cheaper on ebay though.

elysia2003

Mary - I know this sounds just like a quilt but I have a feather bed on top of our mattress. It's like a quilt but it has more feathers in to support your back. It moulds to all your dips and hollows. It's like sleeping on a cloud. It might be worth looking into getting one of those. I bought it because OH is a postie and walks a lot, carrying that heavy bag of post is a nightmare, plus he's getting on a bit. He also so skinny, he's all bony. This has made him have the best night's sleep ever. His aches and pains vanish over night.

Susan - I love your tissue box, it's fab.

I placed another order with Vista for a poster for my sister's birthday - she'll be 40 in 18 months time (nothing like being prepared ).

OH sister's birthday is in July, so I bought her a mug, and bag, and 10 notecards all with the matching design off DD2. On the bag, instead of sayingAuntie Hazel, I had put Special Auntie, which is good because when I got to payment stage, I was offered another for only 49p with no p+p, so that can go to his other sister. I had trouble, it kept putting the prices up, even when I deleted the TCB tabs, it was still charging full price for two of the things, I had to try three times, but I got the five things for £8.01 postage in the end, so I'm quite pleased with that.

How is everyone else - It's been quiet on here today!

elysia2003

Esmer - if you'd like me to pm me your address, I've got some here you can have. I must have bought it over a year ago, and not used it yet, so knowing me, I'm not likely to. You are most welcome to it.

mum2one

Good morning ladies as its the 24th, that can only mean one thing..Santas Challenge, feels such a lot time since the last one, would say do you want the good news or the bad news???

Good News - Miss Hoodie is in bed

Bad News - Miss Hoodie has been preparing her contributions for the last week, when I looked earlier she was on the 4th side of an A4 paper!!!

We've comprismed to make the challenge easy, medium, hard and fun!

---

Ladies, welcome to the challenge, as always treat it like a pick and mix, but hopefully there be something for everyone, break you all in gently...

EASY

As Dec's challenge was on early and involved a start on being organised for this yr, I've just pulled a few pointers incase we have missed any.

Have the lists ready for Birthday, xmas, and other ocassions such as Valentines Day, Mothers Day (2nd April), Fathers Day (usually June time), Easter - we're finishing the christmas sweets and cakes and the supermarkets are selling the eggs already! and have budgets set for them.

Hopefully as well as sale items we have been able to creatively recylce some items!

Find a safe hiding place for any presents brought, and make sure you have a spare list of where everything is, and who's been brought what.

Sales - Most of been and whats left what necessary be the best, but keep an eye out something may jump out, the other reason I mention Sales is Argos have changed the catalogue at the weekend, and this usually means any sale items are reduced further and new items added. (Generally theres an option to check what store you want - clearance section - generally I have found it to be 90% reliable).

VistaPrint - don't forget that Quidco give £2.50 back, if you have freebies or £5 for full price, not sure if its a once a month like topcashback, and like tcb you can have more than one quidco account per household.
(a little tip if you want to order christmas cards throughout the year - at the mo there chargeable, but tonight I went through history, as I wanted same design, put it in basket and it came up as zero!!)

Medium
Not quite the feet up moment, but still trying to be gentle.

Ladies we deserve a treat, we've pulled off Christmas, we've hit the sales, we've been bashed, battered, pushed and shoved...so treat time. Whether thats half an hour in the bath with a book, or take the remote off the kids for the night and you watch what you want on TV. Or even a takeaway.... would say a lovely meal out, but we are mse girls so a takeaway is pushing the boat out.

For those with children, we have half term coming up, the perfect opportunity for them to help tidy and gut their rooms. If you have anything summery kept incase it fits, I find Feb time generally good for summer stuff, whether its 99p for a tshirt - but people start planning hols around them so if they can pick up a bargain - win win all the way round

For those without children, time to gut your bedroom or a room of your choice.
I'm thinking car boot season will be starting generally from March, so there may be hidden items that you put up for when you need them... (hence when I tidyed the kitchen cupboards, I found 3 fondue sets!!) so if we can get a head start, with items, - one step ahead of the competation.

Younger children, try and have some activities ready whether its a dressing up box, through to a box of crayons and a notepad.

HARD BIT
Those who are luckly enough to have a frost free freezer - you get a break....
We're hitting the kitchen / utility / freezer with a vengance, hopefully theres space from all the extras we used at Christmas, so nows the time to get it cleaned and organised.

The same goes for the fridge, and anywhere food is stored, your not gutting every cupboard, (I'm not that cruel - thou it was on Miss Hoodies list along with freezers, fridge, cupboard, bedrooms, bathroom - you get the picture!!) just concentrating on the food.
For a bit of fun, make this element into a mini challenge, the person who makes the oddest meal out of items in the house, will win a prize, Miss Hoodie will choose the meal...

FUN
Challenge yourself to do something that you may have done before andmaybe never finished, or do something new - my challenge is trying to make a make-up bag, and a beach bag out of an old dress - it's not going to be perfect.... but it be fun... just got to get mum to do the sewing machine...
Again there be a prize from Miss Hoodie for the best.


Hopefully we have not thrown you to hard into the deep end, - remember its a pick and mix, - do what you fancy, if the children are old enough, get them to help.

Good luck to one and all xxx

tracey_h_2

Hi All,

Esmer - Gorgeous Cupcakes!!

Real Toothfairy - Sorry to hear your sad news. Thinking of you xx

Susan42 - Def the £20 a week deal sound best. I had a few friends who went to Uni and did this in the 1st year and was glad they did, the food was really good. At least that way he should eat decent food.

Mum2One - Thanks for the challenge!! Its just printing off now. My freezers desperately need doing. Going to run them right down over the next couple of weeks. Def help with the grocery challenge too!! Wonder what random creation i can come up with??!!

Couple of little bargains for me in the Boots sale, a little ELC toy reduced to £2.50 for friends little girl. Couple of little craft sets for the party/gift box for DD/DS friends birthdays reduced to £2, also a Photo Album for my DD as she had a camera for her birthday. Paid with points, so no cash spent this week. Did treat myself to two new charms for my Links bracelet as they were reduced from £45 to £18 each on the website, shoe ones. I do love shoes!! It was my birthday the week before last so i did have gift money to spend.

Jan and Feb birthdays all done. Cards written and alol wrapped. Need to do March now. Big Month for me 6 birthdays!! and my DH is one o them. And he is 40!! Deep Joy!! LOL. Mothers day done. Just need cards.

Hugs to all who need.

Txx

rufusdog52

Morning everyone

Spent the afternoon sewing yesterday, managed to finish off the top patchwork piece for my sister's quilt, need to pin and tack all the layers together today so I can start the quilting. Also made myself a hoody jacket out of the fabric my son bought me for Christmas. I will try to get some photos on my blog when I get a chance.