Preparing for Christmas 2011

jemtom

Jd1983 wrote: »

2 brillantly christmassy things happened to me today:

1 - noticed the boots website has their christmas stuff on (can't be long til the gift guide comes out)!

yay love boots at christmas especially when the brochure comes out!!

thanks for the christmas cake recipes i tried to make one last year after several failed attempts just made a sponge and put in some mixed fruit :rotfl:although it turned out ok and everyone loved it! so will be trying one of your recipies mum2one and fingers crossed it turns out ok.

joe_purdy

Those hampers look great, ive decided as part of my mums present in going to do a "pamper hamper" and will include everything she will need for a night of papering, going to get some nice bath bombs from lush and have a look in the body shop too and when m + s and boots christmas books come out will see if they have anything nice to add. Im also going to put a couple of mini bottles of wine and some chocolates or fudge to indulge in while pampering. Ive seen some pjs and slippers too which will be too big for the hamper but will go nicely with the pamper theme

noodles86

Just a few ideas for people as we're on a tight budget this year. I'm making hamperesque (love making new words up!) gifts for our families this year and they have the following;

My mum 43 (I think lol) a 'fair' hamper. She went all out and sourced a fair trade easter egg for dd (not sure why) so thought she must like fair trade things (she is very hard to buy for!)

So I have done a 'tea tray' with a small tray from b&m for 99p, Susan Boyle the gift cd from amazon 1.49 (I'm sure she said she liked her voice and its an xmas cd!), m&s fair trade earl grey tea bags for 1.49, m&s fair trade coffee for 2.79, m&s fair trade cookies for 1.99, divine fair trade chocolate for 1.49, m&s fair trade everyday tea bags for 1.58, a photo mug of dd for 1.99 and nearer the time will add some mince pies and an xmas pud. So a lovely looking gift for 13.58 so far

For my aunt and her family (hubby and 2 boys 18 & 13) I am doing a 'family games night' they had movie night last year!

So far have Are you smarter than a 10 yr old tv game for 3.09, Heart time tunnel tv game for 1.49, Best of british board game for 8.68 and will add nearer the time doritos & dips, chocolate & sweets so far 13.26

DH's mum is 52 and doesn't really want much but very appreciative kind of person!

So far have got; DD mug for 1.99, Avon bubble bath for 2.50, Massive bar of dairy milk for 1.99, Sanctuary face masks for free, heart bath bomb for 20p, cadburys hot choc for 99p, N-spa hand cream for 1.50, N-spa foot butter for 1.50, Scented candle for 1.00, Sanctuary body was for free (was a present to me) and sanctuary body lotion for free, Next hat, scarf and gloves for 5. Going to add some jewellery too so far 18.66

Bil and Sil in their early twenties who are really hard to buy for but doing them an ice cream hamper

So far have sundae bowls for 3.15, m&s marshmellows for 1.59, m&s wafers for 59p, m&s curls for 1.29, m&s choc sauce for 1.99, m&s toffee sauce for 1.99, m&s raspberry sauce for 1.99 and a tray for 99p from b&m so far 13.58

Sil who is 22 again very difficult to buy for kind of a relaxing hamper

So far have massive dairy milk for 1.99, scented candle for 1.00, face masks for free (were a present to me), vanilla bubble bath 2.00, choc and mint shower gel for 90p, bath accesories sponge, mitt and scrunchie for 1.47, mini champers bottle for 89p and a basket for 1.99. Will add a magazine nearer the time but so far 12.54

If you're wondering why so many m&s products, I do surverys and have been swapping my points for vouchers! so everything from m&s was free. Only people I have left are a little something for DH's mums new boyf was thinking maybe a selection of ale etc and something for DH's dad and partner who are sooo difficult as they have everything and insist we don't get anything! We normally get them a wii game but would like to do something different but they have lots of money so anything they want they just go and buy!

jakesbakescakes

noodles86..... wow! I'm loving the sound of your @hamperesque xmas!!!' Hampers sound fab, can't believe you've done all that already!!! You've inspired me to get a move on I have sourced 3 baskets now, only 1 more to find. Stashing lots of bits to put in too. I'm loving the idea of spreadsheets to keep all the present stashing organised!!!!!!

noodles86

jakesbakescakes wrote: »

noodles86..... wow! I'm loving the sound of your @hamperesque xmas!!!' Hampers sound fab, can't believe you've done all that already!!! You've inspired me to get a move on I have sourced 3 baskets now, only 1 more to find. Stashing lots of bits to put in too. I'm loving the idea of spreadsheets to keep all the present stashing organised!!!!!!

Aww thank you. I love being organised and knowing I can relax and enjoy advent. Just need to find some bargain cellophane now.

I saw some fab looking hampers in home bargains - deeply regret not grabbing one last week hoping they will still have one this sat. They were so deep and wide for 3.99 but this would be for an xmas eve hamper for me and dh (too expensive for a normal hamper hence why some of mine are on trays!!)

Ooh and to add, was looking town the seasonal isle in tesco's and you know the candy king stand with the pick and mix?? Well they had one of those with the xmas stuff and you could fill a xmas jar for 3 pounds or a bucket for 5 pounds. They are small(ish) but mega cute! Gonna get one nearer the time for me and dh for our xmas eve hamper

carlamarie_2

noodles - your hampers sound great!! well done you!

im loving the sound of the ice cream one! may well pinch your idea but i have too many people i want to give it to!
my little brother (11) could get one as he spends xmas at my dads house.
then i would love to do one for my niece (17) and my nephew (14) but they are siblings so they wont want the same present plus they wont need 2 bottles of the same sauces etc.
but then my mum and stepdad would love one i think as a joint present. but the problem is, my niece and nephew spend xmas day at my mum and stepdads house!

maybe ill do one for my brother and one for my mum and stepdad. my niece i could do a chocolate based one, then i could include chocolates, hot choc with marshmellows, choccy scented candles and bath stuff maybe. and my nephew??? was thinking of a sweets one but i dont think my sister would approve as it would be a WHOLE lot of sugar for his budget!

any ideas for a 14 year old boy - possibly a foodie one? have done him a arty hamper and a movie hamper previously

lucyc58

What can I put in a ginger lover hamper for fil? So far I only have stem ginger in chocolate and gingerbread men!!

Thanks

noodles86

Maybe something based on his favourite take away? Chinese, Indian, Italian could find a cooking utensil and some ingrediants? Erm with the ice cream one you could do sundaes or banana splits! Could also add some sparklers to make them exciting :rotfl: Maybe a cookbook and ingrediants/utensils for example a baking book and some silicone bakeware or a cupcake book. Got an amazing one reduced in m&s the other day for a quid, could present it with a bun tin etc Erm will carry on thinking!!

noodles86

lucyc58 wrote: »

What can I put in a ginger lover hamper for fil? So far I only have stem ginger in chocolate and gingerbread men!!

Thanks

Maybe make your own hot choc with ginger? Mcvities Jamaica cake, gingerbread bubble bath (N-spa I think from Asda though!)

noodles86

Some ginger biscuits, maybe see if you can buy some sort of ginger jam?

Just found this

http://www.giftingdirect.co.uk/item--Ginger-Hamper-Deluxe-Ginger-Food-Hampers-UK--GDHMging061.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lanchester-Ginger-Delight-Hamper/dp/B004I1BNGC

http://www.zest-deli.co.uk/Hampers_up_to__30/p845537_4072564.aspx

http://www.rainbowturtle.co.uk/presta/product.php?id_product=76