Preparing for Christmas 2011

Cake4brains

Hi everyone, just read all 18 pages and so excited for christmas!:T

Hope you dont mind me joining you, have got a few stocking fillers stashed away and will be making presents again this year, when I eventually get around to starting them

Last year I made snowman soup, homemade after dinner mints, flavoured vodka, sock monkeys, hanging hearts, a cat doorstop, keyrings, candied oranges, and an apron. There are probably more things but cant think at the minute

So now I have to try and think of new things to make for this year. My family said they are looking forward to seeing what I come up with but so far the ideas are few and far between!

I have 9 women, 7 men, a 3 year old girl and a 2 month old boy to buy/make for (though I feel like Im forgetting someone here:cool:)

I made a cake last year as well which everyone loved. Keep meaning to get some brandy in to soak the fruit but always forget

jakesbakescakes

Cake4brains wrote: »

Hi everyone, just read all 18 pages and so excited for christmas!:T

Hope you dont mind me joining you, have got a few stocking fillers stashed away and will be making presents again this year, when I eventually get around to starting them

Last year I made snowman soup, homemade after dinner mints, flavoured vodka, sock monkeys, hanging hearts, a cat doorstop, keyrings, candied oranges, and an apron. There are probably more things but cant think at the minute

So now I have to try and think of new things to make for this year. My family said they are looking forward to seeing what I come up with but so far the ideas are few and far between!

I have 9 women, 7 men, a 3 year old girl and a 2 month old boy to buy/make for (though I feel like Im forgetting someone here:cool:)

I made a cake last year as well which everyone loved. Keep meaning to get some brandy in to soak the fruit but always forget

welcome cake4brians..... sounds like you can teach us all a fair few christmas ideas!!!!! I have got a day off today so am going to attempt to sort out present stash, make lists and also dig out a christmas cake recipe also just knitting some cute 2inch high tree decorations - very sweet triangular santas, snowmen, tree and robins - i will include a set in each of the family hampers i am slowly putting together. busy, busy..... but loving every minute of it.... look out christmas here we come!!!!!!!!!:j

ChasingButterflies

Oh my, what are friendly, organised and thoughtful bunch you all are!

I would like to join you to help me become a [STRIKE]little[/STRIKE] lot more organised... Every year I have got a bit better but I still always feel like I am running around at the last minute and wishing I had just purchased XYZ when I thought of it rather than waiting until closer to the big day incase someone changed their mind...

1st priority is to sort out the kids, DD1 (10) DS1 (9) DD2 (6) and DD3 (2) I need to combine this with organising DD1 & DD2's birthday gifts as their birthdays are within days of one another at the end of November.

Last year I gave up on trying to spend the same amount on them & tbh they all seemed happy with what they got. I try to get them what they want at the best price I possibly can - I am hoping that by starting earlier there are more savings to be made...

As well as the girls birthdays I also need to pay the balance for a French trip for DD1 in November, the balance for DS's trip in February and there is the small matter of all our savings being ringfenced due to us having just sold our house and needing to move in Jan/Feb next year (that is if we can find somewhere to buy but that is a whole other thread! ) So I need to set a realistic budget that won't send us into the red/have me dipping into savings.

Tbh I find Christmas a really difficult time of year, there have been a lot of grim things happen in the run up to and over Christmas - so I tend to associate Christmas with a lot of negative memories However since I have had the kids, seeing how they enjoy it/get excited etc makes it a lot easier to cope with (and you never know - keeping company with you guys might make the festive spirit come a little easier to me )

So I am off to make lists/spreadsheets... apologies for the epic post

andipandi72

This is a great site for ideas for hampers

http://www.sawyers-specialties.com/survival-kits/index.php

sammy_kaye18

Hi Everyone

I wondered if you had room for another little one to wiggle her way in.

This year Im doing christmas for
my 2 children
my partner
6 adults (my family)
6 children (my family)
4 adults (partners family)
3 children (partners family)
5 pets

so in total I have 24 gifts to buy :eek: - not including my own children and partner :eek::eek:

Although in fairness my partner has really had his gifts for christmas early so his is just basically a few small bits and pieces for him to open on Xmas day. he wants some homemade stuff from the kids too.

The pets are easy enough too.

Partner tends to fund his side of the familys gifts but this means I still have to look for the best deals as its me who goes out to buy them!
So financially I need to pay for 12 people.

My ideas so far are
2 children who are 18 - pots of gold with a gift card in
2 children are cousins who I dont really see - selection boxes
2 children are nieces - selection box, PJs and a DVD from charity shop
2 adults - step mum and dad - a homemade couples hamper - foodie bits/wine/wine glasses etc
2 adults - nan and grandad - a cosy hamper - pjs each, biscuits, socks etc
1 adult - mum - ?????????????
1 adult - sister - anything I win/freebie will go in a pamper stocking

so Im hoping to make these as cheaply as possible as I obviously have my tow kids to focus on and am in a new house for the first Xmas so the decorating will be a top thing too! :D:D:D

Im couponing and saving within an inch of my life so I can have a minimal spend few months and christmas can get sorted incase the weather turns nasty again!

x

mum2one

Hi Sammy-Kaye, hows u,
thinking with the selection boxes, would it work out cheaper to do a mix and match yourself, and some cello wrap and bit of ribbon. xx

roosterbean

Stupotstu - PLLLLLLease give me ur recipe for vodka cherries, I really want to try this out on my friends!!!!! xx

Jd1983

Note tO self ... Must go and puck up the boots Christmas gift guide today!

mum2one

Jd1983 wrote: »

Note tO self ... Must go and puck up the boots Christmas gift guide today!

got minw 2day, had a quick flick through, there so much nice stuff... hoping half of it comes on the offer of the week xx

kayandy_2

mum2one wrote: »

got minw 2day, had a quick flick through, there so much nice stuff... hoping half of it comes on the offer of the week xx

Thanks so much for this I didn't even know it was out yet I'll have to go and get it