Thrify Gifty Santas Challenge 2012

susan42

Thanks mum2 one for the list. And miss hoodies input.

Well what a nightmare, so here's some advice. After craft fair Saturday which was a success decided to drive down to Wales Sunday to see DD . A 3-4 hour journey took 10 hours!!! 3 motorways I neede to get on shut. Accidents, roadworks and floods. So anyone have any journeys planned make sure you leave time if your on a dead line. I have live updates on my sat nav and as we set off it said there would be an half hour delay but as I was travelling I seem to get further away !!! Nightmare

Anyhow I here now and my DD was happy as all the bits left from craft fair that was edible I gave her and she going to make hampers for her friends out of them which saves her money. :-)

Then my cousin who's ill has 3 teenage daughters and a girlfriend who has 2 teenage daughters. So that's 6 women to buy for. Well long story short . He has cancer and other problems. They threw him off the sick despite having treatment 2 a week and has to goto docs once a week. Well when they stopped his sick money he got caught in a bit of a loop hole and had no money for over 3 months. They now decided he can have jsa . But he missed sign on day as he had to have treatment and they trying to move the hospital dates so he can sign on. Well they started paying jsa but have told him they have to review it as he's not fit for work because when he has part of his treatment he can't go near people as its nuclear (what a mess) well anyway I digress . The result is he's no money , so I sorted out all my boots presents from 75% sales and my spare present draw and took 12 things down for him to give to the 'girls' for Xmas. They not expecting anything as he warned them he was a bit short. And I made some hampers for him to open Xmas day as he doesn't want to come up mine. So that's my goodwill spread and sorry I rambled on a bit.

I also brought DD a small work top fridge freezer down that just fitted in the car. As she has a tall upright one too big for one person. So someone's up the street single parents had broke so shed collecting the big one tonight. Nothing wrong with it . Apart from being BIG

I'm taking him and DD on an outing today. Down to Cardiff on the train and treating them to lunch . And perhaps a coffee. So that's my craft fair spend gone. I was going to buy myself an Christmas ornament or something but it'll cheer him up abit.

Anyhow I'm rambling on . Good luck Rufus on your craft fair.

Sugars pun - I put one of DH presents up the chimney one year... But I forgot about it. I do that regularly to tell you truth as my children will tell you . Even just last year I put DD iPod touch 'safe' . Haven't found it yet. !

Ps where's Mary?

Hi cdsmiler... I'm waving down the valley at you ... Lol

rufusdog52

I was wondering where Mary was, hope she is alright, havent seen her on here for a while.

Nice of you to do all that Susan, they must think you are their guardian angel or something. Thats the true spirit of Christmas xx

redbooties

Essentials
Nows the time to start/finishing wrapping presents, check if you have enough sellotape, tags, and prepare a little box of sellotape, scissors, gift atags, scissors and hid them from everyone else in the house!! so when you wrap you know where everything is.

I've wrapped everything as I've bought it and stashed it all in the attic. All thats left is a few bits and pieces


online Ordering
if your ordering anything online check the delievery est dates, and order with plenty of spare time - if your ordering a few things my tip is do a spreadsheet - list the item and due date and who from then you can tick it off when coming

Everything is ordered, just have to go to the post office to pick up a few parcels that arrived while I was out.

Craft Fayres / Christmas Events
For those clever crafters like Susan and Rufus this is your time to shine and for the rest of us its time to see if there are any bargains there.

I can't go to any craft fayres as I've gone right over my budget and I don't want to be tempted by anything else


Food
With just 4 weeks left to Xmas, nows the time to see what extras you need and see if you can stock anything up, and do the list for xmas week so that way you can share the work load.

I've started buying some food now that can be stored like nuts etc and hidden them so they are not ate before the big day


Share the workload
I know we are super women but even superwoman needed a day off, see if you can share the workload, plan a rota if you have to

Everyone knows what jobs they have to help with, even if its just keeping me topped up with tea


Spare Present
Double check to see if you have a spare present, something that can be used ourselves or can be put towards bday presents next yr.

I haven't got a spare present yet. I'll get a box of choclates or sweets and a toiletry gift set

Vouchers
If youve been saving vouchers check the expiry date and that u know where they are!!!

I've got them all in my bag and will use them either to help the children with their xhristmas shopping or for the little things I have left to get

Where am I???
Double check the arrangements so you know whether your cooking for 2 people or 20!!

Only cooking for 4 but I have vistors later in the day so will have to make sure I have snacks and drinks ready for them


Petrol, Batteries, Toilet Rolls, headache tablets etc
Fill the car up, check for spare batteries, and the first aid kit, and check prescriptions - my betting is weekend before xmas everyone will panic

I would have forgotten all of this:o, only thing I remebered is plenty of batteries, so I have to sort out all the perscriptions anf fill the car up

Miss Hoodies Corner
It wouldn't be a challenge without a cleaning job - Miss Hoodie being gentle this time, and just said make sure all your christmas goodies are together and you tidy up as you move things;)

Done

Fusspot corner...
RUBBISH
My new little corner the fusspot / mother hen corner, I know its a horrible thing to have to think of but becareful of disposing of rubbish over xmas - eg you have a new TV - leave the cardboard outside while your waiting for bin collection, - this then says to a potential thief NEW TV.... so if you can store any rubbish safe to the day.

My best friend has a real fire so I keep anything that can be burned for her to dispose of


THE CAR
I know were sensible but yesterday when I was at a local retail park, a car near where I parked had its side window smashed in.... my guess is the person been shopping chucked the stuff on the back seat and off to the next shop.
Handbags - I'm as guilty as my car central locking, dads isn't so in his I chuck the handbag on front seat, Miss Hoodie was talking yesterday and was shocked about how in Dom Rep your told not to open windows on the mini bus as people who stand at traffic lights - reach arms in and try to grab stuff, - it could happen as easily in a traffic jam.

I always hide any shopping but I do leave my handbag on the passenger seat or on the back seat when I'm driving (which isn't very often as I hate driving)

queenb1981

Well, i have found somewhere to do my canvas but getting a nice pic seems impossible, taken loads and still not 1 jumps out at me.

Wrapped all of my presents the last couple of days and all my decs are now up too so the whole of December can be all about relaxing.

Hope everyone is ok

mum2one

rufusdog52 wrote: »

I was wondering where Mary was, hope she is alright, havent seen her on here for a while.

Nice of you to do all that Susan, they must think you are their guardian angel or something. Thats the true spirit of Christmas xx

I second that xxxx

mum2one

Had a brilliant afternoon out and it was free!! signed up for a family craft group through the school, you have an hr then the children come for the 2nd hr, there was 6 adults there, and then 10 kids, we made pottery, I made pr of tealight holders, change pot and phone holder, Miss hoodie made 2 tealight holders, pot and a candy stick lollipop shape, - all air drying on dining rm table, then we take them back nxt week to paint, got 6 weeks for free.

xx

rufusdog52

Sounds good Mum2 one especially as its free xx

cdsmiler

mum2one wrote: »

We've got 50 rolls of wrapping paper, 800 cards, gift tags coming of mid air, - need sellotape!!

xx

HOW MANY rolls?! lol

That craft things sounds great though!

susan - you are an angel. Not only coping with the 10 hour drive, but with the gifts for your cousin's family!
*waves over the valley back!!! lol*

Worried about Mary a bit here too.

Advent activities sorted and printed ready to go in the advent calendar. Xmas cake cut into 4 small square ones and marzipan-ed. got pressies to wrap tonight ready for this Sunday when we're off to west wales. All ticking along quite well! Still masses left to do though. lol

Clare x

SugarSpun

I was quietly worried about Mary but didn't want to say in case she'd said she was off somewhere and I'd missed it Hope she's ok.

mrs-moneypenny

also hoping mary is alright

thank you for the lists and keeping me (almost) on track all year
ive written a paper list out to go thoroguh so i can keep reasonably organised and tick off as im going

hugs to all