❄❄ Let It Snow ❄❄ :: Christmas 2012 Chatter Thread

Chris25

chirpychick wrote: »

I am so irritated! I had 2 sleepsuits with "my first Christmas" and 1 little velour reindeer sleepsuit and 3 bibs which I got from a carboot for a total of £1 and I washed them in with our washing this morning ready to put them in the hamper box so i don't have to do it later and the little velour reindeer sleepsuit has loads of brown marks all over it, I am sure it wasn't like that before so something must have run in the washing machine It doesn't matter really but it is so irritating, it was so cute!! It is completely ruined now

could you & wash again with one of those 'colour-catcher' sheets?

sharkeybabe

Hello everyone,

I have been lurking on here for a while and I was hoping I could join your chatty thread :j

Bit of background - I am Suzan (26) and live with my hubby and my 18 month old daughter. Last years xmas was a bit of a washout tbh, my DH was working abroad and missed our DD's 1st xmas so I wasnt really that excited about it, however this year he is going to be at home and we are having our 1st family christmas together an I am getting very excited. I have a large prezzie list as we both have quite big families and I am trying to do everything as cheaply as possible.(i am currently on SSP and my DH might be getting laid off at the end of this month :eek:)

I am looking at making some hampers for my Gran, MIL and my dad. Got dad's sorted but stuck on Gran's & MIL's but im sure I can catch some idea's from here.
Wont blether on too much but wanted to say hello!!

NorthernDan

Hey guys, this is my first post in the xmas thread, thought I would get involved as I think I am going to do pretty much all of my xmas shopping online this year and i am hoping to take heavy advantage of voucher code and cashback sites to see how much cheaper it makes things. Does anyone have any early suggestions about where i could do some general browsing for quite traditional gifts for parents, grandparents etc? Thanks in advance

noodles86

We don't wrap stocking gifts. stocking is left outside dd's door on the landing as she's petrified of Santa coming into her room!? LOL! But that makes life easier for me and dh. All of dd's presents are from Santa however her grandparents, aunts, uncles etc give their presents to her individually.

Me and dh were both bought up with this however I liked the idea of the main present being from Santa and the rest from us but dh didnt want to do that. I think this has made life a bit harder as dd cant understand why Santa cant bring her everything she desires. Although I think I may tell her this year she can ask Santa for three things she definately wants and the rest Santa brings so that there is enough presents for all the children?!

This weekend I have made a list of people we need to buy for (excluding dh & dd)

My mum
MIL
MIL partner
FIL
FIL partner
BIL
SIL
SIL
DH's nanna ~ probably a nice box of biscuits
My aunt ~ Biscuits & wine to share with my uncle
My uncle ~ ^^ as above!
Cousin 1 ~ Dove men gift set
Cousin 2 ~ Adidas gift set
Best friends dd (5 months)
DD's best friend (5)
DD's teachers x 2 ~ Spa wisdom shower gels & body creme's

I also went through the present cupboard! And have found the following;

Spa Wisdom shower gel x 2
Spa Wisdom body creme x 2
Soap & Glory hand food/heel genius
Dove pampering set
Radox smoothies set
Adidas mens shower gel & deodrant
Dove men shower gel & deodrant
Naked coco de mer set
Nivea men shower gel & face wash
Simple wash bag with face wipes & moisturiser set x 3
Gap brown snood
Gap grey scarf
Gap orange scarf & beanie hat set
Mandarin Spa lip butters

So now have the game of matching an ideal present to an ideal recipient! Have a few ideas though! Have just ordered from Avon 2 x chalkboard mugs for £2.50 each as presents so will have to think of something creative for them and for whom! It's hard though as I was considering a Gap scarf & a simple gift set for both SIL's but then a chalkboard mug with snowman soup for BIL but it looks a lot less?!

Possession

My two (10 & 7) both know the truth about Santa, just from little things they have said without actually coming out and saying it, LOL! We all seem to be avoiding actual discussion of the truth, presumably because I want the magic Christmas Day and they still want their presents! That's fine by me.

HOHOHOoffwegoKaren41

I've decided my Xmas eve hamper will be reindeer based so I'm on the hunt for a lovely cuddly reindeer and a nice reindeer based xmas film to go along with adoption pack, reindeer food, reindeer pooh, noses etc sadly this will be my first Xmas hamper and son is 6 on the 12th Dec so prob won't get many more believing years x

chirpychick

Rebel_Hedgehog wrote: »

We do something similar as a bit of fun. I buy a selection of 20 x £1.00 lottery scratch cards.

I put them in a folded up envelope and indivually wrap in Xmas paper.

Then after dinner we have a lucky dip around the table in which the guests pick them out and scratch them off. It costs me £20 but it's a bit of fun as lots of the prizes on them are £50k. The year before last a family member won £50 which was nice.

Edit: should also add that around Xmas they release Xmas themed scratch cards which is cool too and adds that extra bit of festive feel.

None of us are big gamblers but it's great fun

I absolutely love this idea, it's a real "gamble" as to who/if/what people will win and not a huge initial outlay.

I always put 2 Christmas scratch cards in mine and hubby's stockings and this year because money is so tight and bubs will have only just been born I am also putting 2 in our Christmas Eve hamper as a small extra to just give us something else as it's quite small.

Damzel_In_Distress wrote: »

Im ok , Thanks for asking Chirpchick

Just been a bit of a crap few months all round really, my partner and I split up and i had to move with our son, to a much smaller place than Im used to, It has no storage at all apart from two cupboards, one of which is the 'xmas cupboard' :rotfl: But thats now full, as it has the tree and decorations in there as well, and thanks to clintons closing down locally i managed to get a lot of beautiful xmas things which added to the pile a few weeks ago. I spent about £7 all together and ended up with about £60 pounds worth of me to you christmas things

Its all going to be so different this year as obviously ill be alone with my little boy over christmas, and im actually dreading it a bit when it comes to money, which is why im really trying to grab bargains here and there now a lot more than i have in the past because ill be doing it all on my own.

I am really sorry to hear things are a bit pants, you know, buying your son the £300 games console even with your mum chipping in should be plenty - I think anyone would want to give him a stocking so he has a few other bits to unwrap on the day but you could buy a few things from http://www.mummymartinstoybox.co.uk/ I even get a few bits for adults from here sometimes when we have in the past done stockings for people so it doesn't matter about his age there must be some cheap stuff you could use. Or if the Hawkins Bazaar sale is still on. You could fill a stocking for £10. You don't need to go over board. He is a very lucky little boy to be getting a games console, don't put yourself under so much pressure. I know I am not a Mum just yet, but I do know enough about kids that it's not the presents that make Christmas special but the time you spend doing things with them.
You could create your own new traditions such as make a gingerbread house, make cards for grandparents, my nephew loves to visit the local garden centre to see the lights and feel the tinsel and look at all the pretty decorations we take a flask of hot chocolate and some "special biscuits" (bourbons because he isn't usually allowed them!) and have a treat in the car park of that after we are done. He doesn't know it's only cost a bit in petrol money, to him it is a fun afternoon doing something different.
You could spend an afternoon making paper chains to decorate with or snowflakes to stick to the windows or hang in his bedroom.
I am sure that doing things like this will be enjoyed. Also a happy Mummy from not worrying about all the money being spent will also make a difference.

I am sure everyone on here can help with ideas and things if you need it.

It must be hard, but you sound like you are doing so well.

maria_and_the_imps

i always do my kids stocking in the pound shop, my kids will be 3,6 and 8 at christmas and i always get them chocolate coins a couple of little toys (marbles, army men, little dollys ect), a making set, socks ect and thats there stockings done, its not me being tight but i would rather put the money i save there towards there big presents

lazysheep

HOHOHOoffwegoKaren41 wrote: »

I've decided my Xmas eve hamper will be reindeer based so I'm on the hunt for a lovely cuddly reindeer and a nice reindeer based xmas film to go along with adoption pack, reindeer food, reindeer pooh, noses etc sadly this will be my first Xmas hamper and son is 6 on the 12th Dec so prob won't get many more believing years x

Don't know if this is of any help but Amazon have the Robbie the Reindeer trilogy for £4.99..

Also was just randomly browsing on Amazon and saw chilli beer - I seem to recall someone on here doing a chilli hamper?

noodles86

lazysheep wrote: »

Don't know if this is of any help but Amazon have the Robbie the Reindeer trilogy for £4.99..

Also was just randomly browsing on Amazon and saw chilli beer - I seem to recall someone on here doing a chilli hamper?

That reminds me I saw chilli microwave popcorn in Home Bargains the other day!