*The Holly and the Ivy* and the You Know What 2013 Chatter Thread.

Trendyjenny

Boots are great x certainly not tat xI always have a list of people tho as it easy to get carried away x ESP in sale x my one sil hard to buy for and got lovely black clutch bag with posh eye liner x got Minnie Mouse things for sister bday to x disappointed with men things tho !


Still no snow here ! Been in school this morning putting some displays up x


So jealous of person who got lots of craft things x need to sort my stashes out x

FeistyFidget

OMO - I sensibly did a list just after Christmas and so bought with the recipient in mind I will admit that there were a few gifts (for males) that I had no idea over, so just got them the bog standard smellies - I plan to do something home-made for them too to balance it out

PS Sugarspun, I have it in my mind that I already congratulated you, but just in-case I didn't EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS! X

Trendyjenny

:beer::j. :j :j :j


Congratulations x

SugarSpun

It is possible that I missed it Feisty - I have been interrupted by queasy feelings a fair few times while trying to catch up Thanks all

caitlyn22

Hello!

Been a looooonnnnnnggggg week back at work and not had much time for posting. Nothing much changes, no nice easy slide in to 2013, it's as manic now as it was right up to the close of business in December!

So glad you've arrived safely Nanamia! Being this far away from your loved ones must have been so very difficult these last few months so don't question any of it for a second and just enjoy, you deserve it!

Feisty, I think you're fine with Boots gifts as long as you recognise what's good value in them. They do have some that really aren't good value and you could make/prepare much cheaper/nicer yourself, but from your own expertise in making and crafting you'd be the first to spot that, while some others don't. I think this year I noticed far more unusual or unique gifts in their range, and they seemed to be better value too. And as OMO says, if you've bought them with a person in mind then you're not just buying for the sake of it, which is where I've come unstuck before. This year all I've picked up in the sales so far are some bits for the nieces/nephews.

Gift bags for the kids at the wedding are sorted! (How good is Mummy Martin's Toybox?!? Ordered yesterday afternoon and here first thing this morning!) Gone with a Disney theme, even though it isn't a Disney wedding!

The wedding dress saga continues. I now have 4 hanging in my wardrobe and a bid still outstanding on Eb*y :embarasse Sending one back next weekend for definite and one isn't really a traditional wedding dress at all, style or colour-wise (but I LOVE it) so if nothing else I think I will wear it for OH's sister's wedding in February (which thankfully, everyone in the family, including her mum and dad, now know about!) The good news is I've not spent more than £100 on any of them (one was only £20) and they're all new with tags or bought in the sales. Bad news is I'm not really any closer to having a wedding dress ticked off my list!!

Huge congratulations to Sugarspun!! How exciting! :j

Hugs to everyone feeling a bit low and uneasy about the year ahead. January can be gloomy and prices for food etc are scary, plus there's a horrible climate of fear and blame being whipped up by our hideous powers that be. I know there's lots of people who turn these things like grocery shopping etc in to challenges and I agree that it can feel better to do that, but if you're on your own (or even if you have an OH who doesn't 'get' it) then it can be really isolating to always be worrying about it alone. However no-one on here should feel like that, as we have each other. Remember on this thread, we're the lucky people who feel the magic of Christmas all year round (did that make anyone vomit? ) and that makes us one big nation of loveliness so no one should ever feel they can't come on here to shout, moan, fret, fuss, laugh or celebrate! (I personally reserve the right to do so as the madness of family and weddings unfolds in coming months!)

The talk of wedding presents reminds me I need to sort something for OH's sister. Think it will be money but I will get OH to check, and I would still like to give them a little something more personal too.

Also have sister's thirty-tenth in March (no f-word allowed) and I am buying her lots of lovely little things to open. Got a few things from the sales but need to keep an eye out for more. Then need something special and bit more fancy (but small in size) to take away with us that she can open on the day. I usually go for jewellery but might have to be a bit more creative this time as her OH is likely to buy her that.

Hanley25

SugarSpun wrote: »

It is possible that I missed it Feisty - I have been interrupted by queasy feelings a fair few times while trying to catch up Thanks all

Congratulations.:j

Snugglebunny8

many congrats Sugaspun! wonderful news xxx

Re Boots - IMO the Sanctuary, Champneys, Beauticology sets etc are gorgeous, lovely quality, and I both gave and received them this year and was very pleased, I would ask for them if somebody asked what Id like, so Im not sure what people are refering to when they say they are tatt? the S+G I had for Christmas is gorgeous as well, so maybe they mean something else, or else they are people who only bath in champagne or asses milk!

Nanamia am so glad you had a great journey and are having such a lovely time xxx

has anyone else noticed the B0dyshop reductions are nothing like last year? popped briefly into store today and a lot of the Christmas gift sets are 25% off, not half price - this time last year they were half price with another percentage off, I bought loads of spiced vanilla bath gel for £1-something and it lasted us until easter!

Linda-Lou

SugarSpun - oh how exciting! :j What lovely news to start the New Year. Take care of yourself, we will all be watching to make sure you don't overdo it. xxx

Nanamia - glad you arrived safely and are enjoying your precious time with the family, esp DGD. Don't forget the photos - we are freezing over here, and would just love to even see pictures of the sunshine! xxx

Well, we have just done the first gardening of the year. OH was worried re some of the tender plants, and wanted to get them under cover before the snow comes. So we have made a temporary shelter against the side of my potting shed, and they are all snug under there. Everything else will have to take it's chance!
Have also cleared the geraniums and fuschias from the window boxes - they were still flowering at Christmas, thanks to the mild weather!

Back inside now, hot chocolate and Midsomer Murders - perfect.

Take care everyone xxx

caitlyn22

Nanamia, this is a Christmas song I wanted to post over Christmas but thought it might make you sad, but it's fitting for now! It's by Tim Minchin, who is from Australia but living here so the other way around, but I think it's lovely!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

ETA: you have to listen to the whole song, it's really lovely at the end!

Own_My_Own

caitlyn22 wrote: »

Nanamia, this is a Christmas song I wanted to post over Christmas but thought it might make you sad, but it's fitting for now! It's by Tim Minchin, who is from Australia but living here so the other way around, but I think it's lovely!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

ETA: you have to listen to the whole song, it's really lovely at the end!

What a beautiful song