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

kayandy_2

Hi everyone I've been reading but not posted for a while!!

Hugs to everyone who needs them
Congratulations to everyone who needs them
&& Happy birthday to all the ones I've missed!!

I've not really done much Xmas stuff recently although I have made lists of what I'm getting everybody and what I need to get for them!! I'm making little movie hampers for the people I get for Easter so one between 3 of my little cuz and one for my brother as they get loads at Easter!!

I had a job interview yesterday for a apprentership to gain my level 3 childcare it's for 16 hours a week too so hoping to hear from them soon!! Fingers crossed I get it! As its an apprentership ill be on the £2.65 an hour so I need to look into getting another job too if I get this one!!

Hope everyone is okay

FeistyFidget

Crafty mummy, that is my thought exactly! Where in Poole are you based? We're near Baiter

Kayandy congrats on the appreniship

jakesbakescakes

ReformedShopaholic wrote: »

jakesbakescakes, I don't mind you asking-its from the thread on here, started by soulie. I currently only have 3 things on my list.
1)scrapbook for my sisters birthday.
2)christmas cards for this year.
3)sew a handbag for my other sisters birthday.

Still thinking of some more. All these things are new to me and so if one goes really well I'm hoping to have a new hobby. Trying to mix it up so i can make gifts for either this year or the future, and learn something new. I saw the title of the thread and read a few pages, decided to join in especially since I enjoyed sewing our names onto our stockings this Christmas.

OOOOO sounds fantastic, will pop over and look at that thread when I've finished catching up here! Fabulous ideas, don't forget to show us your pics when you've made them. I too am on a mission to save money and to make lots more handmade pressies this year (although mine are mostly of the knitted variety ) x

Island_mum

Oh no - I wrote a really long post and I kept writing it in stages I got logged out automatically and lost it when I tried to post :mad:

Hey ho. Have been missing for a while and missed so much so apologies if I don't respond to everybody's news *makes mental note to keep up*

SugarSpun wrote: »

Thank you nic and moneysavingmumofone I can confirm that the first new Holly and the Ivy baby of 2013 is cautiously expected, ETA mid-September

:j:jCONGRATULATIONS!!!!!:j:j:beer:
My sister is due around the same time - how very exciting for you!

Pinksteps wrote: »

I wish I had a little one to buy this for, but alas no. So I thought someone on here might like it for a little girls present http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-18340-cath-kidston-porcelain-tea-set.aspx?referrer=category

Well that'll teach me not to keep up! This would have been perfect for my friend's little girl and now they're sold out *kicking myself*

So I wanted to thank everybody for all your advice re my DD's first birthday. I have some lovely teddy bear food ideas and am currently seeking treatment for my newly formed pinterest addiction!

When it comes to party bags I decided to keep them relatively basic as they're still so young (will be nine almost 1 year olds and my 20 month old nephew). I have ordered orange paper bags which will have a bath squirter, chocolate buttons, a balloon on a stick and some bubbles. Do you think that is sufficient?

I've also ordered some teddy bear stickers that say "Bear Hugs from Poppy" that I'll use to seal both the party bags and some cellophane bags or haribo bears I am making as party favours for the adults (am doing party in two sittings).

Now I just need to stop myself getting carried away with the decorations (easier said than done)

Is anyone else starting to think about surprises/gestures for valentines day? Am starting to brainstorm

Heamol

Hello, I'm a bit of a lurker and I'd like to join as I'm trying to get cracking on Christmas and birthdays already! :wave:

Can we mention birthdays in the thread as well, i.e. preparing for birthdays, or is there a separate thread for that?

I usually try and get lots of wrapping paper and bows in the January sales as well as whatever Christmas presents I can manage. So far, I've managed to get a load of M & S paper half-price to put away, some little extra presents for my Nana (through the Hallmark sale on the Grabbit pages) and am currently planning out birthday cakes and presents for my Mum's 60th in May and my brother's 21st next week (not so organised for that one!).

I'm also going to make as much as I can cheaply such as crepe paper flowers as decorations for Mum's birthday and trying the various "chocolate bar covers" I've seen on here, like the Rudolph ones.

I tend to spend the whole year picking up bargains as I go for Christmas- I don't rush it, because I want to wait for the best deals and sales so my money can go further. I also use Ebay a lot especially to pick up cheap (nice) used or new clothes for the women in my family (and sometimes the men, though they're not keen on clothes as presents!).

One thing my family started doing was giving each other packs of Christmas cards for birthdays that fall nearer Christmas- because we all send them, and it saves us having to buy them!

mrs-moneypenny

i like popping in to read this thread and admire the photos and ideas.

im trying to make lots of gifts to use up kits and stash i have accumulated with the goal of clearing some stuff saving money and creating things that "hopefully" people will appreciate recieving.
ive joined the 13 in 2013 challenge to make 13 items this year and am currently working on a cross stitch for my mums mothers day pressie.

re valentines
i finished a cross stitch just after christmas and Dh offered to pay to get it framed, ive said he can frame it for me for valentines so thats me sorted, im going to cross stitch him a card and hopefully cook us a meal at home (ill bribe the boys with a dvd watching session upstairs and the promise of early tea.) havent really thought about a pressie for him yet.

moneysavingmumofone

msgigglewick-That is extremely scary, Im so glad she managed to get away. You have to be so careful, I remember coming out of the youth club gates when I was about 10 and a man in a van beckoned us over, pointed down and he had no trousers on! Luckily my mum was only steps behind me and he zoomed off.

kayandy-Good luck, really hope you get the apprenticeship. :j

Island_mum-If Im writing a long reply I write it in notepad first then copy and paste it onto here as Ive lost long replies before and its very annoying! The party preparations sound fab. Im really getting into my DS' party thats not supposed to be a party lol. Sort of regretting not doing a party with friends from school so I can show off all the Dr Who-ness! :rotfl:

Hi Heamol! We talk about all sorts on here, christmas, birthdays, general chit chat!

Well OH popped into town this morning to get our new bedroom wallpaper as when we went to get it yesterday the card machine had stopped working! He also went into Boots and grabbed me two more Budweiser buckets as I thought last night it would be the perfect present for his brothers birthday (along with the Ted Baker set I got him) and one for my stepdad for fathers day. (am going to replace the beer as its best before June which was the reason I didnt get one yesterday, didnt think of just replacing it!) I think they're very good value at £3.75 for a beer bucket, 2 Budweiser glasses, 2 bottles of Budweiser and a metal bottle opener!

On a not so good note Sun holidays have taken the money for the holiday twice so have emailed them, hopefully it will be sorted asap!

FeistyFidget

I haven't actually thought about Valentines day (other then making a mental note to make DH a card) - better get brain-storming! Does anyone have any good ideas for manly home-made gifts? I always struggle when it comes to that

craftymummy_2

Feisty - we're in Parkstone, not that far from you. You reckon we're gonna get this snow they keep threatening us with? Lol. Part of me wants it, so we can have a fun day at home with DD but part of me hates snow. I grew up with it, had enough snow then for the rest of my life....


Valentines day - why don't you just cook something special? Like lobster or nice steak? We don't bother, too commercialised, lol. I rather have little presents from him any other day of the year than something overpriced on valentines day.

mrs-moneypenny

weve already got it falling here, it started trying about 2.30 and is now settling and bigger flakes, according t the weather its not due to reach us till lunch time tomorrow (east mids)