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

FeistyFidget

Free spirit, think I may have to join you in the fly lady thread. DH has taken over cleaning since I started working away from home more, and although I'm great full we have very different ideas when it comes to cleanliness

For the first time in weeks I've managed to add something to the deposit pot! It's only £10, but as Mr T says; every little helps

Trendyjenny

Hi everyone x had today off to go to doc's and just collapse in bed x it was parents eve last night on top of everything else (which went well)
My fianc! is very supportive and doing housework and sorting out my car things x
Big hugs to everyone x
I bought lovely jewellery boxes last week x 2 for £4 x ex matalan x so that one for sister2 bday and the other for mum x think should have got some more but didn't have Christmas list with me x

noodles86

Does anyone have any christmas pinterest to look at? X

Mine is http://pinterest.com/leannej86/christmas/

I think!!

pinknfluffy28

jakesbakescakes wrote: »

PinkNFluffy - been wondering how you've been getting on with your new venture... sorry to hear things have been slow, it's always difficult starting a new business but I'm sure when word spreads you'll be rushed off your feet with clients Have u tried a leaflet drop in the local area? or perhaps targetting certain groups? Maybe you could do some special offers... for example.. nails/massage for mums... and handing out leaflets/discount flyer at local playgroups or children's centres? I'm sure you've probably thought of all these things. It sounds like your family is really supportive, and how lovely to hear that they have all benefitted from you being around more Always a positive eh! Don't be too hard on yourself xxxx

Freespirit Enjoy your cookies

As for me, no news as such... bumbling along and enjoying a peaceful pace of life at the mo

Have got 5,000 leaflets due to be delivered any day, a big spend (well, not too bad thanks to vistaprint!) but hoping to target the local schools, groups etc, and door drop in the village any left over, and if nothing else, i will FEEL like i'm trying as hard as I can to advertise :-)

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

Caitlyn, your cakes are just brilliant! am so in awe!

PinknFluffy Im in the same boat as you so I completely understand exactly how you are feeling. Ive worked from home for a local company since my eldest was a born, and have been so lucky to have been able to be here for them all the time. However there's been a couple of times when things have gone slow, which means not having much work to send out to the home workers who are the overspill. But recently theres been some restructuring, which means for the last 3 weeks ive been lucky to get an hour a week work, whereas ive done anything up to 60 hours in the past! Im feeling very stressed about not 'earning' or 'working' as I see it. I'm what they term a 'casual worker' so basically Im entitled to nothing when ive got no work as Im paid hourly, its so stressful so I understand how you are feeling, horrible isnt it! Im looking at jobs but Ive worked at home flexibly since the children were born and anything I did would mean a change in family life, which I dont want to do when the kids are at a critical time in their education and cause them big changes, so Im just trying to watch and wait and see if things pick up

I think it could count against me as Ive worked on my own at home for so long employers may think I cant work in a team, which I did for years befere I had the children, so will have to pitch it that you have to be organised and disciplined to work to deadlines at home, which I do have to be, but the idea of job interviews (if I I dont get rejected before interview stage) and being up against younger people with degrees coming out thiern ears scares me to death!

Oh hun its sounds as though we are having exactly the same worries! i too feel guilty about the lack of income, but I too feel that my whole family benefit in so many other ways by me not being out at work 6 days a week! I agree that I too probably wouldnt get past interview stage for similar careers as they could get someone half my age, with a degree, and mould them for minimum wage! Oh well, onwards and upwards, come christmas you and I will look back on this conversation at the end of a very busy day earning pennies whilst still being there for our families, and laugh, wishing we still had time to worry! Hows that for possitive thinking??! :beer:

FeistyFidget

These are my Pinterest boards from last year, really need to update!

http://pinterest.com/onuava/home-made-gift-ideas/

http://pinterest.com/onuava/christmas-paper-crafts/

riskyb

FeistyFidget wrote: »

These are my Pinterest boards from last year, really need to update!

http://pinterest.com/onuava/home-made-gift-ideas/

http://pinterest.com/onuava/christmas-paper-crafts/

I am going to go check out your board and follow u on pinterest.

chirpychick

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

Chirpychick these are the board books mine both loved so much, th colours and the opposites were their favourites at about 7/8 months up until about 4 years, I still have them and Id pass them on to you willingly but they are virtually shredded from the mauling they got! some are 1p + P+p on there

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=anne+geddes+board+book

Thank you these books look so cute!!!!
Franklin is allergic to milk / dairy (we dont know the ins and outs as he is so young we will learn more as he gets older - i am hoping he will outgrow it but not sure as his daddy is allergic to everything) so I wont be doing an advent calendar for him with chocolate im doing 24 books (from carboots hopefully!).
So will keep my eyes peeled for these!

It's all a bit weird at the moment, we are trying to have him in a routine but our life isn't very scheduled and so his routine is always messed up this week I have gotten into a nasty habit of going back to sleep after his 7am feed :eek: i hate it because then i feel like ive wasted a big chunk of my day.
He sleeps 7-10.30pm and then 11.30-5 and then 5.30-7am he is a biiiiig baby and on special formula so i think he just gets very hungry im confused by it all lol he doesn't really like the prescription formula and I am debating weaning him early. There is just no support I find and I have my grandparents telling me things like "give him a bit of custard thats what we used to do" :eek: rofl its very hard LOL I never appreciated how hard it can be. BUT I do love love love love it so much he is so smiley and amazing

riskyb

hi all,
very excited. First thank you to everyone here who has been checking out my blog. I really appreciate your support.
Been working on increasing my blog reach numbers. Got 500+ facebook likes (one month ahead of target). Also managed to get 100+ on both twitter and pinterest so not going too badly. Need to work more on RSS(email) and bloglovin. Phew.
Today alone I have been making lemon and cardamom cookies and blue berry muffins. Next in line is lemon posset, chinese pork soup, and chinese crispy pork (for a supper party tonite). I have no idea how I haven't already put on a stone.:rotfl:. I guess mini chef keeps me busy

riskyb

wow









[/QUOTE]
Wow these look sooooooooooooooooooo good.

riskyb

chirpychick wrote: »

Thank you these books look so cute!!!!
Franklin is allergic to milk / dairy (we dont know the ins and outs as he is so young we will learn more as he gets older - i am hoping he will outgrow it but not sure as his daddy is allergic to everything) so I wont be doing an advent calendar for him with chocolate im doing 24 books (from carboots hopefully!).
So will keep my eyes peeled for these!

It's all a bit weird at the moment, we are trying to have him in a routine but our life isn't very scheduled and so his routine is always messed up this week I have gotten into a nasty habit of going back to sleep after his 7am feed :eek: i hate it because then i feel like ive wasted a big chunk of my day.
He sleeps 7-10.30pm and then 11.30-5 and then 5.30-7am he is a biiiiig baby and on special formula so i think he just gets very hungry im confused by it all lol he doesn't really like the prescription formula and I am debating weaning him early. There is just no support I find and I have my grandparents telling me things like "give him a bit of custard thats what we used to do" :eek: rofl its very hard LOL I never appreciated how hard it can be. BUT I do love love love love it so much he is so smiley and amazing

Hi ya,
babies are sooooooo lovely but can be pretty exhausting too. That is pretty good for sleeping though. And yes am with you with the well meaning advice being mostly hilarious. I weaned at about 4.5-5 months but stuck to the rather mild veggies and fruits like pear/apple/carrots, lots of butternut squash, courgettes, peas (passed thru a sieve though) and yoghurt. This book is pretty good for ideas on baby food
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Annabel-Karmels-Complete-Toddler-Planner/dp/0091924855/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362665358&sr=1-1
HTH and enjoy every moment of baby hood as it passes very quickly.