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

dropsofjupiter

FeistyFidget wrote: »

Right, I NEED a fitbit I'm at a good weight BUT we are considering IVF next year and I want to be as healthy as possible. For all of those that have the ultra one, do you need the bands or anything to get it to work? I'm eyeing some up on ebay, one is second hand but with wrist bands and USB cables, the other is just pictured in a box with no detailing. I don't want to spend X amount on something I think is a bargain, only to find out I need to buy extras to get it to record sleep details. I'm hoping this will tempt me back to the gym

I have the fitbit one which comes with a wrist band so you can wear it whilst you sleep for it to track your sleeping patterns. Otherwise you normally hook it onto your clothes or keep it in your pocket which can be a bit lumpy for sleeping!

ETA: OH has informed me you wear it in the wrist band because it's more sensitive at night (you put it in sleep mode) and so it makes sure it tracks things properly.

Snugglebunny8

Emalou Im so sorry Christmas was so difficult for you all this year, I really hope 2013 marks a new start for you all, you will be able to think of him with a smile and that things gradually get easier - when we lost my lovely FIL Christmas wasnt the same that year, as we were always with him and my late MIL for the day, that was 6 years ago and now I am able to think of him and raise a glass of bubbly in his honour at Christmas, I miss still, but time really does help ease the pain and now I am able to smile when I think of all the lovely things he did and said *sends you all hugs* xx

Feisty Fidget I have one of those too, I feel for you! lunches, quick drink after work etc, the odd bit I dont know about and I'm looking at the bank balance wondering what happened!!! my OH isnt extravagant, he doesnt smoke and only has the odd drink ... but those lunches just do for your budget dont they?? I tried the lunch boxes, but half the time Id come back from the school run to find he'd gone to work and left the lunch box on the dining room table!!

does your OH have a fridge at work he can use? I found giving him a bag with a pack of spread, ham, tomatoes, pack of rolls and net of satsumas etc in a bag on a Monday that he can keep in the fridge at work means he doesnt forget to take stuff and he can make his own, worked better for me

clumsy_cupcake

Hi everybody, hope you all had a nice Xmas.
Just found this thread and I'm in my element
Hope you don't mind me joining in as well.
Last year I was quite organised but this year I was buying Xmas prezzies 3 days before Xmas and didn't have a lot of money either, but with the help of this thread I WILL have all my Xmas shopping done by oct 2013.

Thanks for all the links, will defo be doing some hampers for friends sons and family.
I am going to stay with my uncle for nye and he has a big asda, wilkinsons etc near them so I'm hoping to pick up some cheap paper and tags.
I managed to buy a few 10p impulse sets from superdrug and some 49p shower gel gift sets so they will all be put aside for hampers.
My friends birthday in a couple of weeks and she is sorted already!
£5 boots from office which were reduced from £60, 10p impulse set and 10p eye shadow set. Very happy with that and so look forward to reading this thread.

My bday is 3rd may if you could add that please

weeclick

FeistyFidget wrote: »

Right, I NEED a fitbit I'm at a good weight BUT we are considering IVF next year and I want to be as healthy as possible. For all of those that have the ultra one, do you need the bands or anything to get it to work? I'm eyeing some up on ebay, one is second hand but with wrist bands and USB cables, the other is just pictured in a box with no detailing. I don't want to spend X amount on something I think is a bargain, only to find out I need to buy extras to get it to record sleep details. I'm hoping this will tempt me back to the gym

I have filled out the calender with all birthdays and dictated to DH that we will now be shopping at Tesco for all groceries and petrol. Have calculated we 'should' have almost £200 of reward vouchers if we do this. Which we will then exchange for pressies etc. Have also told him that our new grocery budget is £45 incl delivery. Anything under that, the excess gets put in a separate account. When shopping is over £45 then the money from the 'extra' account will be transferred back. I'm hoping we will have enough for Christmas and money towards our deposit.

Also told him that from now on he is to take a packed lunch to work (which I offered to make) and use his water bottle for drinks. He has been spending an absolute fortune on snacks without me knowing!

ignore EVERYTHING I said about fitbit Ive just found something more effective than any gadget and wont cost you a penny. Went to lift a sweet from the huge selection we have on the coffee table and as I did my personal trainer text to thank for the christmas present (a dumb bell alarm clock which you have to use 30 reps to stop the alarm lol) and to ask when we are planning on starting back again :eek: Can honestly say its the only thing to ever put me off chocolate lol. On a serious note though I really do love it and so far so good!

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

Emalou Im so sorry Christmas was so difficult for you all this year, I really hope 2013 marks a new start for you all, you will be able to think of him with a smile and that things gradually get easier - when we lost my lovely FIL Christmas wasnt the same that year, as we were always with him and my late MIL for the day, that was 6 years ago and now I am able to think of him and raise a glass of bubbly in his honour at Christmas, I miss still, but time really does help ease the pain and now I am able to smile when I think of all the lovely things he did and said *sends you all hugs* xx

Feisty Fidget I have one of those too, I feel for you! lunches, quick drink after work etc, the odd bit I dont know about and I'm looking at the bank balance wondering what happened!!! my OH isnt extravagant, he doesnt smoke and only has the odd drink ... but those lunches just do for your budget dont they?? I tried the lunch boxes, but half the time Id come back from the school run to find he'd gone to work and left the lunch box on the dining room table!!

does your OH have a fridge at work he can use? I found giving him a bag with a pack of spread, ham, tomatoes, pack of rolls and net of satsumas etc in a bag on a Monday that he can keep in the fridge at work means he doesnt forget to take stuff and he can make his own, worked better for me

I struggled last year as my granny (who I was very close to) had only passed away about 7 weeks before. Very difficult and burst into tears when my mum tried to be thoughtful and framed a photo of us two when I was younger, this year was easier and can now look at the photo with fond memories, just believe that it will get more bearable although never easier as such x

As for packed lunches sports direct have "lunch to go" and "breakfast" boxes reduced to £1.99. I got the breakfast one and now want to go back and get the lunch one as the breakfast holds milk in one part and your cereal in the other, even comes with a spoon, very handy and already saving loads taking our own milk and cereal for the morning Imagine the lunch one would be just as handy. Im not a fan of packed lunches and cant eat bread on a diet so sandwiches are out but makin a little extra dinner one night and taking to work the next day has really helped save our pennies!

Own_My_Own

I am going to compile a list of things I am NOT buying next year. Every year I buy less and every year it still seems too much.

I always get a box of biscuits and a tin of chocs from work, but I always buy one of each just in case. Not one tin or box has been opened this year.
We still have 6 tubes of pringles left.:o I bought 8.

So in all honesty next year I could just buy the bits for a roast, some bacon for our Xmas breakfast and forget the rest.

I am going to make both the kids movie hampers, so they will both have some goodies to eat in them.

God I'm becoming a right scrooge.:rotfl:

kjmtidea

weeclick wrote: »

Thats the very letter we got this morning! I was more angry than scared especially around christmas time (I work in a "not so nice" business involving finances and we aren't allowed to send out such threatening letters in the weeks of christmas even though thats our job!!) It was easily sorted the old company took a note of the fax number and our policy number and said it would be faxed over in 5 minutes, phoned the new company to make them aware and advised that they maybe try a better tactic than threatening people at christmas especially when the fault seems to lay with royal mail not delivering the original letter we sent, on saying that I bet they are too impatient, havent allowed for christmas delays and it turns up at their office next week! :mad:



Think of it like I did, its the same as buying 3 lots of chinese takeaways for us lol.



Heres my profile if you are wanting friends http://www.fitbit.com/user/23XNSZ Im always on the lookout for people and love cheering everyone on (and how lovely to log on and find people overtaking you so Im quickly running up a flight of stairs to get up the leaderboard lol) I bought mine as a present to myself too as well as buying bfs! First thing I do in the morning is sync up and see what sort of a sleep I had! Ive went within a week from wakening 15 times a night down to 3 or 4 on average I think! Also interesting to see how quickly it takes you to fall asleep too! We had planned a nice 4 mile walk today but the storm and wind and rain put a halt to that

I have added you as a friend, I only joined yesterday so it's all a bit new to me but here is my profile: http://www.fitbit.com/user/23ZD4Q

weeclick

kjmtidea wrote: »

I have added you as a friend, I only joined yesterday so it's all a bit new to me but here is my profile: http://www.fitbit.com/user/23ZD4Q

Have accepted it thanks - you will love it, Ive only had mine about a week now and (well you'll see in my charts) have done nothing but walk since lol

Ameyturtle

Weeclick it was very worth popping home bargains I managed to get 2 32ltr under bed storage boxes for £2.99 each which means I can free up my larger one for Charlie's food in the shed and it cost me less than my original box did

Am actually thinking I should pop back and get another one for my overflowing Lush Stash :A
http://www.homebargains.co.uk/products/4231-3x-32-litre-underbed-storage-clear-platinum-boxes.aspx

They also had a plastic 3/4 drawer unit for £13.99 we always like the idea of these but never have a space big enough for it.
http://www.homebargains.co.uk/products/3865-4-large-drawer-storage-tower-silver.aspx

OMO got some cute little baskets yesterday for £2.49 and they are an ideal size I think sadly I don't have a link for those

JJ.

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

thanks kayleigh - I didnt know you could do that for students, will be useful for when DD goes to uni so I can do that for her

thanks JJ fingers crossed! I was just clearing out some stuff and found a very small damp patch of carpet in our room by the rad and nearly cried ... turns out when I went out when DH got back, he helped the gas guy to bleed the radiators and he did the one in our room and some water went on the carpet which he forgot to mention .... thank God!!!! LOL, blimey Im so conscious I sound like such a neurotic bag of nerves!!!!

I mean to say Ive still got everything crossed for you for the new year that Turbo will return to you safe, I keep hearing more and more stories of pusscats who turn up after weeks, so am sending lots of positive vibes in the hope he will be home soon xxx

I can totally understand you being cautious hun about the radiators. It's such an expense when it needs replacing. I know that only too well. We had a new system put in, in the summer (yeah, I know; what summer ) Shocking price, but a necessary evil in our house as it's quite old.

Thank you for keeping fingers crossed for my Turbo to come home. I don't mind admitting it, I'm absolutely devastated he's not here with me. Just seem to be struggling to come to terms with it at the mo. Very teary again today.. Ahh flump it. I miss him!

*picks self up*

I've decided I'm going to make a victorian style table runner like this one..


I saw it on Pinterest, and thought it was gorgeous.

I tend to go for a Victorian theme in the dining room at Christmas, so thought it might look quite nice as a table runner for the Festive feast! lol.

I've got oodles of doilies, and linen that would do just the job. I'm going to make one for my sister too, as she loves things like that.

dropsofjupiter

weeclick wrote: »

Have accepted it thanks - you will love it, Ive only had mine about a week now and (well you'll see in my charts) have done nothing but walk since lol

Was just having a little look and you put me to shame! Don't think I can add any of you as friends until I get off my butt a bit more! :rotfl: