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

Savvybunny2009

Hi everyone, I haven't posted since January but I'm right in the middle of Christmas planning chaos and have a few more bits to sort out and was hoping someone on here might be able to help.

I need to buy a new tree as mine is a cheapy one bought years ago on a shoestring budget and looks a bit sad to tell the truth. Does anyone know where I could buy a nice big tree (preferably a snow kissed one) at this time of year? I figure they must be cheap in July! lol

princesskitty29

:bdaycake:HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANMIA!! I hope i'm just in time over there.... x It sounds like you're having a fabulous time with your family. It sounds very idyllic, can I come with you next time?!

Hello noodles! :wave: I can't see your pics on this PC but i'm dying to see them so will have a look when I get home!

Feisty I hope the possibility of rented accommodation doesn't get you down too much, I know it's not what you wanted but try not to let it get to you, focus on DH and once he's back to better health you guys can plan a bit more. I'm not sure this is helping, but sending you lots of best wishes!

Freespirit sorry to hear you're in pain, I do hope it doesn't last too long. x

Well despite the weather being really hot at the weekend I still managed to pick up a few Christmas bits! Thank you to whoever posted about the Kilner bottles in Wilko's (i'm so sorry I can't remember who it was!) I picked up a couple of those as i'm going to make my brother some garlic and chilli oils. I picked up a sudoko book for 99p for my mum as she loves doing it, and then I got 4 mini 2014 diaries for 59p from the Card Factory to go in my mini gift bags I give my guests after my annual Christmas meal. The diaries come in various colours and styles and would be great for stockings!

princesskitty29

Savvybunny2009 wrote: »

Hi everyone, I haven't posted since January but I'm right in the middle of Christmas planning chaos and have a few more bits to sort out and was hoping someone on here might be able to help.

I need to buy a new tree as mine is a cheapy one bought years ago on a shoestring budget and looks a bit sad to tell the truth. Does anyone know where I could buy a nice big tree (preferably a snow kissed one) at this time of year? I figure they must be cheap in July! lol

Sorry i’m not really sure of anywhere, the only place I can think of is Studio? I’m sure others will have some more ideas for you!

dropsofjupiter

Happy birthday Nanamia! Hope you're having a wonderful time down under. :bdaycake:

noodles86

Happy Birthday Nanamia :beer: hope you've had a great day and have been spoilt!

Thanks for the compliments re the sleighs. Definitely adding a mini santa but havn't found any yet I was also thinking of maybe some reins and pretty-ing up the chocolate with some ribbon (but glueing the thread from the candy cane to santa may make him melt so not sure on that!

I'm still looking for one direction one way or another, dd is laying on the guilt trip by saying things such as the single is all that she wants etc! So if any eagle eyed christmaser's see it, it would be appreciated!

Doing well on the Christmas front.

Mali is sorted and have been good and not added anything more, though if I see something, I 'suggest' it to family members! Struggling with her stocking though, so far have

Bath boats
Pooh bear scrunch
Toothbrush
Cutletry
Board book

Would like to add

Winnie the pooh flannel but don't really want to pay more than £1 but struggling! An xmas bib! An xmas sippy cup though may struggle, socks - any other ideas, she will be 1 years old

Nia xmas, she seems to have a lot of books, but she does love reading!

The jolly xmas postman, a childrens atlas, all the madonna books she wrote for children, an andrex puppy pj case, moshi top trumps, cuddly dog though I am happy to wait nearer the time to buy her things!

Her stocking is jam packed, cant fit another thing in!

Harmonica
Princess sticky notes
Toothbrush
Moshi pez
Minnie mouse scrunchie
Minnie mouse flannel
Moshi socks
Make your own erasers
hand warmers
Moshi keyring
Moshi lip balm
Hair bobbles which look like a lollypop.

Our xmas eve hampers are looking good,

Pj's - have dh's pj top, need to buy pj shorts, kids & mine
Dressing gown - for both girls
Slippers/slipper socks - for both girls (Do they make slipper socks for babies?)
Xmas sticker book
dvd - hopefully snowman and the snow dog!
Xmas teddies
Bedtime stories - Nia has 'the empty stocking' & Mali has 'thats not my snowman'
Mali has a puzzle from elc
Popcorn!

FeistyFidget

princesskitty29 wrote: »

Feisty I hope the possibility of rented accommodation doesn't get you down too much, I know it's not what you wanted but try not to let it get to you, focus on DH and once he's back to better health you guys can plan a bit more. I'm not sure this is helping, but sending you lots of best wishes!

It really does

moneysavingmumofone

Hi everyone! I have been offline for a few months as I needed a new router. Finally managed to snap up a bargain one on facebook (after buying one that didnt work and one that wasnt compatible!) so Im back! Ive still been christmas planning of course and my christmas stash is coming along nicely! :j
Happy Birthday Nanamia, I hope your day has been truly special like you. xxxxx


Feisty-I hope your DHs pain eases soon, does not sound nice at all.

noodles-Great sleighs! Im hoping to make lots this christmas! Im thinking of using strawberry laces as reins but they are unwrapped so not sure if they'dd get a bit sticky. They do giant candy canes so Im looking forward to making a big one!Ive bought winnie the pooh flannels from home bargains before for 29p each if you have one nearby. I may still have one, Ill have a look for you. Or I know a lady on facebook who personalises flannels, the ones with a picture (Im sure she has WTP) are £2.50 but that includes delivery and they are very goo quality. For £2.50 you get a name and pic on. Her business is called Janines embroidery. She also does bibs. x

I have a bit of exciting news, Im starting my own business. :j On facebook at first. Im going to be making gift baskets and other little gifts. I want to make home-made sweets eventually too but am waiting a while for that because I need to sort out my food hygiene certificate etc. So many of my gift ideas came from here/online so thanks everyone for having such great ideas! Im rather nervous but I love making these sorts of things and I really need to bring in some money so it seems the perfect thing to do.

Also my sister is pregnant so another niece or nephew to spoil at christmas! Not due til early January so will have to be next year unless they make an early appearance! But great to get stuff in the january sales like my 1st Christmas things.

craftymummy_2

Happy birthday Nanamia, hope you're being spoilt on your special day :bdaycake::bdaycake:

caitlyn22

Welcome to Curly, Fluffysox and CazD - and any other newbies I might have missed...you won't be newbies for long. Before you know it you'll be sitting thinking "I must tell pinknfluffy about that" and "Oooh I wonder if Feisty knows where I can get a..."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANAMIA! :j

Hope you are having a day every bit as wonderful and special as you are!

OMO, without wishing to sound dramatic, I would often sleep outside when I was younger so my tips for camping were very MSE…I used to gather old toilet roll tubes, stuffed with paper and odd bits of dry grass or bark - they make very effective 'fire-lighters'! When I was older and going to festivals, me and my friends would take paper plates and frisbees, which meant no washing up, frisbee fun, and a handy paper-plate ‘holder’ for meals that were hot!

Lovely news moneysavingmumofone, always nice to have nieces and nephews to spoil (and hand back!)

Mrsinvisible, you’ve been in my thoughts, good to see you posting. Stay strong...or come to us and crumble, to paraphrase a friend of mine from a few years ago, when I had lost a loved one. Was reassuring to know my grief wasn't on a time limit, it can so easily feel the world has moved on too quickly.

Feisty, don't be disheartened - look at your savings! You're doing so well in spite of lots of challenges. We rent at the moment and it can be frustrating but on the other hand I don't miss being responsible for absolutely everything that can go wrong - love when we have a problem that it doesn't cost me anything!

noodles, I don't pass a charity shop without popping in to check for the one direction single, no joy yet but I will keep on looking!

Lovely sunny day here, which is wonderful as graduations are taking place, such a lovely atmosphere. But my word the dresses and heels! You'd think only supermodels graduated from university these days.

No progress on Christmas, waiting to see what's going to come of my sister and her family going to Australia - still a possibility but nothing decided yet. You might remember last Christmas OH and I decided that (in addition to our, er, indoor Christmas tree forest) we'd add a fourth tree to our kitchen - the theme of which is childhood nostalgia! I've been collecting 70s and 80s decorations (some incredibly tacky!) and I'm so excited! Even managed to get one of the hollow/concave plastic baubles that my mum and dad had, not the deer one but another in the same style. Still on the hunt for more, and need those silver tinsel 'strands' (thinking pound shop nearer Christmas?) and hopefully some coloured lights like the old-fashioned pifco lantern ones. It takes me back just looking at them in the box, can't wait to see them on the tree!

freespirit66

Evening everyone,
Hope everyone is ok and had a good day.

FEISTY oh your poor DH, did you manage to get an emergency appt? Setting up shop that sounds exciting??
SAVVYBUNNY hello, sorry i cant think of anywhere this time of year, like princesskitty said studio maybe?
PRINCESSKITTY aah thankyou but yes still painful thanks for saying the 2014 diaries are already out i wondered when they would be on sale
NOODLES your list is looking good, will keep an eye out for the bits you are struggling with
MONEYSAVINGMUMOFONE hello, we have missed you on here, good luck with your new business venture, hope it does well, how are your teeth? I hope they are all sorted now.