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

mrsinvisible

My gods, Ive just read thru the last post of mine I sound so miserable and po faced! I'm not, really, I'm not, not at all. Ooops xx

CariadsDream

Morning everyone x If anyones little ones are into the monster incs new film theres a 50cm Sulley (the blue one) reduced on amazon to £13.96 looks a fab deal to go along with the film etc x

nic2075

FeistyFidget wrote: »

Oooo nic can you share your tips for wild raspberry foraging? X

They are growing along the hedgerows along the edge of the field out the back of our house. We were just out a walk and spotted them. All lovely and ready to pick. They grow quite tall, and from a distance the leaves are white/catch the light. i think they are near the end of their season, as there were tons and all ready.

So we were home for bowls. We collected just over a kilo lol. The kids were loving it.
But they seem to grow along with nettles, thistles and they are quite prickly too so we were scratched and stung.
But was totally worth it. The jam is the best jam I've ever tasted. Tastes better cos it was free lol. Just the cost of the 1kg of sugar. I had loads of jars from thought the last 2 years x

msgigglewick

Hugs to those who need them, waves to everyone.

Been busy doing mummy things, nothing xmassy boooo.

I ordered one of those sulleys, dd4 will love him

Oh and the christmas magazine posted this morning that work has started on this years and it should be for sale on the 27th of september

PoppyGirl

Hello - that's great about the free rasps!! I seem to miss them as the birds get there first! I think we may have more luck with brambles - must ask my mum where we used to pick them when we were younger! I'm planning on making some homemade jam and or booze for wedding favours, local foraged fruit could be just the thing!

That sounds great about B&M putting out their gift sets. I'm sure it was August time last year when I was in the shop and spotted the SA putting out their candy canes! The nice green and red ones seem to sell out first, and at 89p for 12 are the best value I've seen - so I was taking boxes of them out of his hands! Most people would shake their heads at seeing them at this time of year - I was delighted!!!

alja

Talking of candy canes, I have decided to do snowman soup for my friends this year. I already have little cellophane bags (the ones that are used in card making), so I'm hoping to use those and make a nice topper with a snowman soup poem on it. We don't spend a lot on each other so I'm thinking one of these each and maybe a small something else to go alongside, like a nice hand cream etc.

PoppyGirl

I've found snowman soup goes down well with all ages!! If you wanted to add something extra to the gift you could maybe do it in a nice mug?

Home Bargains have gorgeous 'mini sandwich trays' which are just big enough for a mug and stack of cookies to rest on - could look amazing done up in cell as snowman soup!

Poundland also have disposable icing piping bags which are the exact same as cello cones you can buy - I find that snowman soup in these looks more 'grown up' than in a plan cello bag and sachet of chocolate.

alja

Great ideas! Thank you PoppyGirl! I'm aiming to pop into home bargains soon so I'll take a look in there!

Peppapig

Ooh PoppyGirl, what a good idea about adding the small tray and cookies. I won't make snowman soup as I bought two lovely 'posh' mini packets of hot chocolate in Christmassy cartons in the sale in the local garden centre in January (the use by date isn't until 2014) but I'll definitely look out for bargain sandwich trays, mugs and coasters and then do them up in cellophane to make splendid pressies. I could even add pine cones to the gift tags (thanks for the idea LinaT).

Welcome Lina T, Alja and CrustyLouise (and anyone else I've missed). I love this thread - I don't often post but I read avidly every day for my Christmas 'fix'.

Mrs Invisible - you don't sound po-faced at all and don't worry, if you find the house too quiet I can always lend you a gorgeous but extremely talkative four year old granddaughter :rotfl:

OMO - sorry to hear about your burglary, I know how it feels. Good luck with the camper gear.

Feisty - hope things work out with Mr Fidget, you can both do without the stress of being messed around and him not being paid.

Think I'm off to B&M tomorrow to see what goodies they have out.

04624181

Hi All,
loving the christmas chatter and have even just had a sneaky listen to micheal buble singing its beginning to look a lot like christmas on youtube! have spent the afternoon updating my christmas planning folder. Updated all my christmas cards that i bought in the january sales. Had a clear out yesterday so was amazed to find alot of gifts purchased that i had forgotten about. have started a gift list in my planning folder so have updated accordingly. We are not going mad this year so want to plan it to perfection! want a really chilled out but fun christmas x Just bought my mum her favourite perfume online. Its usually £50 for 50ml and I managed to get it for £27.99 with free delivery. ave already got her a fiorelli purse so she is done now apart from her gifts from the kids xx always get her some grandma bits and a box of choccies xx
LOVE LOVE LOVE christmas xx
got alot of stuff to go on ebay! bought some disney princess nighties half price in the sale but my daughter prefers pjs so have got a brand new tinkerbell nightie and 4-5 and a brand new disney princess nightie age 5-6 with a matching tiara too. So gutted as they are so pretty but she absolutely refuses to wear them. Ah well onto ebay they go haha x
hello newbies, this board is very friendly and we all LOVE christmas. Poppy girl do you have any piccies of the small trays as they sound lovely. still not able to go out shopping so its internet shopping fo me at the moment.