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

fatblackandwhite

Nanamia wrote: »

Fatblackandwhite just downloaded Christine Kringle looks just what I need. I'm looking forward to it. Thank you. I've been guilty of following on from years of buying the Christmas meats from M&S in the past and being a tad disappointed but the last few years my local butcher has been amazing. Hope you manage to give it a go this year xxx

Glad you downloaded the book. I don't think you will be disappointed - there are plenty of characters that are as obsessed with you know what as we all are.

We have a great butcher at the bottom of our street - we have only recently started using him and have not been let down yet. The only thing is he won't be taking orders til November and that feels way too late for me, lol. Think I am going to go with Beef this year rather than turkey and ham and get a joint big enough for the meal and sandwiches on boxing day ONLY. Always end up freezing leftovers and it is never as nice in my opinion so gets wasted.

Last Christmas dinner was ruined because I was on the phone to Kindle customer services (who were shocking) because I had a problem with my new Kindle Fire. In the end - after over an hour of being passed from person to person my OH figured out what was wrong. Not expecting the call to take so long dinner had gone cold by the time we got to eat and I was in a very bad mood!

I am not phoning anyone this year!

bunty109

Long time lurker here and I'm in need of cheering up and some practical advice. I find the children going back to school the start of a mad rush after a relaxing summer. The thought of Christmas shopping, wrapping, writing cards etc etc with a full-time job particularly depressing this year (worked full-time for a few years but have new role that's really busy).

I order loads online and love cooking, but won't have time off before the big day to do much of the prep work I'd like to do. Help!!

Own_My_Own

bunty109 wrote: »

Long time lurker here and I'm in need of cheering up and some practical advice. I find the children going back to school the start of a mad rush after a relaxing summer. The thought of Christmas shopping, wrapping, writing cards etc etc with a full-time job particularly depressing this year (worked full-time for a few years but have new role that's really busy).

I order loads online and love cooking, but won't have time off before the big day to do much of the prep work I'd like to do. Help!!

Hi :santa2:

Don't panic your not the only one. I am giving Nanamia a 100 day countdown to Christmas this year. You are more than welcome to join in.

First write a list -
How many cards do you have to write ?
How many presents do you already have ?

Sequeena

Thank you for the welcome :beer:

I'm almost done shopping for my son. I've been buying through the year so got some good deals. He has the wooden IKEA kitchen, a motorized ride on, leapfrog leaptop, ELC wooden garage, happyland train set, lots of books and more. I still need to get stuff for his kitchen (going to IKEA this Saturday), Thomas the tank engine things (he's obsessed) and I'd like to do a craft hamper for him. It's a lot but he's been through so much in the last 2 years. He's due to have 1, possibly 2 operations and he's disabled so I really want to spoil him.

I'd also like to make hampers for my 4 year old (male) cousin and 16 month old (female, will be 20 months at Christmas) cousin. So far for the 4 year old I've found a Thomas the tank engine watch and Thomas the tank engine puzzles. I'm not sure what to get for my littlest cousin yet.

We also have £46 in morrisons savers stamps which will be used for our Christmas shop and to stock up so we don't need to worry about anything other than fresh food for a while.

I'm not sure if anyone saw the H&M bargain on hotukdeals? Using 2 accounts I got my son a pair of winter trousers and a jumper for £1.98 delivered

bunty109

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Hi :santa2:

Don't panic your not the only one. I am giving Nanamia a 100 day countdown to Christmas this year. You are more than welcome to join in.

First write a list -
How many cards do you have to write ?
How many presents do you already have ?

Thanks OMO.

Got 3 gifts all for my DD (also have 2 sons). Trying to cut down on stockings to avoid wrapping but feel mean not doing them! Need to buy for:

My children
Nephew(4)
Nephew (14)
Niece (17)
Parents (abroad)
MIL
My brother

I've actually pre-ordered some calendar credits for MIL and my parents to make calendars on photobox. I do that every year and it goes down well. MIL and all 3 nieces and nephews also have birthdays in Nov/Dec and early Jan so have that to plan too.

Probably have 25 cards I have to post to people (3 abroad) and around 40 for people I see or who live locally/work with. Husband offers to help with his but I feel like I end up nagging!

I'm better organised than I feel but it's the whole wrapping/cards thing that usually trips me up!

girlinayellowdress

I'm on a positive footing at the moment, saw my doctor on Friday and he has upped my meds plus given me extra pain killers and referred me back to the hospital, I must of caught him in a good mood. So now I'm having a few lazy days.

I still have all the Christmas presents in boxes from my non move so plan this week to take a peak and see how much is there. Not going to be adding too much as DS is getting a new games console which will be taking up most of the budget. I think this being the first christmas without my father it will be more focused on just chilling and being in each others company as its only myself, DS and my mother is staying for three days. I ordered a nice tree decoration for my father and had it inscribed. Not sure what else I can do to make it extra special for DS and mother.

Ideas?

Own_My_Own

Sequeena wrote: »

Thank you for the welcome :beer:

I'm almost done shopping for my son. I've been buying through the year so got some good deals. He has the wooden IKEA kitchen, a motorized ride on, leapfrog leaptop, ELC wooden garage, happyland train set, lots of books and more. I still need to get stuff for his kitchen (going to IKEA this Saturday), Thomas the tank engine things (he's obsessed) and I'd like to do a craft hamper for him. It's a lot but he's been through so much in the last 2 years. He's due to have 1, possibly 2 operations and he's disabled so I really want to spoil him.

I'd also like to make hampers for my 4 year old (male) cousin and 16 month old (female, will be 20 months at Christmas) cousin. So far for the 4 year old I've found a Thomas the tank engine watch and Thomas the tank engine puzzles. I'm not sure what to get for my littlest cousin yet.

We also have £46 in morrisons savers stamps which will be used for our Christmas shop and to stock up so we don't need to worry about anything other than fresh food for a while.

I'm not sure if anyone saw the H&M bargain on hotukdeals? Using 2 accounts I got my son a pair of winter trousers and a jumper for £1.98 delivered

Not sure if its in all stores but I picked up 6 peppa pig board books for £1 each in Poundland last week. Should have been £3.99 each. ( well they would be a £1 each in there wouldn't they.:rotfl:)

I have got £49 saved in Morrison stamps, so just got my free £1. :j

pinknfluffy28

Aw I love you guys :grouphug:

I have had a really !!!!!! day! Busy (which is great) but everyone I saw seemed to be so grumpy it started rubbing off on me! All I kept thinking was "x hours until im snuggled up on the sofa in my pjs, with a hot chocolate and an mse catch up" and finally, here I am!

Popped into home bargains at lunch and they have some great toys in at the moment, I picked up another bratzilla doll for £5.99 and a star wars angry birds playset for £3.99. Might be worth a look if anyone has little ones to buy for!

I am on the look out for a cuddly duck! DD2 is obsessed with ducks, and has asked for "a cuddly duck" for her bday next month (my baby is going to be 6
I want quite a large one, floppy, soft, something really cuddly, please let me know if anyone sees anything. Oh, and she also has her first wobbly tooth and has decided she wants her ears pierced, She seems to have grown up so much over the holidays!

Own_My_Own

bunty109 wrote: »

Thanks OMO.

Got 3 gifts all for my DD (also have 2 sons). Trying to cut down on stockings to avoid wrapping but feel mean not doing them! Need to buy for:

My children
Nephew(4)
Nephew (14)
Niece (17)
Parents (abroad)
MIL
My brother

I've actually pre-ordered some calendar credits for MIL and my parents to make calendars on photobox. I do that every year and it goes down well. MIL and all 3 nieces and nephews also have birthdays in Nov/Dec and early Jan so have that to plan too.

Probably have 25 cards I have to post to people (3 abroad) and around 40 for people I see or who live locally/work with. Husband offers to help with his but I feel like I end up nagging!

I'm better organised than I feel but it's the whole wrapping/cards thing that usually trips me up!

Do you have the cards yet ?

If you wrote 5 a week from now you would have them all done in time.

I also hate wrapping. Tried using gift bags the other year, dds response was ' Nice to see you put lots of effort in to wrapping this year.':rotfl:

I am going to start wrapping at the beginning of November this year. Just going to do a couple every Saturday night. ( you can't say I don't live it up )

bunty109

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Do you have the cards yet ?

If you wrote 5 a week from now you would have them all done in time.

I also hate wrapping. Tried using gift bags the other year, dds response was ' Nice to see you put lots of effort in to wrapping this year.':rotfl:

I am going to start wrapping at the beginning of November this year. Just going to do a couple every Saturday night. ( you can't say I don't live it up )

I need to buy cards as I didn't get any in the sale last year. I'm tempted by gift bags but like wrapping when I don't have tonnes to do! I thought about taking paper in to work and staying for an extra 5 mins to wrap pressies that arrive at the office. I could then the cards as soon as th e shops get them and join you on a Saturday night...