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

sevenswans

I'm new (to posting, anyway!) to the forums but just wanted to hop on and say hello, I love all things Christmas related and now that summer seems well and truly done I'm gearing up to plan...
Anyway hope everyone is having a good day! I'm going to be road-testing a few recipes over the next week or so that I'm hoping to make as Christmas pressies nearer the time. I usually do peppermint chocolate bark but I have given so many people the (ridiculously easy) recipe that now I feel like I can't do it again (because they now know how ridiculously easy it is!) so I am on the hunt for new ideas. #1 is old-fashioned coconut ice from my wartime farm book. I have icing sugar that needs using up so it seems like a good one to try first.

PoppyGirl

Noodles - I'm perhaps going to the B'ham market too for a weekend trip!
SnuggleBunny - thank you, that was a test post as I don't have any Chiristmas pics yet, so I'm up and running! She's 8 months now and full of nonsense!
Mandco I've seen something similar to that in B&M for £1.99!

pinknfluffy28

Thanks all for comments on pics, its not as beautiful here as the pic seems, from our front door u have a not so nice view of a major A road, but the back over looking the lake is what sold the house to us! Very wet & miserable here today, off to work now so will catch up properly later

Sequeena

Hello everyone Jess (Junior J) has asked me to let you know she's back in hospital Hope she recovers quickly xx

I had mog on fox night by judith kerr delivered yesterday getting there with my saver stamps too. I'm building up Thomas' winter wardrobe now. There's just so much to get it's never ending!!

Gorgeous puppy

ellie9ellie

Well I've booked my trip to Harrods again for this year. Every year we take the children up to Santa so we are going the last weekend in November. We have been for the last 3 years and the children love it. Also looking at going to Bath Christmas market.

nic2075

Hi Sevenswans :hello:

Hope Junior J is ok :-( xx

I am busy painting my Christmas signs. I've also just taken 3 orders for the little wooden fireplaces with stockings! Everyone is being really organised this year getting orders in early. And I get to enjoy painting them.

I have lots of the smaller items organised for the kids Xmas, but not their main pressies, we are stumped this year. My youngest DD is 2, so she will will be happy with lots of smaller items. My DS is 6 he really needs a new bike, but I hate getting bikes at Christmas as usually they can't get out on them, and his birthday is June. So that's a better time.
DD1 is 8. She is very girly and into highland dance, so again lots of ideas for some smaller pressies, but no idea what main present to get her. X

noodles86

mandco - I know what you mean about the coats & its driving me mad! Though it was torrential on the school run yesterday so I wore my biggest coat! The soaps are gorgeous but a bit too much for me! Could always get an empty plain handwash bottle & stickers!

Snugglebunny - I still havn't seen these winter wonderland bars, must be going round with my eyes shut! I did get some mint matchmakers for £1 in Asda though with bb date 05/2014, apparently its not xmas without them according to my dh!

Sevenswans - Hello!! How do you make your peppermint chocolate bark?

Poppygirl - Have you been before? We missed last year as Mali was only a few weeks old and I couldn't bear to leave her! We don't live to far from Birmingham, just past Coventry so not far for us to go. Ooh cant wait for the foot-long sausages!

ellie - That sounds so exciting but the thought of the train & tube around London before xmas would fill me with dread and then the fact that dd1 has never spoken to Santa as she's too scared! But she begs to go and visit him every year with the promise she will talk!

Has anyone seen the new costa coffee autumn menu? Chocolate & orange mocha latte & toffee nut caffe caramella - they sound lush!

DD has finally given some clue to what she would like - more Lego! She has taken a fancy to the girly lego friends stuff so will have to keep a look out in the run up to xmas. She has also said she wants some robo fish. Having read the reviews, I cant help but think they're a stupid gimmick! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Robo-Fish-Play-Set-activated/dp/B00BSQE6SM/ref=pd_bxgy_k_h_b_cs_img_y £20 for a bowl & 1 fish where apparently the batteries run out quickly and she would want more than 1 fish, which are from £8!! Now its dividing me and dh as he believes that if thats what she really wants we should consider it whilst I think its expensive plastic rubbish and we should find her something else!

justb

Just popping out of lurkdom, thanks for all the tips and lovely pics everyone keep them coming

ellie9ellie wrote: »

Can anyone remember - was it the end of October last year that Argos had 3 for 2 on toys? DD1 wants Lego so will need to keep an eye out xx

Sorry can't remember when the 3 for 2 was but they have some small bits and pieces half price at the moment just got this for my nieces stocking
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerms/LEGO+FRIENDS+FOOTBALL.htm

and some Star Wars for DS2

Congratulations on your shop Feisty I'm sure it will be a great success.

Hugs to all those who need them & those who don't
Bx

stephyt23

noodles86 wrote: »

Awww that sounds lovely! We've got rid of the kids the last weekend of the month & we're going into B'ham for the xmas market & a wander round the shops. We'll get the train over so maybe a few cheeky drinks too!

I'm going to go over to B'ham xmas market too this year. Never been before which is quite mad as it's less than 40 mins on the train.

Went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park last year while visiting my brother in London which was lovely although it rained heavily all evening which did spoil it a bit.

freespirit66

Afternoon everyone,
NANAMIA glad you got your LR stripped, i think black red and white sounds lovely, oh god just looked at FEISTYS link wow there are some beautiful rooms on there, my front room is so boring me at the moment its just so lacklustre it needs some colour injecting into it
GETTINGTHEREQUICKLY glad you enjoyed your night out at the globe
POPPYGIRL i cant believe they wouldnt let you and OH in how blooming pathetic
MANDCO they are so sweet, expensive but sweet
SEVENSWANS hello and welcome, ooh i havent made coconut ice for donkeys years, let us know how you get on i quite fancy that for xmas
SEQUEENA thanks for letting us know about Junior_J
JUNIOR_J sorry to hear you are back in hospital, hope you recover quickly from whatever it is and back with us xmas shopping will be thinking of you
ELLIE9ELLIE oh that sounds lovely
NIC glad you are being kept busy with your lovely signs
NOODLES oh god i am going to be dreaming about the next time i get to a Costa now, yummy