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

alja

Thank you OMO for the list! I have copied it into word ready to work through

Nanamia wrote: »

Alja drive drive drive haha well done on your pressie buying. Shops are only going to get busier from now on at the weekend aren't they? Luckily I can usually shop mid week but not everybody has that luxury Thank you for that "Merry Hug" I just needed that xxx

Thank you! Thankfully I have a few days left to book as holiday days off work, so I will use those to shop during the week

I drove today! woohoo! Drove myself to our nearest Tesco area, which has a few other stores nearby. From Tesco I picked up another clearance bag of present bows, only 21p! I got a hoodie and a nice cardi in the sale for myself and then managed to find that 20p mincemeat! Me and my mum are planning to make mince pies with it I think

I popped into the Boots store nearby and found some great bargains on the clearance shelf. 4 toiletries bags which would have cost £37 altogether at full price but I got them for 25% of that at just £9.25 for the lot! Was so pleased, I think the cashier was a bit jealous when I asked to check the prices of them haha. They will mostly go to my mum - I may make up a little toiletries gift set of my own using one of them

Really feel I'm getting somewhere with this Christmas shopping now 100 days to go! Yay!

stephyt23

Just caught up with everything I've missed.

SnuggleBunny I have one of the Disney advent boxes, I love it. Never too old for a an advent calendar lol.Being lactose intolerant I can't have shop bought ones so this was a nice alternative which I get my DBF to fill randomly with sweets or Elizabeth Shaw mint chocs that I can have.

Noodles thanks for the code for free delivery on BookPeople
Kevie those coasters look fab! You’ve done a great job
Caitlyn Glad the festival went well, that’s awful that things were left in a mess, it’s very rude of them not to tidy up. Those cakes look amazing!!


Just got a gluten free recipe book for my DGM (hope that’s the right abbreviation for Nan/Grandmother) from the Book People for £4.99 with free delivery thanks to Noodles code.Had already got most of my Christmas cards for this year as I get them in the January sales. Just need a couple more which I've decided to make this year. I used to make all my family cards which I think I'll go back to next year as I have lots of Christmassy bits to use up and it makes things more personal and is cheaper.

System

I've had an unexpectedly christmassy morning , we went to Morrison's to get OH a birthday cake and picked up more haribo sweets for Christmas as they are still 50p a bag.

Then we called at Spar and they have large Galaxy choc approx 375g for £2 so obviously i had to get some it would be rude not to .

Then when i checked my emails there's one from approved foods saying i have a credit on my account for £25 due to an order i cancelled months ago i must admit i thought they had refunded it ! anyway Ive ordered a load of stuff some for Christmas and according to them Ive saved over £60 off RRP, as they are only just up the road i can collect saving me the £5 delivery charge.

Ive even managed to catch up with my wrapping!

DD has been home just over a week now and is so much happier although she has had 2 big seizures .

We had a meeting with the 16+ SEN manager on Friday, there are in theory 3 local college options. All three do animal care and one of the them has a teacher who also teaches creative writing on the OU. DD desperately wants to become an author .
We initially rejected this college months ago because no one mentioned the writing course and we were told she would need 4 gcse passes to even be considered for the animal course, no one thought to mention there's a foundation and choices pathway she could have taken !

We are hopefully going to have a look around and a chat over the next week or so and they let the SEN manager know which is our preferred option .

bunbun2

ALJA you got some great bargains. I love boots bargains!

caitlyn glad the festival went well and hope you manage to get some well earned rest. How rude of those people to leave such a mess. your cakes are fantastic, I love the animal ones

mrsinvisible the bench sounds lovely

feisty glad your DH felt a bit better for going out but hope he isn't suffering too much today. It is good that he is excited about the new shop and hopefully that will keep his spirits up

OMO thanks for the countdown list. I will save it and have a good look through later

nanamia I love your sofas! I am hopeless with colour schemes so don't have one!

freespirit hope your migraine is better. the stress of waiting to get the drain sorted is probably not helping but please go to the GP. i am even later to the party than you as I had never heard of a driver thru COSTA!

kevie192 lovely coasters!

Chrissy I got a doctor who 50th anniversary book for my ds1 from Amazon. how is your DD?

I have loads I should be doing but the weather is awful and I am full of cold. I just feel bleurgh so I sitting watching poirot. My ds2 was at a sleepover last night and will need picking up though, unfortunately DH is out at mrT getting any woopsies he can. I also have to iron the school uniforms so will have to get up soon.

mandco

stephyt23 wrote: »

SnuggleBunny I have one of the Disney advent boxes, I love it. Never too old for a an advent calendar lol.Being lactose intolerant I can't have shop bought ones so this was a nice alternative which I get my DBF to fill randomly with sweets or Elizabeth Shaw mint chocs that I can have.

stephyt do you have any recommendations for lactose free sweets/chocs? thanks

caitlyn amazing bakes

omo thanks for the list

bunbun2

chrissy glad to hear your dd is happier but sorry to hear she has been unwell. that is good that there are a few college options local to you, it would be helpful if they gave you all the information in the first place wouldn't it?

when I said the weather was awful it was actually quite good! it is now pouring with rain and blowing a gale:(

FeistyFidget

caitlyn22 wrote: »

Well goodness me...what HAVEN'T I missed?! Had a lovely morning catching up with all your news! Hugs to those that need them, huge big welcomes to those who've joined us and a massive fat *mwah* on the cheek for shop-owner extraordinaire Feisty! So proud of you. :T

The Festival was a success, my team were brilliant - was going to get them a little something but they've all been talking about things they want to buy themselves as treats for getting through it so think I'm going to go with a gift voucher and thank you card. Not very exciting but I think will be appreciated as none of them have particularly economic tastes when it comes to fashion! We did however have to suffer the rudest bunch of people I've ever met, who descended on us for the full week. I could tell a hundred stories about how rude they were but know you lovelies will all understand what I mean from this simple thing - when they left the office we'd prepared for them (in which I'd put a kettle, lovely mugs, and a mini fridge stocked with milk and biscuits) we found mountains of rubbish piled up on all sides (including a 'lost property' box with some poor person's mobile phone tossed in carelessly) and cups of half drunk mouldy tea and half-eaten plates of food. The place took hours to clean up. I've assured my organisation that I certainly won't be working with that bunch ever again, don't care who they are!!

Yesterday was my niece's first birthday so went straight in to cake-baking on Friday, hence me not getting time to come on here before now. Couple of pics below, not my finest work as I could barely keep my eyes open after 11 straight days at work (including one 36 hr shift!) but the theme was Wizard of Oz, as I wanted it to be something my nephew liked too, and I'd bought my niece a special copy of the book as a keepsake for her birthday.







Now then...100 days to go!!

Been picking up a few bits and pieces as presents and I'm loving hearing about where things have been spotted in shops. Huge thanks to OMO for keeping links updated, been really useful for me this morning!

Love the sofa Nanamia, but I'm officially against colour schemes - fill your room with lovely things that you like and you'll see that after a certain point, it looks bohemian and eclectic. That's what I tell myself anyway! :rotfl:

Caitlyn, I am so in love with those bakes!

jemtom

100 days to go yay :xmastree:

I am hoping to get half an hour to myself tomorrow to check ds hamper bits will all fit in the box, the batman bike wont fit in I don't think so that will just have to go in the santa pile.

love the list linky! although im still struggling with my parents and parents in law, I was thinking for in laws possibly a baking hamper as they both do cakes and things so:
bowls
toppings
icing sugar
food colouring
cupcake cases
possibly his and hers aprons (sew/put their names on?)

hopefully if I get a big enough bowl I can put everything in that.

we are really stumped for my parents haven't got a clue!!

I love those cakes they are amazing :T

Niknocks_2

A little hello from me! Im normally a lurker but due to a HUGE change in my life ive had to start everything afresh. I love Christmas and Im going to try and do what I can this year for my DD and DS all on a very tight budget!!

pinknfluffy28

Kevie192 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just a quick post to show you these coasters I've made. They're the first Xmas presents I've made this year and all the ladies in the family will be getting some!



Made from 4" white tiles, Cath Kidston napkins and some felt. I am really pleased with them!

Hope you like them

Kevin x

They have turned out beautiful! I may have a go at some of these myself!

Own_My_Own wrote: »

:xmastree: 100 days to go countdown :xmastree:

First things first. We need to know what we are doing. Organisation is the key. So a few lists are in order.


Lists

Presents-
Who do you need to buy for?
What is your Budget ?
What's shops do you need to go to?
What offers are you hoping to use?
Where have you hidden everything ?
Where are you going to hide everything ?
How many batteries are you going to need ?

Wrapping -
When do they have to be wrapped by?
Do you have enough paper/tape/ tags/ cello tape?( where are they ?)

Hampers-
how many are you making ?
what's going in them in them ?
What are they going in ? Box/basket ?

Cards-
How many do you need ? special and normal ?
Stamps -
how many do you need ?

Household items- what will you need ?

Toiletries - what will you need ?

Normal food- what will you need ?

Christmas Food-
What do you need?
Where are you buying it?
If buying stamps how many more do you need?

Making/ Baking
What gifts are you making/baking ?
How long do they take to make/bake ?

Store cupboard for making/ baking
What do you need ?
Where are you buying it ?
When do you need it by ?

Christmas day Clothes- what are you/ your family going to wear ? Do you need to buy something new?

Elf-
what is he/she going to do ?
What do you need for him/her to do it ?

Going out-
Do you have a works do / family get-together ?
Whose booking it?
How much it going to cost ?
What are you going to wear ?
Do you need to book a babysitter ?



There are 14 weeks remaining

How many pay days do you have ?

How many lists can be spread over these weeks ?

Ideas-

Buy a household item or toiletry a week(4 if monthly shopping)
Buy an extra normal food item a week if it has a long life( 4 if monthly shopping)
Write a few cards a week . If you have children who have to write 30, definitely start them in early December.
If you post a lot of cards, buy some stamps now.

If I like me you hate wrapping, start now and spread the pain into short busts.

So there you have it.
If you have a list that is not listed let me know and I will add it. :snow_laug

ETA keep an eye on those stocking fillers. I know from experience they can run away with you. You only need to fill a stocking not a duvet cover

OMO - our very own Mrs Claus! Fantastic list, I am a little obsessive (as always) and have now started several new spreadsheets based on your lists to help me along. I promise to try and obey the "stocking" tip, but in this instance, it may well be a case of "promises are made to be broken!". Thanks hunny xx