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

pinknfluffy28

Pink lady - well done on your amazon bargains, and the boot sale sales!

Eljaycock - have put the 27th in my phone calender for xmas mag, thank you!

Poppy girl - hope penny is ready for walkies again soon! I was the same, very disappointed with the range, hb is much much better!

Missgigglewick - I wanna Christmas lego elf (stamps feet!) will have to look out for them!

Free spirit - bless your DS’s heart, what a shame to have him messed around so much! And even after that he does such a lovely thing for someone else, he deserves a medal not just a job!

Loving the xmassy shop photo - our range is definatly not joining in … yet!

I have ordered the very last present for youngest dd off amazon, another large lalaloopsy doll, reduced to just £18. Bless, she doesn’t usually ask for much at all, however they decided to get their xmas lists done over the weekend and her piece of paper consisted of 14 pictures of various ones of these dolls, and 2 pics of lego sets (somewhat luckily the very 2 I got on offer last month, am hoping it is coincidence and she hasn’t found my secret hidy place!).
That’s both dd’s , stepdd2, nephews, neice, brother, inlaws all done. Just eldest stepdd to finish, mum and dh. I am still really struggling for ideas for dh!

murie

Freespirit- I used Cherry brandy because that's what we had an (almost) full bottle of-wasn't going to spend out on booze for the cake when we had loads. Someone brought it for OH last year and he is diabetic so cant drink it. It does seem to have fluffed the fruit up when soaking really well and the cakes definitely smell lush! (as for the vertigo it seems it is something I am going to have to live with in varying degrees cus it looks like I have Meniers disease. It wont get me down in the long term but at the mo it is very frustrating cus I want to get out and about). Sending good luck vibes to your son-he sounds a credit to you.

MissGigglewick- wish I had a reason to have one of those lego elves-they look so cute!

Ejaycock- I'm gonna put the Christmas mag on my shopping list- I love all the glitzy Christmas mags. One day when I win the lottery (not that I do it:rotfl:) I would love to have one room dedicated to Christmas all year round! OH wouldn't be too happy tho!

FeistyFidget

msgigglewick wrote: »

just seen this on fb Kirstie's new Christmas Craft book, think i'd like that one lol

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kirsties-Christmas-Crafts-Kirstie-Allsopp/dp/1444780751

I hope the book people include it in one of their silly sales or asda do it for their £3ish preorder offers lol

Have rather cheekily popped this on my amazon wishlist and facebooked it My only worry is that if I am lucky enough to get it for my Birthday or Christmas, it will be too late to actually do any of the makes for this year I guess I could treat myself, but I am eyeing up two pairs of 75% off shoes and am supposed to be saving for the shop! :eek:

noodles86 wrote: »

Fesity - I love those tags, I neeeeed some, are you selling them? Would they look stupid on gifts to family though!?

Had a fun & busy weekend decluttering, bag to sell, bag to donate & back to chuck. Starting to get there slowly before a big clean/odd little repairs. Please tell me no one else religiously cleans the skirting boards etc as my dh seems to think people do or perhaps im just a bit of a lazy cow lol!

Going to join the school PTA tonight, wondering what im letting myself in for:rotfl:

The lazy cow bit really made me chuckle :rotfl: I am pleased to say that due to being insanely busy my OCD cleaning is now fully under control. I am afraid I was one that would dust the skirting boards, but now I just make an effort not to look at them

The tags are for sale through my facebook page I hope they don't look silly on family gifts as that is what I'm planning to do I know it's very American, but I love the idea of it and am even planning on doing a plaque in a similar style

Good luck with the PTA!

freespirit66 wrote: »

DS back from interview he isnt happy he went in and she first a bit rudely said why are you here when you have a degree duhhh! Then said why is he applying for a job at a particular branch when he could work a bit nearer home, so he said there werent any vacancies at the other one, anyway she decided yes there was and could he go there for interview tomorrow, waste of petrol, waste of parking money hes definitely not da da da da da im loving it :rotfl::rotfl:he will kill me :rotfl::rotfl:then bless him he came out and there was a homeless man asking for a pound for a cheeseburger everyone was ignoring him or saying no, so my son bought him a meal and a drink (bursting with proudness that although he is skint he still thought of someone else) even the macdonalds worker gave him a dirty look for helping this man

Freespirit, I had an inkling it was the big M, but didn't want to say. Your son is an absolute credit to you! I always want to buy the big issue vendors / beggars a hot drink/food, but always worry that they may find it offensive or have a go at me. I'm not very good with social situations, but it is something I really hope to work on. I really hope he gets the job tomorrow, but it sounds like a bit of a nightmare company to work for if they were so rude/dismissive today :mad:

About the Secret Santa Swap, we could make a facebook team just for this and then we aren't breaking any rules? x

jemtom

Thanks nanamia will have a browse later.

Started on my gift tags last night though there not nearly as good as yours fiesty. Going to try and finish them off later and will put some pics up.

Ds box is massive got it out this morning before work and I have plenty of space.

I love wrapping and leave it all until December then do it with my Xmas music or a film on

freespirit66

Ive just ordered Rise of the Guardians for our xmas eve hamper, i noticed it had gone down in price on my wish list

PINKNFLUFFY aah thankyou re: DS he is a good kid, i just had to google the lalaloopsy dolls, ah how cute are they?? You have got me into the bournville hot chocs i have just sat here and had another one i think im going to have to get back to HB
MURIE oh i bet they will taste beautiful, im so sorry to hear it may be menieres disease, glad you are feeling quite positive about it, will you still be able to drive in future or not? Thank re: DS
FEISTY thankyou re: DS, i dont think its down to me im too scared to do it as well but he says he has done it a couple of times before as well, and DD1 is the same we went to B&M the other week and there was a homeless person sitting outside, when we were at the check out she had bought a cold drink and sandwich, i said we are going home cant you wait and she replied no mum its for the man outside, i could have cried
JEMTOM glad DS box is big enough

PoppyGirl

That is so kind of your children to both think of others in that way, I'd much rather buy them food than give them money. Most refuse it though and say they only want the cash. My friend and I gave money to a homeless person once then as we were walking away, he hailed a cab! We couldn't afford a cab and had got the bus into town like most folk! I've been wary of giving anybody anything since.

Own_My_Own

freespirit66 wrote: »

Ive just ordered Rise of the Guardians for our xmas eve hamper, i noticed it had gone down in price on my wish list

:j Thank You. Just ordered it. Shouldn't have really, still no Tax Credits, but I loved it when we saw it last year at the cinema.

I am trying to get a collection of more children's Xmas films here for Robbie.
I don't think he will appreciate White Christmas or Its a Wonderful Life.
He had better like The Polar Express or he will be very bored here come December. Dd has it on all the time.
Tesco have quite a few Mickey Mouse ones on-line that I am going get. ( when I get some money)

Well it's still dark and raining here, but I kind of like it. It helps to stop the urge of wanting to go to Home Bargains.
Popped in to Morrison's on the way home from work. I hate food shopping when I have money, I bl00dy detest it when I haven't got any. But the basics have been bought for another week. Took pity on the kids and got a bottle of Pepsi ( £1). No real bargains to be had Christmas wise. Everything still full price. Just as well really.

Gettingtherequickly

:o:o:oFreespirit, that's how I feel, as DS embarassment is not where my immediate thought was:o:o:o:o Well done him, hopefully they will see his potential for further up the line and he ranks higher than the original interviewer, that will put her in her place.:rotfl:

stephyt23

Not long back from a busy day in school so just had a catch up. It's lovely to be out the house volunteering and giving me something to do. Just a shame it isn't paid! Hopefully there will be some school jobs around for January that I can apply for once my placement has finished.

Chrissy I hope you can sort a college out, that’s really bad you weren’t given the correct information to begin with.
Bunbun hope you get better soon
Mandco most shop bought sweets are fine to have such as Haribo. It gets more tricky when looking for chocs. Morrisons do a nice chocolate orange bar which reminds me of a Terry’s chocolate orange. Choices make some gorgeous chocolate caramels which I’ve seen in Asda and Tesco. Bit hit and miss when they are available but I have just spotted them on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caramel-Chocolates-Choices-Chocolate-Alternative/dp/B007X3WN1Q
Plain hobnobs I can have and I’ve found Twinings hot chocolate doesn’t contain any dairy and is really nice. Blackfriars Bakery make some flapjacks that are suitable for vegans so contain no dairy. You can buy them in Aldi and Holland & Barratt stores. Many supermarket own brand cakes are quite nice. Tesco and Morrisons tend to do the best choices. For something more desert- like I’ve discovered Bessant & Drury ice cream. It’s made from coconut milk and comes in several flavours. They are a new brand so at the moment they only stock chocolate flavour in Tesco and vanilla, chocolate or lemon in Waitrose. You can get a lovely lemon cheesecake from Food Heaven who stock in Tesco stores. They also do a summer fruits one although I’m yet to track this down. It says they stock in Waitrose too although I’ve not seen either flavour in my local store. For most cakes I tend to make my own and just replace the butter and milk with my dairy alternatives. I’ve been complimented on a lot of my cakes for being so moist, you’d never know they didn’t contain any dairy. Hope this helps!
Lalagomey I’ve never heard of those! Might have to give them a try. It’s more when I eat out or fancy a desert that I really miss not being able to have dairy.

cymrumam

My daughter who will be nine in November has just told me that she wants Santa to bring her a new dolls pram. She has a mamas and papas one but the wheels fall off. Just had a look round and the ones that tall enough have really poor reviews. Would love something like the old fashioned silver cross but I don't have a fortune to spend. Anyone got any recommendations or ideas ?