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

ellie9ellie

Last year I bought the Lego calendar and the Playmobile calendar. Is there anything similar out this year does anyone know? They have a chocolate train as well but I thought these were a little different and managed to get them whilst they were on offer.

caitlyn22

Here's my favourite simplest ever recipe - never failed me yet, the trick is in the freezing I think. If you don't freeze, make sure you chill your balls (ooo-er!) for at least an hour before baking. I get 10-12 from this recipe, easily doubled or tripled!

100g butter, softened
100g light brown soft sugar
1tbsp golden syrup
150g self-raising flour
50g chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/GM4.
2. Cream butter and sugar, then mix in syrup.
3. Sift in the flour, then stir in the chocolate chips and work dough together with your fingers.
4. Roll into small balls and freeze.

When baking (from frozen or after chilling) they never take less than 7 mins and never more than 12 in my oven, so keep an eye on them!

Going to read back properly now because have been dipping in and out all day. You have been making me chuckle with all your lego-feeling. :rotfl:

Nanamia, I have everything crossed for you and your loved ones tonight. x

LalaGomay

I did Lego minifigure bag feeling today, trying to find the gingerbread man. I managed to get two bloody welders.
I must literally be the worst Lego bag feeler on the planet.

junior_j

Thanks for your kind messages!!

Just worked out I'm taking 48 tablets a day plus 9 I'V anti sickness through put day and liquid morphine 4 x a day! No wonder I'm struggling to think lol lol

Going to start making Xmas list! Did some one say Linky had a things to do before Xmas list type thing? Am. I dreaming lol?

I fell asleep from 5;30pm till 10:00pm woke up one whole wards asleep lol xx

junior_j

Turkey
Beef Joint
Pork Joint
Salmon side
Stuffing mix
Sausage meat (to make stuffing)
Sausages wrapped in bacon (or cocktail sausages & bacon)
Crackers for Cheese
Cheese selection board
Piccalilli
Branston Pickle
Turkey Gravy granules or ready made
Beef Gravy granules or ready made
Mince Pies
Christmas Pudding
Custard
Single cream
Double cream
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Brocolli
Cauliflower
Peas
Carrots
Potatoes (for mash & roast)
Chocolates
Pringles
Butter
Milk
Shortbread/other biscuits
Alcohol
Pop
Plenty of juice

mushrooms
chocolate orange
satsumas or tangerines (for stockings)
twiglets
mincemeat (to make mince pies)
puff or filo pastry (for pies tarts etc)
cranberries for sauce or ready made sauce
lemon to garnish drinks
glace or maraschino cherries to garnish drinks
bread making ingredients or extra rolls & bread in freezer
parsnips


Oil
Bread for freezer and bread bin
Enough fresh milk plus carton of milk you can keepin cupboard
Extra crackers to go with cracker selection


None food Xmas essentials

-heart burn meds
Cough and cold potions
Paracetamol
Throat sweets

Straws for the pop
Plenty of bin bags
Kitchen roll
Toilet roll
Note pad to write down who to thank for what (this is useful to me)

Own_My_Own

junior_j wrote: »

Thanks for your kind messages!!

Just worked out I'm taking 48 tablets a day plus 9 I'V anti sickness through put day and liquid morphine 4 x a day! No wonder I'm struggling to think lol lol

Going to start making Xmas list! Did some one say Linky had a things to do before Xmas list type thing? Am. I dreaming lol?

I fell asleep from 5;30pm till 10:00pm woke up one whole wards asleep lol xx

Here you are. Hope you feel better soon. xxx

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=63146853&postcount=5366

alja

OMO's List...

Presents-
Who do you need to buy for? Mum, dad, a little something for friends, my friend’slittle one (under 1 year)
What is your Budget ? No particular budget – just as cheap as I can get things!Hehe!
What's shops do you need to go to? Various – depending on what I need/decide tobuy/where I can get to
What offers are you hoping to use? Boots & Superdrug 3 for 2, M&Sweekly offers & other offers, Boots & Superdrug card points, Tesco vouchers, any otheroffers I come across!
Where have you hidden everything ? In boxes in a spare room
Where are you going to hide everything ? They will stay in these boxes
How many batteries are you going to need ? n/a – unless I do end up withsomething that needs them!

Wrapping -
When do they have to be wrapped by? I will try to get them done in the firstweek of December – this should be early enough for who I need to visit/haveround for my Christmas party
Do you have enough paper/tape/ tags/ cello tape?( where are they ?) Yes, allchecked. They are in a spare room ready to be dug out.

Hampers-
how many are you making ? I will make a foodie hamper for my parents. I will buy lots of little things for my parents andthen decide on what to put together in hampers when wrapping time comes.
what's going in them in them ? I usually buy a mixture of things for myparents, toiletries, food, drinks, sweets/chocolates, accessories etc. so I’llbundle things together.
What are they going in ? Box/basket ? I have a pink basket ready for my mum. Iwill probably use a cardboard box for their foodie hamper. Not sure what to putdad’s in yet – so will look out for something nice!

Cards-
How many do you need ? special and normal ? I have written a list of who I willwrite cards for (all written up on my spreadsheet!) I have enough cards forthem and already have a special one for my parents.
Stamps -
how many do you need ? I don’t think I’ll be sending any cards myself thisyear, so not needed.

Household items- what will you need ? I live with my parents so my parents dealwith this side of things, but I do have lovely Christmassy candles ready toburn whilst wrapping!

Toiletries - what will you need ? I have everything I need, I may just treatmyself to something nice for December to feel more special!

Normal food- what will you need ? My parents will sort this out.

Christmas Food-
What do you need? I have written up a list on my spreadsheet of all the food I’dlike for my party, from savoury to sweet! Lots of it!
Where are you buying it? Tesco most likely.
If buying stamps how many more do you need? n/a

Making/ Baking
What gifts are you making/baking ? I don’t think I’ll be doing this.
How long do they take to make/bake ? n/a

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

Christmas day Clothes- what are you/ your family going to wear ? Do you need tobuy something new? I usually treat myself to a new outfit for Christmas day, soI will look out for something nice but affordable in the shops!

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

Going out-
Do you have a works do / family get-together ? Yes, we go out for a work mealduring working hours. Family get togethers are usually planned nearer the time.
Whose booking it? n/a
How much it going to cost ? Work meal is free for me! Very nice boss!
What are you going to wear ? Not sure, but probably a dress and leggings thatlet me eat as much as I like! Haha!
Do you need to book a babysitter ? n/a

How many pay days do you have ? 4

How many lists can be spread over these weeks ? Not sure what you mean by this!Think I’m too sleepy to work it out now haha! But I will be spreading the cost across all months buying as much as I can before the December rush!

Woo! I've done the list! *feels proud*

Own_My_Own

I am going to cry. I have just updated my ipad and my Christmas app isn't compatable. It has gone :eek:
I have checked in the App Store and it's not there :eek:

I am updating the phone as I type. If it's gone from there as well I am lost. :eek::eek::eek:

Own_My_Own

ALJA What I meant is,
If there are 140 cards on your list, do 10 cards a week for the next 14 weeks.
If you have 28 presents to wrap (and you already have them) wrap 2 presents a week for 14 weeks.

Well if my app has gone on my phone as well I have found an almost identical app to download. It will mean starting again, and all my archived lists will be gone forever, but ha ho.

I have a feeling it is the same app with a different background. The old app hadn't been updated for 3 years, so may have been bought by another company. Only the new owners want 69p. Yes 69p :eek:

Nanamia

Thank you all for the kind words today. Great fantastic news DH visit to his consultant surgeon went very well and he doesn't want to see him for a year.... Wooo hooo 52 weeks so very delighted I cried when he said it and have been smiling since. Mr J, said dr is the most truly a miracle worker and DH is 9 years cancer free because of him and his magic fingers As you know DH has multiple health concerns but this is one very big box well and truly ticked I couldn't be happier xxx
Well that appointment was 9.15am then home to see my darling friend and make a few phone calls. Much more positive news than we first feared, she to have further investigations but odds on a good outcome are high. What a difference a day makes x Thank you all for the support it means so much.