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

lizalloareds

OMO congratulations, Robbie is sooo cute

Snugglebunny8

welcome Bhatti

PinknFluffy good luck with the childminding, it sounds like you did the right thing to me! xxx

well done to all of you giving up smoking, ive never smoked but I know from friends how hard they found it to give up, and also how hard the first week or so can be, you can do it!! xxxx

Snugglebunny8

nanamia that's wonderful news about your DSIL, and clearly you have made a big difference by having a talk with them, well done you! am so pelased for you, and I also hope you can look forward to Oz without feelign torn as you have been *hugs* xxxx

welcome GreenTiger! x

ELJaycock I know what you mean, it's so easy to get out of the habit of using things, I had a slow cooker for some time before I used it, but now use it all the time, if Ive got a hectic work day and know I won't have time to cook, literally throwing a pack of chicken breasts, still frozen, in on low and deciding what to do with them later works for me!, either slicing and stir frying with garlic, herbs, sesame seeds etc and throwing on some rice or coconut buns, or wraping them in parma ham and baking them at the end, or chucking in a jar of Pataks curry sauce mid afternoon, you can do so much with them depending what time you have, and really takes the pressure off!(by the way, Pataks sauce jars 88p in Sainsburys yesterday, on offer til next week). I find the chicken is always juicy and never dry cooked on low in a slow cooker

belated Happy Birthday Black Cat!

Snugglebunny8

PinknFluffy am so pleased it's working out well for you, it's such a nice feeling to be able to get stuff done and have the chance to sit down with the children and OH, you feel so much more relaxed don't you?:)

I meant to ask, do you do Valued Opinions? if not - if you do all the surveys they send, you can easilly earn at least one £10 voucher a month if not 2, I get a range of them through the year and save them for Christmas

Linda-Lou

kayandy wrote: »

Well me and my boyfriend have just had a random convo!! He thinks that when we get married (not even engaged yet!!) we should wear traditional wedding stuff to get married and for the party wear everyday clothes as neither of us like to be dressed up and only a few people in the family like to be he says everyone will be more relaxed in everyday clothes etc!! What do you guys think?

Hi kayandy!Personally, I think a wedding is a rare opportunity to get dressed up and feel special, not only for the bride and groom, but for the guests too. It is an occasion, and should be treated as such, and dressing up, perhaps in a new outfit if funds will stretch, only adds to the fun!

But that's just my opinion, everyone will have their own way of enjoying and remembering the day. Also, for the guests attending the evening reception, it is nice for them to see the bride in all her finery!

Funny you should have posted this just now, as we have had the most lovely surprise this morning. DH and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary last November, and though we have lots of wonderful photos, we didn't have any video footage. This morning, ds's best friend dropped off a DVD of the video he took of the whole day - service, reception and evening party! It had been sitting forgotten in a box, until he got some new software for Christmas, and transferred it to DVD for us.

I must admit I cried as we watched it, as it showed not only DH, ds , dd and myself in our wedding finery, but also my dear dad, and MIL, both of whom have since passed away. I will make ds's friend a thank you card today, what a lovely surprise it was.

So kayandy, whatever you decide, hope your day is very special for you both!

xxx

Snugglebunny8

Feisty, Im finding myself agreeing with mumof3plusoh, buying a gift for somebody's children is a lovely thing to do, and I sort of feel it's being manhandled a bit here by the mother and she's missing the point, it's not exactly in the spirit is it?

when people ask me what my children would like for Christmas or birthdays, I will always mention one of two things, like a cd or dvd which I already know are £5-10 maximum, but I would also mention say a book which I know is less, and I always say 'they would be delighted with anything you bought for them, but don't go mad!' I'd hate the idea of putting people under pressure to spend a certain amount, or put them in a position where they felt they had to spend more than they wanted or could afford. Somebody this year I know didnt have a big budget I mentioned a DVD for DS which is quite a few years old and I pointed them to Am@zon where I knew it was £3 delivered, saying 'I think Am@zon may stock it'

If I see any lego stuff etc I will let you know, though I agree @mazon probably best place, but Hawkins Bazaar have 75% off stuff at the moment and always have sales, I'd buy them something quirky and fun from there and if their mother makes any knd of snide comment again I would calmly point out to her that you have a budget to stick to, that it is the spirit and thought of the gift that is important, and perhaps she should give THAT some thought herself!!

sorry, will shut up now, apologies if that seemed a bit rude but it really annoyed me that she was snide with you when you are so thoughtful and kind, bet she doesnt put any thought into her gifts but just chucks money at it, those are never gifts I like best myself!!!

Snugglebunny8

ps (ok so ive not shut up yet ) Feisty how about price watching the Adopt !t sets, which RRP at £20, buy one between the two kids when they come down to £2-3 and give it to them as a joint gift? the mother can put the family name on it when she registers it, and if she checks (sounds like something she might do!) RRP on the Adopy !t website clearly shows £20 ...job done!

Snugglebunny8

FeistyFidget wrote: »

Thank you all for your input

mumof3plusoh - I couldn't agree more - they don't seem to have very good manners. Elder one even told me he wanted my baby dead when I fell pregnant....but that's another story.

holy [EMAIL="!!!!"]!!!![/EMAIL]!!! :eek::mad: never mind buying them presents ... I'd move to the other end of the country!!! :cool:

I know I said I'd shut up ...but ...:rotfl:

Snugglebunny8

PetuliaGristle wrote: »

FeistyFidget you could buy WWE Rumblers Blastin' Breakdown Playset or Oxfam Unwrapped School Supplies & Children's GroBox between them, saving £5 on the WWE gift. Sorry for my evil side kicking in, but I'd love to be a fly on the wall when they ask you to take the charity gift back

*snuffles back a giggle* brilliant!:D:T:rotfl::A

Snugglebunny8

OMO he's soooooo gorgeous!! I want one now! xx