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

blue_eyed_girl

Sounds as though you both had a brilliant time OMO. Your friend seems to have the same luck as me.

Bought a large tub of Twinnings Chocolate from Aldi for £1.99 which I thought was a bargain. I know some of you are doing hampers and might find this useful. Sorry if this has already been posted.

Trying to make up a couple of cross stitch cards atm.

Take care everyone

b_e_g

Hanley25

OMO your weekend sounds amazing. I've only ever been to London once and that was for my hen do. We travelled all day to get there, had dinner, saw a show, went to bed, then travelled all day to get home! So I didn't see much of the city at all. I hope to go there again but this time spend a lot longer sightseeing.

I've got a busy week this week. Going to see Five in concert tomorrow night in Liverpool. Then on Saturday evening I'm going to a ladies night/craft fair! It's in my work mate's ds's school. We've paid £5 for the tickets and get a glass of wine on arrival. Hoping to pick up a few extra pressies there.

For Christmas dinner I always used to buy a melon for the starter and every year without fail it was forgotten about and didn't get eaten. So last year I decided we were having hm soup. I figured that if I had to put the effort in to make it I wouldn't forget it. The plan worked so I'll be doing the same this year. Then it's turkey for the main, and because none of us like the traditional puddings, we always have profiteroles.

mandco

fiesty sounds like your duvet day was a sucess. sorry the shop isn't working out dont worry about what others think you gave it a go which is more than a lot of people ever get round so do whats right for you. I know the hospital is busy at the moment and they are prepping wards ready for the winter influx so that doesnt help but hopefully he wont have too long a wait

omo sounds like you had a great time despite your friends mishaps. thanks for the photos will def have to try and get there next yr. I love that stag worth every penny

nanamia congrats on the continued weight loss I'm still playing yoyo with the same 1/2 stone never seem to be able to stick to it long enough the lose the extra or keep it off

barginbunny what kind of bits do you have for dd stocking?
i've got bits like board books, animals/dinosaurs, cars, xmas cuddly toy, stickers, bubbles, showergel/ flannel /toothbrush,flash cards, new beaker/cutlery set, dvd, bath toys,colouring book/crayons.
for girls you could add hairbrush/ bobbles, baby doll accessories feeding bottle ect, fairy wand, tiara

picked up a couple more presents youngest is now "done" I will not buy him anything else someone remind me I said that trouble is he's so easy to buy for and I keep seeing things on offer.
just need a few bits for dd nail hamper then shes done too

Own_My_Own

:xmastree: WEEK 5 TASKS :xmastree:

OMO
Wrap 3 presents
Buy Boxer Shorts
Buy Calendar

mrsinvisable
Book hotel
Wrap remaining presents
Review presents, to check no-one is left out and stacks look good
Rectify inequalities
Start on Food list

freespirit66
Make and bake mince pies
Clean oven
Make Cranberry and Soy Glazed Cocktail Sausages and freeze
Make Christmas Spiced Chocolate cake and freeze
Make Sticky Gingermen and freeze

Nanamia
Sort presents using Pigpens box idea
Buy Yankee candles
One savoury and one sweet to freezer stash.

Bargain_Bunny

mandco wrote: »

fiesty sounds like your duvet day was a sucess. sorry the shop isn't working out dont worry about what others think you gave it a go which is more than a lot of people ever get round so do whats right for you. I know the hospital is busy at the moment and they are prepping wards ready for the winter influx so that doesnt help but hopefully he wont have too long a wait

omo sounds like you had a great time despite your friends mishaps. thanks for the photos will def have to try and get there next yr. I love that stag worth every penny

nanamia congrats on the continued weight loss I'm still playing yoyo with the same 1/2 stone never seem to be able to stick to it long enough the lose the extra or keep it off

barginbunny what kind of bits do you have for dd stocking?
i've got bits like board books, animals/dinosaurs, cars, xmas cuddly toy, stickers, bubbles, showergel/ flannel /toothbrush,flash cards, new beaker/cutlery set, dvd, bath toys,colouring book/crayons.
for girls you could add hairbrush/ bobbles, baby doll accessories feeding bottle ect, fairy wand, tiara

picked up a couple more presents youngest is now "done" I will not buy him anything else someone remind me I said that trouble is he's so easy to buy for and I keep seeing things on offer.
just need a few bits for dd nail hamper then shes done too

So far I've got a couple of princess slipper socks, a beaker that has crayons/picture and you can colour the beaker in, peppa and george toothbrushes, peppa flannel, a tube of white choc buttons - will add some choc coins. Will have a look for stickers as she loves them and the cutlery idea is good will have a look around. Just ordered some stickers from amazon too.

BB

freespirit66

Evening everyone, first task done today Cranberry and Soy glazed cocktail sausages done and in freezer, OMO can i be a pain and add Make Sticky Gingerbread and freeze to my list of tasks, i forgot all about it earlier thankyou

nic2075 wrote: »

I was sitting with my sister today discussing Christmas dinner menu. My mum always did choice of 2 starters, then home made soup, turkey or gammon with all the trimmings (think food mountain) then 2 choices of pudding, cheese board then nibbles of later on incase anyone was hungry lol.
But this year my sister says leave the soup out as that's one of the reasons we are all so stuffed by the time the main is ready. My other sister said have soup as a starter.
I'm really traditinal and hate to change things to do with Christmas as it takes me back to being young and of good times.
What to do you all have for Christmas dinner? X

NIC we stopped having starters years ago, it was just too much, even now we dont eat pudding until 1 hour later than dinner, we just have Turkey and all the trimmings, then mince pies and brandy butter or chocolate log for kids

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Evening

Feet still ache. But that might be because I just walked Mia for an hour and a half.
My weekend was fabulous. My friend had never been to Southbank, so it was all new to her. The market was lovely. We went twice to see it in daylight and at night.
We walked out of the tube station and I said ' So there's Big Ben !!' And my friend said ' Where ?' . At this point I took a picture to show you what I saw when I looked up. :rotfl:



After we had stopped laughing we went to the Market. It was very festive. I bought Robbie a personalise decoration that says ' To Robbie, Merry 1st Christmas 2013 From Mima.'
I also got a pashmina cape there. Had some lunch and hit Oxford St.
Got most of what I wanted but Footlocker was pants. So will have to get DSs t-shirts at the one in Lakeside.
My friend then broke her shoe, which meant walking the whole way back down Oxford St to Primark to get her a cheap pair of fake uggs. Got myself a pair as well as my feet were beginning to ache a little.
We laughed the whole way down the road as she was trying to walk normally but with only one heel. :rotfl:

We saw this in the window of Selfridges. I think it is a Stag to far :rotfl: (yes it is made of Dyson Hoover parts)



The hotel was fine except some idiot had a fag in their room and all the fire alarms went off, which apparently did something to their system and it carried on bleeping until about 1 in the morning.
On getting to hotel my friend realised she hadn't taken the price tags off her new boots and had been walking around all evening with 2 £5 labels hanging off her ankles. :rotfl:

Sunday was straight to the Show which was just brilliant.





Lots of tasters ( mainly wine ). We bought so much my friend had to buy a trolley. My trolly was already full in the boot of the car from Saturday.

I bought quite a few stags But when I saw this one I had to get it. It was £20, but I think it looks a lot more expensive.



Then at 5.30 we hit the tube again and went back to Westminster to the Southbank market, just to have a look at it lit up.





While we were there I went back to the Pashmina stall and the man said I could have one for £10 instead of £15 as I bought one the day before and he was now doing 2 for £25. It was very nice of him as he didn't have to do that.
My friend then looked over the edge of the bridge and a toggle fell off her coat. Although not funny I nearly wet myself laughing at her.
She just stood there with such a blank look on her face :rotfl:
We then said goodbye to London and came home.
Hope you like my pics

OMO love your pics, how busy was the show because it doesnt look too bad in pics or was it heaving? It sounds like you had a lot of laughs and fun with your friend, love your stag, not too keen on the dyson one :rotfl:glad you had a wonderful time

CARLAMARIE hello :wave: sorry your christmas prep isnt going so good

Own_My_Own

freespirit66 wrote: »

Evening everyone, first task done today Cranberry and Soy glazed cocktail sausages done and in freezer, OMO can i be a pain and add Make Sticky Gingerbread and freeze to my list of tasks, i forgot all about it earlier thankyou

OMO love your pics, how busy was the show because it doesnt look too bad in pics or was it heaving? It sounds like you had a lot of laughs and fun with your friend, love your stag, not too keen on the dyson one :rotfl:glad you had a wonderful time

All added !!

It was heaving in places. If you look at the top of the picture you can see all the people on the first floor. That's where the food and wine was.

It was just (in my mind) a little poorly laid out. The stalls were in blocks. So you ended up detouring off all the time, then missing bits.

freespirit66

Own_My_Own wrote: »

All added !!

It was heaving in places. If you look at the top of the picture you can see all the people on the first floor. That's where the food and wine was.

It was just (in my mind) a little poorly laid out. The stalls were in blocks. So you ended up detouring off all the time, then missing bits.

Thankyou oh well thats where the best bits are and freebies, yes i know exactly what you mean, the Good Food show i went to was a bit like that, we were trying to not miss anything but it was laid out funny and you couldnt go up and down up and down IYSWIM

Nanamia

Feisty aww bless you, I was so hoping they'd sort the problems with DH oedema without having to admit him Still I think the meds (spironalactone) DH had can just stop working then it's a case of draining or finding an alternative med which will work. Hope it doesn't take too long. Sending hugs xxx
Nic we've stopped having a starter too and like Freespirit (no surprises there I think we are clones haha) have a sweet but not until later xxx
Mrs blooming hek you do cater for all dietary requirements, what a lot to do. You are supermum xxx
Spring dreams your Christmas sounds just perfect. It is your Christmas after all. Tailored specially for you and DS. DH and I had our very first Christmas meal on our own last year, must say it was different but pretty much perfect. I'm a beef girl, DH likes turkey so we have both, easily gets eaten over a few days of buffet type meals. I can't wait X
Craftymummy I've not got anybody to try the flavoured vodka on but it does look simple enough doesn't it. Hope it goes well xxx
Linky aaw bless you thank you so much for the photos. I feel like I've shared the fun What a brilliant weekend, friend sounds a bit like me (does she put her foot in it too?) what fun you've had. You deserve it. And to be missed too xxx I do have an update will finalise shortly and let you know this weeks tasks xxx
Carlamarie thank you so much, you've made me cry. In a good way xxx
Freespirit oh nooooo. Hope you've had some luck looking for a tumble (shhhh I'm a tumble dryer queen too, but since we are obviously clones that's no surprise) Don't possess a washing line, can't bear pegging out etc yuk
I've added your latest makes to my bookmarked page of recipes, you are a bad, bad influence on me Are we working our way through a nigella book? Got the ingredients for the maple syrup cheese cake today so maybe tomorrow I can make it or possibly Wednesday Now what do you do with the sausages when you've defrosted them? Reheat? And eat them with? Or have them in a buffet type meal? Need to get some lists on the go I feel

Now Linky
1) craft stash has been culled, leaving stuff to scrap book only and stuff for DNs wedding invites.
However the naughty step beckons
Not managed too
1) sort presents using Pigpens box idea
2) buy Yankee candles (not been anywhere that stocks them)
So please add the above to this weeks task and also add one savoury and one sweet to my freezer stash please xxx

I know you'll think I'm lagging behind but I've never been this prepared before xxx

Own_My_Own

Nanamia You're not lagging behind.

I haven't really done anything for weeks. The stags I bought weeks ago are still brown. I haven't wrapped anything since we had the big wind. The freezer still needs sorting. I have needed to get the last 3 presents for months.

What I really need is a couple of 10 day weeks.

ETA I did buy 30 tins of Pedigree Chum today in the 99p store ( 2 for 99p). Am going to get some more on Wednesday. That will see me through until after Christmas.