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

riskyb

Hey guys,
costa coffee have a huge Christmas competition going on where you can wins tons of costa gift cards, a £2000 shopping spree, a home cinema system etc. good luck if you enter.
http://www.costa.co.uk/christmas/

riskyb

Hi again,
today I have a fab giveaway running on the blog for three neoprene lunch bags and an eco2go coffee mug. fab xmas presents for foodies.
again good luck.

riskyb

FF,
do you have a couple of things you specifically want me to focus on in my twitter shout ts. Plz PM and let me know. I am going to start those today ok.

riskyb

FF a meal at your would be fab. also do you remeber that fab gingerbread station that some one on the last christmas thread set up. Where they baked a few gingerbred cookies and then had tons of stuff like choc buttons, marshmallows, nuts, hundredthousands, fruits, smarties etc all around for the kiddoes to do their own decoration. i had a picture somewhere but I can find it. That would be fun. Their own special decorating session
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I'm after some more advice - everyone in the family knows that after this week money is extremely tight (£80 spent on petrol and parking to the hospital alone!) but I want to say thank you to my amazing cousin for stepping into the shop and my in laws for being so supportive - does anyone have any ideas as to what I could do? I was thinking of ventures for a meal, but my cousin has 4 kids - so it would be huge bucks, plus she would get cross with me for spending money we don't have.[/QUOTE]

riskyb

I want some really nice stockings or probably sacks as the things I have got are too big for stockings. John Lewis have some really cool stuff but a bit expensive. Any ideas where get lovely but cheapish sacks?

Own_My_Own

riskyb wrote: »

I want some really nice stockings or probably sacks as the things I have got are too big for stockings. John Lewis have some really cool stuff but a bit expensive. Any ideas where get lovely but cheapish sacks?

Poundland.

http://www.poundland.co.uk/christmas-gift-sack-6426

mrs-moneypenny

http://www.poundland.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/6339/

these look brill in the photo not sure what they are like in reality.

or how about bags for life in a christmassy design?

mrs-moneypenny

LOL snap! great minds think alike

wuvvies

morning all.
just been for another back massage. definately not mse as ive spent £60 on massages this week. my sciatica is so painful that i feel like i have to do something about it. i begrudge the money more than i can tell you but i never ever spend money on anything.. all clothes only bought when necessary and then from charity shops. hair really cheap and done at home. make up and products. prob about 25 pounds a year and that includes skin hair and make up. i cant moan too much. its being pro active really because if i spend this money i may be able to get back to work and earn some money.
online food shop being delivered any time now. i feel useless just sitting under blankets but my leg/back is only soothed by hot water bottles. i just watch telly all day ( and think about food)im telling myself all i need to do is the meals and washing. all the house is reasonably tidy and clean. got a doctors appt at 2pm this afternoon for a bit of a review and get a certificate to sign me off work. then my daughter is coming after school today for an hour.i asked if she would stay a bit longer and see her step dad but she knows that he wants to talk so she wouldnt do it. her step dad has brought her up since she was 4 and i thought they were close...well i thought she was my best friend but obviously i was wrong on both counts.
i love this thread so much. love seeing all your christmas things youve bought/ are doing. thanks to all those who put links up as i love seeing things ive not seen. i love the nordic blanket. i try not to spend any money as i try and ask myself do i need it. i follow someone called frugal queen ( hope im allowed to say) and she is my absolute inspiration. now i ask my self can i do without it? and 9/10 i can!!
i save all year for christmas for both presents and food so that i can splurge and really enjoy. were going to the panto and also to cadbury world. last year money so incrediably tight and we couldnt afford to use the car to go out so christmas was all about films and board games. this was brill but i soon got fed up!! this year ive scrimped and saved so that there may even be some money left for next year!! ive spent less on the big ones and explained to them...they get my presents and the same again from their dad and same again from their nan. my boy has no other family so he only gets from us. they are 18 and 16 and hes only 9 and they are good girls and said absolutely fine that he gets a bit more.
so sorry this has turned into an essay.
have a good day everyone xxx

riskyb

OMO,
I missed the conversations about what is going in your stockings but I know they will be fab. I know what you mean about spending too much time in the kitchen. I am lucky in that my MIL is going to be doing it all this xmas.
I just turn up and eat.

Own_My_Own wrote: »

I saw the teaspoons from that site at the Ideal home show. But the man wasn't selling them, they were just props. Now I know where to get them.

All presents sorted. Stockings sorted.
I still have loads to wrap. I haven't wrapped one on ds' presents yet.
I think I have about 20 things left. Am going to leave them until next Saturday and finish them off in one go.

Been through food lists. Dd was going on about the snow again when she got in. 100 days of snow she read somewhere.
I think I may get the big shop this Saturday. We have a frozen crown and beef joint anyway, so it won't hurt getting them now. Will also get some frozen roast potatoes and yorkshires.
I don't cook from fresh at Christmas anymore. I did it when the kids were younger and spent more time in the kitchen than with them.