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

freespirit66

pigpen wrote: »

Pixtotts.. My nanna was like that too.. one year she pushed to get all her cards written and presents wrapped then she died in 11th December.. we still all had cards and presents from her that year which was sad but wonderful to think that even after she was gone she still gave us gifts.. I kept my cards and still put them up each year, it is 9 year since she left us.

Oh PIGPEN that is sad and uplifting at the same time, bless her

nic2075 wrote: »

Morning. Good luck to Mr Fiesty, hope they get some answers x
Thanks for the links to the zombie movie thing, I've ordered it for my Oh.
My New Years resolution is to not let others bring me down. I have a woman in my life causing my anxiety. I'd love to not see her again, but I need so see her twice a week at my daughters dance class. It's bringing me down. I'm trying not to let her bother me. But she is messaging me on fb and the dance teacher is involved now (someone else told her the issues, but the other mum thinks it was me) I'm scared to open her message.
We are putting our tree up on Sunday. We usually do it the first week of Dec. but we have a busy week and a busier weekend. I have al, the decs looked out ready.
I just need to find our elves and get advent calanders already for their arrival on the 1st

Oh NIC have things still not got better with that dreadful woman? She really is poison that you do not need in your life, i cant believe someone has got the dance teacher involved. Just keep your chin up, if you dont want to read the message just delete it out of your life, if you do, dont argue back with her, just message back something plain and simple 'please do not message me again' stay dignified, karma will get her in the end my lovely. Sending you lots of hugs, and dont let her get you down she really isnt worth it.

polarexpress wrote: »

Hello everyone. I am new to mse and have just found your lovely thread! I hope you dont mind the intrusion but I just wanted to quickly introduce myself and say hello as it is lovely to find people who seem to be as christmas obsessed as I am!
I am a married mum of two girls, running my own small business. I have joined mse as we intend to have all our remaining debts cleared by Dec 2014 (except the mortgage!) and need all the inspiration we can get! Christmas is always a very big deal in our house, my dh works away a lot and we always look forward to a guaranteed 2 weeks as a whole family over christmas!
I am going to put my decorations up on Thursday, its my birthday, and as I have just been given the all clear from a nasty illness, I intend to celebrate my big day by indulging in all things festive! My dh says its way too early, but he's away so he doesnt get a say!
I now intend to loose the rest of this afternoon by reading back over some over this threads many many posts!

Hello POLAREXPRESS (love the name) and welcome to our lovely thread, you are not intruding in any way, ahh that will be a lovely way to celebrate your birthday, congratulations on getting the all clear you must be so relieved

FeistyFidget

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Feisty look at your list and think - what is the worst thing that will happen if I don't do that one. I bet you can cross half of it off.
I don't cook a single for Christmas from scratch and we don't have a tree, but we still enjoy it. A bought mince pie will not ruin the big day.

You are 100% right - I will only end up spoiling Christmas for myself if I start trying to aim for perfection. Life is messy, Christmas is about family and friends, not who can bake the biggest homemade spread and make the most gifts!

pixtotts wrote: »

I went mia again sorry... no reason, no excuse, but I've been about... just been a bit meh, this stupid cold is doing my nut in, and men issues, seems to be a popular problem in here, though mine much more trivial I'm only 24 no children, no marriage, no financial commitments... actually the first two are nothing to do with age I don't plan on ever doing either of them....My ex wouldn't leave Leeds for me 3 years into a relationship... 18 months since we split and he's left the country for a girl! Urgh! Yeah I'm bitter it's the only reason we split up.. Actually I just have it in for myself.. because the guy I went on a couple of dates with during the summer I won't see until Christmas... why.. because he's a student.. Why do I do this... anyway... sorry rambling (otherwise known as avoiding doing stuff)..

Well today I have to go to my Grandmas and make Christmas Cake, and wrap all her presents and write all her cards, you would think it was Christmas next week the way she's been going on at us to go do them! I've finally given in now were just a month away... my issue is no tree yet, so nowhere to put the wrapped pressies .
"She keeps saying you never know what might happen by Christmas we want to get them done" I can't fathom what might happen that would make it really matter if we got presents wrapped or not

Also going to try to get properly into the Christmassy mood I have a decopatch decoration to finish, and hope get the sewing machine out if I have time saw some really cute Christmas decorations that inspired me I tried to describe them but figured this is easier - http://www.ditsydodo.co.uk/images/detailed/2/vintage_fabric_reindeers.jpg
I have buttons, I have some tweed that I'm planning on using as the main body, it's just the fabric on top that I'm hoping to find at grans, she used to have some that was green with little gold holly leaves which I thought was perfect fingers crossed I can find some scraps... But I really need to get it done if I'm doing it because I used to have a blog, it's kind of lay dormant for a while, but for the past couple of years I've taken part in ornament swaps and the posting date is the 30th and I wanted to send one of these with what I've already bought

Ooh some of you are arty clever people... is it possible to do freehand machine embroidery without an embroidery foot? I think it is... but I've yet to try and of course the internet likes to tell you you need everything for everything...
x

I am loving that link. Bless your dear Nan, you have just reminded me I need to offer up my Christmas card writing services to my Nan - she has alzheimers and is in a care home - I better warn the family I'm doing it or else she will have lots of doubled up cards lol

freespirit66 wrote: »

Morning everyone,

NANAMIA oh no blooming technology, hope you manage to speak to her xx oh god your finger must be painful i am a nightmare with glue guns, i still have to do my chocolate cone tree yet with the gun, i need some glue sticks though have run out i have got one more thing to bake today then that is it, glad you found the recipes, mmm mince pies, since i put mine in the freezer i have been craving them haha. Oh no poor you having to watch christmas films and read christmas stories i feel so sorry for you :rotfl:Hope DS friend gets results and answers very soon.

FEISTY there is still a month to go my lovely dont beat yourself up about it, sending lots of get the tests done today vibes to DH and yourself and that you start getting answers xxx

Thank you everyone for the good luck vibes - he's having it done right now.

Nana, I really hope you get to speak to your DGD

Well I managed to get most of DH pressies ordered off of Amazon this morning We have set a strict budget of £50 as we are broke, so hopefully he likes what he's got!

freespirit66

I know a few people thought the coal sweets were a bit expensive, just found this on Pinterest if anyone is interested:

http://www.bigredkitchen.com/2010/12/advent-day-1-christmas-coal/

pixtotts

freespirit66 - Thanks x. My gran is exactly like that! Cake didn't get made, and a few pressies left to do so off there again Monday to finish the rest off.

pigpen aww bless your nanna, that's really cute. I'm sure people know you know.. when they are going to go... my nanny started a savings account for me that she was going to save until my 21st, then she gave me it randomly for my 19th and she died the new year following. I'm saving it for something special (Which reminds me 5 years later I still haven't removed her as trustee everything still gets sent to her oops!).

nic2075 I think that is a very good resolution to have I think you should make it a December resolution not a new year one though x

polarexpress :xmastree: :santa2: Welcome! :santa2: :xmastree:
I think you'll fit right in here and I do hope your name is after the film because I absolutely adore that film!!
*( I've been playing and clicked reply instead of going quick reply for a change learnt how to do all the smilies !) *

FeistyFidget They are cute aren't they! It took a great deal of self control not to just buy them, but I know I should be able to make them . Aww bless, doubling up of cards might not be so strange my gran liked last years cards so much mum keeps teasing her about putting them all up again this year! lol.

I can't believe its half 4 already...(this is where you find out how long it takes me to write my replies, I'm a bit of a perfectionist actually unwrapped and re wrapped a present earlier because I decided it looked messy !)... It's one of those days where I feel like I've done loads, and nothing at all, got about 80% of grans presents done, we ran out of gift tags I said we could make it a lucky dip... but she didn't seem so keen on that idea lol. Written her cards, made a list of all she's bought so far, and the few bits and bobs still to get, cheese board and those kind of things that it's a bit early yet.

I'm just taking a min and doing a bit of secret santa research actually maybe you guys could help... Budget of £10, I have spent about £5 so far, have a wine bottle puzzle thing (actually cheating there we were given it last year but we'd been bought one before they just end up chucked in a room somewhere so we never even took this one out of the box !) and going to get my dad to bottle up a bottle of home made wine to go in it.... I'm a massive cheat... and I've bought a Emma Bridgewater style mug (home bargains only £1! !). It all feels a little disjointed now though £5 left... few ideas but none helping with the disjointedness... nailvarnish set (£4 something on offer debenhams < oh thats worth mentioning debenhams have something % off beauty and fragrance gifts!), getting instagram photos printed into a little book, or a photoalbum, or lush bath bomb
Kind of feel that the last £5 or 6 needs to go on something more proper presenty... I know my one friend has got a slate chalkboard and made the other £5 up with sweets! Cheat or what!
X

Edit - look at that half hour to write this oops...

Oh or another option for SS is a guinea pig cross stitch... she loves animals I've actually got a little foody bit for her guinea pigs too

mrs-moneypenny

evening all

have back read but not taken a lot in or remembered who said what (sorry)

hugs good wishes and positive vibes to all who need them.
special supporting hugs to those who have poorly loved ones to worry about.

will catch up better tomorrow

craftymummy_2

Sorry I've not posted for a while, I've been reading tho every day. Big hugs to all who need them. As for ex's, I don't have one but I had to deal with OH's ex for the last 14 yrs...what a b*tch!! She would always use SS and SD against OH, it worked a bit with SD (but she's quite like her mother anyway...) but SS moved in with us when he was 16, he's 20 now. she still tries to (and manages sometimes) to emotionally blackmail them, she makes them call her now husband dad (which really :mad: as OH has always been there for them, had half of every holiday, could never have them on Xmas day, went on school trips, parents evenings etc so it's not like he wasn't there). I really hope karma will bite her on her !!!....
Anyway, on a Christmassy note: I've done lemon curd, marmalade ( mixed a small amount with homemade elderflower cordial, trying to make the one like you can get from ikea) and made some sugared nuts today.
Bought some fresh cranberries, coz they look so Christmassy, but I'm not sure what to do with them? Any ideas? Got about 200gr.
FF - don't beat yourself up about having the perfect Christmas, you'll have your OH with you and that will make it perfect the rest will fall into place

Peppapig

Polarexpress - welcome to the fun and festivity that is this thread and I hope you have a fab time putting the decs up (I won't be far behind you)

Craftymummy - I almost bought cranberries today too because they looked so fabulously festive but, like you, I wasn't quite sure what to do with them. Hoping someone pops up soon who can tell us.

blue_eyed_girl

Didn't manage to get Mums cards done on Sunday but I have done them today :dance:

I need to sort a couple of our cards out that have to go to Australia and the rest [STRIKE]might[/STRIKE] will get done by the weekend. (fingers crossed). DH usually offers to help - this is not a good idea. Ideally I like to settle myself down surrounded by cards, lists and address book with DH bringing a steady supply of caffeine

I have read everyone's posts but cannot remember what I wanted to say now so I will send some hugs to anyone who needs them.

Take care everyone

b_e_g

freespirit66

Evening everyone, i made the mint choc loaf cake today, i cant make the icing until it comes out of the freezer, that is all the baking i am going to do now, and the 3rd of my tasks completed this week now i have got to sort a list of cleaning, where i have been concentrating on baking my house is awful

craftymummy wrote: »

Sorry I've not posted for a while, I've been reading tho every day. Big hugs to all who need them. As for ex's, I don't have one but I had to deal with OH's ex for the last 14 yrs...what a b*tch!! She would always use SS and SD against OH, it worked a bit with SD (but she's quite like her mother anyway...) but SS moved in with us when he was 16, he's 20 now. she still tries to (and manages sometimes) to emotionally blackmail them, she makes them call her now husband dad (which really :mad: as OH has always been there for them, had half of every holiday, could never have them on Xmas day, went on school trips, parents evenings etc so it's not like he wasn't there). I really hope karma will bite her on her !!!....
Anyway, on a Christmassy note: I've done lemon curd, marmalade ( mixed a small amount with homemade elderflower cordial, trying to make the one like you can get from ikea) and made some sugared nuts today.
Bought some fresh cranberries, coz they look so Christmassy, but I'm not sure what to do with them? Any ideas? Got about 200gr.
FF - don't beat yourself up about having the perfect Christmas, you'll have your OH with you and that will make it perfect the rest will fall into place

Peppapig wrote: »

Polarexpress - welcome to the fun and festivity that is this thread and I hope you have a fab time putting the decs up (I won't be far behind you)

Craftymummy - I almost bought cranberries today too because they looked so fabulously festive but, like you, I wasn't quite sure what to do with them. Hoping someone pops up soon who can tell us.

CRAFTYMUMMY the kids will realise one day what she is really like, PEPPAPIG & CRAFTYMUMMY i know it sounds a bit obvious but i used to make my own cranberry sauce (then i got a life ) no seriously its so easy and really nice, i have never used them for anything else, sorry.

NANAMIA thinking of you today, hope you got to speak to DGD1

craftymummy_2

Freespirit, have you got an easy recipe, one that will last too as I'd like to give them as Xmas presents. Thanks