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

caitlyn22

fenna wrote: »

Caitlyn22 - hope your cold goes away soon, sometimes the stress of things can bring a cold out,
you need some rest! I hope you sister has speedy recovery.

Thanks fenna, feel much better today and sister is a little brighter too. I'm grateful to have only had a few sniffles this Christmas, a few years ago OH and I both 'lost' a Christmas because we were so utterly ill. Was horrible - can't remember anything between 19th and 31st December that year! Ever since then we've had the flu jab and have been much better. But you still feel a bit cheated getting a cold after you've paid for the flu jab, even though you know it's still a logical possibility!

Good luck with the saving - the Oldstyle Board always full of good tips (be aware there are extremes of money-saving too!), and reading other people's SOAs on the Debtfree Wannabe Board is useful too. A notebook to track every penny spent helps me initially, then as many No Spend Days (NSD) as you can manage. I get quite competitive when doing this, I do love a run of NSDs!!

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

I had those same nightmares about my wedding! kept dreaing that I woke up and forgot it was my wedding day (yeah right!) and was in town shopping in jeans when I got a call saying 'where are you?' the same nigthmares I have every year that I forget its Christmas morning and trying deperately to find things to put in the kids stockings before they wake up! I think its my sub conscious having a laugh at the expense of my organisation skills!!

I have these type of dreams a lot! My other stupid dream is the one where I'm in school and I realise I haven't done any English coursework and I'm about to fail the subject because of it. So horrible - I was a total geek in school and got top marks in everything and still live the most list-filled, organised life possible! My subconscious is so cruel!! It's also incredibly arrogant, as I dream very cinematically - often I actually dream that I'm stopping and 're-shooting' what's just happened because it hasn't looked good enough! And even while dreaming I'm conscious that there's lots of long, slow shots of locations and very often, I'll see the outside of the building before a dream-scene takes place inside it, like you get in American sitcoms!!

Outfits are about all we have left to sort for the wedding (me, OH's suit, 2 x flowergirls, 1 x page boy and 1 x bridesmaid). We're getting married abroad and it's very straight-forward in terms of ceremony etc (in fact our biggest job is to keep stressing to the wedding coordinator how straightforward and simple we want everything to be!) Have saved lots doing it abroad and was tempted to splash out on my bouquet the other day but just couldn't justify the more expensive flowers when I will literally be holding it for about five minutes!

Had a productive morning making all of our meals for the next fortnight (love the winter for perfectly freezable recipes!) and just tidied up with OH so we can have a lazy night. Back to work tomorrow, so cheered ourselves up with a few episodes of Flight of the Conchords earlier, it's not new but I'd always highly recommend it, always makes me laugh!

Well done to pinksteps! :beer:

Ruth_honey

FeistyFidget wrote: »

I'm 5 foot and half an inch - that half an inch is very important

Not sure if any of you are trying to cut down on your weekly shopping costs, but for those that are (and buy at least one loaf of bread/pizza a week), I have just posted a review on my blog on a budget bread-maker. I also included a cost breakdown and the results spread over the year are shocking!

http://ramblingsofababymakingaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/cookworks-stainless-steel-bread-maker.html

I'm five foot & half an inch too! And yes, that half an inch is very important!

pinknfluffy28 wrote: »

i know exactly what you mean! i lost just under 2 stone last summer with ww, but my stomach never looked any different, yet my boobs (admitably one of my best "assets") shrank to almost nothing!! at least over christmas i seem to have increased them a bit again lol!!

had a quick look around wilkos today and picked up a wooden dolls house, half price at £7.50!! only a little one with 3 peeps and a bit of furniture but perfect for dn 3rd birthday at end of month. i also wanted that baking mag with the cadburys & golden syrup books (wanted 3 actually cos going to use books to make baking hampers) but nowhere had them, not even whsmith. Gutted

I've lost nearly four stone now and I don't think any of that is from my tummy. :mad: I've lost from my bum (I think-my swimming costume feels very saggy in that area now!), my legs, a bit from my boobs, but not a whole cup size, I don't think. But I *need* to lose from my tum/hips to drop a dress size on the bottom half. Top half is better, but upper arms still flabby.

All the decs are down now. Over the course of three days. I get depressed if they come down all in one day. Plus it takes ages to pack everything away again. Realised how dusty this place is. I'm so bad at housework.

Not having a good weekend, to be honest. Nothing compared to what some of you are going through, but DH and I are snapping at each other & I'm feeling a bit rubbish about life.

Peppapig

scottishminnie wrote: »

Question for you inventive people - I'm currently by the sea and have a dreadful habit of gathering shells. It's a bit of an addiction and I now have a beautiful apothecary jar full back home so really don't need any more. I did think though I could gather some and make a shell picture in this kind of style. What do you think? Is it a really naff idea or worth keeping gathering my treasures?

Definitely not a naff idea scottishminnie, I think it sounds lovely - go for it:T

caitlyn22

Fesity, I'm intrigued by the yeast issue! Can I ask what yeast you are using for white bread? I haven't experimented much with my breadmaker but it makes an alright (if somewhat dense) brown loaf.

Ruth_honey wrote: »

But I *need* to lose from my tum/hips to drop a dress size on the bottom half. Top half is better, but upper arms still flabby.

Not having a good weekend, to be honest. Nothing compared to what some of you are going through, but DH and I are snapping at each other & I'm feeling a bit rubbish about life.

Dresses are what bother me! Being busty (and never losing much off them, no matter what I try) means I can be sizes apart, top and bottom!

Sorry you and DH are snapping, is it just too much time together over Christmas? We're a bit like that, I joke it's OH's time of the month and he says it's eggshell time with me (as in walking on!) Think we'll benefit from other human contact this week!

fenna

caitlyn22 wrote: »

Thanks fenna, feel much better today and sister is a little brighter too. I'm grateful to have only had a few sniffles this Christmas, a few years ago OH and I both 'lost' a Christmas because we were so utterly ill. Was horrible - can't remember anything between 19th and 31st December that year! Ever since then we've had the flu jab and have been much better. But you still feel a bit cheated getting a cold after you've paid for the flu jab, even though you know it's still a logical possibility!

Good luck with the saving - the Oldstyle Board always full of good tips (be aware there are extremes of money-saving too!), and reading other people's SOAs on the Debtfree Wannabe Board is useful too. A notebook to track every penny spent helps me initially, then as many No Spend Days (NSD) as you can manage. I get quite competitive when doing this, I do love a run of NSDs!!

Had a productive morning making all of our meals for the next fortnight (love the winter for perfectly freezable recipes!) and just tidied up with OH so we can have a lazy night. Back to work tomorrow, so cheered ourselves up with a few episodes of Flight of the Conchords earlier, it's not new but I'd always highly recommend it, always makes me laugh!

Well done to pinksteps! :beer:

Oh dear that sounds terrible, why is it that the majority of the UK is ill during bank holiday period!! its not fair, we should only be ill on work's time! I have done the NSD about 1 year ago, I tried it for a few months. I think I will start a couple of these ideas to get me back on track after christmas, as it becomes quite normal to just be spending everyday and I don't think my bank balance will be able to take much more!

A fortnight of meals ready, thats amazing! I feel please with myself for having all the breakfasts and lunches ready for the next couple of days, but a fortnight! I bet you save a lot of money that way.
I would love a food calender from you!

Ruth_honey wrote: »

I'm five foot & half an inch too! And yes, that half an inch is very important!


I've lost nearly four stone now and I don't think any of that is from my tummy. :mad: I've lost from my bum (I think-my swimming costume feels very saggy in that area now!), my legs, a bit from my boobs, but not a whole cup size, I don't think. But I *need* to lose from my tum/hips to drop a dress size on the bottom half. Top half is better, but upper arms still flabby.

All the decs are down now. Over the course of three days. I get depressed if they come down all in one day. Plus it takes ages to pack everything away again. Realised how dusty this place is. I'm so bad at housework.

Not having a good weekend, to be honest. Nothing compared to what some of you are going through, but DH and I are snapping at each other & I'm feeling a bit rubbish about life.

Sorry to all the people that are taking the decorations down today, I did mine at New year to get it out the way, with going back to work so soon after new year, I couldn't bare to keep them up. Just focusing on making sure that this year is even better than the last.

Who's watching Got to Dance or Dancing On Ice tonight?

bay-tree-cottage

Kayandy I had to come out of the lurking cupboard to tell you to be comfortable with whatever you choose. The day is very special so enjoy it.

My first wedding was totally over the top and very traditional, big dress, top hat & tails, 2 gold rolls and 6 bridesmaids with a church and bells on top. It must have cost my late dad a fortune but he was very showy and it was equally his day (didn't get much of a say in any of it.)

Forward 8 years (1st marriage lasting only 3 yrs) and I met and married my soul mate. It was a lovely wedding and frugal. Register Office, Hired outfits, Immediate family only (daughters had bridesmaid dresses from earlier that year for my Sil wedding), Tesc* cake (2 tiers) and a christmas dinner in a local hotel. It was nice to be myself and not feel stressed but I still felt like a princess wearing a special dress.

So be comfortable and be yourself in your choice x

FeistyFidget

caitlyn22 wrote: »

Fesity, I'm intrigued by the yeast issue! Can I ask what yeast you are using for white bread? I haven't experimented much with my breadmaker but it makes an alright (if somewhat dense) brown loaf.

I used to use the easybake yeast sachets like this;



You just chuck it in - admittedly the bread is lovely, but a little dense. Since the shopping mix up, I use this;



Unlike the easybake, this one needs to be activated in hot water first. Whatever the liquid quantity for the recipe is add 1/3 boiling water to 2 parts cold - dissolve the required sugar in the water, stir in the yeast and then cover with a tea cosy (or similar) for 15 minutes. Stir the frothy mix and then add to the mix - beautiful fluffy bread

Trendyjenny

wow nearly 10 pages to catch up on !!!

Congratulations to those still sticking to no smoking, i've never smoked and trying to give up ail biting. not as bad but definietly as frustrating. :j

NOt sure can do individual comments yet so sorry if this gets bit of ramble.

congratulations on new baby OMO

Pinknfluffy - you could stitch onto mobile phone covers, t-shirts or scarf

mrs bunny - do you have pj cover sewig pattern ?

elc have toy sale on at mo - got lovely metal detector yesterday for nephew - half price

disney store have few bits too.

also bought couple of minnie mouse items from boots.

Need to get ready for school tomorrow, been putting it off. i always seem to become more organised when back at work. took down tree so feel a bit flat. :eek:

thanks for all your advice re wedding money
saw a lovely cushion could make with wording on. :T
still debating about money tho !

Hanley25

nic2075 wrote: »

Something like this Scottishminnie

I love these!

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

Hanley great news!!! was only complaining yesterday about the amount of PPI claim and accident compensation emails Im pestered with, and now look! you have benefitted and am really pleased for you - if it was me I'd split it 4 ways, I'd save some, pay off something with some, buy something we needed for the house/car repairs etc with some, then with the rest I'd take us out for a lovely meal and blow some on buying us all some treats!

I must admit I was always moaning about the phone calls and text messages, but after one of my friends was awarded £3000, I decided to listen to the next caller. :rotfl:

So glad I did now.

Pinksteps wrote: »

:eek: I've lost 6lb this week :eek:

Not sure where lol

I'm guessing it is mainly water that you lose in the first week but still, it's given me a smile from ear to ear.

I can honestly say it was with help from the fitbit ladies on here and from tomorrow I'm going to step it up a notch

Congratulations. That's fantastic. :T

Own_My_Own

Not a lot happening here.

Took back the mobile my Dad got Robbie as it didn't go round. New one being delivered in 4 days. Picked up dd this mirror in Boots. Been looking at it for a couple of years now. Yes I said years.:rotfl:
But it has gone down to £16 so finally got it.

http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Illuminated-Make-up-Mirror-Exclusive-to-Boots_1281203/

And ds has finally found the Christmas sweets. They have been on view since 20th Dec.:rotfl:
All you can hear coming from the kitchen is 'Oh lovely', 'Oh I'll have some of them', 'Oh they look nice' .:rotfl:

Oh and it's nice to know that at 5ft 5 I am finally tall.
Only not in this house - ds 6ft, dd 5ft 8