Thrify Gifty Santas Challenge 2013,

lushlifesaver

Just popping in to say how gutted I am to have missed this thread until now! Will be lurking and maybe occasionally posting between now and Christmas 2013 ready to leap in with both feet for 2014

susan42

Hi everyone,

mum2one - love the sound of the mint vodka

Laura - well done on making the cards, I try to do all mine but I`m a bit behind


echo - Mrs Claus Magic Milkshake

I`m sure I`m cracking up , spent all day wrapping xmas presents. Thats a job I hate taken care of out the way

I`ll pop back later, I just realised I`ve got a PM . Lovely

rufusdog52

susan42 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

mum2one - love the sound of the mint vodka

Laura - well done on making the cards, I try to do all mine but I`m a bit behind


echo - Mrs Claus Magic Milkshake

I`m sure I`m cracking up , spent all day wrapping xmas presents. Thats a job I hate taken care of out the way

I`ll pop back later, I just realised I`ve got a PM . Lovely

You're good Susan, getting things wrapped up, I dont have the space for wrapped things at the moment, they would get ruined by Christmas as OH has a tendency to chuck the bed covers up on top of the wardrobe where all the gifts are stashed

laura16_2

mum2one wrote: »

Laura16 - the mint vodka - used 1/4 bottle of vodka and added 8 wethers mints into in, gone a white colour, there dissolved already.

I do it in small batches to try (got a few 5cl bottles) as that way if rank not wasted any.
Success - toffee (use smartprice asda toffee) fudge (cheap and cheerful again), skittles only used red and orange,

fails - mixed skittles (brown), fruit pastilles (went into jelly).

Hope everyone ok xx

Brilliant I'll have to have a go I think those would make great gifts for my friends I especially like the idea of the toffee one.

Does it keep ok?

susan42 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

mum2one - love the sound of the mint vodka

Laura - well done on making the cards, I try to do all mine but I`m a bit behind

I don't actually send that many so it's not quite as large of a tax as you might think

x

mum2one

I've got some toffee that I made last year, still ok, thou once there given for gifts they get drink quickly...
I use supermarket Basics/value vodka - as added flavours take the bitterness from it. x

mum2one

While I'm being organsied.... Been Xmas shopping with Grandad Hoodie!
Home Bargains - box of candy canes - 79p for 12, Aero Bars in Mint pack of 5 + 2 free - (we're using them for base of Santa Sleigh)

Cardwarehose - got an array of xmas cards - but noticed our branch has stopped doing the big Xmas cards for 99p..but good point the large 4 bags for £1 there was a beautiful winter tree scene (look more expensive)

Best bargains - Claires - there sale rack 5 things for £5 - bit hit and miss, but I got 10 things - folder, notebook, earrings, and scarfs - the original prices were £8+ so great bargains for anyone who has girls to get. xx

(ps Miss Hoodie putting last min touches to Santas Challenge - up later) xx

rufusdog52

Well done Mum2one, great bargains. I got a bargain too earlier, bought a book on the Works for 3.99 that was £12 odd on Amazon and they had a free delivery code on there. Its a cook book and I am going to make up a food hamper to go with it like I did for my son last year but doing it for my daughter this year instead.

I finished off the two other bags today, thats another two presents done, checked my list and all the girls are sorted apart from my two daughters, I just have the three boys to get for and am waiting to use nectar card and a voucher for sainsb to get theirs. I can also use any left over for food for the hampers. Going to do just a basic food hamper for the other daughter as think she would like one of those.

OH will be sorted I think as can use my amazon vouchers to get his bits, he has sent me links which I have saved to my wish list.

Anglea

Hi again everyone

Hello lushlifesaver :j

Willow, thanks for telling me about the 'minions' I had no idea and started wondering if mum2one had just misspelled 'mittens' lol

That's a good idea using wonderweb before stitching over the top.

That bloke I was seeing and said had gone awol, his friend was on his way to see him on Saturday and persuaded me to go round there to sort things out (one way or other) but it looks like I've just complicated for myself (I never learn) so now it looks as though it's back to square one as he's in a strange state. I should have just told him it was over but I didn't and I expect I'll end up in the same position as before seeing him - with him awol again. Had more dramas with the male friend that is always texting (met him on Friday), apart from that I spent Sunday at a charity fundraiser at a local pub which was good fun.

Monday late afternoon I called into the pub for a coffee while I was out shopping and came across lots of people I knew so was a bit longer than expected and completely forgot about a special occasions related thing I was meant to do as friend said he'd go into Tescos for me and it wasn't until I was walking home that I remembered what else I needed from there.

It was good reading what you've all been up to with the challenges, seen the recent photos and caught up with the posts.

I don't know why, but those envelopes I need for the collages are impossible to get hold of down here, even the post office where I used to get them doesn't seem to have them now.

What I need is A5, white, with the opening on the long edge. Have you seen them anywhere?

Also, does Tesco still have the thick paper catalogues?

mum2one

Where does the time go, can't believe were in September already, 3 months today and we're be the most organised people (positive thoughts, wine bottle, chocs) and thinking of the year ahead.

Christmas Cards
Now is the time to start sorting those Christmas cards out, even if you start a list and break it down into sections, family, post, street, and size....... Time to buy any we need while theres still a good choice out and about. Once you have the list ready, then divide them into smaller chunkc, even if it is write 5 a week

Where am I
Hopefully by now we will have a rough idea of whether your cooking Christmas dinner for 2 or 22, or your being spolit and having dinner cooked for you.
Grab the Other half, the family, etc and sit them down with diaries, calenders etc, get in there first and put your dates in there - add others in as as and when so you know that your not double booked

Christmas Dinner
What you add into the meal planning depends on what you need to where you are and any plans, but aim for a meal plan,
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
New Years eve
New years Day

Is there much extra you need to get - spit the dry items into the weekly shopping.

Things You May need
This may sound mad but......
Toilet Roll - if you have extra visitors
Air Fresher (small room)!!
Coffee, Tea, Sugar - these can go down so quickly
Batteries - remote controllers usually triple A, cameras double A


kids toys - i know we can't control if anyone else buys them, but if we do check whether they need batteries as most don't come with them

Appointments[/COLOR]
I'm not suggesting booking the doctors appointment just yet!!
hair dressers (get in before the queues)
Dentist - Is your 6 monthly check up due......

First Aid / Medicines/Emergency Kit
The last thing we want is any accidents or illness at any time of the year, but now the time to have a look at what we have in stock, everyone may need different items.. a few thoughts
Plasters
Paracetamol
Asprin
Throat Sweets
Lemsip (or alternative brands!!!)
Torch - Keep one by the fuse box, bedroom, - you can get the basic squeeze to charge for £1
Candles - (Romantic uses as well allowed!!)
Matches - If you have a gas cooker and the igntion switch goes
Tealights - Power cut

There may be other things you think of that you need.

[COLOR="DarkRed" Cooking[/SIZE]
If you get chance, see if you can cook a double up meal, and put some in the freezer - whether thats a Shepherds Pie, Casserole etc - so that if your running late you can zap a meal in the microwave / oven.

=Miss Hoodies Corner
It wouldn't be a challenge without a Miss Hoodie clean - this time its the book shelf/dvd unit - not just a clean but a little clear out - have you kept the DVD just incase you want it (still there 6 mths later), same for books.

Stocking Fillers / Christmas Eve Hampers
Whether you are doing a stocking or a Christmas Eve Hamper, share any tips or secrets, what do you find works for you and your family, is there anything you would change?.


As always please treat it as a pick and mix, hope there a little something for everyone xx

rufusdog52

Anglea wrote: »

Hi again everyone


I don't know why, but those envelopes I need for the collages are impossible to get hold of down here, even the post office where I used to get them doesn't seem to have them now.

What I need is A5, white, with the opening on the long edge. Have you seen them anywhere?

Anglea, do you mean the envelopes that are like you would put a card in? If so then look on card making supplies, you would probably get them online from Craft Creations. If you want to search online the envelopes are called C5, I think this is because they are slightly bigger than an A5 page so you can fit them inside.

Hope this helps xx