Thrify Gifty Santas Challenge 2013,

mum2one

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

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who was it lost a large amount of cards a while ago, did they ever resurface?

Have to confess it was me, lost a box of 500 cards..... the great big hole of the loft - they were missing in action for 2 yrs!!

Working our way through them, thou have sold some at carboot last yr, designs didn't like!! still got a wack of them left xx

mum2one

I'm so cruel to Miss Hoodie, were away at wend for her bday, although she has had her main present (had notebook off mum, dad and me), we've packed a few bits to go, and she had her bigger bits, got 3 piece luggage set, trolley case, small suitcase, and the bag - all in Union jack, (mse - half price in Argos!!!), theres a box left, couldn't let her open in as new hi-fi system - (yes half price Argos...(I should be commisson or discount!!)) but it says that it has an iphone/ipod docking station, - her surprise gift is an ipod, she tried quizzing me, and I "gave the game away" told he it was a lampshade...... She'll get that Monday....

Schools on strike on Tuesday, shes pleased with an extra day off, so were going 10 miles up the road to little market town...

Had a brilliant ngt - took her to see "ha ha Holmes was meant to be dad coming with me, but long story she ended up coming, I have never seen her laugh so much, even i'd got tears down my eyes.

Susan - love the trip out and come back with 2 cars..... dont forget you need to test the boot out for shopping!!

xx

redbooties

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

I've written my Christmas card list but keep remembering people I've missed, once I have the full list completed I'll check how many cards I need and write them out. My problem isn't usually writing them out, it's sending them. Nearly every year I've had to run around Christmas Eve posting them, last year and year before I completely forgot about the Christmas cards and they were still in the boot of the car on new year


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

I'm either cooking for 4 or 5, it depends if my niece who has just moved in stays with me or makes things up with her mum. I haven't got any dates for my diary so there is no chance of m e being 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.

We have steak and chips Christmas Eve, Christmas Day is just a normal Sunday roast with a couple of extra veg and some alcohol

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

I'm always stocked up with the above all year round.

Appointments
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......

I only go to the hairdressers once a year because I hate anyone touching my hair, so I'll bite the bullet and have it done next month so I beat the Christmas rush

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.

Already done.

Cooking
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.

I'll start doing that this week and I'm going to aim for a weeks worth of meals in the freezer so if I become ill or something else crops up it will just be a case of defrosting and heating a homemade meal from the freezer.

=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.

Not really one for DVDs but I do have loads of films recorded on the sky + box which I need to watch/delete to make room for the Christmas programmes.

My books I donate to friends, family or charity shops as soon as I read them.

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?.

I'm doing a Christmas Eve hamper:-
Pjs/onesie
Book/magazine
Bath bomb from lush
Toothbrush
Snowman soup
Chocolate
Christmas DVD

starlight29

hi
today im feeling pleased with myself lol i went in home bargains and found a set of 2 blank canvases with paints for doing young childrens handprints £ 3.49 my little boy has autism hes almost 3 and its hard to know what to do as presents from him for his grandparents and aunti so i used the set he wasnt overly happy about me putting his hand in the paint but i managed quick they look fab and while the paint was wet i sprinkled some glitter over the handprints they look like true works of art and will make fab christmas presents ive also nearly finished the scarf im knitting my sister ive finished knitting my dads and little mans next im onto my mums and daughters and then ive got 2 monkeys to crochet im loving home made gifts this year im going to make home made sweets nearer the time too.

happy thrifty gifty person today

starlight

EchoDelta

Ooh thanks for the challenge!

mum2one wrote: »

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

Supplies obtained for making some cards with Small. I also have some bought cards that I got in the sales last year for the others. I'm actually really sad and like writing cards so happy to save that job for later on - lovely evening watching a Christmas filma dn writing cards! Have popped a note in my work calendar though to remind me to do this towards the end of November.

mum2one wrote: »

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

Hmmm still undecided. I need my sister to decide if she is coming down south for Christmas or not. I will mither her now!

mum2one wrote: »

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.

Good plan. I think Mr Delta has started a bit of stocking up with sweets (he hides them otherwise I scoff them ) so will ask him re this. Especially batteries!

mum2one wrote: »

Appointments
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......

Dentist booked for the end of November and I cut my own hair so have got this covered!

mum2one wrote: »

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.

Genius - thank you for the reminder!

mum2one wrote: »

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.

mum2one wrote: »

=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.

I've been looking at our DVD shelf lately thinking how mad it is that we have all of them when we only ever watch stuff via the hard drive! Thank you Miss Hoody for the kick up the bum needed to get rid of at least some of them!

mum2one wrote: »

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?.

This year in Small's stocking we are going with small Schleich style animals, a few dressing up bits (hat, masks), a juice box (thirsty work that delays breakfast!), few snacky bits to nibble on (sesame bars - nothing too messy for in bed!). We also have an advent calendar with pockets in so have some little soaps and animals for in that, couple of lego figures etc. All from the Bay of Flea so nice and cheap. Will fill gaps with chocolate coins.

rufusdog52

Starlight, that sounds like a lovely present with the painting xx

mrs-moneypenny

i agree starlight those handprint paintings sound like they will be treasured

willow_loulou

I love hand print canvases I did one with my 2 and the dog a few years ago I love it so much.

I have a boc of Christmas cards I bought in February for 50p - I had intended to get my parents ones in the Card Factory but alas I didnt like the choice much but they are getting more this week so will go again Friday.

Dinner will hopefully be at my parents new place so all I have to buy for the day is stuffing mixes and a pudding. Not sure what sorts yet. I have a back up if we end up at ours which will be scrambled eggs and salmon YUM!

The rest of the weeks food is usually slow cooker foods and pasta which works around the children going to their dads and reheats/cooks quickly. I am hoping Boxing day will have a decent film on at the cinema as that is where I usually go when the kids are away - its been pants for a couple of years.

SugarSpun

Hello all - sorry I have been MIA but my excuse is impeccable.

My son was born on the 20th. He was 8lbs 4 and is lovely, although excruciatingly hungry - he feeds nonstop, I feel like a one-woman dairy operation. Which I suppose I am, really. A picture will follow once I get my own laptop back, it broke a couple of weeks ago, terrible timing.

I have done some online shopping today - the Works had some great bargains, then there's the Gordon Ramsay book for a fiver ... I am preparing for 2014 already :eek:

Christmas Cards

The list is made but in the broken laptop I am waiting for my DH to repair the fan. I won't write them until I have taken cute pictures of the children to put in them though

Where am I
We'll be at home just the four of us, and a large gathering at our local Chinese on the 26th.

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 - dinner will be lasagne as DH has finally fessed up to hating the reindeer pasta bake we've had in years past...
Christmas Day - dim sum brunch, then roast meat and the good stuff for early dinner.
Boxing Day - giant Chinese lunch, sandwiches for dinner
New Years eve and New years Day will both just be regular days.

Everything we're getting is fresh so will need to wait.

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

We have rechargeable batteries, and I don't imagine we'll need loads of extras. DH is a loo roll hoarder so we never drop below ~8 spare rolls.

First Aid / Medicines/Emergency Kit

All stocked up

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.

Freezer is full! I made loads of stuff for post-birth but with my mum here none of it is getting eaten.

=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.

NONONONONO I am not unhoarding 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?.

My secret tip for kids' stockings is to have two identical per kid. Fill one in advance and hide it, ceremoniously hang the empty one before bed in the bedroom, then sneak in and swap the empty and full ones rather than having to fill it on the day.

Christmas Eve hamper contains Christmas jammies for everyone plus snacks and a DVD.

rufusdog52

Congratulations Sugarspun, doesnt seem that long ago I was saying it for your last one lol xxxx