Thrify Gifty Santas Challenge 2013,

mum2one

Hope everyone ok, spent the morning at hospital with dad - he saw a consultant with his shoulder, - got to have a minor op - they said be about July (Ah - family holiday), so asked could we swop it to Sept, bless his heart consultant was really nice no probs at all.
He's damaged a tendon in his shoulder - and got to have some of the bone shaved off, gd news 20 min op on day surgery. xx

mum2one

Its that nice time of the month, Santas Challenge....

Hope we all got spolit with Easter Eggs - should we ask if diets start now or ban that word!!!


=Birthday Side=

As were getting through they year, use this month as a chance to check Birthday cards and whether you need them or can make any... Theres 2 bank holidays in May - allow extra postage

=Presents=
As well as checking the birthday list, have a quick look at the birthday list - make sure you haven't doubled up a present, given the wrong one away, or put your supply up somewhere safe that you know where it is...

Christmas Planning

It almost feels like yesterday since it was last Christmas, and the rate time is flying at the moment soon be the Christmas catalogues coming strong and fast and tempting us to buy more

---

were thrifty girls were stronger than that (unless its the Boots offer of the week!!!)

Have a run through your Christmas list, whether its just checking cards, looking at the budget, - delve as little or as far as you need to go.

Miss Hoodies Corner
The corner where we go help!!! Miss Hoodie is being quite generous at the mo and has not suggested a cleaning challenge.........

Instead......... Pick a dish.......

Do you have a recipie that you use to love but you haven't cooked for ages... nows the time?

or

Pick a recipie book - and let the book fall open at a page (could be fate!!) and cook that recipie

or
Cook something that you have never cooked before.

As always doesn't have to be expensive or posh - even its a new flavour cupcake, or a bacon and banana sandwich.... share the taste with us.

Car Boot
The weather is suppose to getting warmer!! more car boots are being advertised, if your feeling brave - start sorting out some items for a carboot, - see if you can share the plot with a friend, (half the cost, double the eyes!)



Hopefully we've been gentle with you..... and have a good month, looking forward to hearing what food you have cooked xxx

mrs-moneypenny

thank you, nice challenges ill go through them properly later and make my plans for the month.

susan42

hahaha mum2one - bacon and banana, thought i was mad, jelly and cucumber mmmm

thanks for the challenges, i tried a new recipe today .....Nandos., wasn't that impressed actually, over rated, over priced. And Im still hungry

welcome nit nurse you sound really organised :-) soon you`ll be giving us ideas...

mrs moneypenny, stop tempting me with new things to try, spent ages learning crochet, and while it wasn't difficult, my hands refuse to do it...the joys of being to write with both hands has struck again. I just cant get my head around a leading hand. Sewing , knitting and crochet, i keep trying but no good. Yet ask me about a computer, car or anything technical, Im your girl. lol

mrs-moneypenny

i dont do technical, i was so happy when i passed my driving test as it meant i wouldnt have to drive again! after failing the 1st one i told a very dear elderly friend of mine that i was giving up, she tore a right strip off me and said if i did i was wasting my money so i promised her i would keep going till i passed, on the 5th go i did that was just under 30 years ago and ive never been tempted behind the wheel again. but as she said ive got the licence should i ever need it.
shes passed away now so im glad i kept my promise to her, she was the person i would have picked if you could choose your grandma.

whizzybee

Well I know its early but I am already stacking up on glass jars, so whether I make some chutneys, jams or simply decoupage them to give as presents, Im not really bothered! However it does reveal something about my eating habits: there are a lot of branston pickle jars, as well as shop bought jam (hoping to make this year's jam with homegrown produce!). Managed to find my christmas papercrafting stuff which I made everyones cards with last year, with some left over! So no buying any christmas cards again, especially after the lovely compliments last year!

I love baking in particular but I have been relying on the same recipes. I think I will take up the challenge and try and be a little more daring this month! Fingers crossed!

mum2one

whizzybee - gd for u collecting the jars, - were slowly doing that with ours so when we get 6 old jam jars do a batch of jam (usually cheat and use manmade marmalade), but..... do have a recipie for orange and rhubarb marmalade - tempted to try that...

Had a fab ngt 2ngt - took mum to see Gordon Smith the medium - 1st message for us..... 20 mins later he's still talking to us.
Had, my uncle, my sister, my nan, grandad, our Whisky (dog we lost 3 yrs ago) our cat from when I was a child, my mums aunties family outing. Stuff he wouldn't know

Then ..... after interval - straight to my mum - grandad came back through, he couldn't get a word in the 1st time! xx

nitnurse-not2

Thanks for the welcomes from EchoDelta, mrs-moneypenny and Susan42.:j
I have made plans to visit a car boot on the bank holiday weekend.and will be looking for old fashioned crochet doilies for a recycled Christmas gift for a lady at work
Whizzybee-What kind of recipes do you like?
I love cooking and have collected a huge amount over time. Give me a clue what your favourite things are or something for a challenge and I will see what I have that I could share if that would help towards the April challenge.:)
Still trying to master crochet :mad: as I have plans for gifts to make for 25th…..Hoping a friend at work will give me 1-1 tutorial in exchange for home made brownies.:D
Also have just booked in at "hotpotz" with my DD and BFF. We are going to paint a piece of pottery and give them as Fathers Day gifts.....It's an evening session and you can take a tipple or two....Not sure how this will turn out but a 3 hour date for friends and an end product is quite exciting
Will check in again soon......I soooooooooooo love being organised:D:D:D

mum2one

Massive apologies, nit-nurse, bit late in saying hello.

that sounds a brill idea re the crochet, for brownies, - I can do the granny square but that is it for me!

Love the sound of the brownies thou! xx

nitnurse-not2

Thanks Mum2one.:)
Choc fudge brownies:
Mix 50mls sunflower oil, 150g white suger, 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla essence.
Add 50g cocoa, 1/2 tsp baking powder and 80g plain flour.
Pour into a lined 20x20cm tin/ pyrex dish or similar.
Bake at 175C/ 335F/ gas 3 1/2 for 15 mins.
When you insert a skewer in the middle it should come out sticky.
Deeeeeeeeeeeeelish!:D:D:D:D
I have never frozen then because they do not last long enough!!!!!;)
Feel free to try and let me know what you think.xxx