Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

CountingPennies

Mojoworking wrote: »

I am trying to save £2 coins although these are like hen's teeth at the mo.

I used to save £2 coins, but i hardly ever had them, and sometimes when i did i really needed that £2 and never ended up saving it!

I have a tin of 20p pieces now. I'm always sticking 20p in. I don't miss 20p and the tin is building up nicely. I'm hoping to have a nice surprise amount once i've filled it

joedenise

The reason where aren't many £2 coins about is because so many people are saving them! (including me)

Denise

Prudent

joedenise wrote: »

The reason where aren't many £2 coins about is because so many people are saving them! (including me)

Denise

I am saving them too. I got an advent Calendar from the Dot.com gift shop in their January sale. The little drawers are just a perfect size for a £2 coin and a wrapped chocolate

Mojoworking

I saw that sale but I just had no money and really wanted one of the advent calendars - however I ended up getting the moshi monster one which went down a storm - I think if they did one this year that would b the way to go again. Although DD 8 is now into Harry Potter so that will be a challenge!

Prudent

I have to confess I was a bit disappointed with the advent Calendar at first as it had been reduced from £20, I had thought it would be wooden. It is strong cardboard though, so will hopefully last a few years. I enjoy the challenge of finding tiny things for the drawers. The two larger draws already are filled with some free samples.

MrsChristmas

Many thanks for all the Christmassy dvd ideas for the children. I was an eighties kid but can't remember watching The Box of Delights so will be looking into this, keeping an eye out at carboots,charity shops & ebay ect as it will be as much as a treat for me as it is for them.
I also liked the Beethoven suggestion but one of my DD's gets so emotional when it comes to watching animal programmes... (she has to leave the room when the dogs trust advert comes on the tv because she can't stand the thought of an animal being mistreated) Very sweet, but puts christmassy animal movies out of the question as I want her to be happy!!

I really love the way how beautifully decorated an American house is portrayed in the movies but need MSE ideas on how to produce this. My 1st aim is.... the bathroom of all places! It always seems to get over looked during the winter & I would like to continue the flow of warmth & festivities into there. Shower curtain & matching bath mat, toilet seat cover are such expensive options (shipping from the USA :eek:) I'm hoping to find a cheap uk site having a clearance & be looking at other ideas.

2 more bargain buys arrived from Ebay yesterday for my best friends, East of India gifts for 0.99p each,combined postage, so THAT'S THEM DONE (I'm decluttering my house & selling it on ebay & buying the presents I need for family & friends this way) Not making any money but not spending any either.

Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, nearly forgot! Went to a car boot on Sunday & added to my Christmas box of goodies... I managed to find the matching milk jug to a set I have, brand new, still in it's original box, for £1 & from the same seller, a gingerbread beautology set (always on my wish list as I am gingerbread man theme ~CRAZY~ but a little to expensive to buy myself as a gift) again brand new, but an unwanted xmas present :eek: for £2 :T Very happy with that mornings work :T

miss_emmajane

MrsChristmas wrote: »

I really love the way how beautifully decorated an American house is portrayed in the movies but need MSE ideas on how to produce this. My 1st aim is.... the bathroom of all places! It always seems to get over looked during the winter & I would like to continue the flow of warmth & festivities into there. Shower curtain & matching bath mat, toilet seat cover are such expensive options (shipping from the USA :eek:) I'm hoping to find a cheap uk site having a clearance & be looking at other ideas.

I love American houses at Christmas, when everything follows the same theme including bathrooms. I have also looked at the matching bathroom sets on eBay and wished they weren't so expensive to ship over but my thought was to get a berry coloured set for the winter, and Christmas scented products for the bath/shower/basin, perhaps a Christmas scented candle and Christmas printed toilet roll (I am sure ALDI did that last year!). I would love to hear any ideas you come up with, have you watched any Christmas house tours on YouTube from America - I love this one (though not OS),

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EIS8NUOTOk

I went to the car boot sale on Sunday and got a gorgeous and really well made Christmas fleece blanket for £1. Was chuffed as I can just imagine us tucked up on the couch under it, and the quality will last for years :T Also got a Christmas scented yankee candle in their two for one online offer on Bank Hol Monday alongside others for gifts.

Got a couple more presents in the Next clearance section of their website but that is all, forgot all about my planning as soon as the sun came out!

whitesatin

I am looking forward to looking on You Tube at the American houses but we can create just as good a look and atmosphere. I like to see other folks' ideas but at the end of the day, I have lots of things I have collected in my travels over the years which mean something to me and I want to get those out every year. I like natural things which needed cost too much.

BTW, just ordered a few of the suggested DVDs from Amazon "New and Used". About 1p each plus £1.26 p&P. Cheaper than the charity shops.

My grandchildren love to snuggle up on the sofa and watch movies before Christmas, as well as listen to stories and being a bit in awe of The Elf on the Shelf. They absolutely love The Singing Kettle Christmas Party. So dated, so daft but they ask for it all year round, they love it so much. Also, the Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree.

Two of them start school this September so my time with them will be more limited so I intend to make the most of them when I have them. Baking, making things. Can't wait!

Margaret54

Hi all:) Lovely reading all the posts. I have bought most of the presents in sales throughout the year, cards were bought in January in a sale, kept last years cards to make into gift tags, would like to sew some little Christmas things for the home, need to look up how to. I have made a dvd of family pics for a relative whose big birthday is Christmas Eve and would love to put it into something vicer that than the usual sleeve of paper. Any ideas? Thanks in advance Margaretx

nitnurse-not2

I went to a "Special open evening" last night and managed to buy a lovely embroidered single bed set reduced from £60 to £10 for my daughter for Christmas:D:D
. I also bought 4 reed diffusers ( home baking scent which are really large and down from £16 to £6.:):):)
I then got a further 10% off those prices too:j:j:j.
Happy days