*Stop The Cavalry* It's The 2014 Christmas Chatter Thread

pixtotts

Just popping in not caught up yet ... but...
pigpen - I love the idea of those jars I actually meant to do one last year. Really wish I had as all I can think that happened in 2013 is a bit meh and NYE is my least favourite night of the year. Last thing my Nanny did before she died was watch the fireworks on tv. Maybe I will do one in 2014.

aaaand back to Christmas - could anyone point me towards some Christmas ribbons ? I LOVE wrapping presents really want to get some of the ribbon but it's so expensive for something that just gets thrown away
x

madvixen

I managed to get some great wee stocking fillers in Sainsburys today. I'd only popped in to get a magazine but ended up with some lovely soaps and lip glosses for next year. May have also ended up with a little something for myself that I couldn't justify when it was full price :j

Here are the links to my Pinterest boards. This one is decorations and Christmas specific recipes
http://www.pinterest.com/madvixen83/christmas/

And this one is my "leftovers" recipe board
http://www.pinterest.com/madvixen83/leftover-recipes/

Own_My_Own

madvixen wrote: »

Here are the links to my Pinterest boards. This one is decorations and Christmas specific recipes
http://www.pinterest.com/madvixen83/christmas/

And this one is my "leftovers" recipe board
http://www.pinterest.com/madvixen83/leftover-recipes/

All added

BBTHREE

MRSINVISIBLE - hope you get better soon

REBEKAHR and MUMOF3PLUSOH - Welcome (and any other newbies I have missed)

QUIDSY - Sounds like a fab evening

PIGPEN - That pot is amazing and such a good idea.

PIXTOTTS - I don't use ribbon so sorry not much help, but thinking out loud, What about "Country Baskets"?, Do you have one of those near you?

MADVIXEN - Thanks for the links.

Just popped on to say I have emptied my xmas app and put details of my 2013 gifts and spends into Excel.

I used the app to stop myself buying duplicated gifts during the year, and to keep a handy list etc and not to save money as such, however now this is all in Excel I am pleasantly surprised.

On Hubby, DS and DD I only paid 76% of full price, which I am thrilled with considering they got very specific things they requested and are new out etc.

On everyone else (rest of family and friends) I only paid 34% of full price.

I realised that overall I still spent too much and I am reducing budgets.

I am considering working to (very roughly) £10 max per person across the board, with £20 per person for niece, nephew, MiL and brother.

Not setting a budget for DD, DS and Hubby yet but I will definately be buying them less stocking fillers and sticking to what I know they definitely want.

Now I am off to be geeky again. I am going to fill app with what I have brought so far for 2014 birthdays and xmas. Back soon....

xx

FeistyFidget

CHRISSYG wrote: »

Afternoon all ,
Ive manage to buy my parents gifts for next christmas and a lot of paper from M & S ,i will buy bits for oh & dd as i see them hopefully i can pick up some bits for dd at the Dr Who experience shop in April.

I m not brave enough to venture to the sales but we are going to Botany Bay tomorrow.

The dog has gone from bad to worse we had him back to the vets yesterday and he was limping badly but i didn't realise it wasn't the leg with the dodgy knee it was his other back leg ! The vet thinks he has damaged his cruciate ligament and if it doesn't heal they will have to operate on that leg first before they sort his knee out. He has meds and has to go back Jan 10th .

I can really sympathize with this Our littlest chi has had two ops on her back legs for dislocated patellas. Hope all goes well xxx

I am sat here surrounded by about 70 books that are to be sent off for trade in. Sadly they are only worth about £25, but it will at least clear some space We have to start getting the flat in ship shape condition as need it on the market towards the end of feb :eek:

pixtotts

BBTHREE - Thankyou! I'd never heard of country baskets before but there is one near Birmingham (my side of Birmingham in fact ) so definitely going to be paying them a visit. Looks like a place I could spend way too much money!
x

fluffysox

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Sorry haven't read back. I hope everyone is OK.
I really must get my !!!! in gear. Bar walking the dog I haven't left the house in days.

Am looking for advice

Do any of you lovelies have any experience of ELC HappyLand ?
I have just ordered FM the funfair from ELC. It is £20 down from £60, and I was thinking about getting more bits through the year. ( Am hoping some of it goes in the sales).

But is it worth it ? It's sooo expensive. I'm looking at boy bits obviously. The Pirate ship, Police Station etc plus cars. I was also going to get the box that becomes a play mat.

Ds had no imagination so I have no idea what boys play with.

My friend's little girl had this and loved it so I bought the set from ebay for DS as part of second birthday gift. He showed zero interest in it so glad I didn't buy new. Another little girl who came for his birthday party played with it but the other two year olds (boys) didn't.

quidsy wrote: »

Maybe we should set up a mse for sale page on fb or somewhere. I have loads of ds stuff to sell in the new year, castle of doom, wii games plus clothes, shoes etc. Cant be arsed with ebay anymore but might be a good way to sell on things and save money? Is it doable or will it be too much hassle?
Ive used the local sale pages on fb before, they work quite well as long as invite only, otherwise you end up with spammers and dog breeders overloading the pages.

I'm happy to create it if someone volunteers to co run it.
Let me know your thoughts.

Weirdly enough I was just thinking earlier that ebay really needs a decent competitor. Would be great if someone less greedy than ebay set one up, Martin Lewis for instance. But yes a fb group is a great idea.

Own_My_Own wrote: »

:eek::eek:

I have tried replying 3 times and I keep losing it.

I am returning the ELC funfair and have reserved a Little People thing from Argos.
I will add a link after I have posted as every time it try to add it this post disappears :mad:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9087921.htm

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9122879.htm

I am also getting this box from ELC.

http://www.mothercare.com/ELC-Big-City-Road-Storage-Case-and-Playmat/133886,default,pd.html?singlehit=true

I think I managed it . Only 3 edits.

Good choices. DS also got that airport for his second birthday from my brother and it is very sturdy and he plays with it lots. (steep slope makes toy cars go fast) Quick tip though- assemble before wrapping. DH got very stressed trying to remove it from its box never mind putting it together with our toddler getting increasingly impatient. I think I may have to put my mothercare vouchers to good use and buy that toybox. May even use the argos vouchers and buy the other toy for DS2 for next Christmas:rotfl:
Thanks OMO :-)

betasam

Pigpen, I love the jar - I have a friend with a birthday on New Year's Eve and that would be an ideal present.

I sorted out my present stash today and allocated it all to 2014 Christmas and birthdays apart from two books. I have culled my present list a little but it still looks quite scary - 69 Christmas gifts and 45 birthday presents to find! I have half of the birthday presents and about a third of the Christmas presents sorted so far. Time to start crocheting and cross stitching!

I hope all of you who are feeling ill get better soon.

Peppapig

RebekahR - don't worry about not posting much, lots of us on here don't post all the time but it's nice just to be able to read through and benefit from everyone else's ideas

Pigpen - ah bless her, littlies are so open with their emotions lol. Also like the jar idea, will store that one for use this year I think.

Feisty - saw you'd popped up on the "£10 a day" challenge and glad you've managed to sell the books.

Quidsy - I think a Facebook sales page with limited members would be fab - count me in. DD is part of one limited to people on the army base and it works really well. I'd be happy to help where I can but must confess that although fine on IT generally I'm a bit of a Facebook virgin.

Freespirit - glad you enjoyed your day, sometimes the unplanned ones are the best.

Have DGD here for the weekend so fingers crossed she isn't up too early in the morning. I seem to be having trouble getting to sleep or going back to sleep if I wake in the night these days and will probably just have got off into a deep sleep when she wakes up!

I seriously thought about getting up and logging on here last night to see if anyone was about but finally managed to drop off about 3 o'clock.

Having a quiet new year's eve at home, just me and DH but then off to DD2 on new year's day as it's her birthday.

RebekahR

Right then i'm still not getting it. Is this basically to organise christmas starting now and doing so throughout the year? All organisation or is this primarily craft bassed?