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

FeistyFidget

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

Just been to pick up my Boots goodies - literally as two of them are for me from OH! I've rounded up the addresses of former colleagues and friends from uni and have even made a spreadsheet (this is not like me!) - we bought cards in the sale last year but won't have enough. It makes me sad that the younger generation don't really send cards so I'm attempting to buck the trend, I am doubtful any of my friends will send one back but it's the giving the counts!

I know this feeling well! This year I am determined to get all cards posted or dropped off very early December!

Peppapig wrote: »

Well I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself because I've remember to open a Word document and respond to posts as I read through so I don't keep forgetting what I wanted to say so here goes......


Welcome Buzzybeeand Jobo

Mrs G, thosevases and glasses are beautiful.

Aliaslotte thehampers look really good – I’m fine at putting the hampers together but not sohot at the cellophane but you seem to have got it mastered.

Chrissy, lovingthe fireplace. I’d like to have a go atsomething like that too but trying not to buy too many new decs this year ashave problems storing them the rest of the year lol

Kissmenow, I’mthe same, I’d like to do something for someone but not sure how to find outwho. I’ve done Operation Christmas Childin past years but not totally comfortable with the religious side of it sowould like to do something else. Chrissy – what did you put into thesearch on Facebook to find what was going on locally?

Welcome back Weeclickand congratulations, sounds like you’ve had an eventful year

Gettingtherequicklyif you do find exercises that reduce your knee pain please post them – DH has arthritisin both knees and is in pretty much constant pain despite morphine basedpatches.

Linz4383, sorryto hear about DH losing his job but very pleased to hear that he’s got a newone. Hope things will continue toimprove for you, especially when baby arrives.



On the Christmas front here I managed to get two lovelyelves from the Card Factory today so am putting them away until next year whenI hope my two little grandsons will be able to enjoy the whole elf on the shelfthing like my little granddaughter does.

Has anybody seen any gift bags that aren’t the huge size butwhich are deeper than the normal ones? Iwant to put the hampers I’ve done in gift bags but haven’t seen any that aredeep enough without them being the really big ones. If anyone sees any drawstring ones they wouldprobably be ok too but I don’t really want to pay too much.

Have you tried 99p store for the Sack type drawstring bags? Last year they had some beautiful hessian effect ones that we were all raving about. Fingers crossed they will do them this year - I saw similar ones in the range, but they wanted £4 for almost the same design!

newthrift wrote: »

Afternoon!
It has been a few hours since my first post and actually getting to fully caught up!! Unfortunately I have forgotten to do what peppa did and open a word document to reply as I go :doh:
There are some very lovely hampers appearing and I see some new posters; welcome to the maddness
I have managed to finish all but FIL now :dance: not a clue what else to get for him, need to have a think and a word with MIL.
Work has been quite a drag today, made even worse by being called in to a meeting and being told from 30th June 2015 I will be made redundant 3 other colleagues also! We knew it would be coming but still feels quite a shock. I know I will have a little cry later when I tell OH, luckily I have been told the package I will get and it is to be a lot better than I ever expected and I should hopefully have another job to walk in to anyway, it's still not nice though as I have enjoyed most of my time here and working with the people I do!! --OK that is enough bringing down the thread...

When you do a hamper and wrap with cellophane but want to hide what is in it what do you tend to do? Wrap Xmas wrap around the hamper or pop in to a bag? Part of my mum's gift will be in a hamper as it's pamper stuff but i don't want her to be able to see it before it's unwrapped if that makes sense?

So sorry about your job I hope you manage to find something else and that your payout is more than enough!

Re: Pastry and hot hands, I always make mine in the food processor. I struggle with the blooming stuff in the summer, but made some Friday and it was great, really quick too!

Well I've decided to take the plunge with making our own Christmas cake. Although we are planning a thrifty Christmas for gift giving to others, we are actual a little better off than usual, and I figure as I live baking and the sense of accomplishment it brings, I'd treat myself to the ingredients :rotfl: I know I'm a bit later starting than most (but still ahead of stir up Sunday!) but hopefully it will be okay as I'm steeping the fruit for 3 days. Trying to be MSE, we have Rum in the cupboard (dark and coconut), is it completely mental to use this instead of traditional brandy? I've found loads of recipes using Bacardi instead (Nigella is a huge rum fan in Christmas cakes) but I'm a bit nervous that it may taste awful and be a big waste of money?

kaya1991

Good evening!

Just thought I'd quickly pop by while I remember this - a couple of weekends ago, my boyfriend and I did some lazy baking and made these Nutella cinnamon rolls. I'm a pretty good baker, but some days all you want to do is some quick five-minute prep before chucking something delicious in the oven.

These were SO tasty, and I'm thinking of making them as a nice (very indulgent) Christmas Eve breakfast! They'd be really good to make with kids as well as they're so easy. One of these with a mug of snowman soup would go down a treat... and they smell INCREDIBLE when they're in the oven!

I'm a big fan of festive baking, so will let you all know if I find anything else

nic2075

pixtotts wrote: »

I've just succeeded in buying a few from a lady on facebook !!

Can't remember who mentioned it but the big soap and glory one is missing the face cleanser this year I love that stuff it's got face wipes instead


Now I need your expert help...
I need to make some really really easy but christmassy tasting biscuits! Could someone help me out with a recipe pleaseee

I usually just make normal biscuits and decorate them christmassy, but I have Christmas cookie cutters from Avon for the party wed, so need the taste to be christmassy because I won't decorate. Ooh and needs to be something that doesn't spread as the biscuits have slots so you can stand them on mugs...
x[/QUOTE

I've just added the cutters to my order, they look fab for £3. I seen a good sugar cookie recipe, will try and find it for you x

Buzzybee90

nic2075 wrote: »

pixtotts wrote: »

I've just succeeded in buying a few from a lady on facebook !!

Can't remember who mentioned it but the big soap and glory one is missing the face cleanser this year I love that stuff it's got face wipes instead


Now I need your expert help...
I need to make some really really easy but christmassy tasting biscuits! Could someone help me out with a recipe pleaseee

I usually just make normal biscuits and decorate them christmassy, but I have Christmas cookie cutters from Avon for the party wed, so need the taste to be christmassy because I won't decorate. Ooh and needs to be something that doesn't spread as the biscuits have slots so you can stand them on mugs...
x[/QUOTE

I've just added the cutters to my order, they look fab for £3. I seen a good sugar cookie recipe, will try and find it for you x

Exact reason I'm not getting the big one, I cant find peaches and clean in the store either - it's done wonders for my skin !

Kittikins

Coming out of lurkdom to drool over the nutella cinnamon rolls!


Hello everyone, I've been reading this and other threads and plotting my Christmas presents over the past couple of months, and think that I am 99% done.


Luckily I only have 5 or so people to buy for: DD, my parents, my brother and his girlfriend and one or maybe 2 friends.


DD and I live with my parents at the moment, so we can't go too crazy with Christmas ideas as we are pretty restricted, but as I'm a newly qualified primary school teacher, I'm looking forward to going crazy in the classroom with battery operated twinkly lights, a tree and lots of paper chains

Peppapig

Having a nightmare trying to post, just doesn't want to do anything. Read earlier that problems have been corrected but doesn't seem to be that way for me.

Thanks Feisty, we have a 99p shop in the local town now so I'll pop in there and have a look for the hessian sacks. Fingers crossed. Good luck with the Christmas cake - I won't even pretend to offer advice, I'm useless at everything to do with food except eating it!

Welcome Kittikins

nic2075

This is the recipe I was thinking of Pixtotts - http://www.cookingforbusymums.com/vanilla-snap-cookies/

freespirit66

My copy of Good Food came through the post this morning oh wee wee wa wa :D it is so pretty and christmassy i cant wait to open it and devour all the christmas recipes


LINZ so sorry you have had a rough time it must have been very worrying with a baby on the way, onwards and upwards eh

NEWTHRIFT oh my lovely even if you have an inkling its still a shock when something is confirmed, i hope you find a job that you enjoy as much as this one, and you arent bringing down the thread at all i would sit some pretty wrapping paper or tissue paper on top of the hamper but under the cellophane hth

MCCULLOCH thankyou for the aldi link if i manage to get there early enough that will be another two items off of my lists

KAYA oh thankyou for that recipe i have always wanted to make cinnamon rolls and that is so easy, saved in my favourites

KITTIKINS hello and welcome to our thread, oh your class will be so excited having a lovely decorated classroom

bethl79

Hello everyone, I have just found this thread and have been skimming through getting some great ideas. All of you seem so organised for Christmas!


I am getting very excited now, although I still have loads to do and buy. I have been struggling for ideas for my parents and mine and dh's siblings but have been inspired to make some hampers for them - just need to decide what type to do now! I also love the brownie/cookie mix in a jar idea, going to make some of those for my friends.


Luckily I have been picking up bits through the year so pretty much sorted the kids presents. Just need to finish their stockings and get a couple more bits for them (price watching some lego creator on amazon, or waiting for argos 3 for 2, whichever happens first!).


Also need to get dd3's main present, she is obsessed with giraffes and has asked for the third year running for a 'real life giraffe that can live in our garden'! Have seen a giant giraffe by Melissa and Doug which she will love, just looking out for deals on it now :Rudolf:

bethl79

Ps is it wrong that I have started listening to Christmas songs already