OS Christmas 2014 thread!!!!

jlhmd666

candlelight_2013 wrote: »

I have just thought I might do pots of gold and put a scratch card with it for the table presents.

Candlelightx

That's a good idea. I think I will copy the idea of the bags instead of crackers

craigywv

I would like the method for the candy sleighs please if anyone has it. I did make 2 last year but have forgotten how to do them lolxxx

candlelight_2013

CRAIGYWV you can find a tutorial on YouTube. Just put in how to make a candy cane sleigh.

Sorry I don't know how to do links, must ask my Grandson to show me

Candlelightx

craigywv

thanks for that candlelight shall tooter over there now xxx

judi24

All these Chritsmas ideas are fab - I am trying to cut down costs this years so will be following this thread for ideas and inspiration! I dont have a massive extended family to buy for but I will make home made tablet and sweets for my dad and the DD3's dad and grandad. I am thinking about a hamper for my mum but probably with toiletaries - but now thinking about adding in some food gifts (the onion marmalade sounds amazing!) I tend to go completely over the top with gifts for my 4 and with food. I have told my kids it is going to be a money saving Christamas this year and with your ideas i am going to try keep costs down and have interesting and delicious foods.


I make my own chicken liver pate and serve with oatcakes and redcurrent jelly to start. Then traditional roast turkey and a a gammon joint with all the trimmings. I have a pudding i bought last year and didnt use so I will use that as its only my mum who likes it! Kids will have some sort of icecream creation and I love cheese and port! noticed today that Al*i had a good range of cheese so going to try to stay out of the big 4 supermarkets as I just cant resist the offers and all the extras! Going to try to pick up bits with my weekly shop too


Got cards and wrapping paper left from past few years so I guess I have a made a little bit of a start! Just need to get stocking fillers for kids (oldest are 22 and 21 and I tend to go mad in boots and fill thiers with bits - buts its not cheap!) and then decide on thier main presents without spending a fortune!


Can't believe I am getting excited about Christamas!!! Its still August!

judi24

Oh totally forgot - have some clubcard points and nectre points so might use them towards food or gifts too and advantage card points!!!

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Go away, humbugs the lot of you

jlhmd666

I've been saving £25 per month towards Christmas food shopping so this will cover the majority of it and I would prefer to shop in Aldi this year but will see how that pans out. I also think it would be a good idea to start picking bits up weekly.

I know we go overboard each Christmas and spend an extravagant amount but with OH's wage drop it's time to look at scaling it down a bit. I have taken some ideas from here and need to have a good discussion with OH but an OS Christmas can be just as exciting and fun as an extravagant one.

barneydee_2

craigywv wrote: »

ok heres my take on onion marmalade.........4 medium onions chopped,4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar,4 tablespoons honey/brown sugar. in a pan put a blob of butter and melt and slow fry onions,also can add acrushed garlic clove at this point. add rest of ingredients and cook it down till a jam like consitancy. that's it. put in pot and keep in fridge. I make 5 times this amount depending on who its for. this yields 2 pots worth. I tend to add for Christmas either mixed spices or nutmeg again depending who its for cheap and easy xxx

This sounds so easy & so yummy I'm going to give it a go.
Can I join in ? Reading through this thread has brought back to me that real Christmas feeling, it's about spending time with family & friends ,it's not about the presents. I work in a supermarket & this year my only day off is Christmas Day , so as Christmas starts in stores august/September by December we are a little fed up with the whole commercial side of it so for me I am going to do home made as far as possible.
Keep the ideas coming for the first time in years I am looking forward to spending an "old fashioned" Christmas .
Dee x

SIRENS

Hello All
Am so excited to see this thread, can't believe I missed the start but have just read each page so all caught up now!
I love Christmas but usually go overboard with gifts for all especially my 2 dd 10 and ds 7.
However just entered into an iva so will have to be extra strict on myself this year.
Have already bought a couple of stocking fillers for the children and have gifts for best friend in my present store that I bought in jan, as well as little bits for dds friends.
Dh and I just get a little gift for each other from the children.
We don't buy for dh brothers just a little gift from the children and I have no brothers or sisters so no nieces and nephews. I have one of my cousins little boy who is 8 and that's it apart from mine and dh parents and step parents.
There will only be the 4 of us for dinner and we are both working up to Christmas Eve.
I have knitted a scarf for mum and dad has requested a reindeer hat!
Will also start adding bits and bobs to my weekly shop
craigywv your onion marmalade sounds gorgeous so will definitely be trying so of that:T