OS Christmas 2014 thread!!!!

ellilew

What a fantastic thread. I've just bought my first present today for my Mum using my 02 Priority App. Am thinking about an allotment hamper for my Dad so will be on the hampers thread for ideas.

Also, just to say to anyone who give to teachers, we love homemade gifts. Last year I got a few cups, with marshmallows and a sachet of hot choc in. I'm doing it this year for my DS2's teachers and adding some homemade rocky road.

I've also made some blackberry vodka which I am going to bottle in tiny bottles with homemade gift tags and can't wait to make the onion marmalade. Thanks so much, everyone

sweetpea26

Cannot believe that I have succumbed to thinking about Christmas

I send cards by post to those a distance away but family and friends I deliver by hand.

I normally pick up a plum pudding in the Jan sales and they taste amazing...dont think i have one must check.

Have 2 jars mincemeat for pies.

Lots of cards in fact I probably have enough to do me about 3 - 5 years

looking forward to reading all the updates.

skogar

Thanks for the suggestion Mrs Lurcher Walker. Those trees sound very similar to the ones that you see in Sweden at easter with decorated eggs on them and they do look really pretty. You could also decorate them with the little hearts made from red and white paper. I have some patterns for those somewhere.

Our previous cat was not a climber so things on tables etc were pretty safe and I don't think I would have had a problem with the twig tree. This one however.... I have had to move all sorts of things that the previous one never bothered with she has been everywhere even tops of wardrobes are not safe. To be fair it's places she can jump, she doesn't climb the curtains but unfortunately I can't see her resisting anything that dangles as she loves to play. Maybe when she gets a bit older she will not be as interested.

I might give this a try with some decorations that are unlikely to get broken if she decides to play with it.

[Deleted User]

Would you have anywhere to hang an old fashioned greenery wreath from the ceiling, that's something that goes back centuries as a traditional festive decoration with red ribbons and mistletoe worked in to it. Or in very olden times they made a greenery ball that was hung in the entrance hall to welcome visitors. The only other idea I can come up with is something I saw in an open air museum and the tudor cottage had a straw plait pinned with holly, ivy and mistletoe sprigs run around the tops of the walls like we would have a poicture rail and it looked very pretty and festive, hope that gives you some alternative ideas.

IrishRose12

ellilew wrote: »

Also, just to say to anyone who give to teachers, we love homemade gifts. Last year I got a few cups, with marshmallows and a sachet of hot choc in. I'm doing it this year for my DS2's teachers and adding some homemade rocky road.

I agree. I'm a Classroom assistant and love homemade gifts. Shows that the child and parent have put some thought into the gift.

I received similar to you in June regarding the cups. Got a beautiful Best Classroom Assistant cup (hand designed also)with Marshmallows, Hot Chocolate and a pair of slipper socks in it. Was beautiful, I didn't want to open the cellophane :rotfl:

I also received a Classroom Assistant survival kit, and the teacher received one for her. Was brilliant, I'd never seen them before.

I'm now in the process of making some up myself for various people with different items inside for Christmas.
Have also made a load of the Teacher and Classroom assistant kits up, and have added my own wee items that I find useful in the classroom etc and am planning on selling them on FB and Ebay for a but of extra money.

DC teachers and assistants will be getting similar gifts this year. And the children will help me to decide what they want to put into each little bag. Then they will get a "big" present also which I got in the boots sale last year

EstherH

Hi, I've got a few things towards Christmas presents bought throughout the last few months as I've seen something suitable.
I would love to make some but to be honest I am not creative, able to see or knit and I don't have time for anything that would have to be made close to Christmas. I have done themed hampers in the past but I'm not sure what I would do for this year if I did do hampers.

We have three little ones 10, 10 and 6.boys. Both sets of parents, and multiple other presents of around £25 each, approximately plus a few friends at around £10 each so it gets expensive.

What is the teaching assistant survival kit please? That sounds really interesting and could be very handy. It sounds like something I may be able to make up.

We have an artificial tree and decorations kept over the years. I may add something new but will see how the money is going.

I save each month towards the grocery shop and have saved money from vouchers - putting the amount I saved in a tin. I also have my coin jars with everything under £1 in change saved. And I also do the second purse challenge and so far have £400 ish saved in there. Sounds a lot and I would like to cut down on what we spend but as we have a large family who want to carry on with the present buying, just have to find a way to make it all work.

Esther x

EstherH

IRISHROSE12:

Just in case you didn't see my query about the classroom assistant survival kit, hidden in the long post above, I'm asking you here separately. Thanks in advance.

Esther x

camelot1001

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

Well craigywv, DD has made your Onion Marmalade and the verdict is (drum roll) ............................ Fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing. I will ask her to make some more for Christmas to take to friends.

craigywv

I feel like a film star lol all this praise over the marmalade. Glad you all like it. I got a few more presents yesterday as i knew i had to stop buying food as cant close freezers without brute force so i aim to stay out of shops for minimum 6 weeks only buying milk in corner shop so wont buy anything else. I got a couple of sets for niece and friend and will put a few hm jars of stuff in their to. Also got sister a tin of her fsv coffee barrista type on offer so thats her sorted out. Getting their just really need the sweets in which i cant buy till week before christmas as i would think nothing of opening them yes im a greedy guts. Lynn love the sound of the decorated twigs in our house its tree or nothing im afraid but might do the twig for the hall/porch have a lovely day all xxx

Pooky

I need to try the onion marmalade - it sounds delicious. I've made 36 jars of apple chilli jelly which is a great way of using up the seasons glut.

Around 2kg of apples cut into chunks - don't bother peeling or coring - just chuck everything in a large pot with enough water to cover - bring to the boil and simmer for around 30 mins until it's all really broken down.

Once it's cooled slightly you need to strain the juice off using a jelly bag (a muslin square or tea towel in a colander will do) - don't squeeze or you'll get cloudy juice. Leave to drain until it stops dripping (a couple of hours).

Measure the juice and for ever 500ml of juice add 450gm of jam/preserving sugar. mix well and bring to the boil - skim off the scum and turn to a simmer - at this point add some finely chopped fresh chillies and some roasted chilli flakes ( for 2kg of apple I normally add 3 fresh chillis and 2 tea spoons of chilli flakes which gives it a subtle kick). All to simmer until it reaches setting point - around half an hour should do it and then pour into warmed sterilized jars.

As it cools the chilli bits float to the top so keep turning and shaking the jars for the next couple of hours to evenly distribute the bits.

Great with cheese and hot and cold meats, stirred through mash or just spread on a chunk of french stick.