OS Christmas 2014 thread!!!!

IrishRose12

I've been lurking on this thread for a while now, but felt I wanted/needed to post tonight if that's OK.

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

I feel very nervous about Christmas this year as my money situation is the worst it has been for ages. I usually buy a "big" present for my two DD's and then do a stocking with little gifts. This year I will struggle to do this and know that there will be a fuss.

I am looking forward to making bags of hm cookies and sweets for colleagues, but my best friend is really difficult to get a gift for - I made her a Christmas cake and she said it was horrible because it had cherries in it!

Recovering, do you mind me asking how old your daughters are? Maybe I/we could help you out a bit trying to find some bargains for you or give you ideas?

Secondly as for your "best friend" I'd not bother giving her anything this year personally if that was her reaction to your gift last year. Save your time and money and get your kids something instead.

Nargleblast

mrsdwhite How about a joint of beef or gammon done in a slow cooker? When you finish work you can do the veggies (prepared the night before) and use some frozen roast potatoes and some instant gravy.
Christmas puds can be heated up.in a microwave and served with whatever you fancy, tinned custard, cream, ice cream, ready made brandy butter.

Don't feel ashamed of using readymade stuff, you can always do the cook from scratch banquet on your day off.

Nargleblast

And I am sure your parents won't mind doing some preparation work if you ask them!

KimberliCraine

Wow this is a great Christmas thread. I have already bought some gifts and made cards for this year. But i think Im not that prepared yet. Thanks for the list.

I think im gonna try the Homemade food gifts.

gilly1964

Feeling inspired by this thread -

I have pickled onions on the go - thanks Kevin for the recipe

Wrapping paper and cards sorted. I am currently off work so hoping to get the cards written before I go back ready to post in 4 weeks.

Present lists written

Menu planned for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Going to prepare the following ahead of schedule, braised red cabbage, stuffings, bread sauce, pigs in blankets

Days out planned for Craft Fairs, Farmers Markets, Christmas Displays and the like

Outfit planned for Works Do, from the wardrobe not buying new.

Will report later on how I am doing

All the best
Gilly

[Deleted User]

MRSDWHITE one christmas a few years ago just after DD2 finished her medical degree and was in her foundtion post at the hospital she was on nights over the entire christmas period so we decided to have the hot christmas meal on christmas eve (coontinentals do this) on the 24th December but later in the evening before she went on duty and on christmas day we had scrambled eggs,chippolatas, bacon and mushrooms for breakfast so we could get away with having lashings of smoked salmon and a glass of bubbly later in the day when she was awake again. We had roast beef for the main meal on christmas eve so when DD had gone on shift the rest of us had cold beef, jacket potatoes, salad and pickles it was lovely and although a break from tradition it made a much less stressed day for me as there was very little cooking to do and I got to spend all day with the family.

mrsdwhite

Thanks for the suggestions
Had a bit of a spanner thrown in the works last night, as our deputy in the pub handed his notice in meanin he won't be here at xmas and meaning potentially we will have to do the evening shift in the pub now as well on xmas day I'm really down this year with Christmas as it is, especially as our wonderful company has said we must open the pub at night as well now, we always used to be closed for 5pm to have the evening to ourselves.
Going to take some serious organisation!

lobbyludd

dear xmas knitters/crafters, ds wants a sonic the hedgehog hat/hood for christmas - (not for his main present you understand - rolls eyes), I can sew, knit and crochet (in that order of preference), I've searched ravelry and have a couple of possibilities, is there a sewing resource that's similar to ravelry/or does anyone know of a pattern (on the off chance).

second dd wants a hat with a scarf attached that turns into mittens at the end - I could knit crochet with a pattern but what on earth are they called ?:)

littlegreenparrot

I just wanted to share my idea for baby bro, as it might help inspire someone else, and I'm chuffed with it!
Background: family in UK, bro working in foreign climes, bro's gf in US. Bro has managed to miss b'day/xmas last couple of years, and in a couple of weeks will be going directly to gf's house for his leave, but only a fortnight.

I'm putting together a xmas box to reflect our usual family xmas. There'll be a homemade gingerbread house kit, lots of little pressies (mostly silly things from £ shop). And the best bit - a couple of photo baubles. They can put together the house, wear a silly hat, take a photo of themselves, and both have it in a bauble when their apart at xmas. I'll be instructing bro that's the plan in the card, can't guarantee his brain is as romantically inclined as mine :rotfl:

recovering_spendaholic

Gilly1964 - wow, you are organised! Wish I was.

Thankyou for your repulse to my earlier thread - my DDs are teenagers - I gave decided to get a phone for the 17 year old (pay monthly so won't be a big outlay and then 17 a month, which is more than I am forking out for PAYG for her now. The other one I don't know yet!

My best friend has been going on about wanting a ceramic hen to store eggs, so I got one in Costco the other day. She came round the other night and spotted it and said " hope that's not for me because it's hideous!)" - honestly I give up with her!

I am going to make up some hampers over the next few weeks - there is a good guide on the aldi website about them, and I am going to make up some cookie mix in a jar type gifts, using £1.50 Kilner jars from Asda.

This thread is really good for ideas!