* Walking in a Winter Wonderland * - It's the 2015 Christmas Chatter Thread

MoneyMission2015

Freespirit - I love how you come on here & always leave everybody a little comment, even if it's just a hello. I bet everybody appreciates it, especially on a busy thread such as this one, because often people's comments can get lost as it's so fast moving!


I loved GBBO! I knew Stu would go after the first challenge. I couldn't help but laugh at Dorret though, I know I shouldn't but every time I saw the pile on the plate it just made me giggle. Poor thing, she was very upset but at least she has got next week to redeem herself.


I like Flora & Nadiya and would like one of them to win, but I don't think they will as they have strong competition. I think Tamal is very talented and Marie obviously knows what she is doing too.


Those Yankee candle advent calendars look amazing. I had the Benefit advent calendar last year and it was so much fun having a lovely present every day. I need to start organising some nice advent gifts for my DD's otherwise I am going to run out of time.


I am also wishing away the summer. If we had nice weather I would be enjoying it & wouldn't want it to rush by, but because the weather has been so rubbish I just think 'well if it's cold & wet it might as well be Christmas' :rotfl:


I bought a few items last night while I was watching GBBO. I was just browsing on the internet & picked up some nail varnishes that were on offer to put in my DD1 stocking and 2 photo frames which were buy one get one free. With the photo frames I am going to get a nice photo printed of my daughters to put in them and then give them to the grandparents.


You've all got me thinking now about wrapping paper! I like the idea of attaching a candy cane to the gift, this would be a nice idea for my daughters Christmas Eve gift boxes and also for my nieces gifts. I would have to get a wrapping paper that matches the candy cane though, so I had better start looking around I think & coming up with some ideas. Looks like I'll be spending another evening on Pinterest

his_missus

Hello all!


Long time, no post - sorry! But my mind is starting to plan for Christmas and I saw this today whilst passing some time at work. I'm definitely going to have a go at making some, although I might adapt a bit as I don't really know any candle lovers.


http://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/blog/blog/2014/11/tutorial-chocolate-candle-box/


(Hope the link works)

Peppapig

Just popping on to say DH is home!!!! So good to see him on the mend. Internet is still temperamental (and no landline for almost two weeks) so will keep this brief but welcome missjec and I second what MoneyMission says Free, your posts are very uplifting so please keep them coming Nice to see you back too HisMissus.

I watched GBBO too. Even though I'm completely useless in the kitchen I actually enjoy watching the show. I thought the standard was really high and some of the black forest gateaux were amazing. Think the right one went home though, he didn't quite seem to 'get' it lol.

freespirit66

Evening everyone, aarggh poor DD2 has been sort of let down with childcare arrangements, she was so upset so i have offered to have Thumper 3 days instead of 2 a week from september :eek::eek: haha i think by day 3 i will be drinking Red Bull and Cbeebies will be on all day :rotfl::rotfl:She is going to sign him up to a nursery tomorrow, just for 1 day a week initially, see how it all goes, it will be so much better when she has qualified as an accountant but atm its all a bit much, especially with exams, so if i can help out i will

LAZYSHEEP omg can you imagine the first episode all sat down and no power :eek: haha, i will have to look up which one Paul was, i cant remember. Yes you are right it only takes one bad week, and by the look of last nights trailer for next weeks episode Marie didnt look too happy, i hope she doesnt have a bad week after doing so well this week.

MONEYMISSION aww thankyou that is a lovely thing to say oh boy it is hard when we get lots on here sept/oct time to keep up, you come on and there are pages and pages, we can't half chat when all the christmas things come out and it gets nearer, but its so lovely to get ideas and tips from everyone on here. Yes i agree Nadiya, Tamal and Flora did do really well last night, i love seeing peoples imaginative ideas.

HISMISSUS hi :wave:and welcome back, oh those boxes are gorgeous, they would make lovely table presents for the ladies

PEPPAPIG oh thankyou you do say the loveliest things im so glad DH is home, i bet you are relieved too, best wishes for his recovery yes its a shame when you are the first to go but it all went against him last night, but i guess thats the way the cookie crumbles (pun) :rotfl::rotfl:

Gettingtherequickly

Just had a quick skim to catch up.

Glad DH home Peppa.

Welcome to the newbies and returners.

Free, you are onlyfibbing about Thumper, you are enjoying every moment with him!

Am I the only one who doesn't watch GBBO? Actually, I don't watch any of these type of programmes.

Not spending anymore money this month. Have paid for new glasses, car insurance, flights to Madrid & hotel, 2 birthday presents, a leaving present. I didn't think the leaving present would cost much as I was doing up a little photo, but by the time you factor in printing the photos, the album, wrapping etc it mounts up.

On the subject of photos, Boots have photo albums on BOGOF, if anyone is looking for some.

freespirit66

:bdaycake:HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTHIEN :bdaycake:


Afternoon everyone, i have finally got around to decluttering my cookery books, i have decluttered 23 :eek: plus lots of other freebie cookery booklets. Of course this means i still have over 70!!! Ridiculous i might go back to it in another couple of weeks and see if i can get rid of some more

GETTINGTHEREQUICKLY i know i know i do love having him wow you have had a spendy month

newthrift

Missjec – welcome to the Christmas house, it’s sounds as if you will fit in just fine


Free – Ooo I will have to have a look online for the brownie recipe, the last batch I did (a while ago) were not too great. Thanks for the Yankee sneak, I am defiantly treating myself this year to one! :rotfl: luckily I have been far from a bridezilla – I’m hoping! Yes this year has flown and the day is so close now.


Hismissus –the link works and what a beautiful idea, thank you! I might just be able to adopt this for a couple of people!!


I second what GTQ says re free having thumper an extra day!! I bet you have your favourite programme on beebs already too :D


I had a busy day yesterday as I did my food shop, went to my Grandma for an hour then went to meet my cousin and her little boy who is now 9weeks (grown so much since I saw him last at 3 weeks!!) and we went to this cafe where you can also paint a pot, although we didn't on this occasion. Planning to go back with some friends and do one though. I then did my grandads food shop and had an hour with him, got tea ready and dropped on to the sofa with OH and did very little else for the evening I felt shattered.

All the cupcake toppers for the Christening cupcakes are ready and I plan to make all the sponges tonight and put them together tomorrow (will try and post a pic if I remember how when there done). I have so far made 2 minions to go on OH's cake, but I've decided he is having a chocolate cake with just a couple of bits on.
Tomorrow i'm going for the first fitting of my wedding dress with the seamstress I'm so excited.


Christmas wise, I have decided what I'm 100% doing for mum and dad, a lovely foodie hamper as I know they will love it and use everything I put in. Nothing worse than presents that go to waste. Will most likely do a similar thing for my grandparents and a garden ornament for my other Grandad.
For my brothers Fiance she loves my personalized Emma Bridgewater mug so I will keep my eye out for an offer and order her that and add some nice hot choc. Usually i would be trying to put all little bits together and I've decided i'm just getting what people want/need. I know she will love it so that is the main thing. With that in mind, if anyone spots an Emma Bridgewater offer feel free to tell me in case I miss it :rotfl:

Hugs all round x

freespirit66

Cookery Book Update: just been back into conservatory and culled another 25 :rotfl::rotfl:thats a bit more reasonable now, quite a few christmas cookery books and all my cake decorating ones as i dont use them, i tend to go to Pinterest now. So 2 empty shelves now on my bookshelf (sorry for boring you all)

NEWTHRIFT tbh you have been quite relaxed and laid back about your wedding all the way through my lovely here is the link to brownie recipe:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1223/bestever-brownies?cm_mmc=ExactTarget-_-email-_-Good-food-newsletter-450_2015_07_08-_-email&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=Good-food-newsletter-450_2015_07_08
heehee i actually like Bing (my DD1 thinks its the voice is really annoying and spoilt but i find it cute) Thumper just loves the different theme tunes and takes not much notice of the rest oh Minions for OH cake i bet they look fab! Good luck for your first dress fitting Your christmas present ideas sound lovely, im sure they will all love such thoughtful presents, i will keep an eye out for any offers

chocolatebum

i can't hold back any longer, please can i join :j . i love Christmas and have loved reading through the thread ( it did take quite a while :rotfl: ) my christmas prep starts in earnest next week when my children go back to school and i can have some time to get organised and make my favourite thing of all..... the list of everything i need to do . sadly the one thing i am never organised with is the wrapping of the kids pressies and i end up being awake until very late on christmas eve trying to wrap in secret, fingers crossed with some help from everyone on here that i wont' be in that situation and i might actually get to bed on christmas eve and not christmas morning.

i started a tradition with my kids 2 years ago where we do a different activity each day of advent anything from decorating the tree to writing our lists for santa or making cookies to a carol service. the kids absolutely love doing it and its a nice chance to spend some family time together in what is usually a busy time. we have some activities that they have loved doing, fruit trees, paper chains and snowflakes but i am always on the look out for more ideas and spent a large amount of time on pinterest picking out lots of new ones. if anyone has any ideas they would be much appreciated.

lazysheep

Hi chocolatebum (what a totally random name I love it!) and welcome to the christmas mad house. There's no need to ask to join, it's open all year round for all festive (and non-festive) goings-on

I always feel like it's ramping up to christmas once qvc have had their christmas in july day and I slowly get more excited - although thanks to this thread I don't slowly get more paniced!

I can't help with the kids activities as I don't have children myself although loads of people on here do so I am sure they will be along soon with more ideas than you have days available