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

Peppapig

Second time lucky I hope - I just wrote a lovely long post and then lost it!!

Welcome to the thread PixieFairyDust - you've landed in the right place! I buy quite a bit from QVC but I got my outdoor battery lights from the local garden centre and to be honest they were useless. They only worked for one night then I think the damp got to them and they only work indoors now. At least with the QVC ones you can send them back if they're rubbish (but make sure you do). If you're doing elf on the shelf then Mrs G's facebook elf group is really helpful - it's called Christmas Elf Antics.

Ellie, I used to hate artificial grass too but it's really come on in leaps and bounds now. I always thought of it as astroturf (ok for football) but DD has had it laid in the back garden at her new house and it's fab. It cost quite a bit as they went for the top quality one so it would last with the children playing on it but it was so worth it. No mud when it rains, lovely to sit and walk on and it always looks pristine. Neither of them is very into maintenance so it's ideal because no mowing, no watering, nothing. If I could afford to have our (quite a bit bigger) garden done the I definitely would.

Feisty, thank you so much for the suggestion and I may well take you up on the offer. I'd rather buy it from someone on here anyway. At the mo I'm still waiting for confirmation from Studio that they've cancelled the order but as soon as that comes I'm ordering unpersonalised sets from somewhere else. I'm glad you're feeling better than you did but don't go mad and overdo it!

cbsexec - welcome to the thread too. No such thing as a lurker, you've exposed yourself now lol.

Ha ha - GO PRINCESS KITTY! I never read comments below articles because I have no interest in anyone's opinion but my own lol. Not really, but it only makes me mad when people write silly things so it's easier not to look.

Magsnoodle, welcome to the thread and apologies if you've been on before and I missed it. Double apologies if I've done this to you before, I've got a vague feeling of deja vue typing this.

Chrissy, glad the vacuum cleaner return went so well.

I've had a lovely Christmassy day today - spent a couple of hours in The Range and got my plain garland which I'll cut in half (one half for each fireplace) and add my own baubles, toys, cinnamon sticks etc to. I've also decided this year will be vintage year so I'm going all out with 1960s/70s style baubles in lots of colours. This will be the first year that I've used different tree decs so hope I can hold my nerve lol.

Tomorrow morning I'm off to the Hand Made and Vintage Fayre at Milton Keynes with DD and then in the afternoon DH and I pick DGD up again from other DD for her last night here before going back to school. Next time she comes to stay it will be in the few days before Christmas. Bring it on!

freespirit66

:mad: Just lost a massive post! It had logged me out without me knowing!!

Basically i have put some piccies below of Thumpers 1st birthday and my shadow box almost finished just need a tiny santa and snowman think i will go down the cake decoration route!

I cant face typing it all, my memory has gone for half of it now, so welcome newbies its a lovely thread! I did do list of advent activities PRINCESSKITTY will redo tomorrow have a good weekend everyone!

kaya1991

It's my birthday, hooray!

Off out for birthday breakfast and then my boyfriend has something mysterious planned. He's bluffed and double-bluffed so many times that I've admitted defeat and accepted that I have no idea what's going on.

What do you all have planned for Halloween?

girlinayellowdress

Happy Birthday Kaya

mrsinvisible

My, this thread is moving now!!
Welcome all newbies and ex-lurkers, once out of lurkdom there is NO GOING BACK!!
My little slaves/elves/DGS fanciers were here Thursday, too, helping with the Halloween decs, so it only took twice as long. they loved seeing how it went together and how easy it was to get an effect, so perhaps they will do the same in years to come at their own homes.
I am mucho in demand today, why oh why does everything happen on the same day? DS2s friend is 40 today, and l am invited to the coven.. sorry, party tonight, My friend is having a Halloween party for the littlies which is scheduled to overrun for the biggies/oldies, and l have promised Halloween witches cakes and a gingerbread for that, and of course the local littlies all come for trick or treat goodies so l are a busy bee today.
Monday is DGS birthday, so his extravaganza is tomorrow, (he becomes an official teenager, complete with zits) then on Monday it is Motley Crue and Alice Cooper in Newcastle I will be no good for anything for the rest of the week.
I babysat my DGN yesterday too, as her parents had to go to her aunties funeral, dreadful for them as it was at least l got pleasure in bucketsful with baby.
Ho hum, l have done it again, DGD asked for a Ne*f gun for a girl for Christmas, HUKD had a link for one, l got it, then yesterday afternoon was a link for a reduced price + BOGOF for a different type, so l ordered them too. When l got home they were ALL for girls, so my idea of one each for the boys is shot down! (pun intended) and l have to decide which to return.
Keep up the good work on the Christmas front xx

Pixie_Fairydust

Kaya - Happy Birthday. I used to decorate the house and carve a pumpkin or two when my children were younger. Where we live now no one seems to "do" Halloween, I tried last year and didn't get one trick or treater!

Peppapig - thanks I will have a look on QVC. I might also take a look in A$da and @rgos too. I don't want to spend much but I guess you get what you pay for!

Freespirit 66 - lovely pics :T How do you upload pics onto your messages? Thanks.

I've just watched The Polar Express in bed with a cup of tea, heaven.:coffee:

I'm going to Lincoln today with DS, there is a lovely shop that just sells Russian Dolls, I have my eye on a Goldilocks and the three bears one for DGD. They have some really delicate, intricate ones, but she is only 4 so I don't want too many pieces. Will have a quick look in Primarni too, PJ's and socks and maybe a Christmas jumper for work

OK, off to make some lists. I printed off the Organized Christmas stuff so will have a look at that, I would like to do it next year starting in August!

Happy Saturday - keeeeeep dancing :dance::dance::dance:

Pix
xx

Clumsy42

Kaya - Happy Birthday! Hope the suprise is wonderful! :bdaycake:

Freespirit - Aww he's a little sweetie! The shadow box looks great.

Friend's evening wedding do on thursday night was good. Not really into dancing or drinking so I mainly sat and talked to my other friend. Super awkward when the (drunk?) bald man asked me to dance. Just smiled and shook my head repeatedly! :rotfl: Only stayed about 2 hours cause I just don't have the energy for these things.

Does anyone else not understand the whole trick or treat thing? I suppose it makes a lot of sense if you know your neighbours. But otherwise children are just going around to stranger's houses and demanding sweets!:eek: I thought we were meant to teach them not to talk to strangers! Maybe if I had children myself I'd understand and wouldn't be such a misery guts about it.

November tomorrow! I'm hoping the christmas adverts will suddenly appear more frequently. I've seen 2 so far.

IrishRose12

Morning everyone.
Up early getting ready for Halloween tonight. We've a birthday party this afternoon for DS's friend and DD has been invited also. Then we've planned a wee Halloween activity in the local park for the children here in the afternoon/evening. Then our own fireworks and small party with the neighbours and chill out time come 9pm lol.

In the meantime I stupidly put QVC on the telly thing morning, DD saw something on their gift show and said oh that looks like fun and never moved, so off I pop into the kitchen and order one for her, DS and God-daughter lol. It was only working out £20 each for them plus £5 P&P altogether so not too bad.
Plus I'll give them to my mum-in-law so she can give them them for Christmas, all's good:rotfl: She tells me to find 2 things each for the children and she gives us the money for it, then she likes to go out and buy them something just from her and father-in-law so means it's usually less for me to buy for them. I like her thinking:T
My mum does similar, but she buys them 4 gifts plus also adds on their Christmas Eve pyjamas. The rule is 2 gifts for our house and 2 gifts have to stay in her house for them to play with there, again, saves me time getting them round there in the mornings :T

I've also bought 3 of the Today's Special Value's today from QVC too. They are a set of 2 Advent Calendars so 2 for me and 4 for the MIL to give her daughters, and DIL's. We were looking at some in Boots during the week, but we said we'd wait. So when these came up this morning I phoned her and she gave her orders.

My problem is like every other year, I have no idea what to buy my brother, brother-in-law and 2 of my nephews. I hate them at this time of the year just for that alone:rotfl::o

nicki_2

Just a quick post to share my Halloween window as requested. I only finished it this morning!

04624181

Hi everybody:j

Welcome to our new christmas lovers Pixie Fairydust,cbsexec
Moneymission2015- I regularly mix dates up but glad you got your assignment finished
Cherry24-I need to reorganise my planning folder to see if I am on target with my spending. All the receipts are in a plastic envelope so will trudge through them today. Have been good and have halted spending until I find out where I am up to
Mrs HoneyBadger-hope everything is ok with the bone scan
Mcculloch29-I love the bathroom set, my kids would love it!
ChrissyG-You have done fantastic with your organisation x I am hoping to wrap everything once the kids are back at school and then I can see where I am up to.
Freespirit66-Thumpers birthday pics looks fantastic and I love the shadow box.
P-Pincher-Christmas savings is amazing! well done for your planning x
FiestyFidget-So glad you are feeling better,and fantastic news about your growth scan.
elliew8-I loved reading that article, its like second nature to me now. People used to think I was mad but now they just accept that I am christmas crazy. I admit to feeling smug that Im sepnding quality time with my family on outings when they are still running round looking for gifts and paying top price.
Cherry24-I think the little bits always seem to eat my wage.Its surprising how they add up.
Princesskitty29-Everybody loves their bags of goodies, I have to get more creative every year. This year they getting a retro toy in, remember the toy teeth that chatter and when you wind up they move? We are going to have races with them after the meal lol
pinknfluffy28-Hope you had a nice time at the caravan.
Magsnoodle-That is a fantastic saving from Bodyshop.
Pixie Fairydust-I cannot help you with outside lights unfortunately as we do not decorate outside. I always mean to but never actually have. Hope you have a lovely time in Lincoln. Polar express is a fab film but I can honestly say I have never managed to watch it all the way through! I have seen the whole film but not completely altogether in one sitting so that is on the advent list of things to do.
PeppaPig-Your christmassy day sounds lovely.I have not been to the range yet so will have to plan a visit. Your 60s/70s theme sounds lovely. When does your tree go up? Mine will be the 28th November! Crazy I know but I love love love the house decorated up for christmas.
Kaya1991- Happy Birthday, hope you have a lovely birthday. OOh exciting stuff that its all a surprise for you. xx
mrsinvisible-my son was 13 on 17th october, teenage years are now upon us so you have my sympathy lol x He is a good kid but the hormones really do play havoc with their bodies.
Clumsy42- Sounds like you had a fun night at the wedding.We do not do Halloween so we had a hero of light night at church last night and it was fantastic! The kids loved it! We did pumpkin bowling, Doughnut hanging off a string- trying to eat it with your hands behing your back. That one was a great event. We also had the glow light sticks outside and played ring toss with them. We did other activities and it went great.
Irishrose12-QVC is fab but very costly lol. I have not even sarted to watch it yet until I work out how much budget I have left lol
Nicki-your window looks fantastic! I would love to have the patience and skill to do that.