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

princesskitty29

murie Wiggle loves it when we put the Christmas tree lights on! He points and screams at it when they're not on and we have to rectify it double quick! Other than that he leaves it alone which surprised and pleased me.

freespirit I love your pics! You make such wonderful things and it's great to see everyone's Christmas prep. I'm sorry to hear you are still poorly, take it easy and stay in your Christmas bubble! Your poor DD, having a baby can do all sorts of things to you (mentally and physically) and it's not until you have one that you realise! I do hope that by her next consultation they will have a better idea of how to help her.

aliaslotte what great savings on your Chrtistmas pressies! Well done. I always think i'm doing well and shop in sales etc but I never seem to make huge savings like that!

nicwell done to your DD for winning her dance group! :T

Mrs Ryan I hope feel better soon, I had that once and it's not pleasant. Your tree sounds lovely.

fiesty thanks for info on the new build, it's really helpful hearing first hand accounts. We're still umming and ahhing! Whilst it's not great for your work, I think it's good you've been put on maternity leave so that you have to rest. Of course it is a worrying time for you, there is nothing more important than your baby and you only want the best for it. The doctors know what they're doing and if you need to be admitted to hospital then it is the best place for you. I know it's not what you wanted, unfortunately not many people get the scenario they want when having a baby! I didn't write a birth plan in the end. I had imagined a lovely water birth in a relaxed midwife led unit, but ended up on a labour ward and eventually in theatre for a c-section! That's not meant to worry you further, I came out of it fine and had a lovely healthy baby which is what matters – and now I can barely remember what it was like! Also try not to panic too much about not having everything ready for the baby, it just needs somewhere to sleep, clothes and plenty of nappies! I thought I was organised before I had Wiggle, but it was still chaos afterwards because that's what babies do to you! The place will look like someone's turned it upside down and things will be all over the place no matter how organised you get beforehand. Again that's not meant to stress you out, in the middle of all the madness you have a beautiful baby to cuddle who will love you unconditionally, and you will get there in the end. As for Christmas, it's ok to be on a back burner this year, I missed an entire Christmas a couple of years ago as I was so sick when pregnant with Wiggle. Whilst everyone was in the dining room enjoying their turkey dinner I was sat by myself in the living room nibbling on some crusty bread! You'll have plenty more exciting Christmas's ahead. And remember when you get down that we're always here if you need to chat. xx

funny bunny sorry to hear you were poorly, it sounded horrible. I'm glad you're better now. Have you looked on Google or Pinterest for ideas for your son? I've seen a few 'presents for boys' lists on Pinterest.

mandco I hope Taz is better soon and you get some time to sort your Christmas stuff out! I haven't looked yet but is the list at the start of the thread for the food list? 3forholidays put lots of useful posts at the beginning.

nic2075

04624181 wrote: »

Hi everyone, 19 sleeps!:j:T

princesskitty29=-NPB sounds lovely I still have not done ours yet,I need to get a move on x
Murie-hope you enjoyed watching elf, it feels like officially christmas when I have watched that and Jingle all the way x My christmas to do watch list this year is white christmas all the way through and its a wonderful life. I have never seen that all the way through either x
kiss_me_now9-hope you had a lovely works do, Hampers sounds lovely x I would love a hamper for christmas x
vulpix-good grief, house trashed by a squirrel, must of been awful but it did make me giggle x
mrsCD- I hope the carol singing was lovely x I have not heard any this year
freespirit66-I do not think for one moment you are being big headed, we are a christmas family on here and share our ideas, accomplishments and sad news x Thank you for sharing as I have now got an idea of what I can do for my table centrepiece.
aliaslotte-Well done, that is fantastic savings x
nic2075-Wow well done to your DD xx Hope you enjoyed white christmas x
Mrs_Ryan-Sounds like you and your hubby will have a lovely christmas day meal x I must admit to having to google labyrinthitis as when I fist saw it I thought of the movie labyrinth with David Bowie ( was a favourite of mine when I was a kid)
Hope you feel better soon x

Well have to dash, Im off to curl my hair before church xxx

Thank you. I did enjoy White Christmas but didn't watch it all the way through either lol. I had a couple glasses of wine by then and ended up snoozing on the couch. So will start it a bit earlier next time.
But it's a Wonderful Life really is my favourite, I can't count how many times I've seen it. It's my Christmas Eve movie though x

kiss_me_now9

Fiesty hope you and little one are ok! Really interesting to hear about the new builds; I've started my Help to Buy ISA this weekend so hopefully if I don't go spending crazy over uni and do actually save some money I can get on the property ladder fairly quick when I qualify.

MoneyMission our tree went up this weekend, it's a skinny thing but it's festive enough Our two naughty cats get into everything and fight all the time so most of our ornaments have had to stay in their boxes

Funny Bunny, oh that sounds like a horrible bug I got a few months ago - the night before I was due out on a work trip abroad Went to bed feeling fine, woke up early in the morning with a wicked stomach ache and then the D+V started for about 18 hours - felt like flu, so achey and horrid. After an early night I was fine :S really weird.

Gone back to feeling really disorganised again, I think I'm getting a bit antsy because everything is happening at once really. Working tomorrow and Wednesday then off to London on Thursday to watch the Oxford vs Cambridge varsity matches; Christmas shopping with my Mum Friday, beer festival Saturday, off to see my Nan Sunday, working Monday - Thursday and then I am free :eek: from full time work until I finish my Masters in 2018! But I'm off to Bruges with a few mates on the 21st to the 23rd, getting back around midnight that evening so I must have everything bought and ready before I go really. Which leaves about five days And I've got a cake and some goodies to make for work, uni stuff to sort out, Christmas cake and mince pies to make and friends/relatives to see before I leave town. Phew! I have no idea how you lovely lot do it all with family commitments too

I've got the DVDs ordered now, gone for 'Charade' (Audrey Hepburn) for my sister + brother in law and The Monuments Men for my parents (and Rent for me ) as well as The Damned United for my Dad as they were all on a four DVDs for £10 offer on Amazon. [STRIKE]Popcorn tubs purchased.[/STRIKE] ETA - Going with a shoebox or two as an alternative to save some $$$! Need an alternative to popcorn though as my Mum is allergic to it - thinking of putting a variety of flavoured nuts in a kilner jar! Bottle of wine in each and some bags of sweets and I'll be sorted for that I think. Also changed the idea slightly and am making them 'night in' hampers rather than movie focused so I'm now going to do:

- DVD (£2.50)
- Bottle of wine (£5)
- Bath bomb (£1 from Superdrug or something)
- Sweets (£2 roughly)
- Nice socks x 2 (£2, poundland!)
- Candle (£1, poundland)

Still not got the rest of my sister, BIL or Dads pressie

Christmas is going to be an odd one again, I'm properly single again (was on and off with my ex last year), and my sister and BIL won't be down until gone midnight Christmas eve and are leaving at about 3pm Christmas day to go to his parents So I expect Christmas afternoon will just be me, my mum and dad sleeping around the TV. I really like a big family Christmas but I guess you can't have everything and the important thing is that all five of us will be together for some of it.

springdreams

vulpix wrote: »

o gosh free what have i said.i am not overly eloquent,thats why i joke so much.soz,for miss typing and joking!

i have done some batch cooking today for the freezer,bologneise and chilli.made apple pies and mince pies yesterday which are ok but the pastry is a bit hard because i had them in the oven with the lunch and was too low for pastry.ok for family but wouldnt offer them to a visitor.

going to mo--iso-ns later to see if they have any beef left at £4 per kilo.

jingle all the way vx

If you don't find any beef in Morrisons, Asda also have their easy carve beef for £4kg.

springdreams

funny_bunny wrote: »

Evening everyone, hope all is well and get well wishes to those who need them!
I had the worst 24 hour bug this week, was so strange, first I woke up 3am with what felt like a trapped burp under my ribs so I was up and down having drinks of water to release it, then the dreaded S& D hit! After about 4 hours of that it was really bad flu like symptoms freezing cold, aching all over, bad head and lethargic, luckily my 2 year old Vinnie loves nothing more than snuggling on the sofa with a blanket watching tv! The next day woke up absolutely fine!! Except I've had dry and cracked lips all week.
Anyway, still not done much on the present buying front so have loads to get still. Really struggling with what to get my 9 year old son, everything on his list I've asked family to get as I didn't have a clue so now I'm struggling for ideas!
My Tesco direct order has finally arrived, took 20 days, so that's the youngest son all done! Still no decorations up but hopefully be up sometime this week.
Night all. Xxx

If your DS is into Minecraft you could buy him Minecraft books. Look on Amazon and also eBay.

3forholidays

Christmas food list

3forholidays wrote: »

Originally Posted by Quidsy

Meat
Turkey
Beef Joint
Pork Joint
Ham Joint
Sausage meat (to make stuffing)
Sausages wrapped in bacon (or cocktail sausages & bacon)

Fish
Salmon side
Prawns (for prawn salad starter)

Vegetables
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Peas
Carrots
Potatoes (for mash & roast)
Mushrooms
Parsnips
Lettuce for salad starter

Fruit & Nuts
Satsumas or tangerines (for stockings)
Chestnuts, Nuts in shells and shelled nuts
Cranberries for sauce
Lemon to garnish drinks

Condiments
Piccalilli
Branston Pickle
Red Onion Chutney
Cranberry jelly
Bread sauce

Breads & cakes
Bread, loaf, rolls
Mince Pies
Christmas Pudding
Christmas Cake

Ingredients & dry goods
Stuffing mix
Crackers for Cheese
Turkey Gravy granules or ready made
Beef Gravy granules or ready made
Mincemeat (to make mince pies)
Puff or filo pastry (for pies tarts etc)
Goose fat
Cooking oil
Bread making ingredients
Glace or maraschino cherries to garnish drinks
icing sugar (to dust mince pies)
marzipan for Christmas Cake
icing for Christmas Cake
Ready made yorkshire puddings

Dairy
Cheese selection board
Custard
Single cream
Double cream
Butter
Fresh Milk
UHT long life milk

Confectionary & snacks
Chocolates
Pringles
Shortbread/other biscuits
Chocolate orange
Twiglets

Soft Drinks
Pop: Juice/Squash
Cranberry Juice
Orange Juice
Tonic
Soda
Shloer (or other grown up non alcoholic drink for any drivers)

Alcoholic drinks
Wine: Red & White
Vodka
Whiskey
Gin
Brandy for setting fire to the pudding
sherry (for santa) :xmassmile

Medicine cabinet
headache tablets
calpol (if you have littlies)
antiacid tablets
spare toilet roll
Kitchen roll
Cling film
Foil

vulpix

Thanks Springdreams,I got the last one.

3 for the holidays,thanks for the list,most useful.

Builders coming a day earlier now.

I have decoration envy,no point in putting mine up 'till they have finished and the dust is cleaned up.When we were kids we always put our decorations up on the 8th as it is my brothers birthday.We were seen as very odd to decorate so early.I feel odd now to not have any.

Vx

FeistyFidget

kiss_me_now9 wrote: »

Fiesty hope you and little one are ok! Really interesting to hear about the new builds; I've started my Help to Buy ISA this weekend so hopefully if I don't go spending crazy over uni and do actually save some money I can get on the property ladder fairly quick when I qualify.

I spent yesterday off to a luxuriously slow start and then spent most of the day filling Chibi Chi Design orders at my own pace. I know it's technically work, but I am sat down though and have something fun on the telly to help the time pass. Plus although everyone is stressing at me to take it easy, I'm the only income earner and self employed to boot (with a scarily big tax bill due the end of January!) So I need to keep my hand in a tiny bit

I would advise you to consider a few help to buy / shared ownership programs. We started with our first flat being on the FTBI (first time buyers initiative) scheme and in an ideal world it would have been perfect, but DH was retired and it meant we couldn't buy them out before the payments got scarily large (no interest to pay on the part you don't earn for the first 3 or 5 years and then it goes up by 1% each year which quickly mounts up). We are now in a shared ownership with 50% of the property. The 'rent' is much more manageable and even with me just earning there is a possibility of eventually buying housing association out. We have a lovely small house that we could never have afforded on the general market and even with the mortgage and 'rent' it is still a good few hundred a month cheaper than renting! Plus you are pretty much left to do your own thing (although need permission to do any large scale alterations like kitchen/bathroom replacement). I think it's a very ideal solution to the housing situation, but I'm fully aware it is a difficult scheme to get on to. Good Luck!

murie

Morning all- another dismal wet day- and a muddy one for me! As I was coming out of the park first thing this morning I sort of aquaplaned on mud (I was on a slight hill), twisted my knee a bit and slipped over onto my b*m. My not so waterproof coat rode up at the back and as did my tshirt underneath so I had a lovely mud pack across my back. I felt such a plonk- especially as where I was coming out of the park is on a busy crossroads and wouldn't you know it tall the lights were on red, so I felt a collective 'Oh look at that silly woman falling over' gasp coming form all the cars sat waiting for the light s to change. I was trying to get up and slipping all over the place cus it was a mud bath! Not helped by my silly great german shepherd licking and nuzzling at me cus she was worried. It must of looked like part of a slap stick comedy routine! I was laughing at myself, the dog was wiggling all over the place ( I have found that dogs have a cruel sense of humour when anyone falls over lol!) and everytime I tried to get my footing my boot slipped in the mud. Needles to say I came home and got in shower straight away, clothes in wash as I type. And there was me thinking I could have a washing free day!




I have bought DS a chrome cast for Christmas but wouldn't you know it 3 weeks after the Chromecast2 came out. I'm debating whether to get him one of those instead- apart from the fact its HD Im just not sure if it would be worth it. What do you think? I could give DDs BF the original one for when he's at Uni. Any advice?




Vulpix we always put our decorations up on 12th when I was young , it seemed that everyone else did too.


Nic 2075- Im trying to find a little bit of me time to watch its a wonderful life- not happening as of yet tho!


Re Beef- Tesco had it on offer at the weekend- we had a joint for Sunday lunch.


Kiss_Me _now9- which Uni are you at for your Masters? I did mine at Birmingham (part time alongside work and my DS who was 2 when I started!) It was hard juggling everything but I really enjoyed it (I can say that now looking back- I did have a few meltdowns along the way though!!) What are you doing? I did Economics. Enjoy Bruges x


Feisty- glad to see that you are trying to de stress a little. Jnr is obviously going to be a little feisty fidget too by the sound of it!


Free- are you feeling rough again? Hope not x


Have a lovely day everyone- take care x

Gettingtherequickly

Not had a chance to catch up, will do later, but thought I would nip in to amuse you!

Had my last class before Christmas last night and gave everyone their Winter Repair Kit, which no one was expecting. Cue the blank looks when one of the girls asked why I had put a condom in it? Then realised it was a cappucino sachet! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: