Santa's Challenge 2015 - Xmas, Birthdays, a chat, a bit of everything

mum2one

As it falls on Xmas Eve - do a mini challenge to see us though to Jans challenge, the new thread (do 1st week of Jan).

Re-cap
Its my mother hen moment - check the essentials
Prescriptions
Appointments
Matches
Candles
Spare Present

Where Am I / How many am I cooking for
Re-cap - where am I, how many am I cooking for

Defrost the turkey / meat joint

Christmas Eve
Take a deep breath, grab a glass of wine, and be proud for everything that you have achieved over the last 12 months, and how much planning you have done for Xmas.

Christmas Presents - boxes
It might sound daft, but be careful with the boxes you take off (tv, laptop, xbox etc), if you leave them outside, it could alert to naughty people - new items, free shopping....

Presents
Have the notepad and pen - if you want to list what you had from who / does it need up-gifting... (so it doesn't go to the same person).

Sales
Some sales may start Xmas Eve, generally the main sales are on Christmas Day, the stores on Boxing day...

Yes it may be in the sale - but its only a bargain if we really need it.....

cards, wrapping paper, tags - always great to buy in sales, Whether its 1 or 100 things you get in the sale, all helps off 2016 planning,

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Headstart for 2016

Set yourself a spreadsheet / notebook - with the lists of people you need to buy for Birthdays, Xmas - include budget for each person

Also keep a note of where you put it safe and sound....

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Miss Hoodies corner...
I think were busy enough with Xmas and all the extra cleaning/ tidying / washing that brings - so a little rest.

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Re-cap and set a plan of what needs doing and break them down to small tasks, use family members if you can, even if its getting them to drop a card off / pick up a parcel, all helps out xx

Doodley_Make_Do

The other day whilst on the beach in Northumberland we saw a chap with his young son. They had been collecting drift wood to make a Christmas Tree! Sadly they didn't have time to give any details but I thought this seemed a really good idea if you live near a beach. So I've now collected lots of drift wood of varying shapes and sizes- curly and straight! I'm now working on a design and the aim is to keep it simple, cheap and as attractive as possible. I would like it to last too! Mine will go in my front garden but you could make one to go indoors and use what tree decorations you've got or can make. If anyone has already done this or has any ideas or tips I'd be very grateful. Hope to be able to post a photo of tree when finished but will have to learn how to do that!
A very Happy Christmas and debt free New Year to all!

Katiehound

So how is Grandpa Hoodie?
and Miss Hoodie too?
They like to choose their moments!
Hope they are both picking up / feeling better.

Glad I am a visitor! No foodie shopping for me except to take my soya yoghurts with me!

Just sewn 11 shopping bags over the last week! These are upcycled curtains- they must have been in-your-face curtains! deep jade with yellow, amber,green swirls and diamonds but very cheerful for shopping bags and with yellow lining (also upcycled poly/ cotton curtains.)
I have managed to fit presents for each person, more or less into a box- so much easier to wrap. Then some will be put into the shopping bag ready for delivery. There are 2 more pairs of curtains which could be used in a similar way...... but I need a change!!
Oh, writing a few Christmas cards is the next task

My best friend asked what her SIL what he would like for his present. Answer- present must not cost more than... £1! She and his sister i L are having fun over this- one upmanship for £1. The nieces suggested the family could all contribute £1 then at least they would have a fiver to play with. That was vetoed.

mum2one

Grandad hoodie - going Gd at the mo, miss hoodie got this chest infection again, I don't really think she got over the last one, - that and not wearing a coat.... But when we've picked her up from school it's literally spot the child with a coat on....

Love the sound of the bags - def funky, can't wait to see what you get for the £1 - great idea

I've made an effort - wrote 10 Xmas cards - with a glass of wine - do the rest 2mor x

mum2one

Just a thought....

Grab a spare diary for 2016...

Use this as a receipts / guarentee diary.

When you buy something and receipt is the guarentee, clip this in the diary and write in under the day, if anything does go wrong - say you can't find the box - then this will work perfectly x

mum2one

another 4 hrs spent 2ngt wrapping.... just got to finish foodie packages ...

The front room looks like Santas grotto.. taking presents on Sunday (6 people), make a dent in the pile x

mrs-moneypenny

Morning all
Welcome doodleymakedo, I've seen photos of driftwood trees on Pinterest and they look great, can't wait to see yours.

Did some shopping this morning, got photos printed and frZmes that ds2 wants to give his bro and sisters.
Found big gift bags I needed.
Got ds2 a new duvet
Made a start on the frank turner cross stitch last night for ds1
Dd3 has printed out the marriage box poem so I can get that and the box wrapped ready as thAts a house warming go for next week.

Did secret Santa at work yesterday person who recieved my gift loved it and everyone was trying to guess who did it. I wrapped it as 3 seperately numbered items each with a little note giving reason for gift and order they were to be opened in.
1. A stress ball
2. Small bottle of wine
3. Getting the bu88ers to behave (a book for teachers)

DundeeDoll

hi guys long time no chat. things sound busy as usual mum2one nice secret santa work mrs mp ive got one today and one friday.
fridays is for an archers fan (radio 4 soa not schnapps lol) so, inspired by an archers book find in the cs, am putting together am archers surivial box (or might call it a be your own archer box) so far 1 cider (to be labelled grange farm scrumpy), something organic (not yet got, to be labelled bridge farm organics), sparklers for the bull bonfire night, a small xmas pud from jill's stir up sunday, and depending on if any pennies left, a small bottle of white to have a drink with lilan.

Katiehound

You wanted to hear what I have for the £1 challenge Mum2one?
I've done better than that (£1)! Even 2 for £1
2 plastic discs that hold garden canes for a bean wigwam- Wilco-£0.10 (no idea of full price!)
packet of bee friendly seeds- Wilco £0.10 (were £1.30)
Interesting/funny book on car accessories- 25 pence -The Works was £7.99
Total spent 45 pence- value about £10
Will therefore give his wife either a Wilco shopping bag (reduced to 35 pence I think) or a homemade shopper (already much admired) cost? zero, zilch, nada!! :j

Just a few more presents to wrap. I made life easier and packed things in boxes. Then 3 birthday presents to wrap (one is for June!) as I have no intention of posting they will be delivered in person to Sussex in about 10 days time. (and the recipients will have to store them too!!!)
Off to wrap, sort out which bottles, cans are going with me. I am staying for 1 night, 2 nights + 8/9 nights so like to go bearing acceptable gifts.
Also do the apricots in wine (finally scrubbed the labels off fancy jam jars.) with a dash of amaretto. oh dear, sounds very tempting!

mum2one

Katiehound wrote: »

You wanted to hear what I have for the £1 challenge Mum2one?
I've done better than that (£1)! Even 2 for £1
2 plastic discs that hold garden canes for a bean wigwam- Wilco-£0.10 (no idea of full price!)
packet of bee friendly seeds- Wilco £0.10 (were £1.30)
Interesting/funny book on car accessories- 25 pence -The Works was £7.99
Total spent 45 pence- value about £10
Will therefore give his wife either a Wilco shopping bag (reduced to 35 pence I think) or a homemade shopper (already much admired) cost? zero, zilch, nada!! :j

Just a few more presents to wrap. I made life easier and packed things in boxes. Then 3 birthday presents to wrap (one is for June!) as I have no intention of posting they will be delivered in person to Sussex in about 10 days time. (and the recipients will have to store them too!!!)
Off to wrap, sort out which bottles, cans are going with me. I am staying for 1 night, 2 nights + 8/9 nights so like to go bearing acceptable gifts.
Also do the apricots in wine (finally scrubbed the labels off fancy jam jars.) with a dash of amaretto. oh dear, sounds very tempting!

wow - that is some amazing bargains xx