* It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year * - It's the 2016 Christmas Chatter Thread

freespirit66

Evening everyone,

FUDDLE hi and welcome to our thread you will enjoy the tips from our lovelies throughout the year

NITNURSE i have only ordered a couple of items of clothing for DGS and a christmas gnome egg cup and christmas tree toast cutter set, everything else has gone!!! The egg cup set is from M&S so i have used my gift card so that hasnt cost anything. Oh i dont know what to do about cutting down christmas treats, i cut down every year but we still have loads left over!!!

PEPPAPIG i hope you get a good bargain on your new fridge at least it is sales time, i usually have to buy something major right before the sales start

Mojoworking

I've got 5 litre size mason jars - I've no idea what I brought them for or what I was going to put in them that would be vaguely festive as I'm not one for making jams etc. Need to think about them. I also bought the little mason cups with the pastel lids and straws in and put them away. I assume for hot chocolate for Christmas eve. DD doesn't even like hot chocolate just mad. Need to think of what to do with these. Just buying for buying sake!!

Christmas at centre parcs was out of this world. It was amazing but very very expensive and I don't think I could justify the cost again but glad we did it once. The accommodation the pool the staff faultless. We had ordered a real tree and it was our first one ever - we will never get a real tree too prickly and too messy but suited us there. It was beautiful but not something for the house of that makes sense. It was amazing to be on the pool and doing all that on Christmas day. It was strange that one junction down the motorway homes were being flooded and we were fine. Really odd. I live a couple of hours from Cumbria and it wasn't really hitting our news. I asked some of the workers and they were from Carlisle and said it had been bad there a few weeks ago but they were fine and getting on. It was like a bubble out of reality.

I've not ventured out yet and don't think I can face the sales tbh. I've decided that I'm not posting gifts in future the postage is too much I'll send cash to sis and she will buy and wrap if we are not seeing each other.

Pink steps how funny good on you for being so motivated I am definitely at the cba stage of Christmas!!

Nit nurse what is vintage? I'd love to see your grandparents Dec's. Our decorations are just more is more and be very thing and add more. I do love se eing people's decorations. I don't think there is a style i don't like!

pixtotts

murie wrote: »

Pixitotts- its a shame that you didn't feel up to it, perhaps you could have mini Christmas later in the year when you feel more up to it? If QVC can have Christmas in July then why cant you have a mini Christmas in any month you want?

What a brilliant idea, I might see if I can convince my boyfriend we have a present left each, I will hide my chocolate orange, and break out my favourite pine tree candles


04624181 - I got a kindle fire too! Let me know when you have figured out how to work it because I haven't yet haha!
- just seen Freespirit's post re this... I didn't even know it was possible to put books into groups!!! (Though I only have 5 and 3 of those are the boyfriends because I use his amazon account, so I may be getting ahead of myself a little there.....). Think your DS needs to set up class for us all! lol x

nitnurse-not2 - a vintage theme for deccys sounds so good! I love the style of the old decorations I noticed this year quite a few shops had new decorations which were the same style as the old reflector baubles (those were my favourite of nannys ). x


I ventured into town today, met a friend for coffee and wandered into some shops I got quite a lot for the money I spent, a box, some cards for next year, and some sheets of wrapping paper (not christmassy) from paperchase, a house warming gift and some hair bobbles from boots, and a little purse from accessorize because I was bought the most adorable but tiny bag for Christmas and my regular purse doesn't fit all for just £11!
But I was pretty disappointed with the sales... which my bank balance is grateful for! Silver linings... haha

x

princesskitty29

Hi all, so glad this lovely thread is here to cheer me up! My mum, brother and auntie came down yesterday, my dad couldn't come as he was poorly. It was actually a really nice day as Wiggle was really well behaved. DH and I were a bit glum when they left as that meant Christmas really was over now we've seen both families and unfortunately it doesn't really feel like we had a Christmas this year. It turns out Wiggle is teething which is the reason for his behaviour over Christmas. We're happy with him today though as he slept in until 5:45, it was much needed! DH and I still woke up around 4am but we're just glad he got a good nights sleep. I'm still plagued with a sore throat (since Christmas Eve) and a really bad cough. I am so sorry to moan, I know we've not had as bad a Christmas as some would have had, I guess i'm just so disappointed as I look forward to it so much. Anyway onwards and upwards!

I usually quite like doing a bit of online sale shopping after Christmas but it's been a bit rubbish this year, probably because all the sales start Christmas Eve and I don't want to be shopping over Christmas! I have picked up a few things but not as much as I usually do. We need to go to town today so I might pop into a few places and see if there's anything around.

I've got my shiny new 2016 spreadsheet all set up and ready to go - I can't wait to start filling it in! If all goes to plan my family will be staying with us in our new house next year so i'd like to do them all a stocking and i'll have to sort the food. I'm excited already!

nicki I totally forgot to say FAB window display! I loved it! I bet everyone loves walking past your window on special occasions to see what scene you have in the window! Good work. :beer:

lellyo

Morning all! Welcome fuddle and justforme!

Feisty ... I have to agree, we were watching the food channels on the lead up to christmas and i think practically every other advert was a charity one, we too stopped watching, i no they have to let people no of all the good work they do, but it just ended up playing on my mind!

Pink .... That is so funny!

Mojo... I would love to go to centre parcs, especially around christmas time, it looks wonderful, so pleased you had a good time, but like you said it is expensive.

Princesskitty.... So glad you had a nice day, sorry your dad couldnt be there. I no exactly what you wishing christmas wasnt over so quickly, think its because we are planning it for so long that it seems to come and go in a flash!

Well weather here today looks nice, at the moment, so DH has gone out on a bike ride, and when he comes back i think i will take a little trip to the card factory to see if they have any paper and cards left. My boots order has just arrived, so i now have a few bits to stash away for birthdays and christmas! Not sure what else we'll be up to, but hopefully we' ll all get out later , just to make the most of the nice weather while it lasts. Hope evryone has a good day! Xx

Karrie1uk

Hi all, I have been missing this chat and the lead up to Christmas but little one kept me so busy. I'm hoping everyone enjoyed Christmas and that it was stress free.

This was the first year I hit the sales at 6am on Boxing Day. Got baby son kitted out in next for now until next Christmas and the savings were great. I then hit boots and bagged some bargains in there. Went shopping yesterday and picked up some bits a pieces for birthdays etc.

Copied my Christmas spreadsheet to 2016 and changed it to include birthdays, Mother's Day and Father's Day. December was my last full month of pay and I'm now down to stat maternity pay...hubby can't understand why I am buying presents now but I want to get things sorted now and then I don't need to worry about money.

So in the end I have 3 Christmas presents completely sorted for next year and most of mother day sorted. I also have some bits for birthdays in.

Tell me something if you received something for Christmas that you don't use do you recycle? I gave been recycling fit years but so many people think it is wrong to do.

vulpix

Mornin everyone.

pink your son is hilarious.

It's nice to hear how everyones Christmas went.Great or not so much.

I feel like Christmas wasn't very special this year.I was ready and wrapped by the beginning of October as I was due a big operation and i didn't know how well I would be afterwards.I then lost 2 weeks of the run up to Christmas with having builders in the house.We also went out on Christmas day and Boxing day. This was also the first year my son is living in Canada.So in hindsight I realise that I am a homebody.Next year I will be staying at home,enjoying all the prep and cooking and hosting! The silverlining for this year is that no one was ill,thats got to be a first.

I will start a little Christmas book with ideas for next year,like gift ideas and we do not need 6 tubes of pringles.

I have bought a few bits of toiletries in the sales for birthday gifts for my youngest daughters friends during the year.I have also bought some cards for me and my Mum's Birthday is 6th Jan ,so she always has Christmas cards,cake,pudding and mince pies as she loves all that stuff.She will be 83 this time and prefers stuff she can use or eat!

I went into town yesterday with my eldest daughter and bought a birthday card! I didn't see anything to tempt me.

I am looking forward to sharing with you all in 2016.Vxxxxxxxxx

msgigglewick

i've just been to town and only got what i actually went for.. a bag of oven chips to go with a homemade ham and turkey filo pie for dinner lol. dh was quite shocked.

i'm hoping to stick to shopping lists next year. we shall see how long that lasts lol i'm hoping to get my dd3 a laptop for xmas and possibly my dd1 a ps4 (as the ps5 is due out next year they should be on offer) the other two girls i shall have to play it by ear. I would like to pay off £500 from my overdraft that was needed due to fridge failing and some other unexpected events the last few months too. So its save save save!

We too have lots of munchies left. not having dd2 (our bottomless pit lol) here to eat them all made a big difference. will keep the going for packed lunches etc though the next few weeks.

Do any of you do anything special for new year? we just have a roast (this year roast beef with the trimmings) and make sure house is clean and tidy.. tomorrows job is taking down the tree etc. the house always looks so bare blah.

Next year i hope to get as much of the house decluttered and decorated as possible. We are having a new bathroom fitted on the 11th of jan so will start there and work our way around. The main rooms in the house haven't been decorated since i moved in so about 10 years ago i guess. they are in need of a revamp.

mrs-moneypenny

Afternoon all
Hope everyone is ok
Lazy day here, yes another one. Ds1 is back at work, dd3 plus partner round watching a DVD with us and I'm doing some crocheting.
We always have another big family meal on New Year's Day - all the kids their partners and mil. Instead of new year gifts I'm doing what I did last year and doing cards with promises of time in, like activities we can do together things like that. Christmas created enough house filler.
Our tree plus deccys stay up till 12th night.

Have a good day all

Peppapig

KARRIE I think regifting is the way to go. Why keep something on a cupboard when someone else could be enjoying it? I'm always careful not to regift to someone who is likely to see the original gifted though lol. Well done on your sale buys.

MRSGIGGLEWICK New Year's Day is DD's birthday so we usually get together for pressie giving. This year DH and I, other DD and my mum are all going down to visit her for a birthday lunch so looking forward to that.

Returned a jumper to M&S and pyjamas to Tesco today but couldn't find anything to replace them so will put the money towards a new bag I think. I like the one I've got but it's just too small to get all my things in.

Lovely to have a couple of days without rain and to see the sunshine. I wonder if we'll actually get proper frosts/snow this year or will we go straight from mild and wet to spring? I'm trying to count my blessings though, it must be so awful for those poor people who've been flooded.

Off to see the new Star Wars film in 3D tonight (my Christmas pressie to DH) so early tea for us. I'm not really a SW fan but it'll be nice to have an evening out lol.

Is anyone making New Years resolutions this year?