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

missmoose

To those that have asked about me returning the stuff for the Halloween party, a lot I can't because it was cosmetics and that doesn't bother me much as they were cheap at about £4 max each the costume was £20+delivery charges from Amazon and the seller won't accept a return so I am in the middle of a dispute about that and it's a nightmare.

LMG1305

Hello All

I've not caught up yet, I will later today as it's Friday so I finish work earlier and can have a longer relaxing evening. I am planning to do some baking this weekend and I think all the bits have come for me to make the gift that I have planned for my sisters. I will take photos when I have finished and put them on here.

I've not done a lot more christmas shopping lately. I've managed to get some small bits but it's getting to the point now where I need ideas of people because I've run out of ideas myself.

I donated some food to the food bank the other day. It really bothers me that there are families in this country that struggle to pay for the basics. So I was in Asda and I spent about £28 altogether, but I was able to buy so much because I got loads of the smart price tins, so the money went further and will hopefully mean a family have at least a week's worth of meals in there. I bought loads of packet noodles, instant mash, tinned items and I also bought some advent calendars and christmas chocolates, because I would imagine the treats are the first thing that get cut out when somebody is struggling for money.

I haven't got an awful lot planned this weekend. As I said above I want to do some baking & gift making. I have an empty house on Saturday morning so I think I will get some wrapping done. I'll need to get up in the attic though, sort through the mess that's up there and get some of the presents down that I've stashed up there. The problem with our attic at the moment is when we put something up there we just push them up by the attic hatch instead of actually getting up there & putting them somewhere out of the way, so at the moment the attic hatch is surrounded by boxes etc which makes it difficult to get up there. I'm determined to get it sorted out though because I will need to get all my christmas decorations down in a few weeks anyway and also I want to be able to put my fingers on the christmas presents straight away when it's time to bring them down, rather than having to rifle through piles & piles of stuff!

System

I have started to donate to the food bank too , i'm trying to get my local Tesco to have a permanent collection point as at the moment i have to go to Morrisons to donate and i really hate Morrisons.

Superdrug are selling perfume sets £30 but if you have a beauty card they are reducing the price by almost £7 and theres a free Rosie reindeer soft toy. I have ordered a Ghost set for DD's birthday.

Only 8 more Fridays until Christmas :xmassmile.

04624181

Good Morning everyone,

DD is still poorly but not coughing as much. I have ordered her main christmas gift this morning. She is having the kids kindle fire. it was on special for £75 including a case so hubby and I decided to order it. It comes with a years worth of fire for kids unlimited books, apps, tv shows etc. Happy that is done, can concentrate on DS now.
Im going to try and get a bit more decluttering done before DH nips out later. He has taken 2 days off work and DD is ill and DS is still in bed.
missmoose- sorry to hear that you are having a dispute with the seller, hope you manage to get it sorted. Amazon have been good at issuing refunds when I have had to raise a dispute in the past so im hoping you can get a positive result too xxx
LMG1305- What a lovely thing to do and a fantastic idea with regards to the food bank. Cant wait to see your photos of your sisters gift. When you said you will need to get your decorations down in a few weeks I got all excited!!! Love it xx

Im trying to put money away for the gift cards and cash we give for gifts so we are not skint in december. DS is about half way done. Need to get hubby a few bits but im struggling as the 2 things I was going to get him he has bought himself in the last couple of weeks. Will get my thinking cap on.
This is the first year since we have been married ( 15 years) that we are thinking about having christmas dinner at a different family members home. Im quite excited and we would all be cooking different things to take.
Hope everybody is doing ok xxx

04624181

Sorry chrissyg our posts crossed, I think donating is something we need to do as a family more often. Going to make more of an effort x That is a good reduction for perfume sets xx

Peppapig

CHRISSEY and LMG donating to the food bank is a good idea. We donated advent calendars the year before last and I used to get a couple of bits when I shopped at Asda (they have a trolley where everyone puts their donated food) but I've been ordering on line from Tesco for the last few months sonhavent done it.

MURIE I could pretend I've completely finished the stocking challenge but I haven't quite so you've beaten me lol. I need to make a nightie for the little girl in bed and glue a couple of the other bits in place. Has that got you wondering?

MISSMOOSE hope you get the refund sorted. If it's within 14 days they can't refuse to take it back because it's covered by the Distance Selling Regulations although I think you have to pay return postage. Amazon are usually good so hope it soon gets settled.

0462 the Kindle Fire deal sounds good value. DH got one for his birthday but without the cover and the years worth of books etc. Hope DD feels better soon.

MRSM your turkey cheat sounds a great idea. I'm never sure about reheating turkey or chicken, do you do it in the oven? Just realised you must do because of not putting tin foil in the microwave. Any reheating advice appreciated, I could cook the turkey breast on Christmas Eve and just reheat on the day.

Glad you're feeling better CLUMSY.

PRINCESSKITTY hope you're settling in well. Living on a building site is the main downside of a new build but it'll all be worth it in the end. Bet it will be lovely with your decs up and the tree in prime position.

DOMRAVIOLI that's definitely a challenge! 0462 and GTQ have given some good ideas. My suggestion would be bunting if you have access to a sewing machine. You can get quite a lot of bunting out of a metre of fabric and as it's only being hung for a while indoors you could just do single thickness and zig zag the edges instead of hemming to save time and fabric. Not sure if the pound shop does card or plastic bunting but if they do that could be an option. Good luck, hope you get there without blowing the budget too much!

FREE your quiet Christmas sounds lovely. Every year I think about having Christmas just with DH and me but I think the DDs would be horrified . Bet your challenge results will be fab as usual. Looking forward to seeing what we've all done on Monday. I think MURIE and I have managed not to do the same thing this time!

Saw consultant this morning and all looking good. Two more to go then I'll be discharged from oncology and move onto three monthly checkups and annual scans with the surgical team. Can't believe I'm nearly there.

mrs-moneypenny

General rule I follow for reheating is it needs to be piping hot not just warmed through. I've done this a number of years and no one has ever been ill. I make a foil packet and put the sliced turkey in with gravy so it odesnt dry out and pop it into the oven.

Our Tesco has a foodbank collection bin an one for a local animal charity to collect pet food and related products in. I've in the past rung the sanctuary concerned to check it's ok to put hand knitted goods and pillows etc in for the pets and they've always bee more than happy.
Both get emptied regularly so I try and pop something in when I shop there.

Got asked yesterday if I want to go on the school panto trip. It's one of the highlights of my year!!! So Christmas is well and truly on the way.

Gettingtherequickly

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

Got asked yesterday if I want to go on the school pants trip. It's one of the highlights of my year!!! So Christmas is well and truly on the way.

Pah, you're late! I've been on the list for about 4-5 months! That is assuming you are referring to panto:D

Going to see Aladdin with them next week, what a great social life kids have:j

mrs-moneypenny

Lol didn't see that autocorrect had decided the panto would be pants (it did it again then so I had to manually correct it)
We get to go every year with the kids but I only got my official invite yesterday so I know what class I'm with now.
We're going to see Sam bailey in jack and the beanstalk

Gettingtherequickly

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

We're going to see Sam bailey in jack and the beanstalk

I saw her in Chicago a few months ago, she was very good. I'm going to see !!!! Whittington with Arlene Phillps, Tim Vine & Matthew Kelly. Tim & Matthew seem to be taking up residence in Wimbledon, but they are so good I don't care!