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

pixtotts

CHRISSY - so sorry to hear it was disappointing I often find the best things are hidden in the unexpected places. Also... Fantastic beasts is soooo good!!!! I went Friday night

Free & Cherry - maybe it is something to do with the weather... maybe the dark nights too? sort of the dark not meaning bed time so all the hours of the night merge? if that even makes any sense... lol

Peppa Glad to see your back

Does anyone have Christmas planners / journal / some way of planning for Christmas? What are your most useful lists?
I got into bullet journalling a couple of months ago it's so helpful for me, helps with my anxiety and motivation with work things. So decided to start a new shiny book for Christmas, and falling at the first hurdle and not a clue what I need to write down lol.
x

Spendless

Well I got everything down and had a look through. It's not as hopeless as I anticipated, though I haven't got one thing for DH Just main presents for both kids to get, they already have several extras and I have ideas for most relatives I haven't bought for so far. My friend always says that's the hardest bit, thinking or looking for what to get.

In Aldi they do a small glass jar of yoghurt with a black plastic lid. At around 69p they're expensive for a yoghurt, but DD has taken the lidded jars afterwards and twisted some hot chocolate, marshmallows and chocolates into cellophane and put them inside and then wrapped the jar in more cellophane and a bow on top and hey presto she has presents for pennies for her schoolmates.

newthrift

Ooo I'm so far behind I don't even know where to start catching up. Maybe I'll begin from now but will have a little look back.

Hope everyone is ok, Christmas stuff is coming along well here. 5weeks today - wahoo

Franalamadingdong

Spendless, I took half term off and was ill the whole week, and the following week. It sucked. I'm sure you are not too far behind, especially compared to normal folk! What a lovely idea your DD had for her gifts. Does DH have any interests? I find men so hard to buy for.
Great saving Chrissy. I want to see magical beasts but our cinema burned down earlier this year good on you getting the free delivery. I'm with you on not paying for delivery!
A break away sounds lovely creative gal. I'm looking forward to mine in the new year, although it's to see a show in London!
Hurrah peppa! I've framed photos as well as cards for grandma, aunt, mum's cousin and grandad and gifts as well as cards for brother and his gf as they all live 100s miles away and we don't see them over Christmas. I tend to send my aunt's to my grandma as she visits her. I'm still waiting on the photos though.
Cute slippers FF! What about some little bath duckies or bath cups for little one's stocking?

I'll be seeing vommed on boy's mum tomorrow probably. We're going to theirs for tea on Tuesday!! Thankfully she'd asked me for my chocolate cake recipe and that morning I'd leant her the whole book so we should be good!!

DS has been writing out Christmas cards. If I don't do it early I leave it too late. It's kept him busy all afternoon too!

Spendless

FeistyFidget wrote: »

I am being very naughty and hid in the cabin under the guise of working as the tiny monster is refusing her afternoon nap and I don't have the stamina to cope. I will be super mummy in a minutes and pop her in the sling to do some baking, but right now I need 10 minutes peace :rotfl:

Don't feel naughty. My kids think I work late every Thursday night, but I don't I finish at my usual time and go to a mates for a coffee and a catch-up and my children are teenagers.:D

mandco

FeistyFidget wrote: »

Can anyone suggest some things to put in Little My's stocking? She will be 11 months old and I have no idea where to even start!

when they were little I used to do things like board books, bath toys, toy animals, small xmas cuddly toy, character sippy cup/ bowl/spoons, colouring books & chunky crayons.
For their 1st xmas I added a couple of 1st xmas keepsakes then things like bubble bath, toothbrush, socks which were themed to their fav characters which I still do now along with the essential choc coins & some fruit.

better shoot as taz is up again :mad: need to catch up as I've been so busy so will try read back and post again later if I get 5 mins.

Tc all

04624181

Hi all, just wanted to do a quick post to let you all know im still here. mad mad busy, will fill you in later on tonight.
big hugs and christmas sprinkles xxx

FeistyFidget

pixtotts wrote: »

CHRISSY - so sorry to hear it was disappointing I often find the best things are hidden in the unexpected places. Also... Fantastic beasts is soooo good!!!! I went Friday night

Free & Cherry - maybe it is something to do with the weather... maybe the dark nights too? sort of the dark not meaning bed time so all the hours of the night merge? if that even makes any sense... lol

Peppa Glad to see your back

Does anyone have Christmas planners / journal / some way of planning for Christmas? What are your most useful lists?
I got into bullet journalling a couple of months ago it's so helpful for me, helps with my anxiety and motivation with work things. So decided to start a new shiny book for Christmas, and falling at the first hurdle and not a clue what I need to write down lol.
x

I have sadly lapsed with my take on bullet journaling which may be why I'm feeling over-whelmed and with zero motivation! I may print off some new sheets today and start again (I designed some lists to work with my filofax). On the Christmas front I have a pre-made Christmas planner which is fab as it has space for present and card lists, recipes, notes etc. I've been very naughty and not made the most of it though.

Franalamadingdong wrote: »

Spendless, I took half term off and was ill the whole week, and the following week. It sucked. I'm sure you are not too far behind, especially compared to normal folk! What a lovely idea your DD had for her gifts. Does DH have any interests? I find men so hard to buy for.
Great saving Chrissy. I want to see magical beasts but our cinema burned down earlier this year good on you getting the free delivery. I'm with you on not paying for delivery!
A break away sounds lovely creative gal. I'm looking forward to mine in the new year, although it's to see a show in London!
Hurrah peppa! I've framed photos as well as cards for grandma, aunt, mum's cousin and grandad and gifts as well as cards for brother and his gf as they all live 100s miles away and we don't see them over Christmas. I tend to send my aunt's to my grandma as she visits her. I'm still waiting on the photos though.
Cute slippers FF! What about some little bath duckies or bath cups for little one's stocking?

I'll be seeing vommed on boy's mum tomorrow probably. We're going to theirs for tea on Tuesday!! Thankfully she'd asked me for my chocolate cake recipe and that morning I'd leant her the whole book so we should be good!!

DS has been writing out Christmas cards. If I don't do it early I leave it too late. It's kept him busy all afternoon too!

Hopefully all is forgiven then

Thank you for the suggestions, she has so many ducks and frogs for the bath, but I may hit the cheapy shops for some more bath toys as she does love a big bath with mummy!

Spendless thank you for my morning chuckle! I'm glad I'm not alone

Mandco thank you! Great suggestions I should probably get her an actual stocking ASAP :rotfl:

I'm just popping in to share a recipe with you that I made last night with little My. It's a no bake chocolate torte and super easy (although did seem to create a lot of washing up!) plus it's made with store cupboard ingredients that you're bound to have over the festive season, so perfect if you have last minute guests



Ingredients
200 g (7oz) plain chocolate, broken into pieces
25 g (1oz) butter, melted, plus extra to grease
1½ tbsp golden syrup
125 g (4oz) butter biscuits, finely crushed
40 g (1½oz) icing sugar
300 ml (½ pint) double cream, at room temperature
2-3 tbsp amaretto, optional to decorate
Plain chocolate, grated
Raspberries
Icing sugar, to dust
Method
Melt the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Set aside to cool for 10min. Grease and line the sides of a 20.5cm (8in) loose-bottomed cake tin with greaseproof paper.
In a medium bowl, mix together butter, golden syrup and crushed biscuits. Press mixture into the base of the prepared tin.
Sift the icing sugar into a separate bowl. Pour in cream and amaretto, if using, and whisk until the cream just holds its shape. Using a metal spoon, fold the cooled chocolate into the cream mix. Spoon chocolate mix into cake tin, level the surface, cover and chill until ready to serve.

pixtotts

newthrift - sometimes I think you have to just go from now and not worry about what's been missed 5 weeks! AAHH!


FeistyFidget - I'm so brilliant at giving myself reasons not to bullet journal that I have to journal to do it sometimes lol!
Recipes is one I definitely need to add, I'm always googling things and complaining I can't find the same recipe what book I used the recipe from for things too, oh and things to try... I think I need a whole section for food! Thanks for the ideas and that chocolate torte looks AMAZING!!



So this morning I'm in a bit of a panic, why didn't anybody tell me December is sooo close, AHH!!! I hate that I work best under pressure I feel like I waste the months leading up then it's just chaos.
Tea, Tidy, then Christmas films and work!
X

MrsTinks

I'm SO far behind this year! :eek: it's scary!

OK fine so actually we're having a really quiet one at home with just husbeast, DD and I, but I still haven't got anything done which is just awful!

Well - a few stocking fillers, I've ordered the meat and paid for it for Christmas, I made the front door wreath... But I've got no crafty projects done to sell - BAD MrsT!

Must do better, but I've been working loads as work is manic, some procrastination thrown in for good measure... so now I'm stressing! Oooops!