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

pixtotts

Peppapig wrote: »

PIXTOTTS I've got a gorgeous Cath Kidston Christmas planner with all sections in it but I just can't bring myself to write in it and spoil it! I've used a basic app this year to keep track of pressies but I'll have to transfer everything over to my spreadsheet soon. I like to be able to look back over the past few years or I end up buying people the same thing :rotfl:

Haha every year we have the "did we get them that last year?" debate. My aunt and uncle have bought me bags for both Christmas and birthday last few years...I do love a bag though


lemonade_money We're doing DIY calendars this year, as in filling them ourselves, we have a felt one from Lidl, or aldi not sure which And an Avon one. I'm sure we have a 3rd too but I can't think where that ones from. Alternatively my sisters made me a tea one and just used paperbags she ordered online then she's decorated some pegs with washi tape to string them up with

murie wrote: »

We went to the German market in Birmingham yesterday, wet and cold but we had a lovely time, if anyone is planning to go be warned - its very expensive! £6 for a stollen is just one example, needless to say I get mine from Aldi lol!

Glad to hear you enjoyed the German market I've been debating whether to try and get there or not. I've not been to the Birmingham one properly but used to visit the Leeds one almost daily when I was at uni up there

I've been for an eye test today no change, so ordered some frames to try from glasses direct, 5 years of the same glasses I need a change, hopefully it will make me wear them more often maybe... lol. Popped into TKMaxx and Debenhams while I was in town wound up having my make up done by the benefit lady and getting a foundation so sold that to my mum for me for Christmas . It sounds ridiculous but she used the moisturiser while I was there and it smells sooo good every time I touch my face I can smell it again, I might have to get some lol

This year for the first time we're not having stockings! We're having our stocking gifts in Advent Calendars instead, mostly because we are all doing slimming world so avoiding the chocolate... lol. But just got my sisters all made up today for her to take back to uni with her.
x

nic2075

We have one of the felt stocking hanging advent calanders that the elves put a choccy in each night, usually a chocolate coin, celebration etc. Then the kids each have a traditional calander with nice pictures in it. It costs me more as the Dairy milk ones were just £1 last week. But the non chocolate calanders are so pretty and they love seeing the pictures each morning.

Who else is putting their tree up this weekend? ::j. I'm hoping to if we have time. Girls are at dance comps all weekend. But they like it up for the elves coming on the 1st and I def won't have time through the week. Might start on Friday after school and do a bit each night til it's all out.
My little willow at the front still has a lot of leaves though. I like it bald ready for its lights. I might go and pick them off lol.

I have just my two brother in laws, my dad and my sisters to buy for. Kids are sorted apart from some pants and socks for their stockings. Ive left the hard ones til last. X

DomRavioli

Evening!

Murie - sounds like you had a great time. Rosti and apple sauce...no wonder you didn't like it!

Lemonade - I got one years ago from Hobbycraft, prepainted white and personalised it. it is a wooden one and has deffo seen better days but it does what we need.

Had part of the boots and debenhams order delivered (there's going to be five deliveries, but I didn't order much!), but not the item I wanted, for the OH's birthday on friday. Fingers crossed it gets here. Might shove the tree up at weekend.

FeistyFidget

lemonade_money wrote: »

I gave myself a kick up the bum and went to Home Bargains. Never been there before and wasn't overly impressed to be honest. Still managed to spend £25 though. I'm just disappointed because I didn't find what I was looking for. I went through my christmas box at the weekend and found a wooden advent calendar with the tiniest little doors - it will probably only fit a small wrapped sweet and I was looking for alternatives so if anyone has any ideas please do throw them my way!

I'm the same lemonade, I want to love HB but never find anything all that great in there. I prefer Wilkinsons and 99p store etc.

murie wrote: »

GTQ- phew, reading your list of activities has tired me out!! You and Mrs I seem to have an inexhaustible energy supply!


Peppa- love those slippers! Are you feeling any better?


Mrs Tinks- HP world is disgustingly expensive I think.


Lemonade_money- HB can be hit and miss but don't give up on it as there can be some real gems at times.


We went to the German market in Birmingham yesterday, wet and cold but we had a lovely time, if anyone is planning to go be warned - its very expensive! £6 for a stollen is just one example, needless to say I get mine from Aldi lol!

I'm very jealous that you German market was good. We have one every year in Bournemouth and other than the gluwein bar (not a fan!) most of the log cabins are full of over priced tat that has nowt to do with Germany. My Nan was German and it makes me extra sad to see it not being done properly IYKWIM

nic2075 wrote: »

We have one of the felt stocking hanging advent calanders that the elves put a choccy in each night, usually a chocolate coin, celebration etc. Then the kids each have a traditional calander with nice pictures in it. It costs me more as the Dairy milk ones were just £1 last week. But the non chocolate calanders are so pretty and they love seeing the pictures each morning.

Who else is putting their tree up this weekend? ::j. I'm hoping to if we have time. Girls are at dance comps all weekend. But they like it up for the elves coming on the 1st and I def won't have time through the week. Might start on Friday after school and do a bit each night til it's all out.
My little willow at the front still has a lot of leaves though. I like it bald ready for its lights. I might go and pick them off lol.

I have just my two brother in laws, my dad and my sisters to buy for. Kids are sorted apart from some pants and socks for their stockings. Ive left the hard ones til last. X

Lol the neighbours will think you're bonkers picking the leaves off :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

2 more gifts gotten today and a little something for little My's stocking. We've also gotten her a cute stocking and a sack which I will personalise. My mother has said she just wants a nice framed photo of us all, but that seems a little cheap. I'm considering a photo book of the monsters first year, but that seems like a huge task and I'm not sure I have the energy or time!

vulpix

Good morning Christmas People

This time next month...

I went out with Mr V yesterday to Leicestershire. Just for the drive as he had a short meeting to go to.There were lots of lorries on the road with fresh Christmas trees on:)

The decorator is coming next Monday to do the porch,hall,loo,stairs,landing.So no putting up decorations for me yet.I cannot wait,I think about it a lot.Last Christmas the house was a building site so we only had a make do tree.I will go overboard this year to compensate.Trouble is I have loads of artificial trees which are mostly the wrong shape,size for this house.I am itching to get them out to see if I need to release them and get new ones.

FF I may be imagining this but is there a digital photo frame you could give your Mum.I think I have seen one in someones house where the pics changed every so often. If I had grandchildren I would love something like that. It sounds like it could be quicker to set up than an album.Well obviously not for me haha,I would be like a chimp writing the works of Shakespeare!

Nice photo Peppa.No worries about your fatigue, it passes so enjoy it whilst you can. I made the most of it "can you just".Though to be honest mine has gone but I still enjoy getting help.;)

Crumbs is that the time,need to get out of bed!

Laters Vx

newthrift

GTQ – I feel exhausted just reading everything you need to cram it. I would of said fudge could be made a good week ahead if kept in a sealed container in the fridge.

Peppa – Love the Christmas socks.

Mrs Ryan – My DH is having an electric toothbrush off his mum and seeing you mention toothpaste and brush heads might be something I can get him as a stocking filler – thank you

Murie – Glad you enjoyed the Christmas market.

Fesity – What about an in the middle gift for your mum and making her a 2017 calendar of little one? Or as Vulpix suggests they do have digital photo frames and you could put a few pictures on, they are cool.


Jealous of you all putting your trees up this weekend. I don’t think I’ll have time and I do usually do it on 1st Dec (which luckily is my day off), but DH has said he will get my decs down from the loft ready so I may be able to sneak a few smaller bits out
Went on my annual christmas shopping day with mum yesterday and I'm delighted to say it was a success. All that is left is something else for BIL, a token gift for my cousin, 3 boxes of biscuits for aunties/uncles, plus a couple of ediable perishables I can't buy until closer to for two hampers. Most are completely finished so I can start doing a bit of wrapping.
Christmas cards are almost done, just a few left to write which really need completing ASAP, feel a tad behind but getting there.

Can't believe this time in one month it will be the eve :snow_grin

Cherry24

Hi everyone,

Started wrapping using my hessian and quite pleased with the results. Quite happy to have a year off using sellotape.

Have a dilemma regarding the tree this year. In our old house, we shut the lounge door at night so that the cats couldn't get to the tree as they like to eat it! This year, our new house is all open plan so don't have the option to do this. This is making me think I would be better putting the tree up as late as possible which is a bit unfestive but don't know what else I can do.

DomRavioli

Cherry24 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Started wrapping using my hessian and quite pleased with the results. Quite happy to have a year off using sellotape.

Have a dilemma regarding the tree this year. In our old house, we shut the lounge door at night so that the cats couldn't get to the tree as they like to eat it! This year, our new house is all open plan so don't have the option to do this. This is making me think I would be better putting the tree up as late as possible which is a bit unfestive but don't know what else I can do.

Festive fireguard? Worked for my family when we had two kittens and a toddling niece. Picked one up for about £15, and it was quite pretty. You could always try a playpen (modular) or a normal fireguard for over night.

DomRavioli

Afternoon campers!

Had a bit of a mare today...if it could go wrong it did!

Wood was delivered for new sub floor in completely uninsulated extension along with insulation. FIL helped move it inside and ended up knocking over 10 litres of white emulsion, and then stood in said emulsion and got it everywhere! - thankfully the floor in there is indeed being ripped up this weekend. Also had window people call, doors being installed 9th december so will be done for xmas.

Had another part of my boots/debenhams order today, I think i will get the entire thing by next week!

OH's birthday tomorrow, wondering what I can do to try and make it special - he's out for lunch with his sister and the nieces, so I might get to see him for an hour or two. He said he doesn't want to go out for dinner as he's out for lunch, so I'm stuck. His moonpig card arrive today as well, so at least he has something to open (he wants a pebble 2 SE but its showing as not shipping yet).

Clumsy42

Cherry - Could you spray the branches with some sort of cat repellent? Nothing nasty, just something they dont like the smell of?