santas Challenge 2016... Gifts, chat, challenges

crazy-cat-lady_2

A friend suggested the gels. If I'd had more time to get some it would have been ok. Sadly all the supermarket had was the liquid stuff. One bottle at the back of a shelf. Had to climb up and knock it out with a box so I could reach it. I've tried my smaller cake and I have to admit it's quite nice, but pulsing manage much. Very sweet.

I always keep an eye on hotukdeals for things to buy to put away for presents. Always good when there are sales on, had some really good deals through them.

I'm a little scared to ask, but going to anyway as I've never seen it before. What's the roadkill thing in your signature about?

chanie

crazy-cat-lady wrote: »

I'm a little scared to ask, but going to anyway as I've never seen it before. What's the roadkill thing in your signature about?

Haha, it doesn't involve scraping up dead animals for dinner, even if it sounds like it.

It's a thread over on the debt-free side. Basically, it's about 'free money' e.g. loose change you find on the street, collecting points through discarded receipts etc. This is the first year I've done the challenge, but last year I found £5 in the street, €20 on holiday and about £3 in trolleys and lockers. I joined the challenge to keep tab of my 2016 finds, but sadly, it's been rather limited.

crazy-cat-lady_2

Ahh. Great. That's a lot less scary than it sounds. Great idea. Though I never find anything. Walking to work once there appeared to be hundreds of pounds in 10s in the street. But I didn't stop or fall for it. They looked just too small. Crossed the road and waited for a sec. Saw other people stop and then the people who left the fake money jumped out and mocked them.

mum2one

We have had some brilliant news today, Bailey doesn't have cancer, the growth has a posh name triple barrowed jobbie, they removed the growth and surrounding area so there's nothing to worry about.

He is fashionable he is wearing a lampshade, goes back 2mor for a check up then hopefully stitches out on Saturday, he's got a long recovery ahead but we're on the right track,

We brought miss hoodie a pandora ring, we said she could £100 from dads money, to get something she choose one ring beautiful open heart in crystals on silver band, she's having another one like an eternity style with hearts all round ,the girl who sold it is in the Pandora store she said she had 47 rings..

Need to get back on the present wagon as they say,,,, xx

crazy-cat-lady_2

Brilliant news for Bailey! And such a huge relief for you. He won't be in the cone of shame for long, then all back to normal

mum2one

Apologies I haven't been about as much, been running around with everyone, His lordship has had 3 vet visits in a week, he got the all clear on Sat re visits. That's another bit of good news.

Thou we had a call mid-week, my Aunt has passed away, to be honest we weren't really close.

Onwards and upwards... xx

mum2one

Apologies again for the delay.... heres Santas Challenge June.

Half Way through.
It feels like only yesterday, it was Turkey and presents, were just over half way through the year, and that means countdown to Xmas 2016.


Cards
Whether you do birthday cards, monthly, every 3 mths or even 6 months, - now is the time to check the supplies to see how you are.

Christmas Card Lists / Stamps
Even if it is just a rough list, start the Xmas card list, everyone has their own style to lists. for me..
Post - Family, Friends,
Deliever - Family, Friends, Local

By having a rough idea how many cards that your need to post, try looking a buying a book of stamps a month,

1st class standard - 63p
2nd class standard - 54p
100g / length 24cm / width 16.5cm / thickness 5mm (max size)


Large - 1st 95p, 2nd 74p
a4 size, cd, dvd etc
Max size - 750g, 35.3cm (h), 25cm (w), 2.5cm thickness


Summer Sales
This is the time of year where a lot of the retailers are starting there summer sales...
online - always check if you can claim cashback,
look for discount code - even ask friends

(I've just placed order Radley sale - sent me a code for £15 off for friends)


Fetes
Time to grab a bargain, time of the year when the word seems to be in every advert, whether its schools, church or dance club. Some are supported by outside stalls, may be a bargain or 2 to have.

Argos
There always seems to be a sale / reduction on, but 99% of the time, there is a clearance button on the website, you can get through to your local store and see what there is.
Based on previous yrs the summer to winter catalogue comes out around 22nd July, - from here there will be some summer bargains to be had.

Suntan Lotion
Hopefully summer will be back again.... don't forget suntan lotion, and the forgotten ears - the tops of ears....


Cooling drinks - If I take a couple of drinks for the car - small cool bag - save taking up space with iceblocks, I freeze one of the bottles, keep the others cool and by the end of the day its defrosted ready to drink.

Budget v Presents
Hope fully the birthday budget is going ok, nows the time to look at Xmas, have a review of what you have got, what you need and check the budget as well....

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Monthly Checklist
Hoover the fire alarms
test them
Carbon monoxide meter - visual check.

Add a new one in - Clean the washing machine...
FInd the setting with the prewash / wash setting
The hottest temperature (90C)
Add a spot of bleach to the draw
Run as an empty load

The bleach acts as a cleaner, the heat of the water - like a steamer on the pipes.

Miss Hoodies corner
Normal service is resumed.....
Kitchen cupboards.... give them a clean and a sort throu, open the windows, let the fresh air in, have the music on, have a sort out.... are you ever going to eat that can of flavoured beans that jumped into your shopping trolley 2 yrs ago!! Be cruel if you have to...

The Me COrner
Would say grab a book, glass of wine and have a chill in the garden, then this is the UK.... we have a month to the next challenge - we could have one nice day xxx

crazy-cat-lady_2

Hmm, was typing and everything vanished! I'll try again.

Thanks for the challenges..

Kitchen cupboards have had a very ruthless de-clutter, as have the drawers. I do this quite regularly, but space is getting limited, so i have been a lot stricter than usual. That goes for the food ones and the ones with all the baking bits and bobs and utensils, pans and random bits.

I can't find much in the summer sales so far to excite me. I didn't know argos had a clearance so might start noseying at that.

Christmas lists and budgets are going well. I keep one on my phone with a list of ideas and a rough idea of whats in the present cupboard. I managed to stockpile cards last christmas in the sales, both general boxes and specific cards (to named people, from the two of us, to both of you..that kind of thing) and have a card organiser book with room to write lists to post, lists for work, family and other categories. I ALWAYS forget to stockpile on stamps so like the idea of getting some a month. Also helps if they put prices up, which they always do.

Got a few more bits for the present cupboard today from the garden centre on sale. Bomb cosmetics had little boxes of wax melts http://bombcosmetics.co.uk/home-fragrance/little-hotties
the little hotties, should have been £6.99, i got them for £2.99. they ad little booklets with them showing all the scents and mixes you can make. So i'll get a few plain,basic oil burners and wrap one with a box of melts and a booklet ad they'll make nice little stocking fillers for a few people.

I'll get working on the rest of the challenges. Sadly no wine for me in the me corner. 31 weeks today and waddling like a duck. baby is very kicky. So for me the me corner challenge is a strawberry milkshake, some chocolate and a nap on the couch with the cats when i get in from work in the afternoon before i get on with house jobs.

Hope everyone is ok.

mum2one

I had a lovely surprise today in the post, a chq for £485, apparently a childhood policy had matured.... and had £125 for changing bank account...

So.... The £125 has been reinvested.....

I'm taking Miss Hoodie to Prague for the Christmas markets, going for 4 ngts, so that is the deposit pd.

I went to Prague a few yrs ago, my parents had pd as a present for my 40th bday, it was beautiful, wanted to take Miss Hoodie, but we ended doing Lapland twice.
So the £125 and the insurance seemed to be fete.

We're going to be right in the city, 200 metres from the main square, so at least being so close we can wonder in and out, the hotel I stayed in was 10 min tram ride away.

Haven't told her yet..... She wanted to go to Germany, but I said not at the mo, don't know how mobility suitable it is, where Prague I got around ok on crutches.

xx

chanie

Pleased to read that everyone seems to be making progress. mum2one what a lovely windfall for you - you deserve it.

In case anyone is interested, Space nk have a sale on. They have hand creams, nail files and make up. I bought two lipstick queen sets for £7.50 each. I know that make up is personal choice, but I bought one for my sister as I think she'll be pleased with it, plus the colours should suit her. I also bought myself a set. I ordered them on Thursday and they are already in store for collection.