Frump to Fab 2016 - Lets make it AWESOME!!!

lessonlearned

Filthy day here, cold, wet, dark and miserable.

So I've been Christmas shopping....from my sofa.:D

I've ordered some pretty shiny things for the girls in my life, sister, DIL, niece and DS2s girlfriend. It's also DILs birthday Christmas week, so I have also ordered her a silver evening clutch bag.

Did I mention we are scaling back this year. Just small token gifts. TBH we have all said we have pretty much everything we need so we are keeping it smallscale this year. I'll top up with some nice soaps, candles and "girly stuff", maybe a nice pair of leather gloves each. Sainsbury's had some really nice ones, lots of different colours and very reasonably priced.

I have also ordered myself a lightbox for SAD. I don't feel depressed as such, just very tired and lethargic. Sometimes I struggle to sleep - anyway I'll give it a whirl.

I'm missing the sun already. :rotfl:

chanie

ll Sainsbury are due another 25% off from Tuesday 28th. Even if it's wrong, I'm pretty sure they will have an event before Xmas.

lessonlearned

Thanks for that Chaney. Yes it's worth hanging on.

maman

We've scaled back massively on Christmas gifts too LL. It was very different when we had small children to buy for. DD1 started us off a few years back by suggesting our immediate family only bought for children. Otherwise there's a tendency to go for 'stuff' which she hates. DD2 took a bit of convincing as she loves shopping but she still has her DH's family and friends to buy for. More recently other friends and family have agreed we enjoy meeting up and having a meal together more than gifts we don't need. So I've just got a very few token gifts to buy (one group of friends that we have a Christmas meal in posh hotel with and exchange small pressies). Otherwise it's food and some money to some teenagers in the family.


Both DDs have birthdays before Christmas. DD2 is this weekend so we're going out for lunch. We used to take her out shopping for the day but recently she's been going away for the weekend with a friend to celebrate. She goes to Liverpool next weekend so we'll give her money to spend. DD1's birthday is 20th December and we like to avoid restaurants at that time of the year. Unless she asks for something specific we'll give her money too and we'll have a massive Chinese meal at home. One year she asked for a fireplace! She'd just moved into her Victorian cottage and was replacing some features. So we bought a reclaimed fireplace, a slate hearth and DH made her a copy of a mantelpiece to complete it.


I've made a very small start on Christmas food: pudding, some cheeses and cranberry sauce. I'm quite lazy when it comes to Christmas. We have a great time but I don't make my own. My only concession is a batch of mince pies for DH because.


We've got a couple of Christmas events coming up but I don't think I need any new outfits. I've not seen anything in the shops with a wow factor that I prefer to what I have already.Looking around my lace dress, jumpsuit and long pleated evening skirts will fit the bill. I've made a hair appointment for December and my nails should have recovered enough for shellac again.


I didn't realise this was going to be a Christmas post.:santa2:

lessonlearned

:rotfl::rotfl:

Well Christmas is just round the corner........

I spoke to DS2 and suggested we don't have turkey this year. He's happy with that. I just need to speak to DS1 and sound him out.

Actually I picked up a nice little pheasant last week, it was reduced. I hadn't cooked one in years. DS2 liked it. When we went to Chatsworth we had duck and that was delicious.

I picked up the Aldi book and they seem to have some really nice festive foods. I was thinking a couple of little poussins or maybe a goose.

Tbh I cheat like mad over Christmas......I definitely take the easy way out. I'll be blowed if I am going to spend all the time in the kitchen.......:rotfl: I want to spend time with everyone else and join in the fun and frolics.

We tend to avoid restaurants in December too so i don't mind splurging on a bit of help from either Monsieur Aldi or Messirs Marks and Spencer's. :rotfl:

lessonlearned

Just had an email from my cruise buddy for the Amazon trip - January 2018. I still can't quite believe I am actually getting to see it for real. I definitely have to get fit for then.

My friend told me she has already lost 10lbs and has joined the gym to get in shape......:D. I am going to have to get my act together.

I'm hoping the light box will help me find my mojo. I am not clinically depressed but I am definitely slow and lethargic with very low energy levels at the moment.

shandyclover

I am struggling with the dark and cold feeling lethargic too. Especially tough when I have study days at home, I don't feel like getting out of my PJ's much less exercising!

I recall a line I read from one of Bear Grylls books. Apparently even he has days he doesn't want to move, how encouraging! He said tell yourself you will only do 5 mins, and if you still feel rotten pack it in. As he says 9 times out of 10, you will keep going. This, along with having some very motivating music on my phone has been what gives me that extra push now and again.

sugarbaby125

I went for an Indian meal with my daughter on Sunday evening. We had a 6pm booking but when wee got there the staff were still getting the tablecloths on tables. Our service was slow considering we were the only diners at first. The food on the other hand was absolutely delicious. As we both found the restaurant a bit dirty, we are unlikely to return.

I then went straight from the restaurant to the pub for a night of dancing. I had a really good time dancing with Wayne and generally having a fun night with him.

I am planning on going to the Cinema today as I have a free ticket left and there are 2 films showing that I would like to watch. I will decide this morning which film I prefer to watch. It is a shame that the weather is so rainy, but we all just have to get on with our lives despite the heavy downpours.

Floss

LL, goose can be a bit of a faff and very rich, and you are very likely to end up with what appears to be more waste & empty carcass then you started with! The roasties are amazing though! We've had guinea fowl for just two of us, or a 3-bird roast when there's been 4 or 5.

chanie

I'm loving the discussions about Christmas and food!!!! I'm getting rather excited about it all now - not so much for me, but making it nice for the children, as they are still young enough to believe in the magic of it all.


I would love to cut back on Xmas gifts. We only buy for parents, siblings and nieces and nephews (plus one or two others children) and that's like 20+ people. So as not to 'waste' money, I now buy practical gifts, so I'll ask the recipient what they would like/need.


We are having Xmas dinner at home this year. We normally go to family (both sets in the same day) and OH said he would like to stay at home. As the children don't eat much, it isn't going to be expensive, but it will probably buy as much of it pre-made as I can, so we don't have to spend all day cooking.