Christmas 16 mega index/christmas chat!!!

Islandmaid

Starting to feel a bit more Christmassy, been wrapping gifts, and making fudge for friends kids to take into school next week.

VfM4meplse

Islandmaid wrote: »

Starting to feel a bit more Christmassy, been wrapping gifts, and making fudge for friends kids to take into school next week.

That looks good, the presentation does so much for it!

I made my Santa display using Lidl Favorina chocolate, he's standing on some cotton wool snow in a big glass fishbowl, drowning in multicoloured chocolate balls. I bought a load more ingredients for HM chocs this afternoon, cost a fortune but will go a long way

Islandmaid

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I made my Santa display using Lidl Favorina chocolate, he's standing on some cotton wool snow in a big glass fishbowl, drowning in multicoloured chocolate balls. I bought a load more ingredients for HM chocs this afternoon, cost a fortune but will go a long way

Fishbowl idea sounds great - when you say make chocolates, how do you do yours, I am looking for ideas, I am going between making some truffles or chocolate dipped strawberries for MIL as she is having denture issues and is steering clear of boxed chocs, but still likes a treat.

springdreams

Franalamadingdong wrote: »

Oh that's so kind, I have one I love making, but DS throws up if he eats nuts so I shan't make it this year, I saw the fudge recipes before and I have a tin of condensed milk so when we have all clear from the tummy bug we can make some.

Finished my wrapping today except for 3 gifts that I am still waiting to be delivered. I have a few gifts for me because DS and I spend the morning just together and he got upset one year because I didn't have anything - he really is rather adorable. I don't wrap mine though. I have to draw the limit somewhere!

Perhaps you could put yours in a gift bag or a Christmas themed hessian shopping bag with tissue paper that you can later recycle for another gift or put away for use next year?

sillyvixen

I am off next week so getting the house ready for Christmas, decluttering, baking, wrapping, tip run (s) sorting spare room, carpet cleaning the lot... I would have done the carpets last month but the boiler died and I could not do them if I had no heating to dry them.

Wish me luck.

VfM4meplse

Islandmaid wrote: »

Fishbowl idea sounds great - when you say make chocolates, how do you do yours, I am looking for ideas, I am going between making some truffles or chocolate dipped strawberries for MIL as she is having denture issues and is steering clear of boxed chocs, but still likes a treat.

I spent the evening making my Christmas chocolates, as I'm going to see lots of people this week. I did individual white and milk chocolates with hazelnuts, coins in white, milk and dark chocolate, and big blocks in each with hazelnuts, walnuts, almond and rice pops (all toasted) plus mixed peel. What I didn't do was the after dinner mints as planned, because the Kendall Mint Cake was past it's best and solid as a rock.

Have just watched a re-run of Delia Smith cooking the Christmas dinner. She is so OS compared to Nigella!

magicdance

The only OS money-saving things I've done this Christmas have been downsizing on gifts. Got my cousin a £5 football badge instead of the £25 official scarf (and there are no unofficial scarves for such an obscure team!), and my brother's getting £5 chocolates instead of his usual shirts/ties/smart shoes/etc. I got a teddy bear out of a charity shop for my father for £2.50, but I ended up giving him that early as he was having a hard day, so I'll have to find him something else. I saw a shaving set he might like in a chemist's the other day for £3.50, but I wasn't carrying any money. I'll go back for it next time I can motivate myself out of the house, I think.

SpekySquarehead

It'll be here before we know it. Can't believe it's the 13th already.

Contemplating baking something for my mums birthday on the 21st (I know it's not Christmas). I've made her a hamper with lots of small things in it. Don't think I've even spent £20 and it's crammed. I'll do some thinking.

MandM90

Argh, anyone else stressed about Xmas?!

We have a big crazy Xmas Breakfast every year with my family, OHs family, DDs dads family (including his fiancee, brother + partner, parents, grandma) and we always exchange gifts. Was going to suggest secret santa but forgot and now it's too late.

We both work full time and I usually don't take a lunch break, so I'm ill prepared. Have ordered nearly all of DDs stuff (amongst the usual fare was an electric blanket, love my mini OSer :rotfl:)

Thank God for YNAB - I've been saving £70 a month this year so the financial side is a breeze and all the work/family drinks/dinners/get togethers, secret santas haven't been stressful at all!

OH doesn't want anything in particular but I have ordered him a new axe for wood chopping and some new fire gloves. Will also get some chocs, socks etc at the weekend.

Ex's parents (DDs grandma) are sorted. 6 month curry recipe/fresh spice subscription. They go to India once a year and she loves to cook so I'm hoping that will amuse them.

Need to do ex boyfriend and his fiance! - local restaurant voucher?

Ex boyfriends brother and his husband - no idea. They are very well off, young, live in a lovely huge flat they own in London, travel a lot with work. Stuck!

Mum/sister - just needs to be something super small as I told them I don't want to "do gifts" but they said they've got me something small. No idea what that small thing should be. My 60 year old Mum likes tennis, runs a running club, does yoga/mindfulness, travels a lot (is spending January in Thailand!). My sister is 21, studies Chemistry and goes out a lot.

DD's great grandma (ex's granny) - a sweet lady, will be travelling back to Scotland after so something which takes up no/little space.

And then the in laws (OHs parents). Thinking whisky for him, instant pot accessories/posh spices/oils for her? Or maybe a RSPB membership as they don't have one this year.

OHs sister - Bulky thing would be silly as she's going to work in New Zealand in Feb. Likes quirky things, going out, music festivals, usual 21 year old girl stuff.

Secret Santa gift for my work friend. £10 limit. Likes photography:)

Things I have managed this year:

Put up a tree - last year we didn't have one

Fobbed off Xmas lunch on my mum - she's even doing a vegan one :T I'm going to make the "main thingy" and have got ingredients for a test run this weekend. Trying this: https://peverilblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/mushroom-centrepiece-plait-aka-mushrooms-en-croute/ )
Got DDs pressies sorted and 1/2 of them are wrapped. Just need to finish off stocking bits.

Not that bothered about the pressies or food or booze this year, but I've been working my proverbials off and I cannot blooming wait for 10 whole days off with my family. YIPPEE!!!

Not bothering with too many extra Xmas bits/treats etc. Not having anyone over. Just going to bolt the door from the inside and be together in our little house and maybe even get the odd bit of decorating done.

clickerty-click

I have made my Marshmallow snow globes, hopefully this give you a link to a picture on Pinterest as it seems I am not allowed to put up a link to my blog and I am a bit lacking on the techno skills!

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/331225747578572607/