Santas challenge 2017

Happy_Kitties

I went round the big shopping area a few towns away today while the car was in for a service
I managed to get another 2 shoeboxes but I had to go into 4 shoe shops.
Cl@rks said they destroy the boxes on health and safety grounds, 2 shops said everything comes in plastic packaging but one shop was able to help me out
Popped into poundl@nd thinking I might pick up a few things but very little.

chanie it's funny u should say about the McDonald's toys. Every so often I like a happy meal and have been saving the toys. I also picked up some fluffy warm princess slippers in the b@@ts 90% sale. The box was really damaged so took them out and put them in this latest shoebox. With the knitted goodies it has been really easy to pack the box up and stuff it full as I still have lots left over from last year with not doing the extra box I had planned
Have nearly completed this box but can't find where I've put my pencil sharpeners which is frustrating.
Plan is to complete tomorrow night

Nothing else Christmas done but also plan to get a Christmas present wrapped tomorrow night.
First 21st birthday presents have left the house, need to sort and wrap the second 21st birthday as i will be out of action then. I hate wrapping so much!

Happy_Kitties

Third box completed and wrapped-I just wish I had had this enthusiasm last year for the boxes but I have really enjoyed doing them so far.

Hoping to start my 4th box and complete next week

Must start wrapping the next lot of 21st birthday presents-I'm dodging them!

Katiehound

Seem to have spent a lot of the week waiting in for workmen / delivery!
New washer plumbed in- slight leaking
Dishwasher mended- not working!! He may be able to come tomorrow!
Dog food delivery tomorrow- our local pet shop sadly closed.

Have solved the problem of shoebox early delivery, will take to collector a few days before BH August.
This week have been checking local cheapie shops.
Bingo: :Twind-up torches £1, solar calculators £1, v.small colouring books 8 for £1.
Think I might have to trail to Poundland for the tools- last year I got multiheaded screw drivers (have seen them elsewhere for £4)
A friend is getting me cutlery from a charity shop - 10pence per item, and I got 4 mugs for £1 from carboot. I think I have hats & gloves from last year
I bought reading glasses for £ but now see magniufying glasses. Buy for next year now???
Given up on hotwater bottles, diddy ones available until March, then returned to warehouse- curses!

I must get the bags of goodies out of wardrobe hibernation and add to the chaos. I really really wanted to repot my succulents & the sempervivens that I have just bought over this w/e. Next w/e.. perhaps.
Better go get some dinner/ supper/ tea/ whatever you call it.

Nice to see longest day has a sunny light evening.
Take care

Happy_Kitties

I'm on a roll, nearly have box 4 completed -elderly box this time.

Just a couple of bits to go in it, this will be a real squash.

I'm going to try for 6 boxes in total this year as I'm on such a roll (wish I had been better at them last year, this year now I've got the hang of them I can get alot into a little space and pack them up quicker)

katiehoundcan I ask where u got the calculators and wind up torches from please? I had ones left over from last year, slowly running out of bits I had left over so if I do want to do 2 more boxes then I'm going to need to do some sourcing.
Plus hunt for 2 final shoeboxes-this is the hardest bit of all

Managed to wrap another Christmas present last night and picked up a couple of items in the Arg@s clearance for a charity Christmas auction. Might go back for one of the items-a coloured sequin make up bag to put away for a birthday present for next year . It is really nice and bigger than I thought. I can already think of who it would be ideal for so I'm off to see if they have any left in stock!

Katiehound

The info probably won't help you as I don't know where you live!

Wind-up torches from Boyes- 66 in the chain- located mainly E /NE from March/ Leicester/Burnley/Newcastle. See map here:
https://www.boyes.co.uk/storelocator/
Dual powered calculators from Yorkshire Trading-as before- E/NE

Have you tried sports shops/ outdoor shops for shoe boxes? Would anyone save you a box or two?

Waiting for dishwasher man to phone me.......
5 sacks of dog food due either 10.30-11.30 or 11.30-12.30! Email is misleading as it states both times. Ha, then 5x 12/15kg sacks to store. :eek: (There was 15% discount for new customers.)

Happy_Kitties

Many thanks Katiehound I'm in Wales so no stores near me but where I will be in hospital and numerous trips back and forth post surgery there might be a possibility to get to a store

Chanie had suggested about sports shops. That is a trip into the next town which I think DD is planning to do in the near future so i've asked if she can ask for me

Was at a charity event last night but popped a few items into my box when I got home just one item to go. It is stuffed full and being a smaller box doesn't help but have managed to get alot in it. Just need the candle holder and tealights now and I will really have to parcel tape it up

I use the empty GU glass dessert pots u suggested last year Katiehound.Everytime they came on offer I had DD eating the desserts but now need more to be eaten as I've run out of them aswell. Have made a good job of using up stash left over from last year.

That is alot of dog food Katiehound.
I get alot of my cat food delivered by a well known place. I couldn't carry it shopping and it works out much cheaper.

Must leave the shoeboxes alone now and really start wrapping the 21st presents which I have been dodging. When I'm in the mood to do something I will really stick to it but if I don't want to do it I will just dodge.

I can't believe the longest day has been. This year is going on fast and it will soon be Christmas the way time is moving too quickly

chanie

I have enjoyed doing my boxes this year too. I didn’t decide to do them until about this time last year and then it was a mad rush to fill the boxes so I never felt entirely happy with my completed boxes.

I have a couple of small clay tapas bowls from Lidl that I’m using as candle holders. They fit 4 tea lights in each one. I always have my eyes peeled for any potential link goodies.

Happy_Kitties

I think u are absolutely spot on Chanie about the boxes.

I did mine the same time as u and didn't even complete the 4 I had signed up to do. I found them more of a chore than a pleasure last year and I wasnt happy with my boxes either

I feel much more prepared this year and the monies I have spent out for my boxes like playing cards, I've managed to pick them up cheap.
The box I am doing now, I managed to pick a big thick scarf up in a Dorothy perkins sale for peanuts. The scarf has filled alot of the box but what I have done is use the scarf along with a hat as packaging so packing a mug in, extras like plasters, sewing kit, chocolate bars in has been so easy plus the other bits asked for including socks and gloves. This isn't even a big box either
Even managed an extra bar of soap.

Once I've sorted the candle holder I will be really happy that I have box 4 completed.

I'm just alot better at packing the boxes up which makes me happier. Feel like I'm giving a better quality of box,last year I felt like I was totally in the dark doing them

I just wish I could muster the enthusiasm for the 21st birthday presents. I really need to get these done.

chanie

Maybe you should treat the 21st birthday as an ordinary one and get a decent gift rather than trying to do something different because it was a milestone birthday.

Katiehound

Do you have a Wilkinson (Wilco) near you? Today I spotted the dual powered calculators in there- but @ £2.50.
They had 4x spiral notebooks-like writing pad- reduced from £1.50 to £0.50.:T Seeemingly they had had cheap matching pencils- all gone!

Spent the weekend attacking the garden. Loads more chopping to do. Will have to get rid of a reasonable evergreen shrub- smothered with scale. Smothered is almost an understatement. That's going to be a saw it down job!

I managed to squeeze the dog food sacks in a gap under a shelf in the utility room, guess they will all slither around when one comes out!. I needed one bag for end of this week. With 15% discount (& free delivery)it had to be done! The thing is that my boy is wheat intolerant so he needs 2x specialised , more expensive foods whereas my girl will eat cheaper (but still quality) food. Stocked up for a few months......

It's bliss to have a washing machine that works under it's own steam! Haven't seen anymore leaks. Dishwasher still not in operation- man coming tomorrow am.

Tomorrow have hour appt at dentist. Ouch. A piece more came off broken tooth last week, now it's more like a volcanic crater. Not my favourite place