Santas challenge 2017

chanie

happy Xmas 2019

I hope you all had a nice Xmas and all the hard work over the past 12 months paid off.

We had a nice relaxed Xmas and I cooked most of the food on Xmas eve so I didn’t have to spend too much time cooking Xmas dinner. It was still a long day though. Today, we visited family, so I’m really tired.

The presents we gave seemed to be well received. My Mum and her partner were pleased with their stockings. This was a last minute addition and I had a few spare gifts in my stash, so the stockings didn’t cost much.
I’m not sure MIL liked her gifts though. Even OHs siblings struggle to buy for MIL, so it’s difficult for all of us. I thought I’d chosen well. Oh well.

Happy_Kitties

CCL i hope the holiday was good even though u came back to the CD nightmare. Hoping u managed to get things sorted in time for Christmas

Happy 2019 xmas Chanie and everyone. Perhaps ur Mil is a slow burner like my DM as u do put alot of thought into ur presents. We were quite shocked on Christmas day when DM showed a total disinterest and lack of enthusiasm towards her presents. We thought we were spot on. It was only yesterday that she has started to show enthusiasm about one of the presents.

Even though we went out on Christmas day for food (portions were huge, lovely meal) i had bought meats to cook for cold cuts. We had to rush the cat to the vets on the 23rd, were supposed to be visiting friends on the 24th. DD went but i stayed behind in case the cat had to be rushed back to the vets so cooked all the meats for cold cuts. Def made life easier.

Had some lovely presents and boxing day morning we hit the sales (which i thought were very poor) this year so need to put away christmas presents and sale items today and have a tidy up. But im tired as we also squeezed in the cinema last night so it has been a full on christmas. Dont know how much i will get done today as nipping to DM for lunch before Duncle goes home. But there is always tomorrow for tidying up!!!!

chanie

happy kitties I hope your cat is doing okay.

I bought a few reduced gifts from Sainsburys on Boxing Day:
Wrapping paper reduced to 50p each, plus 3 for 2. A couple of the rolls were non-Christmassy ones, so I can use them for birthdays etc.

Stocking fillers - games and craft sets, reduced from £5 to £2.

Spare gifts - children’s hottie and a hot water bottle for £4 each as spare gifts.

I also bought a few items from Home Bargains for the 2020 Toy Appeal, so I could get started early. I donated a large shopping bag of toys this year with minimal effort, through buying a few toys and diverting a few gifts that the children have received (and wouldn’t be missed). I’d like to increase my efforts for 2020 so I want to get started early.

I also have my first empty Link to Hope box (I bought new boots). I want to do 6 boxes this year 4 family and 2 elderly boxes. Just had a thought - I’m going to ask family members for any unwanted bits and pieces they may have for my boxes. It’s a good way to help others plus is also good for the environment.

Me and OH are going to take our tree down tomorrow. Once Boxing Day is over, We are keen to get the house back to normal.

Happy_Kitties

Puss cat is doing better many thanks chanie. We are struggling to get the meds down him but he is doing alot better.

With u saying about the link to hope shoeboxes i went onto their website and they have some photos up. I was convinced i saw one of mine bec of the paper i used but im sure im not the only one to buy glittery christmas pud paper in the sales last year and use it on my boxes. I think the only unique paper truly claimed is katiehound's my little pony paper!!!

Went out to buy some cheap tuna for pusscat's meds to see if it would help. Alcohol sets were really reduced. Got a miniatures whisky set down to 4.50 from £9 which will be ideal for fathers day. Rang DD and she wanted a few miniture gin sets for friends. Also managed to get token vodka set for Dsis inlaw. Ive noticed from the bargains and sales ive done, things are selling out very quickly.

Ive picked up a couple of bits and popped them away for the charity auction we are involved with. I managed to pop a few things away last night and then gave up so hopefully will pop a few more bits away today. It seems never ending but at least the kitchen is looking cleaner despite the huge amount of cardboard building up (no recycling for 2 weeks as ours fell on boxing day so will have to wait u til this thursday).
Surprisingly only one present is going to be regifted, we did well this year

crazy-cat-lady_2

Hi everyone. Hope you all had good Christmasses. We had a bug that we brought back from holiday. Started being ill Christmas Eve. So we ended up having a belated Christmas dinner with all the family yesterday. I took down the decorations today. Back to square one and starting for next year.

I didn’t get much in the sales like usual. Few stocking fillers and that’s about it. I went mad with wrapping paper last year at 5p a roll. So still about 10 rolls left.

I got some Christmas kid’s craft bits and letter to Santa type sets for 10p too. It’s all a bit of a start.

Finished my first and started my second crochet scarf for the homeless for next year too. Hoping to get a fair few made.

chanie

I have made a cracking start on presents for 2020 already. We have 20 people to buy for and I have sorted 5 people completely and partially sorted 3 others.
One of those 5 is my ‘difficult-to-buy-for’ MIL. I saw her wearing a pandora charm bracelet, so I ordered her a charm, reduced from £45 to £15 in the sale. I think a charm is a pretty safe bet and it’s a good bargain

Happy_Kitties

Oooo good call on the Pandora charm chanie and a good saving aswell. What a cracking start.
I've got 5 finished but one present is a carry over for my cousins kids. It was just a little bit too old for them this year but will be ideal for next year.
No partial presents done as yet.

A friend's son has his birthday tomorrow. Picked up a big stationary set reduced in September. It was lovely just having it in, no rushing about. Its hard to know what to get him as we only do token presents. He had smellies for Christmas but the stationary set was still within budget and will hopefully be useful for school.

Currently have a turkey casserole in the slow cooker. This turkey is proving to be never ending.

Will be a quiet night tonight. DD has gone to celebrate at a friends, ive been invited to friends but i like to stay in, watch a bit of jools holland while reflecting on the year and then just crash!

Right off to put some more presents away.
I just want to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. It has been great reading what everyone has been up to throughout the year and look forward to hearing everyone's adventures in 2020.

chanie

Happy kitties it’s great having presents sorted in advance isn’t it? I bought a hot water bottle in Sainsburys as a spare gift and DD7 has announced she wants to give her class teacher a birthday present, so at least I have the present sorted.

crazy-cat-lady_2

Happy new year everyone. Hope 2020 is a good one for you all.

I got more bits in the sales. Done now. Honest. Only small bits. Christmas lip balms and bath bombs to make little bundles. Christmas socks in baubles and lots of chocolate gold coins (19p a pack and dated til October 2021!). So they’ll go in the advent calendar and stocking.

Next thing I have to try to dk is get to the works and pick up cheap kid’s picture books for book advent next year and to go with little presents for kid’s parties through the year. They have loads but annoyingly, not for home delivery. Much like all the good advent calender deals at Superdrug. 49p form from £12-18 but in store only. I’m not going near any time soon. Boooo 😆

First day my little one is back at nursery now. She’s been off since we went away and then Christmas and new year. So I have time to have a big catch up on the cleaning and to-do lists.

Happy_Kitties

chanie i definately agree about having presents sorted, it just makes life so much easier

ccl u've managed to pick up some nice little bargains. I miss having a superdrug, its changed back to savers after being a savers at the start.

Have picked up a few bits to tuck away for shoeboxes as my stock was literally all used up last year. No boxes as yet!
I managed to pick up a few bits to go to DDs friend who volunteers at an animal shelter.
Ive ordered a few reduced bits online for birthdays and a couple of bits for the charity auctions we support.Fingers crossed the orders are fulfilled.

Its always brilliant having Christmas sorted but going back into birthday season if i can have a few presents sorted even better, esp after Christmas when its DD birthday and ur just recovering from Christmas aswell. Have all January presents sorted which i am pleased about and without realising it DD gave me some special present ideas today-ideal as its her 21st this year!