* Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas * - It's the 2019 Christmas Chatter Thread

mandco

StokieBecks wrote: »

Anyone got any ideas how I can jazz up an e-voucher to give as a gift? For part of my prize I asked for 5 x £20 Miller and Carter vouchers as I often buy them for gifts but they have come via email and not actual giftcards so now not even sure I will gift them.

Other bits of the prize are supposed to be coming in the week - so exciting.

pop them inside a homemade cracker?
alternatively could you buy actual gift cards with them?? I know some places won't let you or you could buy something then return it and get it refunded onto cards?

picked up some matchmakers = thanks for the heads up

matalans xmas shop is online

Primark have started to get xmas stock in - quite a few xmas themed candles ect and a few disney bits

The boots disney sock calendar looked good so might borrow the idea -

Little gutted today as I broke my yankee candle polar bear

Sammy_J

Been stalking this thread all year and thought I’d join in from today as I’m really struggling to contain my Christmas excitement in the real world!

Very much in the spirit already - I’ve been listening to Christmas songs on and off for the last month now - Cliff at Christmas so far but I think Celine Dion might make an appearance this week!

Also can’t wait for Sony Movies Christmas channel to go live this Tuesday! So exciting!

LMG1305 wrote: »

You're all so organised! I'm trying to get organised but I can't buy much yet because we are hopefully moving soon, so I don't want to add to the mountain of things we already have to pack. As soon as we have moved though I have lots of plans

I did buy one thing today though, a Christmas magazine from Tesco. I don't buy magazines at all throughout the year, but always buy the Christmas ones when they are out.

I’m in exactly the same boat! We’re hoping to exchange this week which should mean we’re moving in about 5 weeks time, so not been able to Christmas shop as we have enough to pack as it is.

The thing that’s been getting me through is imagining what Christmas decorations I’ll be able to have in our new place. We’re going from a one bed rented flat to our own four bed semi so the opportunity is massive. Husband already aware that we’ll need to buy a ladder so he can install lights along the top of the garage!

murie

Tesco are doing the tubs of chocolates for £3.50 each from tomorrow.

The thread is starting to motor along now that we are on the home straight . Its definitely feeling autumnal today, Ive even put the heating on for an hour to take the chill off the house. I like it tho!

I've fallen a bit out of love with the thread for a while now but I have been reading along. I almost have DS sorted (thanks to him buying himself various gifts and then asking if we want to buy them for him for Christmas!), but no idea what to get for DD.

If you remember a while ago, she was found to be a match for someone needing a stem cell donation. Due to the patient being too poorly (twice) , her being too small to donate the amount of stem cells that the patient's team have asked for, and her being fairly anaemic to begin with , the donation has had to be rescheduled 3 times in the last few months. All being well it is now due to take place at the beginning of October. I think its because of all that I haven't felt as if I can fully commit to my Christmas preparations as I usually do by now. Hopefully once the procedure is over and done with I can start planning it all out in my head. In the meantime I have been trying out a few crafts from Pinterest- some more successfully than others lol.
It's good to see that everyone is catching the Christmas spirit again, and I love reading about everyones plans. Hugs to all those that are facing tough times at the moment for a variety of reasons. (GYD wants everyone to know that she is OK, still reading the thread when she can and taking things one day at a time ).

noodles86

Hi all,

Reading merrily along but really struggle to update every time I’m on.

I’m really struggling with my asd 13 year old daughter for birthday and Christmas this year so can anyone offer any suggestions? Extremely fussy about clothing textures, hates toiletries, not into make up or hair care. She likes clothes but has to try them on and then normally ends in a meltdown as she’s unsure about it etc, shopping with her is very difficult and if I buy a surprise it’s taking a gamble in size.

She enjoys reading, has a kindle and goes through books so quick I can’t keep up. She likes playing roblox and has just started horse riding, which seems to be going well so far. She has always had a keen interest in horses (read a lot of books, of course!) I was thinking of a horse & rider magazine subscription but she says she’s unsure. If she keeps up a few more lessons I was thinking some boots and leather gloves but I’m stumped!

My seven year old is baby doll and lol doll mad so she’s easy!

princesskitty29

I've bought some books for my mum and MiL so that's another few bits stashed away. My list is looking healthy but I just need to stay patient and wait until places have got their extended returns policy in place.

Hello and welcome Sammy! :wave: When we moved into our house we bought lights to go around the top of the house but neither of us like heights and we couldn’t find anyone to do it so we sold them in the end! We do have some nice light up reindeer for the front garden though.Enjoy planning your decorations!

murie thanks for the Christmas stock heads up. Sorry to hear about your polar bear! Wow what an amazing thing for your DD to do, I hope they are able to do it soon and that all goes well. Thanks for the update on GYD.

GYD thinking of you and sending lots of hugs. :grouphug:

noodles can you get any kind of kindle voucher or book voucher? I agree if she stays with the horse riding, boots and gloves are good idea. Does she like watching films? Maybe a cinema or movie night hamper? I’m not very good at this kind of thing and it’s early so I’ll have to have a better think as the day goes on!

humptydumptybits

Hello, just came on to see if any ideas for GC, six of them between 2 and 15 so getting to be quite a challenge. My bit of Christmas excitement is Sainsbury's has my favourite mince pies on the shelves. I love them, they have thick icing on top instead of pastry. I have to have one a day now to get in the real Christmas spirit.

humptydumptybits

LMG1305 wrote: »

Same as me, I keep popping on, saying hi then disappearing again. Although technically I don't disappear, I still try to read the thread when I can but been so busy lately!

I saw your question about your dgd birthday & xmas. My nephew's birthday is a few days after Christmas and my sister has always asked us to keep things separate while he's young, so he gets 'his day' the same as everyone else who has a birthday earlier in the year. I get where she's coming from. Christmas is such a massive celebration, especially in our family, so his birthday probably wouldn't feel very special if we combined the both. I guess if there is something big that she wants/needs a combined present would make more sense if it's going to blow the budget. I'd discuss it with her mum & dad to see what they would prefer.

I don't think I've been much help there have I :rotfl: What I was trying to say was, have your dgd's parents said what they would prefer or are they quite laid back about it?

Two of mine have birthdays a few days after Christmas, terrible what I'll do to get out of being the one to host Christmas:rotfl:From quite an early age they decided they liked presents for Christmas and money for birthdays as they soon realised that they could get more for their money in the New Year. Both adults and still canny with money.

[Deleted User]

The only thing I have started to do early is to buy my Christmas cards, I hate it when I go to the card shops and the queues are horrendous. I decided to use eBay. Some great cards and many at 99p including delivery, so you don't really pay anymore than you would in the shops and you avoid the queues and hassle. Its helped me anyway.

angel_nicx

Hello all. Joining my first forum in a while so please be kind :-)

I have 3 (not so) little ones to buy for: DS 15, DD 13 and DS 8. Along with various other family members so I'm enjoying all of your inspirational ideas.

Unfortunately, Christmas has not quite felt "right" for the past couple of years but I can't put my finger on why. Perhaps because my brother has starting spending time with my SIL family? Hoping to make this one particularly enjoyable with all of your help

X

angel_nicx

humptydumptybits wrote: »

Hello, just came on to see if any ideas for GC, six of them between 2 and 15 so getting to be quite a challenge. My bit of Christmas excitement is Sainsbury's has my favourite mince pies on the shelves. I love them, they have thick icing on top instead of pastry. I have to have one a day now to get in the real Christmas spirit.

My grandma always makes us a little basket (shoebox covered in wrapping paper) of little things we like... chocolate, bath bomb etc. We still love them now in our 30s