* Step into Christmas * & 2020 - It's the 2020 Christmas Chatter Thread

rachsecret

Thanks for the heads up for Online poundshop. Did an order last night.
In case anyone else is interested a similar shop, Online Poundstore, has got their Christmas page open https://www.onlinepoundstore.co.uk/product-category/xmas-range/
They often have some good deals on some top range products like Molton Brown etc. I love a pound shop! If anyone else knows of any do let me know!
Re Hot chocolate hamper, one of the big trends at the moment in cafes etc is where you can buy a hot chocolate bomb which is basically a sphere made of chocolate and you pour warm milk on. You can buy them from amazon/Etsy or there are instructions on how to make one yourself too. Chocolate coins might also be good. You could wrap up a variety of toppings in cellophane bags. Fudge, marshmallows, flakes, powdered chocolate, cinder toffee, buttons etc. 

sammy_kaye18

Re Hot chocolate hamper, one of the big trends at the moment in cafes etc is where you can buy a hot chocolate bomb which is basically a sphere made of chocolate and you pour warm milk on. You can buy them from amazon/Etsy or there are instructions on how to make one yourself too. Chocolate coins might also be good. You could wrap up a variety of toppings in cellophane bags. Fudge, marshmallows, flakes, powdered chocolate, cinder toffee, buttons etc. 

That’s a really good idea! I might see if I can find some festive bags! 

My next dilemma is - do I give it to her as a Christmas present or do I have it arrive on the 1st December so we have a month of warming hot chocolates to enjoy? 

sammy_kaye18

StokieBecks said:

sammy_kaye18 said:

Hope everyone else is doing well and I have a question 
Im wanting to make my daughter a hot chocolate hamper for christmas but I cant think of what to put in it. Any ideas? 
Also what do you buy a guinea pig for christmas? 
Stay safe all! 

Perhaps some stencils and the fine cocoa powder to sprinkle onto them?

If you buy her a tall hot chocolate mug then maybe a couple of the long spoons to go with it too?

Also maybe a snuggly fleece throw or a pair of nice thick slipper socks to go with the hanper so she can have a proper cozy snuggle with her hot chocolate?

The fleece blanket is a really good idea! She loves a good blanket. I might see if I can find her a guinea pig themed one! 

sammy_kaye18

Beshki said:

sammy_kaye18 said:

Princess Kitty - yep been a member of the site for years now - since just before my son was born - in fact some members of the group will remember my birth announcement when I had him as a young mum at 19............ well now that little bouncing new baby started college this week! 

Im getting there slowly - my vertigo seems to be made worse with looking at screens so I can sit on computers too long now like I use to but I do flit in and out form the site. 

As far as christmas prep goes.....
Son 
We decided to get our son Ben a new mountain bike which my husband has been slowly building himself so its been a lengthy project but the expense has been spread out so we haven't missed it too much. We just have the gears and brakes to buy now which is about £100 each so we will do those over the next few months and then that is his main gift so he will get a few other little bits and pieces. 

Daughter 
Holly asked for a Nintendo switch for Christmas and I found a deal the other day which meant it was £279. I have gotten slightly nervous that if another lock down comes our way then things might be out of stock or hard to get so I brought that straight away. I figure I can get games nearer the time and it would be a good fun thing for all of us to play come Christmas day together. So I will just get her a game, maybe a protective case and some clothes and a few little bits to go with it. 

Husband
I have brought him a new Go Pro. It was suppose to be £380 but I found a deal online which made it £279 and it arrived within about 3 days of ordering it. Hes a keen mountain biker, motocross rider and motorbike rider so I know it will get plenty of use. It also means his older Go Pro can go to Ben as well so they will each have one. The only other thing hes asked for is a decent helmet too which the kids have said they'd like to get him. Its about £80 but I dont mind spending more money on safety items. 

I've also been looking at the amazon lightening deals and managed to pick up a nice 12 pack of bath bombs for £9.99 - I cant decide whether to give them to my step mum for Christmas or whether to break them up as separate little gifts to go in gift bags for all the girls. 
I still have 5 people to buy for and 4 pets. 
Im getting there though and I have started my Christmas cupboard as well. I have pringles, shortbread selection, paxo stuffing in there ready to go at the minute but I will keep adding to it as time goes on. 

Also was gifted a new fibre optic christmas tree its just figuring out where to put it now though since I have new sofas and the space the tree was in has now been taken up :-/ 

Hope everyone else is doing well and I have a question 
Im wanting to make my daughter a hot chocolate hamper for christmas but I cant think of what to put in it. Any ideas? 
Also what do you buy a guinea pig for christmas? 
Stay safe all! 

Well the piggies would be the easiest presents for me lol! Have a look on https://www.hoptoforage.co.uk/shop for lovely forage, they’ll love it. Their micro hay bales are also really fantastic quality and very reasonable prices. 

Oh will have a look! 

Thank you! 

sammy_kaye18

Hi all
Managed to get some more Christmas bits done today. 

I ordered Holly a case for her switch and so she is only going to get a few bits and pieces now. 

Had an idea for Owen and will see if my friend can make a sticker for it on her cricut machine. 

Also ordered a memory bear for my mother In law as well after I cleared out my narnia cupboard earlier and found a pillowcase that belonged to a bedding set that all of her 7 grandkids have used.  So that’s being made for her once I send the stuff off on Monday. That takes about 6 weeks. 

I’ve also decided to get one made for Owen as well using an old cushion cover from our sofa and some material that I took from his old gaming chair before we got rid of it. Both have sentimental value for two of our dogs that have passed. 

Hoping they will be much loved :-) 

nic2075

That’s a lovely idea Sammy Kaye. 

Got some matchmakers and advent calenders today. I know it’s early, but last year I was glad I got them early as the ones my kids asked for were sold out the following week when I looked. 

I’ve also started stocking up my store cupboard again. I had it filling up nicely incase it was needed after Brexit, then COVID came and we used a lot of it up. I have panic attacks if I don’t have have it fully stocked. I always have enough in tins,pasta, uht milk etc to do us a month. I’ve tried to leave it and tell myself we won’t need it, but I end up ill worrying about It 😞

I bought a few glitter pumpkins from Home bargains for my autumn display. But now I think I have too much and don’t know how to display it nicely 😂

CocoM2020

Anyone know when Asda starts to sell Christmas trees (artificial) online? Threw out my old one last year so have no tree 😭.  Thanks 

sammy_kaye18

nic2075 said:

That’s a lovely idea Sammy Kaye. 

Got some matchmakers and advent calenders today. I know it’s early, but last year I was glad I got them early as the ones my kids asked for were sold out the following week when I looked. 

I’ve also started stocking up my store cupboard again. I had it filling up nicely incase it was needed after Brexit, then COVID came and we used a lot of it up. I have panic attacks if I don’t have have it fully stocked. I always have enough in tins,pasta, uht milk etc to do us a month. I’ve tried to leave it and tell myself we won’t need it, but I end up ill worrying about It 😞

I bought a few glitter pumpkins from Home bargains for my autumn display. But now I think I have too much and don’t know how to display it nicely 😂

Oh I think matchmakers and cookies will go nicely in her got chocolate hamper too. 

I’m looking online for a few smaller businesses to see if I can have a mug made up for her that says ‘Hollys Hot Chocolate Mug’
Im also trying to find different little sachets for her as well as marshmallows, sprinkles, flakes and I will make sure I have squirts cream in. I’m going to put the marshmallows and flakes in little labelled pots for her too and I have a frother in my amazon basket to buy on Wednesday. 

I feel ahead of myself which is a nice feeling to have for a change 

completely forgot about advent calendars! 😧

oh the pumpkins sound so pretty! I really do need to start looking into buying more fall decorations! 

I have been buying a few extra tins and things each shop to put away under the side in a makeshift mini pantry and have been looking at sorting the garden to make some raised beds so I can start to grow our own stuff. I think this is all making me realise how dependent I am on supermarkets and I don’t like it very much 

princesskitty29

Nothing Christmassy done here as it’s been a week of settling Wiggle back into school and getting some of my long overdue housework done! Thanks for the heads up about Christmas stuff coming into shops, I’ll definitely have a browse. I did actually make a list last week of ideas for people after having a look online so need to have another look and start buying some of it.

 

DH and I take it in turns to see each of our parents at Christmas, we spent it with my family last year so we’re due to spend it with his parents this year. As it stands at the moment we will still be able to do that but who knows what might happen between now and then, especially with all the other usual bugs flying around, I think it’s going to be chaos. Hopefully I’m wrong. I don’t usually have a big food stock at home but I said to DH that perhaps we should buy a few extra things each week in case there’s another panic over the winter. I refused to stockpile and panic buy in March which then left me unable to get quite a few of the usual staples we use.

 

GTQ this would be something I would happily donate to but I imagine I don’t live anywhere near you. We do always do a big food shop for the food bank though and I regularly buy bits and pieces throughout the year.

 

sammy wow I can’t believe it’s been that long! You’re a veteran. Sounds like your Christmas prep is coming along nicely. The memory bears sound lovely. I have kept a selection of the boys babygro’s that they had when they were born and I’m hoping to get a memory bear made with them one day.

 

nic where did you get your advent calendars from? I like to get things like that early.

slm6002

Today i have some orders arriving ready for Christmas.  I bought a beard set for my uncle, who since lock down has been growing a beard (still not used to it as for the past 40+ years he has been very much a clean shaven man lol), ant farm and Pogo stick for my nieces bday and Christmas.  I have also ordered computer game for my son that he is wanting. I am stuck on DD's even though one has given me a list.  All 3 children have birthdays before Christmas so really need to get working on those.  I have put frozen pigs in blankets on the food order for this week as i'm trying to get everything in the freezer ready just in case.  
We have fill your own advent calendars that come out year after year. Each year i buy Halloween sweets and mini choc bars in the sales.  My kids don't care whats on the outside of the packaging, just the yummy chocolate inside.  If you wait until just after Halloween its often on sale too.  The only downside is i know all that chocolate is in the house and on occasions i have had to replace some of it.