* Driving Home for Christmas * - It's the 2021 Christmas Chatter Thread!

Beshki

I haven’t heard about silk pillowcase before. If I buy one for my nieces, will they know what they are about?

Also..11 year old boy that I’m not sure what he does or likes?! Help! 

kerri_gt

@Spendless these are the sets I got - the other pillowcase set I picked up has a slightly different design. 

I know what you mean about not always appreciating some things fully until years later.

@Beshki I wasn't aware of the satin thing until Spendless mentioned it but there do seem to be lots about so Spendless is clearly 'down with the kids' 
Another thing my friend mentioned to me, which her 15yr old daughter has been dropping (not so) subtle hints about, is a towelling headband of which they have many in the likes of TKM. 

Would the 11yr old appreciate something like a oneside or a robe (on the theme) or perhaps a hoodie? eBay have a Hype outlet with some good deals and there's loads gaming themed type onesies about, and The Mandalorian too I think I saw. Either that or something like a Nando's voucher if he's at the age where he goes into town with his mates at a weekend maybe? 

StokieBecks

Started my wrapping today and also put together my christmassy treat hampers. Just need to put a Just Eat voucher into the hampers then I can cello wrap them.

So sorry if these pictures come out huge. My old way of doing photos doesn't seem to work since they changed the site around and I haven't yet sussed a better way.

slm6002

Pictures look great. Can i ask where the red nose mallows came from please

StokieBecks

The rednose mallows were from Home Bargains. I did order them online as hadn't seen them in the shop but sure they are probably available in store too - I'm just not close enough to keep popping in 

slm6002

Thank you for letting me know

Spendless

kerri_gt said:

@Spendless these are the sets I got - the other pillowcase set I picked up has a slightly different design. 

I know what you mean about not always appreciating some things fully until years later.

@Beshki I wasn't aware of the satin thing until Spendless mentioned it but there do seem to be lots about so Spendless is clearly 'down with the kids' 
Another thing my friend mentioned to me, which her 15yr old daughter has been dropping (not so) subtle hints about, is a towelling headband of which they have many in the likes of TKM. 

Would the 11yr old appreciate something like a oneside or a robe (on the theme) or perhaps a hoodie? eBay have a Hype outlet with some good deals and there's loads gaming themed type onesies about, and The Mandalorian too I think I saw. Either that or something like a Nando's voucher if he's at the age where he goes into town with his mates at a weekend maybe? 

DD has the same scrunchie set one. My just pillowcase ones are plain ones found in the bedding section rather than the gift section. I *think* DD bought her flatmate one like your other set though but in a different design.   

Spendless

Beshki said:

I haven’t heard about silk pillowcase before. If I buy one for my nieces, will they know what they are about?

Also..11 year old boy that I’m not sure what he does or likes?! Help! 

How old are they? DD has mentioned them because they are good for both skin and hair. Wearing face masks during the day can make you more prone to breakouts. 

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/satin-pillowcases-benefits

 I suspect having them is all over Instagram or TikTok if they are the right age!  

princesskitty29

I went on a big shopping trip yesterday to a large shopping centre, I didn’t get everything I hoped to get which was a bit disappointing but I didn’t do too badly. I picked up the boys Secret Elf Message pens, DS2 a metallic Thomas the Tank Engine toy train and a snowman bath bomb from Lush for their Christmas Eve hamper. I got DH Gareth Southgate’s autobiography and I was looking for a Nivea lip balm and small pot of moisturiser for his stocking as he gets dry skin in the winter and found a Nivea cracker set in Poundland that included a lip balm, small pot of moisturiser and a mini shower gel for £3 – less than buying them individually so I was happy with that. I also got the female cracker version for my BF. I picked up a Homer Simpson tree decoration for my brother in Primark as well as DS1’s Christmas jumper and I got my parents and FiL an ‘On This Day’ boxed calendar from Waterstones that gives them a historical fact about what happened on that day for the year. The only other thing I got on my list was some lovely warm faux-sheepskin gloves for my MiL from M&S. I was hoping to get the boys Christmas pyjamas but the only ones I found were really fluffy ones in Primark that they would get too hot in so I’ll have to wait for some more stuff to come in.

 

Reading about the tradition of putting an orange in the toe of a stocking, I always had that as a child and so now I do that for my children, DS1 always squeezes his on Christmas day morning and drinks the juice with his breakfast. My mum also used to put the nuts in their shells in my stocking but I must admit I don’t do that now, I did do it initially when I met DH for his stocking but I’m really the only one who eats nuts in our house so it seems a bit pointless.

 

Spendless it was really interesting hearing about how stockings evolved in your house. I always had one when I was little but it was literally one of my mums nylon stockings, I didn’t have one like the ones you get today and I didn’t know any different as a child. The best things about having a nylon stocking was being able to see all of the wrapped presents inside!

 

Peppa I’m glad to hear you had a lovely birthday. How was the Frosts display? My friend suggested we go there soon and I’d love to as they always do such a good display!

 

Stokie those hampers look fab, I’d be really happy to receive one of those!

princesskitty29

I do love hearing about everyone's traditions. Do any of you have any Christmas Eve traditions? Last year I wanted some real foliage on our Christmas table so the boys and I went for a walk over the fields near our house on Christmas Eve and snipped a bit of holly and brought it home for the centrepiece of our table with some candles and it looked lovely. It was a really nice activity so weather permitting I think it's a tradition i'd like to start.