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

nic2075

The only things I got in the sales were for me. I used my Christmas money to buy a lovely smart jacket from Joe Browns and some black patent Dr Marten boots for work. Just need to get back to work to wear them.  I haven’t seen anything nice to buy anyone else. Usually I manage to buy my sister birthday present for Feb in the sales. 

Home schooling is going okish . My older two are fine on their own. I’m just checking in on them and making sure they are handing stuff in and helping when needed. My 9 year old needs help to keep her on the right tracks. She did have one meltdown over dividing 3 digit numbers, it turns out she was only to do 6 sums off of 2 different worksheets, we read it wrong and she did all 60 sums. So it was pretty traumatic working through the sheet and then finding out she wasn’t supposed to do them all 😬
 

StokieBecks

Payday today and half of my Christmas overtime money has gone to the wildife centre we support. 

Pot started ready for 2021 christmas savings but so far haven't picked any bargains up apart from my wrapping paper and tags. Also bought some crafty bits for my Christmas cards (and some bits for more general cards)

mandco

these are a great deal 3pk of xmas themed boxes £9 https://www.theworks.co.uk/p/gift-bags/santa-christmas-boxes-pack-of-3/WKS_5033601602057.html   they have 2 other designs available  they are good quality and pretty sturdy 

Spendless

Just having a quick catch up. Hope everyone well and not fed up in this 3rd lockdown.
This is birthday rather than Christmas related. 

In March it is my kids 21st and 18th birthdays. I've known this would eventually happen since DD was born, I never once considered we might be in a pandemic and places closed! Daughter's last birthday was shortly after lockdown 1. As she says she's potentially looking at going into the first one as a 16yo child and coming out of it as an 18yo adult. My dream is/was to take them to New York whilst they are these ages, maybe it can still happen at some point this year

DS we already have his main gift and it's quite possible we might not be able to see him as he's at Uni, DD is a different matter, so bearing in mind we got stuck with her 17th in a lockdown I want to prep as much ahead as I can. Last weekend was my Neice's 30th, such a shame my MIL hasn't lived to see all 3 Grandchildren hit a milestone birthday in the same year. Something a friend got her and I loved the idea was 30 presents (some small, some bigger) than began with her initial. I would love to do this for daughter's 18th. Her initial is M. There are several confectionery items that begin with this letter which will help keep costs down. She is vegetarian which will limit certain foods, though I've found vegetarian marshmallows, Make up <insert word> will also provide suggestions and there's always money. Can you lovely lot give me more suggestions please?

 Oh and the reason I will not even be attempting this with DS's 21st is he has a less common initial - hahaha. 

rachsecret

 Something a friend got her and I loved the idea was 30 presents (some small, some bigger) than began with her initial. I would love to do this for daughter's 18th. Her initial is M. There are several confectionery items that begin with this letter which will help keep costs down. She is vegetarian which will limit certain foods, though I've found vegetarian marshmallows, Make up <insert word> will also provide suggestions and there's always money. Can you lovely lot give me more suggestions please?

1. mirror ( a personalised compact mirror for her handbag)
2. magazine subscription/or a single one
3. mug-filled with her favourite sweets
4. mask (face masks-either covid ones or beauty version)
5. manicure-could be a voucher for one or you could make a manicure hamper/give her an in-house manicure!
6. miniatures booze kit eg mini baileys/gin etc
7. map-a little treasure hunt for her actual birthday with a map of places to find gifts or go on a family trip somewhere locally but with stop offs at favourite places for a photo/picnic/drink etc. Could also do an IOU for a trip to NY with it written on a map?
8. meal -could be a dine in M&S or a dine out if allowed by then

kerri_gt

Can't offer too many M's but a couple are
Moisturiser 
Maroon (ie something in that colour?)
Mouse - maybe sugar mice? 

3forholidays

Spendless Give us your DS initial and we could try and help you come up with items.

For your DD - mints, macaroons, maracas, music, movie, mascara?

mandco

Spendless I did the 18 things for dd's 18th though didn't do them all starting with her initial 
what about a memory montage?  you could do a video or photo book of images from birth to 18 
something personalised for her 18th "milestone"  

princesskitty29

Well I’m afraid to say after my positive start to the week I spiralled again and on Thursday afternoon when Wiggle was doing his online assembly I burst into tears (in private of course). In his registrations in the morning and now the assembly you get to hear about how well lots of children are doing and I just suddenly felt inadequate and like I was failing in all aspects – homeschooling Wiggle, quality time with Squeak, housework and my own life admin stuff. The logical part of my brain knows this is not true but I couldn’t help it. But you’ll be pleased to hear that it was a very cathartic moment for me and I must have needed it, as after that I decided nothing is worth this, what good is it me teaching Wiggle all this stuff but actually the household is miserable and no one is having fun? After that I completely changed and I now don’t feel the pressure like I did before. I will do what I can. I think I got stressed before as Wiggle is actually below where he should be academically, we’ve worked hard with him over the last couple of years and he is improving well but still not where he should be. But I know he will be ok in the end. He's also got some issues that I won't go into on here, but it means he has to do something for 15 minutes every hour and a quarter, so with that as well we really can't do everything. Thank you again for all of your support on here.

 

I started a new cross stitch last night, it’s called ‘Christmas Cottage’ by John Clayton. I absolutely love it and can’t wait to have it on display next Christmas!

 

rachsecret thank you for your post, it was interesting to read a perspective from someone involved in the education system, very informative and reassuring.

 

Stokie thank you, I had forgotten about the wildlife activities, I’ll take a look at that as something different to do.

 

mandco we’re still cooking, we made mud pie for after our roast dinner today, can’t wait! I too have been very disappointed with the sales, I didn’t even get to the shops to get any discounted wrapping paper that I need so I’ll have to buy some full price later in the year.

 

nic oh no poor you and your DD working through all of those sums!

 

Spendless could you perhaps book for later in the year when you might have more chance, Christmas decorations are amazing in NY! I gave my DH 30 presents for his 30th – although they weren’t related to his initial – not sure I could have done that! Some suggestions – mobile phone cover, a book where the title begins with M, make up brushes, make up organiser, make up bag, memory games (I don’t know if there’s a book to make it cheaper), manicure set, something to do with mindfulness. If I think of anything else I’ll let you know! I also like mandco's suggestion of a memory montage, for DH's 40th in lockdown I used an online company called Vidday to make a video montage, I uploaded video messages from friends and family and photos and they pull it all together into a video. It was really nicely done and quite reasonable too.

Spendless

Thanks for all the ideas, got plenty to use now.
@3forholidays - it's Z, which is why I'm not even attempting it, hahahaha