A Jolly Holly Christmas - It's the 2022 Christmas Chatter Thread!

C_J

@Spendless it's so annoying when that happens, but I suppose the important thing is that you managed to buys some sheet masks for your Mum and have them squirrelled away now.

Making a rod for my own back, I have decided to do an Advent Calendar of little gifts for my newest granddaughter as well - she will be far too young to appreciate it (only 10 months old at Christmas) but I don't want her to miss out (and it's a nice tradition to be a part of).

So far I have bought a little gift set of three small Child's Farm bubble bath/baby wash/moisturiser bottles for £5 from Amazon, so that's three days sorted. I'll also get a pack of baby wipes, some socks, some tights, maybe some Duplo blocks which could be split over several days too. 

Does anyone have any other suggestions please?

chanie

@C_J what about some foods for your granddaughters advent calendar eg snack bars or other baby friendly foods. 

Other ideas:
babies first Xmas bauble 
Drinking cup 
Xmas item of clothing (headband, t shirt)
hat and mittens

C_J

@chanie Thank you!  I have already had a bauble made with her name on it, which I was going to put in her stocking but it makes more sense to go in the Advent Calendar. I love the idea of a Christmas headband or t shirt! If I got myself organised, I could probably knit her a hat before December .....

Spendless

Anyone wanting the Lynx bar soap I mentioned earlier on from Savers grab it quick. In mine they only had 6 packs left, all in the same fragrance. I'd intended buying a fivers worth and contemplated leaving one on the shelf but then I decided that 'the Universe' owed me one over a £1 gift spend and bought the lot. The other reason is the former stock controller in me thought a nil stock could trigger if they get more in or not, whereas 1 left doesn't always do that. Yes, I now have 12 bars and only a few  menfolk I buy for but am expecting these to be stocking fillers for the next couple of years.

I also went in our House of Fraser, which is a clearance store anyway. They were selling a nice boxed wine/champagne flute with Betty Boop on for £1. It's on Amazon for almost a tenner. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Betty-Boop-Flute-Wine-Glass/dp/B01N64MWCH/ref=sr_1_22?keywords=betty+boop+glass&qid=1659983577&sr=8-22

 I bought 2, 1 for DD's stocking or Xmas Eve hamper if I resurrect it, the other for her friend's 21st birthday next weekend.  It can either be put with a bottle of bubbly  and/or some chocs or I've had a quick look and I have enough to put together a 'relaxation hamper' from the legendary present cupboard. Should I ever contemplate not having the present cupboard again, I am reliant on all of you on here to tell me to have a good hard look at myself and talk me out of discontinuing it - lol.

@C_J - Both my kids were 9-10 months their first Christmas. I recall getting them both bath toys  Not sure what's on the market these days but things like rubber ducks and those waterproof books. Mine also had cloth books and ones that clipped to their pushchair though I think we bought the latter abroad (English speaking country). I suspect they'll also do baby's first Xmas melamine plate/cutlery/bib nearer the time.   

Spendless

I bought DD's Xmas present this week. A trench coat from TK Maxx. She's wanted one for a while. I saw this and showed her it before telling her the brand so she judged it on the style not the make (Michael Kors) she said it was the 'most beautiful coat she'd ever seen'. I agree it's incredibly stylish, I tried it on first when she was down another aisle -lol, but it didn't fit. I've said it's to be put away for Christmas. She did ask if she could have it before in case she goes to any winter London events and I've said that is a possibility nearer the time. 

So that's another off my list. With increasing costs happening and more to come  and not knowing if my job will continue after the end of next month, anything additional will be of the lot smaller sort.

C_J

That coat sounds lovely - your daughter is a lucky girl!

I have nothing much to report, other than a few little items from Poundland to go in the advent calendar for baby granddaughter - a small wooden fairy puzzle, a baby toothbrush, baby Milk Teeth toothpaste, some Baby Dove shampoo, and a Peppa Pig board book all about teachers (her Mum is a teacher).

princesskitty29

It’s been a while but I finally bought another Christmas present the other day, a four pack of Play-Doh pots from Tesco on sale at £2.80 for DS2. He’s obsessed with space at the moment and I found some great books/activity books that I want to buy but I’m worried in case it changes before Christmas. I don’t think it will as he’s massively into it and we’re decorating his room in a space theme so I’m tempted to take the chance. Like everyone on here I’d like to buy things as I see them to help spread the cost a bit.

One downer of being organised is that I bought my friend a Chilli’s bottle (the ones that keep things cold or hot) as she cylces everywhere for her job and needs a water bottle, but when I was with her the other day she was inspecting mine and said it would probably be too heavy for her to have in her bag along with everything else she carries. She doesn’t know I’ve bought her one and now I’m going to have to rethink. I bought her one of those as she lives in Barcelona so it’s hot quite a lot and I thought the bottle would be good as it keeps drinks cold. I guess this is the downside to buying early as it’s too late to return it now and I don’t think there’s anyone suitable to re-gift it to. I could possibly try and sell it nearer Christmas time when people are looking to buy gifts, I bought it in the sale so should hopefully make my money back as it would still be cheaper than ones in the shops.

@mandco I remembered your comment about a garden centre having the Christmas display out already, it’s funny because I love Christmas and bits popping into the shops, but I’m not sure I’m ready for a full on display yet! I like the evening to be drawing in a bit and it to feel more cosy when the big displays come out.

@CJ the advent calendar sounds like a lovely thing to do. The things that popped into my head have already been mentioned but if I think of anything else I’ll let you know. One thing I will say as Spendless mentioned rubber ducks, my sons received Christmas ones once so maybe worth looking out for closer to the time.

@Spendless you cannot get rid of your present cupboard, you seem to pull out a gift for any occasion from there! I’d like your present cupboard!

mandco

Spendless - sounds like you've found a few bargains this week - the coat sounds lovely though I totally get her desire to have it early. 

Cj the advent calendar is a lovely idea - I think you have most of the things I would have suggested already  though a xmassy themed rubber duck is always a hit. I also love the its not my books for babies might be a bit big for a advent calendar but ideal as a small gift. 

Princesskitty - I'd risk the space themed stuff as even when their latest in changes they usually still love anything to do with space and you can never really go wrong with books & activity sets at his age.
Shame about the drink bottle - they are great dd has one she takes everywhere but would agree they can be on the heavy side. they are very popular so hopefully you'll be able to sell it on

Went shopping with dd yesterday as she wanted to buy a new outfit for her birthday next week - it was packed in town and we must have tried nearly every cloth shop available before she finally found something she actually liked. We ended up grabbing lunch as we were out so long she chose subway and I ended up winning a £25 amazon voucher off the comp they are running which will come in very handy and made the stress worth it. 

ordered her birthday cake to pick up in a couple of days and got the last of the decorations - just need to wrap her presents then I'm all sorted for her birthday doesn't seem possible she's 21 this year    

The works have 1/2 price on lots of craft items like paints, canvases, scrapbooks ect  so I will be doing an order for some bits to put away for xmas. they have loads of xmas craft stuff in stock online & instore already too.

signed up for the new asda rewards card - already earnt £1.50 cash back and I only spent a tenner. Guessing the offers won't keep being as good going forward but anything back is a bonus so going to save up anything I earn and put it towards some xmas treats/extras 

I will be very glad when the weather cools down a bit the next few days - its been way to hot for us and the fan usage is not great for the electric bill - I do like some sunshine but low 20's is plenty hot enough for me. I haven't even be able to tempt Taz with the swimming pool as he says its too hot to go outside.
there have been a few grass/wildfires locally the last few days which is scary as they were mostly on green areas/parks next to residential buildings which could easily have been so much worse.

Keep safe 

Spendless

Aww thanks for the positive comments re the present cupboard. Funnily enough my Mum said this weekend when talking about it that I have a knack for finding stuff that will come in at a later date and DH agreed when I told him.

I mentioned it to them because I was able to cobble together a hamper for DD to take to a 21st. It had the Betty Boop wine glass (if they haven't sold out I will be getting another to put away for a relative's 18th next year). I bought a small bottle of pink prosecco in Home Bargains £2.79, a box of Chocs £1 B & M. and put these in a 'hamper' (plastic box £1.49 HB) along with a mini  boxed candle that I haven't got  the foggiest where it came from, along with a bottle of MissGuided bubble bath. Again I haven't the foggiest where the missguided stuff came from, I'm guessing Boots Sale. It was bubble bath, bath salts, bath oil and an eye mask all in a drawstring bag boxed up. I'd already raided it for the eye mask for DD's holiday goodie bags, so couldn't save as a complete present anyway. My Mum provided the tissue paper, scrunched up wrapping paper, cellophane and bows to make it up. Total cost was I think £7.30 plus the bits I already had in and Mum's materials. To buy would have been in excess of £20 I reckon.

@princesskitty29 - I'm pretty sure you could re-sell the Chilly water bottle and get at least what you paid for it. I'd even try selling it now whilst the weather is hot and people are thinking about having their water cold all day. I work in an office once a week and we regularly talk about reusable water bottles and coo over our colleagues Chilly one but I'd dismissed getting DD one for the same reason the weight of it as she commutes to her summer job, so would be carrying there and back with all the other stuff she has to take.  I also think you'll be ok with the space stuff. I understand it's a risk though. When the kids were 3 and 6 we went to visit relatives in Canada in Mid August/early September. DD adored Dora The Explorer, DS SpongeBob. The Canadian dollar stores were full of both, absolutely perfect for stockings, so I filled my Boots only for at Xmas DS to say 'why's Father Christmas got me all this SpongeBob stuff when I've gone off him' - kids!  

That was handy re the amazon voucher mandco. I normally ignore such surveys, have to try them. DH does some online ones and gets paid in Amazon vouchers and it's been a huge help at times

Redredrobin

So much for being on here more often !

 princesskitty29  -   I wasn't in the car when it was hit but i was looking out of the window at the time and watched it happen in  slo mo . The only  good thing was that my brakes held and my car wasn't pushed into hubbys car . At  what point did your puppy stop nipping ? At what age did your puppy stop nipping ? Leia is 5 months and although she is getting better shes a !!!!!! at times .

We have booked  a few nights in Anglesey in Sept so really looking forward to a change of scenery and seeing what the puppy makes of the beach .

Christmas prep is coming along i know what i need to get now and oddly enough having a set budget is making things a lot easier .

I have started doing surveys and although they are a bit boring at times and not huge amounts i am up to £65 in 2 months . I use Attapoll