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

Skibunny40

mandco - only Christmas tree theme before Valentines that I can think of is Burns Night. Add lots of tartan ribbons to the tree?

pixtotts

@princesskitty29 thank you for the new thread! I love the name   Also thank you for your message on the last thread   

@mandco I think @Skibunny40 has found your thee! Burns night! I would also be tempted to use it as a reason for a burns night supper, I do love haggis though... 
Or you could go something neutral and just pretty, wintery woodland? My bedroom tree (I have a studio tree and a bedroom tree as well as a living room tree... ) this Christmas, or last Christmas, the one we just had... I didn't put conventional decorations on, it had dried hydrangeas instead of tinsel, and little vintage bottles hung from the branches with dried flowers in them. I made a new friend last year who works with dried flowers, and now I'm obsessed!   


So I am having an interesting time of it right now, I have covid. I live with my parents, gosh if you've been here a while you have seen me go in and out of a few relationships but that's relevant as my dad is on the extremely vulnerable list, so I am currently self isolating in my bedroom. Also relevant as the source of my covid was a 3rd date with a guy whose friends passed it to him at New Years! I have told him as nice as it is to share he doesn't have to share everything... he could have kept the covid...  

Anyway I'm just trying to fill my day haha, what I'm most upset on missing out on is sales shopping it's just not the same online is it. 
x

Coxy11

Hello!
Mind if I join in? I popped in at the end of last year asking about solid shower gel bars etc. for gifts. Went with cash in the end as couldn't find anything suitable for the nephews (21 and 14) without it looking like a bar of soap(!) plus they share a family bathroom so not very ideal.
First purchase towards 2022 gifts today - a mitt for self tanning for DD. It was £2.50 in T's - no idea if that is reasonable but good for a stocking filler.
I used to be very organised with present buying throughout the year, but the last year in particular felt very rushed and chaotic. Will try to spread it out a bit this year to save my stress!
Coxy 

Gettingtherequickly

Mandco, having a big gap continues the joy for much longer. I have a cousin who was an accident, there is 18 years between her & her sister, it also means there is a gap between their children, so we now have the joy of 13 year old twins v 13 month toddler. We are all loving it 😀

Coxy11

Two more little purchases today in a CS - resin gingerbread house Christmas decorations with 2 of my nephews names on - 50p each. Bargain.

princesskitty29

Morning everyone, how was your first week of 2022? I put my eldest in his PE kit for his first day back at school as I was convinced it was Monday and that’s his PE day, but another parent had to point out it was actually Tuesday! I had to take him home to change as he refused to go in. I then took both boys to their swimming lessons on different days in different towns but neither were actually on this week - you’d think I would have learnt from the first time! Our dryer stopped working and a fabric coaster has got stuck under the drum of my washing machine so I can’t use that until someone comes to remove it. I did have my booster jab though and thankfully no side effects from that. I’m just hoping next week is going to be a bit calmer! I did visit my mum on Friday, it was a 5 hour round trip for a 2 hour visit but it was good to see her. She’s really poorly at the moment from the side effects of her radiotherapy but she finally got to ring the bell yesterday, I’m desperately hoping this will be the end of it for her.

I popped to our local garden centre yesterday where they have The Works and managed to pick up some bits and bobs in their half price sale. I got a Christmas puzzle for my mum, some gift bags, two small make-your-own hampers, a pack of make-your-own crackers and some small treat boxes for DS1’s friends that he likes to give to. There were some things that I thought would make great stocking fillers but DS1 was with me so I couldn’t get any of them, I might pop back during the week as they still had a fair bit left.

Well DH and I are off to see a puppy today, I’m well aware that there will be little chance of us walking away and saying no! It will be available in early Feb, I’m a little nervous as we’ve never had a dog before but the time feels right for our family.

CJ I’m glad I’m not alone! I did think about wrapping as I bought throughout the year but like mandco says it’s storing it for me, I usually have to keep presents together in boxes so I’m not sure how well the wrapping will hold out. I’ve told myself that once it gets to the 1st November I have to start wrapping no excuses! It sounds like you’re off to a flying start with the advent calendar fillers!

Redrobin that sounds like a very thoughtful present for your DD. You’re doing well with your advent fillers too!

mandco oh it sounds like you’ve had a rough start to 2022, I’m sorry to hear that and I hope you’re better now. I hope your DD and her boyfriend are doing ok too. As for the tree, I thought of a general winter theme like pixtotts? I see January and February as proper winter, snowflakes, snowmen, robins etc? Although as I write this I’m not sure how easy that is to pull off! Burns Night would be a good one too like others have said. Thanks for asking about my parents, as I said my mum is quite poorly right now but hopefully as her last treatment was yesterday she will be on the slow road to recovery. My dad is very frail now, I think this may just be the way he’s going to be now unfortunately.

pixtotts oh no sorry to hear you’ve got covid! It must be hard having to isolate on your own like that, how long have you got left? Probably not the best way for a man to woo you in the beginning! Flowers might have been better. Hopefully he’s worth it! I agree, I’ve gone right off online shopping, I still have stuff to take back from before Christmas as it wasn’t right.

Coxy please do join in, it’s good to have you here! I do find it easier buying throughout the year, or even just jotting down ideas as they come to me so I at least have a plan. I already have a few things jotted down for this Christmas! I see you do cross stitch, that’s my favourite hobby and I’m currently stitching John Clayton’s ‘Christmas Cottage’. It’s taking a while as the entire background is stitched but it’ll be worth it and I really hope I can’ get it finished to have on display this year.

 

Anyway I’m signing out now, I didn’t mean for this to be such a long post! Enjoy your Sunday.

Coxy11

Thanks for the welcome princesskitty! You should come join us in the Cross Stitch and Craft Cafe 2022 - we share what we're making and post photos. It's a small but lovely group:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6322683/cross-stitch-and-craft-cafe-2022#latest

Hope to 'see' you there!

Coxy

Treasurequeen

I too need to be more organised for christmas  as I start off well, I buy everything But somehow the decorations go up  and I’m behind and I end up rushing around to write cards and wrap presents. I had to help my gran last year wrap her presents as she has arthritis in her hands now. So all of my wrapping had to be done later. 

Welcome Coxy I’ve just started a Christmas cross stitch picture it’s been years since I last did a cross stitch piece. Your post made me get it back out of storage. 

pixtotts sorry to hear you got covid I hope you feel better soon. 

My goals this year are to buy from local shops, I’ve decided to buy a joint gift for my brother and his wife instead of separate gifts. They will each get a smelly gift set each to go with their main present. I’m thinking of doing a ice cream sundae hamper for them. As my brother said he missed having them at home, when we were growing up we had the special glasses and created our own toppings. I’m going to keep an eye out for the glasses in charity shops throughout the year. 

Treasurequeen

Also does anyone know if bath bombs have got a shelf life. I saw some great Christmas themed bath bombs  but my flat is hot in the summer would they spoil? 

chanie

Treasurequeen said:

Also does anyone know if bath bombs have got a shelf life. I saw some great Christmas themed bath bombs  but my flat is hot in the summer would they spoil? 

If they are wrapped, I’m sure they will be fine.  I bought a lush one just before one of the lockdowns and kept it for freedom day and it was fine.