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

sammy_kaye18

Afternoon all
Well I am sat here beavering away on Christmas cross stitches to be made into cards and then used as hopefully decorations. Im just finishing the 4th card so have 2 more to go! Then I will be looking to the next Christmas craft to get started on which I think might be something for my mother in law :-) This year I want to try and make gifts that have real meaning behind them so Im not just buying unnecessary junk for people. 

So this year Im thinking mother in law will get a cross stitch I plan to do and frame for her, as well as mittens she use to always get as a child from her auntie and she wants a giant gnome so that's my thing to find at the minute whilst the weather is appropriate! 

My daughter has just learnt to ride a bike so we will hopefully order her a mountain bike soon but she loves being out on her little bike at the minute so she will get so much use from it but that is her main gift. Son is also getting parts for his mountain bike so not only is it practical but it keeps them fit and its something we can all do as a family. Its just everyone else to sort out now! 

princesskitty29

The boys went back to school yesterday so I’ve taken a deep breath and I’m attempting to get the house into some sort of order again!

I agree with the sentiment about practical gifts. I bought my dad and FiL thermal t-shirts last year and they were very well received, I may get some more this year! I might make my auntie a hamper like some of you have mentioned as she lives on her own and lives on her state pension. I picked up some bath crayons this morning that were on special offer for DS2 as he will really enjoy using them. I’m hoping that now Christmas bits are creeping into the shops I’ll be able to get a few more things on my list.

@mandco ooh I might have to make a trip to B&M! I’m glad the enrolment was sorted and I agree, they just need to let everyone know the timetable so they know what they’re doing. I hope you had a lovely weekend away?

@Clumsy welcome back! Good to hear from you again, I hope you’re well.

@Sammy_kaye Happy 20 year anniversary! It sounds like you had a lovely time away. The gift idea for your sister sounds great. It sounds like you’re really getting on with your Christmas planning!

sammy_kaye18

@princesskitty29
Thank you. Yep 20 years together on the 1st September and then we are 8 years married on the 26th so Im busy trying to find something Bronze for him at the minute since thats the traditional gift idea :-) I think I have found something though for him.

Have you tried getting bath slime for your DS2 - my two found that fun when they were little - you add a sachet and it thickens the water up for them to basically sit in a gloopy bath etc - and then you add the second sachet to turn it back to water to get it down the plug hole.... just dont do what my sister did and forget about the second sachet - it took her nearly 2 hours to empty her bathtub. Eejit. 

In laws told us a few days ago that they have booked a cruise to Norway for 2024 to give themselves time to pay it off so I think I might try and find them a Norwegian Phrase book so when they are out on excursions and things they will know a few words - more than likely how to order a beer and a glass of wine! 

mandco

sammy congrats on the 20 year anniversary 

Princesskitty We had a lovely weekend away thanks for asking despite the rainy forecast the weather was actually great a bit overcast and the wind along the seafront was a bit brisk at times but otherwise warm & sunny no rain at all. 
Thanks for mentioning thermals as ds is def going to need some new ones this year. 

Seem like quite a few of us are thinking more practical gifts this year- I popped into primark this morning and they had a selection of hot water bottles with soft fleecy/furry covers. The regular shaped ones were £4 though they were smaller than what I would call a full size one. They also had some long thin ones which were £6 each I picked up a grey one with snowflakes on plus some fluffy socks and new gloves as they have them in.
They have quite a few of the hooded throws/snuggys in various designs 

debating about getting some candles and using them for a couple of hours in the evenings instead of having the lights on over the winter. thinking maybe some unscented pillar candles to go with the jarred scented ones I already have so the smell isn't overwhelming?       Need to stock up on batteries for our torches too as I'm running low 

Taz's birthday at the weekend then I can concentrate on xmas 

Spendless

Yes, I'm also focussing on practical/save recipiant money gifts this year. I have a fluffy blanket put away for one of my Nans. I'm saving it until Xmas though it's her birthday next week - she'll be 97 and I've no idea what to get her.

Popped into town with DD today after he dental appt. In Boots they had a Nivea Mens Protect and Care kit reduced to £3.50, so picked up for DS. It has shower gel, shaving foam and face wash in it. Didn't think that a bad price (I'm guessing it's last year's stock). I'll either give as it is or split the items to make more of a hamper for DS - will decide nearer the time.

My job has been extended until the end of March, so that's a huge bonus for us. 

mandco

Spendless great news on your job being extended till March 
The nivea set was a good price as they are usually around double that price

I'm leaning towards making more hampers this year as its easier to make them look like a bigger gift even when the cost is the same/similar. I'm bound to end up with various boxes from online shopping that I can upcycle to use as bases rather than buying extra baskets to put things in so the only real cost will be some cellophane for wrapping.

sammy_kaye18

@Spendless
Congratualtions on the job extension, at least that will help to ease your mind over the winter months. And well done on the Nivea set! 

@mandco
I agree I think a lot of people are doing practical gifts this year. I know I am one of them.
I always have that debate with online shopping whether to get rid of boxes or not incase its a really good box that I can reuse. 
I have started stocking up on tea lights. I like the scented jar candles but I find they play havoc with my chest and Im convinced its the scent being so strong as much as I like them. I put two small tea lights on yesterday in various burners and its surprising how warm and cosy it makes the room feel. Definitely worth it and I think I might invest in some small pillar candles for one of my burners that is a jar with a decorative wood box around it. 

I havent done much in the way of winter prep but I did sit last night and make a list of food bits that I want to put aside for christmas and I will slowly start picking bits up now with my food shop to go into the christmas cupboard to make the spend at christmas a little lighter. Thinks like food bits, tin foil, foil baking trays (saves on washing up) and bits and pieces like that. 

ForTheLoveOfChristmas1982

Afternoon all

Well, our youngest is back in school today so we had a few busy weeks trying to fit lots of fun activities in before the summer holidays were over. I seem to be in the minority among my friends because I love the school holidays when they're home. All my friends are always saying they can't wait for the kids to go back etc, but I just love us all being together.

On the plus side, now that school has started again & we're in a school routine, I have the house to myself to do some Christmas prep in between working. I work from home full time now, so now that I don't have to travel to work every day I have a bit more free time.

I've bought a few more gifts for Christmas. Nothing huge yet. Just some slippers for both my girls, a cute dream journal for my youngest because she was talking about her dreams the other day & a Stitch beach towel for them both. They love Stitch & we are going to Devon next Summer so I thought they could take that with them for when we go to the beach.

Apart from that I've just got the candles that I mentioned previously. They will be for my sisters & stepmum. I saw them all recently & had a chat about Christmas & how I'm trying to declutter our house, so don't really want anything bought for me. They've agreed to just get vouchers for us & we can use the vouchers to buy something nice when our house is finished.

I've been doing ok on the decluttering side of things. Sold a few things on ebay, which is nice because it gets it out of our house & gives us a little bit of extra money too. I am considering a car boot sale this weekend, but we've had rain all week so I will have to see how that goes.

That's all from me for now. I don't want to bore you all! I'm so excited to be back talking to people who understand my Christmas obsession haha.

Have a lovely day all x

Spendless

I can't get my Mum candles, she doesn't like them. She's convinced they will cause a house fire. 

Yes, I thought that about the Nivea set. It was the only one on a shelf.  I'm thinking if I add that plus the razor sharpener, get a razor subscription like Coxy suggested and add aftershave for DS and also add the lynx soap bars. They have now gone in my Savers btw, though there are lynx shower gels for £1 in there, not sure how that price compares.  

@ForTheLoveOfChristmas1982 - me and DD have done a car boot for the past 2 Sundays, arising around £100 each time (£12 for the pitch) she's raising money for charity as part of her Pageant title duties plus de-cluttering.  Her best sellers other than her clothes (which she had far too much of) were mini perfumes, hair scrunchies and costume jewellery. As she's got older she prefers a couplf of full size bottles of scent than loads of little ones and doesn't accessorise herself the same way she did a couple of years ago. I would suggest you go look first and get an idea of what sort of stuff is selling and for what prices, before deciding. if you think it would be worth it.  

princesskitty29

Well I’m typing this in a new era, now under the reign of  a King, saying that will take some getting used to. The Queen passing is sad but what an innings she had! It will be very strange not to see her face anymore and we will now have the King’s speech on Christmas day!

I bought DS1 Connect 4 the other day as he has enjoyed playing it at my parents and at the holiday cottage we stayed in as they had one there. I’ve also bought my mum her favourite moisturisers and hand cream to make up a little toiletries bag for her. I’m going to the local retail park tomorrow so will hopefully find some other bits I need there, it will be interesting to see if any of the shops there have anything in. I also picked up a copy of Good Food’s Homemade Christmas the other day which I’ve really enjoyed looking through.

My in laws are coming over today for lunch and I’m making a turkey roast dinner (with a turkey breast joint I got YS – I’m not doing my full on Christmas lunch now!) It’ll be blackberry cobbler for pudding with some of my foraged blackberries.

@sammy_kaye18 I haven’t tried bath slime, a couple of years ago I put this bath foam in their Christmas Eve hamper (the type you can squish and play with in your hands) but my youngest didn’t want it anywhere near him! He is a bit older now though so it might be worth trying again, I shall keep the bath slime in mind.

@mandco Happy birthday to Taz! I’m so glad to hear you had a lovely weekend away, they are much needed aren’t they? You reminded me of when I was younger and going through a candle phase, I would have quite a few going at once and it was surprising how quickly they warmed a room up too!

@Spendless I’m glad to hear your job has been extended, that must be a weight off your mind.

@ForTheLoveOfChristmas1982 I’m like you, I cherish the holidays now as I know my children are only young for a short time. They actually fight a lot now my youngest is a bit older which can be stressful but I still like them being at home. The only good thing about them going back is not fighting a losing battle with the housework/mess! You will never bore us when talking about Christmas ha ha!