Frosty the Snowman - it's the 2025 Christmas thread!

Spendless

Today is Mr S, 60th birthday. I have got him some cufflinks made from sixpences from the year he was born. We are going on a brunch cruise later to celebrate.

Been nice seeing DD. Cant say Im thrilled with hotel/room but ok as just somewhere to sleep. Mr S has pointed out that we used to stop in far inferior accommodation when kids were younger. Its just that we've been accustomed to finer things as we got older- lol. At least then I knew what I was getting for the price paid though. 

Show was a bit of a disappointment too. Afraid eagerness on my part booking something to just ensure we got to see something was at fault. Never mind. 

mandco

@spendless happy birthday To dh 
Shame the hotel room & show didn’t live up to expectations but hopefully it’s not put to much of a downer on the trip 

@Beshki  Poundland did have budget stocking at £1 each this week -my branch had Santa & gingerbread man ones .obviously at that price the quality isn’t fantastic they’re felt type material but if your looking more for novelty factor vs long term use might be worth a look.

Ordered a Christmas capybara print fleece (George @asda) for taz’s Xmas box - capybaras are his latest “thing” and a Xmas jumper off vint@d - that was technically free as currently have a small balance on there 
picked up a box of free from shortbread for the Xmas stash in sains from their Xmas range. the free from Xmas offerings in the supermarkets so far this year have been pretty sparse/disappointing though it is still kind of early so hoping there will be a bit more choice before Xmas.

Coxy11

Happy Birthday to your DH @Spendless. I hope you have a great time on the brunch cruise. 

Mum’s suitcase has arrived at the local C0-0p so I’ll go fetch it tomorrow. Did drive past today but was en route to fetch Mum for lunch and she would have asked about the package. 

Took £50 cash out today for niece’s 21st on Friday. DH will drop it off this week. 

We were discussing Christmas desserts today and DD is keen on having a trifle. Will research who has what to offer. 

Spendless

Had a wonderful day celebrating DH 60th. Brunch cruise was fab. Complimentary mimosas. Food was nice not everything to my taste (grits!) but all nicely done. Choice of 2 desserts, Mr S got both on a plate decorated with Happy birthday from the crew. Took pics as we sailed along the river with the landmarks in the background. As we came back in, the DJ started playing 'sweet caroline' thought the lyrics 'good times never been so good' very apt. Such a memorable occasion. After that we got an uber back to the hotel and had a nap, yes all 4 of us, very cosy - lol, but sleeping isnt the issue. Its moving around the room where theres a lack of space.

Yesterday evening we then went to a mexican restaurant where the food again was lovely, there was a DJ and also a live mexican band, who serenaded Mr S for his birthday. After that we said bye to DD as she headed to her student digs. Have really loved seeing her and spending time together.

Later we head to the airport. DS is going solo to a tourist attraction that you had to pre book first. Mr S wrangled a later check out time at the hotel, so we will stay here n pack before meeting up.

In gift buying news, as I lack some decent travel cases/bags. I went on the Tripp website that coxy mentioned and have used my birthday money (it was mine a week ago) to buy myself a small case and a travel bag from their clearance section.  Added a travel bag for Mum which meant it made the amt for free p&p. 

Have seen that theres a capybara gift selection in The Range mandco (came up on my SM feed). With all birthdays now over for the year,  once we're home now to get stuck into Christmas shopping. 

PennysIntoPounds

Happy birthday to Mr S, the cufflinks are a lovely idea, and happy belated birthday to you @Spendless, glad you got something you wanted with your money and got a gift to give out of it too!

mandco

@spendless sounds like you had a wonderful day and made some great memories the perfect way to end your trip though I’m sure leaving dd and coming home wasn’t easy.
Thanks for the heads up re the range don’t get there very often but I’m planning a trip soon as I know they have Xmas stock in so will check out what capybara stuff they have.

ordered a few more bits off vinted including a Disney themed bag for dgd1 & a couple of Xmas themed card games for taz all bntw (all “free” using my balance ) honestly could spend a small fortune as there are loads of bargains at the moment - 90% of what I favourited yesterday has either sold or I’ve been messaged about. 
also ordered a couple of arts & crafts sets for the girls in the prime sale - need to work out what I’m getting  them now as sdd said the spinning chair is a great idea but she wants to get it for them herself.

A few of the Xmas themed scratch cards are out - £5 advent one, £3 Christmas cracker shaped one & a £2 supersize - about twice the size of a normal £2 one - no £1 yet 

Coxy11

V!nted is dangerous @mandco but glad you got some useful bits. Had to giggle at SDD stealing your spinning chair idea. Back to the drawing board for you then....

I collected Mum's cabin case from our local Co-0p as it was cheaper to have it delivered there than our home address. I'm really pleased with it and it's now under our bed. There's a new Ann Cleeves book out about Jimmy Perez (Shetland) so I'll order that to go with it then she's done.

DH is dropping DNiece's 21st card and cash off today (birthday is Friday). 

Am wanting to make some large snowflakes to hang in the windows at Christmas. Have watched a YT video so will have a go and see what they look like. 

Spendless

We are home and Mum's biscuits almost didnt make it back! Mr S in his wisdom put them in his carry on luggage! They were in a large metal cylinder tin! Of course the bag got sent for a check at security and the officer kept shouting to his colleagues rather excitedly 'I have cookies' and showing the tin. I was convinced he was either going to confiscate them or eat one! Fortunately he did neither and we got them back. I asked Mr S why he hadnt put them in our hold suitcases and he said 'he didnt want mums tin to get bashed'. Honestly! He has wrapped alcohol in glass bottles before and sent them back in suitcases, but didnt want to risk  a tin dented??!!

Other than that we bought no gifts. It was mostly delis and tourist tat shops and again an underwhelming inner city Target. Really need to find a decent one! 

I took DD what I hope is 3 months worth of toiletries. Years ago Mr S bought me a soap and glory gift, the products came in a large fabric vanity case. I filled this with shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, bodyscrub, bodyspray, face and body moisturiser and other bits I could think of. Some items I bought, some were full and unused at home, some I decanted from larger containers. Made me really appreciate that we can still get items like this for a few £s despite ever rising costs cos the prices over there were eye watering! Also left DD with warmer clothes and a large empty suitcase. By chance DH is going to the same city she's in at the end of the year for work purposes. Hes going to fill the now spare suitcase left at hers with her surplus stuff and fetch back, leaving her with 2-3 weeks worth of stuff for the remainder of her stay. 

Once weve worked out the 'damage' to our bank account from our hol, I'll crack on with xmas gifts. Today I have seen a £20 tin of Lindt chocs on 3for2 Boots gifts. Tempted for Nan, cos what can you buy a 100 year old? 

Coxy11

Not sure that offer is still on @Spendless so I hope you managed to get it in the 3for2 if that's what you decided for Nan. Glad the biscuits survived!

I've just spent a few hours with my DSis who is reeling as her DS messaged to say he'll be in Scotland with his GF from 23-28 December and listing a few other days he can squeeze in seeing DSis and BIL/his siblings. Nothing wrong with that per se, just the way he did it was a bit crass on the family chat instead of picking up the phone or popping round (he lives 10 minutes away). Kids!!

mandco

@spendless did lol at the biscuit drama typical man logic glad you got them home 

@coxy11 poor dsis I’m sure she was pretty upset we all get our adult kids have their own lives and are going to do their own thing but really wasn’t the way to go about letting her know especially if it was totally unexpected. 

Had a rough few day here can’t say too much as it’s an ongoing issue but ultimately comes down to there’s no kittens and an emergency surgery circ 3k   

did see selection boxes are on offer in Tesco express when I popped in last night - still expensive for what you get but at the current offer the galaxy one works out roughly the same per bar as buying multipacks so not actually that bad, I know previous years they have done bigger discounts but really not sure what to expect this year especially with the increase in choc prices and the new rules around promotions on junk food that have come into force.