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

Mrs_Ryan

Typing this at 4am- I’ve had that horrid fluey type bug that’s been going round. Stayed with a friend for the worst of it as OH is working very long hours at the moment and I didn’t want him to a) catch it and b) be kept awake by my coughing (which is why I’m still up)

Used this time to do some late night online shopping. I’m also going to do a little bit of shopping when I go to Nottingham on Saturday and then thank heavens- I should be done. Been off uni for nearly two weeks- first with a mental health meltdown and then this. Downright fed up but fortunately I seem to have fought it off relatively easily. I missed my rugby team Christmas meal though as I was in A&E- fluey bug messed with my blood sugars a bit too much and made me really unwell. I’m still having horrid uncontrollable coughing fits but not as many as I was having and I’m a little bunged up but not too badly. 

As for what I’ve bought- I’ll just add to my last list as it’s easier. Oh, and I managed to get the Pingu bottoms on click and collect! I’m wearing them now. 

So far I have bought:

Mum: pyjamas x 2 pairs- I got her some from Tu and I got some really nice bright ones from Popsy when they had money off. To go with I got her a lovely warm soft dressing gown from Tu- it was 20% off plus I got extra money off with my Blue Light Card. A pair of Skechers slippers (half price from a shoe shop store on EBay- well pleased with that) a heated foot muff thing from Boots (she always complains her feet are cold) some Sanctuary shower gels (I got the same ones for my sister and she loved them- I’m hoping that with them being shower gels and not other stuff she will actually use them!) a pretty brooch in a box (I won this on the arcade 🤣my friend and I usually go to the one in Nottingham and I like to shoot zombies with a Nerf gun. You win tickets that you can exchange for things- I’ve got a really cool sports watch that I won in the same arcade) a Cath Kidston mug and hand cream from Boots (that, the foot warmer and shower gels on 3 for 2 plus my student discount too) some hazelnut chocolates from Hotel Chocolat (got discount there too with my student card) and her M&S candle. I’m going to get her some Rituals shower gels at the weekend and then she’s finished. 

OH- bit further forward now 🤣 as well as his hoodie, I bought him a pair of BNWT Next jeans on Vinted and a BNWT Jack Wills polo shirt also on Vinted. Ordered him his Ireland Rugby calendar (10% off at Calendar Club with Blue Light) and three pairs of Oddballs boxers and a pair of Oddballs PJ’s (20% off with Blue Light as I spent over 60, plus I got a free bobble hat which I’m keeping as it’s in the colours of my uni rugby team) and because sleep deprivation does odd things I’ve just ordered him a new mobile phone! He was due an upgrade anyway so hopefully he’ll like it. Oh, and his usual 8 bottles of Dove for men shower gel from Boots. It was on offer for 2.50 a bottle and then of course my student discount on top. 

I’ve also favourited some BNIB Skechers trainers on Vinted for him, and then on Friday I’ll order his 8 boxes of his favourite Irish tea; and I’m going to go and get him a new electric toothbrush plus heads and toothpaste from Boots on Saturday. Mum is now buying him the lawnmower but given the fact that I am getting him a car after Christmas on my Motability I think that’s quite enough!!! 
MIL- M&S candle (probably also some Rituals hand wash. I forgot I get student discount) 

FIL- Amazon voucher (getting that at the weekend) 

Another guy at the rugby who I am friendly with: a personalised AirPods case from Etsy, a L’Oreal Men’s Sport shower gel set (Clubcard pricing- £4) and some really insane beer from a local North East brewery (he went to Durham Uni so I wanted to get him something to remind him of that) my friend knitted him a scarf as he’s always complaining he’s cold and when I was away at the weekend I went into the Crew Clothing store in Thame- they had men’s fluffy socks reduced to a fiver so I got him a pair of those too. 

Just to add- the guy who my friend sponsors at our rugby club- I got him some cherry sweets and the most insanely brilliant neon cherry light (reduced in Clinton Cards in Thame) his surname is Cherry so we buy him loads of cherry stuff which he thinks is hilarious 🤣

OH has to be up in about an hour so I’m hoping that he’s had some decent sleep- so if I start coughing and spluttering it won’t affect him too much. 

Night all xx

PennysIntoPounds

Hope you feel better soon @Mrs_Ryan

We have the tree and decorations up, all cards except one have been written and posted.

Next on the list is wrap the gifts, I have all except something edible/drinkable for Mr PIP

Coxy11

Hi all,

Gosh @Mrs_Ryan you've been busy. Hope you feel better soon x

I had a few deliveries this week - still haven't wrapped a single thing.... All postal Christmas cards were written last night and I sent them today. Postage costs are daylight robbery and if it wasn't for the fact that most are parents friends and elderly relatives, I probably wouldn't bother!

The real potted tree is now up and decorated on the doorstep. DH also went up the ladder yesterday to afix the lights around the gutters. DS2 got us a real wreath from Morries so that is now on the front door. Just need to put up Christmas cross stitched pictures around the lounge and hallway. We took all the picture hooks out when we decorated and now have none to use!!

M&S have 30% off all Christmas decorations and home fragrance, so I got 24 x tealights in their mandarin and clove scent, plus a Colin glass tree decoration and a Percy dog toy for Grand Furbaby who is with us on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day this year.

I went to T's for our weekly shop as had £30 of vouchers. Got 2 x HP legs of lamb plus some crackers for cheese and some alcohol gifts for the children and DIL. I'm off to a Christmas market with DSis and Mum tomorrow so will see if there's anything there for a stocking filler or two as still struggling with my two DS's.

Spendless

I'm the opposite. 90% of presents wrapped. Haven't bought or written a single card, the tree isn't up and no grocery shopping has been done. This weekend is ear-marked for that. Last night we went and looked to see if an ex display tree in a shop which would would just be take home and put up was still for sale - it wasn't, so it's back to using ours from the attic. It's stressing me because neither me or DH have any artistic talent or creativity in us, so I just know I'm going to be disappointed in how it looks. There's so much left to do I'm also going to have to miss out on a Xmas school reunion meet up. 

After our fruitless trip to the store, we called at parents with dog. Mum realised too late she'd left a bedroom door open and the dog had got in. They live in a bungalow which is why we'd not heard any scampering feet  and you guessed it,  helped himself to 2 christmas presents, neither of them his!  One was retrieved from his mouth and he'd partially unwrapped another, think he must have grabbed 2nd present when he discovered first one wasn't for him - both were for DD and thankfully caught before any damage done other than Mum needs to re-wrap! 
 

I got the amenties case from DH's upgrade to BC. It isn't big enough for what Iwas considering doing with it, so am keeping it for myself. It is from The White Company as are all the mini toiletries in it. A few years ago shopping at The Range a lady was telling me how she adds her own presents into bought crackers and how to go for those with wider openings and/or ribbon bound ones so it's easier to push a small gift inside. Thinking of using the mini toiletries to do the same and adding for the rest. 

The dashboard car brushes have turned up at last! They might be an idea for your 2 DS's @Coxy11 though I'd not order directly from the supplier due to how long mine have taken to arrive. This is what I mean. 

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/amio/24409654?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&tb_prm=21034490801&gshp=1&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21037858957&gbraid=0AAAAAoWFwrexix2nWy87zRikN11KFEUdN&gclid=CjwKCAiAl-_JBhBjEiwAn3rN7dwSnr6u_zdxssMDUz_CHm9KGEqDhjV4N9kwjBFWAFujjfIYjF4LCBoCncgQAvD_BwE

I ordered from elsewhere and Dad's has his car make on the brush (otherwise he'd not recognise what it was). DH's is blank like the one shown as he will change his car next year. 

Other ideas especially if you're looking for something to bulk out, I saw a can of air dust (to clean keyboards) in poundland recently along with wipes for electronic gadgets. Boys are more difficult though! 

Mrs_Ryan

Well I’m officially finished! Just the Amazon voucher for FIL which I’ll get next weekend and I’m sorted. 

Did my last bits of shopping yesterday. 

I got an Oral B electric toothbrush and 4 heads and two tubes of toothpaste, and a Gillette sensitive razor, blades and shaving gel set from Boots- all for OH. 

There was offers on all of them,plus I got student discount and I had an extra points offer if spending over 60 pounds so I got about 20 pounds worth of points- which I then used to get two sets of hand wash and hand lotion for mum and stepMIL (1/2 price and extra 10% off- should have been 20 in total and I paid 9!) I also got a can of Rituals shower gel from Boots for mum with the rest of the points- really pleased as it’s her favourite and it’s been discontinued in the stores. I think my final savings were something like 96 pounds which I was pretty pleased about. OH’s mobile phone turned up today too so I’ll need to look for a case for that too. 

I also bought a personalised bar of Galaxy for my uni friend, and for her little boy I bought a lovely Christmas book personalised with his name. 

I handed over some of the gifts I had bought some of the rugby lads last night but I still have one lot to deliver which I will do next week. I ended up buying him something else today- a Clinique man skincare minis travel set- so I’ll add that to his bag along with the multitude of other stuff he’s got!! 

I’m really struggling with the post viral fatigue from this fluey bug- it’s really kicked my ME off. I’m going to wrap some pressies tomorrow I think or else they will never get done!! 

Coxy11

Well done for finishing @MrsRyan especially given you’re feeling so poorly x

I hope you got your tree up @Spendless. I wouldn’t worry too much about artistic talent. I heard that tinsel is out this year so have just gone for lights and hanging ornaments. Our colour scheme of choice has always been blue and silver to match our decor. We have put some silver and red bits on the outside tree though - nothing we wouldn’t be upset about a squirrel messing with however! 

I went to a Christmas fayre at our local market town yesterday. Stalls in the streets and various inside venues. It was heaving. Just bought some earrings and skincare for me(!) plus popped into Home Bargains and got 2 x party ring baubles for the DS’s as something for their stockings. Would have got Maryland cookie ones but these were the only two left. 

I’m working tomorrow then I think I’m off for the rest of the week. Not sure about 22nd Dec - I have an appointment to donate blood (booked ages ago) so could swop days - will check tomorrow. 

Attempted to knit a mini Yoda for DD yesterday. It’s on DPN’s and starts off with 4 stitches which kept slipping off. After about 20 attempts I gave up and knitted a mini pig instead. All this while watching documentaries about Wham and George Micheal - very nostalgic 😢

Spendless

Tree is done. We havent put up tinsel for years. DD decided she didnt like it during her mid teen years. Weve tried doing themed colours before but still havent thought it looked great. This year weve gone for muted colours and a lot of larger baubles and it looks the best we've ever done it.

We bought Xmas Crackers just 6 and I intend putting small gifts into them. 

Today we need a grocery shop including getting some Xmas bits like tins of chocs and also to get family cards. I am just buying them for my parents and FIL plus Grandparents cards on behalf of kids.

This leads me on to my sad news we lost my Nan a few days ago. She never made it out of hospital. I cant believe that last week I was literally about to buy her Christmas present when I took a call from my Mum over Nan's health and we came straight home - so glad Id gone with my gut to not stray too far away for our o/night stay. I'm very priviledged to have still had a grandparent at my age and so glad that she got her wish to have her 100th birthday at home with her family. RIP Nan. 😥

PennysIntoPounds

I'm sorry to hear that @Spendless x

Coxy11

Sad news @Spendless xxx

fionaandphil

Sorry for your loss @Spendless always difficult to loose someone dear to you but as you say lots of lovely memories and a great age.