A Very MSE Advent 2025

PennysIntoPounds

On reflection @daisy_1571 they are black rather than blue and might not be actual art deco but in my mind they're the dark blue art deco earrings 😂
Regardless, they're vintage silver and were a gift from my mum many years ago from a treasures shop she went to when staying with a family friend, I love them and don't wear them often enough as they're much classier than I am 😁

greent

They're lovely earrings, PiP 😊

Catching up on the past few days: 
Thursday I wore Xmas socks to work (snowflakes) and started reading a Christmas themed book (chick-lit style) Friday (yesterday) I wore Christmas tree socks, antlers and a green jumper and helped out at a school Christmas fayre. 

Today I have cleaned the dining room and started putting a few decorations out in there. A couple of Xmas presents for people have also arrived in the post 😊

redofromstart

Love the earrings PIP

Thank you for the good wishes, I'm honestly alright and lots of positives currently, just hate having tradespeople on site rather than struggling with mood. Today's was lovely though, silent and got on with it. 

daisy_1571

Lovely earrings pip, cheers, very like the classic art deco starburst often found on glass doors

Dxx

Cherryfudge

I haven't been particularly Christmassy today but have managed to stick to my Advent resolutions so we had salmon from the freezer for dinner, and some tiny home-grown tomatoes that have been ripening in the kitchen. Soooo delicious. A tiny bit more freezer space gained, though I'm saving citrus peel for Miser's Marmalade and started a new bag of it this evening - that space fights so hard to be filled.

The toiletries-of-neglect drawer yielded some very old 'Success!' perfume. I didn't think it was still made but online I can see something with different packaging but the same name. I remember my Mum, sister and I all had some. DH tells me it smells good - he knows because he put some on himself and has spent the rest of the evening regretting that it's not washing off! I still have almost no sense of smell so I will have to trust that it's okay on me.

We also remembered to go into the loft so I have more of my winter jumpers, a couple of lounging fleeces, snowflake pyjamas, some woolly scarves and a pair of gloves with robins on. It's warmed up outside so I'm not wearing the winter nightwear but funnily I had forgotten some of these favourites while they were packed away, so it was nice just having them back.

While we were out I had a gingerbread latte - very sweet but also very nice. We were chatting to someone in the shop and she reminded me about Black Forest Gateau hot chocolate so now I'm wondering if I can find that for sale over the next few weeks.

Makingabobor2

What lovely earrings PiP. 

Suffolk_lass

Miser's Marmalade @Cherryfudge - wow, that is a blast from the past - do you make the pressure cooker version from the Grocery Challenge recipes?

My Christmas Fayre yesterday, was slow but steady. I sold about £220 of goods but then had another order by text for a gift basket, so that is made up and waiting to be delivered. To be honest, I am grateful they are done now and I can start on our own preparations. 

Today I plan to go through the Christmas cards from last year and compare with our list, update that and then I may even write a couple! I bought 3 hand-drawn cards my neighbour made and I noticed the one saying "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year has 2026 either side of the Year in the Christmas Tree shaped message - that will go to my Mum or Sis I think!

mandco

@Cherryfudge Asda have Black Forest hot chocolate mix £3ish - which is pretty good - though could do with a little more cherry flavour for my personal preference they also have a gingerbread version but not tried that yet.   Previously I’ve brought Black Forest /cherry syrup and added to normal hot chocolate which works too but the syrups can be expensive .
hotel chocolate also do a Black Forest gateau version but it’s expensive so not very mse and unless you have a velvetiser difficult to mix,

Cherryfudge

Suffolk_lass said:

Miser's Marmalade @Cherryfudge - wow, that is a blast from the past - do you make the pressure cooker version from the Grocery Challenge recipes?

I haven't seen that one - if you have a link, I'd be interested. I came across the recipe months ago over here: Shirley Goode's Misers Marmalade recipe made from leftover orange peel — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Do send a photo of the card, I can't work it out.  

@mandco I will be in Asda having a look thanks! I do a ginger syrup but am also wondering if I can find a recipe for a black cherry one. Perhaps that's a way to use the cherries in the freezer?

redofromstart

I am told that the cherry flavoured kraken rum added to decent hot chocolate makes a really good Black Forest style drink. Not tried it because I don't like rum or hot chocolate very much. 

todays plans include booking tickets to see the muppet Christmas Carol at a local small independent cinema. I notice that the 0deon has some Christmas related film screenings too, and am particularly tempted by Love Actually. Just need to work out a date when my companion of preference is free. 

I have still resisted all of the minces and stollen but today may be the day I crack on that front.