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Post by Bean on Dec 3, 2012 9:32:13 GMT
Usually it's my job to silence people wittering on about Christmas from September, so it comes to something when I'm the one to bring it up! I draw the line at putting up the Christmas smilies though....
We've just started doing a bit of pressie shopping, and have started a 'Christmas cupboard' in the kitchen so we can buy all the treats and extras we like over the run up to the Christmas - spreads out the cost and saves us fainting at the checkout when we do the last shop before Christmas! Just hope we can keep out mitts off it all for a couple more weeks...
Think we're putting out decorations up inside the house at the weekend. A few of the houses round here have already got their massive outdoor displays up! It's fun to look at as you're passing, but think we'll just go for doing the inside.
What are everyone else's plans? And who's starting to get organised? Maybe you are already - I know some people who bought all their pressies and wrapped them before November, but I enjoy it all much more if I don't peak too early!
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Post by weesilvie on Dec 3, 2012 9:37:32 GMT
So we're allowed to mention the 'C' word now, are we?!
What are the treats you like for the holidays? I like a bottle of port, a large lump of stilton or two, a box of After Eights and a plain chocolate orange.
By the way, anyone know where I can get plain chocolate oranges in the UK? They are my favourite but if all else fails, I can probably make do with a milk one!
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Post by crouchyy on Dec 3, 2012 9:42:11 GMT
I feel like you can't truly shop til you're in a hurried frenzy at the very eve of christmas at a 24 hour shop. it is then, and only then, will the ideas for all your presents really come to life! or it's the adrenaline generated by procrastination that me and my mom seem to flourish in. either way I congratulate you on your planning skills and hope you have a merry christmas!
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Post by Bean on Dec 3, 2012 9:47:22 GMT
What are the treats you like for the holidays? A bottle of Baileys, a big bowl of mixed nuts (in their shells), a bottle of sherry, roast chestnuts and a tin of Roses for starters! Fella's got Pringles on his list too - I generally try not to eat them because I'm not sure they're really food, but that said, I can easily make a tube or two disappear if I'm watching tv! I'm not a chocolate orange fan myself so haven't noticed they're harder to get hold of - Amazon sell them if you're stuck! That just made me think of Matchsticks - another Christmas classic! Might see if I can find some... I feel like you can't truly shop til you're in a hurried frenzy at the very eve of christmas at a 24 hour shop. it is then, and only then, will the ideas for all your presents really come to life! or it's the adrenaline generated by procrastination that me and my mom seem to flourish in Sounds fun but if I did that I'm not sure everyone would be so keen on their pressies - plus I'm a terminal price matcher so I'd probably spend loads more! Is anyone boycotting Amazon btw, as a protest to their reluctance to pay taxes? I kind of want to make a stand but they do tend to be the cheapest and deliver so quickly...
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Post by weesilvie on Dec 3, 2012 13:31:43 GMT
You mean Matchmakers? Ooh, now there's a though - might just add them to the list! Is it just me or are boxes of chocolates never as full as they used to he...?
You'll need to boycott Google and Starbucks as well as Amazon if you have those sorts of principles! I wish I thought it was possible but I have an Android phone (Google, because I won't buy Apple because they're taking over the world), Amazon is just tar too convenient and Starbucks is the only place I know that sells cheese and marmite panini!
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Post by Bean on Dec 3, 2012 13:48:19 GMT
Well, I've never been in a Starbucks so I'll consider that my stand! (Not that it's an intentional statement - I've never been in a Costa or a Cafe Nero either - I just don't drink coffee and can't eat most of the snacks they sell either so they don't appeal!)
Oh yes, matchmakers, not matchsticks! I always liked the mint ones best.
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 3, 2012 16:38:19 GMT
We used to do the whole blow out, starting with endless gifts to buy and wrap, foods to make, budgets to bust, etc. Now we buy a special gift for granddaugther, I make food gifts for daughter, we might buy ourselves a gift, but that's all.
We bought new decorations this year, and treated ourselves to a lot of lights and pretty decorations for the shortest days of the year. Otherwise, it will be an easy meal and relaxing day!
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Post by Bean on Dec 3, 2012 20:19:40 GMT
Relaxing is good! No point sweating the day away overdoing it - not my idea of fun!
We went to a Christmas Fayre that had some great activities making homemade decorations that the kids are keen to do more of. They usually make all our Christmas cards too, so must start cracking that whip in order to get the overseas cards posted on time!
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Post by anaira on Dec 5, 2012 7:26:36 GMT
My plan for Christmas? Keep my head down, and hope it leaves me alone.
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Post by Bean on Dec 5, 2012 9:29:05 GMT
Aren't you even going to bother hoping that this one will be better than all the others so you can have that crushing sense of disappointment when it isn't all like movie magic?!
At least hope for snow, anaira!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 5, 2012 16:43:09 GMT
Oh no, you have got me on to the subject of treats.
As you all know I am a sweet (candy) freak. At christmas we always have some extra special sweeties, I love vanilla creams covered with dark chocolate, fruit creams covered with chocolate and ahah, maple brazils, very nice but expensive. We also have a box of crystalised fondants; these are exactly the same as pepperrmint creams (not the ones with the chooclate on) only they are fruit flavoured.We also have some chocolate santas from Lidl; they are 99p each and they are gorgeous.
We are lucky as there is only the two of us, so christmas is much loved but very quiet. Yes, it would be nice to have a little snow on christmas day.
Hugs
JOxx
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Post by yodelpig on Dec 6, 2012 14:51:56 GMT
I usually bake lots of biscuits at this time of the year, but neither hub or I are in the mood for it after my MIL's recent passing. We are in the middle of sorting through her house and still have the interment of her ashes to face next week. Not the time for Christmas cheer...
But we are both looking forward to spending Christmas/New Year with my family in Switzerland; that will hopefully see us through the most difficult days. It will be our first holiday this year!
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Post by weesilvie on Dec 8, 2012 18:50:12 GMT
It is difficult to get festive-feeling when you've been having a bad time. I really hope you both enjoy your break in Switzerland - we'll look forward to the stunning pics when you get back!
It was a lovely cold sunny day here today so I walked into town and had a good wander round. Did a good job of keeping my mind off the rubbish week I've had. Anyway, I now have my full complement of chocolate treats for the holidays - a dark chocolate Orange (courtesy of WHSmith, only place I found them), two boxes of Matchmakers - one of each flavour, a box of After Rights and another chocolate Orange, for good measure.
I will also add Pringles and Twiglets to the list for the savoury element.
Anyone else like jigsaws? My mum gets one every Christmas. I rediscovered them when my Dad was rehabbing after his stroke - it was a recommended activity for him. Now I like a jigsaw every Christmas too! My goal is to find a nice pig one - 1000 pieces, has to be reasonably tasteful. Any tips, let me know!
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Post by Bean on Dec 9, 2012 20:22:12 GMT
Well, there's this one at Amazon but why not splash out a bit more (well, three times as much actually....) and get your favourite piggy photo made in to a jigsaw? I can't go over about 150 piece jigsaws - I lack the necessary patience! I'm really good at eating chocolate though, and now have Matchmaker envy so they'll definitely be going on my list! Yodelpig, I hope you and hub have a lovely relaxing break with your family in Switzerland - sounds exactly what is needed at the end of a difficult year.
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Post by furbabymummy on Dec 10, 2012 22:00:07 GMT
Christmas for us this year will be a quiet one with the family. Spending Christmas Day with my Nan and Grandad and Boxing Day with my Aunt, her partner, and also Nan and Grandad again.
Going to be really strange this year without having my Grandma with us for the first time, as she passed away in April, so I am glad it's going to be a quiet one.
Prior to Christmas Day though, I am going to a couple of Christmassy things. Got a Christmas Party with the St. John Ambulance group I belong to and then going to a couple of Carol Concerts as well.
Present wise - I have nearly finished writing all my cards and still got a couple of little gifts to buy as well.
Hope everyone here has a wonderful, and safe Christmas and sending bright blessings for the New Year
Mweekie xx
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 12, 2012 15:39:24 GMT
Christmas is a lovely time but also sad if you have lost, I have been there too. Christmas loving vibes are on their way.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 12, 2012 15:49:27 GMT
Hope you have a great day, too, Julz I gave up doing cards this year. Between moving all the office stuff to the new area just before Thanksgiving, then having granddaughter over Thanksgiving and having to move more things out of that room and into the new office. Then we painted that bedroom, and moved more stuff into the office area. I can't find my cards, finally found the stamps, and generally feel too far behind to get caught up. We are going to try to make an ecard, instead. I love jigsaw puzzles, but we've never had a good place to set up a puzzle and leave it. I would love to have even a folding table and a couple of chairs, and just be able to work at the puzzle when I feel like it. Has anyone else done the 3D jigsaw puzzles? Last time my MiL was up, years ago, she and I did one together. Quite a challenge! I'm actually going to do the baking this year, Yodelpig. I think of you and your baking every year, and feel guilty for not getting to it. This year I have my gift box all ready to fill, and will be getting some decorative ribbons to make one of my empty cookie jars more festive.
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Post by Bean on Dec 13, 2012 20:31:51 GMT
Has anyone else done the 3D jigsaw puzzles? The kids got given some Disney ones last year - they had far too many pieces. The pieces were tiny, and as they kept changing whenever you moved them, it was a nightmare! My eyes were aching by the end (by which point the kids had long since moved on to doing something far less frustrating, but once Ive started.....!).
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 13, 2012 22:33:13 GMT
Mom and I did a covered bridge 3D jigsaw puzzle. It was fun, but fairly straight forward. Then we tried a castle in 3D, I think the one at Disney, and barely made a dent in the pieces before we gave up. I'd love to do a great piggy picture, and make that into a jigsaw puzzle. I think we may have the right space for a game table after a while, so looking forward to that!
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Post by anaira on Dec 17, 2012 12:43:05 GMT
I did keep my head down, but it targeted me anyway! *sigh*
I did go on a shopping spree though. I was supposed to fetch only candy canes, and a box of chocolates for mum. Ended up getting about $50 worth, but hey I had fun! Not so much when I realized, waiting at the bus stop, that I was the only one in the house who wouldn't be able to eat them...lol. Ah well. I view that as my Christmas present to the family; and it isn't my fault that some people ate most, and some got none!
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