Reddy Made

Xmas Thrifting

I decided that this year I was going to cut back on the madness. Some years I have have had at least 3 turkey dinners before the 25th. So with over-indulgence in mind I thought that I would try to:

1. Reclaim the true message of Xmas

2. Contain the Indulgence

3. Thrift where possible.

Number 1 has proved quite easy. Nativity Scene advent calender, Carol Service, Religious Xmas cards, check.

Number 2 has also proved easier this year. I have been seeing a Dietician for 5 weeks and recently dropped a stone quite easily. With this in mind I realised that Xmas is only 3 days, not 4 weeks as the retailers would have us believe. I had my first mince pie today and it tasted great. I did all my Xmas shopping today and bought what I wanted. However, on the 27th its back to basics again. This may seem a bit scroogish, but honestly, some years I feel so bloated I hardly enjoy my food. However, this is what happened tonight to my one and only box of chocolates:

Its actually now empty, but makes a great pencil box so not all bad!

Note to self though. Middle class shoppers in Waitrose freak out if you push a buggy around the aisles. For goodness sake how dare I take my children out at this time of year.

Number 3 has been the most fun. I've picked up a few tips off the blogs (too tired to reference with links but thanks to all especially Domesticalli for reminding me about Vanilla Sugar!). I've been scouring the charity shops and picked up some good books for the family:

My first New Years Resolution is to stop buying brand new books.

A couple of sherry glasses, glass jar for my silver and a lovely salt/sugar shaker for my neice. £6 for the glassware. Chuffed.

Oh and lastly, what to do when your house is just too small for all the Xmas cards (27+ from school alone)? Get the crimping scissors out and get your 5 year old to make some gift tags. Nothing original I know but lots of fun.

I've still blown the budget though. Oh well there is always next year.

Merry Xmas everyone. x

Easing myself back in...

(That's a picture of us at the Christening!)

The past 7 days have been a real struggle to keep up. Only 1 migraine though, which is a miracle. In that time I have fitted in

1. a night over in hospital

2. a 4 day visit from my inlaws, which includes 2 wheel chairs

3. a Christening for my daughter as well as making the cake

4. A new bag for me

5. Xmas shopping with the inlaws, 2 wheelchairs, 1 pushchair and a very excitable 4 year old

6. Halloween dress for a 2 year old

7. Organising Halloween celebrations for my family.

Well to break it down, we know about the hospital so we won't dwell on that - The 4 day visit was completely, breath-takingly hard. I had never appreciated being able-bodied so much. So many places still do not cater for the disabled - what a nightmare! But we had some fun. Honest.

The Christening went so quickly and I was so stressed that I hardly had time to enjoy it, but it was very special all the same. As for the cake though, thereby hangs a tale...

I burnt the cake, badly. After I showed my sister, I decided I may have to buy one and cheat a bit. 2 minutes later we walked into the school grounds and low and behold a cake sale!! Only problem was the PTA warlords wouldn't sell any cakes until 3.15 on the dot. Needless to say I brushed off my negotiating skills, and ended up paying £5 for a £4 cake. But at least I secured the deal. I asked my sister to make sure I didn't get too tipsy at the Christening and tell everyone I cheated. Guess what. I told everyone. I'm soooo rubbish.

Well this was the finished article (at least it was my icing!)

As for the bag, I recently found some great fabrics in an end of roll sale. I'm really into teal at the moment (Is there a more beautiful winter mix than teal and chocolate brown??) , so wanted something that would grab my mood. That's when I remembered the Kaffe Fassett fabric I'd recently bought to make some twirly skirts for my nieces. Sorry Bea and Alice. Sometimes a girls gotta chose what a girls gonna use! Hope you like, It's a new pattern for me too!

I'm loving the botton hole foot - what a tool!

Anyway, inlaws left today which left me mid-morning and early afternoon to prepare

Firstly, we had to make some goody bags for the kids

We love the ghostie lollies - Thank you Ali! - and the pumpkin was an inspired idea from CBeebies - who said tv rots your brain! - and the materials supplied by BigBucketGirl  (hooray she's back!!)from the Back to School Swap.

Next was a cauldron of witches blood to feed up the troups (3 tins of tomato soup for £1.40 - bargain)

And some seriously tacky iced cupcakes

After seriously trashing the kitchen we sped off to not 1 but 2 halloween parties where my little boy went off with his cousin to "trick or treat". I was like a bag of nerves, and eventually after much ribbing from my family I went after him and followed from a safe distance! I know he's nearly 5 but he's still my baby.

We finished the evening by watching tonight's episode of CoalHouse, a pomegranate (Autumn is officially here) and a ritual reading of "Room on the Broom". Dylan passed out in a sugar coma and I poured myself a sherry!

I am now thoroughly exhausted, and have decided to spend tomorrow chilling out before the craziness of Bonfire Night, and then its only 7 days until my first craft party!!! Arghhhhh