Titus 2 Homemakers
The Craft Room => Christmas Club => : sbdriver January 04, 2016, 12:04:40 PM
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Ok first I can't believe no one was in here since August lol.
I want to start picking some items up for next Christmas starting this month. Really would like to make the 3 kids some lap quilts but know I need to start those early too.
I'm also hoping to use a chart I printed off where I put so much money in a jar/envelope each week until next Christmas. How great to have all my money ready to go and if I see something during the coming months money will be in there to use.
Anyone else trying to get started early?
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I'm still putting stuff away for Christmas 2015, lolol.
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LET'S DO THIS!!!!!
The first thing I need to do is think about/pick a theme for Jean's 12 Days gifts, since those are often a mix of price points and can be picked up easily throughout the year.
Next Christmas we will set up our tree again since our basement living area will be finished, so I want to really think about our ornaments and decorations as a whole. I have some ornaments from my childhood (keeps!), some country decor that my parents were getting rid of a few years ago (meeeehhhh...could let it go), and plenty of ornaments that I have picked up in my adulthood and since we've been married. I need to just pull everything down from the attic early next year, reevaluate what I want to keep, and donate what I can let go.
Mandy
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I won't have problems finding things for my girls it's Zachary that never knows and is hard to buy for. Don't mind if it's just his left next Dec lol.
I have a lot of the country style ornaments but last year and this xmas I went through all xmas stuff and donated what I no longer put out or just doesn't do it for me anymore lol.
We CAN DO THIS!!!!
So the theme is different each year Mandy and all the gifts relate to said them then?
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Reading this thread on Jan. 4 gives me the tummyache. :D
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Reading this thread on Jan. 4 gives me the tummyache. :D
haha, me too
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Reading this thread on Jan. 4 gives me the tummyache. :D
haha, me too
Count me in with the tummy ache club!
Denise
P.S. My tree is still up as are the rest of my decorations. 😳😁
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So the theme is different each year Mandy and all the gifts relate to said them then?
The theme is different every year. The first year was outdoor/camping/survival, and included items as small as waterproof matches one day, an oil lantern, and an annual pass to the nearby national park.
Year two was entertainment: movie gift card, DVDs of a favorite TV show, etc.
Three was 'man stuff': a Wolfhound tie, tie tack, sock with tools on them, a little truck made out of chocolate, etc.
This year was fitness: weight lifting wrist straps (I still don't know what these are, but they were on his wish list ;D), running headband, a tech shirt from our running club, a CrossFit book.
I'm thinking this next year might be bar items. We are getting into the 'fun' stages of finishing our basement, and Jean is doing all of the work. We started with concrete walls (no studs, no drywall), concrete floors, and a couple of bare overhead bulbs. We've designed everything out and he's gotten all of the electrical and studding in, plumbed out the space to add a half bathroom, and most of the drywall. We're at the point now where we're picking out flooring (he brought it all home last night, all 42 boxes :o!), paint, and cabinets, and one of the 'fun' things that we're putting in is a wet bar. I think it would be fun to buy items for the bar, and something that would offer me a wide array of choices at multiple price points.
Mandy
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Mandy -
Bar items is an awesome idea!
Perhaps some items that make it look like an Irish pub? Drink book? Pub food cook book? Irish alcohol?
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I love this!
I need to get started early on everyone who doesn't live in my house. Less stress on me.
The people in my house will get done in November and December
I'd love ideas for people who have Everything. They drive me crazy.
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Oh Cathie I knew you'd find us here ;D ;D
I second Cathie, I think the bar theme is an awesome idea!! Your basement sounds like it's going to be amazing Mandy :)
So Cathie how old are these people who have everything? What are their interests etc.? I'm sure if we ladies put our heads together we could come up with some ideas.
I just KNOW these other ladies will jump on board when they see how much fun we are having ;)
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Mandy -
Bar items is an awesome idea!
Perhaps some items that make it look like an Irish pub? Drink book? Pub food cook book? Irish alcohol?
The whole basement is designed after an irish cottage - dark woods, stone, earth tones, fireplace, lots of books...very cozy all around :)
And yes, I decided to go with bar items, and I bought the first one today! Woohoo! I was browsing around Target and they had a bunch of bar gifts on clearance, so I bought one of those ice molds that makes the big, round ice balls for whiskey. It's Sharper Image brand, and makes two of the ice balls (2.5" diameter each) for less than $7. I'll take it!
Mandy
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Oh I'd love to see pics, that sounds so nice!!!
Yahooooooo on the gift today ;D ;D We're on a roll now ;)
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Oh I'd love to see pics, that sounds so nice!!!
Right now it's just 1150 square feet of tools, drywall dust, and mess! I'll share some pics once we're done, though. Or better yet, maybe you should all come over for a basement-warming party! ;D ;D ;D
Mandy
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Oh I'd love to see pics, that sounds so nice!!!
Right now it's just 1150 square feet of tools, drywall dust, and mess! I'll share some pics once we're done, though. Or better yet, maybe you should all come over for a basement-warming party! ;D ;D ;D
Mandy
Sounds great! 8)
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I'd so be there if I lived closer :)
Mandy you should take a pic now then we can see the during construction and the finished project at the end.
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I will do my best, but at the moment I can't even get down the stairs - they're half gone so Jean can replace the drywall (attachment)!
Mandy
Edited: The first photo was HUGE! I've resized it :)
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Hey I need one of those ladders to paint my stairwell ;D
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Hey I need one of those ladders to paint my stairwell ;D
We just bought one of those "little" Giant ladders at Costco. Kinda pricey but very versatile!
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Mandy -
Bar items is an awesome idea!
Perhaps some items that make it look like an Irish pub? Drink book? Pub food cook book? Irish alcohol?
The whole basement is designed after an irish cottage - dark woods, stone, earth tones, fireplace, lots of books...very cozy all around :)
And yes, I decided to go with bar items, and I bought the first one today! Woohoo! I was browsing around Target and they had a bunch of bar gifts on clearance, so I bought one of those ice molds that makes the big, round ice balls for whiskey. It's Sharper Image brand, and makes two of the ice balls (2.5" diameter each) for less than $7. I'll take it!
Mandy
NICE!!
I can't wait to see pictures :-*
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Erica I have been putting off painting my stairwell for a few months now. Last time I did it, in order to reach the top I had to tape my paint brush to an extended pole and VERY carefully do my cutting in. Takes forever as you can imagine lol. I may have to check into one of those ladders, could be worth it's weight in gold ;)
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Mandy if you post pics, Cathy and I can pick out where we'd like to have our spots to sit for when we come to visit ;D ;D
I'll take the bigger spot so my Grimm can sit with me :o :o
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Mandy if you post pics, Cathy and I can pick out where we'd like to have our spots to sit for when we come to visit ;D ;D
I'll take the bigger spot so my Grimm can sit with me :o :o
We bought a couch with a chaise, and the whole thing becomes a queen bed, so there should be plenty of room for all!
Mandy
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Oh yay, keep my spot warm Grimm ;D ;D
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I have an idea for my 3 kids for next christmas. I'd like to do a personalized calendar for each of them with appropriate pics each month and hopefully all bdays etc marked on the pages.
Do any of you know is this something I could do on the computer or do I need to go to a photo place to get this done?
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I have an idea for my 3 kids for next christmas. I'd like to do a personalized calendar for each of them with appropriate pics each month and hopefully all bdays etc marked on the pages.
Do any of you know is this something I could do on the computer or do I need to go to a photo place to get this done?
I think a website like Shutterfly would be your best bet. It will be cheap, easy, and high-quality. Search around for promo codes or sign up for their emails as well, as they are ALWAYS sending out deals and discounts.
Mandy
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Thanks Mandy! I'll look them up and see what we can do. I'm not too techno savvy ??? lol
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Laurie:
I did a calendar like this on Vista Print. It was quite simple, and had ways to add birthdays etc. on dates. It was quick.
www.vistaprint.com
Pam
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Thanks Pam, I'll check this one out too :)
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Alana is starting to wear the scarves more since she has lots of business meetings etc.
I saw when that was given as a gift at xmas that was made by an elderly lady that I know. As soon as I saw it I knew Alana would love it. Have already given her some money for the yarn and her labor to get it started. The yarn arrived the other day and another one of my xmas gifts is being made as I speak lol
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Got my homemade scarf already.... that lady is super fast lol.
Today I picked up 3 xmas gifts. Found the neck warmers filled with buckwheat and lavender for both the girls for $9.98. I do make the wheat bags but by the time you add in my time and the materials can't beat this price.
Also found 2 pairs of fleece pj pants that Zachary lives in when home lol. They were regular $30. on sale for $9.88 ea.
They are marked in my book so I don't forget what I have and put away in a tote.
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Laurie - I was just going to say that I would never remember what I had bought if I got it this early, but then you said about writing it down. Of course, I would forget where I wrote it, so I probably still wouldn't remember. Hahaha! 😁😄
Denise
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Denise I do this every year in the same book. I mark Christmas 2016 now and each person I have to buy for down the page. As I get items I mark them there with the price so I can keep track of what I'm spending as well.
I'll even mark ideas there so I don't forget. Once I buy the item I put a checkmark on it and what it cost of course.
My goal last year was to wrap as I bought but that never happened especially after Alana got hurt. My goal for this year is once a month wrap what is there. See how it goes this time ;)
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I like your way of keeping track, Laurie. I need to start something like that. Though I struggle a bit deciding what the kids would like too far out...they grow and change so much each year. But some things, I think I could do that with, and especially for everyone else. I have been using The Bullet Method as my planner in a simple Moleskine notebook for over a year now with room for at least another year so could simply use a page or two in that and always have it with me.
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Thanks Catherine :)
I know if definitely helps me. Zachary I usually can't buy early for but I usually can pretty much for the girls. That way if I find something on sale I can get it. Helps me a lot by spreading it out over the year. I also can look back from the year/years before so I don't duplicate stuff. At the bottom or on a seperate page I even do the stocking stuffers so if I see something I can pick those up too and keep track.
I know you like a lot of the ladies are tight with our budgets. Another thing I do every year is try to put away all if not a big chunk of my christmas money when I get my income tax back. I have it sitting there so if I find something I'm okay to buy it or I'm not taking such a big hit on the pocket book when christmas does get here.
Now if I can just get that wrapping issue worked on this year I'll be happy lol ;D
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i like the idea of keeping it all wrote down Sis.... may need to do that and i need to find a place to keep all my stuff... got my first two gifts the other day for my boys... Flannel pj pants.... 2 pair for $10... need to find a pair now for my oldest Grandson...
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Sis, notice I got those for Zachary too lol. He lives in those things when he's at home ;D
I just put mine in a tote in the bsmt but always mark it down BEFORE it goes down there so I don't forget.