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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

What am I to buy the staff at nursery?

28 replies

storminabuttercup · 02/11/2011 11:02

Ds is in nursery 2 days a week, this will be the first Christmas that he will be there, what do I get the staff as presents? There are about 8 who work in the baby room! Nice inexpensive ideas needed, we're broke! :-D

Tia!

OP posts:
Carrotsandcelery · 02/11/2011 11:06

One year I gave all the staff a Bayliss and Harding hand soap pump. They were selling them in Asda for a bargain price. I reckoned everyone used hand soap and it would be used rather than just cluttering up someone's home. They looked a bit more luxurious than the day to day hand soaps though.

M&S often do similar things on 3 for 2 which, when you have 8 to buy, might help a bit.

The other option might be to buy a big tin of sweets for all the staff. Not inspired I know but I imagine it would be appreciated.

Carrotsandcelery · 02/11/2011 11:07

How handy are you? My dd has also once made bunnies out of face flannels which were very cute. I will look for the youtube link how to do it.

Catsmamma · 02/11/2011 11:09

Nothing. I wouldn't.

Eight extra presents and money is tight...it doesn't make sense.

Carrotsandcelery · 02/11/2011 11:11

here

We simplified it by sticking on eye stickers from Tesco and I think we used a rubber band or hair bobble not a ribbon.

I think you can tuck a bar of soap in the body somehow.

You can get flannels really inexpensively in the supermarkets.

KatyMac · 02/11/2011 11:12

I work in a nursery & I would say only a homemade gift; some biscuits or maybe fudge.

No-one can afford 8 presents imo

Carrotsandcelery · 02/11/2011 11:12

This version here might be more seasonal. Grin

bamboobutton · 02/11/2011 11:12

the posh hand soap is a good idea, i bet nursery staff have to wash their hands a miilion times a day.
get the mathching hand lotion for them too.

Carrotsandcelery · 02/11/2011 11:16

You can also get mini tubes of the Body Shop hemp hand cream which might be good for people who are constantly hand washing. I don't think it would be very budget though.

Original poster
storminabuttercup · 02/11/2011 11:18

carrots I'm not handy at all I'm afraid. I like to cook so could maybe do something along those lines. Or with the soap idea marks had an offer on hand wash etc yesterday where they were a pound, but you got the second half price, so 1.50 for hand wash and handcream. I meant to start a thread on that actually , great for anyone doing hampers!

OP posts:
Listzilla · 02/11/2011 11:49

I'm thinking of doing a batch of christmassy muffins for ours.

Carrotsandcelery · 02/11/2011 12:04

storm Grin reindeer might look scary then! I have a great recipe for Mincemeat muffins. They are delicious and would be perfect for such a huge group at Christmas time. Let me know if the recipe would be useful.

Original poster
storminabuttercup · 02/11/2011 12:19

Thanks carrot that would be great, I may eat them all myself though! Blush

OP posts:
Carrotsandcelery · 02/11/2011 12:36

Mincemeat Sultana Muffins

Makes 11-12 standard size

10 oz plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 oz fine white granulated sugar
1 egg
8 fl oz milk
8 fl oz ready made mincemeat (about 12 oz)
3 fl oz vegetable oil o 3 oz melted butter
3 oz sultanas
Icing sugar for dusting the tops.

Method

  1. Prepare muffin tins. Preheat oven to 190 - 200 C.
  1. In a large bowl sift together: flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and sugar.
  1. In a separate bowl, beat egg with a fork. Stir in milk, mincemeat and oil/melted butter.
  1. Pour all of the liquid ingredients into dry mixture. Stir just until combined, adding the sultanas during the final strokes. The batter will be lumpy, but no dry flour should be visible. Do not over stir.
  1. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake for 20 - 25 mins until tops are lightly browned and spring back when pressed gently. Allow muffins to cool for several minutes to make removal easier. Sieve icing sugar over tops.
Original poster
storminabuttercup · 02/11/2011 12:41

Sounds fab! Thankyou! Grin

OP posts:
Carrotsandcelery · 02/11/2011 12:42

You are welcome. They are lovely and the recipe has never failed me yet.

mousyfledermaus · 02/11/2011 12:46

the room where my dc is gets a tin of chocolate to share. staff are not allowed to take personal gifts which is appropriate imo.

tefal · 02/11/2011 13:37

Most supermarkets do 2 tins of quality street or heros or celebrations for a £10. That is what I usually hand in for all staff.

Listzilla · 02/11/2011 16:41

35 minutes after reading that mincemeat muffin recipe this afternoon, I was pulling them out of the oven : ) They really are nice, though I didn't like the mincemeat I used (it was an M&S chocolate one, and really just not right!).

I used 10oz of self raising flour instead of the plain flour, baking powder and bicarb, and they were fine.

Pigleychez · 02/11/2011 18:20

I have 8 staff to buy for too.
I have made little personalised Gingerbread men decorations for them each (pic on profile) but not sure what else to go with them. Am thinking either some homemade biscuits/fudge or something or maybe a hamper of different handmade things for them to share??

TaffyandTeenyTaffy · 02/11/2011 20:11

I was thinking of a nice box of Christmassy cupcakes? Enough for one each - and maybe a couple of spare for some of the floating staff. Not sure whether I am brave enough to make them myself!

DS is only part time so his last day will be the beginning of the week before Christmas so not on the last day when they may be inundated with perishable goodies!

curlytoes · 02/11/2011 20:28

I once filled a little basket with a selection of Christmas baubles/ decorations. Some were classic, some were a bit kitsch etc. I figured if the staff didn't like them enough to take hone they could always get used to decorate the nursery tree next year.

I also once made a simple little pencil pot with my DS and put in enough pens for one each. Again some were fun, novelty pens and some were 'nicer' paperchase like offerings. I thought they'd be handy in nursery if they weren't taken home.

olibeansmummy · 03/11/2011 06:42

Last year we just sent in a box of biscuits. I work in a school and know you can never have too many biscuits in the staff room! Be careful with homemade things as some people are funny about eating homemade things ( not me I like cake too much!)

notpodd · 03/11/2011 06:50

When DD2 left nursury in July I bought each member of staff a bar of posh looking choccie from the NT shop down the road (they were £2 each) and then her key people got a pot of NT jam too. But those were thank you gifts. For christmas I just a big tray of choccies from Thorntons for the whole lot of them.

notpodd · 03/11/2011 06:52

mincemeat and sultana muffins? I'm in love already, you had me at muffins...

mycatoscar · 03/11/2011 07:17

Joint presents are a good idea, but perhaps give them a bit before the end of term.

Or tesco are doing 2 for £2 on mini boxes of ferrero rocher and guylian seashells at the moment - thats what I am have got for dd's teachers, rainbow leaders and my TA's at school where I work, each in a mini gift bag from cardfactory (8 for £1) and a little card written by dd.

Or do you have a 99p store near you? Mine had posh looking shower gel and bath bomb packs which I have got for some people too (We are doing xmas on a shoestring this year)