MNV-Vol 66. The Christmas Edition.

[QueenC]

It's that time of year again.....blingy and dry have already been wearing their Christmas jumpers.
Come and join in the festivities. All welcome, new and old. Just bring your sparkly links.

Just got home to find granite is being installed and looks awesome - they are having huge problems with our wonky walls tho!
Just got a few last Christmas gifts, only one more to go now.
Then need to start planning my food for Saturday so am watching the discussion with interest. Thinking of you all. Blair hope you continue to improve.

How about making these with DD fo the kids? liberty I'd also provide choc brownies as they always go down well with everyone and a good/easy alternative to mince pies that nit everyone likes.
You can also make cute snow men with marshmallows.

Just back from the nail parlour. Dark red gels on - loving them.

It's my birthday on Saturday plus Xmas so dec is an exxy month for poor DH. I have asked for a Stella McC Falabella, giuseppe zanotti heels, Charlotte Olympia flats, a Givenchy clutch and various smaller bits and bobs (perfume, cashmere gloves etc). Don't expect to get all of it!

Ugh Lib sounds nasty, hope the worst of it is over now and you are just resting. Typical that it would happen on a busy work day, but yes, better now than on holiday.

That sounds exciting shop, bet it looks great.

Mara you must feel so good after submitting your essay, now you can relax until next year! (Or do you have homework?) I am being good thanks , just did a big online food shop which I never usually do. That coat looks incredibly warm and snuggly, great colour too.

For Christmas DH and I set a budget of £100 each and just get each other some little bits, as that is what our families generally do. It's hard but just means I have to stop buying little things I want, a few weeks before Christmas!

My latest blood tests were back today, and I don't have glandular fever. More tests on Thursday I'm getting to be a regular! The doctor says he thinks he knows what sort of virus it might be though, so I think they just want to narrow it down at this point, as I am feeling better.

Think of the weight loss lib - get well soon!

Am waiting for my colleagues at a nice restaurant with a glass of champagne. Life has been worse!

Only slight irritation is that the popper has come off my Chanel so I can't close it meaning I have had to bring my De Manta instead, which doesn't go quite as well with my outfit #firstworldproblem

enjoy amber

hope you feel better soon lib

i finally found the hard drive, in the bag of unused toilet rolls of all places. it's clear that i have been moving things in my sleep again as there's no other way it could have got there. still at least i've found it now

Amber boo to the Chanel. Have a great night. What are you wearing?

liberty I missed that you've bern I'll, what a pitta after all the good of your holiday, hope you feel better soon x

Have a xmas food tip thanks to Jamie. sorry if you've all done this already. Have made my stock for xmas day gravy and frozen it. Delicious!

Roasted a pack of chicken wings with 2 carrots, 2 celery sticks, I onion, 2 cloves garlic, s and p, loads mixed herbs. No need to peel anything, just roughly break.
Smelt great.
After 45ish mins I put the lot in a big sauce pan with approx 1l water and boiled with lid on for 1hr. Topped up water a bit.
Then I mushed it a
L up with a wooden spoon. Strained it and, hey presto, delicious stock in freezer ready for gravy for xmas day.
On the day I'll add the turkey juices
Love Jamie

Another Dry top Xmas tip coming up tomorrow

Alternatively you could just buy it.

Oh...and a glass of red in the gravy too on the day if i havent drunk it all

amber that's rubbish of the chanel
mara aspinal do a gorgeous silver bag but at £400 it was just too much
dry no list??? Are you mad
lib you feeling better? The other thing we've done that goes down well are mini jacket potatoes. Bake them in oil and salt. And then have sour cream to dip into them. Delicious.

QueenC I was spoiled for my birthday last week, and really don't need anything. Could be risky though

I bought Dh a book for Christmas but couldn't resist, so I've started reading IT myself

Thanks so much for all the food ideas. Have jotted them down and will decide in a few days when hopefully I feel OK at the thought of food.

amber I am shocked at the Chanel. I think I probably have lost a few lbs but as I don't weigh myself I don't know

DH and I do similar to Blair for Xmas. Small budget and ask for lots of little things. I have requested a kindle cover, new slippers and chocolate. DH is getting moisturiser, a book and a nice beer glass!

Just having a lovely relaxing bath in the stuff that came in the advent calender. Smells divine. Since starting work ive been getting lots of back pain from sitting at a desk a lot. Also a lot of eye strain from the computer so I'm off to the opticians tomorrow.

What book is it dry?
Forgot to say earlier that glad you found it one. And glad you feel better blair-

"lamentation" by C J Sansom, latest in series of thrillers set in Tudor England, love them QueenC

£150 budget each here. DH is getting some books, aftershave, Coldplay CD and a sweater.
I've asked for the TF perfume but I think DH will panic at the cost for one item.
Lib I scrolled back but have missed you being ill too - sorry. Feel better soon.
Mara we have 10 kids and 10 adults this Saturday and then 10 for sit down Christmas Day. I have to keep reminding myself that I've done it before and it will be fine! Feeling the fear at the mo. Well done on the course. Nice to have a break now.

Sounds good dry. I will look at those as dm may like them.

Dh doesn't do budgets when it comes to presents. He likes to spoil people but equally likes to be spoilt himself. I like the sound of a smaller budget.

Ive got a splinter deeply embedded in my thumb. May have to get dh to get a scalpel for it. Ouch.

Eek QueenC

Morning all - a small favour please. I have a friend on the look out for some black Ash Jalouse - she is a UK 6 - if you see any reduced please PM me? (Don't link on here) Thanks everso

Also, does anyone know if Wood Ash Jalouse are black suede or dark brown?

And final question - does anyone have an All Saints code?

we don't have a budget but we both agree that we shouldn't be silly with what we buy for each other. i'll finally get my bag as we agreed between us that dp should get it me for christmas, i havent even seen it but am assured it is lovely and i will love it by my sister who opened the parcel when it arrived! i've bought lots of smaller things for dp, including clothes, aftershave and a lego storage head!

ds gets the most spent on him every year which i think isn't unusual really, this year he's getting a laptop to replace theone he has had for the last three years. i'm very impressed by how well he's looked after it in that time so i dont mind buying such a big ticket item for him now as i know he'll take care of it

I have nearly 5 days of posts to catch up on so have made a coffee, got comfy and am reading away.

WARNING: this may be a long post!

Queen thanks for new thread; great Sunday links as per. DVF bag and silver Michael Kors jumper stood out for me.

Hi to If. I ended up with flares from Next petite - 2 pairs. One to wear with flats (which needed taking up) and the other for heels. I do find find them difficult to style shoe wise if I'm wearing the shorter pair so only wear with Ash jordy's. In fact I'm wearing them today with my mih breton.

Lib welcome home - hope you feel better soon.

Mara you got the essay finished, phew! Fab coat on your christmas list.

Dry I'm in the middle of reading Lamentation atm - really enjoying it.

Shop will your kitchen be done by the weekend? Catering for 10 in a half finished kitchen will be a pita!

Amber hope you had fun last night.

Glad you found the hard drive One and that Onecat is on the mend.

Blair really pleased the hear that you are feeling a little better. Hope you're still trying the rest though.

Hope I've not missed anyone out. Am now off to the kitchen to rustle up a little snackette - all your canape ideas have made me peckish.

Morning all - thanks for shiny new thread QueenC

Christmas has kicked in big time here & am struggling to find the time to do anything. Thanks for all the advice re Christening at the weekend - I went for DvF dress but was very dowdy compared to majority there, al wearing wedding attire in strappy dresses & heels. Still it's DECEMBER & I came on the tube with my dc so was happy not to freeze. Second wife of my friend so lots of twenty something women who presumably don't feel the cold!

Welcome back Lib I feel your party pain - we have majorly stretched ourselves and have about 70-80 people coming on Saturday for afternoon drinks. I'm doing crisps, cruddites & hopefully homemade mince pies, some lux cheese & biscuits for adults & pizza for kids. Pray that it isn't going to rain so we can do a mini disco in garden with glow sticks for the 40 odd kids.

I need to make a wreath this afternoon & we are also having all our upstairs windows replaced...it feels a little mad.