#MySundayPhoto : Beauty and the beast at the panto

One thing i enjoyed as a kid was going to the panto. We would go every year with the school and is one thing me and most of my friends looked forward to the most. 

At £50 for a family ticket, the panto is a little out of our reach, especially after adding on bus fare and treats. We was lucky enough to be chosen for a family ticket from our local bus company and went along to the Easter productions. I know it defeats the object on this weeks photo but I have misplaced my phone and this one was handy.  

We got to see a few familiar faces - Keith Chegwin and ITV's Anne Hegerty from The Chase. My childhood favorite Basil Brush was there as well to boom boom through the panto. 

We loved it so much that when the Christmas shows come to Nottingham, we will be saving up to take the kids for a Christmas treat.

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 54 - My favourite mince pie recipe.

Christmas for me is not Christmas, without my Nan's mince pies! For many years we have had to make do with our own or with shop brought until i found this recipe from Family Friends Food. 

It is honestly, in my opinion,  the easiest and most homemade tasting i have found as well as being really frugal as you can make alot of mince pies out of the ingredients you buy. While i would prefer my Nan's mince pies, unfortunately that can no longer happen and mine are just not the same. These are generous on filling, the pastry is light and they are moreish! I'm sure there is other recipes or similar on the net but this is most definitely my favourite. 

You can find the recipe here 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 53: Free Lego gift box template

One thing i do try to do when giving gifts is to give them in unique gift boxes or bags. I know my hubby likes Lego and star wars and anything geeky. My daughter likes my little pony and my eldest likes her crafts. I think it makes a cheap looking gift more unique and personal to stick items in a handmade box, specifically made with them in mind. Plus it throws them off scent when they are having a root around trying to figure out the gift! 

I come across this gift box template via Lines Across when i was searching for homemade gift boxes and decided they would be perfect for the little Lego sets i had brought my husband for his birthday. 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 52 : 50% off Christmas items in The Range

I like to grab a few cheap Christmas items to pack away ready for the following year. I wait until after Christmas for the wrapping paper and card deals as they are always cheaper but things like Christmas decorations - tinsel, garlands etc, i like to browse before hand. I have a set price in mind that i am willing to pay and if it is not at the right price, i write it down to look at in the sales, in January. 

If however you are looking for some cheap decorations or you do not have a set price in mind, then 50 % off is a great saving. The Range currently have a 50% off sale across their Christmas Home section, which includes trees and decorations from as little as 40p each. 

Order by midnight 22nd December for Christmas delivery. 

Click here to browse the deals 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 51: Free toy and half price toy deals

I'm sure most of you have done your Christmas shopping already and are busy preparing for the day. If you still need to go shopping and are heading to boots for the toys, this could provide a little extra gift. 

Boots currently have a few offers in the toy section, both online and instore at the moment. 

You can order online by 8pm 23rd Dec to collect instore to receive in time for Christmas.

Selected toys are on offer both instore and online in Boots right now. Spend £60 or more and recieve this cute doggy toy. 

Selected play sets are half price and there is a few stocking fillers on the 3 for 2 sale. Stock is shifting fast though. 

Click here to browse Boots toy deals 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 50: You've been elfed! Free printable

This looks like a little bit of fun for the Christmas period.

Simply download and print off your elf template from Elf Magic and have a fun crafty hour with the kids.. or big kids. Printed on a smaller scale they would make nice personalized tags or on a bigger scale i could see a garland of Bennett elfs on the wall, for a more quirky decoration. 

Click here to print your own elf template. 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 49: Make a Santa key plus free printable

This is a lovely idea for those who do not have a fireplace but still want their kids to know Santa can still come put presents under the tree. 

Making a key is simple enough, you could cut one out of card and paint it or you could paint an old door key using paint, glitter or even nail polish. 

The printable is provided by Nellie Bellie 

You can click here to see the tutorial and download the printable 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 48: Quick and frugal last minute gift.

I am one of those parents who never feels like they are giving enough. As i make alot of gifts for the adults, i am always coming across something i think is so perfect that i have to make it. This year is no exception. 

I logged into my second home (Pinterest) and this popped up! Yes you guessed it... Ill be making 8 of these to give away to family. 

There is no source to link back to so no tutorial but this thumb print Christmas tree looks simple enough to make out of salt dough with a cookie cutter. I would likely leave the wording out as  i am not sure how it will look if i free hand it, but i think it would look fantastic if using thumbprints from all of us to give different sizes and make it more personal. 

Click here for a salt dough recipe. 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 47: Snowman Soup

This has become a little bit of the norm for us to have on Christmas Eve. In the evening, to wind the kids down a little so they can sleep, we open one present - always our Christmas pyjamas, then have a bath and sit down to a Christmas movie, snuggled under the quilt with a cup of snowman soup. Afterwards we track Santa and then the kids go to bed, to read a book and try wind down a little more. 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 46: Snowman Eggnog

We like eggnog. I make it to drink on Christmas eve when the family visit. I have never thought of preparing it this way though for serving. It is such a cute idea that i had to share to all my fellow eggnog fans.

Here is an eggnog recipe i like to use.

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 45: Free Advent colouring pages

School has finished for Christmas so i am looking for ways to keep the kids entertained and away from technology. We will be enjoying cooking up some Christmas treats and are making our last minute decorations, but sometimes it is nice to relax and let the kids do something on their own. 

These are free to download and print and look nice when coloured in and on the wall. It could be a nice thing to do on each day of the advent and maybe put them together to make a book. 

I found a list of quite a few different pictures over at Blessed beyond a doubt which could be worth looking through. I am sure there is lots on the net but having a few listed in one place is nice for the busy parents out there to quickly flick through. 

Click here to see the list of colouring pages. 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 44: Make your own gift bags this Christmas

I am sure it is not just me who finds the awkward shaped gifts a nightmare at Christmas? Those wine bottles, the odd shaped toys... Gift bags can work out alot if you are anything like me and need to buy more than 10 of them and on an already tight or planned budget, its an expense that is not necessary. 

I always knew you could make your own gift bags, i have done so out of card before, but i couldn't remember the instructions so had a look on you tube for a video. Up popped this from Designer, Trapped in a lawyers body. I loved how simple her video was felt it deserved a share on here as a handy, frugal Christmas craft as she uses the one thing we all have at this time of year... wrapping paper!  

Click here to see the tutorial and video.

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 43: No bake Christmas Oreo pops

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the little treats. I love nothing better than filling my kitchen with the smell of mince pies, Christmas fudge, cookies and all the other yummy treats. Sometimes it is nice though for the kids to be able to do something without my help. Something they can make themselves, as a present to another or just to help out. 

I found these adorable oreo's over at it's always autumn and thought they were perfect and wrapped in a little cellophane bag and a small bit of ribbon, they will make a lovely teacher gift, 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 42 : Frugal Christmas light balls

I was late this year to sort out my Christmas lights. Since this is the first Christmas in our new house, i wanted to make a little bit of an effort and light the place up abit. The price of some outdoor decorations is quite high for the larger ones, so i decided to do what i do best and to improvise. 

While googling, i stumbled upon some light up balls over on Hoosier Homemade which are not only cheap but look really pretty hanging off a tree, one thing we do have in our garden. 

All that is needed to make these is Christmas lights and some chicken wire. Its as easy as that! The only problem i have is where to plug them all in! Battery operated may be the answer for me which would certainly be more frugal. 

Click here to see how to make them 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 41 - Find Me A Gift Wish List

Every year i go to one store to buy novelty gifts and stocking fillers. Last year my wish list was from toxicfox.co.uk and i picked up some fantastic items which went down well Christmas morning. (Click here to see what bargains i brought from toxicfox.co.uk last year)

This year a friend shared a purchase on Facebook from Find Me A Gift, which prompted me to look at the website more. I have previously brought choice items from there but never from the perspective of Christmas gifts. With black Friday having been and gone i was expecting some sort of sale and was quite surprised by how much i was able to get for my money.

Here is a few bargains i plan to pick up for my family.

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 40 - 5 Unique homemade tree toppers

I take great pride in my Christmas tree, its a focal point of the room around the holiday so i spend more hours than i should planning how i want it to look. I have a huge box of different coloured tinsel, baubles and other tree decorations as well as salt dough decorations which survived from the following year. In short i have enough to fill a small pound shop sitting in my loft! 

One thing i do like to focus my time on is the tree topper. This year i have settled on a blue, white and silver theme and decided that the tree topper will be made using ribbon and mini baubles. While browsing i come across lots of handmade toppers which i thought were unique. 

Here is 5 of my favorites. Pop over to the original site to see any tutorials or tips. 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 39 - Selected fleeces just £10 at Disney Store

Selected Fleeces are now just £10 at the Disney Store. 

Some include a soft toy too, such as this Rapunzel fleece with Pascal soft toy, making it a 2 for 1 deal. 

They are going fast though so be quick. 

Click here to see the deal 

While you are shopping at Disney store why not enter their festive competition to win a Trip to New York 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 38 - 50% off codes at La Redoute

If you are planning on buying a Christmas outfit, you cant go wrong with 50% off! 

But be quick, this offer ends in just 2 days! 

Simply use the code 8573 at the checkout to claim your discount. 

Plus scroll through the Christmas Gift Guide for a chance to win £250 to spend at La Redoute (Ends 10/12/2015)

Click here to start shopping at La Redoute 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 37 - Grab a bargain beauty advent calendar for just £5

My eldest is 13 now and says she is too old for the standard chocolate advent calendar. She is too old for the toys i put in homemade ones so i went about sourcing out little nail polishes instead. Then i spotted this on Wilko's while i was browsing for cheap make up. 

#SMPXmasCountdown: Day 36 - Cheap gifts for the kids

A friend sent me a message to let me know she had received some bits for Christmas. Me being quite nosy was intrigued why she was so excited so had to take a look. 

Here is a few of the bits i brought. 

Top row - 5 inch Ocelot Minecraft stuffed toy - £2.23 / 100 pc minion building blocks - £1.09 

Bottom row - 180 pc Darth Vader building blocks - £1.97 / Minion Batman plush toy - £2.09