special occasions Archives

it’s a wrap–christmas gift wrap on a budget

I’m in two minds about gift wrap. On one hand, the anticipation that builds as you unwrap a gift is an important part of gift giving. It’s the surprise when you tear away the paper that’s part of the fun. On the other hand, Christmas wrap can put an unnecessary strain on the budget and [...]

christmas food traditions

When I was growing up, much of our Christmas traditions involved food. In fact, Christmas day was a big gastronomic event the likes of which we never saw for the rest of the year. When it comes to the pleasures of the table, the day stands out in our family calendar. It started early in [...]

planning a christmas budget

Take the pain out of the post-Christmas period by creating (and sticking to) a Christmas budget.

handmade Christmas decoration roundup

Make Christmas extra special by making your own Christmas decorations.

gifts for men–12 weeks of christmas crafting roundup

Ideas and inspiration for handmade gifts for the men in your life.

gifts for teenagers–12 days of christmas crafting round up

Handmade gifts for teenagers impossible? Not quite. Here are some handmade gift ideas, particularly useful for tech gadgets.

gifts for children – 12 days of christmas crafting round up

A round up of links of things to make for children for Christmas presents.

for the home–12 days of christmas crafting round up

The first post in the 12 Days of Christmas Crafting round up. Here are some home decor ideas to springboard your own Christmas gift making inspiration.

tip tuesday–taking a plate

This idea doubles as a personalised yet inexpensive gift and a way of taking a plate to a function without worrying about bringing the plate home.

18 frugal mother’s day gift ideas

It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday. Just sayin’ (ahem, dear). This is my second Mother’s Day. Last year I got a clothes airer. Terribly un-fun, but I actually asked for a clothes airer (and it’s had a lot of use over the last twelve months), so it’s all good. What’s your idea of the perfect Mother’s [...]