| Christmas is fast approaching and as
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| | supermarkets. Kids will be much calmer
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| parents you will be starting the annual
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| | if they are not fizzing with'E' numbers.
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| round of shopping searching for the
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| | They don't need to be full of crisps and
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| latest gadgets and electronic toys,
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| | sweets to be happy. Don't feel you are
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| Christmas gifts seem to get more
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| | depriving them, as well as keeping the
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| expensive each year. Understandably,
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| | fruit bowl stocked, there are plenty
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| parents want to give their children the
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| | alternatives that you can buy. Try
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| best they can afford. But, there has to
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| | cereal bars instead of chocolate, or
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| be a limit. Set yourself a budget and
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| | dried fruit packs or yoghurt covered
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| stick to it. I know that is easier said
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| | raisins instead of sweets.
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| than done - when you are faced with the
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| | For other relatives and friends you can
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| all too familiar longing pleas from young
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| | cut costs and also get the children
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| children and the emotional drive of a
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| | involved in making gifts such as mince
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| unique baby gift.
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| | pies, sweets, biscuits etc and packing
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| Children don't need lots of money spent
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| | them in pretty boxes or bags tied with
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| on them. You don't need to go deep in
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| | ribbons. After all, it's the thought
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| debt - there are other ways to cope and
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| | that counts - not the cost!
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| unique Christmas gifts need not cost a
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| | Christmas Shopping
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| great deal whilst at the same time they
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| | Christmas gift shopping can be a
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| will be treasured and last a lot longer
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| | nightmare unless you are well organized.
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| than many gifts bought at this time of
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| | Take some time out to plan things before
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| the year. .
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| | you leave home. If you plan your trip
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| If children are old enough to write a
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| | wisely, it is possible to do most of your
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| list for Santa - ask them to put items in
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| | shopping all in a day. Remember
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| order of preference and, depending on
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| | personalised gifts are not just for the
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| price and your budget, pick from the list
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| | children, adults appreciate them as well.
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| to suit your pocket. If your child is
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| | · Make a list of all the people you need
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| under 4 they aren't yet aware of the
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| | to buy presents for.
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| monetary value of things and you can get
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| | · Decide how much you want to spend on
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| away with wrapping up some old toys which
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| | each person
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| have been pushed to the back of a
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| | · Think of at least two gift ideas for
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| cupboard and forgotten about. A lot of
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| | each person.
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| young children have more fun with the
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| | · Get your Mum or Partner to baby-sit -
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| wrapping paper!
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| | this is one trip you need to do without
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| Another source of toys and gifts can be
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| | kids in tow. (Although another adult
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| found in Charity Shops or car boot sales.
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| | would be handy to help carry some bags)
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| I know from my own experience that you
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| | · Decide where you are going to shop and
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| can pick up some decent stuff. Lots of
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| | plan your route between department stores
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| children grow out of their toys or have
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| | and shops where you will be able to buy
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| too many, their parents give them away to
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| | the bulk of your presents - leaving the
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| Charity Shops. They feel good because
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| | heaviest gifts till last!
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| they are helping out a charity and you
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| | · Don't waste your time comparing -
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| feel good as you too are helping out the
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| | browsing isn't practical at this time of
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| charity by buying from them and in turn
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| | year. Go for the first one that fits the
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| your child is happy as they get new toys.
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| | bill.
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| Everyone's a winner! Charity shops are
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| | · If you have access to the Internet you
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| also an excellent source of books for
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| | can save a lot of hassle and time by
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| children at bargain prices.
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| | doing some of your shopping online.
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| Car Boot Sales can still be found - lots
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| | · Keep a note of everything you spend as
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| of towns have indoor sales at this time
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| | it is so easy to run your Credit Card
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| of year. People make use of them to have
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| | bill up. It is not like spending cash -
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| a clear out before Christmas and you can
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| | you can get carried away far too easily.
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| usually find some good bargains if you go
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| | Think before you spend.
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| early. Please be sensible and remember to
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| | Get Your Wrapping Organised
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| check for small or loose parts and check
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| | · Sort out all your presents into piles
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| the toy is suitable for the age of your
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| | for each person and then use one kind of
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| child.
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| | paper for each person, that way family
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| With older children, tell them they have
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| | members can easily spot their gifts under
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| a limited budget for their main present -
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| | the tree.
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| say £50 - so they know to choose an item
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| | · Write out all your gift tags before
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| under that price. If they really, really
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| | you start.
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| want something more expensive, encourage
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| | · Any tubes or bottles can be wrapped
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| them to contribute towards it from their
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| | cracker style - it looks great and saves
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| savings. Alternatively, you could ask
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| | on fiddly folding.
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| other family members to put together to
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| | · If you have any leftover fabric you
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| buy a bigger present.
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| | can use it to wrap presents instead of
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| In an ideal world you should start
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| | paper and tie together with ribbon or
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| gathering stocking fillers early - like
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| | curtain ties.
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| in the January sales! All through the
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| | Shopping Online
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| year stock up on goodies like chocolate,
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| | The Internet can provide a solution to
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| biscuits and booze. Keep an eye out for
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| | the perennial problem of Christmas
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| buy one get one free offers and use one
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| | shopping especially when you want that
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| now and put the other away (remember to
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| | something special - you can find
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| check the sell-by dates). Shops have
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| | personalised gift ideas by simply typing
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| sales all year round so keep an eye out
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| | in 'personalised gift' (without the quote
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| for a bargain.
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| | marks) into your search engine.
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| But now that Christmas is approaching,
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| | No queuing, no crowds, no wasted time
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| try shopping at the bargain supermarkets
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| | looking for parking spaces. In fact, no
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| with a more limited range - if they don't
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| | hassle at all. A lot of shopping can be
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| stock it you won't be tempted.
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| | done over a cup of coffee in comfort
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| Get organized, that way you can avoid
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| | without leaving the warmth of your living
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| last-minute panic buying. If you plan
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| | room. Much better!
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| ahead you'll also be able to give
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| | Some Christmas gifts that can be
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| yourself more time to make things at
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| | personalised include:
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| home, such as mince pies, Christmas cake,
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| | Pendulum Clocks; Height Charts; Coat
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| biscuits, sweets. It is a great way to
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| | pegs; Jewellery Boxes; Rudolph toy; Santa
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| include the children - they will love
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| | Plate & Letter; Christmas Breakfast Set
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| getting involved with helping by doing
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| | and many more.
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| little tasks such as cutting out
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| | Christmas is a time of hassle frustration
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| different shaped lids for the mince pies
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| | and overspending but with a little bit of
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| using pastry cutters. You can also get
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| | planning Christmas day should be and can
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| the children involved in making
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| | be a day of great joy and happiness.
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| decorations and cards.
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| | Purely tots offers a wide range of unique
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| Just because it's Christmas you don't
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| | personalised gifts for babies and
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| have to go over the top with sweets and
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| | toddlers. Our newsletter is full of
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| crisps. Encourage children to eat fruit
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| | ideas, tips and recipes for the busy
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| and nuts which will help to keep sweet
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| | parent and doting grandparents, aunts and
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| cravings at bay. Try to buy from markets
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| | uncles, for your copy just send an email
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| as they are generally cheaper than
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| | to admin@purelytots.co.
|
