How are your preparations going?

[Snausage]

So far, my cupboard is stocked with many homemade thibgs; jams and chutneys, pickled nectarines, (great with cheese and cold meats!) homemade mincemeat, brandied plums and cherries and Christmas pud vodka, sloe gin and bramble vodka. I have made one cake and am soaking the fruit for another.

I have bought a few stocking items and have lists coming out of my ears. I even started writing my Christmas cards last night (I couldn't sleep).

DP has decided that he's going to take DS and I to Salisbury to the Christmas market mid-December as it'll be our only time together, just the three of us. Considering he's usually all "meh" about Christmas, I am impressed. The next month or so is going to be tough, so I'm using Christmas planning as a way to get through it.

:excited face:

[FlopIsMyParentingGuru]

I'm pretty organised but I still have to do lists for everyone to buy for the kids as family like to have lists early. That takes more time than anything else!
DH is always working all hours during December until Christmas Eve so I'm usually putting all my effort into treading water and getting to Christmas shoes etc so too much planning in December means I get overwhelmed. So my timetable is to have presents bought (apart from kids as we buy from what's left on lists usuall) and kids lists done by the end of the month.
Unfortunately I'm bathroom bound with a d&v bug at present so not a great deal is happening!

[Anastasie]

Sounds lovely OP. I have managed to find out what each of mine wants and have ordered the main things now. Everything else will be little things which is easy though will have to go to next town for shopping, as we moved away and there's about one decent shop here (thankfully a toy shop! And they had a Kaos trap for £7.99 last summer, so they are sort of a magic toyshop)

I will do cards nearer the time. Food is my nemesis and we normally get it wrong, but I plan to have a tidy house by Christmas including some outstanding DIY jobs I have to do and that's my plan.

[Snausage]

Oh no, Flop! What a bummer! I hope you feel better soon. I don't envy your lists for others... DS was just a year old last weekend, (and I only have one!) so I don't have much in the way of lists to make for his gifts! People can give him whatever they want, and I plan on putting some money in his bank account. Like you, I plan on having bought most of my gifts by the end of the month,

Anastasie it sounds as if you're pretty well organised! What is it you feel you usually get wrong about the food?

[merrygoround51]

Not at all this year. I feel I have nothing and really need to get my act together

[Snausage]

It sounds as if you need to get in to the Christmas spirit, merrygoround! You're in the right place... This corner of MN is so festive

I have advent calendars in the cupboard. Two of them I will be posting up to my brother and his housemate in mid-November. I also have one each for mum and other brother, DP and I and DS.

Is it me, or is time flying by? I can't quite believe it's already October 5th!

[tempestinateapot]

It's ok merry, there's still time. Anything we can help with?

I have lists of presents saved and a few Amazon wishlists where I can keep an eye on prices, but have been restrained and only bought one gift so far. Need to get past DH's birthday first (end of Oct and he'll be 30 so pulling the stops out for that this year) and then can go mad.

We did make our Christmas cards back in September though - and a load of gift taga but I keep seeing lovely wrapping paper and tags so I think my idea of brown paper and ribbon might go out the window.

Am extremely impressed by your list of provisions, OP! I'll do some baking nearer the time but haven't progressed to chutneys and suchlike yet. Maybe next year!

[Anastasie]

Oh I am generally rubbish with food and hate buying it and even moreso hate cooking it! We usually end up having stuffing and bacon on the day before, then maybe a free range chicken on the day but Gawd knows what time it is ready - then potatoes separately and so on. I'm dreadful. Luckily the children don't seem to care much as long as there is lots of it!

I have been putting up decorations, in a pre-Christmas kind of jolly up the house sort of way. You like?

[dementedma]

Feck you are all so organised! I have got as far as about 4 stocking fillers and one present ordered for Ds. That's it. Would love to do it all now but don't have the money.
Will bake the cake at the end of October.

[glenthebattleostrich]

Shopping probably 85% done
Christmas cake and mincemeat done
Food shopping slots booked (Morrison's released theirs today for those who have a delivery pass)
To do lists written
Replacement decorations ordered
Mil ticket purchased
Santa and panto booked
Hotel for visiting family booked


Just need to get Halloween out of the way then can get stuck into prep properly!

[NewLife4Me]

I have a few things for everybody now except dh as he's hard to buy for.
have bought Christmas cards and all the birthday cards including January.
Today I found some wrapping paper but at Card Factory they are restocking phase 2 I was told today So, will go and get wrapping paper before weekend.
still have a million and one things to get and do, but have made a start.

[NewLife4Me]

I know everybody's Christmas varies but can anybody point us towards a preparation list.
Or anybody fancy starting one?

[IssyStark]

I've got the puddings made, some mincemeat from last year but need to make more, went jam mad in the summer but haven't done any chutneys or pickles so far (thinking on the courgette chuntey with almonds and whiskey if I can find the recipe again). Have to get started on Xmas pud brandy and the cake soon.

Present-wise have all the friends kids sorted, almost everything needed for the dc, not so good on the DP and DPIL or DH.

Hope to start on making our cards this weekend (going for a v. simple Xmas tree design) and then plan to copy a friend's idea of writing them during the autumn while Strictly is on in the background

[desperatelyseekingamovingdate]

This is our first christmas at home, so its all new to me.

I have bought 85% of the kids presents - i refuse to go mad on too many presents so 5 (smallish) presents each and then a nice stocking each.

Last night i ordered a lot of xmas decorations - we were given a 6ft fake tree to replace our tiny 3ft one. We are going for a red and white tree theme and greenery garlands. We dont have much money so are going for a relatively simple look- just decorating the tree and fireplaces. I need some ideas for the dinner table, must be cheap - any thoughts??

I have made some blackberry rum and laid that down for xmas.

We have just moved into this house so i have a big list of jobs i would like to get done prior to xmas.

My mum is coming to stay for 4 days and i have an additional challenge that the big day is also her birthday and i want to make it her special day as well - any thoughts ( i know it makes me seem rubbish but she has been out of the country for forever)?

I love a list so when i get a mo i am going to do a timeline and write some big lists!

Lidl have small frozen turkeys in, they are cheap and small and as there is only 3 adults and 2 DC i might buy one of those. On the food front i am only going to do 3 days worth of xmas food, then back to normal. So i might buy biscuits or chocs or crisps but not al three as i dont want to get all stuffed and sick feeling over xmas -like every other year.

Very envious of peoples homemade chutneys and mincemeat. I cant believe how excited i am and its ages away!

Does anyone have any tips on how to be graceful and organised on the day itself as opposed to rushed and stressed, i want to enjoy my first xmas at home.

[IssyStark]

Oh, meant to say booked Xmas show and FC yonks ago and started planning menu in July but still unsure whether to do a bird or some beef on the day itself.

However, do have to strip wallpaper and re-decorate the hall before December arrives. Also have not really thought about DH's birthday or either dc's birthdays, all of which happen between mid-November and Christmas. Yikes!

Re simple and cheap table ideas for desperately, we have done bowls with pillar candles surrounded by nuts (festive and edible! or could make your own pomanders instead/as well for more colour) and baubles on ribbons hung over the table in previous years. Have also raided nearby ivy to make napkin rings and strung along the table in the past.

[IssyStark]

Oh, and get ahead as much as possible.

If you have room in the freezer, get your roasties, stuffing etc done ahead of time. Delia's Christmas is v. good at what you can do days or even weeks beforehand.

[Snausage]

You guys are definitely further ahead than me with your gift buying! I've only got a few bits so far. I have, however, knitted DP's sister a pair of socks for Christmas. I have a few more pairs to knit for gifts. I have lists all ready for gifts, so just need to do some shopping over the next month or so. Issy you seem very prepared... I've booked a Father Christmas visit at a local stately home and a ride on the local steam train for a Santa Special. I'm not redecorating, and I always try to forget my birthday (it's just before Christmas).

NewLife you could look here; it's a bit OTT, to be fair, but you can use bits of it to compile your own lists.

desperately, I second the 'getting ahead' thing. Lists will help! You can do the boring things like card writing long before (I'm about a quarter of the way through my card list). You can make stuffing and pigs in blankets and even par-cook your roasties long before and freeze them. My trick is to go with the flow on Christmas Day. I'd LOVE to be able to plan it to the minute and execute it the same way, but it never happens that way. If I plan for us to be sat down eating at 4pm but it's actually 6pm, then I don't stress about it (learnt that the hard way)!

[desperatelyseekingamovingdate]

Thanks ISSY and SNAUSAGE - i might get a good food mag nearer the time they are usually good for shortcuts and timings on the big day.

I have some storm candle lanterns from when we got married and i was thinking of filling them with red baubles but nuts are another great idea.
Off to waste some time on pininterest AGAIN! Thanks