To think there is so much to do between now and Christmas Day!

[Werkwerkwerkwerk]

I appreciate I'm very lucky to have finished work on Friday. But it still feels like there is so much to do .......
Booze to be picked up
Shopping to finish
Pantry and fridges to clean so the food will fit
Food arriving tomorrow
Butcher to get to
Inevitably there will be bits missing from the shopping so back to the shops
Gifts to wrap
Family lunches to attend
Hairdresser appointments to attend
All the food to prep
I love the festive season - but it's so hectic !!

Anyone else?

I'm still decorating our sitting room as the plaster has only just dried and we've got furniture being delivered tomorrow, so I'm less dealing with Christmas overwhelm and more the fact that we've got ten visitors on Wednesday and nowhere for them to sit 😁

I've got the house to clean and tidy to show home standard - it doesn't happen that often but I like it to look perfect. And completely sort the washing out.
But apart from that I'm all done except for a few last minute items that I couldn't buy earlier because of the sell by date. Oh and the turkey to collect.

My food shop is coming tomorrow evening, collect turkey lunchtime Christmas eve. Did oven self clean last night, will give fridge a wipe before food arrives. Other than that presents to wrap and food to cook.
No stress love Christmas

Christmas is only as hectic as you make it.....

OP I was thinking exactly the same as you on Friday: food shopping, present buying, wrapping, nail apt, booze shop, kids Xmas parties/Xmas jumper days, presents for teachers, card writing, clean the house for Xmas guests, family lunch, get petrol just a never ending list. Luckily I didn’t have work last week so I was able to get ahead (ish) but I understand the stress of it all- and the irritating smugness of those who are all set!

But, I just cracked in with it all - absolutely knackering l, wrapping til 11pm last night after battling the hoards at Tesco for the big Xmas food shop. But...without being smug, it’s done now (as planned) so bar prepping the veg on Xmas eve I can just relax and enjoy the time now with my family.

Just crack on mate, you’ll get it all done. Wrap even when you can barely stand any longer I believe in you!!

We're picking up the desserts and going to the park today. Then Christmas is done till Christmas eve night. I'm more preoccupied by Ds and his 4th birthday on Tuesday. Either way it's all very under control and chill.

See this is what makes me laugh about 'hectic' people. Why are you still considering teachers presents and the like on Friday?

I work full time shifts, as does my husband. I worked 60 hours last week. I have a 2 year old who doesn't to to nursery and 6 year old, and am a registered carer for my ill fil. Yet I'm still not hectic.

I just did things earlier and was more organised. Youre not busier than me, you're just less organised. And yes, when people ask me if I'm nearly ready for Xmas (as seems the inevitable conversation at this time of year) and just say I'm done, because I am. It's not being smug, it's a fact

Tbh, it doesn't sound that hectic. Most of the things take no more than an hour.

I have a Christmas cake to ice but even that doesn't take long.

All sounds very manageable and similar-ish to me less presents, fridge clear out (both done) and hair (must book next year! Never even thought of it 😉) Put some Christmassy music on while you do your bots and bobs. All part of getting in the mood. Have a lovely Christmas! 😊

For those doing a manic shop and clean, do you not share the tasks with your DH? I cleaned the bathrooms whilst DH made up beds for 16 who are staying the week. DT’s are on airport collection duty and delivery of cards to neighbours. I couldn’t and wouldn’t do it by myself.

Most of your list my partner is doing right now.

The only 2 is wrapping gifts which will be done on Christmas eve and prepping food which will be done throughout the day on Christmas eve.

I think we may have to go to the shops tomorrow though, depending on what he comes back with today

Here's my list

House is currently clean just need to keep tidy
Today chill - wrap after kids asleep
Tomorrow- food shop with my mum, husband will get booze
Xmas eve - cook all the food
Xmas day - enjoy

Op I know what you mean. It's all the little bits that always seem to take twice as long as you think.
Im nearly there just have to
Finish ironing
Do food shop ( just fresh stuff(
Clean house tom
Change a few beds

The only thing I have to is a trip to the shops for a few last minute food bits & will do that on Christmas Eve at 6am before I go into work.

Cleaned the fiat & changed beds yesterday & off out for afternoon tea today with friends.

DD will give the flat a once over on Tuesday while I'm at work & then she's off to her grandparents for dinner so that when I come home all I need to do is shower, put Christmas pjs on & order Chinese food.

Nope.

I never do enough to stress out about over Christmas.

Need to get fruit/veg Monday, that's it.

Previously did one biggish shop of non perishables.

Few pressies to wrap, but that's not stressful (imo).

I’m working tomorrow then I’m off for a week.i haven’t wrapped DHs gift which I’ll probably do Christmas Eve at the last minute as I’m a procrastinator. My shop is coming later today. DS’s gifts were wrapped last week. I’ll have a quick tidy up with DH on Tuesday, prepare the ham and then sit and watch some Christmas films. That’s it. I refuse to run around like a blue arsed fly. Some people like to keep busy, I’m definitely not one of them

I thought I was all done, but last night decided that I'm going to make a curry on Boxing day, so I'm going to have to mosey on down to the supermarket at some point over the next couple of days for crucial ingredients (ie most of them).

Everything else will happen, or not, depending on how I feel- but we'll still have a fabulous Christmas. I gave up stressing over it many years ago and have enjoyed it so much more since then.

You need to learn the art of delegation OP.

Tree up, presents wrapped, party food in for Xmas Eve/boxing day. Christmas jumpers hanging up ready to wear.
All we need to do is turn up at my Mum's 30 mins away for Christmas Lunch and yet I'm feeling stressed too OP

No. I’m at work Mon, Tue, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We will shop for food today - don’t do online shopping. We don’t have a pantry. We only have one fridge. Never go to a hairdresser. Don’t need a butcher. Don’t really do presents. We will do Christmas “Day” after I get back from work. Student daughter also has to work Christmas Day. After a horrendous year for my family after a sudden bereavement, terminal illness diagnosis, along with redundancy, just getting through the day itself is what we are aiming for. The food, presents, etc, are meaningless.

I'd knock the hairdressers appointment on the head for starters

I am sitting here on MN, drinking coffee and eating a bacon roll while DH mops the kitchen floor. Later on he will be tidying the pantry cupboard where we keep the tins etc (it is a shambles in there because the cat food is in there as well, and he feeds the cat), and after that he will be cleaning the bathroom and catching up on the ironing.

Well, he did ask if there was anything that needed doing

Nope. Kids have been ill but it's just another day so it's not manic.

I've picked up some bits over the past month.

Finished the online order to collect from Asda tomorrow, butchers and then make the sticky toffee pudding on Tuesday.

Soup was made and frozen a month ago and the shops will be open between Xmas and new year so no one needs to go mad and store masses of food like it's the apocalypse to the point everything needs rearranged and some jenga-esque shenanigans needs to ensue.