So thinking to Christmas 2012, lessons learnt? Mistakes regretted?

[TimeWasting]

I did very little in the way of Christmas this year and it's been dull.

So next year I plan to decorate with greenery, do crafty activities, make presents, read Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, have a nice breakfast etc.

What have you regretted from this year?
What will you def do next year?

(And do I win the prize for earliest Christmas thread???? )

Good reports everyone. Useful info.

I think I will cook next year, but only for us.
I did it last year and it was fab, but with DD only being 2 months, I really wasn't up for it this year and I didn't enjoy myself as much as last year, having to drag us all out to MILs. It wasn't awful or anything, but I can never relax.

I didn't put the roast potatoes in soon enough, they always take longer than I expect.

Not a major disaster tho, just held up lunch 10 mins.

Big success was buying the kids' annual special decoration from the posh shop in town on Dec 23 (later than usual) - they had reduced them by 20%!

Also big success was doing lots and lots of laundry on Dec 23 (kids bedding etc) instead of leaving it - I bust a gut to get it dried and ironed and away on Chr Eve so there was non to do yesterday and only a bit today. Laundry looms large in my house as you can tell, it was nice to have a day off from it.

Also next year I won't send as many cards as it costs so mcuh, expecially the postage! Mind you I say that every year....

Good idea about note of what people would like Cheerfulyank!

And I really really need to get our card photo done earlier so that I am not scrambling around and trying to get them sent out in time. And I have time to browse and find the perfect card that I REALLY want.

I've learned that I need to check whether the sprouts are cooked before I serve them up.

Not to order school Xmas cards,they come too late.

Not to go away 2 x weekends before.

Get everything done a week before so I can enjoy Xmas Eve properly.

Not to read the Soulemama blog(or any other blog that brag on about household calmness and all round wholesome goodness),they make me feel like shit.

Think that's about it.

Another one who needs to have a good toy clear out before Christmas!

This year we did an activity advent where the dcs (dd mostly as ds still small) did a christmassy thing each day. It was really good fun. Think we will continue with this.

I started buying stuff in September, but next year I am going to save money all year (just my change from my purse, leftover 5 pound notes from nights out etc) and go on a full day of Christmas shopping very early in December. It was a nightmare trying to remember where I hid everything!

I would like to have more Christmas nights out with people I like rather than DH work parties, but I don't think that is likely :o

Oh yes, I forgot, not move house a week before Christmas, for the second time in two months, with two small children, cats and a DH who couldn't take any holiday. Oh and if I do, I will hire removal team next time

I will go to my mum's or out for lunch - because it is just too much work and I spent too long getting the house ready and no time doing fun Christmassy things with the dcs.

I will remember that I need 10 rolls of wrapping paper, not three.

I will do cards in November.

I will book a theatre trip or similar so that we do something exciting over the holidays.

Never to go out on a boxing day walk and leave my expensive handbag on the kitchen worktop . . . . some thieving bastard nicked it whilst we were out for a couple of hours.

I will not buy loads of booze thinking I might have unexpected guests round - today my DH has drunk 2 bottles of wine befor 7pm, because it is his day to relax!

I hate him being drunk - so next year I'll just buy coffee.....

I will go back to the old plan and keep a spreadsheet of who I need to buy for and what I have bought.

I stopped because the dcs have started using the laptop and I was scared they would find it. Dh has NOW told me I could have password protected it. I bought far too much because I was hiding things and forgot what I had bought

Next year less excess.

I'll wrap presents before Christmas Eve.

another one for keeping a list/hiding place for early bought presents. I nearly had ameltdown trying to find stocking fillers which dh had moved in his wardrobe then denied

The only thing I'll change is not having bloody turkey It's disgusting!

Next year:

1. We won't be ill.
2. Presents will start being bought in the summer and autumn (sales, probably) so we can gift everyone.
3. Cards will be displayed.
4. We will have a real Christmas tree.
5. We will do a Christmas Eve Box.
6. We will do glitter boot prints and elf on the shelf.
7. We will do The Night Before Christmas.
8. I will bake cookies and mince pies.
9. I will tell people what to buy when asked.

10. Not get so stressed.

1. Take the turkey out to defrost sooner so that you can have a Christmas lunch (well mid afternoonish) dinner rather than 6.30/7 at night..............

1. Check that the "kitchen foil" (which obviously has something in it as it is quite heavy - IS actually tin foil............and not grease proof paper (obviously fallen out of box and put back in by "helpful child" at some point)............thankfully "nasty neighbours" turn out to be quite friendly when you knock on their door desperately at 3.30 on Christmas day begging for the stuff

1. Make sure your exHh isn't going to be a twat and nearly ruin the day with stupid present choices.............

My last guests have just been dispached...and I'm knackered.

Next year I will definitely start gift buying earlier.
Preparing the house and all the food for guests for four days takes more time than I remember. Trying to gift buy too was a bit of a push.

I will also remember to do my tax returns well in advance. Emailing them to my accountnat on 23rd December was just bloody daft.

To all those who shreik "FFS it's August/Sept?Oct/Nov" then panic in December.

I started buying stocking gifts and Hamper Gifts in October. Not a huge deal or expense, just a few things when I saw them.
I only buy for DH and DCs.
Didn't go to the sales this year.
Bought a faux tree (so should last a few years)

Next year though-
Won't do a cake. No-one else eats it and I've only cut it today
Magic Reindeer Food still sitting in a clump on the lawn
When I see Candy Canes -as I did in Waitrose- flippin buy them. Don't think, "Oh I'll get them in Lakeland Limited or John Lewis" They didn't have them.

I am very very tempted to go abroad/far away next year! DS had a lovely day which is the main, but I was annoyed and irritated by both selfish inconsiderate ex, and selfish inconsiderate mum. If i do stay home ex will not be messing me and DS about, and my mum will not be invited (well, she wasn't technically invited this year but if she tries to invite herself next yr I'll be wise to it and say NO).

Things that we enjoy that will continue doing:

• nice activity advent calendar (went for the no preparation for me route this yr with a lego one which DS loved)
• theatre and pizza hut xmas eve to keep DS busy
• scheduling in days where we stay in the house for the full day and do nice stuff together like baking and playdoh

I started gift shopping in June. Will definately do it again. Had my eye on the Harry Potter Castle and got it on Amazon for £65. Normally £102. Also used nectar points so only paid £55. The price kept going up and in Dec, it was back to £102.

Also same thing happened with the Mystyle Charm Bracelet kit. Bought 2 boxes in Aug for £13. Normally £20 everywhere else. Decided to get one more and paid £15 in Sept. Got a fourth in Oct for £16.

So learnt the lesson on shopping early. Though got lots of toys in Argos using the 3 for 2 deals in Sept. However, as had over £200 Tesco vouchers, doubled them up in Nov and bought the same toys then returned most of the Argos ones back so really didn't pay for most of the toy presents bought. Calculated what was worth returning and what wasn't as some of the 3 for 2 ones were not in stock in Tesco etc. Saved loads.

So, will do the same again in 2012. Make lists on what to buy who and shop around for prices. Making notes on what price for what where. As I am normally on the computer most nights, I tend to browse comparing prices etc. Then check out promotions, etc.

Also, all presents were wrapped in early Dec, All on-line stuff were bought early so delivery was great. Hardly any stress at all.

What's a Christmas Eve Box?

Usually a Christmas DVD, ingredients for mince pies or cookies, new pj's, some sweet treats for watching the DVD with, a new bubble bath or bath bonb, reindeer oats (oats and glitter for Rudolph etc).

Oh, that sounds fun! We did new Pj's for everyone and then wore them for a drive in the car to look at the lights. But a festive bath wash and DVD would be super fun! I'll have to do that next year too. :)

Must remember that as well as taking sharp knives that actually cut things I also need to take a proper grater to my Mum's, where we generally spend Christmas, so I can produce lemon zest - a somewhat essential ingredient of Mary Berry's lemon & thyme stuffing (which, if anyone's interested, was delicious).

The big success this year was to make gravy in advance, and to roast the spuds the day before and then re-crisp in the oven on Xmas Day till piping hot and perfect. I admit I was dubious, but it worked a treat. And the Copas turkey was v pricey but the nicest I've ever tasted, so well worth the money.

What I hope doesn't happen is for SIL to buy her usual random presents with no concept of what anyone might want, despite years of acquaintance. I'm sick of traipsing to the M&S refund counter with some vile-coloured sleepwear (wrong size) trimmed in itchy nylon 'lace'. At least be grown up about it and give me the receipt so I can get what you paid for it, and not the sale price!

For next year:
Don't add extra fruit to the Christmas puds without including extra binding ingredients
Remember to make the mince pies!

Don't buy DH any presents since apparently it is such a hardship to be given well thought out Christmas presents, when he couldn't get a basic scarf right despite having been shown the exact model wished for thus upsetting me and making me upset him for having tried his best dammit and still not getting it right, he doesn't do presents, can't I remember that?